Links to "Hot Topics" sites:

Almanac of Policy Issues
http://www.policyalmanac.org/
"Comprehensive, unbiased background information and links on major U.S. public policy issues."  Includes topics like the death penalty, abortion, global warming, etc.  A general summary of the issue is given, followed by links to news, laws, articles, directories, and organizations dealing with the issue.

Argumentative Essay Topics
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/english/topicarg.html
Glendale Community College (in Arizona) presents a list of subjects with opposing viewpoints. Each topic has a pro and con statement with sources of Web sites with information on the topic included. Topics are arranged by subjects like bioethics, human rights, etc.

Best Information on the Net - O'Keefe Library  St. Ambrose University
http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/hot/hotindex.htm
A great site for providing accurate and objective sources of information on many controversial topics, it also includes a lengthy index to other "Hot Topics" sites.

CSU Fullerton Library Research Guides - Special Topics
http://www.library.fullerton.edu/ASP/LibTemplate.asp?version=1&showoption=researchguides&showoptionpush=240&contentpage=../content/research/ResearchGuidesBySpecialTopic.htm
Outstanding collection of research guides that include links to encyclopedias, statistics, full-text online books as well as titles in the Pollak Library collection [if you see a book title you like, do a search in the WebCat box on any subject guide to see if we also have that book], Web sites, and articles.

Hot Topics List
http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/guides/hot/list.shtml
San Diego State University has a site with an alphabetical listing of hot topics. Each topic lists super sites first, followed by a short list of annotated sites. Has a long list of topics.

Multnomah County Library Homework Center
http://www.multcolib.org/homework/sochc.html
A Social Issues web page is part of the Multnomah County Library Homework Center. The issues are arranged alphabetically. For each issue, mega sites are listed first, followed by sites for the pro and con of the issue, followed by either court decisions or legislation involving that issue. An excellent site with a very easy to use arrangement of Web sites for each issue.

Project Vote Smart
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_group.php
Project Vote Smart, a nonpartisan political information site, offers links to issues organizations. Select an issue from the drop-down box and hit GO for a one line description and link to that group's Web site. You may also "Pick an issue for California" if you wish to research organizations specific to our state.

Public Agenda Online
http://www.publicagenda.org/
Public Agenda Online is a site offering "nonpartisan briefing on policy." This site offers an alphabetical list of issues like abortion, immigration, welfare, etc. For each issue a group of sites for understanding the subject is listed side by side with a group of sites offering public opinion on the issue. Fact files of graphs, perspectives on each issue, sources and resources, etc. are offered for each issue. It is an excellent arrangement of topics that really gives all aspects of an issue.

Yahoo: Issues and Causes
http://dir.yahoo.com/society_and_culture/issues_and_causes/
Yahoo presents a long alphabetical list of issues. Click on an issue and a list of major topics are listed, followed by a long list of Web sites dealing with that issue.

Links to other sources of guides and quality Web sites:    See also the  Web Search Tools page

The Educator's Reference Desk : Search ERIC Database
http://www.eduref.org/Eric/
ERIC is a key component of the National Library of Education. The 16 clearinghouses that contribute to the ERIC databases acquire significant literature within their scope. These Info Guides contain print and electronic resources.

Infomine - from UC Riverside
http://infomine.ucr.edu/
Very good collection of Internet resources. You may search by keyword or browse lists of resources. Strong in sciences and business.

InfoSurf - from UC Santa Barbara
http://www.library.ucsb.edu/subjects/
Well organized site with subject guides spanning the breadth of research areas. Particularly useful is the addition of organizations and associations relevant to the subject. "Hot Spots on the Net" presents sites dealing with current issues in the news.

Internet Public Library Pathfinders
http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/
Easily navigated site which leans toward more public library oriented topics rather than scholarly research. If you don't find any resources on your topic, you can always "Ask a Question."  Beginning in 2003 this site absorbed the Argus Clearinghouse guides.

Librarian's Index to the Internet
http://lii.org/
One of the best sources and updated daily with new sites. Sign up to have the weekly list emailed to you!

Researched and evaluated by:
J. Coe, Librarian 3/1999
last update: A. Enright, Librarian 2/2005

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