Pro & Con: Controversial Topics: Search Strategies

Many controversial topics assigned for papers are quite broad. A few examples:

• human trafficking
• gay rights
• racial profiling

While you can use these terms in your searches, you will probably need to add some keywords to help narrow your topic:

• human trafficking children
• gay rights marriage

You may also want to use exact phrases to narrow your search, by enclosing the phrases inside quotation marks:

• "racial profiling" "airport security"

Do you need Peer Reviewed or Scholarly sources only?

Look for an option to refine your search; it will usually be a checkbox or a facet you can select. 

Here's how it looks on a set of OneSearch article results: 

The words “pro” and “con” are usually not good keywords. Try one of these in combination with your topic keywords instead:

• argument
• assessment
• case
• contention
• considerations
• controversy
• debate
• dilemma
• discussion
• dispute
• evidence
• issues
• opinion
• promote
• proof
• question
• reasons

Keywords that may help you find a "con" opinion:

• disadvantage
• drawback
• negative
• oppose
• problem

Keywords that may help you find a "pro" opinion:

• advantage
• benefit
• positive
• support
• solution