Research

Publications, Databases, Media Sources, Datasets

Research Resources

(Publications, Databases, Media, Datasets)

UT Library & Databases

UT Library
Databases (UT Library)
ResearchGate (Collaboration Platform)
Google Scholar
Gale: Opposing Viewpoints
JSTOR
Academic Search Complete
Texas Scholar Works
Banned Books
DPLA (Digital Public Library of America)
Library RHE 306/309 resource guide
Library RHE resources for instructors
Locate UT Experts (Topics & Fields)

Local News Outlets

Raw Data Sources

Statista (UT)
UT Institutional Reporting, Research & Information Systems
Texas Data Repository
Locating Datasets (UT Library)
General Social Survey
Open Data Initiative (City of Austin)
Pecan Street Inc.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Pew Research Center
Gallup polls & Analytics
U.S. Census Bureau

Primary Sources

UT Experts

Locate UT Experts (Topics & Fields)

Source Types & Genres

(Locating Specific Kinds of Articles)

- Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles (Academic, Analytical, Scholarly)
  - - JSTOR, Academic Search Complete, Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, Texas Scholar Works, Google Scholar, & library databases.
- Texas News Articles (Informative, Referential)
  - - Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, Community Impact, Texas Tribune, Austin American-Statesman, Austin Chronicle, Daily Texan, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Google Custom Search: Austin Local Information, Texas Observer, Texas Standard, Buzzfeed
- Newspapers & Magazines (Informative: Major national & local publications & outlets)
  - - Daily Texan, Austin American-Statesman, Austin Chronicle (Liberal), The Texas Horn (Conservative), The Texan (Conservative), Austin Monthly, Texas Monthly, Texas Tribune, Community Impact, Texas A&M’s The Battalion, Texas Tech’s The Daily Toreador
- Broadcast & Cable News (Informative: Local & national news)
  - - KXAN, KVUE, KEYE, Fox 7 Austin, CNN, MSNBC, PBS, BBC
- Opinion Pieces (Argumentative, Persuasive, Expressive: op-eds, editorials, opinion, viewpoint, & letters to the editor)
  - - Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, Academic Search Complete, Austin American Statesman Opinion, Austin Chronicle Opinion, Daily Texan Opinion, New York Times Opinion, Wall Street Journal Opinion, Buzzfeed Opinion
      * Look for op-ed, viewpoint, editorial, and opinion pieces in local publications.
- Online, Streaming, & Social Media (Argumentative, Persuasive, Expressive: Amateur & grassroots reporting; opinion, viewpoint, & entertainment content)
  - - YouTube, Podcasts, TikTok, X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat
- Raw Data & Primary Sources (*See above.)

Rhetorical Analysis

(Research Resources for Rhetorical Analysis)

RHE 306 Research Resources page on the UT Austin Library website.
Shanafelt Rhetoric Guide: Rhetorical Analysis
Article Types & Genres

*See above.

Forbidden Sources

(Do not cite the source types below.)

No Author (unless .gov & similar)
No Title
Private Websites
Wikipedia or Encyclopedias

Topic Resources (National)

(Find & Research National Controversies)

UT Austin Library: Books, media, databases, guides, articles, journals, etc.
Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints: Resources, articles, & opinions
Gale in Context: Topic Finder: Search terms & topic connections
Kialo: Library of debate and argumentative essay topics
ProCon: Pros and Cons of 100+ Topics
CQResearcher: Browse by topic, hot topic, or pros/cons.
ClearerThinking: Improve decision-making & boost critical thinking
SAGE Knowledge: Broad overviews of topics.
RHE 306 Research Guide: UT Austin library guide for RHE 306.
Brookings Institute: Topics: Browse contemporary controversies.
The Heritage Foundation: Select "Explore Issues" to view social issues.
Pew Research Center: Topics: Extensive list of controversies.
RAND Reports by Topic: See trending topics or list all topics.

Topic Resources (Local)

(Find & Research Local Controversies)

Community Impact: Hyperlocal news, community issues, & happenings
Texas Tribune: Texas politics & public policy news (nonprofit & nonpartisan)
Austin American-Statesman: Primary daily newspaper of Austin, Texas
Austin Chronicle: Alternative Austin weekly newspaper (liberal)
Daily Texan: The student newspaper of the University of Texas at Austin
Texas Observer: Nonprofit news organization dedicated to in-depth investigative journalism on Texas politics, social justice, & culture.
UT News: Meaningful and thoughtful opinion columns (op-eds)
Texas Monthly: Texas news, politics, culture, & personalities
KXAN, KVUE, KEYE: Austin TV news stations.
The Texas Horn: (Conservative) News & opinion focused on conservative principles targeting UT Austin students
The Texan: (Conservative) Statewide political fact-based news regarding issues, policies, elected officials, and campaigns. No opinion pieces.

Narrow Topic

(How To Narrow Your Topic)

Narrow your topic and find quality sources using the following steps:

A database search will lead you to thousands of different new angles, approaches, theories, topics, and sub-topics. Most of them, you will not have considered.
Adjust your thesis to something cool--something that interests you. When you do your database search, try something like “Homer Iliad historical," "Homer Iliad psychological," or "Homer Iliad morality."
Peruse the articles’ titles and read the abstracts to find something that interests you.
Reverse engineer your topic, research question, and thesis from the articles you find.
1. You may find an article that you hate and want to debunk with other articles.
2. You may find a large number of articles on a specific aspect of the text and adjust your topic to use those articles as sources.

Brainstorm Keywords

Also, try this keyword tool to brainstorm keywords.

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