Use this guide to improve your writing skills. Find help for selecting topics, searching for and documenting evidence, writing essays, and more. You may also find this guide helpful for crafting speeches.
Anyone can string a few words together into a sensible sentence, but if you want to make your prose persuasive and your essays elegant, you need to take your skills to the next level. These articles can help.
These OWL resources will help you with the writing process: pre-writing (invention), developing research questions and outlines, composing thesis statements, proofreading, and more.
Policy Issue Websites: Find a Topic
Balanced information on public policy issues and other hotly debated topics.
"APPC conducts ongoing research in the areas of political discourse, children and media, the Internet, and health communications." Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania.
Search by state or topic to find information on elections and politics. Enter your address to view a sample ballot, including ballot measures and Voter Guide.
Frontline is a PBS television series that explores issues in public affairs. Each program has a companion web site including a transcript, in-depth reports, and viewer comments.
This web site includes the results of opinion polls conducted in the United States. Much of the information is free, but there is also a premium subscription area.
ProCon.org is a non-profit education web site that pulls together excerpts of arguments on both sides of controversial issues.Overviews of issues, key questions, and links or references to the sources are included. Sources are rated for credibility.
ProPublica conducts "investigative journalism in the public interest." It doesn't give pro/con sides of issues, but it seeks to expose abuses of power and find the facts behind the issues. Browse for topic ideas under the "Investigations" tab, or check the "Tools & Data" tab for graphics, statistics, and interactive tools.
"The U.S. government's official web portal" provides access to information from all branches of government. Browse topics or search for federal agency websites and documents.
The "Issues" section provides links to organizations that take a stand on different sides of the issue. Think tanks are also listed by political leanings.
ProCon.org is a non-profit education web site that pulls together excerpts of arguments on both sides of controversial issues.Overviews of issues, key questions, and links or references to the sources are included. Sources are rated for credibility.
"Art Advocacy has never been more crucial than it is today. Study after study has shown that including art-related activities in a child’s education will produce a smarter, more creative and successful student" -- The International Art Materials Association - NAMTA®
Want to do more for animals in your community? Use these resources to become a better grassroots advocate, or contact an HSUS state director to find out how to work together with The HSUS in your state.
Type your zip code into Volunteer Match to find community service opportunities near you. The site's Service Leader pages highlight general information about volunteering.
