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Social Media
Use memes, infographics, and other discussions on social media to find inspiration for a research question, and then seek credible sources to learn more.
Memes
| Plagiarism |
What is the impact of plagiarism? How does plagiarism impact public perception of those found guilty of it? |
| Speechwriters |
Who is ultimately responsible for political speech content - the speech writers or the politicians? What impact have speeches had on key events or time periods in American history? |
| First Ladies |
How has the role of first ladies changed over time? What role should spouses and families have in presidential administrations? |
Suggested Resources: Books & eBooks
The Little Book of Plagiarism by
A concise, lively, and bracing exploration of an issue bedeviling our cultural landscape; plagiarism in literature, academia, music, art, and film; by one of our most influential and controversial legal scholars. Best-selling novelists J. K. Rowling and Dan Brown, popular historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Stephen Ambrose, Harvard law professor Charles Ogletree, first novelist Kaavya Viswanathan: all have rightly or wrongly been accused of plagiarism; theft of intellectual property; provoking widespread media punditry. But what exactly is plagiarism? How has the meaning of this notoriously ambiguous term changed over time as a consequence of historical and cultural transformations? Is the practice on the rise, or just more easily detectable by technological advances?
Call Number: K1485 .P67 2007
Speechwright: An Insider's Take on Political Rhetoric by
For almost thirty years, William F. Gavin wrote speeches at the highest levels of government. "Speechwright" is his insider's view of politics, a shrewd critique of presidential and congressional rhetoric, and a personal look at the political leaders for whom he wrote speeches. While serving President Richard Nixon and candidate Ronald Reagan, Gavin advocated for working rhetoric well-crafted, clear, hard-hitting arguments that did not offer visions of the unattainable, but instead limited political discourse to achievable ends reached through practical means. Filled with hard-earned wisdom about politics and its discontents, "Speechwright "describes Gavin's successes, his failures, and his call for political rhetoric built on strong argument rather than the mere search for eloquence."
Publication Date: 2011
First Ladies: From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama by
Betty Boyd Caroli's engrossing and informative First Ladies is both a captivating read and an essential resource for anyone interested in the role of America's First Ladies. This expanded and updated fourth edition includes Laura Bush's tenure, Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential bid, and an in-depth look at Michelle Obama, one of the most charismatic and appealing First Ladies in recent history. Caroli explores each woman's background, marriage, and accomplishments and failures in office.
Publication Date: 2010
Infographics
| Caffeine |
What are the effects of caffeine on the body? How does caffeine affect concentration and study habits of students? |
| Sugar |
How does sugar affect the brain? Is sugar addictive? |
| Soda |
Do the ingredients in soda affect your body's ability to absorb nutrients? What are some possible impacts of applying a soda tax? Do they impact health outcomes? |
Suggested Resources: Books & eBooks
Citizen Coke by
How did Coca-Cola build a global empire by selling a low-price concoction of mostly sugar, water, and caffeine? The easy answer is advertising, but the real formula to Coke’s success was its strategy, from the start, to offload costs and risks onto suppliers, franchisees, and the government. For most of its history the company owned no bottling plants, water sources, cane- or cornfields. A lean operation, it benefited from public goods like cheap municipal water and curbside recycling programs. Its huge appetite for ingredients gave it outsized influence on suppliers and congressional committees. This was Coca-Cola capitalism. In this new history Bartow J. Elmore explores Coke through its ingredients, showing how the company secured massive quantities of coca leaf, caffeine, sugar, and other inputs. Its growth was driven by shrewd leaders such as Asa Candler, who scaled an Atlanta soda-fountain operation into a national empire, and “boss” Robert Woodruff, who nurtured partnerships with companies like Hershey and Monsanto. These men, and the company they helped build, were seen as responsible citizens, bringing jobs and development to every corner of the globe. But as Elmore shows, Coke was usually getting the sweet end of the deal. It continues to do so. Alongside Coke’s recent public investments in water purification infrastructure, especially in Africa, it has also built—less publicly—a rash of bottling plants in dangerously arid regions. Looking past its message of corporate citizenship, Elmore finds a strategy of relentless growth. The costs shed by Coke have fallen on the public at large. Its annual use of many billions of gallons of water has strained an increasingly scarce global resource. Its copious servings of high-fructose corn syrup have threatened public health. Citizen Coke became a giant in a world of abundance. In a world of scarcity it is a strain on resources and all who depend on them.
Call Number: HD9349.S634 C6323 2015
The World of Caffeine by
How much do we really know about our number one drug of choice? This book, a natural, cultural, and artistic history of our favourite mood enhancer tells us more, by looking at how caffeine was discovered, its early uses, and the unexpected parts it has played in medicine, religion, painting, poetry, learning and love. The World of Caffeine is a captivating tale of art and society containing many stories including: how Balzac's addiction to caffeine drove him to eat coffee and may have killed him; how a mini Ice Age may have helped bring coffee, tea and chocolate to popularity in Europe; and how caffeine, in its various forms, was used as cash in China, Africa, Central America and Egypt.
Call Number: QP801.C24 W45 2001
Killer Colas by
It's as American as fast foods, ice cream, and candy bars. So why are people saying all those nasty things about soft drinks? The answer is simple: All those terrible things are true. And while the facts may be hard to swallow, it is high time we look at the damage that has been done by our long-running love affair with the beverage industry. In their new book, Killer Colas, Dr. Nancy Appleton and G. N. Jacobs provide a startling picture of a greedy industry hell-bent on destroying our country's health, no matter what the cost.
Call Number: TP630 .A67 2011
