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Civil Disobedience: Understand Your Topic

Controversial issue, Civil disorder, Passive resistance, Civil rights, Dissenters

What Do You Know?

You probably already know a little something about the topic you chose, but it's important to find out more in order to write an intelligent research paper and/or make a good argument. 

Ask yourself:

  • What do I know?
  • What can I find out?

Reference resources help you find out more!

Library Research Guides lead you to the best resources to use when searching for information on your topic.

Always check to see if there's a Research Guide on your topic.

    Quick Tips

    Look up your keywords in the indexes to subject encyclopedias.

    Read articles in these encyclopedias to set the context for your research.

    Note relevant items in the bibliographies at the end of the encyclopedia articles.

    Additional background information may be found in your lecture notes, textbooks, and reserve readings.

    Understanding Your Topic - Where to Look

    Reference Sources   person with a book head

    Once you have chosen a topic for your paper, use general reference sources to get background information on your topic. Reference books such as the encyclopedias, dictionaries and handbooks, and the current issue titles are a good starting point for your research because they help you become better acquainted with your topic.

    See the lists below for some selected reference sources available online and in print. Ask a librarian if you need help finding more resources.

    Online reference resources require login for off-campus use.  Enter your Cerritos College login when prompted.  For more login information see the Database Login page.

    Selected Library Reference Sources - Online

    Here are some of the library's online reference resources which can help you get some background information on your topic.  These resources are available on and off campus.

    Selected Library Reference Sources - Print

    Here are some reference books that are located in the library's Reference area. Although they cannot be checked out, students are able to photocopy pages.

    The Thesis Statement

    Although you probably started with only a broad idea of what you wanted to write about, after testing your topic and doing background reading you should be able to narrow your focus and write your thesis statement. Here are two examples of narrowing your focus to come up with a thesis statement:

    Civil Disobedience

    • Civil Disobedience and the Constitution
      • Civil disobedience is in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution
        • To think of disobedient minorities as rebels and truants is against the letter and spirit of a constitution whose framers were especially sensitive to the dangers of unbridled majority rule.

    Civil Disobedience

    • Civil Disobedience and the law
      • Civil disobedience is a violation of the law 
        • Civil disobedience, whatever the ethical rationalization, is still an assault on our democratic society, an affront to our legal order and an attack on our constitutional governments.
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