Controversial Topics - Understanding Call Numbers: The Dewey Decimal System - NICC Library at Northeast Iowa Community College
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Understanding Call Numbers: The Dewey Decimal System

Controversial Topics

Some topics are surrounded by controversy and disagreements. Whether you need to write a persuasive paper or just want to familiarize yourself with the arguments, there are plenty of places to look. You'll find that the 300s (social sciences) are teeming with controversial topics. We recommend browsing the entire section if you are unsure about what topic you want to research; you never know what you'll stumble across. Heads up--some topics are found in multiple areas.

000s (Computer science, information, & general works):

006.3 Artificial intelligence

100s (Philosophy & psychology):

140 Philosophical systems

172 Political ethics

173 Family ethics

176 Sexual ethics

179.3 Treatment of animals

179.72 Assisted suicide

179.76 Abortion

200s (Religion)

211 Deism and atheism

215 Religion and science

300s (Social sciences):

306.74 Sex work

306.76 Sexual orientation; gender identity

306.84 Marriage equality and nontraditional marriage

322.1 Relations between state and church

323.448 Privacy rights

324.6 Electoral college

325 Migration and colonization

327.1 International foreign policies

327.73 USA's role in the world

331.2 Minimum wage

333 Economics of land & energy

338.18 Agriculture subsidiaries

358.3/358.4 Ethics in war

362.1 Social issues regarding people with physical illnesses

362.2 Social issues regarding people with mental illnesses

362.4 Social issues regarding people with disabilities

362.5 Poverty

363.15 Healthcare

363.2 Policing

363.31 Censorship

363.33 Guns and gun control

363.45 Illegal drugs

363.46 Abortion

363.7 Environmental issues

363.96 Birth control and contraception

364.6 Death penalty and punishment of crime

400s (Language)

500s (Science):

576.8 Evolution

600s (Technology):

614.47 Vaccines

615.7827 Medical marijuana (see also 362.295)

700s (Arts & recreation):

800s (Literature):

900s (History & geography)

956.94 Israel & Palestine