ENG 102: Just Mercy

Possible Research Topics:

• America's prison system
  • Comparison of the world's prison systems
• Disability and punishment

• Death Penalty

• Poverty

• Death Row

• Hope and Resilience

• Rehabilitation and recidivism

• Historical significance in relation to punishing inmates

• Women in prison

• Children and prison 

• Comparison of various court cases revolving injustice

• Injustice in the Prison System

• Supreme Court cases related to specific issues

• Jury Duty

• Prisons in America

• Discrimination in the work force

• Upward Mobility in America

• Segregation

• Civil Rights

• Race Relations

• Juvenile delinquents

• Drug related prison sentences

• Corruption in the judicial system

• Stand Your Ground

• Prisoner Abuse
• Mass Incarceration
• Non-Profit Organizations who help the innocent or condemned
• History of prisons, death row, etc...
• Interracial Marriage
• Mental Health
• Jury Selection
• Children in the prison system
• Pardons
• Education and Poverty
• Consequences of Poverty in America
• Drug Abuse and recidivism
• Veterans in prison
• This is not an exhaustive list, so if you have a different topic, please let your professor know! 

Video Created by University of Houston Libraries

Concept Map

Write a word or phrase that describes your topic in a circle at the center of your page. Then, branch off the center with sub-topics or related concepts. Last, write specific examples for each sub-topic. 

A concept map can be used at several stages in the research process.  It can help you select your search terms and organize your writing project. 

Here is an example of a concept map:

The Library Catalog and these 2 databases are good ones to start with and search to see some of the resources out there related to your possible chosen topic.