Research and Data Base
Research and correct use of data bases are included in many college classes. Balance pathos, logos and ethos to make your paper, speech or discussion work for you. In work shop we touched logos or the argument. Without logic, argument would be based on emotions, even if this speech would sound from somebody credible for example instructor. All three have to in balance and it going to fail the argument if one of them would be in lack (Aristotle's Three Modes of Persuasion in Rhetoric).
However, some subcultures and religions can have issues with some topic from your class. I would recommend avoiding topics as: religion, any political topics, any money involve topics. According to Dave Ramsey