There's a book in Martin Fowler's Signature Series called Refactoring Databases . That provides a list of techniques for refactoring databases. I can't say I've heard a list of database patterns so much.
Here is a link to a gentleman who has developed several hundred free database schemas.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.