Finding a Topic

Researched Argument – Topic Ideas

Education/Youth
affirmative action
trying violent juveniles as adults
intelligent design vs evolution taught in public schools
religion in public schools (prayer, clubs, etc.)
child/teen curfews
Gay-friendly high school in Chicago
military recruitment in high schools/military academies in Chicago
advertising in high schools
school cafeteria options
magnet schools in Chicago
charter schools
advertising of alcohol directed at youth
drug testing in schools/on job, for IHSA participation
online grades
athletics/grades policy at North-Grand/general participation in high school sports
freshman participation in athletics
required PE in high school
dress policy in public school
college application process
proving necessity/importance of arts education
graduation requirements
required pledge of allegiance in high school
standardized testing as a way to judge high schools / determining college admissions
going away vs. staying home for college
character education in public schools
school lunches/ nutrition
obesity in teens
developing emotional intelligence in school-age children
effects of teenage sleep deprivation
censorship of internet in schools
late start to school day
no child left behind - school failure/probation
underage drinking
pros and cons of AP courses, honors courses, tracking, weighted grades
impact of class sizes on learning environment
service learning requirement in schools
alternative grading procedures
year-round school
home school
steroid use in high schools
media’s influence on teenage body image
honor code/academic integrity
tuition vouchers for private school
longer school day
achievement gap across socioeconomic/racial/ethnic lines
homework
bullying in schools
Academic requirements for student-athletes
Should school libraries subscribe to non-academic magazines?
Politics/Government/Rights
electoral college
instant run-off election
capital punishment
welfare
mandatory minimum sentencing
second amendment restrictions/rights
adoption of children by gay parents
civil union/gay marriage/Proposition 8
Patriot Act
FISA
Stimulus Package – balancing cutting taxes w/ investing in infrastructure/job creation?
taxes/flat vs. progressive tax/deficit spending/tax cuts
getting young people to vote/participate/engage in politics
Richard Daley

Health/Safety
stem cell research
universal health care
smoking bans in workplace, public places
assisted suicide
cell phones/texting in cars, punishments
identifying and treating adolescent depression

Environment/Energy/Food
drilling for oil in Alaska/offshore
alternative energy sources/investment
Subsidies for agriculture/farm policy
Local food movement

Sports
genetic screening for susceptibility to diseases (Eddy Curry)
athletics and eating disorders
minimum age for NBA, NFL, MLB draft
steroid use in MLB
designated hitter in MLB
revenue sharing in professional sports

Society/Entertainment
illegal downloading movies/music/games
arranged marriage
is wal-mart good for a community/neighborhood/country?
effects of TV or video games on youth
segregation in schools, neighborhoods
getting rid of / keeping the penny
Cameras at intersections for traffic/selling drugs
incentives for participating in charity events

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One of the best ways to explore research topics is to read the newspaper: current events and issues that make the news are often controversial and worthy of further research. And futhermore, they lend themselves to argumentation (taking sides on an issue, making an argument, using evidence to persuade...)

If one of these articles catches your interest, do a search of recent stories relating to the topic.

Should the US take a more active role in Darfur?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/opinion/19kristof.html (opinion article)

Should university students expect to get at least a B in a course if they attend the lectures? And should grades be based more on effort than the quality of the work?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/education/18college.html (news article)

Should the NFL pay for retired players' medical expenses when they have expensive football-related injuries (including dementia) and can no longer pay for their own care?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100539758 (opinion article)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98668764 (opinion article)

Should there be more black head college football coaches? Should the BCS system be changed? http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99055694 (opinion article)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98336093

Should Manny Ramirez get a portion of the stimulus bill? Isn't he already rich enough?
http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/scott_boras_able_to_get?utm_source=a-section (satire)

Should CPS close schools that don't meet requirements for student test scores? Should the schools be replaced with charter schools and other privately-run educational companies?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/content/education/chi-cps-studiesfeb18,0,4051048.story (news article)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/content/education/chi-las-casas-closing-city-zonefeb12,0,6953984.story (news article)

Has the No Child Left Behind legislation helped or hurt students? Should it be renewed, changed, or totally eliminated?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/content/education/chi-duncan-classroom-17dec17,0,1937617.story (news article)

Should people be allowed to own firearms, as the second amendment provides? Should firearm ownership be prohibited or limited in any way?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-nance-holt-city-zonefeb20,0,4491316.story (news article)

Is online learning the future of education? Are ipod lectures more effective than traditional classes?
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2009/02/iprof-experiment-shows-podcasted-lectures-more-effective-than-the-real-thing.html (opinion article)

Should there be a "faith-based office" of the White House? Should faith-based organizations be eligible for federal funding (money from the federal government)? If so, should these organizations be allowed to restrict their hiring to believers?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-faith-basedfeb06,0,5145471.story (news article)

Should President Obama wear a raincoat and/or use an umbrella in the rain? Should he walk briskly or should he walk at a medium or slower pace?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-president-departure,0,708786.story (news article)

Should we drink tap water instead of bottled water?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/11/18/4926e8a202efc (opinion article)

Should it be legal everywhere to hang your laundry out to dry on a line?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/08/11/48a0b3c650e26 (opinion article)

Should the government pay farmers to grow corn in order to produce more ethanol? Is this really helpful for the environment?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/07/09/48779b5be8969 (opinion article)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/opinion/04pollan.html (opinion article)

Should industrial farmers be allowed to keep animals in tiny cages that allow the animal little or no movement?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/07/11/4877b66f210cc (opinion article)

Should we consume more (spend more money) to get the economy growing again?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/11/27/493574c4351d0 (opinion article)

Is soil erosion a problem on our farms, and if so, what should be done about it?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/opinion/05berry.html (opinion article)

Which is more important, conservation or efficiency? Which should be our focus if we are serious about being good stewards of the land?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2009/02/11/499c917ec7056 (opinion article)

Can one person make a difference when it comes to global warming/climate change?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-lede-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp (opinion article)