1. Select a topic. Get it
approved in first 10 minutes of class today!
2. Find 8 good sources
per person in group today!
3. Post all links to blog today!
4. Title your post with your topic question.
5. Discuss topic and
decide your position on the topic (agree/disagree/qualify) today.
6. Write a thesis and
post to blog today; include preview (blueprint) of your three main reasons/points as part of your thesis!
7. Publish your post.
8. Select "View Blog" for your blog (not my blog =)
9. Copy your blog's URL and email to me.
Research TOPICS Ideas List
(check for currency- some may need to be updated)
Domestic (US) Topics
1.
With
Republican control of Congress, can President Obama get anything done in his
last two years of office?
2.
Will
President Obama’s nominee for Attorney General be confirmed?
3.
Will
President Obama’s decision to send more troops to Iraq be accepted by the
American people?
4.
Is
the National Football League in danger of losing public support?
5.
Does
Mitch McConnell represent the views of the mainstream Republican Party?
6.
Are
the nuclear weapons of the United States safe and secure?
7.
Should
America’s intelligence agencies have access to peoples’ cellphone records?
8.
Are
women gaining increased influence in Congress?
9.
Has
President Obama exceeded his authority by overhauling America’s immigration
system without the involvement of Congress?
10. Are lower oil prices good for
America?
11. Are the army’s cuts in personnel
misguided?
12. Should the United States send ground
troops to Iraq and Syria?
13. Can President Obama succeed in his
push for net neutrality?
More domestic Topics
1.
With
control of Congress, what issues should be at the top of the Republican Party’s
agenda?
2.
Have
the midterm elections confirmed or rejected the significance of the Tea Party
faction to the vitality of the Republican Party?
3.
Given
voter behavior in the midterm elections, what probable Republican candidate is
best positioned to get the 2016 presidential nomination?
4.
Did
the poor performance of some Democratic candidates in the midterm elections
reflect poorly on leading contenders for the 2016 presidential nomination?
5.
With
growing interest in marijuana legalization at the state level, is it time for
the federal government to change its policies on the drug?
6.
Should
college athletes be able to sue their former universities for an inadequate education?
7.
How
will President Obama’s planned immigration reforms impact America’s economy?
8.
What
can be done to improve conditions at schools for Native Americans?
9.
What
legislation should lame duck Democrats aim to complete before they leave
office?
10. Has the United States made
satisfactory improvements in its interrogation of accused terrorists since
9-11?
11. Will the passage of Michigan’s
co-called “Rape Insurance” law trigger a backlash by angry voters?
12. With calls for tax reform from
incoming congressional Republicans, what tax changes should Congress tackle
first?
International Topics
1.
Is
North Korea attempting to warm its relations with the outside world?
2.
Will
Russia’s deal to continue supplying natural gas to Ukraine last?
3.
Are
coalition airstrikes against ISIS succeeding?
4.
Is
Kim Jong Un more dangerous than his father, Kim Jong Il?
5.
Can
the Rosetta probe mission be called a success?
6.
Was
President Obama’s recent visit to Burma good for democracy there?
7.
Is
Russia guilty of “bullying” smaller nations?
8.
Are
European nations doing enough to combat the recruitment of jihadists in their
countries?
9.
Is
Liberia winning the fight against Ebola?
10. Can competing factions in South
Sudan form a lasting peace?
11. Is the leadership of Myanmar guilty
of persecuting its Muslim population?
12. Can tensions between Serbia and
Albania be reduced?
13. Has Libya become a failed state?
14. Is Russia weathering the pressure of
international sanctions?
More International Topics
1.
Should
the Kurdish people of the Middle East have their own nation?
2.
25
years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, is Germany truly a unified nation?
3.
Should
industrialized nations do more to encourage immigration from lesser-developed
nations?
4.
Can
the Nigerian government be trusted to resolve the conflict with Boko Haram
without foreign intervention?
5.
Can
Ukraine build an army strong enough to stop Russian incursions?
6.
Is
the recent agreement between the United States and China on climate changing
emissions a significant breakthrough in the fight against global warming?
7.
How
will Russia’s decision to curtail its nuclear security cooperation with the
United States impact the safety of Russia’s arsenal?
8.
Which
of the leaders among EU nations is the most important to the success of the
organization?
9.
Are
Israel and the Palestinian authority any closer to a final status agreement
today than they were a year ago?
10. Has the Ebola crisis changed how
world leaders think about regulating international travel?
11. Is Turkey turning its back on NATO
alliance commitments?
12. Did the G-20 Summit achieve anything
significant?
More Domestic Topics
1.
Should
the United States government extend benefits for the unemployed?
2.
Has
the gun control movement lost its momentum?
3.
Is
the Republican Party losing its influence over America’s cities?
4.
What
steps can be taken to overcome the growing shortage of doctors?
5.
Should
the United States legalize online gambling?
6.
Is
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) becoming over-diagnosed?
7.
Does
Congress need to change its rules?
8.
Is
the Federal Reserve Board America’s most important political institution?
9.
What
must political leaders do to restore trust in their honesty?
10.
Is
Scott Walker a likely candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential
nomination?
11.
Should
the United States have boycotted the Sochi Olympics?
12.
Will
Max Baucus make a good new ambassador to China?
13.
Will
the courts be the source of the next wave of legalization of gay marriage?
More Topics
1.
Was
it a mistake for the Affordable Care Act to require higher insurance premiums
for smokers?
2.
How
will Mary Barra’s leadership change General Motors?
3.
Can
Amazon improve its delivery business through the use of aerial drones?
4.
Should
fast food employees move forward with their efforts to unionize?
5.
Is
raising the minimum wage in the interest of the American economy?
6.
Will
the problems with the rollout of Obamacare strengthen the Republican Party as
it goes into the next election?
7.
Is
expansion of hunting in the United States warranted to control expanding wild
animal populations?
8.
Will
Paul Walker’s death increase awareness about hazardous driving?
9.
Will
the conflict between the Cheney sisters undermine Liz Cheney’s Wyoming Senate
campaign?
10.
What
steps can be taken to provide better protection for public employee pensions?
11.
During
a time of continued economic uncertainty, what is the source of the decline in
America’s homeless population?
12.
Will
the controversy over the suspension of the lead figure on Duck Dynasty do any
significant harm to A&E networks’ viewership?
International Topics
1.
Can
South Africa’s government protect the legacy of Nelson Mandela?
2.
Should
the EU extend membership to Ukraine?
3.
Are
China and Taiwan growing closer to eventual reunification?
4.
Is
the Central African Republic on the verge of collapse?
5.
Was
Pope Francis a good choice for Time’s Person of the Year?
6.
Can
Lebanon keep the Syrian conflict from spilling across the border?
7.
Did
the Philippine government fail in its response to the recent typhoon?
8.
Is
China’s one-child policy causing unintended ill-effects?
9.
Will
Narendra Modi become India’s next Prime Minister?
10.
Is
Ukraine turning into a dictatorship?
11.
Will
the new President of Venezuela be another Hugo Chavez?
12.
What
can the government of Thailand do to bring an end to political deadlock there?
13.
Should
Great Britain encourage more immigration from Eastern Europe?
More Topics
1.
Will
America’s improved relations with Iran undermine its relationship with Israel?
2.
What
can India do to curtail violence between ethnic groups?
3.
Will
Kim Jong Un’s recent efforts to remove opponents from within the government
strengthen his base of power?
4.
Is
Bahrain in danger of becoming politically unstable in the wake of recent
protests?
5.
Is
the successful elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile dependent on
Syrian military success against rebel groups?
6.
Is
Germany’s Free Democratic Party on the verge of oblivion?
7.
Is
the Turkish Government of Recep Tayip Erdogan drifting slowly toward
authoritarianism?
8.
Is
the Eurozone’s new banking union a good idea?
9.
Is
the international community getting better at controlling the flow of
radiological materials?
10.
Is
Hamid Karzai’s stubbornness good for the Afghan people?
11.
Is
Brazil’s economic success deteriorating?
More Topics—agriculture related--
1. Discuss the possible implications (positive and
negative) of the sustainable agriculture/locally grown foods movement on
American agriculture.
2. How will the EPA’s proposed “Waters of the US”
affectMinnesota agriculture?
3. Several states have proposed requirements that
products with genetically modified organisms be labeled as such. How could this affect agriculture in the
years to come?
4. What effects could changes to US immigration laws
have on agriculture?
5. How can value added agriculture and agri-tourism be
driving forces in local economic development?
6. How can Agricultural Education work to insure an
adequate supply of effective Teachers of Agriculture in the years to come?
7. How might
consumer concerns about health, nutrition, and obesity impact American
agriculture in the years to come?
8. Discuss the importance of Agricultural Education
students having an understanding of global agriculture issues and/or having a
global experience in agriculture.
9. Discuss the tools and resources that are
available to help young people start a farming operation or develop an
agribusiness.
11. How has new technology (including smart phones,
social media, Web 2.0, etc) changed the way American farmers operate? How will this technology impact agriculture
in the future?
12. What is the role of the agriculture industry in
reducing the number of individuals who are food insecure around the world?
Have a great vacation!! See you next year!
