Periods 3,4 Friday, December 18, 2015

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!