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ENG 112 Lanigan

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    In-depth reporting on some of the most current and controversial issues of the day. Includes archive from 1923 to present.

    Full text articles on social, scientific, economic, and political issues worldwide. Contains materials selected from domestic and international newspapers, magazines, journals, and government publications.

    A premier virtual reference collection including encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, images, audio files, and videos in a wide expanse of subject areas.

    A 501(c)(3) nonprofit nonpartisan public charity, provides professionally-researched pro, con, and related information on more than 50 controversial issues from gun control and death penalty to illegal immigration and alternative energy.
    Founded in 2004, this educational website serves more than 25 million people each year, including students and teachers in more than 8,500 schools in all 50 states and 87 foreign countries.

    Topic Ideas

    EDUCATION

    • Would it be better to pay college athletes salaries rather than give them scholarships?
    • Is it a good idea to award college grants, scholarships, or loans only for "in demand" majors?
    • Should minimum computer skills be college prerequisites (similar to reading, writing and math prerequisites)?
    • Is mandatory attendance in college classes a good idea?
    • Should K-12 students be paid to attend school and/or to receive good grades?
    • Do 100% online college degrees provide the same quality graduates as face to face or mixed programs?
    • Is requiring service learning or volunteer hours in either K-12schools or colleges effective?
    • Are there justifications for requiring fine arts courses for all students in K-12 or higher education?
    • Should non-traditional languages (Farsi, Urdu, Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi) be offered at publicly funded high schools & colleges?
    • Are companies taking advantage of unpaid college internships while offering no real training? 

    ENVIRONMENT

    • Is off-shore oil drilling right for North Carolina?
    • Should biofuels be required in racing vehicles?
    • How should we balance sport fishing interests vs commercial fishing interests?
    • Are wind farms in the best interests of North Carolina?
    • Does a ban on giving out plastic bags at retail businesses really help the environment?
    • Beach sand renourishment - should it be done; if so, who should pay?
    • Should North Carolina take steps to restore the state’s oyster population?
    • Is the Mars expedition & other space exploration a waste of money and talent?
    • Do the benefits of fracking outweigh the dangers?

    MEDIA

    • Are anonymous blog posts or letters to the editor fair, or should you have to "own" your opinions?
    • Are mean girls really meaner than mean boys?
    • Should we treat cable television companies like other utility company monopolies?
    • Are "opt out" or "opt in" privacy settings for social networking sites better for users?
    • How real is reality tv?
    • What should be done about viral photos or videos & personal privacy?
    • Do Americans have an anti-science bias?
    • Does the news include too many entertainment and sensational stories vs useful news?
    • Are we afraid of the wrong things - do we misunderstand personal risk?
    • Is Google growing too fast and becoming too powerful?

    MONEY / ECONOMICS

    • Should we eliminate senior citizen discounts in favor of discounts for young people, or should we require proof of financial need?
    • Are current education, exercise, or medical benefits for prison inmates too generous?
    • Which business practices of quick cash or payday loan businesses should be regulated?
    • What is the real relationship of wealth to happiness?
    • Are labor-saving devices always a good innovation?
    • Should non-profit organizations be allowed to use contributions to sue other non-profits?
    • Are current IRS tax rules for reporting tip income fair?
    • How do minimum-wage issues vary in the US vs other industrialized countries?
    • Should job postings that prohibit unemployed persons from applying be permitted?
    • Are facilities with mixed public and private ownership (such as convention centers, parking decks or sports stadiums) a good idea?

    HEALTH

    • Is internet gambling more likely to cause addiction than other types of gambling?
    • Do gluten-free foods really benefit people without gluten-intolerance conditions
    • Who should regulate how thin fashion models can be in an attempt to reduce eating disorders?
    • Should soft drink, candy & snack food sales in schools be restricted?
    • Should there be smoke free beaches?
    • Will charging parents of obese students with child neglect help or hurt children?
    • What should parents of young children do about fantasy beliefs such as Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, & ghosts

    POLITICS / LAW

    • Are ordinances, rental agreements, or HOA rules that restrict dog ownership by breed appropriate?
    • Is it fair to charge extra to obese people for space-related things (events tickets, public transportation seats, etc.)?
    • Should convicted felons lose their voting rights for life?
    • Should states require inspection of vehicles?
    • What laws, ordinances, or policies should govern skateboarding?
    • Can workplaces craft fair rules & regulations about tattoos?
    • Should states or counties offer film production incentives?
    • What is the role of lawsuits in the fashion industry - what can or cannot be trademarked?
    • Has the "Citizens United" Supreme Court ruling made political campaigns more or less democratic?
    • Would substituting public ridicule or corporal punishment for jail time for some nonviolent crimes be a good idea?
    • Is global climate change caused by humans?
    • Is the death penalty effective?
    • Is our election process fair?
    • Is torture ever acceptable?
    • Should men get paternity leave from work?
    • Are school uniforms beneficial?
    • Do we have a fair tax system?
    • Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
    • Is cheating out of control?
    • Are we too dependent on computers?
    • Should animals be used for research?
    • Should cigarette smoking be banned?
    • Are cell phones dangerous?
    • Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?
    • Do we have a throwaway society?
    • Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?
    • Should companies market to children?
    • Should the government have a say in our diets?
    • Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?
    • Should members of Congress have term limits?
    • Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
    • Are CEOs paid too much?
    • Should athletes be held to high moral standards?
    • Do violent video games cause behavior problems?
    • Should creationism be taught in public schools?
    • Are beauty pageants exploitative?
    • Should English be the official language of the United States?
    • Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?
    • Should the alcohol drinking age be increased or decreased?
    • Should everyone be required to recycle?
    • Is it okay for prisoners to vote (as they are in some states)?
    • Is it good that same-sex couples are able to marry?
    • Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school?
    • Does boredom lead to trouble?
    • Should schools be in session year-round?
    • Does religion cause war?
    • Should the government provide health care?
    • Should abortion be illegal?
    • Are girls too mean to each other?
    • Is homework harmful or helpful?
    • Is the cost of college too high?
    • Is college admission too competitive?
    • Should euthanasia be illegal?
    • Should the federal government legalize marijuana use nationally?
    • Should rich people be required to pay more taxes?
    • Should schools require foreign language or physical education?
    • Is affirmative action fair?
    • Is public prayer okay in schools?
    • Are schools and teachers responsible for low test scores?
    • Is greater gun control a good idea?

    Source: Fleming, Grace. "50 Argumentative Essay Topics." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/argument-essay-topics-1856987.

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