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ENG 112 Hardin

Current issues research guide for Instructor Hardin's ENG 112 course.
  • URL: https://libguides.cfcc.edu/ENG112-Hardin
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  • Education & Environment Topics

    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 & Money Topics

    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, Politics & Law Topics

    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?