This semester in English 126 we have looked at a variety of arguments surrounding many of the most contentious cultural debates and social issues that face modern society. For your final essay in English 126, you will choose one of these large issues or topics that we have discussed in class and write a 4-5 page essay in which you lay out the terms of the debate “ or a related question at issue and then write a persuasive issue in which you argue for one side of the issue that you have chosen. Be sure to give adequate background information or context for your issue, and to develop the most logical and persuasive argument possible. In this essay, it is particularly important that you also include a section in your paper in which you address “ and refute the opposition’s most compelling argument against your position. In addition, you should reference at least one of the essays on our syllabus that addresses the issue that you are writing about.
The following is a list of broad topics and essays that might serve as the subject of your essay:
The broken educational system in America: Charles Murray, œShould the Obama Generation Drop Out?; John Taylor Gatto, œAgainst School; Michael Moore, œIdiot Nation
Patriotism and nationalism: Dinesh D’Souza, œAmerica the Beautiful; Mark Hertsgaard, œAmerica: The Oblivious Empire; Sam Smith, œHow to be a Patriot
Adolescents and sexuality / Birth control / Sex education in public schools: Rush Limbaugh, œCondoms: The New Diploma; Anna Quindlen, œA Pyrrhic Victory
The impact of popular culture on morality: Ellen Goodman, œCountering the Culture of Sex; David Kupelian, œKiller Culture
œEnhanced interrogation and the use of judicial torture: Michael Levin, œThe Case for Torture; Charles Krauthammer, œThe Truth About Torture; The Association for the Prevention of Torture, œDefusing the Ticking Time Bomb Scenario
Reforming the prison system and privatized prisons: Paul Krugman, œPrisons, Privatization, Patronage; Leonard Gilroy and Jon Coupal, œThe Case for Privatizing California’s Prisons Jill Filipovic, œAmerica’s Private Prison System is a National Disgrace
National / domestic security and the issue of racial profiling: Clifford Fishman, œRacial Profiling is Sometimes Necessary; Jean Abi Nader, œRacial Profiling is Unacceptable; œJohn Derbyshire, œRacial Profiling; John Derbyshire, œThe Talk
The immigration debate: the impact of immigration (documented and undocumented) on American society and cuture: Linda Chavez, œThe Realities of Immigration; Victor D. Hanson, œDo We Want Mexifornia?; Samuel Huntington, œOne Nation, Out of Many: Why œAmericanization of Newcomers Is Still Important
Gun Control in America (including related issues, like Stand Your Ground laws): Nan Desuka, œWhy Handguns Must be Outlawed Alan Keyes, œOur Second Amendment Rights; Andrew Napolitano, œIndividuals are Sovereign; Kurt Eichenwald, œLet’s Repeal the Second Amendment
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Family values / changing family roles / same-sex marriage: Jonathan Turley, œPolygamy Laws Expose Our Own Hypocrisy; Wendy Kaminer, œWhy is Polygamy Illegal?; David Frum and Andrew Sullivan, œGay Marriage; Jeff Jacoby, œLawful Incest May be on Its Way; Harry V. Jaffa, œHomosexuality and Natural Law
The role of faith in public life: Bill McKibben, œThe Christian Paradox: How a Faithful Nation Gets Jesus Wrong; Sam Harris, œThe Myth of Moderation in Religion; Karl Giberson, œSay it Ain’t So; Bobby Henderson, œOpen Letter to the Kansas School Board: The Flying Spaghetti Monster
National security and universal id’s: David Plotz, œPrivacy is Overrated; Margaret Carlson, œThe Case for a National ID Card; the American Civil Liberties Union, œNational ID Cards: Five Reasons Why They Should be Rejected
The Great American Dream / Materialism and popular cultural notions of success: Death of a Salesman
The abortion debate: Anna Quindlen, œSome Thoughts About Abortion; Ellen Willis, œPutting Women Back into the Abortion Debate; Sallie Tisdale, œWe Do Abortions Here
The responsibilities of citizenship: : Bowen McCoy, œThe Parable of the Saddhu; Christopher Awalt, œBrother, Don’t Spare a Dime’; Garrett Hardin, œLifeboat Ethics
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