Thing #4 - Read about the project and choose your topic

First, read about the research project here.

Now that you've got a pretty good idea about the nature of the project, it's time to pick an issue. I've included a list of possibilities. Most of the topics listed are too broad to address in one brief/memo. Part of the project is developing a good research topic and thesis statement. For example, one of the topics is the Patriot Act. However, I would expect you to focus your research efforts on a specific aspect/application of the Patriot Act, such as warrantless surveillance. You may choose your own topic and you will have time to narrow your topic further as you begin researching.

Remember, although some of the topics can be researched as social issues, your job is to look at them from a political perspective. This means thinking about them broadly in terms of legislation, government funding and government regulation.


Post your choice of topic to your blog.
Due by Wed, Jan24th at 9pm.


A completely non-comprehensive list of possible topics (if you don't like any of these, choose your own!):
autism
charter high schools
coast guard funding
Congressional ethics reform
corporate bankruptcy code
Darfur
emergency disaster aid
estate tax
farm subsidies
FDA drug-approval system
foreign aid
foreign investment in U.S. companies
generic drug access
global AIDS epidemic
global warming
government negotiation of drug prices
guest worker program
immigration/border security
intelligent design
minimum wage
net neutrality
No Child Left Behind
nutrition in the schools
obesity epidemic
oil in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
organic farming
over-fishing
paid family leave
Patriot Act
pharmaceutical companies - disclosure
pollution of the oceans
prescription drugs from Canada
regulation of fisheries
rising price of health care
stem cell research
tax cuts
universal health care
war in Iraq