“GET UP, STAND UP!”
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT PROJECT TOPICS
Happy 70th Birthday to the late, great singer, Bob Marley. This reggae singer was famous for
taking a stand against injustice. One of his most famous songs is “Get Up, Stand Up”. As a
senior studying government at North Penn High School, you are expected to assert your position
on interesting, controversial topics. As a culminating project, you will complete a research
assignment exploring a controversial issue, you will examine both sides of the debate, and then
you will produce both a written Position paper and a Public Service Announcement PSA = visual,
persuasive / argumentative presentation in which you Get Up and Stand UP for that issue.
Think of the possibilities below but this is not an exclusive list:
Foreign Policy Issues
Economic Policy
Issues
Social Policy Issues`
State Policy Issues
Local Policy Issues
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Whether the US should remain an ally of Saudi Arabia
Use of Force against ISIS
Providing Arms and support to the Ukrainian forces fighting against
Russian backed separatists
World Hunger
The AIDS crisis
Sex trafficking
The National Debt rising to $18 trillion
How to balance the National Budget – Cut Spending or Increase
taxes
Should the Federal Reserve be abolished
Gun Control – Should we restrict gun ownership?
The Affordable care Act – Good / Bad policy or unconstitutional
Same Sex marriage – Should it be legal nationwide?
Immigration Reform
Gun Control – Same question for states
Education Funding - equal access for all to a quality education
No Child Left Behind – Testing
Legalization of Marijuana – Medical or recreational
Lowering or Raising the Drinking Age
Search and Seizure Rules under PA Law and the 4th Amendment
Privatize the Liquor Industry in PA
Use of Gambling to solve state budget issues
Abolishing Property taxes
Curfews
Relationship between the Police and communities – How to avoid
another Ferguson
Instructions: The students will work individually to complete the following steps in this PSA
Project.
1.) Research Interesting and Controversial Topics
2.) Choose one topic as the focus of your PSA Project – Must be cleared with Mr. Haley
3.) Examine all sides of this issue using at least 4 sources, one of which must be a Primary
Source.
4.) Write a clear and concise Thesis / Position on your chosen Issue
5.) Produce an outline detailing the issues from all sides / perspectives.
6.) Write a position paper laying out the issue, the arguments on both sides and taking a
firm position on your chosen issue. The paper will include a works cited page including
references to at least 3 sources one of which must be a Primary Source.
7.) Produce of Visual PSA - Persuasive Argumentative presentation at least 5 minutes in length.
This presentation can be done by making a video, a PowerPoint, a Prezi, a Google Presentation, a
Debate.
This project will be completed across Marking Period 3 and marking Period 4. The Total Points
for the project will be 400 Points broken down as follows:
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Thesis / Position Statement 25 Points – Due 2/17 – A clear, one sentence position
statement
Outline 25 Points – Due 2/24 - A 2 page detailed outline that lays out the position to be
proven, the arguments / support for the position, the arguments against the position, and
your counter to the arguments against your position.
Position Paper with Works Cited Page and parenthetical Documentation Due 3/9 in class
– 200 points
Visual Presentation 150 Points – Due 4/7 – Can be a video, a PowerPoint, a Prezi, a
Google Presentation or a live debate.