Research Paper Topic List
Politics
No mandatory life sentences for juveniles
--brain development
--youth = product of environment
--youth with adult criminals results in more offenses (by youth)
(Con): adult time for adult crime
New healthcare proposal is beneficial
--legality of bill
--people who benefit
--cost to the country
Drug offenders receive treatment (not jail)
--relapse into criminal activity
--save money
--will help individuals be law-abiding
Great Lakes Water Crisis
--environment
--Native American water practices
--long term advantage (battle over water)
Education
U.S. needs to implement national standards for education
--allow for standardized tests mandatory for graduation
--level playing field
--help prepare students for life after high school
(Con): favors majority view points
More restrictions on junk food in schools
--health
--less junk food will improve academics
--social advantages (happiness?)
(Con): economic loss
Mandatory physical education
--obesity
--lifelong lessons/lifestyle
--academics
Mandatory foreign language instruction
--improving test scores
--national security
--opens opportunities (jobs; worldwide competition)
(Con): one universal language is good
Increased funding for art programs in schools
Pro 1: Art improves creativity and other ‘soft skills’
Pro 2: Can help at-risk students stay in school
Pro 3: Improves problem-solving and communication skills
More parents should consider boarding schools for their kids
Pro 1: boarding schools result in independent students
Pro 2: provides habitual routine (in cases of divorce, instability)
Pro 3: happier at life and school?
Social
Effects on dieting
--physical effects
--emotionally/mentally
--dieting = ineffective
Fast food industry (negative impact)
--government costs
--environment costs
--health costs
Legalization of prostitution
--health benefits
--economic benefits
--safety benefits
Benefits of vegetarianism
--health
--animals
--environmental impacts
Child Pageants should be banned
Pro 1: pageants have sexualization leads to poor body image
Pro 2: lose innocence of childhood – grow up too quickly (abuse?)
Social Networking sites should be banned for teenagers
--too easy for sexual predators to access children
--spend too much time on sites, compromising ability to do well on schoolwork
--use as a replacement for real social interaction
Social networking sites are beneficial to teens
--outlet for self-expression
--fosters a sense of community among teens who may not normally interact
--can use to learn about safety and privacy on the internet
Environment/Energy
Investing in nuclear energy
--efficient
--environmentally friendly
--renewable resource
(Con): one mistake = catastrophe
Investing in solar energy
--reduce dependence on fossil fuels
--environmentally friendly
--unlimited supply
--advances in technology due to funding will make it more affordable
Eating locally
--reduces pollution
--benefits small-scale local farmers who cannot compete with big companies
--preserves farmland and communities
(con): more expensive and less convenient
Possible Topics for Persuasive Research Paper
Social
--water crisis
--should water be privatized?
--who has rights to the fresh water of Lake Michigan?
--has the water crisis in Africa contributed to the AIDS epidemic?
--logging industry
--should the industry change its practices to be more eco-friendly?
--opium in Afghanistan
Political
--health care reform
--what’s the relationship between universal health care and the infant mortality rate?
homelessness? illegal immigration?
--illegal immigration
--effectiveness of hiring sites?
--current policies working? Comparing American policy to another country’s policy?
Should we re-structure our immigration policy? Do we owe more benefits to illegal
immigrants who work to support our country?
Education
--should the mayor take over MPS?
--educational models
--is the traditional American school day model working?
--are state standardized tests creating an achievement gap?
Environment/Health
--supermarkets impact
--fast food chains, environmental impacts
--cellulose-based ethanol vs. corn based ethanol (feasible?)
--solar-photovoltaic energy
--harmful effects of caffeine
--become addicted and leads to cycle of dependence
--raises blood pressure, increasing heart attack risk
--relying on caffeine to stay awake ignores the problem of sleep deprivation
--organic clothing industry
--suburban sprawl on environment
Sports
--do neighborhoods benefit from amateur sports?
--what is the relationship between sports and academics?
--should college athletes be paid?
--Already receive free education
--only a handful really generate revenue for the school, must keep it fair for all
--defend the purity of the sport – play for the game, not the money