assignment 5 eng 215

Topic 1: Should funding for the U.S space program be changed?

Government should not reduce funds that support space programs. Space exploration protects us from asteroids. We need a well-funded space program which must have the capacity to monitor asteroids which have potential to destroy earth. Space program brings great discoveries. Space research has brought many innovations that are used in everyday life (Steinberg, 2011). Again, it inspires younger generation to specialize in scientific courses or science education. Again, we need to colonize space since we have experienced enough damage here on earth as a result of space effects. Earth currently contains almost 6.9 billion people we need to put all these people somewhere hence colonizing space is the big dream (McCurdy, 2011).

Space administration is one of the programs that U.S government has decided it cannot continue funding. United States government does not believe that space programs are worthy more than 0.5 percent of the United States budget. The government decided to cut down money directed to space program in order to reduce deficit and also boost the economy. In this case, resources that are directed into space program are investment that can stimulate and improve economy. The most crucial reason why space program must be funded is defense. Specifically, the whole planet and all species need protection from space threats (Steinberg, 2011).

The audience will be all stakeholders including government officials, scientists, science students and any other interested party.

Topic 2: Should taxes on alcohol and tobacco be increased to help pay for rising medical costs?

Increasing taxes on tobacco and alcohol will reduce diseases which are curable United State.  According to the CDCP (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), alcohol and smoking causes about 443,000 deaths per year. Doctors estimates that about 44.8 million drunkards and smokers will prematurely die of drug related complication. Drunkards and Smokers are more likely to suffer from heart related diseases (Collins et al 2008).  Low levels or quantities of tobacco also increase risks of poor cardiac performance. Alcohol and smoking contents increases risks of stroke to users, pregnancy problems and premature births.

Many policy makers argue that, tax increase on tobacco would be regressive. The centre part of their argument is that, low income earners tend to smoke more which increase their consumption budget. Studies have proven that, many people cannot fully account for their health risks of smoking and many are likely to quit smoking (Karanikolos et al 2013). Therefore, the issue of taxes and controlling smoking needs more research. The cost of administering medicals to affected people is more than the preventive costs. This form the basis of research on this topic.

The audience in this case will be policy makers, people affected by alcohol and cigarette smoking and doctors.

Topic 3: Should colleges and universities expel students who are caught cheating on exams and / or plagiarizing their homework assignments?

Cheating is a crime in exams rooms or in assignments given to individual student. Cheating has negative consequences to students who are found guilty of the same. It lowers student’s confidence and self-respect (Simkin et al 2010). It becomes a behavior which is hard to stay away from it once you become addicted. Students who are caught cheating lose trust from their peers and also from their teachers. It is a waste of time for students going to schools since no knowledge will be developed (Davis et al, 2011).

Modern society seems to promote and encourage anything that it takes for one to succeed or win. People have it in their mind that, it is okay to step on other people as you go to the top. Lack of values such as integrity and honesty are major contributors to exam cheating and plagiarism. Therefore, this research topic will study how exam cheating and plagiarism affects student’s performance (Dvis et al, 2011).

The audience will be parents, teachers, students and education stakeholders.

Reference

Steinberg, A. (2011). Space policy responsiveness: The relationship between public opinion and

NASA funding. Space Policy, 27(4), 240-246.

McCurdy, H. E. (2011). Space and the American imagination. JHU Press.

Collins, D. J., & Lapsley, H. M. (2008). The costs of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug abuse to

Australian society in 2004/05. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing.

Karanikolos, M., Mladovsky, P., Cylus, J., Thomson, S., Basu, S., Stuckler, D., ... & McKee, M.

(2013). Financial crisis, austerity, and health in Europe. The Lancet, 381(9874), 1323-

1331.

Simkin, M. G., & McLeod, A. (2010). Why do college students cheat?. Journal of Business

Ethics, 94(3), 441-453.

Davis, S. F., Drinan, P. F., & Gallant, T. B. (2011). Cheating in school: What we know and what

we can do. John Wiley & Sons.

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