Exer111

HU1440: Module 2 Application of Toulmin’s Model of Argument

Research 2.1

Creating a Visual Argument

1

Note: Please try to limit your topic choice to one of the topics listed below. If you cannot find a topic here,

Please contact your instructor and discuss possible topic choices with her or him.

Also, be sure you are aware of how you feel about the topic. Are there solutions to the issue? Can they be

enacted?

Health, Food and Global Issues

 Are there risks with genetically engineered foods?

 Is there a connection between poverty and obesity?

 Is it socially responsible to market unhealthy food to children?

 Obesity–genetic, environmental, emotional or totally avoidable?

 Food-borne illnesses/ poisoning–how do we protect ourselves?

 Chemical pesticides–effect on our foods, our bodies.

 Agricultural pollution–should we be concerned?

 Fossil fuels and global warming–is this really dangerous? What can be done to improve the

situation?

 Global food crisis–why are some not getting food, what can be done to improve the situation?

 Animal rights/animal abuse—what place do animals have in our society?

 Foreign aid, should the USA assist foreign countries financially (or with

food/commodities/medicine/medical care) before they help their own?

 Should society view addiction as a disease?

 Drug rehabilitation programs in prisons.

 Should society be more or less sympathetic to drug addicts? Why?

 Should cigarette smoking be banned?

Crime and Punishment

 What are the best ways to address domestic violence?

 Are there solutions for addressing gang violence?

 Graffiti–when is it art?

 Juvenile Crime–should parents be held responsible?

 Prisoner’s Rights–should they have any?

HU1440: Module 2 Application of Toulmin’s Model of Argument

Research 2.1

Creating a Visual Argument

2

 Cybercrimes–How deep do cybercrimes run? How should one be cautious? Are there enough

punishments for Cyber Stalkers?

 Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?

Technology

 Are cell phones dangerous?

 The future of the Internet–are the experts right? Should we be worried?

 Plagiarism and images–what constitutes responsible use or words and images?

 Are social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace bad for those who use them?

 The death of the American newspaper and or magazines–is this something to mourn?

 Does technology make life unnecessarily difficult? How much is too much?

Ideas and Government

 How has the American Dream changed in the last sixty years (for better or for worse–take a side)?

 Free Speech–is it really free?

 Is torture ever acceptable?

 Do we have a throw-away society?

 Who should help the homeless?

 What should we do about the national debt?

 Is anarchy good in theory?

 USA’s role as World’s Police–does this role exist? Is it working? Is it just?

 The image of the USA has become negative. Do you agree with this statement?

Entertainment, Sport, Art and Culture

 Male Bashing on TV—are the roles in series such as King of Queens, the Simpsons, Family Guy and

others accurate portrayals of the man of the 21st century?

 Effects of the glorification of sex, violence, machismo, manipulation, feminism, etc. (narrow this

down and focus on a genre of films or an HBO or Showtime miniseries)

 Downloading music or movies from Internet–when and where does it become illegal?

HU1440: Module 2 Application of Toulmin’s Model of Argument

Research 2.1

Creating a Visual Argument

3

 Tattoos or body piercings–cultural and ethnic issues

 Should there be federal funding for the arts?

 Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?

 Recreational hunting–a necessity or an ethical issue?

 Should men get paternity leave from work?

 Should there be a reduction in the marketing of violent toys, games and entertainment to children?

 Are beauty pageants exploitative? Should parents pressure their kids to participate?

 Drug testing at work

 Unfair policies/practices of a specific company

 Sexual harassment in the workplace–is enough being done?