College reform essay

Essay 1: Topic Proposal You will write about the same topic for each of this course’s essay assignments. ​Therefore, it is important to carefully think through your chosen topic in a formal topic proposal. To help you successfully complete your assignments, I am requiring that you choose one of the following topics. Approved Topics From Which to Choose:

● Security and Privacy: ○ Should the government monitor its citizens’ personal communications (phone,

email, social media, etc.) to identify potential terrorist threats, or does such surveillance infringe on the right to privacy?

● Mass Shooters/Shootings: ○ What causes people to commit mass shootings? What action(s) might prevent

mass shootings and/or minimize their casualties? ● Religious Liberty:

○ Should businesses or individuals have the right to refuse service to people with whom they disagree religiously or morally, or is this unjust discrimination?

● Gender and the Military: ○ Should women be allowed in combat units, or should they be limited to

non-fighting jobs like intelligence, logistics, etc.? ● Gender and the Media:

○ How does the media (or a specific media, such as superhero movies or reality television) depict male and females? What images and roles are primarily shown? What are the effects of these depictions on viewers or society?

● Technology and Learning: ○ Do smartphones, tablets, or other “one-to-one” devices improve student

learning and achievement, or is such technology detrimental to learning? ● College Athletics:

○ What are the advantages and disadvantages of colleges and universities spending significant sums of money on athletic programs?

● Culture and the Media: ○ What does the popularity and prevalence of the science fiction and fantasy

genres (from ​Star Wars ​to ​Twilight ​to Superheroes) say about contemporary culture? What can we expect in the future?

● College Reform: ○ What reforms, if any, would improve college students’ learning, problem-solving,

and critical thinking? ● Music and Culture:

○ How has pop music evolved over the last decade (or so), and what does this say about contemporary culture? What can we expect for music’s future?

● Social Media Activism: ○ How has social media changed the way social activists work? What are the

powers and limits of social media activism?

● Minimum Wage: ○ Should the minimum wage be raised? How would raising it affect workers,

companies, and the economy? ● Cognitive Bias and Misinformation:

○ Why do people persist in believing false information even after learning contradictory but truthful information? Why is misinformation so effective?

● Genetically-Modified Organisms: ○ Do GMOs pose potential health risks? Should GMO products be labeled for

consumers, or should food producers not be at a competitive disadvantage for using GMOs in their products?

● Student Engagement and Motivation: ○ What are the characteristics of engaged, motivated college students? How can

colleges and professors foster these traits in their students? ● Technological Breakthroughs:

○ What is a relatively new technology with revolutionary potential that you want to learn more about? How can/will it change the world? What needs to happen for this change to occur? (Examples include nuclear fusion, virtual reality, etc.)

Expectations The topic proposal should answer the following questions in an essay format (introduction, thesis, body paragraphs, conclusion): Questions about the Topic

● What is the topic, and why did you choose it? ● What do you already know about the topic? ● What else will you need to learn to write about the topic? ● How will you learn more about the topic?

o What databases, journals, websites, etc., will you use? ▪ Be specific. “Google” is not a website. Wikipedia is acceptable as a

starting point, but it should not be the only research tool you plan to use.

Questions about your Content ● What aspects of this topic will your paper cover or address?

o Be detailed and specific. ● Can you adequately address the topic in a 1500 word essay? Explain. ● Is the topic is, or can be, debatable enough for argumentative essay? Explain.

Questions about your Audience

● Who is the most likely or natural audience for this topic? ● Why is this audience the most likely or natural one? ● Describe this audience.

o What are its interests? o What are its values and beliefs? o How would you describe its “discourse” or “discourse community?”

● How will you engage your audience’s interest in the topic?

o What will make the content of your paper compelling to your audience? ▪ Your thoughts on this question will likely evolve during your research and

writing processes, but it will be helpful to begin thinking about it. ● What do you need to learn about your audience? ● How will you learn about your audience?

Your introduction should identify the topic, explain your interest in it, and state/foreshadow the main points of your body paragraphs. Your thesis should be a one-sentence summary of your proposal. The body paragraphs will answer the questions above in detail. The conclusion will restate the proposal’s thesis and summarize its main points. Requirements

● Proposes an appropriate, narrow topic ● Thoroughly answers each of the questions above in an essay format ● Writes to a formal academic audience ● Runs at least 1000 words