Owens Library Hot Paper Topics

The purpose of this page is not for writing general informational papers; rather, this page is designed for students writing position or persuasive papers. This is particularly helpful for assignments in English 112. Some professors limit topics, such as abortion and capital punishment, so it is best to check with your specific teacher regarding topics chosen from these pages.

The "Find a topic" link in CQ Researcher is a good source for finding a topic. To refine a topic use the "Browse a topic" link.

The Issues & Controversies of Facts.COM offers "in-depth investigations of today's top issues."

Topics	Issues Under Debate
Abortion See also "Population Explosion"	what limits are responsible? what limits are realistic? how to protect abortion doctors, pregnant women and the unborn protection of abortion clinics vs right to protest partial birth abortion scientific evidence vs definition of viability stem cell research unborn victims of violence
Affirmative Action See also "Racial Discrimination"	relative equality has been achieved vs serious inequities continue can racial balance in business, education, military be achieved without policies that promote Affirmative Action
AIDS	rights of the individual vs community safety (or campus safety) funding for research U.S. obligation to third world countries manufacturing of generic drugs vs U.S. pharmaceutical companies how contagious diseases "jump" from animal hosts to humans
Alcohol on Campus	limits for campus safety vs personal freedom
Alcohol and Driving	leniency because of condition vs community safety revoking drivers license vs being able to attend classes and work
Animals	animal rights vs medical research humane treatment of animals vs factory farms animal welfare in slaughter houses animal protection vs business, employment interests
Athletes	school prestige vs academic standards
Birth Order	correlation to academic achievement? behavior problems? creativity?
Bush, George W.	domestic policy separation of church and state judge nominations and make up of supreme court congressional opposition to presidential nominees/filibusters Affirmative action erosion of civil liberties vs protection against terrorism Patriot Act One and Two health care tax cut as economic stimulation needs of the states vs needs of the individuals budget deficits and deficit spending rich vs poor
Capital Punishment	fear of mistake vs demands of justice
Censorship	needed in public school library/curriculum? needed in entertainment industry? needed on the Internet?
Child Care	business vs parental responsibility right to privacy of a child with AIDS vs safety of other children
Clinton, Bill	legacy will be moral failure vs economic success
Clinton, Hilary	model for political activism vs taking advantage of being "first lady"
Cloning	potential benefits vs potential abuses
Computer Crimes	online porn vs freedom of speech stalking, invasion of privacy vs reasonable access hacking crimes--workable solutions?
Copyright	is downloading of media (music, videos, software) infringing on the rights of media producers and causing economic hardships on media creators? should media producers prosecute students and individuals that they suspect of downloading copyrighted materials?
Crime, Violent	victim's rights vs rights of the accused should hate crimes be a separate category
Date Rape	mutual consent vs exploitation campuses with "no touch" policy
Day Care	government support vs parental financing benefits vs harmful effects
Drug Abusers	punishment vs treatment
Drugs	community safety vs legalization United States military involvement in Colombian drug trade?
Eating Disorders	causes? society's portrayal of women
Education, Parochial	no government support vs fairness to parents who pay twice for education separation of church and state vs religion's contribution to the public good
Education, Policy	placement by age vs placement by academic ability mainstreaming students with disabilities vs special classrooms for their special needs required standardized tests for advancement vs course requirements only national standardized tests vs local control of education multicultural/bilingual education vs traditional basics teacher competency tests vs degree requirements only teacher's needs/demands vs teaching as a service profession
Education, Religion in Public Schools	courses with religious content? creation science in science class vs evolution only permit religious groups on school grounds during school hours? prayer at school functions?
Education, Youth Problems	drug and alcohol abuse, pregnancy, suicide zero tolerance toward violence vs toughness with flexibility permit corporal punishment
Environment	global warming pollution, air, and water endangered species rain forests alternative energy? excessive burden on industries? drilling for oil in Alaska in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) gasoline consumption vs SUV's popularity wildlife protection vs rights of developers clean air and water standards--weakened vs strengthened
Family Violence	protecting victims vs rights of the accused women who kill abusing husbands vs punishment for murder marital rape? how to protect children vs respect for parental rights children who kill abusing parents child abuse--workable solutions?
Farming	organic farming vs mainline use of chemical sprays how to best protect the environment; conservation family vs corporate farms Mad Cow disease
Foreign Policy	interventionism? third world debt and World Bank/International Monetary Fund military support vs economic development of third world countries human rights violations European Union in competition with the U.S. unilateralism new Europe vs old Europe relevance of the United Nations Neocon role in foreign policy Christian right influence on foreign policy Pentagon vs State Department nation building as a policy
Gambling and Lotteries	easy way to earn revenues vs social damage individual freedom vs social damage
Gang Violence	youth gangs, prison gangs, international gangs--workable solutions?
Gay Rights	marriage rights? adoption rights? need special rights for protection?
Generational Conflict	elderly to share in the tax burden vs government support of elderly future of social security
Government Regulation	rights of business vs protection of workers, consumers, environment
Gun Control	community and police safety vs unrestricted right to bear arms
Hate Groups See "White Supremacist Groups"
Health	low carbohydrate vs low fat diets benefits of weight training vs aerobics how much weekly exercise is needed to achieve lasting health benefits?
Homeless	urban restrictions vs needs of the destitute workable solutions?
Hunger See "Poverty"
Illegal Aliens	access to public school and public programs? policing borders--workable solutions?
Immigration	realistic limits vs openness toward people in need English as official language vs respect for diversity
Iraq	international trade weapons of mass destruction democratization war against tyranny and terrorism vs grab for oil "shock and awe" looting of art treasures and cultural heritage U.S. occupation vs liberation Iraqi run vs U.S. puppet state Operation Iraqi Freedom
Juvenile Criminals	sentencing as juveniles vs as adults beginning age for capital punishment?
Lotteries See "Gambling and Lotteries"
Medical Treatment	limits on extraordinary, costly treatments vs doing everything possible nutritional/alternative therapy vs mainstream medical treatment insurance coverage for alternative treatment? government grants for alternative treatment research? health superiority of alternative treatments? assisted suicide vs preservation of life
Medical Experiments	ethics of experimentation on humans? ethics of experimentation with aborted fetuses? ethics of experimentation on animals?
Military Policy	preemptive strike policy precision weapons intelligence reliability Afghanistan - a success or stalemate
North Korea	military intervention vs diplomacy threats vs incentives South Korean/Chinese role direct talks
Police Work	police brutality vs dangers police face racially motivated brutality?
Politics	politician's right to privacy vs the public's right to know campaign financing reform vs reform is unworkable
Population Explosion	how serious? causes? workable solutions? funding abortion as a form of birth control in third world countries?
Pornography	limitation of social deterioration vs freedom of speech
Poverty (Domestic or International)	government responsibility vs private organization responsibility government support of religion-based poverty organizations? is hunger a serious problem in America? workable solutions?
Prison Overpopulation	building prisons vs alternative sentencing
Prostitution	concern about community deterioration vs individual freedom
Racial Discrimination See also "Affirmative Action"	protection of victims vs freedom of speech/rights of the accused how to improve race relations?
Rape See "Sexual Harassment" or "Family Violence"	do harsher punishments mean fewer convictions? date rape: consent vs exploitation
Religion in Politics	rights of religious citizens vs freedom from imposition (e.g. prayer in schools) religious motivation for political involvement vs cultural pluralism Christian Right's influence on foreign policy
Religious Cults	community safety vs freedom of religion and speech
Saddam-Hussein	human rights violations
School Violence	policing schools school's responsibility vs parental responsibility
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)	media coverage--accurate, unbiased, over dramatized world-wide epidemic vs temporary regional health crisis economic impact role of health organizations--CDC (Center for Disease Control) & WHO (World Health Organization) hot spots and new contagious diseases how contagious diseases "jump" from animal hosts to humans
Sex on Television	limits for community good vs freedom of speech
Sexual Harassment	protection of victims vs freedom of speech/rights of the accused campuses with "no touch" policy?
Space shuttle	safety of space shuttles after the Columbia tragedy NASA's future future of space flight
Stalkers	how to protect potential victims vs freedom of movement rights of victims vs rights of the accused
Surrogate Mothers	helping infertile couples vs ethical abuses
Taxation	progressive vs flat tax excessive taxes vs worthwhile programs
Terrorism	Osama Bin Laden World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda war on terrorism Afghanistan Taliban
Violence on Television	limits for community good vs freedom of speech
Welfare	necessary safety net vs creating dependency
White Supremacist Groups	community safety vs freedom of speech
Women	is there a glass ceiling? obstacles to women running for political office?

An additional Hot Topics page from the University of Louisville has some very good ideas.

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