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[ 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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Revised (December 3, 2007)
Created (December 1998)
Current Author: Vicki Wainscott and Frank Baudino
Original Author: Vicki Wainscott and Tom Hardee
Links Verified (February 2004)