Research Writing

From national broadsheets and international corporations to the highest echelons of government, reports are commissioned to provide concise and accurate information. Reports give their readers the means to make an informed decision. This assignment asks you to examine a topic that you have chosen. As well as providing specific analysis of two different sides of this issue, you should analyze your research and findings.

 

Animal Experimentation

Animal rights

Appearance (Body image, societal expectations, anorexia, bulimia, plastic surgery, tattoos)

Cloning

Death penalty (Executions, capital punishment, age/mental limitations)

Diet (Fad diets, health concerns, obesity as a national health problem)

English as an official language

Environment (Greenhouse Effect/global warming, land use/development)

Food (Organic, adulterated, genetically engineered)

Hunting

Immigration and changing nationality (Illegal aliens, border crossings, benefits)

Internet (Privacy, censorship and offensive material, hackers)

Organs (Donations, transplantation, waiting lists, animal/artificial organs)

Population

Prisons (Overcrowding, rights of prisoners, do they work?)

Privacy (Rights, needs of law enforcement,)

Recycling

Rock/Rap music (Lyrics/performers encourage violence, drug use, etc.)

School dress codes

Smoking (Advertisement, public places, smokeless tobacco, secondhand smoke, tobacco company liability)

Television (Reality TV, violence on TV, values)

movie review; Taxi Driver

(1) Watch the film Taxi Driver. How would Schopenhauer analyze Travis Bickle’s behavior? (Hint: How is Travis related to the painful structure of willing? Does Travis achieve “Denial of Will?)

The PATRIOT Act

Analyze the ethical implications and homeland security implications on one of the following topic:

The PATRIOT Act in regards to its authorization of surveillance and search and seizure.

At minimum, the paper should accomplish the following:
•    Give a concise introduction to the topic and state the thesis of the paper.
•    Give a thorough analysis of the ethical implications on the chosen topic.
•    Give a thorough analysis of the homeland security implications on the chosen topic.
•    Give a final analysis of the topic, drawing on the stated ethical and homeland security implications, justifying/not justifying its use through the Just
•    War Theory (this should be as objective as possible—it is not an opinion piece).
•    Give a final conclusion drawing together all research and analysis.
•    Use at least 3 assigned sources and 5 additional sources found through outside research.