“GET UP, STAND UP!” AMERICAN GOVERNMENT PROJECT TOPICS

Happy 70th Birthday to the late, great singer, Bob Marley. This reggae singer was famous for taking a stand against injustice. One of his most famous songs is “Get Up, Stand Up”. As a senior studying government at North Penn High School, you are expected to assert your position on interesting, controversial topics. As a culminating project, you will complete a research assignment exploring a controversial issue, you will examine both sides of the debate, and then you will produce both a written Position paper and a Public Service Announcement PSA = visual, persuasive / argumentative presentation in which you Get Up and Stand UP for that issue.

Think of the possibilities below but this is not an exclusive list:

Foreign Policy Issues  Whether the US should remain an ally of Saudi Arabia  Use of Force against ISIS  Providing Arms and support to the Ukrainian forces fighting against Russian backed separatists  World Hunger  The AIDS crisis  Sex trafficking Economic Policy  The National Debt rising to $18 trillion Issues  How to balance the National Budget – Cut Spending or Increase taxes  Should the Federal Reserve be abolished Social Policy Issues`  Gun Control – Should we restrict gun ownership?  The Affordable care Act – Good / Bad policy or unconstitutional  Same Sex marriage – Should it be legal nationwide?  Immigration Reform State Policy Issues  Gun Control – Same question for states  Education Funding - equal access for all to a quality education  No Child Left Behind – Testing  Legalization of Marijuana – Medical or recreational  Lowering or Raising the Drinking Age  Search and Seizure Rules under PA Law and the 4th Amendment  Privatize the Liquor Industry in PA  Use of Gambling to solve state budget issues Local Policy Issues  Abolishing Property taxes  Curfews  Relationship between the Police and communities – How to avoid another Ferguson Instructions: The students will work individually to complete the following steps in this PSA Project.

1.) Research Interesting and Controversial Topics 2.) Choose one topic as the focus of your PSA Project – Must be cleared with Mr. Haley 3.) Examine all sides of this issue using at least 4 sources, one of which must be a Primary Source. 4.) Write a clear and concise Thesis / Position on your chosen Issue 5.) Produce an outline detailing the issues from all sides / perspectives. 6.) Write a position paper laying out the issue, the arguments on both sides and taking a firm position on your chosen issue. The paper will include a works cited page including references to at least 3 sources one of which must be a Primary Source. 7.) Produce of Visual PSA - Persuasive Argumentative presentation at least 5 minutes in length. This presentation can be done by making a video, a PowerPoint, a Prezi, a Google Presentation, a Debate.

This project will be completed across Marking Period 3 and marking Period 4. The Total Points for the project will be 400 Points broken down as follows:

 Thesis / Position Statement 25 Points – Due 2/17 – A clear, one sentence position statement  Outline 25 Points – Due 2/24 - A 2 page detailed outline that lays out the position to be proven, the arguments / support for the position, the arguments against the position, and your counter to the arguments against your position.  Position Paper with Works Cited Page and parenthetical Documentation Due 3/9 in class – 200 points  Visual Presentation 150 Points – Due 4/7 – Can be a video, a PowerPoint, a Prezi, a Google Presentation or a live debate.