The first topic I have chosen is “Should regulations for home schools be changed.” I chose this topic because there has been debates for years questioning the effectiveness of children whose parents have chosen to home school them. Excessive budget cuts to educational programs and overcrowded classrooms have led many parents to homeschooling. While many individuals feel that home school hinders students from learning at their grade level which ultimately withdraws social interaction with fellow peers, other individuals feel that home schools provide much needed structure that focuses on the child. The audience for this topic would be parents of school aged children who are thinking of homeschooling their children. The preliminary thesis statement for this topic is “State regulations for home schools should be changed to ensure at-risk children aren’t neglected, students are socially active in the community, and educators have access to adequate funding.” The two sources I plan to use are HSLDA and As Home School Numbers Rise, Regulations Fall an article from The Kansas City Star.
The second topic I have chosen is “Should minors who commit violent crimes be tried as adults.” Chose this topic because violent crimes committed by juveniles is on the rise; and many of these crimes are being given a slop on the wrist because of the minors age at the time. Many of these juveniles become repeat offenders because the judicial system has not held them accountable for their actions. The audience for this topic would be minor’s parents. The preliminary thesis statement for this topic is “Minors who commit violent crimes should be tried as adults because it brings justice to the victims, deters the crime rate, and holds them accountable for their actions. The two sources I plan to use are What’s Too Young for Life in Prison a news report by ABC News and Capital Punishment for Minors: An Eighth Amendment Analysis an academic journal.
The third topic I chose is “Should the federal minimum wage be 15 dollars an hour.” I chose this topic because of the many strikes that has transpired within the last year demanding higher wages for workers. The current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour isn’t enough for a family of four to survive on. With prices on the rise, low wages are causing more families to depend on the government for assistance. The audience for this topic would be all United States citizens. The preliminary thesis statement for this topic is “The federal minimum wage should be raised to 15 dollars an hour because it decreases the use of government assistance, lifts individuals out of poverty, and reduces income inequality. The two sources I plan to use are Raise the Wage by The White House and Worker Voice: To Raise the Wage from Cities to the Nation by The U.S Department of Labor.