Assignment: Public Issues You May Choose From:
Below is a list of topics you may choose from. If you check with me and we discuss it, you may choose other topics. Why this list? They are current. They are controversial. They will set you up for success. If you want to choose another topic, will it set you up for success on this? Should foods that include ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be required to be labeled as such?
Washington has no income tax, but a relatively high sales tax. Oregon has no sales tax, but does have an income tax. Which method of taxation has the most desirable impacts on society?
Should Bellevue declare itself a sanctuary city with regards to individuals in the country illegally?
Should high school students in Washington State be required to pass an ethnic studies course to graduate?
Should public K-12 educational funding be permitted to be used at private educational facilities? (vouchers/charter schools)
Should Washington State offer free college tuition at community colleges?
Info-gathering about your public issue:
First: How will you keep track of your info? You must have a system for recording what you learn.
• On paper? Or on your computer? We will discuss a variety of options.
Second: You must record each source. At minimum record the following assiduously:
1. Name of the news outlet and/or URL:
2. Title of the article:
3. Date the article was written:
4. Is the article labeled? Is it news? News analysis? Editorial opinion? Op-Ed opinion?
5. How does Vanessa Otero classify the news outlet?
(And do you agree with Otero based on what you find?)
Third: Be clear-are you learning about the issue? ...or about past efforts to reform the issue?
• You need both. Be clear in your mind which you are learning about.
Fourth: Gathering the actual info
There is not one simple way to gather info about an issue.
Still, you should have a focused approach. Here are some approaches I often use.
A: The five Ws (It is not enough to only answer these questions. But it is a start.)
- What? (What has happened?)
- Where? (Where did it take place?)
When? (When did this take place?)
Who? (Who are some important people that have been involved?) Why? (What are some reasons this has taken place?)
B: Here is a more open-ended approach; if it is helpful, consider using it in some cases.
What is known about the issue? What is not known about the issue?
C: Would it help to gather info on a timeline? If so, consider creating one for part of your research.
D: These are prompts that enable you to go deeper than the five Ws:
• Who are stakeholders in this issue? That is, what groups of people (or communities or individuals) have an important connection to this issue? (The connection may be that they are affected by the issue; and/or they have been involved with the issue in some way. This gives them a strong point of view.)
• What has occurred in the past that is relevant to this issue?
• For what reason(s) did this/these take place?
• What data exist related to this issue? How do we know about this data? (the data might be statistics, it might be scientific findings, it will be some kind of evidence)
• What conclusions-whether you find them reliable or not-have been drawn by authorities or stakeholders?
• What should happen about this issue? What obstacles are preventing this from happening?
What other questions would help you develop expertise on the issue?