Pro Con Exercise

Write your topic: Mayor Bloomberg’s ban on the sales of sugary drinks over 16 oz.

Write your tentative question: Should the government be able to implement health regulations for the best of the society even if it will interfere with the people’s right to choose the kind of diet that they want?

Write your tentative thesis (this should be a statement that is debatable, with which someone could disagree):

Sometimes people do not make the right decision that is best for them. Similar to how a parent gives a set of rules for its child to follow, the government must also do the same for its citizens to promote healthy lifestyles and put an end to obesity.   (My argument might change)

Claims that support/strengthen your argument

1. Recent studies prove that avoiding sugary drinks and drinking sugar-free substitutes and water instead can slow down weight gain in children.

2. A conducted research was done where 224 overweight and obese teenagers were given bottle water and diet drinks for a year. In that year, they only gained an average of 3.5 pounds compared to another group of teenagers that gained on an average of 7.7 pounds.

3. There needs to be laws that will help people make the right decision that is best for them.

Claims that undermine/weaken/challenge your argument

1. The foundation of America is based on the idea of freedom. There are people who believe that they should have the choice to choose the type of diet that they want.

2. Five hundred New Yorkers were surveyed regarding the ban and 53 percent thought the ban was a bad idea. The people should have a say in this law because it is limiting their rights.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57447670-10391704/half-of-new-yorkers-say-bloomberg-ban-on-giant-sodas-is-bad-idea/

3. Passing this ban will set a precedent and this will lead to more restrictions which may lead to a violation to the people’s rights.

4. The government should be focusing on more important topics such as smoking in public that affects not only the smoker, but also the people around the smokers.

Research Paper Topics

I definitely have an interest in focusing my research paper on environmental issues. I either want to focus on the best forms of alternative energy, or the problem with global warming. I may end up combining both, which I think I will need to do in order to explain the necessity of alternative energies/the solution to the global warming problem. But at the same time, I want the paper to be focused and not to all over the place. So I’m also thinking that I might focus on the human impact on global warming and how we have changed/effected the environment over the years. It’s a pressing matter, but I’m afraid it might be too common. I’m hoping to find some little known, yet relevant, information that sparks my interest, but relates to the downfall of our environment.

On a semi-unrelated topic, I’m considering writing about all the chemicals and toxins found in processed foods. It kind of has to do with the environment in the sense that some of the toxins found in our food have to do with agriculture. In addition to the problems caused by the plants consumed by humans and the animals that we eat, I want to discuss the processed foods that we eat. There are so many unnatural foods that we are eating, and there are a lot of horrible health effects from them. But there are alternative foods that people can and should be eating, I want to include what foods/preparations/brands that are available to people.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/13/the-5-worst-alternative-energy-sources_n_958879.html#s358742&title=More_From_The

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/global-warming-basics/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ayala-laufercahana-md/fast-food-health_b_2581621.html