Research paper topics

Choose one of the following topics for a 10- to 12-page research paper, due April 15, 2010.

• Deficit spending by the U.S. government
• Militarization of civilian police forces
• Red-light speeding cameras
• The tea party movement
• U.S. responses to Iranian and/or North Korean nuclear weapons development

Refine your topic into a clearly worded topic sentence no later than Tuesday, February 16, 2010.

Current events question for Tuesday's quiz

Who is the U.S. congressional representative for the district that includes McMinnville?

Instructions for plagiarism essay

If you missed the plagiarism examination or scored less than 80 on the exam, you're required to write a 300- to 500-word essay as a make-up. The grade on your essay will replace your exam grade. Your essay must include the following information:

• Definition of plagiarism and why it's considered a serious academic offense,
• Standards in this course for determining intentional and unintentional plagiarism,
• The penalties in this course for either intentional or unintentional plagiarism,
• Difference between a direct and indirect quote and what is required to keep each from being plagiarism,
• Specific information on exactly when quotation marks or indentations are required in referencing a source.

In addition to providing good information on plagiarism, please pay careful attention to spelling, punctuation, and grammar, as they will be factored into your essay grade. It should go without saying that if you reference any source (including this blog post) in writing your paper, you must attribute that source properly (in MLA format, as best you're able to decipher it from LBH, Section 46).

Essays are due no later than Tuesday, October 12, 2010. Please see me before then if you hit any snags or need any assistance in writing your essay.

Note: This post was updated on September 28, 2010, to reflect requirements for the current term.

Vocabulary words for Tuesday, 2/9/10

As always, please be familiar with the meanings of these words before doing the day's assigned readings.

aegis
comity
connotation, denotation
copious
etymology
mendacity
monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, polygyny, polyamory
perspicacity
wanton (adj)

Readings and questions for reflection for Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Read the following two articles and be prepared in class to discuss answers to the following questions.

“Its Time to Stop the ‘Redneck’ Slurs” by Danny Glover

1. What negative term does Glover use to describe the word “redneck”?

2. How, according to Glover, do some writers from other regions use the word “redneck” inappropriately?

3. What kind of bias does the college student’s essay describe?

4. Do you agree that “For whatever reason, it remains perfectly acceptable to insult a large swath of the U.S. population—the common folk who live in ‘flyover country’—as ‘bitter’ or ‘racist’ or ‘redneck’”? Have you ever encountered this kind of bias? Write two or three sentences on your thoughts and feelings about his idea.


"One Man, Many Wives, Big Problems” by Jonathan Rauch

1. What is the main idea of Rauch’s essay? Does he state it explicitly? If so, where?

2. On what grounds does Rauch oppose polygamy? What evidence does he cite to support his position?

3. Is polygamy an “individual choice issue”? Why or why not? How did Rauch’s essay affect your views on this issue?

4. Is marriage an area the government ought to regulate? Why or why not?

5. If true, is it relevant that “no polygamous society has ever been a true liberal democracy”? Why or why not?