Research Paper

 

Over the course of the year, we have written many impromptu essays.  For this paper, we are going to write a longer, more thoughtful piece. 

 

This essay must have

                  Over 1200 words

                  Proper nouns

                  Active verbs

                  Transitions

                  Clauses

                  Sentences 10-20 words long

                  A reference to a book you have read

                  A reference to a poem

                  Several instances of reference based research

 

But that is the easy partŠ.

 

Here are the topics

 

                  Why might some boys where shorts all year long?

 

                  Why do some students wear an Ipod through the halls all day?

 

                  Why is April Foolıs Day in April?

 

                  Why doesnıt McDonaldıs  or Burger King provide school lunch?

 

                  Why donıt other schools have an open campus?

 

                  How different will e-mail, the web, and texting make you from your parents?

 

                  Why doesnıt school run through the summer and take December, January, and February off?

 

                  Why should I buy my kids a Playstation 3 (or Nintendo Wii orŠ)

 

                  What would happen if gas cost $5 a gallon?

 

                  What would happen if you got paid a hundred a week to come to school, but you could be fired?

 

                  What would happen if we moved the school to the mountains, built a dorm, and kept everyone there for six days a week?

 

                  What would happen if everyone had to play a sport?

 

                  What would happen if everyone had to be in a performance group?

 

                  What would happen if all boys and men had to pay child support for their kids?

 

                  What would happen if the cheapest cigarettes were $10 a pack?

 

                  What would happen if the cheapest beer was $10 a six? (other alcohol also rises in cost)

 

                  How would Pittsfield be different if Target, Walmart, and Home Depot were all to leave?

 

                  How would school be different if we had a dress code?

 

                  How would school be different if everyone had to work 25 hours a week?

 

                  How would Pittsfield be different if Route 7 did not run up Main Street?

 

                  Why should we spend a term in New York City?

 

                  Why should we spend a term in upstate Maine?

 

                  How would school be different if teachers were paid $100,000 a year?

 

                  Why should we only eat food grown within 100 miles of us?

 

                  Why should we ban high fructose corn syrup?

 

                  Why should we all learn Spanish?