Capstone: Open Topics

Caps 4360.16Dr. Brian William Smith

Office Hours

• Today 10-2

• Tomorrow 11-2

• No office hours on Friday

Learning Outcomes Covered Today

• Define an appropriate and current problem that is being actively discussed by real decision makers at a specific level of government.

SOCIAL PROBLEMS: THE ROOT OF CAPSTONE

What is a Social Problem

• It must harm a significant number of people or an influential segment of the population

• It must occur frequently (not a 1 time event)

• It must be able to be remedied by collective human action (this means Government)

What is Not a Social problem

• Something that is produced by natural or biological conditions (getting older, hair loss)

• Something that is purely a private issue

• Something that is a pure ethical argument (what I believe is right and what is wrong)

If No one is trying to solve your social problem, then it is not a

good Capstone topic

SOCIAL PROBLEM VS. SOCIAL POLICY

Examples:Social Problem

Immigration

Failing Public Schools

National Debt

Global Warming

Controversial Solution

Dream Act

Race to the Top

Fair Tax

Cap and Trade

A Good topic has a social problem, with a solution, and decision makers are actively trying to solve it

GOOD AND BAD TOPICS

Good Topics are not statements

• The thesis is stated in the form of a question because your Capstone paper explores both sides of a controversy without bias.

• Check your topic question for neutral language. Avoid words like “wrong,” “prevent,” “avoid” that indicate you hold a position on the topic.

Good Topics are Normative

• The Opposite of Empirical “Will Eating Pop Rocks and Soda cause your stomach to explode”

• Normative is value based

• Usually involves the words “should” or “ought to”

“Should the Federal Government allow off-shore drilling”

Good Topics are controversial

• They do not involve symbolic politics

• There are real people (interest groups, legislators, political parties) who care about your topic

• The above groups will answer yes or no to your question

Good Topics Have A Solution

• A social problem without a solution, is just Drunk Talk– Who is/was the best president?– A lion vs. a bear in a cage match?– Who would win in a fight Batman or Spiderman?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpQWjvet9o4

• Real Solutions take the form of policy outputs (laws)

Good Topics have a clear level of analysis

• A good topic has some level of government actively working on it

• A theoretical “government” solution is not a good topic

A Good Topic is Practical

• Ask yourself, can you write 30 pages on this?

• Can you find people to interview

• Can you do a service project on your topic

What is not a good topic• Banned Topics

• Dilemmas from other nations and esoteric foreign policy

• Lopsided Topics and Culture War issues (science vs. values)

• Conspiracy theories (short on evidence)

• Issues not subject to government regulation in some way (religion, private business)

• Sports Issues: i.e. BCS policies

Good or Bad?• What are the effects of Embryonic stem cell

research?

• Should the US lift the trade embargo on North Korea?

• Should the use of cell phones be prohibiting while driving?

• Why is the war in Afghanistan wrong?

Good or Bad• Is global warming detrimental to human existence?

• Should the Federal Government pass a cap-and-trade bill to combat global warming

• Why has the federal government diminished the rights of citizens since 9/11?

Good or Bad

• Should we build the Keystone XL pipeline?

• Should the burning of the flag be made unconstitutional

• Should Botswana charge fees for state education?

Good Macro Topic Areas• State and Federal Income programs (SNAP, TANF, etc)• Economic Policies – (taxes, tax policy, incentives and sanctions)• Immigration – • Energy and the Environment• Foreign Policy with troublesome nations• Social Security• Budgets and deficits• Education at the State level• Campaign finance/electoral reform• Transportation (federal, state and local)• Entitlement Reform

TOPIC PROPOSALS

Topic Proposals

• Due in Class on 1/28/2013

• Paper must be typed

• Be Ready to make some changes (for the better)

Do I have a good topic?

1. Clearly Identified Social Problem

2. Policy history on my topic

3. Legitimate Controversial Policy Solution

4. Pro and Con Sides