capstone: open topics caps 4360.16 dr. brian william smith
TRANSCRIPT
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