Argumentative Research Final Project Topics You Have A Choic

Argumentative Research Final Projectthe Topicsyou Have A Choice Bet

ARGUMENTATIVE RESEARCH – FINAL PROJECT The Topics: You have a choice between one of the two following topics to explore Here’s the short version, and then you’ll see the extended. 1. Should guns be allowed on college campuses? 2. How do features of vice and corruption in modern New Orleans align with or differ from historical precedents?

1. With the numerous school shootings over the last two decades, especially in America as this is chiefly an American thing, one may wonder – What is the cause of all these shootings, and what can be done about the problem? Is there some root thing worth targeting, or has some perfect storm been created now—beyond our powers to stop it—and we should just accept frequent shootings as the price of living in America? In an essay of 1500 words you must answer the question Should guns be allowed on college campuses? (if you choose to, you may also include lower school). Three essays should be read in preparation: The first is Timothy Wheeler’s “There’s A Reason They Choose Schools.” The second is Malcolm Gladwell's "Thresholds of Violence: How School Shootings Catch On" [link available in Web Links at the bottom of Modules, or by Googling]. The third is Jesus M. Villahermosa's "Guns Don't Belong in the Hands of Administrators, Professors or Students" [Google it]. Optional is the fictional piece “American Tramplings,” available in our Writing Assignment #4 module. Your essay must be in MLA format again – refer to your checklist. Your work must have 6-8 outside sources. You must use at least one of the required readings, and may use all three. PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSIONS for ideas! (and please be civil there, as this is an emotional topic).

2. Also in an essay of 1500 words and with 6-8 outside sources… After reading the long work “Sex and the Historic City” (as a .pdf in our module), Write a research paper in which you argue how current issues of vice, prostitution, and land use in the New Orleans area are related to the many historical precedents described in the essay. Issues of gentrification, Airbnb, and post-Katrina master plans are all fair game. What, if anything, should be done to correct the problem?

Please note the essentials shown below The Four Pillars of Argument: This is an argumentative research paper, meaning you will take a stand on a debatable, current, controversial topic, formulate your own argumentative claim and support that claim with reasons, examples, evidence and discussion. You will use outside sources to develop and support your claim. You must pay attention to the 4 Pillars of Argument—thesis, evidence, refutation, conclusion as well as the rhetorical situation and the classical appeals throughout the paper. Make sure that your research paper includes:

1. Introductory Information: This will be a standard introductory paragraph(s) that introduces the topic and the position that you plan to take on the topic. It should grab the reader's attention and set the tone for the entire paper. There are several introductory strategies you can use. You must have a hook, grab the reader’s attention, and clarify the topic you will be discussing. This section may be longer than just one paragraph.
2. Thesis Statement/claim: This is your position statement, the argument you are making in the essay. You can present your thesis statement wherever you feel it works best—at the end of the introductory information, after the background information, before or after your counter-argument. It is your choice, but it must be clear what your topic is and what position you are taking on it.
3. Background Information: You should provide your readers with relevant background information as needed. You may include background information at the beginning of the paper or anywhere else that you need to provide context for a point you are making. Background information includes history, definitions, important legal cases, etc. Remember, the point of background info is to give your audience a context to understand the debate.
4. Reasons and Evidence: This is where you provide support for your thesis statement, the meat of your essay. You will present reasons to support your claim and then provide evidence to support these reasons. Devote at least one or two paragraphs to each reason and be sure to provide evidence to substantiate the reasons. Remember to use the RENNS (reasons, examples, names, numbers, and the senses) to provide support. You should find your evidence through your research efforts. You must provide 3-4 reasons in support of your claim.
5. Refutation (Counter-Argument/Rebuttal): When presenting an argument, you must discuss the opposing position's reasons and evidence and offer a rebuttal and/or refutation. Addressing the opposition assures that you are aware of the this point of view. This refutation does not need to be in a single paragraph, isolated from the rest of the paper. You can deal with the opposition within body paragraphs if the counterargument is about one of your reasons. Make sure to use an appropriate signal phrase to introduce the counter argument.
6. Conclusion: This section logically concludes the entire essay. It is your last chance to wow the audience and reiterate the importance of your position and topic. Make the audience care.
7. Works Cited page: This paper has a six-source minimum, but a true research process involves reading more than the minimum, reading things you may not need in the final paper, and continuing to research even as you have begun drafting the paper.

Paper For Above instruction

In this research paper, I will examine two significant contemporary controversies: the debate over allowing guns on college campuses in the United States and the complex issues of vice, prostitution, and land use in New Orleans, particularly in the context of historical precedents. Both topics are highly debated, involving cultural, legal, and social considerations that influence public policy and community development.

Introduction

The debate over firearms on college campuses epitomizes the tension between safety and personal rights in American society. Recent years have seen a proliferation of school shootings, prompting a nationwide discourse on gun legislation and campus safety measures. Conversely, the city of New Orleans grapples with its historic vice industry, which is intertwined with land use, gentrification, and economic development, especially post-Hurricane Katrina. These issues reflect broader questions about societal priorities, legal restrictions, and historical patterns that continue to shape contemporary urban and social landscapes.

The Issue of Guns on College Campuses

The question of whether guns should be permitted on college campuses is rooted in conflicting perspectives on safety, rights, and risk management. Proponents argue that allowing students and staff to carry firearms enhances personal safety and deters violence, supported by arguments from the Second Amendment and individual liberty. Opponents contend that increased firearms on campuses escalate the risk of accidental shootings, conflicts, and undermine the educational environment’s safety and learning dynamics.

Research indicates that states with more permissive gun laws tend to experience higher rates of firearm injuries and deaths. Malcolm Gladwell (2015) explores how social thresholds for violence are reached and how mass shootings can become contagiously normalized, emphasizing the importance of regulation to prevent escalation. Wheeler (2014) discusses how school environments become targets or battlegrounds in the larger cultural conflicts surrounding gun control, suggesting that stricter policies could mitigate violence. Jesus Villahermosa (2018) argues against arming administrators, faculty, or students, advocating for stricter controls and emphasizing that guns do not belong in educational institutions.

Legal precedents, such as the 2008 Supreme Court ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller, affirm individual gun rights, yet also acknowledge the state’s authority to regulate firearms in certain contexts. These conflicting legal interpretations reflect the ongoing struggle to balance constitutional rights with public safety, especially in settings like colleges where young adults are particularly vulnerable.

The refutation of pro-gun arguments includes evidence that disarming or restricting firearms on campuses reduces the likelihood of gun-related incidents and enhances campus safety. For instance, a study by the Violence Policy Center (2018) found that campuses with strict gun bans experienced fewer firearm-related violent incidents compared to those permitting guns.

Vice, Prostitution, and Land Use in New Orleans

Moving to the issues in New Orleans, the historical context of vice and land use reveals a city shaped by the interplay of culture, economy, and urban planning. The essay “Sex and the Historic City” discusses how vice industries have historically been integrated into New Orleans’ social fabric, influencing patterns of land use, gentrification, and economic strategies. Post-Katrina redevelopment efforts, such as gentrification and the rise of Airbnb, have further complicated land use issues, often displacing marginalized communities involved in vice economies.

Gentrification, often driven by tourism and investment, has led to the displacement of longstanding communities that historically engaged in vice-related activities. Meanwhile, the rise of Airbnb and other short-term rentals has transformed neighborhoods, contributing to housing shortages and changing land uses previously dedicated to local vice economy providers. Post-Katrina master plans aimed to rebuild the city but sometimes perpetuated patterns of dispossession and social inequality rooted in historical vice economies.

Addressing these issues requires a nuanced approach that considers the city’s cultural history, current economic realities, and social justice concerns. Potential solutions include implementing land use policies that protect vulnerable communities, regulating short-term rentals to prevent displacement, and creating economic opportunities that do not rely heavily on gentrification or tourism-based vices.

In conclusion, both the debate over gun legislation in American colleges and the complex land use issues in New Orleans are deeply rooted in historical patterns and societal values. Effective policy-making requires understanding these contexts and balancing safety, individual rights, cultural preservation, and social equity.

Conclusion

This paper has demonstrated that contemporary debates surrounding guns on college campuses and vice-related land use in New Orleans are multifaceted issues influenced by historical precedents and societal values. Addressing these challenges necessitates thoughtful policies informed by research, legal considerations, and cultural understanding. Whether protecting students and staff through sensible gun laws or preserving the cultural fabric of New Orleans amid gentrification and economic change, policymakers must navigate complex trade-offs to promote safety, justice, and community resilience.

References

• Gladwell, M. (2015). Thresholds of Violence: How School Shootings Catch On. The New Yorker.
• Heller, D. (2008). District of Columbia v. Heller. Supreme Court of the United States.
• Villahermosa, J. M. (2018). Guns Don't Belong in the Hands of Administrators, Professors or Students. Google.
• Wheeler, T. (2014). There’s A Reason They Choose Schools. [Publication details]
• Violence Policy Center. (2018). Campus Firearm Laws and Violence Trends. Report.
• Additional scholarly sources related to gun laws, urban land use, gentrification, and New Orleans history should be incorporated for a comprehensive analysis.