Identify A Social Problem, Local Or Global, That You Feel P

Identify A Social Problem Local Or Global That You Feel P

Identify a social problem, local or global, that you feel passionate about. Off Topics List: The topics of abortion, gun control, capital punishment or lowering the drinking age.

Each student must write a policy proposition for his/her Argumentative Speech. The following guidelines will assist you in that endeavor:

1. First, select a topic area and do some general reading on the topic to understand enough about it for a compelling proposition.

2. Determine the current policy or status quo related to this topic.

3. Identify the agent of action— who should enact the change. While the preferred agent is the United States federal government, it could also be a state or local entity, or an institution such as a university campus.

4. Use the word “should” in your proposition to acknowledge that the agent ought to take action based on your arguments, without necessarily claiming it will happen.

5. Clearly specify what you want the agent to do, including both the nature of the change and its direction:

  • Nature: What issue or aspect needs addressing? (e.g., environmental protection, public health, education funding)
  • Direction: Should the policy be increased, decreased, strengthened, weakened, adopted, or banned?

6. Use neutral language that does not tilt the debate unfairly. The purpose is to present a balanced discussion that makes the issue truly contestable.

7. Choose a topic that is genuinely controversial and capable of supporting arguments on both sides.

8. Your proposition must be researchable and supported by evidence such as quotations, statistics, examples, and authoritative sources to strengthen your arguments.

Paper For Above instruction

One pressing global social problem that warrants thorough discussion and advocacy is climate change and its associated environmental impacts. Recognized as a critical challenge by scientists and policymakers worldwide, climate change poses significant threats to ecological stability, economic development, and human health. To effectively address this issue, a clear policy proposition must advocate for decisive action by a responsible agent, most effectively the United States federal government.

The current policy landscape regarding climate change is characterized by a mixture of regulations, incentives, and international commitments. Despite progress, many experts agree that existing measures are insufficient to curb greenhouse gas emissions effectively and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. Therefore, the policy proposition should call for the federal government to increase its efforts—specifically, to implement stricter regulations on industrial emissions, promote renewable energy sources, and enforce compliance with international climate agreements.

The specific action recommended is that the federal government should strengthen its policies to reduce carbon emissions by setting more ambitious emission reduction targets, incentivizing clean energy adoption through subsidies, and penalizing polluters who exceed established limits. This approach addresses the need for increased environmental protection while leaving room for technological innovation and economic growth through green industries.

Language in the proposition should be neutral and grounded in empirical evidence. For instance, statistics indicating that global temperatures have risen by approximately 1.2°C since pre-industrial times, with consequent sea level rise and increased frequency of extreme weather events, provide compelling rationale for policy change (NASA, 2023). Similarly, economic analyses highlight the costs associated with inaction, including disaster response and health care expenses, which make the case for proactive governmental intervention (Stern, 2007).

Addressing climate change is a controversial yet vital issue, and any policy proposition must be carefully crafted to provoke a meaningful debate. It should advocate for the United States to take a leadership role in reducing emissions, emphasizing the importance of global cooperation and innovation in achieving sustainable solutions. Ultimately, such a proposition underscores the imperative for government action to safeguard the environment for current and future generations.

References

  • NASA. (2023). Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. Retrieved from https://climate.nasa.gov/
  • Stern, N. (2007). The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review. Cambridge University Press.
  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021). Sixth Assessment Report. IPCC.
  • McKinsey & Company. (2020). Climate Change and Economic Risks. McKinsey Global Institute.
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (2015). Paris Agreement. UNFCCC.
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2022). Climate Change Indicators in the United States. EPA.
  • Hansen, J., Sato, M., & Ruedy, R. (2016). Climate Change and Our Future. Scientific American, 315(4), 36-43.
  • World Resources Institute (WRI). (2020). The Cost of Inaction on Climate Change. WRI.
  • Oreskes, N., & Conway, E. M. (2010). Merchants of Doubt. Bloomsbury Publishing.
  • Carleton, T., & Hsiang, S. (2016). Social and Economic Impacts of Climate Change. Annual Review of Economics, 8, 801-832.