TOPICS FOR ENGLISH COMP final exams

These are posted because students have already begun the topics and can bring in an index card with notes for the persuasive essay.
However, if you write this at home and hand it in, you will be in violation of the in-class writing policy of this final and will fail the class.

You must do one of each of these to fulfill division standards.

Final Exam Topic
8-Paragraph Expository
1. Your teacher has argued that not exposing a child to technology (esp. computers) puts that child at an unfortunate disadvantage in life. What are some of the factors that contribute to this?
2. Why should I hire you? Tell me what job you’re being hired for and tell me why I should hire you over 40 other candidates that applied for the same job.
3. It was suggested from a fellow writer that a good topic would be how a boss or teacher should handle firing or failing someone (respectively)? Keep in mind that as a professional, you will be forced to handle situations like this.
4. Which professional leader stands out to you as a good example of what it means to be a successful leader and why? You cannot use family, friends, or relatives. You can use people who are dead.
5. If you were President of the USA, what law or action would you first implement?
6. Your teacher has stated that for many people, the only CURRENT EVENT ISSUES that we are so committed to are things that affect us personally. Tell about something you are committed to and why (mind, this is not persuasive).
7. Of all of the news events that have happened this year, what is the most important event and why?
8. While many people can create things and call these items art, what does art actually mean? Consider modern art, offensive items, and the creative work of all individuals of all ages (children’s art, anime, experimental art, erotic art, etc.).
9. Who is the best choice for the next President of the United States of America and why?
10. The president of the college has come to you stating that the smoking ban at the school is not effective, but that she wants it to be effective. From a non-persuasive argument (the ban IS going into effect on campus grounds), create a way that tells what needs to be done, how it needs to be done, and why your policy will make it work.

8-Paragraph Persuasive
1. George Bush has consulted you because you are an EXPERT in one of the following topics. How would you advise him on:
A: How to solve the immigration situation?
B: How to deal with Achmedinejad and Iran’s nuclear desires?
C: How to deal with Chavez and Venezuela?
D: How to handle the situation in Iraq?
E: China, Syria, Iran, and several European countries have had dealings with countries that America has had militaristic or sanctions level issues with. How should we deal with these countries? (Consider that Chinese weapons are being found in Iraq).
F: The Social Security Issue (do Americans have an individual responsibility to figure out their own retirement or should the government help people to be financially stable)
G: The Health Care Issue (do all Americans have the right to be insured via taxes / should tax care be affordable and if so, how can you create affordable healthcare).
H: The Education Issue (do Americans have the right to choose the schools that their kids will go to; do we as Americans have a mandatory responsibility to educate all students).
2. Debate the difference between global warming and climate change from the perspective of the side that you support.
3. Gillian Gibbons was thrown in jail for 15 days and will be deported by Sudanese authorities for blasphemy (naming a teddy bear after the holiest prophet of the Sunnis). Defend the Sudanese courts or persuade them to drop the sentence.
4. Genarlow Wilson’s situation of statutory rape was discussed in this class (he was 17; she was 15). Assuming that you are trying to keep him in jail or get him out of jail (through the magic of time travel – we’ll assume he’s still there), defend your side based on your understanding of the situation.
5. Should America base its laws on those of a single religion to have a theocratic government? Why or why not.
6. Your teacher has argued that oil is perhaps the greatest natural resource that this country needs to function. Persuade on any one of the following (any direction that you so choose):
A: How far should America go to secure the flow of oil regarding relationships with hostile countries that have it?
B: How far should America go to find oil within the confines of its borders?
C: How should America proceed to handle the dwindling supply of oil with regards to creating and implementing alternative fuels?
7. The TV writers are on strike for revenue sharing from DVD sales. Defend them or order them to get back to work. Either way, explain your opinions.
8. Throughout the Bush and Clinton Administration, the presence of the United Nations has been a serious ethical crisis. When considering this, argue based on the following:
A: Based on its ability or non-ability to solve problems, should America support the UN financially and militaristically?
B: Can America force its citizens to support a world agenda?
C: Where and what should the United Nations be concentrating its resources (Iraq, Darfur, etc.) on?
9. Outsourcing jobs to other countries has its advantages and disadvantages. Argue for or against this controversial procedure.
10. The Westboro Baptist Church is known for protesting military funerals. Technically, this is protected by the First Amendment. Attack these actions based on their anti-what America should be frame of reference or defend these actions as a right of Americans.
11. Gay marriage is a serious issue in the United States today. Tell why there should be a law allowing this or why it should be expressly banned.
12. The Patriots have been running up the scores on almost all of their opponents. Attack or defend this “ethical sports dilemma.”
13. San Francisco politicians put forth a vote for the people to decide whether they wanted guns in their city. The people chose against this. Attack or defend this situation as democracy or the way of the Constitution.
14. (Recommended from a history major friend) Abortion, gay marriage, the environment, moral majority decisions, civil, and/or women's rights have been considered by some historians to be non-issues, and relevant only because they appeal to a populace dependent on emotional decisionmaking, explain why these are or are not relevant issues in politics.
15. (Recommended from a science major friend) Creationism, Intelligent Design, and Evolution are 3 major theories on creation. Which one is correct and why?
16. (Recommended from a fellow English teacher) In other countries, public school students go to school year round. In America, we didn't do this in the early days because students had to help out with the farms in season. However, that no longer exists. Thus, should we go to school year round (with short breaks between terms like Britain does), or should we keep the current system?

MOUNT EVEREST ASSIGNMENT

Do the Mount Everest questions.
An all too easy Mt. Everest Test
True or False
Mount Everest’s height only recently changed to 29,035 feet.
Mount Everest is the most difficult mountain to climb.
Mount Everest is named after the Welsh Surveyor General who came to survey Peak 15.
Mount Everest is centered in the White Mountains.
Mount Everest is located in both India and Tibet.
The Mugwumps are the group of people who live on the mountain and aid climbers in their attempts to get up the mountain.
1996 was the worst year for fatalities on the mountain.
Reinhold Messner was the first man to climb Mount Everest.
The first climber was aided with the help of local climber Tenzing Norgay.
The Buddhist people regard the mountain as a god and have many superstitions about the mountain.
K2 is the 2nd tallest mountain in the world, which is located fairly close to Mount Everest.
There are 14 8,000+ foot high peaks in the world.
Mount Everest is being studied since not only is it in the book, but we are currently celebrating the 40th anniversary of its first ascent.
Pulmonary Edema causes a persons brain to “spring leaks” and can be fatal.
The world’s highest garbage dump is on Everest.
Everest is now a business since ANYONE can be pushed up the mountain (though not always successfully), provided that they have $65,000 to spend on a permit.
The last obstacle in climbing Everest is the Khumbu Icefall.
The Death Zone is the place where you are breathing O2 at 30% of normal ground content. Therefore, you are literally dieing.
It is next to impossible to spend a night on Everest.
The Hillary Step is the only part of Everest that requires true technical climbing ability.
The first woman to climb Mount Everest was Junko Tabei.
Everest was climbed by a blind man named Edmund Hillary.
Name 1 really neat thing that you remember about Mount Everest.

ALSO
take notes on Mount Everest.
write an outline that would incorporate events from Everest's history.
Assume this is an 8-paragraph essay.
You will need Roman Numerals, Capital letters, and standard numbers as we write them (at least 2 for each event or period).

If you do all of this, I will GIVE YOU 50 points!!
Don't get left out in the cold.

Do what you have to do, and please, send me any questions that you might have!!!

STEROIDS RESEARCH

Researching Steroids - SQ3R is your friend. Really.

SURVEY What do you know about the topic?

QUESTION What do you need to know about the topic to complete the paper?

RULE #2: “YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO BE LAZY”
Remember, this means that you are not writing a book. You are writing about a single defined aspect of this topic. This has nothing to do with procrastination or a half-hearted attempt at writing a paper. That stuff is anathema.

QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE IN MOST PAPERS:
1. What are anabolic steroids? (note that this paper is not about steroids that people would use for breathing conditions (for example))
2. Why do people take steroids?
3. What do steroids do that is positive?
4. What negative effects do steroids have on men?
5. What negative effects do steroids have on women?
6. What negative effects do steroids have on children?
7. What are the laws that pertain to steroids?
8. How do people use steroids?
9. Where do people obtain steroids?
10. Who has used steroids? Keep in mind that leaked Grand Jury Testimony and conjecture don’t constitute guilt. Only self admission and a verdict from trial by jury do this.
11. What are designer steroids?
12. What is HGH?
13 - 20. Add your questions here.

READ Now find your research material and create either 50 note cards or 8-10 pages of handwritten research.

WHAT ARE SOME GOOD WEBSITES TO USE?
NIDA
WHITE HOUSE DRUG POLICY
STEROID ABUSE
ESPN STEROIDS SPECIAL
ESPN STEROIDS SPECIAL 2
ESPN STEROIDS SPECIAL 3
Be careful that you don’t use sites that sell steroids. There are sites like this online. Stick with the above the boards stuff.

MLA DOCUMENTATION All research is cited. Your paper is cited in MLA. While APA is also a way to cite, it’s not what we’re doing here.
You can get any directions in your Blair Handbook, or you can also go here:
MLA DOCUMENTATION
CITATION MACHINE

BOOK ONE AUTHOR
Gorman, Elizabeth. Prairie Women. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1986.
CLASS NOTES
Smith, John. "Beowulf: Archetypal Hero." English 102 Class. Vestavia Hills High School, Vestavia Hills, AL. March 28, 2003.
MAGAZINE
Cannon, Angie. "Just Saying No to Tests." U.S. News & World Report. Oct. 1999: 34.
INTERVIEW
Whitehurst, Daniel, former mayor of Fresno. Personal interview. 5 Mar. 2003.
THE LIBRARY HAS INFORMATION FOR HOW TO CITE GALE NET AND EBSCO HOST – I don’t require their use, but if you use them, know how.
WEBSITES
Last Name, First Name. Title. Date Created. Date Accessed. URL.

While there are a million little ways that you may cite websites, this way will work for the purpose of this class. NOTE: You will not always have a date created (if you don’t have day, month, and year, you also don’t have a date), and you won’t always have an author, but you will have the other 3. Improvise accordingly.

I DO WANT ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION TO BE CURRENT (2004-PRESENT UNLESS OTHERWISE APPROVED IN ADVANCE BY ME). THIS MATERIAL IS TIME SENSITIVE WITH NEW INFORMATION AND CHANGES REGARDING “DESIGNER STEROIDS.”

RECITE This is where you take your notes. You can underline handouts or printouts. You can copy notes (whatever it takes to get to your required amount of stuff).

REVIEW Organize and outline. Reassess your thesis and go back to the library or computer to research some more. Make sure you understand what you are researching. Just because you have the material doesn’t mean that it makes sense. Ask me!!

OH YEAH Send 2 additional URL’s to post on the class website for classmate use. You can use their stuff. They can use your stuff.

IN PARAGRAPH CITATIONS You must cite everything. Every fact, every name, number, bit of information, or external opinion about the topic has to come from somewhere. This is 1 of the reasons that we do topics that I choose. Ever since I had a student know everything about Jeff Gordon and think that he didn’t have to cite his facts, I realized that it’s best to have students research almost everything.
As a result, this paper is here to help you.

PRINT SOURCES
(Author’s last name Page #)
(If no Author or you use the author multiple times, then switch to first important word of the title underlined or in quotes appropriately Page #)
NOTE: there is no comma between these items and there is no word “page”, “p.,” “para” or “paragraph” either.

INTERNET SOURCES
(Author’s last name (if available))
(First important word of title underlined or quoted appropriately)

WHEN IN DOUBT, SEE ME!!
E-MAIL ME FOR SAMPLE ESSAYS!!