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Final Exam for COM121
1. (for all but the students that passed the midterm) Read the David Sedaris article. Write a 5 paragraph essay about why he could never be a good teacher OR how he has to change to be a good teacher.
2. (for all students that didn't A OUT of class) Choose one of the following topics to write a 7-paragraph persuasive essay on.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/12/major-nidal-hassan-fort-hood-muslim-opinions-columnists-melik-kaylan.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/09/AR2009110903618.html?hpid=topnews
1. Should Nidal Hassan get the death penalty or life in prison for his murder spree at Fort Hood?
2. Should Nidal Hassan be charged with crimes of terrorism or extreme pre-meditated murder?
3. Should Nidal Hassan have had 13 or 14 charges of murder placed against him?
4. Should American intelligence agencies continue to follow Bush-era intelligence gathering procedures AND / OR profile against potential violent Islamic jihadists in an effort to keep terrorism from happening?
5. Support or attack the right to freedom of speech when it comes to stopping people from promoting dangerous / terroristic ideas.
6. One of the biggest issues concerning Hassan was his fear that Muslims would see the situations in Afghanistan and Iraq as a war on Muslims. Support or defend the idea that Americans (especially Americans in the military) should place the needs of their nation (in our case, America – despite wherever they may have been originally from) above those of anything else that they are or do.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579705,00.html?test=latestnews
7. Is H1N1 a serious pandemic or an overhyped media creation?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579747,00.html?test=latestnews
8. 4 Washington police officers were murdered in cold blood by a lifetime felon who had been on parole (Mike Huckabee made this happen) after multiple felonies (due to the felon’s youthful nature during his offenses). In light of this, should America toughen criminal laws against violent youth offenders who all too often go on to become career criminals?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8402138.stm
9. What should the U.S. do regarding the war situation in Afghanistan?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2454034/tiger_woods_scandal_grabs_more_attention.html
10. Is the situation involving Climate-gate a sign that the media and political minded scientists are willing to do anything to suppress the falseness of global warming, OR is it conservatives and businesses looking to do whatever they can to keep from getting blamed for the seriousness of global warming?
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/tiger_barrack_and_the_law_of_t.html
11. Regarding Tiger Woods’ wife Elin, attack or defend the idea that she should stand by her man (for love and / or for money)?
12. Regarding Tiger Woods himself, he was a sports star that transcended athletics, humanity, and race. In the end, he keeps getting charged with more and more women who he slept with and paid off to keep quiet while all the while being marketed as a wholesome hero for all time. Persuade America on how they should see their entertainers. You can also do this with Michael Jackson or any other entertainer.
13. Regarding the above, persuade Tiger to be a better MAN than he is.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1259010974910&pagename=JPArticle/ShowFull
14. Many people have accused Obama of doing nothing since he has been in office. Persuade these people that he has succeeded in doing many things for America or that this opinion is partisan politics or agree with it.
http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/lesbianactivism/p/BarackObama.htm
15. Many people have accused Obama of being wishy washy regarding his beliefs on things (in this case, gay marriage). Persuade these people that he is consistent on these things or that this opinion is partisan politics or agree with it.
http://www.thebailoutgame.us/
16. Persuade the government not to give more bailouts, to redistribute the money that they do have better, or to give another bailout of any sector of the United States based on how well or poorly you can assume that they have already done.
http://www.darfurisdying.com/
17. Persuade the government to get involved in helping to end the genocide in Darfur.
http://newsone.com/nation/reid-compares-opposing-health-care-reform-to-opposing-emancipation-civil-rights/
18. Attack or defend Harry Reid for equating those who aren’t fighting for GOVERNMENT LED health care reform as being the equals of those who didn’t fight to end slavery fast enough.
19. Persuade the American public to accept GOVERNMENT LED health care reform or for the government to keep their hands off of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcE2ufqtzyk
20. Based on the Tom Friedman video we watched in class, persuade your fellow college students that by not taking their education seriously, they are condemning America to be a nation of mediocrity that will quickly be replaced by people from other countries who will do their jobs cheaper and better. This is the only way you may argue this position.