Crucial Argument/Topic Tips:
?    The most important thing:  your argument must be an argument, something someone else could (and would) actually dispute.
?    Your topic and argument must be specific:  recent tv dramas” would be better than television programming”; Breaking Bad and genres it has

created/influenced” would be better still.
?    Individuality is significant; your case should stand out, not merely echo conventional wisdom or take, with no new twists, an already established side in

public debate.  If your argument is well-handled but unoriginal, your paper won’t do well.
?    You should also avoid writing a paper that mostly just recounts information you’ve found or parrots your sources.
?    Topic selection is crucial.  Some topics will require you to think, to stretch, to make a difficult case; those are the good ones.  Others, sometimes very

tempting, will seem obvious, free of challenge;  those you should avoid, as they’ll very likely yield bland papers.
?

Required Sources:
You must use at least SIX sources.  Three must be either lengthy journal articles OR scholarly book chapters.  The remaining three can be from trade publications
(magazines, newspapers), non-scholarly web-sites, etc.

Here are some examples of creative, distinctive topics from recent semesters:
-that the deep internet” is a little known haven for criminal activity and must be regulated
-that turn-based role playing video games are more educational than real-time action rpgs because they require more critical thinking skills
-that we should support cochlear implants for deaf children but also ensure that they are introduced to and taught to value deaf culture
-that digital formats allow people to enter the world of DJ-ing simply and affordably and enable DJ’s to do more artistically