What is your problem?
What is one side of this issue?
What are opposing sides?
Goal: Identify a current problem, offer a potential solution, and present your best ideas in an engaging, interesting way, which will include:
Research
Creative thinking
Digital presentation
Oral presentation
As you search for a potential topic, look for a story that focuses upon a social injustice, a pursuit for a new beginning, or an example of perseverance that represents a greater struggle. This doesn’t have to focus on a massive issue such as genocide in another country. You should focus on a local, smaller scale issue that impacts our society—a problem to which you offer a potential solution(s). You could also consider the major themes of The Things They Carried as potential ideas to guide your search for a topic:
Storytelling & Memory
Social Obligation
Shame & Guilt
Mortality & Death
Morality
Your goal is to PERSUADE rather than merely inform the audience about your topic (the problem). While a segment of the presentation will focus upon essential background information, you must develop a central opinion that develops into a call for action.