Thomas S. Wootton Media Center: Hardy - Of Mice and Men

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Of Mice and Men 

Researching an Issue-Based Question Related to Of Mice and Men 

Objective:  To learn scholarly practice in gathering information about an issue reflected in a text. Using Media Center resources you will work to find out all you can about one of the following important social issues. These topics are loosely related to To Kill a Mockingbird and the different social issues the class researched for the presentation assignment in the first quarter.

• What are the significant ideas driving the debate about whether to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented residents; or on the amount of migrants to accept ?
• What important arguments shape the minimum wage debate?
• What are the primary causes of the high rate of incarceration of either minority groups or the mentally ill?
• What is a significant topic of conflict in America today regarding race? E.g.: law enforcement, criminal justice/ prison system, voter ID laws, etc.
• What is a significant topic of conflict in America today regarding gender? E.g.: gender pay gap, women in politics, women in the military, affirmative action, etc.
• What issues shape the world of agriculture today? Areas to explore include the use of genetically modified crops (GMOs), industrial v. local farming, the factory farming of livestock, etc.

What are the economic and social challenges the elderly face in America today?

Key words to consider:

Path to Citizenship – immigration reform, immigrants and citizenship, illegal aliens, immigration reform and citizenship

Minimum wage – minimum wage, minimum wage debate

Incarceration of mentally ill – incarceration of mentally ill, mentally ill incarceration, mentally ill offenders, mentally ill prisoners, deinstitutionalization, mentally ill homeless, mentally ill housing

Conflicts based on race – discrimination in employment, racial profiling, racial bias and law, academic achievement gap in education, race and college admissions, race relations, racism, affirmative action, school to prison pipeline

Gender conflict –gender pay gap, women in politics, ordination of women, women in the military, affirmative action, culture of beauty, glass ceiling, women’s rights

Income security for elderly – income security and elderly, poverty among elderly, elderly and economic security, senior income, elderly issues