Paper Topics on Current Events
Can't figure out what to write about? Newsbank regularly sends out possible paper topics based on current events appearing in national newspapers. Here's a list of some of the suggestions:
CIVICS, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS – FBI Intelligence Gathering
TOPIC: The U.S. Congress is investigating the illegal gathering of personal information by the FBI. What purpose did the FBI give for its decision to gather this information? What illegal processes are being questioned? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: FBI AND personal information
CIVICS, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS – Nancy Pelosi Goes to Syria
TOPIC: U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Syria to confer with officials there. What is the role of U.S. Representatives in foreign policy? What did she accomplish? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Nancy Pelosi AND Syria
CRIME AND LAW – Duke Assault Charges Dropped
TOPIC: Charges of kidnapping and sexual assault against Duke University lacrosse players have been dropped. What criticism of the legal process was made in this announcement? How long has this case been investigated and how was the evidence handled? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Duke University AND false arrests
CRIME AND LAW – U.S. Attorney Firings
TOPIC: The U.S. Congress is investigating the firings of U.S. Attorneys by the Justice Department. Why are these firings considered controversial? What makes them different from mass firings of U.S. Attorneys by administrations in the past? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: prosecutors AND U.S. Justice Department
ECONOMICS – Citigroup Job Cuts
TOPIC: Citigroup, the largest U.S. bank, is undergoing its first restructuring in 10 years resulting in the layoff of 17,000 employees or 5.2% of their workforce. Who is the CEO who came into Citigroup in 2003? What has been the change in growth percentage since that time? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Citigroup
ECONOMICS – Layoffs at Airbus
TOPIC: Airbus wants to recover its financial footing following production problems involving its new jumbo jet. How will this be done? What did the workers’ unions do as a result of this plan? What else could a labor union do to prevent the company from downsizing their workforce? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Airbus SAS AND layoffs
ECONOMICS – Pet Food Recall
TOPIC: Menu Foods Inc, a manufacturer of wet pet foods that are found in multiple brands, has recalled pet food impacting over 100 brands due to a contaminated ingredient. What was the cause of the contamination? Where were the plants located? What is being done to prevent this happening in the future? What are the innovative ways that customers of recalled brands are reacting to feeding their pets to keep them safe? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Menu Foods AND pet food recall
ECONOMICS – Real Estate Foreclosures
TOPIC: A rising amount of foreclosures is a large factor in the current real estate slump facing the nation. What is commonly the type of loan taken by those facing a threat of foreclosure? What are some measures various states have been taking to stem the rate of foreclosures? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: foreclosures AND real estate
EDUCATION – Education Technology
TOPIC: A recent study has shown that increased use of technology in education has not improved math or reading scores. How did the teachers respond when asked if they would still use the technology? What law mandated this study? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: computer assisted instruction
EDUCATION – School Attendance and the Law
TOPIC: The British government wants to change the laws governing the age a student may leave school. What is the current age? What is the new age and proposed changes to the law? What are some of the problems with students dropping out of school at too early an age? What would be some of the benefits to this new program? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: school attendance AND laws AND legislation
ENVIRONMENT – Climate Refugees
TOPIC: A UN official claims that as many people are fleeing their homelands for environmental reasons as for the more traditional political and economic reasons and that the number of these refugees may increase sharply in the future. What are the reasons for this? What does refugee mean in this context? How is this different from its usual use? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: global warming AND refugees
ENVIRONMENT – The High Price of Ivory
TOPIC: After years of decline the illegal killing of elephants for their tusks is on the rise in Africa. What are the reasons for this? Who is buying the ivory? Is anything being done to curb this slaughter? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: elephants AND poaching
ENVIRONMENT – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
TOPIC: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has finally approved a report on climate change after a contentious session. What were some of the points of controversy? What were the agreed on findings of the report? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
ENVIRONMENT – Knut the Bear
TOPIC: Knut the polar bear cub has captured the hearts of the German public. What happened to Knut that caused this to happen? Was this the best and only solution to this situation? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: polar bears
ENVIRONMENT – Natural Disasters
TOPIC: A massive underwater earthquake triggers a tsunami that inundates parts of the Solomon Islands. Some people died and thousands were made homeless in the remote country. Where are the Solomon Islands? Why were relief efforts delayed? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Solomon Islands AND tsunamis
FILM AND TELEVISION – Asterix and the Middle East peace process
TOPIC: Arabic and Hebrew version of a French comic book featuring Asterix were published simultaneously. Do you think this comic book hero can help bring people together? Do you think comic books can play a role in ethnic relations? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Asterix AND comic strip
FILM AND TELEVISION – The Sopranos
TOPIC: This is the last season for the highly acclaimed HBO series The Sopranos. Who is the series creator? How has The Sopranos expanded the television audience? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: The Sopranos AND TV program
FINE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE – Johnny Hart
TOPIC: Famous comic strip cartoonist Johnny Hart has died. What is the comic strip that Hart is most famous for? What Hart strip on Easter was considered controversial and why? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Johnny Hart
HEALTH – Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
TOPIC: Strains of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) first arose in the former Soviet bloc countries in the 1990s. Why did this happen? How is TB treated April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: tuberculosis AND drug resistance
HEALTH – Epilepsy Research
TOPIC: New research into epilepsy has offered ways to predict who is most at risk and how those risks can be minimized. What are some of these findings? How has research suggested the risks can be reduced? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: epilepsy
HISTORY – The Abolition of Slavery
TOPIC: With calls from some for reparations, others for just an apology, England and its former colonies are now observing the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. Do you think slavery in some form still exists? Do you feel that reparations would be a fair response to this part of history? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: slavery AND abolitionist movement
HISTORY – Alger Hiss
TOPIC: Alger Hiss was convicted of perjury while being tried for spying for the Soviet Union in one of the most divisive cases in Cold War history. What new evidence has come out that may exonerate Hiss? Who does the new evidence implicate? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Alger Hiss
HISTORY – The Battle of Vimy Ridge
TOPIC: Almost 7,000 Canadians are traveling to northern France to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge in World War I. What is the significance of this battle in defining the Canadian national heritage? What innovations did the Canadian armed forces use? What value do these memorials and observances have? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Canada and World War I
HISTORY – Irish Roots
TOPIC: Tourists to Ireland often seek their ancestors in the local records. Millions worldwide claim Irish descent, due to the multiple waves of emigration from the once poor country. Do you think a search for your ancestors is a good way to learn history? Would you like to know something about your ancestors? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Ireland AND genealogy
INTERNATIONAL – Argentina and the Falkland Islands
TOPIC: Argentina has celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Falkland Islands War with Britain by renewing its claim for the islands. What caused the war? What was the outcome? Who lives in the Falklands? How do the Falkland Islanders view their future? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Argentina AND Falkland Islands
INTERNATIONAL – British naval personnel and Iran
TOPIC: Iran detained British naval personnel patrolling disputed waters between Iran and Iraq. Why were the sailors detained? What was the outcome? What are territorial claims of Iran and Iraq? How has this event effected British-Iranian relations and Iran’s international standing? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Iran AND detained persons
INTERNATIONAL – The Exodus of Iraqis from Iraq
TOPIC: Years of insurgency, bloodshed, economic and infrastructure collapse have forced many Iraqis to flee their country. Where do they go? How are they received? What are the prospects for their return to their homeland? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Iraq AND refugees
INTERNATIONAL – North Korea Delays Reactor Shutdown
TOPIC: The 6-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program has been suspended delaying the goal of persuading North Korea to shut down its nuclear reactor. Who are the 6 parties at the negotiations? What is the issue that has caused North Korea to suspend talks? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: North Korea AND nuclear reactor
LITERATURE – Michael Dibdin
TOPIC: Novelist Michael Dibdin has passed away. What genre of novels made Dibdin famous? Where did Dibdin’s novels primarily take place? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Michael Dibdin
LITERATURE – Pride and Prejudice Popularity
TOPIC: A poll in Britain shows that Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was the people’s favorite novel. What other books were on the list? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: books AND public opinion
PEOPLE – Bob Clark
TOPIC: Director of the popular Christmas film A Christmas Story, Bob Clark, has passed away. What tragedy and investigation is involved in Clark’s death? What other, very different, yet popular film is Clark also known for? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Bob Clark AND directors
PEOPLE – Don Imus
TOPIC: After imposing an initial suspension, radio commentator Don Imus has been fired by CBS for a crass ethnic slur against a college women's basketball team. What was the team and what effort had Mr. Imus made to reconcile with the offended party? What was the initial reaction to the lesser penalty imposed on Mr. Imus? What have been some issues debated surrounding this event? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Don Imus
PEOPLE - Pervez Musharraf
TOPIC: The President of Pakistan is faced with a multitude of challenges in governing his large and populous country. What are the challenges? What policies has he developed? What do those against him want? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Pakistan AND Pervez Musharraf
PEOPLE - Robert Mugabe
TOPIC: At the age of 83, Robert Mugabe has accepted his party’s nomination to run for another term as president. What are the problems facing Zimbabwe? How does Mugabe plan to deal with them? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Zimbabwe AND Robert Mugabe
PEOPLE – Sol LeWitt
TOPIC: Renowned artist and sculptor Sol LeWitt has died. For what kind of art is LeWitt known? During what time period was LeWitt’s work most famous? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Sol LeWitt
PERFORMING ARTS – Chicago Symphony Orchestra Goes Digital
TOPIC: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, one of the longest holdouts to digitally record its concerts, has finally allowed the format to take place in live recording. Why did the CSO wait so long to modernize? What access to its music is the CSO now able to offer its fans that was not available before its digital conversion? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Chicago Symphony Orchestra AND marketing
PERFORMING ARTS – Royal Shakespeare Theatre
TOPIC: The Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon, the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, has closed for renovations. When will it reopen? What changes will be made to the theatre? What famous people have performed there? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Royal Shakespeare Theatre
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – Computer Music
TOPIC: A St. Louis-based company called Imagination Engines Inc. has developed computer software to create something like original music. What is the process that company President Stephen Thaler uses to take computers designed to learn from mistakes to the extra step into original creativity? How are these “ideas” refined? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: computers AND music
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – Nuclear Power
TOPIC: Iran’s president announces that it has joined the nuclear club by having the ability to produce nuclear fuel at an industrial level. Western countries worry that this is a first step towards gaining nuclear weapons. What have they been trying to do about it? What has the UN done? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Iran AND uranium enrichment
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – Space Shuttle
TOPIC: NASA is hoping to launch the next Atlantis space shuttle in June. What is delaying the launch? What will the crew accomplish during their mission? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: NASA AND Atlantis
SOCIAL ISSUES – U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
TOPIC: This United Nations treaty addresses the needs and rights of handicapped persons around the world. What are its provisions? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: United Nations AND handicapped persons
SPORTS – Bode Miller
TOPIC: Bode Miller has won the national title in the super-G ski race at the U.S. Alpine Championships. How many national titles has Miller now won? Who is the one skier who exceeds him in World Cup victories? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Bode Miller
SPORTS – Cricket World Cup
TOPIC: As if the murder of Pakistan’s coach Bob Woolmer wasn’t enough for the World Cup cricket tournament, it has also been plagued by low attendance. What are the reasons for the low attendance? What do you think can be done to entice more fans? Do you think the Caribbean Nations have the economic strength to host these types of events? What is being done to investigate Woolmer’s death? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: World Cup AND cricket AND Bob Woolmer
SPORTS – Eddie Robinson
TOPIC: Legendary college football coach Eddie Robinson has passed away. At what college did Robinson coach? What is Robinson’s claim to fame as a coach? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Eddie Robinson
SPORTS – Gators NCAA Champs
TOPIC: The University of Florida Gators has beaten the Ohio State Buckeyes for the NCAA championship basketball game. What recent sport did these two schools compete in for the NCAA championships? What were the results of that competition? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: college basketball AND championships
SPORTS – Women’s Hockey
TOPIC: The Canadian women have won the world hockey championship. Who did they play in the final game? What other titles have they won? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: hockey AND women
SPORTS – Zach Johnson Wins The Masters
TOPIC: Zach Johnson has won Golf’s Master’s Tournament. Who was Johnson’s primary contender in the tournament? What was Johnson’s big breakout tournament that jumped him from 126th to 49th in ranking? April 2007.
SEARCH TERMS: Zach Johnson
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