This assignment is designed to help you select a topic that interests you, fulfills the requirements for the assignment, and has generated enough published research to support your claims. After identifying some topics, you'll workshop them in class and get some feedback from your TA.
Please review the advocacy assignment description as this is an associated homework.
Advice on advocacy topic selection[edit]
The key thing is: does your topic allow you to talk about a policy problem, policy solutions, and doable calls to action? Those topics are specific.
Avoid broad topics and general social ills. I once had someone who wanted to do an advocacy speech on “being nicer.” This was too vague. I get the sentiment, but you want a topic that you can sink your teeth into and develop some hard arguments around. Topics like “be mindful” or “walk more” are generally too broad for this assignment. You are looking for broad issues that can be understood in a problem/solution/action format.
Here are some general types of topics that work well.
Option 1. Advocate for a change in policy[edit]
These can be calling for specific changes to how government works. In the US, reforming the electoral college is typically a good topic. There are good arguments for and against this. Raising the minimum wage is a broad topic that can be understood quickly.
Option 2. Raise awareness about a problem/Advocate for an organization[edit]
Maybe you want to raise awareness for an organization or an issue. You might argue for increasing funding or support for a specific non-profit group working to end a larger ill. I have had students argue, quite compellingly, for increased support for agencies working to end sex trafficking. I recently saw a good persuasive speech raising awareness about the decline in music education for young children.
You can think of yourself basically making the organization’s case for them.
Requirements and Submission[edit]
In the box below please:
- Identify the policy or organization you’ll be speaking on and your position.
- In 3-7 sentences, provide some background on the topic.
- Demonstrate that sufficient research exists to support a good speech. For this section, you must provide a bibliography with 2 recent credible sources on each topic, and for each source, provide a brief summary (1-2 sentences) of what it says about your proposed topic. These sources must be cited appropriately. I like Purdue’s OWL for citation help.
Your will select TWO potential advocacy topics. For each potential topic, you must address each of the sections above.
Sample[edit]
Potential Topic #1[edit]
- I will be speaking for proposition 1 to increase funding for King County Metro.
- This ballot measure, supported by the Mayor, would increase sales tax by .1% and add $60 to the car tab fee. The revenue would go to fund Metro busses, which have recently cut services. Students are regular bus users that are directly impacted by this. While I think that Metro has a good plan for using the money, this tax issue has been the major sticking point. The Seattle Times Editorial Board recently came out against the measure on the basis that Metro estimates of service cuts are disingenuous.
- Sources:
- Lawson, D. (2014, January 15). Final Prop 1 Contract and Seattle Bus Improvements. Seattle Transit Blog. Retrieved from http://seattletransitblog.com/2015/01/15/final-prop-1-contract-and-seattle-bus-improvements/. This article talks more about the improvements that have already been done with Metro and what the Prop 1 for this city has done. It lays out, route by route, what needs to be done. As a supporter of the proposition, the transit blog provides a fair bit of information.
- Seattle Times Editorial Board. (2014, April 13). King County needs to provide new numbers for Metro bus-service cuts. The Seattle Times. Retrieved from http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorial-king-county-needs-to-provide-new-numbers-for-metro-bus-service-cuts/. This editorial is skeptical of the need for metro funding. It helps me identify what I might need to respond to in my argument.
Potential Topic #2[edit]
- I will be speaking in favor increased access to healthy food by low income families.
- Domestically, access to local and healthy food is often an economic issue. I want to talk about how much income plays a role in food selection and nutrition. Specifically, I want to build support for the work of The Pikes Place Market Foundation, which is using a program to help low income families in downtown Seattle access to healthy, local food.
- Sources:
- Ver Ploeg, M. et. al. (2009, June). Access to Affordable and Nutritious Food—Measuring and Understanding Food Deserts and Their Consequences: Report to Congress. USDA. Retrieved from http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/ap-administrative-publication/ap-036.aspx. This USDA research report discusses the problem of food deserts (where access to nutritious food is limited). It identifies where food deserts occur and their impacts.
- Pike Place Market Foundation. (n.d.). Food Access Project. Pike Place Market Foundation. Retrieved from http://pikeplacemarketfoundation.org/what-we-do/food-access-project/. This provides an overview of the program to use EBT funds to support low income families access to fresh foods at Pike Place. This serves as nice local example of what communities can do to address the problem of access.
