5) Explore what you already know. Access Leading Issue summaries ("Topic Overview" or "At Issue" Pages) and Timeline (under Research Tools) from the SIRS Leading Issue you have chosen. In 3-5 sentences, summarize the background and historical information of the Leading Issue you selected. Include main controversies, key figures, important organizations, and key events.

Briefly list what you know about your topic already. Consider the following:

1) Surprising facts or statistics

- 42% of all teenagers have been bullied while online. 

- 77% of all students have admitted of being bullied in some type of way. 
- 9 out of 10 gay or lesbian teens are reported bullied. 

2) the extent of the problem

-This problem is very serious because many teens are being bullied and many situations have lead to teenagers committing suicide. 

3) important people or institutions involved
- teenagers are the main priority in these scenarios and are the ones that are mainly involved.

4) key schools of thought
- teachers are a good way of stopping bullying because you can always go to them for advice and they are well educated so they should know what to say to you if you go to them for help.

5) common misconceptions
- All bullies were bullied themselves at one point. 
- All bullies bully others because it makes them feel better. 
6) observations you've made

- I have observed that most bullies are bullying others because they are afraid of getting bullied themselves. 

7) important trends
- twenty percent of children between the ages of two through seventeen were bullied last year.

8) major controversies
- bullying clubs
- laws against bullying 

4a) Make a final decision about your logical argument research topic. What is it? Questions to ask yourself:

What have we been studying in class this year?
- in class this year we have studied how to identify a URL, and identify how to know if a website is fake or not.
Which subjects appeal to me?
- i enjoy learning about History and also some science classes.
What are people writing about?
- Other people are writing about serious cases as well such as child sexual abuse.
What's most interesting to me? 
- i love to play basketball with my friends and family.
Can I find information about that?
- You can always find information about basketball.
4b) Why are you most interested in the topic of argument selected?
Bullying is a serious topic that i would like to write about and discuss because it is a new topic and it should be addressed in order to be stopped. 

CRITICAL THINKING AND ANALYSIS

Critical Thinking & Analysis

1. Why do you think the teenage pregnancy rate in the U.S. is higher than in many other industrialized nations?
   - I believe that teenage pregnancy is more known in America because there are shows based off of teenage pregnancy and the american society is known to be more crazy and more open which affects younger people.
2. What role should abstinence education play as part of a general strategy to prevent teen pregnancy?
   - Abstinence education should play A major role because students go to school everyday and by learning about this early can have teens think twice before engaging in sexual contact.
3. What role should access to contraceptives play as part of a general strategy to prevent teen pregnancy?
   - Contraceptives should be a good way to prevent pregnancy but then again if someone is on birth control then they will most likely engage in sexual contact because they know they are safe.
4. Using evidence from articles you have read, describe the role of politics in determining which teen pregnancy prevention strategy is advocated?
   - based on articles that i read there is not much of a role in polotics about this. They all say that it is bad but nothing is done about it.
   
   

   Critical Thinking & Analysis

   1. Do you think there should be a cap imposed on the salaries of professional athletes? Why or why not?
      - Yes because too much money is being spent on players. 
   2. Should athletes be allowed to earn additional money through endorsement deals? Explain.
      - Yes because athletes are being asked to expose a companies products so they should get paid.
   3. What reasons could someone give for justifying the high salaries of some athletes?
      - They are the best players so they deserve to get paid more.
   4. Should an athlete’s salary be based on his/her performance on the playing field? Explain.
      - Yes because if they are winning championships then they deserve to get paid.
      
      

      Critical Thinking & Analysis

   1. Should states adopt stricter penalties for drivers who refuse to take a BAC test? Why or why not?
      - Yes because this can help save lives of people. 
   2. Should laws be enacted that require ignition-interlock devices for all convicted drunk drivers, including first-time offenders? Why or why not?
      - Yes because you can make sure those people arent doing this again. 
   3. Do you think DUI checkpoints should be used more often and in more places? Explain.
   4. Describe other measures you think could be implemented to reduce drunk driving.
      
      

      Critical Thinking & Analysis

      1. Is organic food worth the extra cost?
         - organic food is worth the extra cost because it is healthier and it can stop a person from growing fatter and they can love a healthier lifestyle 
      2. Should public schools offer organic foods?
         - Yes they should be offered in public schools because since America is trying to avoid obesity they should start in young public schools.
      3. Is organic food better for the planet?
         - It shouldnt count because it is not processed therefore there is no difference if food is regular or organic
      4. How should organic food be labeled?
         - There should be an organic section for all of the organic foods.
         

         Critical Thinking & Analysis

         1. Do you think schools are doing enough to stop bullying? Explain your answer.
            - there isnt enough being done in schools because there is still bullying in schools and many cases of it. 
         2. How should bullies be punished?
            - Depending on how severe the bullying comes to there should be serious consequences. 
         3. What should schools do to help students who are the victims of bullies?
            - Schools should punish the bullies and have the students go to counciling to make sure they will not try to do something rash and harmful. 
         4. What are the reasons that students bully other students? How can this behavior be changed?
            - Students bully others to fit in and not to get bullied themselves. this behavior can be changed by a severe punishment.