I need help please

[ProudToBeLiberal]

I'm writing an extended essay for IB. My topic is politics. But, I need to narrow it down to a research question. Do you guys have any ideas what I can research about that deals with politics and that's interesting. Also that has a lot of information that can be found and research. Basically this is like your thesis paper in college. The paper has to be about 3000-4000 words. So I guess this is going to be an extensive paper. so any ideas for research question?

[Don_G]

1. Forgive My Ignorance

What's IB and how may we help you?

[ProudToBeLiberal]

4. IB is

international baccalaureate basically higher level classes like AP(advanced placement) that has a more european influence. I'm high school by the way

[ixion]

2. here's one...

why does the 'average joe' think Bush is an 'honest and moral' person, when, in fact, he is a deceitful liar.

[Kenneth ken]

3. The Political influence of

World Bank loans on economic policies in South American countries.

[sugargoose]

5. Black box Voting

The technical aspect of it is a little overwhelming, but with the right angle it could be really attention grabbing, and it's something that really needs as much exposure as possible.

It might be interesting to study both sides of the debate on the 2000 election and try to draw a conclusion about who actually won and why.

PNAC would be another important topic

I don't know what IB means either

[Rhiannon12866]

6. To be topical: how about something on 9/11

Paul Thompson's brilliant research can be found on DU. He chronicles everrything from Bush*s movements ``An Interesting Day,'' to what was going on in official channels ``Our Failure to Defend the Skies.'' Here is a link to this website, but there is a great deal more out there, especially now. Good luck!:-)

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline/main/essayaninterestingday.html

[Bossy Monkey]

7. There's a pretty drastic difference between a research paper and a thesis

The latter requires you to propound and defend a position. The former will let you slide by with just doing then presenting your research. If you're doing a research paper, 3,000-4,000 words would probably be a good length for tracing the whole sorry tale of the Florida vote in 2000. You wouldn't have to take a position but can present all sides. If you have to do an actual thesis about politics, perhaps think about the '02 elections, whether they were a ringing mandate for Bush, a reaction to the 9/11 attacks, or a total failure by the Democrats, and discuss why you think so. If your teachers define politics more broadly than just electoral politics, it would be fascinating (and not too difficult) to discuss the "intelligence" offices that Bush and Rumsfeld have set up in preference to listening to CIA veterans. Anyway, a couple suggestions here and a kick so that others can offer better ones.

[lpbk2713]

8. Has the American political scene become too polarized?

Have the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and the Faux network done irreparable damage? Is dirty politics the norm?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. How about making the case for progressive or regressive taxation

OR WHETHER OR NOT privatization is really working?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. Better yet....Outsourcing the military

LOTS of available info on that one..if you choose that pm me and I will send you my links to many excellent articles and a few very valuable DU threads.

[BeHereNow]

11. I second that!

GREAT TOPIC Louise!

Thelma

[Gore1FL]

12. how about Florida

A study of FL laws, how Gore won every count based on those laws, and how the media covered/distorted it.

[DemExpat]

13. My paper this month in my American studies course:

American foreign policy in the 20th Century with emphasis on how the Cold War affected it.
Due in 3 days................:crazy:

A paper on American foreign policy since the Cold War, especially now that this administration holds the reigns, would also be very interesting, IMO, say, since September 11th.....

Good luck!

DemEx

[SoCalDem]

14. Privatization of water in 3rd world countries

is a HUGE problem.. There is a lot of stuff out there for research.. Enron and Vivendi are very "involved" in this..

The basic idea is this:

Weatlthy developers arrivein an idyllic, but underdeveloped area, they manage to convince the locals to sell/lease enough of their land for the developers to build fancy hotels or factories.. In exchange for this, they are promised a fantastic water "project".. Since these people are used to having rather sketchy water sources, and most do not even have indoor plumbing, it sounds like a great idea..

The "water guys" build a system, but they provide the resort with 24/7 water and all the amenities, and the locals are lucky to get a couple of hours a day and most still do not have indoor plumbiing, and now they must BUY all their water at a huge price..

They lost their land, end up as underpaid servants, and still do not have much water, and the water they DO have is usually overpriced..