Choosing a Research Topic
You are taking a writing course. The final paper requires you to argue a position on a topic related to technology and society. You have three potential topics: 1) The impact of social media on teenagers' mental health. 2) The use of AI in hiring decisions. 3) The digital divide in online education. You have two weeks to write a 5-page paper. You need at least five credible sources. You are most interested in topic 1, but you find many opinion pieces and few empirical studies. Topic 2 has several recent academic articles, but you find the technical details challenging. Topic 3 has a mix of government reports and news articles, but the data is somewhat outdated (from 2020). You must choose one topic and write a thesis statement.
1. Which topic should you choose? Justify your choice based on the constraints.
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Topic 2 is the best choice. Although the technical details are challenging, it has several recent academic articles, which satisfy the need for credible sources. Topic 1 lacks empirical studies, making it hard to build a strong argument in two weeks. Topic 3 has outdated data, which weakens the argument. With two weeks, you can manage the technical challenge by focusing on the social implications rather than the technical details, and you have enough sources.
2. Write a thesis statement for the topic you chose.
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A possible thesis: 'While AI in hiring can reduce unconscious bias, its lack of transparency and potential for perpetuating existing inequalities require strict regulation to ensure fairness.' This is arguable, specific, and can be supported by the academic articles.