If you’re in Eric Buran’s AP US Government class, you come to know the fear that comes with having a quick write due at the start of each class over the course of the year. Whether the prompt asks you about universal healthcare or a president’s private life, it seems like a class-wide experience to grind out the required writing in the study hall before class (sorry, Mr. Buran…). If you’re planning on taking this epic class next year (which you should), this article can act as a preview!
1. Euthanasia
There’s such a broad spectrum to write about when it comes to debating the ethics of euthanasia. Additionally, when you let people make that choice, there’s the possibility of the government taking advantage of mentally disabled people and forcing a choice on them. However, there’s also the question of if there’s a chance at improving someone’s mental or physical health, should we allow them to commit suicide? I would be interested in reading my classmate’s writing/opinions on this topic.
2. Rent Control
We were asked whether or not the government should place limits on the price of rent, and I honestly think I kind of cooked. When discussing a free market economy, I think a lot of people forget about housing. Especially in California where housing prices are insane, would it be better to make it more affordable or should the value of homes be a reflection of a desire to live in a certain location?
3. Morals and Values
Right off the bat, Buran starts the school year off by making his class of seniors look deep within their psyche to figure out what matters to them the most. I like that we began our class by looking at ourselves since much of what we prioritize and experience influences how we interact with politics. This quick write was probably more difficult for indecisive people like me since I spent a little too much time thinking about if I valued one thing over another.
4. How should a president lead?
In AP Gov, we learn about different models of government. There’s four, but the one a lot of people focus on is the politico model, where a government official will trust their own judgement when making policy decisions until their supporters really push for a certain cause. For this quick write, choosing this model of government when deciding which way is the best feels generic because the official will make informed choices based on their prior experience in politics while also listening to their supporters. Yay for representative democracy, boo for writing.
5. Electoral College
Similar to the last quick write, the answer to whether or not we should keep the electoral college feels pretty universal among the class.