Research Links & Critical Thinking Questions for November 2018 Topics

Oct 16, 2018 | Ideas For Teachers

RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: Smoking Age

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids: States & Localities That Have Raised the MLSA to 21
National Academy of Sciences: “Raising the Minimum Age of Legal Access to Tobacco”
American Heart Association: “Tobacco, No Minor Issue” Fact Sheet 
American Lung Association: “Tracking Progress Toward Raising Minimum Sale Age” 
Study: “Raising the Tobacco Sales Age to 21: Surveying the Legal Landscape” (2016) 
Worth It: Tobacco Facts
Tobacco 21: Tobacco 21 Fact Sheet 

Issue 2: Tech Regulations

The Hill OpEd: “Regulate Social Media Just Like Other Media” 
Washington Post OpEd: “Don’t Regulate Facebook”
PBS: “Stopping Foreign Meddling in U.S. Elections Via Social Media Is Enormous Task” 
Senate.gov: Honest Ads Act (S. 1989) Section by Section
Debate.org: Should the Internet Be Regulated by the Government?
The Conversation: “Government Regulation of Social Media Would Be Worse”

 

CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS

Issue 1:  Smoking Age

  1. Should the U.S. make it illegal for anyone under 21 to buy tobacco products in all states? Why or why not?
  2. Do you think increasing the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products infringes on young people’s rights? Why or why not?
  3. If cigarettes and other tobacco products were more difficult to obtain in stores, do you think teenagers would be less inclined to want them? Why or why not?
  4. What do you think is the appropriate minimum age for purchasing tobacco products? Why?
  5. What are the arguments for and against raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products? Which position do you agree with and why?

Issue 2: Tech Regulations

  1. Do you think the government should regulate tech companies like Facebook and Google? Why or why not?
  2. Read for pro and con congressional quotes on raising the smoking age on p. 3. Whose opinion do you agree most with, and why?
  3. Are social media platforms like Twitter subject to the First Amendment?
  4. Is there a right to free speech on social media owned by private tech companies?
  5. Do you trust social and search companies like Facebook and Google to regulate themselves? Why or why not?