Math project. Why Plastic Bottled Water should be Banned

Name: ______________________________ Geometry Honors

Quarter 3 Project

You will present an argument using the methods of an indirect proof to justify your stance on a

current national or worldwide issue. You will select your issue from the list below, and you will

research your issue using resources from the internet, books, journals, etc. All resources must be

cited.

Should bottled water be banned?

Is human activity a substantial cause of global climate change?

Is a college education worth it?

Is binge-watching good for you?

Does lowering the federal corporate income tax rate create jobs?

Should the US keep daylight savings time?

Should Election Day be made a national holiday?

Should fighting be allowed in hockey?

Should public college be free?

Should GMOs be grown?

Is golf a sport?

Is homework beneficial?

Should the penny stay in circulation?

Should Halloween be permanently moved to Saturday?

Are social networking sites good for our society?

NOTE: Begin researching your topic using the following website: https://www(dot)procon(dot)org/debate-topics.php

For the topic that you choose, you may take either side of the issue. Through your research, you

will provide facts as the “GIVEN” in the proof, and your “PROVE” will be your stance on the

issue. Your argument should be written using complete sentences and well-structured

paragraphs, and should present a logical flow from one point to the next. Your argument should

begin with the assumption of the opposite of what you are trying to prove, and it should clearly

show the contradiction of a known fact. You will be graded according to the checklist on the

following page. Please read each point carefully. You will receive a grade based on the number

of “checks” that you receive。

GRADING CRITERA

1. Name and section appear on the document

2. A title is given to the argument

3. Three or more facts are Given in the proof

4. The facts are explained using correct grammar

5. The argument will hold the attention of the reader

6. The assumption is correct

7. Each fact / assumption is cited for its source

8. The argument is at least one well-constructed paragraph

9. The argument made is logical

10. The argument made is easy to follow

11. An illustration or drawing, etc. relevant to the argument is used as a border, background,

or visual aid for the argument

12. The argument leads to a contradiction of a known fact

13. The contradiction is explicitly stated

14. The argument has a strong conclusion.

Scoring:

14 = 100 13 = 95 12 = 90 11= 85 10 = 80 9 = 75

8 = 70 7 = 65 6 = 60 5 = 55 4 = 50 3

Example：

WHY THE SCHOOL DAY SHOULD NOT BE LENGTHENED

FACTS: Spending more time with one’s family helps to strengthen family bonding. Family

time also has a positive effect on a child’s academic performance. When parents help their

children with their homework, especially in the early years, parents are setting their expectations

for their children to always put their best foot forward and to try their hardest. Children who

spend more time with their parents also learn how to communicate, and as a result, have less

behavioral issues. Increased family time also correlates to less violence and drug use, and an

increase in overall happiness. Children should therefore spend time with their families.

(https://familyfocusblog(dot)com/6-benefits-of-spending-time-together-as-a-family/)

Assume that the school day should be lengthened. The current 6.5-hour school day has its

roots in a time when students needed to help with chores at home, such as working on ranches

and in fields. That is no longer the case, since most Americans do not live in an agricultural

society, so there is no real need for a school day that is only 6.5 hours long. An increased school

day will give teachers more time to educate their students. With the ever-increasing and

staggering amount of knowledge required for today’s world, especially STEM fields, this

increased instruction is necessary for our students to remain competitive with the rest of the

world. The longer school day would also reduce a child’s free time, giving him or her less

opportunity for mischief. This would be beneficial to the child. (waldenu.edu/online-doctoral-

programs/doctor-of-education/resource/the-pros-and-cons-to-longer-school-days)

However, less free time means that there will be less time for a child to spend with his or her

family. This contradicts the fact that children should spend more time with their families.

Therefore, the assumption that the school day should be lengthened must therefore be wrong, and the opposite must be true. The school day should not be lengthened