Help Choose one of the following topics for your conversation:
03.01 Interpreting History—Conversation Topics—Text Version
Soda tax—Should people have to pay an extra tax on soda or junk food?
[image: People protest a proposed two-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks.—Philadelphia, PA, 2011]
[image: Students rally in favor of a two-cent-per-ounce soda tax that would provide money for schools.—Philadelphia, PA, 2011]

Standardized tests—Should students have to pass state or national tests to graduate from high school?
[image: President Bush signs the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires states to use standardized testing to measure student understanding.]

Arts in Education—Should students be required to take fine arts courses (music, drama, art, etc.) to graduate from high school?
[Middle school students perform in a VH1 Save the Music Concert.—Philadelphia, PA, 2011]

Topic of your choice—You must get approval from your instructor to write about another appropriate topic.
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Research your topic using the Internet or other reference material. You may want to start with local or national newspapers, television news sources, or online encyclopedias. Please contact your instructor if you are unable to find appropriate sources. You may also want to review this learning object for tips on finding and using information.

Write a conversation between two people with different perspectives on your topic. Your conversation can be in the form of instant messages, text messages, or social media status updates. You may use this template to complete your assessment. Your conversation should include the following:
A total of at least five entries for each side (10 entries total—two to three sentences each)
Accurate facts used to support both perspectives
At least two properly cited sources used for research
For information on how to properly cite sources review the MLA Citation Style presentation.