Here are your essay questions. You are required to write up to 1500 words (including in-text references) in answer to your chosen question. Your essay should be based on scholarly arguments and should use the feedback from your draft paragraph.
1/. Does democracy appropriately balance individual freedom with other concerns? Explain your response in relation to one of the following topics, or choose your own topic (in discussion with your tutor):
Vaccination
Euthanasia
Drug use
Sexuality
Freedom of expression
2/. Should everyone have complete freedom of speech, or should there be limits on what we can publicly express?
3/. ‘The best approach to the future is for government to get out of the way.’ Do you agree? Discuss in relation to one of the following topics, or choose your own topic (in discussion with your tutor).
Vaccination
Drug use
Taxation
Social Security
Education
4/. Should the internet be completely unregulated? Consider one of the following issues:
Accuracy of information
Polarisation of opinion
Media ownership
Offensive speech
Access to technology
5/. ‘Students who expect to attend university are more likely to do so, and so gain access to improved social and labour markets outcomes. These include increased health and life expectancy, higher incomes and greater levels of wellbeing – the “health, wealth and happiness” trifecta.’ (Thompson 2018). In light of the impact of education on social and economic outcomes do we need to address growing educational inequality? How might this be achieved?
6/. Are either a Universal Basic Income or a Jobs Guarantee useful policies to curb the impact of automation and the changing nature of work?
7/. Does the current education system in Australia prepare students for the future? If so how, if not how might this be addressed for future generations?
8/. Is the nature of work and employment changing? What impact will this have in the future? Consider in relation to one of the following topics:
Automation
Digital disruption
Gender
Insecure work
9/. Can popular culture be an agent of social and cultural change? Choose one or two specific examples to discuss.
10/. Will the social safety net need to be revised in light of increasing industrial and technological change?
11/. In the face of rapid technological and industrial change coupled with an aging population, is a Universal Basic Income (UBI) something that future governments will need to consider?
12/. Is censorship ever warranted? Discuss in relation to one or two specific works.