Happy Birthday!!!  You've just turned 16, and you walk out into the garage to find a brand new, black corvette convertible waiting for you.....unfortunately, a law has been passed raising the legal driving age to 18.  No car for you!!  But maybe that's a good thing; you clearly remember driving with your sister when she turned 16, closing your eyes tight for fear of not making it home safely.  

At least you know you will feel good wearing your new t-shirt your best friend bought for you on this special day.  No, wait....your school adopted a uniform policy this year, and you have to wear that crisp white shirt and red shorts--again (even on your birthday!).  Well maybe that's a good thing; some kids at school might have made fun of the wild pattern on that new t-shirt.

So after you get ready for school, you sit down to breakfast hoping to at least watch your favorite show, The Suite Life of Zach and Cody.  Although it's your birthday, today is just not your day!  Because the characters constantly get into trouble, your mom flips off the TV.  "You need to watch something more educational, honey," your mom says as she places your waffles on the table.  You decide that may be a good thing because you need a current event to discuss in history.  This birthday has started on a great note!

Driving Age, School Uniforms, Television's Influence on Children--these controversial issues impact your life now or may in the future.  There are convincing arguments for both sides of each issue.  You will investigate one of the subjects, gather evidence to support one position, compose a convincing speech to present to a "judge", and judge the speech of another.