Below are topics you should not write your formal essays about this semester.  The reasons you should not choose these topics are that these topics have been written to death, meaning they're overused; you will find a difficult time coming up with a new angle concerning these topics; and choosing one of these topics inhibits your ability to generate your own topic and create a unique essay.  Please check this list periodically as I add to it when I see "new" topics becoming overworked.

OFF LIMITS TOPICS:

Stem cell research

Steroids

Athletes' salaries

Gun control

Abortion

Euthanasia

School uniforms

Raising/lowering the legal drinking age

Death penalty

Pete Rose being admitted to Hall of Fame

Global warming

Legalizing marijuana

Changing legal age for teen drivers (or creating graduated drivers' licenses)