Hey, I'm trying to come up with a topic for my yearly research paper (I'm a homeschooled senior in high school). A friend of my family was just elected the Majority Whip in the PA House of Representatives, and my mom suggested that I find a topic where I could possibly go to the Capitol in Harrisburg and interview him and maybe some other political leaders. The problem is, the paper has to be 10 pages/2,500 words long, and I'm at a loss for a good, specific topic that has the potential for that length,and would also make good use of my resources. Thank you for any help!
One option is to find out about this friend and why he is in his position. Here are some potential questions:
Why did you seek political office? What are the duties/responsibilities of the Whip? What advantages/disadvantages are there in holding this political office? How does your family feel about your position in politics?
What other offices did you hold before becoming a representative? What processes did you have to go through to gain these offices?
What goals do you have in your position? How will you proceed to obtain these goals?
Depending on the friend's relationship with your parents, he might feel flattered by these questions. You might get some good insights about the workings of the House. The answers you get are likely to be more frank and comprehensive than from other representatives who do not have a previous relationship with your parents. However, you need to be aware that he might think that some questions are too personal or invasive.
To some extent, his attitude about providing information will depend on how you introduce yourself and your reasons for the interview.
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
Thank you so much for your time and advice! This really helps!
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