Is the U.S. the best country to live in?

You will write 5 points on why the U.S. is the best country to live in. Some suggestions: Include the fact that the U.S. is the wealthiest country in the world (overall GNP/GDP). Include statistics of how many people are trying to get into the U.S…refugees and immigrants. Include the fact that the U.S. had the first working democracy in the modern world. Include the fact that so many countries model their constitution on the U.S system of government. Include the fact that the U.S. has the strongest influence on films and pop culture. Include the amount of universities/ Ivy League schools that the U.S. contains. Include how free and diverse the U.S. is.

You will write 5 points on why the U.S. is not the best country to live in. Some suggestions: Include the rising cost of living to live in the U.S. Include how expensive medical care is and how ineffective medical insurance is. Include the fact that the U.S. has not even reached the top 10 in the “Happiest Countries of the World” index. Include that the U.S. is not even ranked in the top 10 for GDP per capita. Include the poverty levels in the U.S. Include the unemployment levels. Include the quality (or lack thereof) of our education system. Include how divisive the U.S. has become of late. Include the environmental issues that the U.S. faces.

All points should be hand written in black ink or typed in complete sentences.  You will write a minimum of 10 points in all.  You will use evidence from a reliable source to back up each argument or point for each side for a minimum of 5 sources.  Make sure you footnote after each argument. Include 2 quotes each from an expert for each side. You may use 2 arguments or points from the same article (source). You will include a bibliography in MLA format.

Some articles I found that may be helpful but you should also find your own articles. Do not use debate.org, Procon.org or Wikipedia. You can use them as springboards but use the sources they’ve used:

U.S. is the best country to live in:

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/10-reasons-united-states-best-country-live

https://nypost.com/2021/07/01/nearly-70-percent-say-us-is-greatest-country-to-live-in-poll/

https://www.timesleaderonline.com/opinion/columns/2021/07/the-many-reasons-why-america-is-great/

U.S. is not the best country to live in:

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/quality-of-life

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-united-states-not-best-country-world-article-1.3303665

https://qz.com/879092/the-us-doesnt-look-like-a-developed-country/

Rubric

Student wrote 10 points…5 for each side of the debate                                                                  /20 pts

Bibliography…at least 5 sources (students write what source each point came from)         /10 pts

Student typed or wrote the points in ink                                                                                                /2 pts

Student used at least 4 quotes from experts in the field…2 for each side                               /8

Students footnoted each argument                                                                                                         /10 pts

Total                                                                                                                                                                      /50 pts