The debate on the minimum wage is ongoing. We can look into history and see how the minimum wage has changed in the past and how it got to where it is today. I am very interested in this topic; it is controversial, of high importance, and relevant today. I have my own values and beliefs that have caused me to form an opinion on this specific topic. This makes me more passionate when I am talking and arguing about this subject. I have first-hand experience with this subject because I used to work a job where I earned minimum wage. This makes me qualified because I can speak from the point of view of someone who knows what it is like to earn minimum wage. 

I started off my research with a very basic article published by the United States Department of Labor. Titled "Questions and Answers About the Minimum Wage," I chose this article because it provides a basic understanding of the topic for people who might be unfamiliar with it. The purpose of this article is to educate people in a quick, simple way by providing commonly asked questions about minimum wage. This article states, a fact some people might not know, that the federal minimum wage is $7.25. It also includes who the minimum wage applies to, situations in which it might be different, and who ensures people are actually getting paid minimum wage, not any lower. This article is purely informative, meaning it contains little-to-no bias. Being published by the Department of Labor, this article is very credible. The Department of Labor is the perfect source to go to about minimum wage because they have such a large role in enforcing and regulating it in the U.S ("Questions").  

My second source was written by Noam Scheiber and published by the New York Times. Many states are trying to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, as Obama has suggested. This article suggests that it is unlikely to happen in Southern states and states where Republicans dominate the government. While small increases in the minimum wage can help minimum wage workers without causing decreases in jobs, the wages that they are proposing may cause unprecedented changes. We do not have much research to show what such a drastic pay increase would cause. An increase in the minimum wage could also cause companies to go out of business. There are many jobs and people at stake here. On one hand, raising the minimum wage might help workers earn a higher salary to support their families; on the other hand, raising the minimum wage might cause a decrease in jobs. I searched for articles on this topic on the New York Times website because I knew it was a credible source. It is well renowned and respected source that I can trust (Scheiber).

  My third piece of research is an article entitled "Raise the Wage," published by none other than the White House itself.  It includes a quote from President Obama about how raising the minimum wage will benefit millions of workers. Since 2013, many states have followed President Obama's advice and raised their minimum wages. It defines how much a minimum wage worker will make per year and highlights that this is not enough to live of off for many people. Obama has proposed that states raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. This article is attempting to persuade people this is the right thing for our country and economy. There are many lives at stake because so many people would be affected if the minimum wage were raised. This source is very credible because it was published by the White House. This article is trustworthy because it comes straight from the people who propose and make the laws ("Raise"). 

My research question is definitely arguable. It is a large political question in the world today, especially as we are seeing a soon-to-come change in the presidency. There are a lot of different views on this subject. Currently, the minimum wage is $7.25; Obama has proposed that the minimum wage be raised to $15. This topic is complicated because people can have so many different opinions: they may want the minimum wage to be abolished or they may want it to be any number below, above, or in between the previously listed numbers. Another argument in this topic, besides exactly what the minimum wage should be, is what the minimum wage will do to the United States economy. Many people say that a high minimum wage would benefit more people than it would harm, but many people think the opposite. There are many pros and cons of all views on the subject; a person's view will most likely depend on the pros that are most important to him or her. I personally did not think the minimum wage should be raised. As a result of my research, I have seen articles that are in favor of raising the minimum wage. Some of the pros listed in these articles have made me realize that I may approve of the minimum wage being raised a little bit, but not all the way to $15. I can revise my argument by making it more specific. For example, I could say that the minimum wage should raised smaller amounts at a time to match inflation (Scheiber).

