Controversial Issues Topics for your Argument ESSAY

Illegal Immigration  Should California lawmakers pardon illegal immigrants who are currently living and working in this state, and grant them some form of legal status?  Should children of illegal immigrants be given automatic citizenship if they are born in the United States? born in the United States?

Illegal Immigration Should the children of illegal immigrants be granted the right to apply for financial aid and student loans, just like other students? (referring to those children who were NOT born in the U.S. and do not qualify for citizenship) qualify for citizenship)

Environmental Issues Should people boycott SUV’s and other large gas-guzzlers in favor or hybrid vehicles and smaller cars that get better gas mileage? Should people be allowed to smoke wherever they want within cities?

Right to Die Should California Law allow a terminally ill person to commit suicide with a doctor’s assistance?

Violence in the Media  Should certain violent/sexually explicit video games like “Grand Theft Auto” come with an “X” rating?  Are video games harmful to the developing minds of young children?

Medical Ethics  Should people have the right to sell their organs for cash? (a kidney, an eye, etc.)  Does all research involving animal experimentation require strong moral justification?

Media  Does pornography harm women?  Should the government censor all Internet pornography?

Civil Rights  Should homosexuals be granted the right to legal marriage in the state of California?  Should homosexuals be allowed to adopt children through public/state adoption agencies?

Affirmative Action  Should colleges and universities make special admissions allowances for students based on ethnicity and income?  Should the state continue to fund college programs like EOPS? (EOPS offers counseling, free textbooks, grants and loans to qualifying minority students)

Education  Should public high schools continue to offer comprehensive “Sex Ed” classes?  Should public high schools teach abstinence-only in Sex Ed classes?  Should all public high school students be required to take an exit exam?

Education  Should all public school teachers be tested for competency every 4-6 years?  Should public school students be required to wear uniforms?  Do public schools have the right to give random drug tests to any/all students?

Steps to Writing the Paper  Choose a compelling topic—one that you really care about.  List potential subjects EDUCATION ANIMAL WELFARE MEDIARELIGION

Choose a Topic; Narrow your Focus EDUCATION --SCHOOL VOUCHERS? --EXIT EXAM? --DRUG TESTING --HOME SCHOOLING?

Create a debatable question:  Should we support the idea of “school vouchers” to make money available if we decide to send our children to a private school?  Is home-schooling a good alternative to public schools?

Research Your Question:  Is home-schooling a good alternative to public schools? YESNO Flexible schedule Still follows curriculum Field opportunities Research opportunities Can focus on interests Parents can be very good teachers Most people aren’t self-disciplined Parents aren’t always well-trained Children need a break from parents Not enough social interaction Can’t study well at home Students won’t learn the same materials Won’t be prepared for college

Choose a position. Write your thesis.  Is home-schooling a good alternative to public schools? Thesis: In most cases, home-schooling is NOT a good alternative to public school: parents often don’t make the best teachers, students often lack self-discipline, and standards are not consistent.

Write the Outline  I. INTRODUCTION --background on topic --Question/ Thesis BODY II. --First Reason --Counterargument--Rebuttal

III.--Second Reason --Counter-argument--Rebuttal IV.--Third Reason --Counterargument--Rebuttal

 Conclusion --additional example? --restate main reasons --final thought/ quote WORKS CITED PAGE

Address the Counterarguments! Example: Most students are not disciplined enough to study at home. Most students would be distracted at home. Granted, some rare students would do well at home, but the MAJORITY of students need structure and a school setting.

Counterarguments:  EXAMPLE: While it is true that many parents would be well-qualified teachers, many parents would not do well as their own child’s teacher. Children don’t always listen toparents the same way they listen to a stranger. Also, sometimes the presence of a principal helps to keep kids focused.

So what is a counterargument? --A counterargument is when you anticipate your opponents’ objections and then refute them. --A counterargument means taking the offensive. --A counterargument acknowledges the strengths of the other side. --Not doing so makes you look like biased or unaware.