Planning - Argumentative essay



Below are the sheets we used in class to plan out argumentative essays. Instructions given in class are in italics.

Use the list below to choose a topic. You may use a topic that is not listed, but check with the great and powerful M.Peters first.
Argumentative Essay Topics

Should students be allowed to have cell phones in school?
Should students have to wear uniforms?
Should college athletes be paid for playing?
Should the elderly receive free rides?
Should state colleges be free to attend?
Should all American citizens have to complete a year of community service?
Should students be required to take foreign language classes?
Should the voting age be lowered to thirteen?
Should the driving age be raised to twenty-one?
Should students be paid for having good grades?
Should students’ textbooks be replaced by notebook computers?
Should students have to pass a basic skills test to graduate high school?
Should students’ grades in gym affect their grade point averages?
Should boys and girls be in separate classes?
Should people who download music and movies illegally be punished?
Should music with curse words be allowed at school dances?
Should public schools begin the day with a silent prayer time?
Should students be able to listen to MP3 players on headphones during study hall?
Should schools offer fast food options like McDonalds or Taco Bell?
Should cities offer free public Wi-Fi?
Should people be allowed to keep exotic animals like chimpanzees or tigers?
Should the government increase spending on the space program?
Should children have to use booster seats in cars?
Should people have to get a license to become parents?
Should people be allowed to curse on daytime television?
Should students be allowed to eat during class?
Should students and teachers be friends on Facebook?
Should students have open campus lunch periods?
Should students learn about world religions in public schools?
Should schools start later in the morning?
Should school athletes have to take drug tests?
Should high school students have to complete community service hours to graduate?
Should teens over 13 years be allowed into R rated movies?
Should state tests be given in other languages for ESL students?
Should everyone under the age of 17 have a 9:00 PM curfew?
Should students be allowed to drop out before they turn 18 years old?
Should people who are caught driving drunk lose their licenses for a year?
Should students who fail their classes be retained and have to repeat the grade?
Should female construction workers earn the same wages as males?
Should the government be allowed to detain suspected terrorists without trial?
Should teachers be allowed to have cell phones in the classroom?
Should the state execute dogs that have bitten someone?


Working alone, circle one idea (from page 1) that you would like to write about.  Then write your opinion about it in the space below.

Example opinion:  Athletic banquets are fine, but banquets for honor students should also be held.

Your Opinion:

Write your opinion statement here:









Next, in your writing notebook, write about your topic for five minutes, answering as many of these questions as you can:
*If you cannot answer at least 5 of these questions, you have not chosen a good topic.
           
  • Why do you care about this topic?
  • What do you know about it? Consider personal experience, history, and problems.
  • Who is an expert that you could talk to?
  • What are the main reasons, feelings, or opinions about this issue?
  • What might people who disagree with you say?
  • What is the solution?
  • What do you want other people to do?

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