Hi,
For English I need to write an argumentative or persuasive essay on a topic of my choice. Problem being, it's supposed to be a topic we feel strongly about, and I can't think of anything. The examples he gave us were things like, "Does School Uniform affect performance in schools" or "Do you think Scotland should become independent" and so on, but none of them really appealed to me. I've got a whole week to write it, so I thought I'd ask you guys for help choosing a topic

Thanks

White Privilege and how it is affecting America. Google that. Effing Ethic studies class making me all depressed and [censored]...real is real though. Rather know the truth than live a lie.

I'm not sure that would tick the "feel strongly about" box for someone in Scotland.

Those subjects are a bit uninspired. How about something a bit more connected with popular culture like the music festivals, the ongoing Celtic vs. Rangers malarky or something like that...?

I had to write one recently as well....well back in December or so. I wrote about Internet freedom and why SOPA/PIPA are terrible.

Wth is that? King Arthur came back from the grave to fight Chuck Norris?

Pretty much, only worse.

Well, since you play video games... Write something about video games? We don't know you. How are we supposed to advise you as to what to write about if it must be something you're passionate about, and we don't know you?


Of course, King Arthur won.

Being a gamer, what always makes my piss boil is the whole "Violent games breed violent kids" argument. I could write an entire book on my opinions about this subject. Try writing on a common misconception people have about something you like/enjoy.

I could also write a whole bunch about weight loss, child labor, organized religion, music and it's progression, and probably some other stuff too. Look for your strengths, something you are personally interested in, or know a lot about.

Games and gaming addiction.

All of these good ideas, though I particular like the "Violent games breed violent kids" argument. You could definitely write a lot about that, if you're into video games that is. I assume you are though.

Whoops totally blanked on the Scotland part. Alright then second try...

Well Since it is supposed to be persuasive...persuade people of the value of gaming vs the drawbacks. Do your research though. What you find may surprise you. I have done a persuasive essay before on that exact topic a few years back. Teacher loved it and was quite shocked at some of my findings.

Choosing a topic can be quite tricky and I would probably start with basics.

1. What do you like to do?
2. Is there controversy in that particular area?
3. How many people have talked about that controversy?
4. Dealing with that controversy is it too heated to deal with? (Arguments like Abortion vs anti-abortion)
5. Can the topic be written about successfully and without hindrance? (Copyrights, severe lack of knowledge on the subject, etc... )
6. Is the topic documented well enough to draw out into a paper?
7. Are there sources about it OTHER than Wikipedia? (This is a big one because most institutions are refusing to acknowledge Wikipedia or limit it to 1 article of use)

That would probably be the best area to start in and try to have those questions answered by today OP. After that you can start gathering your notes and jotting down a simple rough draft to make things into a cohesive format.

Security vs. privacy/liberty
Corporate personhood and implications thereof
Lobbying
Government transparency
Corporate interest and sophism vs scientific method

The list goes on.

Security over freedom
Enjoying food over being caution of it
How people use the internet - good and bad points
Should the West be interferring in the East
Dictatorship v Democracy - good and bad points of each
Natural healing over scientfic cures
Evolution
The idea of Religion - compare them, how they are all the same but tweaked and none are true - or are they, and which one is?
Read books over internet reading
The need for libraries is redundant
Are words more powerful than weapons
The suffering of the poor and the worth in helping them
The working class pays for the running of a country while the rich sit happily doing nothing
Recession and how Celebs still make the million - where does our loses go, why not just do a Robin Hood and take from the rich
Is the millions earned by Celebs/sport people worth their minimal effort jobs
The value of life
Gay rights - are they just the same as human rights or are these people being needy
Gays - how often is it a life style choice opposed to it being a gentic disorder
Why gays are accepted in society when other mental issues are locked away or given medication
Social media, facebook/twitter - are they good or bad, poltical tools/areas of free-speech
Is there such a think as human rights - who deserves them and why
Is the universe infinite
What created it all, a God, an explosion - what other possibilities are there
Is human life worth extending - good points and bad.
Origins of human - evolution or a deformity
Earth without humans


--- If I think of anymore topics I will then think of putting them in a spoiler tag, did I even cover enough

IS there anything that burns your gills about school policy or the acts of particular teachers? Grading schemes, uniforms, community service, public execution for minor offenses, etc.? A lot of research has gone into school systems, making it easy to write a well-sourced paper about many school-related topics.

Public execution - might be a good one to give reasons for and againist it, why it should or shouldn't be re-implemented here.
Schools make it easy for you by giving you loads of topic but at the same time that can be bad.

I'm not sure that using it as a platform to rail against particular teachers or school policy is such a cunning idea, as tempting as it may be.

Wait.....wut?

Teachers don't have uniform support of all school policies and they certainly don't have amicable relations with all their co-workers (who does?). If the OP is willing to chat up his teacher, he can probably find a subject that would cause his teacher to present a sympathetic ear.

I dare say he could, but it's also extremely easy to misread the situation and alienating people is probably a more likely outcome. Why take the risk? There's a better way of making a point, and perhaps the best way is to decide whether it even needs to be made in the first place. A lesson learnt the hard way, and all things considered I probably got off lightly.

Home schooling then. Everyone can get around pounding on that.

Good advice in thread, thread is success, nothing more needs to be said, but will be anyway

That's certainly an area for debate in itself...

True, but I've never met a teacher who would give bad marks over it.

How about which is better Morrowind, Oblivion or Skyrim, or should Fast Travel be in games. Those always illicit strong opinions

Or maybe read some new articles or editorials and see if they resonate.