I am teaching 15-16 year-olds about writing persuasive essays, and in the process, I also want to have them do debates in class, but I'm running out of ideas for debate subjects. Can anyone suggest ideas of subjects that students of that age-group would find interesting and would like to discuss?
2006-09-30 08:39:10 · 8 answers · asked by nellierslmm 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
It sounds like you are in America... but I have some suggestions, coming from a Canadian, as these are hot topics in our region and either should be, or will be in your region some day. ( edited....I filtered the questions and yours came up as Canadian questions only....so maybe you can relate even more to my topics suggested. Bonne Chance!)
1) Should the government take more of a role in convincing pharmaceutical companies to provide low-cost anti-HIV and AIDS medications to the poor nations of Africa?
2) Should every high school student /elementary student have a laptop computer for learning (or similar question)...pros and cons of using computers throughout the day while attending conventional schools.
[Canada is doing research on the use of individual student-assigned laptops in elementary classrooms to determine the advantages/disadvantages of computer usage in the classroom]
3) Should our country increase or decrease the number of legal immigrants coming into our country on an annual basis?........ie: idea of cultural diversification, new approaches and ideas...etc.
4) Should our country try to attract professionals/workers from other countries in professions where we lack enough of our domestically-trained professionals eg: engineeers, doctors, nurses, trades people, whatever.
5) Should our government take more action against global warming? Should America have agreed to participate in the Kyoto Protocol?
6) Should there be more incentive to have car manufacturers build emission-free vehicles (ie: cars with fuel cells, ie: electric-powered cars or alternate fuel cars)?
7) Do you think it should be mandatory to learn a second language when you attend school?..... (most country's school systems in the world have it as a requirement!)
2006-10-01 19:18:00 · answer #1 · answered by signingstore 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the person who said that you should ask the students for issues that are important to them. You should have a few ideas in mind to get them started on the right track. The thing to remember is to be carful of topics that could be potential trouble makers with administration and parents. To avoid problems I have the class follow a variation of Robert's Rules of order and have multiple debate topics for each class.
Some of my best debates have been on the following:
-1st amendment rights (freedom of speech and religion)
-Gun Control
-Death Penalty
-Physician Assisted Suicide
-Legalization of Drugs
-Abortion
-The War in Iraq
-Drug Testing in Schools
-Dress Codes in Schools
I hope this helps!
2006-09-30 21:04:49 · answer #2 · answered by crimson_aurora 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's hard to respond when so many hot topics are local rather than general issues. What are your kids interested in? What affects their daily lives? Some possibilities that come to mind:
- assisted suicide
- fast food in school cafeterias
- competition vs. cooperation
- obesity in America (whose fault?)
- illegal aliens
- is there such a thing as "too thin"? (modeling decision in Italy)
- the right to fail (it appears that in schools today, everybody has to be a winner and everyone is rewarded just for showing up. Yet in sports there are winners and losers, and failure can be a valuable learning experience).
Aah, my mind''s gone blank. Hope that helps!
2006-09-30 15:50:30 · answer #3 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing you can do is ask them what issues are important to them. Let them brainstorm ideas, instead of you assigning them. Who better to identify interesting discussion topics for your students than the students themselves???
2006-09-30 15:42:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Abortion
Prayer in Schools
Dress Codes and Uniforms
The driving age.
2006-09-30 15:42:00 · answer #5 · answered by Stiletto ♥ 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well Gaaaawwwly....lets seeeee....how about the Iraq war justified or no....or Racism...On the increase ?...or Child predators...Why so many on the net?.......or Pasta Hilton does she have a job??...just a few..
2006-09-30 15:49:27 · answer #6 · answered by zen2bop 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Advertising and its' effects on young people- good influence or pure exploitation?
Language - barrier to communication or important aspect of culture and identity? (Should we all speak the same language?)
Women's rights - Have we achieved equality?
Racism - a problem without solution?
Should all schools be non-denominational?
GOOD LUCK!
2006-10-01 18:44:08 · answer #7 · answered by Penny 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the war on terrorism and how it affects their life and family. Also abstenance?
2006-09-30 15:42:48 · answer #8 · answered by Breanna M 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋