Controversial Controversial IssuesIssues

Illegal ImmigrationIllegal Immigration

Should illegal immigrants who are Should illegal immigrants who are currently living and working in this state currently living and working in this state be granted legal status? be granted legal status?

Should children of illegal immigrants be Should children of illegal immigrants be given automatic citizenship if they are given automatic citizenship if they are

born in the United States? born in the United States?

Illegal ImmigrationIllegal Immigration

Should the children of illegal immigrants Should the children of illegal immigrants who came here with their parents be who came here with their parents be granted the right to apply for financial aid granted the right to apply for financial aid and student loans, just like other and student loans, just like other students? students?

Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues

Should people boycott SUV’s and other Should people boycott SUV’s and other large vehicles in favor or hybrid vehicles large vehicles in favor or hybrid vehicles and smaller cars that get better gas and smaller cars that get better gas mileage? mileage?

Should we raise taxes on items like soda, Should we raise taxes on items like soda, candy, and cigarettes to help raise much-candy, and cigarettes to help raise much-needed money for our state services? needed money for our state services?

Right to DieRight to Die

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

Should next-of-kin be given the right to end Should next-of-kin be given the right to end life-support for a family member who has life-support for a family member who has been declared to be medically brain dead been declared to be medically brain dead or in a vegetative state? or in a vegetative state?

Violence in the MediaViolence in the Media

Are video games harmful to the Are video games harmful to the developing minds of young children? developing minds of young children?

Medical EthicsMedical Ethics

Should people have the right to sell their Should people have the right to sell their organs for cash? (a kidney, an eye, etc.)organs for cash? (a kidney, an eye, etc.)

Does all research involving primate Does all research involving primate experimentation require strong moral experimentation require strong moral justification? justification?

LanguageLanguage

Should the word “God” be removed from Should the word “God” be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance? the Pledge of Allegiance?

Should school districts continue to offer Should school districts continue to offer Bilingual programs (Spanish, Mandarin, Bilingual programs (Spanish, Mandarin, etc) or should the sole focus be on etc) or should the sole focus be on children learning English? children learning English?

Civil RightsCivil Rights

Should homosexuals be granted the right Should homosexuals be granted the right to legal marriage?to legal marriage?

Should homosexuals be allowed to adopt Should homosexuals be allowed to adopt children through public/state adoption children through public/state adoption agencies? agencies?

Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action

Should colleges and universities make Should colleges and universities make special allowances for students based on special allowances for students based on ethnicity and income? ethnicity and income?

Should the state continue to fund college Should the state continue to fund college programs like EOPS? (EOPS offers programs like EOPS? (EOPS offers counseling, free textbooks, grants and counseling, free textbooks, grants and loans to qualifying minority students) loans to qualifying minority students)

EducationEducation Should public high schools teach students about Should public high schools teach students about

birth control in health classes? birth control in health classes?

Should public high schools teach abstinence-only Should public high schools teach abstinence-only in Sex Ed classes? in Sex Ed classes?

Should all public high school students be Should all public high school students be required to take an exit exam? required to take an exit exam?

Should we eliminate teacher tenure? Should we eliminate teacher tenure?

EducationEducation

Should all public school teachers be Should all public school teachers be evaluated based on their students’ test evaluated based on their students’ test scores? scores?

Should public school students be Should public school students be required to wear uniforms? required to wear uniforms?

Do public schools have the right to give Do public schools have the right to give random drug tests to any/all students? random drug tests to any/all students?

Steps to Writing the Steps to Writing the PaperPaper

Choose a compelling topic—one that you Choose a compelling topic—one that you really care about. really care about.

List potential subjectsList potential subjects

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

ANIMAL WELFAREANIMAL WELFARE

MEDIA MEDIA

RELIGION RELIGION

Choose a Topic; Narrow Choose a Topic; Narrow your Focus your Focus

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

--SCHOOL VOUCHERS? --SCHOOL VOUCHERS?

--EXIT EXAM? --EXIT EXAM?

--DRUG TESTING--DRUG TESTING

--HOME SCHOOLING? --HOME SCHOOLING?

Create a debatable Create a debatable question:question:

Should we raise the driving age to 18?Should we raise the driving age to 18?

Is home-schooling a good alternative to Is home-schooling a good alternative to public schools? public schools?

Research Your Question:Research Your Question:

Is home-schooling a good alternative to Is home-schooling a good alternative to public schools? public schools?

YESYES NONO

Flexible scheduleStill follows curriculumField opportunitiesResearch opportunitiesCan focus on interestsParents can be very

good teachers

Most people aren’t self-disciplinedParents aren’t always well-trainedChildren need a break from parentsNot enough social interactionCan’t study well at homeStudents won’t learn the same

materialsWon’t be prepared for college

Choose a position. Write Choose a position. Write your thesis.your thesis.

Is home-schooling a good alternative to public Is home-schooling a good alternative to public schools? schools?

Thesis: Thesis: In most cases, home-schooling is NOT a good In most cases, home-schooling is NOT a good

alternative to public school: parents often don’t alternative to public school: parents often don’t make the best teachers, students often lack make the best teachers, students often lack self-discipline, and standards are not self-discipline, and standards are not consistent. consistent.

Write the OutlineWrite the Outline

I. INTRODUCTIONI. INTRODUCTION

--background on topic--background on topic

--Question/ Thesis--Question/ Thesis

BODYBODY

II. --First Reason II. --First Reason

--Evidence --Evidence

--Counterargument--Counterargument

--Rebuttal--Rebuttal

III.III. --Second Reason--Second Reason

--Evidence--Evidence

--Counter-argument--Counter-argument

--Rebuttal--Rebuttal

IV.IV. --Third Reason--Third Reason

--Evidence--Evidence

--Counterargument--Counterargument

--Rebuttal--Rebuttal

ConclusionConclusion

--additional example? --additional example?

--restate main reasons--restate main reasons

--final thought/ quote--final thought/ quote

WORKS CITED PAGEWORKS CITED PAGE

What is a What is a Counterargument?Counterargument?Example:Example:

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

[[This statement acknowledges that some students This statement acknowledges that some students might in fact do very well in a home setting]might in fact do very well in a home setting]

Counterarguments: Counterarguments:

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE:

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

So what is a So what is a counterargument again? counterargument again?

--A counterargument anticipates your --A counterargument anticipates your opponents’ objections and includes opponents’ objections and includes them in your paper.them in your paper.

--A counterargument means taking the --A counterargument means taking the offensive. offensive.

--A counterargument acknowledges --A counterargument acknowledges the strengths of the other side. the strengths of the other side.

--Not doing so makes you look like --Not doing so makes you look like biased or unaware. biased or unaware.

Argument Essay: Argument Essay:

*3-4 pages in length*3-4 pages in length

*3 sources minimum for evidence*3 sources minimum for evidence

*Writing should incorporate appropriate *Writing should incorporate appropriate tone, appeals, and examplestone, appeals, and examples

*Citations must be listed on a “Works Cited” *Citations must be listed on a “Works Cited” page as well within the body of the essay.page as well within the body of the essay.

*Due, Draft #1 April 12 *Due, Draft #1 April 12

Should GCC Ban Smoking Should GCC Ban Smoking on Campus? (practice)on Campus? (practice)

List the pros and consList the pros and cons Decide on your positionDecide on your position Write your thesis statement. Include three Write your thesis statement. Include three

reasons within your thesis. reasons within your thesis. Write your essay in 5 paragraphs. Write your essay in 5 paragraphs. Each body paragraph should include your Each body paragraph should include your

reasonreason, , evidenceevidence, , analysisanalysis of the of the evidence, evidence, counterargumentcounterargument, and , and rebuttalrebuttal. .