Choosing argument topics that relate to your English Language Arts
curriculum helps you teach argument essay writing well. From authentic
topics you can develop authentic
writing prompts that
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Assure students have some knowledge on the topic.
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Promote logical rather than emotional discussion.
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Reinforce other curriculum topics students are studying.
In addition to giving you suitable argument topics for an ELA curriculum,
I am including some writing prompts with imbedded
thesis options. (I call them no-brainer theses.)
I have also suggested possible modifications of some of the argument
topics. You may develop others to fit your needs. With a little
finessing, you can adapt the ideas I've provided as starters for
If
you don't understand the distinction between argument topics and
argument theses, you may want to review the definition of thesis.
Topic #1: developing writing skill
Writing prompt: Class blogs [are/are not] useful in developing
students' writing ability.
This writing prompt does not indicate a specific audience. You
may wish to restrict the prompt so that the audience is defined
to a greater degree. For example, you might modify the topic to
this:
Writing prompt: Writing students in [name of class] [should/should
not] be required to contribute to a class blog.
Topic #2: research sources
Writing prompt: Students [should/should not] be allowed
to use Wikipedia.com as a source for research papers.
You may wish to restrict this topic more by limiting it to a particular
group of students, such as college students or students at XYZ high
school.
Topic #3: plagiarism
Writing prompt: [Name of school] [should/ should not]
have a formal plagiarism policy.
You may wish to restrict this topic more. For example, you might
say this:
Writing prompt: [Name of school] [should/ should not]
have a formal plagiarism policy with mandatory grade penalties
for plagiarism.
Or, if you want to write about an organization that already has
a plagiarism policy, you may wish to have turn your topic into a
prompt like this:
Writing prompt: The mandatory grade penalty for plagiarism
at [name of school] [should/ should not] be a zero on the first
plagiarized paper.
Topic #4: copyright
Writing prompt: [Name of organization ] [should/should
not] offer a free public training session in copyright issues.
This writing prompt allows writers to aim for a specific audience
without requiring the writer to have extensive knowledge of copyright
law issues.
General considerations
Giving students writing prompts that restrict their options is
preferable to giving them either no topic or a broad topic. Student
writers typically lack the experience to identify a suitable argument
topic or to spin off a manageable thesis from a suitable topic.
If you give students thesis options until they master argument
writing, they will find it much easier to identify suitable topics
and to craft appropriate theses on those topics.
Having students write on argument topics about which they lack
strong feelings produces better writing than having them write on
topics about which they are passionate. Passions can be irrational,
and argument must not be irrational.
