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GRADE 6 SAMPLE PROMPT!

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Science Prompts for Argumentative Writing

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Science Prompts for Argumentative Writing

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A List Of Essay Writing Topics On Science And Technology

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If you can't pick up a subject for your paper on science and technology, use our help. Here given is a selection of best topic ideas to discover.

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Argumentative Writing for Science WITH READING

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Argumentative Writing for Science WITH READING

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Join the discussion now and make your voice heard!

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Explore and engage in riveting science debate topics, including debates about human cloning, science vs. religion and much more.

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Visual Science Argumentative Writing Prompts

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Visual Science Argumentative Writing Prompts

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Posts about Science written by John Spencer

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Sample Argumentative Prompts for Science!

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Sample Argumentative Prompts for Science!

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Controversial Science Argumentative Essay Topics

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1. Should oil companies be held more accountable regarding oil spills? 16. Should marijuana be used for medical purposes? 15. Is human behavior a result of nature or nurture? 3. Is it ethical to clone humans? 4. Is it ethical to clone animals? 17.

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More Elementary Prompts for Foreign Language Learners

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More Elementary Prompts for Foreign Language Learners

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Practicing persuasive writing helps elementary-aged kids become accustomed to stating their appeals and offering evidence for their arguments. This exercise also helps students understand how other people attempt to persuade them-whether it is a friend, classmate, or through advertising and the media.

With an understanding of persuasive tactics and practice in presenting their arguments, kids will improve their critical thinking skills and become better at expressing what they want. As kids answer each prompt and attempt each practice argument, encourage them to back up their appeal with at least three logical reasons. Ask students to consider their audience and to choose reasons that will appeal to each person's perspective.

In addition to this list of persuasive writing prompts, there are also some brief writing instructions to share with your students on how to write persuasively. If your students need a little extra help developing and refining their persuasive writing skill, be sure to encourage them to follow the 5 persuasive writing guidelines outlined below.

Use this listing of fun, persuasive writing ideas for elementary kids in your classroom today.

15 Persuasive Writing Prompts for Elementary Kids

1. We should not have a school dress code.

2. Pets should be allowed in school.

3. School break times should be longer.

4. There should be no homework.

5. The school day should be shorter.

6. Children should be able to use cellphones in school.

7. I should get a pocket money raise from my parents.

8. I should be able to go to bed later.

9. I should be allowed to have a pet (or another pet!).

10. I should be able to stay at home on my own.

11. I should be allowed sweets every day.

12. Nobody should litter.

13. Everyone should have to exercise every day.

14. We should all grow our own vegetables.

15. Smoking should be banned for everyone.

31 More Persuasive Writing Prompts for Students

1. Persuade your sister or brother to help you talk your parents into something you want to do.

2. Persuade your sister or brother to spend the afternoon doing what you want.

3. Persuade your sister or brother to do a favor for you.

4. Persuade your sister or brother to save up for something special together.

5. Persuade your teacher to let the class work on an assignment with partners.

6. Persuade your teacher to give everyone a night off from homework.

7. Persuade your teacher to have class outside.

8. Persuade your teacher to end class early.

9. Persuade your teacher to give the class a reward for a job well done.

10. Persuade your teacher to take a field trip.

11. Persuade your teacher to let the class bring snacks.

12. Persuade your teacher to have a "show and tell" day.

13. Persuade your teacher to give out homework passes for good grades.

14. Persuade your teacher to let the class have a party.

15. Persuade your friend to trade lunches with you.

16. Persuade your friend to try something new together.

17. Persuade your friend to do what you want at recess.

18. Persuade your friend to invite someone new to hang out with you both.

19. Persuade your friend to listen to your favorite band or to read your favorite book.

20. Persuade your friend to let you borrow something special of his or hers.

21. Persuade your friend to watch the movie you want.

22. Persuade your friend to join a new club or group with you.

23. Persuade your friend to work on schoolwork together.

24. Persuade your friend to stay the night at your house.

25. What is the best way to persuade someone?

26. Are you good at persuading people? Why or why not?

27. Write about a time when you successfully persuaded someone. How did you do it?

28. What would you do if you tried to persuade someone and they didn't agree?

29. Why is it important to present your argument kindly and respectfully?

30. What does it mean to persuade someone?

31. What strategies do you use to persuade people?

See the full list of 54 Persuasive prompt ideas for students here.
5 Persuasive Writing Guidelines for Students
Persuasive writing is a type of writing in which someone tries to get the reader to agree with their opinion or ideas. Knowing how to write persuasively and learning how to recognize persuasive writing and are both valuable skills for kids to have.

Before students start to write, it's a good idea for them to make a list of the points they want to make to their readers. Although being able to write persuasively can seem like a hard thing for kids to learn, remind them that everyone has valid opinions. There are a few simple guidelines to follow in order to be able to write a good persuasive essay. They are:
Persuasive Writing Guideline #1:
Start with an introductory paragraph stating your argument and telling the reader what it is you want.
Guideline #2:
Remember you want the reader to agree with you, so use persuasive words and phrases such as those listed below:

Some people believe that

In my opinion

Therefore

For this reason

I feel that

I am sure that

Surely

It is certain

firstly, and

secondly...
Guideline #3:
To support your argument give the reader some facts. This will help convince the reader to agree with your point of view.
Guideline #4:
Give reasons for and against your viewpoint. This will show the reader that you have really thought through your argument.
Guideline #5:
Ask your reader questions as this will get them thinking.

Until next time, write on...
If you enjoyed these Persuasive Writing Prompts for Elementary Students,
please share them on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest.
I appreciate it!

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Persuasive Writing Prompts for Elementary Kids

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Practicing persuasive writing helps elementary-aged kids become accustomed to stating their appeals and offering evidence for their arguments. This exercise also helps students understand how other people attempt to persuade them-whether it is a friend, classmate, or through advertising and the media.

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Argumentative Prompts for Kids (to be used with Foreign Language Learners)

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Argumentative Prompts for Kids (to be used with Foreign Language Learners)

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Welcome to Squarehead Teachers, where I post my original teaching materials for FREE! Thanks for stopping by. Catch me on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter! You can never really have enough writing pr…

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Argumentative Writing Prompts on Bilingual Education

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Argumentative Writing Prompts on Bilingual Education

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The Most Interesting Essay Topics On Bilingual Education

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These 20 ideas for a paper on bilingual education are presented by a former student, so you should not worry about their relevance. Feel free to use them.

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Sample Argumentative Essay on Foreign Language!

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Sample Argumentative Essay on Foreign Language!

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Written by an 8th grade student.

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Did you know that our world has about 6,500 languages? Sadly, only 20 percent of Americans speak a language other than English, but I think there is a solution to this. Over the past couple years, I have begun to notice that in many schools in the U.S., including mine, students don't start the process of learning a new language until middle school. It would be extremely beneficial if schools instead thought about putting more money into acquiring bilingual programs for grammar school students.

The easiest way for someone to become bilingual is to start at a very young age, because their brain absorbs the sounds and rules of a new language naturally just like their native tongue. The older you get, the harder it is to learn a language because you have to study grammar rules and work around your already developed first language.

Some people think that a child only has room for one language in their life, and that to learn a second one, they would find it confusing. This is not true and in fact some places, such as Switzerland, have students learn up to two additional languages and by the time they graduate high school many of them are even trilingual.

A new language is one of the most rewarding experiences for anyone, but even more so at a young age. "During the first three years of life, the foundations for thinking, language, visions, attitude, aptitude, and other characteristics are laid down. It would be a waste not to use a child's natural ability to learn during his or her most vital years when learning a second language is as easy as learning the first," says Ronald Kotulak, author of "Inside the Brain."

Some of the most crucial benefits of being bilingual are that a child's focus, memory, planning and multitasking skills are better than if they are monolingual. Children can also ignore distractions easier because the part of their brain called the "executive function" is stronger in bilinguals, and this of course would benefit their academic performance in the classroom.

A second language can also help when traveling, especially a common one such as Spanish or French. Vacations to foreign countries would be more enjoyable, and it would open people's minds to the different cultures of the world. My mother and father are fluent in Italian and English, so I know what it is like to be around someone bilingual.

A few years ago, my family and I visited Italy, where most of our relatives live. It was an amazing experience, but I felt a little bit out of place not being fully proficient in the language. Now, I think about how different that trip would have been if I had been able to communicate better. Everyday activities like listening to local music, watching a movie, or just getting a cup of coffee would have been effortless if I had known Italian.

Bilingualism at a young age also leads to many advantages in the long run, such as getting into a good college and having more career options. A second or third language can boost your chances of getting into a more academically advanced institution. Foreign language SAT tests are a great way of standing out during the college admission process. It's important to show them what you're capable of, and it can give you a head start by allowing you to complete the basic language requirement before other students. As the world is becoming more globalized, knowing a foreign language in business is also valuable. For example, someone who speaks Spanish has the advantage of communicating with people from 21 different countries worldwide. When applying for a new job, companies will certainly take this into consideration. If schools would teach languages from kindergarten through high school, more students would have the chance to go on to college, and have successful careers.

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Teen Essay: Better to learn foreign languages young

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Did you know that our world has about 6,500 languages? Sadly, only 20 percent of Americans speak a language other than English, but I think there is a solution to this. Over the past couple years, I have begun to notice that in many schools in the U.S., including mine, students don't start the process of learning a new language until middle school.

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Want to perfect your Spanish and put your knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure to practice? Try these 25 Spanish writing prompts that tutor Joan B recommends...
To improve your Spanish, it's important to apply the concepts you're learning directly in practice. Writing is an especially helpful way to do this, since you can develop and practice specific grammatical structures, and then ask for feedback from a native speaker, your tutor, or a teacher.

The Spanish writing prompts below all address specific concepts that are crucial to expressing yourself fully and correctly. Even though there are many fun ways to learn Spanish, this exercise is very hands-on and your progress will be noticeable.

So grab a pen and paper, and let's get started!

1) Write a one-paragraph biography of your life so far. This can include a variety of past tenses to describe habitual and one-time actions, as well as tenses to describe events that happened before or after another event. You can also practice using sequencing and transition words such as primero, después, and entonces.

2) Describe your family. Not only will you be using family-related vocabulary, you'll also get practice describing age and occupation.

3) Create a written sketch of your best friend. Detail why you like him or her, and also make use of physical and personality descriptors ( alto, rubio, amable, cómico). You can also explain how you met using the reciprocal verb conocerse.

4) Recount a joke or funny event. This will challenge you to correctly use colloquial expressions as well as unique vocabulary that will take you outside of the box of typical Spanish vocabulary.

5) Relate a specific event, either historical or personal, that occurred. Then rewrite it in the present tense. Bonus points if you rewrite it again in the future tense or the plus perfect tense! This exercise will help you to become faster and more accurate at conjugating verbs in any tense.

6) Write an ad for something (a roommate, an item for sale, etc.). This will help you practice describing cost and specific details (for example, size or shape), as well as expressing requirements and commands in a polite way.

7) Write an opinion piece in which you express your subjective opinions, wishes, and feelings about a controversial issue. This will allow you to practice using the subjunctive mood (when necessary).

8) Discuss an issue that affects the public (a drought, an electricity outage, etc.) and express the impersonal in a variety of ways to give suggestions and recommendations for what people should do (for example, " Hay que comunicar con el gobierno si... ").

9) Imagine you are a king or queen - what would you instruct people to do? Use command forms (for example, " Traiga la comida.") to order others to fulfill your wishes.

10) Write a dialogue between two people. Use question words to form interrogative sentences, and make sure the other person responds with the appropriate verb form (for example, if the question refers to "you all," the response to use is "we.").

11) Write a short story. Try to make it as descriptive as possible while also including lots of action verbs to move the story along. Have fun with it; it can be a crazy story with a creative twist or unexpected angle! You'll certainly improve your Spanish reading comprehension if you write enough of these!

12) Review a book or film. Take a stance and then justify your reasoning, using connecting words like además, pero, etc.

13) Write an instructional paragraph about how to do something (arrive at a certain location using the bus, cook a particular dish, etc.). Tailor the formality of your words to your intended audience.

14) Write a letter in Spanish to a long-lost love. What would you say to this person to express your anguish, your delight, your memories, and your regrets? Use diminutives to express your affection for the person.

15) Write a paragraph introducing yourself for a job. Describe your education, skills, motivations, and interests.

16) You completely forgot to do a huge assignment that your teacher is now collecting - what can you say to explain why you don't have the assignment to turn in? What compromise can you request in order to not receive a failing grade?

17) Create a short poem - it doesn't need to rhyme. Try reading a few poems (check out Pablo Neruda, for example) to find inspiration.

18) Pick an object you know well or have in front of you to observe, then describe the item as fully and descriptively as you can. You can use comparisons ( tan ... como) and superlatives ( el más...).

19) Describe an ideal world (for example, " No habrá."). This is another opportunity to use the future tense.

20) Write a letter to another foreign-language student. In the format of a pen pal letter, explain what you like about learning Spanish, what you find difficult, what you hope to use Spanish for, and why you decided to learn a foreign language.

21) Convince someone to adopt your position on an issue. Use persuasive language ( en mi opinión es necesario ....) to convince them of the strengths of your argument and the weaknesses of theirs. You can choose a political topic, a personal decision, or anything else that can be argued for or against.

22) Write a short gratitude note - what are you grateful for today? Express your thanks with words of appreciation.

23) Introduce a reader to your town, city, or region - what's particularly unique and interesting about it? Aim for the style of language you find in guide books and travel section articles.

24) Where have you traveled to that was interesting? Describe your trip, your travel partners, your activities, and your experience of this new place.

25) What goals would you like to accomplish in the future? If you could do anything, what would you do?

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Try to practice writing one prompt each day or each week; by committing to a specific schedule you'll make substantial and long-lasting progress as you learn how to speak Spanish. You can also respond to a prompt, go back at a later date, reread what you've written, and edit it based on your more advanced knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.

Alternatively, you can also respond again to a prompt without rereading your original copy first, and then compare to see how your Spanish has changed. Most of all, enjoy using these prompts as a creative way to find your voice, en español!
Want more help with beginner or intermediate Spanish? Check out our FREE classes - live and online through the TakeLessons classroom! Learn more here.
Post Author: Joan B.
Joan B. lives in Carmichael, CA and has been teaching high school Spanish for more than 18 years. A lover of language, she's studied French, Arabic, and Italian and spent time living in Spain. Joan aims to help students improve on tests and increase their conversational ability when traveling to Spanish-speaking countries. Learn more about Joan here!

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25 Creative Writing Prompts to Practice Spanish

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Want to perfect your Spanish and put your knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure to practice? Try these 25 Spanish writing prompts that tutor Joan B recommends... To improve your Spanish, it's important to apply the concepts you're learning directly in practice.

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topics for an argumentative essay on language

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Picking Up Argumentative Essay Topics About Language

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Below provided are the best of writing prompts for an argumentative paper about language. Feel free to use them to come up with a successful topic.

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We published an updated version of this list, "401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing," as well as a companion piece, "650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing." We also now have a PDF of these 200 prompts.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and get five new Student Opinion questions delivered to you every week.

What issues do you care most about? What topics do you find yourself discussing most passionately, whether online, at the dinner table, in the classroom or with your friends?

Our annual Student Editorial Contest invites you to write an evidence-based persuasive piece on an issue that matters to you. To help jump-start your brainstorming, we have gathered a list of 200 writing prompts from our daily Student Opinion feature that invite you to take a stand.

Though you won't be limited to these topics for the contest, you'll see that our list touches on every aspect of modern life, from politics to sports, culture, education and technology. We hope the range inspires you, and we hope the fact that each question links to at least one related Times article gives you a starting point for finding evidence.

So skim the list below to think about the topic you'd most like to take on.

For more information, here are links to our spring 2014 editorial-writing contest, a list of winners from that contest and a related lesson plan on argumentative writing.
Education

1. Is Cheating Getting Worse?

2. Should Students Be Able to Grade Their Teachers?

3. Does Your School Hand Out Too Many A's?

4. Should Middle School Students Be Drug Tested?

5. Should Reading and Math Be Taught in Gym Class Too?

6. How Seriously Should We Take Standardized Tests?

7. How Well Do You Think Standardized Tests Measure Your Abilities?

8. Do You Spend Too Much Time Preparing for Standardized Tests?

9. Should Schools Offer Cash Bonuses for Good Test Scores?

10. Should We Rethink How Long Students Spend in High School?

11. Do Schools Provide Students With Enough Opportunities to Be Creative?

12. What Are You Really Learning at School?

13. How Important Is Arts Education?

14. Does Gym Help Students Perform Better in All Their Classes?

15. Who Should Be Able to See Students' Records?

16. Are Children of Illegal Immigrants Entitled to a Public Education?

17. What Is the Right Amount of Group Work in School?

18. Is Your School Day Too Short?

19. Do You Think a Longer School Calendar Is a Good Idea?

20. Should the Dropout Age Be Raised?

21. Should Students Be Allowed to Skip Senior Year of High School?

22. How Does Your School Deal With Students Who Misbehave?

23. Should Schools Be Allowed to Use Corporal Punishment?

24. How Big a Problem Is Bullying or Cyberbullying in Your School or Community?

25. How Should Schools Address Bullying?

26. Should Schools Put Tracking Devices in Students' ID Cards?

27. What Do You Think of Grouping Students by Ability in Schools?

28. Do We Need a New Way to Teach Math?

29. Does Class Size Matter?

30. Should All Students Get Equal Space in a Yearbook?

31. Is Prom Worth It?

32. How Important Are Parent-Teacher Conferences?

33. Should All Children Be Able to Go to Preschool?

34. Should Colleges Use Admissions Criteria Other Than SAT Scores and Grades?

35. What Criteria Should Be Used in Awarding Scholarships for College?

36. Do You Support Affirmative Action?

37. Do College Rankings Matter?

38. How Necessary Is a College Education?

39. Should Engineers Pay Less for College Than English Majors?
Technology and Social Media
40. Are the Web Filters at Your School Too Restrictive?

41. Does Technology Make Us More Alone?

42. Are You Distracted by Technology?

43. Do Apps Help You or Just Waste Your Time?

44. Do You Spend Too Much Time on Smart Phones Playing 'Stupid Games'?

45. Has Facebook Lost Its Edge?

46. Does Facebook Ever Make You Feel Bad?

47. Should What You Say on Facebook Be Grounds for Getting Fired?

48. Should People Be Allowed to Obscure Their Identities Online?

49. What Should the Punishment Be for Acts of Cyberbullying?

50. Is Online Learning as Good as Face-to-Face Learning?

51. Do Your Teachers Use Technology Well?

52. Should Tablet Computers Become the Primary Way Students Learn in Class?

53. Can Cellphones Be Educational Tools?

54. Should Computer Games Be Used for Classroom Instruction?

55. How Young Is Too Young for an iPhone?

56. Should Companies Collect Information About You?

57. Would You Trade Your Paper Books for Digital Versions?

58. Are Digital Photographs Too Plentiful to Be Meaningful?

59. Do You Worry We Are Filming Too Much?

60. Would You Want a Pair of Google's Computer Glasses?

61. How Would You Feel About a Computer Grading Your Essays?

62. What Role Will Robots Play in Our Future?

63. How Many Text Messages Are Too Many?

64. How Much Do You Trust Online Reviews?
Arts and Media: TV, Music, Video Games and Literature
65. Why Do We Like to Watch Rich People on TV and in the Movies?

66. Do TV Shows Like '16 and Pregnant' Promote or Discourage Teenage Pregnancy?

67. Does TV Capture the Diversity of America Yet?

68. Is TV Too White?

69. Is TV Stronger Than Ever, or Becoming Obsolete?

70. Does Reality TV Promote Dangerous Stereotypes?

71. What Current Musicians Do You Think Will Stand the Test of Time?

72. What Artists or Bands of Today Are Destined for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

73. What Musician, Actor or Author Should Be a Superstar, but Hasn't Quite Made It Yet?

74. Will Musical Training Make You More Successful?

75. Should Video Games Be Considered a Sport?

76. Should Stores Sell Violent Video Games to Minors?

77. Can a Video Game Be a Work of Art?

78. Do Violent Video Games Make People More Violent in Real Life?

79. When Should You Feel Guilty for Killing Zombies?

80. What Game Would You Like to Redesign?

81. What Were the Best Movies You Saw in the Past Year?

82. To What Writer Would You Award a Prize?

83. Do You Prefer Your Children's Book Characters Obedient or Contrary?

84. Where Is the Line Between Truth and Fiction?

85. Can Graffiti Ever Be Considered Art?

86. Do We Need Art in Our Lives?

87. What Makes a Good Commercial?

88. Why Did a Cheerios Ad Attract So Many Angry Comments Online?

89. Does Pop Culture Deserve Serious Study?
Gender Issues
90. Do Parents Have Different Hopes and Standards for Their Sons Than for Their Daughters?

91. Is School Designed More for Girls Than Boys?

92. Is There Too Much Pressure on Girls to Have 'Perfect' Bodies?

93. How Much Pressure Do Boys Face to Have the Perfect Body?

94. Do Photoshopped Images Make You Feel Bad About Your Own Looks?

95. Is It O.K. for Men and Boys to Comment on Women and Girls on the Street?

96. What Should We Do to Fight Sexual Violence Against Young Women?

97. How Do You Feel About Rihanna and Chris Brown Getting Back Together?

98. Do Fraternities Promote Misogyny?

99. Why Aren't There More Girls in Leadership Roles?

100. Why Aren't More Girls Choosing to Pursue Careers in Math and Science?

101. Should Women Be Allowed to Fight on the Front Lines Alongside Men?

102. Do You Believe in Equal Rights for Women and Men?

103. Are Women Better at Compromising and Collaborating?

104. Do Boys Have Less Intense Friendships Than Girls?
Sports and Athletics
105. If Football Is So Dangerous to Players, Should We Be Watching It?

106. Should Parents Let Their Children Play Football?

107. Should College Football Players Get Paid?

108. When Do Pranks Cross the Line to Become Bullying?

109. Has Baseball Lost Its Cool?

110. Are Some Youth Sports Too Intense?

111. Is It Offensive for Sports Teams to Use Native American Names and Mascots?

112. Where Should Colleges and Sports Teams Draw the Line in Selling Naming Rights?

113. Should Colleges Fund Wellness Programs Instead of Sports?

114. Is Cheerleading a Sport?

115. How Big a Deal Is It That an N.B.A. Player Came Out as Gay?

116. Should There Be Stricter Rules About How Coaches Treat Their Players?

117. Should Athletes Who Dope Have to Forfeit Their Titles and Medals?

118. Should Sports Betting Be Legal Everywhere?

119. Should Home-Schoolers Be Allowed to Play Public School Sports?

120. Would You Want a Bike Share Program for Your Community?
Politics and the Legal System
121. What Local Problems Do You Think Your Mayor Should Try to Solve?

122. If You Were Governor of Your State, How Would You Spend a Budget Surplus?

123. When Is the Use of Military Force Justified?

124. What Is More Important: Our Privacy or National Security?

125. California Notice

126. Should the U.S. Be Spying on Its Friends?

127. Do You Trust Your Government?

128. What Do You Think of the Police Tactic of Stop-and-Frisk?

129. Do Rich People Get Off Easier When They Break the Law?

130. Should Rich People Have to Pay More Taxes?

131. Do Laws That Ban Offensive Words Make the World a Better Place?

132. Is It Principled, or Irresponsible, for Politicians to Threaten a Shutdown?

133. Do Leaders Have Moral Obligations?

134. Do Great Leaders Have to Be Outgoing?

135. How Should We Prevent Future Mass Shootings?

136. Should Guns Be Permitted on College Campuses?

137. Would You Feel Safer With Armed Guards Patrolling Your School?

138. What Is Your Relationship With Guns?

139. Do You Support or Oppose the Death Penalty?

140. When Should Juvenile Offenders Receive Life Sentences?
Parenting and Childhood
141. Do We Give Children Too Many Trophies?

142. When Do You Become an Adult?

143. When Should You Be Able to Buy Cigarettes, Drink Alcohol, Vote, Drive and Fight in Wars?

144. Should the Morning-After Pill Be Sold Over the Counter to People Under 17?

145. Should Birth Control Pills Be Available to Teenage Girls Without a Prescription?

146. Is Modern Culture Ruining Childhood?

147. Are Adults Hurting Young Children by Pushing Them to Achieve?

148. How, and by Whom, Should Children Be Taught Appropriate Behavior?

149. What Can Older People Learn From Your Generation?

150. Do 'Shame and Blame' Work to Change Teenage Behavior?

151. How Should Children Be Taught About Puberty and Sex?

152. Is Dating a Thing of the Past?

153. How Should Parents Handle a Bad Report Card?

154. Should Children Be Allowed to Wear Whatever They Want?

155. How Should Educators and Legislators Deal With Minors Who 'Sext'?

156. Do You Think Child Stars Have It Rough?
Health and Nutrition
157. Is Smoking Still a Problem Among Teenagers?

158. Are Antismoking Ads Effective?

159. Is Drinking and Driving Still a Problem for Teenagers?

160. Do You Think a Healthier School Lunch Program Is a Lost Cause?

161. How Concerned Are You About Where Your Food Comes From?

162. Is It Ethical to Eat Meat?

163. Do You Prefer Your Tacos 'Authentic' or 'Appropriated'?

164. Should the Government Limit the Size of Sugary Drinks?

165. Should Marijuana Be Legal?

166. Should Students Be Required to Take Drug Tests?
Personal Character and Morality Questions
167. Do Bystanders Have a Responsibility to Intervene When There is Trouble?

168. Should You Care About the Health and Safety of Those Making Your Clothing?

169. Can Money Buy You Happiness?

170. Does Buying and Accumulating More and More Stuff Make Us Happier?

171. Are We Losing the Art of Listening?

172. Do People Complain Too Much?

173. Can Kindness Become Cool?

174. Which Is More Important: Talent or Hard Work?

175. How Important Is Keeping Your Cool?

176. When Should You Compromise?

177. Is Your Generation More Self-Centered Than Earlier Generations?

178. Can You Be Good Without God?

179. Have Curse Words Become So Common They Have Lost Their Shock Value?

180. What Words or Phrases Should Be Retired in 2014?

181. What Words or Phrases Do You Think Are Overused?

182. Should Couples Live Together Before Marriage?

183. How Important Do You Think It Is to Marry Someone With the Same Religion?

184. How Long Is It O.K. to Linger in a Cafe or Restaurant?

185. Does Keeping a Messy Desk Make People More Creative?

186. How Important Is Keeping a Clean House?
Science
187. Should Scientists Try to Help People Beat Old Age So We Can Live Longer Lives?

188. Given Unlimited Resources, What Scientific or Medical Problem Would You Investigate?

189. When Is It O.K. to Replace Human Limbs With Technology?

190. Do You Think Life Exists - or Has Ever Existed - Somewhere Besides Earth?

191. Should Fertilized Eggs Be Given Legal 'Personhood'?

192. How Concerned Are You About Climate Change?
Other Questions
193. Is It Wrong for a Newspaper to Publish a Front-Page Photo of a Man About to Die?

194. What Causes Should Philanthropic Groups Finance?

195. Should Charities Focus More on America?

196. Should the Private Lives of Famous People Be Off Limits?

197. Did a Newspaper Act Irresponsibly by Publishing the Addresses of Gun Owners?

198. Would You Rather Work From Home or in an Office?

199. What Time Should Black Friday Sales Start?

200. Do You Shop at Locally Owned Businesses?

201. How Much Does Your Neighborhood Define Who You Are?

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We published an updated version of this list, "401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing," as well as a companion piece, "650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing." We also now have a PDF of these 200 prompts. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and get five new Student Opinion questions delivered to you every week.

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More Sample History Prompts and Research Resources! 9-12

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More Sample History Prompts and Research Resources! 9-12

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Crafting A 5-Paragraph Essay: A Sample Can Come In Handy

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If you're looking for an academic essay example written in accordance with all the main academic requirements, use the directions provided in this article.

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9-12 Includes organizers, sample prompts, and step by step process for teaching writing in History.

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9-12 SAMPLE HISTORY PROMPT (MAJOR ESSAY)

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You must complete an argumentative essay to pass the course. The essay will be at least five paragraphs and will probably come in around 3-4 pages double-spaced with 12-pt., New York Times font (often listed as Times, New Roman). It will address a question that informed people disagree on and you'll show what light history sheds on the topic. We will discuss the papers more in class, but I encourage everyone to come and discuss their research with me during office hours if you are having any problems getting started. It must concern American history, from 1492-1877 or thereabouts for 1301 and 1877 to the present for 1302. Check the Course Syllabus: Calendar for due dates. I use hard deadlines because they are more similar to what many of you will encounter in the workplace. If you feel hard deadlines are unfair, finish the paper a week ahead of time.

Submission & Grade
The essay is graded on a 60-point scale based on the quality of the argument, historical content, writing, and grammatical cleanliness (40 for argument/research & 20 for writing/grammar). Submit your essay as a WORD attachment in Blackboard; it will run through SafeAssign to check for originality. Plagiarism of any sort will result in an F for the course. Submit the paper on the due date, by 11:59 pm in Blackboard. The Essay Submission tab is in Blackboard in the upper-left hand corner, along with the other tabs. Don't try to paste the whole essay into the little box, just submit the WORD attachment. If you see the Goldish-Yellow ! in your Gradebook, you'll know that it's submitted.

Guidelines
Format
It's a classic 5-paragraph persuasive or analytical paper that builds on the paragraph writing skills you've been developing all semester, and what you've likely done (or are doing) in English Composition. The opening paragraph should introduce a question you're addressing and include a response to that question that is as succinct as possible (one or two sentences). The question should be straightforward enough that you can use it as the title of your paper (embolden and capitalize the title). This opening paragraph will start off fairly general as you frame the question by introducing some context then gradually narrow down to your thesis (response) toward the end of the opening paragraph. Ninety percent of the time I could accurately guess an essay's grade by the time I'm through with the opening paragraph because that's where you "get your ducks in a row." Then follow through on your outline and you're on your way toward a well-organized, coherent essay.

The next paragraphs will be the three main points of your argument, and the last paragraph will be your conclusion. Each of the three (or more) argument paragraphs in the body of the essay will have an opening sentence or two that provides some transition to the previous paragraph while introducing a new idea. Transition sentences should move along your discussion and crystallize main points. Your paper should be ordered in a logical manner, and not jump around all over the place. Some well-placed direct quotes from primary sources are good but don't waste a lot of space on direct quotes from secondary sources. Here's another good source with guides on effective paragraph writing and thesis statements.

Here are four important things to consider as you research your topic:

How does history shed light on the topic in ways that people might not otherwise consider?

What do partisans on either side of the issue most tend to include/emphasize or leave out of their arguments? What are they "cherry-picking" or choosing to flush down the Memory Hole? How are people marshaling evidence and formulating arguments concerning the question you're writing on? What are the strengths and weaknesses of various arguments and interpretations concerning the issue?

Before you hand in your essay, ask yourself: would your argument hold up in court? Consider me a skeptical jurist or, better yet, an opposing attorney who is going to cross-examine. Your thesis should be focused, substantive and coherent, and be followed by well-chosen points that back up your argument. You don't need to anticipate the other attorney's weakest arguments; you need to anticipate that the opposition will be explaining the best counter-arguments to the same jury when you're done speaking. What are they? A good place to address this is in the opening paragraph where you're introducing the reader to the topic and why it's controversial. (A few of the pre-authorized topics won't deal as much in counter-arguments because they ask "to what extent...." is something true.)

Take advantage of the links and asterisks I provide in Memory Hole, where appropriate. They can help launch your research and, in some cases, give you multiple points of view to take into account.

Topic
You'll need to start brainstorming early in the semester for a good topic. The topic doesn't have to be controversial, but it should be an interpretation historians might disagree on, not just descriptive. You have a topic, now ask: what about it? Clear the topic with me in office hours or via email, and I can help you formulate a question. Make sure to consider topics from further along in the course, not just chapters you've already read. The essay can be over anything historical, including social, political, economic, military, religious or cultural history, and isn't limited to subjects covered in our textbook. Twenty-first -century topics are acceptable (especially for 1302) if the focus is on their historical roots.

For ideas on controversial questions, you can check out the Memory Hole Link and pick a topic that's still contested today. Another source for ideas is Intelligence² Debates. These hour-and-half public forums cover modern debates, which you could weigh in on by researching their historical background. Start with their library of articles. Three other good sites for ideas are: Origins, Real Clear History & Digital History (Controversies, Decision Making, Historiography). You can also examine Texas Textbook Controversies. Another source of ideas are the links at the bottom of most chapters. Finally, another angle to consider is take something that's going on currently and investigate the debate over its origins.

Familiarize yourself with the terminology surrounding the topic and think long and hard about the issue you're writing on. Don't be afraid to ask yourself the more counter-intuitive question, that runs against the grain of normal interpretation (e.g. what worked about Prohibition? rather than what didn't, since every 8th-grader already knows that). See the Memory Hole for more on how partisans emphasize or omit various points and arguments. The History Hub Library has various left- and right-leaning textbooks and magazine/periodicals. Use their search functions to get a feel for how historians argue the issue. Also, consult the History Hub Library's Topical Links to see if your topic has other sites related to it.

Sources
Unlike some argumentative or analytical essays, this one will have elements of a research paper, insofar as you'll consult and cite reference materials. It's really a hybrid of the classic argumentative/analytical essay and research paper models. It's built around a question and thesis, but it includes research. Tap into at least 3-4 books, scholarly articles, and websites as secondary sources. Use at least one book for research (online, Kindle or hard copy), even if you don't read the whole thing - that's where the hard-core scholarship can usually be found. Failure to do so will preclude getting an A on the assignment. Exclude our own textbook from your sources; focus on sources about your topic instead. Generally use websites ending in .org, . gov, . net or .edu, not .com. Your first line of attack should be to tap into our own extensive ACC Library, followed by our online History Hub Library or UT. Here's the ACC Library's U.S. History Page. ACC's Cypress Creek Campus library staff includes Jonathan Buckstead, the system's specialist in U.S. History. Talk to him; he's there to help you.

The UT PCL library is open to the public before 10, and you can check out books by getting a Tex-share card from the Public Library. The History Hub Library can be a bit overwhelming, but if you dive into it with an idea of what you're looking for, it's a good tool. Real college-level research goes past Schmoop, History.org, History Channel, Sparknotes, etc. Do not use online encyclopedias such as Wikipedia except for initial studies and peripheral fact-checking (not as a main source, in other words, but only as a jumping off point). Wikipedia is a good source for bibliographies, toward the end of entries, but use real sources for the heart of your research, including scholarly books and articles, and primary sources. Just as there is a lot of fake news out there on the Internet, also be wary of fake history (e.g. fake Jefferson quotes). You'll be graded on whether you spend a month rolling up your sleeves and doing some actual research or whether you just hit some cheesy websites quickly at the end. Historian Kevin Levin suggests the following guidelines to steer students away from fake history, misinformation and distortion:

Is the site associated with a reputable institution like a museum, historical society or university?

Can you identify the individual or organization responsible for the site, and are the proper credentials displayed?

Then, finally, you have to examine the material itself. Is the information provided on the Website, including text and images, properly cited? What can you discern from both the incoming and outgoing links to the site? Only then can you approach it with the same level of trust that you would a scholarly journal or piece of archival material.

Include at least one primary source (original source) - a document, letter, diary, newspaper, telegram, speech, transcript, key photo, tape recording, film, manuscript, cartoon, etc. from the time period in question that provides evidence or firsthand testimony. In this case, primary doesn't mean main; it means original. The best way to approach the primary source requirement isn't to just go find one for its own sake, but to think about the question you're addressing for your essay and how to approach it? Where would you start if you couldn't rely on the secondary sources of authors, journalists, etc. who have attempted to explain things for your benefit (as a reader)? What sort of evidence would you want to have in a courtroom? The point isn't just to find a primary source but to use it well. How might this firsthand testimony be biased? How does the interpretation of this primary source impinge on your argument? For instance, if you were investigating the atomic attacks on Japan at the end of WWII, you might look at President Truman's diary. What sort of evidence are the authors writing and arguing about? An obvious place to look for primary sources is in the discussion or notes of the main secondary sources you use. A student asked if this source was primary or secondary; the source is a secondary article, but footnote #1 within the article is primary (it's a document from 1957). Do you see the difference? The History Hub Library is another good place to mine for primary sources, as are the ACC Library's American Decades/Gale Library and Milestone Documents pages. Failure to utilize a primary source will result in a 5-point penalty. For more on Primary Sources, see the video at the bottom of the page. The Declaration of Independence and Constitution are both primary sources, and you should feel to use them, but neither count as your one required primary source.

This video is aimed mostly at teachers, but it's worth watching to better understand primary sources and the type of questions historians (and students) must ask when analyzing primary source evidence. These include considering issues like multiple claims, sourcing, context and evidence-based claims:

You should ask yourself where the primary sources (evidence) come from in your secondary source article, who generated them and why. How might they differ from other perspectives?

Sample
Here's aSAMPLE by a former student. She didn't pick a particularly controversial issue, but I use this example because she lays out a clear question and formulates an answer toward the end of the first paragraph. Then the body of the essay supports her thesis, and she wraps up with a conclusion that does more than just regurgitate what she's already said - it elaborates on and refines the original thesis by explaining what we've learned in the preceding paragraphs. You'll likely be posing a more controversial question; remember to include both sides by including what proponents of either side emphasize or leave out of their arguments.

Citations
For Citations, you can use either the MLA or University of Chicago (Turabian) style. For the MLA version, include a brief WORKS CITED page at the end. The Chicago Method doesn't need a WORKS CITED or BIBLIOGRAPHY page since the footnotes include full references. Anyone planning to take upper-division history courses later on should use the Chicago Method. For help formatting in the Chicago style, see eTurabian. You can consult the ACC History Department's Guide, or an excellent online guide, NoodleTools.
Online Writing Guide: Purdue Owl
Recipe for Success1. Give Yourself Time To Consider A Topic. Use Your Imagination. Take An Hour Staring Into Space Thinking About It.2. Do Real Research in Libraries/Books/Articles, Not Cheap Quick-Stop Shopping @ Encyclopedias.
3. Pick A Question You Can Sink Your Teeth Into - Something There's Some Interpretive Disagreement About Among Reasonable People.
4. Consider Whether Your Thesis Really Matches Your Evidence and Conclusion. Would Your Argument Hold Up In Court?
5. Take Time To Proof Your Paper. Use Grammar-Check and ACC's Learning Lab.
6. Organize Your Time Well. Follow the Suggested Work Schedule. Don't Be Fooled By The Relatively Short Length Of Essay.
7. Have some fun. This isn't torture. Take the time to find a subject that interests you, start early, get the draft up and running and take your time proofing and refining.
8. Read about common fallacies of historical thinking in the Rear Defogger (top bar). When I grade your paper I may write something like "RD-4" in the textual comments. That means look at item #4 in the Rear Defogger.

After 1st Exam: You'll Write On Your After 2nd Exam: You'll Write On A Suggested Work Schedule:
Weeks 1-2: Pick Your Topic
Topic For 6-pt. CAP
Weeks 3-6: Research; Dig Hard in the History Hub Library
Primary Source & How It Impacts Argument For 6-pt. CAP
Weeks 7-9: Write Essay; Learn to Cite Sources & Format
Week 10: Revise, Proof (Grammar-Check & Learning Lab), Squeeze the Fat ( Lean & Clean); Your Prose Should Be Clear & Concise. Read Over Grammar Tips in History Hub Menu (Under Syllabi)
Week 11: More Proofing & Ask Yourself: Does the Thesis Line Up With the Argument & Conclusion?
Week 11: Paper Due

- Use of Good Sources: X/10 Rubric for Grading That You'll See In Blackboard (60 Pts.):
Content: X/40 - - Strength of Main Argument: X/25 Writing: X/20
- Discussion of Strongest Counter-Argument: X/5
-

Late Papers, Backing Up & Grammar-Check
Each successive weekday the essay is late counts as another five points off the score, regardless of your excuse, up to 15 points off max. The smartest thing is to finish it before the deadline and work on polishing it - after all, you have plenty of time to do them (2+ months), so what's the use in finishing right at the deadline? Or, worse yet, starting around the deadline? Cover (or title) pages are unnecessary, but have a title that you embolden and capitalize that describes what your paper is about. You could use the question you're addressing as your title or some variation on it. If you do not submit the paper by the last day of class, you will flunk rather than receiving an incomplete. Back Up! Keep an electronic version of your paper on MS Word (always save or email it to yourself, or keep a copy "in the clouds"). For papers submitted through Blackboard, I won't mark up the text, but rather put my comments on the historical content/argument portion of the grade in the drop-down Gradebook portion of Blackboard. We can go over grammar in person with a hard copy if you have questions on that portion of the grade. Go under WORD > PREFERENCES to set Grammar & Spell-checking at Standard. Then after you've written the paper, go under TOOLS and run it through Grammar & Spelling check. It's an imperfect program, but it helps. There's no excuse that I can see for failing to use it (since the technology is free) other than simple laziness. Also, check out the Grammar Tips in History Hub in the drop-down menu under Syllabi.

Some Helpful Websites on Writing Papers & Essays
Strunk & White's Elements of Style
Dartmouth Guide
Univ. of Toronto Essay Writing Guide
Univ. of North Carolina Guide
ACC Writing Guide
ACC Library Study Skills Workshops (Including Effective Paragraph Writing & Effective Thesis Statements)

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You must complete an argumentative essay to pass the course. The essay will be at least five paragraphs and will probably come in around 3-4 pages double-spaced with 12-pt., New York Times font (often listed as Times, New Roman). It will address a question that informed people disagree on and you'll show what light history sheds on the topic.