c



 There has been a problem in local schools with discipline

and violence. Your school board has decided to institute a school uniform policy
in order to cut down on these problems, based on the positive examples that they
have seen at other schools.
Consider the issue of school uniforms. What is your position on this issue?




Write a persuasive essay to giving reasons for our position on
the school uniform issue.
-----------------------

2. 

 The principal at your school has instituted random locker and
backpack/book bag searches to check for guns, knives, and other weapons. Anyone
caught with these weapons will be immediately suspended. The principal argues that
the random searches will not only guard against illegal weapons at school but will also
help students feel safer.

Consider carefully the advantages and disadvantages of random searches at school.

Do you agree or disagree with this policy?




¦ow, write a persuasive essay stating your position and
supporting it with convincing reasons.

-----------------------
3. 

 In order to save money, your principal is thinking about canceling
all field trips for the remainder of the year.

Think about the advantages and disadvantages of school field trips as compared to the
cost involved. Do you agree or disagree with this idea?




¦ow, write a persuasive essay persuading to continue or

discontinue school field trips. Give reasons to support your position.

-----------------------
4. 

 The mayor of your city is trying to decide if a 7:00 p.m. curfew for
those under the age of 16 is needed. What do you think?

Think about the advantages and disadvantages of the curfew. Do you agree or
disagree with this plan?





Write a persuasive essay to enact or not to enact, the curfew.
Give reasons to support your position.

-----------------------
^. 

 Your family is getting ready to move to a new home and your
parents have given you two choices: in a neighborhood outside a city or on a farm in the
country.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the living in either the neighborhood
outside a city or on a farm. Where would you like to live? 





Write a persuasive essay persuading to live either outside the
city or on a farm. Give at reasons to support your choice.

-----------------------
6. 

 Many cities are requiring children under the age of 16 to wear
helmets while biking, scooting, skateboarding, rollerblading, and skiing.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of wearing helmets. 





Write a persuasive essay stating whether children under the age
of 16 should be required wear helmets. Give reasons to support your position arguing
in such a convincing manner that others will agree with you.

-----------------------

7. 

 Many eighteen year-old people who are old enough to vote,
choose not to register, not participating in elections. Do you think it is important to
register and exercise your right to vote?

Consider the reasons one would want to register and participate in elections. 





¦ow write
a persuasive essay stating whether or not eighteen
year old should register and participate in elections. Give reasons to support your
position arguing in such a convincing manner that others will agree with you.

-----------------------

8. 

 Suppose that, due to budget cuts in your community, the school
board has decided to eliminate one of the following services in your school:
!¦ew classroom computers and software
!Ñield trips
!Art and music education
!èibrary services

Everyone has a preference depending on his or her particular interest. If it were up to

you, which service would you eliminate?





¦ow write
a persuasive essay stating which service you would
eliminate giving reasons to support your selection.
 -----------------------
9. 

 Choose one movie or book that you have recently seen or read
that you either enjoyed or disliked.

Consider reasons you liked or disliked the book or movie.





State the name of the movie or book and whether you liked or
disliked it. Give enough information and detail to convince a reader to agree with you.

-----------------------
10. 

 Some of the parents at your school have started a campaign to
limit the homework that teachers can assign to students. Teachers at your school have
argued that the homework is necessary.

What is your position? Do you think homework should be limited?





Write a persuasive essay stating your position and supporting it
with convincing reasons.
-----------------------

11. 

 Your local public library has come under criticism for allowing
students under the age of 18 to check out books that some consider unacceptable. The
books are either inappropriate, describe graphic violence, or use questionable
language. As parents have complained, the town council has considered removing all
questionable books from the library

Consider the advantages and/or disadvantages of this action. What is your position on
this issue?





Write a persuasive essay stating your position and supporting it
with convincing reasons.
-----------------------
12. 

 A litter problem has developed on your school's campus.
Students are throwing trash on the ground, leaving empty soda cans and bottles outside
on benches, and dropping napkins and other trash on the cafeteria floor rather than
carrying them to the trash can. Your principal has asked students to take more care, but
the litter problem persists. The principal has reacted by canceling all after-school
activities until the problem is resolved.

Consider the advantages and/or disadvantages of this action. What is your position on
this issue?





Write a persuasive essay stating your position and
supporting it with convincing reasons.
-----------------------
13. 

 The state has created a plan to add a second highway exit to help
shoppers access a busy shopping mall. The only problem is that the new exit will move
the access road ^00 yards closer to a near-by elementary school. Teachers and parents
at the school complain that moving the road closer will increase noise at the school and
provide unnecessary distractions. The state planners have included privacy fences to
help cut down on the problems, but the protesters are unsatisfied.

Consider the advantages and/or disadvantages of the second highway. What is your
position on this issue?





Write a persuasive essay stating your position and
supporting it with convincing reasons.
-----------------------
14. 

 As part of a new technology initiative, your local school district is
increasing the number of computers in every school. The district plan provides for two
computers in every classroom. Teachers at your school are lobbying instead to place all
the computers together, creating two computer-based classrooms so that all students in
a class can work at the computers together, rather than only one or two students at a
time. The district is worried about the additional cost of creating and maintaining these
special classrooms and is concerned about how access to the classrooms can be
provided fairly and efficiently.

Consider the advantages and/or disadvantages of this action. What is your position on
this issue?





Write a persuasive essay stating your position and
supporting it with convincing reasons.
-----------------------
1^. 

 One of the biology teachers at your school has decided to change
from a ten-point grade scale (100 to 90 is an A, 89 to 80 is a B, etc.) to a seven-point
grade scale (100 to 93 is an A, 92 to 8^ is a B, etc.). The teacher is trying to encourage
students to put more effort into their classes by raising the requirements.

Consider the advantages and/or disadvantages of this action. What is your position on
this issue?





Write a persuasive essay stating your position and
supporting it with convincing reasons.
-----------------------
16. 

 The state department of education has provided funding for an
experimental online school. All the classes will take place on the Internet, using email,
online chat, and the world wide web. The students taking classes at this new online
school will never meet each other face-to-face. They will only interact online with each
other and with their teachers.
Consider the advantages and/or disadvantages of an online school. What is your
position on this issue?





Write a persuasive essay stating your position and
supporting it with convincing reasons.
-----------------------
c


 A teacher, a student, and a member of the town council
appear on a local TV talk show and debate whether television does more good
than harm, or the reverse. The program's host invites his home audience to write
in their views.
Consider the good and harm done by television. What is your position on this
issue?




Write a persuasive essay to giving reasons you feel
television does more good or is harmful.
-----------------------
c


 Should students be allowed to participate in dangerous
ventures (such as rock climbing) on school outings or field trips? Why or why
not?
Consider reasons to support your argument in order to persuade others to agree
with your opinion.




Write a persuasive essay to state your opinion on
dangerous ventures on school outings.
-----------------------

c



Current research suggests that because teenagers have different
sleep patterns, they would benefit from beginning the school day at a later time.
Suppose your Board of Education has proposed that all high school schedules begin at
9:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m.

Do you agree or disagree that this later schedule would be beneficial?




¦ow write an essay in which you persuade the Board of
Education to agree with your opinion. Support your position with reasons and examples.

-----------------------





Due to potential problems, many school systems have adopted a
policy that bans cell phones and pagers on school grounds. However, some parents
have provided these items out of concern for safety.

Do you agree or disagree that cell phones and pagers should be banned on school
grounds?




¦ow write an essay in which you convince the reader of your
opinion. Support your position with specific reasons and examples.
 -----------------------

21. 


A law has been passed changing the driver¶s license system to a
graduated system. A young person can be issued a restricted learner¶s permit at age
1^, an intermediate license at age 16 and a full license at age 17. Both the learner¶s
permit and intermediate license limit the number of passengers allowed in a car and
limit the hours the person can drive. The full license carries no restrictions.

Consider carefully the advantages and disadvantages of the graduated driver¶s license
system. Do you agree or disagree with the graduated license system?




¦ow, write an essay in which you persuade the reader to support
your point of view. Support your position with specific reasons and examples.

-----------------------

22. 


Current research suggests that because teenagers have different
sleep patterns they would benefit from beginning the school day at a later
time. Suppose your Board of Education has proposed that all high school schedules
begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. 

Do you agree or disagree that this later schedule would be beneficial?




¦ow, write an essay in which you persuade the Board of
Education to agree with your opinion. Support you position with reasons and examples.

-----------------------






In some countries, students are responsible for the basic daily
cleaning of their school buildings. Ñifteen minutes are set aside each day for all students
to sweep, dust, and clean their classrooms and corridors.

Think about how you would feel if students were responsible for cleaning your school.
Do you agree or disagree that American schools should adopt this policy?



 ¦ow, write an essay in which you persuade the reader why this is
or is not a good idea. Defend your position with specific reasons supported by several
detailed examples.

-----------------------





Imagine that your school district has proposed saving money by
eliminating extracurricular sports (football, basketball and baseball) from the high school
program.
Think about the possible effects of cutting sports from the school program. Decide
whether you are for or against this proposal.




¦ow write an essay in which you persuade the reader why this is
or is not a good idea. Defend your position with specific reasons supported by several
detailed examples.

-----------------------





Many schools require all students to perform some type of
community service such as working in nursing homes or hospitals.

Think about how you would feel if you were required to perform a community service.




¦ow write an essay in which you persuade the reader that
students should or should not be required to perform community service. Defend your
position with several detailed reasons. Develop those reasons with supporting
examples.

-----------------------





Since schools have seen a rise in gang violence, stealing, and
discipline problems, many schools and school districts are considering requiring
students to wear uniforms.

Think about how you would feel if you were required to wear a school uniform. Are there
benefits or drawbacks to requiring students to wear school uniforms?




¦ow write an essay in which you persuade the reader that school
uniforms should or should not be required. Defend your position with specific reasons
supported by several detailed examples.

-----------------------




 Each of us has somebody in the family, possibly even
yourself, who deserves an award. Hopefully, the award can be positive like "The
Best Mom," The Greatest Dad," "The Top Helper," "Best Cook," "The Great
Gardener" or the like. Of course, it could be somewhat negative like "The Royal
Pain," "The Sloppiest Bedroom Award" or "Always on the Telephone Award".

Consider someone you know who deserves an award.





Write a persuasive essay about the award you would give
and the person you would honor with it.

-----------------------



 The school board of your district is considering making the
school day longer by adding an extra hour. The purpose for lengthening the
school day is provide more time for instruction and practice in the existing school
curricula. They believe that greater student achievement can be achieved by
making the school day longer. They point out that there are experts in the field of
education who agree with them. The school board is seeking input from all
community members.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of lengthening the school day by an

hour.





Write a persuasive essay stating reasons for your position
on this plan.

-----------------------
29. 

 Assume that you have a friend and classmate who always wants
to be in your group or to work with you on a project, but then does little of the work. The
person is nice enough and smart enough to do it, but somehow the results are always
the same. You end up doing most of the work and that person gets the same grade as
do you.
Consider how you could persuade your friend to do a fair share of the work. Be
sure to tell the person why you feel that getting the same grade with less work is
unfair, what they should be doing to eliminate the problem, and how you are
willing to work with them.





Write a persuasive essay to convince your friend to carry
his or her share of the work.

-----------------------



 Much attention is being paid today to improving the
environment, yet many people feel the job is overwhelming.

Consider how you could persuade your friend to get involved.





Write a persuasive essay to convince an interested

student or adult whom you don't know that one concerned citizen can or cannot
make a difference, even in a small way.

-----------------------

c


 Your mayor wants to build youth centers in your town. You
think there should be some young people on the planning committee.

Consider how you could persuade the mayor to allow young people to participate
in the planning.
 



Write a persuasive essay that supports your opinion.

-----------------------




 There is much discussion as to whether some video
games are responsible for aggressive behavior. Many adults want violent video
games banned.

Consider how you feel about video games and their effect on behavior.





Write a persuasive essay that supports your opinion.

-----------------------



 Your local school board is seeking ideas to improve your
school. These ideas will be discussed during meetings with students, teachers,
parents, administrators, and other interested parties. The changes proposed by
students will be seriously considered since students are the reason for the
schools existence.

Choose one change that might improve your school for all students.





Write a persuasive essay explaining why your suggested change
will be an improvement for your school. Give at reasons to support your suggestion.

-----------------------




 Many people feel Americans are too concerned with
material goods. 

Think about your opinion on this issue. Do you feel Americans are too
materialistic?





Write a persuasive essay stating whether you think Americans
are too concerned with material goods. Give at reasons to support your opinion.

-----------------------




 Have you ever heard this statement, "èife was easier for
teenagers ^0 years ago than it is for teenagers today." Do you agree or disagree?

Think about how a teenager¶s life today compares with life ^0 years ago.





Write a persuasive essay stating whether you agree or disagree
with the statement.
 -----------------------




 Many famous people, both real and fictional, have been honored
by having their faces on postage stamps.

Consider a real or fictional person who you feel deserves this honor.





Write a persuasive essay convincing others of your choice.

-----------------------




 Many people have expressed concern about the starting time for
high school. The school board has suggested that school begin two hours later and end
two hours later. 

Consider the effect of this change on your high school.





Write a persuasive essay convincing others to agree with your
position on this issue.

-----------------------




 Your parent(s) is considering a job in Seattle, Washington. This
would mean that your family would relocate during Thanksgiving break if your parent
takes this job. A new town, a new school, new friends. Your parent has asked for your
help in making this decision. 

Consider the effect of this change will have on you.





Write a persuasive essay to either support moving or support
staying where you are.