Grade 6- You should choose a topic that impacts your everyday life--a rule at school or home that you would like to change, longer recess, more gym, art, or music class, a new ski club location, etc. Remember, the best topic will be one you actually care about and one that you can find facts and evidence to back your claim/position! Topics need to be approved by Ms. Casassa.
Grades 7 and 8- You should choose a significant issue or topic and take a side. Your topic should be one that you can research, gather evidence/facts, and write at least two pages about! There are many sites that you can go to for help choosing a topic. I have also included a list of possible topics. Be sure your topic is middle school appropriate. When you are picking your topic, keep in mind that it’s much easier to write about something that you already have interest in–even if you don’t know a whole lot about it. Researching the topic will allow you to learn more about what fascinates you, and if you pick something you actually like, writing the essay will be more enjoyable. Topics need to be approved by Ms. Casassa.
Once you have chosen a topic, go to Google Classroom to complete Argument Essay Graphic Organizer
Here are some places to start researching possible topics.
Newsela Pro/Con Articles
List of Argument Topics
Pro/Con--THE LEADING SOURCE FOR PROS & CONS OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
Argument Writing Topics
NY Times Learning Blog- Argument Writing Topics
Examples of Strong Thesis Statements for Argument Essays-- this is a good spot to find topic ideas!
Other possible topics:
Is Cheating Getting Worse?
Should Students Be Able to Grade Their Teachers?
Should Reading and Math Be Taught in Gym Class Too?
Should Schools Offer Cash Bonuses for Good Test Scores?
Do Schools Provide Students With Enough Opportunities to Be Creative?
How Important Is Arts Education?
Does Gym Help Students Perform Better in All Their Classes?
Who Should Be Able to See Students’ Records?
Are Children of Illegal Immigrants Entitled to a Public Education?
Is Your School Day Too Short?
Do You Think a Longer School Calendar Is a Good Idea?
Should the Dropout Age Be Raised?
How Should Schools Address Bullying?
Should Schools Put Tracking Devices in Students’ ID Cards?
What Do You Think of Grouping Students by Ability in Schools?
Do We Need a New Way to Teach Math?
Does Class Size Matter?
Should All Children Be Able to Go to Preschool?
Do You Support Affirmative Action?
Is animal testing necessary?
Should consumers buy items from countries that endorse child labor?
Do patients have a right to die via physician-assisted suicide?
Should children’s beauty pageants be banned?
Does freedom of speech give people the right to use hate speech?
Do people who commit heinous crimes deserve the death penalty?
Do children deserve/need an allowance?
Is it okay for parents to monitor teens’ internet use?
Should parents be able to spank their children?
Should parents push their kids into extracurricular activities such as music or sports?
Is a child’s room really theirs, or is it their parents’?
Should single people be able to adopt children as easily as couples?
Should parents pay children for good grades?
