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I’m a 7th grade ELA teacher in Texas!
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I have seniors choose their own. There are limits, but we discuss viable topics and how to narrow their focus before they choose.
Depending on how strong your class is, you might be better off letting them pick a topic they care about to write. There are plenty of resources to pull from that they could research and write persuasive arguments about that affect them. Things like cell phone use in schools or lowering the voting age come to my mind, but I'm sure they will have a hundred things they might want to write about. You'd just have to screen it out and work up to the writing piece with time.
I have done that in the past. The problem is that I teach at a Catholic school;therefore, certain topics or viewpoints are not allowed. Last year was easy because I focused on the election . That meant everyone was kind of doing the same topic. I was looking for something like that. Thanks for taking the time to answer. I appreciate it.
Ah, I can see how that could be tricky! Some less controversial topics to get their wheels turning still that you could consider might be environmentalism, analyzing a cultural artifact and arguing its impact/modern significance, defending a specific trend that is common among youth right now that they enjoy, or an argument supporting or against common school policies regarding things like phones, attendance, uniforms, homework, etc. That last one might be a good opportunity for them to reflect on their own experiences throughout school since they are seniors.
Go to procon.org for ideas. Give them an approved list to choose from.
Let them choose their own topic. Have them research both sides of the issue and craft their argument based solely on the information they have collected.
I let my seniors choose a controversial social or political issue.
Choose a problem that needs to be solved in their world, how others are addressing it, and convince the reader their choice is the best
How about "why they should be awarded a college scholarship'
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