Argument -- 50 Argument Topics

1. Is global climate change man-made?

2. Is the death penalty effective?

3. Is our election process fair?

4. Do colleges put too much stock in standardized test scores?

5. Is torture ever acceptable?

6. Should men get paternity leave from work?

7. Is a lottery a good idea?

8. Do we have a fair taxation system?

9. Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?

10. Is cheating out of control?

11. Are we too dependent on computers?

12. Are parents clueless about child predators on the Internet?

13. Should animals be used for research?

14. Should cigarette smoking be banned?

15. Are cell phones dangerous?

16. Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?

17. Are test scores a good indication of a school’s competency?

18. Do we have a throw-away society?

19. Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?

20. Should companies market to children?

21. Should the government have a say in our diets?

22. Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?

23. Does access to condoms irresponsible, dangerous, or bad behavior?

24. Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?

25. Are CEO’s paid too much?

26. Do violent video games cause behavior problems?

27. Should creationism be taught in public schools?

28. Are beauty pageants exploitive?

29. Should English be the official language in the United States?

30. Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?

31. When should parents let teens make their own decisions?

33. Should the military be allowed to recruit at high schools?

34. Should the alcoholic drinking age be increased or decreased?

35. Does age matter in relationships?

36. What age is appropriate for dating?

37. Should gay couples be able to marry?

38. Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school?

39. Does boredom lead to trouble?

40. Does participation in sports keep teens out of trouble?

41. Is competition good?

42. Does religion cause war?

43. Should the government provide health care?

44. Should girls ask boys out?

45. Is fashion important?

46. Are girls too mean to each other?

47. Is homework harmful or helpful?

48. Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?

49. Is the cost of college too high?

50. Is college admission too competitive?

Links to Useful Reading Sites

Links to Useful Reading Sites

Strategies for Textbook Comprehension

1. Study skills This is great site for generally improving all the study skills students need for academic success, one of the best I've seen. 2. Steps in SQ3R This site offers a very clear explanation of SQ3R. Be sure, too, to check out the home page. This is a wonderful site with a page for every conceivable academic topic, from taking lecture notes to improving memory.

3. Definition maps for study reading I believe that knowing how to synthesize different sources into a meaningful unit or whole is one of the essentials skills of academic success. In my opinion, in fact, it is the backbone of all thoughtful research. If you are interested in understanding what it means to synthesize sources and in learning how to synthesize information for different purposes or assignments. please see this excellent website:

Specific Skills and Concepts

1. Drawing inferences Offers numerous cartoons about teachers and students, most of which can provide the basis for drawing inferences. 2. Drawing conclusions Uses syllogisms to highlight the chain of reasoning involved in drawing conclusions. 3. Avoiding plagiarism Offers a point-by-point explanation of when attribution is absolutely necessary and when it isn't. 4. Improving listening skills This is an excellent link for learning how you can improve your listening skills. Unlike many other links, which tell you to pay attention (duh), this one tells you how to improve listening skills by learning how to pay attention, even when the subject matter is not of automatic interest. (The creators of this site would like users to be aware that all materials are copyrighted.) 5. Understanding paradoxes Paradoxes are statements that seem to be contradictory, but in fact make sense once you think about them. Interpreting them is a great critical reading exercise that will keep your mind sharp. Try your hand at the quiz on this site.

6. Learning responsible thinking Suggests that critical thinking should be presented in the context of responsible thinking as a way of helping students more readily understand the practical relevance of thinking critically. 7. Learning how to synthesize I believe that knowing how to synthesize different sources into a meaningful unit or whole is one of the essentials skills of academic success. In my opinion, in fact, it is the backbone of all thoughtful research. If you are interested in understanding what it means to synthesize sources and in learning how to synthesize information for different purposes or assignments, please see this excellent website. 8. Transitions You can learn a lot about reading by thinking about how writers put thoughts into words. This is an excellent site for writing advice. But if you want to understand the function of transitions, the "transitions" document that you can open from this site is definitely worth checking out. It's great because it lists many different transitional words and phrases but it also discusses the other ways writers use transitional material to help readers move smoothly and quickly from one idea to another. 9. How to succeed in academia This site has some good information about how to go about doing academic work. It's quite comprehensive and addresses, for instance, listening along with reading. It also describes the structure of academic writing within the context of journals, and that subject doesn't normally get nearly enough attention. Don't be put off by the fact that it is listed as a web site for ESL students. There is a lot here that could benefit native-speakers as well.

Reading for Thinking: Additional Materials

Reading for Thinking: Additional Materials

Links to useful reading sites

Exercises for specific skills 1.  Drawing conclusions Exercise 2.  Recognizing patterns Exercise 3.  Drawing the appropriate inference Exercise 4.  Fact Versus Opinion in Textbooks Exercise 5.  Understanding Allusions Exercise Tutorials Fact and Opinion Handouts Ten Allusions Common to Writers

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Contributing writer: Ann Marie Radaskiewicz

Last change made to this page: 05/09/08