sparkysmum Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 My lovely YS is in 5th year high school & will be sitting higher English in due course.However he has to do his discursive/persuasive essay first. And there lies the problem. Not his inability to write - he's really quite good- but he can't think of a topic which grabs him. He has no interest in all the usual discursive essay topics, eg assisted suicide, legalisation of cannabis, independent Scotland, animal welfare topics etc, but wants something young, current and not everyone else is doing. Its a tall order I know, but for my sanity, and to stop me going prematurely white could I ask for your suggestions for topics? As always, thanks for reading. Alli x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NannyOgg Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 The recent and further proposed closures of A&E sites and the impact on the communities they served? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millihelen Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Just a couple of thoughts of the top of my head: Does he spend a lot of time online? How about the new Google privacy policy - for/against? Also last weekend I heard a young girl speak with some passion against the Mosquito Alarm. This is high frequency alarm designed to deter teens from loitering - can only be heard by young people and animals. However, a teen can move away, but what about a baby in a pushchair or a dog on a lead?? Is this an infringement of human rights? Is it cruel to animals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Just asked my YS - he did "Should the penalties for doping offences in cycling be more severe". He's just told me his teacher asked if she could use it as an example for other pupils - it must have been good . I'm amazed . He's doing his AH Geography essay on the reintroduction of indigenous species into Scotland (ie wolf/lynx/bear/beaver). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 My YS did one, something about the internet being world changing or society's downfall - there was a lot to discuss and something that children of their age can appreciate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 what a great topic ANH Well done to your boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medwriter Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Should athletes found guilty of doping offences be banned for life from representing Britain at the Olympics? Very topical as this is currently the subject of a legal review and with London 2012 coming up. My neice is doing Higher English this year - must ask what her topic is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Music industry and the marketing and money of manufacturing of pop bands that sometimes dont appear to have any musical talent etc ie those individual pop stars and one offs that use to exist prior to ie Stock aitken and waterman /x factor/Britains got talent etc. Then the views of ie Elton John(you need to clarify his views if they are for or against these kind of shows) etc etc Are these shows a good thing? or are they stopping real muscians etc going back to Beatles etc when they performed at ie the Cavern etc etc. The very famous Punk group who changed the national anthem?? but different! Lots of pros and cons..would Susan Boyle have been discovered etc etc? He could do a timeline on how the music industry has changed and also argue is it a reflection of our lifestyles and communication being different(Gramapones/vinyl/tapes/CDs/I phones etc etc ). Thats young! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 How about what effect the computer/mobile phone/facebook age is having on our language. Is communication by "text-speak" a positive or negative thing Or - are we better of now being in constant communication than we were say in the 70's whan all we had were public phone boxes and house phones. Discuss ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 What are his main interests,hobbies or pastimes? Is there something he loves or enjoys? Let us know then I am sure we can come up with something that will grab him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Found out the actual title - Information Superhighway or Society's Downfall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Political correctness gone mad? How often do we hear that one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 Jings, friends I'm overwhelmed!! Thank you for your suggestions. He loves music (rap), graphics, bmx - ing although less so now. I like the olympic suggestions and have suggested similar to him myself. I think he might go for the music industry essay or something similar. Delighted, thanks for your help. Will see what he thinks when he comes home from school Alli x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 How about Graffiti: Art or vandalism? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 If he does the music industry he could reference someone like Billy idol(he probably hasnt heard of him) who left the UK as he got fed up with the music indusry and went to the states. Idol wrote a lot of his own music too. Gary Numan who disappeared but you still hear mixes of his music. Then you have George Michaels fall out with Sony etc. And wasnt Simon Cowell more known for Teletubbies too? V Lady Gaga!/Madonna/Bee Gees all writers to manufactured Rick Astley/Kylie..Waterman talked about her getting off a plane arriving at studio to do the recording etc..bingo record made! Gosh my kids are always suprised when I know the words to the songs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share Posted March 21, 2012 Thanks to everyone who replied. Well he toyed with the music industry and then Olympics being more about pursuit of £ rather than dreams, but seems to have settled on the power/ abuse of power of media & will I think focus on invasion of privacy, Leveson enquiry, the way in which 9/11 was reported all to sell newspapers. I think he'll manage to get in something about American rappers too knowing him. Sounds to me like he has the potential for a good essay, I just hope he pulls it off and on time. Fingers crossed. Thanks again, Alli x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Sounds like a great topic . I always think picking the subject is the hardest part! Good luck to him . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Given that it is for higher English he could also look at the Publishing industry and ebooks v printed. I work in logistics for Publishing and the debate has been going on for many years now. If he joins Linked In and looks for Publishing connections there are often debates going on with different view points, its good because it is global and he could look at how the views differ across each country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
