LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 My older son is working in writing both sides of the persuasive essay. I need topics that are not controversial enough to inflame him (he is a rigid thinking kid with ASD, part of these assignments is meant to help him be more flexible but there's a limit) but not so milquetoast as to bore or him or make the assignment wholly pointless. Looking for topics where there are strong points on each side so things like "blue is the best color" are out. For whatever reason, I am finding this challenging. I can think of a gabillion and one topics but they don't hit that middle ground of important but not highly controversial. Any ideas? I am hoping we can work up to more meaty topics later but he needs to get some practice under his belt first. This is tied into what he is working on with his SLP too and she's had trouble finding that middle ground with him too- challenging but not so challenging as to be counterproductive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5of5 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Immigration? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magic Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Which is better, pie or cake? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 What does he care about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 Now that I post, my brain starts working and I have some ideas. Spelling bees: pointless or not? Should kids have chores? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 What does he care about? He would have trouble with anything about religion or science or the environment. Like death spiral trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Let's see. . . whether XYZ movie stuck to the book? Ds17 - also an aspie says "Negative effect of the lack of direct competition of internet service providers on the internet" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zydruna Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Let's see. . . whether XYZ movie stuck to the book? I was going to suggest something similar to this. He could present the arguments for and against whether a particular film adaptation was successful. Other random suggestions that popped into my mind: Digital music vs old school vinyl Whether or not it is appropriate/necessary to tip hotel housekeepers The new Hello Barbie- cool or creepy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 The advantages and disadvantages of crockpots :D 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 The advantages and disadvantages of crockpots :DThis is for an 11 year old boy, not a bunch of middle aged homeschool moms with our panties in a twist. :P Pro-crockpot: Sometimes some of the food my mom makes is cooked in a crockpot. It uses electricity and is nice to come home to a good smelling dinner ready to eat. Long live the crockpot! Anti-crockpot: It's my job to unload the dishwasher and it's heavy. Also I can't reach the shelf where we keep it. And that's annoying. Down with crockpots! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 should schools make PE mandatory school uniforms young children playing violent video games (which are rated for older kids) should public library librarians refuse to lend certain material to kids 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 I don't think he could see any upside to turning any book into a movie. At this point. Hopefully he will get there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zydruna Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Android vs iOS 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Android vs. Apple? I kid you not, I taught a research paper class and one of the kids did a paper on why Android is better than Apple. It was actually quite good, but I still have an iPhone! Is there anything going on nearby that might interest him - something like using tax $ to pay for a skateboard park or other amenities? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Dogs or cats? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Cats vs dogs Daylight savings: outdated or useful 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zydruna Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Print books vs ebooks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aiden Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Better vacation: beach or mountains? Kindle or hard copy books? Legal age for driving/drinking/working/whatever wouldn't be too intense for him: good where it is, or should be raised/lowered? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zydruna Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Whether or not we should celebrate Columbus Day 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Ds did a dog/cat essay for his Write@Home assignment. Worked well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Minecraft: Peaceful Mode or Survival Mode 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 Is there anything going on nearby that might interest him - something like using tax $ to pay for a skateboard park or other amenities? Good idea to look for local political matters. Like both sides of the bike lane question or building a new community center. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 He's quite good at the persuasive essay, it's seeing both sides of the same issue well enough to write/argue either side that is the goal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El... Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Slot toaster v. toaster oven Hand or machine dish washing Is it worthwhile to keep a second fridge or should I buy a deep freeze Stick or pitcher blender (or both) Is apple really safer from virus/malware attacks I have questions he could research! :tongue_smilie: Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 Minecraft: Peaceful Mode or Survival Mode 2 years ago that could have been a death spiral issue. So this reminds me we have made progress. He wrote a very strong essay arguing against educational TV shows for kids and TV for little kids in general but when I asked him to argue the other side I might has well have asked him to perform a juggling act with fire while riding a unicycle uphill though an obstacle course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 writing assigned essays: useful exercise or mind-numbing torture? 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 "Where do you come down on giant ants as a form of transportation?" Howard Wolowitz, Big Bang Theory 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zydruna Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Cursive first or print first Which is more important, cursive or keyboarding skills? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Eating organic food or not? Is it better to read the book first or see the movie first? Personal freedom vs. helmet/seatbelt laws? Yoga pants: yay or nay? (OK that was a joke) A lot of school topics come to mind, which may or may not be interesting to a homeschooler: Should school be compulsory for youths (___ age group)? School dress codes - pro or con? Zero tolerance discipline Compulsory volunteer hours Compulsory phys ed / foreign language / home ec / shop..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zydruna Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Ron and Hermione vs Harry and Hermione :D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Should parents be allowed to bring cupcakes to school for kids' birthdays? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Banning peanuts from schools? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 If you have a test tomorrow and you aren't prepared, is it better to study into the night or sleep? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 At what age should a child legally be allowed to work outside the home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 Ron and Hermione vs Harry and Hermione :D 11 year old BOY with ASD. Would prefer to strip all romance from Harry Potter. No need to mess up Harry Potter with romance as far as he is concerned. Maybe in a couple more years. A mom can hope, right? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 If you have a test tomorrow and you aren't prepared, is it better to study into the night or sleep? He's a spelling bee kid of the no night before cramming persuasion. Seems to have thus far served him well. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Let's see. . . whether XYZ movie stuck to the book? Ds17 - also an aspie says "Negative effect of the lack of direct competition of internet service providers on the internet" OMG! I completely love that. Seriously, Net Neutrality/Government granted monopolies is a great example of a whole class of prompts... The personal freedom/libertarian thought vs societal obligation. Should drugs be legal? Should the government extend mandatory education through college? Should peanuts/perfume be banned on airplanes? Should seat belts be mandatory? Should there be any limits to weapons possession(nukes, biologicals)? Are copyrights excessive? Lots of places you go with these... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I gave a speech on why I thought prostitution should be legal when I was 15. My views have changed a tad smidge since then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 The whole point of an assigned writing that makes you right both sides is that you will probably not agree with half of what you are writing. That doesn't mean he cannot research what other people believe about the topic. I think picking a book and deciding if the movie successfully portrayed the book or not. He doesn't have to care whether books should be turned into movies. Something like the first Harry Potter movie might be something he is familiar with. Really the book to movie translation is decent in that they get the storyline out correctly, but they leave out a whole lot of details. Totally different then the first Percy Jackson book where they totally destroyed the book to movie. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 He doesn't have to care whether books should be turned into movies. He doesn't have to be reduced to a death spiral over coral reefs or scrabble rules but those are things he has lost it over before. Autism is a strange thing though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Order of initial viewing of Star Wars movies Age restrictions for being alone at libraries, malls, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 DC versus Marvel comics- which has been more influential on culture Lego- build and display sets versus pull apart and combine with other bricks Xbox versus play station 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Btervet Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Is taking note best done by hand or computer/tablet? Real book vs. eBook? Solar vs. wind energy? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicianmom Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Narnia: published order or chronological order? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 He doesn't have to be reduced to a death spiral over coral reefs or scrabble rules but those are things he has lost it over before. Autism is a strange thing though. Do you really think he will find a topic that he has an opinion over that won't send him into a spiral to find out information that contradicts his current opinion? I would think it is the confusion that ensues after learning the new information that give him the most problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Can you have him choose the general topics and then help him come up with a thesis and antithesis? My older son is working in writing both sides of the persuasive essay.I need topics that are not controversial enough to inflame him (he is a rigid thinking kid with ASD, part of these assignments is meant to help him be more flexible but there's a limit) but not so milquetoast as to bore or him or make the assignment wholly pointless. Looking for topics where there are strong points on each side so things like "blue is the best color" are out.For whatever reason, I am finding this challenging. I can think of a gabillion and one topics but they don't hit that middle ground of important but not highly controversial. Any ideas? I am hoping we can work up to more meaty topics later but he needs to get some practice under his belt first.This is tied into what he is working on with his SLP too and she's had trouble finding that middle ground with him too- challenging but not so challenging as to be counterproductive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 Do you really think he will find a topic that he has an opinion over that won't send him into a spiral to find out information that contradicts his current opinion? I would think it is the confusion that ensues after learning the new information that give him the most problems.No, it's not confusion. It's also not the existence of things he doesn't like that is the issue, it's trying to reconcile two very valid but very opposite sets of information. And death spirals are rarer these days but yes, he's pretty militant that movies from books suck, always. I jest, but I still don't really care to remind him about it either. It's an oddly serious issue for him. He especially hates historical inaccuracies in books and movies and since he studies so much history, he finds inaccuracies that many just wouldn't know where there. It's a rigid mindset that makes it hard to see opinions that he doesn't share or, in the case of something really controversial can make it hard to shut off all of the empathy for vastly counter positions (like seeing both sides of the Israel Palestine issue and being overwhelmed with concern for all and feelings of hopelessness for a solution.) One interesting thing that came up when we were listening to some news is that he is intuitively pro-life. This is not a political opinion I share (though personally is a different matter) but I respect his ability to think differently than me or his father. When I gently gave a rundown of the pro-choice side he wasn't confused or flummoxed or even angry but he was totally not seeing how those were points. He wouldn't be able to come up with three pro-choice reasons unless he memorized them or some thing, much less write about them (not that I would assign that for a nearly 12 year old anyways). Just trying to illustrate why this is a more difficult endeavor for him than some. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 The rigidity is why my Aspie could not have written a paper like this at that age. I would however, work with him on just being able to list two sides to a debate in an outline. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Here are 1600 ideas to get you started ;) 501 Essay Prompts 500 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing 200 Prompts for Argumentative Writing 149 Persuasive Essay Topics and Prompts 101 Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics 100 Persuasive Essay Topics 53 Persuasive Essay Prompts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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