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CONTROVERSIAL ESSSAY IDEAS

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eastcoastshred
Posts: 75 - Karma: 10

So for my AP English class, we have to write a short persuasive essay on any controversial issue that we want.  I have 3 "final" ideas:

Marijuana Legalization

Lowering drinking age

Burton Love Snowboards

Are they good, bad, other topics would be better?  I know that the first two have been written about so many times, but nobody in my class picked them, and I believe that they would be farily easy.  The burton one I have kind of thrown out because burton gave me a shitty response to my e-mail, not answering any of my questions and telling me nothing that I didn't already know.  Any input on the topics would be very appreciated.  Also, I rememeber reading about a movie about marijuana, but couldn't find it.  Does anybody know where it is.  Any other ideas would be great.  Thanks

And I did searchbar but really couldn't find what I wanted, and I kinda want to get new ideas on these issues. 

Nov 21 2008 9:06PM
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Malcolm
Posts: 15949 - Karma: 9,431
yeah the first two are a little played IMO. it seems like you can write so much about the love snowboards i think id pick that
Nov 21 2008 9:08PM
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-eat
Posts: 434 - Karma: -9
BCS
Nov 21 2008 9:17PM
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skifree919
Posts: 5842 - Karma: 35
repealing TItle IX, or at least altering it. It is a VERY controversial topic in college athletics. I just wrote a paper about it actually
Nov 21 2008 9:21PM
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eastcoastshred
Posts: 75 - Karma: 10
yea thats why i picked it at first but i kinda want to get some sources on it.  I just don't really know how to approach the issue because my stand was that they had freedom of artistic expression but should limit sales to 18+.  Later I found out that they already did that.  haha.  thanks for the replies and help
Nov 21 2008 9:22PM
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doublexl
Posts: 8407 - Karma: 26
what are burton love snowboards?
Nov 21 2008 9:26PM
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Mike34113
Posts: 1088 - Karma: 112
anything that has to do with religion is pretty controversial
Nov 21 2008 9:30PM
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anxju
Posts: 9371 - Karma: 61
do you have to use the 5 logos? lol

i just wrote a paper using those, about the military rules of engagement. another topic could be abortion or offshore drilling
Nov 21 2008 9:43PM
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KRASHED
Posts: 7803 - Karma: 466
Church vs. homosexuality seems to have popped up a lot in the news lately
Nov 21 2008 9:49PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 149
capital punishment
gun laws
cloning
animal testing
homosexual marriages
Nov 21 2008 10:08PM
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SteezeNutz
Posts: 293 - Karma: 10
I recently wrote a paper for English 121 that was entitled "Legalize It." It was promoting not only the legalization of marijuana, but also all other drugs and also prostitution. We were supposed to take other viewpoints than the usual. Got a 97 on dat bitch. JEA!
Nov 21 2008 10:14PM
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eastcoastshred
Posts: 75 - Karma: 10
Thanks to all who've helped.  I don't think im gonna do the drinking one and am still leaning towards marijuana just cuz i know that there will be a ton to write about it.  But, ill keep looking at everybodys ideas and considering them cuz there are so many good ones.  rough draft is due Monday so I still have a good amount of time. 
Nov 21 2008 10:39PM
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SteezeNutz
Posts: 293 - Karma: 10
Good luck buddy.
Nov 21 2008 10:40PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
Everybody and their mom writes "controversial" essays on marijuana. Be a little more original.

If you really want a controversial topic write it on the 9/11 conspiracy theory.
Nov 21 2008 10:58PM
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SteezeNutz
Posts: 293 - Karma: 10
Good choice. Very intriguing.
Nov 21 2008 11:01PM
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macvid
Posts: 425 - Karma: 11
how about society influencing us as humans beings and pressures us to conform to what is to be the supposed norm but in reality this norm just robs us of our individuality...???
Nov 21 2008 11:04PM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
as much as I don't like Burton.  That's probably your best topic.  The other two are waaaaaaaaaaaaay played out.  Students have been writing about those topics along with drinking age, abortion, gay marriages etc. for years.  Your professor doesn't wanna read the same BS they've been reading for the past decade or so.  The Burton one will really get them interested in your paper. Your professor will almost want to shoot themselves if your essay is the one at the bottom of the pile and it's the 100th essay of some "same ole" topic. BORING!  be original, use vocab that's usually only used in the snow industry, you can get way more creative when you write about something that has to do with snow, i bet.
Nov 21 2008 11:18PM
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Geoff.
Posts: 2378 - Karma: 12
Yeah id say go with the Burton one for originality. use the whole Love board case to defend your position on censorship in media, but maybe expand into other similar areas like film and telivison
Nov 21 2008 11:43PM
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ATLskier
Posts: 8203 - Karma: 406
differences between traditional neighborhood design and contemporary suburban neighborhoods.
Nov 21 2008 11:49PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
ooh, thats extremely controversial where i live

but seriously thats a pretty good idea for an essay if you can get the info on it
Nov 21 2008 11:55PM
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
write about the impact of having a black president .... it doesnt get better than race. be sure to use the n word ... but quote it, dont just toss it around .. that would just be plain racist ... oh and add into the foot notes how its ok that you talk about this, beacue you have a black friend.
Nov 22 2008 8:09AM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349

see, i thought i would write a paper on the legalization of weed, well turns out my teachers  brother is a recovering druggie and she thinks that he started drugs with weed and moved on to the hard shit. she took the time to write me this huge letter on how wrong i am and i got a suspiciously low grade on the assignment while the person who wrote against it (opposing persuasive essays) got an excellent grade for saying that weed causes cancer, kill brain cells, and is highly addictive, all of which is false.

i sent her an email with this documentary and told her that she needs to keep her blindly radical personal opinions out of the classroom. 

 you guys should watch this

http://blip.tv/file/1356143/

Nov 22 2008 8:29AM
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2+2=5
Posts: 3676 - Karma: 18
the snowboard one doesnt have enough substance to write  a full essay, you'd have to write about like pornography in general. i'd do the marijuana one, but watch that documentary and take ur points from there.
Nov 22 2008 9:27AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
good for you for standing up to your teacher like that. she obviously doesn't know the real facts on the issue.  she needs to know that it's not mary jane that made her brother addicted, it was her brother's addictive personality and lack of self restraint.


that is a great documentary though. watched it a few weeks ago.
Nov 22 2008 3:22PM
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popNfresh44
Posts: 3757 - Karma: 44
abortion
religion/what happens after you die

props on choosing a controversial topic. they always work out well because the person marking will be more hesitant to give it a bad grade because you could call them out for marking with bias, and it could get them in trouble.
Nov 22 2008 3:36PM
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GGreene
Posts: 993 - Karma: 42
if you think about it almost anything can be classified as a 'controversial' topic depending on different peoples views on life.
one that could be cool to do would be about that kid that committed suicide over the internet just a few days ago. there is a thread about it somewhere in the NSG i believe
Nov 22 2008 4:45PM
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comeatmebro
Posts: 10720 - Karma: 66
yes!!

write it on the 9/11 conspiracy theory, it'll definitely stand out and blow the other papers out of the water.
Nov 22 2008 4:48PM
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Happy.
Posts: 1248 - Karma: 9
Definately write about this, or some other conspiracy theory. There's so many on the interwebz you should have NO problem coming up with more than enought info to write a novel on them.
Nov 22 2008 5:37PM
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BASS_PRO_SHOP
Posts: 1519 - Karma: 52
either that or he will be blown off stage by everyone laughing at what a retard he was wasting his time writing about that bullshit. seriously. shoot yourself if you consider writing about this shit.

pick a truly controversial subject... the color of obama's skin.
Nov 22 2008 5:44PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
hahahahhahaha

such ignorance it's hillarious
Nov 22 2008 9:17PM
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BASS_PRO_SHOP
Posts: 1519 - Karma: 52
show me something new or something thats already been stated by conspiracy theorists thats got actual proof behind it. theres a reason its not talked about anymore. kind of pathetic to still see kids like that running around thinking they've figured out the dark secrets of the government haha.
Nov 22 2008 9:36PM
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SteezeNutz
Posts: 293 - Karma: 10
you suck
Nov 22 2008 9:39PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
if you want to do a conspiracy theory, do the JFK shooting. Or the downing of TWA flight 800. Both are very interesting and in my opinion have more credibility than 9/11 or the moon landings.
Nov 22 2008 9:48PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
people like you make me smile.  thinking the government doesn't any have "dark secrets and all.... now THAT'S pathetic.

anyways, if you really want me to destroy your post and own the fuck out of you, feel free to respond and I will do so when I have more time. until then, your unintelligent post is not worth my time and I don't want to hijack this thread.
Nov 22 2008 9:54PM
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BASS_PRO_SHOP
Posts: 1519 - Karma: 52
ive destroyed every conspiracy thread that has ever appeared on this site along with others since 9-11 ones started popping up. funny thing is that we never get an argument and the thread dies. every single time. now i never said the government was squeaky clean did i? thats a fallacy right off the back on your end that, amazingly, is used by ALL conspiracy theorists when challanged. they (and you) try to put themselves on this high pedostol of knowledge using terms like, "open your eyes", "your ignorant to everything around you," and the most popular and my favorite... "you have no idea what the government is capable of." Funny thing is that you don't either. You think you do after watching loose change and zeitgest- which by the way is a cookie cut version of loose change bs- yeah ive seen all the videos. ive researched and read both sides which is where you get left behind. you think because you watch some videos online that was different than what was on the news that "OMGZ MY EYEZ ARE OPENED! I AMZ ALL KNOWING!" thats where the line divides the retards/conspiracy theorists from the ones who eyes are truely opened. sick that you are opened minded, but you got to have at least a shit filter in place in the form of non-bias research so your head doesnt get completely filled with nonsense. too late? fuck my bad.  
Nov 22 2008 10:12PM
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sweso2
Posts: 225 - Karma: 18
Death penalty, Gun control, gay marriage...
Nov 22 2008 10:45PM
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skiierrrrrrr
Posts: 998 - Karma: 694
gun laws, polygamy, gay marriages, anything where government intefers with religion
Nov 22 2008 11:07PM
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LIL_WAT
Posts: 1900 - Karma: 475
do "Luke Perry is gay"
Nov 22 2008 11:13PM
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2+2=5
Posts: 3676 - Karma: 18
i would actually stay away from any conspiracy theories. they are loosely based on facts and some are pretty delusional. dont make yourself look like your a retard
Nov 22 2008 11:22PM
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steeze2pleeze
Posts: 362 - Karma: 14
consider your audience. burton snowboards may not be the best topic imo.
Nov 22 2008 11:24PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
I  didn't want to post anything off topic in here but:

I'm not a conspiracy theorist. I'm a Truthist.  There's a difference whether or not you feel the need to laugh at such a statement.  Obviously not all conspiracy theories are true.  To believe in all of them is pure lunacy.  There are many, many conspiracy theories that I think are ridiculous.  You say that you have watched all the videos? Well, that's only one aspect, how about you get off the internet and read some books?  Or turn on the TV and think/contemplate how all the pieces are fitting together?  There are evil people in the world, and to say that evil people in places of high power are not willing to do evil things to gain more power, money and control is foolish. 

You wanted me to provide you with a "conspiracy theory" that has proof behind it? Here's a copy of a declassified document called Operation Northwoods, a failed attempt to provoke "military intervention" with Cuba: http://www.gwu.edu/%7Ensarchiv/news/20010430/doc1.pdf

Anyways, I'm not going to argue with a man that thinks I'm a retard for believing in positive social change and trying to spread knowledge and bring out the suppressed truth of certain events/topics.  I'm sick of trying to get past the mental block that people like yourself have.  However, you are entitled to believe whatever the hell you want to.  That is the beauty of being human.






I guess you should write your controversial essay on conspiracy theories after all........

OH, how is the color of Obama's skin controversial?  OMG a black man was elected president by a landslide. Mommy help.
Nov 22 2008 11:45PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
Anyways, wasn't the ENTIRE point of this thread for us to pick a controversial for him?  that statement alone and the fact that you so vehemently believe it's bullshit proves that it is in fact a good topic for a controversial essay.
Nov 22 2008 11:56PM
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BASS_PRO_SHOP
Posts: 1519 - Karma: 52
hmmm.... funny how you totally avoided the whole topic all together and are literally repeating what im saying to you about that 9/11 BS you were totally in favor of just a few hours ago (which in case you forgot already, it was telling you to expand off those lame ass videos like i have done). instead youre giving me general statements, again, and an example that has nothing to do with your original stance. also agreeing with something which i clearly said that the government does do sheisty shit. now you're trying to run away and say "ah man quit the hate, we're giving him a controversial subject, which it is!!!" at the same time poking at something i said that was obviously a joking statement about a person i voted for. mannnn.....

wow i just got destroyed huh? fuck off that was pathetic.
Nov 23 2008 12:11AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
took the words right out of my mouth.












I'm not doing this kids homework for him if he decides to pick this topic and I'm not going to argue with a thickheaded, angry person like yourself.
Nov 23 2008 1:04AM
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BASS_PRO_SHOP
Posts: 1519 - Karma: 52
aw giving up when you were just so eager to defend yourself?

you just proved my point. its how it always ends. kids run away without even trying to defend themselves. conspiracy theorists- all the same no matter how you try to diversify yourself.
Nov 23 2008 1:20AM
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Owen.
Posts: 1134 - Karma: 13
You want something controversial? Write about how MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) turned from a good cause, to a greedy corporate machine
To get you kick started they pretty much skewer statistics to make more by-laws so they can keep the money flowing
Nov 23 2008 1:23AM
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cmeriptahoe
Posts: 1785 - Karma: 12
I officially enjoy you.
Nov 23 2008 1:24AM
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drwclrk
Posts: 1114 - Karma: 718
its usually really easy to write about a really ridiculous topic, regardless if you believe it or not. for example, i wrote a paper about how alcohol should be made illegal, or "prohibition" as the 1920's called it. its easy to see why it should be illegal, though i dont agree with it at all.
Nov 24 2008 12:31PM
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skiwoj
Posts: 2286 - Karma: 52
yeah you could write about proposition 8
Nov 24 2008 12:38PM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,812
if you want extreme controversiality write about how cancer is a good thing. say how it stops over population and thus famine......
Nov 24 2008 1:00PM
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BennyV
Posts: 569 - Karma: 11
Anal sex and the final fronteir
Nov 24 2008 1:21PM
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