Choose a topic below. Research it by becoming an expert on the points of view of both sides of the argument (create a Venn Diagram on your topic to help you). Choose a side to write your piece about, but remember to include the thinking of the other side so you can refute or acknowledge their point of view in your piece. Remember to start with a strong lead and end with a strong conclusion.
The links below will provide a variety or resources for conducting research to support arguing debatable issues.
There are many resources on the web, as well as those included on the Virtual Library. As you examine each topic, be sure to read deeply on the topic. Good researchers think about what all of our resources might be teaching us. What are we learning? Can our research be organized into subtopics, categories, points or main ideas?
In addition to these information sites, you can use KidRex and IConn to locate additional sites as needed.
Ideas for Your Debatabe Topic
Should kids Wear School Uniforms?
Should Kids Play Football?
Should We Drink Bottled or Tap Water?
Competitive Sports - Good or Bad?
Should We Have Year Round Schools?
Should Cell Phones be Used in School?
Should Their be Homework?
Should Kids Use Trampolines?
Are Zoos Effective?
Should Kids Watch Television?
Should Kids Use Video Games?
Should We Recycle?
Is Global Warming Real?
Should we drink bottled water or tap water?
Online Articles
National Geographic News: What’s Best for Kids: Bottled Water or Fountains?”
Is Bottled Water Hurting our Environment?
National Geographic Kids: Drinking Water: Bottled or from the Tap?
Scholastic: Is Bottled Water Really Better?
New Aquafina Bottles Reduce Plastic Use by 50 Percent
National Geographic: Why is Tap Water Better than Bottled Water?
EcoWatch: Why You should Never Drink Bottled Water Again
IBWA: International Bottled Water Association
International Bottled Water Industry
ABCNews Bottled Water No Safer than Tap
Multimedia:
ABC News: Bottled Water vs Tap Water. Can You Tell the Difference?
Should Football be Allowed as a School Sport?
Online Articles
“What in the name of high school football?” By: Hill, Hank, Literary Cavalcade, 00244511, Nov/Dec2002, Vol. 55, Issue 3. http://images.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/GA/CatoosaCounty/HeritageMiddle/Uploads/DocumentsCategories/Documents/sports%20articles.pdf
“High School, College Football Come with Risks.” By Jeffrey Perkel, ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4508074&page=1
“School Sports: The pros and cons” by Raven J. Railey
“Pushing too hard too young” by Jacqueline Stenson.
“Sports Injury Statistics,” from Stanford Children’s Health, February 9, 2016. http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=sports-injury-statistics-90-P02787
Pros and Cons of School Football
Should School Football be Allowed
Harvard - Is Football Safe for Kids
Should Parents Allow Their Children to Play Football
Don't Let Kids Play Tackle Football Until 14
Should Youths Play Tackle Football
Should You Let Your Children Play Football
8 Benefits for Kids to Play Football
Are Competive Sports Good or Bad for Children
Are Competitive Sports Good for Your Child
Negatives of Competitive Sports
Pros and Cons of School Sports
Pros and Cons of School Sports
Good Bad and Ugly of Competitive Youth Sports
Why Competitive Sports are Great for Kids
Multimedia
(video) “Is Soccer Safe for Kids? Amid Concussion Fears a Parent Searches for Answers,” PBS Newshour, October 25, 2014.
(video) “Should you let your kids play football?” Sports Illustrated, October 26, 2014. http://safeshare.tv/v/C6cWRe9h1OY
(video) “Denying the Dangers of Football: A League of Denial,” Part 4, PBS Frontline, Oct. 22, 2014. http://safeshare.tv/v/Zos9zNHQE5g
Are trampolines a safe form of exercise for kids?
Online Articles
“Trampolines: What you Need to Know.” American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, January 30, 2016. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Trampolines-What-You-Need-to-Know.aspx
“Home trampoline danger: 1M visits to ER, study says,” by Shari Rudavsky. USA Today, May 7, 2014. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/07/home-trampoline-hospital-visits/8820793/
“Trampolines and Trampoline Safety,” Position Statememt from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, September 2010.
“The Benefits of Trampolining,” Springfit.org, February 1, 2016. http://www.springfit.org/activities/trampolining/benefits-of-trampolining/
“Trampoline Health,” info on “rebounding” and other benefits of trampoline use. February 1, 2016. http://www.trampolinehealth.com/
“Toronto’s Trampoline Center is pro’s training site,” by Dean Seguin, ESPN, Febr. 1, 2016. http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=7324100
Multimedia
“Trampoline Safety: It’s Flippin Important,” From Blake Gaudry, an Olympic trampolinist. YouTube, February 1, 2016. http://safeshare.tv/v/rLwhpbe1OQw
“Trampolines Are No Place for Kids,” - NBC News
“Hidden Dangers of Trampolines,” CBS News, April 28, 2010. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hidden-dangers-of-trampolines/
“Trampolines Safety: St. Louis Children’s Hospital” – Kristin Lee, MD, Pediatric Hospital shares a warning about the dangers of trampolines (video)
“Trampoline Safety“- Dr. Marie Lozon from University of Michigan discusses safety precautions that should be taken when children jump on a trampoline (video).
Should kids be allowed to have cell phones in schools?
Cell Phone Use in the Classroom: Concordia University
Should schools be in session all year round?
Online Articles
“The Pros and Cons of Year-Round School.” From Scholastic. http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/choosing-schools-programs/pros-and-cons-year-round-schools
“Research Spotlight on Year-Round Education.” From the NEA. http://www.nea.org/tools/17057.htm
“Year-Round School.” From Family Education.
“Districts Weigh Pros and Cons of Year-round Schools.” From the NEA. http://neatoday.org/2014/09/04/districts-weigh-pros-and-cons-of-year-round-schools-2/
“Year-Round Schooling: How it Affects Students.” From Education Week. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/education_futures/2013/11/year-round_schooling_how_it_affects_students.html
“Could Students Benefit from Year-Round School?” From PBS. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/always-ready-go-back-students-may-benefit-year-round-schooling/
Multimedia
(video) “Interview on Pros and Cons of Year-Round School.” Channel 7 News. YouTube. http://safeshare.tv/v/ss56982077896c5
(video) “Why Students May Benefit from a Year-Round Calendar.” PBS. YouTube. http://safeshare.tv/v/ss569823e6587d2
Big Universe E-book Titles: Summer school,
Epic E-book Titles: Schools 100 Years Ago
BrainPop Video Titles: Back to School
Britannica School Article Titles: Education
Is Homework Important or Not
Online Articles
Why Reading Homework is Important
“This House would ban homework” – from idebate. org http://idebate.org/debatabase/debates/children/house-would-ban-homework
Effective Practices for Homework
“Do our kids have too much homework?” by: Marian Wilde in Great!Kids http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/homework-is-too-much/
“Too Much Homework? Maybe Not” by Cameron Keady with TFK Reporting, March 19, 2014.
”Help! Homework is wrecking my home life!” by Chaika, Gloria. Education World. 2000. http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin182.shtml
“Do Kids Need Homework?” Time for Kids
5 Reasons Kids Need Homework and 5 Reasons They Don't
“Stanford Research Shows Pitfalls of Too Much Homework,” Stanford Report, March 10, 2014. http://news.stanford.edu/news/2014/march/too-much-homework-031014.html
Multimedia
Time - Homework: Is It Good for Kids
(video) “Are Teachers Giving You Too Much Homework?” By DNews, YouTube, January 27, 2016. http://safeshare.tv/v/7h1olTR3KIo
(video) “Homework in Australia: Less is More.” From WISE in Learning World. YouTube, January 27, 2016. http://safeshare.tv/v/Sx1V8uYwUGs
(video) “Home in America.” Infographic from the Brookings Institute, YouTube, January 27, 2016. http://safeshare.tv/v/ArKr1exR2rg
(video) “Do Kids Really Need Homework?” a report by CBS News, YouTube, January 27, 2016. http://safeshare.tv/v/HFp9Ll11vSg
Purposes of Homework
Is Watching TV Good or Bad for kids?
