Some people strongly believe boys and girls should go to separate schools. Others believe this separation isn't good for students. People on each side of this debate use different facts to support their point of view.
Debates over what time to start the school day are happening in many communities. Because this decision affects students, it's helpful for them to understand the arguments used on both sides and to form their own opinion about this issue.
Students have always complained about the amount of homework they've been given, but informed debates about homework and its impact on students' lives and mental health have become more common in recent years.
Some politicians have gained fame in recent years for promoting the idea that a college education should be free. Is this a good idea? How could it be achieved?
"Fake news" is a term used by politicians and on social media. It can be difficult to know what news sources to trust, or if any can be trusted. The question of whether or not we should trust the news is at the center of this critical thinking exercise, which is also an accessible introduction to media literacy.
echnology has made life easier for people around the world, but is that necessarily a good thing? Some people believe technology has made people lazier, but others believe it actually makes people more productive. Readers deepen their understanding of this debate through detailed main text, concise fact boxes, a helpful graphic organizer, and relatable photographs.
Describes what a uniform is and some of the types of people who wear them, and explains the advantages and disadvantages of requiring children to wear uniforms to school.
In some countries, citizens are required to vote in elections, but in the United States, citizens are free to choose not to vote. This had led to low voter turnout in many elections, and some people think making voting mandatory for American citizens would help the democratic process. Why do they believe this, and why do others strongly disagree with them?
Violence in the media is a major topic of debate, and video games are often at the center of these debates. Are they too violent? Does playing a violent video game have any impact on a young person becoming violent themselves?
When people discuss the idea of banning books, they are also discussing much broader concepts, including censorship, basic freedoms, and the power of religious and political institutions. These challenging topics are presented in accessible ways as readers explore the debate surrounding banned books.