Arguing About Essay Topics About Slavery

Arguing About Essay Topics About SlaveryAs a professor of English, I encounter arguments from students on both sides of the argument about arguments in essays on slavery. There are two basic schools of thought: namely, whether to argue about slavery as an actual viable, and moral institution or to avoid the subject altogether. Which side is right depends on the instructor and the student.Many students who enter college at a time when arguments about slavery as an institution will gravitate toward argumentative essay topics that are meant to 'prove' a certain moral thesis. In other words, their essay topics will present a strong argument from evidence or opinions presented that challenge existing moral or ethical norms. The problem with this approach is that when you choose an argumentative essay topic about slavery, you are already bound by convention. By choosing an argumentative essay topic about slavery, the student has already been pre-decided as to the way the essay is going to go.Further, many students are already familiar with arguments made by scholars on a topic like slavery, and these arguments may be too lengthy or complex for them to read without repeating portions of the argument. Some students may be uncomfortable reading lengthy arguments from opposing sides, or they may not have the time to devote to reading long essays that come across as too dry. These students should therefore consider avoiding argumentative essay topics about slavery.On the other hand, the argument should be presented in such a way that it would encourage readers to learn something by the essay. Students must be willing to be exposed to several arguments from different sides, without being pre-conditioned to accept one side or the other. A reasonable choice is to write about different kinds of arguments about slavery, both those about the institution and those against it.For instance, in a class on The Civil War, some students may want to read a writing assignment that prese nts both sides of the conflict using empirical data, which includes facts, figures, and statistical reports on mortality rates, economic data, and medical and legal records. But some students may feel that such a topic is too long, so they will choose to write about historical facts about the war without arguing about the merits of the union's side or the merits of the confederate side. This type of essay is a good example of an argumentative essay topic about slavery.After the civil war ended, a group of free blacks formed the first black republic, which lasted for several years. Students could choose to write about slavery during the republic, and even how this short-lived form of social organization influenced later Republican ideas. They could also include a brief introduction to how the republic fared under the slave system, and why some historians believe that the republic should have been abolished or at least greatly limited in its activities.These are two examples of argume ntative essay topics about slavery, and they each incorporate arguments on both sides of the subject. In addition, if there is no war or national crisis that could be written about, one can always write about how slavery affected the lives of people today. Examples include how the African-American community continues to struggle with economic struggles, and other people of color that have attempted to create institutions similar to the republic. Finally, one can present statistics about labor and employment in the black community to argue against white fears of social equality.Students must make a decision about the form of argumentative essay topics they are interested in, and they must do their best to prove themselves right. For instance, if a student wants to write about slavery's effects on his or her parents, that student might choose to add a chapter to his or her college major course or dissertation on the subject. With enough preparation, the student can show that he or she is on the right side of the argument.