National Poetry Day

It's National Poetry Day and to celebrate you can download (or read online) this year's free poetry anthology  on the theme of Freedom.

The library is closed

Unfortunately, the library is closed from Wednesday 20th until Tuesday 25th due to CAT testing. This means that under NO CIRCUMSTANCE should you use the library nor should you walk through

Mrs.Davidson's Persuasive Essay Links

Topic 1 - America needs to change it's gun laws today.

Suggested essay plan:
  1. Introduction - What is the picture in the USA - why do they need to change gun laws? 
    1. New York Times article compares gun deaths in US to other countries.
    2. Everytown for Gun Safety has a running total and more information on School Shootings in the USA since 2013.
  2. Particular example - Sandy Hook Elementary. Why didn't America change then after that shooting?
    1. Article from The Guardian about the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting
    2. This article from the BBC talks about why Obama couldn't change gun laws even after the Sandy Hook tragedy.
  3. Similar international example - Dunblane Primary plus what the UK government did about it.
    1. Article from The Independent on the Dunblane Primary shooting here in Scotland (it also talks about the actions taken by the government as a response).
  4. Widen up the argument - how does US response gun violence compare to elsewhere in the world?
    1. NBC report on Port Arthur massacre (includes comparison to USA)
  5. Example of a country similar to US who managed to change gun culture
    1. John Oliver's video on gun control in Australia (you can view the transcript if you don't want to watch it again).
    2. Guardian article about who Australian guns laws have stopped mass shootings. 
  6. Conclusion.

Topic 2 - Everyone should become a vegetarian to help save the planet.

Suggested essay plan:

Introduction - Meat production cannot be sustained - impact on planet
Meat production vs. plants - drain on water resources/ impact on waterways
Meat production vs. plants - strain on available land/ destruction of habitiat
Meat production vs. plants - greenhouse gas emmisions
Conclusion

Sources:
Guardian article: There's a population crisis all right. But probably not the one you think. - George Monbiot

Additional resources can be found via Independence Issues and Complete Issues in book form or online (see notice board beside reference for the usernames and passwords)

Search This Blog