Things that concern you

[justwannawish]

Hi, guys!

Our English teacher has asked us to write a speech about things in the world that concern us, yet, she wants us to be original about it. So no general discussions about global warming, marriage equality and war, unless we spin a new life on it. I'm kinda lost 

Any suggestions?

[S200]

Hi, guys!

Our English teacher has asked us to write a speech about things in the world that concern us, yet, she wants us to be original about it. So no general discussions about global warming, marriage equality and war, unless we spin a new life on it. I'm kinda lost 

Any suggestions?

I think that is kinda a question answering itself. It's an Issue that concerns you, so I'm not sure if anyone other than you can answer that.

What are you concerned by?

[justwannawish]

I think that is kinda a question answering itself. It's an Issue that concerns you, so I'm not sure if anyone other than you can answer that.

What are you concerned by?

Hey, thank you for your reply!
I think my main concern is that everything I have had ideas about were thought to be overused.

I was going to do it on the euthanasia debate but my teacher said it was overused and I couldn't really make it original
Other suggestions I had were about to the NDIS and the stigma about mental illness, but I don't know how to really make it original unless I link it to the romanticism in media somehow?
My other suggestion was about the issues around child abandonment and orphanages across the world, but I don't know where to take it.

My teacher wants it to be creative and include an extended metaphor.

[EEEEEEP]

Hi, guys!

Our English teacher has asked us to write a speech about things in the world that concern us, yet, she wants us to be original about it. So no general discussions about global warming, marriage equality and war, unless we spin a new life on it. I'm kinda lost 

Any suggestions?

YOu could say something about war and how it's almost always involves oil. Where ever there's war in the modern world, nearly oil is always involved.

[RuiAce]

If I were in that boat I would be concerned about how university has become stereotyped as a necessity in the modern era. Which can muddle with a Year 12's mind a lot. But again that could still be viewed cliche.

[appleandbee]

Regarding mental health, I can think of three ideas that could work, 1. The reporting and speculation of mental health states of people accused of crimes by the media (and how this can further stigmatise people from seeking health) and 2. The medicalisation of human diversity and how it is problematic (the rising trend of human characteristics like ADHD, autism and photographic memory being labelled as illnesses rather than personality traits, doesn't include mental illnesses that inherently harm the patient like depression, bipolar or schizophrenia), 3. The glorification of mental illness by artists (how it is seen as integral for inspiration to create art).

[vox nihili]

This is a really good task, although it was probably prompted by your teacher feeling really bored with hearing the same topics.
Topics definitely to avoid in this case are: anything about LGBTIQ, euthanasia, refugees, climate change/environmentalism (not tosay that these topics aren't important—arguably they're more important). I think you're teacher is just looking for some original thinking.

So I guess it comes abck to the same question you've been asked a few times. Is there anything that you think is wrong with the world that doesn't get much of a show in the media? Anything you get really worked up about that other people don't? How about anything that you feel your views might be quite different to other people around you?

Regarding mental health, I can think of three ideas that could work, 1. The reporting and speculation of mental health states of people accused of crimes by the media (and how this can further stigmatise people from seeking health) and 2. The medicalisation of human diversity and how it is problematic (the rising trend of human characteristics like ADHD, autism and photographic memory being labelled as illnesses rather than personality traits, doesn't include mental illnesses that inherently harm the patient like depression, bipolar or schizophrenia), 3. The glorification of mental illness by artists (how it is seen as integral for inspiration to create art).

A core component of the diagnosis of the illnesses you've given as examples is that they do cause harm. There are reasonable arguments to make that perhaps the problem is with how society views these people rather than anything inherent about them, but there is little doubt that, given the social context, these disorders harm people.

[prickles]

what concerns me is people that get concerned when there is nothing to be really concerned about because it doesnt concern me....
moral of the story: dont get concerned

If this is the way you want to use this amazing resource, then that's fine. Just remember that people post here to get help and opinions, and value sensible answers
They also can't be not concerned if their speech is about what concerns them

[justwannawish]

YOu could say something about war and how it's almost always involves oil. Where ever there's war in the modern world, nearly oil is always involved.

I'll look into it, thank you!

If I were in that boat I would be concerned about how university has become stereotyped as a necessity in the modern era. Which can muddle with a Year 12's mind a lot. But again that could still be viewed cliche.

So true haha. The only problem is that my friend is doing something about how there is pressure to get into uni, whilst there are alternative paths available

Regarding mental health, I can think of three ideas that could work, 1. The reporting and speculation of mental health states of people accused of crimes by the media (and how this can further stigmatise people from seeking health) and 2. The medicalisation of human diversity and how it is problematic (the rising trend of human characteristics like ADHD, autism and photographic memory being labelled as illnesses rather than personality traits, doesn't include mental illnesses that inherently harm the patient like depression, bipolar or schizophrenia), 3. The glorification of mental illness by artists (how it is seen as integral for inspiration to create art).

.

I really like these suggestions! Another one I was thinking was about how the characters in Winnie the Pooh can be categorised as a particular mental illness and how there is outrage at this 'ruining' of classic books? I might be able to spin something out of that? Hopefully haha

This is a really good task, although it was probably prompted by your teacher feeling really bored with hearing the same topics.
Topics definitely to avoid in this case are: anything about LGBTIQ, euthanasia, refugees, climate change/environmentalism (not tosay that these topics aren't important—arguably they're more important). I think you're teacher is just looking for some original thinking.

So I guess it comes abck to the same question you've been asked a few times. Is there anything that you think is wrong with the world that doesn't get much of a show in the media? Anything you get really worked up about that other people don't? How about anything that you feel your views might be quite different to other people around you?

A core component of the diagnosis of the illnesses you've given as examples is that they do cause harm. There are reasonable arguments to make that perhaps the problem is with how society views these people rather than anything inherent about them, but there is little doubt that, given the social context, these disorders harm people.

The task was mainly to rethink the world we currently live in by looking at issues not necessarily addressed all the time in media e.g. how selective schools are made of  primarily high SES students and the disadvantage it creates (the sampler my teacher gave)

If this is the way you want to use this amazing resource, then that's fine. Just remember that people post here to get help and opinions, and value sensible answers
They also can't be not concerned if their speech is about what concerns them

Thank you

[owidjaja]

Hey there,
This is a really interesting task, so I'd like to include my personal input and hopefully they inspire you or help you in some way! So some concerns I would have:

- The term 'fake news' is becoming more prominent now in the age of technology (not even just propagating false facts but even clickbait titles that would put a negative spin on stories; an example of this is an article I saw: "Global poverty is declining, but not fast enough" like, how fast do you want it do decline? News isn't about just saying the facts, but how to say the story)
- Issues with a complicated moral dilemma (e.g. animal experimentation)
- PANGOLINS (these poor animals never get the spotlight because they're not as 'pretty' as other endangered species like Bengal tigers and elephants)
- NAPLAN debate; to keep or not to keep (I was scrolling through Twitter and a Federal Liberal MP said "kids love tests"- sure, not like kids are constantly dealing with stress at a young age *note the sarcasm)
- Fetishising LGBT community (something I noticed because I know someone in my school who just loves gay people- but not lesbians apparently- and would just go to Newtown just to go into a gay bar- and is already 18. Is there a line between supporting the LBGT community and fetishising them just because they're "different" or fulfil other people's sexual fantasies- generally members of fandom community)

Here are some possible ideas you can explore.

Hope this helps

[justwannawish]

hey guys,

Thank you for all your suggestions, I've decided to do it on whether we need privacy in a globalised world like ours, especially after the cambridge analytica scandal a couple of weeks ago!

[username2000]

hey guys,

Thank you for all your suggestions, I've decided to do it on whether we need privacy in a globalised world like ours, especially after the cambridge analytica scandal a couple of weeks ago!

Hello justwannawish,

thats a great idea...IMO the teacher wont be too fussed about the topic just how well you explain why you have your opinions and what quotes and techniques you use? not being sure what the marking criteria is though..
um thats probly not much help but good luck with your task post the draft on here if you want feedback
Sorry about my reply a few days ago i deleted the post now