Brendan's interesting issues for VCE English

[costargh]

I think one of the best issues you could do in 2009 would be the Victorian transport plan that was released by the government towards the end of 2008. (See http://www4.transport.vic.gov.au/vtp/ ). The reason why I'd recommend this is that it actually has HEAPS of great perspectives you can look at this from and various stances you can take, For example, whether the plan does enough to promote greater use of public transport, whether the project completion dates are close enough to bring short term relief to transport users (road and public), whether the cost of some projects are too excessive and whether they could be better spent, what sort of environmental impact these projects will have, eg, building new roads and rails may be at the cost of the enriornment, and failure to promote public transport may mean higher greenhouse gases etc.

There are massive like 50+ page documents you can look at on that page that you can use as your research. Also Sir Rod Eddington's report on the state of Melbournes transport system can be found via google.
There is also a shorter brief PDF overviewing the issue.

Furthermore...

I should have said this before but when you think about it little pissy short term issues are really crap to argue about. They've really got no meat in them to argue about and chances are you'll end up just repeating yourself and making arguments based on just "i think that" or something weak like that.
The thing about the transport plans for Victoria's future is that if it's not planned, managed and implemented properly then the consequences for Victoria are diabolical. Imagine what sort of effects congestion would have on Victorians.

[dior1]

Wow, thanks so much! That's an issue i'll definitley read up on and see how I find it.

Feel free to suggest others 

[costargh]

I just added to my original post above ^^^

If you didn't feel confident about arguing on that then I would say to do something long term like environmental based because at the moment thats a key worry for society and there is always a lot of financial and social views on it. Like Victoria's water plans or something... desalination plants? etc

[dior1]

That's fair enough. And it would be harder to make a better argument out of something that doesn't have much "meat" to it.
Where could I find out more information on the desalination plants, and the other environmental issues at the moment? I've been on the age issue pages, but that didn't really have anything?

[delta_rox]

I'm thinking of doing 'language change' due to technology, particulary text message. I plan to discuss whether or not it is positively contributing to our language or if it will have negative impacts. Do you think this would be a good topic to address?

[costargh]

Depends, do you think you'll have a substantial amount of differing points to use to back up your argument?

If you're going to feel as though you'd be repeating yourself then I would try something else.

[AppleThief]

I'm thinking of doing 'language change' due to technology, particulary text message. I plan to discuss whether or not it is positively contributing to our language or if it will have negative impacts. Do you think this would be a good topic to address?

That reminds me so much of EL. There was basically an essay about that for the past two years on the exam! So, you'd be benefiting EL as well as vanilla English there! (I'm assuming it applies to vanilla English)

[brendan]

I'm thinking of doing 'language change' due to technology, particulary text message. I plan to discuss whether or not it is positively contributing to our language or if it will have negative impacts. Do you think this would be a good topic to address?

what sac is this for?

[costargh]

Just to add on to what I said about the issue of the state or Melbourne's transport issue.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/sprawling-transport-not-up-to-par-20090111-7eeb.html

[danieltennis]

Here's a good website with outlines and arguments on contemporary media issues with newspaper indexes:
www.echoeducation.com.au

Username: stjohnrcd
Password: blightly

[jaja]

hello.. i have to do a SAC of a media issue.. for/against and my opinion....is baning parents to smack their children a media issue???

[dior1]

How about talking about festivals (big day out in particular) and drugs and the bad media coverage given.
I'm thinking about this, but not sure which approach to take and whether or not there will be sufficient inofrmation.
Thoughts?

[lishan515]

How about talking about festivals (big day out in particular) and drugs and the bad media coverage given.
I'm thinking about this, but not sure which approach to take and whether or not there will be sufficient inofrmation.
Thoughts?

The problem is whether there is "an issue" - ie that you can actually take a stance while equally being able to take an opposing stance versus just presenting a public speaking style speech.

Hence if you were to present a speech saying that drugs at festivals are bad and that police presence and bad publcity are deterrents - you won't really engage in a persuasive argument as they are almost self evident. Where as if you were talking about the over done debating topic: "that Victoria should build desalination plants" or "that Australia should launch a bid for the 2018 (or whenever it is) World cup soccer" you could clearly argue for or against that statement.

Does that make sense?


 

[brendan]

hello.. i have to do a SAC of a media issue.. for/against and my opinion....is baning parents to smack their children a media issue???

that one pops up from time to time, typically on programs like ACA/TT

[dior1]

How about talking about festivals (big day out in particular) and drugs and the bad media coverage given.
I'm thinking about this, but not sure which approach to take and whether or not there will be sufficient inofrmation.
Thoughts?

The problem is whether there is "an issue" - ie that you can actually take a stance while equally being able to take an opposing stance versus just presenting a public speaking style speech.

Hence if you were to present a speech saying that drugs at festivals are bad and that police presence and bad publcity are deterrents - you won't really engage in a persuasive argument as they are almost self evident. Where as if you were talking about the over done debating topic: "that Victoria should build desalination plants" or "that Australia should launch a bid for the 2018 (or whenever it is) World cup soccer" you could clearly argue for or against that statement.

Does that make sense?

Yes it does, and that's what I though. I was just curious as to see what you guys though and if it is possible.
It's interesting and all, but I agree that there isn't enough to argue for or against.