Choosing the right issue to study with students can shape how successful a persuasive writing or analysing argument unit will be. Some issues are easier for students to understand, some provide richer debate, and others are useful because they connect strongly with students’ everyday experiences.
Below are three current issues we have collected material about for our 2026 Scaffolded Issues Activity Pack. For each issue, we have highlighted a different reason why it might be an effective topic for classroom study.
Even if this particular resource is not relevant to you, thinking carefully about why you choose particular issues to study with students can help you design more engaging and effective units.
| Issue | Benefit |
| Court suppression orders in Victoria are preventing the public from knowing the identity of people accused of crimes | Straightforward: Opinions on this issue are clearly divided. Members of the judiciary often argue that suppression orders are necessary to ensure fair trials, while many journalists argue that they prevent the public from receiving important information. This clear division of viewpoints can help students to understand bias. Availability of persuasive material: Journalists and lawyers frequently write about this issue, meaning there are many opinion pieces available. Having a wide range of material to choose from makes it easier to select strong examples of persuasive writing to study. |
| Frequent protests in Melbourne are causing disruption and division | Complex: This issue has a range of different dimensions, including debates about how protests should be regulated, concerns about protests spreading hate or division, and strong defences of the democratic right to protest. Because the issue contains multiple perspectives, it provides greater scope for students to develop different contentions when writing their own persuasive responses. Emotionally engaging: People have strong views about the right to protest and write emotively about it. Emotionally charged writing can provide excellent material for critically analysing arguments or stimulating students’ own responses. |
| Retail crime is at a crisis point | Familiar: This is a highly relatable issue. Most students will already have some awareness of shoplifting, retail abuse or security measures in stores. This familiarity means students can easily understand the issue itself. Recency: Retail crime is an ongoing issue that regularly appears in the media. As a result, it has a topical and meaningful presence in class as a current issue worth studying. |
