persuasive-capping sportsmen's salaries

 30MIN

don't contribute to society, money should go to more deserving people

should learn other skills and not depend on sport especially as time is limited

inflation of superiority, ruins the fun

Sportsmen, even in our advanced 21st century society, have one of the highest earning jobs even in 1st world countries. Yes, even some scientists earn less than a career that just consists of kicking balls around. Do you see a problem with this? After all, it is imperative we invest in important jobs that will ensure our safety and success, those that truly contribute to our community. We cannot spill endless money into the salaries of sportsmen who can only work for a limited time. Especially in such a job, we cannot give them such an advantage-capping salaries teaches humility, reduces the sense of superiority and encourages passionate sportsmen to work for enjoyment, not for the money. It's time we focus on the important things.

In what way do sportsmen truly contribute to society? Sure, they provide a form of entertainment, but is there anything else? Do they save lives? Do they educate people? Do they make living easier? These are the questions we must consider when thinking about the future we set out for developing generations. As previously mentioned, a lot of important jobs earn even less than the careers of elite sportsmen do. Medical professionals who save lives. Journalists who risk their lives to make important matters known. Even teachers, who strive to provide education for every child. Isn't it unfair how they have to work so much harder and reap less rewards? They are the biggest contributors to our society, yet all the money is pouring into the pockets of mere sportsmen.

Capping salaries also encourages sportsmen to acquire other skills other than athletic ones. This is also for the better-they don't have to rely on just sports related jobs. This increases versatility in career choices. After all, as you are only physically able to do sports for a limited amount of time, you can't give up after you retire in your 20s! To support yourself financially you need to find other jobs. It also increases self confidence. Imagine only ever being good at sport, but now you can't demonstrate that ability because you're retired and now you have nothing else! 

This humbleness that comes with capping salaries is also beneficial for even the consumers of sport entertainment. If sportsmen aren't working for the large salaries anymore, they are more likely to work because they enjoy the sport. This means more passionate, dedicated athletes will come into the industry. Not only will sports fans feel safer knowing they support good-natured athletes, but these players will be good role models for young children who are equally passionate about sports. We want to teach the new generation to cultivate their passions, not work for money-this can only be achieved with capping salaries.

We cannot let sportsmen get away with raking in all this money while people with more helpful jobs have to struggle. High salaries for an useless job only increases corruption, arrogance and diminishes the fun and passion that real sportsmen should work for. If we do not put a stop to this soon, this problem will never even itself out and plague our community. Give rewards where it's due. Cap the salaries of elite sportsmen.

narrative-hot lemon tea

stays with grandma who she doesn't like, she's sick too, gives her lemon tea, magically cured, sparkly tea wow

30MIN

Angela snuffled as she buried her blotchy nose beneath her scarf. Her eyes, barely peering over the hem of the fabric, could still shoot daggers over at her parents that seemed to split directly into their chests. Her mother skittishly rolled up the window, a muffled farewell emitting from the car as it clunked off into the distance. Perhaps they were cheering already.

Angela stomped up the stairs to her grandmother's bungalow, backpack dragging behind her.

"Hi, sweetie!" was the first thing Angela heard before she had even processed anything. A cluster of scarves muffled her reply as her grandmother squeezed the blood out of her face, smothering her granddaughter with sloppy kisses. Angela's heart sank in dread. Out of all places where she could be sick, she had to be here. 

Her grandmother ushered her in, toddling behind her as she rushed to collect board games. Angela loosened the scarf, exhaustion already seeping into her eyes,

"Don't worry grandma, mum and dad sent me here because I was sick so I'm a bit tired to play board games today." She called out. An immediate pang of guilt racked her frail body, however she would have much rather rested for the day instead of play Scrabble with her ancient grandma. 

"Oh." The reply faintly reverberated off the kitchen walls. "That's alright, I'll make you some tea." Not long after this remark reached Angela's ears had the kettle already began rattling on the counter. She opened her mouth to dismiss the offer, dread swelling up in her throat as she thought of her grandmother's cooking, but she swallowed the caustic remark to avoid more trouble. 

"Done!" her grandmother chirped as she waddled in, mittens enveloping a steaming mug. Angela took a deep inhale. The sharp pang of the lemon scent tickled her olfactory senses. She swore that the spiraling steam glittered in the dim lighting. Tugging down the scarf slightly, she feigned a sip and hummed in fake satisfaction. Her grandmother's expectant eyes pierced into her. Angela realised she wouldn't be leaving until she drank the whole mug. 

The hot liquid quickly spilled down her throat, as she gulped frantically.Angela internally swore that if she made the faintest movement, the tea in her stomach would audibly slosh around. Once her grandmother eyed the empty mug she took it. However, Angela failed to notice the twinkle in her eye as she beamed at her. 

Mere moments after, it felt as if her spirit was already being lifted out of her body. The sensation of a blocked nose already dissapated, even her mood ascending considerably. What was in that tea? Even her headache had disappeared-now the scarf that swathed her seemed to stuffy. It was as if she had been cured on the spot.

"Grandma, thank you for the tea! What was even in it?" Angela said, croaky throat nonexistent. 

Her grandmother appeared right behind her, an unfamiliar look on her face. 

"Follow me," she breathed through a gap in her scarves. "But Angela dear, you must never tell anyone about any of this."

persuasive-co-education is good

 See both sides, understand each other, learn from each other, superstitions

saves resources, sharing, schools, materials, teachers

bridges the social gap, trans kids?

30MIN

Education has developed in such a way that there are more single-sex schools than ever, rumored to be more efficient than co-ed schools have ever been. However, this does little to bridge the gap-it even worsens superstitions and prevents both genders from being able to learn important skills from each other. This is even harmful to the education system. By splitting students into two groups just based on something they were simply born with, schools and parents both have to pour in money and resources into investments that could simply be alleviated simply by letting your children share the classroom with the opposite gender. It's the 21st century. At this point we should be smart enough to know that superstitions shouldn't dictate our society, should we?

Letting both boys and girls interact with each other in the same classrooms gives them opportunities to sympathise or even empathise with the other gender. They can relate to each other on the same things, smooth out stereotypes and even gain a wider variety of social skills as they mix with different types of people. Students in single sex schools are isolated from the other gender. This means they are free to make up their own superstitions and follow them, and feel even more unnatural when interacting with the opposite gender later in life. We cannot 'shelter' one gender from the other if it's inevitable that your children would eventually have to interact with the opposite sex later in life. After all, if your offspring can never take knowledge from a diverse set of peers, then who are they going to learn from?

Even educational standards would improve with co-education. So never fear, parents who prioritise good education-co-ed schools could even improve your child's learning experience. Instead of splitting what could be one co-ed institution into several other schools, you save plenty of money and resources that go into school fees, technology, buildings and teachers. This saves millions of dollars that could have been wasted on segregating genders, and instead using the leftover money on improved educational resources. This contradicts the point that 'single-sex schools provide better education'. If co-ed schools can afford better quality resources for more children, then there's only one clear winner. 

Superstitions built up over the years can have fatal effects on the developing generation. It is imperative that in such a complex society we chip away at these superstitions and let all genders grow in harmony, and this can only be done by influencing our children the right way. Transgender kids are becoming increasingly common within modern schools. Imagine transitioning to one gender while you're only in a single-sex school-how isolating is that? Being in a co-ed school helps transgender kids feel more welcomed, and they won't feel the need to 'fit in' while there's such a diverse range of kids. This goes for anyone. You will always find your crowd in a varied community, but it's likely you'll suffer if you're fit into a mould.

We need to think past the idea that spending your whole life with only one gender is good for our children, especially when it's unavoidable that someday they will have to sympathise or interact with the opposite gender. This starts with co-ed schools. Save your wallets, save our future, and save precious time while you still can. Co-education is for the better, not for the worse.

creative-lost in your own world

 tall girl wishes to not be tall, ends up shrinking  and is 'lost', magical full body mirror

30MIN

Nia stared down at the full body mirror.

"The only one I thought you could see your whole giraffe body in," her sister sniggered, nose ring wavering in the air as she cackled at her. Nia remained speechless, eyeing her lanky body in the mirror.

"Where did you even find this?"

"Garage sale of that weird old lady down the road. Free of charge." 

Nia felt a caustic remark bubble up in her throat, but her sister's violet bush of hair had already floated out the door. Imagine being ten years younger than someone like her yet still a head taller. Nia sighed, stooping down to pick up her schoolbag. "Don't bump your head on the doorway again!" Her sister called out from her pickup truck, right as a loud thud reverberated throughout the hallway. Nia emerged bashfully, rubbing her head.

"Ow."

Nia scrambled down the steps of the school building, tears prickling her eyes. The taunts of the other students still ringing in her ears, she slammed the car door and averted her gaze from her sister. Her sister raised a pierced eyebrow.

"Don't." Nia snapped. The air was stuffy with an uncomfortable noiselessness, as Nia clutched her phone tightly. It always had to be her. She was always the victim of the jokes, the bullies, simply because of her height. After all, she could never escape them if her head always stuck out from the sea of high school students. Couldn't a boy have a growth spurt and not be this miserable in modern society?

Nia shakily slammed the door, footsteps thundering as she rushed upstairs. Her sister silently trailed in her own room, used to this behaviour. Nia flung herself on the bed. The ancient furniture creaked, threatening to collapse under her lofty stature. Her screams muffled in the sheets she rocked from side to side, making meagre attempts to muffle the sobs. She was sick of it. Nia shot up, glowering at her reflection in the mirror. She had had enough of being in this body. She wanted it to end. Nia's eyes fluttered shut, and in that moment all she could think of was the wish to be smaller.

Her sister in the other room, punk music blasting through her headphones, silently turned it off. The house was now silent, thank god, save for the gentle cooing of an owl and whistling wind rattling the panes outside. Finally, the house had settled into a comfotable quiescence. Just how late was it? How long had Nia been throwing her tantrum? The sister shrugged off her concerns, eyeliner dragging across her face as she sleepily rubbed her eye. She would check on her tomorrow morning. 

Nia's mouth gaped into a monstrous yawn as she rose from the mattress. However, before she even had time to process her surroundings her head gently brushed against a soft fabric. It was as if her blanket had completely swallowed her. Heart palpitating in her chest, she scrambled out the end. Her pillow had ballooned to the side of a rugby field, the girl almost sinking in the middle. A shriek escaped her lips. However, it sounded shrill and squeaky, more like a mouse than a scrawny 16 year old girl. She slapped her hands over her mouth, stumbling back in shock. Her room had swelled in size, the full body mirror now towering over her tiny figure. Nia then glanced down at the floor, which seemed a mile away now. Never had she thought that getting out of her bed would ever be a challenge, but perhaps that was the case today. Limbs tensing, her mind jumbled with plans and ideas to make her way down. 

She would find out how this had happened later. For now, she was going to be lost in her own world.

persuasive-students should get adequate sleep

 better brainwork, attitude, mindset, focus

more opportunity to learn, pathway to success

health problems, burden

30MIN

As the stresses of school burden our children more and more, it's become a recurring joke that a lot of students don't get adequate sleep. However, it's miserable that this has to even be a joke-everyone deserves the right to sleep enough, especially students. Not only are they the ones who need enough brainpower and focus, but their future careers and health is in jeopardy if they don't get enough rest. If adequate sleep is so important to medical professionals, why aren't we allowing developing children to maintain good health? It is imperative we start caring for their children before worrying about that assignment due tomorrow-otherwise everyone's future is in grave danger.

A student who sleeps enough is a successful student. Without eyebags and tired brains burdening them, students will be more willing to learn and actually absorb information in class. With this sort of mindset a good future is secure. Attentive, enthusiastic students can now focus on information that they can use for future jobs they want. Wasting precious learning time tired will only mean the worse for your child's education. So give them the rest they deserve, before it's too late.

A good future can never be achieved if health problems diminish your chances. Not enough sleep results in slowed energy, an irritable mood and even obesity according to scientific research. These put a burden on doting parents to reverse these impacts, and it also affects the student's ability to focus on their schoolwork instead of their health problems.  Small factors such as lack of sleep slowly chip away at life expectancy. In the end, it may even exacerbate into a life threatening problem if not addressed properly. If you're not taking care of your child's health properly, you aren't responsible enough to raise them.

Finally, a developing student's mindset is nourished by good sleep. Everyone wants their brain to function properly, to have good attitude and focus. These attributes are only improved by good sleep. A sluggish brain can't learn anything in the classroom, and will only be something that peers would want to avoid. The more present a student is, the more they can make use of their education. So why deprive a student of sleep when it is so essential for their mindset? 

The new generation needs to realise that an adequate amount of sleep is necessary for their futures, health and learning capability. The amount of danger that damaging their health risks is far too great to let them frolic about for hours on end. We need our growing children to be functioning at their best for the better of our society. You can take proper responsibility for your children, or you can ruin their own lives for them. Which do you chose?

creative-the janitor

horror-mysterious janitor who says nothing, students go missing, mc ends up stuck with him (new boy)

30MIN

"Have a fun day at your new school!" Mum's voice rang out from behind the door. James mumbled back his farewell as he skidded over to the bus, sneakers scraping on the pavement dolefully.

He looked over at all his new classmates as he entered. These people must have known each other since they were in diapers. How lucky that a reticent, feeble boy like him would end up surrounded by already determined friend groups. The hubbub of the bus rattled off the walls, girls gabbing to one another and the boys playing some sick game on another new boy. James anxiously averted his gaze, slipping into the furthest seat to avoid confrontation. He was not getting in trouble on his first day.

So much for trying to fit in. His convivial, portly middle aged teacher Ms Pentrose had already demanded he introduce himself to the class even before commencing classtime. James felt something bubble up in his throat as he felt twenty pairs of eyes drill into him. He spluttered out a greeting, but it felt as if even the ticking of the clock drowned him out. His cheeks burned in ignominy as he slipped back into his seat. Staring into his shoes , James failed to notice a certain azure pair of eyeballs glaring at him from behind in a sinister glee. Sam Green chuckled under his breath, already fantasising about all the torment he could put this new kid through. 

The lunchtime bell rang. Kids streamed out from the classrooms, jostling into each other as they fought to get into the lunch line. James, who had been shoved around mercilessly, somehow still managed to be one of the first to get his lunch. The trail of starving students glowered at his lunch tray with envy. As James ambled towards a lunch table, the clamour of kids oddly died down. The next immediate sensation he felt was someone hooking their foot around his, flipping him and his tray over. James didn't even have time to scream before a bowl of sloppy, creamy macaroni smashed into his face. Rolling over shakily, his stained face reddened as his eyes met Sam Green-some boy in his class who had been throwing balls of paper towards the girls. Laughter erupted around him, but it died down just as quickly as it had bubbled up. The school janitor arrived. No wonder Sam's disposition had completely reversed as he recoiled in fear. The janitor more resembled a beast than a man. Even in his work uniform, his beady black eyes shot daggers at Sam as he scraped peas of the floor. James' heart clenched in terror as the janitors' calloused, muscular hands clenched at the broom. 

"Don't do that again, boy." A gruff voice emitted from his bush of a beard. 

Sam looked back and forth from his victim to the murderous janitor. He was not going to apologise. He pompously shut his mouth, and scampered away, horded by his croons. 

James observed the scene with wonder, internally thanking his hairy saviour. 

The surrounding students let out a small collective gasp as a bulky hand was offered in James' direction. The boy flinched but timidly took it. As he stood up the janitor cleared his breath awkwardly, looking down at the gaunt student before him. 

"If he causes any more trouble, tell me, okay?" the janitor growled. James nodded feverishly. "Anyways, I have ways of dealing with kids like him." 

He shuffled away, cleaning equipment rattling in his trolley. James smeared a piece of macaroni off his cheek. However, his eyes caught sight of  something quite unusual-a trail of little blood drops that had fallen from the janitor's pants.

persuasive-more work means better results

 practice focus, important skills

more opportunity to expand learning

learn from mistakes

20MIN

"Practice makes perfect." The one phrase uttered by teachers or adults alike worldwide. But there's a reason that repetition of learning content is so encouraged-it's actually effective! Not only can you go over your content before you forget it, but you're practicing other important mental skills and there's always opportunity to learn more or from your mistakes. So next time someone says so, take the initiative to pause and really follow their advice-you'll never know where it might take you.

Thanks to repeated revision you can develop mental skills essential for any dream job or any life situation. Committing yourself to practicing something, criticising your work and learning to really apply yourself to it teaches focus, humility, independence and concentration. Whether you're in a test, job interview or simply cooking tonight's dinner you need these skills for sure success. If you don't do so, you're unconsciously practicing the art of procrastination, laziness and a lack of problem solving skills. It may be one little thing-but one day you'll deeply regret not having better self-discipline.

Another common regret is having missed the opportunity to extend on your knowledge. Practicing something means you're willing to go find new content to keep revising. You are passionate about the subject. This way you can find even more helpful or interesting content, and improve even more. Procrastinating does nothing but prove as a temporary distraction. It doesn't fix anything, it doesn't improve anything. It rather worsens your ability as you don't train your brain or body. Practice time is a chance for you to find something new-and that's the magic of dedication.

Last but not least, you can also learn from your mistakes. The more you practice, the more you can pick up on your weaknesses. The more you practice on strengthening those, the more you improve. It's unlikely you'll make a mistake again once you practice enough to smoothen out those wrinkles. Look at all the skilled mathematicians, science geniuses, the talented music artists-they would have had to make millions of mistakes to realise their faults, and practice even more to get them where they are now. No one does something once and is immediately an expert. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how many mistakes you make but how dedicated you are to fixing them.

So, does practice really make perfect? One cannot determine what perfect is, so the more preferable saying would be 'practice makes progress'. It always does. As you look on the past, look for more opportunities and grow as a learner, practice is the key to success and always has been. And when you achieve your goal, you can reflect on all that hard work and say, 'It's all thanks to my practice that I'm here now.'

creative-the sound of connection

 30MIN

All around, I could hear the tingling of bells. The sound taunted me wherever I went. Every place I went, no matter what situation I was in, the faded jingling in the background was ready to haunt me as it had done my whole life.

So there was no doubt that school was the abject wretched setting for me-that was were most friendships were made. All the ringing blaring in my ears as people befriended each other. Every handshake, shared glance or greeting would spark the incessant ringing.

And yet I had never experienced it myself.

How contradictory, huh? Someone who is able to tell when two people feel a connection can't even make one herself. My words stumbled over each other. My face burned whenever I tried to splutter out a word. I was practically redolent of 'unapproachable'-it almost emanated throughout the air like an aura, I could tell.

Friendships were harder than I thought.

Slumped in another banal English class, my gaze wandered over to the window. Just my luck that time slowed down in just the most torturous of places. The teacher abruptly rapped on the desk, jerking several others awake. I jolted up in my seat, eyes immediately darting to the front.

"Class, welcome our new student Vanessa!" Great. Another new student. Another person who would judge me. My peripherals already had caught sight of the popular girls tittering to each other, devising a new plan to befriend the girl. I scoffed as she floated past, pale hair drifting through the air in slow motion. Vanessa lifted her head bashfully, and waved a sanguine greeting to the class as she ensonced herself on the seat adjacent to me. An admiring sigh poured out from the crowd. Her pearly symmetrical beam sent sunrays bouncing off the walls. What an angel, huh?

I flinched as something hit my head, the muffled warbling of the teacher coming back into focus. Shaking off my sleepiness, I turned my head to see a herd of popular girls cackling in their circle. It was always them, as expected. I bit back my belligerent tone and averted my gaze from what was likely an observing Vanessa. No matter how many times I had experienced this, it still incited ignominy ever single time. Especially if the new class princess was sitting beside you.

A gentle ahem broke through the popular group's taunts. My heart clenched in terror as Vanessa faced the ringleader of the bullies. I internally praised her temerity, but her valour would only land her in hot water from now on. 

"Could you stop annoying Jane, please?" Even her voice was euphonious, the words softly escaping her lips instead of the brash tone other popular girls had adopted. My breath hitched. Several clammy fingers crossed underneath my desk. I think even a few of my toes crossed for good luck, praying for the health of this girl who had opposed the popular crowd so flagrantly.

Several eyebrows raised in response to this unexpected answer. "Excuse me? Wasn't it funny?"

Vanessa gently shook her head, maintaining her complacent disposition. "It's not funny if another person is victim. I'd rather befriend someone harmless than others who cause harm." 

The ringleader of the group pursed her lips. A sour expression settled on her face, as she shot daggers in my direction. "Very well then," she snapped. 

Vanessa seemed unfazed. She turned back to me, a gentle closed-mouth smile gracing her face. "I mean it, okay?" She whispered under her breath. My eyes widened, lips slightly parting in shock. "I hate girls like those. And I really would like to become your friend." 

It was only now that I realised I had remained speechless throughout the whole encounter. Spluttering out words of gratitude, I attempted to shoot her a friendly smile. I turned back to my work and attempted to focus, but for the rest of the lesson my efforts proved fruitless. 

The ringing blaring in my ears had never been so loud.

Persuasive-no online learning environment

 social interaction, laughter

personality development, opportunities to interact

independence, skills for in the future

30MIN

Technology sure has taken a strong grip on our developing generation, being implemented into different areas of daily life for added efficiency. However, there are some aspects that should just be left alone-and learning in-person is one thing that would definitely be ruined if we try to 'upgrade' it. Young children should not sacrifice hours that could be spent on proper education and socialising on staring at a laptop screen instead. How are they going to manage in the real world if all they've ever known is the internet? At this point we'd be turning our own offspring into screen-dependent robots with no social skills. For future society, education and simply the own good of your child, you need to evaluate what is really necessary for their learning.

Learning online confines a child to their own screen-there are no opportunities for social interaction and a friendly environment. Students can't encounter circumstances that develop friendships-they'd have to go to the extra effort of reaching out to someone online, where it is not only more daunting but also less worth it. It even takes extra effort to have fun as a class. You would have to turn your microphone on every single time you wanted to laugh! This also makes learning more engaging if you can have fun with others. Classrooms should be filled with laughter and interaction, not the clicking of keyboards.

Personality development is imperative in a growing child. The only way we can hope for a child with good qualities and morals is if they can learn in person and take inspiration from peers and teachers, even without trying! There are opportunities for them to take initiative or interact with other people of a similar age. You can practice time-management and thinking on the spot in a social learning environment, but if you can rely on a computer there's no chance you can utilise those skills in the future. Practice is key, and whatever you practice makes an impact. Practicing staring at a screen does nothing.

Other skills practiced in a social learning environment are essential for the future. Independence is a key quality that can only be developed if the child can't rely on a device or parent. Management is also developed as the student has more things to take care of and doesn't have everything compacted in a screen. Jobs in the future, no matter what they are, all require traits like these for success. The earlier you practice these qualities the more prepared you are.  It is imperative that we don't send the future generations on a downhill slope before their life has even properly begun. 

Learning in person can only build better concentration, a more independent and welcoming personality. Our precious children should be living proper lives, not having a good portion of precious time spent on IPads. Let them learn from each other. Let them laugh together. And most of all, let them be their own person.

narrative-long lost sibling

child genius at a competition, turns out they draw with someone of never-before-seen skills-they look the exact same

30MIN

"Rochester!" The name blared, ricocheting off the boundaries of the testing hall. The aforementioned girl winced, glasses slipping down her nose as she shot up awkwardly. Her gaunt figure stood out flagrantly from the sea of students. 

Any person could see the lack of temerity in her face. The faint plod-plod of footsteps filled the thick silence. Sheer terror was plastered on her face; several of the parents mumbled their condolences at the unpromising contestant.

However, the audience of the national maths competition were absolutely unprepared at what was to come. The first question answered was dismissed as a 'lucky guess'. No wonder. Lily Rochester's face only exacerbated in its spotty trepidation the more questions were answered. With every squeal of the microphone, rustle of the adjudication papers and gasp from the audience, the throng of eager contestants began to delineate and yet Miss Rochester stubbornly remained a survivor. A few other caustic contenstants' faces burned in ignominy. Perhaps the fumbling, shaken girl was beyond what was on the surface.

As the numbers of competitors dwindled drastically, the audience began to pick obvious favourites. One auspicious contestant was the charming Lana. Doting supporters sighed as she fluttered upstage, locks swaying over her shoulders. A wave of 'awws' would emanate from the crowd as she beamed at the audience after chirping another correct answer. Yes, Lana Rochester was indeed a promising young lady. 

The gaggle of girls and boys further declined, groans and cheers emitting from enthusiastic supporters the more questions were answered. Even the judges were becoming more and more invested-leaning forwards in their seats as these mere children answered the hardest of questions. Even parents blurted out words of support or disbelief in their shock. Tension was rising.

And at last, Lana Rochester was ensconced on the finalist chair. Even with the tense atmosphere her eyes twinkled from miles away, a sweet simper gracing her face.

"I love you Lana!" A voice called out from afar. Cheeks blooming, Lana's girlish giggle bounced off the walls.

An incredulous Lily was perched on the other chair, gawking at the other competitor much like how a mouse stares at a lion. She quickly averted her eyes as soon as Lana's gaze met hers.

The audience stared at the two apt girls. There was quite a familiarity between them-even if there was a great disparity in the way they acted. However, they had also been the only ones able to manage questions that stumped even the judges. No other person on the Earth had reached their capability. 

"The answer is-"

"I think it would be-"

The judges huddled together, murmuring. A female adjudicator coughed, attempting to smother her disbelief. "This is the first draw ever. Congratulations!"

A stunned silence pierced the air, parents and children alike exchanging wide-eyed glances.

"Thank you." The girls chorused accidentally. And at that moment they turned to each other, really studying their co-winner. The same tone of voice. The same intelligence. The same bush of auburn hair. 

The coincidental last names.

Perhaps they were more alike than anyone had thought.

persuasive-self driving vehicles are bad

 -less independence, skill

-less joy of driving

-chance of malfunction/interference

30MIN

Self driving vehicles are an invention people in the past could have only dreamed of-however as AI develops it has gradually become a reality for our generation. Problem is, a car that thinks for itself in't all as it's reputed to be. It'll only further exacerbate our dependence on technology and we'll lose connection with the joy of driving and the skills developed when driving. Leaving it all for the technology to figure it out also isn't the best solution. In fact, it increases chance of malfunction and introduces even more life risking problems to society! How come a 'technological solution' can provide even more problems for future generations?

A prevalent problem that self driving cars pose is the loss of independence and skill. When humans don't frequently practice important skills such as memory, problem solving and spatial awareness and let AI do it all for them those neural pathways diminish as they aren't in use as often. There's a reason why the taxi drivers of today know towns and streets from front to back-after driving for so long. Even scientific research shows that the area of their brain associated with memory is significantly larger than average. If we let ourselves become too lazy to even drive, then the only road society is traveling leads downhill from here on.

Not only are important abilities in practice when doing manual driving, but haven't you noticed that a simple car ride can bring such joy? A sense of achievement is only attained through having to work to get it-so going through the extra effort feels worth it. A majority of people also enjoy driving. No wonder activities such as Formula 1 racing are so popular. Taking away such a joy-inducing activity will ruin modern technology for those who actually enjoy putting in the effort. When making a change, you need to consider the needs of everyone otherwise the change is ineffective.

Self driving vehicles are also inefficient if they result in even more problems. Consider the fact that a programmed machine, not a human with problem solving skills and versatile thinking skills is powering this car. This means in case of a malfunction (which is also more likely than a manual car as the system is more complex), not only will it be harder and more expensive to fix but it wouldn't have happened if a human were driving it. Interference is also a problem-someone  could purposely interfere with the car's system and cause an accident. Not only is this a danger for both pedestrians and passengers, but paying for damages will be tediously expensive due to the swanky setup. Do you value the latest technology more than human lives?

As the modern world comes up with more solutions to every day problems by the minute, it's a urgent note that we must evaluate these solutions more carefully instead of happily adopting them into society-is this problem really helpful? Are there more cons than pros? Will we become too dependent on it? Will we lose the joy of doing things ourselves? It is imperative we think about new decisions with caution. After all, it could result in the demise of future generations to come.

creative-favourite sport

 "You'll love it, trust me." 

Dad's shark-like grin wavered above my head. I tilted my chin up questioningly, crumbs of buttered toast scattering my lap. 

"No."

"Yes. You're going today." I internally groaned, cursing his complacent disposition. "Bring my old baseball glove!" The man chirped as he slipped outside, muffled keys jangling in the hall. 

Ensconced on the car seat, I ignored any piteous drivers who managed to be within reach of my scowl. The weather, unluckily, was as sanguine as my dad's temperament. Sunbeams stretched out over the horizon, casting a convivial glow on my scrunched face.

"Perfect weather for some baseball, huh?" My dad's voice rang out from the front seat. I tossed my head sulkily. Coughing awkwardly, he averted his attention to the baseball field our car approached. The car felt stuffy, my current loathing of him seeming to emanate from the back seat.

The coach's voice warbled on, fading into the background. My mouth dried as I zoned into the baseball bats, dread clawing up my spine. It felt as if I were underwater, my peripherals blurring.

I stood in the middle of the field, baseball bat gripped in both hands. My humid helmet was slicked with sweat. The palpitating sensation in my chest fluttered. The air froze, seeping into my skin. The opposing team's baller, a sick simper plastered on his face, tossed the ball in his hands tauntingly. My baseball bat shivered in my hold, threatening to slip. I swallowed thickly.

The ball swooshed as his arm swung forcefully. It sailed up in the air. Whistling, it shot towards me like a bullet headed towards my doom. 

"You can do it!" My dad's voice called from afar. As soon as the sound penetrated my ears, all my other senses clicked into focus. The ball slowed, down, almost gliding towards my bat. Gritting my teeth, I smashed the bat against the ball. I almost didn't even feel the collision-it felt as if a feather had merely brushed against it.  The ball drifted straight up-yells of amazement filling the air as it travelled over the sky. Relief sank into my shoulders. My dad's exhilarated whoops drowned out the surrounding hubbub. I felt two warm arms encircle me tightly, lifting me slightly off the grass as I spun around. 

Hm. Maybe baseball wasn't that bad after all.

persuasive-PE courses should be optional

 -everyone excels in different things, consider the needs

-pe is not essential for a good job

-sport should be fun and students should be given choices if they want to enjoy it

30MIN

A majority of students will groan when hearing 'compulsory PE course'. No wonder those words send shivers down their spines-the fact that there is no option makes it worse. PE is not as necessary as academic subjects are in the real world. Students who excel in other subjects would never have a need for compulsory sport. But if they really wanted to, students could still have the choice to join in if it was optional! That's only what makes it fun-not demanding every student must do such a physically grueling task.

Everyone excels in different areas. You could have a science genius with major potential, yet you're currently wasting precious time that they would rather study on their preferred subject and instead making them jump into a sandpit. Of course some students won't want to run 2 kilometres-wouldn't it be better for their self esteem if they weren't losing in a race and instead doing something worth their time? Education should be made to tailor the needs of each student, not try and fit everyone into a certain mould.

Consequently, PE is not necessary for a good job. So many jobs, from accounting to even being a cashier require decent math or english skills. The more skilled you are in them, the more successful you can be. However a skilled athlete can only have a proper career until their late 20s at the most, to maintain good health. If you only invest time in sports, what is there left for you to do once your body wears out? Modern society requires smart, innovative people more than someone who can throw a ball far. Developing the young generation into an intelligent, capable community is far more important than forcing them to waste time on something most of them don't even want. 

And of course you wouldn't want to do something if it was mandatory. If you could have an option and you chose to do sport, it would be because you actually enjoyed it. Making sport courses optional still allows passionate athletes to pursue the path they want-without forcing any unwilling students to jump on the bandwagon. It still provides opportunity for unexperienced children to try it out. If they don't like it, they don't have to continue! Giving the young generation the power to express what they want or don't want will give them confidence, good decision making skills and a sense of freedom. 

Human society is so sophisticated, yet after all this time we still don't let others have options when they can. We don't consider the diversity of interests. We don't evaluate what is truly important. You might say 'it's only a sports course', but to a young person it has lasting effects if they feel trapped in others' expectations of them. It is imperative we nurture the developing generation with caution, otherwise society will only go downhill from here.

creative-escapism

 escapism

depressed teen, insolent, ignorant, wants to escape, finds video game on desk, sucked in, this sounds like jumanji, wakes up in another body (game)

30MIN

Oh, Ryan. He had really gone and done it again.

The gaunt teen ambled up to the door, his feet trudging reluctantly. He flung it open, ignoring the sanguine greeting his younger sister chirped.

"Hello, dear!" His mother said, averting her attention from the dirty dishes at hand. Ryan irritably sighed in response. The woman's countenance morphed into one of concern, worry sinking into her premature wrinkles. "Ryan, I got a call from school again. Why are you still skipping classes?"

Ryan whipped around, his voracious temper wavering. His schoolbag slammed into the floor. His sister, owl-eyed, suddenly divulged in her colouring with great interest. Thick silence penetrated the air. 

Ryan's expression was one mingled of loathing and hatred. "Mind your own business, old woman!" he snapped. Storming upstairs, the running dishwater reluctantly turned off as the two women in the family exchanged fearful glances.

The belligerent Ryan was almost drawn to his gaming chair, immediately slamming his headphones onto his ears. He seethed with rage as he rummaged through the clutter of video games. The only source of solace in a world where school was only full of bullies and torment, and home was full of annoyances. It felt as if everyone could never see through his eyes-if only there was a way.

An unfamiliar disc dissipated his vehemence, instead replacing it with confusion. He knew all his games from back to front-so where had this CD come from, already tabescent at the bottom of the cupboard?

The lid flipped open. Ryan, in a spell, slipped the disc in and gaped as the laptop swallowed it up. A whirring sound promptly began. 

Ryan could almost feel his bones crawl in instant regret as a collection of shapes and squiggles mingled together on the screen. The effulgent surface glowed onto his spotty face. He ogled at the screen. The start button glared at him. Fumbling for the mouse, his fingers shook as the clicker slid towards the button.

A flash. A bang. But no scream-it had happened all too promptly for one to even be audible. Ryan bleakly opened his eyes, scrubbing at them in exasperation. He was not in his room, seated in the plush gaming chair. Somehow he was... in the kitchen? His hands felt leathery and weathered, redolent of detergent. The sink full of dishes gleamed before him.

"Mum?" A voice murmured adjacent to him. Ryan's head snapped around, questioningly looking at his sister. Where was his mother? Why was his sister talking to him?

"Mum, are you okay?"

persuasive-mobile phones banned at school

30MIN

harmful effects phones, no responsibility, laziness, addiction

no need during school hours-distraction, cyberbullying, sneaking

other ways

Mobile phones are slowly but surely taking a strong hold on the next generation. Even kindergartners have been spotted with phones-that's how common and generally accepted it's become in modern society. This is why we must put a stop to it before it's too late. Students that are addicted to their phones are only doomed to grow up surrounded by cyberbullying, the harmful effects of the internet and gain traits such as sneakiness and irresponsibility. Our precious, naive students cannot be allowed to use their phones during a time when they're meant to be getting the best use out of their education. 

Phones are convenient for a few things, but it's not a requirement for a mere school-age child. After all, they do more bad than good. The introduction of technology has even brought in a new form of bullying. No student is safe from addiction, no matter how much they are monitored. And having a phone to do everything, from correct your own spelling to wake you up in the morning diminishes the sense of responsibility in a growing child. These devices are poisoning our precious offspring. If we don't act soon, our future society will be filled with lazy, irresponsible people who are too addicted to technology to even function properly. Do you want to ruin your own child's future?

Along with being incredibly dangerous, phones are not a necessity during school hours. A few calls to arrange pick-up after school is likely the most they'll need. Otherwise, why would they be using it during a time that requires their full attention? If you are investing money and resources into sending your children to school, it's only fair that they're getting the best use out of that time. This does not mean letting them use a phone freely and letting them use or see whatever they want online. In a time of learning, phones are useless.

Of course, the average student who uses a phone will protest against this, claiming how useful and convenient they are. But have you noticed how everything a phone can do can still be achieved without it? It's not hard to buy a calendar or alarm. It takes zero effort to ask the receptionist at your school to use the phone. And of course, contacting anyone can be done through email or another form of online message-we cannot always depend on text. Not only is this cheaper than a phone worth hundreds of hard-earned dollars, but responsibility and organisation is developed. Along with teaching a child nothing, phones really aren't an essential if they can be replaced by other methods of contact.

It's important we help students of the future not develop addictive, dangerous habits acquired through having the freedom to use phones in class. These mentally destructive, poisonous devices can wreck a child's future and affect their developing personality. The less we let them roam around with these unnecessary devices the better. After all, a caring parent would do what's truly best for their child, wouldn't they?

creative-what they don't see

unexplained things being moved, returned, mc is blamed often but it's them who has magic powers

30MIN

Have you ever lost something and miraculously find it in the most obvious of places? Most people would dismiss it as coincidence, or someone returned it for them.

Most vacuous people (cough, cough, those at my school) are likely to blame it on the guiltiest person available. Even with no evidence.

And yes, I'm often that person.

After all, this all just happened the other day.

As I ambled up the bus steps, shuffling down the narrow walkway, my eyes swept over the cluster of school students. It didn't take much long to locate my best friend's wiry bush of hair peering over the last seat. 

"Hey, Emily," I  murmured, slipping into the seat adjacent to her. She acknowledged me dismissively, indulging in a blueberry muffin with gustatory glee.

As the bus picked up its pace, the quiescence between us grew awkward. Snippets of others' conversations floated up to my ears, particularly the exchange between the two convivial girls in front.

Oh no. Sally, the most popular girl in our grade.

"...I can't believe I've lost it! I'm going to kill whoever stole my phone." Her snarky tone drowning out the hubbub of our peers. "I bet it's that Annie. She's always around when something goes missing. She always knows where things are."

My blood froze, the sound of my name piercing my skin. Did she know something? 

The croon beside her emitted a harsh shush, their painted nails gesturing in my direction. 

"I don't care, let her eavesdrop all she wants." Sally's icy blue eyes glowered at me over her seat. "Maybe she'll realise what it's like to mess with me." 

I stiffened in the scratchy bus seat, dread clogging up my throat.

I practically flew off the bus, sneakers slamming against the foot path as I eagerly scrambled off. Ignoring Emily's breathless cries, I sprinted into the school. As I skidded into the hall an overwhelming wave of realisation slapped into my face. The croon next to Sally on the bus's back pocket seemed to glare at me from the other side of the hall. The phone stuffed inside glowed even in the dim hallway lights. 

I blocked out the rest of my senses as I zoned out into the phone. The titters of my schoolmates promptly muffled, my peripherals becoming blurry as the surrounding commotion slowed down. It felt as if I was reaching into the pocket and grabbing it out myself. My pupils strained as the phone wiggled out of the pocket. It drifted over into Sally's bedazzled purse, slipping inside. Sally hadn't noticed a thing, her sluggish form still turned from me. 

The underwater feeling vanished. My senses became luculent once more, life returning to normal as my somnolent trance dissipated. The croon next to Sally tapped her shoulder. Her blond waves fanned out as she whipped her head around, dragging a finger across her throat at me. I shrank into my jacket as eyes burned at me from all around, murmurs of 'she's stolen something again' travelling down the hall. 

Oh, what they don't see.

persuasive-dieting makes people fat

-makes people crave unhealthy food more 

-metabolism

-diets are ineffective nutritionally

Diet culture has skyrocketed in popularity as society begins to value healthy lifestyles more than ever. However, are diets really working? Or are avid dieters just going down a dead end? Turns out diets can even result in more gained weight. Imagine depriving yourself of the food you want and genuinely need, and instead slowing down your metabolism and ruining your mental health. It can and never will be worth it-so listen to your body, instead of money-hungry businessmen.

Diets have never made a person truly happy. After all, wouldn't freedom with food mean eating whatever you want? Those who eat without restriction have genuinely more balanced diets as they know they can eat foods they enjoy whenever they want. Compare them to someone on a diet-who tires of eating salad all day, and has built up strong cravings for 'forbidden foods', or foods diet culture considers unhealthy. This would either result in eventually losing control and binge eating fast food to break out of the diet barrier, or an eternally ruined relationship with food and yourself, becoming a serious mental health problem. Causing yourself so much emotional trauma for something that wouldn't even work is a lost cause.

Metabolism is also a factor-depriving yourself of food slows it down because the body no longer needs to digest larger amounts. So even though you went through all the effort to eat less, you're still more likely to gain weight than someone who eats unrestrictively. This is why so many people who 'lose weight' in false advertising quickly gain it back after. If you disrupt the routine your digestive system has become accustomed to after all these years, the obvious response will be that it won't function as well. Simple as that.

Science also discredits diets, and with good reason. If our ancestors cut out essential food groups just for a good body, we wouldn't even exist today! They valued nutrition because slimming diets weren't a thing yet, and it's thanks to them that we now have healthy, strong bodies. So don't ruin good health just for an ideal body. At the end of the day what matters is that you're alive, not the amount of carbs you cut out or pills you take.

If diets were effective, there'd only be one! We can't let these useless numbers and labels destroy our lives, especially when there is so much more to life than food restriction and a slim body. Dieting has not made us progress as a society simply because it doesn't work. It's more likely to have the opposite effect! You're better off eating the way we were born to eat-whatever you want, whenever you want.

creative-a story based on 3 objects

 mirror, key, handkerchief

30MIN

Lucille gaped at the items her grandmother had given her in disbelief.

"Thanks... for the birthday presents..." she chirped sarcastically, caustic tone thick. Her grandmother warmly smiled. Clearly someone hadn't gotten the message.

"No prob, dear," She hummed, clasping her hands together. "After all, a mature thirteen year old like you deserves such precious presents!"

Lucille struggled to maintain her phlegmatic disposition.

Even long after her grandmother's departure, Lucille still strained to think of why a mere mirror, key and handkerchief would be so significant in a world where a gift card would do just fine. Ensconced on her new silk bed, she scrutinised the weathered items. After all, the rain pounded on the windows and a frightful draught howled down the chimney-she would need at least something to do. 

The mirror gleamed. Although rusty and weatherbeaten, it appeared peculiarly resplendent in the dimness. How odd. The wails of the morose climate outside was the only sound filling the house, her parents had gone out partying. 

She sniffed it-and then quickly recoiled, despising the metallic, blood-like scent that fouled her nostrils. 'Needs a bit of polishing,' she thought bitterly.

Lucille clasped the handkerchief from her bedside table. The bundle of rags would have to be of some use. She scrubbed it into her reflection. Sluggishly, the smears on the glass began to fade as another view came into sight.

It did not end up being her reflection. 

Lucille goggled at it, almost inclined to pinch herself. Utterly skeptical, she scrubbed a bit more. 

A keyhole appeared. Lucille sprang up from her curled position, her roused alertness directing her to the key that she had tossed aside. No, it wouldn't work-that possibility was too ridiculous.

Or was it?

Lucille scrambled towards the key, fumbling with it as she inserted it-yes, that's right- into the mirror. The satisfying click it made as it miraculously entered the hole only further bewildered the girl. Her heart thudded in her chest as she shakily turned the key. A creaking sound emitted from the mirror. 

It was as if something was entangled in her chest, ready to burst out as she anticipated what would happen next. But the next few moments were only met with an eerie quiescence. Lucille sighed, every tensed muscle in her body immediately relaxing. 

Too soon-the mirror's surface had discreetly vanished, growing more and more effulgent in the darkness. Lucille, at a loss for words, stood stock-still as she helplessly watched the light exacerbate and expand, filling the room. A flash-and then nothing else.

"Lucille?" A voice called, footsteps increasing in volume as they approached the door. "Lucille, we're home!" The door swung open. Two people made their entrance, drenched and panting. 

They were met with the sight of an empty room, save for the three small objects that lay scattered on the bed.

persuasive-more work experience at a younger age

-good character, problem solving

-hardships of life

-helps them get a job 

30MIN

Jobs are essential to success in life. Without them we wouldn't be able to fend for ourselves-this is why the younger someone starts off, the better off they're sure to be. If we let the capable, developing young generation of today get thrust into the adult world too late, it would be detrimental for our future society. Our children need to learn good character, how to navigate the hardships of life and be experienced in order to be prosperous. And what better way to tackle all this than with early work experience?

Would you believe that work experience at a younger age helps develop crucial personality traits? That's right, things such as commitment, patience, problem solving and innovation are taught when a young person starts working early. Those who laze about until they absolutely need a job don't have as much opportunity to practice these qualities and implement them into their developing personalities. Bad news then-it's likely they'll have to struggle with weaknesses in these areas for the rest of their lives. Try letting your child experience squeezing work time into normal life or knowing how to navigate a schedule and it'll be much easier than when they face the problem again. 

These qualities also help the younger generation prepare for the hardships of life. Sooner or later we have to face them, no matter how sheltered we are. If your child learns to manage money and their responsibilities now, they won't have to face it the hard way when they become full-grown adults. Failures and obstacles such as conflicts with colleagues or managing time are inevitable in every job. Even outside of work different stressors occur, maybe financial problems or even planning dinner! But this won't be an issue for someone who has the traits to deal with them.

Not only are they prepared for the bumpier roads, but work experience opens up new pathways, too. If you were an employer, wouldn't you hire the experienced, capable interviewee instead of a naive amateur? Many jobs also require the same skills-for example, jobs that deal with customers-so if someone knows the ropes, it's much more likely they'll do a better job than someone who doesn't know what they're doing. If someone has had a reputation at their old jobs for being a good colleague and skilled employee, it helps employers make the best choices for their business. 

Knowing what's truly best for our generation could either mean life or death for human society. It's essential we raise adept, experienced kids with good qualities so these traits can be passed on, along with improving all the progress past generations have made so far. So once your child is of age, it's important they start working their way up, from part time to dream job. Will you just wait it out, until the consequences show themselves? Or will you change your child's future for the better?