01. Advertising:
positives, negatives
 
02. Animal Rights:
testing on animals, vegetarianism, zoos
 
03. Cities:
urbanization, problems of city life
 
04. Crime:
police, punishments/prisons, rehabilitation, capital punishment
 
05. Education:
studying abroad, technology in education, education in developing countries, higher education, home-schooling, bad behavior, corporal punishment, single sex education, streaming (grouping children according to ability)
 
06. Environment:
global warming, impact of humans on the environment, solutions to environment problems, waste/rubbish, litter, recycling, nuclear power
 
 
 
07. Family:
family size, working parents, negative effects on children, divorce, care for old people
 
Family Size--
 
Families in many countries are not as large as they used to be.
We tend to live in small nuclear families rather than large extended families.
Parents tend to have fewer children.
Young children are no longer expected to work.
Nowadays both parents often work.
It costs so much to bring children up.
It is more difficult to raise a large family.
 
Working Parents (also see 'gender' topic)--
 
Children and their parents seem to be less close these days.
Parents spend less time with their children.
Women traditionally stayed at home to cook, clean and look after children.
Nowadays both parents often work full time.
Children may be left alone, or with nannies or babysitters.
Busy parents have less contact with their children.
Many families no longer eat meals together.
Children spend more time with friends or surfing the Internet.
 
Negative Effects on Children--
 
The lack of closeness in families can have a negative effect on children.
Many parents have no idea how their children spend their time.
Friends, television and the Internet become the main influence on children's behavior.
Teenagers are influenced by peer pressure.
Some of them join gangs.
Juvenile delinquency is on the increase.
Parents should be more involved with their children's upbringing.
Young people need positive models.
 
Divorce--
 
In the past, divorce was unacceptable.
It was considered to be embarrassing for a family.
People stayed together for religious or family reasons.
Divorce is more socially acceptable nowadays.
It has become much more common.
Divorce can be extremely stressful.
Lone parents may face financial difficulties.
Many single parents have to rely on benefits paid by the government.
Divorce can have a negative effect on children.