Assignment #8: Thinking About Arguments

I think I want to write an argumentation essay about whether our generation, and every generation before and after us, is simply a product of our environment OR do we have full control over our destiny and mindset. I choose this topic to argue about because I think it's an issue that is effecting my generation, specifically in the black community. I want to try to be careful not to generalize, exclude or offend anyone but I am an African American and I feel that I can speak only  for what I've been exposed to my entire life. One particular issue could be the nonchalant attitude of my generation towards school, work, advancement, and life in general. I think that we have an extremely careless generation. For example, females constantly have babies without any way to support them or the tools to take care of them properly. One could argue that is her choice to do what she wants and regardless of what life she was brought into, she should know right from wrong. I would argue the point of how acceptable it is to be pregnant while in school and broken foundation of the home. This broken family most likely has a hard-working, strong, independent mother. This mother probably says things like "I'm your mother and your father" or "I don't need a man to make me happy." I think these ideals devalue the man, an essential key to a productive seed, in the household. The downward spiral continues, women growing up without respect that, I believe, only a father figure can provide. If this isn't a setup for failure, I don't know what is, but this does not mean failure is the only option but I think it takes an extraordinary person to break the cycle. I think it will be hard to argue because it's a very personal matter and people have different expriences and stories. However, I think it's impossible to ignore the repeating cycle that is currently going (definitely in the Black community as far as I know).