1. Level 3 – Possible Writing Topics
1. Different cultures have different opinions about how to raise children. Narrow
down the topic, do some research, form your own opinion and then argue for it.
2. Different cultures have different opinions about how to support the old. Narrow
down the topic, do some research, form your own opinion and then argue for it.
3. Nikolas Sarkozy was unfaithful to his first wife and so was Bill Clinton in his
marriage, but these didn’t prevent them from getting elected as president and
remaining in the position after apologizing. If these scandals happened and were
publicized in China, it would be a different picture. Choose an angle (e.g.
morality, ability, sex and marriage, tolerance, punishment, etc.), narrow down the
topic, do some research, form your opinion and then argue for it.
4. Jeremy Lin’s (林书豪) success triggers the discussion about how to produce
excellent athletes in China. Do some research in this field, find the differences
between the Chinese sports system of cultivating athletes and the American. (You
may narrow it down), form your own opinion on this andthen argue for it.
5. Consider any of these topics and how they are viewed in at least two other
cultures. What can you say about the differences in perspective?
Cross cultural adoption
Age discrimination in China
Do Chinese college students focus on studying only?
Students attending college in the US should be required to take at least two years of a
foreign language.
Should Chinese allow to dual citizenship?
Abuse at home and domestic violence should be punished.
The influence of the Internet: More harm than good or vice versa.
Is bilingual education effective?
Does religion cause war?
Can democracy prevail in the Middle East?
Should gay marriages be legalized?
Should cigarette smoking become illegal like drugs?
The differences in family education between the Chinese and western cultures
The differences in the concept of consumption between two cultures
The differences in the marriage customs between two cultures
Religion - explore religions and belief systems of other cultures/the world and
compare with China
6. Sexual Orientation - in light of Helen Zia's lecture and some spontaneous

2. discussions that arose in classrooms, at least one teacher concludes that many
students in China have little or no knowledge about homosexuality. Some still
think that it is something you just sit down one day and decide to try.
7. Marriage – Look at the history and evolution of the idea of a “second wife” (still
existing) concept today. How does the idea of a “second wife” compare and
contrast with “Western” monogamous marriages?
8. Explore information and ideas from other cultures when considering the following
topics and use it to help support your idea:
Should people under eighteen years of age be required to have parental permission to
get tattoos and piercings?
Should places of entertainment such as night clubs and bars in China have an age
restriction?
Because celebrities are so often in the public spotlight, do they have ethical
responsibilities to set good examples for young people?
Certain kinds of advertising perpetuate racial stereotypes. Should these kinds of
advertising be banned?
9. Look at any subject that interests you. How would people from another culture
think about it differently? What conclusions can you draw based on the
differences?