Persuasive Writing: Halloween Debate Example

Matthew S.
Initial Post
A.M. Core

I do not to celebrate Halloween, but if I did I would say kids should stop before the end of middle school, at age 14.

My first reason is most kids will discover it more efficient to spend their well earned money on awesome items they have been saving for instead of spending it on a costume they will only wear for a few hours. If they still want their candy, they will probably be smart enough by now to buy it at the store. Another reason minors should stop trick-or-treating is they might begin to wear disturbing costumes. Around this age, many children also begin to feel devious, so they use their creepy costumes and the element of surprise to place young kids in a state of terror which dissipates the young children’s enthusiasm for this holiday. As teens continue their journey into the dark onto high school, they may start to realize that walking around a whole neighborhood is not worth a few pieces of delicious candy. Instead they may use the money that may have gone into buying a costume for some interesting device they may be saving for. Yearly Halloween costumes can add up to be a lot of cash. As people get older they may develop other hobbies that may not involve spending a night in the freezing air for some treats. In my opinion, it is somewhat better they will have to summon more willpower and perseverance in order to continue their childhood traditions in order to obtain some treats. If they still want their candy, they can get it for much more affordable in after Halloween sales and have money left over for other things.

My second reason why kids should stop seeking treats at their neighbors when they turn 14 is they may start to dress in more weird and frightening costumes if they decide to continue trick or treating. When the teens were younger, they were clothed in innocent and joyful costumes. Sometimes, when they become 14 they may now choose to dress in terrifying costumes to intimidate others. Occasionally, people in middle school dress up in horrifying outfits to feel superior to others. This leads to costumes being used to hurt others.

My final reason why those in middle school should not celebrate Halloween after age 14 is the potential long term effect of frightening younger children with overly scary images. This could possibly ruin the poor kids Halloween and make them want to terrify others when they get older. If that person stopped trick-or-treating there would be more candy for the rest of the children and less shattered childhoods.

I don’t celebrate Halloween but if I did, I would stop by age 14. Around this age, some kids may learn they can buy candy from the store especially after Halloween candy sales and save their money to buy other items they may desire. Some older teens who may continue trick or treating may tend to wear disturbing costumes to intimidate the younger generation. This may continue a cycle of having mischievous fun at the expense of the younger kid’s joy. Although, trick-or-treating is fun for many people, there is a time for all things to end.


Matthew S. 
Argument Post against  John M.
A.M. Core

Your ideas are awesome but I disagree that Halloween should continue into high school and beyond. My first reason is older people can consume more candy leaving none for the kids. My second reason is by the time you are in high school you can almost drive a car so you can acquire candy. My final reason is when you are above middle school you tend to begin to scare kids. Halloween is about ecstatic children not adults and high school people. 

If adults and high school people start trick-or-treating like you say they should, wouldn’t that mean there is less candy for the young children? After all, the adults have a larger appetite for candy and they have bigger hands. If you grab a handful of candy, there would not be enough for the 6 year old kids to eat. You must agree that it would be depressing to be the young child who asks for candy only to realize everyone else has eaten it already. If you want the younger generation to be joyful, acquire your candy from other methods. 

By 16, you can take an adult and drive to the store to buy your own candy. During or after Halloween sales you can get lots of candy cheap. It may not be fun but you have to agree it is more efficient. If you still want to participate in Halloween you can buy candy to hand out. If everyone’s parents accompanies their children on every Halloween snack run then there will be no one to give candy. You say you had a great Halloween as a child; it is now time to return the favor.

The last thing I disagree with in your essay is I believe scaring innocent children does not include any honor. Sure, it is fantastic to have fun but not at the kids’ expense. Some of the costumes manufactured now are extremely disturbing and are capable of terrifying them out of their wits. Usually those terrifying costumes are only bought by high school kids and adults. If you put yourself in the shoes of the kid who is being tormented I think you would agree that scaring kids is not honorable.

You make very valid points in your argument but I still disagree with it. My first reason was adults and high schoolers can eat more candy than little kids leaving small pickings left over for them. My second reason is by the time you are in high school you can almost drive so why not help yourself and others? My final reason is when you are past the age of 14 your mind goes from happy fun to sadistic fun. Halloween works in a system. That system says the adults and high schoolers give out candy while the kids go and have fun.

Matthew S. 
Rebuttal against Derrick S.
A.M. Core


Your argument makes great points but I say it is invalid. First, many people have different perspectives of right and wrong. Second, yes there are kids who are mature and do the right thing but these kids unfortunately in the minority. Third, it takes maturity to get candy from the store and leaving candy for kids. Halloween is holiday where kids are supposed to be the happiest not the high schoolers. Besides, most high schoolers will probably do the wrong thing and scare kids.
Although many people can differentiate the difference between right and wrong the standards for it vary. This whole debate is about whether it is right or wrong to stop trick or treating in middle school, high school, or elementary school. As you may have noticed from the comments, the responses are diverse with opinion. Also, there is a difference between knowing right and wrong than actually doing what is right or wrong.

My next reason is even though there are some mature kids there are not many. Everyone has their own opinion on what is mature and what is not. If they happen to know how to act mature it is still different being responsible and not frightening kids. Sadly, I think most of kids know how to behave but most of them don’t. My evidence behind this is I have witnessed the capacity of maturity that children in middle school have and from my point of view it is the majority of kids who are not responsible.

You say in your argument it is mature to not scare people during Halloween. I say being mature is not trick or treating. It takes will to not go around and terrify young kids, but it takes a kind and selfless person to go to the store and buy candy with their own money instead of going around and asking for free candy. If people go around trick or treating they may also ruin the poor children’s Halloween by taking a bunch of candy and leaving sufficient amounts for all the kids in the neighborhood. If everyone stops trick or treating in high school then those are 4 years that kids will not get their full desire if treats.

Your point of view has many strong points and you pierced quite a few wounds in my argument. It is possible that your perspective may be right because I don’t celebrate Halloween so I have never experience going from door to door saying trick or treat. But I still believe that trick or treating should be stopped in middle school. My first reason was many people have different point of views on what the right thing is and wrong thing is. My next reason was there are kids who act their age but their numbers decimate as time wears on. My last reason was it takes a caring and empathetic person to buy candy from the store and leaving candy for kids. There are two sides you can take. On one side there is a trick or treater that wishes to continue his tradition and go get candy. On the other side there is one who decides to let the next generation have fun as they once did. Which path do you choose?

Sincerely,
Matthew S.

Halloween Trick or Treating