argumentative speech about divorce

152 Brilliant Divorce Essay Topics & Examples

For those who are studying law or social sciences, writing about divorce is a common task. Separation is a complicated issue that can arise from many different situations and lead to adverse outcomes. In this article we gathered an ultimate list of topics about divorce and gathered some tips to when working on the paper.

Persuasive & Argumentative Essays about Divorce: Free Tips

A divorce is a life-changing experience that affects spouses and their children (if there are any). Since divorce rates are relatively high in modern society, more and more people face this problem nowadays.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

When you are assigned to compose an argumentative essay about divorce, you should be as careful as possible. Remember that the split-up of marriage can be a painful experience for everyone involved.

The article will give you useful advice on how to write an outstanding paper on the topic. Learn the essential features of the following types:

• persuasive essay about divorce,
• for and against essay,
• causes and effects of divorce essay,

Check tips from Custom-writing.org below and write the best paper!

• 💍 How to Write It
• 📂 Essays by Type
• ✒ Causes and Effects

✍️ Divorce Essay Topics

💍 how to write a divorce essay.

The general structure of essays on divorce is quite common:

• introduction;
• conclusion.

Yet, there are some variations of what info to include in the body, depending on the essay type. The following structure is applicable for divorce argumentative essay. To learn about the features of other types, keep on reading our article.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

Argumentative divorce essays are composed according to the standard structure:

1. Thesis Statement about Divorce

A divorce essay introduction isn’t anything extraordinary as you have to introduce your topic and position.

• You should always give broad information about the issue and state the main problems you will discuss in your writing.
• Make a general statement about the consequences of divorce or the common divorce effects on people.
• Then write your thesis statement on divorce. Clearly explain to the audience the topic you’re going to discuss and your position on that topic. In case you find this task difficult, try using a thesis generator for argumentative essay . This will save you some time.

That’s it! Now your divorce essay introduction is ready.

What’s next?

2. Main Body

This section presents all of your ideas and arguments related to the topic of divorce.

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• Here you can write about the adverse effects of divorce on children or the most common reasons people divorce.
• Use compelling arguments and support your ideas with examples.

There are tons of surveys and statistics about divorce on the internet, so it won’t be too challenging to gather the information you need.

3. Conclusion

In the last paragraph, you have to sum up your paper and leave a final expression.

• Summarize every idea presented in your divorce essay.
• Restate your thesis statement on divorce, relying on your reasoning.
• Then list your concluding thoughts on this topic.

Make your sentences clear and easy to follow. Use synonyms to improve your writing style. Such an approach will help you convince the readers and express your thoughts better.

📂 Divorce Essays by Type

The content and reasoning of each paper on divorce depend primarily on the type of essay . See the following sections to understand how to write each of them.

Here are a few types you can consider:

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

Argumentative Essay about Divorce

When it comes to divorce, there are many disputable topics—for example, the reasons people separate or its impact on children. It’s easy to find support and statistics for both issues. And you’ll need them as facts are a crucial part of a divorce argumentative essay.

As a starting point:

Research your idea and choose a side to support. Make sure that among all argumentative essay topics about divorce, you selected the most interesting for yourself. In your thesis statement, concisely express your position, so the reader can quickly get it.

Then, start writing the entire essay. Regardless of what type of paper you are writing—anti or pro divorce argumentative essay—your writing should meet these requirements:

• Base your points on logic;
• Present both sides of the arguments, but support only one;
• Take into consideration counterclaims;
• Support all the arguments by valid evidence;
• Use a calm, informative tone.

Don’t forget to incorporate quotes and figures to convince your readers.

Persuasive Essay about Divorce

What is the goal of writing persuasive essays ? It’s to convince your reader that your position on a particular problem is true.

Therefore, writing this paper means that you should identify an individual problem related to the topic. In the introduction of your persuasive essay about divorce, you should choose your side and deliver it to the reader.

Crucial note:

Similarly to an argumentative essay, you have to provide credible facts to support your position. Yet here, you use them to back up your opinion and persuade your reader.

While composing your persuasive essay about the legalization of divorce, remember its distinctive features:

• Based on emotions;
• Presents only one side of the argument;
• Ignores counterclaims;
• The tone is dynamic, emotionally-charged, and aggressive to some extent.

Cause and Effect Essay on Divorce

Whether it concerns old parents or a young couple, divorce typically has the same causes and effects. You can often see them clearly, even in books or movies.

The essay outline for the causes and effects of divorce essay is quite common:

• Introduction.

In your divorce essay introduction, provide a general background and compose a clear thesis statement. For example, your thesis might look like this:

A divorce, caused by the spouses’ expectations mismatch, results in a lack of communication between children and one of the parents.

In this part of your essay, investigate the cause and effect of divorce, you stated before.

For the given thesis, the main points would be the following:

The primary cause of divorce is the mismatch in the spouses’ expectations from the marriage.

The divorce often results in a lack of children’s interactions with one of the parents.

• Conclusion.

Synthesize all of your arguments and give your audience a space for a further investigation of your issue.

Narrative Essay about Divorce

If your assignment is to write a family essay, you can choose from a wide range of topics. For this purpose, a marriage essay or a divorce essay would be perfect.

In a short paper about your family, it isn’t easy to cover many topics. So choose only one.

Look through some narrative essay topics and select the one you like:

• The story of my divorce: how did I decide to break up with my spouse?
• My life completely changed after my parents divorced.
• How my life looked like before the divorce with my wife/husband and how it looks now.
• The way divorce destroys healthy communication between children and parents in my family.

For and Against Divorce Essay

As you know, both the negative and positive effects of divorce are disputable, making them appealing to discuss. There are many recent studies and relevant statistical data on the topic to help you write such an essay.

This topic would also be great for a speech on divorce.

Wondering what are the for and against divorce arguments? Take a look at the following:

✒ Divorce: Causes and Effects

We have a pleasant bonus for you! Below, you can find useful arguments and insightful ideas that you can use in your papers on divorce. Apply our concepts in any type of essay, adjusting them to your topic.

Divorce essays can cover the following issues:

Generally Known Facts on Divorces

When covering this issue in your persuasive essay on divorce, you will have to cover the problem altogether. Include the common marriage problems that psychologists all over the world study. Use their statistical data on divorces when crafting your argument.

Divorce is quite a broad topic, and you may want to narrow it down. With so much information available, you could write a research paper on divorce without any difficulty.

Statistical Data on Divorces

Good divorce essays should include enough statistical data. It will add more scientific value and reveal your research abilities. Besides, facts and figures present many exciting topics to comment on.

For example:

You can do significant research concerning divorce causes and consequences. Draw a contrast between divorce in several countries, or examine the age and education of people who officially separate more often.

Reasons for Divorces

What does an essay on divorce mean without discussion of its reasons?

Find out different sociologists’ viewpoints on the reasons for divorces. Then underline the cause you consider to be the most truthful one.

You can also provide your own theory on the grounds for divorces in your persuasive essay on divorce. The key point is to prove the accuracy of your statement.

Divorce Prevention Ideas

If there is a problem, there must be some solution. So, think of the possible ways to make a marriage work.

Investigate divorce causes from a scientific point of view. Examine the primary studies that reveal why people actually break up. Also, discuss the precautions that can help married couples avoid significant conflicts.

Effects of Divorce on Children

Parents sometimes forget that their divorce isn’t only about them but also about their children. It causes psychological problems for kids, which you can classify in your paper. Don’t forget to add some statistical data on divorce to support your arguments.

Every child reacts differently to their parents’ breakup. It’s a rare case when divorce consequences are positive, making the effects on kids an urgent topic to discuss.

Positive Effects of Divorce

Sometimes divorce isn’t a catastrophe but rather the only way to heal wounds and begin a new life. Often, people don’t recognize that they need to change their lives for the better. This situation is primarily related to abusive marriages or those with regular cheating.

In these cases, the positive effects of divorce may seem easy to understand. However, psychologists have to make great efforts to persuade people to end their relationships. Write a paper making this same argument.

• Negative outcomes of divorce on children .  
• Connection between divorce and antisocial behavior of children.  
• Family crises and the issue it causes: divorce, remarriage, stepparents, adoption. 
• Effect of divorce on teenagers ’ academic performance.  
• Causes and consequences of divorce . 
• What can be done to decrease divorce rates in America ?  
• Does parental divorce affect the rates of juvenile delinquency ? 
• The most widespread reasons for divorce .  
• Analyze marital success factors and Gottman’s predictors of divorce.  
• Impact of divorce on child’s mental health .  
• Change of divorce law throughout history.  
• Positive and negative changes in children’s behavior after divorce.  
• Divorce : a disaster or a benefit?  
• Is cheating one of the main reasons of divorce?  
• Gender stratification impact on divorce trends.  
• Effect of divorce on family relationship .  
• Do divorced parents change their child-rearing styles ?  
• List of factors typically associated with higher divorce rates .  
• The support required for all the members of divorced and single-parent families . 
• Analyze the reasons for high divorce rates . 
• Does divorce only impact adolescent in a bad way?  
• Effect of poverty on divorce rates.  
• Specifics of divorce in the UAE . 
• Does divorce lead to depression ?  
• Family therapy and its role in decreasing divorce rates.  
• The impact of divorce on children-parents relationship.  
• Evaluation of child custody in divorce proceedings.
• How to manage the stress of divorce.   
• Effect of divorce on children’s self-esteem.  
• How to minimize the devastating consequences of divorce .  
• Addiction as the reason for divorce.  
• Effective communication in marriage and its role in preventing divorce.  
• Divorce as the only way out of an abusive relationship.
• Financial issues of divorce and how to overcome them.  
• Parental support is the best way to help children to go through divorce.
• How do adolescents adjust to parental divorce?  
• Do boys and girls react to the parental divorce the same way?  
• Social media can destroy relationship and lead to divorce. 
• Can Christian counseling help couples to resolve their issues and avoid divorce?  
• Poverty among divorced women.  
• Young marriage has more chances to break-up.  
• Respect is the best way to get marriage satisfaction and avoid divorce.  
• Is interfaith marriage doomed to divorce? 
• Why a successful marriage may end in divorce?  
• Marriage contract will help to facilitate the legal side of divorce process.  
• Reduction of the number of divorces. 
• Personal development after divorce.  
• How family relationships influence future marriage and divorce chances of children. 
•  Child support in case of marriage divorce.  
• Will lack of family and work balance definitely result in divorce?  

If you are stuck on writing, you can always ask us for help! Whether you need a persuasive essay on divorce or any other paper, we are here and ready to assist.

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Further reading:

• Top Ideas for Argumentative or Persuasive Essay Topics
• Best Argumentative Research Paper Topics
• 197 Inspirational & Motivational Argumentative Essay Topics
• Gun Control Essay: How-to Guide + Argumentative Topics
• Proposal Essay Topics and Ideas – Easy and Interesting
• Free Exemplification Essay Examples

🔗 References

• Essay Introductions
• Transitional Words and Phrases
• Argumentative Paper Format
• The Writing Process
• Divorce Argument Essay: Bartleby
• Cause and Effect Essay: The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Roane State Community College and UNC at Chapel Hill Writing Center
• Counterargument: Gordon Harvey, the Writing Center at Harvard University
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In Defense of Divorce

A serious chat—divorced woman to divorced woman—about how ending things can be just the beginning..

I never want to make light of divorce—it’s serious, heartbreaking, difficult, and a million other things—but it has its upsides. I can tell you, because I am divorced. You might think at first: How can I be apart from my child 50 percent of the time? It’s scary, and you will miss them. But also you will end up relishing a bit of quiet and space. Just last Sunday, I took advantage of a full day with no plans or other humans around to stay in bed with a book.

That book was This American Ex-Wife , a new memoir-cum-manifesto by journalist Lyz Lenz, which tells the story of both her divorce and the systematic oppression of women via the institution of marriage. It is a rallying cry for real change in our society and legal systems, both of which still tend to overwhelmingly favor men. I read it straight through with a break only to heat up some borscht for lunch. The book is intimate, persuasive, funny, and compassionate. And it’s the opposite of bitter. Lenz walked away from her marriage to rebuild her life in her 40s, and to find out what freedom feels like. Reading her story, we get to feel that freedom too. I talked with Lenz—divorced woman to divorced woman—about why divorce isn’t a tragedy. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Hillary Frey: So the first thing I wanted to bring up, because it really resonated with me, was the moment in the book where someone you run into says, “Oh, how are you?” And you’re like, “I’m getting divorced.” And they’re like, “Oh, I’m so sorry.” This very same thing happened to me. 

Lyz Lenz: There are so many things we’re uncomfortable with in our country! Our cultural concept of marriage is deeply informed by Christian ideas. And I use Christian in the loosest of terms, in the most conservative of senses, because I think it’s important to acknowledge there are other ways to be religious. But marriage is just deeply informed by the idea that you get married and you stay married. And I think it’s also rooted in this idea that your happiness is frivolous, that you have to sacrifice for children, for family. It’s important to realize who’s being asked to sacrifice and whose misery is being put up on that cross.

People are really uncomfortable with a woman who is free and a woman who chooses herself. I think that adds into the dissonance—it makes people really uncomfortable when you say, “Hey, my marriage was not great and I’m leaving.” And you know this, too: The moment you get divorced, so many women go, “When did you know? When did you know? How should I know?”

Totally. “Can you recommend someone? I think I might want to explore my options.”

And there’s so much quiet misery, and we’re always looking to each other to say, “When is it bad enough? When do I get to choose myself?” And I think that concept of a woman choosing herself is really destabilizing.

This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage and Started My Life

By Lyz Lenz. Crown.

Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support.

How do we change that narrative around people seeing the dissolution of a marriage as failure? I don’t think it’s a failure. I don’t think you think it’s a failure. The way people react to divorce feels so old to me, compared to the world we live in.

We need to have better cultural conversations about it. I also think we need to change our laws. The two happen together. There’s this narrative in America: Oh, divorce is the easy way out. But it is easier for a 16-year-old to get married in America than it is for a 42-year-old woman to leave her abusive marriage.

Right! People think that getting divorced is easy, like you just quit, right? But it’s incredibly hard, not just emotionally, but practically, to leave your marriage. 

It’s so hard to get divorced. When you are living together and you can’t escape it? My ex really did not want to get divorced. It went against everything he believed and still believes. And he was trying really, really hard to get me back, and it wasn’t working, and it was actually making me want to leave more. But I also didn’t really have a lot of access to our shared finances.

There were so many practical things. I was working extra jobs to afford a down payment for the lawyer and to get money for the house I rented. I wrote marketing copy for Jezebel between midnight and 2 a.m. for some big Christmas package that they were doing. And I remember writing the editor and being like, “Thank you for funding my divorce.” I’d say that might not have been the most professional thing I could have done. I was crying every night, and waking up to emails from my ex begging me not to ruin our family.

On the one hand, your book is obviously a defense of divorce, but it’s also, in some ways, an attack on marriage. Should more people get divorced? Should fewer people get married?

I am not anti-relationship. I am so pro-relationship. But I am anti the legal structure of marriage, because it is founded on women’s inequality. Look at the history of marriage. Look at these laws of coverture. Look at the laws in America where marital rape wasn’t even illegal until the past 20 years. And that’s because wives are property, and that’s the way that our legal system views women. And I think a lot of well-meaning couples get into marriage and think it will be different.

It’ll be different. We’re different.

But then you realize the whole system … Who gets paid more? Who takes the hit when you have the baby? Where is the child care? Why is it unaffordable? You get into this system and you realize that it’s not your well-meaning intentions that are bogging you down, but it’s this entire system that is built on the unpaid labor of a wife. And you can be the most well-meaning egalitarian couple, and you have one, two kids and you’re like, “What the fuck? Now I’m a tradwife because we can’t make it work anymore.” That’s the system that I’m critiquing. With women we’re like, “Oh, you’re miserable in your marriage? Well, I don’t know, try sexy night.” No, you feel miserable in your marriage because you never get a break because this whole system is packed on top of your shoulders and you can’t fricking breathe. And then the one time you get a moment to breathe, he’s like, “Hey, we haven’t had sex in two weeks.” There’s a whole capitalist system built on the misery of women. If women were happy, the scented candle industry would tank, right? I mean, I love scented candles.

Let’s just be honest. I’m not saying you can’t be in love or you can’t have relationships, but I am saying those relationships should not be predicated on your misery. And I think men should know this too. If you’re in a marriage and your wife is unhappy, that’s a bad marriage. And I don’t think enough men realize that, because even the worst marriage still benefits a man in the end, because he is still getting free child care and his dinner made every night.

I don’t want to tell everybody they should get divorced, but I have to say, I think my ex-husband and I are both better parents on our own. I think people don’t understand that having joint custody is not a bummer. It can be an amazing thing for everyone.

I was the primary caretaker. My ex had never taken them to a doctor’s visit. I hear women say, “I don’t want to lose time with my kids.” And I felt that way a little bit too, especially in the beginning, because my kids were 4 and 6 when we split up, it’s very young. But in so many ways getting divorced enabled them to actually have a relationship with their father, because I wasn’t taking care of everything. I wasn’t that mediator to their relationship.

You weren’t managing it. 

I wasn’t managing it. And he had to face them. He still does. I think of it rather as a gain for them, because they deserve relationships with the happiest version of both of their parents. Now, they can see that their dad is so much happier and with a person who’s what he wants rather than a person who was not what he wanted, and we are happy in our house. A lot of divorce research really just focuses on the immediate one-to-two-year aftermath of divorce and not five or 10 years down the road. That’s a huge gap in our social understanding, but also our understanding of what kids can comprehend and what they’re capable of. Kids know when their parents are miserable. God bless, my parents are still together, but we knew, you know what I mean?

It’s OK, I hear you. My parents are also still together. They just celebrated their 55 th wedding anniversary.

Good for them.

Good for them. And actually they’re very happy now that they’re retired old people.

I used to think that there were so many things that I would never put up with, and then I did. And now I don’t sit in judgment of people’s marriages anymore. But I’m also just not pretending. Don’t look at me and tell me that that was 55 years of bliss.

I don’t know if this is the same for you, but I really thought that getting in a new relationship would be a betrayal to my daughter. And I really struggled with that. I started going back to therapy just to manage this. And I was told that, actually, the best thing you can do is live your life, have relationships, because otherwise the kid becomes your whole world and they don’t have that freedom you’re talking about to have the bigger space of emotions, because they learn to manage your emotions.

Yes. Because they’re everything to you. They know that. I have been dating, if that’s what we want to call it, in earnest, and having a great time with it, and also a miserable time too. I hid that from my kids for a really long time, because it’s really uncomfortable to be a sexual person to your kids, because if you tell, especially a tween daughter, that you’re dating, she wants to know, are you having sex? And then you have to talk about it. I believe in open honesty, but also I felt really uncomfortable being that person around them and to them and for them. And so I kind of had this wall between the two worlds: There’s the mom that I am when they are with their dad, and then there’s the mom that I am with them.

But recently, as my kids have been getting older, I made a plan. I brought it up with my kids. But their fears were not what I thought. Like you, I thought they were going to think that I was going to upset their world, that they were going to be replaced in my heart, or some sort of thing. And they just didn’t. But it does open up a dialogue to then talk to your kids about those kinds of things. And so I think the lesson is always to be a full and complete human being for your kids. They’re human beings, they get to have their own journeys, and you need to be a full and complete human being so that they can be a full and complete human being.

That’s right. 

And I never want them to be my emotional support animals. They’re humans. I have dogs for that.

I think it can be easy to confuse being emotional support for your child with them becoming that for you. You know what I mean? And once you can see it, it becomes so clear. I was so nervous telling my daughter that Stefan, my husband now, had asked me to get married. It was a total surprise proposal. And my daughter’s reaction was, “We’re going to have a wedding?” He’s not her stepdad. He’s part of our family. He’s my partner. And if you asked her about him, she would say, “Stefan makes things better.” What else could you want?

And that’s the thing: You don’t have to replicate and re-create these rules. My kids don’t need another dad. They have a dad. They don’t need that. If you’re in my life, it’s because I want a relationship with you. It’s not because you have these other roles. You’re not my supporter or my caretaker. You’re just a partner. And I do think there’s a problem with masculinity where men don’t know what to do with themselves. “Well, if I’m not the provider, if I am not the father, then what am I?” You’re just, like, a human, dude. You’re a human being.

Yeah, just be a person. 

Oh my God, be a person, my dude. And that’s really, that’s a hard thing to ask of a man. They just melt down. But that’s their problem, it’s not my problem. That’s a different book. And this book is for our liberation.

Essays About Divorce: Top 5 Examples and 7 Prompts

Essays about divorce can be challenging to write; read on to see our top essay examples and writing prompts to help you get started.

Divorce is the legal termination of a marriage. It can be a messy affair, especially if it includes children. Dividing the couple’s assets also often causes chaos when divorce proceedings are in session. 

Divorce also touches and considers religion and tradition. Therefore, laws are formed depending on the country’s history, culture, and belief system.

To help you choose what you want to talk about regarding this topic, here are examples you can read to get an idea of what kind of essay you want to write.

1. Divorce Should Be Legalized in the Philippines by Ernestine Montgomery

2. to divorce or not to divorce by mark ghantous, 3. what if you mess up by manis friedman, 4. divorce: a life-changing experience by writer louie, 5. divorce’s effects on early adult relationships by percy massey, 1. the major reasons for divorce, 2. why i support divorce, 3. my divorce experience, 4. how to avoid divorce, 5. divorce and its effects on my family, 6. the consequences of divorce, 7. divorce laws around the world.

“What we need is a divorce law that defines clearly and unequivocally the grounds and terms for terminating a marriage… Divorce is a choice and we all should have the freedom to make choices… in cases where a union is more harmful than beneficial, a divorce can be benevolent and less hurtful way of severing ties with your partner.”

As the title suggests, Montgomery and his other colleagues discuss why the Philippines, a predominantly Catholic country, needs to allow divorce. Then, to strengthen his argument, he mentions that Spain, the root of Christianity, and Italy, where the Vatican City is, administer divorce. 

He also mentions bills, relevant figures, and statistics to make his case in favor of divorce more compelling. Montgomery adds that people who want a divorce don’t necessarily mean they want to marry again, citing other motives such as abuse and marital failure.

“Divorce, being the final step in a detrimental marriage, brings upon the gruesome decision as to whether a married couple wishes to end that once made commitment they had for each other. As opposed to the present, divorce was rare in ancient times…”

Ghantous starts his essay with what divorce means, as not only an end of a commitment but also the termination of legal duties and other obligations of the couple to each other. He then talks about divorce in ancient times, when men had superior control over women and their children. He also mentions Caroline Norton, who fought with English family law that was clearly against women.

“So even though G‑d has rules,… laws,… divine commandments, when you sin, He tells you: ‘You messed up? Try again.’ That’s exactly how you should be married — by treating your spouse the way G‑d treats you. With that much mercy and compassion, that much kindness and consideration.”

Friedman’s essay discusses how the Torah sees marriage and divorce and explains it by recounting a scene with his daughters where they couldn’t follow a recipe. He includes good treatment and forgiveness necessary in spouses. But he also explains that God understands and doesn’t want people in a failed marriage to continue hurting. You might also be interested in these essays about commitment .

“Depending on the reasons that led up to the divorce the effects can vary… I was fourteen years old and the one child that suffered the most emotional damage… My parents did not discuss their reasons for the divorce with me, they didn’t have to, and I knew the reasons.”

The author starts the essay by citing the famous marital promise: “For better or worse, for richer or poorer,” before going in-depth regarding the divorce rate among Americans. He further expounds on how common divorce is, including its legalities. Although divorce has established legal grounds, it doesn’t consider the emotional trauma it will cause, especially for children.

Louie recounts how his life changed when his dad moved out, listing why his parents divorced. He ends the essay by saying society is at fault for commercializing divorce as if it’s the only option.

“With divorce becoming more prevalent, many researchers have taken it upon themselves to explore many aspects of this topic such as evolving attitudes, what causes divorce, and how it effects the outcome of children’s lives.”

Massey examines the causes of divorce and how it impacts children’s well-being by citing many relevant research studies. Some of the things he mentions are the connection between the child’s mental health, behavioral issues, and future relationships. Another is the trauma a child can endure during the divorce proceedings.

He also mentions that some children who had a broken family put marriage on a pedestal. As a result, they do their best to create a better future family and treat their children better.

Top 7 Prompts on Essays About Divorce

After adding to your knowledge about the subject, you’re better prepared to write essays about divorce.

There are many causes of the dissolution of marriage, and many essays have already discussed these reasons. However, you can explain these reasons differently. For example, you can focus on domestic abuse, constant fighting, infidelity, financial issues, etc.

If you want to make your piece stand out, you can include your personal experience, but only if you’re comfortable sharing your story with others. 

If you believe divorce offers a better life for all parties involved, list these benefits and explain them. Then, you can focus on a specific pro of legalizing divorce, such as getting out of an abusive relationship. 

If you want to write an essay to argue against the negative effects of divorce, here’s an excellent guide on how to write an argumentative essay .

This prompt is not only for anyone who has no or sole guardian. If you want to write about the experiences of a child raised by other people or who lives with a single parent, you can interview a friend or anyone willing to talk about their struggles and triumphs even if they didn’t have a set of parents.

Aside from reasons for divorce, you can talk about what makes these reasons more probable. Then, analyze what steps couples can take to avoid it. Such as taking couples’ therapy, weekly family get-together, etc. To make your essay more valuable, weigh in on what makes these tips effective.

Divorce is diverse and has varying effects. There are many elements to its results, and no two sets of factors are precisely the same for two families. 

If you have an intimate experience of how your immediate and extended family dynamic had been affected by divorce, narrate those affairs. Include what it made you and the others around you feel. You might also be interested in these essays about conflict .

This is a broad prompt, but you can narrow it down by focusing on an experience you or a close friend had. You can also interview someone closely related to a divorce case, such as a lawyer, reporter, or researcher. 

If you don’t have any experience with divorce, do not know anyone who had to go through it, or is more interested in its legal aspects, compiles different divorce laws for each country. You can even add a brief history for each law to make the readers understand how they came about.

Are you looking for other topics to write on? Check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Fascinating Divorce Argumentative Essay Topics

• Death and Divorce: The Long-Term Implications of Parental Loss on Adolescents
• Bitter Homes and Gardens: What Home Means To Families Going Through Divorce
• After the Victorian Era In America, Family Responsibilities and Divorce Rates Changed.
• Divorce’s Short-Term and Long-Term Effects on A Family
• A Divorce Agreement By Einstein and the Complex Messiness of the Human Heart
• Divorce’s Emotional and Psychological Components
• Effects of Separation and Divorce on Family Structures and Other Aspects of Life
• Important Factors Increasing the Chances of Divorce
• After Deployment, Military Families Experience A High Divorce Rate
• Cohabitation and the Rise In the Rate of Divorce
• The Impact of Divorce on Adolescents and Marital Breakups
• Theoretical and Psychological Perspectives on Divorce
• Divorce Rates Among Those between the ages of 25 and 35
• The Effects of Divorce on Romantic Relationships
• Evidence from Divorce, Fertility, and Shotgun Marriage Supporting the Demand for Sons
• Domestic Partnership Agreements For Marriage, Fertility, and Divorce
• Marriage Rate, Divorce Laws, and the Supply of Household Workers
• Eliminating the Association between Divorce Laws and Rates
• Early Marriage and the Rate of Divorce Are Linked
• Marriage Stability Affected Directly and Indirectly By Unilateral Divorce Law
• The Impact of Divorce on Children’s Emotional, Psychological, and Physical Development
• Influence of U.S. Divorce Rates By Inflation and Other General Factors Since the 1960s
• Divorce and Its Impacts on Women’s Rights and the Family
• Effects of Divorce on the Psychosocial Domain
• The Prevalence of Domestic Violence and Divorce In Modern Society
• between Nations and Generations, Cohabitation, and Divorce
• The Effects of Divorce on Adults With Separation Issues
• Effects of Divorce on Children Sociological and Psychological
• Evidence from Hong Kong Shows Extramarital Affairs Lead To Unhappiness In Marriage and Divorce
• Examining How Early Parental Divorce Affects Children’s Attachment Relationships In Adulthood
• Marriage and Divorce In America: Effects on Married Couples

Research Questions About Divorce

• What Are the Financial Effects of Divorce?
• Does Divorce Affect Children’s Self-Esteem?
• Which Effects Might Divorce Or Separation Have on Children?
• Does Child Weight Gain Occur Due To Unilateral Divorce Laws?
• Which Effects of Divorce Are Beneficial and Harmful?
• Why Parents Should Not Relocate Following A Divorce
• Does the Presence of A Single Parent Raise the Likelihood of Teenage Promiscuity, Drug Use, and Crime?
• What Might Tougher Divorce Rules Mean For Our Families?
• What Are the Reasons For Divorce? What Are the Consequences? And How Do They Vary between Vietnam and the United States?
• Why Do People Get Married and then Divorce Later?
• Why Is Divorce Not A Good Idea For Parents?
• What Impact Does Divorce Have on Children?
• Why Do Sydney Divorce Lawyers Adopt Online Divorce?
• Why Have Divorce Rates Increased According To Conflict Theory’s Perspective?
• What Reasons Exist For the Rising Rates of Divorce?
• What Impact Do Divorce and Separation Have on Children? And What Consequence Has This Rising Rate Had on Youngsters’ Perspective?
• Why Can Some Children Never Truly Recover from Divorce?
• How Does Divorce Influence Children’s Marriage?
• Does Divorce Create Long-Term Adverse Effects For Children?
• Does Parental Divorce Affect Adolescents’ Cognitive Development?
• What Are the Economic Issues Surrounding Divorce Or Relational Split?
• Does the Use of Mobile Phones Affect the Rate of Divorce?
• Incentives for Non-contractible Marital Investments Under Unilateral and Consent Divorce: Why Do Divorce Laws Matter?
• Why Does the Divorce Rate Increase and Make Families More Connected?
• Does the Collection of Child Support Lower Divorce Rates?
• Why Did the UK Divorce Rate Change In the Past Thirty Years?
• How To Handle Conflict: Why Divorce Occurs and How To Prevent It
• What Are Divorce’s Financial Repercussions?
• Is the Likelihood of Divorce Affected By Living With Someone Before Marriage?
• Does A High Rate of Unemployment Cause A High Rate of Divorce?

17 Ways to Support Students Whose Behavior ...

Research topics about ebola.

Matthew Lynch

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Divorce — Divorce Informative Speech

Divorce Informative Speech

• Categories: Divorce

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Words: 554 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 554 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, causes of divorce, effects of divorce, solutions and support, preventing divorce.

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The Philippines is right to reject divorce

Being Right

By Jemy Gatdula

T he pejorative argument has always been is that the Philippines is the only country in the world (aside from the Vatican) that doesn’t allow for divorce. The reply should be: So what? After all, 165 countries in the world don’t recognize same sex marriages and that fact is not raised against it. The bandwagon fallacy should therefore be recognized for what it is and truth — as a wise man once said — is never decided by majority opinion.

DIVORCE WORSE THAN DEATH There are two signi fi cant arguments made by pro-divorce advocates which are effectively debunked by scienti fi c studies. One is that children are better off with their parents divorcing rather than seeing them constantly arguing. Such is not true. Researchers from Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, culling data from 17 countries, saw parental divorce having a larger negative impact over even that of parental death (see “Variation in the educational consequences of parental death and divorce: The role of family and country characteristics”; Carlijn Bussemakers, et al.; Demographic Research , March 31, 2022).

Thus, “parental death and divorce may not be equally harmful to all children’s educational attainment. Although both experiences lead to family stress, due to either the loss of a parent or conflict between parents, the reduction of resources may be less profound for children who face parental death (Biblarz and Gottainer 2000). This is because in families where a parent has died, children often receive support from extended family members and friends of the deceased parent, who take over some parenting duties and support children’s educational attainment (Albertini and Dronkers 2009; Sapharas et al. 2016; Steele, Sigle-Rushton, and Kravdal 2009). Children of divorced parents, however, tend to have much less contact with their nonresident parent, as well as that parent’s family and friends over time, providing less opportunity to compensate for the loss in parental resources and support (Steele, Sigle-Rushton, and Kravdal 2009; Westphal, Poortman, and Van der Lippe 2015).”

Furthermore, “the emotional and relational pain caused by divorce can lead to a parenting style that is harsher, less consistent, and less involved, which may negatively affect children’s educational performance.”

BETTER TOGETHER THAN APART The foregoing essentially substantiates previous studies (see foryourmarriage.org , citing Paul R. Amato and Alan Booth, “A Generation at Risk,” Harvard University Press, 1997; also “Ten Findings from a National Study on the Moral and Spiritual Lives of Children of Divorce,” Elizabeth Marquardt, 2002) putting the lie to the myth that divorce is a positive alternative for children. While children in quite high conflict homes may bene fi t by being removed from that environment (not necessarily through divorce), the situation of children in lower-conflict marriages (of which two-thirds of divorces are of this type) can get much worse following a divorce.

Furthermore, such children experience lasting tension even after their parents’ divorce, particularly because of increasing differences in parental values and ideas. The point: children of even so-called “good divorces” fare worse emotionally than children who grew up in an unhappy but “low-conflict” marriages.

DIVORCE IS NOT A SOLUTION Which leads us to the second argument and that is divorce is a good remedy for unhappy couples. Again not true. A 2002 study (“Does Divorce Make People Happy? Findings From a Study of Unhappy Marriages”; Linda J. Waite, Maggie Gallagher, et. al.; Institute for American Values, January 2002) found the following profound insights:

• Unhappily married adults who divorced were no happier than unhappily married adults that stayed married;

• Divorce did not reduce symptoms of depression for unhappily married adults or raise self-esteem, on average, compared to unhappy spouses who stayed married;

•   Unhappy marriages were less common than unhappy spouses;

• Staying married did not typically trap unhappy spouses in violent relationships. Eighty-six percent of unhappily married adults reported no violence in their relationship (including 77% of unhappy spouses who later divorced or separated); 93% of unhappy spouses who avoided divorce reported no violence in their marriage fi ve years later.

But the most important fi nding is this: Two out of three unhappily married adults who avoided divorce or separation ended up happily married five years later. Just one out of five unhappy spouses who divorced or separated had happily remarried in the same time period.

And another equally important finding: The kinds of marital troubles that lead to divorce cannot be sharply distinguished from marital troubles that other spouses overcome. Many marriages that experience serious problems survive and eventually prosper.

CHILDREN ARE BETTER OFF WITH MARRIED PARENTS Such corroborates previous studies showing that “children benefit if parents can stay together and work out their problems rather than get a divorce.” Read this alongside research showing that if couples only stick together, reform themselves, and pull through, they’ll find themselves much happier later on (see “T he Case for Marriage: Why Married People are Happier, Healthier and Better Off Financially ,” Linda J. Waite and Maggie Gallagher, Crown Publishing, 2001).

Hence, this famous passage: “We know the statistics — that children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime; nine times more likely to drop out of schools and 20 times more likely to end up in prison. They are more likely to have behavioral problems, or run away from home, or become teenage parents themselves. And the foundations of our community are weaker because of it.” (Barack Obama, Father’s Day speech, 2008).

FORGET DIVORCE, PROTECT MARRIAGE Rather than divorce, the better policy is to look for ways to raise the quality of marriages. Many divorces being contemplated are simply cases of one spouse self-indulgently wanting to “self-actualize” even though the marriage or the family are not undergoing any problem whatsoever. The promotion of virtue and encouragement leading away from self-centeredness is a good step forward.

The other is to discourage pre-marital cohabitation. Stanford’s Michael J. Rosenfeld and Katharina Roesler (“Cohabitation Experience and Cohabitation’s Association With Marital Dissolution,” 2018) reaf fi rms that premarital cohabitation remains a signi fi cant risk factor for divorce: “The results show that in the fi rst year of marriages, couples who cohabited before marriage have a lower marital dissolution rate than couples who did not cohabit before marriage, a difference that may be due to the practical experience of cohabitation, as couples who have cohabited learned to adapt to each other. We find that the association between marital dissolution and premarital cohabitation has not changed over time or across marriage cohorts. The benefits of cohabitation experience in the fi rst year of marriage has misled scholars into thinking that the most recent marriage cohorts will not experience heightened marital dissolution due to premarital cohabitation.”

To protect marriage is utterly crucial because — as data and common experience demonstrated — the stability of a country is very much dependent on it. And it certainly deserves greater thought than merely inanely saying the Philippines is only one of two countries without a divorce law.

Jemy Gatdula is a senior fellow of the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations and a Philippine Judicial Academy law lecturer for constitutional philosophy and jurisprudence

https://www.facebook.com/jigatdula/

Twitter@jemygatdula

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Argumentative Speech Topics and ideas: A Complete Guide

An argumentative speech is a persuasive speech. Here, speakers try to encourage audiences to alter their views on a controversial issue.

Though they are alike in some manner, persuasive and argumentative speech contains different goals.

A persuasive speech focuses on sharing a perspective and asking the public to think it over. An argumentative speech aims to alter the viewpoint already detained by the audience.

This type of speech is challenging. So, the speaker should pick up the topic that he is confident at and come up with a strong argument.

When you are involved in debates with family or friends, you obviously tend to win or lose. The way you argue shows your capability to compel facts and concepts in support of a topic.

While losing an argument, chances are you only used the standpoint supporting your situation. In a perfect argumentative speech, there should be a strong claim and the points to support it.

For an argumentative speech, find a concrete and controversial argument to use as your foundation. These speeches generally focus on the topics discussed at the moment by society. Most of the topics of argumentative speech are derivative of political discussion.

This is most commonly noticed in the media. The selected topic might be social, religious, ethical, or political by nature. The public must be confident to revise their long-held values. They might ask to change detained convictions relevant to the recent evidence.

In fact, picking up a topic that is debatable is important to develop good speech. The topic should not include something which is already demonstrated or verified.

Instead, it should be logical enough to convince the audience. The speaker should come up with a strong opinion to make his speech realistic to the audience.

To be able to argue in a reasonable and logical way is a fine life skill. It helps to stand up for what you think is correct and let others give attention to your viewpoints.

For instance, if the topic includes “eating egg and milk affects your healthiness”. You evaluate the opponent and create your own topic like “Eating egg and milk does not affect your health”. Yet, you have to give strong points to support your answer.

Table of Contents

Terms to Present Argumentative Speech

Claims of fact, claims of value, claims of policy, 1. pick up debatable topic, 2. take a strong standpoint, 3. give some supportable arguments, 4. refute alternate positions, tips for delivering an argumentative speech:, 1. look for your topic, 2. recognize your standpoint, 3. carry out the research, 4. know who your opposition is, 5. know the facts, 6. choose the topic of your interest, list of argumentative speech topic, argumentative speech topics about economy, argumentative speech topics about science, argumentative speech topics about environment, argumentative speech topics about family, argumentative speech topics about technology, argumentative speech topics about health, argumentative speech topics about history, argumentative speech topics about politics, argumentative speech topics about religion, argumentative speech topics about sports, argumentative speech topics about relationships, argumentative speech topics about law, argumentative speech topics about life, argumentative speech topics about ethics,  conclusion.

These are some terms that help you to present an ideal argumentative speech:

• Claim – This is the main term that you should focus on. Try to give a strong standpoint. Support on the point, position, and the issue you are talking about. Do not forget the main purpose of the speech.
• Grounds – Grounds are the key information or the facts that you use to make your point more powerful and reliable. Make sure that the details you give are an appropriate reason for your claims in the initial place.

Argumentative Speech is based on:

It starts with the reality relevant to the evidence. For an instance, you drink too much alcohol and do not exercise. Then, you will surely put up the weight. If you control your drinks, then you can maintain the weight.

Claims of value include the belief something is correct or incorrect, good or bad. For an instance, punishing children is wrong. It does not improve the habits of your children.

Here you can also state “Punishing children is right”. They will think properly before doing anything wrong

Claims of the policy are taken from the course of action. For an instance, you should be able to vote through a driving license. There is a precise rule for the policy. It is realistic and superior compared to the current system.

Every child should learn different languages in school. It is vital to introduce teachers to the value of beginning foreign language experience.

While initiating the argumentative speech, get ready with strong arguments. You desire to give an influential impact right in front. Also, you might wish to leave a good impression on the audience hearing your speech.

Stay away from personal attacks. If you make the argument too boring, there will be a higher chance of losing your audience.

Besides, argumentative speech needs a powerful viewpoint on the topic that you are delivering. Remember, the goal is not to win your audience but to win the argument. You have to stand on your own point with an appropriate reason.

Essential components of an Argumentative speech:

The main goal of an argumentative essay is to influence others in your opinions. Generally, an argumentative speech addresses an audience with opposite opinions on a specific subject.

Here are four essential elements to focus on when developing an argumentative essay:

While picking up a topic, you should select the topic with more than a single side. For an instance, there is no way to discuss the topic of human smell with the nose. It is familiar fact that has no other strong points to discuss against.

While preparing for an argumentative speech, take a strong standpoint. Try to stick with the stance. This makes your speech powerful. Make sure you do not confuse the audience with any irrelevant points.

A good argument needs to have reasonable and convincing evidence. Better support your statement with information, figures, examples, and some relevant opinions. Also, argumentative speech does not contain unproven opinions. Make sure you research and present the argument that is a relevant argument.

At the end of a strong argumentative speech, you have to refute alternate positions. By dealing with the opponent, make some powerful arguments. Try to work on some common and stronger viewpoints.

• Look for a concrete and controversial argument to use as your base.
• Arrange your points properly. Arranging the points can be helpful while planning your thoughts and presenting them
• Give most of your time for research. Better research on your topics along with the topics which your opposition is likely to pick up.

How to develop an effective Argumentative Speech?

After picking up a fine controversial topic, you should work on some powerful points. Those points must make your speech influential. Start developing an outline that translates into better argumentative speech.

These are some points to consider while working on an argumentative speech:

From absorption to health, you can find many types of topics that you feel comfortable presenting.

At first, think about the topic that you are supporting. Are you supporting abortion or speaking against it? Most of the speaker loves to speak against abortion but should be confident to speak on the topic.

Better verify and try to prove the facts using some examples or supportive words. This makes your speech more powerful and interesting. Consider determining whether you are attempting to take the topic.  

You can definitely find the people who have worked for or else against the topic that you picked up earlier.

For this, you have to carry out the research well. But, this does not mean you have to copy from them. Just take your idea and use them in a better way. This helps to know what step you should take to move forward to make a good flow of the argument.

Each argumentative speech contains both for and against the side. The best probable approach that you can use is to know your opponent. Knowing how your opponent thinks and the points they use makes you easy to perform.

An argumentative speech might be weak if you do not provide any facts. For a good outcome, you need facts supporting your argument on the controversial topic. If you ignore this you might be in a problem while presenting the speech.

Be sure, you know and give the facts, and make your points strong. These facts reduce your risk of looking unprepared and unprofessional.

You cannot give a better outcome without passion. To present superior argumentative speech, you should have an interest in the topic. Better select the topic of your interest. This helps you to work and perform better. If you do not trust yourself and your topic, no one will as well.

Deciding on an arguable topic is essential to developing an effective argumentative speech. Better do not pick up the topic which needs great logic for convincing the audience.

You should have an extreme desire in the topic with a deep opinion on the subject. If he cannot fulfill these criteria, he might not provide influencing arguments.

Find here the List of Argumentative Speech Topics. They are great for developing arguments for debates, persuasive speech, and argumentation.

Argumentative Speech Topics about Education

• Mobile phones should be banned in schools for both students and teachers.
• Exams should be abolished.
• Exam scores do not reflect student performance.
• Mandatory dress code.
• Studying of foreign languages should begin from kindergarten age.
• College students should have freedom to choose their own courses.
• Sex education should be required in all schools.
• Benefits of attending a single-sex school.
• Essays do not demonstrate student’s knowledge on a topic.
• Home education should only be allowed for medical reasons.
• Education should be free to anyone.
• Teachers should have mandatory re-training every 5 years.
• Testing and choice are undermining education.
• Grades are not important.
• Bilingual education.
• CPR and first aid techniques should be a mandatory course.
• State colleges should be free to attend.
• Teachers should wear uniforms or obey a dress code.
• Why educational computer games should be used in school
• Music education should be placed back into schools
• Student Debts
• Do colleges put too much stock in standardized test scores?
• Price of Education and textbooks
• Popular literature is not as valuable as classical literature.
• Smoking and drinking on campus
• Workers should get four weeks paid vacation each year.
• The illegal immigrant workforce is good for the economy.
• Christmas is just a way for businesses to increase sales.
• Rich people should have tax breaks.
• Decreasing wealth tax is good for the economy.
• Salaries of actors, professional athletes and CEOs should be regulated and capped.
• Government aid for students should be based purely on academic performance.
• Taxes should be imposed on unhealthy foods to combat obesity.
• Paying the waiter hourly rate below minimum wage is unfair.
• Mortgage Crisis
• Consumer Debt
• Outsourcing jobs to foreign countries
• Equal pay for equal work
• Fuel Prices
• How nuclear power shaped the 21st century in electrical generation.
• Space exploration is a waste of money.
• Genetic Research is destroying humanity.
• NASA space landing on the moon was a hoax.
• Media’s effect on teen suicide.
• Stem cell research and the guidelines that control it.
• Hunting is good for the environment.
• Food shortage / world hunger.
• Crimes against the environment should be tougher.
• Vegetarianism is an ecologically thoughtful lifestyle.
• Destruction of the world’s forest is justified by a human need for land and food.
• Racing industry should be forced to use environmentally-friendly fuel.
• Working from home is good for the environment.
• Genetically modified food should be the answer to the world’s hunger problem.
• The government should support and subsidize alternative energy sources.
• Alternative Energy and Hybrid Vehicles can help save our planet.
• Nuclear power is better than solar power.
• Future of recycling.
• Advantages of recycling water.
• Alternative Fuels.
• Every family with children filing for divorce must go through a mandatory ‘cooling off’ period.
• Couples should be banned from adopting overseas.
• Future parents should take parenting classes and pass tests before having a child.
• Physical punishment is good practice for raising children.
• Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
• Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?
• Violent video games and toys should not be allowed.
• Technology is making people less creative.
• Human beings are becoming slaves of modern technology.
• Does technology limit creativity?
• Technology makes us lose most of our traditions and culture.
• New technologies create new problems.
• Positive effects of technology on society.
• Modern technology has increased material wealth but not happiness.
• Social Networking Sites had an impact on changing us for the worse.
• Internet censorship is unnecessary.
• Whether the internet has made research easier and more convenient.
•  Life was better when technology was less and more simple.
• Online friends are more effective than real friends.
• Internet Privacy.
• Torrents and internet pirating.
• Social networks are killing sincere relationships.
• Organ donation should be mandatory.
• Health risks of smoking are exaggerated.
• Vaccinations should be compulsory.
• Veganism is an unhealthy way to raise kids.
• Breast-feeding is one of the most important things a mother can give to a child.
• Terminally ill patients should be allowed to use heroin.
• Knowing your ancestry is important for health.
• All farmers should go organic.
• Lapses in food safety as a result of a complex interplay of factors.
• Music Therapy.
• The need of teen depression prevention.
• Drug addiction is a sickness.
• Running is unhealthy.
• Fast food, soda, chips and other unhealthy food should be heavily taxed.
• Bread is bad for your health.
• Child obesity.
• Any products that are believed to cause cancer should have a  warning label.
• The only difference between normal and organic food is the cost.
• Dangers of herbal remedies.
• Smoking a pipe is more harmful than smoking cigarettes.
• Denying health insurance on a basis of a pre-existing condition is against human rights.
• Athletes who are caught using steroids should be banned from the professional sport for life.
• Stretching before and after exercise is overrated.
• A vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat.
• Eating meat and dairy is bad for your body.
• GMOs are bad for health and should be avoided at any cost.
• Why slavery was good for society back in the 1800s.
• Adolf Hitler was a great leader.
• Slavery and its effects on global economic developments.
• Why Reagan’s “War on Drugs” had negative effects.
• Many Caribbean people do not understand their heritage and history.
• Famous people (actors, athletes) should not be allowed to become politicians.
• The War in Iraq was justified.
• Invading other countries, as long as for good cause, is justified.
• Illegal immigrants should get an asylum.
• Democracy is the best form of government.
• Why should we trust Official Statistics?
• War as an instrument of foreign policy.
• Voting should be compulsory for all citizens.
• Compulsory military service is good for society and the country.
• Voting age should be lowered.
• Terrorism is a major issue in the world because innocent people are affected.
• The assassination can never be justified.
• Why electronic voting is not effective.
• Downsides of multiculturalism
• Can racial profiling be useful?
• Churches should be required to pay taxes.
• Racialist blames are often used as a great excuse to shut down dialogue.
• The world would be a more peaceful place without religions.
• Life after death.
• Evolution vs. Creationism.
• There should be no religion in schools.
• Islamic Fundamentalism.
• Religion is a force for evil.
• Students should learn about world religions in public schools.
• Jehovah witnesses.
• Why hockey should allow fights.
• Not all great sportsmen can be good coaches. 
• For athletes: Discipline is more important than talent.
• Female athletes train better with female coaches.
• Chess is not a sport.
• Should players’ jerseys display ads?
• Should there be a set age range for basketball players?
• Can gambling be legalized as a professional sport?
• Spousal Abuse.
• Polygamy creates healthy relationships.
• Gender equality is a myth.
• Having sex with a prostitute is not cheating.
• Does age matter in relationships? What age is appropriate for dating?
• Men should be forced to take paternity leave from work.
• Gender does not affect learning.
• Guns should be made illegal.
• Minors should be tried for murder at any age.
• Social Security and Medical Reform are non-negotiable ways out of the debt crisis.
• Gay couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples.
• Plastic surgery should be illegal for anyone under 18.
• Identity Theft.
• Ban on smoking in public places is undemocratic.
• Euthanasia should be legalized.
• Prostitution should be legalized.
• The taboo on recreational drugs is unjustified.
•  Driving speed limits should be lifted in areas with low accident risk.
• DUI offenders should give up their driver license for a year.
• Laws to protect the victims of domestic abuse should be enforced.
• Making drugs illegal creates an environment for crime and violence.
• Fast Food advertisements and promotions should be banned.
• Retirement should be made compulsory at the age of 60.
• Cell phones and driving.
• Billboards should not be allowed on interstate highways.
• Acceptance of all types of people.
• Today’s world is a dangerous place to live in.
• People don’t enjoy what they have. They constantly seek for more.
• Benefits of having friends.
• Modern offices should have facilities for an afternoon nap.
• Would you rather be lucky, rich, or intelligent?
• Reality television makes people stupid and should be regulated.
• Has television become out-dated?
• Watching television makes people smarter.
• Banning some books and movies can help society.
• Assisted Suicide.
• Genetic Research.
• Is human cloning ethical?
• The Ethics of Capital Punishment.
• Euthanasia is not morally acceptable.
• Abortion is inhumane and murder.
• Abortions should be legal in cases of rape and incest.
• DNA experiments on human embryos are unethical and should not be allowed.
• Torture is an acceptable measure to prevent terrorism.
• Wearing fur is unethical.
• Cultural treasures should be returned to their countries of origin.
• Do animals have rights? Using animals for scientific research is inhumane.
• Spaying and neutering pets should be mandatory.
• Zoos, aquariums, and circus violate animal rights and should be shut down.
• Should scientists bring back extinct species through cloning?
• Hunting is unethical and should not be allowed.
• Doctors are better than Lawyers Are beauty pageants exploitative?
• Feminism is bad for society.
• The Miss America pageant is sexist.

The above-mentioned topics and tips for argumentative speech should help you prepare and deliver an argumentative speech. If you have any suggestions or feedback, please let me know in the comment below.

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Hearing Both Sides Of The Debate: Legalizing Divorce In The Philippines

Posted by Joanna L | Aug 25, 2019 | Love & Relationship | 0 |

Divorce has always been a controversial issue in the Philippines — or maybe even the world. Terminating a sacred union is still a crucial and complicated decision for both the church and the state. Moreover, several groups and organizations in the country are on both sides of the debate, slowing down the transition of the Divorce Act of 2019 into law. 

The masses are still not ready to make a decision, so the question looms: should the Philippines legalize divorce? Let’s take a look at what the public has to say.

No To Divorce

Some Filipinos are entirely against divorce because of their religious beliefs, while others cite Filipino values and culture as another reason why a man and a woman shouldn’t terminate their marriage. 

The Catholic Church itself condemns the existence of the Divorce Act of 2019, saying that it’s unconstitutional, anti-family, anti-children, and against Christian faith. More than 77 Catholic organizations have joined together to oppose the bill on divorce, influencing a vast number of Catholics to host multiple rallies.

Surprisingly, President Rodrigo Duterte also expressed his honest disagreement with the Senate on the divorce bill, letting former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque share his sentiments: “He said the children would be pitiful if there will be divorce…And if there will be divorce, the abandoned spouse will lose the right to file cases against their spouse.”

Other public figures and prominent groups that also voted ‘no’ to divorce are the ALLiance For The Family Foundation Philippines Inc., Senator Joel Villanueva, and the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Movement (led by Bro. Eddie Villanueva). 

Yes To Divorce

Meanwhile, Filipinos who strongly believe that divorce should be legalized in the Philippines claim that the bill is “pro-women legislation”. They see divorce as the best exit for Filipinos experiencing domestic violence, abandonment, and adultery — since annulment and legal separation aren’t enough to save them from the consequences of a failed union. 

Senator Risa Hontiveros, the former representative of Akbayan in the House of Representatives, is one of the leading figures behind the divorce bill. She’s also known for her contributions in the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) law and SOGIE Equality Bill. Hontiveros is the principal author of the proposed Divorce Act of 2019. And just this year, she refiled a bill that will allow an absolute divorce in the country. 

“It’s time that we give Filipinos the chance to free themselves from abusive, loveless and unhappy relationships, and to help them find love and start all over again,” Hontiveros said in a recent interview. 

Strengthening the divorce bill is a recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). The survey revealed that “53% of adult Filipinos nationwide support the legalization of divorce for irreconcilably separated couples.” The sample population all came from the country’s three main island groups, SWS confirmed that the “net agreement with the proposition was highest in Metro Manila at very strong +35, followed by moderately strong in Balance Luzon at +23, Mindanao at +15, and Visayas at +14.”

Aside from Hontiveros, other public figures and prominent groups that are also open with the idea of divorce include Senator Grace Poe, the Divorce Advocates of The Philippines (DAP), and Gabriela Women’s Party. 

The Philippines, at the time of writing, is one of the few remaining countries where divorce is still illegal. Married Filipino couples have an option to go through an annulment or legal separation.

The state has yet to decide if the divorce bill would be made into law, so while the Senate and the House of Representatives are at it, make sure to find some private and public lawyers at Rakuboss.com that can help you move forward if you have marital problems that requires legal action.

About The Author

Joanna is a scriptwriter, content writer, and copywriter based in Manila, Philippines. She enjoys reading Young Adult fantasy and historical fiction novels during her spare time.

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‘People fall in love, people fall out of love:’ Netizens debate divorce

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

MANILA, Philippines – Is predominantly Catholic Philippines ready for divorce?

As the Senate continued to hear 3 divorce bills on Tuesday, September 17, Filipinos online weighed in on legalizing divorce in the country. 

The following are the names of the divorce bills:

• Senate Bill No. 67 – Recognizing the Foreign Decree of Termination of Marriage
• Senate Bill Nos. 288 and 356 – Instituting Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage in the Philippines
• Senate Bill No. 504 – Recognizing the Civil Effects of Church Annulment Decree

The controversial absolute divorce bills, filed by Senators Risa Hontiveros and Pia Cayateno, seek to go beyond psychological incapacity, lack of consent, incapability to bear children, among others, as acceptable reasons for an annulment.

Besides Vatican City, the Philippines is the only nation in the world that does not have a divorce law. (READ: [OPINION | Dash of SAS] The Divorce Bill: Legislating love, sex and marriage )

At the hearing, Hontiveros said that Filipinos, especially women and children, “should be free from abusive and loveless relationships” to be given another chance in life. (READ:  Hontiveros: Divorce bill is ‘pro-family, pro-children ‘)

In  March 2018 , a Social Weather Station survey found that majority of Filipinos support legalizing divorce in the country. Does this still hold true today?

On Tuesday, Rappler ran a conversation on legalizing divorce in the country, and netizens seemed to have clashing opinions about it.

Yes to divorce

For Joy Marcial, legalizing divorce would give someone who’s trapped in an abusive and unhealthy relationship a chance to start a new life.

“If you don’t believe in it and don’t want to get a divorce, then don’t get one. But don’t deprive others of the chance to start over and turn a new leaf after enduring years trapped in a bad marriage,” wrote Marcial. 

The same sentiment was echoed by Roena Cameron, saying that many women are still suffering from trauma because of an abusive relationship. She then recounted her traumatic experience with her husband that eventuallly affected their children. 

Netizen Marie Shuck appealed to those who oppose the bill to stop citing Bible verses to defend their stand and instead try to look at it from the lens of women who were abused by their husbands.

No to divorce

Religious groups and supporters see the measure  as evil, “anti-family,” and detrimental to the children. The Bible, after all, says what God united let no man tear apart. (READ:  [OPINION] Divorce and the religious response )

For Raymond Braganza, legalizing divorce is not the best solution for broken marriages. Acccording to him, lawmakers should amend existing laws on marriages, like raising the age requirement for someone to get married.

Raffy Baltazar shared the same sentiment.

Meanwhile, for Sari Han, if the divorce bill becomes a law, couples would take advantage of it.

Eva Minda Molon-Basas Pangatungan  said that the Philippines has  annulment and legal separation, and those should be enough. 

But  Bobby Cleofe  thinks otherwise. 

Senator Joel Villanueva said he will “definitely oppose” the divorce bill when it reaches the plenary. He said he supports “equal access” to annulment, which he branded “anti-poor.” (READ:  Divorce bill? Villanueva says ‘over my dead body )

Read what other netizens had say about the issue:

President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier expressed his opposition on legalizing divorce because it would negatively affect the children of the couple. (READ:  Duterte against divorce – Malacañang )

How about you? Are you in favor of legalizing divorce in the Philippines? Why or why not? – Rappler.com

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How to Draft a Persuasive Closing Argument in Five Easy Steps

Overwhelmed by the task of writing a persuasive closing argument here's how to draft a persuasive closing argument in five easy steps..

There are very few times when practicing law feels like artistry; closing argument is one of them. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the task — here’s how to draft a persuasive closing argument in five easy steps. 

By Kimberly A. Quach, Family Lawyer

Drafting A Persuasive Closing Argument

This Hot Tip is designed to help with the task of drafting a closing argument in five easy steps. It is hardly a panacea for good preparation, but it can help to allow the lawyer’s nonjudgmental, brainstorming juices flow rather than slow the process of drafting when perfectionism looms.

The Five Easy Steps

The five easy steps to drafting a persuasive closing argument are based on the premise that closing argument is drafted, in part, while trial is going on rather than after the trial. Certainly, one cannot draft a good closing argument until the end of the case, but why not brainstorm about ideas for closing as you listen to the case? Pull out your highlighters, colleagues, as you are listening to opening statements and testimony so that you can easily refer to what you found compelling as you listen to the case. Then, when you finally have the opportunity to draft your closing argument, you can collect all of these bits and pieces and quickly incorporate them into your argument.

Lest I get ahead of myself, though, the steps in drafting your closing argument should include at least the following:

• Listen to the Case Carefully. Listen to the witnesses, the evidence presented, and the Court and opposing counsel with the theme of your case repeating like a well-memorized mantra. Also, look for the Big Mistake made by the opposing client.
• Highlight Supporting Information for Future Reference.  Highlight any testimony, and comments by the Court that support your theme in the case, as well as your perception of the Big Mistake made by the opposing client.
• Identify Two or Three Main Points in the Case. Identify two or, at most, three main points relevant to the Court’s consideration.
• Fit the Supporting Information into Your Outline. Take all of the highlighted information that you thought was helpful and place it into the outline that you have created.
• Create a Catchy Introduction That Summarizes Your Assessment of the Case. After you have created an outline, complete with supporting information, craft a pithy, catchy introduction with which to start your closing.

Listen To The Case Carefully

It is important to establish a theme to your case in your opening statement, which is beyond the scope of this Hot Tip, so I will not address how to develop that theme. Your task, as you listen to the case, is to listen for how your theme plays through the evidence. Is it being supported? Does the theme need to be modified? If so, what additional evidence should be submitted to support the modified theme? How do you plan to pitch the justification for the modified theme to the Court in closing?

It is also important to see how the opposing client’s theme plays through the evidence. Has he made promises that were not kept during the case? Has he introduced testimony or evidence that contradicts his theme? A Big Mistake is the part of a case in which the opposing client submits testimony or evidence that substantially undercuts his initial assessment of the case. Listen to the case carefully to identify that Big Mistake. At some point in the middle of your closing, make sure to identify the opposing client’s Big Mistake to undercut the opposing case. It is best to do so in the middle of the case so that the court does not view this technique as unnecessarily negative or overzealous.

Highlight Supporting Information For Future Reference

There is no reason to artificially compartmentalize tasks as a trial advocate. Being a good trial lawyer is a lot like flying an airplane on instruments — one has several critical functions to negotiate simultaneously, and it is perfectly fine (perhaps even expected) to multitask. So that listening to the evidence for closing argument does not become overly burdensome, I suggest you simply use one color of highlighter to identify the information you feel might be valuable for your closing. If you highlight the important tidbits, you will be more likely to stop worrying about remembering them later. (Those lawyers that are highlighter-happy might use another color for cross-examination.)

Remember that there are several sources of information for your closing. The judge may make preliminary comments on the record or in chambers that you wish to address in closing. Your client or an expert might have used a clever phrase to describe a feature of the case. In one of my recent trials, the expert said the father was “consistently inconsistent‚” in his positions during a custody study, a statement I found particularly helpful in my closing. And do not forget exhibits as a source of closing argument materials, which should be identified by exhibit number in your closing so the Court has a clear outline of why you are making your arguments. The judge may not prepare a ruling for several days after the trial, so specific references to exhibits and testimony will be helpful to refresh her recollection. Even more important, use of exhibit numbers and specific references to testimony will vest your argument with an air of credibility, making the Court more secure in its willingness to trust your perceptions of the case.

Identify Two Or Three Main Points In The Case

The Court can process only so much information. After reviewing all of your highlighted information in a very summary fashion, try to think of two or three main ideas that summarize the evidence and testimony. This should be the hardest part of drafting your argument, so do not be hard on yourself if it takes a little time. A cohesive structure for your argument is the very foundation of what makes it compelling and easy for the Court to digest completely, with all of its nuances.

Fit The Supporting Information Into Your Outline

• You can state, “All of the lay witnesses agreed that the Mother was the child’s primary caretaker, including . . .“ and list the witnesses’ names.
• The wife’s spending habits, as summarized in the year-end VISA and American Express Statements (Exhibits 31 and 32), show that she spent at least $3,000 a month after taxes.

If a witness provides a good anecdote about the evidence, place it in the outline. At this point, do not be judgmental about what you include. Just list it all.

If you are like me, the closing argument you have drafted is about an hour long. If your judge does not have this level of patience, now is the time to start cutting out detail that you feel is not essential to the argument, or to summarize the detail more briefly. Your choice about what to omit from your closing argument should be based, in part, upon how the judge responded to the evidence. If she was annoyed by one particularly uneventful turn in the evidence, it is a good bet you can safely omit that discussion from your closing. If your judge was careful not to reveal her leanings, put your best argument together. Know that you may need to adapt if the judge appears to wince at your approach during closing.

Create a Catchy Introduction That Summarizes Your Assessment of the Case

Your argument is drafted. You breathe a sigh of relief. But now, according to communications experts, you need a catchy introduction. This introduction will grab the Court’s attention and give you the momentum to deliver your closing with an appropriate level of enthusiasm. It should complement your theme. Perhaps you will quote a witness, or read from an exhibit, or provide an analogy for the way in which your client or the opposing client is approaching the case. Whatever it is, make it simple. Your goal is to have the Court repeat your introduction and theme in her ruling.

Drafting a closing argument is hardly brain surgery, but sometimes we treat it that way because we want it to be excellent. This Hot Tip hopefully provides some ways to help the lawyer quickly draft a compelling closing argument by treating it like a brainstorming exercise, rather than like Chagall’s irreversible splotch of oil paint on a clean canvas. There are very few times when practicing law feels like artistry; closing argument is one of them. Be creative, and be credible by preparing for closing argument throughout the trial.

Related Articles

The Assisted Opening Statement Show the judge why your case is worthwhile.

Development and Introduction of Exhibits Almost anything can be an exhibit, if it will advance the cause and lead to proof of the case.

Kimberly Quach is a member of the Oregon and Washington bars. She practiced commercial litigation and family law in Seattle and Portland before moving to Singapore in 2000 and becoming general counsel to NMG Financial Services Consulting.

About the Author

Diana Shepherd, CDFA®

Diana Shepherd has over 30 years of experience as a marketing, branding, SEO, copywriting, editing, and publishing expert. As Content Director for Family Lawyer Magazine, Divorce Magazine , and Divorce Marketing Group , she oversees all corporate content development and frequently creates SEO-friendly videos, podcasts, and copy for family law and financial firms. The Co-Founder of Divorce Magazine and Divorce Marketing Group, Diana is an award-winning editor, published author, and a nationally recognized expert on divorce, remarriage, finance, and stepfamily issues. She has written hundreds of articles geared towards both family law professionals and divorcing people, and she has both performed and taught on-page SEO for 20+ years. Diana spent eight years as the Marketing Director for the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts® (IDFA®), and she has been a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® since 2006. While at IDFA, she wrote, designed, and published  The IDFA Marketing Guide , and she also created seminars for CDFA professionals to present to family lawyers (approved for CLE), as well as to separated and divorcing individuals. She has represented both DMG and IDFA at industry conferences and events across North America, and she has given marketing as well as divorce financial seminars at many of those conferences.

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Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas: A Complete Divorce Timeline

Say it ain't so! Following reports of a split in September 2023, the news was confirmed two days later: Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner are headed toward divorce after four years of marriage.

On September 3, TMZ reported that the 34-year-old pop star had consulted divorce lawyers after six months of “serious problems.” The couple got married ( twice ) in 2019 and have since welcomed two daughters , though the famous parents do their best to keep their children out of the public eye .

Obviously, fans were devastated by the unconfirmed report, but there was a small inkling of hope: Not only did Jonas wear his wedding ring during the Jonas Brothers concert on September 3, but Page Six reported that the band still performed “Hesitate,” which Jonas previously described as a “love letter” to the 27-year-old Game of Thrones star. “It’s like my vows before I wrote my vows,” Jonas said during the Happiness Continues concert film in 2020. “It’s my promise to Sophie.”

On September 5, however, Jonas filed for divorce, officially setting the split in motion. Here's a complete timeline of Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner's divorce.

October 2016: Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner meet for the first time after the pop singer slides into her DMs. Jonas is 27 years old; Turner is 20. “We had a lot of mutual friends, and they'd been trying to introduce us for a long time,” Turner will tell Harper’s Bazaar  UK in March 2019. “We were following each other on Instagram and he direct-messaged me one fine day, out of the blue.”

May 1, 2019: Surprise! The pair elope in Las Vegas after the Billboard Music Awards.

Instagram content

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June 29, 2019: The pair have a more traditional wedding in Paris.

July 22, 2020: Turner and Jonas welcome their first child , a daughter named Willa .

July 2022: The pair welcome their second daughter , Delphine, almost exactly two years after having Willa.

August 14, 2023: Turner shares a sweet photo with Jonas on Instagram with the caption “🎵 long long New York nights 🎵.”

September 2, 2023: According to the TikTok account @culturework , a celebrity blind item says that Jonas is spotted without his wedding ring just one day before divorce reports break.

However, Jonas can be seen wearing his ring in a photo with his brothers, which is posted to Instagram the same day. “Happy Labor Day weekend everyone,” he captions the pic. “This tour has be incredible so far! Having a little family time in the Texas sunset tonight before a big Austin show tomorrow. 🤘”

By Anna Moeslein

By Kathleen Walsh

By The Glamour editors

September 3, 2023: After four years of marriage, TMZ reports that Jonas has had his team “consult” with two LA-based divorce lawyers with the intention of filing for divorce from the 27-year-old Game of Thrones star after six months of “serious problems.”

According to a source, Jonas—who is currently on tour with the Jonas Brothers—has been taking care of the kids “pretty much all of the time” over the past three months as Turner films a project in the UK. Hours later, a source tells People that Jonas has, indeed, retained a divorce lawyer. Turner declined People 's request for comment, and Jonas's team has not yet responded.

That night, Jonas is also spotted wearing his wedding ring during the Jonas Brothers concert in Austin.

September 5, 2023: Jonas officially files for divorce, Today confirms, stating in the documents that the marriage is “irretrievably broken.” Per the filing obtained by Today , he is asking for joint custody of the couple's two children, who have been primarily residing with him.

September 6, 2023: Jonas and Turner release a joint statement, which they share simultaneously from their respective Instagram accounts.

The short statement is credited simply “from the two of us,” and says that the relationship was ended “mutually” and “amicably.” They also acknowledge the “speculative narratives” regarding the reason for the divorce, but state that the decision to split was a united one.

September 7, 2023: Page Six publishes photos of Jonas eating breakfast with his daughters at an outdoor restaurant in Los Angeles, which is particularly interesting considering how hard Turner has worked to keep paparazzi from taking pictures of her kids . We will not be linking out to the pictures.

According to a new report from TMZ , multiple sources say Jonas has been “less than supportive” of Turner, who was allegedly “struggling” after the birth of their second child. TMZ reports, “Our sources say, after their youngest child was born a year ago July, Sophie didn't want to leave their home…. She didn't want to be photographed or go to events. Nevertheless, she attended several events with Joe, but at one specific event, several people who were there said Sophie made it clear she was uncomfortable and didn't want to be there.”

Sources added that Jonas complained that Turner “needed to get out more.”

Meanwhile, People reports that the reason the kids have been staying with Jonas is because there is “more support” available to them while he tours with family than they would have in the UK, where Turner was shooting her latest project. “She has been shooting, which is why the kids have been with Joe,” the source said. “It's just been easier because she's been working for the kids to be with him because there's some more support at home and on the road with his family. It’s something they both agreed was best.”

The same day, the Daily Mail reports that Turner “downed cocktails and shots” on Saturday, September 2, at the wrap party for her latest project, the TV show Joan, which had just finished filming in the UK. They attributed this summary of events to bartender Hezron Stephenson, who works at DropShots (the bar where the wrap party was held) and who had shared photos of himself and Turner on social media.

The story surfaced days after a “source” leaked that Turner “liked to party,” while Jonas preferred to stay home with the kids. (This narrative, of course, is a thinly veiled attempt to smear Turner as a bad mother. More on that here .)

The bartender says he was “shocked” to find out about her divorce a few days after the party because of “how happy and relaxed she was.”

“But it also made sense because it was obvious when I was with Sophie that she wanted to return to her days of partying,” Stephenson tells the Mail. “I sensed that she was missing those times.”

September 8, 2023: Stephenson speaks out about the Daily Mail 's characterization of his story in a video published on TikTok. “Everything's been spun in a terrible way and I feel like such a prick,” he says. “All this is my fault and I'm very sorry for it. It wasn't intentional.”

Stephenson covers a lot of ground in the four-minute TikTok video, noting that he didn't really know who Turner was or anything about her life before she came to the bar. He adds that the reason they had discussed clubs was because they learned they're from the same area—just normal small talk.

“It wasn't even a party,” Stephenson explains, countering the Mail 's version of events. “It was literally, like, 40 people there—there were producers, executives, they were people that she was working with. And now it's been spun about like she was out on the set.” [ Editor's note: “The set” is British slang for a party, and not the work-related kind. ]

He also says that he asked permission to post the photos of Turner at the bar, and her team said yes. “Then two days later it gets about that she's getting a divorce,” he says.

“The annoying thing for me is obviously [her team] would've known that she was getting a divorce,” he continues. “Just because it wasn't publicized, they would've known what was going on. I kind of feel a little let down that we then posted the photos…and then were told that we have to take them down because of what was going on.”

As for her carefree demeanor in the photos, Stephenson says that she was simply obliging his requests to smile and pose for the cameras, and that, while she did enjoy some drinks with her colleagues, “she wasn't getting smashed.”

“She had maybe a couple of drinks. That mojito,” he said, referencing the drink in her hand in one of the photos, “she had probably like two of them, if that. We had a couple of shots together and then they left at two o'clock. She wasn't paralytic, she wasn't sitting there drowning in sorrows, forgetting children or anything like that. She was just finishing work and going home.”

“And for her to be painted like she's some kind of terrible parent,” he added, shaking his head. “I can't comment on that because I don't know her lifestyle, I don't know her like that. But what I do know is when I did meet her, she was very down-to-earth, very lovely, very approachable, very nice, and I feel very sorry that all this has come about from photos that I've posted.”

Watch the video below:

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September 9, 2023: Joe Jonas makes his first solo public statement to fans during the Jonas Brothers concert at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. “It's been a tough week. I just wanna say, look, if you don’t hear it from these lips, don’t believe it,” he told the crowd, per fan recordings . "Okay? Thank you everyone for your love and support. Me and my family love you guys.”

After his speech, Jonas appeared to shed a tear as he performed “Hesitate,” according to one fan video .

September 12, 2023: Turner is spotted back at work filming the upcoming series Joan in Spain for the first time since the news dropped, and she was rocking a totally new look. For the character, she wears a blonde bob and a massive back tattoo, both of which you can see here . (Actors in Europe are not on strike; she's not a scab!) As the outlet notes, Turner, who was photographed while taking a cigarette break, holds her phone, which has a Toy Story case on it. She and Joe got Buzz Lightyear tattoos together . My heart!

September 18, 2023: Turner and Jonas have lunch with their daughters in New York City.

September 20, 2023: Turner is spotted having dinner with Taylor Swift in NYC. Swift briefly dated Jonas in 2008 until he broke up with her over voicemail.

September 21, 2023: Turner sues Jonas for the “wrongful retention” of their two children in New York. According to Turner's petition, obtained by Today , Jonas blocked the actor from returning the couple's daughters to their “habitual residence in England.” She alleges that they had jointly decided to make Turner's home country their permanent residence back in April, and suggests that Jonas is currently withholding the girls' passports.

However, the most shocking news to come out of the legal filing was Turner's claim that she had learned that Jonas was filing for divorce only through the media. In the petition she says the couple “had an argument” on August 15 and discovered via the news on September 5 that he was moving forward with a divorce.

Soon after Turner filed her petition, Jonas's representatives released a statement to People regarding both the childcare conflict and Turner's accusation that she was blindsided by the divorce.

Representatives for Jonas called her petition “misleading” and insisted that the singer was “okay with the kids being raised both in the US and the UK.” Additionally, his reps claim, Jonas is unable to release his children to England with Turner because doing so would violate a previous court order issued in the state of Florida.

“The Florida court has already entered an order that restricts both parents from relocating the children,” the statement reads. “Sophie was served with this order on September 6, 2023, more than two weeks ago.”

Regarding Turner's allegation that Jonas sprung the divorce on her, the statement says that Turner was “aware” of the proceedings. “After multiple conversations with Sophie, Joe initiated divorce proceedings in Florida, as Florida is the appropriate jurisdiction for the case,” the statement says. “Sophie was aware that Joe was going to file for divorce.”

During the Jonas Brothers’s show in Philadelphia on September 21, Joe uses his time onstage to shout out parents before performing “Little Bird,” a song that each brother has dedicated to their children.

“This next one is all about being a parent,” Joe says, per People . He adds a “good luck” to those who wish to become parents in the future.

Meanwhile, in New York, Turner steps out for dinner with Taylor Swift for the second time in one week.

Twice in one week!

By Hanna Lustig

September 22, 2023: Jessica Chastain enters the chat, showing support for Turner by quote-tweeting an X.com post by renowned author Roxane Gay. “The way Joe Jonas miscalculated his popularity with his transparent attempts at PR manipulation, particularly when the North remembers is FASCINATING,” Gay wrote . “And holding the children's passports to keep them from their mother? Bruh.”

Chastain shared the post, describing Gay as “The Oracle” and adding a white heart.

September 25, 2023: Turner and Jonas will temporarily keep their daughters in New York City, according to new court filings obtained by People . Per the interim consent order, which both parties have reportedly agreed upon, both children are to remain in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, including New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.

September 27, 2023: Turner is photographed leaving a Tribeca apartment that reportedly belongs to none other than Taylor Swift. According to Page Six , sources claim the singer has loaned the Game of Thrones star her NYC “investment property” while Turner works through custody arrangements with Jonas.

October 4, 2023: Turner and Jonas begin their four-day mediation to resolve their custody issues and agree on a plan for how they will co-parent their two daughters, according to People . The hope is that the two will settle many of their most serious conflicts ahead of their January 2 trial date.

October 10, 2023: The pair have settled their custody agreement…for now.

Per People , Jonas and Turner reach a temporary agreement through the end of the year following days-long mediation sessions. Daughters Willa and Delphine will split time between their parents, and both Jonas and Turner will be allowed to travel with the children anywhere in the United States or England.

As for their long-term arrangement, the estranged couple must “jointly submit a status report letter” before December 2023 outlining where they stand in the mediation process.

“After a productive and successful mediation, we have agreed that the children will spend time equally in loving homes in both the US and the UK,” the exes said in a statemen t to Page Six. “We look forward to being great co-parents.”

October 11, 2023: Jonas reportedly files to dismiss his divorce case in Miami, according to court filings obtained by Page Six . The documents reveal that the former couple reached “various agreements” during mediation and plan to “pursue an amicable resolution of all issues.”

October 13, 2023: Page Six reports that Turner and former sister-in-law Priyanka Chopra have unfollowed each other on Instagram. According to the report, Turner and Kevin Jonas's wife, Danielle Jonas, still follow each other.

As of October 13, 2023

This is particularly interesting considering Turner remains Instagram mutuals with all three Jonas Brothers as of October 13.

As of October 13, 2023.

October 28, 2023: Sophie Turner was photographed locking lips with British aristocrat Peregrine “Perry” Pearson, who recently went through a breakup of his own with Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark. Per multiple outlets, including The Sun , Turner and Pearson were spotted kissing at the Gare du Nord railway station before catching the Rugby World Cup finals between New Zealand and South Africa.

March 19, 2024: Turner's lawyers have submitted paperwork in Florida asking the court to reactivate their divorce proceedings, citing “that the abatement has come to an end and this case is to be reactivated,” according to People . “The filing was a legal formality, and the couple continues to negotiate an amicable resolution,” a representative for Jonas told the outlet. The temporary custody agreement the couple agreed to expired in January 2024.

May 15, 2024: British Vogue publishes a profile of Turner in which the actor can't address the specifics of the divorce for legal reasons, but opens up about the emotional fallout of the “bad mom” stories, calling the media cycle the “worst days of her life.” She explains that she couldn't be with her children at the time because she was under contract for a series in the U.K.

“Those were the worst few days of my life.”

By Elizabeth Logan

Turner also reveals that she hated being grouped together with the other Jonas “wives.” She says, “It was kind of this plus-one feeling. And that’s nothing to do with him—in no way did he make me feel that—it was just that the perception of us was as the groupies in the band.”

The actor also opened up about marrying and having children at such a young age, noting that she felt incredibly isolated when she moved first to Los Angeles, and then to Miami with Jonas. "We were in this community full of 50-year-old men, so imagine trying to make friends on the dog walk,” she said. “I just felt like a little bird trapped in a gilded cage. It was amazing, yes, but I didn’t have any friends there.”

This post will be updated.

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New Caledonia's Pacific neighbours called for de-escalation and a return to dialogue between France and the island territory's political parties, after a third night of violent riots that have killed four people and led to hundreds of arrests.

A Philippine group leading a civilian supply mission in the South China Sea delivered food and fuel to Filipino fishermen despite being shadowed by Chinese vessels, its officials said on Thursday, calling it a "major victory".

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Lisa Vanderpump said she ‘loved’ kicking Kyle Richards out of her house during explosive ‘RHOBH’ fight

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Goodbye, Kyle!

Lisa Vanderpump “loved” kicking Kyle Richards out of her plush Beverly Hills home during their explosive fight back in 2018.

Appearing on “Watch What Happens Live!” Tuesday night, the former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star, 63, was asked if she regretted tossing her ex-BFF mid-argument out when tensions ran high.

“Oh no,” the “Vanderpump Rules” star responded. “Not only that I don’t regret it, but I loved it.”

Vanderpump and Richards, 55, were best friends in the early days of the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”

The pair’s feud erupted in 2018 when the “Halloween” actress accused the British reality star of leaking a negative story about co-star Dorit Kemsley  to the press.

The London native vehemently denied the accusations and their friendship never recovered.

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The duo’s blow-out fight prompted Vanderpump and her husband, Ken Todd, to kick the mom of four out of their home with a memorable, “Goodbye Kyle!”

Vanderpump, who starred on the show since 2010,  stopped filming “RHOBH”  in the wake of the drama before announcing her exit from the reality show in 2019 following a nine-season run.

Elsewhere during her appearance on Andy Cohen’s talk show, Vanderpump threw shade at Dorit Kemsley’s appearance over the years during a game of “Do You Regret It?” on the show. 

“Do you regret cutting Dorit’s head out of the photoshoot she did for ‘Beverly Hills Lifestyle’?” Cohen asked.

“No. She actually has a head transplant because her face doesn’t look anything like it did when she started. So I thought, ‘I’ll cut it off because I don’t know what this head is going to look like,” Vanderpump said.

Taken aback by Vanderpump’s shade, Cohen said, “I think Gordon [Ramsey] makes you even shadier than you normally are,” referencing the celebrity chef who sat beside Vanderpump.

“This is worse than ‘Hell’s Kitchen,'” Vanderpump quipped, referring to the British chef’s hit show.

Vanderpump also shared that she was not surprised to hear that the mom of two and her husband Paul “PK” Kemsley had separated .

“I was not, sadly,” she said. “I do have a mutual friend, well a few mutual friends with PK, and I kind of heard from the hotel he was staying in for many months that they had been separated for quite a long time, on and off, backwards and forwards. So, no, it didn’t surprise me.”

Still, Vanderpump said she hopes the pair will work through their marital woes.

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Property owner to appeal emergency order after 40 fruit pickers from Vanuatu found living in one Tasmanian house

About 40 fruit pickers from Vanuatu were found living in a "cramped, hot and crowded" dwelling in north-west Tasmania where the fire safety risk was "obvious".

The kitchen had only one working burner, and some of the workers were using portable cookers connected to power boards next to bunk beds, which were in turn connected to other power boards.

The conditions were detailed in the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT), after the owner of the property at Shearwater — a company called Insight Pty Ltd — appealed an emergency order from Latrobe Council issued last year.

TASCAT rejected the appeal, and this week provided its reasons.

Insight director Simon Baldock confirmed the company intends to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The TASCAT decision outlined how the most crowded area was a 58-square-metre converted sunroom, which contained 18 bunk beds and a mattress on the floor.

The workers were living at the property under the Commonwealth's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, but were working on a farm that was unrelated to the property owners.

Following a tip-off, council inspectors made an unannounced visit on February 15, 2023, and found multiple rooms with overloaded power boards.

A building inspector had difficulties accessing one of the exit doors to the sunroom, and a compliance officer said there was "minimal ventilation" in the bedrooms. Some doors and windows were blocked by bunk beds.

"A significant number of rooms in the larger dwelling had been converted into bedrooms. There were approximately 10 bedrooms with 56 total bunk beds available throughout the dwelling," the report noted.

Body-worn footage was provided to TASCAT, in which various workers described the living conditions as "cramped, hot and too crowded", while inspectors commented on how "hot and stuffy" some of the bedrooms were.

Two staff members from the Tasmania Fire Service also attended, with one saying firefighters "could very quickly become overwhelmed" if a fire occurred and 40 people were inside, and the other describing the fire safety risk as "very significant".

Latrobe Council issued the emergency order due to the fire risk.

House did not meet fire safety rules

Mr Baldock had earlier argued the emergency order was not necessary.

In its appeal to TASCAT, the company argued the dwelling was a "Class 1A" building; a category that includes share houses.

Class 1A buildings have lower fire safety requirements, and usually have fewer than 12 occupants.

In the decision, TASCAT members dismissed Insight's argument that the dwelling was Class 1A.

Even if it were, the TASCAT members said it would not have met fire safety requirements.

"The potential risk to the seasonal workers that were housed in the dwelling was obvious," they wrote.

"The emergency order insofar as it required those workers to evacuate was necessary to prevent the possibility of a tragic loss of life if there was a fire."

Another building surveyor believed it was a Class 3 building — generally a boarding house — that has far higher fire safety requirements.

TASCAT accepted this argument.

In a statement, Mr Baldock said "as a family we are disappointed by the outgoing GM's [council general manager's] parting swipe at us, our business and family integrity".

"The TASCAT decision raises unique questions of law about what an Australian dwelling is, with huge implications for share houses and group housing."

He said the "fire threat claimed was, on our advice, grossly exaggerated". 

Not the first emergency order issued

Latrobe Council earlier said the workers were given alternative accommodation after the emergency order was issued.

It came just over three years after the council issued an emergency order on the same property, where about 70 Pacific Island workers were being housed.

Insight was ordered to pay some of the council's costs.

Latrobe Council general manager Gerald Monson said he was pleased with the decision.

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