Here are three argumentative essay prompts suitable for a 9-paragraph essay that ask college students to critically evaluate the claim that football is too dangerous to be allowed, while integrating multiple sources and perspectives:
Prompt 1: “Freedom vs. Paternalism: Should Football Be Banned for Its Dangers?”
Essay Prompt:
Some argue that football should be banned due to its inherent risks—brain trauma, long-term disability, and early death—especially when these dangers are now well-documented through studies, documentaries like Concussion, and essays such as “Offensive Play” by Malcolm Gladwell and “Youth Football Is a Moral Abdication” by Kathleen Bachynski. Others argue that adults, like bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman in The King, have the right to punish their bodies for greatness. Should society protect athletes from themselves, or should personal freedom and the pursuit of glory override concerns about safety?
Thesis Requirement:
Take a position on whether football should be banned, regulated further, or left alone. Consider the ethical tension between protecting individuals and respecting their freedom to accept risk.
Prompt 2: “Is Football Immoral Entertainment or Heroic Spectacle?”
Essay Prompt:
Critics like Steve Almond in “Is It Immoral to Watch the Super Bowl?” argue that football is exploitative, violent, and unethically consumed as entertainment by fans who ignore the human cost. Yet, defenders claim that physical sacrifice is the very essence of elite sports, citing Ronnie Coleman’s punishing regimen or the spectacle of NFL Sundays. Drawing from Concussion, Ronnie Coleman: The King, and at least three essays from the list above, argue whether watching and supporting football is morally indefensible—or a celebration of human extremes that demands respect, not condemnation.
Thesis Requirement:
Argue whether football spectatorship is morally wrong, or whether it reflects a deeper cultural valorization of sacrifice and spectacle that deserves to continue.
Prompt 3: “A Necessary Risk? Comparing Football to Other High-Impact Sports”
Essay Prompt:
Football is often singled out for its violence and long-term damage to players, as shown in the essays by Dave Bry and Ingfei Chen. But many other sports—MMA, boxing, gymnastics, bodybuilding—also inflict harm in pursuit of greatness. Is it fair to hold football to a different standard? Using Concussion, Ronnie Coleman: The King, and at least three essays from the list, write an argumentative essay that addresses whether football is uniquely immoral—or simply another example of how society accepts risk in exchange for performance and entertainment.
Thesis Requirement:
Argue whether football should be abolished due to its extreme risks, or whether it should be viewed in the same ethical category as other dangerous yet glorified sports.
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Here are three 9-paragraph essay outlines, each corresponding to one of the prompts I gave you. These outlines are structured to guide students in developing strong thesis-driven arguments with counterargument and rebuttal sections.
Prompt 1 Outline: “Freedom vs. Paternalism: Should Football Be Banned for Its Dangers?”
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
- Hook: Paint a vivid image of the risks of football (e.g., brain damage, CTE).
- Context: Mention growing concern from scientists, journalists, and cultural critics.
- Thesis: While football poses undeniable dangers, banning it would violate the principle of personal freedom; instead, informed adults should be allowed to take risks in pursuit of meaning, glory, and identity.
Paragraph 2 – Background on Football’s Dangers
- Use examples from Concussion, Gladwell’s “Offensive Play,” and Ingfei Chen’s article to detail the physical and neurological toll of the game.
- Discuss youth football concerns using Bachynski’s critique.
Paragraph 3 – The Paternalist Case for Banning Football
- Lay out the moral argument that society has an obligation to protect players from harm—even from themselves.
- Reference Steve Almond’s and Dave Bry’s essays.
- Raise the point about fans being complicit in systemic exploitation.
Paragraph 4 – The Freedom to Choose Dangerous Paths
- Use Ronnie Coleman as a counterpoint: he knowingly destroyed his body in pursuit of greatness.
- Argue that personal agency and risk are part of greatness in many sports.
Paragraph 5 – Informed Consent and Regulation
- Propose that the real solution is not banning but making sure players are fully informed and medically monitored.
- Mention existing reforms in football and suggestions for further safety protocols.
Paragraph 6 – Counterargument: The Problem of Informed Consent in Minors
- Acknowledge that children and teenagers cannot truly give informed consent.
- Revisit Bachynski’s argument about moral abdication in youth football.
Paragraph 7 – Rebuttal: Ban Youth Football, Not the Whole Game
- Suggest a middle-ground policy: ban tackle football for minors, regulate pro and college levels.
- Emphasize adult autonomy and institutional responsibility.
Paragraph 8 – Broader Implications: Personal Risk in a Free Society
- Link to other professions and sports with risk (e.g., firefighting, racing).
- Defend risk as a necessary ingredient in human excellence and personal identity.
Paragraph 9 – Conclusion
- Reaffirm thesis: Football is dangerous, but banning it would be paternalistic overreach.
- End with a call for ethical regulation, informed choice, and cultural honesty.
Prompt 2 Outline: “Is Football Immoral Entertainment or Heroic Spectacle?”
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
- Hook: Contrast images of Super Bowl Sunday parties with a football player in a wheelchair, suffering CTE.
- Context: Critics argue football is a bloodsport; defenders see valor.
- Thesis: While football’s dangers are real, condemning it as immoral entertainment ignores the deeper human drive toward spectacle, risk, and transcendent physical achievement.
Paragraph 2 – The Moral Case Against Watching Football
- Summarize Almond’s, Bry’s, and Gladwell’s critiques of football as exploitative.
- Emphasize the consumer’s moral responsibility.
Paragraph 3 – The Physical Toll of Greatness
- Compare football players to Ronnie Coleman: both destroy their bodies to reach the top.
- Use Ronnie Coleman: The King as evidence of informed sacrifice.
Paragraph 4 – The Heroic Spectacle Argument
- Argue that what we celebrate in sports is the extreme: speed, pain tolerance, power.
- Football is thrilling precisely because it pushes limits.
Paragraph 5 – Football and Consent
- Highlight that football players, unlike gladiators, choose their path.
- Many see it as a path to identity, meaning, and upward mobility.
Paragraph 6 – Counterargument: Viewers Are Still Morally Complicit
- Acknowledge Almond’s point that fans create the demand.
- Point out that cheering injuries is a moral low point.
Paragraph 7 – Rebuttal: Admiration Is Not Exploitation
- Make the case that admiration and exploitation are not the same.
- Use examples from Concussion and Vasilogambros’ essay showing many players don’t see themselves as victims.
Paragraph 8 – The Cultural Importance of Football
- Explore football’s symbolic value in American identity and tradition.
- Mention Concussion to show that reform, not erasure, may be the better path.
Paragraph 9 – Conclusion
- Restate thesis: Football’s violence is part of its mythic power, not its moral failure.
- Leave reader with a question: Do we truly want to live in a world without high-stakes heroism?
Prompt 3 Outline: “A Necessary Risk? Comparing Football to Other High-Impact Sports”
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
- Hook: Imagine a risk-free Olympics—no broken bones, no injuries, no edge. Would anyone watch?
- Context: Football is under fire, but risk is foundational to many beloved sports.
- Thesis: Though football is dangerous, it should not be singled out for abolition when other high-risk sports continue with public admiration and participant consent.
Paragraph 2 – The Case Against Football’s Danger
- Outline the evidence from Concussion, Chen’s article, and Bry’s essay.
- Include the cultural concern about long-term brain injuries.
Paragraph 3 – Football’s Uniqueness (Critics’ View)
- Present the argument that football is worse due to repeated head trauma.
- Highlight Gladwell’s and Bachynski’s emphasis on sub-concussive hits.
Paragraph 4 – But Other Sports Are Just as Brutal
- Bring in MMA, boxing, gymnastics, bodybuilding.
- Describe Ronnie Coleman’s spinal degeneration from lifting.
Paragraph 5 – The Freedom to Risk and the Myth of the “Safe Sport”
- Emphasize that even “safe” sports carry injury risks.
- Athletes know the trade-off and often embrace it.
Paragraph 6 – Counterargument: Kids Can’t Choose Risk Responsibly
- Acknowledge the issue of youth sports, echoing Bachynski.
- Minors can’t weigh long-term risk like adults.
Paragraph 7 – Rebuttal: Reform, Not Abolition
- Support banning tackle football for kids, but defend adult participation.
- Cite reforms in helmets, rules, and concussion protocols.
Paragraph 8 – Sports and the Human Drive for Glory
- Revisit Ronnie Coleman: he knowingly embraced suffering for excellence.
- Link this drive to the nature of sport and human aspiration.
Paragraph 9 – Conclusion
- Restate thesis: Football isn’t uniquely immoral—it’s one chapter in a larger story of human performance and risk.
- Conclude with a call for honest conversations, not blanket bans.
Cinemorphosis 
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