RJA #9b: Argument

Research Question:
What is the most effective form of treatment for autism?

Reasons:
- Early intervention gives autistic children a greater chance at leading a normal life in the future.

- Continued education by parents assists in forging and solidifying a bond with their autistic children. This will allow further development in an autistic child's social skills.

- Continued education by public schools allows autistic children a greater chance at a normal future because autistic children will be receiving important instruction more consistently than if only parents were providing education.

- Continued education by public schools will give autistic children in families that are unable to afford costly private treatments a chance to reach their full potential through continued daily instruction.

Complete Thesis Statement:
The best form of treatment for autistic children includes early intervention and continued education by both parents and public schools because early intervention greatly increases an autistic child's chance at leading a normal life in the future while early education from parents will help autistic children improve their social skills by teaching them how to bond with others and continued education from public schools will create a more constant and affordable education for autistic children.

Counterarguments:
- Educating a child with autism is a full-time job. Families with autistic children will suffer financially and emotionally from the amount of time one or both parents will have to put into educating their autistic child.

- Creating an education plan that consists of large amounts of one-on-one time between a teacher and an autistic child in a public school will only lead the autistic child to feel isolated from the rest of the children in the school and will not ultimately help the child improve social skills.

- Because so much is still unknown about the disorder, the amount of resources needed to support a unique and specific educational plan recommended for autistic children would take away from other students' education quality in public schools.