HELP!!!! I’m writing a persuasive essay on “Serial Killers” ……..?

www.truecrimelibrary.com (or it might be www.truecrime.com–not sure off the top of my head) has articles on why serial killers do what they do, including myths about serial killers and childhood symptoms of someone who might grow up to become a serial killer. You could discuss myths that society has about serial killers (ie, that they are all geniuses). Or you could discuss the impact serial killers have had on the media (i.e., through serial killer movies like Hannibal and Texas Chainsaw Massacre). That site has articles on that subject as well–like evaluations of serial killer-influenced films, and a really interesting article on a subculture that has developed around serial killing–people pay serious money for murder relics, like items involved in famous killing and paintings done by serial killers in jail.

Good luck with the essay!

try the fbi history museum or americas most wanted website or try the australian federal police websites and ask for some stuff on the serial killers profiles or hire a movie called wolf creek its about a serial killer based on a serial killer in australia can also try the crime and statistics website hope ive been of some help can also arrange with your local prison to talk to serial killers face to face and get some info from em most of the sites given the events of a serial killer are twisted round a little bit

Here is a rather off beat one but gives you a view point most other in your class won’t write about and will make you stick out. Write your essay on how the United States of America is in many ways a serial killer itself due to the death penalty.

I like Kathryn’s approach – to get to the root of the problem & try prevention in the early years. Unfortunately it’s going to be speculation for the most part as authoritative research hasn’t been compiled and analyzed as far as my reading into has revealed (maybe I didn’t look at the right authoritative sources?). The American Journal of Medicine could be a good place to start, and then possibly shoot over to the field of psychiatry for their narrower look at the problem. Best of luck to you in this essay & if you need an editor I’d be more than happy to assist you in that regard!

Why don’t you look at it from the standpoint that there is evidence to suggest that children who are abused/neglected have a far greater tendency to become serial killers? Another persuasive argument is that people who as young children torture animals (as Jeffrey Dahmer did) show a tendency to become serial killers.

Most serial killers are abused as children. Try finding some case studies like Charles Manson or Henry Lee Lucas or Ted Bundy and focus on how their abuse related to their crimes.

Since you’re looking to persuade, then you might want to consider looking at childhood intervention (before the killing starts). Kacey’s answer included a mention of childhood signs (which are bed wetting beyond the age when most children grow out of this, fire starting, and animal cruelty). Perhaps if parents and school personnel were made aware of this, steps could be taken before the child grows up.

I would suggest you take a look at the wikipedia article on the subject to get yourself started – here is the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_Killers There are a number of other links attached to the wikipedia article that will lead you to more information if you are going to need it.

Good Luck!!!

most serial killers have problems during their youth, or get traumatized because of dramatic and violent events that they just cant superate, so they apply the torture and pain to either the ones that hurt them, or they try to avoid others from suffering that same pain by killing them.

Depends…what position are you taking with regard to serial killers?