Good Argumentative Essay Topics

Good argumentative essay topics can be hard to find! As an English teacher, one of the essential skills you will teach your students is how to write an argumentative essay. To do this effectively, it is important to help students choose a good argumentative essay topic that they can research and write about with passion.

In this blog post, you will learn what makes a good argumentative essay topic and get tips for teaching the argumentative essay. Finally, you will get a list of argumentative essay topics you can use with your students!

What makes a good argumentative essay topic?

A good argumentative essay topic is one that can be debated from multiple angles. It should be a topic that has different perspectives and opinions, making it interesting and engaging for students to research and write about. A good argumentative essay topic should also be relevant to the students’ lives and the world around them. Here are some characteristics of a good argumentative essay topic:

1. Controversial: A good argumentative essay topic should be controversial. It should be a topic that people have different opinions about and can argue for or against.
2. Relevant: A good argumentative essay topic should be relevant to the students’ lives and the world around them. It should be a topic that is current and affects people’s lives.
3. Researchable: A good argumentative essay topic should be researchable. It should be a topic that students can find credible sources to support their arguments.
4. Debatable: A good argumentative essay topic should be debatable. It should be a topic that students can argue from different angles and perspectives.

What Makes a Weak Argumentative Essay Topic?

A bad argumentative essay topic is one that is not controversial, relevant, researchable, or debatable. It is a topic that is too broad or too narrow, making it difficult for students to find credible sources to support their arguments. Here are some examples of bad argumentative essay topics:

1. Too Broad: Climate Change
2. Too Narrow: The Effect of Social Media on Teenagers
3. Not Controversial: The Importance of Exercise
4. Not Relevant: The History of the Roman Empire

On the other hand, here are some examples of good argumentative essay topics:

1. Should Students Be Required to Wear School Uniforms?
2. Should Animal Testing be Banned?
3. Should Junk Food be Banned in Schools?
4. Should Cell Phones be Allowed in Classrooms?

Teaching Tips for Argumentative Essays

1) Introduce the structure of an argumentative essay: Start by teaching your students the structure of an argumentative essay. It typically includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Students will need help developing a thesis statement, which is the main argument of the essay. The body paragraphs should present evidence to support the thesis statement, and the conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis statement on their writing skills, the structure of their arguments, and their use of evidence.

2) Teach Research Skills: To write an effective argumentative essay, students need to know how to research credible sources. Teach your students how to use search engines effectively, how to evaluate sources for credibility, and how to cite sources in their essays.

3) Practice Persuasion Techniques: Persuasion is an essential component of an argumentative essay. Teach your students how to use persuasive techniques such as ethos, pathos, and logos to make their arguments more compelling.

4) Encourage Debate: Encourage your students to debate and argue different perspectives on various topics. This will help them develop critical thinking skills and understand different perspectives.

5) Provide Feedback: Provide feedback to your students on their essays. Give them specific feedback on their organization and use of supporting details.

Ideas for Good Argumentative Essay Topics:

Choosing a good argumentative essay topic is crucial for your students to write an effective and compelling essay. My preferred strategy is to let students choose their own topic. This way, they can feel ownership over their writing, as well as choose something that interests them.

Here are possible topics for student essays, organized into categories.

Education:

1. Should school uniforms be mandatory?
2. Should schools offer more extracurricular activities?
3. Should schools provide free meals for all students?
4. Should schools eliminate homework?
5. Should schools teach cursive writing?
6. Should schools teach comprehensive sex education?
7. Should schools teach financial literacy?
8. Should schools offer more vocational training programs?
9. Should schools provide free feminine hygiene products?
10. Should students be allowed to bring their own technology devices to school?
11. Should schools have a later start time in the morning?
12. Should schools ban junk food in vending machines and cafeterias?
13. Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?
14. Should schools replace textbooks with digital resources?
15. Should schools eliminate grades and use a pass/fail system?
16. Should all schools offer distance learning in addition to in-person learning?
17. Should schools teach mindfulness and meditation techniques?
18. Should schools offer more field trips and hands-on learning experiences?
19. Should schools implement a year-round schedule?
20. Should schools have a mandatory life skills course?

Social Issues:

1. Should parents be allowed to choose their child’s gender?
2. Should social media companies be held responsible for cyberbullying?
3. Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
4. Should the death penalty be abolished?
5. Should animal testing be banned?
6. Should smoking be banned in public places?
7. Should students be allowed to have cell phones in school?
8. Should there be more restrictions on gun ownership?
9. Should parents be held legally responsible for their children’s actions?
10. Should bullying be considered a criminal offense?
11. Should children have the right to participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives?
12. Should curfews be imposed on teenagers?
13. Should children have the right to choose their own religion?
14. Should parents have access to their children’s social media accounts?
15. Should schools teach students about consent and healthy relationships?
16. Should voting be mandatory once a person reaches a certain age?
17. Should teenagers have part-time jobs during the school year?

Environment:

1. Should plastic bags be banned?
2. Should companies be required to use more eco-friendly packaging?
3. Should the government invest more in renewable energy sources?
4. Should the government provide incentives for people to buy electric cars?
5. Should there be more public transportation options?
6. Should people be required to compost their food waste?
7. Should fracking be banned?
8. Should offshore drilling be allowed?
9. Should there be more national parks and wildlife preserves?
10. Should zoos be banned?
11. Should recycling be mandatory in all households?
12. Should single-use plastic bottles be banned?
13. Should deforestation be completely stopped?
14. Should people be encouraged to use public transportation instead of private cars?
15. Should cities provide more bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure?
16. Should there be stricter regulations on air pollution?
17. Should endangered animals be kept in captivity for conservation purposes?
18. Should there be a tax on carbon emissions?
19. Should water conservation be a mandatory practice?
20. Should the use of pesticides in agriculture be banned?

Sports:

1. Should college athletes be paid?
2. Should high school athletes be drug tested?
3. Should sports teams be co-ed?
4. Should professional athletes be required to stand during the national anthem?
5. Should athletes be allowed to kneel during the national anthem?
6. Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in professional sports?
7. Should athletes who engage in domestic violence be banned from their sport?
8. Should high school athletes be required to maintain a minimum GPA to participate in sports?
9. Should cheerleading be considered a sport?
10. Should sports organizations implement stricter concussion protocols?
11. Should sports teams change their mascots if they are deemed culturally insensitive?
12. Should video game competitions (eSports) be recognized as legitimate sports?

Arts and Culture:

1. Should museums and art galleries be free?
2. Should graffiti be considered an art form?
3. Should offensive art be censored?
4. Should schools teach music and art?
5. Should schools have a foreign language requirement?
6. Should schools prioritize arts education alongside academic subjects?
7. Should funding for the arts be increased or redirected to other areas?
8. Should public libraries provide free access to e-books and digital resources?
9. Should cultural appropriation be strictly regulated in the fashion industry and other art forms?

Technology:

1. Should social media platforms be regulated by the government?
2. Should children under the age of 13 be allowed to have social media accounts?
3. Should schools have a policy on cyberbullying?
4. Should schools provide students with laptops or tablets?
5. Should children have limited screen time?
6. Should video games be regulated more strictly for violent content?
7. Should schools have policies on cyberbullying and online harassment?
8. Should schools teach digital citizenship and online safety?
9. Should students be allowed to use smartphones during class?
10. Should internet access be considered a basic human right?
11. Should violent or explicit content be censored in movies and television shows?
12. Should schools replace traditional textbooks with e-books?
13. Should social media influencers be regulated for advertising and product endorsements?

Health and Lifestyle:

1. Should schools ban the sale of sugary drinks and snacks?
2. Should smoking be banned in all public places?
3. Should there be stricter regulations on the advertising of unhealthy food to children?
4. Should schools have mandatory drug testing for students?
5. Should schools provide mental health counseling services for students?
6. Should there be age restrictions on the purchase of energy drinks?
7. Should fast food restaurants be required to display calorie counts on their menus?
8. Should schools prioritize healthier lunch options over processed foods?

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