114 Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Students in 2023

April 25, 2023

argumentative essay topics

The skill of writing an excellent argumentative essay is a crucial one for every high school or college student to master. Argumentative essays teach students how to organize their thoughts logically and present them in a convincing way. This skill is helpful not only for those pursuing degrees in law , international relations , or public policy , but for any student who wishes to develop their critical thinking faculties. In this article, we’ll cover what makes a good argument essay and offer several argumentative essay topics for high school and college students. Let’s begin!

What is an Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses research to present a reasoned argument on a particular subject . As with the persuasive essay , the purpose of this essay is to sway the reader to the writer’s position. A strong persuasive essay makes its point through diligent research, evidence, and logical reasoning skills.

Argumentative Essay Format

A strong argumentative essay will be based on facts, not feelings. Each of these facts should be supported by clear evidence from credible sources . Furthermore, a good argumentative essay will have an easy-to-follow structure. When organizing your argumentative essay, use this format as a guide: introduction, supporting body paragraphs, paragraphs addressing common counterarguments, and conclusion.

In the introduction , the writer presents their position and thesis statement —a sentence that summarizes the paper’s main points. The body paragraphs then draw upon supporting evidence to back up this initial statement, with each paragraph focusing on its own point. In the counterargument paragraph , the writer acknowledges and refutes opposing viewpoints. Finally, in the conclusion , the writer restates the main argument made in the thesis statement and summarizes the points of the essay. Additionally, the conclusion may offer a final proposal to persuade the reader of the essay’s position.

For more tips and tricks on formatting an argumentative essay, check out this useful guide from Khan Academy.

How to Write an Effective Argumentative Essay, Step by Step

  • Choose your topic. Use the list below to help you pick a topic. Ideally, the topic you choose will be meaningful to you.
  • Once you’ve selected your topic, it’s time to sit down and get to work! Use the library, the web, and any other resources to gather information about your argumentative essay topic. Research widely but smartly. As you go, take organized notes, marking the source of every quote and where it may fit in the scheme of your larger essay. Remember to look for possible counterarguments.
  • Outline . Using the argumentative essay format above, create an outline for your essay. Brainstorm a thesis statement covering your argument’s main points, and begin to put together the pieces of the essay, focusing on logical flow.
  • Write . Draw on your research and outline to create a solid first draft. Remember, your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. (As Voltaire says, “Perfect is the enemy of good.”) For now, focus on getting the words down on paper.
  • Edit . Be your own critical eye. Read what you’ve written back to yourself. Does it make sense? Where can you improve? What can you cut?

Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School, High School, and College Students

Family argumentative essay topics.

  • Should the government provide financial incentives for families to have children to address the declining birth rate?
  • Should we require parents to provide their children with a certain level of nutrition and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity?
  • Should parents implement limits on how much time their children spend playing video games?
  • Should cellphones be banned from family/holiday gatherings?
  • Should we hold parents legally responsible for their children’s actions?
  • Should children have the right to sue their parents for neglect?
  • Should parents have the right to choose their child’s religion?
  • Are spanking and other forms of physical punishment an effective method of discipline?
  • Should courts allow children to choose where they live in cases of divorce?
  • Should parents have the right to monitor teens’ activity on social media?
  • Should parents control their child’s medical treatment, even if it goes against the child’s wishes?

Education Argument Essay Topics

  • Should schools ban the use of technology like ChatGPT?
  • Are zoos unethical, or necessary for conservation and education?
  • To what degree should we hold parents responsible in the event of a school shooting?
  • Should schools offer students a set number of mental health days?
  • Should school science curriculums offer a course on combating climate change?
  • Should public libraries be allowed to ban certain books?
  • What role, if any, should prayer play in public schools?
  • Should schools push to abolish homework?
  • Are gifted and talented programs in schools more harmful than beneficial due to their exclusionary nature?
  • Should universities do away with Greek life?
  • Should schools remove artwork, such as murals, that some perceive as offensive?
  • Should the government grant parents the right to choose alternative education options for their children and use taxpayer funds to support these options?
  • Is homeschooling better than traditional schooling for children’s academic and social development?
  • Should we require schools to teach sex education to reduce teen pregnancy rates?
  • Should we require schools to provide comprehensive sex education that includes information about both homosexual and heterosexual relationships?
  • Should colleges use affirmative action and other race-conscious policies to address diversity on campus?
  • Should the government fund public universities to make higher education more accessible to low-income students?
  • Should the government fund universal preschool to improve children’s readiness for kindergarten?

Government Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should the U.S. decriminalize prostitution?
  • Should the U.S. issue migration visas to all eligible applicants?
  • Should the federal government cancel all student loan debt?
  • Should we lower the minimum voting age? If so, to what?
  • Should the federal government abolish all laws penalizing drug production and use?
  • Should the U.S. use its military power to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan?
  • Should the U.S. supply Ukraine with further military intelligence and supplies?
  • Should the North and South of the U.S. split up into two regions?
  • Should Americans hold up nationalism as a critical value?
  • Should we permit Supreme Court justices to hold their positions indefinitely?
  • Should Supreme Court justices be democratically elected?
  • Is the Electoral College still a productive approach to electing the U.S. president?
  • Should the U.S. implement a national firearm registry?
  • Is it ethical for countries like China and Israel to mandate compulsory military service for all citizens?
  • Should the U.S. government implement a ranked-choice voting system?
  • Should institutions that benefited from slavery be required to provide reparations?
  • Based on the 1619 project, should history classes change how they teach about the founding of the U.S.?

Bioethics Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should the U.S. government offer its own healthcare plan?
  • In the case of highly infectious pandemics, should we focus on individual freedoms or public safety when implementing policies to control the spread?
  • Should we legally require parents to vaccinate their children to protect public health?
  • Is it ethical for parents to use genetic engineering to create “designer babies” with specific physical and intellectual traits?
  • Should the government fund research on embryonic stem cells for medical treatments?
  • Should the government legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill patients?

Social Media Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should the federal government increase its efforts to minimize the negative impact of social media?
  • Do social media and smartphones strengthen one’s relationships?
  • Should antitrust regulators take action to limit the size of big tech companies?
  • Should social media platforms ban political advertisements?
  • Should the federal government hold social media companies accountable for instances of hate speech discovered on their platforms?
  • Do apps such as TikTok and Instagram ultimately worsen the mental well-being of teenagers?
  • Should governments oversee how social media platforms manage their users’ data?
  • Should social media platforms like Facebook enforce a minimum age requirement for users?
  • Should social media companies be held responsible for cases of cyberbullying?
  • Should the United States ban TikTok?

Religion Argument Essay Topics

  • Should religious institutions be tax-exempt?
  • Should religious symbols such as the hijab or crucifix be allowed in public spaces?
  • Should religious freedoms be protected, even when they conflict with secular laws?
  • Should the government regulate religious practices?
  • Should we allow churches to engage in political activities?
  • Religion: a force for good or evil in the world?
  • Should the government provide funding for religious schools?
  • Is it ethical for healthcare providers to deny abortions based on religious beliefs?
  • Should religious organizations be allowed to discriminate in their hiring practices?
  • Should we allow people to opt out of medical treatments based on their religious beliefs?
  • Should the U.S. government hold religious organizations accountable for cases of sexual abuse within their community?
  • Should religious beliefs be exempt from anti-discrimination laws?
  • Should religious individuals be allowed to refuse services to others based on their beliefs or lifestyles? (As in this famous case .)

Science Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should the world eliminate nuclear weapons?
  • Should scientists bring back extinct animals?
  • Should we hold companies fiscally responsible for their carbon footprint?
  • Should we ban pesticides in favor of organic farming methods?
  • Is it ethical to clone animals for scientific purposes?
  • Should the federal government ban all fossil fuels, despite the potential economic impact on specific industries and communities?
  • What renewable energy source should the U.S. invest more money in?
  • Should the FDA outlaw GMOs?
  • Would the world be safe if we got rid of all nuclear weapons?
  • Should we worry about artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence?

Sports Argument Essay Topics

  • Should colleges compensate student-athletes?
  • How should sports teams and leagues address the gender pay gap?
  • Should youth sports teams do away with scorekeeping?
  • Should we ban aggressive contact sports like boxing and MMA?
  • Should professional sports associations mandate that athletes stand during the national anthem?
  • Should high schools require their student-athletes to maintain a certain GPA?
  • Should transgender athletes compete in sports according to their gender identity?
  • Should schools ban football due to the inherent danger it poses to players?

Technology Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should sites like DALL-E compensate the artists whose work it was trained on?
  • Is social media harmful to children?
  • Should the federal government make human exploration of space a more significant priority?
  • Is it ethical for the government to use surveillance technology to monitor citizens?
  • Should websites require proof of age from their users?
  • Should we consider A.I.-generated images and text pieces of art?
  • Does the use of facial recognition technology violate individuals’ privacy?

Business Argument Essay Topics

  • Should the U.S. government phase out the use of paper money in favor of a fully digital currency system?
  • Should the federal government abolish its patent and copyright laws?
  • Should we replace the Federal Reserve with free-market institutions?
  • Is free-market ideology responsible for the U.S. economy’s poor performance over the past decade?
  • Will cryptocurrencies overtake natural resources like gold and silver?
  • Is capitalism the best economic system? What system would be better?
  • Should the U.S. government enact a universal basic income?
  • Should we require companies to provide paid parental leave to their employees?
  • Should the government raise the minimum wage?
  • Should antitrust regulators break up large companies to promote competition?
  • Is it ethical for companies to prioritize profits over social responsibility?
  • Should gig-economy workers like Uber and Lyft drivers be considered employees or independent contractors?
  • Should the federal government regulate the gig economy to ensure fair treatment of workers?
  • Should the government require companies to disclose the environmental impact of their products?

In Conclusion – Argument Essay Topics 

Using the tips above, you can effectively structure and pen a compelling argumentative essay that will wow your instructor and classmates. Remember to craft a thesis statement that offers readers a roadmap through your essay, draw on your sources wisely to back up any claims, and read through your paper several times before it’s due to catch any last-minute proofreading errors. With time, diligence, and patience, your essay will be the most outstanding assignment you’ve ever turned in…until the next one rolls around.

Looking for more fresh and engaging topics for use in the classroom? Also check out our 85 Good Debate Topics for High School Students .

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Lauren Green

With a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Columbia University and an MFA in Fiction from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin, Lauren has been a professional writer for over a decade. She is the author of the chapbook  A Great Dark House  (Poetry Society of America, 2023) and a forthcoming novel (Viking/Penguin).

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255 Education Argumentative Essay Topics & Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Education, a cornerstone of societal development, is a fertile field for writing papers. In this case, education argumentative essay topics can range widely, from debates over traditional vs. digital classrooms, the effectiveness of standardized testing, and the necessity of college education in the 21st century to the balance between academics and character development. Arguments can consider whether current school curriculums cater adequately to the needs of all students or primarily reinforce societal inequalities. Examining education policies at the local, national, or international levels can provide further insights. In turn, exploring the role of educational institutions in preparing students for the future workforce, including discussions on vocational training and entrepreneurial education, is another promising direction for developing argumentative essay topics in education.

Best Education Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Balancing School Curriculum: Is Art Education as Important as Science?
  • Roles of Technology in Enhancing Educational Outcomes
  • The Ethics of Using Animals for School Biology Experiments
  • Parental Influence on a Child’s Academic Success
  • University Tuition Fees: Necessary Expense or Excessive Burden?
  • Should Physical Education Be Mandatory in Schools?
  • Importance of Teaching Life Skills alongside Traditional Subjects
  • Grading System: Helping Students Learn or Adding Undue Pressure?
  • Incorporating Meditation in Schools for Improved Mental Health
  • Homeschooling vs. Traditional Schooling: Which Prepares Students Better?
  • Examining the Role of Sex Education in Preventing Teenage Pregnancy
  • Importance of Introducing Multicultural Education in Schools
  • Mandatory Community Service as Part of the Curriculum: Pros and Cons
  • Cyberbullying: Should Schools Take Responsibility?
  • Unraveling the Effects of School Uniforms on Student Behavior
  • Gender-Separated Classes: Beneficial or Discriminatory?
  • Are College Degrees Worth the Financial Investment?
  • The Role of Teachers’ Salaries in Ensuring Quality Education
  • Digital Textbooks vs. Traditional Books: Which Is More Effective?
  • Evaluating the Effectiveness of Homework in Enhancing Learning
  • The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schooling
  • Roles of Parent-Teacher Communication in Enhancing Students’ Performance
  • Effectiveness of Distance Learning: Is It Comparable to Traditional Learning?
  • Should Controversial Topics Be Discussed in School?

Easy Education Essay Topics

  • Exploring the Impact of School Lunch Programs on Student Health
  • Is Cursive Writing Necessary in Today’s Digital Age?
  • Teaching Consent in Schools: A Necessity or Overstepping Bounds?
  • Gifted Programs: Are They Unfair to Other Students?
  • Bilingual Education: Key to Global Competency or Detrimental to Native Culture?
  • Implementing Zero Tolerance Policies in Schools: Beneficial or Harmful?
  • Should Teachers Be Allowed to Carry Firearms for Classroom Protection?
  • Influence of School Infrastructure on Student Learning Outcomes
  • Incorporating Climate Change Education in School Curriculums
  • Should Students Be Grouped by Ability in Classrooms?
  • Effectiveness of Anti-Bullying Campaigns in Schools
  • The Right to Privacy: Should Schools Monitor Student’s Online Activities?
  • Evaluating the Role of Extracurricular Activities in Student Development
  • The Need for Financial Literacy Education in Schools
  • Freedom of Speech: Should Students Be Allowed to Express Controversial Opinions in School?
  • Potential Benefits of Single-Sex Schools
  • Relevance of History Education in Modern Times
  • The Influence of Religious Beliefs on Education
  • Foreign Language Requirements: Necessity or Unnecessary Burden?
  • Are Teachers’ Unions Beneficial or Detrimental to Education Quality?
  • Impacts of Parental Educational Background on Children’s Academic Achievement
  • Does Grade Inflation Devalue a College Degree?
  • Does Early Childhood Education Have Long-Term Benefits?
  • Are College Admissions Processes Fair?

Education Argumentative Essay Topics & Ideas

Interesting Education Essay Topics

  • The Consequences of Educational Budget Cuts
  • Exploring the Role of Sports in Academic Achievement
  • Effects of Teacher Burnout on Student Learning
  • Is Educational Equality Achievable in a Capitalist Society?
  • Are Private Schools Necessarily Better than Public Schools?
  • Role of Social Media in Education: Distraction or Useful Tool?
  • Is Traditional Discipline Effective in Modern Schools?
  • Examining the Effectiveness of Montessori Education
  • Are Standardized Curriculum Frameworks Limiting Teachers’ Creativity?
  • Is There a Place for Character Education in Today’s Schools?
  • Importance of Critical Thinking Skills in the Curriculum
  • Do Student Evaluations of Teachers Improve Teaching Quality?
  • Music Education’s Influence on Academic Performance
  • Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Academic Achievement
  • Should Children Be Taught Entrepreneurship in Schools?
  • Educational Benefits of Field Trips in Curriculum
  • Does School Counseling Effectively Address Students’ Mental Health Needs?
  • The Role of Games in Enhancing Math Education
  • Is the Current Emphasis on STEM Education Justified?
  • The Influence of Family Structure on Children’s Educational Outcomes
  • Does Multitasking with Technology Hinder Learning?
  • Should Political Education Be Mandatory in Schools?
  • Effects of Classroom Diversity on Student Learning and Empathy

Education Essay Topics for High School

  • Does Standardized Testing Accurately Reflect a Student’s Knowledge?
  • Should Schools Invest More in Arts Education?
  • Is a Year-Round School Calendar Beneficial for Learning?
  • Are School Uniforms Necessary for a Conducive Learning Environment?
  • Does Homework Actually Benefit Students?
  • Should Advanced Courses Be Made Available to All High School Students?
  • Can Online Learning Replace Traditional Classroom Teaching?
  • How Is Essential Sex Education in High School Curriculum?
  • The Impact of School Infrastructure on Quality of Education
  • Are School Sports Essential for Student Development?
  • Does Bilingual Education Enhance Cognitive Skills?
  • Does Parental Involvement Improve Academic Performance?
  • Is There a Need to Reinvent School Discipline Policies?
  • How Does the Use of Technology in Schools Affect Learning?
  • The Role of Schools in Promoting Healthy Eating Habits
  • Are School Field Trips Essential for Practical Learning?
  • Should Schools Introduce Personal Finance Classes?
  • Physical Education Classes: Necessity or Luxury?
  • Effect of Bullying on Academic Performance
  • The Influence of Peer Pressure on Students’ Performance
  • Should We Teach Entrepreneurship in High Schools?
  • Does a Longer School Day Improve Learning Outcomes?
  • Roles of Moral Education in Character Building

Education Essay Topics for College Students

  • Incorporating Technology in Classrooms: Necessity or Distraction?
  • Standardized Testing: An Effective Evaluation Tool or a Hindrance to Creativity?
  • University Degrees: Essential for Success or Overrated?
  • Pros and Cons of Single-Sex Education: A Deep Dive
  • Private vs. Public Schools: Who Provides a Better Education?
  • Traditional Education vs. Online Learning: Comparing Effectiveness
  • Impact of Extracurricular Activities on Academic Performance
  • Bilingual Education: Potential Benefits and Challenges
  • Vocational Training: Does It Deserve More Emphasis in the Curriculum?
  • Effects of Class Size on Student Learning Outcomes
  • Homeschooling vs. Traditional Schooling: Weighing the Outcomes
  • Mandatory Physical Education: A Boon or Bane?
  • College Athletes: Should They Be Paid?
  • Education in Rural vs. Urban Settings: Exploring Disparities
  • Funding: How Does It Impact the Quality of Education?
  • Role of Sex Education in Schools: Analyzing the Importance
  • Uniforms in Schools: Do They Promote Equality?
  • Plagiarism Policies: Are They Too Strict or Not Enough?
  • Art Education: Is It Being Neglected in Schools?
  • Teaching Soft Skills: Should It Be Mandatory in Schools?
  • Tuition Fees: Do They Restrict Access to Higher Education?
  • Inclusion of Students With Disabilities: Analyzing Best Practices

Education Argumentative Essay Topics for University

  • Cyberbullying: Should Schools Have a Greater Responsibility?
  • STEM vs. Liberal Arts: Which Provides a Better Future?
  • Impacts of Mental Health Services in Schools
  • Grade Inflation: Does It Devalue a Degree?
  • Diversity in Schools: Does It Enhance Learning?
  • Gap Year: Does It Help or Hinder Students?
  • Recess: Is It Necessary for Students’ Well-Being?
  • Early Childhood Education: Does It Contribute to Later Success?
  • Parental Involvement: How Does It Influence Student Performance?
  • Value of Internships in Higher Education
  • Curriculum: Is It Outdated in Today’s Fast-Paced World?
  • Digital Textbooks vs. Paper Textbooks: Evaluating the Differences
  • Learning a Second Language: Should It Be Mandatory?
  • Censorship in School Libraries: Freedom or Protection?
  • Life Skills Education: Is It Missing From Our Curriculum?
  • Teachers’ Pay: Does It Reflect Their Value in Society?
  • College Rankings: Do They Truly Reflect Educational Quality?
  • Corporal Punishment: Does It Have a Place in Modern Education?
  • Student Loans: Are They Creating a Debt Crisis?
  • Learning Styles: Myth or Real Educational Framework?
  • Grading System: Is It the Best Measure of Students’ Abilities?

Academic Topics Essay

  • Fostering Creativity: Should Schools Prioritize the Arts?
  • Student Debt: Consequences and Possible Solutions
  • Bullying Policies in Schools: Are They Effective?
  • Teaching Ethics and Values: Whose Responsibility?
  • Distance Learning: The New Normal Post-Pandemic?
  • School Censorship: Are There Limits to Freedom of Speech?
  • College Admissions: Is the Process Fair?
  • Standardizing Multilingual Education: A Possibility?
  • Learning Disabilities: How Can Schools Provide Better Support?
  • Does Class Size Impact the Quality of Education?
  • Integrating Technology: Are There Potential Risks?
  • Affirmative Action in College Admissions: Fair or Biased?
  • The Role of Private Tuition: Supplemental Help or Unfair Advantage?
  • Military-Style Discipline in Schools: Effective or Harmful?
  • Should Schools Implement Mental Health Curriculums?
  • Early Education: Does It Pave the Way for Success?
  • Grading System: Is it an Accurate Measure of Student Ability?
  • Career Counseling in Schools: Should It be Mandatory?
  • Addressing Racial Bias in Educational Materials
  • The Debate Over Prayer in Schools: Freedom of Religion or Church-State Separation?
  • The Impact of Zero-Tolerance Policies on the School Environment
  • Education Funding: The Pros and Cons of School Vouchers
  • University Rankings: Helpful Guide or Harmful Pressure?
  • Personal Finance Education: Should It Be Included in the Curriculum?

Argumentative Essay Topics on Education

  • Impacts of Standardized Testing on Students’ Creativity
  • Digital Learning Platforms vs. Traditional Classroom Teaching
  • Effectiveness of the Montessori Education System
  • Mandatory Foreign Language Education: A Necessity or Luxury?
  • Single-Sex Schools’ Role in Modern Society
  • Teachers’ Salaries: A Reflection of Their Value in Society?
  • Technological Devices in Classrooms: A Boon or Bane?
  • Inclusion of Life Skills in the Curriculum
  • Ethical Education: Its Significance and Implementation
  • Educating Children About Climate Change and Sustainability
  • Homeschooling vs. Traditional Schooling: Which Yields Better Results?
  • School Uniforms: Do They Encourage Uniformity Over Individuality?
  • The Role of Extracurricular Activities in Holistic Education
  • Importance of Critical Thinking in the Curriculum
  • Corporate Sponsorship in Schools: Ethical Considerations
  • Increasing Parental Involvement in Children’s Education
  • Vocational Training in High School: Is It Necessary?
  • The Merits and Demerits of Charter Schools
  • Prioritizing Health Education in the School Curriculum
  • Diversifying History Lessons: The Impact on Cultural Understanding
  • Gifted and Talented Programs: Unfair Advantage or Necessary Support?
  • Implementing Mindfulness Training in Schools
  • Mandatory Physical Education: Is It Vital for Health?
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Year-Round Schooling
  • The Potential of Virtual Reality in Education

Education Persuasive Essay Topics

  • Enhancing Creativity: The Importance of Art Education in Schools
  • Mandatory Coding Lessons: Preparing Students for the Digital Future
  • Bilingual Education: Encouraging Multilingualism From an Early Age
  • Parental Involvement: Crucial for Academic Success or an Invasion of Privacy?
  • Cyberbullying Awareness: Should It Be Part of the School Curriculum?
  • The Role of Technology in Modern Education: Boon or Bane?
  • Sex Education: Essential for Reducing Teen Pregnancy and STD Rates
  • Standardized Tests: Accurate Measure of a Student’s Capabilities or Outdated Practice?
  • Religious Studies: The Necessity of Teaching World Religions in Public Schools
  • Homework Overload: Assessing the True Impact on Students’ Mental Health
  • School Uniforms: Encouraging Discipline or Suppressing Individuality?
  • Inclusion in Classrooms: The Benefits of Educating Special Needs Students Alongside Their Peers
  • Teacher Salaries: The Need for Higher Pay to Attract Quality Educators
  • Educational Video Games: Revolutionizing Learning or Distraction From Studying?
  • Student Athletes: Balancing Academics and Sports Participation
  • Year-Round Schooling: Improving Learning Retention or Overloading Students?
  • Early Education: The Benefits of Pre-School Programs
  • Social Media: Its Role in Modern Education
  • Field Trips: Enhancing Learning Outside the Classroom
  • Classroom Size: The Impact on Learning and Engagement
  • Vocational Training: Essential for Preparing Students for the Workforce
  • Distance Learning: Exploring its Advantages and Disadvantages

Education Research Paper Topics

  • Extracurricular Activities: The Importance in Students’ Holistic Development
  • Multiple Intelligence Theory: Implementing Diverse Teaching Strategies
  • Classroom Decor: Its Influence on Student Engagement and Learning
  • Mindfulness Practices: Promoting Emotional Health in Schools
  • Sustainability Education: Fostering Environmentally-Conscious Citizens
  • Cultural Diversity: Promoting Inclusion and Acceptance in Schools
  • Physical Education: Addressing Childhood Obesity through School Programs
  • Gifted and Talented Programs: Benefits and Drawbacks
  • Homeschooling: Advantages Over Traditional Schooling
  • Alternative Assessment Methods: Moving Beyond Exams and Grades
  • Bullying Prevention: The Role of Schools and Teachers
  • College Admissions: The Controversy Around Legacy Preferences
  • Ethics Education: Instilling Moral Values in Students
  • Student Loans: The Crisis and Its Impact on Higher Education
  • Nutrition Education: Promoting Healthy Eating Habits in Schools
  • Digital Literacy: Essential Skills for the 21st Century
  • Grade Inflation: The Deterioration of Academic Standards in Higher Education
  • Climate Change Education: Teaching the Next Generation About Global Warming
  • Character Education: Building Integrity and Responsibility in Students
  • Music Education: Its Influence on Cognitive Development
  • Literacy Programs: Overcoming Reading and Writing Challenges
  • Mentorship Programs: Enhancing Student Success and Confidence
  • Financial Literacy: Preparing Students for Real-World Money Management

Strong Education Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Is Censorship Justified in School Libraries?
  • The Benefits and Drawbacks of Single-Sex Schools
  • Is College Preparation in High School Adequate?
  • Are Teachers’ Salaries Commensurate With Their Job Responsibilities?
  • Cyberbullying: Should Schools Intervene?
  • The Importance of Cultural Diversity in Education
  • Should Mental Health Education Be Mandatory in Schools?
  • Do School Rankings Reflect the Quality of Education?
  • The Relevance of Cursive Writing in Today’s Digital World
  • Should Religious Studies Be Part of the School Curriculum?
  • Are Students Overburdened with Excessive Schoolwork?
  • The Implications of Zero Tolerance Policies in Schools
  • School Safety: Responsibility of Schools or Parents?
  • Does Grade Inflation Diminish the Value of Education?
  • Are Life Skills Education Necessary in Schools?
  • The Debate on Home Schooling vs. Traditional Schooling
  • Is it Necessary to Teach World Religions in High Schools?
  • Does a School’s Location Affect the Quality of Education?
  • The Argument for Teaching Emotional Intelligence in Schools
  • Should Attendance Be Mandatory in High School?
  • Could Meditation and Mindfulness Improve Students’ Concentration?
  • The Role of Music Education in Student Development
  • Do Students Learn More From Books or Computers?
  • The Need for Environmental Sustainability Education in Schools

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50 Argumentative Essay Topics

Illustration by Catherine Song. ThoughtCo. 

  • M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
  • B.A., History, Armstrong State University

An argumentative essay requires you to decide on a topic and take a position on it. You'll need to back up your viewpoint with well-researched facts and information as well. One of the hardest parts is deciding which topic to write about, but there are plenty of ideas available to get you started.

Choosing a Great Argumentative Essay Topic

Students often find that most of their work on these essays is done before they even start writing. This means that it's best if you have a general interest in your subject, otherwise you might get bored or frustrated while trying to gather information. (You don't need to know everything, though.) Part of what makes this experience rewarding is learning something new.

It's best if you have a general interest in your subject, but the argument you choose doesn't have to be one that you agree with.

The subject you choose may not necessarily be one that you are in full agreement with, either. You may even be asked to write a paper from the opposing point of view. Researching a different viewpoint helps students broaden their perspectives. 

Ideas for Argument Essays

Sometimes, the best ideas are sparked by looking at many different options. Explore this list of possible topics and see if a few pique your interest. Write those down as you come across them, then think about each for a few minutes.

Which would you enjoy researching? Do you have a firm position on a particular subject? Is there a point you would like to make sure to get across? Did the topic give you something new to think about? Can you see why someone else may feel differently?

50 Possible Topics

A number of these topics are rather controversial—that's the point. In an argumentative essay, opinions matter and controversy is based on opinions, which are, hopefully, backed up by facts.   If these topics are a little too controversial or you don't find the right one for you, try browsing through persuasive essay and speech topics  as well.

  • Is global climate change  caused by humans?
  • Is the death penalty effective?
  • Is our election process fair?
  • Is torture ever acceptable?
  • Should men get paternity leave from work?
  • Are school uniforms beneficial?
  • Do we have a fair tax system?
  • Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
  • Is cheating out of control?
  • Are we too dependent on computers?
  • Should animals be used for research?
  • Should cigarette smoking be banned?
  • Are cell phones dangerous?
  • Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?
  • Do we have a throwaway society?
  • Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?
  • Should companies market to children?
  • Should the government have a say in our diets?
  • Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?
  • Should members of Congress have term limits?
  • Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
  • Are CEOs paid too much?
  • Should athletes be held to high moral standards?
  • Do violent video games cause behavior problems?
  • Should creationism be taught in public schools?
  • Are beauty pageants exploitative ?
  • Should English be the official language of the United States?
  • Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?
  • Should the alcohol drinking age be increased or decreased?
  • Should everyone be required to recycle?
  • Is it okay for prisoners to vote (as they are in some states)?
  • Is it good that same-sex couples are able to marry?
  • Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school ?
  • Does boredom lead to trouble?
  • Should schools be in session year-round ?
  • Does religion cause war?
  • Should the government provide health care?
  • Should abortion be illegal?
  • Are girls too mean to each other?
  • Is homework harmful or helpful?
  • Is the cost of college too high?
  • Is college admission too competitive?
  • Should euthanasia be illegal?
  • Should the federal government legalize marijuana use nationally ?
  • Should rich people be required to pay more taxes?
  • Should schools require foreign language or physical education?
  • Is affirmative action fair?
  • Is public prayer okay in schools?
  • Are schools and teachers responsible for low test scores?
  • Is greater gun control a good idea?
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50 Argumentative Essay Topics for Students

50 Argumentative Essay Topics for Students

4-minute read

  • 11th June 2022

The goal of an argumentative essay is to persuade the reader to understand and support your position on an issue by presenting your reasoning along with supporting evidence. It’s important to find the right balance between giving your opinions and presenting established research.

These essays discuss issues around a range of topics, including science, technology, politics, and healthcare. Whether you’re a teacher looking for essay topics for your students or a student tasked with developing an idea of your own, we’ve compiled a list of 50 argumentative essay topics to help you get started!

●  Does texting hinder interpersonal communication skills?

●  Should there be laws against using devices while driving?

●  Do violent video games teach or encourage people to behave violently?

●  Should social media sites be allowed to collect users’ data?

●  Should parents limit how long their children spend in front of screens?

●  Is AI helping or hurting society?

●  Should cyber-bullying carry legal consequences?

●  Should Supreme Court justices be elected?

●  Is war always a political decision?

●  Should people join a political party?

●  Is capitalism ethical?

●  Is the electoral college an effective system?

●  Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

●  Should the death penalty be legal?

●  Are governments around the world doing enough to combat global warming?

●  Is healthcare a fundamental human right?

●  Should vaccinations be mandated for children?

●  Are there any circumstances under which physician-assisted suicides should be legal?

●  Should parents be able to choose specific genetic modifications of their future children?

●  Should abortion be legal?

●  Is it ethical to perform medical experiments on animals?

●  Should patients who lead unhealthy lifestyles be denied organ transplants?

●  Should doctors be able to provide medical care to children against their parents’ wishes?

Mental Healthcare

●  What causes the stigma around mental health?

●  Discuss the link between insufficient access to mental health services and the high suicide rates among veterans.

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●  Should cannabis be used as a treatment for patients with mental disorders?

●  Is there a link between social media use and mental disorders?

●  Discuss the effect of physical activity on mental health.

●  Should sports be segregated by gender?

●  Should male and female athletes be given the same pay and opportunities?

●  Are professional athletes overpaid?

●  Should college athletes be paid?

●  Should sports betting be legal?

●  Should online access to art such as music be free?

●  Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?

●  Are there any circumstances under which books should be banned?

●  Should schools be required to offer art courses?

●  Is art necessary to society?

●  Should schools require uniforms?

●  Should reciting the Pledge of Allegiance be required in schools?

●  Do standardized tests effectively measure intelligence?

●  Should high school students take a gap year before pursuing higher education?

●  Should higher education be free?

●  Is there too much pressure on high school students to attend college?

●  Are children better off in two-parent households?

●  Should LGBTQ+ partners be allowed to adopt?

●  Should single people be able to adopt children as easily as couples?

●  Is it okay for parents to physically discipline their children?

●  Does helicopter parenting help or hurt children?

●  Should parents monitor their children’s Internet use?

Proofreading & Editing

An argument could also be made for the importance of proofreading your essay ! The reader can focus more on your message when your writing is clear, concise, and error-free, and they won’t question whether you’re knowledgeable on the issues you’re presenting. Once you have a draft ready, you can submit a free trial document to start working with our expert editors!

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argumentative essay topics about schools

130 Argumentative Essay Topics: Tips on How Choose the Best One

argumentative essay topics about schools

Defining What Is an Argumentative Essay

Imagine the following scenario: You just got into an argument with your friend over climate change. You said that this is an actual issue that poses significant threats to our environment and world population. Your friend, on the other hand, argued that climate change is not real, saying that it's a natural occurrence that has happened several times during world history. You got home, had time to reflect on the debate, and came up with several good reasons for your position. Oh! The things you could have said to clearly express and defend your stance... Now you're annoyed with the constant monologue running through your mind, reflecting upon the previous debate.

What if you documented the arguments that came to you afterward? Much like jotting them down on a piece of paper and giving some direction to your ideas. We say it would have made a brilliant work with fresh ideas and fiery passion.

That's exactly why you should practice argumentative essay writing. It will enhance your reasoning skills while allowing you to become more quick-witted. By doing this, you won't have to listen to your friends defending their stance while you lack your own arguments to contribute to the debate.

To persuade the reader of their position in an argumentative essay, the author must choose a position on a certain subject or problem and provide evidence to support it. This kind of essay is frequently required in high school or college classes to sharpen students' analytical abilities and motivate them to engage in challenging discussions.

So, let's take on a mission of fully understanding how to write an argumentative essay with a clear structure and endless topic ideas. We promise that after reading this article, you'll become an unshakable debater!

Three models of argumentative writing

Three Common Argumentative Essay Models

First, let's start with the three most prevalent models of argumentative writing. Knowing this will guide you toward structuring your essay in your preferred style. The options are:

  • Toulmin model - Most commonly used model out of the three, the Toulmin model starts with an introduction, moves on to a thesis or claim, and then provides information and proof to back up that argument. This type of essay usually includes rebuttals of opposing points. This approach performs effectively when there is no undeniable truth or perfect answer to an issue.
  • Rogerian model - Created by Carl R. Rogers, the Rogerian model of argument assesses a debate and offers a compromise between opposing sides. This paradigm emphasizes cooperation and teamwork. It recognizes that an argument can be seen from a variety of angles. The Rogerian model starts with an introduction, moves to acknowledge opposing views, then states the author's main claims. Before the conclusion, it tries to provide a middle ground by carefully considering all sides of the argument.
  • Classical (Aristotelian) model- In the traditional paradigm, all sides of an argument are examined, and the side with the most convincing evidence is shown to be correct. This approach effectively convinces a listener to take a side in an argument by combining Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.

Proper Argumentative Essay Outline

This is not something new that you should be scared of - an essay outline that consists of classic five paragraphs and employs a sacred triangle of introduction, body, and conclusion. But still, in an argumentative essay outline, you should find something unique to this kind of paper. Let's examine these specifics more closely below with the help of our argumentative essay writing service :

Argumentative Essay Outline

Introduction

Your first task while writing argumentative essays is to grab the reader's attention with an eye-catching fact, story, or quotation that will work as a hook. Then continue by giving background information and outlining the problem at hand while clearly articulating your case and your point of argument.

  • Background information
  • Thesis statement

I. Introduction

The argumentative essay introduction should grab the reader's attention and provide background information. The introductory paragraph should also include a thesis statement, the main argument the essay will present, and support. For example:

  • Hook : Did you know that over 50% of Americans believe in aliens?
  • Background: UFO sightings and conspiracy theories have been around for decades.
  • Thesis: Despite the lack of concrete evidence, extraterrestrial life is a real possibility that should be explored further.

Body Paragraphs

The body section is where you confidently roll up your sleeves and give direction to your discussion. In the first paragraph, give your best argument in favor of your thesis, using examples, data, or expert opinions. Then, evaluate the data and describe how it backs up your claim. Remember to confront and disprove any potential opposing viewpoints. You might use the same strategy in the second body paragraph for a different argument supporting your thesis.

Consider the opposing position and offer arguments in the third and fourth paragraphs. Lastly, dispute the counterargument and explain why your argument is more powerful.

  • First supporting point
  • Explanation
  • Counterargument
  • Second supporting point

To wrap up, restate your major idea and summarize your supporting points. Explain why your point is important and what it means for the reader. To end on a strong note, encourage the reader to act or think more deeply about the subject.

  • Restate thesis
  • Significance
  • Call to action

Tips for Choosing Argumentative Essay Topics

Making a captivating and thought-provoking argumentative essay requires picking a strong topic. Here are six genuine suggestions to assist you through the process:

How to Choose Good Argumentative Essay Topics_ Tips

  • Keep your audience in mind - Consider the audience for your essay, and attempt to guess what they would think about the topic you wish to cover. Think about if your audience would find it fascinating.
  • Take a risk - Pick a highly debatable subject you think others would want to steer clear of. It will distinguish your topic from other ordinary argumentative essay topics. Make sure you can, however, present the reasoning for all sides of the controversy.
  • Consider your surroundings - Consider things that are either negative aspects or taboos in your environment. Dare to discuss and debate such problems.
  • Select an arguable topic - To avoid writing a dissertation; your topic should be in the middle of being both wide and narrow. Establish your paper's objectives. What point of view or hypothesis are you trying to support? Before you start writing, make an effort to clearly state your aim. If you cannot explain your goal effectively, try to free-write on your subject.
  • Provide logical and persuasive evidence - Ensure that your proof is appropriately documented. Be certain to introduce and explain the relevance of the evidence you use in an easy-to-understand way. Avoid assuming that your evidence will speak for itself and that your readers will draw the conclusions you want from it. Describe the significance of each piece of evidence, how it clarifies or supports your claim, and why it is relevant. Include evidence in your work and use it wisely to support your arguments.
  • Draft your essay - Make sure you include a lot of supporting material presented clearly and fairly, address the opposing viewpoint, and pay close attention to how your essay is organized. Ensure your argumentative essay structure is appropriate for your issue and audience, address and rectify any logical errors, and use appropriate transitions to make it easier for the reader to understand your argument.

Meanwhile, if you'd rather have a PRO craft your paper, you can always buy argumentative essay on our platform.

Examples of Argumentative Essay Topics

Choosing the proper topic for your argumentative essay might be a major difficulty. You should always ensure that your chosen topic is interesting and worthwhile. Your school may occasionally provide you with a selection of subjects, but sometimes you may struggle to choose the topic.

Consider your struggle to be over in the following sections; our persuasive essay writing service will help you find the best argument topics for your upcoming argumentative essay.

Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle Schoolers

Let's start with some easy argumentative essay topics for middle school students.

  • Explain whether or not students should have schoolwork on weekends.
  • Do you believe that the government should determine your school lunch?
  • Should students have to take gym classes?
  • Do you believe that children should have automatic screen time limits or should parents limit screen time manually?
  • Describe your position on whether or not school uniforms should be required.
  • Should violent video games be banned in the United States?
  • How unhealthy are hot dogs?
  • Why or why not should the electoral college be abolished?
  • Should the school day be prolonged to accommodate a long weekend?
  • Do you believe that prerequisite art classes should be mandatory for all college degrees?

Argumentative Essay Topics for High School Students

As you advance your education, you may also pick up more complex topics and open up a meaningful debate. So, here is a list of argumentative essay topics for students in high school.

  • Do you think the FDA is effectively policing what is put into our food?
  • What age do you consider the right age to start using social media?
  • Do you believe a civics test is required for 12th-grade students to pass to graduate?
  • Should professional athletes be permitted to use medications that improve performance?
  • Should high school students receive free breakfast?
  • At what point should children begin doing chores?
  • Do you believe using electronic voting machines makes the electoral process fair?
  • Do we have the power to affect climate change? Or is it far bigger and more powerful than we are?
  • Should the legal age to vote be reduced?
  • Should bottled water be prohibited if environmental protection is so important?

Argumentative Essay Topics for College Students

College students have more freedom when it comes to choosing a topic of choice and freely expressing their opinions. Here are some interesting topics for an essay to delve right into:

  • Should the United States continue with daylight saving time, or should it be eliminated?
  • Should superior grades guarantee scholarship eligibility?
  • Has artificial intelligence overstepped its bounds?
  • Should there be no tuition fees for a public college education?
  • Do we need additional professional sports teams in the United States?
  • Should social media companies be allowed to collect data from their users?
  • Should there be a certain number of Supreme Court justices?
  • Are actors and sportsmen in the entertainment industry paid more than they deserve?
  • Should someone deny medical care due to their religious convictions?
  • Why is the Second Amendment part of the US Constitution that causes the greatest controversy?

Controversial Argumentative Essay Topics

Touching upon controversy makes the best argumentative essay topics for writing. To add a little spice to your paper, consider the following options:

  • Diversity Promotes Tolerance in Society
  • Electronic Voting Is Ineffective Because There Is Too Much Fraud
  • There is No More Free Journalism
  • People Getting Addicted Isn't Caused by Entertainment
  • Reality television fosters unrealistic expectations.
  • Serving in the military is dangerously romanticized
  • People's tax payments do not match the benefits they receive.
  • Given the effects of COVID, further funding for mental health services is necessary.
  • American Women Have the Same Chances as Men
  • Pollution Prevention Is Not Realistic Under the Present Circumstances

Funny Argumentative Essay Topics

You may prefer to debate over funny topics. Here are some choices that will make humorous argumentative essay titles.

  • Which is preferable, the night owl or the morning person?
  • Do we have alien visitors, and if so, what do they want from us?
  • Should the employer impose strict nap requirements?
  • Is it OK to wear socks and flops together?
  • Should scooters take the place of all public transportation?
  • Can you eat pizza with a fork and knife?
  • Should we mandate dancing breaks during the working day?
  • Should we launch an initiative to promote cuddling as the new handshake?
  • Is it moral to routinely tease your loved ones?
  • Should we ban jeans and allow only pajamas to be worn in public?

If you want similar ideas for your next assignment, ask us - ' do my essay topics,' and we'll provide many more funny titles.

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Topics for Argumentative Speech

Here are some topics for argumentative speech from our speech writing service . With these options, you may as well confidently sign up for an inspirational TED talk!

  • What Opinions Do You Have About Cancel Culture?
  • Does being publicly shamed online prevent us from evolving and changing?
  • Phone etiquette: Do you ever feel awkward using your phone among other people?
  • How much, in your opinion, can we infer about our overall satisfaction from what is shared on social media?
  • Should Schools Need a Course in Media Literacy?
  • Does Teaching Happiness in Schools Make Sense?
  • Are there any books that shouldn't be found in public or school libraries?
  • What would you study if there was a unique school that taught you the things you truly wanted to learn?
  • Should Every Young Person Learn How to Trade Stocks?
  • Is Adversity a Prerequisite for Happiness?

Argument Topics on Social Media 

The most efficient argumentative essay title examples relate to social media and online trends. Try the following alternatives:

  • Describe and analyze some of the issues that social media brings to society.
  • Social media has gained increasing acceptance in classrooms over time. Discuss while pointing up positives and drawbacks.
  • Describe the role that social media has had in the radicalization of society.
  • Talk about some ethical issues that become moot when creating a social media account.
  • Discuss how employing social media may assist in increasing your brand's overall value.
  • The importance of social media in contemporary marketing and for kids and teens.
  • What does social media weaponization entail?
  • What are the psychological harms that social media causes?
  • What impact does comedy have on mental health in online forums?
  • What effects do social media have on how people communicate?

Argument Topics on Music

Maybe you'd enjoy an argumentative essay topic on music? Say no more! We have a special place for it in our hearts, and we couldn't wait to share them with you!

  • Why Should a Musician Hire Another Person to Compose Music for Them?
  • How the Making of Music Affects People's Thoughts
  • Should performers utilize their platforms to speak out on social and political issues?
  • Is live music more significant and true to its origins than recorded music?
  • Can one use music as a means of expression and free speech?
  • Is it morally required of musicians to utilize their platform to promote social and political change?
  • Why music education should be a mandatory topic in schools.
  • Why pursuing a profession in music is meaningful and beneficial.
  • Why it's important to acknowledge and encourage the achievements made by women in music.
  • Why it's important to promote and preserve vanishing musical traditions.

Health Argumentative Essay Topics

What about a health-related topic for argumentative essay? Choose one of the below and contribute to the meaningful conversation in medicine!

  • Who carries out the main work, doctors or nurses?
  • Oversleeping has no negative effects on the body.
  • There should be restrictions on human medical testing.
  • Physical and mental health demand different levels of care.
  • Should the use of antibiotics be systematically and carefully regulated?
  • Are health campaigns useful strategies for preventing and controlling disease?
  • Should only those with healthy lives be eligible for organ transplants?
  • Should the US proclaim obesity the biggest threat to the country's health?
  • Should there be any regulation of US healthcare costs to increase access?
  • Should genetic engineering be permitted as a kind of therapy for terminal illnesses?

Argument Topics on Science and Technology

For more up-to-date examples of argumentative essay topics, here are some ideas on science and technology:

  • Do children's IQs differ depending on their socioeconomic status?
  • Are humans becoming more or less lazy as a result of technology?
  • Can we ever settle on Mars?
  • Do technological advances imply a weakening of the force of nature?
  • Can physicians ever be replaced by computers or robots?
  • Should people work on AI development?
  • Is the digitization of healthcare beneficial?
  • Should people be allowed to own their own DNA?
  • Will the use of robots improve our quality of life?
  • What potential advancements in cloud storage are there?

Argument Topics on Sports

We couldn't possibly miss the argumentative essay example topics on sports. Sports are a huge part of our everyday life no matter nation or gender. Examine the topic ideas below; we're sure you'll find something inspiring:

  • Why cheerleading belongs in the Olympic Games.
  • Colleges should prioritize wellness initiatives above athletics.
  • Are amateurs the only ones who practice non-contact versions of American football?
  • What character traits are important in professional football?
  • Could there be a place for women in the NFL?
  • Is it appropriate for national teams to hire players from other nations?
  • Why is women's soccer less well-liked than that played by men?
  • Are the wages of soccer players too high?
  • Is coordination more important in soccer than stamina?
  • Is the current FIFA ranking system accurate?

Argument Topics on Government

As the government is a crucial part of our society, we believe exploring, criticizing, or favoring some political policies, figures, or systems can make the best topic for an essay:

  • How should the government oversee online safety and privacy?
  • Are protests and strikes effective ways to affect how the government works?
  • Should more be done by the government to control and combat the rising issue of wealth inequality?
  • Is choosing the president of the United States through the electoral college a successful process?
  • Should the government be able to control and restrict access to weapons?
  • Should more be done by the government to advance and defend the rights of underrepresented groups?
  • Which political party do you favor in your nation and why?
  • Offer advice on the finest and most efficient strategy to deal with corruption.
  • Which political development or circumstance in the past year most affected you?
  • Should the amount of money given to political campaigns be capped to prevent rich people from exerting too much influence?

Argument Topics on TV, Movies, Video Games

Last but not least, mainstream mediums of entertainment, TV, movies, or video games can also make some effective arguable topics:

  • Do aggressive behavior and violence in society rise due to violent video games?
  • Is it damaging when mental illness is portrayed in TV and film?
  • Is the movie business doing enough to combat whitewashing?
  • Is binge-watching television programs a safe pastime?
  • Indie films: A subgenre or a way of thinking?
  • The Ethics of Making Documentary Films
  • Documentary Films: The Potential to Influence Humanity
  • The Psychosocial Effects of Walt Disney's Heroes
  • Are augmented reality and video games getting too immersive?
  • Should parents be held accountable for watching their kids' graphic or violent media exposure?

Final Words

After researching a variety of excellent essay themes, you might wish to write a well-researched paper on your favorite. Don't forget that we are always ready to help you with all types of writing projects, from selecting an argumentative essay topic to perfecting the cause and effect essay structure . Contact us with your ' write a research paper for me ' request and let us take some of the pressure off your shoulders!

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50 Argumentative Essay Topics For High School Students

argumentative essay topics about schools

Let’s face it, if you’re planning to be an ‘A’ student, you’ve got to give it all. Writing is a skill which is highly expected from students to master. Students in middle and high school are required to write all kinds of essays such as persuasive, argumentative, etc. as a part of their academic curriculum. To pick the right topic for essays in subjects such as Science , English, Philosophy is crucial to writing a meaningful essay. Let’s first learn about an argumentative essay:

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  • How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips

How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

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Table of contents

When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

  • Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
  • Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
  • Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
  • Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
  • Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
  • Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

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argumentative essay topics about schools

An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

  • Make a claim
  • Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
  • Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
  • Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

  • Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
  • Cite data to support your claim
  • Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
  • Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

  • Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
  • Highlight the problems with this position
  • Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
  • Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

  • Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
  • Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
  • Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
  • Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

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94 Excellent Argumentative Essay Topics For Middle School 

December 4, 2023 //  by  Brittany Ray

Middle schoolers are always ready for a feisty debate and to argue their points! This list of excellent argumentative essay topics for middle school is sure to give your students the practice they need in getting their arguments down on paper, in a persuasive way. With a variety of topics ranging from whether or not to outlaw animal testing to debating a 3-day weekend, this curated collection will give your kiddos lots of fun choices to explore! Take a look and see which topics are sure to spark some interest in your classroom!

School Rules and Policies

1. should cell phones be allowed at school.

argumentative essay topics about schools

2. Should gym class (physical education) be a requirement?

argumentative essay topics about schools

3. Explain why or why not: Should students have homework on weekends?

argumentative essay topics about schools

4. Should the school day be extended in exchange for a long weekend?

argumentative essay topics about schools

5. Do you feel the government should dictate what you get for school lunch?

argumentative essay topics about schools

6. Do you believe brick-and-mortar schools are still necessary for today’s post-pandemic society?

argumentative essay topics about schools

7. Is the student-per-class limit too high?

argumentative essay topics about schools

8. Should high school students be required to take a civics exam before graduation?

argumentative essay topics about schools

9. Should school security be improved?

argumentative essay topics about schools

10. Should students be allowed to use smartwatches during examinations?

argumentative essay topics about schools

11. Should there be a limit to the amount of homework a school can assign to students?

argumentative essay topics about schools

12. Is the traditional grading system effective, or does it need an overhaul?

argumentative essay topics about schools

13. Should schools offer more extracurricular activities to cater to diverse interests?

argumentative essay topics about schools

14. Do schools place too much emphasis on sports and athletes at the expense of academic pursuits?

argumentative essay topics about schools

15. Explain your stance as to whether schools should or should not require students to wear uniforms.

argumentative essay topics about schools

16. Do you believe that school field trips are beneficial or merely recreational?

argumentative essay topics about schools

17. Should students be required to learn a second language starting in middle school?

argumentative essay topics about schools

18. Should the government have the ability to ban certain books in the classroom?

argumentative essay topics about schools

19. Should school cafeterias serve exclusively vegetarian meals to promote health?

argumentative essay topics about schools

20. Should schools have mandatory classes on financial literacy?

argumentative essay topics about schools

21. Should schools have strict policies against cyberbullying?

argumentative essay topics about schools

22. Should schools have mandatory mental health classes and counseling sessions?

argumentative essay topics about schools

23. Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?

argumentative essay topics about schools

24. Should schools have mindfulness and meditation sessions as part of the daily routine?

argumentative essay topics about schools

25. Should schools emphasize more on teaching critical thinking skills rather than just memorizing things?

argumentative essay topics about schools

26. Should there be more emphasis on vocational training in middle school?

argumentative essay topics about schools

27. Should students be taught the dangers of misinformation and “fake news” as part of their curriculum?

argumentative essay topics about schools

28. Should schools introduce mandatory community service as part of the curriculum?

argumentative essay topics about schools

29. Should schools allow students to bring their pets to school?

argumentative essay topics about schools

30. Should schools be allowed to monitor students’ online activities?

argumentative essay topics about schools

31. Should education about global warming and environmental conservation be a mandatory part of the curriculum?

argumentative essay topics about schools

32. Should schools introduce more practical skills courses like basic cooking, sewing, or home repair?

argumentative essay topics about schools

33. Do school dress codes infringe on personal expression?

argumentative essay topics about schools

34. Should middle school students be allowed to bring and use laptops in class?

argumentative essay topics about schools

35. Is homeschooling a better option than traditional schooling for some students?

argumentative essay topics about schools

36. Is learning to write in cursive still a necessary skill in the digital age?

argumentative essay topics about schools

37. Should school libraries invest in more digital resources or in physical books?

argumentative essay topics about schools

38. Should students be taught about controversial historical figures objectively or with a critical lens?

argumentative essay topics about schools

39. Should students have a more significant say in the creation of school rules and policies?

argumentative essay topics about schools

40. Do schools focus too much on college preparation at the expense of life skills?

argumentative essay topics about schools

41. Should parents be held more accountable for their children’s misbehavior at school?

argumentative essay topics about schools

42. Are parent-teacher conferences still effective or have they become outdated?

argumentative essay topics about schools

43. Should middle schools have later start times to accommodate adolescent sleep patterns?

argumentative essay topics about schools

College Admission and Tuition 

44. should excellent grades guarantee a scholarship.

argumentative essay topics about schools

45. Should a college degree earned through online education have the same worth as a degree earned at a brick-and-mortar university?

argumentative essay topics about schools

46. Do you feel art courses should be a required part of earning a college degree?

argumentative essay topics about schools

47. Should college admission criteria be less stringent?

argumentative essay topics about schools

48. Should college athletes be paid?

argumentative essay topics about schools

49. Do you believe that a college education is necessary for everyone?

argumentative essay topics about schools

50. Should public education at the college level be tuition-free?

argumentative essay topics about schools

Health and Wellbeing

51. do parents put too much pressure on their children to excel academically.

argumentative essay topics about schools

52. Should cigarettes be illegal?

argumentative essay topics about schools

53. Should employers have the right to require a Covid-19 vaccine?

argumentative essay topics about schools

54. Is milk beneficial to a person’s health?

argumentative essay topics about schools

55. Are hot dogs bad for you?

argumentative essay topics about schools

56. Do you agree or disagree that parents should be held responsible for childhood obesity?

argumentative essay topics about schools

57. Should the FDA allow GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) in our food?

argumentative essay topics about schools

58. Does the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) do a good job of regulating the production of food?

argumentative essay topics about schools

59. Should junk food advertisements be banned during children’s TV shows?

argumentative essay topics about schools

60. Should students be allowed to take “mental health days” off from school?

argumentative essay topics about schools

Government, Politics, and Civic Responsibilities

61. do you think electronic voting machines make the election procedure fair or unfair.

argumentative essay topics about schools

62. Explain whether or not the Electoral College should be eliminated.

argumentative essay topics about schools

63. Should the government have more say in what is or is not “fake news”?

argumentative essay topics about schools

64. Should a felon have the right to vote?

argumentative essay topics about schools

65. Should all political offices have term limits?

argumentative essay topics about schools

66. Should the voting age be lowered?

argumentative essay topics about schools

67. The moral stain of the slavery of African American people in early American History is undoubtedly present. Do you feel the government promotes hate or love with the way it currently speaks about racism?

argumentative essay topics about schools

68. Should the minimum wage be raised to $15 an hour?

argumentative essay topics about schools

69. Should the government have more strict gun control policies?

argumentative essay topics about schools

70. With the separation of church and state, should churches be exempt from paying taxes?

argumentative essay topics about schools

71. Do you feel undocumented immigrants should be granted all the same rights as naturalized citizens?

argumentative essay topics about schools

72. Have Native American communities been given proper reparations for the United States’ long history of seizing land?

argumentative essay topics about schools

73. Do you think that the government should do more to fight against human trafficking?

argumentative essay topics about schools

Environmental and Moral Issues

74. is climate change something we can truly make a difference with.

argumentative essay topics about schools

75. If protecting the environment is of utmost importance, should bottled water be banned?

argumentative essay topics about schools

76. Should exotic animals be kept in captivity?

argumentative essay topics about schools

77. Explain your stance on whether wind farms are a good or bad idea.

argumentative essay topics about schools

78. Do “participation trophies” diminish the value of real achievement?

argumentative essay topics about schools

79. Should there be harsher punishments for bullying?

argumentative essay topics about schools

80. Explain whether or not animal testing should be outlawed.

argumentative essay topics about schools

81. Should the death penalty exist?

argumentative essay topics about schools

82. Should an individual be able to keep wild animals as pets if they have the means to care for them?

argumentative essay topics about schools

83. Do curfews for teenagers prevent them from getting in trouble or infringe on personal freedom?

argumentative essay topics about schools

84. Is scientific research on cloning DNA ethical?

argumentative essay topics about schools

85. Is daylight saving something the U.S. should keep, or should it be abolished?

argumentative essay topics about schools

86. Should schools ban single-use plastics?

argumentative essay topics about schools

Digital and Media

87. do children currently have too much screen time, and is it harmful.

argumentative essay topics about schools

88. Do you believe that the media and/or social media negatively impact body image among teens?

argumentative essay topics about schools

89. Do social media platforms need stricter age verification processes?

argumentative essay topics about schools

90. Should parents have access to their children’s social media accounts for monitoring purposes?

argumentative essay topics about schools

91. Should parents limit the time their children spend on video games?

argumentative essay topics about schools

92. Should violent video games be banned in the United States?

argumentative essay topics about schools

93. Do violent cartoons and animations impact a child’s behavior negatively?

argumentative essay topics about schools

94. Do video games have educational potential or are they merely distractions?

argumentative essay topics about schools

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The Big List of Essay Topics for High School (120+ Ideas!)

Ideas to inspire every young writer!

What one class should all high schools students be required to take and pass in order to graduate?

High school students generally do a lot of writing, learning to use language clearly, concisely, and persuasively. When it’s time to choose an essay topic, though, it’s easy to come up blank. If that’s the case, check out this huge round-up of essay topics for high school. You’ll find choices for every subject and writing style.

  • Argumentative Essay Topics
  • Cause-and-Effect Essay Topics
  • Compare-Contrast Essay Topics
  • Descriptive Essay Topics
  • Expository and Informative Essay Topics
  • Humorous Essay Topics

Literary Essay Topics

  • Narrative and Personal Essay Topics
  • Personal Essay Topics
  • Persuasive Essay Topics

Research Essay Topics

Argumentative essay topics for high school.

When writing an argumentative essay, remember to do the research and lay out the facts clearly. Your goal is not necessarily to persuade someone to agree with you, but to encourage your reader to accept your point of view as valid. Here are some possible argumentative topics to try. ( Here are 100 more compelling argumentative essay topics. )

  • The most important challenge our country is currently facing is … (e.g., immigration, gun control, economy)
  • The government should provide free internet access for every citizen.
  • All drugs should be legalized, regulated, and taxed.
  • Vaping is less harmful than smoking tobacco.
  • The best country in the world is …
  • Parents should be punished for their minor children’s crimes.
  • Should all students have the ability to attend college for free?
  • Should physical education be part of the standard high school curriculum?

Should physical education be part of the standard high school curriculum?

WeAreTeachers

  • Schools should require recommended vaccines for all students, with very limited exceptions.
  • Is it acceptable to use animals for experiments and research?
  • Does social media do more harm than good?
  • Capital punishment does/does not deter crime.
  • What one class should all high schools students be required to take and pass in order to graduate?
  • Do we really learn anything from history, or does it just repeat itself over and over?
  • Are men and women treated equally?

Cause-and-Effect Essay Topics for High School

A cause-and-effect essay is a type of argumentative essay. Your goal is to show how one specific thing directly influences another specific thing. You’ll likely need to do some research to make your point. Here are some ideas for cause-and-effect essays. ( Get a big list of 100 cause-and-effect essay topics here. )

  • Humans are causing accelerated climate change.
  • Fast-food restaurants have made human health worse over the decades.
  • What caused World War II? (Choose any conflict for this one.)
  • Describe the effects social media has on young adults.

Describe the effects social media has on young adults.

  • How does playing sports affect people?
  • What are the effects of loving to read?
  • Being an only/oldest/youngest/middle child makes you …
  • What effect does violence in movies or video games have on kids?
  • Traveling to new places opens people’s minds to new ideas.
  • Racism is caused by …

Compare-Contrast Essay Topics for High School

As the name indicates, in compare-and-contrast essays, writers show the similarities and differences between two things. They combine descriptive writing with analysis, making connections and showing dissimilarities. The following ideas work well for compare-contrast essays. ( Find 80+ compare-contrast essay topics for all ages here. )

  • Public and private schools
  • Capitalism vs. communism
  • Monarchy or democracy
  • Dogs vs. cats as pets

Dogs vs. cats as pets

  • Paper books or e-books
  • Two political candidates in a current race
  • Going to college vs. starting work full-time
  • Working your way through college as you go or taking out student loans
  • iPhone or Android
  • Instagram vs. Twitter (or choose any other two social media platforms)

Descriptive Essay Topics for High School

Bring on the adjectives! Descriptive writing is all about creating a rich picture for the reader. Take readers on a journey to far-off places, help them understand an experience, or introduce them to a new person. Remember: Show, don’t tell. These topics make excellent descriptive essays.

  • Who is the funniest person you know?
  • What is your happiest memory?
  • Tell about the most inspirational person in your life.
  • Write about your favorite place.
  • When you were little, what was your favorite thing to do?
  • Choose a piece of art or music and explain how it makes you feel.
  • What is your earliest memory?

What is your earliest memory?

  • What’s the best/worst vacation you’ve ever taken?
  • Describe your favorite pet.
  • What is the most important item in the world to you?
  • Give a tour of your bedroom (or another favorite room in your home).
  • Describe yourself to someone who has never met you.
  • Lay out your perfect day from start to finish.
  • Explain what it’s like to move to a new town or start a new school.
  • Tell what it would be like to live on the moon.

Expository and Informative Essay Topics for High School

Expository essays set out clear explanations of a particular topic. You might be defining a word or phrase or explaining how something works. Expository or informative essays are based on facts, and while you might explore different points of view, you won’t necessarily say which one is “better” or “right.” Remember: Expository essays educate the reader. Here are some expository and informative essay topics to explore. ( See 70+ expository and informative essay topics here. )

  • What makes a good leader?
  • Explain why a given school subject (math, history, science, etc.) is important for students to learn.
  • What is the “glass ceiling” and how does it affect society?
  • Describe how the internet changed the world.
  • What does it mean to be a good teacher?

What does it mean to be a good teacher?

  • Explain how we could colonize the moon or another planet.
  • Discuss why mental health is just as important as physical health.
  • Describe a healthy lifestyle for a teenager.
  • Choose an American president and explain how their time in office affected the country.
  • What does “financial responsibility” mean?

Humorous Essay Topics for High School

Humorous essays can take on any form, like narrative, persuasive, or expository. You might employ sarcasm or satire, or simply tell a story about a funny person or event. Even though these essay topics are lighthearted, they still take some skill to tackle well. Give these ideas a try.

  • What would happen if cats (or any other animal) ruled the world?
  • What do newborn babies wish their parents knew?
  • Explain the best ways to be annoying on social media.
  • Invent a wacky new sport, explain the rules, and describe a game or match.

Explain why it's important to eat dessert first.

  • Imagine a discussion between two historic figures from very different times, like Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I.
  • Retell a familiar story in tweets or other social media posts.
  • Describe present-day Earth from an alien’s point of view.
  • Choose a fictional character and explain why they should be the next president.
  • Describe a day when kids are in charge of everything, at school and at home.

Literary essays analyze a piece of writing, like a book or a play. In high school, students usually write literary essays about the works they study in class. These literary essay topic ideas focus on books students often read in high school, but many of them can be tweaked to fit other works as well.

  • Discuss the portrayal of women in Shakespeare’s Othello .
  • Explore the symbolism used in The Scarlet Letter .
  • Explain the importance of dreams in Of Mice and Men .
  • Compare and contrast the romantic relationships in Pride and Prejudice .

Analyze the role of the witches in Macbeth.

  • Dissect the allegory of Animal Farm and its relation to contemporary events.
  • Interpret the author’s take on society and class structure in The Great Gatsby .
  • Explore the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia.
  • Discuss whether Shakespeare’s portrayal of young love in Romeo and Juliet is accurate.
  • Explain the imagery used in Beowulf .

Narrative and Personal Essay Topics for High School

Think of a narrative essay like telling a story. Use some of the same techniques that you would for a descriptive essay, but be sure you have a beginning, middle, and end. A narrative essay doesn’t necessarily need to be personal, but they often are. Take inspiration from these narrative and personal essay topics.

  • Describe a performance or sporting event you took part in.
  • Explain the process of cooking and eating your favorite meal.
  • Write about meeting your best friend for the first time and how your relationship developed.
  • Tell about learning to ride a bike or drive a car.
  • Describe a time in your life when you’ve been scared.

Write about a time when you or someone you know displayed courage.

  • Share the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you.
  • Tell about a time when you overcame a big challenge.
  • Tell the story of how you learned an important life lesson.
  • Describe a time when you or someone you know experienced prejudice or oppression.
  • Explain a family tradition, how it developed, and its importance today.
  • What is your favorite holiday? How does your family celebrate it?
  • Retell a familiar story from the point of view of a different character.
  • Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
  • Tell about your proudest moment.

Persuasive Essay Topics for High School

Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative , but they rely less on facts and more on emotion to sway the reader. It’s important to know your audience, so you can anticipate any counterarguments they might make and try to overcome them. Try these topics to persuade someone to come around to your point of view. ( Discover 60 more intriguing persuasive essay topics here. )

  • Do you think homework should be required, optional, or not given at all?
  • Everyone should be vegetarian or vegan.
  • What animal makes the best pet?
  • Visit an animal shelter, choose an animal that needs a home, and write an essay persuading someone to adopt that animal.
  • Who is the world’s best athlete, present or past?
  • Should little kids be allowed to play competitive sports?
  • Are professional athletes/musicians/actors overpaid?
  • The best music genre is …

What is one book that everyone should be required to read?

  • Is democracy the best form of government?
  • Is capitalism the best form of economy?
  • Students should/should not be able to use their phones during the school day.
  • Should schools have dress codes?
  • If I could change one school rule, it would be …
  • Is year-round school a good idea?

A research essay is a classic high school assignment. These papers require deep research into primary source documents, with lots of supporting facts and evidence that’s properly cited. Research essays can be in any of the styles shown above. Here are some possible topics, across a variety of subjects.

  • Which country’s style of government is best for the people who live there?
  • Choose a country and analyze its development from founding to present day.
  • Describe the causes and effects of a specific war.
  • Formulate an ideal economic plan for our country.
  • What scientific discovery has had the biggest impact on life today?

Tell the story of the development of artificial intelligence so far, and describe its impacts along the way.

  • Analyze the way mental health is viewed and treated in this country.
  • Explore the ways systemic racism impacts people in all walks of life.
  • Defend the importance of teaching music and the arts in public schools.
  • Choose one animal from the endangered species list, and propose a realistic plan to protect it.

What are some of your favorite essay topics for high school? Come share your prompts on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

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180+ Argumentative Essay Topics About Education – Engage in Thought-Provoking Classroom Discussions

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When it comes to essay writing in the classroom, one of the most common assignments students encounter is to write an argumentative essay. Argumentative essay topics about education have become increasingly popular as educators recognize the importance of critical thinking and the ability to formulate a strong thesis statement. In this essay, students must present a specific reason or main argument in favor or against a controversial education policy or practice. To write an argumentative education essay, students must first recognize the importance of a well-structured introduction, body paragraphs that develop and evaluate the main argument, and a conclusion that summarizes the key points. They also need to organize their thoughts, outline their ideas, and use logical reasoning to persuade the reader of their viewpoint. This type of essay allows students to engage with interesting topics, such as the use of technology in the classroom, vocational education, standardized testing, and the advantages and disadvantages of various policies. By exploring these topics, students can develop their writing skills, enhance their critical thinking abilities, and learn to recognize debatable issues within the education system. Here, we will list argumentative essay topics for students to consider as they begin their writing assignments.

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What makes a good argumentative essay topic?

When choosing a topic for an argumentative essay, there are a few key factors to consider. A good argumentative essay topic is debatable, relevant, and interesting to both the writer and the audience. Here are some points to help you understand what makes a good argumentative essay topic:

  • Relevance: A strong argumentative essay topic should be relevant to current issues or ongoing societal debates. Choose topics that are timely and have real-world implications. For example, topics related to technology, politics, health, or environmental issues are often relevant and engaging.
  • Controversy: The best argumentative essay topics have multiple perspectives or sides to argue. Look for topics that spark controversy or have strong opinions on both sides. This allows for a more in-depth exploration of the issue and encourages critical thinking.
  • Researchability: An effective argumentative essay requires solid evidence to support your claims. Choose topics you can research thoroughly and find credible sources to support your arguments. Avoid too narrow or obscure topics, as finding enough evidence to support your stance may be challenging.
  • Audience Interest: Consider your audience when selecting a topic for your argumentative essay. Choose a topic that will resonate with your readers and provoke their interest or emotions. Topics that appeal to the reader’s emotions, or ethos, are more likely to engage them and keep them interested in your argument.
  • Educational Value: Argumentative essays are about expressing opinions and helping students develop critical thinking and research skills. Choose topics that challenge students to think critically, analyze evidence, and form opinions. Topics in education, such as standardized testing, curriculum reform, or student loan debt, can be particularly effective in helping students develop these skills.

Best Education Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Standardized Testing: Does it accurately assess students’ abilities?
  • College Tuition: Should it be free for all students?
  • Online Learning: Is it as effective as traditional classroom learning?
  • Curriculum Reform: How can we improve the education system?
  • Student Loan Debt: Is it worth the financial burden?
  • School Safety: What measures should be taken to ensure students’ safety?
  • Technology in Education: Does it enhance or hinder learning?
  • Teacher Evaluation: How should educators be assessed?
  • Homeschooling: Is it a viable alternative to traditional schooling?
  • Bilingual Education: What are the benefits and challenges?
  • Special Education: Are students with disabilities receiving adequate support?
  • Early Childhood Education: How important is it for child development?
  • Arts Education: Should it be a mandatory part of the curriculum?
  • Sex Education: What should be taught in schools?
  • School Funding: How does it impact educational outcomes?

Education Argumentative Essay Topics for University

  • University Admissions: Should they be based solely on academic performance?
  • Student Mental Health: How can universities better support their students’ well-being?
  • Campus Diversity: Is it important for a university to have a diverse student body?
  • Online Education: Is it a viable option for university-level courses?
  • Academic Integrity: How can universities prevent cheating and plagiarism?
  • Student Debt: What measures can be taken to alleviate the burden of student loans?
  • Campus Safety: What steps should universities take to ensure a safe environment for students?
  • Freedom of Speech: To what extent should universities restrict speech on campus?
  • International Students: How can universities better accommodate and support them?
  • Student Housing: Should universities provide affordable housing options for students?
  • Gender Equality: Are universities doing enough to address gender disparities in higher education?
  • Faculty Tenure: Is it still relevant in today’s academic landscape?
  • Career Services: How effective are university career services in helping students find employment?
  • Research Funding: How does it impact the quality of education at universities?
  • Experiential Learning: Should universities prioritize hands-on learning experiences for students?

Strong Education Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Education Reform: What changes are needed to improve the education system?
  • Digital Divide: How does access to technology impact educational outcomes?
  • Inclusive Education: Should students with disabilities be integrated into mainstream classrooms?
  • Critical Thinking: How can it be effectively taught in schools?
  • Standardized Testing: Does it accurately measure student achievement?
  • School Choice: What are the pros and cons of voucher programs?
  • Early Childhood Development: How important is early education for future success?
  • Teacher Training: Are educators adequately prepared to meet the needs of diverse learners?
  • Education Funding: How should resources be allocated to ensure equity?
  • STEM Education: Is it being prioritized enough in schools?
  • Global Education: What role should international perspectives play in the curriculum?
  • Online Learning: How does it compare to traditional classroom instruction?
  • Student Engagement: What strategies can increase student motivation and participation?
  • Media Literacy: Should it be incorporated into the curriculum?
  • Lifelong Learning: How can education adapt to meet the needs of lifelong learners?

Easy Education Essay Topics

  • Importance of Early Childhood Education
  • Benefits of Online Learning
  • The Role of Technology in Modern Education
  • Advantages of Student-Centered Learning
  • Strategies for Effective Study Skills
  • Addressing Bullying in Schools
  • Importance of Physical Education in Schools
  • Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Education
  • The Impact of Social Media on Student Life
  • Exploring Different Learning Styles
  • The Value of Extracurricular Activities
  • Understanding Learning Disabilities
  • The Importance of Parental Involvement in Education
  • The Benefits of Arts Education
  • Strategies for Time Management for Students

Education Argument Essay Topics

  • Impact of Technology on Classroom Dynamics
  • Importance of Financial Literacy Education
  • Strategies to Improve Teacher Retention Rates
  • Addressing Inequality in Access to Education
  • The Role of School Counseling Services
  • Implementing Character Education in Schools
  • Examining the Effectiveness of Homework
  • Integrating Social and Emotional Learning into the Curriculum
  • Benefits of Multilingual Education
  • Exploring the Gender Gap in STEM Fields
  • The Debate over School Voucher Programs
  • Evaluating the Role of Standardized Testing in Education
  • Promoting Environmental Education in Schools
  • Strategies to Combat Student Apathy in Learning
  • The Impact of Privatization on Public Education

Argumentative Essay Topics on Education

1. The Role of Technology in Modern Education 2. Addressing Inequities in Access to Education 3. The Efficacy of Standardized Testing 4. Implementing Comprehensive Sex Education in Schools 5. Exploring the Benefits of Inclusive Education 6. Examining the Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Academic Achievement 7. Strategies to Improve Teacher Effectiveness 8. The Debate over Charter Schools 9. Promoting Mental Health Awareness in Schools 10. Assessing the Value of Homework in Education 11. Incorporating Financial Literacy into the Curriculum 12. The Importance of Early Childhood Education 13. Strategies to Enhance Student Engagement in Learning 14. The Role of Arts Education in Academic Development 15. Addressing the Digital Divide in Education

Education Essay Topics for College Students

1. Impact of Technology on College Learning Environments 2. Strategies for Student Success in Higher Education 3. Exploring the Benefits of Liberal Arts Education 4. Addressing Mental Health Challenges Among College Students 5. The Role of Internships and Experiential Learning in College Education 6. Promoting Diversity and Inclusion on College Campuses 7. Evaluating the Value of General Education Requirements 8. The Importance of Career Counseling Services for College Students 9. Navigating Financial Challenges in Higher Education 10. Strategies for Balancing Academics and Extracurricular Activities in College 11. The Debate over Campus Free Speech and Safe Spaces 12. Examining the Impact of Student Loan Debt on College Graduates 13. Incorporating Sustainability Education into College Curricula 14. Exploring the Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Education for College Students 15. Strategies for Promoting Academic Integrity in College Settings

Education Essay Topics for High School

1. Exploring Career Pathways in High School Education 2. The Role of Extracurricular Activities in High School 3. Strategies for Effective Time Management for High School Students 4. Addressing Bullying and Cyberbullying in High Schools 5. Importance of Financial Literacy Education for High School Students 6. The Impact of Peer Pressure on Academic Performance in High School 7. Promoting Mental Health Awareness Among High School Students 8. Exploring the Benefits of Service Learning in High School Education 9. Implementing Comprehensive Sex Education in High Schools 10. Strategies for Coping with Academic Stress in High School 11. Evaluating the Role of Standardized Testing in High School Education 12. The Importance of Digital Literacy Skills for High School Students 13. Exploring the Effects of Social Media on High School Students 14. Addressing the Achievement Gap in High School Education 15. Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in High School Curricula

Interesting Education Essay Topics

1. The Impact of Gamification on Learning Outcomes 2. Exploring the History of Education Reform Movements 3. Addressing Environmental Sustainability in School Curricula 4. The Role of Creativity in Education 5. Examining the Benefits of Project-Based Learning 6. Strategies for Culturally Responsive Teaching 7. Investigating the Effects of Sleep on Academic Performance 8. The Importance of Outdoor Education Programs 9. Promoting Global Citizenship Education in Schools 10. Exploring the Link Between Music Education and Cognitive Development 11. The Role of Empathy in Classroom Management 12. Examining the Benefits of Mindfulness Practices in Education 13. Strategies for Teaching Emotional Intelligence Skills 14. Addressing Learning Differences Through Universal Design for Learning 15. Exploring the Impact of Parental Involvement on Student Achievement

Education Research Paper Topics

1. The Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on Academic Achievement 2. Strategies for Promoting Student Engagement in Learning 3. The Impact of Teacher Training Programs on Classroom Effectiveness 4. Exploring the Relationship Between Parental Involvement and Student Success 5. Addressing the Digital Divide in Education: Challenges and Solutions 6. Evaluating the Efficacy of Differentiated Instruction in Diverse Classrooms 7. The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Academic Achievement 8. Investigating the Effects of School Choice Policies on Educational Equity 9. Promoting Critical Thinking Skills Through Inquiry-Based Learning 10. Examining the Benefits of Early Childhood Education Programs 11. Understanding the Impact of Trauma on Learning and Behavior 12. Exploring the Effectiveness of Peer Tutoring Programs 13. Investigating the Influence of Gender on STEM Education 14. The Role of School Climate in Student Well-Being and Achievement 15. Strategies for Promoting Literacy Development in At-Risk Populations

Education Persuasive Essay Topics

  • Implementing Comprehensive Sex Education in Schools
  • Advocating for Increased Funding for Arts Education Programs
  • Persuading Schools to Adopt Restorative Justice Practices
  • Promoting the Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Literature in School Curricula
  • Convincing Schools to Ban Junk Food from Cafeterias
  • Advocating for Mandatory Environmental Education in Schools
  • Persuading Schools to Implement Mental Health Education Programs
  • Promoting the Importance of Teaching Financial Literacy in High Schools
  • Convincing Schools to Adopt Gender-Neutral Dress Codes
  • Advocating for More Recess Time in Elementary Schools
  • Persuading Schools to Offer Free Breakfast and Lunch Programs for All Students
  • Promoting the Teaching of Media Literacy Skills in Schools
  • Convincing Schools to Implement Anti-Bullying Programs
  • Advocating for the Inclusion of Indigenous Perspectives in History Curriculum
  • Persuading Schools to Offer Comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion Training for Staff

Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas for College

  • Diversity Requirements in College Curricula
  • Tuition-Free College Education for All
  • Implementing Mental Health Services on College Campuses
  • Addressing Campus Sexual Assault Policies
  • The Role of Trigger Warnings in College Classrooms
  • Mandatory Drug Testing for College Athletes
  • Exploring the Value of Liberal Arts Education in the Digital Age
  • The Impact of Greek Life on College Campuses
  • Should College Athletes Be Paid?
  • The Effectiveness of Online Learning in Higher Education
  • Addressing Academic Freedom and Free Speech on College Campuses
  • Strategies for Addressing Food Insecurity Among College Students
  • The Role of College Rankings in Higher Education
  • Exploring the Benefits of Study Abroad Programs for College Students
  • Promoting Campus Sustainability Initiatives in College Settings

Argumentative Essay Topics About Education FAQ

What is the importance of choosing a compelling argumentative paper topic for an education essay.

Choosing a compelling topic for an argumentative essay is crucial in engaging your readers and highlighting the significance of the education-related issue you are discussing. It helps students understand the subject matter’s relevance  and encourages critical thinking.

How can a writer’s credibility impact the effectiveness of an argumentative essay?

The writer’s credibility plays a significant role in persuading the audience. By establishing credibility, the author can compel readers to consider their viewpoint seriously and trust the information presented in the essay.

Why is it essential to include counterarguments in an argumentative education essay?

Addressing opposing viewpoints through counterarguments demonstrates the writer’s ability to consider different perspectives and strengthens their argument by refuting potential objections. This also showcases the author’s reasoning skills and critical thinking skills .

How can one effectively delve into a topic and present fresh ideas in an argumentative education essay?

To delve deep into a topic and bring forth fresh ideas , it is essential to put forward a unique angle or perspective that has not been extensively explored before, ensuring that your essay offers a high-quality contribution to the discussion.

What role does incorporating pathos play in an argumentative education essay?

Utilizing pathos in your essay can help compel emotions and create a connection with the readers, making them more receptive to the arguments presented. It adds an emotional appeal that complements logical reasoning and strengthens your overall

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60+ Argumentative Essay Topics About Education

List of 60+ argumentative essay topics about education for students. Argumentative topic allow a student to be critical thinker in his field. Following topic are also useful for a teacher

List Of Argumentative Essays Topics For College Students

  • Standardized tests should be eliminated from schools.
  • Technology should not replace traditional classroom teaching methods.
  • Schools should teach financial literacy as a required course.
  • Physical education should be a mandatory subject in all schools.
  • The school day should be shorter to allow for more extracurricular activities.
  • Homeschooling should be illegal.
  • Students should be able to choose their own curriculum.
  • Schools should teach students about mental health and wellness.
  • Bilingual education should be mandatory in all schools.College tuition should be free.
  • All schools should have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying.
  • Dress codes should be abolished in schools.
  • Schools should teach coding and programming.
  • Sex education should be taught in all schools.
  • Teachers should be paid more.
  • Physical punishment should be banned in schools.
  • Schools should have a mandatory course on environmental education.
  • Online learning should be available to all students.
  • Schools should teach mindfulness and meditation.
  • Music and art education should be mandatory in all schools.
  • All students should be required to take a foreign language.
  • Schools should teach critical thinking skills.
  • Schools should eliminate homework.
  • Schools should offer more vocational training programs.
  • Students should be allowed to evaluate their teachers.
  • Standardized grading systems should be eliminated from schools.
  • Schools should have a mandatory course on entrepreneurship.
  • Schools should offer more field trips and hands-on learning opportunities.
  • Schools should be required to provide healthy meals for students.
  • Online education should be more accessible to low-income students.
  • Schools should teach self-defense classes.
  • Schools should offer more extracurricular activities.
  • All schools should have a full-time nurse on staff.
  • The use of technology in classrooms should be limited.
  • College athletes should be paid.
  • Students should be allowed to choose their own schedules.
  • All schools should have a mandatory course on the history and culture of marginalized groups.
  • Schools should have a mandatory course on the dangers of substance abuse.
  • Schools should have a mandatory course on digital literacy.
  • The curriculum should be more inclusive of diverse perspectives.
  • All schools should have a mandatory course on the importance of voting and civic engagement.
  • Schools should offer more resources for students with disabilities.
  • Schools should have a mandatory course on the importance of physical activity and healthy living.
  • Teachers should be required to have a degree in education.
  • Schools should provide more resources for students dealing with mental health issues.
  • Schools should teach media literacy.
  • All schools should have a mandatory course on the impact of climate change.
  • Schools should have a mandatory course on the importance of volunteering and community service.
  • Schools should teach conflict resolution skills.
  • All schools should have a mandatory course on the impact of technology on society.
  • Schools should provide more resources for students dealing with family issues.
  • Students should be allowed to use their phones in classrooms.
  • Schools should have a mandatory course on the importance of mental health.
  • All schools should have a mandatory course on the impact of globalization.
  • Schools should teach time management skills.
  • Schools should have a mandatory course on the importance of empathy and understanding.
  • Schools should offer more resources for students dealing with financial issues.
  • Schools should teach students about healthy relationships.
  • Schools should offer more resources for students dealing with grief and loss.

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Interesting High School Argumentative Essay Topics

September 21, 2022

Argumentative essays are meant to convince the readers concerning the facts, value conclusions, and arguments shared by the writer. The main elements that should be considered when writing good argumentative essays include establishing facts that support the main arguments.

The Second element is to clarify the values relevant to the intended audience.

There is also a need to ensure that the values and facts are placed coherently and cohesively; this requires students to prioritize their ideas and edit them in the right sequence. Many high school students find argumentative essay writing a major challenge.

They do not know how to ensure that their points are persuasive enough.

Argumentative Essay Writing

It is important to know that writing essays should not be a matter of informing the readers of what they know, ensuring that they believe and be convinced of the issues being presented. For one to write argumentative essays, a student needs to present the objectives of their analysis by presenting the topic’s key ideas, concepts, and issues.

This is the introduction part that will help the reader know the controversial issues of the subject. The opening section will also give the readers a clue about the position the writer is supporting; this is possible by writing a thesis statement.

Waste a Lot of Time

Essay writing is challenging, but the other most important thing is the topics you select for your essays. Many students can usually write their essays and term papers effectively. Still, they waste a lot of time on the title, thinking that it makes their deadlines closer which can cost their academic lives difficult in the long term.

It would help if you found some interesting high school argumentative essay topics before writing your essays and term papers.

Here is a high school argumentative essay topic list:

Essay Topics for High School Students:

  • Is there life after demise?
  • How much is too much homework?
  • Are school uniforms good or bad idea?
  • Does television influence your intellect?
  • Is our society male-dominated, or do we practice equal sharing?
  • Should fathers get paid paternity leave from work as well?
  • Is there any dissimilarity between illegal drugs and cigarettes?
  • Is keeping newspaper reporters’ sources a secret ethical?
  • Is global warming real? And Global warming, fact or fiction.
  • Since some religious groups are not resistant to atheists, should nonbelievers be large-minded of such religious communities?
  • Is cloning good or bad?
  • Should abortion be legal?
  • Should the death penalty be abolished?
  • Do we follow a fair taxation system?
  • Arguments for and against euthanasia.
  • Should cell phones be allowed in schools?
  • Are prisons the only way to eliminate crime?
  • Can curfews help keep teenagers out of trouble?

Thus, to write some top-drawer essays and term papers, you must select or note down some of the topics mentioned above for the essays and term papers. This way, you would be able to make the best out of your skills. Also, a complete revision is necessary at the end of the task.

It helps to rectify the mistakes committed.

The students can take the help of various online tools or expert assistance to make their essays impeccable – like the online CustomWriting service . The final write-up should be concise with firm language.

It should also include a separate page with proper references and citations at the end.

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argumentative essay topics about schools

Are you a student looking for argumentative essay topics? If so, we have you covered. Below you will find a list of the best argumentative essay topics.

Argumentative Essay Topics (General)

  • Do you think that abortion should be made illegal?
  • Do you think that animal testing should be banned?
  • Is the #metoo movement a great thing?
  • Do you think that manufacturers are responsible for the effects of the chemicals used in creating their products?
  • Do you think that illegal immigrants be granted residency?
  • Is there a fake news problem? What is the source?
  • Do you believe that “big pharma” has people’s best interests at heart?
  • Is the death penalty a just punishment?
  • Are there moral concerns that make genetic cloning illegal?
  • What Do you think that people do to stop human trafficking?

Argumentative Essay Topics About Politics

  • Which political party has the right ideology?
  • What Do you think that be done to reduce income inequality?
  • Is paying down the US deficit the most essential issue of our time?
  • Do you believe that the Federal Reserve needs to stop printing money because it creates an unsustainable bubble?
  • Is capitalism the best economic system?
  • Is socialism the best economic system?
  • Is America ready for a female president?
  • Do you think that an elected leader represents the interests of their own political party, or is it best to try to compromise?
  • What modern political decision has created the most change?
  • Do you believe that campaign finance reform works?

Argumentative Essay Topics About Society & Culture

  • When will LGTBQ individuals experience equality?
  • Is healthcare a fundamental human right?
  • Do you think that TV censors explicit content because programmers must produce family-friendly programming?
  • Social media brings us together and pulls us apart; Do you believe that the great outweighs the bad or vice versa?
  • Is a gap year time for exploration and reflection or a year-long vacation?
  • Many states have begun to decriminalize the possession of certain drugs like marijuana; is this a great idea?
  • Equality is part of lawmaking, but do you believe that it works in practice?
  • Do you think that people have the right to own a gun?
  • In cases of terminal illness, Do you think that a patient should be able to request medically assisted suicide?
  • Do you think that smoking should be illegal?
  • What is the best way to foster positive conversation about controversial issues?

Argumentative Essay Topics About History

  • Many people think that we learn from the past, but there are many patterns in history. Do you think history repeats itself?
  • How did the US Civil War make the nation best or worse?
  • Thomas Jefferson made considerable contributions to the founding of America, both as a writer and a politician. However, he didn’t live a perfect life. Was he a hero?
  • Do you believe that our modern perspective changes the “truth” of what happened during major historical events?
  • Pick a past decade and discuss if lower socio-economic classes had opportunities at that time.
  • Did the handling of Native Americans leave a moral stain on the US?
  • Slavery was a foundational part of the American colonies and, later, the United States. So how did this injustice change the nation?
  • What factors led to the rise of Naziism in Germany and to the Holocaust?
  • The plague destroyed the population of Europe and changed the course of history. So what was its biggest lesson?

Argumentative Essay Topics for Kids in Elementary School

  • Do you think that there be commercials in kids’ programs?
  • Do you believe that homework help kids learn?
  • Do you think that school should be all year?
  • Do schools treat girls and boys the same way?
  • Do you think that parents limit screen time?
  • Do you think that school start before eight o’clock in the morning?
  • Do you think that kids be able to vote in national elections?
  • Is it best to read fiction or nonfiction?
  • Is it best for kids to have distance learning or be in school?
  • Do parents treat all their kids the same way, or do they treat the oldest and youngest differently?
  • Do you think that kids have the same teacher every year or switch teachers each year?
  • Do you think that video games be a sport?
  • Are schools doing enough to stop bullying?
  • Do you think that kids have homework on weekends?
  • Is it best if three generations of a family live together?
  • Are hot dogs bad for you?
  • Do you think that school lunch should include vegetables, even if Many kids don’t like them?
  • Is it okay to eat dessert before dinner?

Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School

  • Do you think that middle schoolers have jobs like babysitting or mowing lawns?
  • Are beauty pageants a great idea?
  • Are violent video games bad?
  • Do you think that parents be able to say whether kids can dye their hair?
  • Do you believe that social media do more harm than good?
  • Do middle schoolers have too much homework?
  • Do you think that teachers get paid more?
  • Is life more challenging for your parent’s generation or yours’?
  • Why is your favorite musical artist best than anyone else?
  • Do you think that kids read age-appropriate books, or is it okay to read grown-up books?
  • Do you think that there be ratings (like G, PG, and R) for movies?
  • Is it best to ride the bus or walk to school?
  • Is school lunch great for kids?
  • Do you believe an hour of reading or an hour of exercising is better?
  • Do you think that gym class should be required?
  • Do you think that kids get paid for getting excellent grades?
  • Is it best to have class over the computer or in person?
  • Is cyberbullying as big of a problem as in-person bullying?
  • Do you think that all cars be electric?

Argumentative Essay Topics for High School

  • Do you think that people be allowed to burn the flag?
  • Do you think that parents get in trouble for truancy if kids don’t go to school?
  • Is social media bad for relationships?
  • Do you think that businesses be required to hire for diversity?
  • Are women and men treated equally?
  • Do you think that the minimum wage should be raised?
  • Do you think that everyone should go to college?
  • Is climate change a real threat?
  • Are wind farms benefitting the environment and economy?
  • Do you think that people be allowed to wear fur of any kind?
  • Is it a bad idea to use your DNA for genealogy?
  • Do you think that parents should decide they don’t want medical treatment for their kids?
  • Is the United States falling behind other nations in terms of education?
  • Do the actions of a nation’s leader influence the actions of the people?
  • Do you think that the electoral college should be abolished?
  • Do you think that schools be required to offer art courses?
  • Do you think that all new cars be electric?
  • Will AI help the world or hurt it?
  • Do you think that high school pupils work during the school year?
  • Are there forms of personal expression that you think should be allowed in schools?

Argumentative Essay Topics for College

  • Are men and women equally emotional?
  • Are printed books best than e-readers?
  • Do you think that the drinking age should be lowered?
  • Are parents responsible for childhood obesity?
  • Do you think that college should free?
  • Do you think that beauty standards be more inclusive?
  • Are all college majors equally essential?
  • Is social media bad for kids?
  • Has technology changed our definition of magic?
  • Is it worth exploring space?
  • Do you think that all internships be paid?
  • Do you think that income should be tied to the cost of a degree?
  • Is climate change the biggest threat to the world?
  • Is feminism still essential?
  • Has society made the needed reparations for slavery?
  • Do you believe that elections should be decided by the popular vote?
  • Should everyone be entitled to free health care?
  • Do anti-discrimination laws protect disabled pupils?
  • Is a degree from an online college or university as legitimate as a degree from a brick-and-mortar university?
  • Is it a conflict of interest for an instructor or professor to require pupils to purchase his book?

100+ Persuasive Essay Topics

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Need to defend your opinion on an issue? Argumentative essays are one of the most popular types of essays you’ll write in school. They combine persuasive arguments with fact-based research, and, when done well, can be powerful tools for making someone agree with your point of view. If you’re struggling to write an argumentative essay or just want to learn more about them, seeing examples can be a big help.

After giving an overview of this type of essay, we provide three argumentative essay examples. After each essay, we explain in-depth how the essay was structured, what worked, and where the essay could be improved. We end with tips for making your own argumentative essay as strong as possible.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses evidence and facts to support the claim it’s making. Its purpose is to persuade the reader to agree with the argument being made.

A good argumentative essay will use facts and evidence to support the argument, rather than just the author’s thoughts and opinions. For example, say you wanted to write an argumentative essay stating that Charleston, SC is a great destination for families. You couldn’t just say that it’s a great place because you took your family there and enjoyed it. For it to be an argumentative essay, you need to have facts and data to support your argument, such as the number of child-friendly attractions in Charleston, special deals you can get with kids, and surveys of people who visited Charleston as a family and enjoyed it. The first argument is based entirely on feelings, whereas the second is based on evidence that can be proven.

The standard five paragraph format is common, but not required, for argumentative essays. These essays typically follow one of two formats: the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model.

  • The Toulmin model is the most common. It begins with an introduction, follows with a thesis/claim, and gives data and evidence to support that claim. This style of essay also includes rebuttals of counterarguments.
  • The Rogerian model analyzes two sides of an argument and reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each.

3 Good Argumentative Essay Examples + Analysis

Below are three examples of argumentative essays, written by yours truly in my school days, as well as analysis of what each did well and where it could be improved.

Argumentative Essay Example 1

Proponents of this idea state that it will save local cities and towns money because libraries are expensive to maintain. They also believe it will encourage more people to read because they won’t have to travel to a library to get a book; they can simply click on what they want to read and read it from wherever they are. They could also access more materials because libraries won’t have to buy physical copies of books; they can simply rent out as many digital copies as they need.

However, it would be a serious mistake to replace libraries with tablets. First, digital books and resources are associated with less learning and more problems than print resources. A study done on tablet vs book reading found that people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain 20% less information, and understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who read the same information in print. Additionally, staring too long at a screen has been shown to cause numerous health problems, including blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes, headaches, and eye strain, at much higher instances than reading print does. People who use tablets and mobile devices excessively also have a higher incidence of more serious health issues such as fibromyalgia, shoulder and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and muscle strain. I know that whenever I read from my e-reader for too long, my eyes begin to feel tired and my neck hurts. We should not add to these problems by giving people, especially young people, more reasons to look at screens.

Second, it is incredibly narrow-minded to assume that the only service libraries offer is book lending. Libraries have a multitude of benefits, and many are only available if the library has a physical location. Some of these benefits include acting as a quiet study space, giving people a way to converse with their neighbors, holding classes on a variety of topics, providing jobs, answering patron questions, and keeping the community connected. One neighborhood found that, after a local library instituted community events such as play times for toddlers and parents, job fairs for teenagers, and meeting spaces for senior citizens, over a third of residents reported feeling more connected to their community. Similarly, a Pew survey conducted in 2015 found that nearly two-thirds of American adults feel that closing their local library would have a major impact on their community. People see libraries as a way to connect with others and get their questions answered, benefits tablets can’t offer nearly as well or as easily.

While replacing libraries with tablets may seem like a simple solution, it would encourage people to spend even more time looking at digital screens, despite the myriad issues surrounding them. It would also end access to many of the benefits of libraries that people have come to rely on. In many areas, libraries are such an important part of the community network that they could never be replaced by a simple object.

The author begins by giving an overview of the counter-argument, then the thesis appears as the first sentence in the third paragraph. The essay then spends the rest of the paper dismantling the counter argument and showing why readers should believe the other side.

What this essay does well:

  • Although it’s a bit unusual to have the thesis appear fairly far into the essay, it works because, once the thesis is stated, the rest of the essay focuses on supporting it since the counter-argument has already been discussed earlier in the paper.
  • This essay includes numerous facts and cites studies to support its case. By having specific data to rely on, the author’s argument is stronger and readers will be more inclined to agree with it.
  • For every argument the other side makes, the author makes sure to refute it and follow up with why her opinion is the stronger one. In order to make a strong argument, it’s important to dismantle the other side, which this essay does this by making the author's view appear stronger.
  • This is a shorter paper, and if it needed to be expanded to meet length requirements, it could include more examples and go more into depth with them, such as by explaining specific cases where people benefited from local libraries.
  • Additionally, while the paper uses lots of data, the author also mentions their own experience with using tablets. This should be removed since argumentative essays focus on facts and data to support an argument, not the author’s own opinion or experiences. Replacing that with more data on health issues associated with screen time would strengthen the essay.
  • Some of the points made aren't completely accurate , particularly the one about digital books being cheaper. It actually often costs a library more money to rent out numerous digital copies of a book compared to buying a single physical copy. Make sure in your own essay you thoroughly research each of the points and rebuttals you make, otherwise you'll look like you don't know the issue that well.

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Argumentative Essay Example 2

There are multiple drugs available to treat malaria, and many of them work well and save lives, but malaria eradication programs that focus too much on them and not enough on prevention haven’t seen long-term success in Sub-Saharan Africa. A major program to combat malaria was WHO’s Global Malaria Eradication Programme. Started in 1955, it had a goal of eliminating malaria in Africa within the next ten years. Based upon previously successful programs in Brazil and the United States, the program focused mainly on vector control. This included widely distributing chloroquine and spraying large amounts of DDT. More than one billion dollars was spent trying to abolish malaria. However, the program suffered from many problems and in 1969, WHO was forced to admit that the program had not succeeded in eradicating malaria. The number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa who contracted malaria as well as the number of malaria deaths had actually increased over 10% during the time the program was active.

One of the major reasons for the failure of the project was that it set uniform strategies and policies. By failing to consider variations between governments, geography, and infrastructure, the program was not nearly as successful as it could have been. Sub-Saharan Africa has neither the money nor the infrastructure to support such an elaborate program, and it couldn’t be run the way it was meant to. Most African countries don't have the resources to send all their people to doctors and get shots, nor can they afford to clear wetlands or other malaria prone areas. The continent’s spending per person for eradicating malaria was just a quarter of what Brazil spent. Sub-Saharan Africa simply can’t rely on a plan that requires more money, infrastructure, and expertise than they have to spare.

Additionally, the widespread use of chloroquine has created drug resistant parasites which are now plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa. Because chloroquine was used widely but inconsistently, mosquitoes developed resistance, and chloroquine is now nearly completely ineffective in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 95% of mosquitoes resistant to it. As a result, newer, more expensive drugs need to be used to prevent and treat malaria, which further drives up the cost of malaria treatment for a region that can ill afford it.

Instead of developing plans to treat malaria after the infection has incurred, programs should focus on preventing infection from occurring in the first place. Not only is this plan cheaper and more effective, reducing the number of people who contract malaria also reduces loss of work/school days which can further bring down the productivity of the region.

One of the cheapest and most effective ways of preventing malaria is to implement insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs).  These nets provide a protective barrier around the person or people using them. While untreated bed nets are still helpful, those treated with insecticides are much more useful because they stop mosquitoes from biting people through the nets, and they help reduce mosquito populations in a community, thus helping people who don’t even own bed nets.  Bed nets are also very effective because most mosquito bites occur while the person is sleeping, so bed nets would be able to drastically reduce the number of transmissions during the night. In fact, transmission of malaria can be reduced by as much as 90% in areas where the use of ITNs is widespread. Because money is so scarce in Sub-Saharan Africa, the low cost is a great benefit and a major reason why the program is so successful. Bed nets cost roughly 2 USD to make, last several years, and can protect two adults. Studies have shown that, for every 100-1000 more nets are being used, one less child dies of malaria. With an estimated 300 million people in Africa not being protected by mosquito nets, there’s the potential to save three million lives by spending just a few dollars per person.

Reducing the number of people who contract malaria would also reduce poverty levels in Africa significantly, thus improving other aspects of society like education levels and the economy. Vector control is more effective than treatment strategies because it means fewer people are getting sick. When fewer people get sick, the working population is stronger as a whole because people are not put out of work from malaria, nor are they caring for sick relatives. Malaria-afflicted families can typically only harvest 40% of the crops that healthy families can harvest. Additionally, a family with members who have malaria spends roughly a quarter of its income treatment, not including the loss of work they also must deal with due to the illness. It’s estimated that malaria costs Africa 12 billion USD in lost income every year. A strong working population creates a stronger economy, which Sub-Saharan Africa is in desperate need of.  

This essay begins with an introduction, which ends with the thesis (that malaria eradication plans in Sub-Saharan Africa should focus on prevention rather than treatment). The first part of the essay lays out why the counter argument (treatment rather than prevention) is not as effective, and the second part of the essay focuses on why prevention of malaria is the better path to take.

  • The thesis appears early, is stated clearly, and is supported throughout the rest of the essay. This makes the argument clear for readers to understand and follow throughout the essay.
  • There’s lots of solid research in this essay, including specific programs that were conducted and how successful they were, as well as specific data mentioned throughout. This evidence helps strengthen the author’s argument.
  • The author makes a case for using expanding bed net use over waiting until malaria occurs and beginning treatment, but not much of a plan is given for how the bed nets would be distributed or how to ensure they’re being used properly. By going more into detail of what she believes should be done, the author would be making a stronger argument.
  • The introduction of the essay does a good job of laying out the seriousness of the problem, but the conclusion is short and abrupt. Expanding it into its own paragraph would give the author a final way to convince readers of her side of the argument.

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Argumentative Essay Example 3

There are many ways payments could work. They could be in the form of a free-market approach, where athletes are able to earn whatever the market is willing to pay them, it could be a set amount of money per athlete, or student athletes could earn income from endorsements, autographs, and control of their likeness, similar to the way top Olympians earn money.

Proponents of the idea believe that, because college athletes are the ones who are training, participating in games, and bringing in audiences, they should receive some sort of compensation for their work. If there were no college athletes, the NCAA wouldn’t exist, college coaches wouldn’t receive there (sometimes very high) salaries, and brands like Nike couldn’t profit from college sports. In fact, the NCAA brings in roughly $1 billion in revenue a year, but college athletes don’t receive any of that money in the form of a paycheck. Additionally, people who believe college athletes should be paid state that paying college athletes will actually encourage them to remain in college longer and not turn pro as quickly, either by giving them a way to begin earning money in college or requiring them to sign a contract stating they’ll stay at the university for a certain number of years while making an agreed-upon salary.  

Supporters of this idea point to Zion Williamson, the Duke basketball superstar, who, during his freshman year, sustained a serious knee injury. Many argued that, even if he enjoyed playing for Duke, it wasn’t worth risking another injury and ending his professional career before it even began for a program that wasn’t paying him. Williamson seems to have agreed with them and declared his eligibility for the NCAA draft later that year. If he was being paid, he may have stayed at Duke longer. In fact, roughly a third of student athletes surveyed stated that receiving a salary while in college would make them “strongly consider” remaining collegiate athletes longer before turning pro.

Paying athletes could also stop the recruitment scandals that have plagued the NCAA. In 2018, the NCAA stripped the University of Louisville's men's basketball team of its 2013 national championship title because it was discovered coaches were using sex workers to entice recruits to join the team. There have been dozens of other recruitment scandals where college athletes and recruits have been bribed with anything from having their grades changed, to getting free cars, to being straight out bribed. By paying college athletes and putting their salaries out in the open, the NCAA could end the illegal and underhanded ways some schools and coaches try to entice athletes to join.

People who argue against the idea of paying college athletes believe the practice could be disastrous for college sports. By paying athletes, they argue, they’d turn college sports into a bidding war, where only the richest schools could afford top athletes, and the majority of schools would be shut out from developing a talented team (though some argue this already happens because the best players often go to the most established college sports programs, who typically pay their coaches millions of dollars per year). It could also ruin the tight camaraderie of many college teams if players become jealous that certain teammates are making more money than they are.

They also argue that paying college athletes actually means only a small fraction would make significant money. Out of the 350 Division I athletic departments, fewer than a dozen earn any money. Nearly all the money the NCAA makes comes from men’s football and basketball, so paying college athletes would make a small group of men--who likely will be signed to pro teams and begin making millions immediately out of college--rich at the expense of other players.

Those against paying college athletes also believe that the athletes are receiving enough benefits already. The top athletes already receive scholarships that are worth tens of thousands per year, they receive free food/housing/textbooks, have access to top medical care if they are injured, receive top coaching, get travel perks and free gear, and can use their time in college as a way to capture the attention of professional recruiters. No other college students receive anywhere near as much from their schools.

People on this side also point out that, while the NCAA brings in a massive amount of money each year, it is still a non-profit organization. How? Because over 95% of those profits are redistributed to its members’ institutions in the form of scholarships, grants, conferences, support for Division II and Division III teams, and educational programs. Taking away a significant part of that revenue would hurt smaller programs that rely on that money to keep running.

While both sides have good points, it’s clear that the negatives of paying college athletes far outweigh the positives. College athletes spend a significant amount of time and energy playing for their school, but they are compensated for it by the scholarships and perks they receive. Adding a salary to that would result in a college athletic system where only a small handful of athletes (those likely to become millionaires in the professional leagues) are paid by a handful of schools who enter bidding wars to recruit them, while the majority of student athletics and college athletic programs suffer or even shut down for lack of money. Continuing to offer the current level of benefits to student athletes makes it possible for as many people to benefit from and enjoy college sports as possible.

This argumentative essay follows the Rogerian model. It discusses each side, first laying out multiple reasons people believe student athletes should be paid, then discussing reasons why the athletes shouldn’t be paid. It ends by stating that college athletes shouldn’t be paid by arguing that paying them would destroy college athletics programs and cause them to have many of the issues professional sports leagues have.

  • Both sides of the argument are well developed, with multiple reasons why people agree with each side. It allows readers to get a full view of the argument and its nuances.
  • Certain statements on both sides are directly rebuffed in order to show where the strengths and weaknesses of each side lie and give a more complete and sophisticated look at the argument.
  • Using the Rogerian model can be tricky because oftentimes you don’t explicitly state your argument until the end of the paper. Here, the thesis doesn’t appear until the first sentence of the final paragraph. That doesn’t give readers a lot of time to be convinced that your argument is the right one, compared to a paper where the thesis is stated in the beginning and then supported throughout the paper. This paper could be strengthened if the final paragraph was expanded to more fully explain why the author supports the view, or if the paper had made it clearer that paying athletes was the weaker argument throughout.

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3 Tips for Writing a Good Argumentative Essay

Now that you’ve seen examples of what good argumentative essay samples look like, follow these three tips when crafting your own essay.

#1: Make Your Thesis Crystal Clear

The thesis is the key to your argumentative essay; if it isn’t clear or readers can’t find it easily, your entire essay will be weak as a result. Always make sure that your thesis statement is easy to find. The typical spot for it is the final sentence of the introduction paragraph, but if it doesn’t fit in that spot for your essay, try to at least put it as the first or last sentence of a different paragraph so it stands out more.

Also make sure that your thesis makes clear what side of the argument you’re on. After you’ve written it, it’s a great idea to show your thesis to a couple different people--classmates are great for this. Just by reading your thesis they should be able to understand what point you’ll be trying to make with the rest of your essay.

#2: Show Why the Other Side Is Weak

When writing your essay, you may be tempted to ignore the other side of the argument and just focus on your side, but don’t do this. The best argumentative essays really tear apart the other side to show why readers shouldn’t believe it. Before you begin writing your essay, research what the other side believes, and what their strongest points are. Then, in your essay, be sure to mention each of these and use evidence to explain why they’re incorrect/weak arguments. That’ll make your essay much more effective than if you only focused on your side of the argument.

#3: Use Evidence to Support Your Side

Remember, an essay can’t be an argumentative essay if it doesn’t support its argument with evidence. For every point you make, make sure you have facts to back it up. Some examples are previous studies done on the topic, surveys of large groups of people, data points, etc. There should be lots of numbers in your argumentative essay that support your side of the argument. This will make your essay much stronger compared to only relying on your own opinions to support your argument.

Summary: Argumentative Essay Sample

Argumentative essays are persuasive essays that use facts and evidence to support their side of the argument. Most argumentative essays follow either the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model. By reading good argumentative essay examples, you can learn how to develop your essay and provide enough support to make readers agree with your opinion. When writing your essay, remember to always make your thesis clear, show where the other side is weak, and back up your opinion with data and evidence.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Cell Phones — Argumentative Essay On Cell Phones In School

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Argumentative Essay on Cell Phones in School

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What The Conviction of a Parent of a School Shooter Could Mean

Stephanie Desmon

The manslaughter conviction of Jennifer Crumbley, whose son shot and killed four students at his school, is unprecedented. But will it be a watershed moment for gun violence in schools? In this Q&A, adapted from the March 1 episode of Public Health On Call , Tim Carey , JD, a law and policy adviser at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions , talks about the unique facts of this case, its larger implications, and why child access prevention laws are an important part of the conversation.

Tell us about this unprecedented case. The case of Jennifer Crumbley is truly unprecedented.

Never before in the history of this country has a parent been charged for the offenses committed by their child in a school shooting, which is saying something in America, where we have the highest rate of school shootings among peer nations. 

To get a sense of why this case is so important, let's look at the facts. There was a hearing in a Michigan criminal court in February 2024 where [Jennifer Crumbley] the mother of the Oxford High School shooter was tried and found guilty on four counts of manslaughter, one for each child that her son murdered in the Oxford High School shooting on November 30, 2021. The rationale behind these charges was that she was so negligent, so reckless in how she handled firearms, how she allowed her child to have access to firearms, and how she failed to see or act upon all the warning signs that led up to the shooting, that the court actually found her criminally liable. 

To understand the gravity of how the court reached this finding, we should look back to the shooting itself. On that day, school officials brought the shooter's parents into school to discuss their son's mental health and well-being after he depicted a gun and bloodshed on a school assignment. His teachers were very worried and called his parents that same day, but the parents opted to not take their child home. Hours later, the child began shooting fellow students and school staff with a gun that he had in his backpack that his parents had bought for him a few days before. 

This child [Ethan Crumbley] killed four students and wounded seven others, including a teacher. He was 15 at the time he committed this crime and was later found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder in his own criminal case. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole last year.

So his mother gifted him this gun at 15 years old?

Yes. In Michigan, youth under age 18—can possess guns legally in certain circumstances. Typically they revolve around hunting, being at a shooting range, or otherwise being under the supervision of someone older than 18. In this case, though it is technically legal in Michigan for this child to possess the gun, the context in which the child used the gun was not legal.

To me, these facts are egregious, and this seems like the perfect case to find the parent responsible. Do you think there will be other cases where the parent is found liable?

It's definitely been buzzing around in news cycles recently, but was this case a watershed moment for other parents to be held criminally liable for the actions of their children? It's unlikely, in large part because of just how extreme this particular case was. The parents gave their troubled child a firearm days before the shooting and ignored flagrant warning signs of violence that were clearly evident to the school to the point where they brought the parents in. 

The facts are so clear in this case that I could see readily how a jury would find the parents’ conduct to be worthy of criminal negligence and recklessness. The majority of school shooting cases aren’t this clear cut—it’s sometimes unclear how the child got access to the gun or how visible the warning signs were. 

I think this case is very important in terms of accountability, and it’s bringing attention to the critical issue of youth firearm access. But there's still much to be done in terms of mitigating the risks of further gun violence in schools, and I don't think this case will solve all of that.

Ethan Crumbley's father is also scheduled to be tried for the same crimes.

Yes, that's right. Due to the unprecedented nature of the rulings, we expect to see appeals, which could take years. But at least at this moment, it has shown a new avenue, a different treatment toward school shootings and accountability.

About three-quarters of school shooters in recent years got their guns at home. What does this mean in terms of liability?

Comprehensive investigations of school shootings between 1999 and 2018 found that around 80% of school shooters obtained the guns they used in the shooting from their home or from the home of a friend, which implies that unsecured, readily accessible firearms are part of what enables youth to harm themselves and others with guns. 

This brings us to evidence-based policy that the Center for Gun Violence Solutions has advocated for in many states: safe storage laws.

Safe storage laws provide clear guidance for how firearms should be stored: in a locked container, unloaded, and otherwise inaccessible to people not authorized to use them—largely minors and children, but also home invaders, friends, guests—essentially anyone who doesn't own the gun. 

Among the safe storage laws is a subsection called child access prevention (CAP) laws. CAP laws require that there be safe storage of firearms, and if a child accesses those firearms, there are additional levels of criminal penalties in most cases or civil liability in some states.

I n light of what happened in Michigan, I understand you testified before state legislators about safe storage laws?

Yes. Michigan had a landmark legislative session in 2023 regarding firearms laws and policies. One critical policy they introduced and later passed was a CAP law that was in large part inspired by this case, as well as by seeing this law being used and implemented across the country. 

CDC data from the past several years has shown that firearms were the leading cause of death for youth ages 1–19 in the U.S. in 2020, 2021, and 2022. And though we're still analyzing data from 2023, it's unfortunately expected for that trend to remain the same. 

There's been a lot more focus on how to prevent youth from accessing firearms and using them to harm themselves or others, and CAP laws have shown to be an effective means of doing so.

We almost never see charges against the parents in the case of school shootings. Is that because the laws aren't in place, or is it because prosecutors don't choose to pursue the parents?

Part of the issue, and why we see fewer court hearings on these cases in particular, is that they are tragedies. Often in these cases, the child takes their own life, which can be painful. For prosecutors, sometimes it's difficult to imagine trying a parent who is mourning the loss of their child. However, this case was different. The negligence and recklessness on the part of the parents in the Oxford High School shooting case are at an entirely different level than the majority of school shooting cases. 

But still, there's a general discomfort or unwillingness to bring charges in these cases, if the facts are even clear enough to bring a case at all. This is why instead of applying punitive measures after the fact, preventative and educational measures such as CAP laws help put parents on notice about how firearms should be safely stored. It also establishes the gravity of what it could mean if a child were to access these guns and makes it less likely that youth will access them and use them.

So, even though the case in Michigan is unique, it does open parents’ eyes to what could happen if they aren't more careful.

Exactly. This is a tragic situation, but it does at least raise awareness that this is a serious issue. 

But for his [Ethan Crumbley] parents buying him a gun, he would not have had one. But for parents leaving their firearms unlocked, loaded, and in readily accessible places, a child would not have been able to get them and use them to commit a shooting. Again, a lot of our focus here is on prevention: how we can see the risks in front of us, calculate the measures, and then try to find ways to mitigate them. And this is where CAP laws really shine.

Note: Since this podcast was recorded, a man in Michigan became the first person to be charged under the state’s new firearms storage law. The law requires gun owners to store firearms unloaded and secured with a locking device or in a lockbox if a minor lives at or is likely to visit their property.

Stephanie Desmon is the co-host of the Public Health On Call podcast. She is the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Locked and UN-loaded: The Importance of Safe and Secure Firearm Storage

Oregon’s Measure 114: Reducing Gun Violence by State Referendum

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Nicholas Kristof

The School Issues We’re Battling Over Aren’t the Ones That Matter

A black and white photograph of a girl sitting at a desk with an open book and papers. She holds a pencil in one hand and her face with the other.

By Nicholas Kristof

Opinion Columnist

A Florida school district, facing pressure about “nudity” in schools, removed from shelves a picture book that showed an illustration of a goblin’s bare bottom. Some students were saved from debauchery when school officials colored in a pair of pants on the goblin.

That’s a particularly nutty example, from the newsletter “ Popular Information ” (the school district didn’t want to discuss the issue), of a right-wing puritan drive in education that appalls liberals: Conservatives are banning materials that mention gay people, racism or sexuality, skewing the teaching of history and students’ understanding of society. “The freedom to read is under assault in the United States — particularly in public schools,” PEN America warned in a report last year.

Listen to conservatives, and they argue that the crisis in American schools is the opposite: It’s about leftist teachers propagandizing on critical race theory and giving kids new pronouns while denying them safe bathrooms.

Donald Trump has promised to defund “any school that’s pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity and any other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content on our children.” He added: “This is what must be done to save our country from destruction.”

My sympathies in the censorship battles are with the liberal watchdogs, but to me both left and right are missing the point.

The peril for America’s children is not bare goblin buttocks, nor is it goblins being clothed. The central problem is simply that too many kids aren’t getting the education they need.

We get distracted by these culture wars, but what we should focus on is that only 32 percent of America’s fourth graders are proficient at reading, according to a national test referred to as “the nation’s report card.”

Likewise, American children’s math skills are dismal by global standards. In the PISA international math test for 15-year-olds, American students rank far behind the leaders (Singapore, Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea) and also well behind peer countries like Canada, the Netherlands, Britain and Poland.

If education is one of the best metrics to forecast where countries will be in 25 or 50 years, as I believe, then we are hurting our children.

“Any nation that out-educates us will outcompete us,” the first lady, Jill Biden, has noted .

My fellow liberals like to fulminate at conservatives for neglecting children and provoking culture wars for show, but the left also gets in the way of education. Especially on the West Coast, Democrats significantly harmed children with prolonged school closures during the pandemic.

Excessive school closures caused a huge educational setback . American children still have not nearly caught up in either reading or math, and children in poor districts suffered the most.

San Francisco is a window into progressivism that doesn’t actually result in educational progress. In 2021, instead of focusing on reopening schools, the city’s school board undertook an effort to rename 44 schools that carried the names of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and others who were considered tainted. The school board eventually backed off after widespread mockery.

In 2014, the San Francisco school board also barred the teaching of algebra in eighth grade. Officials worried that white and Asian students were disproportionately getting on the higher math track, so the school district decided to hold everyone back.

This policy made things worse . Affluent parents hired tutors for their kids, so the Black-white and Hispanic-white education gaps actually widened . After the policy was instituted, Black 11th graders performed on math tests roughly the same as typical fifth graders, according to the Harvard journal Education Next . That’s shameful — not for those kids, but for the San Francisco school district. (Just this week, voters in San Francisco overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding measure encouraging the school district to return algebra to the eighth grade.)

But Republicans shouldn’t gloat. The G.O.P. pretends to protect children from threats (like “woke” teachers), yet it is the party of child poverty. Republicans blocked the extension of refundable child tax credits, thus sending millions of children into poverty in 2022. If you want to understand why America has scandalously high child poverty rates, today’s Republican Party is one reason.

The states that seem to do the best job teaching kids, based on test results, aren’t just liberal or just conservative ones. They include blue states like Massachusetts and New Jersey and red states like Florida and Utah.

The bipartisan education reform movement to try to help left-behind students galvanized presidents from Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama and inspired tech executives and documentary makers, but it has faded . The paradox is that even as the resolve has fizzled, the evidence has grown for how to help.

Dallas, for example, took a far smarter approach than San Francisco to boost kids in math: Instead of canceling eighth grade algebra, it made it opt out instead of opt in. The upshot was that the share of children taking algebra in eighth grade tripled, with particularly large gains for Black and Latino students.

I’ve written about the remarkable progress that Mississippi schools have made in reading and math alike. If Mississippi, which still hasn’t come close to fixing poverty or racism, manages to get kids reading , there’s no excuse for the rest of the country.

Some of the solutions to weak education are complicated, but some are simple. Tutoring makes a big difference for lagging kids. Many children need eyeglasses but don’t get them, or they have hearing difficulties that aren’t diagnosed.

Here’s a scandal that I wish got half as much attention as culture war battles: The graduation rate for Bureau of Indian Education high schools is only 53 percent . Fixing that would be a big step toward breaking cycles of poverty in Native communities.

We are setting up too many of our kids for failure — and instead of focusing on that crisis, we adults are screaming at one another over whether to ban books that, at this rate, far too many kids won’t even be able to read.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , X and Threads .

Nicholas Kristof became a columnist for The Times Opinion desk in 2001. He has won two Pulitzer Prizes, for his coverage of China and of the genocide in Darfur. @ NickKristof

After Trump seeks delay in hush money trial, judge tells him to get permission before filing any more motions

Trump wants to delay the trial until the Supreme Court hears his immunity claim.

Attorneys for former President Donald Trump asked the judge overseeing his New York hush money case to delay the trial while the U.S. Supreme Court weighs Trump's presidential immunity argument -- but the judge pushed back in an order made public late Monday.

Trump's attorneys are scheduled to argue before the Supreme Count next month that he is immune from prosecution for conduct that occurred while he was in office.

In asking for a delay of his hush money trial, currently scheduled to begin March 25, Trump has not argued the charges should be dropped over the immunity claim -- but that the trial be put off and prosecutors be precluded from introducing evidence.

MORE: Attorneys face unprecedented challenge in selecting jury for Trump's hush money trial

"President Trump respectfully submits that an adjournment of the trial is appropriate to await further guidance from the Supreme Court, which should facilitate the appropriate application of the presidential immunity doctrine in this case to the evidence the People intend to offer at trial," defense attorney Todd Blanche wrote in Monday's court filing.

Judge Juan Merchan, however, criticized the timing of Trump's request and ordered that the former president seek permission before making future motions before the March 25 trial date.

"Defendant does not explain the reason for the late filing, a mere two and a half weeks before jury selection is set to begin," Merchan said in his order. He gave prosecutors until Wednesday to respond to Trump's request for an adjournment.

Going forward, Merchan ordered that the parties need to file a one-page letter explaining and justifying any requested relief before filing a motion. After giving the opposing party one day to respond, Merchan said he would decide the request by setting a briefing schedule or considering the one-page letters as the motions themselves.

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, March 9, 2024, in Rome Ga.

"Effective immediately, the parties are hereby directed to obtain leave of the Court before filing any additional motions prior to March 25, 2024," Merchan wrote.

The Supreme Court announced last month that it will hear oral arguments in April on whether Trump can claim sweeping presidential immunity for actions taken while in office, after Trump asked the court to decide the matter in the face of special counsel Jack Smith's federal election interference case against him.

In their motion filed Monday, Trump's lawyers said prosecutors plan to introduce documents and testimony relating to a time period when Trump was in office, including statements posted to Twitter about Cohen.

"The People's recent proffer implicates presidential immunity because President Trump was President of the United States at the time of those actions in 2018. He made at least some of the 2018 statements at issue -- and potentially all of them, though it is hard to be sure in light of the People's vague in limine description -- in his official capacity as the nation's Chief Executive," the defense motion said.

The Manhattan district attorney's office declined when contacted by ABC News.

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 presidential election.

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