Complete List of Argumentative Essay Topics

When you are a student, you have to write a lot. In case you don’t feel much of a pressure at middle school, the situation will definitely change at high school. High school students often have to deal with controversial argumentative essay topics and demonstrate their critical thinking skills in various subjects. Actually, in most cases the topics for argumentative essay are assigned to learners by their tutors, that’s why students are often confused when they need to choose their own idea to discuss it.

Before deciding in favor of one of the topics for your written work, let’s speak a bit about argumentative essays as they are. This kind of essays presents in the first turn the supporting and the opposing evidence for one of the ideas. The author should try his best to persuade the audience to support his viewpoint while disproving the opposite opinion.

Some students even consider such papers the most difficult written assignments as they have to study carefully the topic, various points of view as to it, the evidence to each viewpoint and not only provide arguments in favor of the position taken but the counter-arguments to the opposing opinion.

However, you should always remember that a good strategy is always the key to a successful writing and the first step in any work is choosing the one thought-provoking idea among the variety of topics for an argumentative essay.

Keep in mind that a good research paper always has three pillars it leans on – research, writing and analytical skills. To facilitate your choice, we have prepared a list of good argumentative essay topics for you. Hope it will be inspiring for creating a brilliant essay.

Though getting a task from a tutor may at all times seem easier, it’s always great to have an opportunity to develop your own ideas and study all the available sources tested by the time. The primary sources are mostly the following – books and textbooks, scientific magazines and newspapers, academic journals and documentaries, official reports.

One can find almost everything on the Internet. The only problem is that useful information is usually presented in parts on different webpages, and in order to have a complete picture you need to surf the web for hours gathering the data by pieces from the different resources. This is why we decided to spare your time and introduce the collection of the best argumentative essay topics. Now, you can just check this article from time to time and choose the theme that will suit you best. Even if none of them will interest you, you will definitely get more useful information and inspiration for your future work.

From the personal experience, we all can agree that good ideas for argumentative essays are easy to find when you do not actually need them. For example, it can be that a few days ago you were so inspired by your neighbors’ garden that were absolutely ready to write a whole dissertation on nature protection, but now, as you need to work on some particular assignment, you face a blank page having no clue what to write about. Therefore, let us do our best to get out of this deadlock together and check the interesting ideas to write an argumentative essay on. In this article, we tried our best to put together some of the most interesting and catching themes for your convenience.

High School Argumentative Essay Topics

Position essays are very common in high school. The time when we all are full of extraordinary ideas is surely the school time. In this age, everyone wants to change the world and even knows how to do it. This is why the argumentative essay topics for kids and pupils are always thought-provoking and extremely intriguing. The most popular subjects for this academic level are sports, media, modern technologies, arts, and education. Moreover, as usual, the main criteria while choosing the topic is one’s personal attitude, because if you do not like the theme, your audience is likely not to either. The sufficient level of knowledge is also paramount since without an adequate experience your arguments will seem vague and uncertain. Therefore, here are some popular argumentative essay topics for pupils and kids:

1. Do the social networks have a negative influence on our relations with friends and family?
2. What personal experiences are not discussed with parents and why?
3. Can a video games addiction become a profession?
4. Do you believe in friendship between men and women?
5. How did the role of marriage change within the last 20 years? What are the reasons for this change?
6. Do we need a practice of teachers being graded by pupils?
7. How should the bullying in school issue be resolved?

When the work on your paper is already in process, keep in mind that you should be ready for the future discussion. There will be people in the audience who would disagree with your arguments, and it will most probably lead to debate. Therefore, you should be ready to not only present your position but also support and defend it with the help of the solid facts.

Argumentative Essay Topics for College Students

Position papers are the most frequent college assignments in comparison to the other ones. Every time one needs to complete such tasks, the most important step is to choose a controversial topic as it should provoke the debate within your future audience and make them dispute it. Do not be afraid to choose the field, which has not been presented by your groupmates before. Usually, fresh themes are the most interesting ones to discuss, though, for some reason, pupils hesitate and prefer the already tested materials. Therefore, let us have a look at the college level argumentative essay topics:

1. Have social networks ever made you feel frustrated? Why?
2. The importance of the education level for getting married
3. When should one start living separately from parents?
4. Should the alternative medicine be covered by insurance?
5. Why are young people so obsessed with media?
6. What writer would you like to have a conversation with?
7. Does humanity need an eternal life?

Searching for the argumentative essay ideas for college do not forget that the chosen theme should appeal to you in the first place. Do your best not to copy the statements you find in the Internet but get a feel of a particular issue and try to understand what your own position regarding it is. Do not be confused in case your attitude is not the “popular” one at the moment because maybe, it is you who will introduce the new idea and change the way the certain issue is perceived.

Argumentative essay topics for college students in advertising and media

Nowadays social media and advertising are an inseparable part of our life, that’s why written assignments in this field are a usual thing for students. The advantage of this sphere is that the written work can include various points of view and analysis from various angles.

You can not only investigate what is broadcast in the modern media but how it’s done and how it should be done.

It’s not much of a problem to find an inspiration for your own unique topic in this field, just switch on the TV or some other device and be attentive, you are sure to find something which is worth your attention and debate. Some examples below may also inspire you.

1. Are advertisements the same in the print and electronic media?
2. Real estate is the most advertised business both in print and electronic media
3. How the products meant only for adults should be advertised in electronic media
4. Should there be disclaimers before stunts performed by professionals used in the advertisements?
5. Should the censor board take care of the advertising which is beyond the parents’ control?
6. Where a line should be drawn for the violence on TV screens?
7. Should sex be allowed in prime time on TV?
8. Should alcoholic drinks and tobacco goods be advertised?
9. Photoshopped images influence people’s personal self-esteem, don’t they?
10. What is the influence of mass media on social norms?

College argumentative essay topics on family life and values

The abundance of topics in the sphere of family life and values is actually overwhelming.  Firstly, it’s due to the fact that each family is unique, secondly, the rules in the families often vary on a case-by-case basis.

However, it’s difficult to generalize essay topics in this field, because every family is different. There’s plenty of issues in child development and psychology, marital psychology and relations, personal experience of parents and children. 

Not sure where to start? Look at the list of sample topics below and find or create the one interesting for you in person.

1. How much freedom should children get from their parents?
2. How should children be disciplined?
3. Where is the borderline between Discipline and Abuse?
4. Does modern culture ruin childhood?
5. Who should teach young people appropriate behavior and how?
6. Is the privacy of a child violated, when his photos and videos are shared online by parents?
7. When is it still too young for an iPhone?
8. At what age should sex be discussed at first?
9. Should the teenagers’ internet use be monitored by his parents?
10. Should women breastfeed in public?
11. Can same-sex couples adopt children?

University Argumentative Essay Topics

The level of responsibility regarding the choice of the qualitative topic rises while working on the project at the university. Here, it is utterly important to choose a serious and weighty topic, which will require a lot of research and investigation. Moreover, now you will need to find academic argumentative essay topics in order to prove your academic level and present all the acquired skills. Therefore, let us have a look at the examples of such themes:

1. In what cases should the death penalty be implemented?
2. By what means can the alcohol and drugs addictions be reduced?
3. Will the legalization of drugs really decrease drugs addiction?
4. Why are animal products considered food for people?
5. What are the limits of Internet freedom?
6. Should the abortion be a personal decision?
7. Does the notion of privacy exist in the modern society?

One of the tips on how to get the attention of your audience is to choose an emotional topic. In most cases, the theme, which involves emotional experience, is more appreciated by the audience in comparison to the dry facts. The importance of the relative facts cannot be overrated, but when they do not evoke emotions in your audience, your success rate drops tremendously.

Business Argumentative Essay Topics

Finally, here is one of those spheres which requires the most attentive and careful approach. This is where it is important to work really hard because your prestige and sometimes position can depend on the projects you complete. This is why before starting your work, it is a must to check whether it is possible to gather all the necessary data and finish the assignment within the deadline. Here is the list of good topics for an argumentative essay on business that may inspire you for your own brilliant idea:

1. Should the employees write resumes if personal interviews have the crucial meaning?
2. Is contributing to charity one of the ways to make the small business successful?
3. In what time are we going to be completely conquered by Chinese market?
4. Is it possible to have a successful business without social media marketing?
5. Should the common marketing be forgotten in favor of social media marketing?
6. Should we stop using cash due to the approaching ecological catastrophe?
7. What are the reasons behind the “Apple rush?”

Working hard on your position paper will benefit you later, as the acquired skills will definitely be required in the future career. Successful business and partnership flourish when you are familiar with the art of getting the right arguments. Therefore, the development of your argumentative thinking will not only award you with a high grade for your paper but also help you to succeed in the real world while working on the resolution of the real issues.

Best argumentative essay topics on legal matters

Argumentative essays on legal matters are breeding grounds for developing your persuasive skills, that’s why such topics are a popular choice among the students. They can write about the laws, which should be created, altered or abolished. They also often deal with the positive and negative aspects of the regulations, which already exist. Though such research papers do not require to be super technical on part of the student, the careful investigation of the current laws is a must. You should be aware of the most up-to-date information in your field of study.

The following topics in this sphere may inspire your writing:

1. What age should marriage be allowed at?
2. How early should girls be allowed to make their own decisions on birth control?
3. When does a woman have the right for abortion, if any?
4. Is the legal age of drinking appropriate for the 21st century reality?
5. What are the advantages of the death penalty?
6. When the death penalty is justified?
7. Should the prostitution be legalized?
8. Should marijuana be legalized due to its medical benefits?
9. Should tobacco products be outlawed?
10. Should the process of electoral vote change?
11. Is the modern taxation system fair?
12. Do the law enforcement cameras threaten personal privacy?
13. Should gun ownership be restricted more?
14. Should immigration and refugees’ laws be changed in the contemporary world?
15. What anti-terrorism rules should be altered?
16. Is our jury system works fair as to juvenile delinquency?
17. Make a comparison of the offenders' and victim’s rights

Top argumentative essay topics on moral issues

On the one hand, moral argumentative issues are easy to dispute about, on the other hand, the variety of moral dilemmas can be quite hot-button issues for people of different age, social groups, and upbringing.

People have controversial opinions on many moral matters and it makes such topics quite debatable as everyone is eager to prove he is right. However, in case you choose a topic, you feel passionate about, don’t let your emotions take over, keep your thought and arguments focused and organized, don’t stray off the topic. Look at the hits below to form your own idea for an essay in this field.

1. Can animal testing be justified?
2. Should assisted suicide be allowed?
3. Can children be disciplined by means of corporal punishment by their parents?
4. Can hunting be allowed for solely entertainment purposes?
5. Is the system of compulsory education a form of mental control over the youngsters?
6. Are atheists less moral than those who believe in God?
7. Do heinous crimes deserve the death penalty?
8. Should visible tattooing be allowed for the staff at the working place
9. Can looting be moral, in which cases?
10. Should cosmetic surgery be allowed for teenagers? Since what age?

Good topics for an argumentative essay on social issues

Actually, there is an overlap between the moral, legal and social topics, the latter, however, are mostly concerned with the pressure that society puts on people and groups of people and how the individuals and groups act within such circumstances.

This category can be referred to as easy argumentative essay topics, as you can see a broad range of aspects to choose from and besides, you can create the topics of your own. In case you are lost as to the theme to choose, focus on the issue, which concerns you in person or your immediate circle. It will help you to make your writing more natural as it allows you to rely on your personal experience in this or that mater. However, make sure you’ve put your emotions aside before taking up the assignment. There is usually no space for the personal point of view in the persuasive essay, that’s why most of such papers are written in the 3rd person.

1. Should high school be mandatory?
2. Homeschooling is an ideal way of gaining quality education in the modern world
3. Do cross-cultural marriages really contribute much to racial tolerance?
4. Men are more engaged in criminal activity than women
5. The behavior of single-parent children is different from that of the kid with both parents
6. The young generation is more subject to negative influence as teenagers are more rebellious
7. The violence demonstrated in social media causes children’s violence
8. Teenagers are negatively influenced by the sexual content on TV screens
9. Does the real friendship exist between the heterosexual men and women without anything more?
10. Can candidates who smoke be refused an employment?
11. Since what age should citizens get the right to vote?
12. Should prisoners be able to participate in the elections?
13. Can dating online replace personal contact?
14. Can video games be used for learning effectively?
15. Do adoptive parents have the same rights for maternity leave?

Technology topics for research papers

The progress does not stop and even speeds up year after year, the modern devices become faster, smarter and smaller. Not so many years ago room-sized computers sent a man to the moon, nowadays a small cell phone holds much more information inside. Argumentative essay topics for high school can be variable and reflect your own concerns in the sphere of technology and its influence on various aspects of our life. To get started, just go down a bit and find some ideas and research issues we can prompt you.

1. How living in a technological world influences people in the long run? Is the effect positive or negative?
2. What new technology is the most vital in modern problems solving?
3. Does Internet really make the world bigger? Or smaller?
4. In what way will the digital learning change education and schooling?
5. Do digital tools increase the employees’ productivity at work?
6. How will the technology alter our lives in 30 years?
7. Should the implanted under skin identity chips be allowed?
8. What is the difference between brains and computers?
9. What are the advantages and the threats of the genetically modified food?
10. How will traveling change in future?
11. Should the World Wide Web and technology make working from home a common thing?

Hints for essay topics in educational field

There are plenty of ways, in which titles for argumentative essay topics for middle school, college or high school may be developed. However, it’s essential to correctly link them to what you are studying. In case you are going to become a teacher, you should turn to the issues, which educators face or may face in their work. If you need to study the education from a political or economic viewpoint, you should choose a different approach and examine, for instance, whether the education should be free and how it influences the economy. You can also share and defend your ground as to religion at school, whether to ban it or not.

 Some more ideas on this theme are here:

1. Should kindergarten be more about play or literacy?
2. Should schoolchildren obligatory learn a second or even third language from a young age?
3. Should teachers be regularly tested to make sure they are up to the job?
4. Should parents participate in their children’s’ education more actively?
5. Do teachers really need such long vacations?
6. Should corporal punishments be allowed at schools?
7. Should students be divided into single-sex classes?
8. Should students be grouped by abilities in schools?
9. Should educational establishments be accountable for the students’ bad results?
10. Is learning online as good as face-to-face?
11. Are there enough opportunities to be creative at schools?
12. Is school dress code a good idea?
13. How should bullying be addressed at schools?

Topics in art, music, and films to write an essay on

When you have a possibility to take part in arts, you get to learn things academically as well. So it’s vital for the young people not only to be involved in arts but to train their minds in academic discussions on these topics. Besides, learning arts increases motivation for studies. You can touch upon not only the well-known masterpieces and their authors but analyze different tendencies, styles, and epochs as they are reflected in various art forms. Nowadays technology and internet effects arts, earlier one could only appreciate live performing arts operas, ballets, theatre, and concerts, now with the progress in technology, we can enjoy all these on the TV and wide screens in addition to the new multimedia forms of art and films. However, music, painting, theatre, and dancing still remain the forms of expressing a personality and can be made known in various forms. As well as people’s preferences in TV productions and art forms may reflect their personality.

To go deeper into the matter you may choose among the following unique argumentative essay topics to turn to:

1. How can the “philosophy of art” be explained?
2. Does “borrowing” mean “stealing” when it goes about music?
3. Is reading a tablet book and a real one the same?
4. Do we need libraries in the modern world?
5. Should art be displayed in public places?
6. Is modern art as timeless as the ancient one?
7. When and how did photography become art?
8. How is globalization reflected in contemporary art?
9. Can political cartoons be considered a modern art form?
10. What are the modern criteria of “good art”?

Interesting argumentative essay topics ideas on sports issues

The ideas about sport may be the most interesting themes for discussion among the young generation, so sports can offer splendid persuasive topics for research works. You can speak on the advantages of going in for sports and the possible harm it does. Hot discussions about the blood sports and their influence on people and animals can also be reviewed in your work, you can suggest or oppose banning them. Coaching is gaining popularity now, it’s a well-paid, but demanding occupation, what should people know about it? Touch upon the link between women’s rights and certain kinds of sports and you are sure to initiate heated disputes.

From the list below, you will probably gather a few topics you’d like to explore in the sphere of sport. Welcome.

1. Are some kinds of youth sports too intense?
2. Can cheerleading be referred to as a sport?
3. Are certain extreme kinds of sports too extreme?
4. Are popular athletes pressed too much by their fans?
5. Should sports betting be legally allowed?
6. Is bodybuilding appropriate for women?
7. Can female tennis players compete in men’s league?
8. Should male and female sportsmen get equal salaries in the same field?

The great argumentative essay topics on health and nutrition

If you have made up your mind to write a research paper on health, it may actually be quite a simple task, if you choose the right topic. Some people are extremely proud of living a healthy lifestyle. Nowadays lots of bloggers and online stores take advantage of this tendency. Many of them compete in selling health-related goods and products, though their quality may be questioned.

At present office jobs often offer gym subscriptions for their employees to be in top shape. However, nobody is sure it can compensate the whole day sitting in front of a computer screen. The useful and informative details, which you’ve got to know should be included in your written work and presented in it along with the arguments you provide on both sides of the issue.  The abundance of topics on health issues may confuse you at first but you can always start with your own interests in this sphere and brainstorm your ideas. As soon as you have singled out the main idea as an argument for your work, narrow it down and think how other people can oppose or support the issue.

Considering various opinions, you’ll realize better the evidence you can use to help you in writing a good paper.

The sample topics we’ve chosen may give you an idea of what you can write about in your paper.

1. Should teenagers be allowed to obtain the pills for birth control?
2. Does medicine contribute more to death than to treatment in certain cases (AIDS, cancer...)?
3. Should children vaccination be obligatory?
4. Are microwaves ovens healthy?
5. Should doctors be allowed to promote certain products, like the ones for skincare and weight loss?
6. Are you concerned about where your food comes from? To what extent?
7. Does healthy food really cause more harm than good?
8. Should people think twice before downing energy drinks?
9. What is your opinion on cosmetic surgery?
10. Is eating meat healthy?

Top Argumentative Essay Topics

Unfortunately, when it comes to writing papers on different assignments, there is no perfect list of all the tips and options. It is a rare occasion when one just opens an article on the Internet and writes a successful paper according to the pieces of advice stated there. In most cases, it is always better to create a unique strategy and develop the project according to it.  Developing the strategy is not as difficult as it seems at the first sight. It is necessary to concentrate, to have an adequate look on your skills, check the information you already know and check if you are able to access additional materials and sources if needed. When all these steps are completed, you are ready to proceed to the main part of your project, and our article will surely be of good help.

Firstly, let us point out the purpose that stands behind argumentative essay papers. It can be rather simply understood just from the name of this very assignment. The main purpose is to evoke the discussion and persuade the future reader that your position is undoubtedly correct and that your arguments are invincible. Even if the ideas for your future project seem to be contradictory, do not be afraid to give them a chance and try some superficial research. Sometimes, vague ideas can provide a lot of room for research, as they were most probably not taken into account earlier by the other researchers.

If you have decided that your paper should have an outstanding theme, you will inevitably face the process of looking for the argumentative essay topic ideas, which is very likely to be extremely time-consuming. Unfortunately, you will have to go through the subjects you have no interest in, and might, at some point, feel as the perfect theme does not exist. Nevertheless, the process will definitely help you gather your thoughts, and you will eventually find something worthy of writing on.

How to Write Argumentative Essay Topics?

In case all the options stated above do not suit your interests completely, or you already have the idea that you would like to turn into a flawless project, little tips for writing an argumentative essay undoubtedly will make the creation process much easier:

• All the possible arguments regarding abortion or death penalty were most probably already used, so while working on these subjects, make sure to state your own, fresh arguments.
• Surely, it is always preferable to look for something extraordinary and “mainstream,” however, you definitely need to be proficient in the chosen sphere. In another case, it would be better to choose something simple within your specialty and complement it with original and unique ideas. Therefore, after finding some good topics to write an argumentative essay on, be sure to sort them out to determine which ones you can discuss confidently.
• Make sure not to use the statement that all your audience will most probably agree on. It is an easy but not a successful path. The purpose of this paper in to make the audience argue your statements. The more disputes your work awakes, the higher is its quality.
• Do not be afraid to choose short argumentative essay topics. They always catch an eye of the reader and are easy to expand as well as dwell on later.
• While working on any assignments, do not forget to take into account your future audience and their interests. Different argumentative essay topics will not be accepted in the same way by different groups of people.

Try to face your assignment as an interesting journey rather than an unbearable burden. In most cases, it is your attitude that decides the destiny of your work. Just try imagining yourself as the famous writer or influential journalist, and your inspiration will do most of the work for you. You will not even notice how the hours of research pass, as you will be too absorbed with the new interesting facts that you find in the process.

Help with Topic Ideas for an Argumentative Essay

The success of the future project mostly depends on the chosen theme. If the choice was good, the result is also likely to satisfy your expectations. In case one chooses the topic, which is rather weak and not persuasive enough, the successful fate of the whole work will be in danger.

The work on every project definitely requires a lot of knowledge and skills. In addition, argumentative essay writing topics should always be thoroughly researched and double-checked.  It is surprising how even the most nicely completed paper can be ruined by the wrong topic.

If you are not sure what you should start with, and your deadline is flying away, do not panic and let the experienced writers assist you with the task. Our team of professional writers is always ready to help you with this troublesome investigation and complete your assignment according to the various requirements. Since we are reachable 24/7, even if you are facing a pressing deadline or challenging task, we will be glad to provide the necessary assistance and cover your back.

Final words

There are plenty of topics to write an argumentative essay on, you may choose the broad issue and narrow it, put forward the theses and modify your writing idea, but the key to a successful writing is to work on the topic you are genuinely interested in. That’s why our main advice is to first of all think of which issues you care most about, which topics are you passionate at. What do you mostly discuss in the family, with friends or in the classroom?

Keep also in mind, that besides the challenge of choosing the one among all the variety of argumentative essay topics, which is interesting for you, you should also do your best to create a really brilliant essay on it. 

Good luck in achieving your academic goal!