Writing a strong argumentative essay teaches students to make a case for their own point of view without relying on emotion or passion. These argumentative essay topics provide options for students of all ages, including controversial subjects and some that are just for fun.
Jump to:
- How to Teach Argumentative Writing
- Best Argumentative Writing Topics by Age and More
- School and Education Argumentative Essay Topics
- Science and History Argumentative Essay Topics
- Life and Ethics Argumentative Essay Topics
- Social Justice and Civics Argumentative Essay Topics
- More Argumentative Essay Topics for Students
How to Teach Argumentative Writing
We’ve partnered with Krista Barbour (@whimsyandrigor), a secondary English teacher with 17 years of experience, to share some of her top tips for teaching argumentative writing.
What is an argumentative essay?
In an argumentative essay, the author considers multiple points of view and argues in favor of one claim. It’s a lot like building a court case. Start with an opening statement that explains your claim and the reasons that support it. Then, use strong evidence to support each of those reasons and to refute any counterarguments (opposing points of view). Finish with a compelling conclusion that sums up and reinforces your claim.
Krista’s Teaching Tips for Argumentative Writing
“A great argumentative essay topic isn’t the one with the ‘right’ answer,” Krista stresses. “It’s the one your students can’t stop talking about at lunch. Give them a prompt they actually care about, arm them with the claim-evidence-counterargument toolkit below, and you’ll watch reluctant writers turn into surprisingly persuasive thinkers and writers!”
Claim first, feelings second
“‘I hate homework’ is a feeling. ‘Homework should be limited because it eats into sleep and family time without improving test scores’ is a claim,” explains Krista. “Have them practice turning the gut reaction into a sentence with a ‘because.’
One reason isn’t enough
“Three reasons make an essay feel like a case, not just an opinion,” Krista emphasizes. Try having kids make a long list of reasons that back up their claim, then narrow them down to the three that feel most persuasive and/or have the most evidence to back them up.
It’s got to be about evidence and not just vibes
This is the heart of an argumentative essay: Strong evidence from trusted sources, with appropriate citations. “A study, a statistic, an expert quote, even a well-chosen personal example that makes a reader think ‘Okay, that’s not just made up’ will bolster their claim,” notes Krista. Teach your students how to research their topic, and be sure their media literacy skills are strong.
Help students know who to trust online and how to spot suspect sources with these free printable posters.
But what about the other side?
“This is the move that separates a fine argument from a fantastic one: Name the best counterargument, then respond to it,” Krista clarifies. “For ‘phones in school,’ that means acknowledging safety concerns before making the case for responsible use.”
End on the “So what?”
“A strong conclusion doesn’t just repeat the claim. It answers why it matters,” Krista makes clear. “The final sentence should be all about convincing the reader why your idea matters … and why it is the right one!”
Grab a free printable list of 50+ conclusion sentence starters students can use to wrap up essays with a bang.
What’s the difference between argumentative and persuasive essays?
“Persuasive language is a different beast than argumentative writing,” cautions Krista. “Argumentative writing sticks to logic and evidence; persuasive writing allows and even encourages writers to lean heavily into the emotion of a subject.” Here are some other key differences:
- Author’s purpose: In an argumentative essay, your job is to simply convince the reader that the point of view you’re presenting is valid, even if it doesn’t change their mind. Persuasive essays seek to sway the reader to adopt your point of view over any others.
- Method: Argumentative essays rely heavily on well-researched facts and logical assertions. In a persuasive essay, the writer may use a blend of emotion and facts to win over the reader.
- Audience: Persuasive essays require a specific audience, since the writer must acknowledge and attempt to overcome their potential objections. The writer of an argumentative essay is simply making a statement, so knowing their audience is less important.
- Viewpoint: A persuasive essay writer should believe their point of view is the only correct one, and try to persuade the reader to agree. Argumentative essays acknowledge other points of view but use reason and logic to argue that the writer’s point of view is best.
Persuasive and argumentative essay topics often overlap. The difference is in how the writer approaches the topic. When you assign a topic as an argumentative essay, remind students to use research, reason, and logic to make a strong but dispassionate argument.
Krista Barbour’s Top 10 Argumentative Essay Topics
“Argumentative writing gets a bad rap for being dry, robotic, and inauthentic,” Krista laments. “But it definitely doesn’t have to be! The secret is picking a topic your writer actually cares about. Here are 10 that I know students will have something to say about.” Be sure to follow Krista on Instagram (@whimsyandrigor) for more English teaching tips and ideas!
- Should kids have to wait until they’re 13 to use social media?
- Should school start later so students can get more sleep?
- Are video games helpful or harmful for kids and teens?
- Should schools be able to check what students do on their phones and computers?
- Is it better to read the book or watch the movie version of a story?
- Should schools be allowed to ban some books from their libraries?
- Should students be required to volunteer in their communities?
- Do students learn better from technology or from teachers?
- Should students be able to use their phones during the school day?
- Should schools ban junk food from the cafeteria?
Best Argumentative Essay Topics by Age and More
You’ll find more than 100 argumentative essay prompts in our list, but here are some of the highlights!
10 Best Argumentative Essay Topics for Elementary School Kids
These essay topics keep things a little lighter, helping kids make a personal connection to their topic. This makes it easier for them to form an opinion, then practice gathering evidence to support their claim.
- Should homework be required in elementary school?
- Is it better to have school all year with shorter breaks, or a long summer vacation?
- Should kids get paid for doing chores at home?
- Which is better for learning, reading a book or watching a video?
- Should kids be allowed to bring their pets to school for a day?
- Is it better to have assigned seats in class or to choose your own seat?
- Should kids be allowed to eat candy and junk food whenever they want?
- Should kids have to go to bed early or choose their own bedtime?
- Is recess time important for learning?
- Should kids get paid for getting good grades?
10 Best Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School Students
These topics still provide a personal connection but also add a little age-appropriate complexity for pre-teens to tackle.
- Should kids have to wait until they’re 13 to use social media?
- Should school start later in the morning so students can get more sleep?
- Which is better, team sports or individual activities?
- Should students be required to volunteer in their communities?
- Are video games helpful or harmful for kids and teens?
- Should kids be allowed to choose all their own classes or should schools decide?
- Is it better to read the book or watch the movie version of a story?
- Do students learn better from technology (like computers and tablets) or from teachers?
- Should schools be able to check what students do on their computers and phones?
- Is it fair to separate boys’ and girls’ sports teams or should everyone play together?
10 Best Argumentative Essay Topics for High School Students
These topics are current and relevant to today’s high school teens, making them ideal for argumentative essays.
- Do standardized tests (like the SAT or ACT) truly measure a student’s ability?
- Should schools allow students to use artificial intelligence tools (like ChatGPT) for assignments?
- Is it better to offer free college education for all or should only some students qualify?
- Should student athletes be paid if their sports generate money for the school?
- Do school dress codes unfairly target certain groups of students?
- Should high schools offer more career training instead of focusing mainly on college preparation?
- Is social media a danger to teens’ mental health or does it provide more benefits than harm?
- Do beauty standards in media and advertising cause real harm to teens?
- Is censorship on social media ever justified or does it violate free speech?
- Should schools ban cell phones entirely or emphasize and teach responsible use?
Most Popular Argumentative Topics
Topics like these are real attention-grabbers, and sure to get kids ready to debate!
- Should schools ban cell phones?
- Should schools start later?
- Is social media harmful to teens?
- Should AI be allowed in schools?
- Should college be free?
AI-Themed Argumentative Essay Prompts
This is a real hot-button subject, especially for older students. If kids don’t have an opinion on these questions yet, it’s time for them to think about them.
- Should students be allowed to use AI for brainstorming?
- Should AI-generated art be considered art?
- Will AI create more jobs or eliminate them?
- Should schools teach AI literacy?
- Should colleges allow AI-assisted applications?
Argumentative Prompts for Reluctant Writers
The best topics are those that kids feel passionate about. These are some that have real appeal for today’s kids and teens.
- Is there any benefit to playing video games for kids?
- How can we improve school lunches?
- Which is the best social media app for teens?
- Should students be allowed to bring their pets to school?
- What’s the best bedtime for kids of a specific age?
School and Education Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should physical education be part of the standard high school curriculum?
- Schools should require recommended vaccines for all students, with very limited exceptions.
- Should all students have the ability to attend college for free?
- What one class should all high schools students be required to take and pass in order to graduate?
- Do you think homework should be required, optional, or not given at all?
- Students should/should not be able to use their phones during the school day.
- Should schools have dress codes?
- What is the most important school subject?
- Are letter grades helpful or should we replace them with something else?
- If I could change one school rule, it would be …
- Is year-round school a good idea?
- Which is better, private schools or public schools?
- Should every student have to participate in athletics?
- Do you think schools should ban junk food from their cafeterias?
- Should students be required to volunteer in their communities?
- Should schools be allowed to ban some books from their libraries?
- Which is better, book smarts or street smarts?
- Are single-gender schools better or worse for students?
- Are computers making teachers obsolete?
- Students who fail a test should be given a chance to take it again.
Science and History Argumentative Essay Topics
- Is it acceptable to use animals for experiments and research?
- Vaping is less harmful than smoking tobacco.
- Do we really learn anything from history or does it just repeat itself over and over?
- Is it OK to keep animals in zoos?
- Should we ban plastic bags and bottles?
- Should we still consider Pluto a planet?
- It’s important to spend tax dollars exploring space instead of on other things.
- Is there life on other planets?
- Who was the best/worst American president?
- Should vaccines be mandatory?
- Are GMOs more helpful than harmful?
- Is animal cloning ethical?
- Should human cloning be legal?
- Should we use stem cells from human embryos for scientific research?
- Is it better to provide drug addicts with treatment instead of punishment?
- Should we ban the use of fossil fuels?
- Can we truly do anything about human-caused global warming?
- Are electric vehicles better than gas-powered ones?
- Was life really better “back in the day”?
- Choose a foreign conflict (e.g., Vietnam or Afghanistan) and argue whether or not the United States was justified in getting involved.
Life and Ethics Argumentative Essay Topics
- The most important challenge our country is currently facing is … (e.g., immigration, gun control, economy)
- Does social media do more harm than good?
- The best country in the world is …
- Are men and women treated equally?
- Is it better to be vegetarian/vegan or to eat meat?
- Should little kids be allowed to play competitive sports?
- Who faces more peer pressure, girls or boys?
- Should kids have set bedtimes or just go to bed whenever they’re sleepy?
- Which is better, artificial Christmas trees or real ones?
- Playing violent video games is bad for kids and teens.
- Parents should track their kids’ cell phone use.
- Are paper books better than e-books?
- All kids should play on the same sports teams, regardless of gender.
- All paper documents should be replaced with electronic versions.
- Is conflict necessary for change?
- Is war ever justified?
- A strong middle class is vital to the economy.
- Is the local minimum wage truly a living wage?
- Should we do away with gender-specific public bathrooms?
- Is a progressive income tax better than a flat tax?
Social Justice and Civics Argumentative Essay Topics
- Capital punishment does/does not deter crime.
- Would it be better to legalize, tax, and regulate all drugs (including alcohol and cigarettes) instead of banning them?
- Parents should be punished for their minor children’s crimes.
- The government should provide free internet access for every citizen.
- Is democracy the best form of government?
- Is capitalism the best form of economy?
- Should all Americans be required to vote?
- Should we change the minimum driving age in the United States?
- Do you think the government should find a way to provide free healthcare for everyone?
- School-age children should be allowed to vote.
- We should/should not abolish the Electoral College.
- Are “stand your ground” laws effective?
- Supreme Court judges should be appointed for fixed terms.
- Does segregation still exist in the United States?
- We should/should not continue building a wall between the United States and Mexico.
- Will stricter gun control laws help control mass shootings?
- Should we make the path to American citizenship easier?
- Is the American justice system inherently racist?
- Should we redirect some or all police force funding to social services?
- Should the United States implement a universal basic income?
More Argumentative Essay Topics for Students
- Choose a fictional character and explain why they should be the next president.
- What animal makes the best pet?
- Who is the world’s best athlete, present or past?
- Which is better, reading books or watching TV?
- Is a taco a sandwich?
- Should kids be allowed to stay up as late as they want?
- What’s the best video game system?
- Kids shouldn’t have to go to school on their birthdays.
- Is video gaming a sport?
- Are beauty pageants sexist?
- Should kids get participation trophies for sports?
- Are stereotypes ever right?
- Is there any benefit to teaching proper grammar and spelling, or should we allow language to be descriptive instead of prescriptive?
- All teenagers should have part-time jobs.
- Should kids have limits on screen time?
- Is it better to read fiction or nonfiction?
- Should kids have to eat everything on their plate, even if they really don’t like something?
- Is it better to spend an hour a day reading or exercising?
- Is graffiti an act of vandalism or an art form?
- Should society hold celebrities to a high moral standard?
Get your free printable argumentative writing graphic organizers!
Our free printable argumentative essay graphic organizers use a court case theme to help student plan their essays. There are worksheets covering opening statements, reasoning and supporting evidence, refuting counterarguments, and closing statements. Just click the button below to fill out the form and receive your copy of this free worksheet bundle.
