Argumentative essays provide an excellent opportunity for students to engage critically with various issues, develop their reasoning skills, and hone their ability to present compelling arguments. Whether you are a college student, a high schooler, or even in middle school, choosing a thought-provoking topic is crucial. Here, we present 200 compelling argumentative essay topics to stimulate your intellectual curiosity and guide you as you decide on the best topic for your next argumentative essay.
Family Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should the government provide financial incentives for families to have children to address the declining birth rate?
- Quote #1: “Promoting birth rates through financial incentives is aimed at counteracting demographic decline.”
- 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 cell phones 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?
Education Argumentative 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? If so, what types?
- 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?
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?
Health/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?
- Should organ donation be mandatory?
- Is cloning animals ethical?
- Should cancer screenings start earlier? If so, at what age?
- Is surrogacy ethical?
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?
- Quote #2: “The power of social media in shaping political opinions translates into a need for stringent regulations on 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 Argumentative 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 the US ban religion-based federal holidays?
Science Argument Essay Topics
- Would the world be safer if we eliminated nuclear weapons?
- Should scientists bring back extinct animals? If so, which ones?
- Should companies be fiscally responsible for their carbon footprint?
- Should we ban pesticides in favor of organic farming methods?
- 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?
- Should we worry about artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence?
- Should the alternative medicine industry be more stringently regulated?
- Is colonizing Mars a viable option?
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?
- Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in sports?
- Do participation trophies foster entitlement and unrealistic expectations?
Technology Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should sites like DALL-E compensate the artists whose work it was trained on?
- 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? If so, what age?
- Should we consider A.I.-generated images and text pieces of art?
- Does the use of facial recognition technology violate individuals’ privacy?
- Is online learning as effective as in-person learning?
- Does computing harm the environment?
- Should buying, sharing, and selling collected personal data be illegal?
- Are electric cars really better for the environment?
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 companies provide paid parental leave to their employees?
- Should the government raise the minimum wage? If so, to what?
- Should antitrust regulators break up large companies to promote competition?
Ethics Argumentative Essay Topics
- Is sacrificing individual freedoms for the greater good justifiable?
- Should genetic engineering eliminate hereditary diseases?
- Is using animals for scientific experimentation ethical?
- Should physician-assisted suicide be legal for the terminally ill?
- Is using torture justified to obtain information from terrorists?
- Should human needs outweigh the preservation of endangered species?
- Should privacy rights be sacrificed for national security?
- Is using social media data for targeted advertising ethical?
- Is military intervention to stop human rights abuses justified?
- Is research on human embryos ethical for medical progress?
Environment Argumentative Essay Topics
- Is human activity the main cause of climate change?
- Should plastic bag use be banned to reduce pollution?
- Is renewable energy the answer to reducing emissions?
- Should industries face stricter air pollution regulations?
- Is deforestation a greater threat than urbanization?
- Should governments incentivize sustainable practices?
- Is wildlife conservation more crucial than economic growth?
- Should single-use plastics be eliminated?
- Is nuclear energy a viable option for emission reduction?
- Should conservation efforts focus on endangered species?
Easy Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should all foods be required to have nutrition labels?
- Should there be limits on the use of technology in public schools?
- Is it necessary to have a college degree to be successful?
- Should the government regulate food production and distribution?
- Does the current healthcare system effectively meet people’s needs?
- Are fast food restaurants responsible for childhood obesity?
- Is it necessary to wear school uniforms in public schools?
- Do social media platforms have an obligation to protect users’ privacy?
- Should the government provide free internet access to everyone?
- Are violent video games bad for children?
Unique Argumentative Essay Topics
- Do the benefits of genetically modified organisms outweigh the risks?
- Is virtual reality technology beneficial or detrimental to society?
- Are robots taking over human jobs?
- Is it ethical to clone animals and humans?
- Should the government allow citizens to vote online?
- Are virtual currencies a viable option for money transactions?
- Would allowing genetic engineering of humans lead to a better society?
- Is nuclear energy a safe source of power?
- Is space exploration worth the cost and effort?
- Does censorship of art limit artistic expression?
Controversial Argumentative Essay Topics
- How would requests for medically assisted suicide be regulated and monitored?
- Should religious studies be made part of the school syllabus?
- What is your point of view on mercy killing? Is it ethical?
- Is it moral to call someone ugly?
- Should applicants be judged on their appearance?
- Should same-sex marriages be legalized in Muslim countries?
- Should transgenders be given opportunities to study in elite institutions?
- Is the #BlackLivesMatter movement promoting inclusiveness?
- Should abortions be made illegal?
- Should illegal immigrants be treated equally as legal citizens?
Mental Health Argumentative Essay Topics
- Does social media have an overall positive or negative effect on mental health?
- Should pharmaceutical companies be held liable for the opioid crisis?
- Should mental health services be available to everyone, regardless of their income?
- Do people with mental illnesses face discrimination in the workplace?
- Are there serious ethical issues surrounding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?
- How can society best address the stigma around mental illness?
- Are psychiatric medications overprescribed?
- Is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) an effective treatment for mental health issues?
- Should cases of terminal illnesses be treated differently from other illnesses?
- Is it possible to diagnose and treat mental illness without medication?
Argumentative Essay Topics for Teenagers
- Should social media platforms have an age limit?
- Are reality TV shows harmful to young people’s mental health?
- Is there too much pressure on teens to get good grades?
- Should parents monitor their teenagers’ social media accounts?
- Should there be stricter laws to protect teen drivers?
- Does the current education system adequately prepare teens for college and the workforce?
- Are video games contributing to violent behavior in teenagers?
- Should gym classes be mandatory in schools?
- Are we ready for a female president in the United States?
- Is online bullying a serious issue that needs to be addressed?
Technology Argumentative Essay Topics – Continued
- Is technology making us more or less connected as a society?
- Should social media platforms be held accountable for spreading misinformation?
- Is artificial intelligence a threat to job security or a tool for advancement?
- Should there be stricter regulations on data privacy and online surveillance?
- Is the use of facial recognition technology an invasion of privacy?
- Should there be limits on the use of drones for civilian purposes?
- Is the rise of automation and robotics ultimately beneficial or harmful to society?
- Should there be a global ban on the development of autonomous weapons?
- Is technology addiction a legitimate concern that needs to be addressed?
- Should there be more emphasis on digital literacy education in schools?
Essays – More Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should freedom of speech ever be limited in the interest of public safety?
- Should governments impose limits on the number of children per family?
- Is homeschooling more effective than traditional schooling?
- Should vaccinations be mandatory for all citizens?
- Is the death penalty an effective way to deter crime?
- Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?
- Is animal testing justified for scientific advancement?
- Should recreational drugs be legalized?
- Are standardized tests a fair measure of student capability?
- Should junk food be banned in schools?
Philosophy Argument Essay Topics
- Should AI be considered capable of having its own rights, like a person?
- Does technology addiction constitute a real mental health issue?
- Is it ethical to edit human genes to prevent diseases?
- Can animals have moral rights, or is this purely a human projection?
- Should humans prioritize personal empathy over societal duties?
- Is love always valuable even if it’s not mutual?
- Should billionaires exist while millions live in poverty?
- Is lying ever acceptable under moral relativism?
- Can democracy thrive without some level of censorship?
- Should religion play any role in government decisions?
As with any argumentative essay, it’s crucial to choose a topic that is both engaging for you and offers ample scope for debate and research. Whether it’s analyzing the societal impacts of modern technology or evaluating ethical dilemmas, these topics will provide a strong foundation for your argumentative essays. Happy writing!