We do argue every day. Whether to pour the milk or the cereal first, whether to get a cat or a dog, whether to watch a comedy or a horror? It seems so easy. But when a student starts writing an argumentative essay, billions of questions pop up in their mind. What do I need to write about? How to write it? Is it really an argumentative topic? Take it easy. In this article, we are going to give you 50 brilliant topics for the argumentative essays and explain the process of writing them. If you really do not have time even on reading this article, essay help from professional writers will save your academic career.
But before we get to the topic, let us present a real-life example that will be relevant to this concept overall.
So, imagine that you and a friend of yours are having a discussion on whether or not torture is ever justifiable. Your buddy believes that in extreme circumstances, it is the most efficient method to extract absolutely necessary information. You, on the other hand, believe that our civilized society should move away from this harsh treatment of humans. So, the real question is how do you make your side of an argument seem more appealing? Well, that are two ways out – to read this article or to ask our writers for the professional essay help.
What You Should Know Before Choosing the Argumentative Essays Topics
First of all, let us get one this straight. An argumentative essay and a persuasive one are not the same. You may be wondering what is the difference? The main difference between the two essay types has to do with the methodology they use for influence. To be more specific, argumentative essays use facts and logic as support for the certain side while persuasive essays tend to rely on moral reasoning and emotional persuasion.
For example, if I were to write an essay on argumentative topic about the potentially catastrophic effects of global warming, I would use scientific data as the building blocks for my point. This would include facts such as the rise of the Earth temperature, melting ice caps, etc. If I were to write an essay on a persuasive topic, like the negative effects of global warming, I would probably question human ethics and the devastation we are bringing to other species. Now, when we understand the difference between the two, let us move on to argumentative essay topics.
How to Pick One of the Best Argument Essay Topics
An ancient Chinese proverb tells us “The longest journey begins with the first step.” Never has that saying been truer when it comes to writing an argumentative essay. This critical first step of choosing and narrowing your argumentative topic will determine how long it will take you to reach your goal of a polished paper.
Narrow Argumentative Topics Are ALWAYS Better
“Abortion being right or wrong” is a bad example of the argumentative topic. It is so politically charged and broad that it is hard to come up with an immediately applicable option for you to discuss in your paper. You want something that can make a difference per se. For instance, “Laws regarding the funding for planned parenthood” is a great argumentative topic. One of your argumentative essay topics for middle school may also sound like this “Bullies should be tried as adult felons if their bullying led to a suicide.”
You really need to be narrow and focus on one topic. It is easier to persuade on that rather than to change someone’s entire philosophical worldview.
Do You Care?
Pick a topic you care about but do not pick one you are close-minded about. The absolute worst thing you can say is that people who disagree with you are stupid. They are not. This viewpoint will make you lose all credibility.
Use the Method of a Perspective Concerning Argumentative Essay Topics
If you are writing about one of the above-mentioned argumentative essays topics, like bullying, imagine it from the mother’s perspective. Step into the shoes of your opposition. It will give you a lot more to work with and a lot of ideas of what exactly you need to support and what to oppose.
Do not pick argument essay topics that just involve opinions with little bearing on the world, like “Ford vs. Chevy” or “Real Madrid vs. Barcelona.” Those are opinions, they do not touch on serious matters. Instead look for something meaningful, something really impacting, something that does tear people apart, a topic in which you could be a refreshing source of dialogue on a complex issue. Watch the news, it can give you a clue of what argumentative topics to use.
Test Your Argumentative Essay Topics
Once you have chosen your preliminary topic, it is time to brainstorm. As you begin sorting through the very preliminary ideas, try applying these three tests. A valid and workable argumentative essay topics will pass all three tests, making it debatable, plausible, and consequential. ‘Debatable’ simply means that different points of view exist. The issue is not entirely settled. To be plausible, you must be able to offer valid reasons and support for your position. Although a topic may be debatable, with solid and possible reasoning, the outcome must be of consequence.
Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School: Outlining
The outline and the format of the essay depend on the type of content you are required to produce. So, if you are a high school student who has to write a fairly simply essay on, for example, cyberbullying, then the five-paragraph structure is ideal. However, if you are a college student who is required to write a comprehensive research paper that defends one side of a large argument, this will most likely depend on the necessary word count assigned by your professor. For the sake of being concise, we will break down the simplest argumentative essay outline just to give a general idea of what it looks like.
Introduction
First of all, the best way to start an essay, especially, on an argumentative topic is using a trusty hook statement. We know, it is so obvious, but really there is no better way to attract reader’s attention. For an essay on the argumentative topic, the rhetorical question seems to be an efficient tool for hook statements. So, you need to present an idea that will subconsciously navigate your readers towards the preconceived notion that your side is the better one.
For instance, if you are writing an essay on a topic of the death penalty and are in need of a good rhetorical hook, something that could potentially catch readers’ interest would be a sentence like “Is trading an eye-for-an-eye always justified?” or “Should a killer be punished by killing?” Let's imagine you are writing about suicide. What about starting like this: “Only God decides who lives and who dies. Tell that to the person that decided to pull the trigger.” These types of sentences make the reader instantly think about the idea and question it wholeheartedly.
Now it is time to start going more in depth about the idea and specifically your side of the argument. While doing this, briefly introduce the pillars of your argument or, in other words, the core ideas of your body paragraphs. You can state that all modern countries forbade the death penalty and the process of taking the life of another person has become more humane. Check out the irony of this sentence! To finish off your introduction, present a strong thesis statement that takes an absolute position.
Body Paragraphs
Naturally, all three body paragraphs will carry the same structure but the core focal point will obviously be different for each one. To begin a body paragraph, create a transitional sentence which smoothly moves the writing from one idea to the next. Then, provide a thorough analysis of each one of your core ideas. Be sure to make a logical point that helps support your thesis even if morally it may sound ludicrous. Afterward, every core idea needs a backup to make it viable.
Attempt to cripple the counter-argument. Since every Yin has a Yang, we should make the Yin outweigh the Yang. There are two sides of one coin and when you dirty up one side, the other appears to shine brighter. By blatantly showing how your argument is better than the counter-argument, you are literally winning the arm-wrestle, so to speak. Lastly, create a concluding statement that assertively wraps up your core argument nice and tight.
Conclusion
Last but not least is the conclusion. To wrap up an essay on any argumentative topic, you have to make sure to complete three checkboxes. First, restate the thesis statement in an assertive manner to subconsciously signal that it has been proven. Next is to restate the essence of each core argument you presented. Then, present an overall concluding statement. It will usually involve some call to action as well as repercussions which may occur if the idea is not taken seriously.
Now, once you know all the pitfalls of argumentative essay writing, let us make a list of the best argumentative essays topics. And remember, the world is not black and white, and all the gray areas provide you with a lot of topics to pick from.
Best Argumentative Essay Topics
1. Nuclear weapons: the danger or salvation for humanity?
2. Should we ban bottled water?
3. The Land of Ruined Lives: What is wrong with Africa?
4. Is there a way to overcome HIV/AIDS?
5. Should we rely on nuclear energy?
6. We arose from the ocean: the best way to use its power.
7. California wildfires: Revenge or Warning?
8. Are there really GMO-free products?
9. Is it a man’s world?
10. Did history know larger refugee crises?
11. What parenting leaves for men?
12. Herbal medicine: for or against.
13. Is monasticism a way to enlightenment or an escaping?
14. Is strictness a good way to educate an adolescent?
15. Does homework serve any useful purpose?
16. Can girls ask boys out?
17. Obesity in teenagers: how can we maintain a healthy weight of a child best?
18. Diets: are there more negative of positive effects?
19. Can electric vehicles be a solution to the global pollution?
20. Can we assist to prevent Third World War?
21. Gun Control: is it the most effective way to control a crime?
22. Is technology limiting our creativity?
23. Are test scores able to indicate an individual competency?
24. Join or not to join: men should have a right to make decisions whether to go to war or not.
25. Should college curriculum be changed in order to fit students’ preferences?
26. Higher Education: a must-have thing or a commercialized move?
27. 50/50: Can you actually win if you buy a lottery ticket?
28. Is competition a good idea for self-development?
29. Do these perfect photos on Instagram make people feel stressed?
30. Do technologies ease everything or jeopardize the whole world?
31. Beauty pageants: do they have an influence on the moral values of society?
32. Do movies of the 21st century make us much crueler?
33. Can social media destroy our real life?
34. Does same-sex parenting negatively influence the mentality of a child?
35. For the sake of health: should we legitimize a six-hour working day?
36. Plastic surgery: to fix it or to embrace who you are?
37. The ethical side of eating meat.
38. Advertising of harmful products: to ban or to allow people to make their choice?
39. To what extent should we trust online reviews?
40. Is religion the cause of almost every war?
41. Modern fashion: is it stylish or dull?
42. Should parents punish their children?
43. Police brutality: a reality or a myth?
44. Who needs drugs when we have junk food?
45. Atheism: for or against.
46. Should historical monuments be revered or removed?
47. Do vegans live longer?
48. Has Facebook lost its edge?
49. Marijuana: a drug or a cure?
50. Pineapple on pizza. Just kidding, or not. Let's argue about that?
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