Argumentative essay topics for College
An argumentative essay is a type of academic essay where a writer debates about a topic. The aim is to present both sides of an issue with clear evidence and gravitate towards the stronger side. For you to write a good argumentative essay, you need to use a debating tone complemented by data, statistics and examples. Instructors use argumentative essays to test research skills, effective communication as well as see if you can present an academic discourse.
I have already done a blog on how to write a high scoring argumentative essay. You can click on the link to get to it. In this piece, my aim is to provide you with the structure, templates and list of argumentative topics for practice.
Structure of an Argumentative Writing
1. Introduction
Your introduction is where you grab the attention of your reader and take the time to make them familiar with the topic you are discussing. I like comparing it to greeting a person when you meet. You see, no one meets you and starts talking about something before they “greet” you. Starting your essay without an introduction is like ambushing someone and starting to talk about your topic. To write an effective introduction, do the following;
- Begin with a hook to capture attention and show relevance of the topic
- Provide brief background and argument context and why it is important to address
- End with a clear thesis statement stating your position on the issue
- Don’t begin addressing your ideas here, you are simply laying down the foundation which you will build up your essay on.
A good introduction is about 1-paragraph long, however, making it 10% of the total word count is the best approach to go with. This ensures that it is proportional to the number of words you are writing.
2. Body Paragraphs
This is where you expound on the supporting and opposing sides of your topic and convince the reader that you actually know what you are talking about. Your paragraphs should be developed using the PIE format;
- Point – main idea of the paragraph
- Illustration – evidence, examples, or research
- Explanation – how the evidence supports the argument
The paragraphs should be written in third person to maintain objectivity as you are expected to use logical debating and not emotions to convince the reader. Make sure that you include both supporting and opposing ideas to make the essay balanced.
3. Conclusion
The conclusion is where you bring things to a close. In an argumentative essay, your conclusion needs to reflect your position as well as summarize the work. It should be about 1-paragraph in length or 10% of the stated word count. So if you are writing a 1000-word essay, the conclusion should be about 100 words minimum.
| DOs | DON’Ts |
| 1. Restate the thesis in a new way | 1. Simply repeat the thesis word-for-word |
| 2. Summarize the main points discussed | 2. Introduce new arguments or ideas |
| 3.. Show how the essay has answered the question | 3. Leave the reader unsure of your position |
| 4.. Keep the focus on closing the discussion clearly | 4. Open new discussions or topics in the conclusion |
Download APA template below
Download MLA template below
Topics for Argumentative essays
Criminal Justice Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should the death penalty be abolished?
- Should juvenile offenders be tried as adults?
- Is rehabilitation better than imprisonment?
- Should police officers wear body cameras at all times?
- Does social media contribute to cybercrime?
- Should prisons focus more on education programs?
- Is life imprisonment more effective than capital punishment?
- Should drug possession lead to jail time?
- Are stricter gun laws necessary to reduce crime?
- Should voting rights be restored to former prisoners?
Education Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should college education be free?
- Is homework beneficial for students?
- Should uniforms be mandatory in schools?
- Are online classes as effective as physical classes?
- Should students be allowed to use AI tools in schoolwork?
- Is standardized testing an effective way to measure intelligence?
- Should schools start later in the morning?
- Is homeschooling better than traditional schooling?
- Should financial literacy be taught in schools?
- Should mobile phones be banned in classrooms?
Technology Argumentative Essay Topics
- Is artificial intelligence a threat to jobs?
- Should social media platforms regulate misinformation?
- Is technology making people less social?
- Should children have limited screen time?
- Are smartphones improving education?
- Should governments regulate AI development?
- Is online privacy a myth?
- Should facial recognition technology be banned?
- Does technology improve productivity at work?
- Are video games harmful to teenagers?
Health Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should healthcare be free for everyone?
- Is fast food responsible for rising obesity rates?
- Should vaccination be mandatory?
- Are mental health services accessible enough?
- Should sugary drinks be taxed?
- Is social media harming mental health?
- Should schools provide free meals to students?
- Is self-diagnosis through the internet dangerous?
- Should junk food advertising targeting children be banned?
- Is exercise more important than diet for good health?
Environmental Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should plastic bags be banned worldwide?
- Is climate change mainly caused by humans?
- Should governments invest more in renewable energy?
- Are electric cars truly environmentally friendly?
- Should companies be fined for pollution?
- Is recycling effective in reducing waste?
- Should deforestation laws be stricter?
- Is overpopulation contributing to environmental destruction?
- Should water conservation laws be stricter?
- Are climate protests effective?
Social Media Argumentative Essay Topics
- Does social media do more harm than good?
- Should influencers be regulated?
- Is cancel culture toxic?
- Should children under 13 use social media?
- Does social media create unrealistic beauty standards?
- Should social media companies be responsible for cyberbullying?
- Is social media addiction a real problem?
- Does social media improve communication?
- Should people be punished for offensive posts online?
- Is social media reducing face-to-face interactions?
Business and Economics Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should the minimum wage be increased?
- Is entrepreneurship better than formal employment?
- Should companies allow remote work permanently?
- Is capitalism the best economic system?
- Should billionaires pay higher taxes?
- Is cryptocurrency the future of finance?
- Should unpaid internships be banned?
- Are multinational corporations exploiting developing countries?
- Should employees work four-day weeks?
- Is advertising manipulative?
Politics and Government Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should voting be mandatory?
- Is democracy the best form of government?
- Should governments censor harmful online content?
- Are political campaigns too expensive?
- Should politicians have term limits?
- Is nationalism beneficial to a country?
- Should governments provide universal basic income?
- Are protests effective in creating change?
- Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
- Is corruption the greatest challenge facing governments today?
Family and Society Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should parents monitor their children’s online activity?
- Is marriage still important in modern society?
- Should teenagers have part-time jobs?
- Is peer pressure more harmful than helpful?
- Should parents be held responsible for their children’s crimes?
- Is divorce becoming too common?
- Should children be allowed complete freedom of expression?
- Are gender roles still relevant today?
- Should family planning education be compulsory?
- Is modern society too dependent on technology?
Sports and Entertainment Argumentative Essay Topics
- Should athletes be paid more than teachers?
- Is esports a real sport?
- Should performance-enhancing drugs lead to lifetime bans?
- Are violent movies influencing behavior in society?
- Should celebrities be considered role models?
- Is professional sports culture too commercialized?
- Should colleges prioritize sports scholarships?
- Are reality TV shows harmful to society?
- Should musicians separate art from politics?
- Is streaming replacing traditional television permanently?
