100 Easy Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas With Research Links and Sample Essays

Virginia has been a university English instructor for over 20 years. She specializes in helping people write essays faster and easier.

Choosing an Easy Topic

Need a great argument topic? Below I give over 100 ideas. You'll write faster and easier if you pick a topic based on:

• Knowledge: Picking a topic you already know a lot about can make research faster and easier.
• Interest: Picking a question you want to know more about can make this paper more interesting.
• Available Sources: I give links to many sources. Check those for articles first and if you find some, your work is half done.

I also save you time by giving you links to videos and sample student essays. Check out my guides for writing papers too. Good luck! If you get a good grade, be sure to come back and tell me!

What You'll Find in this Article:

1. Instructions for how to (and how not to) pick a topic.

2. Lists of topic ideas (in the categories of food and health, obesity and dieting, recycling and the environment, families and relationships, and science and technology, with videos and many links to research and student essay examples.

3. Step-by-step instructions for how to write your essay.

How to Pick a Good Topic

1. Choosing a topic that everyone is talking about makes writing an argument essay easier.
2. Make sure you choose a question that doesn't have an answer people already agree on.
3. Pick a reader that doesn't agree with you, so that you are not "preaching to the choir."
4. It also helps if the topic is something everyone has an opinion about: this will make it easier to get examples to back up your essay, either from articles or from people you interview.
5. Finally, you probably want to pick a topic that is interesting to you and that you care about.

What Topics Not to Pick:

Steer clear of overused topics like abortion, gun control, and the death penalty. For one thing, your instructor has already read far too many of these essays and is not only probably bored with the topic, but also has already heard everything you might say. Moreover, although those may seem like easy topics, they really aren't, because most people are set in their ways about these issues and it is hard to think of an argument that might change their minds.

Why are Americans rapidly becoming more obese?

Obesity, Dieting and Food

1. Why are Americans rapidly becoming more obese?
2. What can be done to help children maintain a healthy weight?
3. How can people lose weight and keep it off?
4. Is weight gain caused by genetics, environment, or some other factor?
5. How do naturally thin people stay that way?
6. What is the relationship between food, exercise, and weight?
7. Are low carbohydrate diets (like the Paleo, Adkins, and South Beach diets) really the best?
8. Do planned-meal diets like Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem really work to help people keep weight off?
9. Why are Weight Watchers and other calorie-counting diets often considered the best by doctors?
10. Is controlling weight really a matter of "calories in, calories out?"
11. What is the best diet for a young adult?
12. Can vegetarian diets be healthy?
13. Why are so many people now choosing to go on gluten-free diets?
14. Is sugar really bad for you?
15. Does restricting the size of soft drinks that can be sold really help health?
16. Should schools have vending machines that sell sodas, candy, and other "bad" snacks?
17. What can schools do to promote better health in students?
18. Does intermittent fasting really help you to be more fit?
19. How can morbidly obese people lose weight safely?
20. Is the T.V. show The Biggest Loser helpful in motivating people to be healthy? Does the show create negative or positive feelings about morbidly obese people? Does it exploit the contestants?
21. What causes anorexia? How can it be prevented? How can you help an anorexic friend? Why are more young men becoming anorexic?
22. What is morbid obesity? How does morbid obesity affect a person's health?
23. What should we do about the cost of healthcare for overweight people? Should there be a greater insurance premium for people who are obese?
24. Is surgery a good method for people to lose weight?
25. Are sugar substitutes helpful for dieting?
26. Is fat really bad for you? Is a low-fat diet the best?

Research Articles on Obesity and Dieting

Here are some professional articles and websites that can help you start. Many of these articles contain links to other sources also.

• "Long Term Weight Loss Maintenance," by Rena R. Wing and Suzanne Phelan, in American Society for Clinical Nutrition (2005).
• The National Weight Control Registry. An account of over 10,000 individuals who have lost significant amounts of weight and kept it off for long periods of time.
• Overweight and Obesity. U.S. government reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Diet Topic Articles from Psychology Today.

Recycling and the Environment

1. What can we do to help people around the world have clean water to drink?
2. Is hunting good or bad for the environment?
3. Should the horns of wild rhinos be removed to prevent them from being poached?
4. Can we protect wild areas and animals by promoting eco-tourism?
5. Should the government discourage or regulate oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico?
6. What are the dangers of fracking?
7. Does recycling really make a difference?
8. Should all states adopt a deposit on soft drink bottles and cans in order to promote recycling?
9. Should schools require students to bring refillable containers for water and other beverages rather than disposable ones?
10. Should supermarkets charge for plastic bags in order to encourage the use of reusable bags?
11. Should your city (or campus) do more to encourage recycling?
12. What causes people to litter? What could motivate people to clean up after themselves?
13. What causes earthquakes? What can we do to reduce death or damage from earthquakes? Or how can we better predict them?
14. Does being a vegetarian or vegan help the environment?
15. Can using LED lights make a difference?
16. How can composting help save the environment?
17. What is hazardous household waste and why is it important not to throw it in the regular trash?
18. What is deforestation? How does it happen? Can it be stopped?
19. What is fracking? Is fracking worth the risks? Does fracking hurt drinking water?
20. What is a carbon footprint? How can we change our carbon footprint?
21. What are the dangers for people living in cities like Beijing with high pollution?
22. Is nuclear energy really safe?
23. What should be done with nuclear waste?
24. What is the best way to handle our trash? Are landfills a good idea?
25. Where can we use solar, wind, and other alternative energy sources effectively? What is the best way to encourage alternative energy use? (Government regulations? Incentives? Helping companies that produce these products? Advertising?)

Read More From Owlcation

The Top 10 Worst Famines in History

How to Create an Animated Accordion With React JS

The Mysterious Pied Piper of Hamelin

Environment Research Links

• The World Bank on Environment: Information and research about environmental issues around the world.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: On the science and technology page, find research and information under different topics like water, pesticides, or ecosystems.
• Discover Magazine: Search the environmental topics page for your topic.
• U.S. Government Recycling and Conservation: Statistics and information.

Families and Relationships

1. Should mothers stay home with their children?
2. Did COVID stay-at-home experiences help or hurt family relationships?
3. Do long-distance relationships work?
4. How can divorce be prevented?
5. Is divorce something that kids can recover from?
6. Are teenage marriages a good idea?
7. Should teenagers that get pregnant keep their children?
8. How can you get out of "the friend zone"?
9. How can you know you are in an abusive relationship? Why do people stay in abusive relationships?
10. What are the effects of domestic violence on children?
11. Who should do the chores in a family?
12. What are helicopter parents and how do they help or harm their children?
13. Is it good to be an only child?
14. Is doing sports together a good thing for families?
15. How have video games impacted family life?
16. Why do some people treat their pets as family members? Is this a good or bad thing?
17. How important are grandparents to children today?
18. How does interracial adoption affect a family?
19. Are large families better for children?
20. How does birth order affect children?
21. Do older people make better parents?
22. Have cell phones and social media made families closer or not?
23. How should (or shouldn't) you use social media in a dating relationship?
24. How long should people date before they become engaged?
25. What makes people have a happy, long-lasting marriage?
26. Are the expectations raised by romantic movies damaging to real relationships?

Are Beauty Pageants Good for Kids?

Family and Relationship Research

"The Impact of Divorce on Young Children and Adolescents" by Carl Pickhardt in Psychology Today, 2011.

"Mothers Who are Jealous of Their Daughters" by Karyl McBride in Psychology Today, October 21, 2013.

"Long Distance Relationship Benefits Include Greater Intimacy, Study Says" by Catherine Pearson in Huffington Post, July 18, 2013.

"7 Research-Based Principles for Making Marriage Work" by Margarita Tartakovsky.

Technology and People

1. What is nanotechnology and how has it already changed our lives?
2. How will nanotechnology affect dentistry or medicine?
3. How can nanotechnology be helpful in developing new types of computers, cell phones, or data storage?
4. Does using cell phones make people more or less connected?
5. Do cell phones cause a cancer risk?
6. What should the laws be concerning the use of cell phones while driving?
7. Have social media and texting hurt or improved the lives of teenagers?
8. Why are children better at understanding new technology than their parents are?
9. Do violent video games cause people to act out violently?
10. Should schools use video games as a teaching tool?
11. Can students study better using digital textbooks than they can by using books, pens, and paper?
12. Will paper and books become obsolete?
13. What is the difference between reading on a screen and reading a book?
14. Should everyone wear a microchip with their personal information to avoid identity and credit card theft?
15. Should parents be able to choose the genetics of their children?
16. Are smart watches going to replace cell phones?
17. What is the next big leap in technology?
18. Which is better, the PC or the Mac?
19. If we can help people live longer through technology, should we? Is there a balance between quantity and quality of life?
20. How can 3-D printers be used effectively?

Science and Technology Research

SciTech Daily: Science and new technology news and research reports.

CNN Technology News: Updates of the latest trends.

9 Gadgets (and Other Tech) to Be Excited About in 2015 by Darren Orf at Gizmodo: January 18, 2015.

Aging and Retirement

1. With people living longer, should the retirement age be increased? If so, what should be the age when people get benefits?
2. What is the best way to plan for retirement?
3. Is long-term health care insurance a good thing to purchase?
4. Are retirement communities a good choice for older people?
5. How important is it to retire near family?
6. Should older relatives expect to be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of another family member?
7. Is a nursing home ever the best option?
8. How much money do people need to save for retirement?
9. Is the average lifespan going to continue to increase?
10. Can we grow older without getting sicker?
11. Is aging a disease?
12. Will mushrooms help people fight to age?
13. Can aging be reversed or even cured in your lifetime?
14. Falls are among the leading causes of injury and death for older people. What can be done to prevent falls?
15. What causes some people to be able to live to be over 100?

How to Write a Paper Fast!

If you want to write a quick and easy argument paper, follow these simple steps:

1. Pick a topic question from the lists above.
2. Decide your answer to the question (this is your beginning thesis).
3. Write down everything you know about the topic.
4. Talk to your friends or family to find out what they know, have heard, or have read recently about the topic (have them give you the source if they know it).
5. Look at some of the research articles or web sites about that topic.
6. Look back at your question and refine your answer. After gathering information, you may want to change it.
7. Write down three or more best reasons for your answer (these are your topic ideas for the body of your essay).
8. Using those reasons, look at the articles you've read or the ideas you've already written down for some evidence to support those reasons (this is the backup evidence for each topic sentence).
9. Write your outline, then follow it to write your paper.

For more detailed essay instructions, see How to Write an Argument Essay, Step-by-Step.

Do You Need Research? A Poll.

Questions & Answers

Question: I am struggling with deciding on a topic for an argumentative essay. What should I do?

Answer: Both of those topics are interesting and compelling to study, especially if you live in a culture where they are problems. Here is how to choose the best topic for you:

1. List both topics and set a timer for 5 minutes. Write everything you know about one of the topics for that period of time. Then do the same thing for the second topic. You can also write down questions you want to know.

2. Look for resources on each topic. Use what you've already written to Google search answers to questions, or to look for articles in your local library. Spend no more than an hour.

3. After you have done those two exercises, you will probably begin to realize that one of the two topics is either more interesting to you, or one that you think you will be able to research more easily. Those two exercises should not take more than an hour and a half at most and most of that time will directly help you on your paper.

Question: What are five good topics that can be argued from several sides?

Answer: You bring up a good point that there are many topic questions which don't have only two answers or just two ways that people think about the issue. Here are some of the best topics to produce a compelling discussion from a variety of perspectives:

"What is the best way to choose a marriage partner?"

"What is the best diet for losing weight?"

"What makes someone "beautiful?"

"What is the best way to solve the problem of....(homelessness, racism, poverty or any other social issue)?"

"What is the best way to study to get top grades?"

Question: What can I write in a conclusion of an argumentative essay?

Answer: Here is an article which gives you many different conclusion ideas: https://hubpages.com/academia/How-to-Write-an-Argu...

Question: Can you give me ideas for a conversational topic that is in the "yes" or "no" format?

Answer: Many of the argumentative topics in this list could be formed in a conversational way if you start them with the phrase "Are you for or against" or "Do you...or not?" Here are some ideas:

Are you for or against divorce for any reason?

Do you believe in God or not?

Would you or would you not be willing to adopt a child that needed a home?

Question: I need to write a Toulmin strategy argument paper about abuse. Do you have any quick and easy ideas?

Answer: 1. What causes people to become an abuser?

2. What is child abuse?

3. How can domestic abuse be prevented?

For help with a Toulmin paper, see my article: https://hubpages.com/academia/How-to-Use-a-Toulmin...

Question: I need to write a persuasive argument. Do you have any quick and easy ideas?

Answer: If you can't find a topic in this list, you might want to see 100 Easy Persuasive Essay Topics with Tips to Write a Paper Fast: https://hubpages.com/academia/100-Easy-Persuasive-...

Here are some of the easiest topics for most students:

Is video gaming good or bad?

Why you should not procrastinate.

Does media violence create real violence?

How important is a college degree?

Question: I need to write an argument essay about children with special needs attending regular school. Do you have any good points to argue?

Answer: Should special needs children be integrated into regular classrooms?

What accommodations should be given so that special needs children can attend school with their peers?

When is a regular classroom not the best place for a special needs child?

Who should decide where a child with special needs attends school?

Question: What is a good Rogerian argument regarding ALS disease?

Answer: A Rogerian argument is a strategy of how you write rather than a particular topic. Here are some ALS topics:

1. What is the best way to help a family that has a member with ALS?

2.Was the "Ice Bucket Challenge" helpful to people with ALS or not?

3. What are the best current treatments for ALS disease?

Here is a link to how to write a Rogerian argument:https://owlcation.com/academia/How-to-Write-an-Arg...

Question: What do you think about the topic "Should teenagers be able to drive and get their license at the age of 16?" as an argumentative essay?

Answer: In many places, teenagers can get their license at 16, so this question works best if you are arguing that they should not be able to get it that soon. I had a student do a paper on this once and that student found a lot of evidence about how the brain does not fully develop until 18 to be able to make "executive decisions" which are needed when you drive. I was quite convinced after reading the paper that we ought to wait longer and I've had most of my kids wait until they were at least 17.

Question: I need to find an argumentative topic on student issues. Can you help me?

Answer: Here are some excellent essay ideas for student issues:

1. Should schools do more to prevent cheating? Or should students do more to stop cheating?

2. How much studying do you really need to do in school? Do some students study too much?

3. What is the most effective way to have a good social group in school?

4. Does social media use hurt student's social lives? What should the individual student do to have a healthier and happier social life in school?

5. What makes an excellent teacher? How can teachers do a better job (choose one or more) at teaching the information clearly, motivating students, making their subject interesting, or meeting students needs?

6. What makes someone popular? Are popular students meaner than other students, or are they nicer?

7. How important is it to be involved in extracurricular activities?

8. Are school sports good for students or do they take too much time and effort away from doing well in school? Should student-athletes have special privileges?

9. Should schools spend more time and money to develop their fine arts programs?

10. What is the best extra-curricular program to be involved in at your school?

Question: What do you think of the topic, "Is deforestation worth it?" for an argumentative essay?

Answer: I'm not sure "worth it" is a clear enough question. Here are some alternatives:

1. How can we solve the problem of deforestation?

2. How can we help people who live in forested areas survive economically without cutting down trees?

3. Does ecotourism help prevent deforestation?

Question: I need a question to use as an argumentative essay topic based around history - preferably within the time period of 1910 - 1997 - Any suggestions?

Answer: What did the world learn from _____war?

What is the green revolution and how did it change the world?

Question: Can you suggest a good editorial topic on micro-chipping that is easy to write about?

Answer: Here is a couple to consider:

Should microchipping be required for all pets?

How helpful is microchipping?

How important is microchipping?

Should microchips be used in humans for identity or credit cards?

What are the uses of microchips in humans?

Should companies microchip their employees?

Question: Where can I find inspiration for writing an argumentative essay?

Answer: There are many ways to get inspiration to write your essay. Here are my suggestions:

1. Write it out: get out a sheet of paper or computer document and write everything you know about that topic. Don't worry about grammar or even writing full sentences. Just get the ideas out.

2. Talk it out: take out your phone, and record yourself talking out your ideas.

3. Get help from a friend: If you feel stuck talking or writing on your own, then get a friend and have them ask you questions about your topic. You could also interview someone else about your topic, or even talk to a bunch of people to see what they think.

4. Post it on social media. Post your topic idea on social media and see what everyone else has to say about it. Maybe other people have ideas of movies, news events or articles you can read.

5. Google it: look for your topic on Google. Read as much as you can to find out more. Look for some good evidence you can include in your paper as you read or watch videos on the topic.

Question: What do you think of the topic, "Should parents ban young kids from social media?" for an argumentative essay?

Answer: For more ideas on this topic, see my article on How to create a Great Topic Sentence, which uses this idea in formulating an outline:https://hubpages.com/academia/How-to-Write-a-Great...

Question: What are some animal argument essay topics?

Answer: Here are some easy animal topics:

1. Should pit bulls and other dogs considered more prone to aggression be banned from apartment buildings?

2. When is it best to euthanize a sick or elderly pet?

3. How can a city move to be a "no kill" zone for pets brought to shelters?

4. Should domestic food animals like dairy cows, cattle and chickens be raised in pens or allowed to roam free?

5. Should cats be kept indoors?

6. Is it ethical to de-claw a pet cat?

7. How important is it for children to be exposed to farm life and farm animals through field trips or 4-H clubs?

8. Is hunting a good way to conserve the environment?

9. What are the best pets besides dogs and cats?

10. Should people keep exotic pets?

Question: Can you suggest an argumentative essay topic that is based on tourism?

Answer: 1. Can ecotourism really help preserve ecologically sensitive areas?

2. Is hunting tourism ethical?

3. What is the benefit of tourism to XX country?

4. How can an individual be a good tourist?

Question: Can you suggest a topic for an opinion essay that has to do with pharmacy education?

Answer: 1. What is the most important part of pharmacy training?

2. How can you choose the best pharmacy school?

3. Does pharmacy school really prepare you for your career?

4. Is being a pharmacist a good career choice?

Question: Should schools use video games as a teaching tool?

Answer: Here are some alternatives on that issue:

1. What is the best way that teachers can use video games in the classroom?

2. What are the top educational video games that actually teach students?

3. Can video games teach better than traditional methods?

4. What does the research say about how much students learn by doing video games?

5. Which subjects work better for video gaming in education?

6. What makes an excellent educational video game?

Question: What is an argumentative topic to use for a synthesis paper?

Answer: I always suggest that students ask their instructor for specific instructions if they are not sure what to do on a paper topic such as "synthesis." Some instructors have a particular format they want you to follow, so be sure to ask your instructor what they mean by "synthesis paper." My guess is what your instructor probably means is that they want you to use several different sources and to give the points of view of each one, or to put together an argument topic using different sources. For more on how to write a research paper, see: https://hubpages.com/academia/How-to-Write-an-Argu...

Question: Can you help me find research facts proving alcoholism is a disease for an argumentative essay?

Answer: A good way to look for statistics and facts that are easy to find is to search on Google Scholar, or to use a regular Google search but put "government" into your search. Make sure you look up a government website, which will provide authoritative sources. I searched "government alcohol facts," and came up with both a Centers of Disease Control Fact Sheet and also a National Institute of Health Alcohol Facts and Statistics website. What is great about these websites is that if you look at the bottom of the article, they usually have links to the original papers. Those papers are excellent sources for your research, and can often give you plenty of information for your paper. Ask your instructor to see if they will also accept the government websites as research sources. A final way to get sources is to look for a medical or non-profit organization that researches that topic.

Question: What are the most interesting psychological topics?

Answer: For 100 essay ideas on mental health and psychology check out my article:

https://hubpages.com/humanities/Easy-Essay-Topics-... The article gives not only topic ideas, but also links to good essays and research articles you can use to help you write your paper.

Question: I need a research topic on marriage. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer: Sure! I have 15 marriage research topics along with writing tips in my article: https://letterpile.com/writing/100-Easy-Persuasive...

Question: I need to find a trending topic for a research paper about Ghana. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer: Here are some possible topics, many of which could apply to other nations if you substituted a different country name:

How is the popularity of fast food chains like KFC in Ghana changing the health of the nation?

What is the best way for the government of Ghana to provide health care to rural areas?

How can Ghana fight corruption?

How have artists from Ghana sought to influence their culture?

Question: How can I best create an effective inquiry project?

Answer: While you should always talk with your instructor and listen carefully to any instructions, I think what you are referring to as an "inquiry project" is basically an argumentative research essay which starts with a question. The best way to create an effective inquiry is to:

1. Choose a question that really interests you.

2. Research to find out the different views people have on that question.

3. Get accurate statistics and data that explain the current situation and any proposed solutions or ideas that have already been tried to solve the problem (explain the cause, define the situation, etc.).

4. Organize and write your essay using my guidelines: https://owlcation.com/academia/How-to-Write-an-Arg...

Question: How do I start to write on a research topic about value-based healthcare?

Answer: Start with statistics about how the current system is costly and some stories that show how it does not provide adequate service to patients.

Question: What are some marketing argument essay topics?

Answer: 1. How is Artificial Intelligence going to change marketing?

2. What influence will robots have on businesses like Microsoft or Uber (or pick a different business)?

3. How will customer service chatbots change the way that companies market and service their products? Will they make customer service more efficient and effective?

4. Can programmatic advertising help draw more customers and lower advertising costs?

5. How can companies best personalize marketing to their customers?

6. How important is personalized marketing? In what markets is it most important?

Question: Could I use the topic of a plea bargain in court as an argument essay?

Answer: Here are some topic questions you can use on a court case:

1. Should defendants be allowed to plea bargain?

2. Should there be limits to plea bargaining?

3. Are there some crimes that should not be allowed to be plea bargained?

Question: Is the topic, " the single parent's struggles" good for an argumentative essay?

Answer: A good argumentative topic needs to be stated as a question which has more than one answer. It can't be an argumentative topic if there is just a description of something or a question that has only one, definitive answer. Here are some topic questions on single parents:

1. Do single parents have struggles that go above an beyond the struggles of two-parent families?

2. What are the most difficult struggles for single parents?

3. What is the best way to help single parents with their struggles to parent well?

Question: What resources can you recommend to help me with an argumentative essay topic assignment for high school?

Answer: Here is an article that lists topics for high school students to write about: https://owlcation.com/humanities/150-Argument-Essa...

Question: I need to find a devastating event that happened in America that can be argued for an essay assignment. Any suggestions?

Answer: There are lots of good possibilities for this assignment if you think about arguing whether this changed the way Americans viewed something, or whether the event was good or bad for Americans, or whether Americans had the right response. Choosing to argue from an unusual side can sometimes make a more interesting paper. Here are some possibilities:

How did the Civil War change the American ideas of democracy?

Was the Great Depression good for America?

Question: What sort of topics could I write about related to dentistry?

Answer: 1. What are some of the common mistakes made during a routine oral examination?

2. What is the best way to motivate people to do excellent home care of their teeth?

3. How will metal-free direct dentistry change the industry?

4. Are prepless and minimal preparation veneers really superior?

5. How are lasers best used in dentistry?

6. How can dental impressions be made more comfortable and accurate?

Question: I need to write a thesis statement, and I am lost. What is a simple way to learn to write and keep it clean?

Answer: I always have my students start with a thesis question first. The question should be one that is not yet agreed on by people and one which does not have a simple answer. Then your answer to that question is the thesis. I give examples and a simple step-by-step explanation of how to create both a thesis and topic sentences in my articles here: https://hubpages.com/humanities/Easy-Ways-to-Write...

Question: What are some music argument essay topics?

Answer: 1. Will electronic music continue to remain popular?

2. How will Virtual Reality change the music industry?

3. Will record labels be able to survive? Should they?

4. How is technology shortening the road to fame for music artists?

5. How valuable is a music education in K-12 schools?

Question: I want to write an essay on addiction and what causes addiction. Do you have any good websites with information like that?

Answer: Addiction is an easy topic to research although it is a hard issue to solve. I have a number of mental health topic questions along with research links in my article: https://hubpages.com/humanities/Easy-Essay-Topics-...

Comments

Virginia Kearney (author) from United States on August 14, 2020:

Thanks Devika--I hope you check out my other articles too. I have over 100 articles on how to write.

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on August 14, 2020:

Awesome! Topics galore and so much to think about here. An informattive hub and well-researched.

casey on December 10, 2019:

this is good

Virginia Kearney (author) from United States on July 05, 2019:

Hi Anna--An argument essay answers a question which could be answered in at least two ways. On this topic, you could do questions like: Can a drug addict be cured? Or what is the best way to help people addicted to drugs to rehabilitate? In both of those questions, you can use your experience as an example or illustration of an argument, but it isn't an argument essay to just describe what happened to you. In a personal experience or explaining essay, you could do that.

Anna Dare on July 04, 2019:

I wanted to ask another question but I guess I am only allowed one. I wanted to ask if you thought it could be an argument essay about my transition from being a heroin addict into a fully functioning adult?

Elvera bean on June 23, 2019:

Thank you so much this helped me a lot

Virginia Kearney (author) from United States on December 02, 2018:

Many of these topics are appropriate for high school students, but you can also see my article specifically giving 150 high school topics: https://owlcation.com/humanities/150-Argument-Essa...

Anon on December 01, 2018:

Can someone give me an research topic for an high school argumentative research essay ?

Virginia Kearney (author) from United States on November 20, 2018:

Morobu--I always suggest that students turn the topic into a question. So start with a question like:

What makes people happy?

Is the pursuit of happiness a good life goal?

Then your answer to the question will be your thesis and the reasons for that answer are your subtopics.

morobu on November 19, 2018:

i need to write an argumentative essay but am struggling to come up with a topic. the topic given is "pursuit of happiness"

Can you help me with a sub topic

I like DDLC and Monika is my Waifu on February 08, 2018:

I like this

aidan on January 16, 2018:

can you add topics about pitching

Virginia Kearney (author) from United States on November 10, 2017:

Hi Ryan--I'll add some! Good idea! My students are mostly between 18-22, but many students writing argument essays are older.

Ryan on November 10, 2017:

I love your articles, they are really helpful to me.

Virginia, Could you help me think of an argumentative topic about retirement age? I do not know how to write about it!

THANK YOU

bill on October 30, 2017:

wow thanks virginia, this really helped me out!!!!

Virginia Kearney (author) from United States on October 18, 2017:

Hi Stephen-I have several articles that tell you all of the steps you need to know for writing your argument paper. Just look at my profile or look at the articles linked to the side.

Stephen on October 18, 2017:

Ammmm can u tell me how or what to do after I chose a topic like getting info.

I LOVE RESEARCH on October 18, 2017:

wow, quite impressive. keep up the good work!! :)))))))))))

marisol on October 16, 2017:

this really helped me

aziza on October 15, 2017:

I would like to thank you so so much for these great topics.

Shaleeta on September 09, 2017:

This is a great resource. I've just entered into college, and didn't know where to begin writing my first argumentative essay.

Thanks so much - voted up :)

Kennedy on September 08, 2017:

Do you know or have you written of anything to do with the argumentative essay of "should smoking be banned" because I have to do essays with research and I need some reliable sites

Virginia Kearney (author) from United States on September 07, 2017:

Hi Aashi! I'm glad that younger students are finding my work too. Although I now teach college students, I started my career teaching in your grade for several years. I will have to put together some topics for primary grade students. Until then, you might want to look at my High School Topics, which have many ideas which are good for your age too.

Aashi on September 07, 2017:

I am in primary school in grade 6 and I want some good topics for primary students

Badass on July 10, 2017:

Good job making this page

Thea on June 20, 2017:

I don't know what to do at first. I was clueless and was browsing for answers but none of them made sense except for this. Thank you very much!

love on May 26, 2017:

I think the ideas are wonderful and are very helpful!

Beth on May 25, 2017:

I am a Junior in high school and I have to write an argumentative paper. Your insight on how to do so has been extremely helpful. I wanted to thank you for your intelligence on how to write an argumentative paper.

Ocean on April 17, 2017:

Thanks! This website was very useful for picking out a topic for my essay. Again, thank you for helping me out!

King of Stuff on February 01, 2017:

I find this website very interesting and helpful. Thank you for making it! Your tips on writing essays is really helping me out.

Thanks!

Mr. fluffypants on January 31, 2017:

I love this article. You have helped me with my school essay. Thank you!

letter pile on January 31, 2017:

I LOVE this website!!!! Thank you so much for writing it! It has helped me so much!

Virginia Kearney (author) from United States on January 06, 2017:

Hi Nataly! You are welcome to shift the focus of the questions to whether governments should take action. My questions and topic ideas are just a starting point. I teach my students that there are a variety of ways to solve problems and one of those is by having governments or larger groups take action. However, I want my students to focus more on how they and their audience can personally take responsibility and action, so often my questions are more locally written. In my class, I focus on having my students address a very particular audience in their persuasive essays because effective arguments come from really thinking carefully about the viewpoint of the other person and developing points that would persuade that person. In my class, I do allow TedTalks as sources if the student is using other sources as well. However, I don't think all professors do accept that type of source. Most people who do TedTalks have written out their arguments in papers or books, so I'd suggest you research to see if there is an online paper you can cite as well.

Nataly on January 06, 2017:

Hello, Virginia!

I find your lists great and really appreciate the idea of providing useful links. Still, I would rather shift the focus of some questions so that they ask students to think more globally, from the point of view of the state and the society. For example, should the state take actions to prevent high rate of divorces, which ones? Are people in developed states responsible for providing water and food to the starving people around the globe?, etc. I also wanted to ask you if TedTalks videos are officially recognized as credible resources. Have you ever heard of any cases when professors forbid to use it? Thank you for a good work!

Hulya Gulyurt on December 17, 2016:

This helped me so much with my homework, thank you!

Abdul on December 06, 2016:

Great Efforts ...Well done

kk on November 29, 2016:

i am a kid

vashan on October 11, 2016:

should guns be allowed on school campus

Virginia Kearney (author) from United States on August 17, 2016:

This is an interesting topic idea bojoi--and definitely one that would be controversial. I'd love to hear how you would develop your thesis.

preetyradd on July 20, 2016:

i think this is cool i got a good grade on my essay thanks

Kanwal asif on July 18, 2016:

Thank u so much God bless u

Virginia Kearney (author) from United States on April 22, 2016:

Glad this will help you three keys!

threekeys on April 22, 2016:

Hi Virginia

Im about to try out your suggestions in this great article. Im excited to see what the outcome will be in how I take a more pointed or comprehensive approach in a "written debate" so to speak. Thanks so much!

djazira k on May 11, 2015:

Thank you it is really helpful.

kamila on April 26, 2015:

Thank you so much for the topics

Trisha Roberts from Rensselaer, New York on May 29, 2014:

Love the great ideas! Absolutely love the list you shared with us. Thank you so much for this Article!

Kalaichelvi Panchalingam from PETALING JAYA on May 04, 2014:

Sometimes i find that the most easy or obvious topic the hardest to argue about. The less the words the greater the headache. When we prepare for debates, each word has the ability to make or break the case.

Rae Saylor from Australia on November 04, 2013:

What an interesting range of ideas and tips! Massive thanks for writing this, pal! Voted up :)

Eiddwen from Wales on October 26, 2013:

A great hub Victoria ;thanks for sharing and I vote up.

Eddy.

Dianna Mendez on October 25, 2013:

This is very useful to those who must teach essay writing (and to those who must write them). I know I will be using this next time I teach English Comp. Voted up++

ExpectGreatThings from Illinois on October 25, 2013:

Wow! This is a very impressive list and great instructions. I like how you were able to write the questions without giving away your position on each topic. - Ginger

Eric Dierker from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A. on October 23, 2013:

Very interesting. Fun ideas and great food for thought.