Argumentative essays are among the most popular types of essays students are often required to write. These essays require the writer to present a strong argument in favor of or against a particular topic. To create an excellent argumentative essay, it is crucial to choose a topic that is controversial and one that you have a strong opinion about.

In this article, we will explore 60+ unique argumentative essay topics that can help you create a good paper. You will also be provided with argumentative essay formats, outlines, and writing steps that will assist you in crafting the perfect argument.

Argumentative essay format

Before we delve into the argumentative essay topics, it is vital to understand the format of an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay is typically structured as follows:

• Introduction
• Body paragraphs
• Counter arguments
• Conclusion

Argumentative essay outline

To ensure that parts of an argumentative essay are well-structured, it is important to create an outline before you start writing. Here is a sample outline for an argumentative essay:

• The introduction contains background information and a thesis statement.
• Body paragraphs: these contain an argument, evidence, an explanation, and a counterargument.
• Conclusion: this is a summary of the essay and a restatement of your thesis.

Steps to writing an argumentative essay

Here are the steps to writing an argumentative essay:

• Choose a topic that you have a strong opinion about.
• Conduct research to gather evidence to support your position.
• Create an outline to organize your thoughts.
• Write the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
• Revise and edit your essay to ensure that it is well-structured and free of errors.

List of argumentative essay topics to choose from

1. Should prostitution be legalized?
2. Should the drinking age be lowered?
3. Should marijuana be legalized?
4. Should same-sex marriage be legalized?
5. Should abortion be legal?
6. Should robots have rights?
7. Is technology making us lazy?
8. Should cellphone use be restricted while driving?
9. Should video games be considered a sport?
10. Should artificial intelligence be used in the military?
11. Should healthcare be a right or a privilege?
12. Should vaccinations be mandatory for children?
13. Should organ donation be mandatory?
14. Should alternative medicine be covered by insurance?
15. Should assisted suicide be legal for terminally ill patients?
16. Should single-use plastics be banned?
17. Should offshore drilling be banned?
18. Should national parks be privatized?
19. Should zoos be banned?
20. Should the use of pesticides be banned?
21. Should homeschooling be allowed?
22. Should teachers be paid based on their students’ performance?
23. Should standardized testing be abolished?
24. Should art and music be mandatory in schools?
25. Should sex education be taught in schools?
26. Should gambling be legalized?
27. Should the government provide welfare to the poor?
28. Should the minimum wage be increased?
29. Should affirmative action policies be implemented?
30. Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
31. Should affirmative action policies be abolished?
32. Should hate speech be protected under the First Amendment?
33. Should reparations be paid to descendants of enslaved people?
34. Should Confederate statues and symbols be removed from public spaces?
35. Should cultural appropriation be banned?

Argumentative essay topics college

36. Should college athletes be paid?
37. Should standardized tests be used to determine college admission?
38. Should college be free for all students?
39. Is online education as effective as traditional classroom education?
40. Should universities have affirmative action policies?

Argumentative essay topics for middle school

41. Should schools require students to wear uniforms?
42. Should junk food be banned in schools?
43. Should students be allowed to use cell phones in schools?
44. Should homework be abolished in middle school?
45. Should schools start later in the morning?

Argumentative essay topics on social media

46. Should social media platforms be regulated by the government?
47. Is social media addictive?
48. Should employers be allowed to check the social media profiles of job applicants?
49. Should parents monitor their children’s social media use?
50. Is social media a good or bad thing for society?

Best argumentative essay topics

51. Should capital punishment be abolished?
52. Should gun control laws be stricter?
53. Is climate change a real threat?
54. Should euthanasia be legalized?
55. Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

Easy argumentative essay topics

56. Should smoking be banned in public places?
57. Should students be allowed to use laptops in class?
58. Should fast food restaurants be required to display calorie counts?
59. Should plastic bags be banned?
60. Should college tuition fees be lowered?

Good argumentative essay topics

61. Should parents be held responsible for their children’s actions?
62. Should animal testing be banned?
63. Should genetically modified foods be labeled?
64. Should the government regulate the internet?
65. Should the death penalty be abolished worldwide?

Conclusion

By selecting a controversial topic that you have a strong opinion about, you can present a convincing argument and support it with evidence. Remember to follow the format and outline provided in this article to ensure that your paper is easy to follow. Hopefully, these 60+ unique argumentative essay topics have provided you with inspiration to create a great paper.