Debate Topics - Topics & Ideas for High School & College Students

Finding a good debate topic is difficult and we know that this has brought you here. The experts here at YourEssayWriter.net have researched and compiled some helpful lists of topics for you.

All of these topics are trending and you can also customize them. Finding a good topic is an important part of essay writing and the debate writing process.

Learning how to debate is an inexpensive skill. It helps the students in a number of ways, therefore, do not let it scare you away. Instead, work on your skills by doing proper topic research and practicing.

As far as finding the right debate topic is concerned, we have provided some good and easy debate topics here.

Let's get started!

Trending Debate Topics for 2022

• Should homework be banned? Is it true that homework helps children learn more?
• What is the significance of obtaining a college education?
• Is it necessary to ban mobile devices (cell phones, smartphones) at schools?
• Is it acceptable for students to develop their own courses of study?
• Is it permissible to have an abortion?
• Is it acceptable for kids to play violent video games as a form of leisure?
• Is social media a cause of teenage suicide?
• Is modern social media making people less sociable?
• What should modern society do about adolescent pregnancies?
• Is a college education needed to be successful financially in the future?

Debate Topics for Students

Here are different topics for students studying at different academic levels;

Debate Topics for Kids

• Is school really necessary?
• Should parents be allowed to spank their children?
• Are video games bad for you?
• Should kids have to do chores around the house?
• Should there be bedtime for kids?
• How much pocket money should kids get?
• Should kids be allowed to watch horror movies?
• Should children be allowed to dye their hair?
• Are fidget spinners good or bad?
• Is screen time (TV, phones, etc) bad for you?

Debate Topics for Middle School

• Is homeschooling a more effective form of education than traditional schooling?
• Should the government do more to fund and support arts education in schools?
• Is social media having a positive or negative impact on young people's social lives?
• Are standardized tests an accurate measure of student achievement?
• Should schools do more to promote healthy eating and physical activity?
• What is the best way to teach students about financial literacy?
• Should schools be doing more to address mental health issues among students?
• Is there a link between video game addiction and academic performance?
• How effective are charter schools compared to traditional public schools?
• How effective is school uniform in teaching equality to kids?

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Debate Topics for High School

• The merits of standardized testing: Are they an accurate measure of student achievement?
• The impact of social media on teenagers: Is it doing more harm than good?
• The legalization of marijuana: Would it be beneficial or detrimental to society?
• Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
• Are zoos ethical? Should animals be kept in captivity for humans' enjoyment?
• The United States should adopt a single-payer healthcare system.
• Boarding schools: Are they a better alternative to traditional public schools?
• Minimum wage: Should it be raised, lowered, or kept the same?
• College tuition: Is it becoming too expensive for students and their families?
• How have the role models changed for contemporary people?

Debate Topics for College Students

• The merits of online education vs. traditional education.
• Is college still worth the investment?
• Should student loans be forgiven?
• Are for-profit colleges a good option?
• Is the current system of accreditation adequate?
• Should there be more emphasis on vocational training?
• Is the current system of higher education sustainable?
• What is the role of technology in education?
• Are standardized tests an effective measure of student learning?
• Is our current system of higher education preparing students for the workforce?

Controversial Debate Topics

• Genetically Modified Organisms - Are they Ethically Sound?
• The American Dream - Is it Still Alive?
• Minimum Wage - Is it Enough?
• Affirmative Action - Necessary or Unfair Preference?
• Illegal Immigration - Threat or Benefit to the United States?
• Cloning - Playing God or Saving Lives?
• Gun Control - Protecting Rights or Taking Away Liberties?
• Euthanasia - Assisted Suicide or Murder?
• Censorship - A Necessary Evil or an Assault on Free Speech?
• Capital Punishment - Morally Justified or Inhumane?

Education Debate Topics

• Is it true that private schools are superior to public ones?
• Should public education be entirely privatized?
• Is it unethical for lenders to profit from student loans?
• Is the standard classroom equipped to meet contemporary society's demands?
• Is it a good idea for teachers to be armed on school premises?
• Is it possible to grade successfully in today's environment?
• Is it necessary to have a college education?
• Is it permissible to teach about religion in schools?
• Is it better to educate your children at home or in a public or private institution?
• Is it right to demand that all students learn at least one foreign language?

Social Debate Topics

• Is the contemporary policing of low-income neighborhoods in the United States contributing to youth criminalization?
• Should the death penalty be outlawed in the United States?
• Is it ethical to end a pregnancy in the early weeks?
• Is there such a thing as peer pressure that excuses delinquent teens from guilt?
• Is there a chance that electronic databases might entirely replace brick-and-mortar libraries?
• Is it ethical to clone an animal?
• Is marijuana legalization a good idea?
• Is it ethical to legalize euthanasia?
• Is there a need for a higher minimum wage?
• Is it necessary to provide assistance or impose punishment on drug addicts?

Environmental Debate Topics

• Is it possible that climate change has already been irreversible for a long time?
• Is it necessary to ban plastic bags and packaging?
• Is genetically modified food a viable option?
• Is it necessary to ban zoos?
• What impact does tourism have on the environment?
• Should there be additional national parks in the United States?
• Is it a good idea to prohibit fracking?
• Vegetarians should embrace the diet.
• What is the future of organic farming, and how will it affect the world's agricultural system?
• Is the practice of shipping live animals in transit ethically acceptable?

Political Debate Topics

• Donations from corporations, wealthy individuals, and others should not be permitted.
• The most desirable form of government is democracy.
• Is it ethical for a government to limit its people's freedom of speech?
• Is it just or fair to levy taxes that increase at an accelerated rate?
• Limiting terms for members of the United States Congress and Senate is a waste of time and resources.
• Ex-offenders should maintain their voting rights.
• The use of race in the United States' criminal justice system, which disproportionately affects minorities, contributes to racial inequality.
• Is it necessary for a political leader to be active on social media in order to successfully manage public opinion?
• What does it mean for a legal document to be "living"?
• Is it possible for the court judges to be appointed for set lengths of time?

Parenting Debate Topics

• Is it safe for children to use mobile phones without adult supervision?
• Is it appropriate for teenage girls to obtain birth control without parental knowledge?
• Is it necessary for parents to choose which profession their children would pursue?
• Is it true that parents always treat their children fairly, regardless?
• Is choosing the genders of one's children ethically acceptable for parents?
• Adoption of children by same-sex couples is becoming more frequent: advantages and drawbacks.
• Is it appropriate for parents to regulate the activities of their children on social media?
• Is it possible to have more control over your children than simply supervising them?
• Is it permissible for teenagers to make their own decisions and should children be allowed to do so?
• Is parental support crucial for kids' future success?

Technology Debate Topics

• Is it likely that technology will improve people's cognitive function?
• Is artificial intelligence a threat?
• Will robots improve human life?
• How does science affect us as a society?
• Is it likely that humans will settle on another planet in the near future?
• Is it possible for all automobiles to be electric?
• Is technology increasing global communication in general or just internet chat?
• Is technology-driven change changing people's hobbies? Is it a yes or no?
• Is it possible to use technology (or is it ecologically harmful)?
• Does legislation keep up with technology's advancements?

Healthcare Debate Topics

• Is medical marijuana right for you? Medical dispensaries have opened around the world since.
• Is it legal to create a vaccination requirement?
• The future of healthcare: alternative medicine and its influence on the field.
• Do we have the opportunity to use technology in a positive manner to improve our health?
• Antibiotics have helped to save lives and improve health in the third world.
• What do you think about the legalization of drugs?
• Is healthcare worldwide benefiting from globalization?
• Is the government going to pay for all healthcare services for everyone?
• Is it permissible for the government to require parents to transport their sick kids to the hospital against their will?
• Is there a possibility that competition may raise the quality of healthcare and community services?

Leisure Debate Topics

• Is a holiday in the summertime better than one during the winter?
• Do the results encourage you to encourage teenagers to read?
• What effects has technology had on the way young people spend their free time?
• Is social media having a detrimental influence on your leisure time?
• Is it possible to replicate the same amount of pleasure in daily activity as we get from a yearly holiday?
• Is there a link between work and leisure?
• Playing video games while bored is a double-edged sword. Both advantages and drawbacks exist.
• Have advances in technology altered your work-life balance?
• Is it true that globalization and our greater mobility have altered the way we see travel?
• Men and women have different habits when it comes to leisure.

Historical Debate Topics

• Is it true or not that history is a necessary subject for all pupils to master?
• Is King Arthur a real historical figure, or is he a mythical hero?
• Is it true that knowledge of history broadens one's perspective: yes or no?
• What was the role of Britain during World War I?
• How have various historians interpreted World War II, and what are their individual approaches?
• Is this an accurate historical account of the circumstances surrounding the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan?
• Should we regard the American Revolution as a positive or negative event in history?
• The contrast between ancient Roman culture and contemporary Western culture is enormous.
• What is the history of this information and how does it affect our future?
• The History of Interracial Conflicts from a Past Perspective is an important work.

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Funny Debate Topics

• Are men physically stronger than women?
• Is it OK to sleep in on Saturday?
• Is there a difference in how males and females communicate?
• Choosing the finest pizza toppings: healthy or delectable?
• Is it possible that fairy tales have an impact on a child's perception of reality?
• Is cohabitation before marriage still acceptable today?
• Is it appropriate for teenagers to work after school?
• What causes life expectancy disparities?
• Is there a difference in intelligence between men and women? Is this a recent development, or has humanity always been split into two halves?
• Is it more important to be happy or successful?

How to Choose a Good Debate Topic?

A fantastic debate topic allows debaters and spectators to learn something about a topic in detail. This includes both sides of the argument or issue.

Consider the following things while choosing a debate topic:

• Interest - Is your topic interesting? Will it interest your audience? If yes, the topic is good to go with.
• Argument Potential - Does it have argument potential? A good debate topic must have significant argument potential.
• Availability of Data - How readily the data is available for it? Data points strengthen an argument. You'll want to choose a subject with a lot of empirical evidence that you can draw from to support your case.

How to Prepare for a Debate - Steps to Follow

Once you've decided on a topic for your debate, the next step is to get ready. Follow these steps as you prepare to take the stage.

1. Take a Look at the Evidence You've Gathered

The most crucial aspect in enhancing your debate confidence is to learn about the evidence that is accessible. You'll want to utilize empirical data appropriately and choose reputable sources.

The more informed you are on your subject, the better equipped you will be to defend your side and anticipate the opposing arguments.

2. Expect the Other Side's Objections

You'll need to respond to the opposing side's claims as part of your debate. It's critical to prepare ahead of time and predict what they'll say.

If you can effectively debunk what the other side is saying, you'll improve your own side's case.

3. Make a Timetable for Your Speech Time

At a debate, each speaker is restricted to a set number of minutes. You should expect to utilize every moment of the time you're given.

Ensure that you practice your talking points so you don't go over the allotted amount of time. Add more evidence if necessary.

4. Build Confidence Through Practicing

It's intimidating to step on the stage for a debate! Confidence may be improved with practice. Remember to enunciate your words clearly and slowly.

It won't make a difference if your argument is excellent if no one can comprehend it.

If you still need help to improve your public speaking skills, you can get in touch with our expert essay writer and learn better.