Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics

101 Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics
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Whether you are a student in need of a persuasive essay topic, or a teacher looking to assign a persuasive essay, this list of 101 persuasive essay topics is a great resource. I taxed my brain to create this huge list of persuasive essay topics relevant to today’s society, but I believe it was worth the effort. Additionally, any of these topics could be applied to a persuasive speech project as well. I appreciate any and all comments or feedback. Thank you for visiting!

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This is a stack of books. It is meant to represent the many resources that are required to tackle these persuasive essay topics.

  1. Should students be allowed to have phones in elementary and high schools?
  2. Should students have to wear uniforms?
  3. Should college athletes be paid for playing?
  4. Should the elderly receive free bus rides?
  5. Should state colleges be free to attend?
  6. Should all American citizens have to complete a year of community service?
  7. Should students be required to take Spanish classes?
  8. Should marijuana be legal for medicinal purposes?
  9. Should the voting age be lowered to thirteen?
  10. Should the driving age be raised to twenty-one?
  11. Should students be paid for having good grades?
  12. Should illegal immigrants be allowed to get drivers licenses?
  13. Should not wearing a seat-belt be illegal?
  14. Should student’s textbooks be replaced by notebook computers or tablets?
  15. Should students have to pass a basic skills test to graduate high school?
  16. Should schools raise money by selling candy and sugary soft drinks to students?
  17. Should schools serve french-fries and fried potato products to students at lunch?
  18. Should students’ grades in gym affect their grade point averages?
  19. Should girls be allowed to play on boys sports teams?
  20. Should teens be able to buy violent video games?
  21. Should boys and girls be in separate classes?
  22. Should teenage girls be allowed to get birth control without the permission of their parents?
  23. Should our country have free health care?
  24. Should immigration laws be reformed?
  25. Should the federal government recognize civil unions?
  26. Should people who download music and movies illegally be punished?
  27. Should school athletes have to be on the honor roll to play in games?
  28. Should music with curse words be allowed at school dances?
  29. Should public schools begin the day with a silent prayer time?
  30. Should students be able to listen to music on headphones during study hall?
  31. Should schools offer fast food options like McDonald’s or Taco Bell?
  32. Should smoking be allowed at parks and other outdoor public venues?
  33. Should cities offer free public Wi-Fi?
  34. Should the government place a tax on junk food and fatty snacks?
  35. Should the 2nd amendment give citizens the right to own assault weaponry?
  36. Should people traveling in airplanes have to undergo intensive security screenings?
  37. Should genetically modified foods be sold with a warning label?
  38. Should teachers have to pass a basic skills test every ten years to renew their certification?
  39. Should people be allowed to keep exotic animals like chimpanzees or tigers?
  40. Should people be allowed to keep pit-bull dogs?
  41. Should the city offer a bike sharing program?
  42. Should there be an ordinance citing people who fail to recycle $50?
  43. Should there be an ordinance citing people who play music too loudly $50?
  44. Should prostitution be legalized and regulated by the government?
  45. Should celebrities who break the law face stricter penalties?
  46. Should the government increase spending on the space program?
  47. Should larger passengers have to pay for two plane or movie theater tickets?
  48. Should children have to use booster seats in cars?
  49. Should people have to get a license to become parents?
  50. Should there be tougher federal restrictions for content on the internet?
  51. Should people be allowed to curse on daytime television?
  52. Should owners be legally accountable for clearing snow from sidewalks on their property?
  53. Should sexual education be taught in public schools?
  54. Should students be able to get free condoms at school?
  55. Should students who commit cyber-bullying be suspended from school?
  56. Should corporations be allowed to advertise in schools?
  57. Should students be allowed to eat during class?
  58. Should more be done to protect and preserve endangered animals?
  59. Is it appropriate for students and teachers to be friends on Facebook?
  60. Should students have open campus lunch periods?
  61. Should abortions be legal?
  62. Should abortions be legal in cases of rape and incest?
  63. Should the death penalty be used to punish violent criminals?
  64. Should students learn about world religions in public schools?
  65. Should schools start later in the morning?
  66. Should the USA end overseas military operations?
  67. Should politicians be allowed to accept campaign contributions from corporate lobbyists?
  68. Should people with terminal illnesses have the right to doctor assisted suicides?
  69. Should Puerto Rico become a state?
  70. Should stem cell researchers be able to use stem cells from aborted babies to cure diseases?
  71. Should school athletes have to take drug tests?
  72. Should professional athletes have to take drug tests?
  73. Should America convert to the metric system?
  74. Should high school students have to complete community service hours to graduate?
  75. Should teens over 13 years of age be allowed into R rated movies?
  76. Should state tests be given in other languages for ESL students?
  77. Should scientists be allowed to test products intended for human use on animals?
  78. Should unhealthy fast food products be sold with a warning label?
  79. Should there be a tariff or tax on products manufactured outside of the country?
  80. Should students or teachers receive money for scoring well on standardized tests?
  81. Should everyone under the age of 17 have a 9:00 PM curfew?
  82. Should schools with low scores on standardized tests be closed?
  83. Should minors be allowed to drink alcoholic beverages in their homes with their parents’ consent?
  84. Should students be allowed to drop out before they turn 18 years old?
  85. Should alcohol manufacturers be allowed to advertise on television?
  86. Should students as young as fourteen be allowed to hold jobs?
  87. Should American families have a two child max rule to limit population growth?
  88. Should children younger than thirteen be allowed to watch MTV or music videos?
  89. Should people who are caught driving drunk lose their licenses for a year?
  90. Should students who fail their classes be retained and have to repeat the grade?
  91. Should large businesses and corporations be required to employ a number of minorities proportionate to the population?
  92. Should female construction workers earn the same wages as males?
  93. Should children in temporary living situations with a 3.0 GPA earn free college tuition?
  94. Should gambling and sports-betting be illegal or should the government regulate it?
  95. Should children who commit violent crimes be tried as adults?
  96. Should the government be allowed to detain suspected terrorists without trial?
  97. Should the government censor internet content deemed inappropriate?
  98. Should teachers have to wear uniforms or have a dress code?
  99. Should teachers be allowed to have cell phones in the classroom?
  100. Should the state execute dogs that have bitten someone?
  101. Should talking on a phone without a hands-free device while driving be illegal?

Looking For Something Else?
How to Write Persuasive Essays
How to Write Narrative Essays
Narrative Essay Topics
Research Paper Topics

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930 Comments

  1. Liz

     /  November 15, 2011

    Thank you so much for these ideas!!! I have been thinking about it all week and could not come up with any good ideas!!! This list is definitely a life saver!!!! 😀

    Reply
  2. shelby

     /  November 15, 2011

    this is really helpfull !!! <3

    Reply
  3. Melissa

     /  November 14, 2011

    So helpful! i have to do a persuasive research paper on something of local importance. I’m still confused on the assignment, but at least i have found a topic. Do you think I could write enough on the inappropriateness of teachers and students being friends on facebook?

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  November 14, 2011

      I think that’s definitely a topic of local importance, especially if you attend a school where teachers have Facebook pages. Also, the topic is debatable. Thanks for visiting.

      Reply
  4. kristina

     /  November 12, 2011

    drugtest to be on welfare?

    Reply
  5. Thank you so much i finally have a persuasive speech topic!!!! it helped a ton 🙂

    Reply
  6. kitty

     /  November 10, 2011

    Thank- you for sharing these ideas, and for the links. I’m new in college level English composition, and was having an awful time singling out something to write about. kitty

    Reply
  7. Tearaa

     /  November 9, 2011

    Thanks so much for this list! I can now complete my thought process for my persuasive essay & get on track and pass my English 11 SOL 🙂 Thankss Bunchesss (again)

    Reply
  8. Emily

     /  November 9, 2011

    Should children be required to exercise at least twice a week?

    Reply
  9. Emily

     /  November 9, 2011

    Should a pregnant woman have access to check-ups and sonograms, free of charge, if she cannot afford a doctor’s visit?

    Reply
  10. BlankSlate

     /  November 4, 2011

    This helped alot 🙂

    Reply
  11. Austin

     /  November 4, 2011

    thanks now my parents wont kill me 😀

    Reply
  12. Nick Nat

     /  November 3, 2011

    We’re using this in my Junior English class! lol

    Reply
  13. zack

     /  November 2, 2011

    i needed a topic to write an essay about and i found atleast twenty topics that i could write my essay about

    Reply
  14. Angel

     /  November 1, 2011

    wait the problem is that i need three strong reasons to support my topic. Can someone please help me?????? 🙁

    Reply
  15. Angel

     /  October 30, 2011

    Thank you very much!! At first my head was blank with nothing and now I have an entire list. Thank you!!!!! 🙂

    Reply
  16. blanca

     /  October 26, 2011

    thanks alot we are doing an essay and i think i’m going to pass thanks a lot mr.morton i love this 🙂

    Reply
  17. Ronnie

     /  October 25, 2011

    This is great! I was stressing out in figuring out what topic I should do for my argumentative essay and now I have a topic. No more worries this website saved me from failling my assignment.

    Reply
  18. anna aguillon

     /  October 22, 2011

    OMG! i thought i never find a topic. But thanks to this page =)) It was hard choosing one, they are all great topics…

    Reply
  19. Man I think they should

    Reply
  20. Jarve

     /  October 21, 2011

    Should kids in high school and elementary have cell phones in school

    Reply
  21. Jarve

     /  October 21, 2011

    Should kids be able to vote

    Reply
  22. Gabriella Juan

     /  October 20, 2011

    Gracias Amigo….Te Amo!!! Adios!!

    Reply
  23. Malikah

     /  October 20, 2011

    awesome!

    Reply
  24. Vanessa V.

     /  October 19, 2011

    Thank you so much, Mr. Morton! I just came up with some amazing ideas for my persuasive piece that’s due on Friday! Thank you again,

    Vanessa V.

    Reply
  25. Tori

     /  October 19, 2011

    Thanks so much!
    because of this i decided to write a paper about pit-bulls, maybe ill convince a few people that its not the breed’s fault and they can be amazing pets! (:
    The animals and I thank you!

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  October 19, 2011

      I’m pleased to hear it. A good persuasive topic will have two sides, each of which could be argued successfully. One could definitely go both ways with this argument, but I hope you write a compelling essay that accomplishes what you intend. Thanks for visiting!

      Reply
      • Cody

         /  June 20, 2012

        Pit-Bulls are great pets. they are often shown as extreemly violent dogs though.
        It all depends on who the owner of the dog is wether or not they are violent. The fact that they can lock thier jaws in place also makes people fearful of a great type of dog.

        Reply
  26. Jarve

     /  October 18, 2011

    Why kids can’t wear earrings

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  October 19, 2011

      Interesting suggestion. I think this might fall under school uniform/dress code, but it could be developed as a separate topic. Thanks, Jarve.

      Reply
  27. Trayvon

     /  October 17, 2011

    Should people be able to keep pets in an apartment?

    Reply
  28. Rachel

     /  October 15, 2011

    I totally LOVE this website, it has helped me sooo much!! 🙂

    Reply
  29. Tyler Gates

     /  October 13, 2011

    Thank you I had a C now I have a B!

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  October 19, 2011

      Hey, that’s progress. “B”s are great, but remember that “A”s open doors. Always expect the best from yourself and you just may find it.

      Reply
  30. FlowerPower

     /  October 9, 2011

    Thank you so much for this list! It is seriously helpful.

    Reply
  31. Kylie Ash

     /  October 5, 2011

    wow, i never thought there were so many topics to choose from! over half of these i have never even thought about. it really is a eye opener, thanks!

    Reply
  32. Angela Warren

     /  October 4, 2011

    Here is another topic for your website, this is what I am going to be doing my essay on.
    Should parents be held responsible for their minor child’s criminal behavior?

    Reply
  33. Mac miller.

     /  October 3, 2011

    Dude,this is fresh!

    Reply
  34. Anas

     /  September 26, 2011

    Really, REALLY helpful
    thanks a lot for the great help Mr. Morton

    Reply
  35. Brad

     /  September 20, 2011

    thanks bc I was struggling to think of a topic I wanted to write about….this helped ALOT

    Reply
  36. ruby Hoffacker

     /  September 20, 2011

    Thank you.

    Reply
  37. mandy

     /  September 15, 2011

    You wouldn’t have an easy grading rubric for these topics would you???

    Reply
  38. Tami

     /  September 10, 2011

    I am not a very creative person and was racking my brain trying to come up with a topic for my English essay. I found several topics from this list that I can definitely work with. Great job and thanks!

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  September 13, 2011

      So happy to hear it, Tami. I’m sure that you’re more creative than you think.

      Reply
  39. Amy Shin

     /  June 9, 2011

    Hello! Thank you very much! Mr. Morton. It helped me alot!

    Reply
  40. why is the US buying things from china if we’re that big in debt?

    Reply
  41. Morgan sanders

     /  May 23, 2011

    Thanks so much you guys helped me alot

    Reply
  42. Kasi

     /  May 22, 2011

    Thanks so much, i’m so glad i found this! Now i can graduate from 8th grade without any worries!!! Life saver! 🙂

    Reply
  43. Cory Blake

     /  May 15, 2011

    Students should be allowed to take thier cell phones incase of emergancy. For example somebody has died in thier family and thier parents need to contact them,ect. So why should students need to swicth off thier cell phones. So I think teachers should have everyones cell phones on thier desk swicth on and that teachers are allowed to check which e-mails are coming threw

    Reply
    • Tami

       /  September 10, 2011

      If there is a true emergency, the student could be contacted the same way they used to do it before there were cell phones. The parents could call the school office and have somebody get the student out of class to let them know of the emergency.

      Reply
      • Casie

         /  October 5, 2011

        true that.

        Reply
      • high school student

         /  November 3, 2011

        why do that when u can get direct contact and it might be too late if someone is in the hospital

        Reply
        • Cody

           /  June 20, 2012

          A couple minutes realy isn’t going to make a diffirence for the person who is not hurt. They will not come to any harm for receiving the message late.

          Reply
  44. High School Student

     /  May 15, 2011

    Thank you so much for conjuring up this helpful list! 😀 I’ve been thinking all afternoon but now I’m confident I have a good topic for my essay!
    THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!! CCCC:

    Reply
  45. brandon

     /  May 13, 2011

    this list saved my life now i passed middle school

    Reply
  46. Evan Richards

     /  May 11, 2011

    thank you so much for this list it saved my life on my last high school essay. now I can pass English class and graduate without any worries!

    Reply
  47. keirstan

     /  May 11, 2011

    Is it okay to be mean?

    Reply
    • sarah

       /  October 18, 2011

      its mean to be mean and nice to be nice

      Reply
      • Mr. Morton

         /  October 19, 2011

        Well, yes, but is that always true? What if your friend is a terrible singer but wants to spend $500 to have an interview with a talent agent? Would it be “nice” to act nice, and encourage her to waste her money? Or would it be “nice” to give her a bit of honesty that she might not find so nice?

        Reply
        • Zee

           /  October 25, 2011

          It would b nice if u spared her the HUGE embaresment of wasting her money. Also theres ALWAYS a nice way to say things and a NOT NIce way, so be a real friend and tell her as nicely as possible, that her singing is not good. Just b kind, and dont b shy!!

          Reply
      • ashwin

         /  November 8, 2011

        That comes from the heart

        Reply
  48. Should stereotypes be permitted in schools?

    Reply
    • joshua

       /  December 5, 2011

      That is impossible to regulate. You can’t regulate what people think, which is disallowing stereotypes in schools trys to do. The only way this works is if you are speaking from a sand point of no school endorsed stereotypes, and even then it is still immensely difficult to keep track every comment a teacher happens to make about different groups. You can try to have programs that discourage stereotypes, but it is nonsensical to try and ban them.

      Reply
  1. Generating Persuasive Essay Topics | ereadingworksheets
  2. How to brainstorm/support topics very easily and quickly? | Brainstormer

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