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?

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Leave a comment

930 Comments

  1. Huma

     /  March 24, 2017

    This is really helpful.

    Reply
  2. lila

     /  March 23, 2017

    i love the idea that kids aka me should be paid to go to school

    Reply
  3. lila

     /  March 23, 2017

    this was so helpfull
    i got so many ideas but maybe you should make a list for kids. im 9 turning 10 so not as many stood out too much but it still helped me a lot.

    Reply
  4. briane

     /  March 21, 2017

    i think you should take 22 and 54 out

    Reply
  5. Ms Diaz

     /  March 21, 2017

    This is a very good website! you get to choose many different questions, in this website! nice job

    Reply
  6. coco

     /  March 19, 2017

    omg this was soooooooooooo helpful
    i would rate this site 10/10

    Reply
  7. The Judge

     /  March 17, 2017

    Number 33 is the best one its should be true.

    Reply
  8. bob

     /  March 16, 2017

    good job billy

    Reply
  9. Death Finder

     /  March 13, 2017

    so many chocies!!!!

    Reply
  10. Mazzy

     /  March 6, 2017

    This Site Really Helped me! Mr. Morton I think You Should Make A Part Two! Thank You!

    Reply
  11. Akshita Singh

     /  March 2, 2017

    Turned out Very useful for preparing for EXAMS..

    Reply
  12. Ali Ayyash

     /  February 23, 2017

    thank you so much

    Reply
  13. Kaiden

     /  February 15, 2017

    Thank you this will be very helpful for Generations!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  14. Bryce

     /  February 7, 2017

    This website has good topics

    Reply
  15. aiden

     /  February 1, 2017

    this website is a life saver I got and A because of this website

    thank you

    aiden

    Reply
  16. Urmom

     /  February 1, 2017

    Inappropriate I mean #54 I’m 11

    Reply
    • If you believe that the word “condom” is inappropriate to use, then you very well may need a good “talking to” by a supportive adult in your life.

      Reply
      • erika

         /  February 20, 2017

        Um, I beg to differ…
        Number 47 is just utterly brutal and offensive to overweight people.

        Reply
        • So you would argue, no then? Why?

          Reply
        • Alex

           /  March 28, 2017

          This is a topic. It wasn’t meant to be offensive. The person who wrote this didn’t pick a side therefor there is no opinion stated within #47. If you truly find this offensive, argue no. Simple.

          Reply
      • Michelle

         /  March 2, 2017

        *cough, cough* BURNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!
        Not my business, sorry…

        Reply
    • nathen erickson

       /  February 9, 2017

      i respect your opinion but i think that it was not correct and if kids can be safe let them be safe

      Reply
  17. vinusan

     /  January 23, 2017

    this website is awesome it helps for all the types of arguments you want and its very useful

    Reply
  18. Sophia

     /  January 22, 2017

    Really helpful!

    Reply
  19. Paula Deen

     /  January 13, 2017

    This is so helpful! Thank you for this!!

    Reply
  20. Samaria

     /  January 9, 2017

    This help me a lot and to find a title

    Reply
  21. Hannah

     /  January 9, 2017

    Wow this was very useful for me to use in my ELA class

    Reply
  22. peppy

     /  January 5, 2017

    your website was so helpful thank you!!

    Reply
  23. hritik kala

     /  January 2, 2017

    This is one of the most intersting and useful site it help me a lot in writing

    Reply
  24. TOYA

     /  December 22, 2016

    THANK YOU SO MUCH! VERY HELPFUL

    Reply
  25. peterson

     /  December 13, 2016

    i love this some are funny

    Reply
  26. cece

     /  December 12, 2016

    this has helped so much THANK YOU

    Reply
  27. Jessica

     /  December 6, 2016

    Thank You so much!! This is very helpful!

    Reply
  28. Jessica

     /  December 6, 2016

    Thank You!! Mr. Morton

    Reply
  29. K-Mac

     /  December 6, 2016

    this is great 🙂

    Reply
  30. Kevin Hug

     /  November 30, 2016

    These are really usefull

    Reply
  31. billy joe

     /  November 28, 2016

    i love this webiste it helped me with my essay thank you

    Reply
  32. Anon

     /  November 16, 2016

    Have of these are already things in the uk, sounds good if you were American tho lol

    Reply
  33. Ahmed Elkateb

     /  November 12, 2016

    Thanks for great help

    Reply
  34. Laura Martinez

     /  November 9, 2016

    102. No more Homework from schools

    Reply
  35. Billy

     /  November 7, 2016

    I’m not sure if this is because I’m Canadian, but many of these points are already legal or already allowed.

    Reply
  36. Tonya

     /  November 4, 2016

    My kid’s and myself love this website it helps out a lot.

    Reply
  37. Lily

     /  November 3, 2016

    Loved this list! I used it as a basis to find a topic. It had great ideas!

    Reply
  38. ahbor

     /  October 29, 2016

    Good website…..I appreciated it….good luck…

    Reply
  39. Xfrew

     /  October 28, 2016

    This relly help me

    Reply
  40. Jacktheripperr

     /  October 28, 2016

    “Should children under the age of 16 have a cellular device?” Does this work?

    Reply
  41. Ban

     /  October 25, 2016

    These subjects does help a little, but it is sort of boring to me I wish you guys could’ve put in something about gaming.

    Reply
    • How about, does excessive video gaming make some students lazy and unable to work even the slightest bit to get their essays done?

      Reply
  42. Omnictionary96

     /  October 24, 2016

    This website is awesome! Thank you!

    Reply
  43. Hasnain Hamzah

     /  October 21, 2016

    Thank you very much Mr.Morton! Highly appreciate the list.

    Reply
  44. Jehan

     /  October 16, 2016

    Very useful

    Reply
  45. cat

     /  October 11, 2016

    I would feel uncomfortable talking about some of these things.

    Reply
  46. dye blue

     /  October 5, 2016

    no because its uncomefortable and disturbing and I don’t like it!

    Reply
  47. Anthony

     /  October 4, 2016

    This was a great list however i cannot use most of them since i am canadian

    Reply
  48. annonimus

     /  October 3, 2016

    thuis is the best site ive ever used for my tests

    Reply
  49. jhayne

     /  October 1, 2016

    thankyou. ihave an idea now. 🙂 in my persuation essay .

    Reply
  50. Thank you! These are great!

    Reply

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