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?
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930 Comments

  1. Kimber

     /  March 12, 2019

    There are a lot of interesting subjects but also some thing not appropriate for younger kids

    Reply
  2. Marvan

     /  November 28, 2018

    This has been the best site I ever used for writing.

    Reply
  3. Nalani Carrigan

     /  November 13, 2018

    This was really helpful, thank you.

    Reply
  4. Joe Dirt

     /  November 8, 2018

    This was the best site for argument essays thank you so much!

    Reply
  5. Tyler Cruise

     /  November 8, 2018

    writing a argument essay in class this was the best website I have seen seen so far for idea topics.

    Reply
  6. Lover07

     /  November 7, 2018

    This site is very great to use for many purposes.

    Reply
  7. Jo

     /  October 20, 2018

    Currently looking for a topic for a persuasive essay and I definitely found one!

    Reply
  8. Mia V Perez

     /  October 18, 2018

    This was helpful thank you so much

    Reply
  9. Alyssa

     /  October 17, 2018

    This helped alot thank you

    Reply
  10. angela

     /  October 17, 2018

    i need help with my persassive essay for class pic any topic just help!

    Reply
  11. BOI BET

     /  October 16, 2018

    Very helpful thanks.

    Reply
  12. Paige W

     /  October 15, 2018

    I was really intrested in #14 (Should students text books be replaced by notebook computers or tablets)in my opinion i think they shoud not do that.Because we americans now already use electronics way to much at home so why use the little bit your at school.

    Reply
  13. colin

     /  October 8, 2018

    It must have taken a long time.

    Reply
  14. livin in da chill hill

     /  October 8, 2018

    i think this website is very helpful!

    Reply
  15. No one

     /  October 8, 2018

    Marijuana should be legal for medicinal purposes and bus rides should be free to senior citizens over the age of 60

    Reply
  16. Quinn

     /  October 8, 2018

    Im interested in all the different Topics and cool ideas. I liked number 101 cause i think the it should be illegal to have you phone out on your car. The other one i was interested in was # 5 cause we can get free collage to people that enjoy school.

    Reply
  17. Peyton H.

     /  October 8, 2018

    I was really interested in #6 because not a lot of people are trying to do community service and if everyone had to for at least a year that might help with getting cleaner beaches, water, and roads.
    The second topic I am interested in is #4 because some elderly don’t have enough money for a bus ticket, and most can’t drive a car anymore so if the bus tickets were free then the elderly would benefit from probably walking all the way to the store or another place where they need to go.

    Reply
  18. Sean

     /  October 7, 2018

    I like question number 3 because I think that college athletes don’t have enough time to find a job so they can buy some clothes or more food.

    Reply
  19. Cmh

     /  June 21, 2018

    I love #14 and I am arguing on both sides, but I can’t think of that many arguments. Can you help me?

    Reply
  20. Suie

     /  June 21, 2018

    I need help finding arguments for number 99 really badly need help. for both sides.

    Reply
  21. hihiiihi

     /  May 24, 2018

    very helpful 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Reply
  22. zoe

     /  May 16, 2018

    this is was helpful thanks

    Reply
  23. rashid mehmood

     /  May 9, 2018

    there should be one about islam and isis however an extremely good webage never the lewss

    Reply
  24. Aubrey

     /  May 8, 2018

    It’s kind of crazy the things that people debate about… Should people under thirteen be allowed to watch music videos? Seriously? I just want to know who actually thinks that kids shouldn’t be able to watch music videos.

    Reply
  25. Girl Online

     /  May 4, 2018

    Thank you for this! This was super helpful!

    Reply
  26. Hanson-the band

     /  January 30, 2018

    do 102 topics

    Reply
  27. Nobody

     /  January 29, 2018

    This is site is inappropriate and should not be looked at

    Reply
    • Why do you think that?

      Reply
      • Bre Lee

         /  March 18, 2019

        he spent his time for kids to have something to write about and now u came on and ruined it shame on u

        Reply
    • Your Worst Nightmare

       /  March 1, 2018

      “Nobody” probably has alot of issues and has nothing better to do than try to make problems.

      Reply
      • Gina W

         /  April 30, 2018

        Your site is GREAT! The powerpoints are great resources for Students for reinforcement! I love this site!

        Reply
      • oof

         /  October 7, 2018

        wow that is so sad he/she is probably cryi-wow, you really think he’s serious.

        Reply
    • ethan

       /  May 15, 2018

      this site is aswasome

      Reply
  28. Victoria

     /  December 13, 2017

    In my language arts class, we are required to write a persuasive paragraph. I wanted to research a topic that no one would have, and something that I had a strong desire to write about. Since I was having writers block I searched all over the internet to find a topic that I liked. I found three that I really have an urge to write about. Thank you! <3

    Btw I'm 13

    Reply
  29. AVERY!!!!!!!

     /  December 12, 2017

    this was helpfal

    Reply
  30. Avery

     /  December 11, 2017

    these topics will help for my class essays

    Reply
  31. David lorenz

     /  November 30, 2017

    should students in middle school be able to play on there phones at anytime except for in class

    Reply
  32. Nicholas Joy

     /  November 30, 2017

    school is really boring games are fun

    Reply
  33. david bourgeois

     /  November 20, 2017

    You’re irrelevant, not wearing a seat belt is already illegal.

    Reply
  34. Alissa

     /  September 29, 2017

    this helped me alot there are alot of things on here that we can use

    Reply
  35. Riley

     /  August 9, 2017

    this site is so good helped me a lot

    Reply
  36. Nico Di Angelo

     /  June 27, 2017

    OMG THANK YOU THIS SAVED MY LIFE.

    Reply
  37. Cordellia

     /  June 13, 2017

    There are a lot of good speech topics. I still cannot choose…

    Reply
  38. Alexandra

     /  June 1, 2017

    i was really interested in #40 as my family runs a dog rescue so we are also advocates for pit-bull dogs and informing people why NOT all pits are dangerous and it just depends on the training
    if you train something to be mean then it will be mean
    if you train something to be nice it will be nice

    Reply
  39. parker

     /  June 1, 2017

    i love this site

    Reply
  40. Tyrone mcnegus

     /  May 25, 2017

    These are topics for Negus and that’s good

    Reply
  41. Nick

     /  May 16, 2017

    There is a LOT there. Sure to pick at least ONE.

    Reply
  42. Grace

     /  May 16, 2017

    This site is awesome! I love all the writing techniques…. Keep it going with them loved the persuasive writing ideas! Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  43. rihanna

     /  May 16, 2017

    this is a great website

    Reply
  44. Eddie

     /  May 16, 2017

    This really helped me for my project I had to do. It gave me a bunch of ideas
    Thanks!

    Reply
  45. rihanna

     /  May 15, 2017

    this is a great site it really gave me some good persuasive writing topics.

    Reply
  46. Arie_04

     /  May 15, 2017

    this helped me a lot!! thx to u

    Reply
  47. CHEYENNE DAVIS

     /  May 15, 2017

    THIS IS REALLY GOOD

    Reply
  48. Coleen

     /  May 11, 2017

    Most of these topics are very real and helped me pick out my own topic for a speech. I do recommend this.

    Reply
  49. briel

     /  March 27, 2017

    these are really good things for me 2 use at my school

    Reply
  50. Tanisha

     /  March 25, 2017

    Good experience

    Reply

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