It may be tempting to steer away from controversial subjects within the classroom. However educating college students to debate scorching subjects calmly and rationally is significant. Present them easy methods to think critically a couple of topic after which use details to help their viewpoint. These controversial subjects work effectively for classroom debates, persuasive essays, argumentative essays, or fishbowl discussions.
Observe: Every controversial matter features a hyperlink to an article from a dependable supply that gives execs and/or cons to assist college students make their arguments.
Leap to:
Debate Extension Exercise
Debating is an effective way for college kids to hone crucial pondering and communication abilities, but it surely doesn’t have to cease on the podium. Encourage your college students to show their debates into motion with The Edit, a digital storytelling problem from NBCU Academy and Adobe. This real-world software encourages college students to plan, script, and produce their very own 90-second video information stories on vital wellness subjects. Plus, profitable lecture rooms can rating prizes like GoPros and Fandango present playing cards!
Free Printable Debate Graphic Organizers
Plus, assist your college students prep for any sort of debate with our free graphic organizers! You get debate guidelines and techniques, together with differentiated organizers for elementary and center/highschool college students.
Schooling Controversial Debate Subjects
Colleges and academic supplies have been controversial subjects for lots of of years. And nobody is best poised to debate these points than college students! It’s alternative for them to apply swaying an viewers with out letting their very own feelings get in the best way.
- Should schools eliminate dress codes?
- Should students be required to wear school uniforms?
- Are private schools better than public schools?
- Should schools be allowed to teach critical race theory?
- Are standardized tests effective?
- Should schools teach abstinence instead of sexual education?
- Should schools make condoms available to students?
- Is year-round school better for students?
- Should schools ban junk food?
- Are single-gender schools better for students?
- Is it ever OK to cheat on homework or a test?
- Should we make college free for everyone?
- Should we allow schools to ban books from their libraries?
- Does religion have a place in public schools?
- Should charter schools receive public school funds?
- Are school voucher systems a good idea?
- Is in-person school better than online school?
- Should schools have surveillance cameras in classrooms and hallways?
- Should schools install safe rooms in case of mass shootings or natural disasters?
- Should all teachers be armed in the classroom to help protect their students?
- Is it important for schools to provide mental health support to students?
- Should schools allow students to use phones during the school day?
- Is recess important at every grade level?
- Should we put equal value on vocational education and academics?
- Is homeschooling good for children?
- How much emphasis should school put on reading from the “canon” versus reading more contemporary voices?
Science and Well being Controversial Points
Many individuals have sturdy emotions about their well being, our bodies, and existence, making controversial concepts like those right here good for sparking vigorous debates.
- Should we completely ban cigarette smoking and vaping?
- Should humans eat animals?
- Is it OK to keep animals in zoos?
- Should we ban plastic bottles and bags?
- Is it worth it to spend money exploring space?
- Should we use stem cells from human embryos for scientific research?
- Is it better to provide drug addicts with treatment instead of punishment?
- Should we ban the use of fossil fuels?
- Should assisted suicide be legal?
- Will expanded use of artificial intelligence be good for humanity?
- Are evolution and intelligent design valid competing theories?
- Should all countries have to give up their nuclear weapons?
- Is universal government-sponsored healthcare a good idea?
- Should we ban testing on animals?
- Should net neutrality be mandatory for internet service providers?
- Is our society too reliant on technology?
- Would taxing unhealthy foods help fight obesity?
- Can alternative energies replace fossil fuels?
- Should developing countries have to meet the same environmental standards as more developed nations?
- Is nurture more important than nature when raising a child?
- Can we truly do anything about human-caused global warming?
- Are electric vehicles better than gas-powered ones?
- Does our society have a harmful “diet culture”?
- Should doctors be allowed to prescribe psychiatric drugs like Ritalin or SSRIs to children?
- Should vaccines be mandatory?
- Are GMOs more helpful than harmful?
- Should governments subsidize technologies like electric cars or solar panels for houses?
- Is animal cloning ethical?
- Should human cloning be legal?
- Should organ donation be mandatory after death?
Civics Controversial Debate Subjects
Residing with others in a society has each nice advantages and severe challenges. Discovering frequent floor is particularly troublesome with controversial points like these, however studying to debate issues calmly and rationally is an extremely vital talent.
- Should we raise the driving age to 18?
- Should we lower the voting age to 16?
- Should we lower the drinking age to 18?
- Is democracy the best form of government?
- Should all Americans be required to vote?
- Is a progressive income tax better than a flat tax?
- Should parents be punished legally for their children’s crimes?
- Is security more important than freedom?
- Should abortion rights be protected under the law along with other reproductive rights?
- Would it be better to appoint Supreme Court judges for fixed terms?
- Should people have to take a parenting class before having a child?
- Should we legalize marijuana at the federal level?
- Would it be better to legalize, tax, and regulate all drugs (including alcohol) instead of banning them?
- Should the United States implement a universal basic income?
- Should we redirect some or all police force funding to social services?
- Do gun safety laws infringe on the Second Amendment?
- Should we require people of all genders to register for the draft?
- Should anyone over 12 be tried as an adult in court?
- Is it right to require people to take drug tests before receiving government aid like welfare?
- Should we do away with gender-specific public bathrooms?
- Is the local minimum wage truly a living wage?
- Why haven’t we had a female U.S. president yet?
- Should men be allowed to make laws that affect women’s bodies?
- Should the government provide funding for public art programs?
- Are there any reasonable limits to freedom of speech?
Social Justice Controversial Concepts
Awaken your college students’ social consciences with controversies just like the demise penalty, racial equality and fairness, immigration, and extra. These are prone to be among the hottest debates you see, so assist college students maintain their objectivity and study to argue utilizing verifiable details as an alternative of private emotion.
- Should we make the path to American citizenship easier?
- Should we abolish the death penalty?
- Is a strong middle class vital to the economy?
- Should transgender athletes be allowed to compete in sports according to their gender identity?
- Is criminal profiling inherently racist?
- Is the American justice system inherently racist?
- Would a “wealth tax” help mitigate income inequality in our country?
- How much of a problem is ageism in our society?
- Should felons be allowed to vote after serving their time in prison?
- Does socioeconomic prejudice affect our society?
- Should we automatically deport undocumented immigrants, regardless of how long they’ve been in the country?
- Should control of ancestral lands be returned to Indigenous communities?
- What is the role of media in fighting systemic racism?
- Should the government pay reparations to descendants of enslaved people?
- Is facial recognition security software an invasion of personal privacy?
- Should workers’ rights provisions be required in all U.S. trade agreements?
- Does segregation still exist in the United States?
- Should the UN require all member countries to accept a minimum number of refugees each year?
- Will stricter gun control laws help stop mass shootings?
- Is it logical to continue building a wall between the United States and Mexico?
Extra Controversial Points To Debate
From peace vs. battle as to whether children ought to play contact sports activities, each scholar will discover one thing to curiosity them in these debate subjects.
- Are white-collar jobs better than blue-collar jobs?
- Does religion do more harm than good?
- Will we ever achieve world peace?
- Should parents use their kids’ cell phones to track where they are?
- Should we let young children play contact sports like football?
- Are the prices of pharmaceutical drugs reasonable?
- Should we ban all violent video games?
- Are beauty pageants sexist?
- Should kids get participation trophies for sports?
- Should there be a minimum age for owning a smartphone?
- Is it possible to be an ethical hunter?
- What is the best way to deal with homelessness?
- Do people have a responsibility to step in when they see a crime in action?
- Are “stand your ground” laws effective?
- Is there any benefit to teaching proper grammar and spelling, or should we allow language to be descriptive instead of prescriptive?
- What gives people true power in the United States?
- Is conflict necessary for change?
- Is war ever justified?
- Was Russia justified in attacking Ukraine?
- Should media companies work to promote diverse representation, or are talent and popularity more important?
- Should both parents receive equal amounts of paid leave when they have or adopt a child?
- Are stereotypes ever right?
- Who should cover the medical costs of people without insurance?
- Is video gaming a sport?
- Should we allow parents to pierce a baby’s ears?
Seize your free Debate Graphic Organizers for all grade ranges!
What controversial concepts and points do you employ together with your college students? Come share within the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, take a look at these Strong Persuasive Writing Examples (Speeches, Essays, Ads, and More).
Trending Merchandise
