Published on:
Jan 29, 2019
Let’s face it, essay writing can be tedious and boring. Spending hours to write a good essay is difficult, and brainstorming essay topic ideas can be even more confusing.
This is what makes writing essays difficult and time-consuming. Luckily, you can learn essay writing with practice and by following some good examples. But before that, you should know how to choose a good and engaging topic for your essay.
To help you get started, we have categorized a list of a number of different types of essay topic lists.
Argumentative Essay Topics
An argumentative essay investigates a topic in great detail, forms an argument over it, and defends it using supporting data.
Below are some good argumentative essay topic ideas to help you draft winning essays.
- School students should be allowed to curate their high school curriculum.
- The role of physical education in the school system.
- Should the death sentence be implemented globally?
- It should be illegal to use certain types of animals for experiments and other research purposes.
- Should the government do more to improve accessibility for people with physical disabilities?
- Do people learn the art of becoming a politician, or are they born with it?
- Social media platform owners should monitor and block comments containing hateful language.
- Does technology play a role in making people feel more isolated?
- Will there ever be a time when there will be no further technological advancements?
- It should be illegal to produce and sell tobacco.
- Girls should be motivated to take part in sports.
- Rape victims should abort their unborn children.
- Fathers should get equal paternity leave.
- Do teenagers get into trouble because they are bored?
- Individuals who have failed at parenting should be punished.
- Vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes.
- Covid-19 vaccination has more cons than pros.
- Social media is the real cause of teenage depression.
- Is the American education system perfect for society?
- Recycling should be made compulsory.
Choosing a strong topic is key to writing a great essay. Have a look at our blog to select good argumentative essay topics to impress the audience.
Persuasive Essay Topics
A persuasive essay is similar to an argumentative paper. However, in it, the writer wants to convince the readers of their point of view. Simple essay topics would make better essays as they help the students stay focused.
Below is a list of some good persuasive essay topics for you:
- Energy drinks should be banned in schools and colleges.
- Gambling should be banned in the United States.
- Should abortions be banned worldwide?
- Hunting is an immoral act.
- Is it okay to use animals in a circus?
- Harmful dogs should be euthanized.
- Cell phones should not be allowed in schools.
- Teachers should pass a professional exam, just like students.
- Schools should reduce the workload on students.
- Sex education should be mandatory in high schools.
- Vlogging isn’t an actual profession.
- Is LinkedIn helpful for finding a job?
- Social media has played a big role in increasing business opportunities.
- Is Java becoming obsolete?
- Should employers go through the candidate’s social media profiles?
- Animal testing should be banned.
- Violent video games should be banned.
- Parents with mental disabilities should not be allowed to adopt children.
- Alcohol consumption should be legalized in Muslim countries.
- Every person should get Covid-19 vaccination.
For your help, we have gathered a wide range of persuasive essay topics. Give it a read.
Descriptive Essay Topics
A descriptive essay describes a specific thing by using sensory data. It is done to engage the reader’s five senses (taste, touch, smell, hearing, sight).
The following is a list of descriptive essay topic ideas for the students.
- The person who is responsible for making a difference in my life.
- Describe a smartphone and its benefits to someone from the ‘60s.
- The most interesting piece of art I have ever seen.
- Describe the experience of falling in love.
- What does a place that only exists in your imagination look like?
- Describe meeting a famous person.
- Describe yourself and your personality to a stranger.
- What will life be like in 2050?
- An experience that changed my life forever.
- Your idea of the perfect day.
- My first trip abroad.
- The most significant event in American History.
- A popular book series that disappointed you.
- A look into my daily life.
- A day in the life of an ER doctor.
- A trip to the museum.
- The most interesting movie I watched during my summer vacation.
- My favorite childhood memory.
- An incident that changed my life.
- An incident that restored my faith in humanity.
Here are some more descriptive essay topics to help you find a good idea for your essay.
Narrative Essay Topics
In a narrative essay, your goal is to share a personal experience by telling a story. This creative form of writing depends on how strong and exciting the theme is. The article topics for students given here are carefully curated and would help the students do good in their essays.
Some examples and topics of narrative topic ideas are presented below.
- The experience that taught me how looks could be deceiving.
- A week without internet and technology.
- The impact your first love had on your life.
- How much did your teachers contribute to making you the person you are today?
- An experience that made you realize your parents were or weren’t always right.
- A moment when someone you didn’t like surprised you with kindness.
- The influence technology has had on your hobbies and life.
- An achievement outside of academic life?
- Which school lesson had the biggest influence on your life?
- A day when you fought procrastination.
- The time you faced rejection.
- The time when you stood against your parents.
- An experience that left you helpless.
- The time you prayed to be an only child.
- An act of kindness you can never forget.
- Death of a loved one.
- Your biggest pet peeve.
- Your definition of a perfect weekend.
- The things you regret most in life.
- Your first experience of an air trip.
Choosing interesting narrative essay topics is essential to make the content compelling for the readers.
Research Essay Topics
While writing a research essay, the most crucial step is choosing a topic for your essay. Select a topic that is broad enough to compose an entire research essay on it.
Below are some of the best topics for your research essay.
- Effects of violent cartoons on children.
- Should universities provide accommodations to disabled students?
- Events and experiences I agree are causing the increase in terrorism.
- How do technology and gadgets affect the studies of children?
- Do children who attend preschool do better in school?
- Universities are becoming business-driven.
- Does college debt affect the future lives of students?
- Why has the divorce rate changed in the past decade?
- Schools should allow the use of smartphones in school.
- Effective ways to decrease depression among our youth.
- Analyze the relationship between the United States of America and North Korea.
- Why did the UK decide to leave the EU?
- Is it true that students learn better in a same-sex school?
- How does giving kids different gadgets affect their studies?
- Compare the immigration policies of two different countries.
- Events that lead to World War I.
- Pros and cons of studying abroad.
- How has Covid-19 influenced the education system of the world?
- Individual acts that lead to Global Warming.
- Effectiveness of the policies made to control Covid-19.
Looking for more? We have an extensive range of research essay topics to make the audience fall in love with your work.
Expository Essay Topics
While writing an expository essay, you have to explain and clarify your topic clearly to the readers.
Below is a list of expository essay topics:
- Why do teenagers commit suicide?
- What is the impact of music on our youth?
- What are the consequences of skipping school?
- Why do teenagers use drugs?
- How can pets make you happy and improve your life?
- Consequences of having alcoholic drinks within a school campus.
- How does drug use affect relationships?
- Is global warming a cause of skin cancer?
- Is sodium bad for your health?
- What is the line between being overweight and being obese?
- Why do you want to pursue your desired career?
- Explain how advancements in science improve the quality of life for humans.
- What are some unconventional ways of relieving stress?
- If you could swap your lives with someone, who would it be and why?
- What are some major stress factors in a teenager’s life?
- Why is getting a degree important for job life?
- Pros and cons of getting financial aid.
- How emotional support animals help in treating mental conditions.
- How does prostitution influence society?
- The environmental causes of smoking.
5StarEssays.com has gathered an additional and extensive list of expository essay topics.
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Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
In a compare and contrast essay, you evaluate and analyze the similarities and differences between the two subjects. Your reader must be able to form an opinion after weighing the pros and cons you have set forth.
Below are some topics for you to choose for your compare and contrast paper:
- Extroverts and introverts.
- Generation Y Vs. Generation Z.
- Traditional Helicopters Vs. Lifesize Drones.
- Unemployed students Vs. students with a part-time job.
- SAT and TOEFL.
- Persuasive and argumentative essays — How are they similar?
- How were the causes of World War I different from the causes of World War II?
- Education vs. professional career: what is more difficult?
- Real-life or spending your time daydreaming.
- Consequences of earthquake and tsunami: what’s worse?
- Being popular in high school or alone?
- Part-time work or studying for a higher degree?
- Getting married at an old age or a young age?
- Fashion today Vs. twenty years ago.
- Donald Trump Vs. Hillary Clinton.
- Democracy Vs. Dictatorship
- Vietnam War Vs. War on Terror.
- Benefits of drinking tea Vs. coffee.
- Greek and Roman methodologies — Similarities and differences.
- Traditional Vs. distant learning.
Get more interesting compare and contrast essay topics at 5StarEssays.com to impress your instructors.
Cause and Effect Essay Topics
The cause and effect essay explains why something happens and what happens as a result of those happenings. A cause and effect essay is a type of expository essay.
Here are a few topics for your cause and effect essay:
- What are the causes of eating disorders?
- Effects of climate change and global warming.
- The effects of the Feminism movement.
- What are the causes of increasing depression among teenagers?
- What are the causes of suicidal thoughts?
- Is keeping a pet effective in calming your mind?
- How does divorce affects children?
- Why are men afraid of commitment?
- Effects of social media on youth.
- Has social media affected relationships among families?
- Discuss the effects of homeschooling on children.
- Causes of heart diseases.
- Causes of sibling rivalry.
- Cramming doesn’t help improve test scores.
- Cause and effect of depression in the workplace.
- How do abusive parents influence the mental stability of a child?
- Causes and effects of bullying.
- Causes of obesity in teenagers.
- Effects of taking a balanced diet on health?
- Causes and effects of insomnia.
To get more ideas, visit our cause and effect essay topics that are remarkable and well-suited for a great essay.
Controversial Argumentative Essay Topics
Argumentative essay topics are quite popular assignments in universities. If you are a student searching for a captivating argumentative essay topic, here is a list of ideas you can consider.
- Third world war should be prevented by the Russian and US governments.
- Political policies and practices affecting students.
- Is gun control effective in reducing crime?
- Same-sex marriage and constitutional law.
- Is society over-regulated?
- Are leaders born or made?
- No one should be above the law.
- Monarchy: pros and cons.
- Rules on Political Activities by Federal Employees.
- The most corrupt countries in the world.
- Mercy killing should be legalized in all countries of the world.
- Death penalties should be abolished.
- Third-world countries should be provided with education plans by the developed countries.
- Muslims should not be labeled as terrorists.
- Illegal immigrants should be given equal rights.
- Abortions should be legalized.
- Live-in relationships should be encouraged.
- Professional athletes should be allowed to consume steroids.
- Should physical punishments be given to children?
- Smoking in public should be an offensive crime.
Funny Argumentative Essay Topics
Are you looking for some funny argumentative essay topics for your essay? If so, choose a topic from the following list.
- Why do people like watching funny videos?
- What your cat is really thinking.
- Why spam emails should be your favorite type of email.
- Why wearing braces is fun.
- School dropouts are the best in our society.
- Why I don’t like country music.
- Types of dates.
- A better way to get things done.
- What organic food really is.
- Things guys do that girls hate.
- How to annoy your friend.
- Why do women pretend that they enjoy sports?
- Things preventing you from completing your homework in time.
- Funny things we see in wedding ceremonies.
- Why are spam emails more interesting?
- Why does Starbucks coffee taste better?
- Why are backbenchers smarter than other students?
- Clowns are scarier than funny.
- Should we be maintaining social distancing even after Covid-19?
- Why is watching movies better than reading books?
Informative Essay Topics for Students
Essay writing requires depth. However, you don’t have to choose a complex topic in middle school, high school, or college.
Here is a list of interesting essay topics for middle school, high school, and college students.
Essay Topics for College Students
- Virtual classes cannot replace the traditional class system.
- Advantages and disadvantages of online classes.
- Is there a need to reform the college education system?
- Assault weapons should not be legal.
- People with a history of mental illness should not be allowed to purchase firearms.
- The taxation system needs to be changed around the globe.
- Kids should not be the target audience in advertising.
- The number of calories should be mentioned with every meal.
- Feminists have effectively improved the workforce for women.
- Is the death penalty effective?
- How to identify fake news?
- How to maintain a healthy life?
- How to treat PTSD naturally?
- Should people be judged on their appearance?
- How is technology influencing the work performance of people?
- Private Vs. public schools
- How to choose majors in high school?
- Impact of legalizing drugs on society.
- Significance of learning social values.
- How to prevent bullying on campus?
Essay Topics for High School
- The choice to join the armed forces should be an individual decision.
- Listening to music can increase work efficiency.
- Being honest has more cons than pros.
- People who have been in an accident value life more than others.
- Embarrassing moments help boost your confidence.
- Kindness is the most valuable personal trait.
- Spontaneity can improve your life.
- Can hobbies help improve the richness of one’s life?
- Dressing properly in the office improves work efficiency
- Being organized can help in school as well as the office.
- Impact of homosexuality on society.
- What is feminism?
- How to overcome fears and phobias?
- Significance of having leadership skills in job life?
- Causes and treatments for bipolar disorder.
- Side effects of consuming antidepressants.
- How important is mental health in succeeding professionally?
- How do teaching methods influence learning abilities?
- Should specially-abled people be allowed to work in offices?
- Discrimination and racism in the US.
Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!
Essay Topics for Middle School
- Every child should have chores at home.
- There should not be any summer classes.
- Should students continue studying during summer vacation?
- Parents should pay attention to the amount of time their children spend watching television.
- Favorite family summer vacation.
- Sports should be mandatory in every school.
- Processed foods should not be part of private and public school lunch.
- Do students still use newspapers for research?
- Every individual should spend a year doing community service.
- The weekend should be 3 days long.
Hopefully, you would have selected a topic for your essay. If you are looking for more ideas, try this free essay topic generator. You will find plenty of ideas for your essay.
Still need help choosing an essay topic? 5StarEssays is a professional essay writing service that helps you get a high quality essay. We have a team of essay writers who are professionals and can do your essay.
Below are practice IELTS essay questions and topics for writing task 2. The 100 essay questions have been used many times over the years. The questions are organised under common topics and essay types. IELTS often use the similar topics for their essays but change the wording of the essay question.
In order to prepare well for writing task 2, you should prepare ideas for common topics and then practise applying them to the tasks given (to the essay questions). Also see model essays and tips for writing task 2.
Below you will find:
- Essay Questions By Topic
- Essay Questions by Essay Type
Please also note that my new Grammar E-book is now available in my store along with my Ideas for Essay Topics E-book and Advanced Writing Lessons. To visit store, click here: Liz’s Store
1) Common IELTS Essay Questions
IELTS practice essay questions divided by topic. These topics have been reported by IELTS students in their tests. Essay questions have been recreated as accurately as possible.
- Art (5 essay questions)
- Business & Money (17 essay questions)
- Communication & Personality (17 essay questions)
- Crime & Punishment (12 essay questions)
- Education (17 essay questions)
- Environment (12 essay questions)
- Family & Children (8 essay questions)
- Food & Diet (8 essay questions)
- Government (6 essay questions)
- Health (9 essay questions)
- Housing (4 essay questions)
- Language (2 essay questions)
- Leisure (1 essay question)
- Media & Advertising (12 essay questions)
- Reading (5 essay questions)
- Society (10 essay questions)
- Space Exploration (3 questions)
- Sport & Exercise (6 essay questions)
- Technology (6 essay questions)
- Tourism (6 essay questions)
- Transport (7 essay questions)
- Work (16 essay questions)
2) IELTS Essay Questions by Essay Type
There are 5 main types of essay questions in IELTS writing task 2 (opinion essays, discussion essay, advantage/disadvantage essays, solution essay and direct question essays). Click on the links below to see some sample essay questions for each type.
- Opinion Essay Questions
- Discussion Essay Questions
- Solution Essay Questions
- Direct Questions Essay Titles
- Advantage / Disadvantage Essay Questions
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by Adam Skimins 10th March 2022
- Article navigation:
- C2 Proficient (CPE) Essay: Topics
- C2 Proficient (CPE) Essay: Topics (PDF)
- C2 Proficient (CPE) Essay: Assessement Criteria
C2 Proficient (CPE) essay is usually written for a teacher. It should be well organised, with an introduction, clear development and an appropriate conclusion. The compulsory Part 1 essay question will involve reading two short input texts, each approximately 100 words long on a particular topic and summarising and evaluating the key points from these texts in the context of a coherent essay on the topic, including the candidate’s own views. The set text essay questions specify what particular aspect of the set text (development of character or significance of events) should form the content of the essay.
How much do I have to write? 240–280 words
How to write an essay C2 Proficient (CPE)?
C2 Proficient (CPE) Essay: Topics
Shifting sands: behavioural change.
Nowadays, in some cultures there may often be confusion between generations about what is acceptable behaviour in certain situations. Older people sometimes complain, for example, about the real or imagined rudeness of others, such as in the use of electronic devices in public places. However, the younger generation do not regard electronic communication as intrusive, but rather as fundamental to their way of life. Only increased mutual understanding is likely to resolve potential conflict or confusion in any society. In this case, as in all others, it pays to be aware of other people’s points of view.
Follow my leader?
Should we always aim to do what society expects of us? No, what society needs is individuality. Worrying about what other people think inhibits enthusiasm and creativity. Nothing new is ever achieved by conforming to expected social norms. This is not only true for society’s innovators: everybody needs a strong sense of their own worth as an individual. This is essential for psychological well-being and the ability to function effectively in one’s personal and professional life. Paying too much attention to society’s conventions can be counter-productive in these and other ways.
Write your essay.
The Downside of Tourism
Despite the importance of the tourism industry to local economies there are significant costs to being a popular holiday destination. Local cultures can suffer as the needs of the tourist are given priority. For example, local shops can be demolished to make way for larger retail developments. In addition, the negative effects on the environment are well documented. Areas suffering from scarce water, food and energy resources can see the situation deteriorate with the extra demand caused by an influx of tourists. There will often be a physical impact as well, with increases in local pollution or the effect on the eco-system of large-scale construction. More significantly, the generation of income for the local economy is often lower than envisaged. The majority of income can often go to multi-nationals such as airline companies and hotel chains.
Eco-Tourism
Recent years have seen a growth in what is termed ‘eco-tourism’. The aim of eco-tourism is to unite conservation and communities through sustainable travel. So what are the key elements of eco-tourism? In addition to minimizing the impact of tourism on the environment, successful eco-tourism should also raise the awareness of cultural and environmental issues amongst the local host destination and the visiting tourist. Eco-tourism should be a positive experience for the local community as well as the tourist. Finally, eco-tourism should offer clear financial benefits to local people and to local conservation issues.
Raising the Bar or School Sports
The National Sports Academy is running a series of workshops aimed at encouraging more teenagers to get involved in sport. The workshops are for teachers and will look at how to promote the numerous benefits of physical exercise and team sports to school pupils. ‘Exercise helps to maintain a stable weight, strengthen bones and reduces the risk of stress-related illnesses.’ explained Tim Collins, the Academy Director. ‘Aside from health benefits taking part in competitive sports gives teenagers a chance to experience the highs and lows of a competition, as well as instilling discipline, responsibility and commitment – all valuable life skills.’
Sport Seen as Uncool
teenagers are spending less time on physical exercise because they find it deeply ‘uncool’, according to a survey of teachers and pupils. The problem is most prevalent amongst older teenagers. Girls are uncomfortable about sharing sports classes with boys and avoid swimming lessons because of a fear that it will spoil their hairstyles. And both sexes were scathing in the survey about the unfashionable PE uniform that had to be worn. The choice of sports available was also too limited. Teachers said they would like to see codes for sports kits relaxed, single sex physical education classes and a wider range of activities to combat the decline in activity.
Our Relationship with Food
The British relationship with food has undergone a fundamental change over the past 50 years, and in quite a contradictory fashion. Meals were once made up of simple, local ingredients using recipes that had been followed by previous generations. Now food has become a sensory and cultural phenomenon. Food production and catering is a multi-million pound industry. Top chefs show us how to cook the most delicious 3-course meals and supermarkets provide all the ingredients we need. Yet at the same time, we are less willing to spend time cooking than was once the case and instead spend huge amounts on take-aways and ready-meals.
The Ready-Meal Industry
Latest figures show that the UK ready-meal industry is experiencing continued growth despite the recent economic downturn. And the reason for this success? Time-poor consumers continue to want exotic, convenient, mealtime solutions whilst at the same time being cautious about over-spending on take-aways and trips to the restaurant. And the future looks even brighter for this industry with innovative and niche sectors opening up to cater for as wide a range of tastes as possible. And which meals are we eating? Italian remains the favourite cuisine closely followed by Indian and Chinese
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Tackling Traffic Congestion
Policy-makers employ a wide range of measures to tackle the problem of traffic congestion. Enforcement schemes such as setting strict speed limits on major roads and the use of congestion charges in city centres are two such examples as are vehicle exclusion zones or parking restrictions in busy pedestrian areas. However, it also makes sense to encourage motorists to become less reliant on their car. This can be achieved by making public transport more efficient and promoting the benefits of car-sharing with work colleagues, thus reducing weekly fuel bills. And the increasing number of cycle lanes on many roads is further evidence of how to win the hearts and minds of motorists in the fight against congestion.
The Joy of Motoring
Recent research into the attitudes of motorists shows we are still more than happy to get behind the wheel. Despite rising fuel costs, insurance premiums and frequent traffic jams, 9 out of 10 of us still enjoy driving. Whether it’s visiting friends and relations, taking the family for a day out or even commuting to work, the car remains first choice for many people. Experts argue that unlike public transport, the car leaves us in charge of our own destiny, giving us the freedom to travel when and where we want. The car also gives us the opportunity to express ourselves. The kind of vehicle we drive tells the world something about who we are or what we aspire to be. Cars are not simply a means of transport but also something we wear.
The Financial Costs of Stress
Research carried out by the Health and Safety Council estimates that stress and mental illness continues to be neglected by many businesses, both small and large. And the economic impact of this is huge, costing employers around £26bn a year. Stress at work can lead to a lack of concentration, fatigue and low motivation, all of which will cost the company in terms of low productivity, customer satisfaction and the very reputation of the company itself. Employers are being urged to become more “emotionally intelligent” and to improve the way they deal with stress and mental illness.
Speak up about Stress
Many people find it difficult to talk about their feelings, particularly if we’re feeling weak or vulnerable. However, when suffering from stress it’s vital you seek help. It’s important to feel you can talk honestly with a close friend, a loved one, a work colleague or doctor about what’s going on. Stress is easily diagnosed and there is plenty you can do to successfully treat and manage stress. One of the most effective of these is to share your feelings with those you trust. Remember that accepting help and support is not a sign of weakness. Close relationships are vital to helping you get through this tough time.
THE EXCITEMENT OF ADVERTISING
Outdoor advertising, which is undergoing a transformation, has to attract, engage and persuade potential customers because it is the most important way of grabbing their attention. At the core of this transformation is digital screen media, which encompasses everything from giant screens to digital billboards. The technology is cheap and advertising agencies rave about the creative possibilities for advertisements that entertain, amuse, inform, make the environment brighter and enrich our world.
AN UNDESIRABLE BUSINESS
Advertising used to be straightforward. Posters were stuck up on anything from a bus shelter to a motorway hoarding, and many people considered this kind of advertising to be fairly dull, a harmless blot on the landscape and chose to ignore it. These people now regard digital advertising as a form of unwanted, creeping commercialisation which is attracting a buzz simply because it is new, and moreover, damages the environment and is completely unnecessary.
Does memory have a future?
A good memory is invaluable. The inability to make use of memory and past experience can be a severe limitation on how well we perform both mentally and physically. Nowadays, we rely on computers, mobiles and other electronic devices to store our most important information, which can be recalled at the touch of a button. However, some people are concerned that this reliance on electronic equipment may affect the development of our internal memory system in the future. It remains to be seen whether these concerns turn out to be true.
The role of memory
We like to think of our memory as our record of the past, but all too often memories are influenced by imagination. It is risky, therefore, to regard memory as a source of knowledge, because we will never be able to verify the accuracy of a memory fully. Although memory is an unreliable source of knowledge about the past, its importance in self-identity is unquestionable. When a person suffers memory loss as a result of accident or illness, one of the most distressing consequences is likely to be a loss of self. Indeed, it can be argued that a person’s true identity resides in his or her collection of memories.
Examinations are not fair.
Making judgments about the ability of students based on examinations that take place just once or perhaps twice a year is simply not fair. So many students fail to show their true ability due to anxiety, stress and a number of other factors. Many students who do well in exams do so simply by cramming facts into their heads the week before the exam, to be forgotten by the following weekend. Surely assessment of the work done in class and at home throughout the school year would be a fairer system?
Classroom assessment is idealistic.
It’s all very well to talk about teachers judging their students work in the classroom, and students working alone at home on their projects, but everyone knows that continuous assessment doesn’t work like that. Teachers are only human, and tend to be softer on their students than an examiner would be (or, in a worse scenario, harder on a student they don’t like). Parents or older siblingshelp students with the projects they have to do at home, even if it’s just coming up with ideas for them. Exams may not be fun, but at least we get to see what each individual student is capable of
Killing for nothing
Under no circumstances should capital punishment be condoned. It is a barbaric form of punishment, which serves no useful purpose as it obviously does not act as a deterrent. In the USA, for example, the use of capital punishment increased greatly during the eighties and the nineties but with no corresponding effect on the crime rate. Another argument says that it effectively deals with people who are a danger to society. But in any case, they spend years, even decades, on death row while their appeals are used up, and might as well just be sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole.
Innocents die
The system by which people are convicted is simply not as foolproof as some people would have us believe, and the odds against an innocent person being killled are just too high. While the risk of this happening remains a very real possibility, the death sentence is unacceptable. In this age of DNA evidence, many people in American prisons awaiting execution have been found to be innocent. The other problem is prejudice. Even if a person is found guilty and convicted of a crime, they are likely to get a worse sentence if they are from an ethnic minority, and isproportionately large numbers of these people are executed every year in the States.
Censorship – a necessary evil
We are constantly being exposed to dangerous opinions and need to be protected from these, just as we need to protect our children from bad influences on television. This is even more important in the age of the internet, when anyone can write whatever they want and upload it on a webpage. The voices of those who speak out against the establishment should also be silenced as they aim to undermine the stability of the state. Free speech should only be granted to those prepared to use it responsibly.
Freedom of speech is a human right
Free speech uses the word ‘free’ for a reason, and any limitation on it means censorship. Censorship infringes on our civil and human rights and cannot be allowed in any form in a democratic country. Many governments use censorship as a way of silencing their detractors, thus robbing the ordinary citizen of the right to be informed. Censorship begins with a few words here and there, and ends in newspapers being closed down and voices of protest imprisoned. Under no circumstances, therefore, can censorship be condoned.
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Buy, buy, buy!
The simple tragedy of waste is this: we are using up the earth’s irreplaceable natural resources, creating unnecessary products and packaging, in a mad rush for instantly gratifying consumption.
Out-of-date mobile phones, sound systems, even cars are piling up in landfills all around the world. There was nothing wrong with the old model, except for its lack of flash,.Why can’t we choose a product that meets our needs and use it until it wears out? We have been conditioned to have needs that change as frequently as the seasons and satisfying these needs comes at a very high price, and not just the one on the price tag!
You can do something
There are several simple ways in which you can act to halt the madness of needless consumption. As an individual, change our consumption habits to minimize your non-biodegradable waste and optimise your use of reusable packaging. This will require some sacrifices. As a member of a group, be active in drawing up a waste charter for your place of work or school. Educate others. As a consumer, punish companies that are wasteful and pollute by boycotting their products. This, above all, requires awareness, and the dedication to do your research.
Taking advantage of freedom
The freedom of the press is one of our most precious social principles, but this freedom is given to reporters and editors to allow them to report on matters of general public interest and concern and not as a means of generating newsprint by harassing ordinary citizens and celebrities. The intrusion of the press into people’s private lives in not legitimised by the fact that there are readers who want a certain kind of tabloid story, nor can it be justified by the simple argument that “the public has the right to know”. The modern press should not be allowed to generate stories by taking outrageous photographs and certainly cannot be trusted to write its own rule of conduct.
How free is free?
A great deal is said about free press and the freedom of speech. They are both cherished in our western value system. Yet just how free is the press? We may find out a lot of scandals about public figures, real and imaginary, but do we hear about what is really going on in the world? Do the people with the money, the really big fish, shake in their boots at the thought of their illicit business dealings being revealed? Not usually; after all, they own the press. It’s an important question to ask – who owns the press- because he is one who wields a great deal of power. We pity the citizens of backward countries that allow their rulers to own the press, but are we any better off really? Do we even know who is in control?
Paying for a Privilege
Why couldn’t those who benefit from the better job prospects that studying at university gives them not be asked to pay for the service? People who get a higher education invariably get better paid jobs, so I don’t see why those who cannot or choose not to go to university should indirectly support those who do. A loan system whereby student loans would be gradually repaid after graduation not only seems a fairer system but might also encourage those that currently get to university not to take the opportunity for granted and make a bit more of their time there.
Who Should Pay for Valuable Skills
There are compelling reasons for offering free post-secondary education. Some of these reasons are ideological and spring from the concept that money should never be the deciding factor in a talented student’s decision to pursue a further education. It is to the advantage of the society as a whole if the brightest and best become highly educated specialists with valuable skills. Everyone benefits from a scientific advancement, an artistic masterpiece, or the steady hand of a surgeon. A side effect could be more selectivity in admissions to institutions of higher education, and a closer link between supply and demand for various skill in te society. But provided there is a fair evaluation system for the association of places, is this necessarily a bad thing?
Throwing things away
Every week many of us throw away a huge amount of stuff, ranging from packaging for food and plastic bottles to old newspapers and junk mail. Fortunately some, though not all, of this can be recycled successfully and both governments and private citizens seem to be doing their best to ensure that this happens nowadays. We should be careful not to congratulate ourselves too soon, however, because whether enough is being done is highly debatable. For example, the vast numbers of plastic bags used, many of which are not biodegradable, damage the environment, most notably the oceans, where they endanger marine life.
Communications technology
It seems that nowadays we keep electronic products such as mobile phones for only a short time, because we are bombarded with highly effective advertising that persuades us that we need to discard our present model in favour of the latest, improved device. Our willingness to discard such products may also be a consequence of the dizzying pace of technological change. We can hardly be expected to be content to remain behind the times, and we naturally wish to keep up with the latest exciting features and developments in communications technologies.
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An opinion essay assignment is a formal piece of writing that provides the reader with your particular point of view on a given subject. You support your opinion by logical reasoning, facts, and examples. An assignment of this type can vary in length with most of them being somewhere between 400 – 800 words.
Contents
- How to Write an Opinion Essay
- How to Start an Opinion Essay
- Opinion Essay Topics 5th Grade
- Ideas for Opinion Essays for Middle School
- Ideas for Opinion Writing
- Public Opinion Topics
- Unpopular Opinion Topics
- Writing Opinion Essay Topics
- Opinion Paper Topics
- Opinion Essay Topics for College Students
- Opinion Ideas on Current Topics
How to Write an Opinion Essay
- Select an Interesting Opinion Essay TopicWriting an opinion essay requires you to choose a topic that will be interesting to both you and the reader. Don’t go overboard by selecting something that is too heavy or you may find it difficult to get the job done correctly.
- Create an Opinion Essay OutlineAfter researching the topic and brainstorming your ideas and arguments, organize your notes in an outline. This exercise will allow you to move from paragraph to paragraph without straying off the course and keeping your content in a logical order.
- Look at Opinion Essay SamplesBefore you start writing the first draft, you may want to check out a few opinion essay examples for free. You can easily find them on the web, but we recommend you stick with only trusted sources. Find an academic or professional site that specializes in this kind of writing.
- Write the First Draft QuicklyWriting opinion essay topics is easily accomplished when you get your ideas down on the page as quickly as possible. Just let the words flow naturally and refer to your outline if you feel you are getting off track. What is most important is that you write efficiently.
- Revise, Edit, and ProofreadLastly, always make sure to set aside your opinion essay for at least a few hours (or days) before you return to it to start your revising. If you have the time, set the assignment aside again before you edit and proofread. This ensures you don’t miss minor mistakes that could lower your grade.
How to Start an Opinion Essay
When students ask us how do you start off an opinion essay we give them a simple list of techniques to follow. The opening paragraph serves as a sort of map that guides your reader, so your opening statement in an opinion essay must capture your reader’s attention. Start with a great hook – a single statement that compels the reader to keep going. You can use a quote, a rhetorical question, or an interesting fact. Introduce your topic early and list some ideas you will explore in the essay. Finish the introduction with a strong thesis statement that tells the reader exactly what your opinion is. You can usually find a good opinion essay sample on the web, in writer’s guides, or from your teacher.
Good Opinion Essay Topics
These opinion essay topics are both fun and creative and will be perfect for an assignment in which you get to choose exactly what you want to write about:
- Do you prefer to stay at home on weekends?
- Which is the most inspiring sports story?
- What is the best way to spend a vacation?
- Do you prefer print or digital books?
- Should the death penalty be universal?
- Should people get more sleep?
- Should energy drinks be banned?
- Should every child have a pet?
- How does homework help with test-taking?
- Is it important to learn tradecraft?
Opinion Essay Topics 5th Grade
These are good opinion topics for fifth-grade students that are just learning the fundamentals of writing a short but structured assignment:
- Should sports have winners and losers?
- Who would you like to visit your school?
- Which celebrity would you like to meet?
- Is bullying an important issue at your school?
- Which sports athlete would you like to meet?
- Is participation more important than victory?
- Which is the best team sport to play?
- Should your teacher reduce homework?
- Should art be made mandatory in class?
- What time should you be allowed to sleep?
Ideas for Opinion Essays for Middle School
These opinion writing ideas are a little tougher than the ones above. They will challenge without overwhelming students in middle school:
- Is the Oxford comma becoming unnecessary?
- Is it okay to keep the money you find on the street?
- Should you report suspicious activity to the police?
- What is the best country to visit?
- Do you prefer books or movies about the same story?
- Is it appropriate for zoos to keep animals?
- Should pets on leashes be allowed in all businesses?
- Do you think the U.S. should have created Space Force?
- Do you think pro athletes should be paid for their play?
- Do you think that sports should be segregated?
Ideas for Opinion Writing
These opinion essay examples of topics are ones that were gleaned from the sources of news from around the globe. Let us know what you think:
- Should smoking in public be made illegal?
- Should the legal drinking age be lowered?
- Are drinking and driving penalties too low?
- Are energy drinks safe for consumption?
- Are the Bubble plans good ideas to bring sports?
- Should more U.S. fans support its soccer team?
- Should schools allow religious clubs on campus?
- Are vaccines safe for all people?
- Do you think students should be drug tested?
- Can kids become addicted to sugar?
Public Opinion Topics
This list of opinion writing topics caters to the college undergraduate community of students. The topics apply to issues important to the public:
- Should employers incorporate web filters?
- How can cell phones be used as learning tools?
- Does the national news capture diversity?
- Should bathrooms be made gender-neutral?
- Do boys face body issues?
- Should tackle football be banned in schools?
- Is the use of military force ever justified?
- What moral obligations do leaders have?
- Are people giving children too many children?
- Should technology be used in medicine?
Unpopular Opinion Topics
These topics for writing an opinion essay are great for students looking for a challenge by dealing with issues that are unpopular to the public:
- What do you think about corporal punishment?
- Is investing in the U.S. Space Force a good idea?
- Should drivers be allowed to drive with buckles?
- Should men have a say over pregnancy choices?
- Do you think we will find evidence of water on Mars?
- Should kids be limited to just a few hours of computer use?
- Should students that plagiarize be expelled?
- Do you think teachers should be armed?
- Should schools employ private armed security?
- Do you think greater restrictions on guns are good?
Writing Opinion Essay Topics
Here’s another list of the hottest topics being discussed on the web today:
- Are violent video games negatively influencing teens?
- What is the best decade in history?
- Do you believe that we will encounter aliens?
- Do think the U.S. and Russia know of alien life?
- Are emojis negatively impacting communication skills?
- Are drivers less attentive because of auto technology?
- Should paper and plastic bags be banned from all stores?
- Is living a simpler life the path to happiness?
- Is going steady a good thing for teenagers?
- How do teenage relationships compare to adult ones?
Opinion Paper Topics
These opinion topics cover a wide range of study areas great for graduate courses:
- Should fracking be outlawed?
- Are genetically modified foods healthy for humans?
- Should religious institutions be made to pay taxes?
- Should online sports gambling be made legal?
- Is it important to get a college education?
- Should doctors be allowed to promote specific medications?
- Do you think it’s time to make assisted suicide legal?
- Should all interns be paid?
- Is it a good idea to make school uniforms mandatory?
- Should public colleges be free to all?
Opinion Essay Topics for College Students
These ideas for an opinion essay are perfect for college-level through graduate-level students:
- Has internet used negatively or positively changed communication?
- Is it ethical to move toward full automation?
- Should there be laws against using cell phones while driving?
- Should social media be allowed to gather private information?
- Do you think prostitution should be made legal?
- Should governments allow monopolies?
- Do you think that graffiti is vandalism or art?
- Should graffiti artists be considered artists?
- Should books be banned for questionable content?
- Is censorship a form of government suppression?
Opinion Ideas on Current Topics
This set of topics focuses on current issues in the world. Use them to direct the discussion towards the things that affect people today:
- Should the U.S. open business amid COVID-19?
- How important are sports to the economy?
- Are pro athletes paid fairly?
- Should women athletes make as much as men?
- Should the President be impeached?
- Can the President face criminal charges?
- Is attending indoor events dangerous because of COVID-19?
- Should education be free to everyone?
- Is LeBron James the best athlete in the world?
- Should big game hunting be made illegal?
More Opinion Essay Assistance
If you need more topics for an opinion essay, our academic writers can help. Our academic writing and editing experts are always up-to-date with the latest ideas for opinion articles. We can also show you how to write an opinion essay on any topic and in any discipline. Just give us a call, send us an email, or chat with one of our friendly support staff.
- Healthcare
- The justice
- The environment
- Education
- Food
- Religion
- Digitalisation
- Work
Healthcare
- Should abortion be legal?
- Who has the right to life?
- Should euthanasia be made legal?
- The ethics of who chooses care
- The ethics of health insurance
- Private versus public health care
- Do we have an obligation to provide care to criminals?
- How should we approach the problem of mental health?
- Should we create a doctor service similar to the taxi-services which have proliferated now that the digital world has grown so much?
- When is it okay for medical professionals to break confidentiality?
- Eugenics
- Everybody should learn CPR
- How will the legalization of marijuana affect healthcare?
- Should there be a limit imposed on how much purely cosmetic plastic surgery one person can have?
- The ethics of organ donation
- Is steroid use dangerous?
- What are the hazards of wearing shoes that don’t fit?
The justice system
- Should we make the death penalty illegal?
- Should police officers accept gratuities?
- Are prisons becoming obsolete?
- Are prisons useful?
- Should prisons focus on rehabilitation over punishment?
- Who should own guns?
- Is the justice system biased?
- Should we decriminalize drugs?
- Should we decriminalize sex work?
- Is it ethical to blame sex workers for the demand that exists in their industry?
- Does the war on terror justify the continued loss of our civil rights?
- Drug addicts should be sent to hospital, not a prison
- Juvenile sentencing should be reduced
- Will reducing the causes of poverty reduce crime?
The environment
- Meat consumption and health
- Meat consumption – is it good for the planet?
- Animal rights
- Disposable nappies and baby wipes
- Should recycling be mandatory?
- Should more money be spent on green energy?
- Is nuclear power the answer to the energy crisis?
- Is there an energy crisis?
- Can air purifiers exacerbate health issues?
- Alternatives to fossil fuel
- Should we be spending more money on researching green energy?
- Is the vegetarian diet healthier?
- Nuclear power is better than solar power
- Green burial – yay or nay?
Education
- Should creationism be taught in school?
- School cafeterias contribute to obesity
- Schools should teach finances
- Schools should teach parenting classes
- Should teachers feel free to friend their students on Facebook?
- IQ tests are good measurements of intelligence
- Online teaching should be as valuable as in-person teaching
- Home schooling should be as valuable as in-person schooling
- Home schooled students should not have access to public school extra-curricular programs
- Children can learn from each other
- School should be online so children can work together
- We don’t need to teach handwriting any more
Food
- Food additives are dangerous
- Are we overreacting to high cholesterol?
- Are there correlations between food and intelligence?
- Should we hold the fast food industry accountable for the rise in obesity?
- Genetically modified food should always be labelled
- Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?
- How should we discourage junk food in schools?
- Should industry giants such as Starbucks be forced to reduce the amount of sugar in their drinks?
- People should be taught cookery in school
- Are five servings of fruit and vegetables a day enough?
- Does the government have the right to intervene in what people eat?
Religion
- Should all religions be treated equally?
- Should separation of church and state be made a reality?
- Does intelligent design deserve to be taught in schools?
- Should intelligent design be taught in biology or religious education?
- How a cult is different from a religion, and how it is dangerous?
- Is Alcoholics Anonymous exploitative?
- Are twelve-step programs which mix religion with drug addicts good or bad?
- Home schooling should be allowed on religious grounds
- Businesses should be allowed to discriminate on religious grounds
- Politicians should allow religion to influence their policy decisions
Digitalisation
- Has digitalisation decreased the reliance on paper as was promised?
- Traditional book or eBooks?
- Freedom of the press has gone too far in today’s world
- Is the use of CCTV in public places necessary for safety or an intrusion of our day-to-day privacy?
- Does the internet mean the death of paper, newspaper and magazines?
- Social networks and the younger generations
- ‘Digital natives’ and what that means for our society
- The ubiquity of advertising
- Subliminal messaging in advertising
- How digitalisation has affected the workplace
- Why we will rely on robots
- Using digital forms of communication undermines learning
- Will the internet last forever?
- Research now suggests that video games are good for learning, but are they safe?
- Does paparazzi help the cause of the free press, or hinder it?
- Bloggers should be treated as journalists, and held accountable for their actions
Work
- Outsourcing is good for the economy
- There should be a cap on the salaries paid to actors and sport stars
- There should be a three-day weekend instead of a two-day weekend
- The importance of patenting ideas
- Mono-tasking or multi-tasking – which is better?
- Should we reward non-profits for their work or how little they spend?
- Are pension plans effective?
- The dangers of asbestos removal
Why do we Write Persuasive Essays?
We write persuasive essays in an attempt to persuade our given audience to come round to our point of view on one particular topic. This type of essay can be on any topic at all, provided that there is more than one side to the debate. Our purpose in writing persuasive essays should be to show the audience that one particular side of a debate has more truth and merit to it than another through the use of proper arguments.
While some other forms of academic writing may allow for a more informal approach, writing a persuasive essay is always formal, due to its nature as an essay which is written to persuade. Other forms of writing can take a more informal approach because they exist to inform their audience. Persuasive essay writing, while it may contain some small amount of basic information about any topic – particularly if the essay is on a fairly niche subject, and background knowledge is required – is not ultimately about instructing the audience or sharing information. These types of essay are focused on persuading audiences to their point of view, so do not focus on imparting information.
As a result of persuasive essays not being strictly informative (with the particular exception in the previous paragraph being the only exception), they should always take a formal tone. As the point of a persuasive essay is to persuade the audience that the point of view which is being written about is the correct one, the arguments should be constructed specifically in order to avoid any attacks it may face. One way of doing this is by avoiding the first person, as showing something to be our own personal opinion rather than one which is backed up solely by facts and figures. Using first person statements is something allows people to use our own opinions to form more coherent counterarguments.
Tips on Intereting Topic Choice
Persuasive essay topics are often assigned beforehand – particularly if the essay is being written in school, but often the writer has the freedom to make his or her own choice on the matter. While this might seem to be a good thing – having the choice means that we can pick our own subject, after all – choosing a good persuasive essay topic is more difficult than it sounds. The topic needs to be obscure enough to be original, but not so obscure that there is no research on it.
- Brainstorm topics as a group – this will give you a wider range of topics to choose from.
- Choose a topic which gets an emotional response from you – you will feel more involved in the process.
- Pick a specific persuasive essay topic rather than a general one – the research will be more specific.
- Pick a topic which you think will inspire debate.
Need more topics? Use this tool
Choose From The Best 700 Argumentative and Persuasive Essay Topics. 200+ Unique and Creative Prompts for Argumentative Writing. Only Hype Topics!
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