101 Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics
By: Mr. Morton
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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- Should students be allowed to have phones in elementary and high schools?
- Should students have to wear uniforms?
- Should college athletes be paid for playing?
- Should the elderly receive free bus rides?
- Should state colleges be free to attend?
- Should all American citizens have to complete a year of community service?
- Should students be required to take Spanish classes?
- Should marijuana be legal for medicinal purposes?
- Should the voting age be lowered to thirteen?
- Should the driving age be raised to twenty-one?
- Should students be paid for having good grades?
- Should illegal immigrants be allowed to get drivers licenses?
- Should not wearing a seat-belt be illegal?
- Should student’s textbooks be replaced by notebook computers or tablets?
- Should students have to pass a basic skills test to graduate high school?
- Should schools raise money by selling candy and sugary soft drinks to students?
- Should schools serve french-fries and fried potato products to students at lunch?
- Should students’ grades in gym affect their grade point averages?
- Should girls be allowed to play on boys sports teams?
- Should teens be able to buy violent video games?
- Should boys and girls be in separate classes?
- Should teenage girls be allowed to get birth control without the permission of their parents?
- Should our country have free health care?
- Should immigration laws be reformed?
- Should the federal government recognize civil unions?
- Should people who download music and movies illegally be punished?
- Should school athletes have to be on the honor roll to play in games?
- Should music with curse words be allowed at school dances?
- Should public schools begin the day with a silent prayer time?
- Should students be able to listen to music on headphones during study hall?
- Should schools offer fast food options like McDonald’s or Taco Bell?
- Should smoking be allowed at parks and other outdoor public venues?
- Should cities offer free public Wi-Fi?
- Should the government place a tax on junk food and fatty snacks?
- Should the 2nd amendment give citizens the right to own assault weaponry?
- Should people traveling in airplanes have to undergo intensive security screenings?
- Should genetically modified foods be sold with a warning label?
- Should teachers have to pass a basic skills test every ten years to renew their certification?
- Should people be allowed to keep exotic animals like chimpanzees or tigers?
- Should people be allowed to keep pit-bull dogs?
- Should the city offer a bike sharing program?
- Should there be an ordinance citing people who fail to recycle $50?
- Should there be an ordinance citing people who play music too loudly $50?
- Should prostitution be legalized and regulated by the government?
- Should celebrities who break the law face stricter penalties?
- Should the government increase spending on the space program?
- Should larger passengers have to pay for two plane or movie theater tickets?
- Should children have to use booster seats in cars?
- Should people have to get a license to become parents?
- Should there be tougher federal restrictions for content on the internet?
- Should people be allowed to curse on daytime television?
- Should owners be legally accountable for clearing snow from sidewalks on their property?
- Should sexual education be taught in public schools?
- Should students be able to get free condoms at school?
- Should students who commit cyber-bullying be suspended from school?
- Should corporations be allowed to advertise in schools?
- Should students be allowed to eat during class?
- Should more be done to protect and preserve endangered animals?
- Is it appropriate for students and teachers to be friends on Facebook?
- Should students have open campus lunch periods?
- Should abortions be legal?
- Should abortions be legal in cases of rape and incest?
- Should the death penalty be used to punish violent criminals?
- Should students learn about world religions in public schools?
- Should schools start later in the morning?
- Should the USA end overseas military operations?
- Should politicians be allowed to accept campaign contributions from corporate lobbyists?
- Should people with terminal illnesses have the right to doctor assisted suicides?
- Should Puerto Rico become a state?
- Should stem cell researchers be able to use stem cells from aborted babies to cure diseases?
- Should school athletes have to take drug tests?
- Should professional athletes have to take drug tests?
- Should America convert to the metric system?
- Should high school students have to complete community service hours to graduate?
- Should teens over 13 years of age be allowed into R rated movies?
- Should state tests be given in other languages for ESL students?
- Should scientists be allowed to test products intended for human use on animals?
- Should unhealthy fast food products be sold with a warning label?
- Should there be a tariff or tax on products manufactured outside of the country?
- Should students or teachers receive money for scoring well on standardized tests?
- Should everyone under the age of 17 have a 9:00 PM curfew?
- Should schools with low scores on standardized tests be closed?
- Should minors be allowed to drink alcoholic beverages in their homes with their parents’ consent?
- Should students be allowed to drop out before they turn 18 years old?
- Should alcohol manufacturers be allowed to advertise on television?
- Should students as young as fourteen be allowed to hold jobs?
- Should American families have a two child max rule to limit population growth?
- Should children younger than thirteen be allowed to watch MTV or music videos?
- Should people who are caught driving drunk lose their licenses for a year?
- Should students who fail their classes be retained and have to repeat the grade?
- Should large businesses and corporations be required to employ a number of minorities proportionate to the population?
- Should female construction workers earn the same wages as males?
- Should children in temporary living situations with a 3.0 GPA earn free college tuition?
- Should gambling and sports-betting be illegal or should the government regulate it?
- Should children who commit violent crimes be tried as adults?
- Should the government be allowed to detain suspected terrorists without trial?
- Should the government censor internet content deemed inappropriate?
- Should teachers have to wear uniforms or have a dress code?
- Should teachers be allowed to have cell phones in the classroom?
- Should the state execute dogs that have bitten someone?
- Should talking on a phone without a hands-free device while driving be illegal?
These essay topics ought to be enough to get you started.
Looking For Something Else?
How to Write Persuasive Essays
How to Write Narrative Essays
Narrative Essay Topics
Research Paper Topics
Kimber
/ March 12, 2019There are a lot of interesting subjects but also some thing not appropriate for younger kids
Marvan
/ November 28, 2018This has been the best site I ever used for writing.
Mr. Morton
/ November 28, 2018I appreciate you saying that. Thank you for using my website.
Marvan
/ November 28, 2018You’re welcome
Nalani Carrigan
/ November 13, 2018This was really helpful, thank you.
Joe Dirt
/ November 8, 2018This was the best site for argument essays thank you so much!
Tyler Cruise
/ November 8, 2018writing a argument essay in class this was the best website I have seen seen so far for idea topics.
Lover07
/ November 7, 2018This site is very great to use for many purposes.
Jo
/ October 20, 2018Currently looking for a topic for a persuasive essay and I definitely found one!
Mia V Perez
/ October 18, 2018This was helpful thank you so much
Alyssa
/ October 17, 2018This helped alot thank you
angela
/ October 17, 2018i need help with my persassive essay for class pic any topic just help!
BOI BET
/ October 16, 2018Very helpful thanks.
Paige W
/ October 15, 2018I 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.
colin
/ October 8, 2018It must have taken a long time.
livin in da chill hill
/ October 8, 2018i think this website is very helpful!
No one
/ October 8, 2018Marijuana should be legal for medicinal purposes and bus rides should be free to senior citizens over the age of 60
Quinn
/ October 8, 2018Im 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.
Peyton H.
/ October 8, 2018I 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.
Sean
/ October 7, 2018I 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.
Cmh
/ June 21, 2018I love #14 and I am arguing on both sides, but I can’t think of that many arguments. Can you help me?
Suie
/ June 21, 2018I need help finding arguments for number 99 really badly need help. for both sides.
hihiiihi
/ May 24, 2018very helpful 🙂 🙂 🙂
zoe
/ May 16, 2018this is was helpful thanks
rashid mehmood
/ May 9, 2018there should be one about islam and isis however an extremely good webage never the lewss
Aubrey
/ May 8, 2018It’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.
Girl Online
/ May 4, 2018Thank you for this! This was super helpful!
Hanson-the band
/ January 30, 2018do 102 topics
Nobody
/ January 29, 2018This is site is inappropriate and should not be looked at
Mr. Morton
/ January 31, 2018Why do you think that?
Bre Lee
/ March 18, 2019he spent his time for kids to have something to write about and now u came on and ruined it shame on u
Your Worst Nightmare
/ March 1, 2018“Nobody” probably has alot of issues and has nothing better to do than try to make problems.
Gina W
/ April 30, 2018Your site is GREAT! The powerpoints are great resources for Students for reinforcement! I love this site!
oof
/ October 7, 2018wow that is so sad he/she is probably cryi-wow, you really think he’s serious.
ethan
/ May 15, 2018this site is aswasome
Victoria
/ December 13, 2017In 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
AVERY!!!!!!!
/ December 12, 2017this was helpfal
Avery
/ December 11, 2017these topics will help for my class essays
David lorenz
/ November 30, 2017should students in middle school be able to play on there phones at anytime except for in class
ygfityulkj
/ May 15, 2018cant they already?
Nicholas Joy
/ November 30, 2017school is really boring games are fun
david bourgeois
/ November 20, 2017You’re irrelevant, not wearing a seat belt is already illegal.
Nunya
/ June 21, 2018He’s asking you if they should be optional
Alissa
/ September 29, 2017this helped me alot there are alot of things on here that we can use
Riley
/ August 9, 2017this site is so good helped me a lot
Nico Di Angelo
/ June 27, 2017OMG THANK YOU THIS SAVED MY LIFE.
LittlePandicorn
/ April 30, 2018Are you a Percy Jackson fan?
Cordellia
/ June 13, 2017There are a lot of good speech topics. I still cannot choose…
Alexandra
/ June 1, 2017i 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
miller
/ May 16, 2018i totally agree with this statement
parker
/ June 1, 2017i love this site
Tyrone mcnegus
/ May 25, 2017These are topics for Negus and that’s good
Nick
/ May 16, 2017There is a LOT there. Sure to pick at least ONE.
Grace
/ May 16, 2017This site is awesome! I love all the writing techniques…. Keep it going with them loved the persuasive writing ideas! Thanks 🙂
rihanna
/ May 16, 2017this is a great website
Eddie
/ May 16, 2017This really helped me for my project I had to do. It gave me a bunch of ideas
Thanks!
Jon
/ July 4, 2017Your welcome bud
rihanna
/ May 15, 2017this is a great site it really gave me some good persuasive writing topics.
Arie_04
/ May 15, 2017this helped me a lot!! thx to u
CHEYENNE DAVIS
/ May 15, 2017THIS IS REALLY GOOD
Coleen
/ May 11, 2017Most of these topics are very real and helped me pick out my own topic for a speech. I do recommend this.
briel
/ March 27, 2017these are really good things for me 2 use at my school
joltyonE
/ April 4, 2017OK well I can only thinkof one thing.
Tanisha
/ March 25, 2017Good experience