Do you enjoy a good argument? Well, then, you’re in luck! In this blog post, we will provide 100 argumentative essay prompts. These prompts will help you generate ideas for your essay and allow you to practice your argumentative writing skills. Argumentative essays are a great way to improve your critical thinking skills and learn how to defend your opinions. So what are you waiting for? Start arguing!
93 Argumentative Essay Prompts
- Is it ever morally acceptable to lie?
- Should people be allowed to own exotic animals?
- Is the death penalty morally justifiable?
- Is torture ever morally acceptable?
- Are there any moral absolutes?
- How do we determine what is right and wrong?
- Is there such a thing as objective morality?
- Does morality depend on religion?
- What is the difference between natural and artificial Selection?
- Should humans intervene in nature?
- Is it morally wrong to kill animals for food?
- Should zoos be banned?
- Are humans truly capable of being altruistic?
- Can selfishness ever be a good thing?
- Do we have a responsibility to take care of the environment?
- Is it ever justifiable to break the law?
- Do the ends justify the means?
- Do humans have the right to force their beliefs on others?
- Should gay marriage be legal?
- Should the government have control over what people watch on TV?
- Do politics and religion make good bedfellows?
- Are there any objective moral standards?
- Should there be a law against hate crimes?
- Does capitalism exploit the poor?
- Is public funding of the arts a good idea?
- Is affirmative action justified?
- Should euthanasia be legal?
- How can one determine what is right and wrong?
- Is there such a thing as objective morality?
- What constitutes good parenting?
- What makes a person a hero?
- Should people be permitted to sell their organs?
- Can the government violate one right to protect another right?
- What makes someone a hero?
- Is interracial marriage acceptable?
- What is the purpose of marriage?
- Is divorce ever justified?
- Can humans be objectively moral?
- Can you be moral without being religious?
- Is the death penalty justified?
- Is religion necessary for morality?
- Is it okay to use animals for medical research?
- Is revenge ever justified?
- Should euthanasia be legal?
- Does necessity justify hard work?
- What is your responsibility to society?
- What makes a work of art good?
- Do parents have more of a duty to their children than to society?
- Can you be religious without being a good person?
- What are your responsibilities as a citizen?
- Should there be a separation of church and state?
- Is censorship ever justified?
- Is it ever okay to steal?
- How does one define success?
- Who is personally most responsible for the well-being of a society?
- How do you define morality?
- Is killing ever justified?
- Should assisted suicide/euthanasia be legal?
- Can people ever be so rich as to have no moral obligation to others?
- Can ethics exist without religion?
- Do parents have a responsibility to their children?
- Do rich people have the right to use their wealth in any way they choose?
- What is art’s relation to reality?
- Is caring for the environment a moral necessity?
- What constitutes a good citizen?
- Do white people have a responsibility to support Native Americans?
- Is there such a thing as objective morality?
- Is it morally right to use animals for medical research?
- What makes a person a hero?
- Are politics and religion inevitably intertwined?
- Why are some people willing to kill or die for their cause?
- Are there any moral absolutes?
- How do we determine what is right and wrong?
- Should humans interfere in nature?
- Should marriage be considered a contract?
- How does one define success?
- Is the free market inherently good?
- Is religion necessary for morality?
- Is it okay to use animals for medical research?
- Is there a difference between natural and artificial selection?
- What makes a person a hero?
- Is revenge ever justified?
- Do the wealthy have a moral obligation to society?
- Can humans be objectively moral?
- What makes a work of art good?
- Is it ever okay to lie?
- What is the difference between concrete and abstract art?
- What makes a good parent?
- Is censorship ever justified?
- Is the death penalty ever justified?
- Does necessity justify hard work?
- Is the government justified in censoring the media?
- How can you determine what is right and wrong?
Everything You Wanted to Know About Argumentative and Persuasive Essays (But Were Afraid to Ask)
If you’re a student, chances are good that you’ve written at least one of these essays for a class. But do you know the difference between argumentative and persuasive essays? Keep reading to find out!
The Differences between Argumentative and Persuasive Essays
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to write each type of essay, let’s go over some basic similarities first. Both argumentative and persuasive essays are typically assigned in English classes, using evidence and explanation to make a point. However, that’s really where the similarities end. Let’s take a closer look at each type of essay.
Argumentative Essays: The Basics
An argumentative essay is, quite simply, an essay in which the writer seeks to make a persuasive argument for a particular position. This means that the writer will take a stance on an issue—either for or against it—and then use evidence and explanations to convince the reader to see things from his or her perspective. Argumentative essays often consider debating another person or group’s point of view on an issue to disprove it or show that it is invalid. In other words, argumentative essays are all about winning arguments!
Here Are Some Basic Tips for Writing a Successful Argumentative Essay:
• Choose a debatable topic that you feel passionate about.
• Take a clear stance on your chosen topic and stick to it throughout your essay.
• Support your argument with concrete evidence from reliable sources.
• Be sure to refute any counterarguments your reader might pose.
• Convince your reader that your opinion is correct by providing sound reasoning and convincing arguments.
• Remember to restate your main argument in your conclusion.
Sounding like a broken record is always better than sounding like you don’t know what you’re talking about!
Persuasive Essays: The Basics
Now let’s move on to persuasive essays, which are very similar but also have some key differences.
Like argumentative essays, persuasive essays are also assigned in English classes and attempt to make a persuasive argument for or against something. However, what separates persuasive essays from argumentative ones is that they don’t necessarily have to be unbiased; in fact, most persuasive essays have quite the opposite goal.
Writers of persuasive essays often try to sway their readers by playing on their emotions instead of using logic and reason to convince them—hence the name “persuasive.” While this may seem underhanded at first glance, keep in mind that everyone uses emotional appeals from time to time; think about how nearly every commercial on television tries to evoke an emotional response in its viewers (i.e., “Buy our product, and you’ll be happy/sexy/successful/rich!”)
Persuasive writers take this concept one step further by trying to influence their readers’ opinions on certain topics directly.
So How Can You Write a Successful Persuasive Essay? Check Out These Tips
• Pick a topic that interests you and that you feel strongly about—you’ll be much more likely to write passionately about it if it matters to you!
• Take a clear stance on your chosen topic from the beginning—remember, there’s no room for neutrality in persuasive writing!
• Use concrete evidence from reliable sources throughout your body paragraphs—opinions unsupported by facts will only get you so far
• Try not just to disprove your readers’ counterarguments but also provide convincing refutations for why they should see things from your perspective
• Sum up your main points in your conclusion so that your readers will walk away remembering what they read
• Always remember who your audience is—you’re writing this essay to persuade THEM, not just yourself!
The Point of an Argumentative Essay
Everyone knows there are two sides to every story. And, usually, we’re only presented with one. It’s the nature of human communication to choose a single perspective and stick to it. This is fine when discussing our weekend plans with friends, but what about when the stakes are higher? When we’re trying to persuade someone of our point of view on a controversial issue? That’s where argumentative essays come in.
Argumentative essays aren’t about taking sides. They’re about taking a stand. They’re an opportunity to present your point of view on a hot-button issue and back it up with evidence and logic. In other words, they’re an opportunity to argue. And if you’re going to argue, you might as well do it right. So let’s take a look at what makes a solid argumentative essay.
The Three Components of a Good Argumentative Essay
A Good Topic
The first step to writing an excellent argumentative essay is finding a topic that gets you fired up. You’ll need to be passionate about your position because if you’re not, your lack of enthusiasm will show through in your writing. But beware—above all, your topic needs to be something you can argue persuasively. That means no opinion questions (“Do you think gun control is a good idea?”), no interpretation questions (“What do you think the author meant by this passage?”), and no First person questions (“How do I write an argumentative essay?”). These may be interesting topics to explore, but they don’t make for good arguments because there’s no clear way to take a stand on them. Instead, look for something with two clear sides that can be argued—preferably something that gets people riled up!
A Clear Thesis Statement
Once you’ve found your topic, it’s time to start narrowing down your focus and developing a thesis statement. This is probably the essential part of your essay because it establishes what you will argue and sets the tone for the rest of your piece. A good thesis statement should be clear and concise—it should state your position on the issue without veering off into side topics or tangents. Above all, it should be arguable—someone should be able to read your thesis and reasonably disagree with it (which means you will have something to argue in your paper!).
Evidence That Supports Your Thesis
Of course, an argumentative essay wouldn’t be complete without evidence supporting your point of view—the whole point is, after all, to persuade someone that yours is the correct perspective! Therefore, you must find sources supporting your arguments when writing an argumentative essay. This could mean researching, reading scholarly articles, or even drawing on personal experience. Whatever form your evidence takes, ensure it directly supports your thesis statement.