Persuasive writing is one such skill that can help students succeed in real life. Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays.but they rely less on facts and more on emotion to convince the reader. It is important to know your audience so that you can anticipate the counterarguments they might make and try to overcome them. Try reading some reference texts to show children some great examples of opinion writing. Then use these persuasive essay topics to practice.
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Persuasive Essay Topics on School and Education
- Do you think homework should be mandatory, optional, or not given at all?

- Students should/should not be able to use their phones during the school day.
- Should schools have dress codes?
- If I could change one school rule, it would be…
- Year-round school, a good idea?
- Should we stop giving final exams?
- Is it better to be good at studies or good at sports?

- Which is better, private schools or public schools?
- Should all students participate in sports?
- Do you think schools should ban junk food in their cafeterias?
- Should students be required to volunteer in their community?
- What is the most important school subject?
- Are letter grades useful or should we replace them with something else?

- Is it okay to cheat on homework or on a test?
- Should students have the right to evaluate their teachers?
- Do you think college should be free for everyone who wants it?
- Should schools be allowed to ban certain books from their libraries?
- What is better, book smarts or street smarts?

- Should all students learn a foreign language?
- Are single-sex schools better or worse for students?
Essay Topics on Life and Ethics

- Who experiences more peer pressure, girls or boys?
- Should All Americans Be Forced to Vote?
- Is it better to be kind or honest?
- What is better, giving or receiving?
- Is it okay to keep animals in zoos?
- Should the minimum driving age in the United States be changed?

- What is more important, happiness or success?
- Is democracy the best form of government?
- Is social media helpful or harmful?
- Should parents be punished for their children’s mistakes or crimes?
- Should children have set bedtimes or just go to bed when they’re sleepy?
- Do you think the government should find a way to provide free health care to everyone?

- Is it better to save your pocket money or spend it?
- Should plastic bags and bottles be banned?
- What is better, living in the city or in the countryside?
- If I could make a new law, it would be…
Persuasive Essay Topics on Science and Technology
- Is Pluto a planet?
- Should human cloning be legal?
- Should vaccines be mandatory?
- Is it normal that some countries still retain arsenals of nuclear weapons?

- Should animal testing be banned?
- Will the increased use of artificial intelligence benefit humanity?
- Should everyone have free internet access at home?
- Is there intelligent life on other planets?
- Is technology creating more jobs than it is eliminating?
- Should parents use their children’s cell phones to track their whereabouts?
- Should scientists try to develop a way for people to live forever?

- What is the best type of smartphone: Android or iPhone?
- Which is better, Mac or PC?
- Are people too dependent on technology in the modern world?
- Should Cryptocurrencies Replace Cash?
- Is there a minimum age to own a smartphone?
- Is it important to continue spending money on space exploration, or should we use that money for other things?

- Should children under 13 be allowed to use social media sites?
- Should we ban cigarette smoking and vaping altogether?
- Is it better to be an animal that lives in water or on land?
Essay Topics on Sports and Entertainment
- Should children be allowed to watch television on school nights?
- Which is better, paper books or e-books?
- Is the current film rating system (G, PG, PG-13, etc.) effective?
- Are video games better than board games?
- Should we allow young children to play competitive sports?

- What is better, reading books or watching TV?
- Does playing violent video games make people more violent in real life?
- Are graphic novels as valuable as traditional fiction books?
- Should everyone play on the same sports teams, regardless of gender?
- Choose a book that was made into a movie. Which was better, the movie or the book?

- Who is the best athlete in the world, present or past?
- Are professional athletes/musicians/actors overpaid?
- Which is better, fiction or nonfiction?
- The best music genre is…
- What book should everyone read?
- What new sport should be added to the Olympics?

- What is the best video game console?
- Does playing video games make you smarter?
- Does Reality TV Really Depict Real Life?
- Should all neighborhoods have free parks and playgrounds?
Persuasive Essay Topics Just For Fun
- What are the best holidays?
- The best food ever is…
- What is better, artificial Christmas trees or real ones?

- What is the best season of the year?
- Should you put ketchup on a hot dog?
- Is a taco a sandwich?
- Does fruit count as dessert?
- Should people go to school or work on their birthday?
- Are clowns scary or funny?
- What is more dangerous, werewolves or vampires?

- The best pizza topping is…
- What would be the best superpower to have?
- Should everyone make their bed every day?
- What came first, the chicken or the egg?
- Should you put pineapple on pizza?
- Should you eat macaroni and cheese with a spoon or a fork?

- Describe the best ice cream sundae in the world.
- Is Monday the worst day of the week?
- Would you rather travel through time or move forward in time?
- Is it better to be too hot or too cold?
- Are there aliens living among us here on Earth?
What are your favorite persuasive essay topics for students? Come exchange ideas in the We Are Teachers Support Group on Facebook.
In addition, discover The Big List of Essay Topics for High School (120+ Ideas!).
