Middle schoolers are always ready for a feisty debate and to argue their points! This list of excellent argumentative essay topics for middle school is sure to give your students the practice they need in getting their arguments down on paper, in a persuasive way. With a variety of topics ranging from whether or not to outlaw animal testing to debating a 3-day weekend, this curated collection will give your kiddos lots of fun choices to explore! Take a look and see which topics are sure to spark some interest in your classroom!
1. Should cell phones be allowed at school?
2. Should exotic animals be kept in captivity?
3. Should there be harsher punishments for bullying?
4. Explain why or why not: Should students have homework on weekends?
5. Do you feel the government should dictate what you get for school lunch?
6. Should cigarettes be illegal?
7. Should gym class (physical education) be a requirement?
8. Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?
9. Do you think that the government should do more to fight against human trafficking?
10. Do you think there should be automatic screen time limits for children?
11. Explain whether or not animal testing should be outlawed.
12. Should the death penalty exist?
13. Do you feel undocumented immigrants should be granted all the same rights as naturalized citizens?
14. Explain your stance as to whether schools should or should not require students to wear uniforms.
15. Should violent video games be banned in the United States?
16. Is milk beneficial to a person’s health?
17. Are hot dogs bad for you?
18. Should a college degree earned through online education have the same worth as a degree earned at a brick-and-mortar university?
19. Explain whether or not the Electoral College should be eliminated.
20. Should an individual be able to keep wild animals as pets if they have the means to care for them?
21. Should the school day be extended in exchange for a long weekend?
22. Should the government have more say in what is or is not “fake news”?
23. Do you feel art courses should be a required part of earning a college degree?
24. Do you agree or disagree that parents should be held responsible for childhood obesity?
25. Explain your stance on whether wind farms are a good or bad idea.
26. Should college admission criteria be less stringent?
27. Do you believe brick-and-mortar schools are still necessary for today’s post-pandemic society?
28. Is the student-per-class limit too high?
29. Should college athletes be paid?
30. Should a felon have the right to vote?
31. Should children be given an allowance?
32. Does the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) do a good job of regulating the production of food?
33. What do you believe is the appropriate age to begin using social media (i.e., Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, etc.)?
34. Should high school students be required to take a civics exam before graduation?
35. Should elite athletes be allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs?
36. Do you believe that a college education is necessary for everyone?
37. Have Native American communities been given proper reparations for the United States’ long history of seizing land?
38. Is scientific research on cloning DNA ethical?
39. Should the government have more strict gun control policies?
40. At what age should children begin doing chores?
41. The moral stain of the slavery of African American people in early American History is undoubtedly present. Do you feel the government promotes hate or love with the way it currently speaks about racism?
42. Should employers have the right to require a Covid-19 vaccine?
43. Do you think electronic voting machines make the election procedure fair or unfair?
44. Should all political offices have term limits?
45. Is climate change something we can truly make a difference with?
46. Should the voting age be lowered?
47. If protecting the environment is of utmost importance, should bottled water be banned?
48. Should the FDA allow GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) in our food?
49. Is daylight saving something the U.S. should keep, or should it be abolished?
50. Should excellent grades guarantee a scholarship?
51. With the separation of church and state, should churches be exempt from paying taxes?
52. Should school security be improved?
53. Should the minimum wage be raised to $15 an hour?
54. Has artificial intelligence gone too far?
55. Should public education at the college level be tuition-free?
56. Should the government have the ability to ban certain books in the classroom?
57. Should school cafeterias serve exclusively vegetarian meals to promote health?
58. Should schools have mandatory classes on financial literacy?
59. Do you believe that the media negatively impacts body image among teens?
60. Should students be required to learn a second language starting in middle school?
61. Should schools have mandatory mental health classes and counseling sessions?
62. Do curfews for teenagers prevent them from getting in trouble or infringe on personal freedom?
63. Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?
64. Should junk food advertisements be banned during children’s TV shows?
65. Do you believe standardized tests accurately measure a student’s intelligence and capabilities?
66. Should students be allowed to use smartwatches during examinations?
67. Do social media platforms need stricter age verification processes?
68. Should parents have access to their children’s social media accounts for monitoring purposes?
69. Do you believe that school field trips are beneficial or merely recreational?
70. Should schools introduce mandatory community service as part of the curriculum?
71. Should schools allow students to bring their pets to school?
72. Do violent cartoons and animations impact a child’s behavior negatively?
73. Should schools be allowed to monitor students’ online activities?
74. Should education about global warming and environmental conservation be a mandatory part of the curriculum?
75. Do video games have educational potential or are they merely distractions?
76. Should parents limit the time their children spend on video games?
77. Do school dress codes infringe on personal expression?
78. Should middle school students be allowed to bring and use laptops in class?
79. Should schools ban single-use plastics?
80. Is cursive writing still a necessary skill in the digital age?
81. Do “participation trophies” diminish the value of real achievement?
82. Should students be taught about controversial historical figures objectively or with a critical lens?
83. Should students have a more significant say in the creation of school rules and policies?
84. Do schools focus too much on college preparation at the expense of life skills?
85. Should students be allowed to take “mental health days” off from school?
86. Are parent-teacher conferences still effective or have they become outdated?
87. Should middle schools have later start times to accommodate adolescent sleep patterns?
88. Should schools have strict policies against cyberbullying?
89. Should parents be held more accountable for their children’s misbehavior at school?
90. Should school libraries invest in more digital resources or in physical books?
91. Is homeschooling a better option than traditional schooling for some students?
92. Should schools introduce more practical skills courses like basic cooking, sewing, or home repair?
93. Do children currently have too much screen time, and is it harmful?
94. Should schools emphasize more on teaching critical thinking skills rather than just memorizing things?
95. Should there be more emphasis on vocational training in middle school?
96. Should students be taught the dangers of misinformation and “fake news” as part of their curriculum?
97. Do parents put too much pressure on their children to excel academically?
98. Should schools have mindfulness and meditation sessions as part of the daily routine?
99. Should there be a limit to the amount of homework a school can assign to students?
100. Is the traditional grading system effective, or does it need an overhaul?
101. Should schools offer more extracurricular activities to cater to diverse interests?
102. Do schools place too much emphasis on sports and athletes at the expense of academic pursuits?
50 Awesome STEM Projects For Middle School