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