613 Original Argumentative Speech Topics Ideas

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Written By Jim Peterson

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

argumentative speech topicsAn argumentative speech is a persuasive speech in which the speaker attempts to persuade his audience to alter their viewpoints on a controversial issue. While a persuasive speech may be aimed more at sharing a viewpoint and asking the audience to consider it, an argumentative speech aims to radically change the opinions already held by the audience. This type of speech is extremely challenging; therefore, the speaker should be careful to choose a topic which he feels prepared to reinforce with a strong argument.

Argumentative speeches generally concern topics which are currently being debated by society, current controversial issues. These topics are often derived from political debates and issues which are commonly seen in the media. The chosen topic may be political, religious, social, or ethical in nature. The audience should be challenged to re-examine their long-held values, and will be asked to alter deeply held convictions based on new evidence or viewpoints on the issue.

Obviously, selecting a topic that is debatable is key to creating an effective speech. The topic should not be something which is generally already proven, or would require an enormous leap of faith or logic in order to convince the audience. The speaker should already possess a strong interest and have a deeply-held opinion on the subject, or else his arguments will probably not come across as believable to the audience.

Topics below are not our personal opinion, they are just samples of a topic. You can flip them to create a different topic. For example, if the topic is “Eating meat and dairy is bad for your body” and you believe the opposite, just make your topic “Eating meat and dairy is good for your body”.

Our list is updated often; huge thank you to all of you who send us topic ideas. Do you have an idea? Use “Send us your idea” form, and we will publish it. And don’t forget to take a look at our extensive list of argumentative essay topics for topics more suited to the written word.

List of Argumentative Speech Topics


Business

  1. How poor accounting methods cause businesses to lose money.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics for Business.

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Constitutional Issues

  1. Does the government have the right to tax its citizens?
  2. Torture is an acceptable measure to prevent terrorism.
  3. Banning some books and movies can help society.
  4. Guns should be made illegal.
  5. The legal drinking age should be changed to 18 for hard liquor and spirits, and to 16 for beer and wine.
  6. Should the government be able to access cell phone data?

Economy

  1. Paying waiters a hourly rate below minimum wage is unfair.
  2. Illegal immigrants are good for the economy.
  3. Decreasing the wealth tax is good for the economy.
  4. What caused the recession in the USA?
  5. Rich people should have tax breaks.

Education

  1. Should students sometimes teach the class about a subject they are an expert on?
  2. Should schools offer sign language in addition to foreign languages?
  3. Any student caught cheating on an examination should be automatically dismissed from college.
  4. Should there be a dress code to prevent students from wearing revealing clothes?
  5. Government aid for students should be based purely on academic performance.
  6. Mobiles phones should be banned in schools for both students and teachers.
  7. How No Child Left Behind has not been implemented correctly.
  8. Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten.
  9. College students should have the freedom to choose their own courses.
  10. Should schools have single sex education?

See this page for a full list of Education Argumentative Speech Topics.

Environment

  1. How the USA can use renewable energy, and what role oil companies can play.
  2. How renewable energy technologies became economically and politically viable in the late 1990s.
  3. Destruction of the world’s forest is justified by human need for land and food.
  4. The racing industry should be forced to use environmentally-friendly fuel.
  5. The government should support and subsidize alternative energy sources.
  6. Alternative energy and hybrid vehicles can help save our planet.
  7. Penalties for crimes against the environment should be tougher.
  8. Vegetarianism is an ecologically thoughtful lifestyle.
  9. Has marine engineering increased pollution?
  10. Working from home is good for the environment.
  11. Rainforest logging should be banned.
  12. Hunting is good for the environment.
  13. The advantages of recycling water.

See this page for a full list of Environmental Argumentative Speech Topics.

Ethics

  1. Should celebrities be held to a higher moral standard since they are often viewed as role models by children and teens?
  2. Convicted prisoners should not have better living conditions than those not in prison.
  3. Clothing and other items produced using child labor should not be imported and sold in the USA.
  4. Denying health insurance because of pre-existing conditions violates human rights.
  5. Using animals for scientific research is inhumane.
  6. DNA experiments on human embryos are unethical and should not be allowed.
  7. Zoos, aquariums, and circuses violate animal rights and should be shut down.
  8. Are beauty pageants exploitive?
  9. Should scientists bring back extinct species through cloning?
  10. People should not be allowed to keep exotic animals as pets.
  11. Should there be world population control?
  12. Stand up for what is right, even if you stand alone.
  13. Hunting is unethical and should not be allowed.
  14. Everyone in the world should have civil rights!
  15. Do you agree that honesty is the best policy?
  16. Assassination can never be justified.
  17. The sale of human organs should be legal.
  18. Euthanasia is not morally acceptable.
  19. Euthanasia should be legalized.
  20. Is human cloning ethical?
  21. Wearing fur is unethical.
  22. We shouldn’t eat meat.

Family

  1. Every family with children filing for divorce must go through a mandatory ‘cooling off’ period.
  2. Adoptive parents should be legally bound to allow biological parents access to their children.
  3. Should babies younger than one get their ears pierced?
  4. Those who want children should take parenting classes and pass tests before having a child.
  5. Both parents should assume equal responsibility in raising a child.
  6. Strict parenting raises strong-hearted, resilient kids.
  7. Why both parents should be a part of their child’s life.
  8. Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
  9. Why children should be respected.
  10. Should we have to pay to adopt a child?
  11. Teenagers should have more freedom than younger kids.
  12. Should kids under 13 be allowed on social media sites?
  13. Should children get to choose their living environment at age 13?
  14. Should parents be held responsible for actions of their children?

See this page for a full list of Family Argumentative Speech Topics. We also have a page with Speech Topics for Kids.

Food and Drink

  1. The only difference between normal and organic food is the cost.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topic Ideas On Food, Drink, and Cooking.

Government

  1. Why veterans should have more government support.
  2. Should the president have served in the military?
  3. Is the American criminal justice system racist?
  4. Democracy is the best form of government.
  5. Women make better presidents.
  6. Is our election process fair?

Health

  1. Tap water is safer than bottled water in countries where the quality of tap water is regulated.
  2. Breastfeeding is one of the most important things a mother can do for a child.
  3. Should children born with birth defects have surgery?
  4. Lapses in food safety result from a complex interplay of factors.
  5. Should fast food restaurants stop adding chemicals to their food?
  6. Taxes should be imposed on unhealthy foods to combat obesity.
  7. GMOs are bad for health and should be avoided at any cost.
  8. Advertising of prescription drugs should not be allowed.
  9. Fast food advertisements and promotions should be banned.
  10. Terminally ill patients should be allowed to use heroin.
  11. Why people should smile when they’re happy, and pretend they are happy when feeling sad.
  12. Our identity is shaped by how others view us.
  13. The benefits of having friends.

See this page for a full list of Argumentative Speech Topics on Health and Fitness. We also have a page with Medical Topics and Psychology topics.

History

  1. Was Mao Zedong a great leader?
  2. Adolf Hitler was a great leader.
  3. The negative effects of Ronald Reagan’s “War on Drugs.”

See this page for a full list of History Speech Topics.

International Politics

  1. Is inequality in South Africa a suitable topic to use for public speaking?
  2. Should the world become one nation and have a council for leadership?
  3. The war in Iraq was justified.
  4. Terrorism is a major issue in the world because innocent people are affected.
  5. Cultural treasures should be returned to their countries of origin.
  6. Invading other countries, as long as for a good cause, is justified.
  7. The New Zealand flag should not be changed.
  8. War is an instrument of foreign policy.

Laws

  1. Driving speed limits should be lifted in areas with a low accident risk.
  2. People who use file-sharing sites to download content illegally should be found and prosecuted.
  3. Should the government give tax exemptions to those who drive electric or hybrid vehicles?
  4. Elderly drivers should be required to take a driving test each year after a certain age.
  5. Should colleges be allowed to use affirmative action to create a more diverse campus?
  6. Garbage disposal should not be free to encourage recycling (example: Switzerland).
  7. Salaries of actors, professional athletes and CEOs should be regulated and capped.
  8. Any products that are believed to cause cancer should have a warning label.
  9. Fast food, soda, chips and other unhealthy food should be heavily taxed.
  10. Making drugs illegal creates an environment for crime and violence.
  11. Should it be harder to get a divorce?
  12. Should the death penalty exist?
  13. Laws to protect the victims of domestic abuse should be enforced.
  14. Pitbulls and other aggressive dog breeds should not be allowed.
  15. Gay couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples.
  16. Should the EPA make it illegal to modify your car for racing?
  17. DUI offenders should lose their license for a year.
  18. Should you have to take a training class to purchase fireworks?
  19. Workers should get four weeks paid vacation each year.
  20. Plastic surgery should be illegal for anyone under 18.
  21. Retirement should be made compulsory at the age of 60.
  22. Abortions should be legal in cases of rape and incest.
  23. The cost of prescription drugs should be regulated.
  24. Couples should be banned from adopting overseas.
  25. Banning smoking in public places is undemocratic.
  26. Spaying and neutering pets should be mandatory.
  27. Minors should be tried for murder at any age.
  28. Voting should be compulsory for all citizens.
  29. Illegal immigrants should receive asylum.
  30. Organ donation should be mandatory.
  31. Vaccinations should be compulsory.
  32. Prostitution should be legalized.
  33. Should abortion be made illegal?
  34. The smoking age should be lowered.
  35. The voting age should be lowered.
  36. Why smoking should be banned.
  37. Talking on the phone while driving should be banned.
  38. There should be equal pay for equal work.

Literature

  1. Does Shakespeare romanticize youth suicide in the tragic play Romeo and Juliet?
  2. Edgar Allen Poe’s career as an author benefitted from his difficult, grief-filled life.
  3. Popular literature is not as valuable as classical literature.
  4. Why books are better than their movies.

Media

  1. Reality television makes people stupid and should be regulated.
  2. Does media violence lead to behavioral problems?
  3. TV cop shows are too intense for children.
  4. Watching television makes people smarter.
  5. Are kids having too much screen time?
  6. Is watching TV good or bad for children?
  7. Has the television become obsolete?
  8. Reality TV is not reality.
  9. Vulgar scenes in films should be reduced.

Music

  1. Can anyone play an instrument with the right materials and instruction?
  2. The beneficial physiological effects of music.

Politics

  1. Americans should not get involved in conflicts that don’t concern the national interest.
  2. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid reform are non-negotiable ways out of the debt crisis.
  3. Famous people (actors, athletes) should not be allowed to become politicians.
  4. Is the government doing justice to the taxpayers?

Relationships

  1. Does age matter in relationships?
  2. Social networks are killing sincere relationships.
  3. Polygamy creates healthy relationships.

Religion

  1. If nothing happens without a cause, then the big bang must have been caused by God.
  2. Why it is better to have many religions.
  3. Banning burkhas or other religious clothing is against human rights.
  4. The world would be more peaceful without religions.
  5. Churches should be required to pay taxes.
  6. Are there any alternatives to evolution?
  7. Religion is a force for evil.

See this page for a full list of  Topics on Religion and Spirituality.

School

  1. Mobile phones shouldn’t be allowed at school.
  2. There is no place for religion in school.
  3. Technology is a distraction.
  4. Homework should be scrapped.
  5. High Schools need armed guards.
  6. Test scores reflect how good the teacher is.
  7. Refrain from dating in high school.
  8. Student ID cards should have tracking devices.
  9. Random drug tests need to be done in high schools.
  10. Teachers should also be graded.

See this page for a full list of School Speech Topics (Elementary, Middle School, High School).

Science

  1. Genetically modified food should be the answer to the world’s hunger problem.
  2. Is Mars the next planet for human habitation?
  3. The NASA moon landing was a hoax.
  4. Space exploration is a waste of money.

See this page for a full list of Science Speech Topics.

Society

  1. Permits should not be needed to build small, permanent structures in the city of Baldwin.
  2. Technological progress signifies the decline of human moral, spiritual, and traditional values.
  3. Men and women face unequal pressure to change their bodies to look good.
  4. Sexual immorality in our society is a result of the influence of foreign films.
  5. People are not satisfied with what they have.
  6. Compulsory military service is good for society and the country.
  7. Christmas is just a way for businesses to increase sales.
  8. Billboards should not be allowed on interstate highways.
  9. Men should be forced to take paternity leave from work.
  10. Violent video games and toys should not be allowed.

See this page for a full list of Argumentative Society Speech Topics.

Sport

  1. Athletes caught using steroids should be banned from professional sports for life.
  2. Why cheerleading should be part of the Olympics.
  3. Why hockey should allow fights.
  4. Is marching band a sport?
  5. Is cheerleading a sport?
  6. Sports should be obligatory at school.

See this page for a full list of Sports Speech Topics.

Technology

  1. Students should not have to learn cursive because technology is making it irrelevant.
  2. Social media has changed us for the worse.
  3. Modern technology has increased material wealth but not happiness.
  4. Has the internet made research easier and more convenient?
  5. How nuclear power shaped 21st century electrical generation.
  6. Technology makes us lose most of our traditions and culture.
  7. Life was better when technology was more simple.
  8. Human beings are becoming slaves of modern technology.
  9. Is the internet a good or a bad thing?
  10. Technology is making people less creative.
  11. The positive effects of technology on society.
  12. Are phones essential?
  13. Nuclear power is better than solar power.
  14. New technologies create problems.
  15. The impact of technology on society.
  16. How electronics affect our body.
  17. The pros and cons of Facebook.
  18. The pros and cons of plastic.
  19. Are children smarter or more socialized because of the internet?

Workplace

  1. Modern offices should have facilities for an afternoon nap.
  2. Should tattoos be in the workplace?

List of Argumentative Essay Topics

    1. Dieting makes people fat.
    2. Romantic love is a poor basis for marriage.
    3. The war on terror has contributed to the growing abuse of human rights.
    4. High school graduates should take a year off before entering college.
    5. All citizens should be required by law to vote.
    6. All forms of government welfare should be abolished.
    7. Both parents should assume equal responsibility in raising a child.
    8. Americans should have more holidays and longer vacation.
    9. Participating in team sports helps to develop good character.
    10. The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal.
    11. People have become overly dependent on technology.
    12. Censorship is sometimes justified.
    13. Privacy is not the most important right.
    14. Drunk drivers should be imprisoned on the first offence.
    15. The lost art of letter-writing deserves to be revived.
    16. Government and military personnel should have the right to strike.
    17. Most study-abroad programs should be renamed “party abroad”: they are a waste of time and money.
    18. The continuing decline of CD sales along with the rapid growth of music downloads signals a new era of innovation in popular music.
    19. College students should have complete freedom to choose their own courses.
    20. The solution to the impending crisis in Social Security is the immediate elimination of this anachronistic government program.
    21. The primary mission of colleges and universities should be preparing students for the workforce.
    22. Financial incentives should be offered to high school students who perform well on standardizing tests.
    23. All students in high school and college should be required to take at least two years of a foreign language.
    24. College students in the U.S. should be offered financial incentives to graduate in three years rather than four.
    25. College athletes should be exempted from regular class-attendance policies.
    26. To encourage healthy eating, higher taxes should be imposed on soft drinks and junk food.
    27. Students should not be required to take physical education courses.
    28. To conserve fuel and save lives, the 55 miles-per-hour national speed limit should be restored.
    29. All citizens under the age of 21 should be required to pass a driving education course before receiving a license to drive.
    30. Any student caught cheating on an examination should be automatically dismissed from college.
    31. Freshmen should not be required to purchase a meal plan from the college.
    32. Zoos are internment camps for animals and should be shut down.
    33. University students should not be penalized for illegally downloading music, movies, or other protected content.
    34. Government financial aid for students should be based solely on merit.
    35. Nontraditional students should be exempted from regular class-attendance policies.
    36. At the end of each term, student evaluations of faculty should be posted online.
    37. A student organization should be formed to rescue and care for the feral cats on campus.
    38. People who contribute to Social Security should have the right to choose how their money is invested.
    39. Professional baseball players convicted of using performance-enhancing drugs should not be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame.
    40. Any citizen who does not have a criminal record should be permitted to carry a concealed weapon.
    41. Is global climate change man-made?
    42. Is our election process fair?
    43. Do colleges put too much stock in standardized test scores?
    44. Is torture ever acceptable?
    45. Should men get paternity leave from work?
    46. Is a lottery a good idea?
    47. Do we have a fair taxation system?
    48. Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
    49. Is cheating out of control?
    50. Are parents clueless about child predators on the Internet?
    51. Are cell phones dangerous?
    52. Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?
    53. Are test scores a good indication of a school’s competency?
    54. Do we have a throw-away society?
    55. Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?
    56. Should companies market to children?
    57. Should the government have a say in our diets?
    58. Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?
    59. Does access to condoms lead to irresponsible, dangerous, or bad behavior?
    60. Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
    61. Are CEOs paid too much?
    62. Do violent video games cause behavior problems?
    63. Should creationism be taught in public schools?
    64. Are beauty pageants exploitive?
    65. Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?
    66. When should parents let teens make their own decisions?
    67. Should the military be allowed to recruit at high schools?
    68. Should the alcohol drinking age be increased or decreased?
    69. Does age matter in relationships?
    70. What age is appropriate for dating?

mi

  1. Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school?
  2. Does boredom lead to trouble?
  3. Does participation in sports keep teens out of trouble?
  4. Is competition good?
  5. Does religion cause war?
  6. Should the government provide health care?
  7. Should girls ask boys out?
  8. Is fashion important?
  9. Are girls too mean to each other?
  10. Is homework harmful or helpful?
  11. Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?
  12. Is college admission too competitive?
  13. There is no such thing as a superfood!
  14. American football is better than rugby.
  15. Abused children grow up to be abusers
  16. Women priests have further weakened the influence of the church today
  17. Britain should exit the EU and concentrate on its special relationship with America
  18. Most asylum seekers are simply seeking a better life
  19. Who was the better wartime Prime Minister – Churchill or Thatcher?
  20. Insurance is a waste of money
  21. North Korea postulates but will never go to war
  22. Lady Gaga is a better role model than Madonna
  23. Celebrities adopting multi-racial kids is merely another cog in their publicity wheel
  24. Sororities do nothing to enhance the cause of womanhood
  25. All phobias can be cured
  26. America is seen as a safe haven for victims of persecution from all over the world
  27. There are more benefits to working in a small company than a large one
  28. Men do not understand the term “fashionista”
  29. Scottish independence would be a good thing for the UK
  30. Seeds are not a health food. They are bird food.
  31. Government spying on personal communication is an infringement of civil liberty
  32. Payday loans are the worst financial product ever
  33. What is the point of massive R&D projects like the Hadron Collider and space exploration when people are starving?
  34. All immigrants to English speaking countries should pass a test before being allowed rights to settle and be re-tested after 10 years.
  35. Only the supermarkets win in price wars
  36. The Burkha is a lasting symbol that Islam is divisive
  37. Space travel should be a rich man’s plaything and government funds diverted to things that matter
  38. Pipe smoking is less harmful than cigarette smoking
  39. Politicians don’t have a “calling” – it is merely a well paid job
  40. Ireland would be no better if it were one country
  41. Global warming is just a phase in the planet’s life cycle
  42. Cigarettes will never be banned completely because Governments couldn’t work without the income they generate
  43. Beauty pageants are exploitative
  44. Condoms should be dispensed free in high schools
  45. Professional athletes are paid too much
  46. Most schools fail at adequate sex education
  47. Aids is the forgotten disease now that it affects mainly African countries
  48. Legalizing some drugs will not combat the scourge
  49. The legal limit of 21 encourages underage drinking
  50. Video games do not cause violent behavior: Violence comes from values
  51. Should creationism be taught in schools
  52. High school is not competitive enough and does not encourage high standards of achievement in everyone
  53. CEOS of public service industries are paid too much
  54. Britain should adopt a new voting system
  55. In a society that calls for equality, men should receive a decent period of paternity leave
  56. Torture has a place in the fight against terrorism
  57. Many parents have no idea of what their child is doing on the computer
  58. Standardized test scores are not the best indication of a student’s aptitude for a certain course.
  59. Should we have a national high school exam?
  60. Is Private school tuition (elementary, high school or college) really worth it?
  61. Does state wide testing like TAKS/STAAR test in Texas really increase student knowledge?
  62. Should colleges abolish reliance on SAT and ACT scores in admissions?
  63. How should our school system in America be reformed?
  64. Should America adopt an educational system more like Europe?
  65. What causes students to graduate high school without basic skills?
  66. How do American students compare with students from other countries?
  67. What Role should technology play in Education?
  68. What is the value of a liberal arts education?
  69. Should students be required to take foreign language courses (or any other type of specific course)?
  70. Does adding school days really improve learning?
  71. Should schools continue to spend money on fine arts?
  72. How should students whose first language is not English be taught in public schools?
  73. Should college athletes be paid?
  74. Does smoking help make acquaintances?
  75. Should students add their teachers as friends on Facebook?
  76. Is the first impression of a person always right?
  77. Are conflicts necessary for healthy relationships?
  78. Should lecture attendance be optional?
  79. Is business ethics an obsolete concept?
  80. Should companies try to copy what their competitors do?
  81. Can businesses learn from their customers’ complaints?
  82. Should all energy drinks be banned?
  83. Is China a new superpower?
  84. Should employees be allowed to use social media sites at work?
  85. Should companies send ‘happy birthday’ messages to clients?
  86. Would Shakespeare’s plays be more interesting if shortened?
  87. Should internet slang, like ‘LOL’ and ‘IMHO’ be included in dictionaries?
  88. Does the English language need to be simpler?
  89. Should kids be allowed to draw on walls?
  90. Do modern schools depend too much on technology?
  91. Do online students have better chances to cheat?
  92. Should hospitals use placebo treatments?
  93. Do innovations really make us lazier?
  94. Can college athletes be smart?
  95. Should students have profiles on all major social networks?
  96. Should people abandon cash and use plastic cards only?
  97. Should countries have ‘1 car per family’ policies?
  98. Should we preserve old buildings as historical monuments?
  99. Are some TV ads objects of art?
  100. Is music in shopping malls harmful to employees’ wellbeing?
  101. Can listening to favorite music heal?
  102. Should journalists who distort the truth to make the news more sensational be punished?
  103. Should all TV channels have censorship?
  104. Do SOPA and PIPA make pirates more skilful?
  105. Is negative PR the secret behind Justin Bieber’s success?
  106. Should Wikipedia give diplomas to their most faithful readers?
  107. Can diamonds be girls’ best friends?
  108. Is the way to a man’s heart through his stomach?
  109. Should couples live together before marriage?
  110. Should parents tell their kids stories about birds and bees?
  111. Can virtual reality be dangerous for kids?
  112. Can we call any war ‘a peacemaking operation’?
  113. Is too much political correctness making communication more confusing?
  114. Are early marriages more likely to end in divorces?
  115. Do elderly people receive better care in retirement homes than with family members?
  116. Should hyperactive kids receive treatment?
  117. Should mind reading during poker games be banned?
  118. Should parents pass tests before homeschooling their kids?
  119. Should parents lie to their kids about Santa Claus?
  120. Does Beavis and Butthead have a negative impact on youth?
  121. Is it fair to use the results of standardized tests to define schools’ budgets?
  122. Are optimism and success infectious?
  123. Is the Bermuda triangle a creation of our imagination?
  124. Advertising: Information Or Manipulation?
  125. Should Affirmative Action Be Abolished?
  126. Should Minors Be Executed For Murder?
  127. Should Parents Be Held Responsible For Their Minor’s Crimes?
  128. Should Gay Clubs Be Allowed In High Schools?
  129. Should High School Education Be Mandatory?
  130. Should Affirmative Action be abolished?
  131. Should schools place more emphasis on disciplining?
  132. To what extent has the traditional male role changed in the last 20 years?
  133. Dieting Does Not Help People Lose Weight
  134. Is gender equality a myth or a sustainable reality?
  135. Should divorce be harder to obtain?
  136. Should marijuana be legalized in the United States?
  137. Should the legalization of marijuana be a state law or left up to the federal government to enforce?
  138. Are colleges and schools just for either all girls or all boys fair or are they sexist?
  139. Should corporal punishment be used to punish children?
  140. Should the US drinking age be lowered or raised from age 21?
  141. How young is too young to have your own cellphone?
  142. Should immigrants to the US be required to learn English before being granted citizenship?
  143. Should those applying for Welfare be drug tested?
  144. Are fast food chains killing people?
  145. Should those receiving government assistance have a limit on the number of children they can receive help for?
  146. Should news reporters be required to share their sources with viewers?
  147. What role, if any, should the federal government take in dealing with the problem of homelessness?
  148. Should women also be required to sign up for the draft at age 18 in the US?
  149. Should those younger than 13 be allowed to have a Facebook or Myspace (or other social networking account)?
  150. Should public school teachers be randomly drug tested as a condition for employment?
  151. Is year-round school a good idea or bad?
  152. Should gay couples be allowed to adopt children?
  153. Should the families of organ donors be compensated for their loved one’s donation?
  154. Damage to the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of living.
  155. Are famous people treated unfairly by the media? Should they be given more privacy, or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?
  156. Are women better parents than men?
  157. Are zoos necessary for education?
  158. Children learn best by observing the behavior of adults and copying it.
  159. Children should never be educated at home by their parents.
  160. Computers can translate all kinds of languages well. Do our children need to learn more languages in the future?
  161. Damage to the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of living.
  162. Advantages and disadvantages of giving international aid to poor countries.
  163. Do the benefits of study abroad justify the difficulties?
  164. Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more good news was reported?
  165. Does foreign aid helps donor countries more than the recipients?
  166. Does travel help to promote understanding and communication between countries?
  167. Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country.
  168. Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten.
  169. The destruction of the world’s forests is inevitable as our need for land and food grows.
  170. A vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat.
  171. If children behave badly, should their parents accept responsibility and also be punished?
  172. In what ways has information technology changed work and working practices in the past 10 years?
  173. Should government intervene in the rights of the individual with regard to family planning?
  174. In your opinion what factors contribute to a good movie?
  175. Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?
  176. News editors should decide what to broadcast on TV and what to print in newspapers.
  177. Should developing countries concentrate on improving industrial skills or should they promote education first?
  178. Should money be spent on space exploration?
  179. Should retirement be compulsory at 65 years of age?
  180. Should rich countries forgive all debts for poor countries?
  181. Should rich countries pay more for environmental damage?
  182. Should sports classes be dropped in secondary school so students can concentrate on academic subjects?
  183. Should the same laws which prohibit the sale and consumption of heroin be applied to tobacco?
  184. To what extent should universities function as training grounds for employment?
  185. To what extent should university courses be geared to the economic needs of society?
  186. What are factors which are related to academic success in high-school students?
  187. What should a government do for a country to become successful?
  188. Free meals should be provided in every school.
  189. Citizens should be taxed a percentage to send towards medical research.
  190. All motor vehicles should be pushed towards electric power.
  191. Prisoners should be used in the workforce.
  192. Dieting does more harm than good.
  193. Chivalry has no place in modern society.
  194. Sexism is still a major problem in the workplace.
  195. Government welfare is an excuse for laziness.
  196. Capitalism is another name for evil.
  197. National security is an excuse for war.
  198. 9/11 was an excuse for continuous war.
  199. Privacy is a luxury not a right.
  200. The age of consent should be raised.
  201. The federal government should control the laws of each state.
  202. Average workplace hours are too long.
  203. Oppressive regimes shouldn’t be given any monetary aid.
  204. The death penalty should be reintroduced.
  205. All people should be allowed to strike.
  206. The music industry needs to get with the times.
  207. A college education needs to be about preparing for the world of work.
  208. There are too many degree options in colleges.
  209. All citizens should speak a second language.
  210. People should be encouraged to holiday abroad.
  211. Restrictions on fuel consumption need to be implemented.
  212. People should be encouraged to start their own businesses.
  213. All citizens should dedicate an hour a week to community service.
  214. Cheating on an examination should be a criminal offense.
  215. Pornography should be illegal.
  216. Brothels should be legalised.
  217. All states should gain equal representation in elections.
  218. Presidential elections should be held every five years.
  219. The restriction on consecutive presidential terms should be removed.
  220. Financial aid shouldn’t be given to people with a criminal record.
  221. People should have a bigger say in how the country is run.
  222. The military needs to see major cuts.
  223. An emphasis on sport in college should be removed.
  224. Social Security Numbers should be abolished.
  225. Elderly people shouldn’t drive.
  226. The rich should pay more tax.
  227. Tax avoidance should be clamped down upon.
  228. Essays are not an accurate reflection of a student’s ability.
  229. There are too many people in the U.S.
  230. Immigration caps should be tightened.
  231. Should people be able to choose to have health care or not?
  232. Are we too dependent on foreign oil?
  233. Is the education policy ‘No Child Left behind’ working?
  234. The media affects young children’s minds
  235. Does the ‘old boy network’ still exist?
  236. Should prostitution be legalized?
  237. Divorced parents should always share custody of their children
  238. Social media is ruining relationships
  239. Convicted prisoners have a better life in prison than out
  240. Society and laws are too lenient on Child Sex offenders
  241. Should racial profiling be legal?
  242. Are Americans sexual prudes?
  243. Is euthanasia inhumane?
  244. Is Michael Jordan the best basketball player of all time?
  245. Should people have to take a test to become parents?
  246. Italians are healthier because they drink red wine
  247. Are humans solely responsible for GlobalWarming?
  248. Cheating helps children learn.
  249. Are vampires real or only in the novels characters?
  250. File-sharing programs on the Internet should/ not be banned.
  251. What is the relationship between illegal immigration and crime
  252. People who download from file sharing websites should be prosecuted.
  253. Rich people should be allowed to pay off their crimes.
  254. Corruption in society is an unstoppable force.
  255. Doctors should learn about religion before practicing.
  256. Rationing of fuel is a good idea.
  257. Sodomy isn’t a sin.
  258. Political figures are out of touch with society.
  259. Public figures should be struck off if they break the law.
  260. All men and women should complete a year of civil service.
  261. Community service isn’t a punishment.

7 thoughts on “613 Original Argumentative Speech Topics Ideas”

  1. I think you’re ideas are from the far left, the “topics” you have are just so one sided im yawning just reading them. COME ON!

  2. Most of these “topics” you list aren’t original. I’ve heard these be argued on the news and in class many times before. Only about 10 of these topics even peaked my interest.

  3. Only 7 of these actually had me thinking. Some aren’t even original. I’ve seen the ‘Should the death penalty exist’ on almost every single site I’ve tried before this.

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