Writing Topics: Argument & Persuasion

Any one of the following statements may be either defended or attacked in an argument essay.

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. Americans 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 vacations.
9. Participating in team sports helps to develop good character.
10. The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal.
11. Americans 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 offense.
15. The lost art of letter-writing deserves to be revived.
16. Government and military personnel should have the right to strike.
17. The continuing decline of CD sales along with the rapid growth of music downloads signals a new era of innovation in popular music.
18. College students should have complete freedom to choose their own courses.
19. The solution to the impending crisis in Social Security is the immediate elimination of this anachronistic government program.
20. The primary mission of colleges and universities is preparing students for the workforce.
21. College athletes should be exempted from normal class attendance policies.
22. Students should not be required to take physical education courses.
23. All citizens under the age of 21 should be required to pass a driving education course before being licensed to drive.
24. Any student caught cheating on an examination should be automatically dismissed from college.