Key Takeaways
- A persuasive essay aims to convince your reader to agree with your viewpoint or take a specific action.
- Below, we’ve put together a list of 50 persuasive topics, categorized by: social media, education, economics, ethics, sports, current issues, government, health, and technology.
- The best persuasive essay topics are ones that interest you, have lots of evidence, and are clear enough to explain within an essay.
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You’ve just been assigned a persuasive essay to write—now what? As the name would suggest, a persuasive essay’s main goal is to convince your reader to see things your way using logic, evidence, and emotion. But before you start writing, you need a strong topic. This guide will walk you through how to choose a persuasive essay topic and give you 50 examples to pick from.
Persuasive Essay vs. Argumentative Essay
While persuasive essays and argumentative essays are similar, they are not identical. Knowing their differences will be critical when you are writing your essay:
- Persuasive essays will aim to convince the reader of a specific opinion, with the writing relying heavily on emotion or personal beliefs.
- Argumentative essays will aim to prove a point using logic and evidence, with the writing relying on research and facts.
Though the topics may overlap at times, your approach and tone will shift depending on what type of essay you are writing.
50 Persuasive Essay Topics
When it comes to choosing a persuasive essay topic, consider current events, personal experiences, and even controversial issues. If it feels like something you are passionate about and can convince your reader of, go for it. Here’s a list of 50 persuasive essay topics to get you started:
Social Media
1. Does technology make us feel more alone?
2. Are apology videos effective?
3. Should social media be banned for children younger than a certain age?
4. Have photos lost their meaning by being digitized?
5. Did [social media platform (i.e., Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok)] change the way we use social media?
Education
6. Are video games educational?
7. Should all students wear uniforms?
8. Should school days start later?
9. Should schools get rid of class rankings?
10. Do the benefits of Greek life at colleges outweigh the negatives?
11. Does doing homework actually help students learn more?
12. Is it better to have a year-round school with shorter breaks throughout the year or a traditional school year?
Economic
13. Should college students have their loans forgiven?
14. Should service-based businesses get rid of tipping and raise wages instead?
15. Should all high school students be required to take a class on financial literacy?
16. Should teens be encouraged to invest their money early?
17. Do fast fashion companies harm the economy in the long run?
Ethics
18. Should artificial intelligence be limited to protect jobs?
19. Is “cancel culture” ethical?
20. Should new medications be tested on animals?
21. Should there be limits to free speech?
22. Should there be stricter gun control laws?
23. Is it okay to use AI tools to help with homework?
Sports
24. Should college athletes get paid?
25. Should schools invest more money in sports or academics?
26. Is it fair for professional athletes to earn millions while teachers and nurses earn far less?
27. Is winning too important in youth sports?
28. Do sports build character or competitiveness?
29. Should cheerleading be considered a sport?
30. Should PE classes be mandatory every year of school?
Current Issues
31. Should schools and workplaces go paperless?
32. Should TikTok be banned in the U.S.?
33. Is social media contributing to a teen mental health crisis?
34. Should voting be mandatory?
35. Do standardized tests do more harm than good?
Government
36. Is the Second Amendment still relevant?
37. Should public college be free to attend?
38. Should healthcare be a right funded by the government?
39. Who was the most/least effective president?
40. Is the Electoral College outdated?
Health
41. Should therapy be free for everyone?
42. Should vaccines be mandatory?
43. Are fitness apps more harmful than they are good?
44. How can health insurance be made more affordable?
45. Are medications like Ozempic a shortcut or a valid health solution?
Technology
46. Are violent video games more harmful than helpful?
47. Are online schools effective?
48. Can AI replace teachers?
49. Have smartphones really improved people’s lives?
50. Should apps be allowed to track user data?
Choosing a Persuasive Essay Topic
With so many persuasive essay topics out there to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to decide. Here are some things to keep in mind as you decide what to write about:
- Is it something you actually care about? If you’re not interested in the topic, it’s going to be hard to make anyone else care. For instance, if government issues don’t excite you at all, you will most likely have a tough time trying to write a convincing essay about them.
- Can you find enough evidence? Start with what you believe, and then find facts, stats, or expert opinions to back it up. If you’re writing about whether or not college athletes should get paid, you’ll need real evidence and examples to support your argument.
- Is it manageable or complex? Some topics have so much information, they can be tough to write about. Try to choose a topic that feels focused and manageable so that your argument feels clear.
Once you get your creative juices flowing after looking through this list of 50 persuasive essay topics, pick the one that stands out to you the most! Remember to choose an essay topic that you are passionate about, because the more you care, the more powerful your argument will be. Happy writing!
You know who you’ll be persuading soon? Colleges. Make sure your future school is the right fit with College Raptor’s free College Match tool.
