Category: Students

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120 Debate Topics for High and Middle School Students

Are you looking for debate topics for your middle and high school students? Well, you have come to the right place. Check out our list of 120 debate topics for middle and high school students.

General Debate Topics 

  1. Should we ban homework: does homework promote learning?
  2. How essential is a college education?
  3. Banning mobile devices (cell phones, smartphones) at schools: yes or no?
  4. Is it appropriate to allow students to create their own curricula?
  5. Is abortion murder?
  6. Are violent video games appropriate entertainment for teenagers?
  7. Does social media contribute to teenage suicide?
  8. Does modern social media make people less socially active?
  9. How should modern society respond to teenage pregnancies?
  10. Is higher education a necessary prerequisite for an individual’s financial success in the future?

Topics Related to Education

  1. Are private schools better than public schools?
  2. Should education be privatized entirely?
  3. Are student loans exploitative?
  4. Does the traditional classroom address contemporary society’s needs?
  5. Is allowing teachers to carry guns on campuses a good idea?
  6. Does the contemporary grading system work?
  7. Should college education be compulsory?
  8. Is it appropriate to teach religion in schools?
  9. Is homeschooling better than a public or private school education?
  10. Is it fair to require that all students learn at least one foreign language?

Social Debate Topics

  1. Does the contemporary policing of marginalized communities in the United States contribute to the criminalization of youth?
  2. Should the death penalty be abolished in the United States?
  3. Is it ethical to have an abortion in the early stages of pregnancy?
  4. Does peer pressure absolve deliquent teens from cupabilty?
  5. Will electronic databases fully substitute brick and mortar libraries?
  6. Is cloning ethically acceptable?
  7. Is the legalization of marijuana a food idea?
  8. Should euthanasia be legalized?
  9. Is there any reason to raise minimum wages?
  10. Drug addicts: Do they need help or punishment?
  11. Is nationalism beneficial or dangerous in the context of globalization?

Environmental Issues

  1. Is climate change already irreversible?
  2. Banning plastic bags and packaging: yes or no?
  3. Are genetically modified foods a viable solution?
  4. Banning zoos: yes or no?
  5. How does tourism affect the environment?
  6. Should there be more national parks in the United States?
  7. Is banning fracking a good idea?
  8. All people should become vegetarian.
  9. What is organic farming’s role in agriculture’s future?
  10. Are live animal exports ethically acceptable?

Political Debate Topics

  1. Political campaigns should not be allowed to accept money from.
  2. Democracy is the best form of government.
  3. Is it appropriate for governments to limit their citizens’ freedom of speech?
  4. Are taxes that increase at accelerating rates fair?
  5. Limiting terms for U.S. senators and representatives brings more harm than good.
  6. Former offenders should preserve their voting rights.
  7. Modern patterns of incarceration that affect minorities more than whites contribute to racial inequality in the US.
  8. Is it necessary for a political leader to be active on social media?
  9. Is the US Constitution a living document?
  10. Should the Supreme Court judges be appointed for predetermined fixed periods?

Debate Topics Related to Parenting

  1. Should children use smartphones without parental supervision?
  2. Teenage girls having access to birth control without parental supervision: yes or no?
  3. Should parents decide which career their children will pursue?
  4. Parents always treat their children fairly: yes or no?
  5. Is it ethically permissible for parents to  pick the genders of their future children?
  6. Gay couples are adopting children: pros and cons.
  7. Should parents control their children’s activities on social media?
  8. Is parental supervision the same as parental control?
  9. Teenage children and completely autonomous decision-making: should parents allow this?
  10. Is parental support essential for the future success of children?

Technology Topics

  1. Will technology make people smarter?
  2. Is artificial intelligence dangerous?
  3. Will robots increase people’s quality of life?
  4. How do technological advances influence us?
  5. Will humans colonize another planet soon?
  6. Can all cars become electric?
  7. Does technology intensify human communication?
  8. Recent developments in technology transform people’s interests: yes or no?
  9. Can people save nature using technology (or destroy it)?
  10. Do laws effectively keep up with changes in technology?
  11. How can companies like Certbolt grow their ROI?

Healthcare Topics

  1. Justifying the legalization of recreational marijuana: yes or no?
  2. Is mandatory vaccination constitutional?
  3. Alternative medicine and its impact on the future of healthcare.
  4. Does technology promote our health?
  5. Modern healthcare and antibiotics.
  6. Is drug legalization a good idea?
  7. Does globalization promote universal healthcare?
  8. Should healthcare services for all citizens be fully funded by the government?
  9. Should the government be allowed to force parents to take their sick children to the hospital?
  10. Can competition improve the quality of healthcare services?

Debate Topics Related to Leisure

  1. Is a summer vacation better than a winter vacation?
  2. Encouraging teenagers to read books: are the outcomes encouraging?
  3. Has technology changed the way young people spend their leisure time?
  4. Has social media taken over our leisure time?
  5. Can daily leisure time be a substitute for a yearly vacation?
  6. Is leisure time essential for workplace effectiveness?
  7. Playing video games during leisure time: pros and cons.
  8. Has work-life balance changed with the advent of technology?
  9. Has globalization and our increased mobility changed the way we view vacations?
  10. Women spend their leisure time differently than men.

Debating Financial and Policy Matters

  1. Can the U.S. government ensure the country’s financial stability?
  2. How secure is mobile banking?
  3. Does the credit industry promote or hinder economic development?
  4. Is there any economic justification for wars?
  5. Should wealthy people pay higher taxes than the poor?
  6. How would lowering the voting age impact America’s future?
  7. Mass incarceration and its impact on U.S. politics.
  8. Mandatory financial education: pros and cons.
  9. Should online financial advice be available for every citizen?
  10. Can high profitability alone justify environmentally hazardous practices?

Debating Historical Matters

  1. History is an important subject that all students should learn: yes or no?.
  2. Is King Arthur a real historical figure or myth?
  3. Knowledge of history enriches one’s worldview: yes or no?
  4. What role did Britain play during the First World War?
  5. How have different historians interpreted World War Two?
  6. Was there any justification for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US?
  7. How shoudl we interpret the Revolutionary War?
  8. Ancient Roman culture versus contemporary culture.
  9. History & its impact on the future.
  10. Modern interracial conflicts evaluated from a historical perspective.

Topics for Fun Filled Debates

  1. Are men stronger than women?
  2. Daydreaming versus dreaming at night: which is better?
  3. Communication between the sexes: do men and women have different approaches?
  4. Choosing the best pizza topping: healthy versus tasty.
  5. Do fairy tales affect children’s perception of reality?
  6. Is living together before marriage appropriate nowadays?
  7. Should teenagers get after-school jobs?
  8. Gender and life expectancy: what factors explain life expectancy gaps?
  9. From a historical perspective, are women smarter than men?

 

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136 Persuasive Speech Topics for Students

Are you looking for persuasive speech topics to assign to your students? Don’t worry; we have you covered. Check out our list of 136 persuasive speech topics for students.

  1. Testing products on animals: is it ethical or not?
  2. Is it right to keep animals in zoos?
  3. Should we use products made with animal fur?
  4. Euthanizing stray animals: is it ethical?
  5. Can a companion or service animal change someone’s life?
  6. Is it rational to be scared of harmless yet frightening or unusual animals?
  7. Keeping wild and exotic pets away from their natural habitat. Is it ethical?
  8. Should we spay pets to control overpopulation?
  9. Keeping exotic animals at home. Is it good for them?
  10. Ten ways we can help animals live better
  11. Personality disorders among teens. Are they easy to identify?
  12. How our differences make us unique
  13. Phobias of children, teens, and adults. What are the similarities and differences?
  14. When is it right to give children medication for mental issues?
  15. Suicide among teenagers. Is the media affecting it?
  16. Studying psychology stresses students out
  17. Peer pressure is the cause of a lot of delinquency during the teenage years
  18. The importance of people skills
  19. Are introverts better entrepreneurs?
  20. How can a mentor affect your success as an entrepreneur?
  21. Understanding your position in the market. How can it affect your current and future business plan?
  22. Can social media affect your marketing plan?
  23. Should you start a business based on your passions?
  24. Starting a successful business with no money
  25. The value of unique business ideas
  26. Using feedback from unhappy customers to enhance your sales
  27. The importance of delegation
  28. Employers are asking for their employees’ social media accounts. Is it right or wrong?
  29. Employers shouldn’t ask questions related to an employee’s personal life
  30. Life as a teen addicted to technology
  31. Teachers contribute more to society than a lot of other professions
  32. Video games promote violence among children and teens
  33. Are music videos appropriate for children and teens to watch?
  34. Mental health and well-being should be one of the subjects studied in school
  35. Kids under 16 years shouldn’t have their own social media accounts
  36. Exam results shouldn’t be used to label students
  37. Dealing with bullies. Is it suitable to punish them?
  38. Are K-12 schools rigorous enough?
  39. How to overcome shyness
  40. Which sport should you play to stay fit and healthy?
  41. How to write the best title for your speech?
  42. How to overcome your fear of public speaking?
  43. What is the best way to solve challenging Math problems?
  44. A migraine is usually overlooked at school or in a workplace
  45. Alternative medication: The truth and the myths
  46. Infertility in couples is related to stress and unhealthy lifestyles
  47. Mental health issues affect the whole society
  48. The food industry causes obesity
  49. Everyone should donate blood at least once a year
  50. How to overcome back pain? Different treatment options
  51. Using a mouthwash after brushing your teeth is essential for your dental health
  52. Do cell phones affect our brains?
  53. Non-smokers should be first on organ transplant lists
  54. Is biohacking good for your health?
  55. Diet beverages do not make you lose weight
  56. How to keep your immune system strong
  57. How to improve the way your body and brain function
  58. Social media affects people’s self-image and self-esteem
  59. Competitive sports teaches us a lot about life
  60. Who is a hero? What are the qualities of a hero?
  61. Learning from your mistakes
  62. Spending time with your grandparents
  63. Brilliant ways to make money in the 21st century
  64. Living underwater: A reality or science fiction?
  65. Texting while driving should be illegal
  66. Using single-use plastic containers should be banned
  67. School days should start later in the day
  68. Immigration laws should be more lenient
  69. Living with refugees from other countries
  70. Students should be able to pick their schools
  71. Parents should be able to pick their child’s schools
  72. Should human beings control the weather?
  73. Simple ways to overcome stress
  74. People who spend their time playing video games are more prone to depression
  75. Video games can enhance people’s brain functioning
  76. Children who play video games have faster responses
  77. How will gaming look ten years from now?
  78. Virtual reality affects people’s perception
  79. Living without computers is impossible
  80. A video game can be the easiest way to teach kids
  81. Watching people playing video games is as fun as watching sports in person
  82. Will playing video games cause behavior problems?
  83. The gaming industry is affecting every aspect of our lives
  84. Video games are just as popular among adults
  85. Playing video games with random people online makes you more sociable and outgoing
  86. Using genetically modified foods is bad for our health
  87. Using painkillers is not healthy
  88. The technology revolution is changing life way too fast
  89. Human beings should depend more on renewable energy
  90. The power of crystal healing can improve our mental and physical health
  91. How your diet can cause the onset of different health conditions
  92. Using supplements should be controlled
  93. Coming up with guidelines that control STEM cell research
  94. How can science be used to improve the lives of physically challenged individuals?
  95. High-school and middle-school students should be trained to do PowerPoint presentations
  96. Improving students’ presentation skills
  97. Should uniforms be obligatory in schools?
  98. Should there be separate classrooms for boys and girls?
  99. Students sent to boarding schools: A responsibility and a risk
  100. The possible positive effect of spending a year as an exchange student
  101. Cell phones shouldn’t be allowed in schools
  102. Taking a year off school. Can it help you?
  103. Hilarious games in the class can help shy students get along with others
  104. Grades: Are they a fair way to evaluate academic performance?
  105. More political and legal measures should be taken to protect the environment
  106. Keeping an animal away from its home will affect the environmental balance
  107. Businesses have a serious obligation towards protecting the environment
  108. There should be a strict policy against polluting the ocean
  109. Should there be government policies against the use of disposable diapers?
  110. Recycling paper is going to save our planet
  111. Are we taking the right measures to address global warming?
  112. Can child abuse and traumas lead to future mental disorders?
  113. Can family history make children more prone to stress and anxiety?
  114. Should children and teens be worried more about their privacy or safety?
  115. Can video games be used to educate children and teens?
  116. Having an older/younger sibling. The perks and the challenges
  117. Internet censorship for kids, is it a must?
  118. The problem of governmental spending on biological weapons
  119. Are we taking the right steps to eliminate cultural sensitivity?
  120. Obesity in children is related to living a fast-paced life. What is the role of the parents
  121. Getting and renewing a driving license: Is one test per lifetime enough?
  122. Should smokers pay a health tax?
  123. Is the government spending too much on the military sector?
  124. Can writing a journal help you become a better person?
  125. Reality shows affect people’s mental health
  126. Song lyrics affect our lives in several ways
  127. Should an artist comply with the rules set by society while working on a project?
  128. Can action movies cause stress and anxiety?
  129. Reading inspirational and humorous quotes improves your mood
  130. Why reading an informational article in a list form is easier
  131. Studying religion is motivational
  132. How do we overcome conflicts and arguments between people who believe in different religions?
  133. Should religion be allowed in schools?
  134. Scriptures from the Bible can help people renew their belief
  135. Current vs. ancient interpretations of the Bible: Which is more factual?
  136. Children should be allowed to choose their religion

Bonus: How can companies like Prepaway diversify their companies?

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5 Steps to Improve Your SAT or ACT Score

Whether you want to receive more scholarship offers or be accepted into your dream college, getting a good ACT or SAT score can help you accomplish this. Many students who take these exams again usually improve their scores, which is why you should take it at least twice. If you are looking for tips on how to improve your SAT or ACT score, then look no further. Here are some suggestions for maximizing your score.

Step 1. Choose your target score range

Before taking a college entrance exam again, take some time to reflect on your past experiences. Did you study enough? Were you distracted in any way? Doing so will help you develop a plan for overcoming your past mistakes. Also, determine whether you want to take the SAT or ACT score and what you want to accomplish. Are you trying to land a scholarship or just impress your target college? Use this information to decide on a target score range. Having a clear goal will help you stay motivated during the entire process.

Step 2. Register for your exam

Ok, now that you have your target score range, check out the upcoming SAT or ACT dates and decide when you want to retake the test. Make sure you factor scholarship and college application deadlines into your decision. Also, you should practice for the exam at least 2 months before the test. Now that you have chosen your date go ahead and register because test centers for college entrance exams usually fill up quickly. It only takes a couple of minutes to register. Just sign into the ACT or SAT website, choose your date and center, and pay for your exam. Also, don’t forget to check to see if you qualify for any registration fee waivers. These waivers are available for students who come from low-income backgrounds and may not have the funds to pay for the exam.

Step 3. Develop a practice routine and schedule, then practice, practice, practice!

Now its time to study. First, visit the website of the college entrance exam that you plan to take to look for practice materials. Their homepage should have a link to suggested study resources, usually developed by them or a partner. It’s a no brainer to use their materials. Since they created the exam, they would be in a better position to develop resources to help you study. Once you acquire the resources that you need, then set up a practice routine and schedule, then stick to it. You may have to make tweaks from time to time, but as long as you commit yourself to study hard, you should be ok.

Step 4. Take a full-length ACT or SAT practice test

After about 2 weeks of practicing, take a full-length practice exam. I would do this on the weekend, since he ACT lasts two hours and 55 minutes, and the SAT lasts three hours and 45 minutes. Take a full-length practice test is hands down, the best way to simulate test day, and to gauge whether you are ready. The score that you receive on one of these practice exams is predictive of the score you will get on the real test. Both the SAT and ACT offer full-length practice tests for free. You can take them online or print them out. The cool thing about taking a practice exam online is that you receive your scores instantly (except for the essay section). Now its time for the real thing. Get a good night’s sleep before test day, and make sure you have a nutritious breakfast the next morning.

Step 5. Retake the SAT

After you take your exam, just relax and wait for your scores to arrive. It takes about 2 weeks for ACT scores to be sent and about 3 weeks for SAT scores to be sent. If you did not reach your desired score, just remember, you can always take it over, as many times as you would like. As long as your score increased, you shouldn’t be concerned. That means that you are headed in the right direction. Reflect on the test preparation process and what you could have done better. Also, consider taking an ACT or SAT preparation course or hiring a private tutor. Don’t worry; if you keep working hard, good things are bound to happen.

What did I miss? What advice would you give to someone who is trying to get a higher score on the SAT or ACT?

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14 Engaging Strategies that Students Can Use to Begin an Essay

If you don’t know much about my background, I spent 2 decades as a K-12 teacher and university professor. One of the hardest things to do was to teach students to write effective essays. As a special education and social studies teacher in K-12 and a professor of education at the university level, I stockpiled lots of tips for helping students to develop outstanding essays.

Today, I want to talk about the methods that I taught students to use to begin their essays. As we all know, an effective introductory paragraph can mean the difference between an essay that motivates and persuades or one that fails to connect with its audience. It lets your readers know what your essay is going to be about and sets a tone that can encourage them to keep reading.

There are tons of ways to begin an essay effectively. Here are the 14 introductory strategies that I taught my students to use when starting a new composition. These are merely suggestions, and I have had plenty of students to use them as inspiration to create their own methods.

  1. Begin with a joke, anecdote, or humorous quotation, and connect this with something about your subject. Throughout your essay, you can include callbacks that reference or tie back to the original joke or humorous statement.
  2. Make a contrast between reality and image—that is, between a stereotype and the actual truth. 
  3. Succinctly describe a process that leads to your subject. 
  4. Utilize a delay: which means putting off introducing the theme of your essay to pique your readers’ interest without overly frustrating them. The tension entices readers to brace for the big reveal.
  5. Contrast the past and present of your subject to introduce it to the reader. 
  6. Discuss your thesis succinctly and directly but avoid being obvious (“This essay is about…”). 
  7. Ask a question related to the subject and then invite others to answer it. Another variation would have you to ask and answer the question.
  8. Utilize a historical event in the present tense. This means that you will be discussing and framing it as if it were occurring now. 
  9. Introduce your essay as a new discovery or revelation. 
  10. Discuss a unique fact about the subject that you plan to discuss.
  11. Describe the setting of your essay. 
  12. Reenact an event that exaggerates or satires your subject. 
  13. Tell a secret about yourself that no one knows.
  14. Talk candidly or frankly about your subject. 

What did I miss? What strategies do your students use to begin their essays? Place your advice in the comment section below.

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Course Review: Staying Present: Mindfulness for Better Teaching and Learning

Have you ever thought about the kinds of things that you accomplish before the school bell rings to signal the end of the day? In all probability, you would have run from one end of the playground to another some fifteen times if not more, handled disputes and power struggles and shouted louder than the football coach on the field. Unfortunately, a teacher does not have the luxury of checking into a spa for a few weeks to remove all the stress that is causing them to grow old faster. So, what can the modern teacher do to stay calm, while so much chaos is happening around them? One word. Mindfulness. Yes, mindfulness.

What exactly is mindfulness? Mindfulness is a set of strategies that have been used for several millennia to help people be “present” and in the moment, instead of focusing on distractions and stressors. Mindfulness is accomplished by calming the mind and becoming more aware of your emotions, cognitions, and body. Staying “present” helps you to increase your focus, improve your socio-emotional intelligence, and enhance your physical health. Studies have shown that incorporating mindfulness techniques and strategies in the classroom provides several teaching and learning benefits. Students and teachers are calm, at peace, and become in full control of their mind, body, and soul, which allows them to have more success in the classroom.

Recently, I had the pleasure of demoing an online professional development course entitled “Staying Present: Mindfulness for Better Teaching and Learning,” which teaches the practice of mindfulness to educators. The class was created by Advancement Courses, an innovative education development company that provides continuing education to educators. In this course, I learned a plethora of tips and strategies for implementing mindfulness in the classroom. I was able to work at my own pace and felt at ease as I participated in activities that are designed to help educators center their body, mind, and spirit, and handle stressful moments.

I appreciate the care and attention that was put into developing this course. Advancement Courses only employs authors who are expert teachers with extensive classroom experience. They design each course to be meaningful, engaging, and classroom applicable. Classes are not just filled with innovative techniques and perspectives, but also show what these tools look like in practice.

I love how the syllabus includes a section entitled “Connections to the Classroom” that explains how the course plans to help you turn theories of mindfulness into sound professional practices. Also, the “Course Objectives” section was a standout, as it does a superb job of stating the skills that educators will attain by taking the course. This is standard information that all online courses have, but you wouldn’t believe how many education companies do a horrible job of writing course objectives.

Another bonus is that all courses are led by facilitators with a proven track record of supporting teachers across content areas and grade levels. Facilitators help guide you through your course by answering questions, offering detailed feedback on assignments, and more. They have a deep understanding of national standards like the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, and I do not doubt that their feedback is constructive, research-based, and thorough. If you have technical or course-related questions, your facilitator and the support team are available to help.

The coolest feature of the course was the community space, which gives you access to a professional learning community comprised of like-minded professionals across the world. It’s a place for you to share resources, explore innovative ideas, and connect with other educators. Whether you’re looking to incorporate new teaching strategies, problem solve or enhance your lesson plans; it’s your chance to interact and learn from your peers. You can access this space via the “Community” link at the top of the eclassroom in any course.

The community space includes discussion forums where you can engage with other educators in ongoing conversations, share and get feedback on ideas, and post questions. It also has a searchable database of articles, blogs, websites, videos and other contributed content and includes integrated sharing and social tools to make participating and extending the conversation easy. The community space also provides social networking opportunities via Facebook, Pinterest, etc.

I love the fact that the course is not tied to a semester, and can be taken anytime, anywhere – with up to six months to complete. This gives busy educators the opportunity to expand their knowledge at a pace that works for them. Also, you can complete the course in two formats, online and print. If you choose to take an online course, you’ll analyze real classroom footage of best practices in mindfulness and engage in interactive tasks. You can complete your online coursework on a variety of digital devices, even smartphones, and tablets. If you choose a print course, you’ll delve deeply into a selection of texts and multi-media to gain a greater understanding and learn new mindfulness strategies. No matter what format you choose, I know you’ll enjoy the course and be able to start implementing what you have learned immediately into your practice. The courses are available in non-credit or grad-level credit versions, and even come with a transcript.

After I completed my demo of the course, I felt empowered. I was confident that I had the tools that I needed to create an energized, interconnected, and kind classroom culture where every student is engaged, motivated, and passionate about learning and can stay present even in stressful situations. Thanks, Advancement Courses. I wholeheartedly recommend this course to all classroom teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, etc. who are striving to live a stress-free personal and professional life. You won’t be disappointed.