The ability to discuss and defend different points of view is an important life skill, and it’s more important than ever. One way to teach students this valuable skill is through debate. High school debate topics range from the light-hearted and fun (Is a hot dog a sandwich?) to the downright controversial, but they all give students real-life experience in constructively disagreeing. Gives you an opportunity to accumulate.
Why is debate important in the classroom?
Some teachers avoid classroom discussions for fear of making them too adversarial. But that’s the point! People need to learn to recognize differences of opinion with each other without turning it into a shouting match. Constructive discussion provides a rational exchange of ideas and perspectives and helps move the discussion forward.
In debate, students learn to research their topics, make informed choices, and argue effectively using facts rather than emotions. These skills not only serve students well in academic environments, but also prepare them for real-world communication and collaboration.
In fact, participating in formal debate activities such as groups and clubs has been shown to have real academic benefits. Students who participate on debate teams are 12% more likely to graduate from high school. One study also showed that debate was almost three times more effective at improving language arts performance than traditional reading intervention.
At what age should children learn debate skills?
It’s never too early to start teaching children to think critically and discuss their points of view with others. Choose an age-appropriate topic (see Choosing an Easy and Fun Debate Topic).
“Debate is good in the preschool classroom, too,” says educator Mark Graham. “Debate is a way to learn more.” He uses simple topics, such as whether it’s important not to litter, and asks follow-up questions, such as “Who gets hurt when you litter?” I am proposing to do so. Where should I throw away my garbage? How can we stop people from littering? ”
Rather than just saying, “Littering is bad,” encourage students to use facts to support their statements (such as, “Throwing plastic bags into the ocean can hurt sea turtles”). As students grow, they can learn how to properly research and find reliable sources to support their side of an argument.
How can teachers help students succeed in debate?
Successful debaters rely heavily on critical thinking skills. Start by teaching students to think critically and learn how to distinguish between fact and opinion. We help you understand reliable primary sources and how to recognize bias and misinformation.
Then, assign or have students choose a topic of interest. If it’s an issue on which they have strong personal opinions, asking them to defend the opposing point of view can be very helpful. Yes, it’s difficult, but debate is about acknowledging the valid opinions of others, even if you don’t agree with them. Our extensive list of high school debate topics offers something for every type of student and classroom.
Free printable debate graphic organizer
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Each topic in the list below includes links to articles from reliable sources that provide strengths and/or weaknesses to help students get a head start on their research. Use these links in conjunction with our free printable debate graphic organizer tool. These help students prepare arguments using facts and reliable sources, rather than relying on emotion to persuade an audience. The graphic organizer also includes helpful rules to help debaters stay focused on the subject.
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Debate extension activities
Debate is a great way for students to develop their critical thinking and communication skills, but it doesn’t have to stop at the podium. Encourage students to turn discussion into action with The Edit, a digital storytelling challenge from NBCU Academy and Adobe. This real-world application encourages students to plan, script, and create their own 90-second video news reports on important health topics. Plus, winning classrooms can win prizes like GoPros and Fandango gift cards.
School and education debate topics
It is better to be good at academics than to be good at sports. Final exams should be abolished. Students must wear school uniform. Private schools are better than public schools. Year-round schools are better for students. Standardized tests are effective. All students must participate in athletics. Single-sex schools are better for students. Schools should be allowed to teach critical race theory. Mathematics is the most important school subject. Schools should not only teach abstinence, but also sex education. Text evaluation should be abolished. Teachers should be replaced by computers. People who do better in school will be more successful in life. Sometimes it’s okay to cheat on homework or tests. Students who fail a test should be given the opportunity to retake the test. Outdoor recess time is important at every grade level. Students should be able to grade teachers. Everyone should be able to bring their pet to school. Shorter class days are better for students. Schools should abolish dress codes. Everyone should be required to go to university. College should be free to everyone who wants to attend. Schools should set up safety rooms in case of mass shootings or natural disasters. Schools should be allowed to ban some books from their libraries. Being smart by reading books is better than being smart on the street. Schools should teach life skills such as cooking and personal finance management. School vouchers benefit students and schools. Religion does not exist at school. Face-to-face school is better than online school. Traditional school is better than homeschool. Charter schools should receive public school funding.
Topics of Government and Citizen Discussion
The voting age should be lowered to 16 years. Democracy is the best form of government. All Americans should be required to vote. The driving age should be raised to 18. The drinking age should be lowered to 18. Supreme Court justices should be appointed for a fixed term. Parents should be punished for their children’s crimes. A progressive income tax is better than a flat tax. All students should be required to volunteer in the community. The United States is not yet ready for a female president. Police funding should be redirected to social services. The United States should introduce universal basic income. People of all genders should be required to register for the draft. Gun safety laws violate the Second Amendment. Anyone over the age of 12 should be tried as an adult in court. Citizens should be required to take a drug test before receiving government assistance such as welfare. Government should fund public art programs. There are reasonable limits to freedom of speech.
Science and technology discussion topics
Plastic bottles should be banned. Spending money on space exploration is important. Developing countries must meet the same environmental standards as developed countries. GMOs are more beneficial than harmful. Human cloning should be legal. We should ban fossil fuels. Nuclear weapons should be banned worldwide. Animal testing should be illegal. Macs are better than PCs. Android is better than iPhone. All paper documents should be replaced with electronic versions. Parents should use their child’s cell phone to track their child. Intelligent life exists on other planets. Scientific research should use stem cells from human embryos. People are too dependent on technology. Internet service providers should be required to be net neutral. Expanding the use of artificial intelligence will be good for humanity. Technology creates more jobs than it takes away. Schools should have surveillance cameras in classrooms and hallways. The United States should provide free internet access to everyone. Cryptocurrency should replace cash. Scientists should strive to develop a way for everyone to live forever. Pluto should still be considered a planet. Governments should subsidize technologies such as electric cars and home solar panels.
Health and lifestyle discussion topics
Humans should not eat animals. Cigarette smoking and e-cigarettes should be completely banned. Drug addicts should be helped, not punished. Euthanasia should be legalized. Vaccines should be made compulsory. White collar jobs are better than blue collar jobs. The right to abortion and other reproductive rights should be protected by law. Marijuana should be legal everywhere. Junk food should be banned in school cafeterias. Schools must provide free mental health services to students and teachers. Like alcohol, all drugs should be legalized, regulated and taxed. Healthcare should be universal. Beauty pageants are sexist. Before having a child, you should take a parenting class. Doctors should not be allowed to prescribe psychiatric drugs such as Ritalin or SSRIs to children. Organ donation should be made compulsory after death.
Discussion topics about social justice and ethics
Girls are exposed to more peer pressure than boys. Giving is better than receiving. Animals should not be kept in zoos. Happiness is more important than success. If you find money on the ground, it automatically becomes yours. It’s better to be kind than honest. We should abolish separate public toilets for men and women. By studying history, we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Ethical hunting and fishing is possible. Men should not be allowed to make laws that affect women’s bodies. The death penalty should be abolished. Safety is more important than freedom. The government must pay reparations to the descendants of enslaved people. Religion does more harm than good. We can never achieve world peace. We should make the path to American citizenship easier. A strong middle class is essential to the economy. Transgender athletes should be allowed to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity. Criminal profiling is inherently racist. We should return control of our ancestral lands to indigenous communities. The American justice system is inherently racist. Age discrimination is a big problem in our society. Felons should be allowed to vote after serving their time in prison. The United Nations should require all member states to admit a minimum number of refugees each year.
Entertainment and Technology Discussion Topics
Reality TV depicts real life. Schools should allow students to use phones during class. Social media has made us less social. Social media does more harm than good. Video games are better than board games. Video games are sports. Reading books is better than watching TV. Books are always better than movies. Playing video games makes you smarter. Paper books are better than e-books. All museums and zoos should be free to everyone. Everyone should play on the same sports team, regardless of gender.
Fun and easy debate topics
Dogs are better pets than cats. A taco is a sandwich. Summer is better than winter. Coke tastes better than Pepsi. Pepperoni is the best topping for pizza. Fruit counts as dessert. The number 13 is not unlucky. People should eat to live, not live to eat. Monday is the worst day of the week. Clowns are more scary than funny. Modern music is better than classical music. There are aliens living among us on Earth. It’s OK to put ketchup on a hot dog. Was Robin Hood a thief or a rebel hero? Better to be able to fly than be invisible. It’s better to be too hot than too cold. We should allow people to walk barefoot wherever they wish. Fiction is better than non-fiction. Using profanity is good for your mental health. Leftover pizza tastes better when it’s cold rather than reheated. It’s okay to wear socks with sandals. Being famous is actually not that great. GIF should be pronounced “JIFF” instead of “GIFF”. People don’t have to go to school or work on their birthday.
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Don’t forget to grab your free Debate Graphic Organizer printable.
Click the button below and fill out the form on this page to get your free debate graphic organizer and use it with the high school debate topics listed above.
