71 Undeniable High School Debate Topics

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Give high school students the opportunity to transform their growing maturity into rational, structured arguments by debating the passionate views and perspectives of the art! All they need is a strong topic, to debate and some basic rules, they are ready.

Find everything you need to promote great debate in high school courses. From good debate topics in high school to resources for building and producing arguments, you can find everything you need for a heated debate on any topic.

15 interesting debate topics

Debate doesn’t always have to be super serious! Engage students in a series of interesting debate topics and “you will” questions for high school students who love to talk about.

• Will it be better to ranch or tomato sauce?
• Pronounced by gif GIHF or JIHF?
• Would it be better to be stuck in an amusement park or library?
• Is mayonnaise good?
• Is it better to be life in space or underwater?
• Is it better to have superpowers or unlimited money?
• Is pineapple a pizza?
• Is it acceptable to wear sandals socks?
• What’s more terrifying: a hundred rat-sized dinosaurs or a dinosaur-sized mouse?
• Why be a leader in the case of Zombie Apocalypse?
• Is a hot dog a sandwich?
• Should the United States implement mandatory naps for everyone under the age of 18?
• Is it OK to eat pizza with a knife and a fork?
• Who will win in the battle: Wonder Woman or Batman?
• Should the texting language be in the dictionary?

Encouraging debates with weird and relaxed topics

Less serious topics attract students and help them practice public speaking skills through low-risk activities. You can even have your class come up with quirky topics they will argue about.

Interesting debate topics persuasive speech activities in middle school, high school
Learned by Lindsay Ann
Results: No. 6 to 9
Topic: English art, speaking and listening
Standard: CCSS SL.9-10.4, 9-10.6; ccra.sl.6

An interactive set of Google Slides introduces students to the basics of voice and debate in class. Equipped with 34 slides, including blank, customizable slides, forms for peer feedback, and a set of teacher notes for implementation, this PREP-free activity is a great way to practice CCSS speaking and listening.

13 Controversial High School Debate Topics

Most teenagers have strong opinions on topics related to their daily lives. Contributes respectful discussions when you bring these controversial debate topics or high school writing tips to your class

• Is immigration laws fair in the United States?
• Should American voters be required to show their identities in the polls?
• Would it be better to raise taxes to provide free health care to all citizens?
• Is racism still common in the United States?
• When should teenagers have the right to vote?
• Should your school have the right to decide on the nutrition of high school students?
• Is war more or less moral through drones and drones?
• Is it better for all countries to give up their nuclear weapons, or would it be better for all countries to be equipped with nuclear weapons?
• When should teenagers drink alcohol?
• Should children under 18 have a curfew?
• Is it acceptable for citizens to block traffic while protesting?
• Should high school students drop out when they need it?
• Should schools require students to be vaccinated?

Practice the perspective by exploring the pros and cons

How strong is your student’s argument when testing rebuttals? When high school students form completely exposed arguments of completely exposed objections, they take a different view.

Opinions on participating in debate topics in middle and high schools
Through basic voice
Results: No. 6 to 9
Topic: School Consultation

High school students create pros and cons in the debate topic, which contains everything you need for the debate. With the help of course description pages and editable topic cards (and pre-filled topic cards), this voice and debate resource guides students by selecting and supporting the parties to argue.

Modern debate themes for 13 middle school students

Your students know a lot about life in the 21st century! From the use of social media to the scope of artificial intelligence, use their debate topics for high school students.

• Should students under the age of 18 be allowed to have a social media account?
• Do online friends count as real friends?
• Should students be allowed to use AI in their homework assignments?
• Which one is more harmful: online video or endless TV?
• Should high schools give up a year of history to support financial literacy classes?
• When should children be allowed to cell phones?
• Should grades be important in students’ future careers?
• How much responsibility should companies assume in ending climate change?
• Should it be illegal to create a car that depends on non-renewable resources?
• When can employers find social media for employees?
• Should high schools focus on digital skills rather than academic skills?
• Should parents be allowed to choose their children’s DNA?
• Will AI completely replace the role of a teacher?

Take turns defending group debate

Not every debate is Mano Mano. Teach students the mechanisms and value of group debate through many persuasive topics.

Philosophy Chair: Enthusiastic courses or group debates on any topic, Google
Overload courses and design through creativity
Results: 6th to 12th
Topic: English Art, Social Studies
Standard: CCSS RI.7.1; CCRA.R.8; ccra.sl.4

You’ve heard of music chairs, but now it’s time for philosophy chairs! The CCSS debate resource uses digital graphic organizers to fill in their claims, reasons, evidence and rebuttals before having a brief debate with the other party.

15 high school formal debate topics

Once your high school student has mastered the basics of debate, it’s time to adopt a more advanced concept of argument. Use these logical debate topics to teach them about syllogism, logical fallacy, and deductive reasoning.

• Billions should be able to make money and keep the money they want.
• Music and art are as valuable as mathematics and science.
• Students should not be informed about news.
• A drunk driver should never be allowed to drive again.
• After five years of work, students should forgive their college loans.
• Prosperous countries should be asked to share their resources.
• High school should last for six years, not four.
• Religion is a positive factor in any society.
• A vegetarian diet is the only moral way to eat.
• All citizens shall be required to perform military service.
• Football should be banned for children under the age of 16.
• People should have the right to breed pets.
• Human rights should appear before animal rights.
• The U.S. government should be able to censor hate speech.
• Parents have the right to track their children’s location.

Consolidating the discussion structure of logical debate

The value of speech and debate in modern classrooms is to learn how to distinguish the differences between fallacies and well-structured arguments that support weak support and support. Help students illustrate differences (and form larger arguments) through the rules and structure of formal debates.

Structured classroom debate on any topic of logic and logical fallacy
Leah Cleary
Results: 9-12
Topic: English Art, Social Studies

There is much more real debate than speaking. Use this complete debate structure resource and together with student graphic organizers, columns and instructional instructions, show students the expense of preparing for an upcoming formal debate.

15 Quick High School Debate Topics

Sometimes, you only have enough class time to have a quick debate. Use these simple topics when in-depth discussions are not planning or focusing on parliamentary debate skills.

• Should video games participate in the Olympics?
• Is it better to start school or end school early?
• Is listening to audiobooks a book?
• Is it okay to lie to friends?
• Should pets be allowed to go to restaurants?
• Students should be allowed to rate teachers?
• Is it more important to learn a sports or musical instrument?
• Is field trips a good time to study?
• Is homework more important than extracurricular activities?
• Should schools have dress codes?
• Is it better to be famous than to be skilled?
• Should we allow aliens to live in our society if we discover them?
• Should the school ask you to earn volunteer hours?
• Is it OK to cheat in the test?
• Are online influencers as famous as movie stars?

Craft 30-second speech for fast-paced discussions

Not every argument requires a long preparation process. Prepare students for the setting of parliamentary debates and practice important communication skills through debate topics, encouraging high school students to think (and speak) at their feet.

Fanatic public speaking digital event – 30 second speech
Resources inspired by KJ
Results: Fifth to 12th
Topic: Classroom Community, School Consultation
Standard: CCSS CCRA.SL.1, SL.4, SL.6

This resource of instruction is ideal for fanaticism or other language-centric environments, allowing students to complete the process of rapid debate. The group of 4-6 students had 30 seconds to show their arguments with the help of Google slides that embedded timers and topic suggestions.

Ideas for holding a high school debate

Whether you are leading a debate club or teaching students the basics of the classroom, it is necessary to provide them with a foundation for a well-crafted debate.

• Use your own themes in debates, such as history (should the United States enter World War II as soon as possible?), literature (Atticus Finch in Kill an ignorant bird? ) or science (should humans be allowed to make their own clones?).
• Introduce debate topics after a persuasive writing unit. Students can then adjust the persuasive essays they wrote in public debates.
• Students are presented with examples of famous historical debates, including the U.S. presidential debate that changed the election.
• When there is no assigned topic, let students take turns to debate.
• Consider different debate formats for students to try, including the Socrates method or cross-examination debate.
• When students enter the classroom, use the debate topic as their high school diary. They can take their answers as the beginning of a new debate!
• Year 12 students are invited to debate on their advanced projects. They can join with another student who is ready to refute and make a debate in the class.
• Connect with official speaking and debate organizations, such as the National Speech and Debate Association, to provide additional classroom resources to host debates.

No debate on these valuable TPT resources

When it comes to the debate topics in high school, it is all about inspiring students’ enthusiasm for arguments. Utilizing these topics and more high school debate resources, letting teens think about their own opinions, others’ opinions, and both sides of the argument may ultimately lead to a common solution.