Over A 100 Of The Most Unique And Interesting Debate Topics
The feeling of delivering a perfect argument and having the entire room applaud for you is something special. It is an indescribable feeling as you deliver the perfect counter-argument, leaving your opponent speechless, knowing that they won’t have a response to counter your argument with.
A debate is a formal argument in which two opposing teams propose or attack a given proposition or motion in a series of speeches. Participants examine ideas and policies with the aim of persuading people within an organised structure.
Debate is a way for those who hold opposing views to discuss controversial issues without descending to insults, emotional appeals or personal bias. French philosopher Joseph Joubert has said: “It is better to debate a question without settling it, than to settle a question without debating it.”
A motion is a statement that usually sets the topic for the given debate. Usually, it is an unambiguously worded statement that is general in terminology in order to be understood by not only the debaters themselves but also by the general audience.
In any debate, the motion is always supported by the government and opposed by the opposition, regardless of how the motion is worded.
Debating is a really fun and interesting activity that helps you learns a lot of new things while broadening your horizons. It is also beneficial from an educational point of view. For me, debating provided help with my assignments.
How to choose suitable debate topics?
Quite a lot of thought goes into picking a debate topic. The topic you choose should be relevant and interesting while also reflecting on reflecting your interests and passions. The topic should be something that you are passionate about. You should research and scrutinise the topic you choose, narrowing it down to a niche. It can prove to be troublesome for you if the chosen topic is too general or open-ended.
It is also important to know the audience they’ll be presenting in front of as that makes a big difference. A certain audience may not react well to a particular topic so it would be wiser to steer clear of it altogether.
Debate Topics
I have gathered over a 100 of the most unique and interesting debate topics for you, dividing them into different categories.
Educational
Educational debates are mostly about improving and maintaining the quality of education for students throughout the world. There are many issues that an education system is facing which can be made hot debate topics. It includes:
It should be mandatory for all schools to have a uniform.
There must be armed guards in every school.
Students should not be allowed to carry cell phones in school.
The core focus of education should be towards math and science.
Students should be provided a healthy lunch instead of fast food.
Boarding school is harmful to students’ mental health.
Teachers should be allowed to carry guns in case of a shooting.
Is a college education even worth it?
A college degree should be mandatory in order to get a decent job.
Should girls be encouraged to take part in STEM fields?
Should students be taught LGBTQ+ sex education?
Are student loans ethical? Do they exploit the needy?
Does someone with an online degree have the same value as someone who attended college?
Political
The only thing that you can not run away from is politics, even if you are in Antarctica. It is one of the crucial things that students must learn in their academic life. If you are a student looking for political debate topics UK to use, here is a list of some topics that you can use for your debate.
The rich should be taxed more than the average person.
Should illegal immigrants be treated as criminals?
Should Donald Trump be allowed to build a wall between the US-Mexico borders?
Britain should not have left the European Union.
Politics should strictly be kept outside of schools.
Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
Concealed carry is the right of everyone.
Citizens who do not vote should be fined.
Should Britain legalize marijuana like the US?
The government should run all the prisons.
The West should not interfere and place sanctions on Middle-Eastern and Eastern countries.
Should the British Monarchy be abolished?
Social
It can be challenging to choose one topic for discussion when you have thousands of social issues on the table. Most of these topics limit to technology, politics, and other areas. It means that you have challenging topics that you can use for lengthy and knowledgeable debates. More knowledgeable topics contribute more to the collection of interesting debate topics. Here is the list of knowledgeable social debate topics for teens as well as for all other ages.
Social media apps which collect and sell data such as Facebook should be banned.
Should the minimum wage be lowered or raised?
Smoking and cigarettes should be banned outright.
Drug addicts should be made to go through rehab instead of being charged as criminals.
Contact sports such as boxing and MMA should be banned.
Recycling should be mandatory and those who fail to comply should be penalised.
Should transgender athletes be allowed to participate in the league of the gender they switch to?
Abortion should be legal for all women regardless.
Vaccinations should be mandatory.
Obese and overweight individuals should not be given disability benefits.
The death penalty should be abolished. Discuss.
The government has a right to censor certain media on the internet.
Should same-sex couples be allowed to adopt children? Discuss why or why not?
Has the #Metoo movement gone too far?
How should individuals who make false claims of rape be treated or charged?
Religion does more harm than good. Discuss.
Should police be allowed to use lethal force?
Should sex-work and prostitution be legalised?
Advertisement should be banned during children’s programs?
Should alternative medicine be banned?
Controversial
The controversial debate topics are always exciting! It can be eye-opening to hear both sides of the heated argument. Such topics help create new points of view in other’s minds. Students can choose different topics with different viewpoints and opinions. Check out this list of controversial debate topics:
Rap music promoting violence and glorifying drugs should be illegal.
Alcohol should be sold only after 10 PM.
Violent video games should be banned as they induce violent thoughts in a child’s mind.
Gaming should be considered a sport and be included in the Olympics.
Citizens should be fined depending on their income.
Unpaid internships should be outlawed.
Beauty pageants should be banned as they objectify women.
Should the drinking age be lowered or raised?
In some cases, is it acceptable for a minor to be tried as an adult? Where should the line be drawn?
Has feminism gone too far? Has the focus shifted from female equality to male oppression?
Should presidential terms be shortened to two years instead of four?
Does the United Nations be allowed to have a standing army?
Should gay marriage be legal or illegal?
Should cartoons and toys such as Barbie a suitable role model for children?
Should cosmetic procedures be covered by insurance?
Patriotism can be more harmful than useful.
Environmental
Apart from educational debate topics, change in climate is maybe the first issue that comes to mind when we think about good debate topics to choose from. This is because people are directly experiencing warmer temperatures or other changes like severe weather or storms. Here is a list of some interesting environmental debate topics that you can explore.
Should politicians who deny the threat of climate change be removed from their position?
Deforestation of any and all kinds should be banned immediately.
The use of fossil fuels should be penalized.
Overpopulation will soon be a major problem. Is reproduction something the government should have a say over?
Should companies be taxed based on much carbon emission and greenhouse gases they’re producing?
Is tourism dangerous to the environment?
Single use plastic should be banned outright.
Should genetically modified foods be legal?
Nuclear power seems to be the logical step to stop the use of fossil fuels but what about nuclear waste?
Renewable sources or energy such as wind and solar should be heavily subsidised and promoted.
Will being vegetarian or vegan actually help the environment?
Should water heavy agriculture systems be illegal?
Is organic farming the future of agriculture?
Can accepting too many refugees and immigrants prove to be a problem?
Technological
Technological debate is about exchanging ideas and perspectives surrounding ethics, impact, and the future of technology. It explores topics like AI, automation, and digital rights, encouraging critical analysis, and shaping the direction of innovation in society. Check out the list of some technological UK debate topics below.
Internet service should be cheap, if not cheap.
Should the technological advancements concerning artificial intelligence be halted?
Will robots increase or decrease the quality of life?
Is the colonisation of other planets something that should be seriously explored?
Should a person’s social media be taken into account by employers or police?
Should cloning be legal?
Should cars only be electric from now on?
Is social media beneficial or harmful for society?
Is it possible to manipulate people through the internet and media?
How important is privacy for someone on the internet?
Animal Rights
The animal rights debate is always argumentative in which supporters argue for the ethical treatment of animals and recognition of their inherent value. On the other hand, opponents value human interests and question the extent of the moral standing of animals. Balancing these perspectives is very important for meaning progress. Here is a list of some of the top animal rights debate topics.
Zoos are a cruel way to keep animals in captivity. Yes or no? Disucss.
The sale of fur should be banned and made illegal.
Should animal cloning be allowed?
Is it justifiable to test products on animals?
Is it justifiable to have any kind of animal as an emotional support animal?
Should we stop consuming meat and animal products all together?
Is factory farming actually a cruel way to raise animals such as fish and chicken?
Should hunting be illegal?
Should animal entertainment such as horse racing also be outlawed?
Is pedigree breeding of horses and dogs also cruel? Discuss.
Should the use of animals in film and television also be made illegal?
Is it acceptable to use animals such as rats for scientific experimentation?
Fun Debate Topics
It is great to use debate in class to strengthen the language skills of students. It enhances vocabulary and fluency in speaking English. Choosing fun debate topics is the solution to get the audience engaged and entertained in the class. Check out the list of fun debate topics that are great for kids, teenagers, etc.
Is laughter the best medicine?
Should junk food be banned in schools?
Should emojis be considered a language?
Dogs are better pets than cats.
Are summers better than winters?
Clowns are more scary than funny.
Is pineapple an acceptable pizza topping?
Is Monday the worst day of the week?
Is it better to be an early bird or a night owl?
Should video games be considered a form of art?
Ethics Debate Topics
If you are a student looking for ethics debate topics, here is a list of some debate topics that can provoke an interesting discussion. We will cover many ethical issues leading to thought-provoking debated on these topics.
Whether the death penalty should be eliminated or not?
Should animals' rights and protections be the same as human's?
Is it ethical to have people's right to end their lives?
To what level are individuals and corporations morally indebted to protect the environment?
Is it ethical to use animals for medical research?
Is it ethical to use drones for targeted killings?
Is it wrong to remove offensive or harmful speech?
Should we use robots and AI to care for people?
Should governments have access to use biometric data for identification or tracking purposes?
Should assisted suicide be legal?
Conclusion
As you have seen on our list of unique debate topics, there are various interesting and controversial options to choose from. Some of them can be fun debate topics. You can reframe all the topics to better match the level your team is debating-college level, middle school, or high school.
If you have to choose the debate topic for the class project, go for an engaging one that is not only interesting to you but also your classmates can get benefit from the discussion. Give some time to research if there is major study or current surveys available on your specific topic. This will lead to backing up your arguments with realistic data easily, hence, leading to more engaging and objective debate.
