Writing Topics
Writing Topics
Me and others
Let me introduce myself...
My sister/brother
My father's/mother's job
My best friend
People I like
My strangest dream
My world
My home town
My favourite sport
An interesting weekend
An interesting film/book
My dream job
My dream school
My favourite subject
School uniforms
Healthy life
What's my day like?
At the doctor's
Try to convince your friend to stop smoking/drinking/taking drugs
My favourite sports
I'm a vegetarian
Me as a consumer
I like/don't like shopping
Pocket money - how much do you get - how much do you need?
Endangered animals
My future wife/husband
Christmas - an old tradition that should be kept or big business for the industry
Argumentative Essay Topics
Body Image
1. Should the fashion industry change their way of advertising?
2. Are romantic movies damaging to real relationships?
3. Are beauty pageants beneficial to women?
4. Do young men have body image problems?
5. How does advertising affect the body image of men?
6. Should the fashion industry use models that look more like regular people?
7. Should brands like Victoria's Secret use plus-sized models?
8. Should women get plastic surgery to make themselves have a better self-
image?
9. Does playing with dolls like Barbie negatively influence a girl’s body image?
10. How can young women develop a healthy body image?
News Topics
1. Is satire and comedy news a good way to stay informed?
2. What is “fake news?”
3. Is there such a thing as “unbiased reporting?”
4. What is the best role for news reporters in a digital era?
5. Does reporting by ordinary citizens actually give us better news?
6. Will newspapers go out of business or become only digital?
7. Is crowdfunded journalism going to be an important trend?
8. Is our news coverage too narrow?
9. How helpful is "fact checking" of speeches?
10. Why did the media not get the 2016 American Presidential election or Brexit
correct?
New Technology
1. How will 3-D printing change our future?
2. What research offers the most promising help for disabled people?
3. Are self-driving trucks a good idea?
4. Is face-detecting software a good way to solve the problem of identity theft?
5. How with practical quantum computers change our lives?
6. How will 360-degree selfie cameras change the way we share our lives?
7. What are the implications of the Cell Atlas?
8. Is adding connectivity of our home devices helpful or not?
9. Can computers really become intelligent?
10. Which is better, PC or Mac?
Social Media
1. Should people be judged by their social media posting?
2. Are online dating sites just a scam, or can they form lasting relationships?
3. Should texting and driving be illegal?
4. Is technology making our attention span shorter?
5. Does social media like Twitter have a place in the classroom?
6. Does social media negatively impact teenagers social lives?
7. How is social media changing parent and child relationships?
8. When in social situations is looking at your phone or texting inappropriate?
9. What rules should college or high school students follow when posting to
social media?
10. How can families handle the problem of their child being bullied through social
media?
Education
1. Is homework good or bad for student achievement?
2. Which is better, private school, public school or homeschooling?
3. Should vaccinations continue to be mandatory in public schools?
4. Should “gifted” students receive special educational treatment?
5. How do online high schools compare to traditional education?
6. Should schools move to having online classes in high school?
7. What is the best way to take notes in classes?
8. Is teaching suicide prevention in school helpful?
9. Should schools switch to e-books?
10. Why is math hard?
Business
1. Should businesses hire mentally and physically disabled people?
2. How can employers best encourage better health among their employees?
3. Is STEM really the best career choice?
4. Is nursing a good career for talented men and women?
5. Should tattoos be allowed in the workplace?
6. Should people on welfare be required to submit to drug testing?
7. Should more employers offer flexible scheduling or working from home?
8. Should businesses offer mental health benefits for employees and families?
9. Should more businesses offer parental and family leave for both parents?
10. Does owning your own business really make a better career?
Health
1. How can people best be encouraged to make healthier lifestyle choices?
2. How does lack of sleep hurt us?
3. What is an allergy?
4. Do T.V. shows about overweight people losing weight exploit or help?
5. What is the best possible treatment for Type 2 diabetes?
6. What is the best way to quit smoking? How can we best solve the problem of
antibiotic resistance?
7. Are drugs overused in treating mental illness?
8. What are the causes and best treatments for bi-polar disease?
9. What makes some people able to live to be over 100?
10. Does Internet medical information make people healthier?
Entertainment
1. Is “virtual reality” going to be important in entertainment?
2. Do violent images, music, and games cause people to act out violently?
3. Why do adults enjoy Disney movies?
4. Why are movies like “The Lion King” ones kids watch over and over?
5. Which shows are best for binge watching?
6. Why is “Fixer Upper” so popular?
7. How does Lego Batman compare to other versions of the Batman franchise?
8. Which video game has the best storyline?
9. Has Marvel changed the source material too much?
10. Which horror movie is really the scariest?
Sports
1. Should parents allow their kids to play football?
2. How can we make football safer?
3. Why is NASCAR losing fans?
4. Who is the best quarterback of all time?
5. What effect does moving and changing schools have on a high schooler?
6. Should college athletes get paid?
7. What kinds of sports should be added to the Olympics?
8. Can virtual reality help athletes train more effectively?
9. How does Rugby compare to American football?
10. How can overuse injuries be prevented in high school athletics?
Family
1. What are the benefits of growing up in a large family?
2. What makes a successful marriage?
3. What are the health benefits of marriage?
4. What is the value of searching for your genealogy?
5. Is interracial marriage a good idea?
6. Does living together before marriage create better marriages?
7. What is the value of a family vacation?
8. How can parents get to know their teenagers better?
9. What causes the break-up of marriages?
10. What rules should parents have for their teenagers?
Children all think that only grown-ups have fun, but is growing up really as good as it
seems?
Growing up is really a trap because adulthood is not only privileges but also many
responsibilities.
Question: What do you think of, "What rules should parents have for their
teenagers?" as an English essay topic?
Answer: You can start this essay with a great story about a conflict between parents
and teenagers over rules. What would be a really good strategy for writing on this
topic is to point out that both sides really want what is best for the teenager and are
wanting them to grow up to be a responsible adult, but they have different means for
how they think that should happen.
1. How can parents best adjust their rules to let their children learn adult
responsibilities and choices?
2. How should teenagers most effectively talk with their parents about changing
rules?
3. What is the difference between rules that keep teens safe and rules that are not
really necessary?
4. How can parents best instill their own values on their children?
Answer: To write a quick essay, you need to choose a topic you know a lot about or
a subject that you believe strongly in. It helps if you have spent a lot of time thinking
or talking to people about that topic. That will let you easily think of things to say. To
find that easy topic, follow these steps:
1. Read my list of easy essay topics (these are divided by subjects to help you scan
quickly: sports, healthy living, women, education, business,
environment): https://hubpages.com/humanities/Essay-Topic-Ideas.... Or my list of
Easy Argument topics (obesity/dieting/food, recycling, families, and relationships,
technology, aging and retirement): https://hubpages.com/academia/100-Easy-
Argumentati...
6. When the timer goes off, look at what you've written. Do you have enough ideas to
write a whole paper? Do you think you have a lot of examples you can use just from
your head? Do you want to write on this topic? If so, then just get started and use my
guidelines for How to Write Your Essay Fast: https://hubpages.com/humanities/How-
to-Write-Your-...
7. Not sure you like this topic? Try another topic and do the same 5-minute writing
test until you find a topic you know you can easily write on.
I find that when students do this test, they usually are much less frustrated and write
a lot more easily. It only takes 5-15 minutes total out of your time, so it is worth it.
Want to know the top 5 easy topics? Here is what my students say:
5. Should you pay attention to what other people think about you?
Question: What are similar topics to the essay topic, "Is mental illness a valid excuse
for missing school?"
1. What should a teacher's policy be for missing work or absences due to mental
illness?
Question: What do you think of the topic, "How can employers best encourage
better health among their employees?" for an English essay?
Answer: It is a good topic. Some possible choices are by providing gyms at work,
giving people incentives for doing exercise or being in a weight loss program, or
offering free healthy foods.
Question: What do you think of the topic, "What career can I do when I grow up?" as
an English essay topic?
3. What are the top career choices for a person in high school to consider?
https://owlcation.com/humanities/100-Great-Researc...
Answer: A good way to start would be to talk about the different reasons why people
want to go to a university. You could even use your own story to start the essay.
Then you can ask the question, "What is the difference between these four
universities: [put names here]?" In the body of your paper, you should choose three
or more criteria or aspects to compare. Here are some ideas:
2. Cost
4. Reputation
2. How can people best choose a marriage partner to ensure a successful marriage?
Question: What do you think of the topic “Why abortions should be legal in every
country?" for an English essay topic?
Answer: Your topic idea is actually your thesis. Your question needs to be:
Question: What do you think of the topic, "What is an allergy?" for an English essay?
2. Should companies be held liable if people get ill from allergens in the foods?
Answer: How about "Is English a Crazy Language?" I generally suggest that you
start with a question that could have at least two answers. If there is not a different
opinion on the subject, then it really isn't a good essay question. I do think that
"crazy" is a bit of a vague term, although it would make a good essay title. You will
need to define what you mean by "crazy" and also compare English to other
languages (not just one) that are less "crazy."
Question: What do you think about "Why should students be allowed to choose what
they learn about in school?" as an essay topic?
Answer: Your statement is more like a thesis because it tends to allow only arguing
one side. You probably want to have a research question like: How much choice
should students have in what subjects they study in school? Your answer to that
question will be your thesis. Here are some examples:
Students should be allowed to choose all of their own classes and have nothing
required.
Question: Would "How can people concentrate more when studying?" make a good
essay topic?
1. Use spellcheck and Grammarly on your essay but don't just click the answer. Pay
attention to what the error is and write down a note of what you are doing wrong most
often. Look up those rules and learn the difference.
3. Pay close attention to any errors that your instructor marks on your essays. Look
up the meaning of those errors or go to your instructor for help in understanding
them.
Question: What do you think of, "How does lack of sleep hurt us?" for an English
essay topic?
1. What is a good way for students to get the right amount of sleep?
Question: What do you think of the topic, "What should I do to prepare for a career?"
for an English essay?
Answer: In general, your topic should not use the first person "I" because then your
essay is only directed towards you. If you are doing a personal experience essay,
that is all right, but most English class essays are meant to have a broader audience.
Here are some other topic questions that would work:
1. What are the best steps for career preparation in the field of....?"
2. How can students prepare for their future career while in college?
3. Which course of study best prepares you for a career?
Question: Is "What university you would consider going to?" a good essay topic?
Answer: You need a question rather than a statement to make a good topic. The
topic question should have more than one possible answer. That way your thesis will
be able to tell your answer to the question as well as the reasons you would give for
that answer. Here are some possible questions:
Question: What do you think of, "What makes a bad tattoo idea?" for an English
essay topic?
Answer: I've seen a few rather bad tattoos when standing in line at waterparks. Here
are some other topic ideas?
Question: Do I need to do the draft first before writing the full essay? How can a
draft help me? What will happen if I draft the wrong information?
Answer: Of course you can write just one version of the essay and turn it in. The
benefit of writing a draft (or several drafts) before turning in your essay is that if you
think about the first version as an unfinished draft, it can help you to keep on going
and finish it. Often students get stuck in the middle of an essay because they can't
think of just the right example, or don't have enough ideas. I tell them on the first draft
to just write down what they have and keep on moving to the next point. After
finishing the first draft, you might then go back and fix some of the things you know
are wrong. When you have the paper as good as you can get it for that moment, it is
time to have someone else read it and give you some critique and suggestions.
Getting another person's opinion is the best way to improve. Generally, I have my
students get at least two of their classmates to read their paper and give peer editing
comments. Because there will be some time between writing the first draft, getting
the comments from readers, and sitting down to do the final draft, you will also gain
from the fact that you've had a break from your writing. Often, you will see many
ideas that you want to change just on your own. Here is my article on editing for your
final draft: https://owlcation.com/humanities/How-to-Write-a-Pa...
Question: I wanted to write an essay about 3-4 pages long about how we should
raise kids. I want to write about what age we should start disciplining them. What
would be a great topic and thesis?
Answer: You would start with a topic question and then the answer to that question
would be your thesis. Here is an article with a variety of parenting topic
questions:https://owlcation.com/academia/Topic-Ideas-for-Exp...
Question: How do I write a position paper on this topic, "Do nurses care in this
country?"
Answer: Start with a story about a nurse who either shows they care or they do not
care (depending on your point of view in the essay). Then give the question and your
answer. The main part of the essay will be giving reasons for your answer supported
by evidence. The conclusion will tell what you want your readers to think, do, or
believe after reading your essay. For more help in writing
see: https://hubpages.com/academia/How-to-Write-an-Argu...
Question: What do you think of the essay topic "Do young men have body image
problems?"
Answer: You would use that word to mean "in spite of the previous information."
Other words and phrases that could be used which have a similar meaning would be:
In spite of that
However
Even so
Question: How can I prove an essay topic delving into the civil system in the U.S is
made for black people to fail? Can you help me make it less biased?
3. How can the U.S. civil system be improved to provide better opportunities for
African Americans?
4. How can the U.S. prevent the problem of so many black men spending time in
prison?
5. How can the civil system of the U.S. be made more just for all people?
Question: How can I write a good essay? Can anyone do it?
Answer: Anyone can write a good essay if they follow the instruction in my articles. It
really isn't hard to write if you know the tricks. Here is my easiest guide for writing a
research paper fast: https://hubpages.com/humanities/Writing-Argument-E... If you
just read and follow these steps, you should have a fabulous essay.
Question: What about this question for an English essay topic, "Do we sit for exams
too early in our life?"
Question: Many critics that analyzed Robert Frost's poem "Out Out" had questions
of their own. Is this a good thesis?
Answer: That sounds like a good topic idea but it doesn't really work as a thesis
since you would just be repeating things that other writer's had said without adding
your own point. I usually suggest that people start with a thesis question that can be
answered in several ways. Then your answer would be the thesis and the reasons for
the answer would be your topic sentences. Here are some possible thesis questions
on "Out Out":
4. How does Robert Frost use language effectively in "Out Out" to draw out his
meaning?
Answer: You raise an interesting essay question. Here are some other ways to word
it:
https://hubpages.com/academia/100-Easy-Argumentati...
Answer: You can find some topics more appropriate for teenagers in my article for
High School students: https://owlcation.com/humanities/150-Argument-Essa...
Question: Can you give some topics on does sun affect a person's skin?
Answer: 1. How can people have healthy skin exposure to the sun?
Hypothetical
What would you do if you were late for an important appointment?
What would you do if someone accused you of a crime you didn’t commit?
What would you do if your best friend stole something from you?
What would you do if you didn’t have enough money to pay your bills?
What would you do if your car got a flat tire on the freeway?
If you could change one thing about your past, what would it be?
If you could change one major historical event, what would it be?
Description
Describe a famous park or recreation area in your home country.
Narration
Tell about a recent interview.
Tell about a time when you lied to your parents, boss, or teacher.
Opinion
What is your opinion about cellular phones?
Tell about a time when you inadvertently caused trouble for someone else.
Instructions
Tell how to find something on the Internet.