Topics for practice:

- Students should not be allowed to use artificial intelligence. Agree or disagree?

- Should tertiary education be free for all citizens?
- Should schools eliminate homework entirely?
- Is it ethical to use animals for scientific research?
- Should volunteering be made mandatory for high school students?
- Single-use plastic containers should be banned. Agree or disagree?
- Imprisonment is the most effective punishment for criminals. Agree or disagree?
- All zoos should be closed down. Agree or disagree?
- Should smoking be banned?

Argumentative Essay Topics: For and Against Arguments

Below is a table with balanced arguments for each of your selected topics, with "for" and "against" perspectives that directly
counter each other.
Topic 1: Students should not be allowed to use artificial intelligence

For Against

AI is becoming ubiquitous in the workplace, so students

AI tools can enable academic dishonesty when students
need to learn to use it responsibly as part of their
submit AI-generated work as their own
education

Reliance on AI may inhibit development of critical thinking AI can serve as a learning aid, helping students
and writing skills understand concepts and improve their work through
 For Against

feedback

AI-generated content often contains factual errors or Learning to critically evaluate AI outputs develops digital
biases that students might accept without verification literacy and critical thinking skills

Banning AI would create enforcement challenges and

Using AI creates inequity between students who have
drive usage underground rather than teaching
access to premium AI tools and those who don't
responsible use

AI dependency may prevent students from developing the AI tools can help personalize education and provide
resilience needed to tackle difficult problems additional support for students with different learning
independently needs

Topic 2: Should tertiary education be free for all citizens?

For Against

Free education reduces socioeconomic barriers and Nothing is truly "free" – the costs would be shifted to
increases access for disadvantaged students taxpayers, potentially raising tax burdens

An educated workforce benefits the economy through Limited resources might lead to reduced quality of
higher productivity and innovation education or stricter admission standards

Student debt burden is causing significant economic and Without tuition costs, students might not value their
 For Against

mental health problems for graduates education as much, potentially increasing dropout rates

Countries with free university education (like Germany and Free education could lead to credential inflation, with
Norway) demonstrate successful implementation degrees becoming less valuable in the job market

Education is a public good that benefits society as a whole, Resources might be better allocated to improving
not just the individual recipient primary and secondary education first

Topic 3: Should schools eliminate homework entirely?

For Against

Homework creates stress and anxiety, reducing students' Homework reinforces classroom learning and helps
well-being and mental health students develop independent study habits

After-school time should be used for personal development, Without homework, struggling students might not get
family, and physical activities enough practice to master concepts

Research shows limited correlation between homework and Homework helps prepare students for the self-discipline
academic achievement, especially in younger grades and independent work required in higher education

Homework often exacerbates educational inequalities Eliminating homework could reduce parental
based on home resources and parental support involvement and awareness of their child's education

Class time could be restructured to incorporate practice Homework allows students to explore topics in greater
 For Against

that would have been done at home depth than classroom time permits

Topic 4: Is it ethical to use animals for scientific research?

For Against

Animal testing has contributed to numerous medical Animals cannot consent to research and experience real
breakthroughs that have saved millions of human lives suffering, making it fundamentally unethical

Strict ethical guidelines and oversight committees now Modern alternatives like organ-on-a-chip, computer
regulate animal testing to minimize suffering modeling, and cell cultures can replace animal testing

Some complex biological interactions cannot yet be Many animal tests produce results that don't translate well
replicated by alternative testing methods to humans, making them scientifically questionable

Testing on animals before humans helps prevent The psychological distress experienced by research
potential human suffering from untested treatments animals causes lasting harm beyond physical procedures

Most research using animals is conducted only when no Species differences make many animal tests poor
alternatives exist predictors of human outcomes, reducing scientific validity

Topic 5: Should volunteering be made mandatory for high school students?

For Against

Mandatory volunteering develops empathy, civic Forced service contradicts the definition of "volunteering" and
 For Against

responsibility, and community awareness may reduce intrinsic motivation to serve

Service learning provides practical skills and Mandatory requirements create logistical burdens for students
experience that traditional education doesn't offer with jobs, family responsibilities, or limited transportation

Community service exposes students to diverse

Quality of service may decline when students participate only
populations and social issues, broadening
to fulfill requirements rather than from genuine interest
perspectives

Structured volunteering helps students discover Schools may struggle to provide enough meaningful
passions and potential career paths opportunities for all students

Universities and employers value community service, Students should have autonomy in how they spend their
giving students with this experience an advantage limited free time during formative years

Topic 6: Single-use plastic containers should be banned

For Against

Single-use plastics contribute significantly to ocean Many single-use plastics serve essential functions in medical
pollution and harm marine life settings and food safety

Plastic production relies on fossil fuels, contributing Alternatives often have larger carbon footprints when
to climate change manufacturing and transportation are considered
 For Against

Most single-use plastics can be replaced with Bans disproportionately impact people with disabilities who
sustainable alternatives rely on certain plastic products

Plastic bans encourage innovation in sustainable Immediate bans could cause economic hardship for industries
packaging solutions that rely on plastic packaging

Microplastics have been found in human blood and Gradual phase-outs with industry support would be more
organs, posing unknown health risks effective than outright bans

Topic 7: Imprisonment is the most effective punishment for criminals

For Against

Imprisonment removes dangerous offenders from Rehabilitation programs and restorative justice often
society, preventing further harm produce lower recidivism rates than incarceration

The threat of prison serves as a deterrent for potential Prison environments often worsen criminal behavior through
offenders exposure to more serious offenders

Structured prison programs can provide rehabilitation The high cost of incarceration diverts resources from crime
opportunities prevention and social services

Imprisonment provides victims and society with a sense Alternative sentences like community service better serve
of justice being served the community while rehabilitating offenders
 For Against

Prisons can offer education and skill development that Imprisonment disproportionately affects marginalized
some offenders wouldn't access otherwise communities and perpetuates societal inequalities

Topic 8: All zoos should be closed down

For Against

Many zoos keep animals in unnaturally small

Modern accredited zoos play crucial roles in conservation,
enclosures, causing physical and psychological
breeding endangered species that might otherwise go extinct
distress

Animals in zoos often display abnormal behaviors like Educational programs at zoos create emotional connections to
pacing, indicating poor welfare wildlife, fostering conservation mindsets

Animal conservation should focus on preserving Many zoos fund critical field conservation projects that protect
natural habitats rather than keeping animals captive wild populations and habitats

Some zoos prioritize entertainment and profit over Well-run zoos provide proper veterinary care and nutrition that
animal welfare many animals wouldn't receive in threatened wild habitats

Wild animals have complex needs that even the best Closing all zoos would mean euthanizing many animals that
artificial environments cannot fully meet couldn't survive in the wild

Topic 9: Should smoking be banned?

 For Against

Smoking causes numerous preventable deaths and Adults should have the freedom to make their own choices
strains healthcare systems about legal substances

Secondhand smoke harms non-smokers, infringing on Prohibition could create black markets and criminalize
their right to clean air addicted individuals

Smoking bans have successfully reduced smoking rates Gradual regulation and education have been more effective
in many countries than outright bans

The tobacco industry has historically misled consumers Banning smoking would cause significant job losses in the
about health risks tobacco industry

Banning smoking would reduce environmental pollution Government tax revenue from tobacco sales funds many
from cigarette butts public services

These balanced arguments should provide students with a strong foundation for developing their own positions on these
complex topics while considering multiple perspectives.