301 Prompt for Argumentative Writing

Michael Gonchar

Feruar 5, 2015 1:50 pm

Updated,Feb.9,2015|WenowhaveaPDFofthese301prompts.
IfanythingeverpublishedonTheLearningNetworkcouldbesaidtohave
goneviral,itislastFebruarys200PromptsforArgumentativeWriting,
whichwecreatedtohelpteachersandstudentsparticipateinourinaugural
StudentEditorialContest.
Well,thisyearwerebackwiththeSecondAnnualStudentEditorial
Contest(getyoursinbyMarch9!),and,togowithit,weveupdatedlastyears
listwithnewquestionsandwhatwehopeismoreusefulcategorization.
Soscrollthroughthe301promptsbelowthattouchoneveryaspectof
contemporarylifefrompoliticstosports,culture,educationandtechnology
andseewhichonesmostinspireyoutotakeastand.Eachquestioncomes
fromourdailyStudentOpinionfeature,andeachprovideslinkstofreeTimes
resourcesforfindingmoreinformation.
Whatissuesdoyoucareaboutmost?Findsomethingtowriteabouthere,
orpostacommentifyouthinkwevemissedatopicyouwouldliketoseeus
cover.
Andifthese301questionsarentenough,theRoomforDebateblog
providesmany,manymore.
TECHNOLOGY
Technology

1. DoesTechnologyMakeUsMoreAlone?
2. AreYouDistractedbyTechnology?
3. DoAppsHelpYouorJustWasteYourTime?
4. DoYouSpendTooMuchTimeonSmartphonesPlayingStupid
Games?
5. WillWearableTechnologyEverReallyCatchOn?
6. AreDigitalPhotographsTooPlentifultoBeMeaningful?
7. DoYouWorryWeAreFilmingTooMuch?
8. WouldYouWantaPairofGooglesComputerGlasses?
9. WhatRoleWillRobotsPlayinOurFuture?
10. HowManyTextMessagesAreTooMany?
InternetandSocialMedia
11. HasFacebookLostItsEdge?
12. DoesFacebookEverMakeYouFeelBad?
13. WouldYouConsiderDeletingYourFacebookAccount?
14. ShouldWhatYouSayonFacebookBeGroundsforGettingFired?
15. ShouldPeopleBeAllowedtoObscureTheirIdentitiesOnline?
16. HowMuchDoYouTrustOnlineReviews?
TechnologyinSchools
17. AretheWebFiltersatYourSchoolTooRestrictive?
18. DoYourTeachersUseTechnologyWell?
19. ShouldTabletComputersBecomethePrimaryWayStudentsLearnin
Class?
20. CanCellphonesBeEducationalTools?
21. ShouldComputerGamesBeUsedforClassroomInstruction?
22. IsOnlineLearningasGoodasFacetoFaceLearning?
23. HowWouldYouFeelAboutaComputerGradingYourEssays?
ART,FILM,BOOKS,VIDEOGAMESANDOTHER

MEDIA
Movies,TVandTheater
24. IsTVStrongerThanEver,orBecomingObsolete?
25. DoTVShowsLike16andPregnantPromoteorDiscourageTeenage
Pregnancy?
26. DoesRealityTVPromoteDangerousStereotypes?
27. DoesTVCapturetheDiversityofAmericaYet?
28. IsTVTooWhite?
29. WhyDoWeLiketoWatchRichPeopleonTVandintheMovies?
30. WhatMakesaGoodTVShowFinale?
31. WhatMakesaGoodCommercial?
32. WhyDidaCheeriosAdAttractSoManyAngryCommentsOnline?
33. WhatWeretheBestMoviesYouSawinthePastYear?
34. DoesLiveTheaterOfferSomethingYouJustCantGetWatching
MoviesorTV?
Music
35. WhatCanYouPredictAbouttheFutureoftheMusicIndustry?
36. WhatCurrentMusiciansDoYouThinkWillStandtheTestofTime?
37. WhatArtistsorBandsofTodayAreDestinedfortheRockandRoll
HallofFame?
38. WhatArtistsDoYouConsiderSellouts?
39. WhatMusician,ActororAuthorShouldBeaSuperstar,butHasnt
QuiteMadeItYet?
40. WhoDoesHipHopBelongTo?
41. WillMusicalTrainingMakeYouMoreSuccessful?
VideoGames
42. ShouldVideoGamesBeConsideredaSport?
43. ShouldStoresSellViolentVideoGamestoMinors?

44. DoViolentVideoGamesMakePeopleMoreViolentinRealLife?
45. WhenShouldYouFeelGuiltyforKillingZombies?
46. CanaVideoGameBeaWorkofArt?
47. WhatGameWouldYouLiketoRedesign?
48. HowSexistIstheGamingWorld?
Literature
49. WouldYouTradeYourPaperBooksforDigitalVersions?
50. DoesReadingaBookCountMoreThanListeningtoOne?
51. ToWhatWriterWouldYouAwardaPrize?
52. WhoAretheCharactersThatAuthorsShouldBeWritingAbout?
53. DoYouPreferYourChildrensBookCharactersObedientorContrary?
Art
54. CanGraffitiEverBeConsideredArt?
55. DoWeNeedArtinOurLives?
56. DoesPopCultureDeserveSeriousStudy?
57. WhereIstheLineBetweenTruthandFiction?
58. ShouldSocietySupportArtistsandOthersPursuingCreativeWorks?
GENDERANDRELATIONSHIPS
GenderIssues
59. DoParentsHaveDifferentHopesandStandardsforTheirSonsThan
forTheirDaughters?
60. IsSchoolDesignedMoreforGirlsThanBoys?
61. IsThereTooMuchPressureonGirlstoHavePerfectBodies?
62. HowMuchPressureDoBoysFacetoHavethePerfectBody?
63. DoPhotoshoppedImagesMakeYouFeelBadAboutYourOwnLooks?
64. DoctoredPhotos:O.K.orNot?
65. IsItO.K.forMenandBoystoCommentonWomenandGirlsonthe

Street?
66. DoWeNeedNewWaystoIdentifyGenderandSexuality?
67. WhatShouldWeDotoFightSexualViolenceAgainstYoungWomen?
68. HowDoYouFeelAboutRihannaandChrisBrownGettingBack
Together?
69. WhyArentThereMoreGirlsinLeadershipRoles?
70. WhyArentMoreGirlsChoosingtoPursueCareersinMathand
Science?
71. ShouldWomenBeAllowedtoFightontheFrontLinesAlongside
Men?
72. DoYouBelieveinEqualRightsforWomenandMen?
73. AreWomenBetteratCompromisingandCollaborating?
74. DoBoysHaveLessIntenseFriendshipsThanGirls?
75. CanaBoyWearaSkirttoSchool?
76. IsItO.K.toRefusetoServeSameSexCouplesBasedonReligious
Beliefs?
DatingandSex
77. ShouldBirthControlPillsBeAvailabletoTeenageGirlsWithouta
Prescription?
78. ShouldtheMorningAfterPillBeSoldOvertheCountertoPeople
Under17?
79. HowShouldChildrenBeTaughtAboutPubertyandSex?
80. IsDatingaThingofthePast?
81. IsHookupCultureLeavingYourGenerationUnhappyandUnprepared
forLove?
82. ShouldCouplesLiveTogetherBeforeMarriage?
83. CouldFollowingTheseDirectionsMakeYouFallinLoveWitha
Stranger?
84. HowShouldEducatorsandLegislatorsDealWithMinorsWhoSext?
85. HowShouldParentsAddressInternetPornography?

SPORTSANDATHLETICS
Football
86. IfFootballIsSoDangeroustoPlayers,ShouldWeBeWatchingIt?
87. ShouldParentsLetTheirChildrenPlayFootball?
88. ShouldCollegeFootballPlayersGetPaid?
89. IsItOffensiveforSportsTeamstoUseNativeAmericanNamesand
Mascots?
Sportsmanship
90. AreSomeYouthSportsTooIntense?
91. ShouldThereBeStricterRulesAboutHowCoachesTreatTheir
Players?
92. DoSportsTeamsHaveaResponsibilitytoHoldPlayerstoaStandard
forTheirPersonalConduct?
93. ShouldAthletesWhoDopeHavetoForfeitTheirTitlesandMedals?
94. DoFansPutTooMuchPressureonTheirFavoriteProfessional
Athletes?
95. DoesaChampionshipGameAlwaysNeedtoHaveaWinner(anda
Loser)?
96. ShouldSportsBettingBeLegalEverywhere?
97. ShouldCollegesFundWellnessProgramsInsteadofSports?
98. WhereShouldCollegesandSportsTeamsDrawtheLineinSelling
NamingRights?
OtherSports
99. HasBaseballLostItsCool?
100. IsCheerleadingaSport?
101. HowBigaDealIsItThatanN.B.A.PlayerCameOutasGay?
102. WouldYouWantaBikeShareProgramforYourCommunity?
103. HowYoungIsTooYoungtoClimbMountEverest?

POLITICSANDPOLICY
Government
104. DoYouTrustYourGovernment?
105. IfYouWereGovernorofYourState,HowWouldYouSpendaBudget
Surplus?
106. WhatLocalProblemsDoYouThinkYourMayorShouldTrytoSolve?
107. ShouldRichPeopleHavetoPayMoreTaxes?
108. WhatIsMoreImportant:OurPrivacyorNationalSecurity?
LeadershipandPolitics
109. DoLeadersHaveMoralObligations?
110. DoGreatLeadersHavetoBeOutgoing?
111. IsItPrincipled,orIrresponsible,forPoliticianstoThreatena
Shutdown?
InternationalRelations
112. ShouldtheU.S.BeSpyingonItsFriends?
113. WhenIstheUseofMilitaryForceJustified?
114. ShouldCountriesPayRansomstoFreeHostagesHeldbyTerrorists?
Police,PrisonsandJusticeSystem
115. ShouldtheUnitedStatesStopUsingtheDeathPenalty?
116. WhenShouldJuvenileOffendersReceiveLifeSentences?
117. WhatDoYouThinkofthePoliceTacticofStopandFrisk?
118. DoRichPeopleGetOffEasierWhenTheyBreaktheLaw?
119. ShouldAllPoliceOfficersWearBodyCameras?
120. WillWhatHappenedinFergusonChangeAnything?
121. ShouldFelonsBeAllowedtoVoteAfterTheyHaveServedTheirTime?

GunPolicy
122. HowShouldWePreventFutureMassShootings?
123. WouldYouFeelSaferWithArmedGuardsPatrollingYourSchool?
124. WhatIsYourRelationshipWithGuns?
125. WhereDoYouStandonUnconcealedHandguns?
126. ShouldGunsBePermittedonCollegeCampuses?
127. DidaNewspaperActIrresponsiblybyPublishingtheAddressesofGun
Owners?
Immigration
128. ShouldMillionsofUndocumentedImmigrantsBeAllowedtoLivein
theU.S.WithoutFearofGettingDeported?
129. AreChildrenofIllegalImmigrantsEntitledtoaPublicEducation?
PARENTSANDFAMILIES
ParentingandChildhood
130. HowMuchFreedomShouldParentsGiveTheirChildren?
131. HowShouldParentsDisciplineTheirKids?
132. WhenDoesDisciplineBecomeChildAbuse?
133. DoShameandBlameWorktoChangeTeenageBehavior?
134. DoWeGiveChildrenTooManyTrophies?
135. AreAdultsHurtingYoungChildrenbyPushingThemtoAchieve?
136. IsModernCultureRuiningChildhood?
137. How,andbyWhom,ShouldChildrenBeTaughtAppropriate
Behavior?
138. AreDarkMoviesO.K.forKids?
139. ShouldHalloweenCostumesPortrayOnlyPositiveImages?
140. AreParentsViolatingTheirChildrensPrivacyWhenTheyShare
PhotosandVideosofThemOnline?
141. ShouldChildrenBeAllowedtoCompeteonTV?

142. HowYoungIsTooYoungforaniPhone?
143. ShouldParentsLimitHowMuchTimeChildrenSpendonTech
Devices?
ParentsandSchool
144. HowShouldParentsHandleaBadReportCard?
145. HowImportantAreParentTeacherConferences?
146. WhoShouldBeAbletoSeeStudentsRecords?
147. WouldYouWanttoBeHomeSchooled?
148. ShouldAllChildrenBeAbletoGotoPreschool?
HouseandHome
149. HowImportantIsKeepingaCleanHouse?
150. DoesKeepingaMessyDeskMakePeopleMoreCreative?
MillennialGeneration
151. WhatCanOlderPeopleLearnFromYourGeneration?
152. DoesYourGenerationHaveTooMuchSelfEsteem?
153. IsYourGenerationReallyPostracial?
BecominganAdult
154. WhenDoYouBecomeanAdult?
155. WhenShouldYouBeAbletoBuyCigarettes,DrinkAlcohol,Vote,
DriveandFightinWars?
156. WhenYouAreOldEnoughtoVote,WillYou?
CHARACTERANDMORALITY
PersonalCharacter
157. CanMoneyBuyYouHappiness?

158. DoesBuyingandAccumulatingMoreandMoreStuffMakeUs
Happier?
159. AreWeLosingtheArtofListening?
160. DoPeopleComplainTooMuch?
161. WhichIsMoreImportant:TalentorHardWork?
162. HowImportantIsKeepingYourCool?
163. WhenShouldYouCompromise?
164. IsYourGenerationMoreSelfCenteredThanEarlierGenerations?
ReligionandSpirituality
165. DoYouBelieveThatEverythingHappensforaReason?
166. HowMuchControlDoYouThinkYouHaveOverYourFate?
167. CanYouBeGoodWithoutGod?
168. HowImportantDoYouThinkItIstoMarrySomeoneWiththeSame
Religion?
MoralityandPersonalResponsibility
169. DoesSufferingMakeUsStrongerandLeadtoSuccess?
170. DoBystandersHaveaResponsibilitytoInterveneWhenThereis
Trouble?
171. WhenIsLootingMorallyO.K.?
172. CanKindnessBecomeCool?
LanguageandStandards
173. HaveCurseWordsBecomeSoCommonTheyHaveLostTheirShock
Value?
174. WhatWordsorPhrasesDoYouThinkAreOverused?
175. WhatWordsorPhrasesShouldBeRetired?
176. DoLawsThatBanOffensiveWordsMaketheWorldaBetterPlace?
177. ShouldNewspapersReprintCartoonsoftheProphetMuhammadThat
SomeDeemOffensive?

178. IsItWrongforaNewspapertoPublishaFrontPagePhotoofaMan
AbouttoDie?
EDUCATION
TeachingandLearning
179. DoTeachersAssignTooMuchHomework?
180. DoesYourHomeworkHelpYouLearn?
181. WhatAreYouReallyLearningatSchool?
182. DoesClassSizeMatter?
183. DoWeNeedaNewWaytoTeachMath?
184. DoesGymHelpStudentsPerformBetterinAllTheirClasses?
185. ShouldReadingandMathBeTaughtinGymClassToo?
186. WhatAretheBestWaystoLearnAboutHistory?
187. WhatIstheRightAmountofGroupWorkinSchool?
188. WhatDoYouThinkofGroupingStudentsbyAbilityinSchools?
189. HowImportantIsArtsEducation?
190. DoSchoolsProvideStudentsWithEnoughOpportunitiestoBe
Creative?
191. DoestheWayYourClassroomIsDecoratedAffectYourLearning?
DisciplineandSchoolRules
192. WhatAretheBestTeachingMethodsforGettingStudentstoBehave
WellinClass?
193. HowDoesYourSchoolDealWithStudentsWhoMisbehave?
194. ShouldSchoolsBeAllowedtoUseCorporalPunishment?
195. IsCheatingGettingWorse?
196. ShouldSchoolsPutTrackingDevicesinStudentsIDCards?
197. ShouldMiddleSchoolStudentsBeDrugTested?
198. ShouldStudentsBeBarredFromTakingCellphonestoSchool?
Bullying

199. HowBigaProblemIsBullyingorCyberbullyinginYourSchoolor
Community?
200. HowShouldSchoolsAddressBullying?
201. HowShouldSchoolsAddressCyberbullying?
202. WhatShouldthePunishmentBeforActsofCyberbullying?
203. WhenDoPranksCrosstheLinetoBecomeBullying?
204. HowShouldSchoolsRespondtoHazingIncidents?
TimeinSchool
205. ShouldtheSchoolDayStartLater?
206. IsYourSchoolDayTooShort?
207. DoYouThinkaLongerSchoolCalendarIsaGoodIdea?
208. ShouldtheDropoutAgeBeRaised?
209. ShouldWeRethinkHowLongStudentsSpendinHighSchool?
210. ShouldStudentsBeAllowedtoSkipSeniorYearofHighSchool?
211. ShouldKidsHeadtoCollegeEarly?
212. ClassTime+Substitute=Waste?
213. DoKidsNeedRecess?
Grading
214. ShouldStudentsBeAbletoGradeTheirTeachers?
215. DoesYourSchoolHandOutTooManyAs?
216. DoGirlsGetBetterGradesThanBoysinYourSchool?
217. DoesSeparatingBoysandGirlsHelpStudentsPerformBetterin
School?
218. WhyDoBoysLagBehindGirlsinReading?
219. ShouldDiscomfortExcuseStudentsFromHavingtoCompletean
Assignment?
StandardizedTests
220. HowWellDoYouThinkStandardizedTestsMeasureYourAbilities?

221. HowSeriouslyShouldWeTakeStandardizedTests?
222. DoYouSpendTooMuchTimePreparingforStandardizedTests?
223. ShouldSchoolsOfferCashBonusesforGoodTestScores?
SchoolLife
224. WouldYouRatherAttendaPublicoraPrivateHighSchool?
225. HowMuchDoesItMattertoYouWhichHighSchoolYouAttend?
226. AreSmallSchoolsMoreEffectiveThanLargeSchools?
227. ShouldHomeSchoolersBeAllowedtoPlayPublicSchoolSports?
228. ShouldAllStudentsGetEqualSpaceinaYearbook?
229. ShouldSchoolNewspapersBeSubjecttoPriorReview?
230. IsPromWorthIt?
231. IsPromJustanExcusetoDrink?
COLLEGEANDCAREER
College
232. HowNecessaryIsaCollegeEducation?
233. IsCollegeOverrated?
234. ShouldaCollegeEducationbeFree?
235. WhatIsthePerfectNumberofCollegeApplicationstoSend?
236. ShouldCollegesFindaBetterWaytoAdmitStudents?
237. ShouldCollegesUseAdmissionsCriteriaOtherThanSATScoresand
Grades?
238. DoYouSupportAffirmativeActioninCollegeAdmissions?
239. DoesItMatterWhereYouGotoCollege?
240. DoCollegeRankingsMatter?
241. WhatCriteriaShouldBeUsedinAwardingScholarshipsforCollege?
242. ShouldEngineersPayLessforCollegeThanEnglishMajors?
243. DoFraternitiesPromoteMisogyny?
244. ShouldCollegesBanFraternities?

JobsandCareers
245. WouldYouQuitifYourValuesDidNotMatchYourEmployers?
246. ShouldEmployersBeAbletoReviewJobApplicantsSATScores?
247. DoYouWorryCollegesorEmployersMightReadYourSocialMedia
PostsSomeday?
248. WouldYouRatherWorkFromHomeorinanOffice?
249. IsDoingNothingaGoodUseofYourTime?
HEALTHANDNUTRITION
Drugs,CigarettesandAlcohol
250. IsSmokingStillaProblemAmongTeenagers?
251. AreAntismokingAdsEffective?
252. IsDrinkingandDrivingStillaProblemforTeenagers?
253. ShouldMarijuanaBeLegal?
254. ShouldStudentsBeRequiredtoTakeDrugTests?
255. WhyIsBingeDrinkingSoCommonAmongYoungPeopleinthe
UnitedStates?
NutritionandFood
256. DoYouThinkaHealthierSchoolLunchProgramIsaLostCause?
257. ShouldFrenchFriesandPizzaSauceCountasVegetables?
258. HowConcernedAreYouAboutWhereYourFoodComesFrom?
259. IsItEthicaltoEatMeat?
260. IsBreakfastReallytheMostImportantMealoftheDay?
261. DoYouPreferYourTacosAuthenticorAppropriated?
262. ShouldSugaryDrinksBeTaxed?
263. ShouldtheGovernmentLimittheSizeofSugaryDrinks?
HealthIssues

264. HowShouldSchoolsHandleUnvaccinatedStudents?
265. ShouldPhysicianAssistedSuicideBeLegalinEveryState?
266. ShouldTextingWhileDrivingBeIllegalinEveryState?
267. ShouldTerminallyIllPatientsBeAllowedtoDieonTheirOwnTerms?
AppearanceandFashion
268. ShouldChildrenBeAllowedtoWearWhateverTheyWant?
269. WhatAreYourOpinionsonCosmeticSurgery?
270. DoSaggyPantsMeanDisrespect?
271. ShouldYouCareAbouttheHealthandSafetyofThoseMakingYour
Clothing?
SCIENCETOPICS
ScienceandtheEnvironment
272. HowConcernedAreYouAboutClimateChange?
273. HowShouldNationsandIndividualsAddressClimateChange?
274. ShouldDevelopersBeAllowedtoBuildinandNeartheGrand
Canyon?
275. ShouldScientistsTrytoHelpPeopleBeatOldAgeSoWeCanLive
LongerLives?
276. GivenUnlimitedResources,WhatScientificorMedicalProblem
WouldYouInvestigate?
277. WhenIsItO.K.toReplaceHumanLimbsWithTechnology?
278. ShouldFertilizedEggsBeGivenLegalPersonhood?
OuterSpace
279. DoYouThinkLifeExistsorHasEverExistedSomewhereBesides
Earth?
280. DoYouBelieveinIntelligentAlienLife?
281. WillHumansLiveonMarsSomeday?

282. WouldYouWanttoBeaSpaceTourist?
Animals
283. ShouldCertainAnimalsHaveSomeoftheSameLegalRightsAs
People?
284. IsItUnethicalforaZootoKillaHealthyGiraffe?
285. ShouldYouGotoJailforKickingaCat?
286. ShouldYouFeelGuiltyAboutKillingSpiders,AntsorOtherBugs?
287. HowDoYouThinkDinosaursWentExtinct?
MISCELLANEOUS
RichandFamous
288. ShouldthePrivateLivesofFamousPeopleBeOffLimits?
289. DoYouThinkChildStarsHaveItRough?
AmericanDream
290. ShouldtheUnitedStatesCareThatItsNotNo.1?
291. IsItPossibletoStartOutPoorinThisCountry,WorkHardand
BecomeWellOff?
292. DoPoorPeopleHaveItEasy?
293. HowMuchDoesYourNeighborhoodDefineWhoYouAre?
CharityandPhilanthropy
294. ShouldCharitiesFocusMoreonAmerica?
295. WhatCausesShouldPhilanthropicGroupsFinance?
296. IsTeenageVoluntourismWrong?
Shopping
297. DoYouShopatLocallyOwnedBusinesses?

298. IsAmazonBecomingTooPowerful?
299. ShouldCompaniesCollectInformationAboutYou?
300. WhatTimeShouldBlackFridaySalesStart?
301. HowLongIsItO.K.toLingerinaCafeorRestaurant?

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