- Persuasive writing versus argument writing
- Persuasive topics about school
- Persuasive topics about technology
- Persuasive topics about the environment
- Persuasive topics about health and sport
- Persuasive topics about society
- Building a persuasive piece in five steps
- How to get better persuasive writing
- Matching topics to age
- My advice for persuasive writing topics
- Frequently asked questions
Here are 25 persuasive writing topics for students, grouped into school, technology, environment, health and sport, and society, each written as a ready-to-copy prompt. One thing to know before you assign them: from sixth grade the Common Core calls this argument writing and expects claims backed by evidence from credible sources, and it adds counterclaims as students get older.
A good persuasive topic has two features: students care about it, and there's a real case on both sides. Topics where everyone agrees ('Is bullying bad?') produce flat writing, because there's nobody to persuade. The topics below are chosen so a thoughtful student could argue either way, which makes the writing more interesting and the thinking sharper. I've also kept each one short enough to use as a title, so students can copy it to the top of the page and start straight away, and teachers can drop it into a slide without editing.
Persuasive writing versus argument writing
Teachers often use 'persuasive' and 'argument' interchangeably, but the standards are specific. Here's what they ask for as students move up through school:
| Stage | What the Common Core asks |
|---|---|
| 6th grade | Support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources |
| 7th grade | Acknowledge alternate or opposing claims |
| 8th grade | Distinguish the claim from opposing claims and relate claims, counterclaims, reasons and evidence |
| 9th-10th grade | Develop claims and counterclaims fairly, with a formal style and objective tone |
So whatever you call it, a strong persuasive piece from middle school onwards needs evidence and a fair look at the other side, not just enthusiasm. Feeling strongly is a good start; it isn't enough on its own.
Persuasive topics about school
Close to home, easy to research and almost certain to get a reaction. They're the best place to start.
Copy this prompt
Should schools switch to a four-day week with longer days? Persuade your head teacher.
Copy this prompt
Should students grade their teachers once a year? Make your case.
Copy this prompt
Should every student learn first aid before leaving school?
Copy this prompt
Should exams be replaced with coursework and projects?
Copy this prompt
Should school libraries stay open in the evenings for students who need a quiet place to study?
Persuasive topics about technology
Students know these topics from daily life, which makes evidence easy to find.
Copy this prompt
Should children under thirteen be allowed their own smartphone? Persuade a parent.
Copy this prompt
Should AI chatbots be allowed for homework if students say how they used them?
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Should video game age ratings be enforced by law?
Copy this prompt
Should schools teach coding as a core subject alongside English and maths?
Copy this prompt
Should there be a 'right to disconnect' that stops work emails after hours?
Persuasive topics about the environment
Good for evidence-based writing, since reliable data is easy to find from public sources.
Copy this prompt
Should single-use plastic packaging be banned in supermarkets?
Copy this prompt
Should towns plant trees instead of building new car parks?
Copy this prompt
Should every school have solar panels on its roof?
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Should people be encouraged to eat less meat for the planet's sake?
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Copy this prompt
Should cars be banned from city centres at weekends?
Persuasive topics about health and sport
Personal enough to care about, with research behind both sides.
Copy this prompt
Should school sport be competitive or focused on fitness for everyone?
Copy this prompt
Should energy drinks be banned for under-sixteens?
Copy this prompt
Should schools start later so teenagers get more sleep?
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Should professional sport have a quota for women's coverage on TV?
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Should heading the ball be banned in youth football?
Persuasive topics about society
For older students ready for a formal tone and full counterclaims.
Copy this prompt
Should the voting age be lowered to sixteen?
Copy this prompt
Should community service be part of every secondary school's curriculum?
Copy this prompt
Should museums return objects to the countries they came from?
Copy this prompt
Should public transport be free for young people?
Copy this prompt
Should national holidays be added for important local events?
Building a persuasive piece in five steps
- Pick a side, even if you're not sure. You can change it later.
- Write your claim in one sentence that someone could disagree with.
- List three reasons and find one piece of evidence for each from a source you'd trust.
- Write down the strongest thing the other side would say, and how you'd answer it.
- Draft, then cut anything that doesn't help persuade your named reader.
It's a simple routine, but it's the one that separates a rant from an argument. Students who skip step four tend to write pieces that only convince people who already agreed, and that isn't persuasion at all. If they're stuck on step three, the topic's probably too big, so narrow it to their school, street or town.
How to get better persuasive writing
- Ask students to write the strongest opposing argument first. If they can't, they don't understand the topic yet.
- Require at least one piece of evidence from a credible source per reason.
- Teach the difference between persuading with facts and persuading with feelings, and when each is appropriate.
- Have students name their audience: a parent, a head teacher, a council. It changes the tone.
- Finish with a call to action: what exactly should the reader do?
Students who enjoy this kind of writing often like copywriting later; my guide on whether to learn copywriting explains where persuasive skills lead, and my list of explanatory essay topics is useful when you need a contrast to argument.
Matching topics to age
Younger students do best with school and home topics, where they have personal examples. Older students can take on technology, environment and society topics, where evidence matters more and the counterclaims are serious. If a topic feels too heavy for a group, narrow it: 'Should our school ban single-use plastic in the canteen?' is easier to argue well than a global question.
My advice for persuasive writing topics
Pick topics with a real debate behind them, insist on evidence and a fair hearing for the other side, and give every piece a named audience. Students learn more from persuading a real person of something they care about than from arguing about something nobody disputes.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a good persuasive writing topic?
One students care about with a real case on both sides, so there's someone to persuade and evidence to find.
Is persuasive writing the same as argument writing?
They overlap. The Common Core uses 'argument' from sixth grade and expects claims supported by evidence from credible sources, with counterclaims added in later grades.
What are easy persuasive topics for younger students?
School and home topics such as longer break times, class pets, uniforms or choosing what's for dinner.
How do I make persuasive writing stronger?
Add evidence for every reason, address the strongest opposing argument, and write for a specific audience.
What persuasive topics suit high school?
Questions with serious evidence on both sides, such as the voting age, technology in schools or environmental policy.
