Argumentative Essay Topics for Current Issues Essays
Many students actually enjoy argumentative essays more than other types, because, let’s face it, everyone has an opinion about a controversial and/or contemporary issue. The challenge, then, becomes selecting interesting argumentative essay topics that are both unique and relevant. If you are given options for topics, and you choose one that many other students are also selecting, your competition may “blow you out of the water.” Choosing a more unique topic means that your topic may be the only one of its kind, and there is nothing for your professor to compare it to. This is a nice position in which to be!
Start With Your Local Newspaper
This is a resource that many students don't consider when they are picking argumentative essay topics college. Your local newspaper is going to have a variety of local news stories along with a handful of important national and international studies. You can have had good results on many occasions when you go with a topic of local interest. Remember that a lot of students will go for the big news stories rather than the smaller ones. If you take the opposite route, you might just stand out from the crowd. This can be a useful position to be in at grading time. And you don’t have to buy a local newspaper – they’re all online now!
Make Sure You Have Enough to Say
How many times has this happened to you? You select a topic, and you begin writing only to discover that you can't meet the minimum word requirement. You try to use filler words; you insert a couple of new ideas, but there just isn't enough to write about. Here is a trick you can use. When you have selected what you believe to be a good topic, begin free writing. When you are free writing about my topic, don't worry about good sentence structure or even complete ideas. Just try to quickly get out as much information, knowledge, and opinions that you have on the topic. If you can quickly fill a page, you will know that you have selected one of the better argumentative essay topics for college students. If you struggle to fill half of a page, then you know that you should move on to a meatier subject.
Do Some Cursory Research for Your Argumentative Essay
It is great that you have an opinion on an issue, but it is pretty meaningless unless you have factual information to support it. If there is a proposed local tax increase on gas, for example, you may oppose it, but why? Have you looked at both sides of the issue? Who else opposes it and why? You can’t just say you don’t want to pay more at the pump!
Finally Tread Carefully When it Comes to Politics and Social Issues
Don't assume that your professor has the same ideology as you. If you come off as simply bashing another point of view, it could cost valuable grade points. It's okay to argue that one political position is correct on a particular topic, and to use facts to support your view, but avoid generalizations and “talking points” that you have picked up on television. Also, if the other side has a valid point, acknowledge that.
Hot-button issues can be tricky if you are emotionally invested in one side or the other. You have to get rid of the emotion and argue your case as objectively as possible. Some typical “hot-button” issues currently are: America’s response to ISIS, voter suppression, the closing of abortion clinics, minimum wage, income inequality, tax reform, the power of money in our elections, and Obamacare. “Hot button” social and economic issues include abortion, birth control, poverty, unequal education, alternative energy, and student loan debt. These are all great topics for argumentative essays, but choose one that you can handle without ranting.
As previously stated, everyone has an opinion, but everyone does not have a considered opinion. Choose your topic wisely and get your facts together if you intend to produce an essay that has merit.