Debate & Speech Topic Generator
Get debate, persuasive speech, argumentative essay and informative speech topics by level and category, each with starting points for both sides.
251 topics match these filters; change the suggestion set to see others.
The two points are starters, not evidence: research each side, and look for facts and examples that fit your own country and audience.
| # | Topic | For | Against | Level | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reading a book is better than watching its film. | Books build imagination and vocabulary. | Films bring stories to more people. | Middle school, High school | Media & arts |
| 2 | Learning a second language should be required in every school. | It builds communication skills and cultural understanding. | The time might be better spent on core subjects. | Middle school, High school | Education |
| 3 | Sugary drinks should be taxed. | It cuts consumption and funds health care. | It hits poorer families hardest. | Middle school, High school | Health |
| 4 | Esports should be recognized as real sports. | They need skill, practice and teamwork. | Sport should involve physical effort. | Middle school, High school, College | Sports |
| 5 | Books should never be removed from school libraries. | Students deserve access to ideas. | Some content is not suitable for young readers. | Middle school, High school, College | Media & arts |
| 6 | Schools should teach students how to invest money. | Early knowledge builds long-term security. | Investing is risky and complicated for children. | Middle school, High school | Economy & work |
| 7 | Online shopping is better than shopping in stores. | More choice and convenience. | Stores support jobs and let you see products. | Middle school, High school, College | Economy & work |
| 8 | Wealthy people have a moral duty to give to charity. | They can relieve great suffering at little cost to themselves. | Giving should be a free choice, not a duty. | High school, College | Ethics |
| 9 | Recycling should be required by law. | Laws make everyone take part. | Education works better than punishment. | Middle school, High school | Environment |
| 10 | Governments should ban sales of new gasoline and diesel cars. | It speeds the move to cleaner transport. | Charging and costs are not ready for everyone. | High school, College | Environment |
Choosing a topic is often harder than arguing it. This generator draws from more than 300 original topics: debate motions, persuasive speech and argumentative essay topics, and informative speech subjects, tagged for middle school, high school and college across technology, education, the environment, ethics, sports, health, society, the economy, science and the arts. Every resolution comes with a starting point for each side, and every informative topic with two things to cover.
How to use this tool
- Choose the format: debate, persuasive speech, argumentative essay or informative speech.
- Pick a level and a category, or leave them on “Any”.
- For debates, choose plain wording, “Resolved:” or “This house believes that”.
- Copy a topic and its starting points; change the suggestion set for others.
Formula
Topics = bank filtered by format, level and category, then shuffled by the suggestion set number
Debate motions, persuasive speeches and argumentative essays share the same resolutions, because each one is a claim that can be argued either way. Informative topics are separate: they explain something rather than take a side. The for and against lines are starters to research, not finished arguments, and deliberately balanced. The same filters and suggestion set always give the same list.
Example
Filtering for informative, college and sports finds two topics; suggestion set 1 starts with “What happens to your body when you exercise”, with “Heart rate and breathing rise to feed the muscles” and “Regular training strengthens the heart and lungs” as points to cover. College-level sports debate motions number 15, from paying college athletes to salary caps in professional leagues.
How to choose a good topic
Pick a topic you can research in the time you have, with real evidence on both sides. For debates, a narrow motion (“Schools should ban phones during lessons”) leads to sharper arguments than a broad one (“Technology is bad”). For persuasive speeches, choose something your audience can act on. Informative speeches work best with a clear structure: what it is, how it works, why it matters.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good debate topic for high school?
One that students can research and that has strong arguments on both sides, such as later school start times, phone bans or paying college athletes. Filter by “High school” to see more.
What is the difference between persuasive and informative speeches?
A persuasive speech argues for one side and asks the audience to agree or act. An informative speech explains a subject without taking a side.
What do “Resolved” and “This house believes” mean?
They are standard ways to word a motion in different debate formats. Policy and Lincoln–Douglas debates in the US often start with “Resolved:”; parliamentary and British Parliamentary debates use “This house believes that…” or “This house would…”.
Last updated:
Page address with these inputs: https://kakao.mobile/tools/debate-topic-generator/
Cite or embed this tool
kakaoCalc. (2026, November 8). Debate & Speech Topic Generator. https://kakao.mobile/tools/debate-topic-generator/
“Debate & Speech Topic Generator.” kakaoCalc, 8 Nov. 2026, kakao.mobile/tools/debate-topic-generator/.
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