A compilation of some interesting debate topics for high school students, will not only help students prepare for the D-day well in advance, but will also help the teachers organize good debates by putting forth a whole lot of interesting topics.
When it comes to debates, getting a topic which you have no idea about is by far the worst thing that can happen to you. But obviously, if you are not prepared, you are more likely to beat around the bush, repeat the same points again and again, and spoil your chances of making the cut. Even though it’s not a hard and fast rule, the topic chosen for a debate is more likely to be a current topic, something like withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, or social networking boom for that matter, and therefore, being aware of current issues is a definite advantage.
As for high school debates, one has to take into consideration the fact that the age of these children is likely to be in the range of 14 to 18 years. At this age, classroom debates are your best bet if you intend to see children take interest in important issues. But how does a list of debate topics help? Students are usually given the topic at the last moment and therefore, a list like this can give them a rough idea as to what kind of topics can be expected. From the teacher’s point of view, on the other hand, a list of interesting topics would help in organizing interesting debates in the classroom.
~ Is the American war on terror justified?
~ Does death penalty deserve a place in civilized society?
~ Are single-sex public schools more effective than their co-ed counterparts?
~ Should violent video games be banned?
~ The influence of television on budding minds – good or bad?
~ Outsourcing jobs to the developing countries
~ Is human cloning (or animal cloning) justified?
~ Should cell phones be allowed in school?
~ Should grading system in schools be abolished?
~ Social networking boom on the Internet
~ Is global warming overrated?
~ Does euthanasia deserve a place in our society?
~ Is law a bit too soft on the celebrities?
~ Are celebs easy targets when it comes to brickbats?
~ Development of nuclear energy for commercial use
~ Alternative energy sources – Do they stand a chance?
~ Are humans responsible for extinction of animals?
~ Social media – Boon or Bane?
~ Does detention actually serve the purpose?
~ Is the practice of animal testing justified?
~ Media censorship – The need of the hour?
~ Is social networking making us antisocial?
~ Is marriage an outdated institution?
~ Should schools have uniforms?
~ Does Facebook affect grades?
~ Should partial birth abortions be banned?
~ Should voting be mandatory for all citizens?
~ Democracy is the best form of government
~ Is The American Dream Overrated?
~ Is gun control the need of the hour?
~ Celebrities as role models – Good or bad?
~ Should America police the world?
~ Amnesty for illegal aliens
~ All children should undergo a course of sex education
~ Can religion and science coexist?
~ Are we doing enough to stop corruption?
~ Is the current Presidential electoral process our best bet?
~ Dictatorship is better than democracy
~ Do celebrities deserve some level of privacy?
~ Should schools have homework?
~ Should students get paid for good grades?
~ Is Barack Obama a good leader?
~ Economic supremacy or military supremacy
~ Is Harry Potter overrated?
~ Zoos are safe havens for animals
~ Should states be allowed to secede?
~ Are we losing the war on drugs?
~ Should species like the giant panda be allowed to die out?
~ Is patriotism overrated?
~ America should set an example for the world by destroying its WMDs
Of the numerous things that children learn from debating, two most important ones are the art of persuasion and importance of being aware of what’s happening in the world. Indulging in debates also helps the child to get used to public speaking, which is one of the most important attributes of higher studies today. With so many events taking place in various parts of the world, it is highly unlikely that you would face a dearth of good debate topics to choose from.