26 Debate Topics for the ESL

Classroom
These are 26 debate topics that are recommended for the ESL
Classroom.

Debate Topics: Part 1

These are some debate topics that are some sort of
controversial.

1. Video Games are a waste of time.

2. Countries need to legalize medical marihuana.
3. Counties need to legalize recreational marihuana.
4. Smartphones have made our lives easier.
5. Animal shouldn’t be used for medical research.
6. Marriage is outdated.
7. Military service must be obligatory.
8. Countries should have curfews after midnight
9. Torture can be considered depending on certain
circumstances
10. Smoking should be banned
11. Schools should ban religion classes
12. Guns should be banned
13. Death penalty must be implemented to reduce crime

Debate Topics: Part 2

These are some debate topics that are some sort of
controversial.

1. Alcohol should be illegal.

2. Gay marriage should not be legalized
 3. Ill patients should be allowed to end their lives
4. The Theory of Evolution is true
5. Evolution is not true
6. Sex education should be taught in schools
7. Teachers should be allowed to carry guns
8. Software piracy is not really a crime
9. Climate change is a fact
10. Climate Change is a hoax
11. The Earth is flat
12. Gender Neutral Bathrooms should be built in all
schools
13. Nobody should have a cellphone until they are 15

Quotes for Discussing Ideas

These are some quotes that can help you generate some
conversations.

On The Road

“The best teacher is experience and not through someone’s

distorted point of view”
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

“I just won’t sleep,” I decided. There were so many other

interesting things to do.”
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Romeo and Juliet

“Don’t waste your love on somebody, who doesn’t value it.”

― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“These violent delights have violent ends.”

― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Fight Club

“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do

anything.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

“You are not your job, you’re not how much money you have in
the bank. You are not the car you drive. You’re not the contents
of your wallet. You are not your khakis. You are all singing, all
dancing crap of the world.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

“We’ve all been raised on television to believe that one day we’d
all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won’t.
And we’re slowly learning that fact. And we’re very, very pissed
off.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

“Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we

hate so we can buy crap we don’t need.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club