Debate topics

1. Is animal testing  justified?

2. Should cell phones be used during class?
3. Should laptops be allowed in classrooms?
4. Is global warming an issue?
5. What impact does social networking and social networking sites have on
society?
6. Are video games containing violence appropriate for children?
7. Are single sex schools more effective than co-ed schools?
8. Is television an effective tool in building the minds of children?
9. Should jobs be subcontracted into developing countries?
10. Is cloning animals ethical?
11. Is the grading system used in high school effective?
12. Do celebrities get away with more crime than non-celebrities?
13. Is it justified to develop nuclear energy for commercial use?
14. Is it effective to censor parts of the media?
15. Are humans to blame for certain animal extinctions?
16. Are alternative energy sources effective and justified?
17. Do school uniforms make school a more effective place to learn?
18. Is drug testing athletes justified?
2. Do video games cause bad behavior in children?
3. Should humans eat to live or live to eat?
4. Who is more complicated gender: men or women?
5. Can bullying in schools be stopped? How so?
6. How far is competition necessary in regards to the learning process?
7. Do school uniforms help to improve the learning environment?
8. Are curfews effective in terms of keeping teens out of trouble?
9. Is the boarding school system beneficial to children?
10. Is it ethical for companies to market their products to children?
11. Does money motivates people more than any other factor in the workplace?
12. Is co-education a good idea?
13. Are security cameras an invasion of our privacy?
14. Are humans too dependent on computers?
15. Is human cloning justified, and should it be allowed?
16. Should juveniles be tried and treated as adults?
17. All schools should make it a requirement to teach arts and music to their
students?
18. Should the concept of zoos should be nullified?
19. Do celebrities make for bad role models?
20. Should homework be banned?
21. Should cigarettes be banned from society?
22. Should violent video games be banned?
23. Is peer pressure harmful or beneficial to individuals?
24. Should cell phones be banned in schools?
25. Are social networking sites effective, or are they just a sophisticated means
for stalking people?

Science and Technology Topics

 Should governments be involved in stem cell research?
 Is it morally acceptable to experiment on animals?
 Is man-made global warming a hoax?
 Should law enforcement create a DNA database for criminals?
 Should performance enhancing drugs be banned in sports?
 Should the genetic engineering of animals be disallowed?
 Does the Internet cause more harm than good?

Class Debate Guidelines

It is important that students have enough knowledge about the topic before engaging in
a debate. Here are the guidelines for a two-team class debate. The teacher is the
facilitator only. No matter how badly you wish to participate and no matter how strongly
you feel toward a particular topic, do not participate in the debate. The teacher should
explain debate procedures and clarify misunderstandings. Here are the suggested
rules.
1. Choose a debate topic and instruct students to divide themselves into two teams.
Students favoring one side of the topic will sit on one side of the room. Those
supporting the other side should sit on the other side of the room. Those not sure
should sit in the middle row. If the division is too lopsided then choose a new topic.
2. Instruct students that they can only speak when called on. Only one person may
speak at a time. Students who wish to participate must raise their hand. The teacher
reserves the right to call on students at random.
3. Call on a student from the minority side to make an opening statement. He or she
should give at least one reason for choosing a particular side.
4. Call on someone from the opposing side to refute the argument put forth. Stay
focused on the specific argument made to open the debate.
5. Once the original argument is finished, call on the majority side to make a statement.
Discuss this specific issue until it is satisfactorily resolved.
6. After each side has presented one argument and both have been discussed
satisfactorily, allow participants to switch sides or for those in the middle to choose a
side.
7. Force side switchers to state the reason why they switched.
8. Continue the debate in the same manner until the topic has been exhausted or class
ends.
9. Follow the debate with a writing assignment forcing each student to clearly explain
his or her position.