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Tips on Writing a Pros and Cons Essay

Have you ever argued with someone who thinks that their point of view is the only right point? Such people don’t even try to consider the arguments and evidence from the opposite side, that’s what makes such conversations frustrating. There are many complex issues, where it’s not easy to make a choice. Our world is not black-and-white, and if you want to make a point, you should also consider the opposite point. Fortunately, writing classes teach students analytical thinking, and pros and cons essays are the best exercises. When writing such essays, you should consider both sides of an issue, and tips from specialists at College-Writers.Com will help you with it.

What Is a Pros and Cons Essay?

To write a decent pros and cons essay, you should perfectly understand what it is. This type of writing assignments is exactly what it sounds like: it’s an argumentative essay that requires you to consider both positive and negative aspects of a subject.

Perhaps, the most difficult thing about this type of writing is that you cannot just write a list of pros and cons. Instead, you should synthesize the facts that you have, picking a side and clearly stating your own point. However, your essay shouldn’t be all about supporting your point. It should provide arguments, and your opinion must be just your personal conclusion that you came to after analyzing all the arguments.

What to Consider When Writing a Pros and Cons Essay

First, you should choose a debatable topic. It means that you must be able to provide a balanced number of both negatives and positives. For example, genocide is not debatable because you cannot say anything good about it, and charity is also not debatable because there’s nothing bad you can say about it.

Another important thing to consider is that both pros and cons should be given equal weight in your essay. You should carefully analyze both sides of the argument. When you read a good pros and cons essay, you cannot understand what is the author’s opinion until you see the thesis statement at the end. Now let’s take a closer look at the writing process itself.

Pros and Cons Essays: Step-By-Step Guide

The writing process is somewhat similar to that of any argumentative essay because it includes researching, writing an outline, writing a draft, and proofreading. However, the pros and cons essays also have their own specific features.

1. Research your topic

If you’ve got your topic assigned by your instructor, or if you’ve chosen a good debatable topic, start researching it. Make sure to look for credible sources and avoid being biased. You must be open-minded about your subject, even if you have a certain opinion. Don’t let your opinion affect your research.

2. Brainstorm the pros and cons

While researching, divide the information into two categories: pros, and cons. At this point, you don’t need to write an outline, just make a list of positive and negative aspects that will serve as the basis for your outline.

3. Write an outline

Once you’ve got a list of pros and cons, write your outline. It should consist of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the body of the essay, you should address the pros and cons. You may choose to list all the pros first and then address the cons, or you may devote each paragraph of the body to a certain aspect of the issue, explaining its pros and cons. Here’s an example:

  • Thesis statement
  • Final thoughts

4. Write the introduction

The introduction should start with a strong hook — the very first sentence that should motivate your readers to keep reading your essay. The thesis statement must provide your opinion on the subject. However, when writing pros and cons essays, you may also present your thesis statement in the conclusion. If you include your thesis statement in the introduction, it may provide a general understanding of what the body paragraphs will be about.

5. Add details to your outline

Once you’ve written the thesis statement and the outline, it won’t be a problem for you to write the body paragraphs. Just elaborate on the points from your outline and add more details. Every body paragraph should only focus on one point but all the paragraphs should be related to the thesis statement.

6. Write the conclusion

The conclusion has two main purposes. First, it should summarize the whole essay. Secondly, it should leave your readers with something to think about. It may also reveal your opinion by presenting the thesis statement if you haven’t stated it in the introduction.

As you can see, writing a pros and cons essay is not a difficult task. If you’re still not sure that you can write a good essay, we suggest that you ask experts from College-Writers.com for help. Our professional writers know everything about writing assignments of any kind, and they will provide you with outstanding papers on any topic.

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What is a Pro and Con Thesis?

Tips for writing a pro & con thesis:, 1. research your topic, 2. brainstorm pros and cons, 3. take a stand, 4. put it together, how to write a pro & con thesis statement.

You may be required to write a paper evaluating the pros and cons of a particular issue, providing both positive and negative attributes of a specific subject as well as your position.

  • It tells readers what you want them to know or consider about the topic after reading your essay.

The key to developing a pro and con thesis statement that includes the most relevant information is research.

Research helps you become better informed and determine what it is about your topic you want to examine.

  • Gather resources that help you establish inferences or raise questions.
  • Use information gathered from credible sources to determine your position, support your claim, and defend your viewpoints against opposing arguments.

Informed writers write a more authoritative thesis statement.

Once you have completed your research, brainstorm and list all pros and cons you can think of concerning your topic.

  • This can be done by separating positive from negative sides or randomly listing them together.
  • Try to develop a counterpoint for each pro and con.
  • You need at least three pros and cons for a sufficient argument.

A strong thesis statement is one that takes a stand and can be defended.

  • Decide which side of the argument you support and group all your thoughts into one central theme.

In order to take a stand, you must know opposing viewpoints and provide evidence against them.

  • Your viewpoints must be clearly defined, and all of your pro and con points should prove your thesis or disprove the opposing side.
  • Do not use words such as “I believe” or “I feel” in your thesis statement.
  • Your opinion of the topic must be a powerful statement that fits the facts.

A formula for putting together a pro and con thesis statement that shows both positive and negative benefits and chooses a position is by making a claim plus reason.

  • Make your claim and give the reason for it.

A claim plus reason thesis allows the writer to determine the focus, simplifies the relationship between ideas and keeps the reader focused on the viewpoint.

  • you may decide to write about the effects of being a child star and state the thesis like this: “Although being a child star can be a learning experience and a stepping stone to a successful adult acting career, it can be harmful because a child actor has an unstable school schedule, less social activity with other children and more exposure to adult subject matter.”
  • Using a claim plus reason formula gives your reader enough detail about the topic to grasp your argument.

<!--StartFragment-->I am a current senior studying at the University of Missouri - Columbia with a major in Journalism and a minor in Sociology. I have interests in photojournalism, documentary journalism and design fields. <!--EndFragment--><!--EndFragment-->

An Example of How to Write a Pro & Con Essay

Todd bowerman.

Pen om paper.jpg

“Pro and Con” essays are impartial reports engineered to provide the reader with both the positive and negative aspects of any given topic. Your job as the writer of one of these essays is to provide accurate information that backs up both sides of the argument, yet does not show any favor toward one side or another. Writing a pro and con essay is similar to writing any other type of essay with a few minor tweaks.

Explore this article

  • Choose a good topic
  • Brainstorm as many negative and positive qualities as and of your topic
  • Isolate three or four or
  • Use a traditional essay format

1 Choose a good topic

Choose a good topic. The most important step in writing your essay is finding a subject that has both pros and cons. Writing a pro and con essay on a topic that is clearly beneficial or clearly dangerous will prove to be difficult and time-consuming. If you are allowed to choose your own topic, pick something that has two clear sides, each with their own set of arguments. For instance, you could choose to illustrate the pros and cons of a vehicle with a manual transmission. Since driving a manual isn't overwhelmingly good or bad, it is a perfect example of the type of topic to look for.

2 Brainstorm as many negative and positive qualities as and of your topic

Brainstorm as many negative and positive qualities of your topic as possible. Start two columns on a piece of paper, one labeled “Pros” and one labeled “Cons.” Fill this page with as many details as you can. Sticking with the manual transmission example, pros could include better gas mileage, less transmission maintenance, more fun and better performance. Cons could include damage caused by user error, inconvenience in slow traffic or hazardous situations and difficulty.

3 Isolate three or four or

Isolate three or four of the largest benefits and three or four of the largest problems with your topic from your brainstorming list. You cannot write about every pro or con, so stick with the ones that are at the core of your issue. Using the manual transmission example again, the strongest pros would be better gas mileage and less maintenance, while the strongest cons are the learning curve and possible user error causing expensive damage. You will likely have far more options from which to choose.

Research your topic at a library or using trusted resources on the Internet. A pro and con essay should be backed by as many facts as you can provide to strengthen both sides of the argument. For instance, Consumer Reports has found that a manual transmission improves gas mileage by 2 to 5 miles per gallon. That's a concrete fact that can help make the case for the pros of driving a stick. On the cons side, an expensive problem like clutch wear is verifiable evidence of the possible costs involved in driving a stick.

5 Use a traditional essay format

Use a traditional essay format to argue the case. Your first paragraph should be an introduction that speaks briefly on the topic at hand and what you intend to do with it. Use middle paragraphs to discuss pros and cons, devoting one section of your paper to each. Wrap your essay up with the conclusion you have drawn from doing this research and writing your paper. Be sure to mention your own opinion somewhere in the conclusion paragraph. Your closing line can be simple, along the lines of, "Based on the information I have discovered in my research, driving a vehicle with a manual transmission is clearly the better option for drivers concerned about the long-term cost and health of their vehicles."

  • 1 Essay Town: How to Write a Pros and Cons Essay

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50 Pros and Cons Essay Topics

What is the point of pros and cons essay topics? They help students understand what they would like to write about. Imagine that you got an assignment: your professor asked you to craft an essay where you evaluate an object along with its advantages and disadvantages. This would be a pros & cons type of task, and it’s represented by a set of different features. You might be concerned about how much research you’re going to need and when to find time for writing, but the truth is, selecting which pros and cons subjects to explore is one of the major factors affecting your success. If you make a wrong decision, then your research and efforts won’t pay off as well as they could have otherwise. This kind of essay is essential because it develops your analytical skills and teaches you to look into the depth of an object, underlining its weak and strong sides. We hope to assist you by making it clear why choice of topics plays such a major role in writing and where to find inspiration for it.

How to Choose Pro Con Essay Topics?

All students should follow some writing strategies when they start working on a new task. We’re going to outline four of them. Take a look and try to keep these things in mind. They usually apply in all situations, and with their help, you have more chances at writing a strong and engaging essay.

  • Always make things interesting for yourself.  All topics could be made interesting, at least to an extent. If you were forced to take a topic from a professor-generated list, then it could be tough, but otherwise, you can always look for something that will trigger your honest interest. There are plenty of good pros and cons topics — all you need is take a dive into your own mind. Think about stuff that you’re invested in. Perhaps you’re an athlete passionate about swimming. Maybe you love cooking, prefer theater performances over movies, or love sea over the ocean. Why not write about this? It would be exciting for you, and if you feel interested in your topic, your writing is going to reflect it, so your readers will find enjoyment as well.
  • Preserve your objectivity.  Some pro con paper topics are less fortunate than others. Try not to pick something that is obviously good or bad. For example, if you decided on exploring the benefits and cons unemployment has, the latter will clearly prevail, so you won’t be able to write a balanced essay. If you have passion for some topic, it might be great, but it could also hinder you from being objective. Assess your reactions and attitudes, and choose a theme you could build a fantastic essay on.
  • Check if your ideas are supported.  Pro con topics could be controversial, which is something professors usually like, but you’re going to have to use sources for supporting your points. Don’t make statements that reality refutes. Even if you feel strongly about a topic, you should rely on facts, not emotions. So watch out for it and check whether there are enough articles or books that could be incorporated as you need it.
  • Discuss.  Talk about your ideas with others. This could be a teacher — in most cases, they appreciate being consulted. Classmates are also a great bet: discuss your ideas together and brainstorm. Maybe you’ll find common inspiration. Talk with your friends or family members — they could offer you ideas you haven’t considered. Write about things you like, and you’ll learn to feel enjoyment during this process.

50 Useful Pro and Cons Topics

The list below has various suggestions you could use for your essay. We devised it so that you could find inspiration whenever you need it: just look through these 50 options and settle on the ones you like. Take them and write an essay on them or shift some ideas in the way you like before doing this. The choice is yours: we are here only for boosting your productivity.

Education Pros and Cons Essay Topics

In many ways, success depends on the education you receive. These pros and cons topics could let you argue against this point or in favor of it.

  • Should Students Be Motivated to Receive Education in the US?
  • Doing Homework: Is This a Good Idea?
  • Prolonging Education by Getting a Master’s Degree: Waste of Time or Step Toward a Better Future?
  • Moving into Campus: Good or Bad Decision?
  • Sending Children to Preschool: Do They Really Need to Go There?
  • Tuition Costing Money: What Are Advantages and Disadvantages of This Issue?
  • Academic Grades As a Method for Evaluating Performance: Motivating or Discouraging?
  • What Are the Perks and Drawbacks of Online Education?
  • Taking Gap Year Before Entering College: Yes or No?
  • Purpose of Application Essays and Degrees of Effectiveness

Health Pros and Cons Essay Ideas

Billions of people all over the world are terrified for their health right now. Choose a pro con topic that speaks to you most.

  • Wearing Masks Outside: Pros & Cons
  • Hospice: Place of Hope or Despair for Those Who Are Already Dying?
  • Should Students Choose Nursing as Their Career?
  • Pros & Cons of Studying at Medical University
  • Is Personal Hygiene Really That Important?
  • The Benefits & Dangers of Alternative Medicine
  • Should People Who Want to Lose Weight Rely on Diets?
  • Reasons for Getting or Not Getting Health Insurance in the US
  • Going Vegan: Should Most People Do It?
  • Safety & Dangers Presented By Modern Vaccines

Social Media and Technology Topics

Almost all of us have an account on one of social media platforms. These pro and con topics reflect this trend.

  • What Are the Benefits and Dangers Posed By Online Dating?
  • Discuss What Makes iPhones a Great & Terrible Choice
  • Gaining Popularity on Social Platforms: A Curse or a Blessing?
  • Using Facebook For Most Communication Needs
  • Reading E-Books Instead of Physical Books: Did This Change Make People’s Lives Easier?
  • Relying on Your Cell Phone: Why Is This Useful & What Dangers It Could Lead To
  • Evolution of Technology: Did It Improve Our Lives or Made Them Unhealthier?
  • Becoming a Technician: Is There a Point?
  • Skype as a Way to Stay in Touch Visually No Matter the Distance: Pluses and Minuses
  • Twitter as a Platform for Exchanging Crucial Info.

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History and Politics

Here’s an example of advantage and disadvantage topics related to historical & political aspects of our life.

  • Was Trump a Good President for Americans?
  • Was Obama’s Presidency a Good or Bad Thing for Other Countries?
  • Different Wars from the perspective of the US: Who Got Rich & Poor?
  • Monarchy as System of Government: Should It Be Applied More Often?
  • Age Limit for Participating for President Position: Is It Necessary?
  • Being a Queen That Rules an Entire Country: Too Much Trouble or Endless Pleasure?
  • Civil Right Movements: Victories and Losses That Resulted From It
  • Should Students Be Encouraged to Study Political Science In Colleges?
  • Is There a Sense in Political Theories Or Are They All Meaningless?
  • Communism as Structure Based on Equality: In What Way Does It Work in Reality?

Morality and Social Issues Pro and Cons Essays Topics

Morality could be seen as a simple area of discussions, but at the same time, it’s incredibly complex. These topics with pros and cons could push you in the right direction.

  • Provision of Free Apartments for Homeless People: Is This a Viable Solution?
  • Discuss if Death Penalty Should Be Applied in Violent Cases Where Guilt Is Proven Beyond Reasonable Doubt
  • Living in a Third World Country: Positive & Negative Aspects
  • Adopting Pets From Shelter: Is It Always a Better Choice?
  • Having Children Despite Being Poor: Should It Be Done?
  • Living with a Person You No Longer Love for the Sake of Children
  • Giving Gifts to People You Do Not Care About: Is There a Point?
  • Helping People Despite Not Being Well Off Yourself
  • Being Brave Regardless of the Circumstances: Is It Noble or Stupid?
  • Should Children Be Punished by Their Parents If They Misbehave?

Learn How to Pick Pros and Cons Essay Topics and Improve Your Writing

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278 Pros and Cons Essay Topics & Ideas

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Pros and cons essay topics offer an opportunity to analyze multiple aspects of a subject, weighing both positive and negative elements. They promote critical thinking, compelling the writer to delve into complex issues, presenting diverse viewpoints, and fostering a balanced argument. These themes can touch diverse fields, such as technology, social issues, politics, or the environment. However, the challenge lies in presenting a balanced perspective, not swaying too much on one side. It may become difficult if one’s personal bias toward a subject is obvious. Additionally, these topics often involve controversial issues, which require in-depth research to provide accurate, comprehensive information. The key to handling pros and cons essay topics successfully is an unbiased perspective, thorough research, and a well-structured argument.

Best Pros and Cons Topics

  • Remote Learning in the Modern Age
  • Genetic Modification: A Revolution in Agriculture
  • Ethical Implications of Animal Testing
  • Universal Basic Income: Solution to Poverty?
  • Veganism: An Ethical and Healthful Choice?
  • Nuclear Power: Energy Savior or Environmental Hazard?
  • Cryptocurrency: Future of Finance or Speculative Bubble?
  • Gun Control: Safety Measure or Infringement on Rights?
  • Mandatory Vaccinations: Public Health Necessity or Personal Freedom Invasion?
  • Internet Censorship: Protection or Restriction of Freedom?
  • Autonomous Vehicles: Road Safety Improvement or Risk?
  • Corporal Punishment: Effective Discipline or Child Abuse?
  • Climate Change Mitigation: Economic Burden or Investment?
  • Capital Punishment: Deterrent to Crime or Inhumane Practice?
  • Cloning: Medical Breakthrough or Ethical Nightmare?
  • Reality Television: Harmless Entertainment or Negative Influence?
  • Artificial Intelligence: Economic Boon or Job Threat?
  • Space Exploration: Worth the Investment or Financial Drain?
  • Zoos: Education and Conservation Centers or Animal Prisons?
  • Euthanasia: Mercy or Murder?
  • Renewable Energy: Sustainable Solution or Unreliable Source?
  • Youth Sports: Character Building or Too Competitive?
  • Biometric Technology: Security Improvement or Privacy Erosion?
  • Alternative Medicine: Healthful Practice or Pseudoscience?

Pros and Cons Essay Topics & Ideas

Easy Pros and Cons Topics

  • Homeschooling: Alternative Education or Socialization Hinderance?
  • Plastic Surgery: Confidence Booster or Health Risk?
  • Trade Unions: Workers’ Rights Protector or Economic Hindrance?
  • Multilingual Education: Cultural Richness or Confusion?
  • Immigration: Economic Growth Engine or Job Competition?
  • Video Games: Skill Development or Violence Promoter?
  • Social Media: Connectivity or Privacy Invasion?
  • Caffeine Consumption: Health Benefit or Risk?
  • Genetically Modified Foods: Solution to Hunger or Health Hazard?
  • Nuclear Disarmament: Path to Peace or Security Risk?
  • Surveillance Cameras: Safety Ensurer or Privacy Invader?
  • Drone Technology: Efficiency Improvement or Privacy Threat?
  • Mass Tourism: Economic Driver or Environmental Degrader?
  • Offshore Drilling: Energy Solution or Environmental Danger?
  • Celebrity Culture: Inspiration or Distraction?
  • Fast Food Consumption: Convenience or Health Risk?
  • Mobile Phones in Schools: Learning Tool or Distraction?
  • Online Privacy: Safety or Surveillance?
  • Organic Farming: Sustainable Practice or Luxury Expense?
  • Hydroelectric Power: Renewable Energy or Ecosystem Disrupter?
  • Deforestation: Economic Development or Biodiversity Threat?
  • Animal Agriculture: Food Supply or Environmental Stressor?

Interesting Pros and Cons Topics

  • Telecommuting: Work-Life Balance or Productivity Killer?
  • Body Cameras on Police: Accountability Tool or Privacy Invasion?
  • Online Shopping: Convenience or Traditional Retail Killer?
  • Single-Gender Schools: Focused Education or Gender Stereotype Reinforcement?
  • Electronic Voting: Democratic Enhancement or Security Risk?
  • Free Trade Agreements: Economic Boom or Job Loss?
  • Junk Food Tax: Health Initiative or Personal Freedom Infringement?
  • Streaming Services: Entertainment Evolution or Traditional Media Death?
  • Facial Recognition: Security Tool or Privacy Violation?
  • Forest Conservation: Biodiversity Savior or Development Constraint?
  • Solar Power: Sustainable Energy or Landscape Disruption?
  • Drones for Delivery: Efficiency or Public Safety Hazard?
  • Reality Augmentation: Technological Breakthrough or Reality Detachment?
  • Fracking: Energy Solution or Environmental Hazard?
  • Human Microchipping: Security Enhancement or Privacy Infringement?
  • Reproductive Cloning: Medical Miracle or Ethical Minefield?
  • Animal Fur in Fashion: Luxury or Cruelty?
  • Homework: Academic Advantage or Unnecessary Stress?
  • Fossil Fuel Dependency: Economic Necessity or Environmental Crisis?
  • Carbon Capture Technology: Climate Change Solution or Greenwashing?
  • Fast Fashion: Affordability or Environmental Impact?
  • Legalizing Marijuana: Medical Breakthrough or Gateway Drug?
  • Robot Workers: Efficiency Booster or Job Eliminator?

Pros and Cons Essay Topics for High School

  • Implementation of School Uniforms: Benefits and Drawbacks
  • The Influence of Social Media on Teenagers: Positive and Negative Aspects
  • Incorporation of Technology in Education: Pros and Cons
  • Standardized Testing: Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Banning Junk Food in Schools: Right or Wrong?
  • Single-Sex Education vs. Co-Education: A Comparative Analysis
  • Homework Assignments: Necessary Practice or Unnecessary Pressure?
  • Impacts of Extracurricular Activities on Students’ Life: Pros and Cons
  • Online Classes vs. Traditional Classes: An Examination of Merits and Demerits
  • School Hours Extension: Beneficial or Detrimental?
  • Year-Round Schooling: A Review of Pros and Cons
  • Learning Foreign Languages in School: Advantages and Disadvantages
  • The Role of Sports in Schools: Positive and Negative Implications
  • Integration of Arts Education: Pros and Cons
  • Usage of Mobile Devices in Class: Boon or Bane?
  • Compulsory Community Service for Students: Justified or Not?
  • Early College Admission Programs: Assessing the Benefits and Risks
  • Corporal Punishment in Schools: A Balanced Debate
  • Privatization of Education: Pros and Cons
  • Distance Learning: A Comprehensive Pros and Cons Analysis
  • Sex Education in Schools: Critical Examination of Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Parental Involvement in School Activities: Positive and Negative Aspects
  • Academic Grading System: A Review of Its Merits and Demerits
  • Inclusion of Meditation and Yoga in School Curriculum: Pros and Cons
  • Mandatory Attendance Policies: An Examination of Benefits and Drawbacks

Pros and Cons Essay Topics for Middle School

  • Incorporation of Life Skills Education in Curriculum: A Debate
  • Boarding Schools vs. Day Schools: A Comparative Analysis
  • Personalized Learning: Merits and Demerits
  • Strict Dress Code Policies: A Balanced Argument
  • Providing Student Counselling in Schools: Weighing the Pros and Cons
  • Coed Sports in Schools: A Discussion of Benefits and Challenges
  • Multicultural Education: Examining the Positives and Negatives
  • Introduction of Philosophy Classes in High School: Pros and Cons
  • Group Work in School Assignments: A Review of Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Advancement of STEM Education: Weighing Its Merits and Demerits
  • School Cafeterias: An Analysis of Health and Convenience Aspects
  • Teaching Critical Thinking in Schools: A Balanced Examination
  • School Field Trips: Weighing Educational Value and Risks
  • Bilingual Education: A Comprehensive Pros and Cons Analysis
  • Animal Dissection in Biology Class: Ethical Considerations and Practical Benefits
  • Dual Enrollment Classes: Weighing Academic Benefits and Challenges
  • Censorship of Books in School Libraries: A Balanced Argument
  • Use of Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Comprehensive Analysis
  • Adoption of Zero Tolerance Policies in Schools: A Debate
  • Healthy Eating Programs in Schools: Pros and Cons
  • Teacher Tenure: An Examination of Its Benefits and Drawbacks
  • Climate Change Education: The Importance and Challenges in Schools
  • Cyberbullying: Understanding Its Impacts and Ways to Mitigate
  • School Security Measures: Weighing Safety and Freedom
  • Influence of Video Games on Students: A Discussion on Advantages and Disadvantages

Pros and Cons Essay Topics for College Students

  • Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Life
  • Online Learning vs. Traditional Classroom Instruction
  • Use of Cryptocurrencies as a Primary Form of Exchange
  • Introduction of Universal Basic Income in Developed Nations
  • Implication of Driverless Cars on Traffic Management and Safety
  • Consumption of Genetically Modified Foods and Health Outcomes
  • Exploration of Space as a Priority for Modern Society
  • Legalization of Medical Marijuana for Pain Management
  • Impacts of Social Media on Interpersonal Communication
  • Roles of Animal Testing in Biomedical Research
  • Significance of Nuclear Energy in the Global Energy Mix
  • Influence of Violent Video Games on Youth Behavior
  • Efficacy of School Uniforms in Promoting Discipline and Equality
  • Relevance of Single-Gender Schools in Contemporary Education
  • Adoption of Veganism for the Health and Environment
  • Deregulation of the Energy Market: Benefits and Drawbacks
  • Value of Mandatory Military Service in Modern Democracies
  • Practice of Telecommuting in Post-Pandemic Times
  • Use of Drones in Delivery and Surveillance Services
  • Importance of Privacy in the Age of Big Data
  • Effects of Multilingualism on Cognitive Development
  • Application of Genetic Engineering in Human Health
  • Debate on Climate Change and Global Warming Policies
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Open Office Spaces

Pros and Cons Essay Topics for University

  • Impacts of Homeschooling on Children’s Social Skills
  • Roles of Religion in Public Schools
  • Potential of 3D Printing in Manufacturing Industries
  • Influence of Celebrity Culture on Youth Identity Formation
  • Use of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Professional Sports
  • Prospects of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles in Decarbonization
  • Responsibility of Developed Countries in Climate Change Mitigation
  • Evaluation of Renewable Energy Subsidies for Energy Transition
  • Influence of Parenting Styles on Child Development
  • Adoption of Facial Recognition Technology in Law Enforcement
  • Question of Human Cloning: Ethical Implications
  • Roles of Internet Censorship in Protecting National Security
  • Effects of Mass Tourism on Local Cultures
  • Impacts of Fast Fashion on the Environment
  • Application of Nanotechnology in Medicine
  • Importance of Liberal Arts Education in a Technological Society
  • Effects of Mandatory Voting on Democratic Participation
  • Impacts of Music Therapy on Mental Health
  • Influence of Body Cameras on Police Accountability
  • Pros and Cons of Full-Time Employment vs. Freelancing
  • Role of Animal Zoos in Wildlife Conservation
  • Application of Blockchain Technology Beyond Cryptocurrencies
  • Debate on Genetically Modified Babies for Disease Prevention
  • Consideration of Eco-Tourism as a Sustainable Travel Alternative

Pro and Con Debate Topics

  • Space Tourism: Exciting Frontier or Elitist Extravagance?
  • Universal Healthcare: Basic Human Right or Economic Burden?
  • Polar Tourism: Adventure or Environmental Threat?
  • eSports: Athletic Recognition or Sedentary Lifestyle Promoter?
  • Online Dating: Convenient Connection or Relationship Ruin?
  • Zero-Waste Lifestyle: Sustainable Practice or Unrealistic Expectation?
  • Artificial Photosynthesis: Energy Breakthrough or Technological Hurdle?
  • Underwater Cities: Innovative Living or Ecological Disaster?
  • Job Automation: Efficiency Gain or Workforce Threat?
  • Wildlife Trafficking: Economic Opportunity or Conservation Crisis?
  • Gender-Neutral Parenting: Equality Promoter or Identity Confusion?
  • Food Waste: Resource Mismanagement or Consumer Habit?
  • Carbon Offsetting: Climate Solution or Responsibility Shift?
  • Genetic Privacy: Personal Protection or Research Obstacle?
  • Cashless Society: Convenience or Privacy Threat?
  • Aging Population: Burden or Wisdom Source?
  • Digital Learning Tools: Learning Enhancer or Traditional Teaching Underminer?
  • Designer Babies: Medical Miracle or Ethical Disaster?
  • Intellectual Property Rights: Innovation Protection or Monopolization?
  • Digital Currency: Economic Revolution or Financial Instability?

Controversial Pro and Con Topics

  • Mandatory Vaccination: Pros and Cons
  • Legalization of Recreational Drugs: Benefits and Drawbacks
  • Nuclear Energy: Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Animal Testing in Medical Research: Arguments For and Against
  • Capital Punishment: Exploring the Upsides and Downsides
  • Adoption of Universal Basic Income: Prospects and Challenges
  • Internet Censorship: Freedom vs. Safety
  • Gene Editing Technology: Ethical Implications
  • Driverless Cars: A Technological Breakthrough or Risky Innovation
  • Homeschooling: Assessing Its Strengths and Weaknesses
  • Protesting Rights: Balancing Freedom and Public Safety
  • Concealed Firearms: Public Protection or Public Threat?
  • Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Feeding the World or Damaging the Environment
  • Surveillance Technology: Safeguarding or Invading Privacy
  • Social Media Influence: Connectivity or Toxicity
  • Animal Rights vs. Human Needs: A Delicate Balance
  • School Uniforms: Promoting Equality or Suppressing Individuality
  • Euthanasia: Compassionate Response or Moral Dilemma
  • Outsourcing Jobs: Boost for Global Economy or Local Unemployment Trigger
  • Veganism: Healthy Lifestyle or Nutritional Risk
  • Fracking: Energy Solution or Environmental Hazard
  • Polygamy: Cultural Practice or Human Rights Violation
  • Deforestation: Economic Gain vs. Environmental Loss
  • Human Cloning: Scientific Progress or Ethical Nightmare
  • Space Colonization: Next Frontier or Dangerous Fantasy

Pros and Cons Ideas

  • Wind Power: Renewable Solution or Noise Pollution?
  • Animal Rights in Entertainment: Fun Show or Unethical Practice?
  • Artificial Meat: Sustainability Savior or Health Concern?
  • Screen Time for Children: Educational Tool or Developmental Hindrance?
  • GMO Labeling: Consumer Right or Unnecessary Panic?
  • Public Surveillance: Crime Deterrent or Freedom Infringement?
  • Trophy Hunting: Conservation Strategy or Cruelty?
  • Quantum Computing: Technological Revolution or Security Threat?
  • Prescription Drug Advertising: Informed Choice or Misleading Practice?
  • Assisted Suicide: Compassionate Care or Ethical Dilemma?
  • Nuclear Family Structure: Social Stability or Outdated Model?
  • Paper Books vs. E-Books: Tradition or Technology?
  • Colonizing Mars: Human Achievement or Unnecessary Distraction?
  • Performance Enhancing Drugs: Fair Advantage or Cheating?
  • Modern Art: Creative Expression or Financial Speculation?
  • Professional Gaming: Career Opportunity or Unhealthy Lifestyle?
  • Beauty Pageants: Self-Expression or Objectification?
  • Child Labor: Economic Necessity or Human Rights Violation?
  • Overtourism: Economic Prosperity or Cultural Erosion?
  • Multiculturalism: Social Enrichment or Integration Challenge?
  • Invasive Species: Ecological Threat or Biodiversity Booster?

Pro and Con Paper Topics

  • Extreme Sports: Thrill or Danger?
  • Lifelong Learning: Personal Growth or Economic Necessity?
  • Paying College Athletes: Fair Compensation or Amateur Spirit Ruin?
  • Self-Driving Cars: Traffic Solution or Safety Issue?
  • Artificial Wombs: Medical Advancement or Ethical Quandary?
  • Violent Media: Artistic Freedom or Social Malady?
  • Helicopter Parenting: Child Safety or Overprotection?
  • Cybersecurity Measures: Essential Safeguard or Privacy Intrusion?
  • Holographic Technology: Futuristic Communication or Privacy Concern?
  • Virtual Reality: Exciting Innovation or Isolation Enhancer?
  • Hyperloop Travel: Transportation Revolution or Pipe Dream?
  • Geoengineering: Climate Savior or Ecological Risk?
  • Population Control: Sustainable Solution or Human Rights Violation?
  • Nanotechnology: Revolutionary Science or Unpredictable Threat?
  • Bioplastics: Environmental Solution or Greenwashing?
  • Internet of Things: Connected Convenience or Surveillance Nightmare?
  • 3D Printing: Manufacturing Revolution or Intellectual Property Nightmare?
  • Digital Nomad Lifestyle: Freedom or Isolation?
  • Dark Tourism: Educational Experience or Insensitive Practice?
  • Autonomous Weapons: Military Efficiency or Ethical Disaster?

Pros and Cons Issues

  • Telemedicine: Healthcare Accessibility or Patient Risk
  • Labor Unions: Employee Advocacy or Business Hindrance
  • Artificial Intelligence: Boosting Efficiency or Threatening Jobs
  • Plastic Surgery: Cosmetic Enhancement or Health Risk
  • Crypto-Currencies: Future of Finance or Bubble Waiting to Burst
  • Assisted Reproduction: Miracle of Science or Ethical Quandary
  • Multicultural Education: Promoting Diversity or Dividing Society
  • Reality TV: Entertainment or Cultural Decay
  • Extreme Sports: Thrilling Adventure or Unnecessary Risk
  • Designer Babies: Genetic Customization or Ethical Issue
  • Lobbying: Advocacy Tool or Unfair Influence
  • Violent Video Games: Entertainment or Negative Influence
  • Organic Farming: Sustainable Practice or Inefficient Production
  • Renewable Energy: Long-Term Solution or Unrealistic Ideal
  • Civil Disobedience: Necessary Protest or Legal Violation
  • Zoos: Conservation Efforts or Animal Cruelty
  • Performance Enhancing Drugs: Sporting Equality or Unfair Advantage
  • Stem Cell Research: Medical Breakthrough or Ethical Dilemma
  • Online Dating: Romantic Revolution or Relationship Ruin
  • Corporate Social Responsibility: Ethical Practice or Marketing Gimmick
  • Junk Food Taxation: Public Health Initiative or Personal Freedom Infringement
  • Single-Gender Education: Enhanced Learning or Limited Socialization
  • Offshore Drilling: Energy Opportunity or Environmental Threat
  • Monarchy: Historical Heritage or Outdated System
  • GMO Labeling: Consumer Right or Unnecessary Fearmongering

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Basic Guide: How to Outline a Pro and Con Essay

Table of Contents

Before you start writing your essay, you must understand how you want it to look. You win the battle when you have a pro and con essay outline .

Writing a “pros and cons” essay sharpens your critical thinking abilities by forcing you to consider a subject from multiple angles. Your essay may consist of a plain evaluation of the arguments for and against a particular perspective. You may also be required to take a stance on a problem or synthesize the views into valuable recommendations.

This article will provide you with four basic steps to efficiently outline a pro and con essay.

fountain pen on black lined paper

4 Quick Steps to Writing a Pro and Con Essay Outline

You must compare two opposing opinions in a pro and con essay outline . Here, the pro argument is technically the thesis statement, and the con argument is the antithesis contention. Here is a brief outline to get you started:

1. Research

Researching your topic is essential before you start writing. Hear what people and other sources of information have to say about this subject.

Review a couple of blog posts, reputable sources, and reliable statistics to understand these sources of information and feel about the topic in general. Then select the most compelling arguments on both sides.

Using statistics or academic studies is beneficial when writing about a social problem. In contrast, you should seek professional expertise when investigating something more abstract, such as the various interpretations of a literary work.

2. Creating a Thesis Statement

A strong thesis statement is the backbone of any essay. You should craft a short statement to avoid getting stuck in the wordy waters of a 2-page thesis. 

Using a short statement serves as a foundation from which to create your main argument and defend your point of view.

At the end of your opening paragraph, you should present your thesis, which is a short description of your paper’s main ideas. The statement should briefly summarize your conclusions and clearly state your stance on the issue.

Your thesis should make it apparent if you are making an argument or an attempt at synthesis based on your study.

3. Arguments for and Against

Your paper’s main body should include a logical and convincing presentation of the issue’s benefits and drawbacks.

To each of your arguments, please devote at least one paragraph. We recommend that you word-limit your paper to eight to twelve short paragraphs. These sections usually receive some of the most constructive feedback, making the most robust case for your position.

If you can’t bring yourself to agree, at least summarize the other person’s case in a way that shows some goodwill.

4. Conclusion

In the final paragraph of your essay, you need to restate your thesis and outline the questions your essay has raised.

If your argument is based on the pros and cons of the topic, reiterate it. Also, emphasize how the body of your essay shows your method was correct.

A pro and con essay outline is the initial step in determining how to make your thoughts appear vivid and lively .

But it is just one step. You may have to rewrite and rewrite again. Be proud of rewriting several times. Perfection cannot be achieved in a single essay!

Basic Guide: How to Outline a Pro and Con Essay

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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2024 presidential election, should obesity be treated as a disease, digital addiction & social media, should term limits be imposed on u.s. senators and representatives, should permitless, “constitutional carry” of guns be legal, election 2024.

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  • Tablets vs. Textbooks (archived 11/28/22)

Elections & Presidents

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  • Born Gay (archived 10/19/20)
  • Obamacare (archived 10/14/20)

Environment & Animal Rights

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  • GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)
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  • Climate Change (archived 6/23/2023)
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Government & Civics

  • American Socialism
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  • Impeachment Explainer
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  • ACLU (archived 12/15/21)
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Society & Holidays

  • Daylight Saving Time
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  • Reparations for Slavery
  • Santa Claus
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  • Gay Marriage (archived 12/15/21)
  • Cheerleading
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  • Fighting in Hockey
  • Kneeling during National Anthem
  • College Football Playoffs (archived 9/18/12)
  • Paying College Athletes (archived 3/22/2024)

Law & Order

  • Gun Control
  • Lower Drinking Age
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  • D.A.R.E (archived 6/22/17)
  • Prostitution Legalization (archived 12/15/21)

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International Scene

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  • Middle East Conflict Explainer
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  • U.S. – Iraq War (archived 12/31/11)
  • WTC Muslim Center (archived 6/3/13)
  • Abortion – Should abortion be legal?
  • ACLU – Is the ACLU good for America?
  • Alternative Energy – Can alternative energy effectively replace fossil fuels?
  • American Socialism – Should the U.S. become socialist?
  • Animal Dissection – Should K-12 students dissect animals in science classrooms?
  • Animal Testing – Should animals be used for scientific or commercial testing?
  • Artificial Intelligence – Is artificial intelligence good for society?
  • Banned Books – Should parents or other adults be able to ban books from schools and libraries?
  • Big Three Bailout – Should the big three car manufacturers be bailed out by the U.S. government?
  • Binge-Watching – Is binge-watching good for you?
  • Born Gay – Is sexual orientation determined at birth?
  • Single-Use Plastics Ban – Should single-use plastics be banned?
  • Cancel Culture – Is cancel culture (or callout culture) good for society?
  • CBD for Pets – Is CBD good for pets?
  • Cell Phone Radiation – Is cell phone radiation safe?
  • Cheerleading – Is cheerleading a sport?
  • Churches & Taxes – Should churches (including mosques, synagogues, etc.) remain tax-exempt?
  • Climate Change – Is human activity primarily responsible for global climate change?
  • College Education – Is a college education worth it?
  • College Football Playoffs – Should college football replace the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) with a playoff system?
  • Congressional Insider Trading – Should insider trading by Congress be allowed?
  • Congressional Term Limits – Should term limits be imposed on U.S. Senators and Representatives?
  • Constitutional Carry of Handguns  – Should permitless, “constitutional carry” of guns be legal?
  • Corporal Punishment – Should corporal punishment be used in K-12 schools?
  • Corporate Tax Rate – Should the federal corporate income tax rate be raised?
  • Cuba Embargo – Should the United States maintain its embargo against Cuba?
  • DACA & Dreamers – Are DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and the DREAM Act good for America?
  • D.A.R.E. – Is the D.A.R.E. program good for America’s kids (K-12)?
  • Dakota Access Pipeline – Should the Dakota Access Pipeline be completed?
  • Daylight Saving Time – Should the United States keep daylight saving time?
  • DC AND Puerto Rico Statehood – Should Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico be granted U.S. statehood?
  • Death Penalty – Should the death penalty be legal?
  • Dress Codes – Should dress codes be implemented and enforced?
  • Defund the Police – Should police departments be defunded, if not abolished?
  • Digital Addiction & Social Media – Does social media spur digital addiction and other social ills?
  • Drinking Age – Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age?
  • Drone Strikes – Should the United States continue its use of drone strikes abroad?
  • Drug Use in Sports – Should performance-enhancing drugs be accepted in sports?
  • Election Day National Holiday – Should the election day be made a national holiday?
  • Electoral College – Should the United States use the Electoral College in presidential elections?
  • Employer Vaccine Mandates – Should employers be able to mandate vaccinations?
  • Felon Voting – Should people who have completed felony sentences be allowed to vote?
  • Fighting in Hockey – Should fighting be allowed in hockey?
  • Filibuster – Should the U.S. Senate keep the filibuster?
  • Fracking – Should the United States continue fracking
  • Free College – Should public college be tuition-free?
  • Fur Clothing Bans – Should fur clothing be banned?
  • Gay Marriage – Should gay marriage be legal?
  • Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) – Should genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be grown?
  • Gold Standard – Should the United States return to a gold standard?
  • Golf – Is golf a sport and are golfers athletes?
  • Gun Control – Should more gun control laws be enacted?
  • Historic Statue Removal – Should historic statues be taken down?
  • Homework – Is homework beneficial?
  • Illegal Immigration – Should the government provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants?
  • Internet – Is the internet “making us stupid?”
  • Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – What are the solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
  • Kneeling during the National Anthem – Is kneeling during the national anthem an appropriate form of protest?
  • Mandatory National Service – Should the United States have mandatory national service?
  • Medical Marijuana – Should medical marijuana be legal?
  • Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) – Should medical aid in dying (MAID) be legal??
  • Milk – Should humans consume dairy milk?
  • Minimum Wage – Should the federal minimum wage be increased?
  • Net Neutrality – Should the U.S. have net neutrality laws?
  • Obamacare – Is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) good for America?
  • Obesity – Is obesity a disease?
  • Olympics – Are the Olympic games an overall benefit for their host countries and cities?
  • Over-the-Counter (OTC) Birth Control Pills – Should birth control pills be available over-the-counter (OTC)?
  • Paying College Athletes – Should colleges and universities pay college athletes?
  • Penny – Should the penny stay in circulation?
  • Pit Bull Bans – Should breed-specific legislation (“pit bull bans”) be enacted?
  • Pokémon – Is Pokémon Go good for our society?
  • Police Body Cameras – Should police officers wear body cameras?
  • Prescription Drug Costs – Should the U.S. federal government regulate prescription drug prices?
  • President Bill Clinton – Was Bill Clinton a good president?
  • President Ronald Reagan – Was Ronald Reagan a good president?
  • Presidential Election, 2008 – Which candidate would make the best U.S. president?
  • Presidential Election, 2012 – Which candidate should be U.S. president in 2012?
  • Presidential Election, 2016 – The Candidates and Where They Stand on the Issues
  • Presidential Election, 2020 – 2020 Presidential Election Site
  • Presidential Election, 2024 – 2024 Presidential Election Site
  • Private Prisons – Should prisons be privatized?
  • Prostitution – Should prostitution be legal?
  • Recreational Marijuana – Should recreational marijuana be legal?
  • Reparations for Slavery – Should the federal government pay reparations to the descendants of slaves?
  • Universal Healthcare – Should the U.S. government provide universal health care?
  • Sanctuary Cities – Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?
  • Santa Claus – Is there really a Santa Claus?
  • Saturday Halloween – Should Halloween be moved permanently to Saturday?
  • School Uniforms – Should students have to wear school uniforms?
  • School Vouchers – Should states have school voucher programs?
  • Social Security Privatization – Should social security be privatized?
  • Space Colonization – Should humans colonize space?
  • Standardized Tests – Do standardized tests improve education in America?
  • Student Loan Debt – Should student loan debt be eliminated via forgiveness or bankruptcy?
  • Tablets v. Textbooks -Should tablets replace textbooks in K-12 schools?
  • Teacher Tenure – Should teachers get tenure?
  • TikTok Bans – Should TikTok be banned?
  • Uber & Lyft – Are ride-hailing companies a benefit to society?
  • Under God in the Pledge – Should the words “under god” be in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance?
  • U.S. Drone Shot down by Iran – Was the U.S. drone shot down by Iran over international waters?
  • Universal Basic Income (UBI) – Should the United States implement a universal basic income?
  • US-Iraq War – Should the U.S. have attacked Iraq?
  • U.S. Supreme Court Packing – Should packing the U.S. Supreme Court ever be considered?
  • Vaccines for Kids – Should states be allowed to mandate vaccines for school attendance?
  • Vaping E-Cigarettes – Is vaping e-cigarettes safe?
  • Vegetarianism – Should people become vegetarian?
  • Video Games & Violence – Do violent video games contribute to youth violence?
  • Voting Age – Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
  • Voting Machines – Are electronic voting machines the best method for voting?
  • WTC Muslim Center – Is it appropriate to build a muslim community center (aka the ”ground zero mosque”) near the World Trade Center site?
  • Zoos – Should zoos exist?

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15 Pros and Cons Topics to Help You Write Better Essay

15 pros and cons topics to help you write a better essay.

A pro and con essay is a persuasive essay where the student needs to debate the advantages and disadvantages before revealing their stand on the issue at the end of the essay. This type of essay requires objectivity and genuine comparison so that the reader gets the right information for both sides to form their own judgment and opinion before coming to your analysis and opinion.

If you are looking for good pros and cons topics to help you write a better essay, here are some that will get your grey matter working:

  • The pros and cons of legalizing marijuana
  • The pros and cons of beauty pageants
  • The pros and cons of reducing work week to 35 hours
  • The pros and cons of spying on friendly nations
  • The pros and cons of social media
  • The pros and cons of fad diets
  • The pros and cons of mobile phones
  • The pros and cons of childhood vaccinations
  • The pros and cons of hunting big game in Africa
  • The pros and cons of playing video games
  • The pros and cons of having legal drinking age
  • The pros and cons of hosting the Olympics
  • The pros and cons of euthanasia by medical professionals
  • The pros and cons of sex education in schools
  • The pros and cons of Facebook

Remember, you need to give equal importance to both sides regardless of your personal views and opinions. That is why such topics are often controversial and debatable.

However, pros and cons essays, be it for entry into a college or university or part of your undergraduate studies, should be perfect. Spend adequate time proofreading the essay after you finish writing it. The English has to be perfect, with the right use of language and phrases, and no grammar or punctuation errors. If you are not confident of proofreading essays or English is not your first language, use essay editing UK services . With essay grammar check, professional essay copy editing UK services can improve your pros and cons essay to elevate the level and make sure the language, punctuation and grammar are perfect. This will help you get a high grade.

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237 Original Pros And Cons Topics To Write A Great Thesis

pros and cons topics

Pros and cons writing assignments are sometimes referred to as advantages and disadvantages papers. Even though these papers are not generally difficult to write, you still need to come up with some great pros and cons. After all, these are the most important parts of your essay and your professor will grade you according to their quality. Of course, to come up with great arguments, you need to find some great pros and cons topics to write about.

Writing your paper on a topic like “the pros and cons of getting a pet cat” will most likely not get you an A+. This is why you should definitely take a look at our list of 237 100% original topic ideas. We have topics about everything you can write about. And yes, our list also includes some very thought-provoking pro con controversial topics. You can use any of these ideas free of charge and you don’t even have to give us credit. Just choose one and start writing!

What Are Pros And Cons Papers?

Did you just receive a writing assignment related to writing a pros and cons essay? Most students don’t really know what this is, so it’s time to shed some light on the matter. Pros and cons is just another name for the argumentative essay. You’ve probably heard of the argumentative essay, but do you really know what they are and why they are important?

Pros and cons essays are a type of academic writing that present the arguments for and against a particular topic. The purpose of this type of essay is to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of a particular issue, decision, or situation and provide an informed opinion. Argumentative papers are important because they:

Encourage critical thinking and evaluation of both sides of an issue Help the writer develop a well-rounded understanding of the topic Provide the opportunity to present both sides of an argument Can be used to present both personal and research-based opinions

Writing such a paper is not difficult, but the quality of your pro con arguments depends on the topic you choose. Fortunately, we have 237 unique topics for you right here on this page, so all you have to do is take your pick:

Best Pros And Cons Topics For Students

As you probably know already, we have some of the best pros and cons topics for students. Take a look at these ideas and choose the one you like the most:

  • The impact of social media on human relationships
  • The pros and cons of remote work arrangements
  • Using social media in United States schools: pros and cons
  • The ethical considerations of artificial intelligence and automation
  • The effect of the gig economy on employee benefits
  • The role of standardized testing in education in South Korea
  • The impact of climate change on global food security
  • Standardized testing in education: pros and cons
  • The future of transportation: electric cars vs. self-driving cars
  • Pros and cons of advancements in mobile technology
  • The use of drones in military and civilian contexts
  • Online learning vs. traditional classroom education: pros and cons
  • The effects of online privacy on corporate responsibility
  • The impact of automation on job displacement and the economy
  • The value of a college education in today’s job market

Pro And Con Debate Topics

Do you need to prepare for a debate? Then you should make sure that you come up with the best topic possible. Here are some excellent pro and con debate topics for you:

  • The use of GMOs in the production of agricultural products
  • The use of facial recognition technology by police
  • The effects of social media on our mental health
  • The use of single-use plastics in everyday life
  • The impact of remote work on work-life balance
  • Pros and cons of using drones in military and civilian contexts
  • The effect of the rise of automation on job displacement
  • The impact of mobile technology on social interactions
  • The role of government in regulating the tech industry
  • The impact of internet censorship on free speech
  • The use of animal testing in scientific research
  • The impact of renewable energy sources on the environment
  • Pros and cons of the legalization of marijuana for recreational use
  • The role of vaccination in public health in China
  • The effect of immigration policies on the economy

Pro Vs Con Topics Related To Animals

Who doesn’t love animals? So, why not write your paper on an interesting topic? Check out these original pro vs con topics related to animals:

  • The impact of deforestation on wildlife habitats
  • The ethics of zoos and captive animal displays
  • The role of hunting in wildlife conservation
  • The impact of climate change on migration patterns
  • The use of animal testing in cosmetics: pros and cons
  • The impact of overfishing on marine ecosystems
  • The effects of plastic pollution on marine life
  • The impact of urbanization on wildlife populations
  • The benefits and drawbacks of domesticated animals as pets
  • The role of animal agriculture in global food security
  • The impact of pollution on wildlife health and populations
  • The ethics of wildlife trade and trafficking: pros and cons
  • The role of wildlife conservation in protecting biodiversity
  • The impact of invasive species on native wildlife
  • The effects of human-wildlife conflict on animal populations
  • The impact of oil and gas drilling on wildlife habitats
  • The benefits and drawbacks of wildlife tourism: pros and cons

Pro And Cons Topics For High School

Are you a high school student? Do you need a topic idea that will get you a top grade? Pick one of our pro and cons topics for high school and start writing in minutes:

  • Summer break: pros and cons for student learning
  • The impact of technology on relationships
  • The effects of social media on self-esteem
  • The role of education in preparing students for the future workforce
  • The effects of poverty on health in the UK
  • The impact of advertising on body image
  • The effects of standardized testing on student motivation
  • The impact of cell phone use on student learning: pros and cons
  • The impact of parental involvement on student success
  • The role of peer pressure on adolescent decision-making
  • The effects of sleep deprivation on academic performance
  • Bullying in US High schools: pros and cons
  • The effects of social media on political engagement and activism
  • The role of community service in developing leadership skills
  • The impact of technology on mental health in the US
  • The effects of stress on student health: pros and cons
  • The impact of parental involvement on adolescent substance abuse

Advantages And Disadvantages Topics For 2023

Interested in some topics that are of interest right now? We have selected the absolute best advantages and disadvantages topics for 2023 for you:

  • The impact of genetically modified crops on the environment
  • The impact of internet censorship on democracy in 2023
  • The benefits and drawbacks of remote work employers
  • The advantages and disadvantages of using AI in healthcare
  • Should schools continue with online learning?
  • The pros and cons of genetically modifying crops
  • The benefits and drawbacks of smart cities in Europe
  • Should individuals be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19?
  • The advantages and disadvantages of space exploration
  • The benefits and drawbacks of renewable energy sources
  • The advantages and disadvantages of self-driving cars
  • The impact of AI on privacy in 2023
  • Should countries adopt a Universal Basic Income?

Pro Con Paper Topics For College Students

The following topics are a bit more difficult than the ones we’ve listed so far. These are unique pro oncon paper topics for college students:

  • The impact of e-commerce on brick-and-mortar businesses
  • The pros and drawbacks of using drones for delivery
  • The impact of technology on interpersonal relationships
  • Advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy sources
  • Advantages and disadvantages of animal testing
  • The effects of personalized marketing on consumer privacy
  • Pros and cons of using autonomous drones for delivery
  • The impact of wearable technology on personal privacy
  • Pros and cons of using crowdfunding for small business funding
  • The effect of autonomous vehicles on the insurance industry
  • Benefits and disadvantages of using blockchain technology for voting
  • The impact of wearable fitness trackers on healthy behaviors
  • The benefits and drawbacks of using smart homes technology
  • The impact of 5G technology on the telecommunications industry
  • Pros and cons of using AI in financial services in the US
  • The effect of the sharing economy on the hospitality industry

Good Pros And Cons Topics For 2023

Looking for some topics that should work great in 2023? You’ll be thrilled to hear that we have some exceptional good pros and cons topics for 2023 right here:

  • The impact of telemedicine on healthcare accessibility
  • The pros and cons of using smart home technology
  • Augmented reality in education and learning
  • Renewable energy sources or traditional fossil fuels?
  • The impact of virtual reality on entertainment in Europe
  • The advantages and disadvantages of biodegradable packaging
  • The impact of robotics on manual labor jobs in the UK
  • The effect of AI on decision-making
  • Telepresence technology for remote work and meetings
  • The impact of renewable energy sources on the economy
  • Biometric technology for personal identification and security
  • Pros and cons of using autonomous vehicles for logistics
  • Effects of renewable energy sources on energy independence
  • The advantages and disadvantages of using AI in criminal justice

Pro Versus Con Ideas Related To Science And Tech

If you want to write about science and tech, our seasoned writers and editors have created a list of interesting pro versus con ideas related to science and tech just for you:

  • Is the use of AI in the workplace increasing productivity or taking away jobs?
  • The benefits and drawbacks of using robots in manufacturing
  • Is the use of biotechnology in agriculture posing a threat to the environment?
  • The impact of augmented reality on human behavior
  • Should governments invest in commercial space travel?
  • Is the use of smart home technology invading privacy?
  • The pros and cons of using nanotechnology healthcare
  • The impact of 3D printing on manufacturing
  • The advantages and disadvantages of using drones for surveillance
  • Is the increasing use of AI in the criminal justice system fair?
  • The pros and cons of using telemedicine for healthcare delivery
  • The impact of autonomous vehicles on transportation
  • Is the widespread use of social media damaging interpersonal relationships?

Easy Topics With Pros And Cons

Choose one of these easy topics with pros and cons if you don’t want to spend too much time writing your paper:

  • The impact of exercise on physical health
  • Pros and cons of spending time in nature
  • The benefits and drawbacks of living in a big city in the United States
  • The impact of a diet on mental health
  • The benefits and drawbacks of online education
  • The impact of social media on body image
  • The pros and cons of volunteering in the United Kingdom
  • The effects of stress on mental health
  • The benefits and drawbacks of living in a small town
  • The role of advertising in influencing consumer behavior
  • The pros and cons of planning for the future
  • The effect of screen time on children’s development
  • The pros and cons of practicing mindfulness and meditation
  • The advantages and disadvantages of exploring new cultures
  • The benefits of reading books and expanding your knowledge
  • The pros and cons of spending time with friends and family

Real-Life Pros And Cons Issues

The following is a comprehensive list of real-life pros and cons issues, including economic, social, and political topics:

  • Benefits and drawbacks of using blockchain technology
  • The impact of electric vehicles on the oil industry in Europe
  • The pros and cons vertical farming
  • Online education effects on traditional colleges and universities
  • Using nanotechnology in consumer products
  • The impact of social media influencers on purchasing decisions
  • Benefits and drawbacks of using AI in customer support
  • The effect of telecommuting on employee productivity and job satisfaction
  • Pros and cons of using virtual reality in real estate in the United States
  • The effect of the gig economy on traditional employment
  • The advantages and disadvantages of using biometric technology
  • Pros and cons of using virtual reality for therapy
  • The impact of the internet of things (IoT) on personal privacy
  • The advantages and disadvantages of using drones in agriculture
  • Pros and cons of using cloud computing for data management

Advantages And Disadvantages Topics About Society And Culture

The following is a list of the pros and cons of various aspects of society and culture, highlighting the positive and negative effects they may have on individuals and communities:

  • The effects of multiculturalism on cultural diversity.
  • The pros and cons of using social media for social change.
  • Effects of the decline of organized religion on spirituality
  • The advantages and disadvantages of the globalization of popular culture
  • The impact of technology on dating and relationships
  • Benefits and drawbacks of the rise of remote work
  • The impact of legalizing gay marriages on traditional family values
  • Pros and cons of the use of social media for personal expression
  • The decline of traditional gender roles and its effect on family dynamics and relationships
  • The pros and cons of the “body positive” movement on and self-esteem
  • Effects of the gentrification of urban neighborhoods on economic diversity
  • Benefits and disadvantages of the “Me Too” movement
  • The effect of the rise of the “cancel culture” movement on free speech
  • The impact of eco-tourism on local cultures and the environment
  • Pros and cons of the use of digital currencies for financial transactions

Hot Pros And Cons Topic Ideas In 2023

Below, you can find a list of hot pros and cons topic ideas that should be highly appreciated by your professors in 2023:

  • Pros and cons of virtual reality technology
  • Advantages and disadvantages of a cashless society
  • Pros and cons of gene editing
  • The advantages and disadvantages of the use of pesticides in agriculture
  • Pros and cons of the use of antibiotics in agriculture
  • Talk about the pros and cons of self-driving cars
  • Advantages and disadvantages of space tourism
  • Pros and cons of using blockchain technology
  • Benefits and drawbacks of year-round schooling
  • The advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling vs. traditional schooling
  • Advantages and disadvantages of using drones for deliveries
  • Pros and cons of having a Universal Basic Income
  • Benefits and drawbacks of plastic packaging
  • Advantages and disadvantages of electric air travel

Current Pros And Cons Subjects

It’s always a good idea to write your papers on current topics. Take a look at some of the most exciting current pros and cons subjects:

  • Advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling
  • Pros and cons of alternative medicine
  • Benefits and drawbacks of vegetarian and vegan diets
  • Advantages and disadvantages of a monarchy
  • Advantages and disadvantages of communism
  • Pros and cons of nuclear power
  • Benefits and drawbacks of using hydroelectric power
  • Advantages and disadvantages of fracking
  • Benefits and drawbacks of solar energy
  • Pros and cons of geothermal energy use
  • The advantages and disadvantages of genetically modified animals
  • Pros and cons of space exploration and colonization
  • Advantages and disadvantages of the death penalty
  • Discuss gun control laws in the US

Controversial Pro Con Topics

Our experts managed to create 14 brand new controversial pro con topics that you can use for free right now. Pick one of our ideas and get an A+:

  • The benefits and disadvantages of GMOs
  • The impact of the death penalty on crime rates
  • Pros and cons of legalizing marijuana in the UK
  • The effect of immigration policies on the job market
  • The advantages and disadvantages of embryonic stem cells in medical research
  • The impact of affirmative action policies on equality in the workplace
  • Pros and cons of using pesticides in agriculture
  • The impact of gun control laws on crime
  • The advantages and disadvantages of using animal testing for medical research
  • The effects of using hydrofracking for natural gas extraction
  • Pros and cons of using nuclear energy for power generation
  • The effect of using the controversial stop-and-frisk policing strategy
  • The advantages and disadvantages of the use of vaccine mandates
  • The impact of net neutrality regulations on the technology industry

Interesting Pros And Cons Topics Related To Health

Discussing a topic in health or healthcare can get you some bonus points. Here are some interesting pros and cons topics related to health:

  • Pros and cons of the capital punishment
  • Advantages and disadvantages of the use of biometric identification
  • Pros and cons of using standardized tests
  • Pros and cons of the legalization of marijuana
  • Advantages and disadvantages of the minimum wage
  • Pros and cons of using of surveillance cameras
  • Pros and cons of the use of the Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Pros and cons of the use of smart cities
  • Advantages and disadvantages of the use of stem cell research
  • Pros and cons of the use of e-cigarettes
  • Pros and cons of using plastic surgery
  • Advantages and disadvantages using biotechnology
  • Pros and cons of the use of the dark web
  • Pros and cons of using telemedicine

Our Latest Pros And Cons Ideas (2023)

Take a look at our latest pros and cons ideas from our best research paper services writers. These have been added recently and should be a great choice in 2023:

  • Pros and cons of using nuclear fusion as a source of energy
  • Benefits and drawbacks of using geothermal energy
  • Advantages and disadvantages of the use of growth hormones in livestock
  • Pros and cons of using genetically modified insects for pest control.
  • Pro and cons of using anaerobic digestion for waste management
  • Pros and cons of using incineration for waste management
  • Benefits and drawbacks of using landfills for waste management
  • Advantages and disadvantages of globalization
  • Pros and cons of the NAFTA trade agreement
  • Pros and cons of the NAFTA trade agreement TPP agreement
  • Benefits and drawbacks of outsourcing jobs
  • The advantages and disadvantages of using pyrolysis
  • Pros and cons of using plasma gasification
  • Advantages and disadvantages of using waste-to-energy facilities

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  • Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments

Should euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide be legal?

  • Legalization
  • Legalization: Medical Perspectives
  • Legalization: Lawmakers’ Views
  • Vulnerable Groups
  • Hippocratic Oath
  • Legal Right
  • Slippery Slope
  • Palliative Care
  • Physician Obligation
  • Financial Motivations
1.

We are able to choose all kinds of things in life from who we marry to what kind of work we do and I think when one comes to the end of one’s life, whether you have a terminal illness or whether you’re elderly, you should have a choice about what happens to you…

I’m pro life – I want to live as long as I possibly can, but l also believe the law should be changed to let anyone with some severe medical condition which is causing unbearable symptoms to have an assisted suicide. I wouldn’t want to be unnecessarily kept alive against my own will.”


Coordinator, Society for Old Age Rational Suicide (SOARS)
“Euthanasia: The Right to Die Should Be a Matter of Personal Choice,”
Aug. 19, 2013

Public Policy Fellow, Center for Ethics and Culture, University of Notre Dame
“Q&A with the Scholars: Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia,” Lozier Institute website
Jan. 30, 2017
2.
on the ballot in November. In 1997, as executive editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, when the issue was before the US Supreme Court, I wrote an editorial favoring it, and told the story of my father, who shot himself rather than endure a protracted death from metastatic cancer of the prostate.

It seems to me that, as with opposition based on whether the physician is ‘active,’ the argument that physicians should be only ‘healers’ focuses too much on the physician, and not enough on the patient. When healing is no longer possible, when death is imminent and patients find their suffering unbearable, then the physician’s role should shift from healing to relieving suffering in accord with the patient’s wishes. Still, no physician should have to comply with a request to assist a terminally ill patient to die, just as no patient should be coerced into making such a request. It must be a choice for both patient and physician.”


Senior Lecturer in Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
“May Doctors Help You to Die?,”
Oct. 11, 2012

, ama-assn.org
June 2016
3.

Governor of California
Statement upon signing ABx2 15, gov.ca.gov
Oct. 15, 2015

There would be other long-term consequences of legalising euthanasia that we cannot yet envisage. We can be sure that these consequences would be pernicious, however, because they would emanate from an initiative which, while nobly motivated, is wrong in principle – attempting to deal with the problems of human beings by killing them.”


Australian politician and former member of the Victorian Legislative Council
“Opinion: Why We Should Not Legalize Euthanasia,”
Nov. 13, 2010
4.

Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Oxford
“Assisted Dying and Protecting the Vulnerable,” blog.practicalethics.oc.ac.uk
Sep. 17, 2015

The truth is that assisted suicide as public policy is rife with dangerous loopholes and consequences, especially for the vulnerable in our society. We should reject laws that legalize the practice.”


President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities
“Assisted Suicide Laws Are Creating a ‘Duty-to-Die’ Medical Culture,” thehill.com
Dec. 17, 2017
5.

Retired family doctor
“Doctors Debate the Ethics of Assisted Suicide,” scpr.org
May 18, 2015

I believe that the ambivalence and discomfort experienced by a substantial percentage of PAS-participating physicians is directly connected to the Hippocratic Oath – arguably, the most important foundational document in medical ethics. The Oath clearly states: ‘I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect.’…

Indeed, when patients nearing the end of life express fears of losing control, or being deprived of dignity, compassionate and supportive counseling is called for – not assistance in committing suicide.”


Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University
“How Does Assisting Suicide Affect Physicians?,” theconversation.com
Jan. 7, 2018
6.

US Senator (R-OK)
Consideration of House Resolution 2260, Pain Relief Promotion Act of 1999, gpo.gov
Oct. 27, 1999
7.

Professor of Law, Dalhousie University
“Fact Check: Has Assisted Dying Been a Legal Slippery Slope Overseas?,” abc.net.au
July 15, 2018

Indeed, this has materialised to some degree, whether by a formal extension of categories of persons to whom euthanasia is allowed, or by loose application of criteria by personnel involved in the administration of euthanasia. For example, Belgium removed the age restriction for euthanasia in 2014; assisted death has extended beyond the line originally drawn by the law in the Netherlands to patients regarded as legally and mentally incompetent and the possibility of extension to those who are not terminally ill but feel their lives are complete is being considered; severe psychic pain in and otherwise healthy person has been thought sufficient ground for requesting euthanasia; and researchers have found cases of non-voluntary euthanasia in the form of the termination of lives of disabled infants in the Netherlands.

Denying euthanasia honours the sanctity of life and the equal, underived, intrinsic moral worth of all persons, including the very weakest who can no longer contribute to society – principles of which so many other laws pivot.”


Associate Professor of Law, Singapore Management University and Solicitor
“The Case against Physician-Assisted Suicide and Voluntary Active Euthanasia,”
Aug. 2017
8.

Opposing euthanasia to palliative care…neither reflects the Dutch reality that palliative medicine is incorporated within end-of-life care nor the place of the option of assisted death at the request of a patient within the overall spectrum of end-of-life care.”


Associate Professor in Medical Philosophy, Center for Ethics and Philosophy at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
Professor in Philosophy and Medical Ethics, Center of Ethics and Philosophy at the Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam
“Assisted Death in the Netherlands: Physician at the Bedside When Help Is Requested,”
2004

Professor in the Department of Neurology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, New York Medical College

2002
9.

Professor of Palliative Care, Medicine, and Psychiatry, University of Rochester
“Should Physicians Help Terminal Patients Die?,” medscape.com
Aug. 25, 2016

Professor of Philosophy, City University of New York
“Physician, Stay Thy Hand!,”
1998
10.

“The Facts: Medical Aid in Dying in the United States,” compassionandchoices.org
Dec. 2016

President and CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities
“Assisted Suicide Laws Are Creating a ‘Duty-to-Die’ Medical Culture,” thehill.com
Dec. 17, 2017

pro con essay

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© 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved

  • Euthanasia – Pros & Cons
  • Top Pro & Con Quotes
  • Historical Timeline
  • Did You Know?
  • States with Legal Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)
  • Religious Perspectives on Euthanasia and Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)
  • Euthanasia & Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) around the World
  • Landmark Euthanasia and Medical Aid in Dying Court Cases

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  • Additional Resources
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pro con essay

Is a College Education Worth It?

  • History of College Education

The American debate over whether a  college education  is worth it began when the colonists arrived from Europe and founded “New College” (later renamed  Harvard University ) in 1636. In spring 2023, there were over 17 million college students in the United States, and over 43 million borrowers owe a collective $1.75 trillion in total student debt. 

Colonial America produced nine colleges that still operate: Harvard University (1636), the College of William & Mary (1693),  Yale University  (1701),  Princeton University  (1746),  Columbia University  (1754),  Brown University  (1764),  Dartmouth College  (1769),  Rutgers University  (1766), and the  University of Pennsylvania  (1740 or 1749). These universities were funded by the colony or England and usually catered to a specific religious denomination such as Congregational or Presbyterian (Puritan). Primary and secondary school systems were not yet established so “college students” were sometimes boys as young as fourteen or fifteen years old and were admitted to receive preparatory education with the assumption that they would matriculate to college-level courses

Pro & Con Arguments

Pro 1 Jobs increasingly require college degrees and college allows students to explore careers and earn better job placements. Only 34% of American jobs required a high school diploma or less in 2017, compared to 72% in the 1970s. During the recession between Dec. 2007 and Jan. 2010, jobs requiring college degrees grew by 187,000, while jobs requiring some college or an associate’s degree fell by 1.75 million and jobs requiring a high school degree or less fell by 5.6 million. According to researchers at Georgetown University, 99% of job growth (or 11.5 million of 11.6 million jobs) between 2010 and 2016 went to workers with associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees or graduate degrees. [ 13 ] [ 104 ] [ 105 ] Colleges offer career services, internships, job shadowing, job fairs, and volunteer opportunities in addition to a wide variety of courses that may provide a career direction. Over 80% of college students complete internships before graduation, giving them valuable employment experience before entering the job market. Colleges provide networking value. [ 27 ] Harvard Business School estimates that 65 to 85% of jobs are acquired through networking. College students can join fraternities and sororities, clubs, and teams as well as participate in a variety of social functions to meet new people and network with possible business connections. Internships offered through colleges often lead to mentors or useful contacts within a student’s preferred field. Many colleges offer social media workshops, networking tips, career-related consultation, and alumni networks. [ 30 ] [ 31 ] Meanwhile, college graduates have more and better employment opportunities. 85.2% of college freshmen said they attended college to “be able to get a better job.” The unemployment rate for Americans over 25 with a bachelor’s degree was 1.9% in Dec. 2019, compared to 2.7% for those with some college or associate’s degrees, 3.7% for high school graduates, and 5.2% for high school drop-outs. Underemployment, meaning insufficient work, is lower for college grads (6.2%) as compared to high school-only graduates (12.9%) and people without a high school diploma (18.7%). 58% of college graduates and people with some college or associate’s degrees reported being “very satisfied” with their jobs compared to 50% of high school graduates and 40% of people without a high school diploma. [ 11 ] [ 101 ] [ 106 ] [ 116 ] Thus, college graduates make more money. The average college graduate makes $570,000 more than the average high school graduate over a lifetime. Career earnings for college graduates are 71% to 136% higher than those of high school graduates. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York calculated a 14% rate of return on a bachelor’s degree, which constitutes a good investment. College graduates earn an average of $78,000, a 75% wage premium over the average $45,000 annual earnings for workers with only a high school diploma. 85% of Forbes’ America’s 400 Richest People list were college grads. [ 12 ] [ 122 ] [ 126 ] [ 128 ] And, because college graduates are more likely to have better jobs with better salaries, they are also more likely to have health insurance and retirement plans. 70% of college graduates had access to employer-provided health insurance compared to 50% of high school graduates in 2008. 70% of college graduates 25 years old and older had access to retirement plans in 2008 compared to 65% of associate’s degree holders, 55% of high school graduates, and 30% of people who did not complete high school. [ 11 ] [ 15 ] All of that means a college education has a high return as an investment. Return on investment (ROI) is calculated by dividing the gain from an investment (here the money earned as a result of a college degree) by the cost of the investment (the money spent on a college degree). A college degree has a return of 15% per year as an investment, larger than the stock market (6.8%) and housing (0.4%). Completing some college, but not earning a degree, resulted in a 9.1% return on investment. If a student spent $17,860 (the average cost of tuition and room and board in 2012-2013 for four years at a public university), that student could expect a 15% return of $2,679 each year. According to a 2011 Pew Research survey, 86% of college graduates believed college was a good personal investment. [ 8 ] [ 25 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] Read More
Pro 2 Because they learn interpersonal and other skills in college, graduates are more productive as members of society. Students have the opportunity to interact with other students and faculty, to join student organizations and clubs, and to take part in discussions and debates. According to Arthur Chickering’s “Seven Vectors” student development theory, “developing mature interpersonal relationships” is one of the seven stages students progress through as they attend college. Students ranked “interpersonal skills” as the most important skill used in their daily lives in a survey of 11,000 college students. Vivek Wadhwa, technology entrepreneur and scholar, states, “American children party [in college]. But you know something, by partying, they learn social skills. They learn how to interact with each other…They develop skills which make them innovative. Americans are the most innovative people in the world because of the education system.” [ 7 ] [ 16 ] [ 18 ] Students live, go to classes, and socialize with other students from around the world and learn from professors with a variety of expertise. The community of people on a college campus means students are likely to make diverse friends and business connections, and, potentially, find a spouse or mate. Access to a variety of people allows college students to learn about different cultures, religions, and personalities they may have not been exposed to in their hometowns, which broadens their knowledge and perspective. 70.7% of college freshmen in 2015 said they expected to socialize with someone of another racial or ethnic group while in college, while 59.1% said college would help improve their understanding of other countries and cultures. [ 106 ] Henry Bienan, President Emeritus of Northwestern University, argues that a college education results in “greater productivity, lower crime, better health, [and] better citizenship for more educated people.” A 2009 study found 16 to 24 year old high school drop-outs were 63% more likely to be incarcerated than those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from Sep. 2008 to Sep. 2009, 43% of college graduates did volunteer work compared to 19% of high school graduates and 27% of adults in general. [11] In 2005, college graduates were more likely to have donated blood in the past year (9%) than people with some college (6%), high school graduates (4%), and people who did not complete high school (2%). [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] College graduates attract higher-paying employers to their communities. A 1% increase in college graduates in a community increases the wages of workers without a high school diploma by 1.9% and the wages of high school graduates by 1.6%. [ 21 ] Finally, people who do not go to college are more likely to be unemployed and, therefore, place undue financial strain on society, making a college degree worth it to taxpayers. Young people “not engaged in employment/education or training,” AKA NEET, are more likely to receive welfare than youth in general, they are more likely to commit crimes, and they are more likely to receive public health care, all costing the government extra money. In total, each NEET youth between the ages of 16 and 25 impose a $51,350 financial burden on society per year, and after the person is 25 he or she will impose a financial burden of $699,770. The total cost of 6.7% of the US population being NEET youth is $4.75 trillion, which is comparable to half of the US public debt. [ 28 ] [ 29 ] College graduates have lower poverty rates due to their lower unemployment rates. The 2008 poverty rate for bachelor’s degree holders was 4%, compared to a 12% poverty rate for high school graduates. In 2005, married couples with bachelor’s degrees were least likely to be below the poverty line (1.8%) compared to 2.7% of associate’s degree holders, 4.6% of couples with some college, and 7.1% of high school graduates. According to the US Census Bureau, 1% of college graduates participated in social support programs like Medicaid, National School Lunch Program, and food stamps compared to 8% of high school graduates in 2008. [ 11 ] [ 21 ] Read More
Pro 3 College graduates and their children are healthier and live longer. 83% of college graduates reported being in excellent health, while 73% of high school graduates reported the same. A University of Southern California study found that adults over 65 with college degrees spent more years with “good cognition” and fewer years suffering from dementia than adults who did not complete high school. In 2008, 20% of all adults were smokers, while 9% of college graduates were smokers. 63% of 25 to 34 year old college graduates reported exercising vigorously at least once a week compared to 37% of high school graduates. College degrees were linked to lower blood pressure in a 30-year peer-reviewed study and lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) by a Carnegie Mellon Psychology department study. In 2008, 23% of college graduates aged 35 to 44 years old were obese compared to 37% of high school graduates. College graduates, on average, live six years longer than high school graduates. [ 11 ] [ 15 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 120 ] A medical journal study from 1970 to 2009 shows college graduates had lower infant mortality rates than high school graduates. Mothers with only a high school education are 31% more likely to give birth to a low-birth-weight baby than a woman with a college degree. Children aged 2 to 5 years old in households headed by college graduates have a 6% obesity rate compared to 14% for children in households headed by high school graduates. 18% more children aged 3 to 5 years old with mothers who have a bachelor’s degree could recognize all letters compared to children of high school graduates. In 2010, 59% of children in elementary and middle school with at least one college graduate for a parent participated in after-school activities like sports, arts, and scouting compared to 27% for high school graduate parents. [ 11 ] [ 15 ] [ 21 ] Read More
Con 1 College is not a guarantee of a job or better life. Many college graduates are employed in jobs that do not require college degrees. According to the Department of Labor, as many as 17 million college graduates work in positions that do not require a college education. 1 in 3 college graduates had a job that required a high school diploma or less in 2012. More than 16,000 parking lot attendants, 83,000 bartenders, 115,000 janitors and 15% of taxi drivers have bachelor’s degrees. College graduates with jobs that do not require college degrees earn 30-40% less per week than those who work in jobs requiring college degrees. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 40 ] Too many students earning degrees has diluted the value of a bachelor’s degree. Rita McGrath, Associate Professor at Columbia Business School, stated “Having a bachelor’s used to be more rare and candidates with the degree could therefore be more choosy and were more expensive to hire. Today, that is no longer the case.” A high unemployment rate shifts the supply and demand to the employers’ favor and has made master’s degrees the “new bachelor’s degrees.” According to James Altucher, venture capitalist and finance writer, “college graduates hire only college graduates, creating a closed system that permits schools to charge exorbitant prices and forces students to take on crippling debt.” [ 68 ] [ 69 ] College degrees also do not guarantee learning or job preparation. Many students graduate from college with little understanding of math, reading, civics, or economics. In 2011, 35% of students enrolled in college reported they studied 5 hours or less per week and there was a 50% decline in the number of hours a student studied and prepared for classes compared to a few decades ago. 36% of students demonstrated no significant improvement on Collegiate Learning Assessments after 4 years of college. In 2013 56% of employers thought half or fewer of college graduates had the skills and knowledge to advance within their companies. 30% of college graduates felt college did not prepare them well for employment, specifically in terms of technical and quantitative reasoning skills. A Pew Research survey found that 57% of Americans felt higher education did not provide students with good value compared to the money spent. [ 25 ] [ 56 ] [ 57 ] [ 58 ] [ 59 ] [ 60 ] The market glut and lack of job preparation, means many recent college graduates are un- or underemployed. The unemployment rate for recent college graduates (4.0%) exceeded the average for all workers, including those without a degree (3.6%) in 2019. The underemployment rate was 34% for all college graduates and 41.1% for recent grads. The underemployment (insufficient work) rate for college graduates in 2015 was 6.2% overall: 5.2% for white graduates, 8.4% for Hispanic graduates, and 9.7% for black graduates. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 44% of recent college graduates were underemployed in 2012. [ 42 ] [ 101 ] [ 129 ] Under- or un-employement also translates into fewer workplace benefits. In 2013, 68.9% of employed new college graduates did not receive health insurance through their employers and, in 2011, 27.2% received retirement coverage (down from 41.5% in 2000). [ 41 ] The total cost of going to college means more than tuition, fees, and books; it also includes an opportunity cost which equals at least four years of missed wages and advancements from a full-time job–about $49,000 for a 4-year degree and $20,000 for a 2-year degree. [ 8 ] Read More
Con 2 Student loan debt is crippling for college graduates, their families, and society. Tuition has risen quicker than income, making college unaffordable for many and forcing students to take out loans. A Mar. 2017 study found that 14% of community college students were homeless and 51% had housing insecurity issues (inability to pay rent or utilities, for example), while 33% experienced food insecurity (lack of access to or ability to pay for “nutritionally adequate and safe foods”), though 58% of the students were employed and 42% received federal Pell Grants. From the 1986-1987 school year to the 2016-2017 school year, the average cost of one year of college (including room and board) increased for 4-year private schools (109.6%) and 4-year public schools (125.7%), while median family income only increased 10.0% between 1986 and 2015. From the 1976-1977 school year to the 2016-2017 school year, annual tuition rates rose for community colleges (173.1%), 4-year public colleges (271.2%), and private 4-year colleges (213.5%). [ 111 ] [ 112 ] [ 113 ] In spring 2023, there were over 17 million college students in the United States, and over 43 million borrowers owe a collective $1.75 trillion in total student debt. 45% of people with student loan debt say college was not worth it. 10% of students graduate with over $40,000 in debt and about 1% have $100,000 in debt. In Feb. 2018, undergraduate college graduates had an average of $37,172 in loan debt. According to the US Congress Joint Economic Committee, approximately 60% of college graduates have student loan debt balances equal to 60% of their annual income. Missing late for loan payments leads to lower credit scores and additional fees, worsening the debt problem. [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 107 ] [ 123 ] [ 133 ] [ 134 ] Further, student loan debt often forces college graduates to live with their parents and delay marriage, financial independence, and other adult milestones. 20% of millennials are homeowners, and most millennials say their student debt has delayed home ownership by seven years on average. Student loan borrowers delayed saving for retirement (41%), car purchases (40%), home purchases (29%), and marriage (15%). Fewer than 50% of women and 30% of men had passed the “transition to adulthood” milestones by age 30 (finishing school, moving out of their parents’ homes, being financially independent, marrying, and having children); in 1960, 77% of women and 65% of men had completed these milestones by age 30. [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 121 ] Student debt also overwhelms many seniors. Whether they co-signed for a child or grandchild’s education, or took out loans for their own educations, in 2012 there were 6.9 million student loan borrowers aged 50 and over who collectively owed $155 billion with individual average balances between $19,521 and $23,820. Of the 6.9 million borrowers, 24.7% were more than 90 days delinquent in payments. Almost 119,000 of older borrowers in default were having a portion of their Social Security payments garnished by the US government in 2012. [ 51 ] [ 52 ] Student loan debt may not be forgiven in bankruptcy and may not have the same borrower protections as other consumer debt. A study found 60% of people attempting to discharge student loan debt in bankruptcy were unsuccessful. Medical, legal, credit card, loan, and even gambling debt can immediately be discharged in bankruptcy, but getting student loan debt discharged is much more difficult and rare. Private student loans often do not have the same protections as federal loans like income-based repayments, discharges upon death, or military deferments. [ 61 ] [ 70 ] [ 71 ] College graduates aren’t the only ones overwhelmed by debt. Many students do not graduate and waste their own and their government’s money. About 19% of students who enroll in college do not return for the second year. Students who drop out during the first year of college cost states $1.3 billion and the federal government $300 million per year in wasted student grant programs and government appropriations for colleges. Overall, 41% of students at four-year colleges and universities did not graduate within six years: 41% at public schools, 34% at private non-profits, and 77% at private for-profits. Students who did not graduate within six years accounted for $3.8 billion in lost income, $566 million in lost federal income taxes, and $164 million in lost state income taxes in one year. [ 50 ] [ 117 ] Finally, student debt could cause another financial crisis. As of 2012 student loan debt was over $1 trillion dollars, and more than 850,000 student loans were in default. According to the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, student loans are “beginning to have the same effect” on the economy that the housing bubble and crash created. Former Secretary of Education William Bennett, PhD, agrees that the student loan debt crisis “is a vicious cycle of bad lending policies eerily similar to the causes of the subprime mortgage crisis.” On Feb. 3, 2012, an advisory council to the Federal Reserve also warned that the growth in student debt “has parallels to the housing crisis.” As of Jan. 2013, the rate of default on student loans hit 15.1%–a nearly 22% increase since 2007. [ 61 ] [ 62 ] [ 63 ] [ 64 ] [ 65 ] Read More
Con 3 Many people would be better served learning a trade or pursuing work right out of high school. Trade professions are necessary for society to function, require less than four years of training, and often pay above average wages. The high number of young adults choosing college over learning a trade has created a ‘skills gap’ in the US and there is now a shortage of ‘middle-skill’ trade workers like machinists, electricians, plumbers, and construction workers. One survey of US manufacturers found that 67% reported a “moderate to severe shortage of talent.” “Middle-skill” jobs represent half of all jobs in the US that pay middle-class wages. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “middle-skill” jobs will make up 45% of projected job openings through 2014, but as of 2012 only 25% of the workforce had the skills to fill those jobs. [ 53 ] [ 54 ] [ 55 ] Many people succeed without college degrees. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 30 projected fastest growing jobs between 2010 and 2020, five do not require a high school diploma, nine require a high school diploma, four require an associate’s degree, six require a bachelor’s degree, and six require graduate degrees. The following successful people either never enrolled in college or never completed their college degrees: Richard Branson, founder and chairman of the Virgin Group; Charles Culpepper, owner and CEO of Coca Cola; Ellen Degeneres, comedian and actress; Michael Dell, founder of Dell, Inc.; Walt Disney, Disney Corporation founder; Bill Gates, Microsoft founder; Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple; Wolfgang Puck, chef and restaurateur; Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple; Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. [ 43 ] [ 44 ] Read More
Did You Know?
1. 19.9 million students were enrolled in colleges and universities in 2019, compared to 13.5 million in 1990, 7.9 million in 1970, and 2.7 million in 1949. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
2. The underemployment rate was 34% for all college graduates and 41.1% for recent grads in 2019. [ ]
3. One in three college graduates had a job that only required a high school diploma or less, including more than 16,000 parking lot attendants, 83,000 bartenders, and 115,000 janitors with bachelor's degrees. [ ] [ ]
4. College graduates earn an average of $78,000, a 75% wage premium over the average $45,000 annual earnings for workers with only a high school diploma. [ ]
5. The unemployment rate for Americans over 25 with a bachelor's degree was 1.9% in Dec. 2019, compared to 2.7% for those with some college or associate's degrees, 3.7% for high school graduates, and 5.2% for high school drop-outs. [ ]

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