essay topics general

Essay Topics – List of 500+ Essay Writing Topics and Ideas

List of 500+ essay writing topics and ideas.

Essay topics in English can be difficult to come up with. While writing essays , many college and high school students face writer’s block and have a hard time to think about topics and ideas for an essay. In this article, we will list out many good essay topics from different categories like argumentative essays, essays on technology, environment essays for students from 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades. Following list of essay topics are for all – from kids to college students. We have the largest collection of essays. An essay is nothing but a piece of content which is written from the perception of writer or author. Essays are similar to a story, pamphlet, thesis, etc. The best thing about Essay is you can use any type of language – formal or informal. It can biography, the autobiography of anyone. Following is a great list of 100 essay topics. We will be adding 400 more soon!

But Before that you may wanna read some awesome Essay Writing Tips here .

500+ essay topics for students and children

Get the Huge list of 100+ Speech Topics here

Argumentative Essay Topics

Should plastic be banned?
Pollution due to Urbanization
Education should be free
Should Students get limited access to the Internet?
Selling Tobacco should be banned
Smoking in public places should be banned
Facebook should be banned
Students should not be allowed to play PUBG

Essay Topics on Technology

Wonder Of Science
Mobile Phone

Essay Topics on Festivals on Events

Independence Day (15 August)
Teachers Day
Summer Vacation
Children’s Day
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Janmashtami
Republic Day

Essay Topics on Education

Education Essay
Importance of Education
Contribution of Technology in Education

Essay Topics on Famous Leaders

Mahatma Gandhi
APJ Abdul Kalam
Jawaharlal Nehru
Swami Vivekananda
Mother Teresa
Rabindranath Tagore
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Subhash Chandra Bose
Abraham Lincoln
Martin Luther King
Lal Bahadur Shashtri

Essay Topics on Animals and Birds

My Favorite Animal

Essays Topics About Yourself

My Best Friend
My Favourite Teacher
My Aim In Life
My Favourite Game – Badminton
My Favourite Game – Essay
My Favourite Book
My Ambition
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
India of My Dreams
My School Life
I Love My Family
My Favourite Subject
My Favourite Game Badminton
My Father My Hero
My School Library
My Favourite Author
My plans for summer vacation

Essay Topics Based on Environment and Nature

Global Warming
Environment
Air Pollution
Environmental Pollution
Water Pollution
Rainy Season
Climate Change
Importance Of Trees
Winter Season
Deforestation
Natural Disasters
Save Environment
Summer Season
Trees Our Best Friend Essay In English

Essay Topics Based on Proverbs

Health Is Wealth
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
An Apple a Day Keeps Doctor Away
Where there is a will, there is way
Time and Tide wait for none

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Essay Topics for Students from 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Noise Pollution
Environment Pollution
Women Empowerment
Time and Tide Wait for none
Science and Technology
Importance of Sports
Sports and Games
Time Management
Cleanliness is next to Godliness
Cleanliness
Rome was not Built in a Day
Unemployment
Clean India
Cow Essay In English
Describe Yourself
Festivals Of India
Ganesh Chaturthi
Healthy Food
Importance Of Water
Plastic Pollution
Value of Time
Honesty is the Best Policy
Gandhi Jayanti
Human Rights
Knowledge Is Power
Same Sex Marriage
Childhood Memories
Cyber Crime
Kalpana Chawla
Punctuality
Rani Lakshmi Bai
Spring Season
Unity In Diversity
Artificial Intelligence
Online Shopping
Indian Culture
Healthy Lifestyle
Indian Education System
Disaster Management
Environmental Issues
Freedom Fighters
Grandparents
Save Fuel For Better Environment
Importance Of Newspaper
Lal Bahadur Shastri
Raksha Bandhan
World Environment Day
Narendra Modi
What Is Religion
Charity Begins at Home
A Journey by Train
Ideal student
Save Water Save Earth
Indian Farmer
Safety of Women in India
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Capital Punishment
College Life
Natural Resources
Peer Pressure
Nature Vs Nurture
Romeo And Juliet
Generation Gap
Makar Sankranti
Constitution of India
Girl Education
Importance of Family
Importance of Independence Day
Brain Drain
A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed
Action Speaks Louder Than Words
All That Glitters Is Not Gold
Bhagat Singh
Demonetization
Agriculture
Importance of Discipline
Population Explosion
Poverty in India
Uses Of Mobile Phones
Water Scarcity
Train Journey
Land Pollution
Environment Protection
Indian Army
Uses of Internet
All that Glitters is not Gold
Balanced Diet
Blood Donation
Digital India
Dussehra Essay
Energy Conservation
National Integration
Railway Station
Sachin Tendulkar
Health And Hygiene
Importance Of Forest
Indira Gandhi
Laughter Is The Best Medicine
Career Goals
Mental Health
Save Water Save Life
International Yoga Day
Winter Vacation
Soil Pollution
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
Indian Culture And Tradition
Unity Is Strength
Unity is Diversity
Wildlife Conservation
Cruelty To Animals
Nelson Mandela
Of Mice And Men
Organ Donation
Life in a Big City
Democracy in India
Waste Management
Biodiversity
Afforestation
Female Foeticide
Harmful Effects Of Junk Food
Rain Water Harvesting
Save Electricity
Social Media
Social Networking Sites
Sound Pollution
Procrastination
Life in an Indian Village
Life in Big City
Population Growth
World Population Day
Greenhouse Effect
Statue of Unity
Traffic Jam
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Importance of Good Manners
Good Manners
Cyber Security
Green Revolution
Health And Fitness
Incredible India
Make In India
Surgical Strike
Triple Talaq
A Good Friend
Importance of Friends in our Life
Should Plastic be Banned
Nationalism
Traffic Rules
Effects of Global Warming
Fundamental Rights
Solar System
National Constitution Day
Good Mother
Importance of Trees in our Life
City Life Vs Village Life
Importance of Communication
Conservation of Nature
Man vs. Machine
Indian Economy
Mothers Love
Importance of National Integration
Black Money
Greenhouse effect
Untouchability
Self Discipline
Global Terrorism
Conservation of Biodiversity
Newspaper and Its Uses
World Health Day
Conservation of Natural Resources
A Picnic with Family
Indian Heritage
Status of Women in India
Child is Father of the Man
Reading is Good Habit
Plastic Bag
Terrorism in India
Library and Its Uses
Life on Mars
Urbanization
Pollution Due to Diwali
National Flag of India
Vocational Education
Importance of Tree Plantation
Summer Camp
Vehicle Pollution
Women Education in India
Seasons in India
Freedom of the Press
Caste System
Environment and Human Health
Mountain Climbing
Depletion of Natural Resources
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Health Education
Effects of Deforestation
Life after School
Starvation in India
Jan Dhan Yojana
Impact of Privatization
Election Commission of India
Election and Democracy
Prevention of Global Warming
Impact of Cinema in Life
Subhas Chandra Bose
Dowry System
Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
Role of Science in Making India
Impact of Global Warming on Oceans
Pollution due to Festivals
Ambedkar Jayanti
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
Family Planning in India
Democracy vs Dictatorship
National Festivals of India
Sri Aurobindo
Casteism in India
Organ trafficking
Consequences of Global Warming
Role of Human Activities in Global Warming
Issues and Problems faced by Women in India
Role of Judiciary in the Country Today
Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan
PUBG Mobile Game Addiction
Role of Youths in Nation Building
Value of Oxygen and Water in Life/Earth
Farmer Suicides in India
Start-up India
Pollution Due to Firecrackers
Life of Soldiers
Child Labour
Save Girl Child
Morning Walk
My School Fete
Essay on Financial Literacy
Essay On Sustainable Development
Essay On Punjab
Essay On Travel
My Home Essay
Child Marriage Essay
Importance Of English Language Essay
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Gender Discrimination Essay
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My First Day At School Essay
My Neighborhood Essay
True Friendship Essay
Work Is Worship Essay
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Time Is Money Essay
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My Favorite Food Essay
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Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining Essay
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My Sister Essay
Self Introduction Essay
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Sports Day Essa
Value Of Education Essay
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Essay On Peace
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Essay On Bicycle
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Essay Writing Guide

Essay Topics

A Catalog of 370+ Essay Topics for Students

38 min read

Essay Topics For Different Academic Levels

Essay writing spans various academic levels, offering students a structured platform to express their thoughts and demonstrate knowledge. From elementary school to university, essays refine critical thinking, research skills, and the ability to articulate ideas.

Let’s take a look at some best essay topic ideas for students from different academic levels.

Essay Topics for Grade 3

My Favorite Animal
A Day at the Amusement Park
If I Could Fly
My Best Friend
My Favorite Season
A Special Family Tradition
If I Found a Magic Wand
The Importance of Being Kind
My Dream House
A Day in the Life of a Superhero

Essay Topics for Grade 4

My Favorite Book and Why I Love It
The Most Exciting Adventure I've Ever Had
My Role Model and Why I Look Up to Them
The Importance of Saving Money
If I Could Travel Back in Time
A Day Without Electricity
My Favorite Food and How to Prepare It
The Best Day of My Life and Why It Was Special
How I Would Spend a Day on a Deserted Island
The Benefits of Homework and Studying

Essay Topics for Grade 5

My Dream Vacation Destination
The Impact of Technology on My Life
The Importance of Environmental Conservation
My Hobbies and Why They Matter
If I Could Change One Thing About the World
The Role of Friendship in My Life
A Memorable Family Trip
The Power of Imagination
The Benefits of Physical Exercise
A Day in the Life of My Favorite Book Character

Essay Topics for Grade 6

My Personal Hero and Their Influence on Me
The Challenges of Growing Up
The Significance of Volunteering in the Community
The Impact of Social Media on Society
The Value of Setting Goals
If I Could Invent a New Holiday
The Role of Art and Music in My Life
The Benefits of Traveling and Experiencing Different Cultures
A Time I Overcame a Fear
The Importance of Time Management

Essay Topics for Grade 7

The Role of Technology in Education
The Impact of Bullying and How to Prevent It
The Value of a Good Education
The Pros and Cons of Social Networking
The Effects of Peer Pressure
If I Could Change One Thing About My School
The Benefits of Learning a Second Language
The Importance of Financial Literacy
A Time I Faced a Difficult Decision
The Significance of Gender Equality

Essay Topics for Grade 8

The Influence of Role Models in Our Lives
The Impact of Climate Change on the Environment
The Value of Diversity and Inclusion
The Role of Technology in Shaping the Future
The Importance of Critical Thinking Skills
If I Could Travel to Any Period in History
The Ethics of Animal Testing
The Benefits of Team Sports
A Time I Learned a Valuable Life Lesson
The Significance of Freedom of Speech

Essay Topics for High School Students

Does the fashion industry need to change the way they advertise?
Do beauty pageants carry any benefits for women?
Should women get plastic surgery?
What instigated World War 2?
What do people mean when they say “Fake news?”
Can constant use of drugs cause brain damage?
Can gun control help in regulating crime?
Is summer school designed to help children?
Methods that are used by professionals to get their dream job.
The ways to deal with on-campus violence.

Best College Essay Topics Ideas

Role of Modern Media in contributing to eating disorders.
Is technology turning people into zombies?
Is censorship on the internet necessary?
Will there be a 3rd World War?
Should every student have the right to choose the discipline they are interested in?
What does it take to become a politician?
The reasons behind high unemployment rates.
The aftermath of earthquakes.
Which countries have the most corruption?
Should there be a restriction on the sales and production of tobacco?

Essay Topics for University Students

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Job Market.
The Ethical Dilemmas of Human Gene Editing.
The Role of Social Media in Shaping Political Movements.
The Influence of Climate Change on Global Security.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Education.
The Intersection of Technology and Mental Health.
The Economic Implications of Renewable Energy Adoption.
The Future of Space Exploration and Colonization.
The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare.
The Cultural Significance of Contemporary Art Movements.

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Essay Topics for Different Types of Essays

Here, you can find interesting topics and ideas for different types of essays to help you get started.

Argumentative Essay Topics

Is Climate Change Primarily Caused by Human Activities?
Should Affirmative Action Policies be Continued in College Admissions?
Is Universal Healthcare a Viable Option for the United States?
Should Euthanasia be Allowed for Severely Disabled Newborns?
Is Genetic Engineering Ethical in Humans?
Should the Voting Age be Lowered to 16?
Is Internet Censorship Necessary to Protect National Security?
Should Hate Speech be Protected as Free Speech?
Does asking someone to reduce weight equate to body shaming?
Should kids be allowed to adopt e-gaming as a progressive career?

In need of more debatable essay topics? We have a comprehensive list of more excellent argumentative essay topics to assist you.

Persuasive Essay Topics

Covid19 : Should Covid-19 Vaccination be Mandatory?
Recycling: Should Recycling Be Mandatory in Every Household?
Online Education : Should Online Education Replace Traditional Classroom Learning?
Dress Codes: Should Schools Implement Uniform Dress Codes to Promote Equality?
Smoking : Should Smoking in Public Places be Banned?
Vaccinations: Should Vaccinations Be Mandatory for All Children to Ensure Public Health?
Gun Control : Should There be Stricter Gun Control Laws in the United States?
Animal Testing: Is Animal Testing Justified in the Name of Scientific Progress?
Business : Should Businesses Adopt Environmentally Sustainable Practices?
Abortion : Should Abortion be Legalized in All Countries?

Read our comprehensive guide to persuasive essay topics to find a trending topic or a good idea for your paper.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Comparison of High School vs. College Life
Contrast of Traditional Education vs. Online Learning
Comparison of Two Major Religions: Christianity vs. Islam
Contrasting the Novels of Jane Austen vs. Emily Brontë
Comparing Two Art Movements: Renaissance vs. Baroque
Contrasting Classical Music vs. Jazz
Comparing Two Smartphone Brands: iPhone vs. Android
Contrast of Two Political Systems: Democracy vs. Authoritarianism
Comparison of Traditional Medicine vs. Modern Medicine
Comparing the Characters of Romeo and Juliet vs. West Side Story

If you need more ideas, here are some interesting compare contrast essay topics for your help.

Descriptive Essay Topics

Person : Describe a mentor or role model who has influenced your life.
Person You Admire : Write about someone you admire for their courage and resilience.
My Mother : Capture the essence of your mother’s personality and daily routines.
Autumn : Explore the sights, sounds, and smells of autumn in a rural setting.
Nature : Describe a serene forest scene during sunrise or sunset.
Place : Paint a vivid picture of your favorite vacation spot by the beach.
Myself : Reflect on your own characteristics and how they shape your identity.
Food : Describe the preparation and flavors of a traditional dish from your culture.
Historical Place: Describe the architecture and ambiance of a famous historical landmark.
Sporting Event: Capture the excitement and atmosphere of attending a major sporting event.

Check out this extensive list of descriptive essay topics ideas for your help.

Narrative Essay Topics

My First Day of School: A Memorable Experience
The Day I Overcame My Greatest Fear
The Most Important Lesson I Learned from a Family Member
The Time I Achieved a Personal Goal, I Never Thought Possible
The Day I Discovered My Passion for a Hobby or Interest
The Impact of a Life-Altering Event on My Perspective
The Story Behind My Most Prized Possession
My Experience as a Volunteer or in Community Service
The Day I Realized the Power of Kindness
A Special Bond I Share with a Childhood Friend

Need more topics? Check out this extensive blog on narrative essay topics for your next assignment.

Classification Essay Topics

Types of Pet Owners: A Classification.
Classification of Musical Genres: From Classical to Hip-Hop.
Types of Travelers: Exploring the Adventurer, Relaxer, and Culture Enthusiast.
Classifying Different Types of Social Media Users.
Types of Students in a Classroom: From the Overachiever to the Laid-Back.
Classifying Different Styles of Fashion: Bohemian, Classic, and Trendy.
Types of Moviegoers: The Action Lover, Rom-Com Fan, and Film Buff.
Classifying Different Forms of Exercise: Yoga, Weightlifting, and Cardio.
Types of Foodies: From Gourmet Enthusiasts to Fast Food Lovers.
Classifying Various Types of Vehicles: Cars, Motorcycles, and Bicycles

Check out other compelling classification essay topics for more ideas.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Causes and Effects of Stress in Modern Society
The Consequences of Bullying on Mental Health
Environmental Pollution: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
The Influence of Parental Divorce on Children's Well-being
The Causes and Effects of Obesity in Developed Countries
The Causes and Effects of Economic Inequality
The Causes and Consequences of Academic Procrastination
The Impact of Social Pressure on Teenagers' Decision-Making
The Causes and Effects of Drug Addiction
The Influence of Early Education on a Child's Future Success

Check out this comprehensive guide on 100+ cause and effect essay topics for more ideas.

Expository Essay Topics

About a Person : Analyze the leadership qualities of a historical figure.
About Yourself : Reflect on the experiences that shaped your character.
About a Book : Examine the themes of justice and revenge in "The Count of Monte Cristo."
About Mental Health : Discuss the impact of mindfulness practices on mental well-being.
About Dogs : Explore the evolution of dog breeds and their domestication.
About Education : Evaluate the effectiveness of online learning in today's educational system.
Friendship : Investigate the qualities that make a friendship resilient over time.
Bullying : Analyze the psychological effects of cyberbullying on adolescents.
Music : Explore the influence of technology on music production and distribution.
Life Events of a Person: Trace the career milestones and achievements of a renowned scientist.

For some more intriguing ideas check out our blog on expository essay topics .

Informative Essay Topics

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Job Market
The History and Cultural Significance of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics
The Benefits and Risks of Gene Editing Technology
Exploring Renewable Energy Sources: Solar, Wind, and Hydroelectric Power
The Effects of Climate Change on Polar Ice Caps and Wildlife
A Comprehensive Guide to Effective Time Management
Exploring the Role of Nutrition in Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle
The Significance of Space Exploration: Past, Present, and Future
The Origins and Cultural Significance of a Traditional Festival
A Guide to Sustainable Farming and Agriculture Practices

Here’s a comprehensive list of interesting, 100+ informative essay topics .

Definition Essay Topics

The Meaning of "Success" in Modern Society
Defining the Concept of "Love" in All Its Forms
The True Definition of "Friendship"
The Ever-Changing Meaning of "Freedom"
Exploring the Notion of "Happiness"
Defining "Cultural Diversity" and Its Importance
The Multifaceted Definition of "Beauty"
The Various Interpretations of "Justice"
Understanding "Mental Health" and Its Stigma
Defining "Leadership" and Its Qualities

Process Analysis Essay Topics

How to Plan and Organize a Successful Study Group.
The Process of Making Homemade Pizza from Scratch.
Steps to Mastering a Musical Instrument.
How to Write a Winning College Application Essay.
The Process of Brewing Your Own Craft Beer.
Steps to Launching a Small Business Online.
How to Effectively Manage Time and Prioritize Tasks.
The Art of DIY Home Renovation.
The Process of Creating a Stunning Piece of Art.
How to Cook a Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner.

Check out some other process analysis essay topics for inspiration!

Exemplification Essay Topics

The Impact of Social Media on Personal Relationships
Benefits and Challenges of Remote Work in Today's Job Market
The Role of Technology in Education: Enhancing Learning or Creating Distractions?
Environmental Policies: Effectiveness in Combating Climate Change
The Importance of Financial Literacy in High School Curriculum
Challenges Faced by International Students Studying Abroad
The Rise of Veganism: Lifestyle Choice or Necessary Environmental Movement?
The Influence of Pop Culture on Youth Identity
Strategies for Achieving Work-Life Balance in a Fast-Paced Society
The Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes

For more ideas on exemplification essays visit our dedicated blog on ‘ exemplification essay topics ’

Analogy Essay Topics

Comparing the human brain to a computer's processing system.
The relationship between a teacher and a gardener nurturing plants.
Friendship compared to a tree growing strong over time.
The immune system as a city's defense force.
Comparing time management to juggling multiple balls.
The life cycle of a butterfly and personal growth through challenges.
A good book is like a journey to an unknown land.
The internet as a vast library of knowledge and misinformation.
Love compared to a delicate, blooming flower.
The process of writing an essay and constructing a building.

Research Essay Topics

The Impact of Renewable Energy Sources on Global Economies
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Medicine
The Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Ecosystems
The Evolution of Space Exploration Technologies
The Influence of Ancient Greek Philosophy on Western Thought
The Significance of Biodiversity in Maintaining Ecological Balance
The History and Development of Quantum Computing
The Role of Women in the Scientific Revolution
The Impact of Globalization on Local Cultures and Traditions
The Advancements in Genetic Engineering and Their Ethical Implications

Personal Essay Topics

A person you admire the most.
Are you addicted to games?
How did you learn to draw?
What is your life’s goal?
Things you hate the most.
Why do I prefer online shopping?
Your biggest achievement.
What does success mean to you?
What annoys you the most?
Why is volunteering important?

Essay Topics by Subjects

Students are often asked by teachers to write essays on a variety of topics related to a particular subject. The sheer number of discussion areas can be overwhelming for students, making it difficult to choose a good essay topic.

This list of essay topics by subject can help you narrow down your choices and find a topic that is both interesting and relevant to your studies.

Essay Topics on Technology

Technology and the global economy.
The positives and effects of technology.
The role of 3-D printing in Medicine.
What science has to offer to disabled people?
Face detection software and the problem of identity theft.
Adding connectivity to our home devices: is it helpful or not?
Cloud computing and artificial intelligence
How has technology changed our life?
Life without technology
Technology has its own rules

Essay Topics on Science

Engineering: The Future of Renewable Energy Sources Beyond Solar and Wind
Science Fiction : Exploring the Role of AI in Dystopian Futures
Space Science: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life Beyond Our Solar System
Science and Technology : Blockchain Technology and Its Applications in Various Industries
Environmental Science: The Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Ecosystems
Science in Everyday Life : The Science Behind Cooking and Food Preservation
Health Science: The Role of Genetics in Personalized Medicine
Essay about Science Fair : The Benefits of Participating in Science Fairs for Students
Physics: The Concept of Dark Matter and Its Implications in Cosmology
Chemistry: Advances in Nanotechnology and Their Applications in Medicine

Essay Topics on Climate Change

The effects of climate change on human health
The impact of climate change on global food security
The economic impacts of climate change
The role of the media in communicating the risks of climate change
The ethical implications of climate change
The Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture
The Impacts of Climate Change on Wildlife
The Potential Solutions to Climate Change
The Challenges in Implementing Solutions to Climate Change
The Role of the Individual in Solving Climate Change

Essay Topics About Yourself

Introduce yourself in a unique way that captures your reader's attention.
Discuss an accomplishment that you are proud of, and how it has shaped who you are today.
Describe a time when you faced a challenge, and how you overcame it.
Share an experience that has helped to shape your values and beliefs.
What are your hobbies and interests?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What are your career aspirations?
Describe a time when you faced a challenge and how you coped with it.
Tell us about a time when you were proud of yourself and why.
What are your plans for the future?

Essay Topics About the Environment

The Impact of Climate Change on Global Weather Patterns.
Deforestation and Its Effects on Biodiversity.
The Role of Renewable Energy Sources in Combating Climate Change.
Plastic Pollution: Analyzing the Impact on Marine Ecosystems.
The Importance of Environmental Education in Schools.
Urbanization and Its Environmental Consequences.
Sustainable Agriculture: Balancing Food Production and Environmental Conservation.
The Significance of Wildlife Conservation and Preservation.
The Ethics of Animal Testing in Scientific Research.
Environmental Justice: Addressing Disparities in Environmental Quality.

Essay Topics on Festivals and Events

The Cultural Significance of Diwali in India
The Historical Roots of Thanksgiving in America
The Evolution of the Olympic Games Over Time
The Role of Carnival in Brazilian Culture
The Impact of Oktoberfest on German Economy and Culture
The Celebration of Chinese New Year Around the World
The Environmental Effects of Large Music Festivals
The Religious and Social Importance of Ramadan
The Origins and Traditions of Mardi Gras in New Orleans
The Global Influence of the Cannes Film Festival

Essay Topics on Education

The Impact of Technology on Modern Education
The Role of Standardized Testing in Student Assessment
The Benefits and Challenges of Online Learning
The Importance of Arts Education in Schools
The Effectiveness of Montessori Education Methods
The Debate Over School Uniform Policies
The Influence of Early Childhood Education on Development
The Role of Vocational Training in the Workforce
The Challenges of Inclusive Education for Students with Disabilities
The Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Educational Achievement

Essay Topics on Famous Leaders

The Leadership Style of Nelson Mandela and Its Impact on South Africa
The Political Legacy of Winston Churchill During World War II
The Influence of Mahatma Gandhi’s Philosophy of Nonviolence
The Economic Reforms of Deng Xiaoping in China
The Role of Cleopatra in Ancient Egyptian Politics
The Visionary Leadership of Steve Jobs in the Tech Industry
The Human Rights Advocacy of Eleanor Roosevelt
The Military Strategies of Alexander the Great
The Contributions of Angela Merkel to European Politics
The Reforms Introduced by Franklin D. Roosevelt During the Great Depression

Essay Topics on Animals and Birds

The Role of Bees in Ecosystem Balance and Agriculture
The Social Structures and Behaviors of Elephant Herds
The Migration Patterns of Monarch Butterflies
The Endangered Status of Tigers and Conservation Efforts
The Communication Methods of Dolphins
The Importance of Wetlands for Bird Habitats
The Evolutionary Adaptations of Arctic Foxes
The Impact of Deforestation on Orangutan Populations
The Role of Birds in Pollination and Seed Dispersal
The Ethical Implications of Zoos and Wildlife Parks

Essay Topics Based on Proverbs

"A Stitch in Time Saves Nine": The Importance of Timeliness and Preventive Actions
"Actions Speak Louder Than Words": Analyzing the Power of Deeds Over Words
"All That Glitters Is Not Gold": Understanding Superficial Appearances vs. Reality
"Birds of a Feather Flock Together": The Influence of Social Circles on Behavior
"Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining": Finding Positivity in Adversity
"The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword": The Impact of Writing and Ideas Over Violence
"When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do": The Value of Cultural Adaptation
"A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step": The Significance of Taking Initiative
"Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch": The Pitfalls of Overconfidence and Assumptions
"You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover": The Importance of Looking Beyond Surface Appearances

Essay Topics About Life Goals

The Importance of Setting and Achieving Personal Goals
How Career Aspirations Shape Individual Identity and Life Choices
The Role of Education in Achieving Long-term Life Goals
Balancing Professional Ambitions with Personal Happiness
The Influence of Family Expectations on Life Goals
Overcoming Obstacles to Achieve Life Goals
The Impact of Mentors and Role Models on Goal Setting
How Travel and Exploration Can Inspire New Life Goals
The Role of Financial Planning in Achieving Life Goals
The Connection Between Health Goals and Overall Life Satisfaction

Simple Essay Topics

The Benefits of Reading Books
The Importance of Recycling
My Favorite Hobby and Why I Love It
The Advantages of Eating Healthy
The Impact of Pets on Our Lives
A Memorable Family Vacation
The Role of Sports in Our Daily Life
The Importance of Learning a Second Language
How to Keep a Balanced Diet
The Significance of Friendship in Our Lives

Interesting Essay Topics

The Future of Space Tourism
The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
The Role of Virtual Reality in Education
The Cultural Impact of Video Games
The Evolution of Fashion Over the Decades
The Influence of Music on Human Emotions
The Benefits and Risks of Genetic Engineering
The Psychology Behind Conspiracy Theories
The Impact of Climate Change on Endangered Species
The Social Implications of Remote Work Trends

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Tips for Choosing the Best Topic for Your Essay

Choosing the right topic for your essay is a critical step in the essay writing process. It sets the tone for your work and can greatly impact your ability to engage your readers. Here are some tips to help you select the best topic:

Align with the Essay Format

Make sure your topic fits the required essay format , whether it's argumentative , descriptive , or narrative .

Craft a Strong Essay Outline

Choose a topic that allows for a clear and structured essay outline , making it easier to organize your thoughts.

Engaging Essay Introduction

Select a topic that can hook your readers from the essay introduction , capturing their interest immediately.

Clear Thesis Statement

Pick a topic that enables you to develop a concise and arguable thesis statement , guiding the direction of your essay.

Effective Topic Sentence

Ensure your topic allows for strong and relevant topic sentences in each paragraph to support your thesis.

Compelling Essay Title

Select a topic that can be transformed into an intriguing essay title , drawing readers in from the start.

Avoid Irrelevant and Long Topic

Pick a topic that is neither too broad nor too narrow to avoid common essay writing problems , such as lack of depth or insufficient content.

In conclusion, selecting the best topic for your essay is a pivotal decision that can significantly impact the quality and engagement level of your writing. By considering your interests, you can set yourself up for success in crafting an exceptional essay.

Still need help? Head over to our website and request ' Do my essays ' for expert assistance. At MyPerfectWords.com , our team of skilled writers is ready to guide you through every phase of the writing process, from topic selection to delivering a polished final draft.

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Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

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Essay Writing Guide

Essay Topics

Last updated on: Jun 28, 2024

Essay Topics: 100+ Best Essay Topics for your Guidance

By: Nova A.

13 min read

Reviewed By: Rylee W.

Published on: Jan 29, 2019

Let’s face it, essay writing can be tedious and boring. Spending hours to write a good essay is difficult, and brainstorming essay topic ideas can be even more confusing.

This is what makes writing essays difficult and time-consuming. Luckily, you can learn essay writing with practice and by following some good examples. But before that, you should know how to choose a good and engaging topic for your essay.

To help you get started, we have categorized a list of a number of different types of essay topic lists.

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Argumentative Essay Topics

An argumentative essay investigates a topic in great detail, forms an argument over it, and defends it using supporting data.

Below are some good argumentative essay topic ideas to help you draft winning essays.

School students should be allowed to curate their high school curriculum.
The role of physical education in the school system.
Should the death sentence be implemented globally?
It should be illegal to use certain types of animals for experiments and other research purposes.
Should the government do more to improve accessibility for people with physical disabilities?
Do people learn the art of becoming a politician, or are they born with it?
Social media platform owners should monitor and block comments containing hateful language.
Does technology play a role in making people feel more isolated?
Will there ever be a time when there will be no further technological advancements?
It should be illegal to produce and sell tobacco.
Girls should be motivated to take part in sports.
Rape victims should abort their unborn children.
Fathers should get equal paternity leave.
Do teenagers get into trouble because they are bored?
Individuals who have failed at parenting should be punished.
Vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes.
Covid-19 vaccination has more cons than pros.
Social media is the real cause of teenage depression.
Is the American education system perfect for society?
Recycling should be made compulsory.

Choosing a strong topic is key to writing a great essay. Have a look at our blog to select good argumentative essay topics to impress the audience.

Persuasive Essay Topics

A persuasive essay is similar to an argumentative paper. However, in it, the writer wants to convince the readers of their point of view. Simple essay topics would make better essays as they help the students stay focused.

Below is a list of some good persuasive essay topics for you:

Energy drinks should be banned in schools and colleges.
Gambling should be banned in the United States.
Should abortions be banned worldwide?
Hunting is an immoral act.
Is it okay to use animals in a circus?
Harmful dogs should be euthanized.
Cell phones should not be allowed in schools.
Teachers should pass a professional exam, just like students.
Schools should reduce the workload on students.
Sex education should be mandatory in high schools.
Vlogging isn’t an actual profession.
Is LinkedIn helpful for finding a job?
Social media has played a big role in increasing business opportunities.
Is Java becoming obsolete?
Should employers go through the candidate’s social media profiles?
Animal testing should be banned.
Violent video games should be banned.
Parents with mental disabilities should not be allowed to adopt children.
Alcohol consumption should be legalized in Muslim countries.
Every person should get Covid-19 vaccination.

For your help, we have gathered a wide range of persuasive essay topics . Give it a read.

Descriptive Essay Topics

A descriptive essay describes a specific thing by using sensory data. It is done to engage the reader’s five senses (taste, touch, smell, hearing, sight).

The following is a list of descriptive essay topic ideas for the students.

The person who is responsible for making a difference in my life.
Describe a smartphone and its benefits to someone from the ‘60s.
The most interesting piece of art I have ever seen.
Describe the experience of falling in love.
What does a place that only exists in your imagination look like?
Describe meeting a famous person.
Describe yourself and your personality to a stranger.
What will life be like in 2050?
An experience that changed my life forever.
Your idea of the perfect day.
My first trip abroad.
The most significant event in American History.
A popular book series that disappointed you.
A look into my daily life.
A day in the life of an ER doctor.
A trip to the museum.
The most interesting movie I watched during my summer vacation.
My favorite childhood memory.
An incident that changed my life.
An incident that restored my faith in humanity.

Here are some more descriptive essay topics to help you find a good idea for your essay.

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Narrative Essay Topics

In a narrative essay, your goal is to share a personal experience by telling a story. This creative form of writing depends on how strong and exciting the theme is. The article topics for students given here are carefully curated and would help the students do good in their essays.

Some examples and topics of narrative topic ideas are presented below.

The experience that taught me how looks could be deceiving.
A week without internet and technology.
The impact your first love had on your life.
How much did your teachers contribute to making you the person you are today?
An experience that made you realize your parents were or weren’t always right.
A moment when someone you didn’t like surprised you with kindness.
The influence technology has had on your hobbies and life.
An achievement outside of academic life?
Which school lesson had the biggest influence on your life?
A day when you fought procrastination.
The time you faced rejection.
The time when you stood against your parents.
An experience that left you helpless.
The time you prayed to be an only child.
An act of kindness you can never forget.
Death of a loved one.
Your biggest pet peeve.
Your definition of a perfect weekend.
The things you regret most in life.
Your first experience of an air trip.

Choosing interesting narrative essay topics is essential to make the content compelling for the readers.

Research Essay Topics

While writing a research essay, the most crucial step is choosing a topic for your essay. Select a topic that is broad enough to compose an entire research essay on it.

Below are some of the best topics for your research essay.

Effects of violent cartoons on children.
Should universities provide accommodations to disabled students?
Events and experiences I agree are causing the increase in terrorism.
How do technology and gadgets affect the studies of children?
Do children who attend preschool do better in school?
Universities are becoming business-driven.
Does college debt affect the future lives of students?
Why has the divorce rate changed in the past decade?
Schools should allow the use of smartphones in school.
Effective ways to decrease depression among our youth.
Analyze the relationship between the United States of America and North Korea.
Why did the UK decide to leave the EU?
Is it true that students learn better in a same-sex school?
How does giving kids different gadgets affect their studies?
Compare the immigration policies of two different countries.
Events that lead to World War I.
Pros and cons of studying abroad.
How has Covid-19 influenced the education system of the world?
Individual acts that lead to Global Warming.
Effectiveness of the policies made to control Covid-19.

Looking for more? We have an extensive range of research essay topics to make the audience fall in love with your work.

Expository Essay Topics

While writing an expository essay, you have to explain and clarify your topic clearly to the readers.

Below is a list of expository essay topics:

Why do teenagers commit suicide?
What is the impact of music on our youth?
What are the consequences of skipping school?
Why do teenagers use drugs?
How can pets make you happy and improve your life?
Consequences of having alcoholic drinks within a school campus.
How does drug use affect relationships?
Is global warming a cause of skin cancer?
Is sodium bad for your health?
What is the line between being overweight and being obese?
Why do you want to pursue your desired career?
Explain how advancements in science improve the quality of life for humans.
What are some unconventional ways of relieving stress?
If you could swap your lives with someone, who would it be and why?
What are some major stress factors in a teenager’s life?
Why is getting a degree important for job life?
Pros and cons of getting financial aid.
How emotional support animals help in treating mental conditions.
How does prostitution influence society?
The environmental causes of smoking.

5StarEssays.com has gathered an additional and extensive list of expository essay topics .

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Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

In a compare and contrast essay, you evaluate and analyze the similarities and differences between the two subjects. Your reader must be able to form an opinion after weighing the pros and cons you have set forth.

Below are some topics for you to choose for your compare and contrast paper:

Extroverts and introverts.
Generation Y Vs. Generation Z.
Traditional Helicopters Vs. Lifesize Drones.
Unemployed students Vs. students with a part-time job.
SAT and TOEFL.
Persuasive and argumentative essays - How are they similar?
How were the causes of World War I different from the causes of World War II?
Education vs. professional career: what is more difficult?
Real-life or spending your time daydreaming.
Consequences of earthquake and tsunami: what’s worse?
Being popular in high school or alone?
Part-time work or studying for a higher degree?
Getting married at an old age or a young age?
Fashion today Vs. twenty years ago.
Donald Trump Vs. Hillary Clinton.
Democracy Vs. Dictatorship
Vietnam War Vs. War on Terror.
Benefits of drinking tea Vs. coffee.
Greek and Roman methodologies - Similarities and differences.
Traditional Vs. distant learning.

Get more interesting compare and contrast essay topics at 5StarEssays.com to impress your instructors.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

The cause and effect essay explains why something happens and what happens as a result of those happenings. A cause and effect essay is a type of expository essay.

Here are a few topics for your cause and effect essay:

What are the causes of eating disorders?
Effects of climate change and global warming.
The effects of the Feminism movement.
What are the causes of increasing depression among teenagers?
What are the causes of suicidal thoughts?
Is keeping a pet effective in calming your mind?
How does divorce affects children?
Why are men afraid of commitment?
Effects of social media on youth.
Has social media affected relationships among families?
Discuss the effects of homeschooling on children.
Causes of heart diseases.
Causes of sibling rivalry.
Cramming doesn't help improve test scores.
Cause and effect of depression in the workplace.
How do abusive parents influence the mental stability of a child?
Causes and effects of bullying.
Causes of obesity in teenagers.
Effects of taking a balanced diet on health?
Causes and effects of insomnia.

To get more ideas, visit our cause and effect essay topics that are remarkable and well-suited for a great essay.

Controversial Argumentative Essay Topics

Argumentative essay topics are quite popular assignments in universities. If you are a student searching for a captivating argumentative essay topic, here is a list of ideas you can consider.

Third world war should be prevented by the Russian and US governments.
Political policies and practices affecting students.
Is gun control effective in reducing crime?
Same-sex marriage and constitutional law.
Is society over-regulated?
Are leaders born or made?
No one should be above the law.
Monarchy: pros and cons.
Rules on Political Activities by Federal Employees.
The most corrupt countries in the world.
Mercy killing should be legalized in all countries of the world.
Death penalties should be abolished.
Third-world countries should be provided with education plans by the developed countries.
Muslims should not be labeled as terrorists.
Illegal immigrants should be given equal rights.
Abortions should be legalized.
Live-in relationships should be encouraged.
Professional athletes should be allowed to consume steroids.
Should physical punishments be given to children?
Smoking in public should be an offensive crime.

Funny Argumentative Essay Topics

Are you looking for some funny argumentative essay topics for your essay? If so, choose a topic from the following list.

Why do people like watching funny videos?
What your cat is really thinking.
Why spam emails should be your favorite type of email.
Why wearing braces is fun.
School dropouts are the best in our society.
Why I don't like country music.
Types of dates.
A better way to get things done.
What organic food really is.
Things guys do that girls hate.
How to annoy your friend.
Why do women pretend that they enjoy sports?
Things preventing you from completing your homework in time.
Funny things we see in wedding ceremonies.
Why are spam emails more interesting?
Why does Starbucks coffee taste better?
Why are backbenchers smarter than other students?
Clowns are scarier than funny.
Should we be maintaining social distancing even after Covid-19?
Why is watching movies better than reading books?

Informative Essay Topics for Students

Essay writing requires depth. However, you don’t have to choose a complex topic in middle school, high school, or college.

Here is a list of interesting essay topics for middle school, high school, and college students.

Essay Topics for College Students

Virtual classes cannot replace the traditional class system.
Advantages and disadvantages of online classes.
Is there a need to reform the college education system?
Assault weapons should not be legal.
People with a history of mental illness should not be allowed to purchase firearms.
The taxation system needs to be changed around the globe.
Kids should not be the target audience in advertising.
The number of calories should be mentioned with every meal.
Feminists have effectively improved the workforce for women.
Is the death penalty effective?
How to identify fake news?
How to maintain a healthy life?
How to treat PTSD naturally?
Should people be judged on their appearance?
How is technology influencing the work performance of people?
Private Vs. public schools
How to choose majors in high school?
Impact of legalizing drugs on society.
Significance of learning social values.
How to prevent bullying on campus?

Essay Topics for High School

The choice to join the armed forces should be an individual decision.
Listening to music can increase work efficiency.
Being honest has more cons than pros.
People who have been in an accident value life more than others.
Embarrassing moments help boost your confidence.
Kindness is the most valuable personal trait.
Spontaneity can improve your life.
Can hobbies help improve the richness of one’s life?
Dressing properly in the office improves work efficiency
Being organized can help in school as well as the office.
Impact of homosexuality on society.
What is feminism?
How to overcome fears and phobias?
Significance of having leadership skills in job life?
Causes and treatments for bipolar disorder.
Side effects of consuming antidepressants.
How important is mental health in succeeding professionally?
How do teaching methods influence learning abilities?
Should specially-abled people be allowed to work in offices?
Discrimination and racism in the US.

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Essay Topics for Middle School

Every child should have chores at home.
There should not be any summer classes.
Should students continue studying during summer vacation?
Parents should pay attention to the amount of time their children spend watching television.
Favorite family summer vacation.
Sports should be mandatory in every school.
Processed foods should not be part of private and public school lunch.
Do students still use newspapers for research?
Every individual should spend a year doing community service.
The weekend should be 3 days long.

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As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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101 Great Essay Writing Topics for Students

Before you sit down to write, you need a topic, and these essay writing topics can help you get started.

Writing an essay is an important skill for high school and college students. Essays show a writer’s ability to think through a topic, explore their point of view and persuade or inform others of that. Yet, finding essay writing topics can feel vague.

This list will help students find the right topic for a descriptive essay or argumentative essay. It outlines a number of hot topics that students can delve into in order to express their opinions and showcase their writing skills. You can use these to practice your essay writing skills or as prompts for you or students.

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1. Is Climate Change Real?

2. the benefits (or drawbacks) of homework , 3. a funny childhood memory, 4. video game addiction, 5. the role of pets in our lives, 6. my summer vacation, 7. a personal victory or success, 8. what will life be like in 2050, 9. a trip to the museum, 10. describe meeting a famous person, 11. the impact of social media on tweens, 12. importance of school uniforms, 13. extracurricular activities: essential or optional, 14. favorite book and its impact, 15. the influence of celebrities on youth, 16. the significance of recreational activities, 17. if i were the principal of my school, 18. why the sale and production of tobacco should get banned, 19. should every country have the death sentence, 20. is homeschooling better or worse than public school, 21. is the us election process fair, 22. how can we reduce climate change, 23. your responsibility in climate change, 24. are you politically influenced by media, 25. feminism then and now, 26. the impact of immigration on host countries, 27. are environmentalist groups doing the wrong protests, 28. should we cancel cancel culture, 29. is artificial intelligence a boon or bane to society, 30. is genetic engineering ethical, 31. the role of social movements in social change, 32. censorship in media: necessary or suppressive, 33. is technology making education lazy, 34. are we supposed to share culture, 35. why soda should not be on fast food kids meals, 36. illegal immigrants should not be jailed, 37. breastfeeding in public should be considered normal, 38. why gun control is needed, 39. a turning point in your life, 40. should religion be taught in schools, 41. recycling should be compulsory, 42. colleges are becoming business driven, 43. the necessity of art in education, 44. the importance of space exploration, 45. the future of renewable energy, 46. fast fashion’s environmental impact, 47. social media and its influence on body image, 48. the role of social media in interpersonal relationships, 49. the consequences of cyberbullying, 50. the relevance of standardized testing today, 51. the influence of video games on youth behavior, 52. homework vs. class assignments, 53. social media vs. in-person interaction, 54. physical education vs. nutritional education, 55. life before and after the internet, 56. right side vs left side of the brian thinkers, 57. tea vs coffee, 58. fashion today vs 20 years ago, 59. ebooks vs. physical books, 60. urban vs. rural living, 61. traditional vs. digital art, 62. freelance vs. full-time employment, 63. western vs. eastern philosophies, 64. democracy vs. dictatorship, 65. introverts vs. extroverts, 66. working in your country vs. working abroad, 67. science fiction vs. fantasy, 68. public vs. private healthcare, 69. first day of school memories, 70. a memorable act of kindness, 71. your best or worst holiday, 72. an experience with peer pressure, 73. a surprising event or change of fortune., 74. your first teacher, 75. your idea of the perfect day, 76. imagine a week without the internet or technology, 77. a day you overcame rejection, 78. overcoming my fear, 79. the day i lost my first pet, 80. that someone who influenced me, 81. the most embarrassing moment, 82. the time i stood up for what i believe, 83. the invention i wish i had thought of, 84. an unexpected friendship, 85. the day that defined my future, 86. how is global warming changing the environment, 87. the causes of world war ii, 88. what is racism, and how are people sometimes unaware of it, 89. does free will exist, 90. what reading means to me, 91. the role of journalists and the media, 92. animal testing should be banned, 93. why do teenagers commit suicide, 94. the role of the united nations, 95. the history and impact of the internet, 96. why is financial literacy crucial today, 97. the importance of technology in healthcare, 98. the rise of electric vehicles, 99. an analysis of a popular tv show, 100. the value of learning a second language, 101. the stigma around mental health, a final word on the best essay writing topics, what are some topics for a persuasive essay, what are some good topics for an essay, best essay writing topics for middle school students.

If you are picking an essay for a 7th or 8th-grade student, the topic needs to be something that students in that age range are interested in. This will help them want to do the research and explore their ideas. This age range will often write expository essays or narrative essays, rather than persuasive ones.

Here are some essay topics to consider:

Climate change is a hot topic with middle schoolers, and this essay topic idea lets them explore it. This essay topic can work well for a persuasive, informative, or cause-and-effect essay.

Few middle school students enjoy homework, but this can be a great way to get them to dig into why the education system relies on homework. Students can give their opinions about the need for homework or why homework should be eliminated.

Middle school students who are not ready to write on argumentative essay topics can practice their English essay writing skills by writing about a funny thing that happened as a child. This topic should focus on entertaining, engaging storytelling.

Many young students spend a lot of time playing video games, and this can translate into an essay topic. Exploring the mental health effects of too much video gameplay is a good option. Ask them to write about games they live or spend too much time playing.

Do you have a pet at home that you can’t imagine not being there when you return? How do you treat it, and do you think of your pet as a best friend? Opt for a cause-and-effect essay on the role of pets in our lives to showcase this bond. Then, include the positive effects of owning a pet. Don’t forget to talk about the responsibilities that come with it.

This is a staple choice of teachers everywhere, particularly after the summer break. All younger students can write essays easily enough about how they spent a few weeks off school and where they went. Perhaps it was time with a family member or a best friend? There is a good reason that many elementary and middle school teachers assign this as a writing assignment at the start of school.

A student could start writing this essay by writing about when they felt like all was lost. Then, they could describe how they picked themselves up off the dirt and achieved a victory.

Will we find solutions to the problems we face today, like poverty and homelessness? Will technology enrich our lives further or be the cause of new issues?

Many young students often think about the future, and this topic allows them to let their imaginations run loose.

This way, they can express their ideas on how the world will look like in a few decades. It also gives you insight into the child’s personality. Do they see the positives in everything, or are they a bit more realistic?

As children, we loved going to the museum. Even today, it’s interesting to look at historical art, sculptures, and old vehicles.

This essay topic works exceptionally well right after a school holiday. Maybe the young student just witnessed some of the best historical pieces. Writing about this topic allows them to reconnect with the emotions they felt.

In this essay, ask students what they liked most about visiting the museum, what important lessons they learned, and how they felt in the moment.

We all have favorite celebrities that we’d love to meet. This could be an actor, musician, or athlete.

In this essay topic, ask students to describe what it’s like to meet a famous person. How would they feel, what questions would the student ask them, and what activities would they do together?

By asking your student to write the essay as descriptively as possible, they’ll experience the positive emotions associated with meeting their idol.

For this prompt, your goal is to explore the balance between the good, the bad, and the unknown in social media platforms. As a middle schooler, you know better than anyone how integral social media is in your daily life. Think about it – how many people your age don’t have a phone connected to the internet?

A cause-and-effect essay on this subject will allow you to investigate how social networking systems influence people. Self-reflect and analyze how social media sites affect your feelings, friendships, and even schoolwork.

Have you ever wondered why some schools insist on their students having uniforms? This is despite other schools being more lenient and letting their students wear whatever they want. If you are, then satiate your curiosity via this prompt.

An argumentative essay will help you understand both sides of the debate. You can discuss why schools make uniforms mandatory or optional and investigate how uniforms affect students’ behavior, academic performance, and school pride.

Are you a part of your school’s sports team or another club, or do you prefer to focus your time on academics only? If you have ever wondered what extracurricular activities are for, use this prompt to write an informative essay on the importance of extracurricular activities.

Write about the exact details of the role of extracurricular activities in a student’s overall development. Explore and add the benefits and drawbacks of these activities as well. Through your essay, other students can make informed choices about how they spend their time at school.

Books are all about exploration. When you use books for school, they aim to make you more knowledgeable. But they are also doors to fantasy lands and help you learn more about yourself.

Do you have a favorite book that left a mark on you? For this prompt, write a personal narrative essay sharing that experience. Analyze why the book matters, then add how it has changed or defined you. Your essay might sway others to read your favorite book.

Celebrities and influences are everywhere – so much so that you can’t avoid them no matter how hard you try. They’re in the music you listen to, the streets you drive through, and even the boxes of your favorite cereals. For this prompt, write an argumentative essay about these celebrities and their critical influence on younger people.

Focus on celebrities’ sway on youth’s behavior, values, and aspirations. Argue whether they are positive role models or if they set unrealistic expectations. It’s best to choose celebrities everyone knows, like the Kardashians or the Bangtan Boys.

What do you do when you have time off from school? Aside from the instances you attend family events, do you like swimming, biking, or drawing? This prompt is perfect for a descriptive essay where you can detail your favored recreational activity.

Start with how you discovered the activity and why you got hooked on it. Include its significance to your life. Does it help you relax, meet new people, etc.? You can also talk about the skills you gained by doing this recreational activity regularly.

Have you ever dreamt of calling the shots at school? What about imagining being the principal? In this essay, share ideas on what parts of your school you want to keep or change. Analyze each critically and propose the improvements the school needs. Via this prompt, you can showcase your leadership skills. Remember to express your thoughts respectfully and constructively, and don’t forget to offer rational explanations for each proposed change.

Controversial Essay Writing Topics for Older Students

As they enter high school and college, students should start transitioning from informative essays to persuasive ones. Controversial essay topics are a good way to do this. They help students develop their critical thinking skills and learn how to reason an argument. The below topics the bill well:

Few people would argue about the health benefits of tobacco, yet it remains a top-selling product. This essay will explore the benefits of banning the sale of the product altogether.

The death sentence is a controversial ethical and social issue. This essay will explore whether or not it is a suitable method of punishment and deterrent for serious crimes and the benefits or drawbacks of adding it to every country across the globe.

Homeschooling is growing in popularity, and this school essay topic will explore the benefits or drawbacks of this particular school choice. It may be pulled from personal experience if the student is homeschooled.

Elections are an essential part of our lives. It gives us the power to determine who will govern our country. However, is the election process fair?

In the essay, your student will get an opportunity to voice their ideas, describe what changes they’d like to see, and how those changes will positively impact the nation.

This essay topic requires more research, and students walk away with knowledge that can help them in the long term.

Climate change is a serious topic that impacts everyone’s life. Sea levels are rising, which makes it difficult for animals like polar bears to survive.

When writing about this essay topic, students will have to research the effect of climate change, what causes it, and how to reduce its impact.

This requires logical thinking and creativity. It’ll encourage students to come up with a plan of action. Maybe they’ll limit the number of carbon emissions released by companies, promote solar power, or decrease the price of energy-efficient appliances.

Climate change has always been a controversial topic. There are many protests about it, but despite the protests, there are still no proper solutions. For this prompt, focus on what you, as a student, can do to help stop or slow down climate change. Identify your personal role in this phenomenon. Examine both your positive and negative contributions. As you write this essay, you can also discover sustainable life changes to add to your life. You can even encourage your future readers to follow your example.

Keeping up to date with world news is easy because we’re connected to the media 24/7. With this in mind, create a cause-and-effect essay and inspect the power of media in shaping your political views.

For instance, have you sided with a viewpoint because of a convincing social media post? For sure, many have experienced this once or twice. Dig deeper via your essay, analyze the media’s role and motivations, and present your findings.

If you plan to create a compare-and-contrast essay, go for this prompt. Analyze the evolution of feminist movements. Then, examine their origins, goals, and the changes they’ve brought about.

Have you ever wondered how the feminism of your grandma’s era differed from today’s? By researching this topic, you’ll not only increase your knowledge – you’ll also be able to educate others.

Are you looking at writing about globally relevant issues? If so, immigration is a complex subject you can explore—research immigration in the news, books, or even movies. You can even ask your teacher for help if you need to. For this prompt, connect your findings to the issues of the countries receiving immigrants. Make sure to differentiate the legal from illegal immigrants to relay your points better.

The environment is a sacred and essential part of our lives. And so it’s easy to understand the movements and the organizations that want to protect it. But do you think their actions will make others appreciate their cause in the long run?

This is why this controversial prompt is perfect for a persuasive essay. Talk about the recent protests. It can be the protestor’s destruction of paintings of legendary artists, glueing their hands on airport runways, or stopping people on the streets. Critique the strategies of environmental activist groups. Are they properly raising awareness? Or are their methods causing more harm than good?

Cancel culture is often based on limited evidence and incites blind hate. As an older student, you’re likely familiar with the term and its implications. In your essay, list cancel culture’s pros and cons and analyze each in depth.

Is cancel culture helpful? Is it only spreading misinformation? Is the hive mentality it encourages good? Share your thoughts on this recent societal development. Then, offer ways on how to better interact with cancel culture. For instance, you can recommend holding off judgment and thoroughly researching the issue first to make up your own mind.

Artificial intelligence is here to stay, but how helpful is it? For this prompt, create an expository essay that analyzes how AI is both a boon and a bane. For example, AI can make companies’ systems more efficient. But at the same time, it takes jobs away from writers, artists, and even tech devs.

Cite recent happenings, like the Texas A&M Commerce professor who failed his entire class to show the issue’s relevancy. As a student, you’re pretty familiar with AI developments. You might even have experienced it first-hand. Stop and think about AI’s broader implications via your essay.

Genetic engineering has always been a controversial subject. Since you’re an older student, you’ve probably had debates about this in class or with friends. To better understand the issue, construct a well-researched, argumentative essay on genetic engineering and the ethics that surround it.

As a student and a general public member, you are not just an observer of what happens in society. You are an active participant in social dynamics. So, for this prompt, opt for a cause-and-effect essay where you analyze how collective actions and thinking shape societies. Support your thoughts with evidence and share your realizations.

For this prompt, start by defining freedom of expression and comparing it with censorship. Then, present cases (preferably recent ones) to explain why censorship is necessary or repressive. This will help you create an informative essay that educates your readers.

In your essay, answer the question: “Is technology helpful or detrimental to education?” As a student, you’re at the center of this revolution. For instance, online classes are more prevalent now than some years ago. Submitting soft copies of papers online wasn’t even a thing then. Write an expository essay about whether technology aids or hampers your learning process.

If you want to write a thought-provoking descriptive essay, consider this prompt: There are unique cultures. But should these cultures remain exclusive? Think about your own culture and what it means to you. Would you like to share your culture? It’s time to share your thoughts and experiences.

In the same essay, you can also mention cultural appreciation versus cultural appropriation. Talk about these ideas’ differences and similarities.

Persuasive Essay Topics for Older Students

Persuasive essays work to convince a reader of the writer’s point of view. These topics lend themselves well to a great essay that focuses on persuasion.

Fast food kids meals target young consumers, and soda is often included. Making junk food a way of life contributes to childhood obesity, and this topic could explore alternatives to soda for these kid-centered meals.

When people enter a country illegally, putting them in jail does not solve the problem. Instead, alternative punishments or even help with attaining legal immigrant status can reduce the strain on an overloaded system while also helping these individuals become part of society.

Babies need breast milk to survive, yet many places in society frown on women feeding their babies in public. This essay will explore why this is an outdated and unhealthy idea.

The best topics for persuasive essays are ones that are a little controversial. Gun control fits the bill well, and it can be a good topic for an essay. Other topics include alcohol, drugs and, in some cases, religion. That said, it depends on the nature of your students and school.

All the students can typically point to an occasion or life event when their worldview or concept changed. Ask them to write about a defining life experience.

This essay topic is for older students and adult learners who can take a thoughtful but critical stance on the role of religion in schools today. Should it be taught or removed from schools, and why?

The average American produces 1,704 pounds of garbage per year. Most of this is thrown in landfills, which can be equally as damaging to the environment as littering. Oceans are also filled with plastic that negatively affects the lives of marine life.

However, if we can recycle all that waste, we won’t damage the environment. This essay topic encourages older students to research recycling and the pros and cons of making it mandatory.

Getting a tertiary education is essential. It allows you to learn a marketable skill that other people pay you for.

However, private colleges are becoming more common, leading people to think that these institutions are more focused on making money.

When writing about this topic, students need to research the cost of college tuition, how this high price negatively impacts their adult lives, and how the government can fix it.

Through this prompt, explore and express the value of creativity and aesthetics in one’s learning. Explain why art is essential. How does it influence your learning and perception of the world? Consider this: art is a medium of expression and critical thinking. To write this essay effectively, identify, describe, and reflect on different art forms. You can also focus on art forms that you’ve experienced.

Have you ever looked at the night sky and wondered what’s out there? Space exploration is all about the curiosity to discover the unknown. In your essay, go beyond rockets or astronauts and highlight man’s thirst for knowledge.

Start with the historical record of space exploration. Mention how it started and how it became possible. You can even include its milestone achievements. Then, move on to experts’ predictions on the future of space exploration. Discuss its benefits to humans, common challenges, and implications for our future.

Let’s now jump to another vital global discourse. Are you aware of the environmental and economic connotations of renewable energy? You may be young now, but you’re not a stranger to the problems of this planet. Through this prompt, you can become a part of the solution. In your essay, define and discuss different types of renewable energy. Underscore their potential, pros, and cons versus traditional energy sources.

Have you ever wondered where your clothes come from and where they end up? Sadly, most of us consume fast fashion. But have you considered fast fashion’s environmental consequences?

In your essay, identify facts about fast fashion. Credible sources should support these facts so readers can realize how detrimental it is to the environment. Review the lifecycle of a typical fast fashion item. Include the environmental cost at each stage. Then, look for ways to promote sustainable fashion choices.

Today, social media dominates our lives. But have you thought about how it affects how you view your body image? This is a sensitive issue, but timely nonetheless.

For this prompt, voice your experiences and insights about social media and the unrealistic body standards it presents. By doing so, you can help others navigate through the maze of internet likes and shares. Talk about how social networking services impact how people view themselves, including their self-esteem. Then, offer ways on how to circumvent these problems.

It’s a fact today that most of our relationships start and are maintained online. But does this virtual connection hamper real-life relationships?

Through your essay, explore the link between social media and interpersonal relationships. You can tell it from your perspective. How have your relationships evolved in the age of social media? Review the dynamics of online friendships, mentioning the blurred lines between the virtual and real world. It would be useful to talk to someone you know who remembers a time before mobile phones and social media, which only became prevalent in recent decades.

Sadly, the rise of social networks also gives bullies more channels to hurt others. Now, they can also hide behind screens. In your essay, define cyberbullying and its effects on the victim’s mental health. You can even include real-life cases for illustration. End your paper by presenting measures to prevent cyberbullying.

The education system needs some updating. If you want to delve into this issue, use a prompt that critiques its current methods. One of the most timely is standardized testing. What’s your take on it? Does it measure intelligence, or is it merely rote learning? List the pros and cons of standardized testing from your perspective as a student. Write as if you want to spark a conversation about educational reform.

At your age, you’ve probably experienced the evolution of video games first-hand. If you’re a gamer, have you ever questioned how it influenced your behavior? What about your peers?

For this prompt, focus on the psychological aspects of gaming. Mention the impact of different gaming genres on mental health and behavior. Don’t just talk about the adverse effects. It’s best to also consider the potential benefits of gaming as a learning tool.

Compare and Contrast Essays for Older Students

This type of essay compares two like or unlike things, drawing ways they are the same or different. It’s useful as it provides a structure for aspiring essayists that they can use to outline a longer work. Some ideas include:

Which has more value, homework or assignments completed in class? This essay topic will explore the contrast between these two types of school assignments. For fun, give it to students to complete in class… and then ask them to revise it at home.

Social media can keep people connected, but the increased push for social media connection can detract from in-person communication. This essay will explore the contrast between the two types of communication.

Both exercise and diet play a role in health. This essay will explore the impact of both through the education system.

Older students and adult learners can remember a time before we spend so much time. Is life any better now that we spend so much time connected to the Internet? This essay explores what it means to be constantly connected.

Right side of the brain thinkers are typically more creative and artistic. The left side of the brain thinkers are analytical and mathematical. What’s more valuable in today’s society? What can each type learn from its counterpart? And are you truly one type exclusively?

Caffeine is a staple for many students and workers. It gives you a boost of energy in the morning, which allows you to get more done. It also helps if you have a test coming up and need to study hard.

However, larger amounts of caffeine are known to cause heart palpitations, anxiety, and increased stress.

In this essay, students look at the benefits and drawbacks of tea and coffee. It empowers them with knowledge on when to limit their consumption.

Fashion is constantly changing. What looked cool 20 years ago might look weird today. Older students will also notice how their fashion choices changed from middle school to high school and from high school to college.

In this essay, students talk about what causes this change and how long it takes for the public to accept a specific style.

You’ve likely used ebooks and physical books for your studies and hobbies. In your essay, use your experience to analyze these different reading mediums. Are you an avid Kindle user? Or do you thrive on the feel of a physical book? Write about relevant aspects like convenience, feel, accessibility, and cost. Always support your arguments with personal anecdotes and factual data.

Do you live in the city or the outskirts? Both have pros and cons. If you’ve always been a city student, maybe you’ve wondered what life is like on the other side. If so, then this prompt lets you delve into these contrasting lifestyles.

Feel free to discuss factors such as access to amenities, social interactions, and lifestyle choices. Try to visualize and put yourself in both scenarios to offer an authentic perspective.

There’s been a divide between traditional and digital art for a long time. In this prompt, uncover the why . Consider aspects like skill set, accessibility, impact, and audience reach. Then, add your thoughts on the issue. Are you drawn to the authenticity of traditional art? Or do you admire the versatility of digital art? Bring in your observations and experiences to make your essay stand out.

You might still be a student, but you’ve thought about what your job will be like in the future, right? Then, have you ever wondered about the benefits of being your boss versus the security of a full-time job? Explore these contrasting work styles. By the end of your essay, you will also better understand what awaits you after graduation.

Talk about job stability, work-life balance, income potential, and personal growth. You can draw on real-life examples from people you know.

For a more intriguing essay, explore different philosophical frameworks. Are you drawn to Western philosophy’s empirical approach? Or do you prefer Eastern thought’s spiritual aspects? Explore themes such as the self, ethics, knowledge, and reality. Then, compare how these philosophies approach these ideas differently. This is your chance to show off your critical thinking skills.

Another complicated but interesting prompt is analyzing two contrasting political systems, democracy and dictatorship. Inspect how each system impacts citizens’ rights, economic development, social equality, and international relations. Don’t shy away from using historical and current examples to solidify your arguments.

Are you an introvert, extrovert, or something in between? Picking this topic will not only give you an exciting essay. You will also learn more about yourself. This encourages you to delve into the psychological aspects of these personality types.

In your essay, analyze how these traits affect one’s social interactions, career choices, and personal well-being. Be critical of stereotypes and delve into the potential benefits and challenges of both.

Have you ever dreamed of living and working abroad? Or do you want to stay where you are now, close to home? Here, you can explore the pros and cons of working or leaving your home country. Mention cultural exposure, career opportunities, and personal growth. Contrast it with the challenges of adapting to a new environment.

Science fiction and fantasy are both popular, even today. Why not when it opens doors to various imaginations? For your essay, dive into why these genres are favored and highlight their unique characteristics. Include their societal implications and why they appeal to certain readers.

Debate has been raging on the implications of public and private healthcare systems. These debates often concern a country’s economy and its citizens’ lives. When writing this essay, you can use your personal experience or rely on secondary research. Discuss aspects like accessibility, cost, quality of care, and efficiency. For this prompt, add real-world examples and facts to strengthen your arguments.

Narrative Essay Topics for Older Students

Sometimes, an everyday life experience can make great essay material, and writing about your own life means less risk of plagiarism. Here are some ideas:

The first day of school in a new school can be the fodder for a number of personal stories about school life and the social aspects of it. Writers can capture those emotions in this type of essay. It’s also a suitable type of essay to write as it can serve as a gateway into other types of writing, like a memoir.

If someone did something for you once that really stood out, transform that into an essay topic. You will enjoy remembering the action while creating your essay.

What you did or didn’t do on your summer vacation as a child can be a great starting point for a narrative essay. Older students can use this essay prompt to write about past experiences and reflect on them beyond simply reporting.

Peer pressure can be positive or negative, but everyone has experienced it. This essay will explore a time when peer pressure made you do something or not do something and what the effect of that decision was.

Was this change in your life for the best or the worst, and how did you respond? Describe in detail.

When you first met your mentor, teacher or guide. How did you respond to them, and what did they have to show you? Similarly, a student could also write an essay about a teacher they shunned or turned away from.

When waking up in the morning, we all strive to have the perfect day. Ask students what their perfect day will look like, what activities they’d do, and with whom.

By being as descriptive as possible, students picture the perfect day in their minds. This improves students’ storytelling skills and helps them structure events in chronological order.

This fun experiment gives students insight into how reliant they are on technology and how their lives will look without it.

By imagining this week in their heads, it’ll give them an idea of what other activities they’ll engage in. This could be working out, socializing, or learning a new skill.

Rejection is something everyone must face at some point. Few things are scarier than rejection. But when you overcome it, you get a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction.

For example, this could be asking that cute guy or girl out on a date or applying for a job at your dream company.

Are you interested in writing an essay while also self-reflecting? When you use this prompt, you also demonstrate your tenacity to overcome obstacles. Think back to any fear you have had. It doesn’t matter if they’re big or small as long as they shape your character.

Begin your essay by describing the fear you had and why. Then, narrate what you did to overcome it. Remember to discuss the aftermath and the personal growth you experienced.

Losing a pet is a personal experience. How you handled your emotions at that time shows your nature. When you write your essay, paint a vivid picture of your pet by describing quirks and traits. Explain how losing a pet changed you; don’t avoid the pain. Then, talk about your grieving process and eventual acceptance.

Did someone come to mind when you read the prompt? It’s unsurprising if they did, considering that every person has that one person who left a significant impact on their life.

For your essay, choose and write about that individual who helps you appreciate life. Give specific details, such as when they made you realize something, and then connect them to how their teachings shaped you. This prompt also allows students to reflect on their character description and development.

For a fun narrative essay, share the moment you felt the most embarrassed. You don’t have to be specific about it; you can instead focus on what you felt then and how you cope during that awkward situation. You can also mention what you think of the memory now that you’re looking back at it. Is it as embarrassing as you’ve thought back then?

Here is a medium to exhibit your ethics and the strength of your convictions. For this prompt, narrate the situation and explain why you must stand up. What were your thoughts during that moment? Talk about your emotions then and the consequences you’ve faced, if any. Mention how the experience shaped your approach to similar situations.

Is there any invention that made you go, “Ah, I wish I thought of that before!” It can be because of the fame that came with it, the profit, or just the sheer genius of its inventor. Select an invention that fascinates you and explain why it interests you. Think of why you wish you’d come up with it. Talk about its impact on the world and how it aligns with your interests or passions.

Friendships often form in the most unexpected places and situations. For this prompt, highlight your openness to diverse experiences and people.

In your essay, describe the circumstances that led to this unexpected friendship. Add why you found it so surprising. Speak about the qualities you appreciate in your friend and include how this relationship has affected your life. Your objective is to encourage others to broaden their social circles.

For this prompt, share a turning point in your life that set your future course. Present a comprehensive account of the event or decision that significantly impacted your future by mentioning factors that influenced it. Add your thoughts and feelings then and how things have unfolded since then.

Informative Essay Topics for Older Students

Sometimes, the goal of an essay is not to persuade but to inform. Informative or expository essay topics need to have a lot of information behind them so students have something to write about. These topics lend themselves well to that:

Global warming has many effects, and this essay will explore those thoroughly. The goal is to inform, not persuade or create change.

Exploring the causes behind a global war, like World War II, can create a long essay. You can spin this essay topic easily enough by picking other historical events.

Racism is a hot topic today, and this essay will explore how it can often hide in someone’s way of thinking.

A popular essay topic in many philosophy and art classes, this is an open-ended subject. A student can use it to explore their personal philosophy and develop their critical thinking skills.

Check out this list for other philosophy questions .

Becoming a better writer means spending a lot of time reading great books. One of the best ways to encourage reading is asking readers and students to reflect on why they love reading what they learned from previous books. It’s good subject matter for an essay too.

Many people are skeptical and or don’t trust news produced by journalists. But are they right? Surely there is a bar between trustworthy and untrustworthy sources? In this essay, explore how to tell good journalism apart from bad journalism.

When testing products to see if it’s safe for humans, scientists will run tests on animals. However, this testing isn’t only cruel but ineffective. Animals don’t get certain diseases that humans do. This includes HIV, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and certain types of cancers.

In this essay, students must conduct research and present a case for why animal testing is unethical.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for those between the ages of 10 to 24. This is a complex topic since there could be several different factors at play. Some of these include bullying, abuse, and traumatic stress.

When writing this essay, students will be encouraged to dig deeper into the main reasons why teenagers commit suicide and how we can help them as a community. This spreads awareness and gets people to take positive action.

How much do you know about the United Nations? This prompt will test your knowledge of international relations and politics as you have to pen a paper that’s easy to understand. Include the intricacies of global leadership and peacekeeping by explaining the critical functions of the UN. Then, add how it helps society and how its efforts benefit you as a student.

Where did the internet come from? How did it develop to be what it is today? In your essay, recall the history of the World Wide Web and its profound impact on our daily lives. As an older student, you’ve lived through some of the internet’s transformative phases. How has that shaped the way you live, work, or study? Answer all of these in your paper.

Many people still get confused about handling their incomes, budgets, and expenses. In your essay, explain why many fumble their finances. Include how understanding one’s finances matters now more than ever.

For a more relatable paper, you can narrate your personal journey towards financial literacy. You can also analyze current financial trends and their implications for the average person.

Technology has revolutionized healthcare, so it’ll always be a timely topic. For this prompt, delve into the impact of technological advancements on health and medicine. It’s a brilliant way to explore subjects like telemedicine or electronic health records. You can even include the role of AI in disease diagnosis.

Have you noticed more electric vehicles on the road recently? In your essay, analyze the surge in popularity of electric vehicles. Add their environmental impact and the technological advances that have made them viable. Don’t forget to include your thoughts on a future dominated by electric vehicles.

If you have a TV show you’re fond of, then you can talk about it in your essay. Explore the show’s central themes, character developments, and narrative techniques. It might even give you an excuse to rewatch your favorite series!

Parlez-vous Français? If you have a second language or are interested in learning one someday, this prompt is for you. Remember to focus your essay on the benefits of bilingualism or multilingualism. If you have any, include your memories of learning a new language. You can also ask others who speak more than one language about their experiences. Add the challenges, triumphs, and doors it has opened for you.

Today, there is the question of whether we’re doing enough to address mental health. In your paper, be open and talk about the stigma around mental health issues. You can opt to share your personal experiences or observations. Then, don’t forget to add the consequences of ignoring mental health. It’s a powerful way to raise awareness and promote empathy.

Whether you are a high school student writing an essay for homework or you are sitting down to write a college essay as you apply for school, procrastination often occurs because you do not know what to write about. Having a list of topics handy will help.

To choose a topic, first, decide what type of essay you need to write. Then, browse this list of writing topics to find one that is interesting to you, or use the list to think of a different, similar topic. Soon, you will have an essay that is engaging and informative and can showcase your writing abilities well.

If you need more inspiration, check out our guide to the 101+ best writing prompts .

FAQs About the Best Essay Writing Topics

Persuasive essays require a controversial topic in order to give the writer the freedom to write in a persuasive manner. Some good topics for these essays include: Soda in fast food meals Breastfeeding in public Using jail to deter illegal immigrants Banning cell phones for young children

Some good topics for an essay include: Gun control Social media Personal experiences Health Social issues A life event

How To Write An Essay

Essay Topics

Amazing Essay Topics & Ideas for Your Next Project (2024)

19 min read

Published on: Jan 25, 2021

Last updated on: Jul 23, 2024

Good Essay Topics for Students

A good essay topic will make your writing phase easy and help you get good grades from the teacher. When you pick the essay topic, make sure it is interesting and meets your teacherâs requirements.

We compiled some simple essay topics that will help you in creating a great essay.

Essay Topics for Kids

Describe your worst nightmare.
Football vs. baseball.
Why is math hard?
How to help animals?
If I Could Fly.
Benefits of drinking tea Vs. Coffee.
Is your school day too short?
Our school library.
What do you like best about winter?
Christmas Eve with family and friends.

Essay Topics for Grade 3

My Favorite Season
My Best Friend
If I Were a Superhero
A Place I Like to Visit
My Dream Job
The Best Day of My Life
My Favorite Animal
The Importance of Kindness
My Favorite Book

Essay Topics for Grade 4

My last summer vacation.
What is the funniest thing you've ever seen?
How to prevent bullying?
Why is it important to be honest and not lie?
What do you like about how you look?
What is your favorite television show, and why?
Can you live without television?
How are we affecting the environment?
Importance of recycling.
If I Could Have a Superpower

Essay Topics for Grade 5

Write a poem about your favorite season.
Skating and running have a lot in common.
Who is your hero, and why?
What if the president were a kid?
Being rich vs. being famous.
Cereal is not a healthy breakfast.
A random act of kindness.
Are boys too dominating?
The rainy season.
The Value of Honesty

Essay Topics for Middle School Students

What is your favorite childrenâs literature?
From your point of view, what factors contribute to a good movie?
Write about a vacation that you will never forget.
Should people be allowed to keep exotic animals like chimpanzees or tigers?
Should sports marketing professionals earn more money?
Difference between effects of books and video games on morals.
How many friends do teens need to have?
How do online high schools compare to traditional education?
What are the best informative essay topics?
Should students be able to pick their teachers?

Essay Topics for Grade 6

Tom and Jerry are the best cartoons.
Reading is more important than math.
A field trip that your class took.
Annual day in my school.
How to deal with a bully
A world where dogs take over.
Should boys and girls be in separate classes?
Describe your future life.
How should parents be an example to their children?
Technology and education.

Essay Topics for Grade 7

The value of volunteerism
The impact of social media on relationships
A good diet means good health.
Zoos are unsafe for young children.
My favorite academic writing website.
Why is it important to set goals?
What is the best decision you ever made?
Schools and colleges should minimize the fees.
Effects of social media on youth.
How fair is our election process?

Essay Topics for Class 8

The importance of financial literacy
Exploring gender equality.
Technology makes people's lives better.
Is the death penalty right?
Youth activism
The power of literature
Do you prefer weekdays or weekends?
The matter of age in a relationship.
Do your teachers use technology well?
Do you make friends slowly or quickly?

Essay Topics for Class 9

The impact of social media on young people's mental health
Should school uniforms be mandatory? Why or why not?
How can we reduce bullying in schools?
The importance of physical exercise for students
Is homeschooling a better option than traditional schooling?
The benefits and drawbacks of online learning
The impact of technology on communication skills
The impact of fast food on public health
The effects of climate change on the environment
The importance of conserving natural resources for future generations

Essay Topics for Class 10

The impact of chemical fertilizers on the environment
The role of mathematics in daily life
The importance of vaccines in preventing diseases
The physics of roller coasters
The impact of social media on mental health
The benefits of learning a second language
The impact of computers on modern society
The role of art and music in promoting mental health
The history and significance of the Indian Constitution
The impact of globalization on Indian economy

Essay Topics for O levels

Why is education important for personal and societal development?
How has social media changed the way we communicate and interact with one another?
How can sports help individuals develop discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills?
What are some of the drawbacks of technological advancements in our daily lives?
What can individuals and governments do to promote sustainable development?
How has globalization affected cultural diversity and individual identity?
Why is it important to prioritize mental health?
Should animals be used for scientific research?
How have historical events shaped the world we live in today?
How can volunteerism and community service benefit both individuals and society?

Essay Topics for High School Students

Does social media negatively impact teenagersâ social lives?
Do you always have your phone or tablet at your side?
Should children be punished for inappropriate behavior?
What is the most important thing in the world to you?
Is there a connection between real-life violence and video games?
Ways to deal with insomnia and other sleeping disorders.
Do advancements in modern technologies ruin childhood?
The implementation of capital punishment should be adopted universally.
Methods of preventing excessive air pollution from factories.
Pros and cons of getting admission to an expensive university.

Essay Topics for Grade 12

The Benefits and Challenges of Online Learning
The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
The Role of Social Media in Politics
The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
The Impact of Climate Change on Global Health
The Ethics of Genetic Engineering
The Pros and Cons of Universal Basic Income
The Future of Space Exploration
The Value of Intercultural Competence
The Role of Art and Culture in Society

Essay Topics for College Students

What are the advantages the US educational system offers to international students?
Explain the possible consequences of dropping out of college.
Social media has played a big role in increasing business opportunities.
What is one thing you want to accomplish in college?
How would you feel about a computer grading your essays?
What is an extracurricular activity that has been meaningful to you?
Professional athletes are overpaid.
Do you know the secret to Taylor Swift's popularity?
The day you decided to change your life.
Can you succeed in life working in the field of art?

Essay Topics for University Level

The Ethics of Human Cloning
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment
The Role of Mass Media in Shaping Public Opinion
The Relationship between Technology and Privacy
The Pros and Cons of Renewable Energy
The Future of Healthcare
The Impact of Globalization on Economic Inequality
The Ethics of Animal Rights
The Importance of Cultural Diversity in Education
The Role of Government in Addressing Climate Change

COVID-19 Topics

As the world continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic, it's worth examining some of the topics that emerged during this unprecedented time.

Here are some potential COVID-19 topics to reflect on:

How does the current situation compare with other major outbreaks in history?
What steps need to be taken now, or soon inaction might lead?
How do you get COVID-19?
Where do coronaviruses come from?
School life during COVID-19
How is coronavirus diagnosed?
Mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic
Pros and cons of self-isolation
The effects of Covid-19 on business
A person or special friend you lost due to COVID-19

Essay Topics by Category

Here are some essay topics that can be categorized into different types of essays.

Good Argumentative Essay Topics

An argumentative essay presents arguments for and against an issue. You have to show both sides of the issue, but you only need to focus on the side that you support the most.

Some good argumentative essay topics are below:

What should be done to reduce income inequality?
Should self-driving cars be legal?
Should companies market to children?
Is it still important to teach English in schools?
Are emojis beneficial or destructive to communication?
Should women be allowed to fight on the front lines alongside men?
Is cheese a good enough substitute for milk?
Should the United States have one official language?
Are the public school policies reasonable?
The sales and production of tobacco should be made illegal.

Controversial Argumentative Essay Topics

Essay topics are sometimes controversial. For your help, check this list that gives you ideas for a great essay.

Are hot dogs bad for you?
Should euthanasia be illegal?
Paper books vs. E-books.
Are school uniforms advantageous?
Should torture be acceptable?
Sports make you a good student.
Is bottled water safe?
Monarchy: pros and cons.
Is prostitution a crime?
Should gym classes be required?

Funny Argumentative Essay Topics

Do you want to make your essay more interesting? Why not try a funny topic? Humor is a great way to get your reader's attention and keep them interested in what you have to say.

Look at the below-mentioned interesting essay topics and write a great one.

Why is wearing braces fun?
Why are dogs, irreplaceable friends?
Can a diamond be a girlâs best friend?
Does Google make us smart?
Things your mother is always saying.
How to deal with breakups?
Is music class necessary?
Why do women like evening outs?
Can I join your family?
How not to sleep?

If there's a specific topic or type of writing that interests you, be sure to check more argumentative essay topics .

Persuasive Essay Topics

A persuasive essay is a type of writing that you are often asked to do in high school, college, and university. It shows how well you can persuade people with facts and logic.

Here are some topics that you can use for your help.

Should healthcare be universal?
Should students learn cursive writing in school?
School should take place in the evenings.
What is the funniest movie youâve ever seen?
Do hobbies help people with their careers?
How does it benefit nature to reduce human paper consumption?
Dreamers must obtain permission to stay in the US.
Schools should have playtime in between classes.
Churches should pay taxes too.
Is solar energy worth the cost?

Continue reading our blog persuasive essay topics and get some more interesting topics.

Narrative Essay Topics

A narrative essay is a type of writing that tells the writer's story and experiences. The writer's point of view and life events entertain the audience in this essay type.

Below are some good narrative essay topics for your help.

The story of how you got your first pet.
How did you write your first essay?
The beginning of a friendship or relationship.
What I remember most about my childhood.
The best songwriters of modern times.
Write about a time when you felt on top of the world.
Growing up in New York.
How much time do you spend alone?
A day in the life of a flight attendant.
Did you like any particular subject when in school?

You can also get more interesting narrative essay topics and choose the one that suits your needs.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

In a compare and contrast essay , you show how two things are similar and different. This essay type is easy to write because you donât need to use facts, but you have to express your thoughts.

The following are the topics for your ease.

Mobile healthcare units or stationary clinics.
Formulas of two different chemical reactions.
Public vs. private transportation.
Chocolate and marmalade candies.
How do education and employment compare?
British colonization and Spanish colonization.
Eating fast food against consuming healthy meals.
African countries vs. European countries.
Differences and similarities: Writing emails and letters.
Plagiarizing content vs. cheating on exams.

You can also check more compare and contrast essay topics an d get ideas for your next essay.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

It is fascinating to discuss the effects and causes of two subjects in an essay. An essay that discusses the effects and causes of two subjects enhances the studentsâ creative and analytical skills.

Take a look at the below topics and choose the best one for your essay.

How happy relationships affect a person.
Coke and Pepsi: Their influence on our health.
What causes social media sites to lose popularity?
Why would you mix Coke and Pepsi at breakfast?
How does college differ from university?
Explain the outcomes of low social status.
Microplastic in food damages human health.
What are the main reasons couples get divorced?
What are the consequences of drinking and driving?
How does social media help in overcoming shyness?

Choose from the best cause and effect essay topics for your academic assignment.

Informative Essay Topics

An informative essay is a type of essay that provides detailed information to the readers. This type of essay requires good research skills.

Check out the below topics for your informative essay assignment.

Kindness is the utmost personal trait.
Things that cause eating disorders.
What is the importance of oxygen?
How can tanning be dangerous for your skin?
The events that led up to World War II.
Trump presidency outcomes.
The important human health vitamins.
How to clean your room?
Eating Maggi destroys your health.
Importance of vitamin C.

You can also get more informative essay topics from our blog for your essay assignment.

Research Essay Topics

When you write a research essay, you present an issue based on the work of scholars and scientists.

Here are some interesting research essay topics that you can use or alter according to your teacherâs requirements:

What is the future of religion?
Effects of homeschooling.
What are the pros and cons of cloud computing?
How does a search engine work?
Should prayer be a part of high school?
Can bullying be a cause for murder?
Effects of vaccination.
How do behavioral patterns develop?
The importance of mental health.
Explain the art of Ancient Egypt.

Expository Essay Topics

An expository essay's main goal is to explain a process or a cause-and-effect relationship. You have to use facts and research to support what you say. The biggest difference between an expository essay and other types of essays is that the point you are trying to argue is based on analysis, not just your opinion.

Some good expository essay topics below for your essay assignment:

Explain why teens do drugs.
How would you stop racism?
How was your first day at school?
Explain how a seed becomes a plant?
Describe the state of the cure for cancer
What makes a good friend?
Explain how tobacco companies target teenagers.
How to become a leader?
Why do kids lie?
Autocorrect could ruin your life.

Explore more expository essay topics and begin your essay with ease!

Definition Essay Topics

In a definition essay , the essay writer gives a clear and concise definition of a term. In most cases, these essays are about terms that are not concrete and which can have different meanings depending on the culture or personal perspective.

Here are some excellent topics for a definition essay:

Does money matter?
Is one friend enough?
What is honesty?
Social media
Define smelly cats/
What is college for you?
What is physics?
Are bananas fruit?
Explain the word âagility.â

Get more outstanding definition essay topics from our blog and make your topic selection process easy.

Descriptive Essay Topics

A descriptive essay focuses on describing details of a particular person, place, event, etc. Descriptive essays are usually about personal experiences or things that are vivid in the writer's memory.

Any topic can be used for a descriptive essay. For your help, we gathered some great topics, so take a look at them and pick the best one.

Describe a lucky object.
The best singer
My first flight
My favorite singer
Going fishing.
The traffic signal
An inspiring view
Best summer vacation
Piece of art

If you're looking for more great descriptive essay topics , check out this blog.

Personal Essay Topics

A personal essay is a story about your life. It should be written in a friendly, intimate tone. The essay should reflect your character and examine the emotions you have felt because of certain events that have happened to you.

Here is a great list of topics for your help.

Your biggest loss
What makes you a good coworker or friend?
How did you get hurt?
What was your most precious childhood possession?
Why do people like karaoke?
Your bucket list of wishes
Why do some people avoid vaccines?
Child discipline
Your family traditions.
Why donât I smoke?

Problem Solution Essay Topics

A problem-solution essay is a persuasive type of writing. It presents a problem and then describes it in detail. The writer must show how to fix the problem, and they must be convincing. The essay must have strong evidence and arguments that prove that the given solution is the best.

Below are some topics that can make your essay great.

What obstacles prevent people from getting help?
Should college athletes be paid?
How can schools promote tolerance?
Educating women on self-defense
Helping young people create a healthy family.
What are the ways of avoiding cheating?
The films are just not very good
Cyberbullying
Business problems
Rising costs of bills

Classification Essay Topics

A classification essay is a formal piece of writing that shows how you group things together. You might put things with similar characteristics together or with things that are different.

Check out some great essay topics.

Types of Music Genres
Healthy breakfast foods
Types of fashion brands.
Reasons why graffiti is an art form.
Types of lectures
Portable music players
Types of Food Cuisines
Types of therapies
Examples of women
Types of internet commerce

Proposal Essay Topics

A proposal essay is a type of essay where you propose an idea and try to convince the reader why it is a good or bad idea.

You can pick any of the topics from the below-mentioned list and write a great essay.

Can vaccines cause autism?
The impact of gender roles in Roman society.
A program for attracting more men nurses.
What tests should be eliminated?
Offer simple ways to deal with stray animals.
Best ways to handle overbearing parents.
Do statistical arguments in sports help?
Turning points in personal life
Should teens have jobs?
How to decrease the number of smokers?

Essay Topics on Technology

The impact of blockchain technology on supply chain management
The ethics of using drones in military operations
The role of technology in promoting sustainable agriculture
The use of biometrics in modern security systems
The impact of technology on the music industry
The benefits and drawbacks of self-driving cars
The potential of nanotechnology in medical research
The impact of technology on modern art
The role of artificial intelligence in improving cybersecurity
The impact of technology on the gig economy

Tips for Choosing the Best Topics

Choosing the perfect essay topic is one of those things you really should do before starting your essay. If it's not something that interests or excites you, then how will anyone else find any passion in reading about it?

A good backbone for an interesting essay starts with a strong idea. For your help, we gathered some tips that will help you in choosing a good essay topic.

Identify your interests: Choose a topic that you are interested in or passionate about. This will make the research and writing process more enjoyable and engaging for you.
Consider your audience: Think about who will be reading your essay. Choose a topic that is relevant and interesting to your audience.
Research your options: Do some preliminary research on your topic options. Ensure that there is enough information available to write a comprehensive essay.
Narrow your focus: If a topic seems too broad or general, try to narrow it down to a specific aspect or angle that you can explore in more detail.
Brainstorm multiple ideas: Generate a list of potential essay topics and then narrow down the options based on your interests, research, and audience.
Be creative: Don't be afraid to explore unique or unconventional topics that may not have been covered extensively before. This can help your essay stand out and capture the reader's attention.

Now, you get a list of several essay topics for your college essay assignment. You can experiment with generating new topics using an AI essay writer as well. However, if you need help in the essay writing phase, simply consult CollegeEssay.org .

Our professional essay writers will help you in writing top-notch essays. So, place your " write my essay " request now and get an experienced writerâs help for your assignments.

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Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

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501 Topic Suggestions for Writing Essays and Speeches

Melissa Ling / ThoughtCo

Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
B.A., English, State University of New York

If getting started is the hardest part of the writing process , close behind it (and closely related to it) may be the challenge of finding a good topic to write about. Of course, sometimes an instructor will solve that problem for you by assigning a topic. But other times you'll have the opportunity to choose a topic yourself, and you should really think of this as a great opportunity to write about something you care about and know well.

So relax. Don't worry if a great topic doesn't immediately spring to mind. Be ready to play with a number of ideas until you settle on one that truly interests you. To help get you thinking, we've prepared more than 500 writing suggestions—but they are only suggestions. Together with some freewriting and brainstorming (and maybe a good long walk), these should inspire you to come up with plenty of fresh ideas of your own.

501 Topics You Could Write About

We've organized the suggested topics into nine broad categories, loosely based on some of the most common types of essays. But don't feel limited by these categories. You'll find that many of the topics can be adapted to suit almost any kind of writing assignment.

Now follow the links to find more than 500 topic suggestions and see where they take you.

40 Descriptive Topics

Descriptive writing calls for close attention to details —details of sight and sound, smell, touch, and taste. Read these 40 topic suggestions for descriptive paragraphs or essays to get started. It shouldn't take you long to discover at least 40 more on your own.

50 Narrative Topics

Another word for "narration" is "storytelling," and narrative essays give accounts of events that actually happened. Narratives can serve to illustrate an idea, report an experience, explain a problem, or simply entertain and they are the perfect opportunity to practice countless writing techniques. Here are 50 ideas for a narrative paragraph or essay. Remember to tell a story of your own.

50 Process Analysis Topics

Process analysis essays explain how something is done or should be done, one step at a time. You don't have to be an expert on a topic to write a process analysis essay for it, but you should have at least some familiarity beforehand. These 50 topics will help you start thinking about potential processes you might be equipped to explain.

101 Compare and Contrast Topics

Anything that you've ever had to make a decision about could form the basis of a compare and contrast essay. Here you'll find 101 more ideas that might be explored in a piece of writing meant to find similarities and differences between two things.

30 Analogy Topics

A good analogy can help your readers understand the ways in which two or more vastly dissimilar subjects or concepts are alike. You can think of an analogy like a compare and contrast essay without the contrast (often, two things compared via analogy are naturally contrasted in obvious ways). Consider each of these 30 topics from multiple different perspectives to uncover original analogies of your own.

50 Classification Topics

Are you ready to get organized? If so, you'll probably be applying the principle of classification —perhaps to one of these 50 topics or to a brand new topic of your own.

50 Cause and Effect Topics

Cause and effect composition is an important skill for writers to master if they are to be effective at illustrating important connections. These 50 topic suggestions should get you started thinking about why? and so what?

60 Topics for Developing Extended Definitions

Abstract and/or controversial ideas can often be clarified through extended definitions . The 60 concepts listed here can be defined in various ways and from different points of view, a craft that all writers should hone.

70 Persuasive Essay Topics

These 70 statements may be defended or attacked in an argument essay, also called a persuasive essay. Students are taught to write persuasively as early as second grade, but the ability to craft a well-supported argument takes years to master. Consider what issues really matter to you when deciding on a persuasive essay or speech topic .

50 Argumentative Essay Topics
100 Persuasive Essay Topics
How to Write a Narrative Essay or Speech (With Topic Ideas)
67 Causal Essay Topics to Consider
Practice in Supporting a Topic Sentence with Specific Details
Topical Organization Essay
Personal Essay Topics
Ecology Essay Ideas
Tips on How to Write an Argumentative Essay
Make Your Paragraphs Flow to Improve Writing
List of Topics for How-to Essays
What Is Expository Writing?
Cause and Effect Essay Topics
Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs
Venn Diagrams to Plan Essays and More
The Ultimate Guide to the 5-Paragraph Essay

Essay Topics & Ideas

You’ve made it to the perfect article! After reading this you’ll not just know how to come up with an idea for an essay, but have over 300 examples to inspire you.

Why Essay Ideas and Great Essay Topics are Vital

The difference between having fun while writing an interesting, high scoring essay, and struggling to finish an essay the night before it’s due has less to do with how well you write and more to do with the topic you choose. A topic you feel passionate about will make you more excited to actually do the writing and will make the writing process easier and the end product better. Don’t get carried away though! Think about the audience you’re writing for and choose a topic that they would find at least somewhat interesting. Another useful way to help decide between several topics you’re passionate about is choosing one that you already have a lot of information about. This will cut down on your research time, making your writing flow, weaving facts and references into the narrative.

300+ Essay Topic Ideas

You’ll find over 300 topic ideas divided into various categories down below. Put your own spin on any of these ideas and take the first step in writing a fun, high scoring essay. Keep in mind - these are topic ideas, not titles!

Essay Topics for Kids

Some really simple questions to inspire young children to come up with a fun topic!

Who is your favorite superhero and why?

What do you like the most about your parents?

What is your favorite season?

What do you like the most about Christmas?

What have you learned from cartoons?

What does your brother or sister do for fun?

Do you like vegetables? Why or why not!

How was your first day of school?

What is your favorite thing to eat?

Essay Topics for Middle School

Some slightly more complicated questions to help middle schoolers find a great topic.

Who is your best friend and why?

What are you the best at?

What’s your favorite cuisine?

Who’s your role model?

What do you think about social media?

Explain what friendship means to you

Choose a science term you love and write about it

What do you want to be when you’re older?

What was it like losing your first tooth?

What do you like the most about school?

Essay Topics for College

Some complicated question to ignite the imaginations of sophisticated college students.

What were the driving factors behind your choice of major?

How did you deal with homesickness?

What new clubs and activities did you start enjoying in college?

Does a college degree seem worth it so far?

Is independence everything you thought it would be?

What would you change about your college experience?

What is a course that you found yourself enjoying despite hating it in high school?

How different is socializing in college compared to high school?

Would you have preferred to have gone to a larger or smaller college and why?

Do you think you’ve managed your time well?

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Essay Topics by Essay Type

This section will cover the 4 main types of essays you will be asked to write in your academic career.

Expository writing asks the writer to do some research and explain concepts and ideas. These include Informative, Cause & Effect, and Research essays.
Persuasive writing is all about trying to convince the reader to come to your side of an issue. These include Persuasive, Argumentative, and Rhetorical Analysis essays.
Descriptive writing allows for more creativity, painting an experience with words that explain ideas and convey emotions. These include Descriptive and Definition essays.
Narrative writing is about sharing experiences through storytelling. These include Narrative, Personal, Reflective, and Process essays. ‍

Informative Essay Topics

Pretty straightforward, do some research and present the facts. Keep your opinions out of it!

The history of bathing culture in ancient China

Why salt used to be worth its weight in gold

The impact of prohibition on modern attitudes towards alcohol

An in-depth critique of your favorite book or movie

Why a little bit of stress is a good thing

The story of how a chocolate bar gets made

The top 10 richest people in the world

The best videogames of each decade

How to get out of a bad relationship

The evolution of the internet

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Explore how one thing impacts the other, also known as reason and result essays.

The impact of Young Adult fiction on teenagers

How the Marvel Cinematic Universe brought the world closer together

Dealing with a cross-cultural relationship

Wearing school uniforms reduces bullying

The effects of having a toxic parent

Why there’s a rise in eating disorders amongst young people today

Ways to lead a healthier lifestyle and why it’s important

The impact of going to college on earning potential

Why everyone needs a vacation once every 6 months

The impact of group sports on an individuals psychology

Research Essay Topics

More in-depth analysis usually requiring scientific research. Sometimes you just collect and synthesize information, sometimes you may be asked to give an opinion.

The extent of child labor in the fast fashion industry

Has science fiction driven scientific discovery and if so, what can we expect from the future?

The impact of climate change on migratory wildlife

How do transfats differ from healthy fats and why they are bad?

Is there a connection between social media usage and reported happiness?

How have film industries around the world shaped and influenced each other?

Which country is going to be the next superpower?

An analysis of modern pop music lyrics

Themes and motifs in anime that are similar to Shakespeare’s works

What type of underwear is best for different weather conditions

Persuasive Essay Topics

Using emotions to convince someone that your perspective on an issue is correct.

What does the term “Globalist” actually means

The responsibility for sex and drug education lies with parents

Why veganism is the only morally justifiable diet

Should there be limits on freedom of speech?

Students should be allowed to listen to music when they take exams

Why some words should not be used regardless of context

Should alternative and homeopathic medicine come with warning labels?

There needs to be a minimum age for social media use

Online friends are just as valuable as offline friends

Instagram is bad for the body image of young adults

Argumentative Essay Topics

Using logic and facts to convince somebody that your perspective on an issue is correct.

Is cancel culture a good way for groups to police people?

Should celebrities have public opinions about politics?

Why is ok to eat plants but not animals?

Should everyone be forced to take vaccines?

What are the lasting impacts of internment camps in the USA?

Should animals have the same rights as humans?

Is it justifiable to spend billions getting to Mars when children still die of starvation on Earth?

Why video games should be considered sports

Should countries be allowed to censor movies?

Is health care a basic human right?

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

A specific type of essay that focuses less on what the content is and more on how the author goes about writing it.

The Picture of Dorian Gray: A peek into the mind of Oscar Wilde

The movie versions of famous books

A scientific speech given by a Nobel prize winner

Your favorite Superbowl commercial

A stand up special by a comedian

A speech given by your principal

A particularly excellent billboard you came across

A speech by an activist like Greta Thunberg

A monologue by your favorite talk show host

A rant by your favorite social media personality

Descriptive Essay Topics

Detail rich writing that conveys intangible things like ambiance and emotion.

How would an alien reporting back to the mothership explain humans?

The feeling of a beautiful sunset on the beach

What’s special about your favorite homecooked meal

Holding a baby for the first time

The most embarrassing moment of your life

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be

Why your favorite city in the world is the best

Your favorite childhood outfit

What is your mental happy place?

What it’s like to be in love

Definition Essay Topics

Defining an interesting term that has an imprecise meaning or a meaning that differs from culture to culture.

Why anybody can be privileged in one way or another

Is communism really as bad as people think?

The importance of slang (choose any slang word like yeet, lit, snack)

Teleportation and why it’s impossible

The difference between being smart and being clever

Making fun or being in awe of modern art

If you’re born after the year 2000 is the internet a basic right?

Why I love my dog differently than my romantic partner

Does mental health mean different things in different cultures?

The World Wide Web: What WWW really means

Find out more ideas of definition essay topics in or guides.

Narrative Essay Topics

An academic form of storytelling that is full of details and action. Usually drawn from the writer’s own experiences. Feel feel to use personal pronouns!

Why a certain phrase became your motto

A time when you were convinced to change your mind about something

A random act of kindness you witnessed

What time period you would go to if time travel were possible

A time you panicked because you thought you lost your phone

The first time you felt butterflies in your stomach

Your most disappointing birthday

A conversation that impacted the way you approach life

What it would be like to have a twin

A day in the life of a goat

We collected 150 ideas of nurrative essay topics in another article!

Personal Essay Topics

A style of writing close to journaling. It should feel friendly and comfortable and can be as personal as you want.

What are some of the challenges you have overcome in your life?

How important is spending time in nature to you?

What your YouTube channel would be about

Which of your favorite movies would you want a sequel for?

What you wish people would know about you before meeting for the first time

What is the most rebellious thing you’ve done?

Would you be ok in a nontraditional occupation?

How much does being a sports fan define you?

Why certain items of clothing have special meaning to you

Why you still believe or don’t believe in ghosts

Reflective Essay Topics

Another personal style that allows the writer to express how they felt at certain moments and how certain things impacted them.

When was the last time you laughed with someone so hard you couldn’t stop?

Are certain people and certain places forever linked in your memory?

The worst punishment you have endured

A time when you helped someone in need and why it was important to you

Your first time failing at something and what it taught you

The joys of playing with a pet

The feeling of walking in warm rain

What it was like moving back to a city you left

Reconnecting with old friends because of social media

What it felt like getting lost

Process Essay Topics

A step by step guide on how to make something happen.

How to teach an old person to use a smartphone

How to find better friends

How to become a better writer

How to build followers of social media

How to say no to people without hurting their feelings

How to make the sweetest handmade gifts

How to impress everyone in a room with just a few words

How to take a comprehensive two-minute shower

How to choose the tastiest fruits

How to get over an ex

Did you like our inspiring Essay Topics & Ideas?

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Essay Topic Idea by Category

In this section, you’ll find 10 topics per popular category. Search for the category that’s most related to your class or find something you like personally. Any of these topics can be used as extended essay topics, just write more than usual!

Psychology Essay Topics

Some ideas to inspire your essay about the mind.

How much control do you have over your own thoughts?

How does society define what “crazy” is?

Knowing someone who has a mental disorder

Your own experiences with mental health

Mental health is just as important as physical health

The difference between confidence and arrogance

Pick an interesting psychology concept and define it

The different attitudes towards therapy in different socio-economic groups

The effects of Disney movies on the concept of love

Diagnose your favorite superhero with their most likely disorder

Philosophy Essay Topics

Ideas for the deep thinkers.

The changing importance of philosophy in the 2020s

Is philosophy the same as religion? Why or why not?

Compare Plato’s Allegory of Cave to The Matrix Trilogy

Utilitarian philosophy in Star Trek

Do video games promote escapism and if, isn’t that the point of technology?

Should a majority force a minority to follow their wishes?

How do you find the line between free speech and harassment?

Is there such a thing as being too nice?

Would you date somebody who held very different beliefs than you?

Choose a concept by a famous philosopher and define it.

Technology Essay Topics

Fascinating ideas to explore for the tech-savvy.

What the next big leap in technology is going to be

Can humans already be considered cyborgs?

How is artificial intelligence going to affect jobs in the future?

Do big technology companies have too much power?

If robots achieved sentience, should they be given the same rights as humans?

Compare and contrast the changes in computing power in the last 20 years

Explain how the internet actually works

Analyze historical technological advancements like the steam engine or light bulb

Would you be willing to be a Mars colonist?

Make predictions about the technology of the future

Ethics Essay Topics

Explore right and wrong with these topic ideas.

What is the difference between morals and laws?

Is justice an objective concept or is it determined by the majority?

Is it ok for parents to have a favorite child or for children to have a favorite parent?

Would you save your own pet over a human life?

Should people be allowed to not wear masks if it is against their beliefs?

Is it morally wrong to be in a polygamous relationship?

Loyalty is considered a good thing, but people have done terrible things because of it.

What is the best way to punish criminals?

Should there be laws that are enforceable everywhere in the world?

Who has the most responsibility to take care of the environment?

Health Essay Topics

Write about being in tune with your body and how to lead a better life.

How to be healthy without dieting

Compare how your body feels now to 5 years ago

Choose a health buzz word like superfoods and explain what it means

Should governments provide free mental healthcare?

How to stay positive during the lockdown

What are the most unhealthy fast food burgers?

What are the impacts of good nutrition on energy levels?

Are vitamin supplements worth it?

Explain the difference between good bacteria and bad bacteria

Does being thinner automatically mean you are healthier?

History Essay Topics

Ideas to inspire the history buffs out there.

What was the impact of the 2007 financial crisis on your family?

Which time period was it the best to be a common person?

Trace your family history as far back as you can

What are the biggest lessons learned from history?

Choose your favorite hobby and trace its origins

Who was the richest person in all of human history?

What did people think of fossils before humans understood dinosaurs?

Compare and contrast the first great human civilizations

Why was India such an important destination in the middle ages?

What is the impact of the slave trade in modern Africa?

Education Essay Topics

Educate your readers about education.

Should students have more freedom in choosing what classes they take?

Who has the responsibility to educate children about religion?

What are the other forms of education and are they effective?

Trace the history of the modern educational system

Does language affect how well you score on exams?

Does separating people based on standardized testing make sense?

What is the best way to reward excellent teachers?

Why can some countries provide free university education?

What are the biggest challenges you have faced academically?

Should there be a Nobel Prize for education?

Music Essay Topics

Ideas that will inspire music lovers.

What is the first song that you can remember?

Do different kinds of music affect how well you can study?

Could listening to music be considered a form of meditation?

Do musicians appreciate music more than nonmusicians?

What is the best genre of music in your opinion?

Could you be good friends with someone who has completely opposite music tastes?

What instrument would you like to be amazing at

Compare and contrast classical music with modern pop hits

Have lyrics actually gotten better or worse over the decades?

What is the future of music going to be like?

Environment Essay Topics

Share your love of mother Earth with these topic ideas.

How can global warming lead to colder temperatures in some places?

What you personally do to help save the environment

Explore one of the worst pollution disasters in history

Should rich countries help poorer countries with carbon emission goals?

How have plate tectonics and volcanoes shaped our world

What would be the impact of rising sea levels

Why are invasive species so dangerous?

What was the Earth’s climate like in the past?

What are the biggest specific threats to the environment?

Research the history behind finding medicines in nature

Sociology Essay Topics

Write about the behavior of humans and groups.

What is groupthink and does social media make it worse?

Do groups of people make better decisions than individuals?

Explore a subculture that you’re unfamiliar with

What did you learn on your first trip abroad?

What can humans learn from animal social groups?

Why are people so different around the world?

What are the key factors of attraction?

What will future generations look back on in 2020 that they would find repulsive?

What is your favorite festival from another culture?

Why did different places in the world develop different cuisines?

Economics Essay Topics

Ideas to write about the money side of things.

What is the effect of cryptocurrency on traditional money systems?

What is your first memory of earning any money?

Should wealthier people be taxed more than poorer people?

What percentage of GDP should be spent on education?

Should businesses do more corporate social responsibility?

Choose an economics term and explain it

Trace the origins of money

How companies create artificial shortages to increase prices

How can a government control how much its money is worth

What is the role of the World Bank?

More Fun & Interesting Essay Topics

Some weird, crazy, topic ideas to set the inner creative free

What is the meaning of life?

How would you make friends with an alien

What would your supervillain plan to take over the world be?

Which fictional character would you like to be?

How many tears does the ocean hold?

A day in the life of a library book

The journey of a meme

How to destroy an influencer

A time you felt like you were in a movie

What music genre are you?

Which Disney movie do you relate to the most?

How would you survive on 5 dollars a day?

A time you were convinced you were living in the matrix

Gaming for 24 hours straight

Having crushes on multiple people

The sneakiest thing you’ve ever done

What kind of rich person would you be?

What would you do in a zombie apocalypse?

How to get rid of an earworm

Your favorite weird food combination

Wrapping It Up

The team of experts at Studyfy offers professional essay writing services , dissertation writing services , research paper writing services , as well as help with writing admission essays. They have vast experience and knowledge in different fields of study, and can provide you with top-quality academic help to ensure that you succeed in your studies. Contact them today and take the first step towards achieving your academic goals!

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Essay Writing Topics: Getting Started on Your College Essays

Essay writing topics.

Writing essays is one of the most challenging parts of the college admissions process–and the most important. To write the best college essays possible, you’ll need to explore a variety of essay writing topics. If you’re looking for a great essay topics list from which to start brainstorming , you’re in the right place.

Naturally, you might use different types of essay writing to cover different essay writing topics. As you might have guessed, essay writing topics for college essays are quite personal. They share something unique about who you are, adding character and depth to your overall application. In fact, the most memorable college essays often communicate something about how a student sees themselves or the world.

Given how broad college essay prompts are, college essays truly can be about anything. Just do a search of 100 college essay topics, and you’ll see the possibilities are endless. So, how can you decide the best essay writing topics for your college essays?

In this article, we’ll cover the basics of essay writing for college applications and how to get started . We’ll discuss what the best college essays have in common and how to narrow down potential essay writing topics. Specifically, we’ll look at:

How essays factor into the college admissions process
The basics of how to write a college essay
Why writing college essays is so challenging
Tackling college essay prompts
Common essay writing topics
35 Great College Essay Topics list
Essay writing topics to avoid
How to choose the best essay writing topics
Where to find college essay writing samples, and more!

By the end of this article, you’ll know how to pick the right topic for a stand out application essay . To start, let’s get a sense of what exactly is a college admissions essay and how it’s different from other types of essay writing.

Types of essay writing

You’ve likely encountered many different types of essay writing in your high school classes. Common types of essay writing include analytical essays, persuasive essays, and compare and contrast essays. These types of essay writing usually include a thesis statement that is backed up by supporting evidence. However, a college admissions essay is a little different.

College admissions essays are typically categorized as narrative essays. Unlike other types of essays, narrative essays center around a story and are written in the first person. In general, essay writing topics for narrative essays are based on personal experiences.

Since you’re writing an essay about you, from your perspective, you have more freedom to be creative with your writing. However, a strong narrative essay should also provide commentary on some central theme or have a message. Essentially, for a narrative essay to be good, it needs to have a point. You can think of this central message as the “thesis” of a narrative essay.

Qualities of a narrative essay

While a strong analytical essay may be direct and convey an argument, a strong narrative essay relies more heavily on storytelling. Common elements of storytelling include plot, character, theme, and conflict. All of these work together to engage the reader, taking them through a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Another important characteristic of narrative writing is showing, not telling. You’ve likely heard the phrase “show don’t tell” in your English classes. Essentially, this means using descriptive sensory details and moments of action to tell a story, rather than simply describing exactly what is happening. This allows your reader to experience your story in a more engaging way, and it allows you to further personalize your narrative.

If you haven’t written an essay like this before, it may seem intimidating. Especially when you think of who your audience is. So, let’s talk about why this type of writing is part of the college application process.

Why do colleges require essays?

To understand what makes strong essay writing topics, we need to understand the role essays play in the college admissions process.

In the US, most colleges and universities follow a holistic approach to admissions. That means they take your whole application, not just your academic performance and test scores, into consideration when evaluating you as an applicant. Moreover, they are looking for well-rounded individuals who align with their values and mission as an institution.

Essays provide insights not quantifiable in grades and test scores, such as your values, character, and challenges you’ve had to overcome. Colleges can get a sense of your growth, maturity, and ability to contribute to the diversity and depth of their student body.

Therefore, the best college essays showcase an applicant’s best qualities and demonstrate why they’d be a great addition to the school. They give admissions a real chance to get to know the real you. Furthermore, since interviews are often not a requirement of the admissions process, your essays are the only chance admissions gets to hear your unique voice.

Personal Statement vs Supplemental Essays

In general, students can expect to write many essays over the course of the college admissions process. The two most common types of essay writing you’ll do for your college applications are personal statements and supplemental essays.

Personal Statement Essay

A personal statement is a general college application essay. It’s typically a longer essay that is shared with every school you apply to. Your personal statement is an opportunity for you to share your voice, values, and authentic self with the admissions committee.

Different application platforms, like Questbridge , the Coalition Application , and the Common Application , all have their own version of the personal statement essay. This includes specific prompts, like the seven provided by the Common App. It also includes specific word counts. In the case of the Common App, the personal statement is defined as a 650-word essay.

For the Common App personal statement, the prompt you choose will influence your potential essay topics list. For instance, prompt #2 is about a challenge, setback, or failure. On the other hand, prompt #6 is about a topic, idea, or concept that captivates you. Even just from these short descriptions, it’s clear each of these prompts would produce a very different essay topics list.

However, different from the other prompts, prompt #7 invites you to share an essay on any topic you choose. A prompt like this is extremely open-ended. That is, there could be 100 college essay topics that might be a good fit for this prompt. So, while some prompts do provide different paths for you to explore, there are no limits to what kind of essay writing topics you could use for your personal statement.

Given its length, and importance in your application, the personal statement might feel like the most difficult essay to start brainstorming for. As you start building out an essay topics list, consider looking at personal statement essay writing samples for inspiration.

Supplemental Essays

In addition to your personal statement, you may also encounter supplemental essays. Supplemental essays can vary by length, with most being around 150-350 words. However, supplemental essays also include short answer questions, which can be anywhere from 5-100 words.

Many supplemental essays are about why you’d be a good fit for a specific school. Therefore, these “ Why School ” or “ Why Major ” essays don’t allow much room to explore out of the box essay writing topics. However, other supplemental essays are more about your interests and experiences. So, your essay topics lists for these essays might look more similar to that of your personal statement.

As with the personal statement essay, reading samples can help you get inspired as to what kind of topics you might consider for your essay topics list. We have essay writing samples by school , which include in-depth guides to their supplemental essay questions. We also have a collection of 30+ essay writing samples with tips on how to answer short answer questions . Using these resources will help you create a unique essay topics list for you!

How to write a college essay

Now, let’s discuss the writing process. While your essay topics list is important, it’s certainly not the only part of the process. And, although you’ve certainly heard it before, it’s worth saying again: the best college essays aren’t first drafts. It takes time and effort to write a compelling college admissions essay. Following a writing process can help you organize and focus your ideas, while breaking down the whole process into manageable parts.

Earlier, we discussed various types of essay writing and how they’re different. More specifically, we talked about how the style of a college admissions essay is a little different than your typical homework assignment. However, the process of writing a college admissions essay is actually very similar.

So, before we dive further into essay writing topics, let’s review the four basic steps of the writing process.

The Writing Process in 4 Steps

Brainstorming. This is where the best college essays start: with an idea. When brainstorming, don’t worry about trying to come up with 100 college essay topics. Just start by making an essay topics list of things that are important to you.

If you can’t decide between a selection of prompts, try making an essay topics list for each of them. Then see which ideas you feel most connected to and do some more brainstorming around those.

Writing a first draft. Once you’ve narrowed down your essay topics list to the right idea, you’re ready to start writing. The first draft can often be the hardest, especially if you’re worried about getting it right the first time.

Instead of trying to make it perfect, stay within the word count, or come up with an amazing hook, just start writing! Once you have a first draft, you’ll actually have something to work with, and it’s a lot easier to then cut out what’s not important and build out what is.

Rewriting. This is where your essay will really start taking shape. Now that you’ve gotten your essay writing topics down on paper, it’s time to start developing them further. In many cases, this means exploring the why . Why was this moment in time so important to you? Why should an admissions team care?

This is how you can take an essay from good to great. Play around with your structure and explore different ways to introduce your topic. You might even find yourself rewriting entire sections of your essay. If you have a limited word count, this is where you’ll have to decide what is most important, and how to communicate your point as clearly and succinctly as possible.

Editing and proofreading. This is the polishing stage of the writing process. At this point, you’ve already done the hard part of transforming your essay topics list into a well-written essay. But, to make it a final draft, you’ll need to do one more edit, ensuring you’ve caught any small spelling or grammatical errors.

While a double period or a misspelled word might seem like minor errors, remember your essay is a reflection of who you are and what you value. Professionalism and attention to detail showcase maturity and dedication. And, a clearly polished essay shows you’re ready to take on college-level writing courses.

Remember, the most memorable college essays are more than just polished. They are also honest and authentic. And, they center around a compelling topic. So, it’s no surprise that strong essay writing topics are key to writing focused and meaningful essays.

Next, we’ll review the basics of essay writing and the role these elements play in a strong college essay.

The basics of essay writing

While there are many different types of essay writing, the best college essays all have some things in common. Let’s review the fundamentals of crafting a strong essay.

When learning how to write an essay in school, you’ve likely discussed the importance of structure and clarity. These two components often go hand in hand. Having a structure to your essay allows a reader to follow your thought process, making your ideas more clear. Additionally, your sentences themselves should be constructed in a way that clearly communicates your ideas.

In addition to these elements, you might have also discussed the importance of voice. In essay writing, your voice is essentially the unique style in which you express yourself. It is created by your word choice, punctuation, point of view, and tone. Voice is at the heart of narrative writing, and it is often what gives college essays their authenticity.

Reading essay writing samples can help you understand how these elements work together in a great college essay . For more essay writing tips, check out our guide to writing better essays .

College Essay Format

There is no set format for how to write a college essay, so long as you meet the requirements of the prompt. Therefore, you can feel free to explore different formats and find the best one to tell your story. However, as previously mentioned, a narrative should have some kind of plot. That is, it needs to have a sort of forward momentum.

Let’s go back to one of the basics of essay writing: structure. Often, narrative essays are structured in chronological order. There is a beginning, middle, and end, and the story moves forward from the past to the present. In some cases, it may end looking towards the future.

However, that doesn’t mean the best college essays are only written chronologically. You can certainly jump around in time and make the order of your story your own. However, your reader should still have a sense of a clear beginning, middle, and end. Most importantly, they should feel like something has changed and that they’ve learned something by the end.

Additionally, keep in mind that the most memorable college essays have a strong hook and compelling conclusion. The very first sentence of your essay needs to draw your reader in and set them up for the rest of your essay. On the other hand, your final sentence should leave a lasting impression, driving home the main message of your essay.

In the next section, we’ll address the specific challenges of writing college essays.

The challenges of college essays

Certain types of essay writing come with their own challenges, and college admissions essays are no different. So, let’s talk about it!

Many students come to our team of college counselors looking for essay help. Even though most students are familiar with the basics of essay writing, they know college admissions essays are a different type of challenge.

Memorable college essays are engaging, even inspiring, without being braggy or overly personal. Indeed, striking the right tone is one of the most challenging parts of writing college essays. While you do need to highlight your strengths and best qualities, it’s important you’re mindful of how you’re doing it. Remember, your reader has no personal connection to you, so your essay needs to be able to stand alone.

Additionally, students may find it challenging to showcase their best qualities in the form of a story. It can be easy to simply list your accomplishments and achievements, but doing so lacks depth and nuance. The more specific the better, but make sure you’re keeping your essay focused rather than haphazardly throwing in details from every topic on your essay topics list.

Another big challenge is time management. Many students have to write countless essays over the course of an application season, which can be extremely time consuming. On top of that, students still have to manage their coursework, extracurriculars, and additional responsibilities. Starting early and giving yourself plenty of time to go through a complete writing process is crucial to writing the best college essays you possibly can.

How do you start a college essay?

Before you can write a great college essay, you’ll need to first settle on a topic. As we mentioned earlier, brainstorming is the first step in the writing process. You can use our guides or webinars for some inspiration to start brainstorming. While you may want to jump straight into writing, don’t rush the process. In fact, taking the time to brainstorm and plan your essay can save you hours of frustration when you finally sit down to write.

But, you may be wondering, where do essay topics lists come from? In most cases, they come from a specific prompt . Indeed, your prompt will provide you with a starting point and a word count, so you’ll know what kind of topics might work best. So, let’s talk a little more about prompts.

Finding college essay prompts

Your college essay prompts will depend on the specific colleges you’re applying to. You can find your personal statement prompts on the application platform you’re applying through. The Common App should provide the most up-to-date supplemental prompts for each school on your list. For schools that have their own school-specific application , you can find information on their writing supplements online.

We recommend always checking the school’s official admissions website for the most current prompts. Prompts can change year to year, and you don’t want to be brainstorming an essay topics list for an out-of-date prompt.

Once you have your prompts, it’s important you understand them fully. This will ensure your essay is focused, and that you complete the basic requirement of addressing and answering the prompt. Failure to do so might indicate a lack of attention on your part, and ultimately does a disservice to your application.

Interpreting unusual or creative college essay prompts

While some prompts are more straightforward, such as the “Why School” or “Why Major” prompts we mentioned earlier, some are more open-ended. The University of Chicago is a great example of a school that takes pride in their unpredictable essay questions.

For example, here are two prompts from the 2024-2025 UChicago Supplement :

Essay Option 1: We’re all familiar with green-eyed envy or feeling blue, but what about being “caught purple-handed”? Or “tickled orange”? Give an old color-infused expression a new hue and tell us what it represents.
Essay Option 4: “Daddy-o”, “Far Out”, “Gnarly”: the list of slang terms goes on and on. Sadly, most of these aren’t so “fly” anymore – “as if!” Name an outdated slang from any decade or language that you’d bring back and explain why you totally “dig it.”

So, how should you approach these types of prompts? To start, you’ll need to find a topic for your essay that directly answers the question of the prompt. Then, as you continue to develop your ideas, you’ll need to find a way to somehow relate your topic back to you. Remember, the best college essays reveal something about who you are. In the case of unconventional or abstract prompts, they also showcase your creativity.

Even if your prompt is unusual or requires you to explore offbeat essay writing topics, don’t forget the basics of essay writing. Your writing needs to be clear and organized and your ideas fully developed, no matter the topic.

Now that we’ve discussed the basics of essay writing and how to approach different college essay prompts, let’s start talking about specific essay writing topics.

College Essay Topics

With so many essay topics lists out there, it’s clear there’s a lot to consider when choosing the right essay writing topics. If you’ve already started making your own essay topics lists, great! We’ve got more tips coming up about what kind of essay writing topics make the best essays. On the other hand, if you have no idea how to start thinking of essay writing topics, we’ve got plenty of inspiration coming your way.

When it comes to generating strong essay writing topics, there are many ways you can go. In general, you want to explore topics that demonstrate your personal strengths. No matter what essay writing topics you choose to write about, they should always connect back to you. More importantly, they should communicate the qualities and experiences you’d bring to a college campus.

Though essay writing topics determine what your essay is about, they don’t determine what your essay s ays. For instance, after brainstorming potential essay writing topics, you and a friend might both decide you want to write about your family’s respective traditions. However, that doesn’t mean these essays are going to be the same.

You might want to celebrate your family’s traditions and discuss how they’ve influenced your values. On the other hand, your friend might talk about growing out of their family’s traditions and carving a path of their own. Although these essay writing topics are generally the same, they would actually result in two essays that are vastly different.

Now, let’s look at some more specific essay writing topics.

What are some good college essay topics?

As we’ve said, the best essay writing topics come from your personal experiences. However, it’s important they have specific meaning to you. Additionally, they need to be relevant to your college application. They need to provide context for you to share something about who you are, rather than just summarizing something that happened to you.

For instance, we wouldn’t include “that time you met a celebrity on vacation” amongst good essay writing topics. It’s likely this interaction did not fundamentally change your character or your interests, and is just a fun anecdote to tell your friends.

However, maybe you got to serendipitously meet your favorite author, and they inspired you to write a short story you had been thinking about. In this case, the anecdote is an important moment on your path to becoming a writer. But that doesn’t mean this interaction should be your entire essay. The focus of your essay would more likely be on your passion for writing and how it’s impacted your life (one of the essay writing topics you’ll find below).

With all that in mind, here is a short essay topics list that includes some great essay writing topics.

Great Essay Writing Topics

Turning point in your life. In your essay, you might reflect on a pivotal moment that significantly changed your perspective or direction in life.
Overcoming adversity. Here, you might focus on a specific challenge you faced, how you addressed it, and what you learned from the experience.
Passion and purpose. An essay about your passion in life may have to do with something you love or a future career. You might explore the role it’s played in shaping your values and goals.
Personal growth. Most college essays are in some way about personal growth and require you to reflect on how you’ve evolved and matured through your life experiences.
Unique life experience. This is an opportunity to share an unusual or extraordinary experience, or something atypical about your background, that has had a profound impact on who you are today.

Some of the most memorable college essays are about these essay writing topics. In fact, you’ll likely see these essay writing topics featured on our essay topics list.

The reason why these are good essay topics is because they all contain an element of conflict or change, which are crucial for crafting an interesting narrative. Furthermore, they show how you became who you are. And, they help admissions imagine the person you might one day become.

What are the most common college essay topics?

Before we give you our essay topics list, let’s look at some of the most common essay writing topics. If you’re looking for overdone topics or themes to avoid, keep reading. We’ll give you our essay topics list of topics to avoid later on in our guide. For now, we want to focus on common essay writing topics, and how you can use them to your advantage.

Here are three of the most common essay topics:

Extracurriculars (clubs, volunteering, leadership roles, work experience)
Family (shared traditions, loss of a family member, change in your family situation)
Passions/interests (both related to and outside of academic pursuits)

As you look at this essay topics list, you may struggle to think of anything to write about that doesn’t fall into these categories. But, guess what? The best college essays will fall into one or multiple of these categories.

How to write about common essay writing topics

Since everyone is using these general essay writing topics, the danger is writing an essay that sounds generic. You may be worried that your story about trying out for the varsity soccer team sounds similar to someone else’s, and therefore wouldn’t be a good topic. Indeed, a generic essay won’t help your overall application. This is why the details of your essay are so important.

However, rather than discounting a topic you saw on an essay topics list for fear of being too common, think about why you’re drawn to the topic. It probably matters deeply to you, and has in some way helped you become the person you are today. The best essay writing topics are ultimately the ones you are most passionate about and require some level of self-reflection.

If you decide to use common essay writing topics in your essays, the basics of essay writing becomes even more important. You need the quality of yours to stand out amongst the crowd, and you don’t want incorrect spelling or grammar or too much repetition to be the reason your essay writing topics don’t shine .

35 Essay Topics List

Of course, no guide to essay writing topics would be complete without a comprehensive essay topics list! Instead of giving you a random list of 100 college essay topics, here are 35 great essay writing topics to help you start brainstorming for a memorable personal essay.

35 Essay Topics

1. A significant challenge you’ve overcome. First on our list of essay writing topics is overcoming challenges. Writing about a significant challenge you’ve moved past, and hopefully learned from, shows that you can reflect objectively on your life. And, it shows you can speak intelligently and honestly about your flaws and strengths.

2. An experience that changed your perspective on life. Next on our list of essay writing topics is describing a moment that changed the way you see the world. Highlighting an experience like this shows that you are open-minded and introspective—both positive traits in a college student.

3. A passion project that showcases your creativity. When brainstorming essay writing topics, you can never go wrong writing about something you truly care about. Colleges like students who care deeply about things, especially when they have shown that they can create something based on that passion.

4. A time you stood up for something you believed in. This is one of our essay writing topics that often inspires some of the best college essays. But be careful, you don’t want to come off as performative. To avoid this, make sure you are humble about your successes and honest about your actions.

5. How a piece of art, music, or literature has inspired you. Again, some of the best essay writing topics touch upon things that you’re passionate about. Plus, engaging deeply in and being able to analyze art and culture are great qualities in a student.

6. An invention or innovation that excites you. Essay writing topics about new discoveries can be a smart way to tie in your future major or career. Imagine writing about AI before it was popularized from the point of view of a computer scientist, or even better, someone more unexpected like an anthropologist.

7. A moment when you discovered a new passion. Essay writing topics like this one give you a chance to really put the reader inside your mind. And, with this prompt, you can explore your interests, your values, and even your future goals.

8. The impact of a cultural or family heritage on your identity. Culture and heritage, broadly, are popular essay writing topics, so make sure that you can be specific. Add details and use anecdotes to showcase parts of who you are or what you value.

9. A time you took a risk and what it taught you. Generally, essay writing topics where you learned something or changed perspectives are always a safe bet. But remember, the point of the exercise is introspection, not recounting events as they happened.

10. A challenge you faced in a leadership role. Essay writing topics like this offer the same benefits as #1 in our essay topics list. However, in this case, you also get to highlight who you are as a leader.

11. A cause you are passionate about and why. Again, essay writing topics about social justice can be great, but emphasize curiosity and humility rather than righteousness. Plus—the essay needs to ultimately be about you, not the cause .

12. An ethical dilemma you’ve faced and how you handled it. This could be a more exciting version of essay writing topics about a cause. What if, while you were advocating for something, you encountered an ethical dilemma in the process? How did it change your perspective?

13. An achievement that means more to you than accolades. This topic on our essay topics list is another great opportunity to highlight something that genuinely excites you. And, you can go deeper by exploring how this achievement strengthened your values or changed your perspective.

14. How you balance multiple responsibilities or interests. This one of our essay writing topics is interesting because it tells a lot about you. It demonstrates your values, your priorities, and your ability to handle a busy college schedule. But if your answer is just “Google calendar,” maybe look elsewhere on the essay topics list.

15. A unique hobby or interest that defines you. This can be a great option amongst essay writing topics, but make sure that you’re incorporating self-reflection and engrossing storytelling. Everyone has hobbies that they like, and you need to go a little deeper than that to make your essay truly unique.

16. The impact of a loss or failure on your growth. Odds are, just about any essay topics list will include topics of loss and failure. These popular topics are simple facts of life, but discussing how you handle them is a great opportunity to showcase your strength of character.

17. An aspect of your personality that surprises people. This is also a great addition to any collection of essay writing topics, because it asks you to find qualities that make you stand out. If it surprises people, chances are it will surprise college admissions as well.

18. A personal tradition that brings you comfort or joy. This one of the essay writing topics depends a lot on the unspoken why . You’ll need to go beyond simply describing the tradition itself and reflect on why it brings you comfort and joy and what it means to you.

19. How you’ve contributed to your community. One of the essay writing topics classically found on supplemental essay topics lists, this question is pretty straightforward. Again, just make sure to bring you and what you learned from the process to the forefront of your essay.

20. A moment when you had to balance competing priorities and what you learned from it. Very similar to #14 on the essay topics list, this prompt emphasizes what you learned. Everyone has to make hard choices in their life, and this topic demonstrates your maturity and self-determination.

21. An unexpected mentor in your life. “Unexpected” is a key word here–don’t hesitate to think big and weird. A mentor could be a TV character , a teacher you never took a class from, the aunt your mom hates but you begrudgingly admire, really anyone! Just make sure the focus of your essay is still on you, not them.

22. A problem you’ve solved or want to solve. For this topic, we recommend thinking small. Instead of trying to solve world peace, think of something more specific. What’s something that affects you or your loved ones that you genuinely think you could fix if given the resources?

23. An experience where you had to step out of your comfort zone. Like all of our essay writing topics, this topic also pushes you to self-reflect. But make sure you’re being specific and thinking about what you discovered in the process. Bonus points if it’s an unusual experience (eg, not singing a solo, public speaking, or playing a new sport).

24. A challenge you’ve faced in pursuing your academic goals. Next on our essay topics list is a topic directly related to your academics. Consider writing this essay if you think you have faced hardships or challenges that other students might not have in their education. On the flip side, if your challenge is just being busy from too many extracurriculars, that’s fantastic, but focus on essay writing topics that center the skills built rather than the adversity.

25. How you’ve handled a difficult conversation or conflict. The next prompt on our essay topics list encourages students to think about hard conversations. In doing so, you have the opportunity to emphasize traits like open mindedness and the ability to communicate and compromise. (Again: make sure that you learned something, and mention what it was!)

26. Your approach to learning and intellectual curiosity. If you love learning and think you have a unique approach to it, go for #26 one on our essay topics list! Here you can talk about what kind of student you are, both in and out of the classroom. And, you’ll likely have the added benefit of sharing a bit about your passions and what inspires you.

27. Your role in a group or team and what you learned from it. If you pick this topic from our essay topics list, think about words like “compromise,” “teamwork,” “communication.” Additionally, be sure to include anecdotes and specific examples that demonstrate whichever characteristics or skills you want to highlight.

28. An experience that sparked your interest in a particular field or career. This topic is more often than not at the heart of any great “ Why Major ” essay. Focus on the journey, looking back on how you got to where you are today–and even where you hope to go in the future.

29. A moment of serendipity that led to a significant personal discovery. Sometimes, the most rewarding experiences in life come unexpectedly, and adding a touch of serendipity can bring an extra spark to your essay! Like our other essay writing topics, just be sure you learned something significant from the experience.

30. An object or artifact that has personal significance. Next on our essay topics list, we’re focusing on an object rather than an experience. Be as detailed as you can describing the object, and always remember to explore the why , considering what this object symbolizes for you.

31. How a particular failure influenced your long-term goals or dreams. Another instance of failure showing up on our essay topics list, this is an opportunity to emphasize your future. You’ll want to connect failure to your ambition, connecting the two in a meaningful way.

32. An instance where you were let down, but ultimately learned something. As you may have noticed exploring our essay topics list, many great topics turn negative experiences into positive ones. More specifically, how you made the most of a bad experience by learning something from it.

33. A moment when you had to advocate for yourself or others. This entry on our essay topics list speaks to a time when you had to advocate for yourself. But remember, this isn’t always an easy thing to do. Don’t be afraid to explore why this was challenging, and why it was ultimately important for you to act.

34. An experience where you had to adapt to a new environment or situation quickly. Like many of the other topics on our essay topics list, this one directly relates to how prepared you are to attend college. After all, you’re certain to find yourself in new environments where you’ll have to adapt and learn on the go. As always, be sure to describe what you learned and how you have grown.

35. How you’ve navigated and embraced change in a particular aspect of your life. Last but not least, the final prompt on our essay topics list foregrounds change. As you consider this topic, be sure to go internal and reflect on how you may have changed in order to accommodate new circumstances in your life.

That was a lot of essay writing topics to take in at once. Keep this essay topics list handy as you start brainstorming for your college essays–you never know what ideas it might uncover!

Choosing the best college essay topics for you

As you saw on our essay topics list, there are countless topics that could one day become amazing college essays. So, how do you choose which are the best essay writing topics for you? Choosing essay writing topics can feel difficult because there’s a lot of pressure to choose the best topic so you can write the best college essays. But remember, the best college essays come from stories that feel personal, reflective, and speak to your character. These kinds of stories can absolutely come from a variety of essay writing topics.

If you’re stumped, try a free-writing exercise. It doesn’t have to take long. To start, give yourself 15 minutes to write down anything that comes to mind for each of the Common App essay topics. You can also pick from a larger list, but you don’t need to try 100 college essay topics to know which ones work. Pick the ones that spark your interest and do some further brainstorming to see which ones you actually have something to say about.

Keep in mind, essay writing topics fill an important hole in your college application. They should help add a puzzle piece to admissions officers’ ideas of who you are. If you’re still unsure which essay writing topics will work best for you, think about what the college won’t learn about you from the rest of your application. Specifically, consider what you want them to know about your character. Then, write about that.

What makes a good college essay topic?

Good essay writing topics have a few key qualities. First and foremost, they are about you . This means that topics that ask you to talk about something other than yourself—a cause, a mentor, a passion—need to be refocused. Why do you care about the cause, and what would you want to do about it? How did your mentor help you at a specific moment in your life, and how have you changed positively because of them? What has pursuing your passion done for your personal growth? The college admissions process can feel a lot simpler if you remember that it’s all about expressing who you are.

The best essay writing topics also ideally touch upon something original about you and your story. It can be hard to think of what’s unique, but just ask yourself: could these essays have come from anyone? Or could they only be written by you? If you answered “yes” to the second question (or at least, “probably”), then you’ve likely already written memorable college essays.

You can also find essay writing topics that speak to a key part of your application. This could be your intended major, or even your favorite extracurricular. Just don’t forget the basics of essay writing, like good grammar and spelling, and to offer new information and details that enhance rather than repeat. If you do these things, then those essay writing topics can also be great choices.

What should you not write your college essay on?

If you’re smart about it, there are no essay writing topics you should truly never write about. However, there are some that you might want to steer clear of.

Essay writing topics where you just summarize your accomplishments or mention a cool thing that you did without reflection, like traveling to a new place, aren’t going to make for memorable college essays. As mentioned earlier, essay writing topics that focus more on someone or something else rather than yourself do not make for the best college essays.

Try your best to avoid clichés , overly general topics, and anything that doesn’t sound like you. Remember, you want your essays to be personal, impactful, and appropriate. That means not writing about drugs, romantic experiences, or anything that you wouldn’t feel comfortable with your teacher or boss reading.

10 College essay writing topics to avoid

Now that we’ve covered some of the best essay writing topics, here are some college essay topics that you might want to avoid.

Essay Writing Topics to Avoid

A recounting of a single, isolated achievement without context or personal reflection..

If the college finishes reading your essay and doesn’t learn anything about you except that you’re a soccer player who scored a big goal one time, that is not a good essay. Add some reflection: What did you overcome? What did you learn? How has this changed your perspective or goals (pun intended) going forward?

A description of a personal relationship or breakup.

Essay writing topics about romantic relationships are a bit inappropriate for this setting. However, if the relationship is a very small sidebar to a really fun and compelling story, you might be able to sprinkle it in. (For example, if your heartbreak led you to go on a 1940s movie binge and now you’re convinced that though love is fleeting, cinema is forever, and therefore you are going to major in film.)

A vacation or travel experience without personal growth.

Unless travel has changed you in a way you can articulate, save the beach pics for Instagram. Of course, if a trip inspired you to change your major, showed you what kind of career you want to have, or illuminated what kind of person you want to be, then it’s worth exploring.

A story about a famous person or celebrity.

Unless this person is an “unusual mentor” in a way you can communicate compellingly, this topic is unlikely to impress admissions.

An essay focused solely on someone else’s achievements.

Essay writing topics about someone else’s achievements do not tell the college anything about you. There are lots of types of essay writing, but this one does not belong in a college admissions essay.

A discussion about a personal skill or talent without connecting it to how it has shaped your goals or identity.

Talking about your talents in a college essay without any self-reflection or analysis feels braggy. For instance, if you want to talk about your skiing or bowling skills, you better have a good reason for why an admissions team needs to know about it.

A story with excessive graphic details or trauma.

Some people will say you have to trot out trauma to get into college. That is not true. You are welcome and encouraged to write about significant experiences, including challenging ones. However, do not at all feel like you must recount the hardest moments of your life just so a college will let you in. Take care of yourself, and remember that there is a real person reading your essay on the other end.

A narrative solely about how you were misunderstood or misjudged.

Talking down your nose or focusing on other peoples’ perceptions of you isn’t the way to win an admissions team over. In your essays, you want to focus on what’s true and authentic about who you are, not what other people think they know about you.

A superficial discussion of a major historical event or current issue without personal connection.

Again, essay writing topics need to be about you. No matter what you choose to write about, relate it to you and make sure it says something about who you are.

A generic essay about wanting to “make a difference in the world” without specific examples or personal motivation.

Essay writing topics about changing the world are admirable, but you need to make sure these are grounded essays about how you personally relate to these issues, and how you plan on enacting change.

Remember, there are always exceptions to the rule, so long as your essays are focused on you .

How to write a college essay about yourself

As we said at the beginning of this guide, there are many types of essay writing. Some types of essay writing are persuasive, some types of essay writing are argumentative, some types of essay writing are analytical, and some types of essay writing are narrative. The best college essays are always narrative, and personal, which means you can put your own spin on things.

When you’re doing types of essay writing you haven’t done as much of, like narrative essay writing, it can seem daunting. That’s totally fair: though you get a lot of training in school to do types of essay writing like argumentative essays, narrative essay writing isn’t as common.

To write the best college essays, you’ll need to do some serious self-reflection. The point of your essays is to go deeper than a surface level experience, getting into the “how” and the “why.” This looks like focusing on how you achieved something rather than the achievement itself. It might also mean being open about flaws and how you’ve worked to overcome them. Going back to personal growth, it’s about what you have learned from all of the cool things you’ve done.

As you explore potential essay topics, there are two things you can do to help set yourself up for success: brainstorming and writing a strong thesis. So, let’s talk about what these look like for narrative writing.

Brainstorming for college essays

Learning how to write a college essay begins with learning how to brainstorm. The best college essays are creative and embody your personal voice. So, you’ll want to choose college essay topics that allow you to do that.

One way to brainstorm is to “free write” to different essay topics. Just set a timer, and write whatever comes out—don’t worry about editing, or about cohesive structure. If you get to the end of the time and you’re inspired and want to keep writing, that could be the start of a great college essay.

Brainstorming is part of the basics of essay writing, and is therefore present in all types of essay writing. However, since this is a personal essay, your brainstorming has to be introspective. Ask yourself: What experiences in your life have been impactful? What do you value? What are you interested in? How has your background influenced you? Remember, no matter the topic, you should always try and focus on what is truly meaningful to you.

You can also ask yourself questions about specific moments in your life. Think back to times when you met a good friend, failed a test even though you studied hard, or changed your mind about something. Does anything stand out?

Once you’ve brainstormed a topic you’re interested in, you’ll want to turn again to the basics of essay writing. That is, you’ll need to further refine your topic by coming up with a strong thesis.

Crafting a strong thesis statement

In the basics of essay writing, there’s usually a thesis statement involved. However, a thesis for a college admissions essay isn’t the same compared to the types of essay writing you do at school.

A narrative essay needs a driving theme, or a “why.” Unlike in the basics of essay writing for argumentative essays, this thesis doesn’t need to be stated outright. Still, you should be able to tell someone in one sentence what your essay is about, and your reader should be able to understand that as well.

Essentially, your thesis is: what is your essay saying, and why is it important? You can think of the thesis as having a “because” in it, and even a “so what?” at the end. Like “I came in first place in the swim meet because swimming provided a healthy coping mechanism for stress. So what? So now I’m pursuing a major in Clinical Psychology to do research on the brain-body connection!”

Balancing multiple essay topics

When you’re applying to multiple schools, as most students do, you’ll likely be balancing different college essay topics across multiple college admissions essays. That can feel like a ton of work, but there are always ways to repurpose different essays for different applications.

When you’re thinking about the basics of essay writing, think about a prevailing personal brand or story about yourself that you want your college admissions essays to reinforce. What makes you, you, and what makes you a great fit for this college? You will have to answer that question for every single school you apply to—so if you get the first half (or even the first three quarters) of that ironed out, it will be easier to translate that story into different formats.

The best college essays still need to be specific to the school you’re applying to, but it’s the same you applying to each school. If you’re a funny STEM major, you don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not just because a school is more competitive or prestigious. And you can certainly reuse your best anecdotes at different schools–just make sure your supplemental essays work well with one another, and that you don’t leave out anything important.

Memorable college essays

Of course, the best college essays are memorable. Since the point of a college essay is to leave a good impression on your reader, the best college essays and the most memorable college essays are one and the same.

You can make a good impression on college admissions officers through your essays by remembering the basics of essay writing. Tell a well-structured story, use great grammar, and write in a way that conveys your voice. And, by the end, be sure they know more about you than they did when they started reading.

How do I make my college essay stand out?

Here are five tips for how to write a college essay that stands out :

5 Tips for Stand-Out Essays

Strong writing. Having strong writing means not only having good sentence construction, but good story construction. Even though a personal essay is only 500-650 words, you still want it to have a clear progression: in other words, a beginning, middle, and end. You want to start somewhere, and end somewhere else. And don’t forget a good hook to draw the reader in!
Have good grammar, but don’t sound like a thesaurus. You don’t need SAT words in your college admissions essay to ace the college admissions process. Just speak clearly, and don’t submit something full of simple spelling mistakes a quick spell check would have caught.
A unique or interesting experience—or unique way of thinking about something. It’s not the experience that has to be unique; the way that you process something can be unique as well. If something typical happened to you but you chose a different response, and learned something in the process, that uniqueness will stand out.
Writing in your own voice. While still being appropriate, you should feel free to write in a way that feels authentic to you. That means you can be funny or sarcastic, or even recount dialogue that uses slang, when appropriate. And remember, if you get help editing, your final essay should still sound like a polished and thoughtful version of you .
Tell them more about you. If you wrote your whole Common App about your extracurriculars, don’t pick a supplemental essay topic that also asks about extracurriculars. That is, choose your essay writing topics wisely! You want each piece of your application to feel like a piece of the puzzle of you.

Asking for help on your college essays

Your essays are important, so don’t be afraid to ask for help reviewing them. But be cautious of ending up with a product that doesn’t feel or sound like you. Your mom’s college essay isn’t the same as yours, and it shouldn’t be!

It’s good to ask for help with your essays when you’re brainstorming and deciding between what feels like 100 college essay topics. You can also ask a teacher, parent, or college counselor for help after you have written a draft. After all, when it comes to the basics of essay writing, revising is one of the most crucial steps towards making your essays the best they can be.

Where to turn for essay writing samples?

A great way to learn what makes for memorable college essays is to read essay writing samples. To find more essay writing samples, take some time to explore CollegeAdvisor’s essay resources. We have plenty of successful Common App essays and supplemental essays for you to explore.

Essay writing samples are a great way to see examples of what worked so you can conceptualize how to apply the advice in guides like this to your actual writing process. When you finish reading any essay writing samples, ask yourself if you can pinpoint why it’s good, or try and explain it to a friend. If you can do that, that means you really understand what makes a good essay.

Essay Writing Topics – Final Thoughts

Essay writing can be one of the most stressful parts of the college admissions process, but it doesn’t have to be. Colleges use essays to gain insight into who you are in your own words, rather than just relying on grades or SAT scores. You’ll likely have to write many types of essays for your college applications, some shorter, some longer, and some more straightforward than others. Personal essays are longer and can be more focused on who you are outside of school, whereas many supplemental essays are more school or major-focused.

Tell your story!

No matter the essay, the basics of essay writing requires good storytelling, good grammar, and a good idea. Coming up with an essay topic can feel impossible, so we’ve provided a huge list of potential personal essay topics to brainstorm from. These are also topics you might encounter as supplemental essay prompts. Whether the prompts are to the point or creative, what matters most is what you write.

Above all, don’t be afraid to be yourself in your writing, because that’s what admissions officers are looking for. In fact, it’s the whole point of the college admissions process!

If you’re looking for personalized guidance and revisions throughout the college admissions process, CollegeAdvisor is here to help. Our advisors offer in-depth feedback and brainstorming support to help you craft outstanding essays, with a dedicated team focused on perfecting your work.

This article was written by Stefanie Tedards and Rachel Kahn. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Writing Tips

50 Argumentative Essay Topics for Students

4-minute read

11th June 2022

The goal of an argumentative essay is to persuade the reader to understand and support your position on an issue by presenting your reasoning along with supporting evidence. It’s important to find the right balance between giving your opinions and presenting established research.

These essays discuss issues around a range of topics, including science, technology, politics, and healthcare. Whether you’re a teacher looking for essay topics for your students or a student tasked with developing an idea of your own, we’ve compiled a list of 50 argumentative essay topics to help you get started!

● Does texting hinder interpersonal communication skills?

● Should there be laws against using devices while driving?

● Do violent video games teach or encourage people to behave violently?

● Should social media sites be allowed to collect users’ data?

● Should parents limit how long their children spend in front of screens?

● Is AI helping or hurting society?

● Should cyber-bullying carry legal consequences?

● Should Supreme Court justices be elected?

● Is war always a political decision?

● Should people join a political party?

● Is capitalism ethical?

● Is the electoral college an effective system?

● Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

● Should the death penalty be legal?

● Are governments around the world doing enough to combat global warming?

● Is healthcare a fundamental human right?

● Should vaccinations be mandated for children?

● Are there any circumstances under which physician-assisted suicides should be legal?

● Should parents be able to choose specific genetic modifications of their future children?

● Should abortion be legal?

● Is it ethical to perform medical experiments on animals?

● Should patients who lead unhealthy lifestyles be denied organ transplants?

● Should doctors be able to provide medical care to children against their parents’ wishes?

Mental Healthcare

● What causes the stigma around mental health?

● Discuss the link between insufficient access to mental health services and the high suicide rates among veterans.

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● Should cannabis be used as a treatment for patients with mental disorders?

● Is there a link between social media use and mental disorders?

● Discuss the effect of physical activity on mental health.

● Should sports be segregated by gender?

● Should male and female athletes be given the same pay and opportunities?

● Are professional athletes overpaid?

● Should college athletes be paid?

● Should sports betting be legal?

● Should online access to art such as music be free?

● Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?

● Are there any circumstances under which books should be banned?

● Should schools be required to offer art courses?

● Is art necessary to society?

● Should schools require uniforms?

● Should reciting the Pledge of Allegiance be required in schools?

● Do standardized tests effectively measure intelligence?

● Should high school students take a gap year before pursuing higher education?

● Should higher education be free?

● Is there too much pressure on high school students to attend college?

● Are children better off in two-parent households?

● Should LGBTQ+ partners be allowed to adopt?

● Should single people be able to adopt children as easily as couples?

● Is it okay for parents to physically discipline their children?

● Does helicopter parenting help or hurt children?

● Should parents monitor their children’s Internet use?

Proofreading & Editing

An argument could also be made for the importance of proofreading your essay ! The reader can focus more on your message when your writing is clear, concise, and error-free, and they won’t question whether you’re knowledgeable on the issues you’re presenting. Once you have a draft ready, you can submit a free trial document to start working with our expert editors!

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Essay Topics: 450+ Awesome Picks

Picking the perfect essay topic can feel like a real head-scratcher, can't it? But trust me, it's worth the effort. A great topic doesn't just make the writing process more enjoyable - it's like a magnet for your readers, pulling them in from the very first sentence.

I remember when I was a student, staring at a blank page, feeling completely stumped. Whether you're in those shoes right now, tackling a school assignment, or you're a writer looking for that spark of inspiration, having a treasure trove of topic ideas can be a real lifesaver.

That's why I've put together this article with over 450 essay topics. It's like a buffet for your brain! We've got everything from persuasive and argumentative topics that'll get your debating juices flowing, to narrative and descriptive ideas that'll let your creativity soar.

I've organized these topics into neat categories, so you can easily browse and find something that clicks with you. Maybe you'll stumble upon a topic you're passionate about but never considered writing about before. Or perhaps you'll find a fresh angle on a familiar subject.

Remember, the goal here is to find a topic that not only meets your assignment requirements but also gets you excited to write. When you're genuinely interested in your subject, it shows in your writing, and that enthusiasm is contagious for your readers.

So, grab a cup of coffee (or tea, if that's more your style), get comfy, and let's dive into this smorgasbord of essay topics. I'm confident you'll find something that makes you think, "Yes, that's it! That's what I want to write about!" Happy browsing, and here's to finding your perfect essay topic!

Struggling to find the perfect essay topic? EssayPro offers a plethora of choices to spark your creativity. From academic to personal, we have topics that will ignite your writing passion and help you produce exceptional essays.

Topics for Technology Essay

As the advancements in technology shape human civilization, choosing great essay topics in this field gives you plenty to write about. Let's check out some recommendations by our custom essay writing experts.

The impact of 5G networks on global connectivity
Ethical considerations in artificial intelligence development
The role of quantum computing in scientific research
Cybersecurity challenges in the age of IoT
The future of wearable technology in healthcare
Virtual reality applications in education and training
The environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining
Robotics in manufacturing: benefits and challenges
The evolution of cloud computing and its business implications
Augmented reality in retail and e-commerce
The potential of brain-computer interfaces
Nanotechnology in medicine: current applications and future prospects
The impact of social media algorithms on information consumption
3D printing revolution: implications for various industries
The role of big data in personalized marketing
Autonomous vehicles and the future of transportation
Ethical considerations in facial recognition technology
The impact of streaming services on traditional media
Space technology and its applications in everyday life
The role of artificial intelligence in climate change mitigation
Blockchain technology beyond cryptocurrencies
The future of human-robot interaction
Biometric technology and privacy concerns
The impact of automation on the job market
Edge computing and its role in the Internet of Things

Cause and Effect Essay Ideas

To write a cause and effect essay, first, find a situation where an action has consequences. Then, describe what happened. If you're stuck for ideas, check out this list for inspiration.

How social media usage affects mental health
The impact of fast fashion on the environment
Effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive function
How childhood nutrition influences long-term health
The consequences of overfishing on marine ecosystems
Impact of remote work on urban development
Effects of screen time on child development
How air pollution affects respiratory health
The influence of advertising on consumer behavior
Effects of stress on the immune system
How deforestation contributes to climate change
The impact of video games on cognitive skills
Effects of single-use plastics on marine life
How parenting styles influence child behavior
The consequences of antibiotic resistance on public health
Impact of digital technology on interpersonal communication
How urbanization affects wildlife habitats
The effects of multitasking on productivity
How music education influences academic performance
The impact of social isolation on mental well-being
Effects of caffeine consumption on sleep patterns
How college debt influences career choices
The consequences of microplastics in the food chain
Impact of gentrification on local communities
How mindfulness practices affect stress levels

Problem Solution Essay Topics

In a problem-solution essay you simply state the problem, talk about why it matters, suggest a solution, and explain why it's the best choice. Our essay writer can assist you by providing a list of topics to explore in your writing.

Addressing the global plastic waste crisis
Combating the spread of misinformation online
Reducing traffic congestion in major cities
Improving access to quality education in rural areas
Tackling the rising cost of healthcare
Solving food waste in the restaurant industry
Addressing the shortage of affordable housing
Combating cyberbullying among teenagers
Reducing carbon emissions in urban areas
Improving water conservation in agriculture
Addressing the opioid epidemic
Enhancing workplace diversity and inclusion
Reducing e-waste through sustainable electronics
Improving public transportation in suburban areas
Addressing the decline of bee populations
Combating obesity through community initiatives
Reducing school dropout rates in low-income areas
Improving mental health support for college students
Addressing the gender pay gap in various industries
Reducing noise pollution in urban environments
Improving financial literacy among young adults
Addressing food deserts in low-income neighborhoods
Reducing plastic packaging in consumer goods
Improving emergency preparedness for natural disasters
Addressing digital privacy concerns in smart cities

Informative Essay Topics

Let's look at some essay topic ideas that allow you to demonstrate your knowledge without attempting to convince or express an opinion.

The history and cultural significance of tea ceremonies
How the human immune system works
The process of making artisanal cheese
The evolution of written language
Understanding the basics of quantum physics
The life cycle of stars
The history and techniques of glassblowing
How weather forecasting works
The process of film production
The science behind dreams
The history and development of cryptography
How solar panels convert sunlight into electricity
The process of writing and publishing a book
The mechanics of 3D printing
The history and cultural impact of tattoos
How vaccines are developed and tested
The process of archaeological excavation
The science of composting
How political polling works
The process of wine making
The history and techniques of origami
How nuclear power plants function
The process of creating animated films
The science behind memory formation
How tsunamis form and propagate
The process of coffee production from bean to cup
The mechanics of earthquakes and plate tectonics
How perfumes are created and formulated
The history and techniques of bonsai cultivation
The process of diamond mining and processing

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Research Essay Topics

When it comes to delivering research papers on time, it could leave you feeling overloaded and drained. Thankfully, our dissertation writing help provided you with excellent research essay topics for students.

The long-term effects of social media on adolescent development
The impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems
The effectiveness of various renewable energy sources
The role of gut bacteria in mental health
The economic impact of automation on different industries
The influence of diet on cognitive function in older adults
The effects of urbanization on biodiversity
The psychological impact of long-term space travel
The role of sleep in memory consolidation
The effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapies for anxiety disorders
The impact of climate change on global food security
The role of genetics in addiction susceptibility
The effects of music education on cognitive development in children
The impact of air pollution on cardiovascular health
The role of exercise in preventing cognitive decline
The effectiveness of various conservation strategies for endangered species
The impact of artificial intelligence on job markets
The role of epigenetics in human health and disease
The effects of screen time on child development
The impact of microfinance on poverty reduction in developing countries
The role of gut health in autoimmune diseases
The effects of virtual reality on pain management
The impact of social isolation on mental health in older adults
The role of probiotics in digestive health
The effects of meditation on brain structure and function
The impact of deforestation on global climate patterns
The role of stem cells in regenerative medicine
The effects of pesticides on pollinator populations
The impact of ocean acidification on marine life
The role of artificial light at night on wildlife behavior

Education Essay Topics

Certain themes always seem to come up while writing an essay on education. To assist you in your quest for knowledge, we have compiled a list of ideas below, among which we have good college topics, essay on school and student life essay topics:

The impact of technology integration in classrooms
The effectiveness of standardized testing in measuring student achievement
The role of arts education in overall academic performance
The benefits and challenges of homeschooling
The impact of class size on student learning outcomes
The effectiveness of single-sex education versus co-education
The role of physical education in academic performance
The impact of school start times on student performance
The effectiveness of project-based learning in STEM education
The role of extracurricular activities in student development
The impact of teacher quality on student achievement
The effectiveness of peer tutoring programs
The role of parental involvement in student success
The impact of school nutrition programs on academic performance
The effectiveness of bilingual education programs
The role of outdoor education in student development
The impact of homework on student learning and well-being
The effectiveness of flipped classroom models
The role of mindfulness practices in education
The impact of school discipline policies on student behavior
The effectiveness of gamification in education
The role of vocational education in career readiness
The impact of socioeconomic status on educational outcomes
The effectiveness of inclusive education for students with disabilities
The role of critical thinking skills in education
The impact of student-teacher relationships on academic success
The effectiveness of online learning platforms
The role of emotional intelligence in education
The impact of school architecture on learning environments
The effectiveness of mentorship programs in higher education

Personal Essay Topics

In your personal essay, readers will gain insight into your most private life events and thoughts from this kind of paper. The secret is to try to merge viewpoints and storytelling. The ideas listed below might serve as inspiration:

A life-changing moment that shaped your worldview
The most challenging decision you've ever made
A person who has had a significant influence on your life
An experience that taught you the value of perseverance
A time when you had to overcome a fear
The role of cultural heritage in shaping your identity
A moment when you realized the importance of family
An experience that changed your perspective on success
A time when you had to stand up for what you believe in
The impact of a particular book or movie on your life
A childhood memory that still affects you today
An experience that taught you the importance of honesty
A time when you had to adapt to a new environment
The most valuable lesson you learned from a mistake
An experience that taught you the power of kindness
A moment when you discovered a hidden talent or passion
The role of friendship in your personal growth
An experience that taught you the importance of self-care
A time when you had to overcome a personal prejudice
The impact of technology on your personal relationships
An experience that changed your career aspirations
A moment when you felt truly proud of yourself
The role of nature in your personal well-being
An experience that taught you the value of empathy
A time when you had to forgive someone
The impact of a travel experience on your worldview
An experience that taught you the importance of time management
A moment when you realized the power of words
The role of creativity in your personal development
An experience that taught you the value of diversity

Ideas for an Opinion Essay

A good opinion essay poses an issue, formulates a question, and then makes a statement. Below are some inspirational opinion topic examples.

Should voting be mandatory in democratic countries?
Is human genetic editing ethically justifiable?
Should governments impose a sugar tax to combat obesity?
Is universal basic income a viable solution to poverty?
Should animal testing be completely banned?
Is space colonization a necessary step for human survival?
Should schools replace textbooks with digital devices?
Is social media doing more harm than good to society?
Should countries adopt a four-day workweek?
Is nuclear energy the solution to climate change?
Should governments regulate cryptocurrency?
Is AI-generated art real art?
Should college education be free for all?
Is cancel culture beneficial or harmful to society?
Should euthanasia be legalized globally?
Is veganism the most ethical diet choice?
Should violent video games be banned?
Is homeschooling better than traditional schooling?
Should voting age be lowered to 16?
Is social media addiction a mental health disorder?

While you’re still on the lookout for a perfect topic, check out our guide on different types of sentences . They’ll surely come in handy during your essay writing process.

Ideas for Nature Essay

Nature essays may examine how human activity affects the environment or how nature affects people. There are several directions that nature essays might go in.

Ones that describe how beautiful nature is might motivate readers. On the other hand, an essay on pollution can be thought-provoking and encourage one to act.

You may also use an informative essay on environmental pollution to explain how people harm the environment. Below you’ll find ample nature essay topics for students that allow for interesting exploration.

Environment Essay

The impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems
Sustainable urban planning: Creating green cities for the future
The role of renewable energy in combating climate change
Deforestation: Causes, effects, and potential solutions
The importance of biodiversity conservation in maintaining ecological balance
Climate change and its effects on global water resources
The environmental impact of fast fashion and sustainable alternatives
Overfishing and its consequences on ocean ecosystems
The pros and cons of nuclear energy as a clean energy source
Air pollution in megacities: Causes, health impacts, and mitigation strategies
The role of individual action in environmental conservation
E-waste management: Challenges and innovative solutions
The impact of agriculture on soil degradation and potential sustainable practices
Coral reef destruction: Causes, consequences, and conservation efforts
The effectiveness of international environmental agreements and policies
Sustainable transportation: Reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector
The environmental impact of meat consumption and the rise of plant-based diets
Microplastics in the environment: Sources, effects, and potential solutions
The role of indigenous knowledge in environmental conservation
Green technology innovations: Their potential in addressing environmental challenges

Essay on Deforestation

The primary causes of deforestation: Agriculture, logging, and urban expansion
The impact of deforestation on global climate change and carbon emissions
Deforestation and biodiversity loss: Threats to endangered species and ecosystems
The role of palm oil production in tropical deforestation
Indigenous communities and deforestation: Rights, conflicts, and conservation efforts
The economic consequences of deforestation on local and global scales
Reforestation and afforestation: Strategies for combating deforestation
The link between deforestation and increased risk of zoonotic diseases
Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest: Causes, consequences, and international responses
Technological solutions for monitoring and preventing illegal deforestation

Pollution Essay

The impact of industrial waste on water pollution and aquatic ecosystems
Air pollution in urban areas: Sources, health effects, and mitigation strategies
Plastic pollution in oceans: Long-term consequences and global initiatives
Noise pollution: Its effects on human health and wildlife
Agricultural runoff and its role in water pollution and eutrophication
The growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste) and its environmental impact
Light pollution: Consequences for wildlife and human health
Soil contamination: Causes, effects on food security, and remediation techniques
Thermal pollution in water bodies: Sources and impacts on aquatic life
Atmospheric pollution and its role in climate change and global warming

Water Pollution Essay

The impact of industrial effluents on freshwater ecosystems
Agricultural runoff: A major source of water pollution and its effects on aquatic life
Microplastics in water bodies: Sources, consequences, and potential solutions
Eutrophication: Causes, effects, and strategies for prevention
Oil spills and their long-term impact on marine ecosystems
The role of urbanization in water pollution: Stormwater runoff and sewage contamination
Groundwater pollution: Sources, health risks, and remediation techniques
Thermal pollution in rivers and lakes: Causes and ecological consequences
The effects of water pollution on human health and access to clean drinking water
International cooperation and policies to address transboundary water pollution

My Favorite Season

Why autumn is my favorite season: The beauty of changing colors
Summer: My favorite season for outdoor adventures and family vacations
The magic of winter: Why I love the snow and holiday spirit
Spring awakening: My favorite season of renewal and growth
The comfort of fall: Cozy activities that make autumn my favorite season
Summer nights: Why warm evenings make it my preferred time of year
Winter wonderland: The joys of winter sports and snowy landscapes
The energy of spring: Why I love the season of new beginnings
Fall flavors and festivities: Culinary delights that make autumn special
The long days of summer: Why extended daylight makes it my favorite season

A Raining Day Essay

The Simple Joys of a Rainy Day: Finding Comfort in Gray Skies
Why should we appreciate beauty in rain-soaked moments
How do I find cozy comfort on rainy days
My favorite indoor activities for rainy day adventures
Discovering the benefits of a refreshing rainy day

Psychology Topics for Essay

Psychology has multiple subfields, so if you need ideas, have a look at the following topics:

The impact of social media on self-esteem and body image
The psychology of conspiracy theory belief
The role of attachment styles in adult relationships
The effects of mindfulness meditation on stress reduction
The psychology of procrastination and strategies to overcome it
The impact of color on mood and behavior
The role of birth order in personality development
The psychological effects of long-term space travel
The impact of music on cognitive performance
The psychology of addiction and recovery
The role of dreams in psychological processing
The effects of sleep deprivation on decision-making
The psychology of consumer behavior and marketing
The impact of nature exposure on mental health
The role of cognitive biases in decision-making
The psychological effects of social isolation
The impact of parenting styles on child development
The psychology of political polarization
The role of emotional intelligence in leadership
The effects of violent video games on aggression
The psychology of habit formation and breaking
The impact of childhood trauma on adult mental health
The role of placebo effect in psychological treatment
The psychology of creativity and innovation
The impact of social comparison on well-being
The psychology of resilience in the face of adversity
The role of unconscious bias in decision-making
The effects of gratitude practices on mental health
The psychology of moral decision-making and ethical behavior

Gender Equality Essay

There are many different concerns in the field of gender studies, such as the salary gap, the bias against women in the classroom, women empowerment, etc. Here are a few pointers that may help you choose an excellent topic.

The impact of gender quotas in corporate leadership
Addressing the gender pay gap in sports
The role of education in promoting gender equality
Gender bias in healthcare: Recognizing and addressing disparities
The importance of intersectionality in feminism
Challenging gender stereotypes in career choices
The impact of gender-neutral parenting on child development
Addressing gender inequality in STEM fields
The role of men in promoting gender equality
Gender representation in media and its societal impact
The effectiveness of gender mainstreaming in policy-making
Addressing gender-based violence in conflict zones
The impact of menstrual leave policies on workplace equality
Gender equality in inheritance laws across cultures
The role of language in perpetuating gender stereotypes
Addressing gender bias in artificial intelligence and algorithms
The impact of gender-inclusive restrooms on social equality
Gender equality in access to financial services and credit
The role of gender equality in achieving sustainable development goals
Addressing gender disparities in unpaid care work

Process Analysis Essay Topics

Process essay topics allow you to format your piece effectively and offer your ideas to the target audience in a way they can grasp. Let's go through the list for inspiration:

How to plan and execute a successful crowdfunding campaign
The process of writing and publishing a novel
How to start a successful podcast from scratch
The step-by-step process of brewing craft beer
How to create a sustainable urban garden
The process of developing a mobile application
How to plan and execute a zero-waste event
The step-by-step process of restoring a classic car
How to create a successful social media marketing strategy
The process of training for a marathon
How to start a successful e-commerce business
The step-by-step process of making artisanal cheese
How to create and maintain a successful blog
The process of becoming a certified scuba diver
How to plan and execute a destination wedding
The step-by-step process of building a tiny house
How to create a successful YouTube channel
The process of adopting a child internationally
How to start and manage a successful beehive
The step-by-step process of creating a documentary film

Essay Ideas on Stereotypes

Because stereotypes are such a pervasive societal problem, educators often encourage students to reflect on them. Here are some great topic examples for your essay:

The impact of racial stereotypes in the criminal justice system
Gender stereotypes in children's toys and media
Age stereotypes in the workplace and their effect on hiring practices
Cultural stereotypes in travel and tourism
The role of media in perpetuating and challenging stereotypes
Stereotypes surrounding mental health and their impact on treatment
The effect of religious stereotypes on interfaith dialogue
Body type stereotypes in the fashion industry
Stereotypes about introverts and extroverts in social settings
The impact of socioeconomic stereotypes on educational opportunities
Stereotypes about disabilities and their effect on accessibility
The role of stereotypes in political campaigns and voting behavior
Stereotypes about different generations (Boomers, Millennials, Gen Z) in the workplace
The impact of LGBTQ+ stereotypes on coming out experiences
Stereotypes about athletes and their effect on career opportunities
The role of stereotypes in international relations and diplomacy
Stereotypes about single parents and their impact on social support
The effect of accent and language stereotypes on job opportunities
Stereotypes about artistic careers and their impact on career choices
The role of stereotypes in healthcare diagnosis and treatment

Ideas on Essay about COVID-19

The Coronavirus has overrun the planet, which has kept us indoors. Life, as we know it, has transformed. As a result, leaving us with far more questions than solutions. As the epidemic has affected practically every aspect of our lives, it is crucial to comprehend it by composing interesting essay topics on this matter:

The impact of COVID-19 on global mental health
How the pandemic has reshaped the future of work
The role of technology in pandemic response and management
COVID-19's effect on the global economy and wealth inequality
The impact of the pandemic on education systems worldwide
How COVID-19 has changed social norms and behavior
The role of misinformation in the pandemic response
COVID-19's impact on the healthcare system and medical professionals
The pandemic's effect on international relations and global cooperation
How COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation across industries
The impact of the pandemic on the travel and tourism industry
COVID-19's role in highlighting racial and socioeconomic disparities
The pandemic's influence on urban planning and architecture
How COVID-19 has affected the arts and entertainment industry
The impact of the pandemic on global supply chains
COVID-19's role in advancing telemedicine and remote healthcare
The pandemic's effect on environmental conservation efforts
How COVID-19 has changed consumer behavior and marketing strategies
The impact of the pandemic on sports and athletic competitions
COVID-19's influence on vaccine development and global health initiatives

Topics for Essay Based on Proverbs

Proverbs are a powerful tool for writing that may increase the impact of your points and assist your readers in believing you when you employ them. Let's examine some sayings that will make powerful topics for essays:

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step": Overcoming procrastination and achieving long-term goals
"Don't judge a book by its cover": The dangers of stereotyping and prejudice in modern society
"The early bird catches the worm": The benefits and drawbacks of being proactive in various aspects of life
"Too many cooks spoil the broth": Examining the effectiveness of group decision-making vs. individual leadership
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do": The importance of cultural adaptability in a globalized world

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

If you've been assigned to write a compare and contrast essay, you should seek engaging topics. So, take a look at some related essay questions examples created by our essay help platform:

Online education vs. traditional classroom learning
Renewable energy vs. fossil fuels: environmental and economic impacts
Introverts vs. extroverts: social and professional experiences
Traditional medicine vs. alternative therapies
Rural living vs. urban living: quality of life comparison
Print books vs. e-books: reading experience and environmental impact
Social media marketing vs. traditional advertising methods
Monarchy vs. democracy: governance structures and societal impacts
Veganism vs. omnivorous diets: health and environmental considerations
Public transportation vs. private vehicles in urban settings
Artificial intelligence vs. human intelligence in problem-solving
Freelance work vs. traditional employment: benefits and challenges
Virtual reality vs. augmented reality: applications and potential
Nuclear family vs. extended family structures across cultures
Disposable products vs. reusable alternatives: convenience and environmental impact
Traditional banking vs. cryptocurrency: security and accessibility
Team sports vs. individual sports: personal development and social skills
Fast fashion vs. sustainable fashion: industry practices and consumer impact
Vertical farming vs. traditional agriculture: efficiency and sustainability
In-person therapy vs. online counseling: effectiveness and accessibility

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How to Choose a Topic for an Essay

If you're still searching for the right topic and prefer brainstorming on your own, our college paper writing service is here to assist you in making your writing stand out.

Stay Updated : Keep abreast of current affairs and choose a topic that relates to contemporary issues or ongoing debates. This not only makes your essay timely but also demonstrates your awareness of the world around you.
Think Outside the Box : Approach common topics from unconventional angles to find fresh perspectives or unique aspects that haven't been explored extensively. Unexpected twists can transform a standard essay into something extraordinary.
Draw from Personal Experiences : Reflect on your own experiences and observations to find a personal story or moment that connects with your essay's theme. Sharing your perspective adds authenticity and depth to your writing, making it more relatable to your audience.
Understand Your Audience : Consider your target audience and what matters to them. Choosing a topic that resonates with your readers creates an immediate connection, enhancing the impact of your essay.
Test Your Ideas : Before committing to a topic, test it out by writing a brief outline or paragraph. This preliminary step helps you gauge your interest and ensures you have enough material to develop a great essay.

Once you've settled on a topic, consider the following to ensure it fits both your interests and the requirements of your assignment:

Am I genuinely interested in this topic?
Is the topic suitable for my audience?
What is my purpose in writing about this topic?
Can I adequately research and develop this topic within the assignment's time frame and word limit?
Is the topic's scope narrow or broad enough to meet the assignment's requirements?
Will I have access to sufficient sources to research this topic thoroughly?

Ideas for Essay by Category

Academic writing encompasses various essay types, but let's focus on four common categories that you're likely to encounter during your undergraduate studies:

In persuasive essays , your mission is clear: persuade your reader. Unlike expository essays that rely on facts, persuasive essays thrive on opinion-based writing. Here, you craft arguments to convince others, relying on compelling rhetoric rather than specific facts.
Expository essays prioritize facts. They require you to research, analyze a topic, and present a position based solely on factual data, without injecting personal opinions. Expository essay topics provide a platform for showcasing your logical thinking and engagement with scientific articles.
Descriptive writing is about painting a vivid picture with words. When working on descriptive essays, you immerse yourself in the subject, employing abundant descriptive language. Whether describing a person, place, event, or feeling, the goal is to convey it vividly without using first-person language.
Narrative essays are for those who love storytelling. They aim to captivate readers by weaving personal experiences into a narrative structure. Following the standard essay format of introduction, body, and conclusion, narrative essay topics introduce characters, describe actions, and explore central themes.

What Are Good Essay Topics?

What are some good argumentative essay topics, what college essay topics to avoid.

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Updated each category with new topics, worded more clearly
Added more discussion and tips for choosing an essay topic
Choosing and Narrowing an Essay Topic Choosing the topic . (n.d.). https://www.stcloudstate.edu/writeplace/_files/documents/writing%20process/choosing-and-narrowing-an-essay-topic.pdf
‌ How to Choose an Essay Topic - Pre-writing, Writing and Revising . (n.d.). Gallaudet University. Retrieved June 4, 2024, from https://gallaudet.edu/student-success/tutorial-center/english-center/writing/pre-writing-writing-and-revising/how-to-choose-an-essay-topic/

335 Unique Essay Topics for College Students [2024 Update]

The success of any college essay depends on the topic choice. If you want to impress your instructors, your essay needs to be interesting and unique. Don’t know what to write about? We are here to help you!

In this article by our Custom-Writing.org team, you will find 335 interesting essay topics for college students. We’ve also included some helpful tips on choosing a topic that will make your essay stand out.

🔝 Top 10 College Essay Topics
📋 How to Choose a Topic
🧑 Personal Essay Topics
🖌️ Descriptive Topics
🏺 Narrative Topics: History
🔮 Creative Writing Topics
🎓 Topics for Various Fields
✍️ Topics for Different Essay Types
🚫 Topics to Avoid

🔗 References

🔝 top 10 essay topics for college students.

🎯	Career aspirations and goals to achieve.
📚	Your favorite writers and poets.
👰	Personal feelings on marriage.
⚔️	What is the definition of honor?
👔	Traits that make an influential person.
🔭	Great inventors and their contributions.
♻️	Historical perspective on ecological problems.
🤖	The society of tomorrow.
♀️	Ecofeminism, its origins, and perspectives.
🖌️	The major art movements of the late XX century.

📋 How to Pick a College Essay Topic

There is no universal advice on picking a great essay topic. However, the tips below will surely help you avoid choosing a mediocre one. Just follow these steps:

STEP #1: Start with brainstorming.

Relax and write down everything that comes to mind. It can be related to your personal life or areas of interest.

STEP#2: Use outside sources.

If you need additional inspiration, find a list of essay topic suggestions. Pick several options that appeal to you.

STEP#3: Select a topic.

Once you have your list of possible topics, do the following:

Review the essay instructions or prompt, if you have one.
Exclude ideas that are not suitable or compelling enough.
Decide which of the remaining topics you want to write about. It might be the one you are interested in or understand best.

College Essay Topics: Fields & Disciplines

Now that you know how to choose a theme for your assignment, let’s examine this list of college essay ideas. These exceptional topics are arranged by subject, so you can go right to the section that interests you the most.

🧑	will allow you to discover more about yourself. You can find additional topics in .
📝	even the most insignificant and obvious ones, can be worth pondering.
🏺	knows many examples of outstanding personalities. You can learn something valuable from each one of them.
🔮	are perfect for you if you enjoy coming up with stories.
🏫	is an excellent source of college essay topics. You can look back at your classes, relationships with teachers, or campus life.
🍎	make excellent topics for college students. You may also check out .
⚖️	are some of the most controversial topics to write about in college. Be sure to research your topic from different perspectives. You’re also welcome to choose ideas from .
♻️	are among the most pressing global issues. Check out for more ideas.
😂	If is something you like, you’ll enjoy writing a funny college essay.
♀️	is something every modern society should strive to achieve. Feel free to choose a topic below or from .
🤝	is a priority in modern societies. You can ponder the strategies that can help us ensure all people’s well-being.
🎨	are an incredible way to convey experiences that can’t be put into words.
👽	are fascinating to explore. Discover where they originate from and what they can tell us about our society.

🧑 Personal Essay Topics for College

Your perfect date.
Settling an argument.
What’s usually in your bag.
Your most memorable purchase.
What your upbringing was like.
One quote that inspired you the most.
What you do to make the world better.
Where you want to spend your life.
When the effort was worth the result.
An unusual feeling you’ve experienced.
A life-changing adventure. There are many ways to write about adventure in an essay. You can describe an interesting situation from your own life or one experienced by another individual, perhaps a famous figure.
Positive and negative leadership examples. Typically, essays on leadership describe a specific person or a situation. A more interesting perspective on this subject is highlighting episodes of disastrous leadership. Some examples include the expansion of fascism after World War I or exploitation under European colonialism.
Decision making. Both mundane and monumental, earth-shattering decisions make great essay topics. You can choose a situation and describe what the decision-maker did correctly or incorrectly.
Deciding what to wear today. This might be the most mundane decision that everyone makes daily. However, just because it’s so ordinary, it might yield a fascinating college essay if explored thoughtfully.
President Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan. This decision may have been the most significant of human history. It marked the introduction of a technology that could annihilate the human race. This decision may have been the most significant of human history. It marked the introduction of a technology that could annihilate the human race.
Purchasing decisions in the supermarket. Similarly, everyone decides what to eat several times every day. In an essay on this subject, focus on the most interesting factors influencing grocery shopping decisions.
Picking a book to read. According to The Atlantic, an average modern American reads fewer books than at any earlier time in history. With this in mind, consider writing an essay on selecting a book to read. This is particularly interesting when you recognize that more books are being published nowadays than ever before.
Childhood experiences as behavioral drives. An analysis of childhood experiences can help interpret individual character traits. Any challenge and achievement play a part in the formation of behavioral drives. You can discuss them in the context of one’s mental development .
Parenting styles and motives. Everyone knows that the role of parents in children’s lives is crucial. For your essay, you can choose to evaluate specific approaches to interacting with a child. Obtain reliable data about a child’s habits and find correlations with social adaptation principles.
Problem-solving skills in everyday life. Problem-solving skills allow a person to overcome challenges. You may assess these skills from your perspective. This essay can also highlight the traits that enable you to cope with difficulties.
Negotiation skills and conflict resolution attainments. The ability to compromise is a valuable personal quality. It can be helpful in different areas of interpersonal communication. In your paper, analyze ways to enhance this skill for successful conflict resolution.
Bill Gates’ initiative to create Microsoft and change the world. Thanks to Bill Gates, computer technologies became available to everyone. Assessing his career path can help identify specific components of success. What valuable lessons can we learn from him?

🖌️ Descriptive Essay Topics for College Students

What your hometown is like.
What you dislike about the Internet.
If emotions were personified.
How you experience art.
Holiday season and nostalgia.
Your personal teaching experience.
How regular workout makes you feel.
The impact of music on your body.
National holidays in different countries.
Traditions you observed around the world.
Marriage: then and now. In bygone eras, most children were born within wedlock. In the contemporary world, fewer marriages take place than before. What are the reasons behind it?
Pressure on women to marry. In the past, women were coerced into marriage more forcefully than men. Unfortunately, this tendency remains in many societies even today. You can choose this topic to investigate sexism in everyday life.
Sports in your life. Everywhere in the world, fans fervently adore sports . It’s a spectacular subject for an essay, no matter if your tone is serious or lighthearted.
Football: pros and cons. An essay about this popular American sport will surely spark your readers’ interest. For instance, you may explore the long-term health risks associated with concussions.
Basketball as a global sport. After soccer, basketball is the most rapidly growing sport globally. Your basketball essay could delve into the geopolitical implications of this newly globalized sport.
What is love? It is the quintessential human emotion , and that’s why it’s a timeless topic for any writing assignment.
Happiness and how to achieve it. Love and happiness go together, so it is no surprise that happiness is a fruitful writing topic. You can choose to concentrate on pursuing happiness, simply being happy, or anything else.
The 19 th century origins of Christmas carols . You could write about the origins of Christmas carols, most of which date back to the 19 th century. Before that, Christmas songs were restricted to church hymns.
Christmas carols around the world. Every country with a significant population of Christians celebrates Christmas uniquely, making the global diversity of Christmas carols one of the more interesting essay topics.
Personal feelings evoked by Christmas carols. Once again, you can focus on your personal experience. Simply describe how Christmas carols make you feel. feel.

🏺 Narrative Essay Topics for College Students: History

The life of Socrates.
Nero and the Roman Empire.
Everyday life of Puritans.
Events of Mexican-American War.
Life during the Great Depression.
Women in Trojan War.
The start of the Nuclear Age.
Heroes of the Space Race.
Pearl Harbor through the eyes of a witness.
The fall of the Sumer civilization.
Local heroes. You can write a fantastic college essay on a historical personality who is highly appraised in your state. What is this person’s contribution, and what makes them outstanding?
Real-life villains. The Ivy League essays often include an analysis of notorious people’s deeds or personalities. You can write about Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Josef Mengele, H. H. Holmes, Caligula, and many others.
Influential people in any area. Your college essay can focus on some notable figures in politics, finance, science, literature, architecture, visual arts, music, sports, or pop culture.
The most influential women. You can write about women who achieved a lot in the “men’s world.” Choose between Elizabeth I , Margaret Thatcher , Indira Gandhi, and many other renowned figures.
Scientists who changed the world. You may write a great college essay about the contributions of Nikola Tesla, Charles Darwin, Thomas Edison, and other scientists. What areas of our lives have changed thanks to these people?
Great conquerors and their power. Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan , Attila, and other commanders were outstanding people of their time. They expanded their territories thanks to successful military campaigns. Your essay may focus on one of these great conquerors.
Hitler’s decision to unleash World War II . Adolph Hitler’s personality is often explored in academic works. Your paper can explore what prompted the German leader to popularize Nazism in Europe. Understanding it may help prevent the repetition of such events.
Religious figures. Explore individuals who developed essential doctrines and spiritual teachings. Your essay may include the key ideas of people such as Thomas Aquinas and Joseph Smith Jr.
Fighters for justice and equality. Democratic societies were significantly influenced by those who struggled for human rights. Freedom of people around the world was their primary goal. Your essay can assess the roles of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, or Martin Luther King Jr.
Voyagers and discoverers. Thanks to the great explorers of the past, the world as we know it today was shaped. You can write about Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and others in your paper.
Roman emperors. Ancient Rome was the greatest civilization of its time. Throughout its history, individual emperors have contributed to its prosperity. Julius Caesar , Nero, and other rulers can be the focus of your essay.

🔮 Creative Writing Topics for College Students

A conversation with yourself from the past.
What would life be like on a rogue planet?
If you were an ancient conqueror.
A children’s fairy tale.
What if there is no money in the world?
A new perspective on a famous story.
If you lived in another era.
What are animals thinking?
A perfect world as you see it.
A horror story in the style of Kafka.
Detective stories. Suspense is often the key to interesting essays. You can write a unique story about a murder in a castle, a theft in your college dorm, or fraud in a famous (or fictional) company.
The world of your fantasy. Write an outstanding college essay that describes a brave new (or beautiful) world. Your dreams, books, films, or even news you’ve heard can be the source of your inspiration.
Stream of consciousness . It can be the most straightforward task you have ever completed. Just write about your thought, dreams, and ideas. Whatever comes to your mind! Make sure to edit it afterward.

The picture shows 6 types of creative writing.

Description of a dystopian world. Come up with a dystopian scenario to assess contemporary vices and problems. Use descriptive words to make your essay stand out.
A new look at traditional values. For a creative essay, try rethinking traditional values. For instance, you may provide new perspectives on compassion, charity, respect, and other essential components of a civilized society.
A short movie script. One of the ideas is to write a short film script on any topic. This task will allow you to showcase your storytelling skills.
The future as you imagine it. You can pay particular attention to social issues and their development. Will the situation improve in the future?
Reporter experience. Conduct an investigation and report your findings in a creative essay. This work may include interviews, illustrations, and the analysis of issues. This approach allows moving away from traditional forms of essay writing.
On behalf of another person. Take an opportunity to explore an issue from someone else’s perspective. For instance, you can assess the difficulties faced by people of the opposite sex. It can help analyze the problems of interpersonal communication.

🎓 College Essay Topics for Various Fields

College life essay topics.

Making a choice. You can write your college essay about making a decision. For example, how did you choose your college? Are you happy with your choice?
Good and bad habits . Write about the patterns that affect your academic life. How can you get rid of the unproductive ones?
Major challenges . In your college experience essay, you can describe the major issues you have faced during your school years. How did you handle them?
Time-management practices. College studies are often stressful. That’s why multitasking is an important skill. In your essay, explore the topic of time management. Analyze the algorithms for competent task distribution.
Memorable events. Did you ever have a life-changing experience? You can write a perfect college essay about it.
University life: expectations vs. reality. You can also try to imagine your future and write an essay on your expectations related to university life.
Interaction with classmates. An interesting topic for a college life essay is building relationships with classmates. It can be helpful to study the basics of teamwork. Conflict resolution practices are also important factors of interpersonal peer communication.
Freshman experience. You can describe it in anecdotes or conduct some research. For instance, assess the challenges and barriers that first-year students face. Then, determine optimal mechanisms to overcome them.
Teamwork and group activities. Describe appropriate ways to communicate with people in groups. Or, you can focus on the crucial features of effective teamwork.
Research work experience. College education involves conducting many kinds of research. They refer to theoretical training and the practical study of subjects. In this regard, you can describe your personal research experience.
The importance of self-education. Students often face the need to study some subjects on their own. Self-education and its aspects can be an exciting topic to explore. Focus on honing individual skills and overcoming academic challenges.
A comparison of high school and college. For many high school students, the idea of college study is different from reality. You can describe the distinctions between the two levels of education. Give personal views on the learning process and common pitfalls.

Health Topics for College Students

Healthy eating. In the wealthiest and poorest countries on Earth, healthy eating has very different meanings. Focusing on cultural variations of healthy eating has plenty of potential.
Fast food and its popularity. People have never eaten so much fast food as they do now. Consider writing about this interesting trend and its health implications.
Childhood obesity as a global health issue. Because of all the high-calorie foods available today, many children in industrialized countries have weight problems. This issue has some extraordinary potential for persuasive writing.
The problem of alcoholism . Substance abuse problems such as alcoholism have been an exemplary subject of writing for a long time. You can contemplate the implications of this problem in your college essay.
Teen pregnancy: risk factors . In many regions of the world, teen pregnancy rates are higher than ever . The phenomenon is often associated with poverty and lower levels of education.
Smoking in public. Should it be outlawed? Is it a public health hazard or just fundamental liberty that the government is unjustified to control or even regulate?

The picture shows a fact about tobacco-related deaths.

Why do people smoke ? All smokers have their initial justifications for starting to smoke, so perhaps use your essay to explore one or several reasons.
Quitting smoking. Some people use tobacco substitutes like candies or even nicotine gum. Whatever the methods are, everyone struggles when trying to overcome an addiction.
Smoking should be banned . This is an extremely strong stance, but these are often the most entertaining essays to write.
Smoking and mood. Studying the linkage between smoking and mood is undeniably intriguing, especially if you smoke or know a smoker.
Dangers of secondhand smoke. When a person smokes, nearby people also breathe in many of the toxins. You could write about the moral implications or the societal and health impacts of this phenomenon.
Smoking and cancer. Everyone understands that tobacco use is linked to cancer, so attempt to take a novel perspective if you choose this topic.
Smoking and cardiovascular disease. Long-term smoking has been linked to heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD.) Try to convince your reader of these very clear dangers in your essay.
Peer pressure and tobacco use. The vast majority of smokers develop this habit at a young age because their friends or acquaintances are already smoking.
Smoking in pop culture. In the past, movies and TV shows often depicted smoking. Your essay could explore how this pattern has evolved.
Acquiring bad habits from family members. As pointed out by a famous public service announcement from the 1980s, addictions such as smoking can run in families. You could explain the implications of it.

Ideas for College Essay on Ethics and Society

Abortion as a controversy. You could use this topic for an abortion debate essay. Rather than taking one position, try to do your best to present different perspectives.
The case against abortion. In writing a pro-life essay, you need to offer various reasons to oppose abortion.
The case for access to abortion. You may also consider a pro-choice essay . In this type of abortion persuasive essay, you need to emphasize the costs to individuals and society when women are denied access to abortions.
Shoplifting and its consequences. Your essay could explore the motivation for this practice, methods of discouraging it, or even its implications to retail businesses. Maybe you can even detail a personal story about a friend who has shoplifted.
Domestic violence in developed countries. Violence against women and children is frequent in all societies, so you can use your essay as an opportunity to explore domestic violence.
Types of animal cruelty. Another woefully widespread form of abuse is animal cruelty. It can range from dog fights to factory farming and everything in-between.
Capital punishment: pros and cons. The vast majority of governments have banned this barbaric practice. When judicial systems have the authority to take lives as punishment for crimes, there are profound social implications.
Current events analysis. If you have difficulty picking a topic, open up a newspaper or go to your favorite news website. Your next essay can be on the first article you read that captures your attention.
History of child labor. Under this subject, you could survey the decline of child labor over time. You might also want to consider atypical counterexamples of this trend.
Child labor laws. Child labor doesn’t occur on a larger scale because it is banned by law. Take some time to research the effectiveness of these laws.
Child labor across the world. In this essay, try to evaluate how child labor practices vary from one geographic region to another.
Unemployment and child labor. Sometimes, there aren’t enough jobs even for the adults in a nation, not to mention children. Consider exploring why this happens.

Environmental Issues Essay Topics for College

Local environmental issues . Success in college essay writing largely depends on one factor: you should pick a problem you are interested in or know a lot about. For example, describe what environmental issues you and your community face.
The most urgent ecological problems. Burning issues such as pollution, deforestation, biodiversity loss , and scarcity of natural resources can jeopardize the existence of the human race if solutions are not found. You can come up with a perfect essay on any of these challenges.
Solutions to environmental problems. Winning college essays often include describing and analyzing efficient or inefficient solutions. You can write about emissions restrictions, the use of renewable energy sources, and so on. Why are some solutions ineffective?
Renewable energy. Solar energy, windmills, electric vehicles, and many other solutions are implemented every year, but environmental issues persist. Your essay can answer the following questions: Why is renewable energy underused? Why is the production of electric vehicles in its infancy, although it started at the beginning of the 20th century?
Global and political perspectives on sustainability. Some countries, especially in Western Europe, are making significant progress in developing sustainable practices. However, some states focus on gaining economic well-being or supremacy, especially in the developing world. Will the US be one of the global polluters in the future?
Global warming and how to stop it. This is an urgent contemporary issue that deserves particular attention. An essay on a climate catastrophe may prompt readers to discuss the problem. Describe the ways to avoid adverse consequences for nature and humanity.
Water and air pollution. Write about the impact of pollution on individual spheres of life. For example, focus on the correlation between contamination and economy.
The depletion of natural resources. Ecological issues are often connected with natural resources. They’re essential in industrialized societies. You can discuss the depletion of these resources in your college essay.
The issues of waste disposal. Environmental activists are concerned about severe soil pollution . They also address the negative impact of landfills on ecology. All of this shows that waste disposal is an urgent issue. Study how much of a threat it poses for humanity.
The dangers of animal extinction. Over the past few decades, many species have become endangered. You can review this problem as a consequence of industrial development.
Deforestation’s consequences. This topic is closely related to the issue of mass extinction. Forests are a habitat for countless species of animals and plants. What adverse effects does deforestation entail?
The economic impact of environmental problems. Focus on financial aspects and budget spending on pollution control. You can also highlight the importance of addressing challenges associated with climate change.

Topics for Funny College Essays

Humorous stories and personal experiences. University essay writing can be enjoyable and even entertaining. Describe some of your adventures or make up a funny story for your assignment. Be creative !
Interesting historical facts. You can find tons of funny stories if you dig deeper into history. Many entertaining events are well-documented. Choose one and write an essay about it.
Funny and awkward situations. All students know what it’s like to be in an uncomfortable situation. Try to describe such an event in a comical way. It will allow you to look at it from a different perspective.
Dealing with unexpected tests. Sometimes professors don’t warn their students about upcoming tests. Did it ever happen to you? You probably didn’t enjoy these experiences. Still, why not describe them in a humorous essay?
Your personal teaching experience . This topic is suitable for student teachers. Have you tried teaching a whole classroom of noisy children? Successful or not, these experiences make great anecdotes.
Excessive efforts. Some students put too much effort into education. Sometimes it pays off, and other times it’s all in vain. Does it sound familiar to you? Write an essay about it!
Poor time management. Delays, late deadlines, and other time management catastrophes can form the basis of this essay.
Jokes on classmates. Innocent pranks help maintain a friendly environment and even serve as team building . Describe the memories of such humorous situations in your essay.
Your professors’ jokes. Not only students but also teachers are often inclined towards humor. Occasional jokes on their part can be a good essay topic for college. Such gags can contribute to maintaining interest in a learning environment.
Least favorite lessons. Describe the most boring or unpleasant class you can remember in a humorous manner.
Making friends with other students. Awkward and funny situations often accompany these experiences. They can serve as a topic for a great essay.
Unexpected praise. It’s always a pleasure to receive unexpected recognition from teachers. It’s especially gratifying when you do something well by accident or without even trying. Did anything like that ever happen to you? Then write a short story about it!

Best College Essay Topics on Gender Issues

Machismo: what is it? How was the term coined? What are areas of life negatively affected by this phenomenon? Think about sports, politics, or popular culture.
Gender roles in modern societies. Many Harvard essays provide answers to the following questions. How are gender roles distributed in your country, community, family? What factors led to this distribution?
Famous feminists. Explore the contributions of Lucrezia Marinella, Anne Bradstreet, Emmeline Pankhurst, Eleanor Roosevelt, Marlene Dietrich, Alice Walker, Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and many other renowned women.
Men’s views on gender. Writing a good college essay involves an analysis of different perspectives. It can be fascinating to examine men’s attitudes towards gender issues .
Matriarchy as a social system. You can write about modern societies such as Bribri or Garo. Or, you can find examples of matriarchy in the past. What about Neolithic Ages or Bronze Age ?
Biological differences between sexes. It can be an eye-opening experience to explore physical differences between men and women. Are they that different?
Patriarchal society in today’s world. Assessing patriarchy as a trend can help identify key stereotypes and stigmas. How can we facilitate women empowerment?
Workplace gender discrimination . Even today, many women struggle to get promoted due to gender stereotypes. Biased attitudes are unacceptable in modern organizations. Where do they originate from, and what should be done about it?
Conflicts between boys and girls at school. The foundations of interpersonal interaction are laid in a collective environment. Analyze students’ behavior patterns related to interactions between boys and girls. What are the most common causes of conflicts?
Family violence from a gender perspective. Family violence is a grave social problem. In your paper, identify the underlying determinants of domestic abuse.
The role of women in science. Assess the contribution of women scientists from different eras. You can focus on their specific achievements and auxiliary work. Both the humanities and the sciences are suitable for analysis.
Individual duties in parenting. The roles of fathers and mothers in families are often separated. In your essay, analyze stereotypes and behavioral patterns related to parenthood. You can use specific variables such as the time spent with children.
Women in male-dominated occupations. Assess the performance of women in positions usually occupied by men. You can study female CEOs, firefighters, or filmmakers. What are the career prospects for women in these fields?

Titles for College Essays on Diversity

Cultural diversity’s importance. Many Stanford essays explore issues associated with cultural diversity and how it can affect individuals, workplaces, and societies. Many Stanford essays explore issues associated with cultural diversity and how it can affect individuals, workplaces, and societies.
Ethnic diversity in different countries. The US is one of the most conventional examples of a melting pot. How do people of different cultural backgrounds co-exist there? What challenges do they face? How do they solve conflicts?
Variety of religious beliefs. Religion is one of the most interesting subjects to write an essay on. You can concentrate on Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and dozens of other religions. Scientology or Happy Science can also be excellent essay subjects.
Diversity related to sexual identity. You can write an outstanding argumentative essay on same-sex marriages or the inclusion of issues such as transgender identity in the K-12 curriculum.
Personal contribution to diversity development. Address the promotion of diversity as an important social phenomenon. Your essay will raise awareness of this practice.
Children’s and adults’ views on diversity and ethnicity. This essay can highlight crucial aspects of interpersonal communication. You can pose questions from a child’s perspective. Do other people’s ethnic backgrounds play an essential role for children compared to adults?
Cross-cultural management in modern organizations. Leaders of various companies promote this valuable practice. It’s highly relevant in today’s business environment. The trend of globalization is one of its crucial factors.
Gender diversity in the management field. Issues related to the distribution of leadership roles are often discussed in the context of gender. In your paper, evaluate the perception of male and female managers. This analysis may reveal the existing trends and views on the issue of diversity.
Gender diversity from a criminological perspective . You can evaluate the current situation in the legal field. Assess offenses committed by people of different genders. The proportion of female prisoners, the severity of crimes, and other essential aspects can be used as criteria for comparison. This work may help assess potential bias.
Gender diversity in the army. Attitudes towards women in military service are interesting to discuss. In an essay, you can present distinctive opinions. Mention the importance of involving people of all genders.

Short Essay Topics for College

Teenagers’ concerns. You can write a simple essay on the appropriate age to vote or the proper age to buy alcohol. You may also want to examine major reasons for misunderstanding between teenage children and their parents.
Best something ever. An excellent way to start a college essay is to write about something you admire, such as your favorite movie. What can you learn from it?
Someone inspirational. For example, why not write an essay about your favorite teacher? How did this person change your life?
Political issues in the US. Many short college essays are concerned with political life. You can write a winning essay about Electoral College or the flaws in the US voting system.
An abstract concept. You can define an idea in your short essay. For instance, write about consumerism and the existing definitions of this term. Which one is the most appropriate? Why?
Modern social values. The topic refers to the shift in moral values. For example, you can discuss the roles of wealth and personal beliefs. Compare them with the values of past eras to highlight the changes.
Contemporary addictions and methods to deal with them. Explore excessive smartphone use, gaming , and other new addictions. Include the ways of dealing with these problems.
A management theory overview. This paper can summarize individual findings related to management. Alternatively, you can present one of the theories of business development.
Proposal of a legal act. This topic is perfect for a law essay. For example, discuss the document’s purpose, stakeholders, and industry-specific implications. The intersection with other regulations is optional.
A geographic location. A short essay format is convenient for a description of a specific place. You can start by providing the basic facts about it. Include its population, area, resources, and several other parameters.
Definition of an economic term. In this short essay, analyze a term of your choice. For instance, discuss inflation, capital, clearing, or any other definition. Explain the term you’ve chosen in simple words.
A science to study. Choosing a science to learn is a potentially daunting task. In your essay, assess any field of study you like. Describe their benefits and pitfalls. You can also mention career prospects.

Great College Essay Ideas in Visual Arts

Historical periods in art. Your paper can dwell upon a specific era. Why did the Renaissance occur? What are the central peculiarities of Postmodernism ?
Artists and their personalities. Countless Cornell essays on art provide insight into artists’ legacy. Your essay writing can become a fascinating process if you focus on Leonardo, Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet, Andy Warhol, Artemisia Gentileschi, or Barbara Kruger.
Prospects of artistic forms. You can use your imagination and think of the world in the 2100s. Try to predict the movements that will become popular in 100 years.
Masterpieces. Essay writing practice is associated with the ability to narrow topics down. You can choose a specific work for your analysis from the following list: The Birth of Venice , The Scream , Starry Night , and Girl with a Pearl Earring .
Different genres and styles in visual art. Many distinctive genres characterize visual arts. They differ in style, period, and other aspects. In your essay, you can describe impressionism, surrealism , cubism, abstract art, and other genres.
Mediums in visual arts. Every art form is distinguished by the use of materials. Explore the peculiarities of oil paintings, prints, or watercolors.
Art galleries to visit around the world. You may want to choose one art gallery and describe its history. Your essay will be even more interesting if you add the descriptions of the most famous artworks found in the museum.
How auction houses work. Numerous art pieces and collectibles are sold at auctions. One of the world’s most famous auction houses is Sotheby’s. In your paper, present the workings of an auction of your choice. Add individual examples of profitable deals from its history.
The most expensive art objects. The cost of many classical paintings is enormous. The prices are usually estimated by qualified experts. Explore this topic in your essay and include information on the most expensive art objects.
The comparison of classical and contemporary art forms. Art is a dynamic environment that is constantly evolving. New genres and forms of expression appear regularly. In your paper, compare classical canvases with modern means of creative expression such as graffiti . What influences the emergence of new art forms?
Rescued artworks and their history. History knows examples of great artworks that were found centuries after their disappearance. Your essay can study several art objects saved during wars.

Conspiracy-Related College Essay Topics That Stand Out

Space exploration . If your essay requirements concerning the topic are not too strict, you can try to answer some of the following questions. Did “a giant leap for mankind” really occur? Why was the Moon project shut down? Is there life on Mars ?
Wealth distribution. An excellent essay for college students can focus on the allocation of resources. Is there a league of people who own or control all the resources ? How did the world’s wealthiest people earn their money?
Secret societies of the past and present. Does the Illuminati exist? Can such a secret society persist in the modern world?
Catastrophes and reasons behind them. Why did Titanic drown? Was the curse of the Pharaoh real? Was the Chernobyl nuclear disaster an accident, or was it an unsuccessful experiment of KGB?
JFK’s assassination. Who killed the most loved president? Why was the investigation so inadequate? Were any other countries’ agents involved?
Aliens among us. Does Area 51 exist? What do governments hide? With questions like these, essay writing for college students can be exciting!
Did Adolf Hitler escape after World War II? One of the most mysterious conspiracy theories is the possible escape of Adolf Hitler. Some people believe that the Nazi leader moved to Argentina after World War II. Your essay may discuss whether his suicide was staged.
Is HIV an experimental biological weapon against humanity? The end of the 20th century was a difficult time. During this period, a suspicion arose that HIV was a biological weapon. Pharmaceutical companies and governments were blamed for this. What caused this conspiracy?
Did Elvis Presley fake his death? Elvis Presley , the idol of millions, passed away long ago. However, many fans don’t believe in this outcome. A conspiracy theory was born that the musician faked his death. You can explore its implications and determine what it says about American pop culture.
5G cell towers exposure and accusations against Bill Gates . Explore the public fears related to the potential exposure to 5G cell towers. Include the experts’ opinions and assess the role of Bill Gates as one of the promoters of fast Internet.
Flat Earth theory and its followers. In recent years, many flat Earth proponents have emerged worldwide. In your essay, compare their arguments with officially existing data. Why is this conspiracy so widespread?
COVID-19 conspiracy theory. Certain groups of people doubt the threat of the pandemic. They believe that the coronavirus is a fictional problem. Your essay might focus on the evidence for the virus’s existence.

✍️ Topics for Different College Essay Types

Below you’ll find writing prompts for problem solution, cause and effect, and definition essays. There’s also a section with personal statement essay topics. Check them out!

In a problem-solution essay , you need to introduce an issue and suggest several ways to fight it. Usually, each body paragraph describes a different solution. This essay aims to convince the audience that these scenarios are the best ways to eliminate the problem.
In a cause and effect essay , you need to discuss a problem, its reasons, and possible consequences. It’s better to pay attention to topics that involve multiple studies of the issue (you can read our cause and effect essay guide to learn more.)
In a definition essay , you need to explain a term, concept, or idea. Sometimes a definition is only a part of a more extensive research paper. It’s crucial to study the topic from different perspectives to provide an extended definition. Before you start working on your essay, make sure that the meaning of the word you’ve chosen is not too simple.
In a personal statement , you write about yourself. Writing a personal statement or a transfer essay is crucial when applying to college. How do you make it a winning paper? Read our personal statement guide .

Problem Solution Essay Topics for College Students

How can students contribute to educational system changes in the United States? Discuss student communities and their impact on college life. Do students need to have more power and control over changes in the educational system?
Ensuring access to clean water in developing African countries. Describe the achievements of charities that aim to help countries such as Ethiopia. You may also write about the costs of technologies that filter water. What are the possible solutions with a limited budget?
How can you help make energy cleaner? Try to think about what you can do on campus that will enable clean energy access. Decide whether it should be a part of your curriculum.
Ways of reducing plastic waste in oceans. Research the current efforts of environmental organizations and big businesses. Then, evaluate them and find the best solution.
Healthy eating habits among children. Think about the right age to start educating children on healthy eating. Find several possible ways to develop the proper habits without forcing children.
How can students address sustainability and climate change? Describe your participation in ecological projects, communities, etc. You can also discuss the possible things you and other students can do without spending too much time and money.
Ways of stopping healthcare rising costs in the United States. Highlight the current problems of the healthcare model. What measures does the government take to solve them? Try to find the best way to optimize the resources.
Psychological support for children who suffered from violence. Research the techniques specialists use when working with children. What do you find more preferable: therapy or medication? Suggest how we can protect children from further offenses.
How can we provide equal chances to children who want to receive an education? For this essay, find as much information as possible about financial aid , including grants, loans, and other projects. What’s the best way to make education accessible to everyone?
Reducing homelessness in the United States. Study the factors that make people homeless and what the government does to fight it. Then try to come up with an action plan.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics for College Students

The effects of regular alcohol consumption on women’s health. Everyone knows that excessive alcohol consumption has highly adverse effects. In your essay, you can discuss the causes of alcoholism in women. Try to find specific information about diseases, psychological problems, and lifestyle changes related to them.
What causes bullying among preschool children? Children might get violent due to many factors. Describe what beliefs and behavioral patterns influence their actions at preschool age.
What are the economic effects of the 2020 lockdown? Write about the changes in the labor market, remote jobs, and new opportunities. How did small businesses manage to survive in extreme circumstances?
Lack of education in African countries: causes and effects. Discuss why children in some African countries don’t have access to education. Then, explain how it affects labor markets and economies. Make sure to choose only one country as a research subject.
What will be the effects of implementing higher taxes on tobacco? Will it inspire people to quit smoking or buy fewer tobacco products? Study the previous cases of such measures and predict the outcomes.
How does social media affect communication in families? For this essay, research the impact of social media on family relationships. Do social media users communicate more or less with their closest relatives? on family relationships. Do social media users communicate more or less with their closest relatives?
The causes and effects of glacier melting . Global warming, ozone depletion, and many other factors contribute to this process. Discuss how this issue influences people and animals.
What would happen if everyone started using electric cars? Study the benefits and drawbacks of electric vehicles. You might discuss the CO2 emissions and safety.
What are the effects of animal hunting in the United States. We can call hunting a hobby, a sport, and even an illegal activity. In your essay, describe the current laws and why people want to hunt. How do these activities influence animals’ populations?
The causes and effects of chemical pollution in China. China is the biggest manufacturer of goods in the world. However, the waste that the factories produce becomes dangerous for its ecology. In your essay, research how chemical pollution affects the everyday life and health of the Chinese people.

Definition Essay Topics for College

Behaviorism in psychology and philosophy. Consider writing your essay on behaviorism as a psychological movement at the beginning of the 20 th century. Additionally, you can provide a broader definition by researching behaviorism in philosophy. century. Additionally, you can provide a broader definition by researching behaviorism in philosophy.
How can we define egoism? People interpret human behavior and character traits in different ways. Someone who seems to be an egoist to you can seem like someone with a sense of self-worth to another person. You can provide your own viewpoint on this issue.
What is the definition of evil? Some people believe in eternal evil, while others see evil even in the littlest bad things that happen to them. In your opinion, what makes someone or something evil?
Does the term “commodification” only apply to goods? In the modern world, everything has value. Discuss the moral aspects of commodification and the limits of its application.
What is your definition of the word “endurance”? You can compare the physical abilities of athletes and non-athletes. Don’t forget to mention mental stamina that involves dealing with psychological pressure and overcoming difficulties.
Does the word “ambition” have a positive or negative meaning? Naturally, you can’t give a single answer to this question. Instead, you can discuss both sides of this concept in your paper.
How can you define the word “dualism”? Describe all the meanings of the word “dualism” in philosophy and daily life. Don’t forget to provide your understanding of the concept. You may also explain why this term is controversial.
What does the word “identity” make you think of? Cover all the meanings of this word. Begin with a set of qualities that defines a person. Also, you may include a psychological interpretation of the term.
What is your interpretation of the word “justice”? Discuss the legal definition of this concept. Also, you can write about the moral aspects and the subjective meaning of the term. Describe how justice is related to rewards and punishments and its place in the modern world.
What are your thoughts about realism? This term is used in many disciplines. For example, it’s prominent in literature and art. In your essay, you may describe realism as a philosophical concept and its different forms and perceptions.

Themes for Your Personal Statement Essay

Your academic credentials. When writing about your academic achievements, it is appropriate to mention the major things like your degree or courses you’ve had. It’s better to focus on the moral lessons you’ve learned rather than your grades and certificates.
Your personality traits. A successful acceptance essay will reveal your character. Admission officers want to know who the applicants are. Every university has its specific culture, so they should make sure you can fit in.
An event that changed your life. Of course, your college entry essay can’t be just an enumeration of character traits. Describe some circumstances where your personal qualities manifested themselves. Again, it’s best to focus on the lessons you’ve learned!
Commitment as your character trait. Your college admittance essay should also show your dedication. Why do you want to study there? Why do you want to take the course you’ve chosen? What are you ready to do for your alma mater?
Humor in your life. Even Harvard personal statement essays are often characterized by humor. Write about your failures in a funny way, and admission officers will see your ability to stand up and fight.
Academic goals and ways to achieve them. Choosing a field to study is a responsible step. You can describe this process in a personal statement. Justify your choice and mention the academic skills necessary for this particular field.
Creative writing . When applying to a course in English, it can be effective to write a poem rather than a typical description of your educational background.
Views on society and contemporary values. You can impress the committee by discussing your opinions. One convenient approach is to focus on modern society and its values. Analyze the foundations of a particular cultural environment and assess interaction gaps.
Professional objectives you want to achieve. Without mentioning professional goals, a personal statement will be incomplete. One effective strategy is to evaluate the desired prospects you want to achieve. They can be related to education as well as work. Pay attention to relevant resources needed to acquire optimal skills.
Cultural background from an ethnic perspective. A personal statement can be focused not only on your academic experience but also on your cultural background . Include the basic facts about your ethnicity, parents, beliefs, family values, and other information. This way, you’ll present yourself comprehensively and impartially.
Self-evaluation over time: personal strengths and skills. Both short- and long-term perspectives are worth mentioning. Assessing individual development and career growth can provide you with a helpful timeline.

🚫 College Essay Topics to Avoid

When it comes to college essays, some topics might produce a wrong impression or offend your audience. That is why you need to know what kind of content is not suitable for your academic writing.

Here are the most common examples of the topics that you should avoid:

Your personal life. Better leave the stories about your breakups aside. For a successful application essay, you can focus on the other areas of your life. Try to choose a topic that will show how well you are suited for the college.
Inappropriate humor. Provocative, mean, or cruel jokes are not suitable for college essays. Your audience probably won’t consider such humor clever or funny. If you are unsure if a joke fits your task, don’t hesitate to ask your professor.
Tragic stories. This trope is critical to avoid when writing essays about yourself. It’s okay to mention tragic events, but it’s best to avoid making a pessimistic narrative out of your paper. Instead, you can describe such occurrences as challenges to overcome and focus on the positives.
Sensitive or controversial topics. Avoid them if you know that they may offend your readers. Politics, religion, abortions, and cruelty are not the best topics for college essays. If your assignment requires writing an essay on one of those topics, make sure you don’t make bold statements or provoke your audience.
Cliché topics. It’s better to avoid writing about your academic achievements, volunteering, or winning a sports competition. Admissions officers and professors have read similar essays thousands of times.
Overly narrow topics . It’s good to choose a topic that stands out because it’s not cliché. However, it becomes harder to find enough relevant information if it’s too obscure or limited. Choose a topic like this only if you are sure you will have enough data to research.
Insulting someone. Offensiveness is a wrong approach to your assignment that creates a negative impression. It’s crucial to stay objective and professional when it comes to academic writing.
Fancy words. Avoid overcomplicating your essay’s title and its contents. It’s also not a great idea to begin your essay with a trite quote. Instead, it’s best to prioritize logic and clear structure during writing.
Vague topics . It will likely make your essay lack a focus, which will come off as unprofessional. Make sure to always narrow your topic down to a particular issue.
Untrue and unrealistic topics. It might be interesting to fantasize about impossible scenarios and get creative. Still, remember that you need to support your statements with solid evidence. It’s much harder to do when you deal with unrealistic topics.

We hope these college essay topics helped you make a great choice. If you need more proposal argument essay topics, feel free to use our topic generator . Let us know in the comments what topic you’ve chosen!

This might be interesting for you:

College Essay Writing 101—the Comprehensive Guide
How to Write a Creative Essay: Tips, Topics and Techniques
Descriptive Writing Exercises to Boost Your Imagination
Terrific Essay Tools for Fast and Simple Writing
How to Use the Right Gender-Neutral Pronouns
How to Write an Outline That Will Earn an A+ Grade

✏️ College Essay Topic FAQ

Think about something that makes you genuinely interested. You will need to research the subject. So if you are bored from the outset, you won’t be able to do a good job and impress your readers.

A good topic doesn’t have to be very serious. It means that the subject under study should fascinate you. Then you would be able to make it enjoyable for others, too. Study something connected with your hobby, favorite author, or even a country.

To choose a good topic, you need to think about your assignment. Different issues are appropriate for argumentative, persuasive, and other types of essays. The main thing is that the subject should interest you. Your essay would be more exciting for the readers if you have fun writing it.

If you are lucky enough to choose a topic for yourself, you can have fun writing the essay. Don’t waste this opportunity! To figure out the best subject, think about your favorite things. If you want to share something with others, write an essay about it.

Writing Tips: Thesis Statements: Writers Workshop, The Center for Writing Studies, Illinois
Essay Introductions: UMGC, the University System of Maryland
How to Read an Assignment: William C. Rice, for the Writing Center at Harvard University
Thesis Statements: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Essay Writing: University of Wollongong
How to Write High-Quality Papers and Essays More Quickly: Ransom Patterson, College Info Geek
Essay Tips from Andrew K. Strickler, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid: Connecticut College
Essays that Worked: Hamilton College
Popular Application Essay Topics: The Princeton Review
Women’s Health Topics: US Food & Drug Administration
Essay Topics: Yale College Undergraduate Admissions
Essay Topics and Tips: College of Arts and Sciences, Lewis & Clark
Essay Prompts: Seattle Pacific University
Essay Questions, Undergraduate Admissions: University of Michigan
Writing the College Essay: Babson College
The Essay: NYS Higher Education Services Corporation
Over 1,000 Writing Prompts for Students: The New York Times
How to Write a College Essay: Sofia Tokar, Southern New Hampshire University
Personal Essay Topics and Prompts: ThoughtCo
Who’s the Most Significant Historical Figure?: The Guardian
The Dos and Don’ts of Campus Life: CollegeXpress
Climate Change: National Geographic
4 Types of Parenting Styles and Their Effect on Kids: Very Well Family
Campus Life: What to Expect: My Future
Gender Equality and Women Empowerment: United Nations
100 Creative Writing Prompts for Writers: Writer’s Digest
13 Benefits and Challenges of Cultural Diversity at Workplace: Hult International Business School
7 Benefits of Gender Diversity at Workplace: Workplace.com
Artists: The Art History
Art Movements: Artyfactory
36 of the Most Popular Conspiracy Theories in the US: Insider
Personal Statements: University of Connecticut
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What makes a good college essay topic, awesome college essay topics + sample essays, how to get your essay reviewed for free.

Finding a great college essay topic is one of the most stressful parts of the essay writing process. How is it possible to accurately represent your life and personality in one essay? How can you tell if a topic will do your story justice, or if it’ll end up hurting your application?

While a good essay topic varies from one person to another, there are some general guidelines you should follow when picking a topic. In this post, we’ll go over the commonalities of a good college essay topic, and we’ll share five original topics and sample essays to inspire your writing.

College essays are meant to provide admissions officers with a better idea of who you are beyond your quantitative achievements. It’s your chance to share your voice, personality, and story.

A good essay topic will do the following:

Answers the 4 core questions. These questions are:

“Who Am I?”
“Why Am I Here?”
“What is Unique About Me?”
“What Matters to Me?”

At its core, your essay should show who you are, how you got there, and where you’re going.

Is deeply personal. The best essay topics allow you to be raw and vulnerable. You don’t need to bare your soul and tell your deepest secrets, but you should share your thoughts and emotions in your essay. A good essay should make the reader feel something—whether that’s your joy, embarrassment, panic, defeat, confidence, or determination.

Is original, or approaches a common topic in an original way. Admissions officers read a lot of essays about the same old topics. Some of those cliches include: a sports injury, person you admire, tragedy, or working hard in a challenging class. While it’s possible to write a good essay on a common topic, it’s much harder to do so, and you may lose the admissions officer’s attention early on.

Try to find a topic that goes beyond traditional archetypes to make yourself truly stand out. You could also take a cliche topic but develop it in a different way. For example, the standard storyline of the sports injury essay is that you got hurt, were upset you couldn’t participate, but then worked hard and overcame that injury. Instead, you could write about how you got injured, and used that time off to develop a new interest, such as coding.

The truth is that a “good” college essay topic varies by individual, as it really depends on your life experiences. That being said, there are some topics that should work well for most people, and they are:

1. A unique extracurricular activity or passion

Writing about an extracurricular activity is not a unique essay topic, and it’s actually a common supplemental essay prompt. If you have an unconventional activity, however, the essay is the perfect opportunity to showcase and elaborate upon that interest. Less common activities are less familiar to admissions officers, so some extra context can be helpful in understanding how that activity worked, and how much it meant to you.

For example, here’s a sample essay about a student who played competitive bridge, and what the activity taught them:

The room was silent except for the thoughts racing through my head. I led a spade from my hand and my opponent paused for a second, then played a heart. The numbers ran through my mind as I tried to consider every combination, calculating my next move. Finally, I played the ace of spades from the dummy and the rest of my clubs, securing the contract and 620 points when my partner ruffed at trick five. Next board.

It was the final of the 2015 United States Bridge Federation Under-26 Women’s Championship. The winning team would be selected to represent the United States in the world championship and my team was still in the running.

Contract bridge is a strategic and stochastic card game. Players from around the world gather at local clubs, regional events, and, in this case, national tournaments.

Going into the tournament, my team was excited; all the hours we had put into the game, from the lengthy midnight Skype sessions spent discussing boards to the coffee shop meetings spent memorizing conventions together, were about to pay off.

Halfway through, our spirits were still high, as we were only down by fourteen international match points which, out of the final total of about four hundred points, was virtually nothing and it was very feasible to catch up. Our excitement was short-lived, however, as sixty boards later, we found that we had lost the match and would not be chosen as the national team.

Initially, we were devastated. We had come so close and it seemed as if all the hours we had devoted to training had been utterly wasted. Yet as our team spent some time together reflecting upon the results, we gradually realized that the true value that we had gained wasn’t only the prospect of winning the national title, but also the time we had spent together exploring our shared passion. I chatted with the winning team and even befriended a few of them who offered us encouragement and advice.

Throughout my bridge career, although I’ve gained a respectable amount of masterpoints and awards, I’ve realized that the real reward comes from the extraordinary people I have met. I don’t need to travel cross-country to learn; every time I sit down at a table whether it be during a simple club game, a regional tournament or a national event, I find I’m always learning.

I nod at the pair that’s always yelling at each other. They teach me the importance of sportsmanship and forgiveness.

I greet the legally blind man who can defeat most of the seeing players. He reminds me not to make excuses.

I chat with the friendly, elderly couple who, at ages ninety and ninety-two, have just gotten married two weeks ago. They teach me that it’s never too late to start anything.

I talk to the boy who’s attending Harvard and the girl who forewent college to start her own company. They show me that there is more than one path to success.

I congratulate the little kid running to his dad, excited to have won his very first masterpoints. He reminds me of the thrill of every first time and to never stop trying new things.

Just as much as I have benefitted from these life lessons, I aspire to give back to my bridge community as much as it has given me. I aspire to teach people how to play this complicated yet equally as exciting game. I aspire to never stop improving myself, both at and away from the bridge table.

Bridge has given me my roots and dared me to dream. What started as merely a hobby has become a community, a passion, a part of my identity. I aspire to live selflessly and help others reach their goals. I seek to take risks, embrace all results, even failure, and live unfettered from my own doubt .

2. An activity or interest that contrasts heavily with your profile

The essays are also a great way to highlight different aspects of who you are, and also explain any aspects of your profile that might not “make sense.” For instance, if your extracurriculars are heavily STEM-focused, but you have one theatre-related activity you care a lot about, you might want to write an essay on theatre to add an extra dimension to your application. Admissions officers actually love when students have a “contrast profile,” or well-developed interests in two disparate fields. This is because they see a lot of well-rounded and specialized students, so students with contrast profiles offer something refreshingly unique.

Here’s a sample essay written by an athlete who is also an accomplished poet. The piece focuses upon the student’s contrasting identities, and how they eventually come to feel proud of both identities.

When I was younger, I was adamant that no two foods on my plate touch. As a result, I often used a second plate to prevent such an atrocity. In many ways, I learned to separate different things this way from my older brothers, Nate and Rob. Growing up, I idolized both of them. Nate was a performer, and I insisted on arriving early to his shows to secure front row seats, refusing to budge during intermission for fear of missing anything. Rob was a three-sport athlete, and I attended his games religiously, waving worn-out foam cougar paws and cheering until my voice was hoarse. My brothers were my role models. However, while each was talented, neither was interested in the other’s passion. To me, they represented two contrasting ideals of what I could become: artist or athlete. I believed I had to choose.

And for a long time, I chose athlete. I played soccer, basketball, and lacrosse and viewed myself exclusively as an athlete, believing the arts were not for me. I conveniently overlooked that since the age of five, I had been composing stories for my family for Christmas, gifts that were as much for me as them, as I loved writing. So when in tenth grade, I had the option of taking a creative writing class, I was faced with a question: could I be an athlete and a writer? After much debate, I enrolled in the class, feeling both apprehensive and excited. When I arrived on the first day of school, my teacher, Ms. Jenkins, asked us to write down our expectations for the class. After a few minutes, eraser shavings stubbornly sunbathing on my now-smudged paper, I finally wrote, “I do not expect to become a published writer from this class. I just want this to be a place where I can write freely.”

Although the purpose of the class never changed for me, on the third “submission day,” – our time to submit writing to upcoming contests and literary magazines – I faced a predicament. For the first two submission days, I had passed the time editing earlier pieces, eventually (pretty quickly) resorting to screen snake when hopelessness made the words look like hieroglyphics. I must not have been as subtle as I thought, as on the third of these days, Ms. Jenkins approached me. After shifting from excuse to excuse as to why I did not submit my writing, I finally recognized the real reason I had withheld my work: I was scared. I did not want to be different, and I did not want to challenge not only others’ perceptions of me, but also my own. I yielded to Ms. Jenkin’s pleas and sent one of my pieces to an upcoming contest.

By the time the letter came, I had already forgotten about the contest. When the flimsy white envelope arrived in the mail, I was shocked and ecstatic to learn that I had received 2nd place in a nationwide writing competition. The next morning, however, I discovered Ms. Jenkins would make an announcement to the whole school exposing me as a poet. I decided to own this identity and embrace my friends’ jokes and playful digs, and over time, they have learned to accept and respect this part of me. I have since seen more boys at my school identifying themselves as writers or artists.

I no longer see myself as an athlete and a poet independently, but rather I see these two aspects forming a single inseparable identity – me. Despite their apparent differences, these two disciplines are quite similar, as each requires creativity and devotion. I am still a poet when I am lacing up my cleats for soccer practice and still an athlete when I am building metaphors in the back of my mind – and I have realized ice cream and gummy bears taste pretty good together.

3. A seemingly insignificant moment that speaks to larger themes within your life

Writing an essay on a seemingly mundane moment is unexpected, so that should grab the attention of the reader in almost a backwards way. You’ll make them wonder where the essay is going, and why you chose to write about that moment. From there, you can use that moment as an avenue to discuss important elements of your identity.

In this sample essay, a student details her experience failing to make a fire from sticks, and how it leads her to reflect on how her former passion (or “fire”) for the outdoors is now reflected in her current interests.

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray—I wore the garb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire.

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together—rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth—old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family.

Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt.

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame.

In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive. And I’d gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation—he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him.

Yet, I realized I hadn’t really changed—I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I’d grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses.

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped—it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn’t start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.

4. Using an everyday experience or object as a metaphor to explore your life and personality

Using an everyday experience as a vehicle to explore your identity is also intriguing in an unexpected way. You’d be surprised at how many everyday routines and objects naturally lend themselves to a unique glance into your life. Some of those things might be: a familiar drive, your running shoes, a recipe from your grandmother, walking to your guitar lesson.

This topic also is a strong choice if you have a descriptive, artful writing style. It allows you to get creative with the transitions from the everyday experience to larger reflections on your life.

Here’s an example of a student who chose to write about showers, all while showcasing their personality and unique aspects of their life.

Scalding hot water cascades over me, crashing to the ground in a familiar, soothing rhythm. Steam rises to the ceiling as dried sweat and soap suds swirl down the drain. The water hisses as it hits my skin, far above the safe temperature for a shower. The pressure is perfect on my tired muscles, easing the aches and bruises from a rough bout of sparring and the tension from a long, stressful day. The noise from my overactive mind dies away, fading into music, lyrics floating through my head. Black streaks stripe the inside of my left arm, remnants of the penned reminders of homework, money owed and forms due.

It lacks the same dynamism and controlled intensity of sparring on the mat at taekwondo or the warm tenderness of a tight hug from my father, but it’s still a cocoon of safety as the water washes away the day’s burdens. As long as the hot water is running, the rest of the world ceases to exist, shrinking to me, myself and I. The shower curtain closes me off from the hectic world spinning around me.

Much like the baths of Blanche DuBois, my hot showers are a means of cleansing and purifying (though I’m mostly just ridding myself of the germs from children at work sneezing on me). In the midst of a hot shower, there is no impending exam to study for, no newspaper deadline to meet, no paycheck to deposit. It is simply complete and utter peace, a safe haven. The steam clears my mind even as it clouds my mirror.

Creativity thrives in the tub, breathing life into tales of dragons and warrior princesses that evolve only in my head, never making their way to paper but appeasing the childlike dreamer and wannabe author in me all the same. That one calculus problem that has seemed unsolvable since second period clicks into place as I realize the obvious solution. The perfect concluding sentence to my literary analysis essay writes itself (causing me to abruptly end my shower in a mad dash to the computer before I forget it entirely).

Ever since I was old enough to start taking showers unaided, I began hogging all the hot water in the house, a source of great frustration to my parents. Many of my early showers were rudely cut short by an unholy banging on the bathroom door and an order to “stop wasting water and come eat dinner before it gets cold.” After a decade of trudging up the stairs every evening to put an end to my water-wasting, my parents finally gave in, leaving me to my (expensive) showers. I imagine someday, when paying the water bill is in my hands, my showers will be shorter, but today is not that day (nor, hopefully, will the next four years be that day).

Showers are better than any ibuprofen, the perfect panacea for life’s daily ailments. Headaches magically disappear as long as the water runs, though they typically return in full force afterward. The runny nose and itchy eyes courtesy of summertime allergies recede. Showers alleviate even the stomachache from a guacamole-induced lack of self-control.

Honestly though, the best part about a hot shower is neither its medicinal abilities nor its blissful temporary isolation or even the heavenly warmth seeped deep into my bones. The best part is that these little moments of pure, uninhibited contentedness are a daily occurrence. No matter how stressful the day, showers ensure I always have something to look forward to. They are small moments, true, but important nonetheless, because it is the little things in life that matter; the big moments are too rare, too fleeting to make anyone truly happy. Wherever I am in the world, whatever fate chooses to throw at me, I know I can always find my peace at the end of the day behind the shower curtain.

5. An in the moment narrative that tells the story of a important moment in your life

In the moment narrative is a powerful essay format, as your reader experiences the events, your thoughts, and your emotions with you . Students assume that your chosen moment needs to be extremely dramatic or life-altering, but the truth is that you can use this method to write about all kinds of events, from the everyday to the unexpected to the monumental. It doesn’t matter, as long as that moment was important to your development.

For example, this student wrote about a Model UN conference where they were asked to switch stances last minute. This might not seem like a huge moment, but this experience was meaningful to them because it showed them the importance of adaptability.

The morning of the Model United Nation conference, I walked into Committee feeling confident about my research. We were simulating the Nuremberg Trials – a series of post-World War II proceedings for war crimes – and my portfolio was of the Soviet Judge Major General Iona Nikitchenko. Until that day, the infamous Nazi regime had only been a chapter in my history textbook; however, the conference’s unveiling of each defendant’s crimes brought those horrors to life. The previous night, I had organized my research, proofread my position paper and gone over Judge Nikitchenko’s pertinent statements. I aimed to find the perfect balance between his stance and my own.

As I walked into committee anticipating a battle of wits, my director abruptly called out to me. “I’m afraid we’ve received a late confirmation from another delegate who will be representing Judge Nikitchenko. You, on the other hand, are now the defense attorney, Otto Stahmer.” Everyone around me buzzed around the room in excitement, coordinating with their allies and developing strategies against their enemies, oblivious to the bomb that had just dropped on me. I felt frozen in my tracks, and it seemed that only rage against the careless delegate who had confirmed her presence so late could pull me out of my trance. After having spent a month painstakingly crafting my verdicts and gathering evidence against the Nazis, I now needed to reverse my stance only three hours before the first session.

Gradually, anger gave way to utter panic. My research was fundamental to my performance, and without it, I knew I could add little to the Trials. But confident in my ability, my director optimistically recommended constructing an impromptu defense. Nervously, I began my research anew. Despite feeling hopeless, as I read through the prosecution’s arguments, I uncovered substantial loopholes. I noticed a lack of conclusive evidence against the defendants and certain inconsistencies in testimonies. My discovery energized me, inspiring me to revisit the historical overview in my conference “Background Guide” and to search the web for other relevant articles. Some Nazi prisoners had been treated as “guilty” before their court dates. While I had brushed this information under the carpet while developing my position as a judge, it now became the focus of my defense. I began scratching out a new argument, centered on the premise that the allied countries had violated the fundamental rule that, a defendant was “not guilty” until proven otherwise.

At the end of the three hours, I felt better prepared. The first session began, and with bravado, I raised my placard to speak. Microphone in hand, I turned to face my audience. “Greetings delegates. I, Otto Stahmer would like to…….” I suddenly blanked. Utter dread permeated my body as I tried to recall my thoughts in vain. “Defence Attorney, Stahmer we’ll come back to you,” my Committee Director broke the silence as I tottered back to my seat, flushed with embarrassment. Despite my shame, I was undeterred. I needed to vindicate my director’s faith in me. I pulled out my notes, refocused, and began outlining my arguments in a more clear and direct manner. Thereafter, I spoke articulately, confidently putting forth my points. I was overjoyed when Secretariat members congratulated me on my fine performance.

Going into the conference, I believed that preparation was the key to success. I wouldn’t say I disagree with that statement now, but I believe adaptability is equally important. My ability to problem-solve in the face of an unforeseen challenge proved advantageous in the art of diplomacy. Not only did this experience transform me into a confident and eloquent delegate at that conference, but it also helped me become a more flexible and creative thinker in a variety of other capacities. Now that I know I can adapt under pressure, I look forward to engaging in activities that will push me to be even quicker on my feet.

At selective schools, your essays account for around 25% of your admissions decision. That’s more than grades (20%) and test scores (15%), and almost as much as extracurriculars (30%). Why is this? Most students applying to top schools will have stellar academics and extracurriculars. Your essays are your chance to stand out and humanize your application.

That’s why it’s vital that your essays are engaging, and present you as someone who would enrich the campus community.

Before submitting your application, you should have someone else review your essays. It’s even better if that person doesn’t know you personally, as they can best tell whether your personality shines through your essay.

That’s why we created our Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. We highly recommend giving this tool a try!

Final Thoughts

We hope this gives you a better idea of what good essay topic looks like, and that you’re feeling inspired to write your own essay—maybe one of these topics can even apply to your own life!

For more guidance on your essays, see these posts:

How to Write the Common App Essay

What If I Don ’t Have Anything Interesting to Write About in My College Essay?

Wh ere to Begin? 6 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises

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160 Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Students in 2024

April 3, 2024

The skill of writing an excellent argumentative essay is a crucial one for every high school or college student to master. In sum, argumentative essays teach students how to organize their thoughts logically and present them in a convincing way. This skill is helpful not only for those pursuing degrees in law , international relations , or public policy , but for any student who wishes to develop their critical thinking faculties. In this article, we’ll cover what makes a good argument essay and offer several argumentative essay topics for high school and college students. Let’s begin!

What is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses research to present a reasoned argument on a particular subject . As with the persuasive essay , the purpose of an argumentative essay is to sway the reader to the writer’s position. However, a strong persuasive essay makes its point through diligent research and emotion while a strong argumentative essay should be based solely on facts, not feelings.

Moreover, each fact should be supported by clear evidence from credible sources . Furthermore, a good argumentative essay will have an easy-to-follow structure. When organizing your argumentative essay, use this format as a guide:

Introduction
Supporting body paragraphs
Paragraph(s) addressing common counterarguments

Argumentative Essay Format

In the introduction , the writer presents their position and thesis statement —a sentence that summarizes the paper’s main points. The body paragraphs then draw upon supporting evidence to back up this initial statement, with each paragraph focusing on its own point. The length of your paper will determine the amount of examples you need. In general, you’ll likely need at least two to three. Additionally, your examples should be as detailed as possible, citing specific research, case studies, statistics, or anecdotes.

In the counterargument paragraph , the writer acknowledges and refutes opposing viewpoints. Finally, in the conclusion , the writer restates the main argument made in the thesis statement and summarizes the points of the essay. Additionally, the conclusion may offer a final proposal to persuade the reader of the essay’s position.

How to Write an Effective Argumentative Essay, Step by Step

Choose your topic. Use the list below to help you pick a topic. Ideally, a good argumentative essay topic will be meaningful to you—writing is always stronger when you are interested in the subject matter. In addition, the topic should be complex with plenty of “pro” and “con” arguments. Avoid choosing a topic that is either widely accepted as fact or too narrow. For example, “Is the earth round?” would not be a solid choice.
Research. Use the library, the web, and any other resources to gather information about your argumentative essay topic. Research widely but smartly. As you go, take organized notes, marking the source of every quote and where it may fit in the scheme of your larger essay. Moreover, remember to look for (and research) possible counterarguments.
Outline . Using the argument essay format above, create an outline for your essay. Then, brainstorm a thesis statement covering your argument’s main points, and begin to put your examples in order, focusing on logical flow. It’s often best to place your strongest example last.
Write . Draw on your research and outline to create a first draft. Remember, your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. (As Voltaire says, “Perfect is the enemy of good.”) Accordingly, just focus on getting the words down on paper.
Does my thesis statement need to be adjusted?
Which examples feel strongest? Weakest?
Do the transitions flow smoothly?
Do I have a strong opening paragraph?
Does the conclusion reinforce my argument?

Tips for Revising an Argument Essay

Evaluating your own work can be difficult, so you might consider the following strategies:

Read your work aloud to yourself.
Record yourself reading your paper, and listen to the recording.
Reverse outline your paper. Firstly, next to each paragraph, write a short summary of that paragraph’s main points/idea. Then, read through your reverse outline. Does it have a logical flow? If not, where should you adjust?
Print out your paper and cut it into paragraphs. What happens when you rearrange the paragraphs?

Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School, High School, and College Students

Family argumentative essay topics.

Should the government provide financial incentives for families to have children to address the declining birth rate?
Should we require parents to provide their children with a certain level of nutrition and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity?
Should parents implement limits on how much time their children spend playing video games?
Should cell phones be banned from family/holiday gatherings?
Should we hold parents legally responsible for their children’s actions?
Should children have the right to sue their parents for neglect?
Should parents have the right to choose their child’s religion?
Are spanking and other forms of physical punishment an effective method of discipline?
Should courts allow children to choose where they live in cases of divorce?
Should parents have the right to monitor teens’ activity on social media?
Should parents control their child’s medical treatment, even if it goes against the child’s wishes?
Should parents be allowed to post pictures of their children on social media without their consent?
Should fathers have a legal say in whether their partners do or do not receive an abortion?
Can television have positive developmental benefits on children?
Should the driving age be raised to prevent teen car accidents?
Should adult children be legally required to care for their aging parents?

Education Argument Essay Topics

Should schools ban the use of technology like ChatGPT?
Are zoos unethical, or necessary for conservation and education?
To what degree should we hold parents responsible in the event of a school shooting?
Should schools offer students a set number of mental health days?
Should school science curriculums offer a course on combating climate change?
Should public libraries be allowed to ban certain books? If so, what types?
What role, if any, should prayer play in public schools?
Should schools push to abolish homework?
Are gifted and talented programs in schools more harmful than beneficial due to their exclusionary nature?
Should universities do away with Greek life?
Should schools remove artwork, such as murals, that some perceive as offensive?
Should the government grant parents the right to choose alternative education options for their children and use taxpayer funds to support these options?
Is homeschooling better than traditional schooling for children’s academic and social development?
Should we require schools to teach sex education to reduce teen pregnancy rates?
Should we require schools to provide sex education that includes information about both homosexual and heterosexual relationships?
Should colleges use affirmative action and other race-conscious policies to address diversity on campus?
Should public schools remove the line “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance?
Should college admissions officers be allowed to look at students’ social media accounts?
Should schools abolish their dress codes, many of which unfairly target girls, LGBTQ students, and students of color?
Should schools be required to stock free period products in bathrooms?
Should legacy students receive preferential treatment during the college admissions process?
Are school “voluntourism” trips ethical?

Government Argumentative Essay Topics

Should the U.S. decriminalize prostitution?
Should the U.S. issue migration visas to all eligible applicants?
Should the federal government cancel all student loan debt?
Should we lower the minimum voting age? If so, to what?
Should the federal government abolish all laws penalizing drug production and use?
Should the U.S. use its military power to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan?
Should the U.S. supply Ukraine with further military intelligence and supplies?
Should the North and South of the U.S. split up into two regions?
Should Americans hold up nationalism as a critical value?
Should we permit Supreme Court justices to hold their positions indefinitely?
Should Supreme Court justices be democratically elected?
Is the Electoral College still a productive approach to electing the U.S. president?
Should the U.S. implement a national firearm registry?
Is it ethical for countries like China and Israel to mandate compulsory military service for all citizens?
Should the U.S. government implement a ranked-choice voting system?
Should institutions that benefited from slavery be required to provide reparations?
Based on the 1619 project, should history classes change how they teach about the founding of the U.S.?
Should term limits be imposed on Senators and Representatives? If so, how long?
Should women be allowed into special forces units?
Should the federal government implement stronger, universal firearm licensing laws?
Do public sex offender registries help prevent future sex crimes?
Should the government be allowed to regulate family size?
Should all adults legally be considered mandated reporters?
Should the government fund public universities to make higher education more accessible to low-income students?
Should the government fund universal preschool to improve children’s readiness for kindergarten?

Health/Bioethics Argumentative Essay Topics

Should the U.S. government offer its own healthcare plan?
In the case of highly infectious pandemics, should we focus on individual freedoms or public safety when implementing policies to control the spread?
Should we legally require parents to vaccinate their children to protect public health?
Is it ethical for parents to use genetic engineering to create “designer babies” with specific physical and intellectual traits?
Should the government fund research on embryonic stem cells for medical treatments?
Should the government legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill patients?
Should organ donation be mandatory?
Is cloning animals ethical?
Should cancer screenings start earlier? If so, what age?
Is surrogacy ethical?
Should birth control require a prescription?
Should minors have access to emergency contraception?
Should hospitals be for-profit or nonprofit institutions?

Good Argumentative Essay Topics — Continued

Social media argumentative essay topics.

Should the federal government increase its efforts to minimize the negative impact of social media?
Do social media and smartphones strengthen one’s relationships?
Should antitrust regulators take action to limit the size of big tech companies?
Should social media platforms ban political advertisements?
Should the federal government hold social media companies accountable for instances of hate speech discovered on their platforms?
Do apps such as TikTok and Instagram ultimately worsen the mental well-being of teenagers?
Should governments oversee how social media platforms manage their users’ data?
Should social media platforms like Facebook enforce a minimum age requirement for users?
Should social media companies be held responsible for cases of cyberbullying?
Should the United States ban TikTok?
Is social media harmful to children?
Should employers screen applicants’ social media accounts during the hiring process?

Religion Argument Essay Topics

Should religious institutions be tax-exempt?
Should religious symbols such as the hijab or crucifix be allowed in public spaces?
Should religious freedoms be protected, even when they conflict with secular laws?
Should the government regulate religious practices?
Should we allow churches to engage in political activities?
Religion: a force for good or evil in the world?
Should the government provide funding for religious schools?
Is it ethical for healthcare providers to deny abortions based on religious beliefs?
Should religious organizations be allowed to discriminate in their hiring practices?
Should we allow people to opt out of medical treatments based on their religious beliefs?
Should the U.S. government hold religious organizations accountable for cases of sexual abuse within their community?
Should religious beliefs be exempt from anti-discrimination laws?
Should religious individuals be allowed to refuse services to others based on their beliefs or lifestyles? (As in this famous case .)
Should the US ban religion-based federal holidays?
Should public schools be allowed to teach children about religious holidays?

Science Argument Essay Topics

Would the world be safer if we eliminated nuclear weapons?
Should scientists bring back extinct animals? If so, which ones?
Should we hold companies fiscally responsible for their carbon footprint?
Should we ban pesticides in favor of organic farming methods?
Should the federal government ban all fossil fuels, despite the potential economic impact on specific industries and communities?
What renewable energy source should the U.S. invest more money in?
Should the FDA outlaw GMOs?
Should we worry about artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence?
Should the alternative medicine industry be more stringently regulated?
Is colonizing Mars a viable option?
Is the animal testing worth the potential to save human lives?

Sports Argument Essay Topics

Should colleges compensate student-athletes?
How should sports teams and leagues address the gender pay gap?
Should youth sports teams do away with scorekeeping?
Should we ban aggressive contact sports like boxing and MMA?
Should professional sports associations mandate that athletes stand during the national anthem?
Should high schools require their student-athletes to maintain a certain GPA?
Should transgender athletes compete in sports according to their gender identity?
Should schools ban football due to the inherent danger it poses to players?
Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in sports?
Do participation trophies foster entitlement and unrealistic expectations?
Should sports teams be divided by gender?
Should professional athletes be allowed to compete in the Olympics?
Should women be allowed on NFL teams?

Technology Argumentative Essay Topics

Should sites like DALL-E compensate the artists whose work it was trained on?
Should the federal government make human exploration of space a more significant priority?
Is it ethical for the government to use surveillance technology to monitor citizens?
Should websites require proof of age from their users? If so, what age?
Should we consider A.I.-generated images and text pieces of art?
Does the use of facial recognition technology violate individuals’ privacy?
Is online learning as effective as in-person learning?
Does computing harm the environment?
Should buying, sharing, and selling collected personal data be illegal?
Are electric cars really better for the environment?
Should car companies be held responsible for self-driving car accidents?
Should private jets be banned?
Do violent video games contribute to real-life violence?

Business Argument Essay Topics

Should the U.S. government phase out the use of paper money in favor of a fully digital currency system?
Should the federal government abolish its patent and copyright laws?
Should we replace the Federal Reserve with free-market institutions?
Is free-market ideology responsible for the U.S. economy’s poor performance over the past decade?
Will cryptocurrencies overtake natural resources like gold and silver?
Is capitalism the best economic system? What system would be better?
Should the U.S. government enact a universal basic income?
Should we require companies to provide paid parental leave to their employees?
Should the government raise the minimum wage? If so, to what?
Should antitrust regulators break up large companies to promote competition?
Is it ethical for companies to prioritize profits over social responsibility?
Should gig-economy workers like Uber and Lyft drivers be considered employees or independent contractors?
Should the federal government regulate the gig economy to ensure fair treatment of workers?
Should the government require companies to disclose the environmental impact of their products?
Should companies be allowed to fire employees based on political views or activities?
Should tipping practices be phased out?
Should employees who choose not to have children be given the same amount of paid leave as parents?
Should MLMs (multi-level marketing companies) be illegal?
Should employers be allowed to factor tattoos and personal appearance into hiring decisions?

In Conclusion – Argument Essay Topics

Using the tips above, you can effectively structure and pen a compelling argumentative essay that will wow your instructor and classmates. Remember to craft a thesis statement that offers readers a roadmap through your essay, draw on your sources wisely to back up any claims, and read through your paper several times before it’s due to catch any last-minute proofreading errors. With time, diligence, and patience, your essay will be the most outstanding assignment you’ve ever turned in…until the next one rolls around.

Looking for more fresh and engaging topics for use in the classroom? You might consider checking out the following:

125 Good Debate Topics for High School Students
150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics
7 Best Places to Study
Guide to the IB Extended Essay
How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay
AP Lit Reading List
How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay
49 Most Interesting Biology Research Topics
High School Success

Lauren Green

With a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Columbia University and an MFA in Fiction from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin, Lauren has been a professional writer for over a decade. She is the author of the chapbook A Great Dark House (Poetry Society of America, 2023) and a forthcoming novel (Viking/Penguin).

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53 Stellar College Essay Topics to Inspire You

College Essays

feature_orange_notebook_pencil_college_essay_topics

Most colleges and universities in the United States require applicants to submit at least one essay as part of their application. But trying to figure out what college essay topics you should choose is a tricky process. There are so many potential things you could write about!

In this guide, we go over the essential qualities that make for a great college essay topic and give you 50+ college essay topics you can use for your own statement . In addition, we provide you with helpful tips for turning your college essay topic into a stellar college essay.

What Qualities Make for a Good College Essay Topic?

Regardless of what you write about in your personal statement for college , there are key features that will always make for a stand-out college essay topic.

#1: It’s Specific

First off, good college essay topics are extremely specific : you should know all the pertinent facts that have to do with the topic and be able to see how the entire essay comes together.

Specificity is essential because it’ll not only make your essay stand out from other statements, but it'll also recreate the experience for admissions officers through its realism, detail, and raw power. You want to tell a story after all, and specificity is the way to do so. Nobody wants to read a vague, bland, or boring story — not even admissions officers!

For example, an OK topic would be your experience volunteering at a cat shelter over the summer. But a better, more specific college essay topic would be how you deeply connected with an elderly cat there named Marty, and how your bond with him made you realize that you want to work with animals in the future.

Remember that specificity in your topic is what will make your essay unique and memorable . It truly is the key to making a strong statement (pun intended)!

#2: It Shows Who You Are

In addition to being specific, good college essay topics reveal to admissions officers who you are: your passions and interests, what is important to you, your best (or possibly even worst) qualities, what drives you, and so on.

The personal statement is critical because it gives schools more insight into who you are as a person and not just who you are as a student in terms of grades and classes.

By coming up with a real, honest topic, you’ll leave an unforgettable mark on admissions officers.

#3: It’s Meaningful to You

The very best college essay topics are those that hold deep meaning to their writers and have truly influenced them in some significant way.

For instance, maybe you plan to write about the first time you played Skyrim to explain how this video game revealed to you the potentially limitless worlds you could create, thereby furthering your interest in game design.

Even if the topic seems trivial, it’s OK to use it — just as long as you can effectively go into detail about why this experience or idea had such an impact on you .

Don’t give in to the temptation to choose a topic that sounds impressive but doesn’t actually hold any deep meaning for you. Admissions officers will see right through this!

Similarly, don’t try to exaggerate some event or experience from your life if it’s not all that important to you or didn’t have a substantial influence on your sense of self.

#4: It’s Unique

College essay topics that are unique are also typically the most memorable, and if there’s anything you want to be during the college application process, it’s that! Admissions officers have to sift through thousands of applications, and the essay is one of the only parts that allows them to really get a sense of who you are and what you value in life.

If your essay is trite or boring, it won’t leave much of an impression , and your application will likely get immediately tossed to the side with little chance of seeing admission.

But if your essay topic is very original and different, you’re more likely to earn that coveted second glance at your application.

What does being unique mean exactly, though? Many students assume that they must choose an extremely rare or crazy experience to talk about in their essays —but that's not necessarily what I mean by "unique." Good college essay topics can be unusual and different, yes, but they can also be unique takes on more mundane or common activities and experiences .

For instance, say you want to write an essay about the first time you went snowboarding. Instead of just describing the details of the experience and how you felt during it, you could juxtapose your emotions with a creative and humorous perspective from the snowboard itself. Or you could compare your first attempt at snowboarding with your most recent experience in a snowboarding competition. The possibilities are endless!

#5: It Clearly Answers the Question

Finally, good college essay topics will clearly and fully answer the question(s) in the prompt.

You might fail to directly answer a prompt by misinterpreting what it’s asking you to do, or by answering only part of it (e.g., answering just one out of three questions).

Therefore, make sure you take the time to come up with an essay topic that is in direct response to every question in the prompt .

Take this Coalition Application prompt as an example:

What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What's the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

For this prompt, you’d need to answer all three questions (though it’s totally fine to focus more on one or two of them) to write a compelling and appropriate essay.

This is why we recommend reading and rereading the essay prompt ; you should know exactly what it’s asking you to do, well before you start brainstorming possible college application essay topics.

53 College Essay Topics to Get Your Brain Moving

In this section, we give you a list of 53 examples of college essay topics. Use these as jumping-off points to help you get started on your college essay and to ensure that you’re on track to coming up with a relevant and effective topic.

All college application essay topics below are categorized by essay prompt type. We’ve identified six general types of college essay prompts:

Why This College?

Change and personal growth, passions, interests, and goals, overcoming a challenge, diversity and community, solving a problem.

Note that these prompt types could overlap with one another, so you’re not necessarily limited to just one college essay topic in a single personal statement.

How a particular major or program will help you achieve your academic or professional goals
A memorable and positive interaction you had with a professor or student at the school
Something good that happened to you while visiting the campus or while on a campus tour
A certain class you want to take or a certain professor you’re excited to work with
Some piece of on-campus equipment or facility that you’re looking forward to using
Your plans to start a club at the school, possibly to raise awareness of a major issue
A study abroad or other unique program that you can’t wait to participate in
How and where you plan to volunteer in the community around the school
An incredible teacher you studied under and the positive impact they had on you
How you went from really liking something, such as a particular movie star or TV show, to not liking it at all (or vice versa)
How yours or someone else’s (change in) socioeconomic status made you more aware of poverty
A time someone said something to you that made you realize you were wrong
How your opinion on a controversial topic, such as gay marriage or DACA, has shifted over time
A documentary that made you aware of a particular social, economic, or political issue going on in the country or world
Advice you would give to your younger self about friendship, motivation, school, etc.
The steps you took in order to kick a bad or self-sabotaging habit
A juxtaposition of the first and most recent time you did something, such as dance onstage
A book you read that you credit with sparking your love of literature and/or writing
A school assignment or project that introduced you to your chosen major
A glimpse of your everyday routine and how your biggest hobby or interest fits into it
The career and (positive) impact you envision yourself having as a college graduate
A teacher or mentor who encouraged you to pursue a specific interest you had
How moving around a lot helped you develop a love of international exchange or learning languages
A special skill or talent you’ve had since you were young and that relates to your chosen major in some way, such as designing buildings with LEGO bricks
Where you see yourself in 10 or 20 years
Your biggest accomplishment so far relating to your passion (e.g., winning a gold medal for your invention at a national science competition)
A time you lost a game or competition that was really important to you
How you dealt with the loss or death of someone close to you
A time you did poorly in a class that you expected to do well in
How moving to a new school impacted your self-esteem and social life
A chronic illness you battled or are still battling
Your healing process after having your heart broken for the first time
A time you caved under peer pressure and the steps you took so that it won't happen again
How you almost gave up on learning a foreign language but stuck with it
Why you decided to become a vegetarian or vegan, and how you navigate living with a meat-eating family
What you did to overcome a particular anxiety or phobia you had (e.g., stage fright)
A history of a failed experiment you did over and over, and how you finally found a way to make it work successfully
Someone within your community whom you aspire to emulate
A family tradition you used to be embarrassed about but are now proud of
Your experience with learning English upon moving to the United States
A close friend in the LGBTQ+ community who supported you when you came out
A time you were discriminated against, how you reacted, and what you would do differently if faced with the same situation again
How you navigate your identity as a multiracial, multiethnic, and/or multilingual person
A project or volunteer effort you led to help or improve your community
A particular celebrity or role model who inspired you to come out as LGBTQ+
Your biggest challenge (and how you plan to tackle it) as a female in a male-dominated field
How you used to discriminate against your own community, and what made you change your mind and eventually take pride in who you are and/or where you come from
A program you implemented at your school in response to a known problem, such as a lack of recycling cans in the cafeteria
A time you stepped in to mediate an argument or fight between two people
An app or other tool you developed to make people’s lives easier in some way
A time you proposed a solution that worked to an ongoing problem at school, an internship, or a part-time job
The steps you took to identify and fix an error in coding for a website or program
An important social or political issue that you would fix if you had the means

How to Build a College Essay in 6 Easy Steps

Once you’ve decided on a college essay topic you want to use, it’s time to buckle down and start fleshing out your essay. These six steps will help you transform a simple college essay topic into a full-fledged personal statement.

Step 1: Write Down All the Details

Once you’ve chosen a general topic to write about, get out a piece of paper and get to work on creating a list of all the key details you could include in your essay . These could be things such as the following:

Emotions you felt at the time
Names, places, and/or numbers
Dialogue, or what you or someone else said
A specific anecdote, example, or experience
Descriptions of how things looked, felt, or seemed

If you can only come up with a few details, then it’s probably best to revisit the list of college essay topics above and choose a different one that you can write more extensively on.

Good college essay topics are typically those that:

You remember well (so nothing that happened when you were really young)
You're excited to write about
You're not embarrassed or uncomfortable to share with others
You believe will make you positively stand out from other applicants

Step 2: Figure Out Your Focus and Approach

Once you have all your major details laid out, start to figure out how you could arrange them in a way that makes sense and will be most effective.

It’s important here to really narrow your focus: you don’t need to (and shouldn’t!) discuss every single aspect of your trip to visit family in Indonesia when you were 16. Rather, zero in on a particular anecdote or experience and explain why and how it impacted you.

Alternatively, you could write about multiple experiences while weaving them together with a clear, meaningful theme or concept , such as how your math teacher helped you overcome your struggle with geometry over the course of an entire school year. In this case, you could mention a few specific times she tutored you and most strongly supported you in your studies.

There’s no one right way to approach your college essay, so play around to see what approaches might work well for the topic you’ve chosen.

If you’re really unsure about how to approach your essay, think about what part of your topic was or is most meaningful and memorable to you, and go from there.

Step 3: Structure Your Narrative

Beginning: Don’t just spout off a ton of background information here—you want to hook your reader, so try to start in the middle of the action , such as with a meaningful conversation you had or a strong emotion you felt. It could also be a single anecdote if you plan to center your essay around a specific theme or idea.
Middle: Here’s where you start to flesh out what you’ve established in the opening. Provide more details about the experience (if a single anecdote) or delve into the various times your theme or idea became most important to you. Use imagery and sensory details to put the reader in your shoes.
End: It’s time to bring it all together. Finish describing the anecdote or theme your essay centers around and explain how it relates to you now , what you’ve learned or gained from it, and how it has influenced your goals.

Step 4: Write a Rough Draft

By now you should have all your major details and an outline for your essay written down; these two things will make it easy for you to convert your notes into a rough draft.

At this stage of the writing process, don’t worry too much about vocabulary or grammar and just focus on getting out all your ideas so that they form the general shape of an essay . It’s OK if you’re a little over the essay's word limit — as you edit, you’ll most likely make some cuts to irrelevant and ineffective parts anyway.

If at any point you get stuck and have no idea what to write, revisit steps 1-3 to see whether there are any important details or ideas you might be omitting or not elaborating on enough to get your overall point across to admissions officers.

Step 5: Edit, Revise, and Proofread

Sections that are too wordy and don’t say anything important
Irrelevant details that don’t enhance your essay or the point you're trying to make
Parts that seem to drag or that feel incredibly boring or redundant
Areas that are vague and unclear and would benefit from more detail
Phrases or sections that are awkwardly placed and should be moved around
Areas that feel unconvincing, inauthentic, or exaggerated

Start paying closer attention to your word choice/vocabulary and grammar at this time, too. It’s perfectly normal to edit and revise your college essay several times before asking for feedback, so keep working with it until you feel it’s pretty close to its final iteration.

This step will likely take the longest amount of time — at least several weeks, if not months — so really put effort into fixing up your essay. Once you’re satisfied, do a final proofread to ensure that it’s technically correct.

Step 6: Get Feedback and Tweak as Needed

After you’ve overhauled your rough draft and made it into a near-final draft, give your essay to somebody you trust , such as a teacher or parent, and have them look it over for technical errors and offer you feedback on its content and overall structure.

Use this feedback to make any last-minute changes or edits. If necessary, repeat steps 5 and 6. You want to be extra sure that your essay is perfect before you submit it to colleges!

Recap: From College Essay Topics to Great College Essays

Many different kinds of college application essay topics can get you into a great college. But this doesn’t make it any easier to choose the best topic for you .

In general, the best college essay topics have the following qualities :

They’re specific
They show who you are
They’re meaningful to you
They’re unique
They clearly answer the question

If you ever need help coming up with an idea of what to write for your essay, just refer to the list of 53 examples of college essay topics above to get your brain juices flowing.

Once you’ve got an essay topic picked out, follow these six steps for turning your topic into an unforgettable personal statement :

Write down all the details
Figure out your focus and approach
Structure your narrative
Write a rough draft
Edit, revise, and proofread
Get feedback and tweak as needed

And with that, I wish you the best of luck on your college essays!

What’s Next?

Writing a college essay is no simple task. Get expert college essay tips with our guides on how to come up with great college essay ideas and how to write a college essay, step by step .

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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Home > Blog > Best Essay Writing Topics: Make the Right Choice

Best Essay Writing Topics: Make the Right Choice

Smodin Editorial Team
Updated: September 24, 2024
General Guide About Content and Writing

Choosing the right topic for your essay can be crucial, especially if you are entering a competition or writing an essay for college. So, if you are looking for the best essay writing topics, you have come to the right place. We’ll share a few interesting topic ideas in this article that you can run with today to help you pick a great theme when you have writer’s block.

Furthermore, we’ll discuss how to choose the best topics for an essay and take a deep dive into what you should avoid if you want to compile a great essay. Keep reading to learn more!

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How To Choose the Best Topics for an Essay: 5 Main Factors To Consider

Choosing the right topic for an essay whether that is for school or an essay competition can be tricky sometimes. However, fret not! Below we have listed the main factors to consider if you want to write a great essay that discusses a topic that will engage your readers.

1. Identify Your Interests

Whether you are writing an argumentative or descriptive essay, start by considering topics that genuinely interest you. Writing about something you are passionate about will make the research and writing process more enjoyable. Therefore, make a list of subjects you are curious about or have strong opinions on.

This list can guide you toward topics that you genuinely want to explore. You can use this as an opportunity to explore subject matters that you want to learn more about.

2. Consider Current Events

Look at current news articles, trends, and social issues. Topics related to current events can spark strong opinions and provide ample material for thorough discussion. Consider issues like climate change, education reform, healthcare, technology, and social justice.

Make sure you research the topic well and use reputable sources in your references. This will show your readers that you have done your homework and that your arguments are credible.

3. Evaluate the Scope of the Topic

Ideally, your chosen topic will be neither too broad nor too narrow whether you are writing argumentative essays or any other kind. A broad topic may make it difficult to focus your argument, while a narrow one may lack sufficient material for discussion. Aim for a topic that allows for a detailed exploration while providing enough complexity for debate.

4. Consider Different Perspectives

Choose a topic that allows for multiple viewpoints. This will enable you to present a balanced discussion. Generally, topics that provoke strong opinions often lead to more engaging essays.

5. Test Your Topic With a Thesis Statement

Once you’ve settled on a potential topic, craft a thesis statement. A strong thesis statement clearly defines your stance and guides the direction of your essay. If you can express your opinion concisely, it’s a good sign that your topic is well-chosen. Additionally, a quality topic can enhance the overall writing of your essay.

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How To Choose the Best Topics To Write an Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay can be one of the most challenging types of essays to write. So knowing how to choose the best topics to write an argumentative essay is crucial. Here are some things you should keep in mind when wanting to compile this type of essay:

Choose a topic that you can discuss in detail.
Make sure you research your topic thoroughly before you write about it.
Ensure there are two sides to the story.
Opt to talk about something that has plenty of evidence to support your view.

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6 Best Topics for Essay Writing Competitions

When trying to win an essay writing competition, you’ll need to choose the best topics for the job. This ensures that you can dig deep into a topic that’s interesting and can showcase your writing skills. In this section, we’ll present examples of the best topics for essay writing competitions.

You can use some of our interesting essay topics below to jumpstart your essay if you have writer’s block.

1. The Impact of Technology on the Education System

Technology has transformed education in various ways by enhancing access to information and facilitating personalized learning experiences. This essay could explore the benefits and challenges of digital learning tools and the role of social media in academic collaboration. You can even write about how technological tools have affected subjects like physical education or science.

Ultimately, this essay should assess whether technology enriches or detracts from traditional educational methods. You can also emphasize the importance of balanced integration to avoid over-reliance on learning devices.

2. Climate Change and Individual Responsibility

As climate change accelerates, individual actions play a crucial role in environmental sustainability. This essay could discuss the importance of personal choices. This can include reducing waste, conserving energy, and supporting sustainable practices.

It may also examine how grassroots movements can influence larger policy changes and encourage collective responsibility. Ideally, it should inspire readers to recognize their power in combating climate change through everyday actions.

3. The Role of Art in Society

Art has been a vital form of expression and communication throughout history. This essay could analyze how art reflects societal values, addresses social issues, and fosters cultural identity. Furthermore, you can explore various art forms, such as literature, visual arts, and performance.

4. Mental Health Awareness in the Modern World

This is one of the top argumentative essay topics. Awareness of psychological well-being is increasingly vital in today’s fast-paced society. This essay could explore the stigma surrounding mental and emotional health and emphasize the importance of open conversations. Consider examining how social media plays a dual role by both promoting awareness and contributing to anxiety.

Ideally, the essay should advocate for improved resources for mental well being. It should also summarize the necessity for education, support systems, and community engagement to cultivate a healthier society.

5. The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

According to Statista , 250 million people worldwide use AI tools today. However, as artificial intelligence continues to advance, ethical considerations become paramount. This essay could examine the implications of AI in various sectors, such as healthcare, finance, and employment. Additionally, it might discuss the potential for bias, privacy concerns, and the moral responsibilities of developers.

Make sure to evaluate both the advantages and drawbacks of AI for a balanced overview. The essay will argue for the necessity of ethical guidelines to ensure technology benefits society while minimizing harm.

6. The Influence of Social Media on Public Opinion

Social media has become a powerful tool for shaping public opinion and influencing societal norms. This essay could investigate how platforms facilitate information dissemination and contribute to the spread of misinformation.

It may explore case studies of significant events where social media played a crucial role, such as elections and social movements. The essay will argue for the responsibility of users and platforms in fostering a more informed and engaged public.

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What To Avoid When Choosing an Essay Topic

Choosing the wrong essay topic can complicate your assignment significantly whether you are focusing on expository essay topics or other kinds of essays. Here are some things college students should avoid when choosing an essay topic:

Choosing a cliche topic: Sticking with overused topics can make your paper feel unoriginal. Instead, aim for a fresh perspective or a unique angle. This shows that you’ve put some thought into the assignment.
Ignoring assignment guidelines: Failing to adhere to the assignment’s requirements can grind your progress to a halt before you even begin. Therefore, you need to follow requirements such as word count, specific themes, and tone.
Skipping preliminary research: Not doing initial research can result in selecting a topic that lacks sufficient resources or depth. Make sure there’s enough material available for your topic and ensure a good writing flow .
Not considering personal bias: Selecting a topic based solely on personal beliefs without considering opposing viewpoints can lead to a one-sided essay. Aim for a balanced discussion that takes into account both sides. This is especially important when you’re working on contrast essay topics.
Being too broad or too narrow: Selecting a topic that is too broad can make it difficult to focus your argument. In comparison, a very narrow topic may lack enough material for discussion. It’s a good idea to strike the right balance when selecting your topic.

A white question mark on a yellow background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i write about personal experiences in my essay topics.

Yes, you can use personal experiences in your essay topics, such as talking about your academic life. Writing descriptive essays about personal experiences can enhance the authenticity and relatability of your paper. That’s because personal narrative essays allow you to connect with readers on an emotional level and provide unique insights.

However, ensure that your experiences tie back to a broader theme or message relevant to the topic. Generally, balancing personal storytelling with critical analysis or reflection can create a powerful hook for narrative essay topics.

What are the best practices for brainstorming essay topics?

The best practices for brainstorming writing topics include casting a wide net, whether it’s an expository or a personal essay. Also, effective brainstorming for essay topics involves a structured approach.

Therefore, start by writing down any ideas or themes that come to mind. It might be anything from topics about universal basic income to college debt. These are great for persuasive essay topics. Also, ensure to use mind maps to visually organize thoughts and identify connections between different concepts.

How do I ensure my essay topic is unique?

To ensure your topic is unique, start by exploring lesser-known aspects of common themes or subtopics. Furthermore, conduct thorough research to identify gaps in existing literature or perspectives that haven’t been widely discussed.

You’ll also need to personalize the topic by connecting it to your experiences or viewpoints. Adding personal experiences is one adding an element of originality to writing topics.

What are some trending topics for persuasive essays?

Trending topics for persuasive essays often reflect current societal debates and issues. Examples include climate change action, gun control policies, and universal healthcare access. Other compelling subjects might involve animal rights, gender equality, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.

Therefore, by addressing these timely issues, writers can engage readers and encourage meaningful discussions. The key is to present well-researched arguments and emotionally resonate with the audience.

Are there any resources to help find essay topics?

Several resources can aid in finding essay topics, including academic databases, online forums, and educational websites. Additionally, websites like TED Talks, news outlets, and blogs can provide inspiration on current issues and trends.

You can also use books and articles on specific subjects to spark ideas. Therefore, engaging with peers in study groups or writing workshops can also yield topic suggestions. Ultimately, exploring diverse sources can help identify relevant and engaging essay topics.

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Find the Perfect Essay Topics With Smodin AI

Finding the best essay writing topics is a good starting point for you to begin crafting a compelling essay. Choosing informative essay topics can help address the interests of your target audience. The next step is to come up with essay questions that you can answer during the course of the content.

Are you having trouble coming up with essay topics that you want to work on? Then use Smodin AI to help you choose a topic that you can be proud to tackle. Our AI tool can generate a large number of potential topics in just a few seconds.

Use Smodin AI today and excel in your essay writing!

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How to structure an essay: Templates and tips

How to Structure an Essay | Tips & Templates

Published on September 18, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction , a body , and a conclusion . But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body.

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The basics of essay structure, chronological structure, compare-and-contrast structure, problems-methods-solutions structure, signposting to clarify your structure, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay structure.

There are two main things to keep in mind when working on your essay structure: making sure to include the right information in each part, and deciding how you’ll organize the information within the body.

Parts of an essay

The three parts that make up all essays are described in the table below.

Part	Content

Order of information

You’ll also have to consider how to present information within the body. There are a few general principles that can guide you here.

The first is that your argument should move from the simplest claim to the most complex . The body of a good argumentative essay often begins with simple and widely accepted claims, and then moves towards more complex and contentious ones.

For example, you might begin by describing a generally accepted philosophical concept, and then apply it to a new topic. The grounding in the general concept will allow the reader to understand your unique application of it.

The second principle is that background information should appear towards the beginning of your essay . General background is presented in the introduction. If you have additional background to present, this information will usually come at the start of the body.

The third principle is that everything in your essay should be relevant to the thesis . Ask yourself whether each piece of information advances your argument or provides necessary background. And make sure that the text clearly expresses each piece of information’s relevance.

The sections below present several organizational templates for essays: the chronological approach, the compare-and-contrast approach, and the problems-methods-solutions approach.

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The chronological approach (sometimes called the cause-and-effect approach) is probably the simplest way to structure an essay. It just means discussing events in the order in which they occurred, discussing how they are related (i.e. the cause and effect involved) as you go.

A chronological approach can be useful when your essay is about a series of events. Don’t rule out other approaches, though—even when the chronological approach is the obvious one, you might be able to bring out more with a different structure.

Explore the tabs below to see a general template and a specific example outline from an essay on the invention of the printing press.

Thesis statement
Discussion of event/period
Consequences
Importance of topic
Strong closing statement
Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages
Background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press
Thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation
High levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe
Literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites
Consequence: this discouraged political and religious change
Invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg
Implications of the new technology for book production
Consequence: Rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible
Trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention
Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation
Consequence: The large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics
Summarize the history described
Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period

Essays with two or more main subjects are often structured around comparing and contrasting . For example, a literary analysis essay might compare two different texts, and an argumentative essay might compare the strengths of different arguments.

There are two main ways of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay: the alternating method, and the block method.

Alternating

In the alternating method, each paragraph compares your subjects in terms of a specific point of comparison. These points of comparison are therefore what defines each paragraph.

The tabs below show a general template for this structure, and a specific example for an essay comparing and contrasting distance learning with traditional classroom learning.

Synthesis of arguments
Topical relevance of distance learning in lockdown
Increasing prevalence of distance learning over the last decade
Thesis statement: While distance learning has certain advantages, it introduces multiple new accessibility issues that must be addressed for it to be as effective as classroom learning
Classroom learning: Ease of identifying difficulties and privately discussing them
Distance learning: Difficulty of noticing and unobtrusively helping
Classroom learning: Difficulties accessing the classroom (disability, distance travelled from home)
Distance learning: Difficulties with online work (lack of tech literacy, unreliable connection, distractions)
Classroom learning: Tends to encourage personal engagement among students and with teacher, more relaxed social environment
Distance learning: Greater ability to reach out to teacher privately
Sum up, emphasize that distance learning introduces more difficulties than it solves
Stress the importance of addressing issues with distance learning as it becomes increasingly common
Distance learning may prove to be the future, but it still has a long way to go

In the block method, each subject is covered all in one go, potentially across multiple paragraphs. For example, you might write two paragraphs about your first subject and then two about your second subject, making comparisons back to the first.

The tabs again show a general template, followed by another essay on distance learning, this time with the body structured in blocks.

Point 1 (compare)
Point 2 (compare)
Point 3 (compare)
Point 4 (compare)
Advantages: Flexibility, accessibility
Disadvantages: Discomfort, challenges for those with poor internet or tech literacy
Advantages: Potential for teacher to discuss issues with a student in a separate private call
Disadvantages: Difficulty of identifying struggling students and aiding them unobtrusively, lack of personal interaction among students
Advantages: More accessible to those with low tech literacy, equality of all sharing one learning environment
Disadvantages: Students must live close enough to attend, commutes may vary, classrooms not always accessible for disabled students
Advantages: Ease of picking up on signs a student is struggling, more personal interaction among students
Disadvantages: May be harder for students to approach teacher privately in person to raise issues

An essay that concerns a specific problem (practical or theoretical) may be structured according to the problems-methods-solutions approach.

This is just what it sounds like: You define the problem, characterize a method or theory that may solve it, and finally analyze the problem, using this method or theory to arrive at a solution. If the problem is theoretical, the solution might be the analysis you present in the essay itself; otherwise, you might just present a proposed solution.

The tabs below show a template for this structure and an example outline for an essay about the problem of fake news.

Introduce the problem
Provide background
Describe your approach to solving it
Define the problem precisely
Describe why it’s important
Indicate previous approaches to the problem
Present your new approach, and why it’s better
Apply the new method or theory to the problem
Indicate the solution you arrive at by doing so
Assess (potential or actual) effectiveness of solution
Describe the implications
Problem: The growth of “fake news” online
Prevalence of polarized/conspiracy-focused news sources online
Thesis statement: Rather than attempting to stamp out online fake news through social media moderation, an effective approach to combating it must work with educational institutions to improve media literacy
Definition: Deliberate disinformation designed to spread virally online
Popularization of the term, growth of the phenomenon
Previous approaches: Labeling and moderation on social media platforms
Critique: This approach feeds conspiracies; the real solution is to improve media literacy so users can better identify fake news
Greater emphasis should be placed on media literacy education in schools
This allows people to assess news sources independently, rather than just being told which ones to trust
This is a long-term solution but could be highly effective
It would require significant organization and investment, but would equip people to judge news sources more effectively
Rather than trying to contain the spread of fake news, we must teach the next generation not to fall for it

Signposting means guiding the reader through your essay with language that describes or hints at the structure of what follows. It can help you clarify your structure for yourself as well as helping your reader follow your ideas.

The essay overview

In longer essays whose body is split into multiple named sections, the introduction often ends with an overview of the rest of the essay. This gives a brief description of the main idea or argument of each section.

The overview allows the reader to immediately understand what will be covered in the essay and in what order. Though it describes what comes later in the text, it is generally written in the present tense . The following example is from a literary analysis essay on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

Transitions

Transition words and phrases are used throughout all good essays to link together different ideas. They help guide the reader through your text, and an essay that uses them effectively will be much easier to follow.

Various different relationships can be expressed by transition words, as shown in this example.

Because Hitler failed to respond to the British ultimatum, France and the UK declared war on Germany. Although it was an outcome the Allies had hoped to avoid, they were prepared to back up their ultimatum in order to combat the existential threat posed by the Third Reich.

Transition sentences may be included to transition between different paragraphs or sections of an essay. A good transition sentence moves the reader on to the next topic while indicating how it relates to the previous one.

… Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

However , considering the issue of personal interaction among students presents a different picture.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

Ad hominem fallacy
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Appeal to authority fallacy
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The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

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101 Great Essay Writing Topics for Students

1. Is Climate Change Real?

Controversial Essay Writing Topics for Older Students

Persuasive Essay Topics for Older Students

Compare and Contrast Essays for Older Students

Narrative Essay Topics for Older Students

Informative Essay Topics for Older Students