List of Debatable Topics

Elocution is one of the most effective ways to develop confidence and that is the reason why many educational institutions regularly hold debates. You will find an extensive list of debate topics categorized under different subheads in the following paragraphs. 

The topics can range from subjects related to your curriculum to the norms followed in the society. The subjects and topics we have presented in the story will create openness and approachability as far as your audience is concerned.

• Some Indian art has voluptuous effects. Is it purely as an expression or are there strong reasons behind them?
• Is there are requirement for professional critics for art?
• Is learning the history of art an affair for the elite?
• How can one form of art be termed 'priceless' than another? Who judges?

• Downloading music without permission - can it be ethical?
• Can performance art resonate with the public after the Internet age?
• Can art be used for healing purposes or as therapy?
• Art - an expression of the imagination or fallacy?
• Can art hold any environmental impact or damage in terms of ethics?

• Does art imitate real life?
• Has Shakespeare's portrayal of women impacted how we perceive women today?
• Is conceptual photography a form of art?
• Is rap music torture? Or does it qualify as art?
• Should there be a purpose behind any form of art? For example: paintings.
• Was Elvis Presley really the 'King' of Rock 'n' Roll?

• What is the American culture?
• The world of a Geisha in today's time.
• Should the world leave different cultures on their own and not meddle in?
• Ideology that men are higher achievers than women - is it still practiced?

• Does the evolution of culture change our old practices?
• Can a certain society raise alarm/outrage over another cultures' customs?
• Are cultural practices 'wrong' or do they define who we are as humans?
• American reality shows - has America run out of original ideas?
• Are immigrants accepted in the U.S. only if the controversial cultural practices are not performed?

• Discrimination against women/culture/caste/status - is it just?
• Female circumcision in Africa - culture or torture?
• Is the 'culture of death' domination over the 'culture of life'?
• Social networks - is this our recent culture?
• What is just when one culture's custom is another's taboo?
• Who decides certain cultural practices to be immoral/unethical/unscientific?

• Are computer and video games really that harmful for kids?
• Apart from school curriculum, should parents/teachers/school make kids read books?
• Are practicum and internship meant to serve the same purpose?
• Are there any negative or positive effects of peer pressure?

• Does bilingual education help kids compete for the future?
• Can students decide which teacher they wish to study under or work with?
• Can school uniform bring discipline in schools?
• Does 'abstinence only' facilitate kids or make them rebellious?
• Is standardized testing helping kids learn better?

• Should schools force school uniforms?
• Should children be educated about homesexuality in school?
• The difference in the education system across the globe - reasons?

• What if there were no textbooks? Would we be interested in learning something new without them?
• Which is better - homeschooling vs public School?
• Why some students believe that summer is the best season of the year?

• Evidence of propaganda in children's' television shows/movies.
• Can movies have profound effect on our souls?
• Does anime and manga affect the youths of America?
• How do we decide whether a movie/television show is appropriate for certain ages?

• Should celebrities be politically active?
• Portrayal of family today and 50 years ago.
• Is America OK with the presentation of homosexuality on television and movies?
• Reading books is better than watching movies based on them.
• Star Wars vs. Star Trek - who's the master?

• What is the importance of public opinion in media?
• The existence of superheroes - do we need them in real life as well?
• Television and movies influence kids more than their parents/teachers.
• Television/movies - is it the main cause of violence in today's society?
• What constitutes as music?
• Why is media censorship good?

• How does recycling affect environment?
• Does global warming affect animals?
• Animal fighting - Yay or Nay?
• Are there any advantages to nuclear power?
• Factors affecting overpopulation.
• How polluted is the U.S. drinking water?

• Should use of biofuels be mandatory?
• Is organic farming the answer we're searching for?
• Is global warming affecting the earth right now?
• Is veganism or vegetarianism the right step?
• Steps taken to save the endangered species for our secure future.

• What are the causes of overpopulation?
• The issues posed due to acid rain.
• There are more chickens on the planet than humans.
• What are the current environmental issues?

• Distribution of condoms in schools - Yay or nay?
• Are our innermost emotions blocks or lessons?
• Argument over whether cannabis should be legalized.
• Do having friends and a social life determine the kind of life we will have?

• Is laughter really the medicine?
• Efforts taken to control noise pollution.
• Does television affect our intelligence?
• Giving birth with or without drugs. Which is better?
• Junk food. How much is too much?
• Which is better? Naturopathy or homeopathy?

• Should public funding be used for IVF treatment?
• Self-inflicted starvation - the need to attain ideal weight based on age and height.
• Should alcohol be banned? Or should we raise the age limit instead?
• What are the effects of cell phone radiation?
• Women's abortion rights. Can a man have a say in it?

• How do you define existentialism?
• Family - How important is family?
• Do we actually have free will?
• Are morals relative?
• Dreams - Are they a link between real and imaginary worlds?
• How can homosexuality be maligned? Where is ethics in all this?
• Is anarchism an admirable political ideology?

• Is there such a thing called 'absolute truth'?
• Is it possible for human beings to know everything?
• Is matter the only reality we need to know?
• Is there such a thing called 'just war'?

• What to believe? Is there life after death?
• Our understanding of reality? Is it real or constituted?
• Should sperm/egg donors retain their anonymity?
• Who really created the world? God or aliens?

• Do angels or demons exist?
• Can religious beliefs overrule government policies and laws?
• Can gay celebrities alter the way society looks at homosexuality?
• Can He see what the world has become today?
• Difference between spirituality and religion
• Does religion harm more than doing any good to the people?

• Sadomasochism - Criminal activity or freedom to live as we please?
• Is Hinduism a religion?
• How did different types of religions come to be?
• Is there really a God? Is He a myth or reality?
• Should schools prohibit all religious prayers during school hours?

• What are the fundamental rifts between science and religion?
• Should we all legalize polygamy? Will it make the world a better place?
• The acceptance of spirituality. Is it the key to problems of our age?
• Will the war ever end between atheism vs Christianity?

• Does Zeno's paradoxes prove there's no real relative change?
• Controversy surrounding Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution.
• Birth of AIDS. Where did AIDS come from?
• Can reproduction raise ethical issues?
• Do scientists influence their results? Can they? Should they?
• Facts about global warming. Does it affect us today?

• The effects and causes of ozone depletion.
• Should humans start colonizing space?
• Is there life on Mars?
• Space - Amazing and terrifying at the same time.
• The science behind smoking.

• Why does science deny the existence of God?
• What are the pros and cons of natural gas?
• What do we know about schizophrenia? Is schizophrenia hereditary?
• Will we ever have flying cars? Is it possible?

• Can certain sports rule be biased?
• Are there any health benefits in yoga mudras?
• Are there any sports that are homophobic?
• Do athletes feel pressured to give their best at all times? Do fans/parents/society/nation push them to the extremes?

• Should rowdy fans be barred from stadiums for life?
• How strict should officials be with performance enhancing drugs.
• How does playing sports affect our day-to-day lifestyle.
• Is Lance Armstrong a bad guy? Or did he just do something he couldn't control?
• Sports in the U.S. Vs. sports in China.

• Who's the greatest NBA player of all time?
• Which games should be eliminated from the Olympics?
• Use of performance enhances. How has it changed the overall outlook of competitive sports?
• What will happen if we move the Super Bowl to a weekday?
• Which games should be included in the Olympics?
• Why are extreme sports necessary for us?

Debates open a forum for students to exchange ideas, develop their own ideologies and boost the analyzing power. These qualities are very essential for anybody who is in the learning process. Your audience will discover and come to know many things about life, people, society, mindsets, conventions, etc., and perhaps end up imitating trends.