High School debate topics Science Debate Topics Human Cloning Scientists have cloned sheep, mice, dogs and other life forms, but they have yet to clone humans. Should humans be cloned? Cloning humans could help infertile couples have a child or create a child identical to a parent, give a human replacement body parts or be used to test new drugs and medical procedures. Smoking Cigarettes Many cities have banned smoking in public places. Should smoking cigarettes be banned in public places? Is second-hand smoke as big of a risk as we have been led to believe? These questions, along with health problems that come as a result of smoking, should be considered in a debate. Climate Change Previously known as global warming, proponents of the climate change debate argue that humans have a major impact on the environment and climate. Those who speak against climate change argue that the impact of humans is negligible and climate changes are part of a natural geological cycle. Organic Foods Organic foods are created without the use of chemicals or synthetic ingredients. What, if any, are the health and environmental benefits that come from eating organic foods? Do the nutrition and safety benefits outweigh the extra cost? Legalizing Marijuana States such as California have legalized the use of marijuana for medical reasons. Should all states follow suit? The debate focuses on whether marijuana should be legal in medical cases or legal in all cases and what risks and benefits come from legalizing the drug. Stem Cell Research Stem cell research can be used to help discover cures for different illnesses and cancers and may also be used to replace cells in cases of brain and spinal cord injuries. While stem cells can come from adult cells and cord cells, embryonic cells are at the center of controversy. Extracting cells from an embryo kills that embryo. The questions that must be answered when debating this topic are: Is an embryo a future human life? If so, does the greater good outweigh the taking of a future life? Educational Debate Topics School Internet Controls Schools typically block inappropriate websites and websites that are not educational. Should schools limit what students are allowed to access? Is blocking content effective or will students just try to find a way to get around it and see what they are missing? School Uniforms Proponents of school uniforms argue that they improve discipline and academic performance. Those against the issue say that uniforms violate a student's right to freedom of expression and harm students by not allowing them to show their individuality. Cell Phone Use in School Schools often ban cell phones to keep students focused in class. Should cell phones be banned in schools? The debate focuses on whether students should be allowed to have cell phones for cases of an emergency or if allowing cell phones can lead to cases of cheating, harassment and general disruptions. Standardized Testing Standardized tests determine whether students get into college, whether they get promoted to the next grade level and whether schools are doing a good job of teaching students. Can one test or series of standardized tests really determine how smart a student is or how well a school is doing? Year-Round School The debate over year-round school focuses on whether students who attend a year-round school retain more information and perform better academically than students who attend a traditional school. Entertainment Debate Topics The Influence of Television and Music Whenever a teen gets pregnant, does drugs, uses foul language or commits a crime, certain TV shows and popular songs usually get the blame. Do television and music really have that great of an influence on teens? Violent Video Games The debate over violent video games centers around whether kids and teens who regularly play violent video games are more prone to violence. Beauty Pageants Proponents of beauty pageants argue that they improve a girl's self-esteem and celebrate more than just beauty. Those against beauty pageants feel they promote an unhealthy body image and value looks over anything else. Cell Phone Use While Driving Many states have already banned texting while driving and some also have laws that do not allow drivers to talk on cell phones while driving without the use of a hands-free device. A debate over cell phone use should discuss what dangers come from using cell phones while driving and in what cases drivers may need to have access to cell phones. Professional Athletes and A-list Celebrities Pay Professional athletes and a-list celebrities get paid millions of dollars. Do they deserve to get paid as much as they do? Some argue that they do not do enough to earn that money or that it could be put to much better use. Others think they should be rewarded for their talent. Social Debate Topics The Welfare System The welfare system in the United States is surrounded with controversy. Examples of the controversy include whether there should be time limits on welfare benefits and if welfare recipients should be required to take drug tests. Abortion Should abortion be legal? Is late-term abortion ever an acceptable choice? These questions form the bulk of the debate over abortion. When forming an argument based on these questions, you must consider abortion in cases of rape and whether teenagers should be able to get an abortion without their parents being notified. Legalization of Gay Marriage While some states have legalized gay marriage, the majority of states are still debating the issue. At the center of the issue are what is the true definition of marriage and whether gay couples should be given the same rights and benefits as married heterosexual couples. Traditional Families vs. Contemporary Families According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. As couples split up, families change. In addition to divorced families, couples with children choose not to marry, gay couples have children and grandparents raise their grandchildren. Is the traditional family still best or can contemporary families be just as good? Political Debate Topics Gun Control The debate over gun control centers around whether citizens should be able to own and carry guns. An argument should consider the risks that come with owning a gun and the possibility of guns falling into the wrong hands or being used to harm someone in cases other than self-defense. Waterboarding and Other Forms of Torture To help gain information from terrorists, the U.S. government uses various forms of torture, including waterboarding. Are these methods of gaining information humane? Is waterboarding a form of cruel and unusual punishment? Offshore Drilling As gas prices rise, some people think that tapping into America's oil reserves will help lower gas prices and reduce how much the United States relies on countries such as Iran for oil. Those against offshore drilling cite the cost, negative environmental impact and dangers it poses. Illegal Immigration The debate about illegal immigration focuses on what measures the United States should take to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country and what should happen to them if they are found. Should the United States implement more policies to prevent and punish illegal immigrants or should the immigration policies be more lenient? The Death Penalty Is the death penalty a form of cruel and unusual punishment? Are certain groups of people sentenced to the death penalty more than others? These questions are two of the biggest components of the capital punishment debate.