Should Gifted and Talented Education Be Eliminated? ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. How Important Is Freedom of the Press? What would be worse? A Read Aloud button is available for text-to-speech for much of the content. Have you ever put a sock in your pants to see what you’d look like with a penis? Should Schools Teach About Climate Change? Choose your sparring partner wisely… spouse, parent, child, co-worker, friend. Includes books in these areas: Astronomy; Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science; Engineering; Geography, Planning, & Environment; Mathematics; Physics, The Flint Water Crisis: A Guide to Information Resources, Thompson Library Databases for Current Events and Controversial Issues, Thompson Library Guide for the Flint Water Crisis. Is the digital era improving or ruining the experience of art? Outsourcing refers to the business practice of hiring outside consultants, freelance workers, or third-party agencies to complete work that might otherwise be handled in-house. 19. Why Do Bystanders Sometimes Fail to Help When They See Someone in Danger? Dakota Access Pipeline – Should the Dakota Access Pipeline be completed? 121. 8. The controversy over affirmative action divides those who believe this is an effective way to push back against the sociological impact of systemic discrimination versus those who believe affirmative action is either ineffective or is, itself, a discriminatory policy. You’re done having children. Spencer Bokat-Lindell. Pledge of Allegiance? How do you really feel about women who carry dogs in their purses? Should Blowouts Be Allowed in Youth Sports? Controversial topics are typically played out through public channels like news media, electoral politics, and social media. 37. The university is a place where we are taught to question our own assumptions, challenged to defend our ideas, and trained to probe for a more complete understanding of the controversial issues defining our times. Each prompt links to a free Times article as well as additional subquestions that can help you think more deeply about it. The outsourcing controversy centers on the conflicting interests of corporate profitability and free market capitalism on one side, and, on the other side, concerns over heightened American unemployment and the exploitation of low-wage workers in the developing sphere. Covers contemporary social issues, from Offshore Drilling to Climate Change, Health Care to Immigration. Is Live-Streaming Classrooms a Good Idea? If someone offered you $1,000 to streak in front of a crowd while you had an erection, would you? Should All Americans Receive Anti-Bias Education? Some hackers use their skills for criminal activities while others may use their skills to create cybersecurity defenses against malicious actors. 122. Has the National Football League (NFL) gone too far with penalties over certain tackles or celebrations? College Education – Is a college education worth it? Presidential Election, 2012 – Which candidate should be U.S. president in 2012? Drug Use in Sports – Should performance-enhancing drugs be accepted in sports? Have you ever lied about where you were going just to get away? Things like our weight, stress relief and sleep … all of which our body needs to be it's best self. The controversy over charter schools concerns the belief that charter schools are a valuable alternative to traditional public schooling, especially for disadvantaged or at-risk student populations versus the belief that charter schools divert funding and resources from traditional public schools. Controversial Research Topics Guide For College Students Should Confederate Statues Be Removed or Remain in Place? Don't worry though, we still find a way to complain about the CCP! Banned Books – Should parents or other adults be able to ban books from schools and libraries? Do You Think Porn Influences the Way Teenagers Think About Sex? How Should We Punish Sports Cheaters? DACA & Dreamers – Are DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and the DREAM Act good for America? At what age do you plan to have the sex talk with your child? Should Law Enforcement Be Able to Use DNA Data From Genealogy Websites for Criminal Investigations? Penny – Should the penny stay in circulation? If you could go back to your childhood, what is one thing you would change? In the Age of Digital Streaming, Are Movie Theaters Still Relevant? Pit Bull Bans – Should breed-specific legislation (“pit bull bans”) be enacted? Why are Ethical Topics Important? It is vast and unknown, yet full of possibility. Obamacare – Is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) good for America? 119. Our goal is to identify these topics, and point colleges students and other readers in the direction of those who have helped to define the issue. Top Ten Issues in 2021 | Institute for Human Rights and Business - IHRB These questions may not be the most politically correct, but they are sure to guarantee a lively debate. Those topics which scored the most âinfluence points,â based on page views and links, could therefore be identified as the âmostâ controversial for the sheer breadth of coverage they have received in the public forum. The womenâs rights movement uses activism, policy advocacy, and non-profit organization to improve gender equality and close the gender pay gap, whereas the opponents of this movement may argue that gender equality already exists, or that women are biologically unequal to men and therefore deserving of secondary status. If So, Which Ones? The Most Controversial Topics Today - PR Newswire College students studying foreign affairs, criminal justice, economics, political science, sociology and countless other subjects are sure to find a controversial topic worthy of their next argumentative essay. 21. 96. Should All Schools Offer Music Programs? What Is Hard About Being a Boy? 128. Learn more about the Religious Freedom Controversy. Should Girls and Boys Sports Teams Compete in the Same League? 108. Filibuster – Should the U.S. Senate keep the filibuster? Inflection, the opinion, editorial, and news analysis journal of AcademicInfluence.com ranks these controversial issues and provides an objective exploration of each topic, delving into the specifics that a student must know to write about, or debate, these disputed matters with authority: "Topical papers on controversial issues grab readers and draw them in. Do you lie on medical forms about certain lifestyle choices or habits? Do You Feel Your School and Teachers Welcome Both Conservative and Liberal Points of View? Medical Marijuana – Should medical marijuana be legal? 8 Controversial Nutrition Topics | AFPA Fitness Some argue that the ongoing public health crisis of gun violence necessitates more restrictions around gun manufacturing, sales and ownership while others argue that such regulation is unconstitutional, disagree that stricter gun control laws would lower the occurrence of gun violence, and often point to underlying issues such as mental illness and the need for better training of police officers. Can Social Media Be a Tool for Learning and Growth in Schools? Would you consider an internet search or doing a criminal background check on someone before things got too serious? 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Concerns about my four young kids all in school for the first time. How do you think American education could be improved? Space Colonization – Should humans colonize space? Scientists, particularly biologists, are frequently confronted with controversial topics such as evolution, vaccines, GMOs, and stem cells. So scroll through the list below with questions on everything from sports and mental health to dating and video games and see which ones inspire you to take a stand. 27. Below are helpful tips for approaching challenging discussions and . How Should Parents Teach Their Children About Race and Racism? 60 Controversial Discussion Topics with Teaching Ideas Artificial intelligence (AI), in the simplest terms, refers to computing which aims to mimic human cognitive functions like learning, problem solving, and adaptation to environmental conditions. Is There Any Benefit to Reading Books You Hate? What topics do you find yourself discussing passionately, whether online, at the dinner table, in the classroom or with your friends? But thoughts like these aren’t just daunting at times, they can also interfere with your everyday life. Would you rather be your child’s friend or disciplinarian? A charter school is an educational institution that provides free and uniquely structured educational opportunities to students and families seeking an alternative to traditional public school. Art is a part of life. If you just found out your spouse was convicted of a violent or sex related crime when they were in college, or shortly thereafter, would you rethink the relationship? 3.1 Need a Paper Written? And to an extent, the Critical Race Theory controversy also extends from differing views on exactly what defines Critical Race Theory. 118. What comes next? The United States Electoral College is a group of 538 delegates-representing the 50 United States and the District of Columbia-who meet every four years to elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Should National Monuments Be Protected by the Government? What Stereotypical Characters Make You Cringe? Should We Abolish the Death Penalty? Do you think they’ve already been on Earth? What Is Your Reaction to the College Admissions Cheating Scandal? No list of funny controversial questions would be complete with some discussion about the universe. Are Museums Still Important in the Digital Age? The Best Controversial Topics for Debates and Essays - PrepScholar Did God create the earth or was it the Big Bang Theory? Should Schools Teach You How to Be Happy?12. Should Columbus Day Be Replaced With Indigenous Peoples Day? Should Teachers and Professors Ban Student Use of Laptops in Class? Weâve highlighted the top schools for studying marijuanaâand as a bonus, weâve included a ranking of the Top Cannabis Influencers and the Most Influential Books About Cannabis from the last half-century. Managing Editor As in more people will utilize robotic parts to fix things wrong with their bodies? What Are Your Thoughts on ‘Snowplow Parents’? 51. 97. 95. Uber & Lyft – Are ride-hailing companies a benefit to society? What would the ground rules be? Should ‘Despised Dissenters’ Be Allowed to Speak on College Campuses? 144 Controversial Speech Topics - Elite Essay Writers Is Hollywood Becoming More Diverse? Нашите бюлетини съдържат проследяващи пиксели, които ни помагат да предоставяме уникално съдържание въз основа на ангажираността и интересите на всеки абонат. In the Age of Digital Streaming, Are Movie Theaters Still Relevant? When you hear the word, “football”… do you think of American Football or soccer? Climate Change – Is human activity primarily responsible for global climate change? Should the Week Be Four Days Instead of Five? Like Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. Let’s be honest… we know dogs lick their private parts all of the time. The 10 Most Controversial Companies Of 2021 | CRN How do we unlock the key details and get to the heart of each debate? Should Reporters Ever Help the People They Are Covering? This resource helps students explore issues from all perspectives, and includes: pro/con viewpoint essays, topic overviews, primary source documents, biographies of social activists and reformers, court-case overviews, periodical articles, statistical tables, charts and graphs, images and a link to Google Image Search, podcasts (including weekly presidential addresses and premier NPR programs), and a national and state curriculum standards search correlated to the content that allows educators to quickly identify material by grade and discipline. Internet – Is the internet “making us stupid?”. This history of nuclear energy centers on the expansion of war-making capabilities and, specifically, the creation of weapons capable of mass casualty and mass destruction. In the months leading up to the November election, sitting President Donald Trump and his supporters and allies made widespread preemptive allegations that the outcome of the election would be rigged, and that a massive conspiracy was already underway involving crooked Democratic operatives, corrupt state voting commissions, preprogrammed voting machines, foreign Communist interference, and more. Private Prisons – Should prisons be privatized? ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. © 2023, Regents of the University of Michigan, Facebook 116. Should Schools Teach You How to Be Happy? Series of short books that offer a balanced and authoritative treatment of current events and countries of the world. Learn more about the Police Brutality Controversy. Or are doctors just acknowledging the fact that carbs make you feel bad by putting a label on it? What’s the Best Way to Discipline Children? Therefore, weâll lay out the subject matter, point you to the experts and thought leaders, and let you do the intellectual footwork. Have you ever used an item of food to pleasure yourself? Olympics – Are the Olympic games an overall benefit for their host countries and cities? Learn more about the Gun Control Controversy. If you won the lottery and knew you’d never run out of money, what are the top 5 things you’d spend it on, in ascending order? When repressive countries host events like the World Cup, it can sometimes have the opposite of the intended effect. Need to write an argumentative essay? Historical influencers and books have, like our list of controversial topics, been drawn directly from our Ranking Analytics. Have you ever had a sex dream about one of your partner’s friends or a family member? If someone offered you $1,000 to streak naked while on your period, would you? Gold Standard – Should the United States return to a gold standard? The practice of outsourcing is also highly connected to the rise of globalization, free-trade, and the practice of âoffshoring,â in which American companies will open facilities and employ laborers in other countries where wage standards, environmental restrictions, and costs of operation are lower. Should Students Get Mental Health Days Off From School? After all, surprises can be great… but some are best revealed ahead of time, on the off chance you won’t like it. Things like our weight, stress relief and sleep… all of which our body needs to be it’s best self. Do We Need More Female Superheroes? The result? Do you prefer to receive oral sex or the real thing? In an effort to help experts and policymakers determine where they might focus research, a panel of 25 scientists and practitioners—including me—from around the globe held discussions in the fall to identify emerging issues that deserve increased attention. For most of us, our brains are constantly going. The best controversial topics for research papers are those that focus on a single idea or a point that brings up controversy. 38. Find additional study resources with a look at our study guides for students at every stage of the educational journey. 102. Activists may use hacking to undermine dictatorship just as dictators might use hacking to suppress individual liberties. 1923-present. The controversy over the minimum wage concerns the belief that a living wage should be a fundamental right for all American workers and is opposed by the belief that regulatory control over wage thresholds risk imposing undue economic burdens on employers with potentially deleterious effects on the economy as a whole. ], ProCon.org. Subjects usually generate controversy because they are complex, and because a wide spectrum of parties may be impacted in very different ways by these issues. Learn more about the Artificial Intelligence Controversy. Do You Think It Is Important for Teenagers to Participate in Political Activism? 170 Unique Debate Topics to Engage Every Student - MyPerfectPaper.net 78. Animal Testing – Should animals be used for scientific or commercial testing? Vegetarianism – Should people become vegetarian? The controversy over labor unions concerns the historical and ongoing conflict of ideals, methods and goals between labor leaders, organizers and union members on one side, and business management, ownership, and industry lobby groups on the other side. Would you rather have a man with a big member or a big brain? Abortion refers to the act of terminating a pregnancy before it can be carried to term. Donald Trump's declassification of classified documents argument ... We also provide an objective overview of these controversial issues, which makes this a great source for finding controversial essay topics! The Civil Rights controversy pits groups, organizations, and communities who advocate for greater racial equality against those who work to maintain or advance a white racial hierarchy. Are you closer with your own parents or your significant other’s? So, make the most of the happy moments every day and let loose every now and again. These are common issues that crop up in argumentative writing that ultimately weaken your position. U.S.-Iraq War – Should the U.S. have attacked Iraq? Should Texting While Driving Be Treated Like Drunken Driving?9. 83. Is There Any Benefit to Reading Books You Hate? 70. Should Schools Teach About Climate Change? Should Teachers Be Armed With Guns? Learn more about the Labor Unions Controversy. How Should the Problem of Sexual Assault on Campuses Be Addressed? When do you think a child stops believing in Santa Claus? And even easier when you have an expert to do it for you. 69. ", To arrive at these rankings, the Inflection team measured the impact of books and key influencers on both sides of the issue using ranking analysis powered by machine learning and data collected from a comprehensive online database. Do you think a vast age difference can work in a marriage? Why do tennis players grunt when they hit the ball? Covers 1995-present. When would you allow your child to start dating? 52. High school and college students especially will find the detailed information we provide essential for unpacking these contentious subjects in a balanced but illuminating way," says Dr. Jed Macosko, academic director of AcademicInfluence.com and professor of physics at Wake Forest University. Should National Monuments Be Protected by the Government? 120. First, we discuss the carbon cycle in general, Canada's carbon neutrality, and of course we talk about the obvious solution of nuclear power. As a result, this controversy touches closely on issues of religious freedom, the separation of church and state, and freedom of expression. The controversy over foreign aid divides those who believe there are strategic, economic, and moral imperatives justifying this use of American resources for foreign aid versus those who believe this is a misappropriation of funding that should instead be spent on domestic priorities. Are We Being Bad Citizens If We Don’t Keep Up With the News? Should Pluto still be considered a planet? What are the most hotly debated controversial issues in politics, culture and public life? American Socialism – Should the U.S. become socialist? Also, our Research Process guide can help you throughout your research process. 125. Our spotlight on each controversial topic includes an overview of the subject matter, key points of disagreement, and a look at the impact of major influencers. You want to engage your audience, but you don't have time to create new topics from scratch. What Advice Should Parents and Counselors Give Teenagers About Sexting? These nuances underscore the complexity of individual views on religion and theology, and by extension, the complexity of this debate. The result, we hope, is the kind of nuanced discussion required to take on subjects of such complexity. The debate continues. In essence, âmost controversialâ is a measure of how widely a topic is covered and how widely people actually read the Wikipedia articles covering it. in English and Film Studies. Special counsel investigations have become increasingly common, but some think the system is broken. What derogatory or curse word do you consider to be the most offensive? Just click the button to get free instant access to these 139 funny controversial topics. How Do You Think American Education Could Be Improved? Learn more about the Abortion Controversy. And while our world as a whole has seen some pretty crazy things during the last couple of years, it will likely one day be forgotten by the next generation. Capital punishment refers to the use of the death penalty as a form of legal punishment administered by the state. AcademicInfluence.com is a part of the EducationAccess group, a family of sites dedicated to lifelong learning and personal growth, including Influence Networks, InfluencePublishers.com (nonfiction publishing and publishers of Bright Notes), IntelligentEducation.com (instructional video library), AlexandriaLibrary.com (free, online library and reader), and soon, Success Portraits (personalized strengths inventory for college and career). Should Facial Recognition Technology Be Used in Schools? U.S. Accounting Standard-Setter Looks to Tackle Controversial Topics in ... The Observation Deck #6: Observations on Climate Change. Health coverage is among the most intensely debated subjects in American life, both because of the generally high cost of healthcare expenses, and because access to coverage varies significantly based on employment and socioeconomic status. Are Lavish Amenities on College Campuses Useful or Frivolous? If you could change sexes for one month, would you? Do You Think It Is Important for Teenagers to Participate in Political Activism? Wherever you are in your educational journey, you should not only anticipate, but embrace, the opportunity to explore some of the most important controversial debate topics of our times. What Role Should Textbooks Play in Education? The Social Security controversy refers to a complex economic and philosophical debate over how Social Security should be funded, dispersed, and managed. Controversial Issues and Current Events Affirmative Action Affordable Care Act Alternative medicine Alt-right America's global influence Antifa Artificial intelligence Assisted suicide Atheism Bilingual education Biofuels Black Lives Matter Border security Capital punishment Censorship Charter schools Childhood obesity Civil rights Climate change