Debate Topics for Middle School

Why do I need to go to school every day? Why do I have to obey my parents and teachers? Why should I accept everything and anything that elders tell me? Well, we all have been through this phase. Haven't we? Challenging authority, questioning and arguing with teachers and parents, being curious about everything new - all this comes naturally to pre-teens and teens. This questioning, curious and inquisitive spirit is what sets apart achievers from non-achievers, provided it is positively channelized. That's why its essential for teachers to plan certain learning assignments for students which make use of such qualities. And one of such learning tools is debating. This article explores some great debate topics for middle school which would give opportunity to the students to voice their opinions.

While participating in debates, students bring forth their ideas, listen to the opinion of others and then arrive at a definite conclusion over the debate topic at hand. While arguing on some good debate topics, students learn to work in co-operation as well as improve upon their listening and speaking skills. Not to mention that researching on some of the interesting debate topics for students, helps in increasing their knowledge base and sharpening their grammar and vocabulary as well. Looking at all these benefits of classroom debating, all teachers should motivate their students to take part in them. However, care should be taken that the debate topics for elementary student or middle school, which the teacher's choose, should leave enough room for the students to form and express their opinions. Here is a list of such good debate topics for middle school.

Social Debate Topics for Middle School Students

• Media is responsible for the rise in criminal cases against the youngsters.
• Plastic bags should be completely banned.
• Should cell phones be allowed in schools?
• Uniforms create an environment conducive to studies in schools.
• Arguments against gay marriage.
• Should music and art education made compulsory for middle school students?
• Single sex classrooms or co-education?
• Should homework be given to school students?
• Sex education will bring down teen pregnancy cases.
• Can social networking websites replace face to face interaction?
• Are chat rooms safe for pre-teens and teens?
• Is vegetarianism good for health?
• Should there be a censor for Internet?

Political Debate Topics for Middle School Students.

• Should death penalty be banned in America?
• Should the government invest more in alternative sources of energy?
• China is the new threat to America's supremacy.
• Outsourcing jobs has led to unemployment in America.
• Should America withdraw its troops from Afghanistan?
• Should the embargoes on Cuba be lifted by the American government?
• Should the Guantanamo prison be closed by the United States authorities?
• Obama, Clinton, Bush - Who has been the best President?
• Post recession, President of United States can no longer be referred to as the most powerful man in the world.

Unique Middle School Debate Topics

• Taking up part-time jobs affects the grades of school students.
• Vampires are as real as Santa Claus!
• Harry Potter - The best in children's literature.
• Studying and reading about things can not replace practical experience.
• Egg came before chicken.
• Life after death - Reality or myth?
• Peer pressure makes a person realize his potential sooner.
• Parents are always right.
• Should school students wear make-up?
• Beauty over brains or brains over beauty?
• Teachers are essential for learning.
• Education kills creativity.
• Guys make better friends than girls.
• Being famous or being content?
• Retro music - Still a hot favorite?
• People die, there spirits never do.

Some of the debate topics for middle school mentioned above can serve equally well as debate topics for college students. Nevertheless, if the middle school students participate in such debate or speech topics, if they research on them thoroughly, if they argue their point well in front of the audience, if they listen to their opponent respectfully - the experience they earn will definitely help them develop their personalities!