Argumentative Essay Topics
Education Issues

The following topics are suitable for argumentative essay assignments about education issues. Suggested thesis statements and a list of web links to pertinent information are provided for each topic. Topics on this page include:

Testing to Improve Educational Standards
School Choice - charter schools & vouchers
Intercollegiate Athletics and Ethics
Need more information? Try these links to education sites:

AskERIC
 Cato Institute Education Studies
Center for Education Reform
No Child Left Behind
ACORN
US Department of Education
 National Assessment of Educational Progress
National Center for Educational Statistics
 Education: Public Agenda Online
 Program on Educational Policy and Governance
 Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
 GCC library  (click on Articles & Databases to search the electronic databases)
 Useful Web Sites and Search Engines
Testing to Improve Educational Achievement

Thesis Statements:

  • To strengthen educational standards and improve academic achievement,  high school students should be required to pass a standardized test to receive a high school diploma.
  • Requiring students to pass a standardized test to receive a high school diploma will not improve the educational standards or academic achievement in our schools.

Some of the issues in this argument:
What are standards and how should they be applied?
How do standardized tests effect curriculum?
Do standardized tests discriminate against some groups of students?  How?
What is assessment and what forms of assessment are valuable?

Sources of Information:
School Choice - charter schools & vouchers

Thesis Statements:

  • Choices like as charter schools and vouchers will lower the public expenditure and drive reform of public schools.
  • School choice in the form of charter schools and vouchers result in the public funding of private schools and are not satisfactory methods of reforming public schools.

    • Some of the issues in this argument:
    How are schools funded and does this affect educational quality?
    What is school choice and how would it affect public schools?
    Would competition from privately operated schools improve education?

    		 Sources of information:
    Intercollegiate Athletics and Ethics

    Thesis Statements:

    • Intercollegiate athletics is an excellent public relations and fund raising arm for colleges, while providing education and training to future professional athletes.
    • Intercollegiate athletics corrupt their educational institutions by creating a double standard and devaluing scholarship in favor of athletic competition.

    Some of the issues in this argument:
    What do colleges owe the student athlete?
    Would financial compensation compromise academic and institutional integrity? 
    Should colleges be training grounds for athletic careers?
    Should colleges lower the admission standards for athletes?
    Is the huge amount of money spent by colleges on athletic programs justified?
    How do winning teams benefit the university or college?  the athlete?

    		 Sources of Information:

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