35 Thought-Provoking Persuasive Writing Prompts For 6th Graders
Looking for a solid persuasive essay topic for your 6th grader?
The below post contains tons of great ideas that will get your 6th-grade students thinking, researching, debating, and writing!
I’m not talking about simple opinion writing topics – like their favorite food, favorite book, or how much money they should get for an allowance.
That is the the thing that my 3rd grade student would delight in arguing.
No, sixth graders are ready for more meaty topics that require a bit of research and thought. The more they dig into the topic and refine their point of view, the more they will sharpen their critical thinking and writing skills!
Don’t miss the free pdf printable at the bottom of this page with all of the ideas in one place!
Persuasive Writing Prompts For The 6th Grade Student
1. Is a dress code ever necessary?
In this prompt, students will be asked to take a stance on whether or not they think there is ever a time to enforce a dress code. Are there times when someone should be told how to dress? Such as a school dress code or wedding? Or should people be allowed to dress in any way that expresses themselves or their personality?
2. Should recycling be mandatory instead of suggested?
Students will be asked to consider whether the government should be more aggressive about recycling. They will be working with the concepts of the benefits of recycling vs. the freedoms of people.
3. Should vending machines ban junk food?
6th grade students will be asked to argue for or against the ban of junk food in vending machines. Vending machines are often used by people who are hungry and in a hurry. The vending options are usually less than healthy. Should vending machine owners be required to provide better choices? Or should they be allowed to stock their machines as they see fit?
4. Is it okay to keep exotic animals as pets?
This persuasive topic will have students take a stance on whether or not it is a good idea to keep exotic animals as pets. They will need to consider the benefits and drawbacks of keeping exotic pets and present a strong argument for their position. Make sure the student has a good understanding of the topic and the different types and sizes of animals that some people keep as pets.
5. Should the federal government impose a tax on sugary drinks?
In this prompt, students will be asked to argue for or against a government tax on sugary drinks – similar to the tax on cigarettes. They will need to consider the potential benefits of such a tax. What would the tax money be spent on? Or should people be free to drink any kind of beverage they wish, no matter how healthy or unhealthy?
6. Should life skills be a greater focus for education?
In this prompt, students will be asked to take a stance on what should be taught in school. Should the schools be doubling down on the basics of reading, writing, and math since test scores have dipped? Or should schools start allotting more time for important life skills, like time management, personal finance, and cooking, which are things many young adults struggle with.
7. Should there be age limits to use social media?
Students will list specific reasons why there should or should not be age restrictions for facebook pages and other forms of social media.
8. Is it important to save endangered species?
Students will be asked argue why enndangered animals should or should not be protected. They may be quick to make up their mind, but make sure they do research and find factual reasons that support their opinions.
9. Should video games be considered a sport?
Even though video games do not require the physical activity of traditional sports, does it still require focus, skill, and grit that would make it a modern sport? Or should that title only be awarded to an activity that requires you to sweat?
10. Should there be a ban on plastic bags?
Everyone knows plastic bags are bad for the environment, but should they be banned? What would the alternative be?
11. Is it necessary to have physical books anymore?
In the age of digital everything, are paper books still necessary? College students are already buying digital books instead of expensive physical ones. What benefits would come from doing away with paper books? What drawbacks would there be for those without a computer or solid internet?
12. Is it important to teach physical education in schools?
What is the goal of physical education? Does it have a place in the academic environment of education? Should those things be taught at home or on a sports team instead of during school hours? Shouldn’t physical activity be optional? Or is PE a vital piece of knowledge for a well-rounded education?
13. Should zoos be banned?
Do zoos raise money and awareness for animal conservation…or do they imprison animals for a lifetime that should be free and in the wild?
14. Should recess be scheduled for all kids in school? Even high school students?
What are the benefits of taking an outside break with fresh air for students? Are other subjects too important to sacrifice the time? Could older students be more productive with some sunshine and fresh air during the day?
15. If a student has good grades all school year, should they still have to take standardized tests?
If a student has shown that they are learning and progressing academically, should they have to take a long standardized test? Are there other reasons to take these tests?
16. Is hunting cruel to animals?
Most people buy their meat at grocery stores these days, so is there really any reason to still hunt animals? Does harvesting animals keep humans safe? Or does it make sport of animal lives?
17. Should gas powered cars be outlawed?
Fossil fuels are wreaking havoc on the planet, so should gasoline powered vehicles become illegal? Are electric cars a better option? Do electric cars have any drawbacks?
18. Is a rewards program or discipline more effective to motivate students?
What incentivizes kids to dive into their work, when maybe they don’t want to? Is it a really strong rewards program that will motivate them to finish a difficult task? Or fear of a consequence if they don’t complete their work?
19. Should the United States require military service for men and women, like other countries do?
Many countries require their population to do some form of federal service. America has a draft registration for men, but not for women. Should both genders be required to serve our country? Would it strengthen our nation and our people to have a common experience with service? Or is it unfair to require people to pause their lives for 2 years during the prime of their youth?
20. Should healthcare be free for everybody?
Is it a human right to get healthcare for free? If the patient doesn’t pay, then who should pay for the treatment? What benefits and/or consequences could come from reshaping our healthcare system?
21. Should candy purchases be limited based on how many cavities you have?
Dental health is very serious. Should a kid’s candy be rationed based on their dental records? The more cavities, the less candy you can have – and vice versa?
22. Is it appropriate to let kids work at younger ages, like 10 or 12, if they can do the job?
Many kids today have a strong desire to work, make money, and be successful. We have child labor laws in place to protect kids, but could that be holding them back? If they can do a job, should they be allowed to be hired? Or would that be robbing a kid of their right to a carefree childhood?
23. Should foreign language be required in school or should it be one of the elective courses?
English is spoken nearly worldwide, as it is taught in many countries around the world. What benefits come from learning another language? Should students be able to choose another elective if they don’t want to learn a new language? Or should American children try harder to be multilingual?
24. Should students be allowed to use their cell phones during tests?
You cannot get away from cell phones these days. Even small children have them! They will be a readily available resource in most work places, so shouldn’t they be allowed during tests? Or are memorization and internalization of information important skills for students to learn?
25. Should plastic water bottles be banned?
Plastic water bottles are a huge problem in our environment. Should we outlaw them to help the Earth? What kind of things are one-use water bottles used for that might be important?
26. Is it more important to continue exploration of space or the ocean?
Many wonderful advancements and knowledge have come from space exploration, but we know precious little about our ocean which covers 2/3 of the planet. Should governments be investing money into finding what lies beneath the surface instead of what’s above our heads?
27. Should reading an analog clock still be taught in school?
Digital clocks are everywhere – on your phone, stove, microwave, computer, cable box. Do you really need to learn how an analog clock works anymore? Are there times that digital clocks may not be available? Or are they becoming as archaic as a sundial?
28. Is learning proper handwriting or fast typing more important in today’s world?
Many have stopped learning cursive handwriting, so should schools also stop focusing so much on print handwriting? Should kids be spending that time learning how to type on a keyboard instead?
29. Should the voting age be lowered so elementary school students can vote?
Kids today are developing opinions and beliefs at younger ages and want to be heard. Should we lower the voting age so that children can make more of a difference? Or are most children not quite ready to handle the responsibility of voting?
30. Should AI be allowed in writing school papers if calculators are allowed in math?
Many teachers are concerned about how to tell the difference between an AI-written essay and one written by a student. Should that be a concern? If math allows calculators, can’t English classes allow help from another form of artificial intelligence? What drawback could come from not expecting kids to write their own essays?
31. Are cell phones good or bad for your health?
Cell phones are common around the world now, but are they good for us? How do they benefit our health? How might they hurt our overall health?
32. Should bees become a protected species?
Many scientists have expressed concern about the dwindling number of bees. Should these important pollinators become a protected species like the bald eagle? Or is it unreasonable to expect a person not to kill a bee that is buzzing around them?
33. Is it ever appropriate to ban a book?
Many heated discussions have come up recently about banning books. Is there ever a time that certain books should be kept from kids – like an R rating on a movie? Or should kids be allowed to read whatever they are interested in? Should offensive content be censored or should it be learned from?
34. Should community service be required for kids, middle schoolers and up?
What good could come of requiring community service from children? Or should people only serve because they genuinely want to help their community?
35. Is reading or math more important in today’s world?
Which is a more crucial skill to master? Should kids be focused on reading at the highest levels? Or should they be focused on learning the language of math at the highest levels?
Click Here To Download A One Page PDF Printable Of All The Argumentative Essay Topics
The above text link will take you to a new window where you can download and print the topics today. No email required! Terms of Use: Homeschool, classroom, co-op, and personal use only.
These essay topics will go along with any persuasive writing unit in your writing curriculum! Let your student go through the list and find the one that really gets them excited.
If you’re looking for more fun writing prompts, be sure to check out the picture writing prompts below. There are 40 images with corresponding text that will get your kid excited to write!
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