sixth grade persuasive essay topics

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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130 Interesting Persuasive Essay Topics for Kids and Teens

Use your words to sway the reader.

Persuasive writing is one of those skills that can help students succeed in real life. Learn the basics of this valuable skill, then use our big roundup of persuasive essay topics for practice.

Plus, fill out the form on this page to grab our free printable persuasive essay graphic organizers to pair with your lessons!

What is persuasive writing?

In a persuasive essay, the writer uses a combination of facts and emotion to sway a reader to adopt their own point of view or take a specific action. Here are the general steps to writing persuasively:

• State your position: Clearly and succinctly, state your desired opinion or outcome up front. This could be the point of view you want the reader to adopt (“Pineapple has no place on a pizza.”) or the action you want them to take (“All adults should educate themselves and vote in every election.”).
• Provide evidence and support: Use facts to support your point of view, citing sources whenever you can. Explain how those facts back up your position, using logic and reason.
• Anticipate counterarguments: It’s important to know your audience so you can anticipate any counterarguments they might make and try to overcome them.
• Use emotional appeals: Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays, but they incorporate more emotion rather than sticking to facts and logic. For instance, you might try to anger, scare, or create a sense of pride in your reader so they’ll be more likely to agree with you.
• Make a call to action: Finish strong with the specific action you’d like the reader to take, whether it’s voting responsibly or never putting pineapple on a pizza again.

Help students understand what strong persuasive writing looks like by exploring well-known examples of persuasive essays, speeches, ads, and more . Then, use the topics here to give them practice writing persuasively on their own.

School and Education Persuasive Essay Topics

Life and ethics persuasive essay topics, science and technology persuasive essay topics, sports and entertainment persuasive essay topics, just for fun persuasive essay topics.

• Do you think homework should be required, optional, or not given at all?
• Students should/should not be able to use their phones during the school day.
• Should schools have dress codes?
• All students should wear school uniforms.
• If I could change one school rule, it would be …
• Is year-round school a good idea?
• Should we stop giving final exams?
• Is it better to be good at academics or good at sports?

• Which is better, private schools or public schools?
• Should every student have to participate in athletics?
• Should schools teach life skills like financial responsibility?
• Does your school handle bullying well?
• Do you think schools should ban junk food from their cafeterias?
• Should students be required to volunteer in their communities?
• What is the most important school subject?
• Are letter grades helpful, or should we replace them with something else?

• Is it ever OK to cheat on homework or a test?
• What are the ideal starting and ending hours for a school day?
• Should students get to grade their teachers?
• Do you think college should be free for anyone who wants to attend?
• Should schools be allowed to ban some books from their libraries?
• Which is better, book smarts or street smarts?
• Is attending college worth the time and effort?

• Should all students have to learn a foreign language?
• Are single-gender schools better or worse for students?
• Schools should reduce or eliminate standardized testing.
• Is it OK to eat animals?
• What animal makes the best pet?
• Visit an animal shelter, choose an animal that needs a home, and write an essay persuading someone to adopt that animal.
• Why is it important to vote?
• Wealthy people should pay a higher tax rate.
• If you find money on the ground, should you try to find the person who lost it, or is it yours to keep?

• Who faces more peer pressure, girls or boys?
• Should all Americans be required to vote?
• Is it better to be kind or truthful?
• Which is better, giving or receiving?
• Should free speech have any limitations?
• Is it OK to keep animals in zoos?
• Should we change the minimum driving age in the United States?

• Which is more important, happiness or success?
• Is democracy the best form of government?
• Is social media helpful or harmful?
• Should parents be punished for their children’s mistakes or crimes?
• Should kids have set bedtimes or just go to bed when they’re sleepy?
• Do you think the government should find a way to provide free universal health care for everyone?

• Is it better to save your allowance or spend it?
• Is capital punishment ever ethical or justified?
• Should we ban plastic bags and bottles?
• Which is better, living in the city or in the country?
• Immigration benefits the United States.
• A border wall between Mexico and the United States is essential for reducing crime rates.
• Should the United States have stronger gun regulations?
• If I could make a new law, it would be …
• Is Pluto a planet?
• Should human cloning be legal?
• Should vaccines be mandatory?
• Do the benefits of nuclear power outweigh the risks?
• Is it right for countries to still maintain nuclear weapon arsenals?

• Should testing on animals be made illegal?
• Will expanded use of artificial intelligence be good for humanity?
• Should all people have free internet access in their homes?
• Is there intelligent life on other planets?
• Does technology create more jobs than it eliminates?
• Should parents use their children’s cell phones to track where they are?
• Should scientists try to develop a way for people to live forever?

• What’s the best type of smartphone: Android or iPhone?
• Which is better, Macs or PCs?
• Do people rely too much on technology in the modern world?
• Should cryptocurrencies replace cash?
• Should there be a minimum age requirement to own a smartphone?
• All people have a responsibility to help combat climate change.
• Is it important to keep spending money on space exploration, or should we use the money for other things?

• Should kids under 13 be allowed to use social media sites?
• Should we ban cigarette smoking and vaping entirely?
• Is it better to be an animal that lives in the water or on land?
• Are humans responsible for an increase in climate change?
• Should all communities be legally required to recycle?
• Should kids be allowed to watch TV on school nights?
• Which is better, paper books or e-books?
• Is the current movie rating system (G, PG, PG-13, etc.) effective?
• Are video games better than board games?
• Sports teams should have to pay to build their own arenas or stadiums rather than relying on the community.
• Movie theater tickets are too expensive.
• Should we allow little kids to play competitive sports?

• Youth sports have become too competitive.
• Which is better, reading books or watching TV?
• Are celebrities obligated to be positive role models for their fans?
• Does playing violent video games make people more violent in real life?
• Video games need more inclusive and diverse characters.
• Are graphic novels just as valuable as traditional fiction books?
• Women’s sports deserve equal funding and coverage as men’s sports.
• Should everyone play on the same sports teams, regardless of gender?
• Choose a book that’s been made into a movie. Which was better, the movie or the book?

• Who is the world’s best athlete, present or past?
• Are professional athletes/musicians/actors overpaid?
• Is hosting the Olympics a waste of a country’s money and resources?
• College athletes should be allowed to accept a salary for playing.
• Which is better, fiction or nonfiction?
• The best music genre is …
• What is one book that everyone should read?
• What new sport should be added to the Olympics?

• What’s the best video game system?
• Does playing video games make you smarter?
• Should high school athletes be required to maintain a minimum GPA to continue playing?
• Contact sports like boxing and football are too dangerous.
• Does reality TV actually depict real life?
• Should all neighborhoods have free parks and playgrounds?
• Are awards like the Grammys and Oscars biased and in need of reform?
• What’s the best holiday?
• The very best food of all time is …
• Which make better pets, dogs or cats?
• Which is better, artificial Christmas trees or real ones?

• What’s the best season of the year?
• Should you put ketchup on a hot dog?
• Is a taco a sandwich?
• Does fruit count as dessert?
• Everyone should eat dessert first.
• Should people have to go to school or work on their birthday?
• Are clowns scary or funny?
• Which is more dangerous, werewolves or vampires?

• The best pizza topping is …
• What would be the best superpower to have?
• Should everyone make their bed every day?
• Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
• Should you put pineapple on a pizza?
• Should you eat macaroni and cheese with a spoon or a fork?

• Describe the world’s best ice cream sundae.
• Is Monday the worst day of the week?
• Would you rather travel back in time or forward in time?
• Is it better to be too hot or too cold?
• Are there aliens living among us here on Earth?

Get my free printable persuasive essay graphic organizers

Download our persuasive essay graphic organizer bundle to pair perfectly with your lesson and allow your students to plan their writing with helpful visuals. There are two worksheets, one with a simple layout for younger students and one with a detailed layout that’s best for older students. Both graphic organizers feature a road map theme that walks your students through all the steps, such as stating their claim, providing reasons and supporting facts, and restating the claim. These graphic organizers work for both persuasive and argumentative essays. Just press the button below to grab them!

What are your favorite persuasive essay topics for students? Come exchange ideas in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the big list of essay topics for high school ., you might also like.

40 Real-World Persuasive Writing Examples (Essays, Speeches, Ads, and More)

Learn from the experts. Continue Reading

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15 Persuasive essay topics for students

In this guide

• 1. Is it better to have recess indoors or outdoors?
• 2. Which is more important, math or reading?
• 3. All school lunches should come with dessert
• 4. Is it better to watch TV or read books?
• 5. Students should be allowed to bring their pets to school
• 6. Schools should not assign students homework
• 7. There should be more diverse lunch options in school
• 8. Is it better to learn from books or from technology?
• 9. Middle schools should still have recess
• 10. Students should be allowed to wear whatever they want to school
• 11. Should schools ban the use of phones during the school day?
• 12. Are group projects fair?
• 13. What is one school rule that should be changed?
• 14. Is social media beneficial or harmful to teens?
• 15. Should Shakespeare still be taught in schools?

Persuasive writing is writing that is used to convince someone to take action or believe in an author’s take on a topic or issue. Sometimes it is also referred to as argumentative writing. 

The best way to get students excited about writing, generally, is to offer them topics that they are excited to write about. 

When students are writing persuasive essays, they should include several elements. These include a strong thesis that clearly states the writer’s position, facts and examples to support the thesis, and clear reasons that the reader should agree with the writer’s point of view. 

Another important aspect of persuasive writing is rhetorical devices. These rhetorical devices are ethos, pathos, and logos . 

When creating persuasive essay topics, it is vital that the correct elements of a persuasive essay are examined, explored and modeled for students. 

Topics should be selected based on the responses the teacher would like to elicit from the students. Teachers can also focus their teaching on one element of the essay itself, structure or persuasive devices for example, but allow free choice of the topic to increase student engagement. 

Persuasive essay topics themselves can be given in more than one format. They can be presented as a question with two sides or they can be a statement that students defend or refute. Many persuasive topics include a “should” statement. 

One activity that can help students to write a stronger persuasive essay is to have a class discussion or friendly debate about a topic before students write. Talking about a subject before writing gives teachers the opportunity to engage prior knowledge, guide students to independent thinking, and to ask questions. 

Talking about a subject before writing also allows students to interact with their peers, to hear different opinions, and to form reasons for their own opinions. 

It can also be beneficial for students to read about a subject before they write about it. This allows for students to grow and develop their background knowledge on their topic. It helps students to gain an understanding of a subject before they begin to write. 

This article is broken up into three categories – elementary, middle school, and high school topics. The purpose of this distinction is that persuasive writing can look vastly different based on the grade level of students. What is appropriate for elementary is not always appropriate for secondary. 

Elementary topics

1) is it better to have recess indoors or outdoors.

Recess is an important part of the school day for many students. It is often the only unstructured time students may have during the day. Students will give varying responses to this topic due to location, temperature, their personal preferences, and the types of activities that occur indoors vs. outdoors. Teachers could use this topic to explore the range of different arguments and viewpoints that can arise from a single topic. 

2) Which is more important, math or reading?

Students usually have strong opinions on school subjects. This topic gives them the opportunity to express their opinions and learn the structure of a persuasive essay. 

Giving a topic that has both an academic focus as well as a way for students to learn about persuasive writing is a great way to create interest in writing for young students. 

3) All school lunches should come with dessert

Many of the students I have had over the years have complained about school lunches. Writing about dessert being included in school lunches may be a good motivator for students to write a convincing persuasive essay. 

4) Is it better to watch TV or read books?

As teachers, we know that reading books is an important part of learning. However, television can be educational and can help students to develop language skills. Students can use this topic to research each activity and provide evidence to support their choice. 

5) Students should be allowed to bring their pets to school

During the pandemic, many students shared their pets on camera. Young students often like to share things that are important to their lives. Pets are part of their family and can provide comfort and reassurance to students. 

If a student does not have a pet, this can be changed to accommodate the student’s needs. Perhaps they can write about bringing a family member to school or a treasured object.  

This topic could be used to show how multiple viewpoints can be discussed within the one essay. 

Middle school topics

6) schools should not assign students homework.

Homework is a topic that many people, teachers and students, can feel very strongly about. This provides the opportunity for research . Students can identify reasons why homework is unhelpful and cite evidence to support their claims. 

7) There should be more diverse lunch options in school

Nothing motivates middle school students quite like food! As a former middle school teacher, I can say that middle schoolers are always hungry. 

Something that many students complain about is school lunches. This topic gives them the opportunity to give their opinions on school lunches and write about diversity, health and choice in a structured way. 

8) Is it better to learn from books or from technology?

Using this topic can open up a heated classroom debate. It also gives students an opportunity to research the benefits of technology and books. There is also the added topic of textbooks versus other forms of books. 

This topic would allow students to combine their research and persuasive skills within the one topic.

9) Middle schools should still have recess

As a former middle school teacher, I can attest to the fact that middle schoolers still need to burn energy. It can be mentally and physically taxing for students to sit and learn all day without movement breaks. 

Another way to approach this topic is by having students write a letter or email to the principal (or even the school board) that explains their position. Combining letter writing and persuasive writing opens up the opportunity to teach aspects of both writing genres at one time. 

10) Students should be allowed to wear whatever they want to school

Students use their attire to express themselves. In middle school this starts to become how they show their identity and who they are as a person. Most schools have some sort of dress code, if not school uniforms . 

Students will have an opinion on what they want to wear! Some students may argue the opposite and give reasons why a school dress code is appropriate. 

Not only will you end up with some passionate feelings on this topic, the subject matter is more familiar, allowing them to focus more on the overall structure required in a persuasive essay. 

High school topics

11) should schools ban the use of phones during the school day.

One way to get students excited about writing is to have them write about something they feel passionate about and this is a subject they are guaranteed to have an opinion about! 

This would make a good introductory persuasive essay topic as students debate their points of view, and often their parents, to come to an overall conclusion. 

When giving this prompt, the teacher can also require students to address concerns regarding students paying attention in class but otherwise students should be encouraged to make a list of arguments for both sides of this topic and build their essay from there. 

12) Are group projects fair?

My own students recently discussed this topic and are in the process of writing a persuasive essay to present their opinions. I was surprised by how passionately my students felt about group projects and about working with groups. 

This particular prompt also lends itself to students writing a persuasive essay in the form of a letter. They can write a letter to their teacher asking them to include more or less group projects in their subject and provide a range of reasons why. 

13) What is one school rule that should be changed?

There are always rules that students do not agree with. This prompt allows students to express their thoughts, but also to form arguments that explain why they feel the way they do. 

This prompt encourages students to develop their own topic and structure their own argument around this topic rather than simply responding to a given question. 

This broader option will also provide the structure for students to write about how they will change the rule and how the change will benefit not just them but all students. 

14) Is social media beneficial or harmful to teens?

This is another topic that will require students’ research skills. Focus on the use of data and statistical information when writing.

Students often have very specific views on social media. As a high school teacher technology is a very spicy subject and having students argue their viewpoints beforehand and then supporting them with empirical evidence will allow students to develop their thinking and reasoning skills. 

Once the in class exploration, discussion and research have been completed students can begin to write a thorough and well reasoned essay on the topic of social media . 

15) Should Shakespeare still be taught in schools?

Many students (and honestly, many teachers) find Shakespeare to be cumbersome to learn (and teach!) and irrelevant to current society. 

Including this topic in the same time frame as teaching Shakespeare can make the prompt relevant to the students’ current situation. They must defend or rebuke the teaching of Shakespeare in the high school setting with specific evidence to support their position. 

Writing a persuasive essay can be a beneficial learning experience for students. No matter the topic, students are being asked to form coherent arguments and support those arguments with reasons. This is an important skill for students to begin early in their learning so that there is time and space for these skills to be built upon as they move through their schooling. Exams and essays still provide the basis for testing in many subjects and thus we would be doing a disservice to our students if we did not give them the skills to tackle these writing styles.

• Motley, N. (2016) Talk Read Talk Write . 2nd edn. San Clemente, CA: Seidlitz Education.
• Saint Louis Community College (2024) Pathos, Logos, and Ethos. Available at https://stlcc.edu/student-support/academic-success-and-tutoring/writing-center/writing-resources/pathos-logos-and-ethos.aspx (Accessed: 11 September 2024). 

Mattie Farrer

AVID Site Coordinator / Content Curator

Mattie Farrer has been an educator in various grade levels and capacities during her career. She has a passion for supporting English learners and their language development. She also loves helping teachers reach all students.

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Elementary Assessments

65 Great Persuasive Writing Prompts for 6th Graders

The art of persuasion is a helpful skill that will serve sixth-graders well in life.

Help them improve upon those skills by utilizing these engaging persuasive writing prompts for 6th grade.

Persuasive writing is a form of writing that tries to convince the reader to do something, to think a certain way, or hold a particular belief. 

Using these 6th-grade persuasive writing prompts, students will have the opportunity to share their beliefs, preferences, plus likes and dislikes.

They’ll be encouraged to support their thoughts using supporting details such as personal experience and facts.

What’s more, these sixth-grade persuasive writing prompts spark critical thinking skills as students reflect upon and reevaluate their mindset regarding certain topics.

So help students sharpen their writing and thinking skills using these persuasive writing prompts for sixth graders.

Persuasive Writing Prompts for 6th Grade

• Draft a letter to your hair, persuading it to behave in humid weather. 
• Write a letter to your grandparents persuading them to visit you this summer. 
• Write a letter to the principal of your school persuading her to shorten the school week.
• Write a letter convincing your dog to behave kindly towards house visitors. 
• Draft a newspaper article explaining why a smoothie is a better breakfast option than oatmeal.
• Write a letter to a friend, persuading him to put forth his best efforts in the local kite-flying contest. 
• Persuade your friend to loan you his favorite toy.
• Draft a letter persuading sixth-graders to listen to soft music while studying.
• Write a political campaign that convinces citizens to vote for a particular candidate.
• Draft a speech that persuades citizens to vote for you in a local election.

Related Content: Sixth-Grade Writing Prompts

• Write a speech that encourages people to show kindness to animals.
• Write a speech convincing people to try a new product that just launched in your business.
• Write a book review about your favorite book.
• Draft a book review for a nonfiction book. 
• Write a product advertisement for your favorite candy. Be convincing so that people will want to buy it.
• Create a commercial script that persuades someone to buy your brand of cereal.
• Write a book review of a poetry book. 
• Write a speech persuading students to show appropriate behavior during a school assembly or field trip.
• Persuade someone that life is better without technology.
• How would you persuade your family to try a new outdoor activity this weekend?
• Write an advertisement that persuades someone to buy a new pair of sneakers that just launched.
• Make a billboard that convinces travelers to visit your restaurant. 
• Convince local citizens to vote in the upcoming city election.
• Produce an ad that convinces people to attend a One-Day-Sale event at the local shopping mall. 
• Write a letter convincing your friends to join the science fair with you.
• Write a letter persuading someone to help you with your homework.
• Write a letter to the cafeteria workers, persuading them to allow the sale of junk food during lunchtime.
• Convince someone that life is better the older you get.
• Encourage a friend, letting him know how talented he is in doing a certain task.
• Convince your mom or dad to let you open a Christmas present the day before Christmas.
• Design a bumper sticker to advertise happiness. 
• Explain why your friend should purchase one brand of cereal over another.
• Write an essay trying to convince the reader why everybody should grow their own food instead of purchasing from grocery stores.
• Make the case for having a fish instead of a pet with fur.
• Draft a piece of writing that persuades someone to visit space instead of the bottom of the ocean.
• Write a letter to persuade the principal to add character education classes to the school’s curriculum.
• Convince your family to move out of the city and to the country.
• Write an article for a magazine that encourages anyone over the age of 18 to learn how to drive a vehicle.
• Make the case to your principal about why you think the school week should be only from Monday to Thursday.
• Persuade a friend to accompany you to a festival this weekend.
• Convince your friends to watch your favorite movie.
• How would you convince someone that online learning is better for students?
• Convince someone that math class is more important than reading class.
• Justify airplanes as the best mode of transportation.
• Write a letter to persuade your teacher to play a game with the class during recess.
• Explain why 6th graders should respond to persuasive writing prompts.
• Persuade someone to give you the job of your dreams.
• Write a newsletter article convincing your community to participate in the recycling program.
• Convince your teacher to give you a particular whole class award.
• Persuade your friends to stop eating junk food.
• State your case about only allowing people who have a large backyard to own a dog.
• Write a piece of writing that persuades sixth-graders to drink more water.
• What famous person from the past should be on a bill of money and why?
• Write a letter to convince your teacher to allow headphones while working in class.
• Convince your parents to let you stay up past your bedtime tonight.
• Persuade your parents to increase your allowance.
• Convince your teacher to rotate classroom helper jobs every so often.
• Explain why adults and children should eat a variety of vegetables every day.
• How would you encourage your principal to allow more time in the school schedule for art and music classes?
• Write a movie review of your favorite film. Convince the reader why he should see it.
• Convince someone of the value of completing crossword puzzles.
• Summarize the best places to visit in your city and explain why.
• Draft a letter persuading your parents to give you a day off from school.
• Explain why people should learn how to swim.
• Write a letter convincing your friends to help you ask the new student to eat with you all at lunch.
• Draft a speech that persuades sixth-graders to read more.

Final Thoughts On 6th-Grade Persuasive Writing Prompts

Sixth-grade persuasive writing prompts encourage students to develop strong arguments and refine their communication skills.

So use these persuasive writing prompts for sixth graders to showcase students’ thoughts and reasoning skills.

Related: mentor texts for teaching persuasive writing

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113 Perfect Persuasive Essay Topics for Any Assignment

General Education

Do you need to write a persuasive essay but aren’t sure what topic to focus on? Were you thrilled when your teacher said you could write about whatever you wanted but are now overwhelmed by the possibilities? We’re here to help!

Read on for a list of 113 top-notch persuasive essay topics, organized into ten categories. To help get you started, we also discuss what a persuasive essay is, how to choose a great topic, and what tips to keep in mind as you write your persuasive essay.

What Is a Persuasive Essay?

In a persuasive essay, you attempt to convince readers to agree with your point of view on an argument. For example, an essay analyzing changes in Italian art during the Renaissance wouldn’t be a persuasive essay, because there’s no argument, but an essay where you argue that Italian art reached its peak during the Renaissance would be a persuasive essay because you’re trying to get your audience to agree with your viewpoint.

Persuasive and argumentative essays both try to convince readers to agree with the author, but the two essay types have key differences. Argumentative essays show a more balanced view of the issue and discuss both sides. Persuasive essays focus more heavily on the side the author agrees with. They also often include more of the author’s opinion than argumentative essays, which tend to use only facts and data to support their argument.

All persuasive essays have the following:

• Introduction: Introduces the topic, explains why it’s important, and ends with the thesis.
• Thesis: A sentence that sums up what the essay be discussing and what your stance on the issue is.
• Reasons you believe your side of the argument: Why do you support the side you do? Typically each main point will have its own body paragraph.
• Evidence supporting your argument: Facts or examples to back up your main points. Even though your opinion is allowed in persuasive essays more than most other essays, having concrete examples will make a stronger argument than relying on your opinion alone.
• Conclusion: Restatement of thesis, summary of main points, and a recap of why the issue is important.

What Makes a Good Persuasive Essay Topic?

Theoretically, you could write a persuasive essay about any subject under the sun, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Certain topics are easier to write a strong persuasive essay on, and below are tips to follow when deciding what you should write about.

It’s a Topic You Care About

Obviously, it’s possible to write an essay about a topic you find completely boring. You’ve probably done it! However, if possible, it’s always better to choose a topic that you care about and are interested in. When this is the case, you’ll find doing the research more enjoyable, writing the essay easier, and your writing will likely be better because you’ll be more passionate about and informed on the topic.

You Have Enough Evidence to Support Your Argument

Just being passionate about a subject isn’t enough to make it a good persuasive essay topic, though. You need to make sure your argument is complex enough to have at least two potential sides to root for, and you need to be able to back up your side with evidence and examples. Even though persuasive essays allow your opinion to feature more than many other essays, you still need concrete evidence to back up your claims, or you’ll end up with a weak essay.

For example, you may passionately believe that mint chocolate chip ice cream is the best ice cream flavor (I agree!), but could you really write an entire essay on this? What would be your reasons for believing mint chocolate chip is the best (besides the fact that it’s delicious)? How would you support your belief? Have enough studies been done on preferred ice cream flavors to support an entire essay? When choosing a persuasive essay idea, you want to find the right balance between something you care about (so you can write well on it) and something the rest of the world cares about (so you can reference evidence to strengthen your position).

It’s a Manageable Topic

Bigger isn’t always better, especially with essay topics. While it may seem like a great idea to choose a huge, complex topic to write about, you’ll likely struggle to sift through all the information and different sides of the issue and winnow them down to one streamlined essay. For example, choosing to write an essay about how WWII impacted American life more than WWI wouldn’t be a great idea because you’d need to analyze all the impacts of both the wars in numerous areas of American life. It’d be a huge undertaking. A better idea would be to choose one impact on American life the wars had (such as changes in female employment) and focus on that. Doing so will make researching and writing your persuasive essay much more feasible.

List of 113 Good Persuasive Essay Topics

Below are over 100 persuasive essay ideas, organized into ten categories. When you find an idea that piques your interest, you’ll choose one side of it to argue for in your essay. For example, if you choose the topic, “should fracking be legal?” you’d decide whether you believe fracking should be legal or illegal, then you’d write an essay arguing all the reasons why your audience should agree with you.

Arts/Culture

• Should students be required to learn an instrument in school?
• Did the end of Game of Thrones fit with the rest of the series?
• Can music be an effective way to treat mental illness?
• With e-readers so popular, have libraries become obsolete?
• Are the Harry Potter books more popular than they deserve to be?
• Should music with offensive language come with a warning label?
• What’s the best way for museums to get more people to visit?
• Should students be able to substitute an art or music class for a PE class in school?
• Are the Kardashians good or bad role models for young people?
• Should people in higher income brackets pay more taxes?
• Should all high school students be required to take a class on financial literacy?
• Is it possible to achieve the American dream, or is it only a myth?
• Is it better to spend a summer as an unpaid intern at a prestigious company or as a paid worker at a local store/restaurant?
• Should the United States impose more or fewer tariffs?
• Should college graduates have their student loans forgiven?
• Should restaurants eliminate tipping and raise staff wages instead?
• Should students learn cursive writing in school?
• Which is more important: PE class or music class?
• Is it better to have year-round school with shorter breaks throughout the year?
• Should class rank be abolished in schools?
• Should students be taught sex education in school?
• Should students be able to attend public universities for free?
• What’s the most effective way to change the behavior of school bullies?
• Are the SAT and ACT accurate ways to measure intelligence?
• Should students be able to learn sign language instead of a foreign language?
• Do the benefits of Greek life at colleges outweigh the negatives?
• Does doing homework actually help students learn more?
• Why do students in many other countries score higher than American students on math exams?
• Should parents/teachers be able to ban certain books from schools?
• What’s the best way to reduce cheating in school?
• Should colleges take a student’s race into account when making admissions decisions?
• Should there be limits to free speech?
• Should students be required to perform community service to graduate high school?
• Should convicted felons who have completed their sentence be allowed to vote?
• Should gun ownership be more tightly regulated?
• Should recycling be made mandatory?
• Should employers be required to offer paid leave to new parents?
• Are there any circumstances where torture should be allowed?
• Should children under the age of 18 be able to get plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons?
• Should white supremacy groups be allowed to hold rallies in public places?
• Does making abortion illegal make women more or less safe?
• Does foreign aid actually help developing countries?
• Are there times a person’s freedom of speech should be curtailed?
• Should people over a certain age not be allowed to adopt children?

Government/Politics

• Should the minimum voting age be raised/lowered/kept the same?
• Should Puerto Rico be granted statehood?
• Should the United States build a border wall with Mexico?
• Who should be the next person printed on American banknotes?
• Should the United States’ military budget be reduced?
• Did China’s one child policy have overall positive or negative impacts on the country?
• Should DREAMers be granted US citizenship?
• Is national security more important than individual privacy?
• What responsibility does the government have to help homeless people?
• Should the electoral college be abolished?
• Should the US increase or decrease the number of refugees it allows in each year?
• Should privately-run prisons be abolished?
• Who was the most/least effective US president?
• Will Brexit end up helping or harming the UK?

• What’s the best way to reduce the spread of Ebola?
• Is the Keto diet a safe and effective way to lose weight?
• Should the FDA regulate vitamins and supplements more strictly?
• Should public schools require all students who attend to be vaccinated?
• Is eating genetically modified food safe?
• What’s the best way to make health insurance more affordable?
• What’s the best way to lower the teen pregnancy rate?
• Should recreational marijuana be legalized nationwide?
• Should birth control pills be available without a prescription?
• Should pregnant women be forbidden from buying cigarettes and alcohol?
• Why has anxiety increased in adolescents?
• Are low-carb or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
• What caused the destruction of the USS Maine?
• Was King Arthur a mythical legend or actual Dark Ages king?
• Was the US justified in dropping atomic bombs during WWII?
• What was the primary cause of the Rwandan genocide?
• What happened to the settlers of the Roanoke colony?
• Was disagreement over slavery the primary cause of the US Civil War?
• What has caused the numerous disappearances in the Bermuda triangle?
• Should nuclear power be banned?
• Is scientific testing on animals necessary?
• Do zoos help or harm animals?
• Should scientists be allowed to clone humans?
• Should animals in circuses be banned?
• Should fracking be legal?
• Should people be allowed to keep exotic animals as pets?
• What’s the best way to reduce illegal poaching in Africa?
• What is the best way to reduce the impact of global warming?
• Should euthanasia be legalized?
• Is there legitimate evidence of extraterrestrial life?
• Should people be banned from owning aggressive dog breeds?
• Should the United States devote more money towards space exploration?
• Should the government subsidize renewable forms of energy?
• Is solar energy worth the cost?
• Should stem cells be used in medicine?
• Is it right for the US to leave the Paris Climate Agreement?
• Should athletes who fail a drug test receive a lifetime ban from the sport?
• Should college athletes receive a salary?
• Should the NFL do more to prevent concussions in players?
• Do PE classes help students stay in shape?
• Should horse racing be banned?
• Should cheerleading be considered a sport?
• Should children younger than 18 be allowed to play tackle football?
• Are the costs of hosting an Olympic Games worth it?
• Can online schools be as effective as traditional schools?
• Do violent video games encourage players to be violent in real life?
• Should facial recognition technology be banned?
• Does excessive social media use lead to depression/anxiety?
• Has the rise of translation technology made knowing multiple languages obsolete?
• Was Steve Jobs a visionary or just a great marketer?
• Should social media be banned for children younger than a certain age?
• Which 21st-century invention has had the largest impact on society?
• Are ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft good or bad for society?
• Should Facebook have done more to protect the privacy of its users?
• Will technology end up increasing or decreasing inequality worldwide?

Tips for Writing a Strong Persuasive Essay

After you’ve chosen the perfect topic for your persuasive essay, your work isn’t over. Follow the three tips below to create a top-notch essay.

Do Your Research

Your argument will fall apart if you don’t fully understand the issue you’re discussing or you overlook an important piece of it. Readers won’t be convinced by someone who doesn’t know the subject, and you likely won’t persuade any of them to begin supporting your viewpoint. Before you begin writing a single word of your essay, research your topic thoroughly. Study different sources, learn about the different sides of the argument, ask anyone who’s an expert on the topic what their opinion is, etc. You might be tempted to start writing right away, but by doing your research, you’ll make the writing process much easier when the time comes.

Make Your Thesis Perfect

Your thesis is the most important sentence in your persuasive essay. Just by reading that single sentence, your audience should know exactly what topic you’ll be discussing and where you stand on the issue. You want your thesis to be crystal clear and to accurately set up the rest of your essay. Asking classmates or your teacher to look it over before you begin writing the rest of your essay can be a big help if you’re not entirely confident in your thesis.

Consider the Other Side

You’ll spend most of your essay focusing on your side of the argument since that’s what you want readers to come away believing. However, don’t think that means you can ignore other sides of the issue. In your essay, be sure to discuss the other side’s argument, as well as why you believe this view is weak or untrue. Researching all the different viewpoints and including them in your essay will increase the quality of your writing by making your essay more complete and nuanced.

Summary: Persuasive Essay Ideas

Good persuasive essay topics can be difficult to come up with, but in this guide we’ve created a list of 113 excellent essay topics for you to browse. The best persuasive essay ideas will be those that you are interested in, have enough evidence to support your argument, and aren’t too complicated to be summarized in an essay.

After you’ve chosen your essay topic, keep these three tips in mind when you begin writing:

• Do your research
• Make your thesis perfect
• Consider the other side

What's Next?

Need ideas for a research paper topic as well? Our guide to research paper topics has over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you.

Thinking about taking an AP English class? Read our guide on AP English classes to learn whether you should take AP English Language or AP English Literature (or both!)

Deciding between the SAT or ACT? Find out for sure which you will do the best on . Also read a detailed comparison between the two tests .

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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