• Criminal Procedure Research Topics Topics: 55
  • Contract Law Research Topics Topics: 113
  • Crime Investigation Topics Topics: 131
  • Fourth Amendment Research Topics Topics: 49
  • Intellectual Property Topics Topics: 107
  • Criminal Justice Paper Topics Topics: 218
  • Criminal Behavior Essay Topics Topics: 71
  • Juvenile Delinquency Research Topics Topics: 133
  • Civil Law Topics Topics: 54
  • Supreme Court Paper Topics Topics: 87
  • Crime Essay Topics Topics: 288
  • Court Topics Topics: 140
  • Criminology Research Topics Topics: 163
  • Bill of Rights Topics Topics: 74
  • Drug Trafficking Research Topics Topics: 52

127 Murder Essay Topics & Title Ideas about Homicide

If you’re a criminal justice student or a true crime fan searching for the best murder essay topics, look no further! StudyCorgi has created a list of engaging murder titles and questions you can use for your argumentative essay, research paper, speech, dissertation, story, debate, or other writing assignments. Read on to get inspired!

🏆 Best Murder Topics for Essays

✍️ murder essay topics for college, 👍 good murder research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting homicide research topics, 💡 simple murder title ideas, ❓ research questions about homicide.

  • Rhetorical Strategies in Mobley’s “Justice or Murder?” After creating a descriptive and literary-rich essay, Mobley encourages everyone to decide for themselves: is the death penalty murder or justice?
  • Homicide Perception in Ancient Greece and Rome The essay considers how citizens of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome perceived homicide and the death penalty from civil, domestic, and political perspectives.
  • Should Children Be Tried as Adults for Murder? When a child takes the life of another person knowingly they are aware that they have committed a crime and should be punished but trying them as adults will not help rehabilitate them.
  • The Assassination of Julius Caesar This essay aims to examine Caesar’s rise to power, his political influence and efforts while in the position, and the overall reasons for his assassination.
  • The Case of Justice Through Revenge in Murder on the Orient Express Revenge goes hand in hand with justice in various works of fiction, and Murder on the Orient Express demonstrates it once again.
  • “Anatomy of a Murder” by Preminger: A Critical Analysis The Anatomy of a Murder by Preminger is more than simply a courtroom drama: it is a realistic and comprehensive examination of American life during the period.
  • Suicide, Homicide, and Psychological Theories Suicidal attempts do not always result in death because the nature of some of them can be reversed. It is important to administer proper treatment to a suicidal person.
  • How to Define a Case as Attempted Murder In the paper, our discussion will be limited to the circumstances of the case scenario and seek to determine whether a person’s actions constitute attempted murder.
  • Notion of Evil and Media Influence on Public’s View on Serial Murder Being an “evil” person differs from simply being “bad”. Evil is unforgivable, while “badness” is expected to be found in many.
  • Causes the Murder and Homicide Briefly, it is possible to state that murder is often a result of genetic predisposition combined with an unfavorable social environment.
  • Cognitive Bias in Robin Adams’ Murder Case The case of Robin Adams presented several cognitive biases. Contextual bias surfaced in taking into account the rumored information.
  • Kitty Genovese’s Murder and the Bystander Effect Multiple studies conducted to examine the problem of the Bystander Effect have proven that the subject matter exists and increases the threat faced by vulnerable populations.
  • Homicide Investigations and Forensic Evidence Forensic evidence can be defined as the information at a crime scene such as DNA, blood, body tissues among others found at a crime scene.
  • Different Accounts of the Assassination of Malcolm X In the paper, the description of two primary persons, Malcolm X, and his killer Thomas Hagan is organized in sequence including their age, social status, and race.
  • The Murder of Caesar: Brief Analysis Plutarch’s history sheds light on how Caesar was murdered and leaves room for reflection on whether this action was justified.
  • The Importance of Evidence in John Ramsey Homicide Case The crime-scene investigation’s primary aim is to recognize, collect, and document pieces of evidence. The collected proofs form the basis of these cases during judgment.
  • Murder: Mass Shootings in Atlanta Murder is the highest and most serious category of criminal homicide that, consequently, attracts the most significant punishment.
  • Homicide Rates in the United States Using data from the Uniform Crime Report, this paper discusses the peculiarities of the homicide rate in the United States and its changes over time.
  • Intimate Partner Violence and Homicide in Greece This paper discusses the rising rates of intimate partner violence and homicide in Greece. The author tells about several cases of men’s deadly assaults on their female partners.
  • Analysis of Leonard Peltier Murder Case The research paper challenges assumptions made by past researchers on the matter and provides an understanding of the American Indian Activism movement.
  • Brains of Persons Who Have Committed Murder The human brain is amongst the most compound and most significant organs in the body, comprising more than a hundred nerves.
  • Aaron Hernandez’s Murder Trial In the history of prosecutions in the United States, Mr. Hernandez’s murder trial elucidated mixed reactions from the public.
  • The Criminal Act Component of Murder Murder is a violation that contains the elements of criminal behavior. The criminal act component of murder is defined as conduct that kills the victim.
  • How a Folk Singer’s Murder Forced Chile to Confront Its Past: Victor Jara Story Victor Jara is still regarded as a national legend in Chile, and his death was a tragic incident in that country’s history.
  • Reflection Essay on Memories of Murder Released in 2003, the film failed miserably at the box office, but this did not prevent the film from gaining cult status over time.
  • Interconnection of Ethics and Murder The paper states that the morality of murder is a controversial topic in human history, for it is up to each individual to decide whether he can forgive himself.
  • What Led Up to the Assassination of Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar was an ancient Roman politician who transformed the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. Caesar became an outstanding general, orator, writer, and reformer.
  • “Murder of a President”: Analysis of Documentary After watching the documentary about President Garfield, I believe that he could have become one of the greatest presidents of the United States.
  • The Multi-Agency Team Involvement in the Case of the Child’s Murder The evaluation of the actions of the multi-agency team involved in the case of the child’s murder shows that there was an insufficiently effective collaboration among the parties.
  • British Army Against the Northern Ireland: The Morality of Murder in Wartime The paper sets the task of investigating the question of the morality of murder in wartime. The confrontation of the British Army against the Northern Irish was taken as a basis.
  • Mysteries about President John F. Kennedy Assassination The paper seeks to discuss the aspect that the gunman was not alone, the magic bullet that shot JFK and the reasons why the CIA kept the events of that day as a secret.
  • The Legality of Bin Laden’s Assassination President Obama didn’t have the legal authority to order Operation Geronimo and execute the plan for Bin Laden’s assassination, so it became a rude violation of international laws.
  • How to Conduct Greeting Session With Patients With Suicide, and Homicide The paper argues patients with suicide, homicide, and self-harm risks require special attention due to specific mental health conditions and behavioral features.
  • Murder of MaKayla Bryant as Case for Investigators The murder of MaKayla Bryant in Tallahassee, Florida, is a tragic event for the entire community, yet it also presents an interesting case for investigators.
  • Discussion of Attempted Murder Inchoate crimes include attempts, conspiracy, solicitation and attempted murder, and are based on the harmful intent of the suspect.
  • Florida’s vs. California’s Homicide Statutes The essay compares Florida’s and California’s statutes concerning homicide and examine their impact on homicide occurrence in respective states.
  • The “Just War” Theory, Genocide and Mass Murder The theory of just war was revived in the late 60s of the twentieth century in the United States due to the desire to find objective moral criteria for assessing the armed force.
  • Assassination of Julius Caesar The paper indicates that the assassination of Julius Caesar brought an opposite effect not according to what the killers had in mind.
  • Video Recording of George Floyd’s Murder Making a video is very important and necessary in some cases because it can help save valuable moments of life and in many situations for proving someone’s guilt or rightness.
  • Criminal Justice: Murder of Travis Alexander The paper discusses the murder of Travis Alexander which was a shock for many because the victim was found stabbed with a gunshot wound to his head in the shower of his house.
  • Fortunato’s Murder Trial Case Mr. Montresor, you are hereby sentenced to twenty years in jail for planning and executing the murder of Mr. Fortunato.
  • The Crime of Homicide: History and Laws The project describes homicide, which is the illegal killing of a human being by another. There exist state laws that define the services offered to the victims of homicide.
  • Murder Cases: Technology for Crime Monitoring and Control A new invention in the field of crime monitoring has greatly contributed to a decline in the number of crimes being committed.
  • Jeffrey Macdonald Murder Case Jeffrey Macdonald is an American serial killer who became notorious after murdering his entire family. At an early age, MacDonald showed no signs of violent behavior.
  • Homicide in Puerto Rico: Analysis of the Situation The continuous worsening of the criminological situation in Puerto Rico reflects country policy-makers lack of conceptual understanding of what causes people to criminal behavior.
  • Unethical Conduct of Homicide Detectives Although homicide investigators are highly competent and specially trained, the pressure to resolve and incriminate a culprit often pushes them to operate unethically.
  • Can We Consider the War a Form of Murder This paper discusses whether war is a form of murder, emphasizing human intentions and incidences leading to fights and serial killing.
  • The Empowerment of the Houston LQBTQ Community: The Role of the Murder of Paul Broussard Paul Broussard was beaten and stabbed to death by ten young people. This high-profile crime had an effect on the population and the movement for the rights of the LGBT community.
  • US President William McKinley Assassination: Research The murder of William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States of America, took place on September 6, 1901, when he was shot and received a lethal wound.
  • The Cost of Learning to Kill In the book ‘On Killing: The Physiological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society’ Dave Grossman studies the physiological mechanisms regulating the ability of soldiers to kill the enemy.
  • Two Verdicts for Casey Anthony Murder Trial In Anthony’s murder trial, the media condemnation of the defendant led to a complex distortion of justice, culminating in her receiving a comparatively mild legal punishment.
  • Death Penalty as a Cruel Murder While many arguments have been put forward for and against it, there is no doubt that the Death Penalty is nothing but a cruel murder perpetrated by the State.
  • The Criminal Mind – Homicide Serial killings or serial murders are the most dreaded and publicized crime in Australia and the USA. These still remain the most notorious form of crime.
  • Generation Kill: War on Terrorism After 9/11 This paper gives a detailed analysis of the efforts the United States and its allies undertook in Afghanistan and Iraq and the predicaments of fighting insurgent forces.
  • Emmett Till Murder Analysis as a Critical Incident Ochberg provides an efficient model that can help analyze critical incidents. It is possible to apply the method to consider the Emmett Till murder case.
  • Police Officer Murder, Trial and Punishment Killing a police officer on duty is considered one of nine capital offenses punished either by a death penalty or by life imprisonment without the possibility of release.
  • The Media’s Role in the JFK Assassination’ Coverage It is claimed that 50 years after the JFK assassination, nearly all the known facts have been propagated by the mainstream media. Media’s roles have been evaluated over a long period.
  • John Kennedy’s Assassination: Theories and Facts This essay explores theories explaining the assassination of John F. Kennedy and compares them with the findings of the commission presented in the Warren report.
  • President Harry S. Truman’s Assassination Attempt This paper analyzes the assassination attempt of Harry S. Truman and tries to detect the underlying causes and determine whether politics played any role in the attacks.
  • The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln is remembered as the 16th President of the USA and the first president of the country ever to be murdered. The Assassination of Lincoln has become an important historical event.
  • The Racially Motivated Murder of Michael Brown
  • Analysis of Aaron Hernandez Murder
  • The Holocaust Was the Systematic and Bureaucratic Murder
  • Hitler and the Nazi’s Victims of Persecution and Murder
  • The First Murder Recorded by Biblical History
  • Psychological Coping With Murder in American Society: The Clint Lamebear Story
  • Holocaust Was the Mass-Murder of Six Million Jews
  • Punishments for First Degree Murder
  • Women Murder and Representation
  • The Lizzie Borden Murder Trial: Victorian Values Over Murder
  • Forensic Soil Science Solving Murder
  • Probing the Reason for Macduff’s Murder of Macbeth
  • The West Memphis Three Murder Trial
  • War Based Killing Should Be Regarded as Murder
  • The Morally Justified Mandatory Sentence for Capital Punishment for Committing Murder in the United States
  • Psychology, Childhood, Trauma, and Murder: Rethinking Justice
  • Overview Causes and Prevention of Murder
  • Should the Mandatory Life Sentence for Murder Be Abolished?
  • Intent and the Classification of Murder
  • Understanding Industrialized Murder During the Holocaust in Nazi Germany
  • The Fine Line Between Legalized Murder and Mercy Killing
  • Torture and Murder Jews and Its Human Nature
  • The Gangster Life and Murder of Paul Castellano
  • Were the Conspirators Right to Murder Julius Caesar?
  • The Civil Rights Movement and the Emmett Till´s Murder
  • Arguments for and Against the Reintroduction of the Death Penalty for Murder
  • State Executions, Deterrence, and the Incidence of Murder
  • Young Persons Who Commit Murder Should Be Tried as Adults
  • “Race, Class, Violence, and Denial: Mass Murder and the Pathologies of Privilege” by Tim Wise
  • The Police During the Murder Investigation of Steven Lawrence
  • Supreme Court Sentence Four to Death for Roger Whetmore’s Murder
  • President Kennedy’s Unsolved Murder
  • The Evidence That Stewart and Matthew Smith Are Not Guilty of Conestoga Indian’s Murder
  • Justifying Murder Through Non-consequentialist Means
  • The Race, Gender, and Murder of Oklahoma During the 1920s
  • Why Do People Commit Murder?
  • The Labor and Mass Murder Camps Built During the Holocaust
  • Should Women That Kill Their Abusive Husbands Be Punished for Murder
  • The Different Perspectives Why People Commit Murder
  • West Bank Israeli Americans Murder
  • Can Religion Justify Murder?
  • Did the Germans Who Voted for Hitler Realize That They Were Voting for War and Mass Murder?
  • What Impacts and Consequences Do Murder and Death by Natural Circumstances Have on Those Around It?
  • Why Is the Homicide Rate in Canada Dropping?
  • Does Capital Punishment Deter Murder?
  • What Is the Homicide Adaptation Theory?
  • How Does Murder Impact the Family of the Victim?
  • What Legally Justifies Committing Murder in American Society?
  • When Was Murder Legal?
  • Should Teens Who Murder Be Executed?
  • What Are the Three Motives for Murder?
  • Does the UK Have First-Degree Murder?
  • Why Did the Ideas of Hitler Make Mass Murder Possible?
  • What Causes Intentional Homicide?
  • How Should the Courts Deal With Battered Women Who Murder Their Abusers?
  • What Are the Types of Homicide?
  • How to Defend Homicide Charges in Texas?
  • What Is a Theory of Homicide?
  • How Is Homicide a Social Problem?
  • What Is Homicide in Psychology?
  • Is There a Difference Between Murdering and Homicide?
  • What Determines a Homicide?
  • How Does Homicide Affect the Economy?
  • What Is the Most Serious Form of Homicide?
  • What Are the Types of Criminal Homicide Related to an Unlawful Killing Without Justification or Excuse?

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StudyCorgi. (2022, January 16). 127 Murder Essay Topics & Title Ideas about Homicide. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/murder-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . 2022. "127 Murder Essay Topics & Title Ideas about Homicide." January 16, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/murder-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Murder were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 24, 2024 .

Murder Essay: Examples, Topics, and Killer Tips [2024]

Probably, a murder essay is not a fascinating assignment to complete. Talking about people’s deaths or crazy murderers can be depressing. However, all assignments are different, and you are supposed to work on every task hard.

So, how are you going to deal with a murder essay? You can make it engaging, especially if you can choose exciting ways to get the paper done.

In the article, we’ll show you:

  • The ways to approach your murder essay.
  • Examples of successful papers on the subject.
  • Murder essay topics and prompts to start writing.

Our website ‘s writers are ready to share some short killing ideas so that you could write an outstanding argumentative essay about murders!

🤔 How to Approach Your Murder Essay

There are several options on how to approach and how to start writing an essay on murder. These depend on what interests you and what kind of person you are. We have collected several ideas for different students. Try to approach writing a paper on one of them and check the murder essay examples.

📗 Essays on Murder: Idea 1

If you are a peaceful person who cannot stand anything bloody and cruel, this will be a brilliant option for writing your murder essay. Do you know how many synonyms the word “murder” has? Some of them are homicide, assassination, slaying, parricide, mariticide, thuggee, etc. In your murder essay, you can explain each word’s meaning and briefly tell about their history.

🚔 Essays on Murder: Idea 2

If you are not that sensitive and want to write an earnest and killing essay on murder, we suggest you write about mass killings of people called massacres. There are numerous notorious massacres in human history that you can mention in your essay on murder:

  • the Nanking massacre,
  • Babi Yar massacre,
  • Katyn massacre,
  • St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre, and some others.

Iranian Revolution and Terrorism: the Rex Cinema Massacre

🕵️ Essays on Murder: Idea 3

Another “gory” way to get your murder essay done is to write about infamous and the most gruesome American murderers of the 20th century. The following people can be the main “characters” of your paper: Edward Gein, Charles Manson, Mary Bell, Andrea Yates.

Criminal Profiling and Police Corruption

⚖️ Essay on Murder: Idea 4

If you are into moral riddles, then you might consider writing an essay about capital punishment, or shortly, the death penalty. In your paper, discuss whether it is ethical and whether humans deserve it. Also, you can list current methods of capital punishment and discuss their moral aspects.

Abolition of Capital Punishment

👮 Essay on Murder: Idea 5

Wondering whether gender influences the severity of the punishment? Maybe, there is an increase in the involvement in the crime? If the gender distribution among criminals interests you, then go ahead, and write about it. Compare and contrast the punishment men and women get for the same crimes. Is it different or similar?

Women Offenders’ Punishment and Treatment

👩‍⚖️ Murder Essay Topics

Coming up with eye-catching titles for your papers can be complicated. That is why we have prepared some topic ideas for your essay on murder.

  • Is euthanasia murder? Should people who help with euthanasia be convicted of criminal homicide? Write several paragraphs of the argumentative essay supporting your point.
  • OJ Simpson’s trial: a killer or a victim? Write an argumentative essay about the murder that happened 25 years ago.
  • The serial killer story. Such stories are often surrounded by mystery. Write about Zodiac , a serial killer whose identity remains unknown. What makes his persona mysterious?
  • A homicide close to home. Write an essay on the murder case that resonated in your country.
  • Does extrajudicial killing equal to murder? Present your point on the argument supported by evidence. 
  • Explain the role and effectiveness of the law commission. What are the pros and cons of the law reform conducted by an independent body?
  • An unsolved crime. Write an essay about a murder that has never been explained. Think about why detectives were never able to solve the case.
  • Are people born serial killers , or do environmental factors make them? Write a five-paragraph essay, where you’ll present your opinion supported by evidence.
  • The psychological portrait of a serial killer . Think among the traits shared among serial killers. What are they? Do you think these traits are acquired or inherited?
  • The intention in criminal law . Can it be direct and indirect? Explain the definition of murder intention in your essay. Provide examples of famous murders.
  • Causes of murders and school shootings.
  • What are the causes of mass murders?
  • The history and medical diagnoses of Menéndez brothers.
  • Discuss how mental disorders of Richard Kuklinski induced him to become a contract killer.
  • How John Wayne Gacy became a serial killer. 
  • Analyze the factors that influenced the Chessboard Killer Alexander Pichushkin.  
  • Examine the issues discussed in the documentary Meeting With a Killer .  
  • Does death penalty help to lower crime rates?
  • Explore how Dave Grossman describes psychology of the killer in his book On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society .  
  • Socioecomonic forces impact on serial killers .
  • Describe the factors that allow to define a case as attempted murder.  
  • Discuss the use of technology in solving murder cases.  
  • Explain why Kitty Genovese’s murder is the primary illustration of the Bystander Effect.
  • Three elements of murder in mass shootings in Atlanta.
  • The role of DNA profiles in solving murder cases.
  • What causes murder and homicide?
  • Examine the history of the serial killer Albert Fish.  
  • Analyze the ways media portrays the serial killers.
  • Can murder in revenge be justified?
  • Pros and cons of trying children as adults for murder .
  • The murder of Paul Broussard as an example of a hate crime.
  • The role of media in Casey Anthony murder trial.  
  • The mystery of Meriwether Lewis death.
  • Analyze Bruce Chadwick’s attempt to throw light on the murder of George Wythe in his book I Am Murdered .
  • Cognitive biases and their detrimental effect on the investigation of Robin Adams’ murder case.  
  • Discuss the role of racial prejudices in Emmett Till murder case.  
  • Examine the peculiarities of the trial and punishment for a police officer murder.
  • Social behavior of Ted Bundy. 
  • Explore the religious motives in terrorism cases.
  • The specifics of investigative techniques applied to terrorism cases.
  • Analyze the controversial depiction of murderers in Dahl’s Lamb to the Slaughter and Glaspell’s A Jury of Her Peers . 
  • Discuss the philosophy of John Locke applied to capital punishment .
  • The history and different types of homicide.  
  • The reasons for people’s fascination with fictional serial killers. 
  • Examine the criminal situation and homicide rates in Puerto Rico.  
  • Explain the importance of forensic evidence in homicide investigation .

Thank you for reading this article! We hope you enjoyed reading it. Don’t forget to comment and share it with your friends.

Further reading:

  • Canadian Identity Essay: Essay Topics and Writing Guide
  • Nationalism Essay: An Ultimate Guide and Topics
  • Human Trafficking Essay for College: Topics and Examples
  • Essay on Corruption: How to Stop It. Quick Guide

🔗 References

  • Essay on Murder: Bartleby
  • Writing Resources—Persuasive Essays: Hamilton College
  • Conclusion of Manslaughter and Murder: Cram
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I am a college student and I have to write an argumentative essay and I curious how could I make a cold case into an argumentative topic.

Hi, I’m a grade 11 student, and I need to make a persuasive essay about a murder case. I should convince the judge that I am not the killer. I hope you can help me. Thank you!

Hi there I’m a grade 11 pupil, and I need to write an essay on murder.. I just need a few ideas to write about, I’m thinking about this for my intro. The blood on. My hands almost had a pulse on its own. I stand over a girls body. I don’t know whose blood it is because we both are covered in blood. Please help me with ideas 🙂

Custom Writing

Hi, Thanks for stopping by. As to your essay – be creative=) Why not to make an unexpected ending for your paper? Describe all the terrifying thoughts going through your mind as you’re looking at the ‘blood’ on your hands… and then write that all of a sudden you understand that it was only grape juice. The situation is really disappointing, as you’ll have to drink lemonade now=) We hope that this idea helps you. Good luck with your paper!

Round Separator

About The Death Penalty

Arguments for and Against the Death Penalty

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The death penalty deters future murders.

Society has always used punishment to discourage would-be criminals from unlawful action. Since society has the highest interest in preventing murder, it should use the strongest punishment available to deter murder, and that is the death penalty. If murderers are sentenced to death and executed, potential murderers will think twice before killing for fear of losing their own life.

For years, criminologists analyzed murder rates to see if they fluctuated with the likelihood of convicted murderers being executed, but the results were inconclusive. Then in 1973 Isaac Ehrlich employed a new kind of analysis which produced results showing that for every inmate who was executed, 7 lives were spared because others were deterred from committing murder. Similar results have been produced by disciples of Ehrlich in follow-up studies.

Moreover, even if some studies regarding deterrence are inconclusive, that is only because the death penalty is rarely used and takes years before an execution is actually carried out. Punishments which are swift and sure are the best deterrent. The fact that some states or countries which do not use the death penalty have lower murder rates than jurisdictions which do is not evidence of the failure of deterrence. States with high murder rates would have even higher rates if they did not use the death penalty.

Ernest van den Haag, a Professor of Jurisprudence at Fordham University who has studied the question of deterrence closely, wrote: “Even though statistical demonstrations are not conclusive, and perhaps cannot be, capital punishment is likely to deter more than other punishments because people fear death more than anything else. They fear most death deliberately inflicted by law and scheduled by the courts. Whatever people fear most is likely to deter most. Hence, the threat of the death penalty may deter some murderers who otherwise might not have been deterred. And surely the death penalty is the only penalty that could deter prisoners already serving a life sentence and tempted to kill a guard, or offenders about to be arrested and facing a life sentence. Perhaps they will not be deterred. But they would certainly not be deterred by anything else. We owe all the protection we can give to law enforcers exposed to special risks.”

Finally, the death penalty certainly “deters” the murderer who is executed. Strictly speaking, this is a form of incapacitation, similar to the way a robber put in prison is prevented from robbing on the streets. Vicious murderers must be killed to prevent them from murdering again, either in prison, or in society if they should get out. Both as a deterrent and as a form of permanent incapacitation, the death penalty helps to prevent future crime.

Those who believe that deterrence justifies the execution of certain offenders bear the burden of proving that the death penalty is a deterrent. The overwhelming conclusion from years of deterrence studies is that the death penalty is, at best, no more of a deterrent than a sentence of life in prison. The Ehrlich studies have been widely discredited. In fact, some criminologists, such as William Bowers of Northeastern University, maintain that the death penalty has the opposite effect: that is, society is brutalized by the use of the death penalty, and this increases the likelihood of more murder. Even most supporters of the death penalty now place little or no weight on deterrence as a serious justification for its continued use.

States in the United States that do not employ the death penalty generally have lower murder rates than states that do. The same is true when the U.S. is compared to countries similar to it. The U.S., with the death penalty, has a higher murder rate than the countries of Europe or Canada, which do not use the death penalty.

The death penalty is not a deterrent because most people who commit murders either do not expect to be caught or do not carefully weigh the differences between a possible execution and life in prison before they act. Frequently, murders are committed in moments of passion or anger, or by criminals who are substance abusers and acted impulsively. As someone who presided over many of Texas’s executions, former Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox has remarked, “It is my own experience that those executed in Texas were not deterred by the existence of the death penalty law. I think in most cases you’ll find that the murder was committed under severe drug and alcohol abuse.”

There is no conclusive proof that the death penalty acts as a better deterrent than the threat of life imprisonment. A 2012 report released by the prestigious National Research Council of the National Academies and based on a review of more than three decades of research, concluded that studies claiming a deterrent effect on murder rates from the death penalty are fundamentally flawed. A survey of the former and present presidents of the country’s top academic criminological societies found that 84% of these experts rejected the notion that research had demonstrated any deterrent effect from the death penalty .

Once in prison, those serving life sentences often settle into a routine and are less of a threat to commit violence than other prisoners. Moreover, most states now have a sentence of life without parole. Prisoners who are given this sentence will never be released. Thus, the safety of society can be assured without using the death penalty.

Ernest van den Haag Professor of Jurisprudence and Public Policy, Fordham University. Excerpts from ” The Ultimate Punishment: A Defense,” (Harvard Law Review Association, 1986)

“Execution of those who have committed heinous murders may deter only one murder per year. If it does, it seems quite warranted. It is also the only fitting retribution for murder I can think of.”

“Most abolitionists acknowledge that they would continue to favor abolition even if the death penalty were shown to deter more murders than alternatives could deter. Abolitionists appear to value the life of a convicted murderer or, at least, his non-execution, more highly than they value the lives of the innocent victims who might be spared by deterring prospective murderers.

Deterrence is not altogether decisive for me either. I would favor retention of the death penalty as retribution even if it were shown that the threat of execution could not deter prospective murderers not already deterred by the threat of imprisonment. Still, I believe the death penalty, because of its finality, is more feared than imprisonment, and deters some prospective murderers not deterred by the thought of imprisonment. Sparing the lives of even a few prospective victims by deterring their murderers is more important than preserving the lives of convicted murderers because of the possibility, or even the probability, that executing them would not deter others. Whereas the life of the victims who might be saved are valuable, that of the murderer has only negative value, because of his crime. Surely the criminal law is meant to protect the lives of potential victims in preference to those of actual murderers.”

“We threaten punishments in order to deter crime. We impose them not only to make the threats credible but also as retribution (justice) for the crimes that were not deterred. Threats and punishments are necessary to deter and deterrence is a sufficient practical justification for them. Retribution is an independent moral justification. Although penalties can be unwise, repulsive, or inappropriate, and those punished can be pitiable, in a sense the infliction of legal punishment on a guilty person cannot be unjust. By committing the crime, the criminal volunteered to assume the risk of receiving a legal punishment that he could have avoided by not committing the crime. The punishment he suffers is the punishment he voluntarily risked suffering and, therefore, it is no more unjust to him than any other event for which one knowingly volunteers to assume the risk. Thus, the death penalty cannot be unjust to the guilty criminal.”

Full text can be found at PBS.org .

Hugo Adam Bedau (deceased) Austin Fletcher Professor of Philosophy, Tufts University Excerpts from “The Case Against The Death Penalty” (Copyright 1997, American Civil Liberties Union)

“Persons who commit murder and other crimes of personal violence either may or may not premeditate their crimes.

When crime is planned, the criminal ordinarily concentrates on escaping detection, arrest, and conviction. The threat of even the severest punishment will not discourage those who expect to escape detection and arrest. It is impossible to imagine how the threat of any punishment could prevent a crime that is not premeditated….

Most capital crimes are committed in the heat of the moment. Most capital crimes are committed during moments of great emotional stress or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, when logical thinking has been suspended. In such cases, violence is inflicted by persons heedless of the consequences to themselves as well as to others….

If, however, severe punishment can deter crime, then long-term imprisonment is severe enough to deter any rational person from committing a violent crime.

The vast preponderance of the evidence shows that the death penalty is no more effective than imprisonment in deterring murder and that it may even be an incitement to criminal violence. Death-penalty states as a group do not have lower rates of criminal homicide than non-death-penalty states….

On-duty police officers do not suffer a higher rate of criminal assault and homicide in abolitionist states than they do in death-penalty states. Between l973 and l984, for example, lethal assaults against police were not significantly more, or less, frequent in abolitionist states than in death-penalty states. There is ‘no support for the view that the death penalty provides a more effective deterrent to police homicides than alternative sanctions. Not for a single year was evidence found that police are safer in jurisdictions that provide for capital punishment.’ (Bailey and Peterson, Criminology (1987))

Prisoners and prison personnel do not suffer a higher rate of criminal assault and homicide from life-term prisoners in abolition states than they do in death-penalty states. Between 1992 and 1995, 176 inmates were murdered by other prisoners; the vast majority (84%) were killed in death penalty jurisdictions. During the same period about 2% of all assaults on prison staff were committed by inmates in abolition jurisdictions. Evidently, the threat of the death penalty ‘does not even exert an incremental deterrent effect over the threat of a lesser punishment in the abolitionist states.’ (Wolfson, in Bedau, ed., The Death Penalty in America, 3rd ed. (1982))

Actual experience thus establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that the death penalty does not deter murder. No comparable body of evidence contradicts that conclusion.”

Click here for the full text from the ACLU website.  

Retribution

A just society requires the taking of a life for a life.

When someone takes a life, the balance of justice is disturbed. Unless that balance is restored, society succumbs to a rule of violence. Only the taking of the murderer’s life restores the balance and allows society to show convincingly that murder is an intolerable crime which will be punished in kind.

Retribution has its basis in religious values, which have historically maintained that it is proper to take an “eye for an eye” and a life for a life.

Although the victim and the victim’s family cannot be restored to the status which preceded the murder, at least an execution brings closure to the murderer’s crime (and closure to the ordeal for the victim’s family) and ensures that the murderer will create no more victims.

For the most cruel and heinous crimes, the ones for which the death penalty is applied, offenders deserve the worst punishment under our system of law, and that is the death penalty. Any lesser punishment would undermine the value society places on protecting lives.

Robert Macy, District Attorney of Oklahoma City, described his concept of the need for retribution in one case: “In 1991, a young mother was rendered helpless and made to watch as her baby was executed. The mother was then mutilated and killed. The killer should not lie in some prison with three meals a day, clean sheets, cable TV, family visits and endless appeals. For justice to prevail, some killers just need to die.”

Retribution is another word for revenge. Although our first instinct may be to inflict immediate pain on someone who wrongs us, the standards of a mature society demand a more measured response.

The emotional impulse for revenge is not a sufficient justification for invoking a system of capital punishment, with all its accompanying problems and risks. Our laws and criminal justice system should lead us to higher principles that demonstrate a complete respect for life, even the life of a murderer. Encouraging our basest motives of revenge, which ends in another killing, extends the chain of violence. Allowing executions sanctions killing as a form of ‘pay-back.’

Many victims’ families denounce the use of the death penalty. Using an execution to try to right the wrong of their loss is an affront to them and only causes more pain. For example, Bud Welch’s daughter, Julie, was killed in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Although his first reaction was to wish that those who committed this terrible crime be killed, he ultimately realized that such killing “is simply vengeance; and it was vengeance that killed Julie…. Vengeance is a strong and natural emotion. But it has no place in our justice system.”

The notion of an eye for an eye, or a life for a life, is a simplistic one which our society has never endorsed. We do not allow torturing the torturer, or raping the rapist. Taking the life of a murderer is a similarly disproportionate punishment, especially in light of the fact that the U.S. executes only a small percentage of those convicted of murder, and these defendants are typically not the worst offenders but merely the ones with the fewest resources to defend themselves.

Louis P. Pojman Author and Professor of Philosophy, U.S. Military Academy. Excerpt from “The Death Penalty: For and Against,” (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1998)

“[Opponents of the capital punishment often put forth the following argument:] Perhaps the murderer deserves to die, but what authority does the state have to execute him or her? Both the Old and New Testament says, “’Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Prov. 25:21 and Romans 12:19). You need special authority to justify taking the life of a human being.

The objector fails to note that the New Testament passage continues with a support of the right of the state to execute criminals in the name of God: “Let every person be subjected to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment…. If you do wrong, be afraid, for [the authority] does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13: 1-4). So, according to the Bible, the authority to punish, which presumably includes the death penalty, comes from God.

But we need not appeal to a religious justification for capital punishment. We can site the state’s role in dispensing justice. Just as the state has the authority (and duty) to act justly in allocating scarce resources, in meeting minimal needs of its (deserving) citizens, in defending its citizens from violence and crime, and in not waging unjust wars; so too does it have the authority, flowing from its mission to promote justice and the good of its people, to punish the criminal. If the criminal, as one who has forfeited a right to life, deserves to be executed, especially if it will likely deter would-be murderers, the state has a duty to execute those convicted of first-degree murder.”

National Council of Synagogues and the Bishops’ Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Excerpts from “To End the Death Penalty: A Report of the National Jewish/Catholic Consultation” (December, 1999)

“Some would argue that the death penalty is needed as a means of retributive justice, to balance out the crime with the punishment. This reflects a natural concern of society, and especially of victims and their families. Yet we believe that we are called to seek a higher road even while punishing the guilty, for example through long and in some cases life-long incarceration, so that the healing of all can ultimately take place.

Some would argue that the death penalty will teach society at large the seriousness of crime. Yet we say that teaching people to respond to violence with violence will, again, only breed more violence.

The strongest argument of all [in favor of the death penalty] is the deep pain and grief of the families of victims, and their quite natural desire to see punishment meted out to those who have plunged them into such agony. Yet it is the clear teaching of our traditions that this pain and suffering cannot be healed simply through the retribution of capital punishment or by vengeance. It is a difficult and long process of healing which comes about through personal growth and God’s grace. We agree that much more must be done by the religious community and by society at large to solace and care for the grieving families of the victims of violent crime.

Recent statements of the Reform and Conservative movements in Judaism, and of the U.S. Catholic Conference sum up well the increasingly strong convictions shared by Jews and Catholics…:

‘Respect for all human life and opposition to the violence in our society are at the root of our long-standing opposition (as bishops) to the death penalty. We see the death penalty as perpetuating a cycle of violence and promoting a sense of vengeance in our culture. As we said in Confronting the Culture of Violence: ‘We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing.’ We oppose capital punishment not just for what it does to those guilty of horrible crimes, but for what it does to all of us as a society. Increasing reliance on the death penalty diminishes all of us and is a sign of growing disrespect for human life. We cannot overcome crime by simply executing criminals, nor can we restore the lives of the innocent by ending the lives of those convicted of their murders. The death penalty offers the tragic illusion that we can defend life by taking life.’1

We affirm that we came to these conclusions because of our shared understanding of the sanctity of human life. We have committed ourselves to work together, and each within our own communities, toward ending the death penalty.” Endnote 1. Statement of the Administrative Committee of the United States Catholic Conference, March 24, 1999.

The risk of executing the innocent precludes the use of the death penalty.

The death penalty alone imposes an irrevocable sentence. Once an inmate is executed, nothing can be done to make amends if a mistake has been made. There is considerable evidence that many mistakes have been made in sentencing people to death. Since 1973, over 180 people have been released from death row after evidence of their innocence emerged. During the same period of time, over 1,500 people have been executed. Thus, for every 8.3 people executed, we have found one person on death row who never should have been convicted. These statistics represent an intolerable risk of executing the innocent. If an automobile manufacturer operated with similar failure rates, it would be run out of business.

Our capital punishment system is unreliable. A study by Columbia University Law School found that two thirds of all capital trials contained serious errors. When the cases were retried, over 80% of the defendants were not sentenced to death and 7% were completely acquitted.

Many of the releases of innocent defendants from death row came about as a result of factors outside of the justice system. Recently, journalism students in Illinois were assigned to investigate the case of a man who was scheduled to be executed, after the system of appeals had rejected his legal claims. The students discovered that one witness had lied at the original trial, and they were able to find another man, who confessed to the crime on videotape and was later convicted of the murder. The innocent man who was released was very fortunate, but he was spared because of the informal efforts of concerned citizens, not because of the justice system.

In other cases, DNA testing has exonerated death row inmates. Here, too, the justice system had concluded that these defendants were guilty and deserving of the death penalty. DNA testing became available only in the early 1990s, due to advancements in science. If this testing had not been discovered until ten years later, many of these inmates would have been executed. And if DNA testing had been applied to earlier cases where inmates were executed in the 1970s and 80s, the odds are high that it would have proven that some of them were innocent as well.

Society takes many risks in which innocent lives can be lost. We build bridges, knowing that statistically some workers will be killed during construction; we take great precautions to reduce the number of unintended fatalities. But wrongful executions are a preventable risk. By substituting a sentence of life without parole, we meet society’s needs of punishment and protection without running the risk of an erroneous and irrevocable punishment.

There is no proof that any innocent person has actually been executed since increased safeguards and appeals were added to our death penalty system in the 1970s. Even if such executions have occurred, they are very rare. Imprisoning innocent people is also wrong, but we cannot empty the prisons because of that minimal risk. If improvements are needed in the system of representation, or in the use of scientific evidence such as DNA testing, then those reforms should be instituted. However, the need for reform is not a reason to abolish the death penalty.

Besides, many of the claims of innocence by those who have been released from death row are actually based on legal technicalities. Just because someone’s conviction is overturned years later and the prosecutor decides not to retry him, does not mean he is actually innocent.

If it can be shown that someone is innocent, surely a governor would grant clemency and spare the person. Hypothetical claims of innocence are usually just delaying tactics to put off the execution as long as possible. Given our thorough system of appeals through numerous state and federal courts, the execution of an innocent individual today is almost impossible. Even the theoretical execution of an innocent person can be justified because the death penalty saves lives by deterring other killings.

Gerald Kogan, Former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Excerpts from a speech given in Orlando, Florida, October 23, 1999 “[T]here is no question in my mind, and I can tell you this having seen the dynamics of our criminal justice system over the many years that I have been associated with it, [as] prosecutor, defense attorney, trial judge and Supreme Court Justice, that convinces me that we certainly have, in the past, executed those people who either didn’t fit the criteria for execution in the State of Florida or who, in fact, were, factually, not guilty of the crime for which they have been executed.

“And you can make these statements when you understand the dynamics of the criminal justice system, when you understand how the State makes deals with more culpable defendants in a capital case, offers them light sentences in exchange for their testimony against another participant or, in some cases, in fact, gives them immunity from prosecution so that they can secure their testimony; the use of jailhouse confessions, like people who say, ‘I was in the cell with so-and-so and they confessed to me,’ or using those particular confessions, the validity of which there has been great doubt. And yet, you see the uneven application of the death penalty where, in many instances, those that are the most culpable escape death and those that are the least culpable are victims of the death penalty. These things begin to weigh very heavily upon you. And under our system, this is the system we have. And that is, we are human beings administering an imperfect system.”

“And how about those people who are still sitting on death row today, who may be factually innocent but cannot prove their particular case very simply because there is no DNA evidence in their case that can be used to exonerate them? Of course, in most cases, you’re not going to have that kind of DNA evidence, so there is no way and there is no hope for them to be saved from what may be one of the biggest mistakes that our society can make.”

The entire speech by Justice Kogan is available here.

Paul G. Cassell Associate Professor of Law, University of Utah, College of Law, and former law clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. Statement before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights Concerning Claims of Innocence in Capital Cases (July 23, 1993)

“Given the fallibility of human judgments, the possibility exists that the use of capital punishment may result in the execution of an innocent person. The Senate Judiciary Committee has previously found this risk to be ‘minimal,’ a view shared by numerous scholars. As Justice Powell has noted commenting on the numerous state capital cases that have come before the Supreme Court, the ‘unprecedented safeguards’ already inherent in capital sentencing statutes ‘ensure a degree of care in the imposition of the sentence of death that can only be described as unique.’”

“Our present system of capital punishment limits the ultimate penalty to certain specifically-defined crimes and even then, permit the penalty of death only when the jury finds that the aggravating circumstances in the case outweigh all mitigating circumstances. The system further provides judicial review of capital cases. Finally, before capital sentences are carried out, the governor or other executive official will review the sentence to insure that it is a just one, a determination that undoubtedly considers the evidence of the condemned defendant’s guilt. Once all of those decisionmakers have agreed that a death sentence is appropriate, innocent lives would be lost from failure to impose the sentence.”

“Capital sentences, when carried out, save innocent lives by permanently incapacitating murderers. Some persons who commit capital homicide will slay other innocent persons if given the opportunity to do so. The death penalty is the most effective means of preventing such killers from repeating their crimes. The next most serious penalty, life imprisonment without possibility of parole, prevents murderers from committing some crimes but does not prevent them from murdering in prison.”

“The mistaken release of guilty murderers should be of far greater concern than the speculative and heretofore nonexistent risk of the mistaken execution of an innocent person.”

Full text can be found here.

Arbitrariness & Discrimination

The death penalty is applied unfairly and should not be used.

In practice, the death penalty does not single out the worst offenders. Rather, it selects an arbitrary group based on such irrational factors as the quality of the defense counsel, the county in which the crime was committed, or the race of the defendant or victim.

Almost all defendants facing the death penalty cannot afford their own attorney. Hence, they are dependent on the quality of the lawyers assigned by the state, many of whom lack experience in capital cases or are so underpaid that they fail to investigate the case properly. A poorly represented defendant is much more likely to be convicted and given a death sentence.

With respect to race, studies have repeatedly shown that a death sentence is far more likely where a white person is murdered than where a Black person is murdered. The death penalty is racially divisive because it appears to count white lives as more valuable than Black lives. Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, 296 Black defendants have been executed for the murder of a white victim, while only 31 white defendants have been executed for the murder of a Black victim. Such racial disparities have existed over the history of the death penalty and appear to be largely intractable.

It is arbitrary when someone in one county or state receives the death penalty, but someone who commits a comparable crime in another county or state is given a life sentence. Prosecutors have enormous discretion about when to seek the death penalty and when to settle for a plea bargain. Often those who can only afford a minimal defense are selected for the death penalty. Until race and other arbitrary factors, like economics and geography, can be eliminated as a determinant of who lives and who dies, the death penalty must not be used.

Discretion has always been an essential part of our system of justice. No one expects the prosecutor to pursue every possible offense or punishment, nor do we expect the same sentence to be imposed just because two crimes appear similar. Each crime is unique, both because the circumstances of each victim are different and because each defendant is different. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that a mandatory death penalty which applied to everyone convicted of first degree murder would be unconstitutional. Hence, we must give prosecutors and juries some discretion.

In fact, more white people are executed in this country than black people. And even if blacks are disproportionately represented on death row, proportionately blacks commit more murders than whites. Moreover, the Supreme Court has rejected the use of statistical studies which claim racial bias as the sole reason for overturning a death sentence.

Even if the death penalty punishes some while sparing others, it does not follow that everyone should be spared. The guilty should still be punished appropriately, even if some do escape proper punishment unfairly. The death penalty should apply to killers of black people as well as to killers of whites. High paid, skillful lawyers should not be able to get some defendants off on technicalities. The existence of some systemic problems is no reason to abandon the whole death penalty system.

Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. President and Chief Executive Officer, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Inc. Excerpt from “Legal Lynching: Racism, Injustice & the Death Penalty,” (Marlowe & Company, 1996)

“Who receives the death penalty has less to do with the violence of the crime than with the color of the criminal’s skin, or more often, the color of the victim’s skin. Murder — always tragic — seems to be a more heinous and despicable crime in some states than in others. Women who kill and who are killed are judged by different standards than are men who are murderers and victims.

The death penalty is essentially an arbitrary punishment. There are no objective rules or guidelines for when a prosecutor should seek the death penalty, when a jury should recommend it, and when a judge should give it. This lack of objective, measurable standards ensures that the application of the death penalty will be discriminatory against racial, gender, and ethnic groups.

The majority of Americans who support the death penalty believe, or wish to believe, that legitimate factors such as the violence and cruelty with which the crime was committed, a defendant’s culpability or history of violence, and the number of victims involved determine who is sentenced to life in prison and who receives the ultimate punishment. The numbers, however, tell a different story. They confirm the terrible truth that bias and discrimination warp our nation’s judicial system at the very time it matters most — in matters of life and death. The factors that determine who will live and who will die — race, sex, and geography — are the very same ones that blind justice was meant to ignore. This prejudicial distribution should be a moral outrage to every American.”

Justice Lewis Powell United States Supreme Court Justice excerpts from McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279 (1987) (footnotes and citations omitted)

(Mr. McCleskey, a black man, was convicted and sentenced to death in 1978 for killing a white police officer while robbing a store. Mr. McCleskey appealed his conviction and death sentence, claiming racial discrimination in the application of Georgia’s death penalty. He presented statistical analysis showing a pattern of sentencing disparities based primarily on the race of the victim. The analysis indicated that black defendants who killed white victims had the greatest likelihood of receiving the death penalty. Writing the majority opinion for the Supreme Court, Justice Powell held that statistical studies on race by themselves were an insufficient basis for overturning the death penalty.)

“[T]he claim that [t]his sentence rests on the irrelevant factor of race easily could be extended to apply to claims based on unexplained discrepancies that correlate to membership in other minority groups, and even to gender. Similarly, since [this] claim relates to the race of his victim, other claims could apply with equally logical force to statistical disparities that correlate with the race or sex of other actors in the criminal justice system, such as defense attorneys or judges. Also, there is no logical reason that such a claim need be limited to racial or sexual bias. If arbitrary and capricious punishment is the touchstone under the Eighth Amendment, such a claim could — at least in theory — be based upon any arbitrary variable, such as the defendant’s facial characteristics, or the physical attractiveness of the defendant or the victim, that some statistical study indicates may be influential in jury decision making. As these examples illustrate, there is no limiting principle to the type of challenge brought by McCleskey. The Constitution does not require that a State eliminate any demonstrable disparity that correlates with a potentially irrelevant factor in order to operate a criminal justice system that includes capital punishment. As we have stated specifically in the context of capital punishment, the Constitution does not ‘plac[e] totally unrealistic conditions on its use.’ (Gregg v. Georgia)”

The entire decision can be found here.  

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Homicide Argumentative Essays Samples For Students

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No matter how high you rate your writing skills, it's always a worthy idea to check out a competently written Argumentative Essay example, especially when you're handling a sophisticated Homicide topic. This is exactly the case when WowEssays.com collection of sample Argumentative Essays on Homicide will come in handy. Whether you need to brainstorm an original and meaningful Homicide Argumentative Essay topic or survey the paper's structure or formatting peculiarities, our samples will provide you with the required data.

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Free The Death Penalty Argumentative Essay Sample

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Free Argumentative Essay On Should Juvenile Offenders Be Tried And Punished As Adults?

Introduction.

The given assay seeks to illustrate whether young criminals should be tried and punished as adults. In particular, the paper studies a current legislative position pertaining to a judicial treatment of juveniles and a prosecution of their offenses. Typical instances of referring adolescents to adult courts will be discussed, as well as real stories requiring that a criminal be sent to an adult court. THESIS: Juvenile offenders should be tried and punished as adults in cases where they have committed serious crimes (homicide, rape) and pose a serious threat to society.

Procedures of Transferring an Adolescent to an Adult Court and Protections Granted

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Morality can be defined as “The quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct.” (thefreedictionary).

The morality of capital punishment is an heavily contested issue and one that often polarises people’s views. However, in 2011 and in a leading civilised nation such as the U.S. it is arguable that there can be no circumstances in which sentencing a person to death is acceptable. America is known around the world as being a well-respected, leading democracy. The act of punishing people by death is an ancient one; it is also one that no longer has place in society.

Argumentative Essay On Should The Death Penalty Be Abolished

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114 Crime Investigation Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Crime investigation is a fascinating field that involves the study of criminal behavior, evidence collection, forensic analysis, and the pursuit of justice. If you are studying criminal justice or simply have an interest in the subject, writing an essay on crime investigation can be both enlightening and informative. To help you get started, here are 114 crime investigation essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing.

  • The role of forensic evidence in solving crimes.
  • The impact of DNA analysis on criminal investigations.
  • The evolution of crime scene investigation techniques.
  • The use of technology in modern crime investigation.
  • The challenges faced by crime investigators in cold cases.
  • The role of the profiler in criminal investigations.
  • The importance of eyewitness testimony in solving crimes.
  • The impact of social media on crime investigation.
  • The ethics of undercover investigations.
  • The psychology of serial killers and their investigation.
  • The use of lie detectors in criminal investigations.
  • The challenges of investigating cybercrime.
  • The role of forensic anthropology in crime investigation.
  • The use of surveillance in criminal investigations.
  • The investigation techniques used in white-collar crime cases.
  • The challenges of investigating organized crime.
  • The role of forensic entomology in determining time of death.
  • The use of geographic profiling in serial murder investigations.
  • The impact of forensic botany in criminal investigations.
  • The investigation techniques used in arson cases.
  • The role of forensic odontology in identifying human remains.
  • The challenges of investigating hate crimes.
  • The use of forensic accounting in fraud investigations.
  • The role of forensic linguistics in solving crimes.
  • The impact of forensic psychology in criminal investigations.
  • The investigation techniques used in drug trafficking cases.
  • The challenges of investigating cold cases without physical evidence.
  • The use of forensic toxicology in determining cause of death.
  • The role of crime scene reconstruction in criminal investigations.
  • The impact of ballistics analysis on solving firearm-related crimes.
  • The investigation techniques used in child abduction cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by juveniles.
  • The use of forensic anthropology in mass disaster investigations.
  • The role of forensic entomology in determining postmortem interval.
  • The impact of forensic botany in environmental crime investigations.
  • The investigation techniques used in human trafficking cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by the mentally ill.
  • The use of forensic accounting in money laundering investigations.
  • The role of forensic linguistics in identifying anonymous threats.
  • The impact of forensic psychology in profiling sex offenders.
  • The investigation techniques used in art forgery cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by terrorists.
  • The use of forensic toxicology in determining impairment in DUI cases.
  • The role of crime scene reconstruction in domestic violence investigations.
  • The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related crimes.
  • The investigation techniques used in missing persons cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by corrupt officials.
  • The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of genocide.
  • The role of forensic entomology in determining location of death.
  • The impact of forensic botany in wildlife crime investigations.
  • The investigation techniques used in elder abuse cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cults.
  • The use of forensic accounting in corporate fraud investigations.
  • The role of forensic linguistics in identifying plagiarism.
  • The impact of forensic psychology in investigating mass shootings.
  • The investigation techniques used in art theft cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by hate groups.
  • The use of forensic toxicology in determining substance abuse history.
  • The role of crime scene reconstruction in stalking investigations.
  • The impact of ballistics analysis on solving drive-by shootings.
  • The investigation techniques used in human rights abuse cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by drug cartels.
  • The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of natural disasters.
  • The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related deaths.
  • The impact of forensic botany in agricultural crime investigations.
  • The investigation techniques used in fraud against the elderly cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cult leaders.
  • The use of forensic accounting in Ponzi scheme investigations.
  • The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing ransom notes.
  • The impact of forensic psychology in investigating child abuse cases.
  • The investigation techniques used in historic artifact smuggling cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human traffickers.
  • The use of forensic toxicology in determining drug-facilitated crimes.
  • The role of crime scene reconstruction in workplace violence investigations.
  • The investigation techniques used in war crimes cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cybercriminals.
  • The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of plane crashes.
  • The role of forensic entomology in determining insect infestation in food.
  • The impact of forensic botany in illegal logging investigations.
  • The investigation techniques used in online scams and frauds.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human rights violators.
  • The use of forensic accounting in uncovering money laundering networks.
  • The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing hate speech.
  • The impact of forensic psychology in investigating child abduction cases.
  • The investigation techniques used in art smuggling cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human smugglers.
  • The use of forensic toxicology in determining poisoning cases.
  • The role of crime scene reconstruction in domestic terrorism investigations.
  • The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related drive-by shootings.
  • The investigation techniques used in war crimes against civilians cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by identity thieves.
  • The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related diseases.
  • The impact of forensic botany in environmental pollution investigations.
  • The investigation techniques used in online child exploitation cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by international terrorists.
  • The use of forensic accounting in uncovering corruption schemes.
  • The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing online harassment.
  • The impact of forensic psychology in investigating domestic violence cases.
  • The use of forensic toxicology in determining drug overdoses.
  • The role of crime scene reconstruction in mass shooting investigations.
  • The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related homicides.
  • The investigation techniques used in war crimes against prisoners cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by online hackers.
  • The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of mass disasters.
  • The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related allergies.
  • The impact of forensic botany in food contamination investigations.
  • The investigation techniques used in online financial fraud cases.
  • The challenges of investigating crimes committed by international drug cartels.
  • The use of forensic accounting in uncovering corporate embezzlement.
  • The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing online radicalization.

These essay topic ideas and examples cover a wide range of crime investigation areas, from traditional forensic techniques to modern technological advancements. Choose a topic that interests you the most, conduct thorough research, and present a well-structured and informative essay that showcases your knowledge and understanding of crime investigation. Remember to cite your sources properly and enjoy the process of exploring this intriguing field of study.

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  • How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips

How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

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Table of contents

When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

  • Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
  • Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
  • Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
  • Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
  • Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
  • Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

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An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

  • Make a claim
  • Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
  • Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
  • Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

  • Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
  • Cite data to support your claim
  • Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
  • Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

  • Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
  • Highlight the problems with this position
  • Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
  • Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

  • Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
  • Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
  • Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
  • Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

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52 Argumentative Essay Ideas that are Actually Interesting

What’s covered:, how to pick a good argumentative essay topic, elements of a strong argumentative essay, argumentative essay idea example topics.

Are you having writer’s block? Coming up with an essay topic can be the hardest part of the process. You have very likely encountered argumentative essay writing in high school and have been asked to write your own. If you’re having trouble finding a topic, we’ve created a list of 52 essay ideas to help jumpstart your brainstorming process! In addition, this post will cover strategies for picking a topic and how to make your argument a strong one. Ultimately, the goal is to convince your reader. 

An argumentative essay tasks the writer with presenting an assertion and bolstering that assertion with proper research. You’ll present the claim’s authenticity. This means that whatever argument you’re making must be empirically true! Writing an argumentative essay without any evidence will leave you stranded without any facts to back up your claim. When choosing your essay topic, begin by thinking about themes that have been researched before. Readers will be more engaged with an argument that is supported by data.

This isn’t to say that your argumentative essay topic has to be as well-known, like “Gravity: Does it Exist?” but it shouldn’t be so obscure that there isn’t ample evidence. Finding a topic with multiple sources confirming its validity will help you support your thesis throughout your essay. If upon review of these articles you begin to doubt their worth due to small sample sizes, biased funding sources, or scientific disintegrity, don’t be afraid to move on to a different topic. Your ultimate goal should be proving to your audience that your argument is true because the data supports it.

The hardest essays to write are the ones that you don’t care about. If you don’t care about your topic, why should someone else? Topics that are more personal to the reader are immediately more thoughtful and meaningful because the author’s passion shines through. If you are free to choose an argumentative essay topic, find a topic where the papers you read and cite are fun to read. It’s much easier to write when the passion is already inside of you!

However, you won’t always have the choice to pick your topic. You may receive an assignment to write an argumentative essay that you feel is boring. There is still value in writing an argumentative essay on a topic that may not be of interest to you. It will push you to study a new topic, and broaden your ability to write on a variety of topics. Getting good at proving a point thoroughly and effectively will help you to both understand different fields more completely and increase your comfort with scientific writing.

Convincing Thesis Statement

It’s important to remember the general essay structure: an introduction paragraph with a thesis statement, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. A strong thesis statement will set your essay up for success. What is it? A succinct, concise, and pithy sentence found in your first paragraph that summarizes your main point. Pour over this statement to ensure that you can set up your reader to understand your essay. You should also restate your thesis throughout your essay to keep your reader focused on your point.

Ample Research

A typical argumentative essay prompt may look like this: “What has been the most important invention of the 21st century? Support your claim with evidence.” This question is open-ended and gives you flexibility. But that also means it requires research to prove your point convincingly. The strongest essays weave scientific quotes and results into your writing. You can use recent articles, primary sources, or news sources. Maybe you even cite your own research. Remember, this process takes time, so be sure you set aside enough time to dive deep into your topic.

Clear Structure

If the reader can’t follow your argument, all your research could be for nothing! Structure is key to persuading your audience. Below are two common argumentative essay structures that you can use to organize your essays.

The Toulmin argument and the Rogerian argument each contain the four sections mentioned above but executes them in different ways. Be sure to familiarize yourself with both essay structures so that your essay is the most effective it can be.

The Toulmin argument has a straightforward presentation. You begin with your assertion, your thesis statement. You then list the evidence that supports your point and why these are valid sources. The bulk of your essay should be explaining how your sources support your claim. You then end your essay by acknowledging and discussing the problems or flaws that readers may find in your presentation. Then, you should list the solutions to these and alternative perspectives and prove your argument is stronger.

The Rogerian argument has a more complex structure. You begin with a discussion of what opposing sides do right and the validity of their arguments. This is effective because it allows you to piece apart your opponent’s argument. The next section contains your position on the questions. In this section, it is important to list problems with your opponent’s argument that your argument fixes. This way, your position feels much stronger. Your essay ends with suggesting a possible compromise between the two sides. A combination of the two sides could be the most effective solution.

  • Is the death penalty effective?
  • Is our election process fair?
  • Is the electoral college outdated?
  • Should we have lower taxes?
  • How many Supreme Court Justices should there be?
  • Should there be different term limits for elected officials?
  • Should the drinking age be lowered?
  • Does religion cause war?
  • Should the country legalize marijuana?
  • Should the country have tighter gun control laws?
  • Should men get paternity leave?
  • Should maternity leave be longer?
  • Should smoking be banned?
  • Should the government have a say in our diet?
  • Should birth control be free?
  • Should we increase access to condoms for teens?
  • Should abortion be legal?
  • Do school uniforms help educational attainment?
  • Are kids better or worse students than they were ten years ago?
  • Should students be allowed to cheat?
  • Is school too long?
  • Does school start too early?
  • Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school?
  • Is summer break still relevant?
  • Is college too expensive?

Art / Culture

  • How can you reform copyright law?
  • What was the best decade for music?
  • Do video games cause students to be more violent?
  • Should content online be more harshly regulated?
  • Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?
  • Should schools ban books?
  • How important is art education?
  • Should music be taught in school?
  • Are music-sharing services helpful to artists?
  • What is the best way to teach science in a religious school?
  • Should fracking be legal?
  • Should parents be allowed to modify their unborn children?
  • Should vaccinations be required for attending school?
  • Are GMOs helpful or harmful?
  • Are we too dependent on our phones?
  • Should everyone have internet access?
  • Should internet access be free?
  • Should the police force be required to wear body cams?
  • Should social media companies be allowed to collect data from their users?
  • How has the internet impacted human society?
  • Should self-driving cars be allowed on the streets?
  • Should athletes be held to high moral standards?
  • Are professional athletes paid too much?
  • Should the U.S. have more professional sports teams?
  • Should sports be separated by gender?
  • Should college athletes be paid?
  • What are the best ways to increase safety in sports?

Where to Get More Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas

If you need more help brainstorming topics, especially those that are personalized to your interests, you can use CollegeVine’s free AI tutor, Ivy . Ivy can help you come up with original argumentative essay ideas, and she can also help with the rest of your homework, from math to languages.

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607 Crime Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

When writing a research paper about criminology or law, you have to consider your topic carefully. Our team came up with 465 titles, along with some crime essay examples to assist you in your assignment.

🏆 Best Crime Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

👍 good crime topics for essays, ✅ simple & easy topics about crime, 💡 most interesting crime topics to write about, 📌 useful crime topics for essays, 📑 interesting crime topics, ❓ crime research questions.

  • Infamous Crimes: Laci Peterson’s Murder Even during the war in Iraq, the search for her and the ultimate arrest of Scott Peterson led the news. Her cell phone and purse were still in the house, and a neighbor said she […]
  • Youth Crime as a Major Issue in the World The relationships that exist in the families of the youths could facilitate the indulgence in criminal activities for example when the parents are involved in crime, when there is poor parental guidance and supervision, in […]
  • Applying Developmental Theories of Crime to Jeffrey Dahmer In the framework of this theory, Dahmer’s obsession with dissecting animals and necrophilic fantasies from a young age are not connected to the other events in his life but are simply manifestations of his latent, […]
  • Why Does Crime Exist in Society? Philosophically this is the equivalent of saying that without evil one would not recognize good, and while this is evident in the criminal world and the world of law, it only provides some explanation as […]
  • The Effects of Mass Media Glorifying Crime and Criminal Lifestyle Crime has and will dominate popular media, ranging from the traditional police and detective shows/movies to documentaries, and more recently the ‘true crime’ genre or psychological thrillers attempting to tell the story from the perspective […]
  • International Organized Crime: The 14K Triads in Hong Kong Being one of the largest transnational criminal organizations globally, the 14K does not depend on the strict structure, operates according to the principles of secrecy, and it is rather difficult to bring the organization to […]
  • Impact of Crime on Wider Society Therefore, just as some organs in the body can be removed in order to improve the health of a person, the people who cause problems in the society can also be removed so that the […]
  • Types of Crime Analysis The goals of tactical analysis are to recognize crime trends and to develop the best suited strategies to address them. This is a matter of great concern and the department would inquire more into the […]
  • Technology for Crime Prevention With the modern computer technology and advanced software, criminal justice system has been in a capacity to compile data and store it as well as share its analysis with other agencies both in and out […]
  • Three Pathways to Crime Identified by Loeber It encompasses an account of an individual’s past in the course of time of problem behavior in a continuing increment of seriousness of problem behavior.
  • Solving the Issue of Crime As the director of the county juvenile court, the research question related to the problem at hand should state as follows: What are cost effective methods of solving the proliferation of violent street gangs in […]
  • Suspect, Crime Scene, and the Victim: Evidence Triangle In every crime investigation, it is mandatory that the evidence gathered be adequate to draw the link between the suspect, crime scene and the victim.
  • “The Functions of Crime” by Emile Durkheim In the article “The Functions of Crime”, Emile Durkheim argues clearly that crime should be treated and analyzed as a normal aspect of a given society.
  • White Collar Crime Parties affected by the crime and how it affects them White collar criminals place more emphasis on their personal needs than their organization’s to the point of downplaying the real costs of their actions.
  • Chris Watts and His Murder Crimes Watts pleaded guilty to the killings of his children and wife. Watts concluded the interview by saying he was sorry and repented for his actions after seeking refuge in God.
  • Hate Crimes: Crimes or Deviant Behavior? Because hate crimes are associated with the violation of the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and association, it is believed that the motive for hate crimes is a crime itself.
  • Crimes Against Property, Persons, and Public Order The least in ranking is crimes against public order for they have no serious repercussions to lives and livelihood of the involved people.
  • The Impact of Social Media on the Rise in Crime For example, Jones cites revenge porn, or the practice of publishing a partner’s intimate contact on social media, as one of the results of social media use.
  • Frankston Serial Killer: Background, Crimes, and Motives At the time, the police noted that Denyer was with his girlfriend. The letter claimed that Denyer knows his whereabouts, and that he was planning to break out of prison to kill him.
  • Relationship Between Crime Rates and Poverty This shows that the strength of the relationship between the crime index and people living below the line of poverty is.427.
  • Investigating Crimes against Property According to the Uniform Crime Report of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, there are about 9,767,915 cases of property crimes reported in America annually.
  • Using the Internet to Solve a Crime The purpose of my research is to highlight some of the uses of the internet in solving crime. The Internet can be used to carry out crime mapping, this is a strategy used by law […]
  • Youth Crime in Functionalism and Conflict Theories The analysis will focus on determining factors contributing to youth engagement in criminal acts, examining the types of delinquencies they are likely to commit, and establishing the socio-psychological facets associated with the teenagers in the […]
  • Crimes Against Person Cases of murder falls in the rule of felony murder which is well stipulated by the constitution of any given country and the penalty is administered depending on whether the case was committed in an […]
  • Marxists and Functionalists’ Views on Crime and Deviance Also, the essay seeks to explain why people commit crimes in reference to a social and political transition, poverty, globalization of crime and state bureaucracy in order to evaluate the most effective conceptual approach to […]
  • The Phases of a Crime and Their Importance in Psychological Profiling Attempt and accomplishment, the third and fourth phases of a crime respectively, differ in the sense that an attempt is a failed crime.
  • Crimes and Criminal Tendencies: Cause and Effect The school makes demands of control, discipline, and accountability which are difficult for the low self-control student to meet, and, for this reason, early school leaving is a result of low self-control, not a cause […]
  • Youth Crime According to Conflict Theory The second one is that the youth might engage in criminal activities and violence due to misappropriation of resources, lack of jobs, and inadequate strategies to meet their social needs.
  • Social Cultural Causes of Crime There is need to highlight the social cultural factors of crime and describe the necessary positive measures to prevent the occurrences of crime.
  • The Influence of Peer Groups on Youth Crime The impact of youth crime on the community is profound, and so is the influence of criminal behavior on the lives of adolescents.
  • The Genre of Crime and Gangster Movies The gangster movies always tend to idolize the gangster figures with a relation to the sinister activities that always define crime and the lifestyles of the gangsters.
  • Crime Prevention Strategies and Quality of Life The aim of crime prevention strategies is to create conditions that cut the chances and motivation for crime, transforming the capability of the criminal justice system to handle crimes.
  • Cybercrime and Cyber-Related Crimes The introduction of computer technology has created room for cyber crimes and cyber related crimes that have caused many people pain and losses to the society.
  • The Major Theories of Crime Causation The survival of any civilization hinges on the establishment of laws and codes of conduct and the subsequent obeying of the same by the members of the society.
  • Factors Influencing the Commission of Crime Some of the factors that contribute to the decision-making of the offender are based on time constraints, the ability of the information available, agreeing with the offender’s plans as well as the availability of favorable […]
  • How Biochemical Conditions and Brain Activity are Linked to Crime Studies have shown that areas with high rates of homicide and other forms of violence had a lot of lead in the air.
  • The Theft of a Laptop in Various Crime Scenarios This paper seeks to evaluate different situations that involve the theft of a laptop with the aim of establishing the types of crime they represent and the differences between them.
  • White Collar Crimes From a Marxist Criminological Perspective Marxist criminologists interpret it in the following way: “…the crimes of the upper class exert a greater economic toll on society than the crimes of the ‘ordinary people’”.
  • Anthropological Theory of Crime Criminal law is a division of law that elucidates crimes, describes their nature and defines available punishment for a criminal offense.
  • Water Pollution as a Crime Against the Environment In particular, water pollution is a widespread crime against the environment, even though it is a severe felony that can result in harm to many people and vast territories.
  • Analysis of the Social Context of Crime Therefore, it is vital to reinforce the legal measures against child abuse, including the enhancement of legal repercussions for the perpetrators of the specified type of crime.
  • Zodiac Movie: Crime, Media Reporting and Ethics The development of the events and the rise of the killer’s popularity began as soon as the reporters of the San Francisco Chronicle received and discovered the letter with threats to American society.
  • Consequences of Committing Crime These factors affect the behavior of an individual and might lead them to criminal activities depending on the effect of the overall combination of the elements mentioned above.
  • White Collar Crimes: Bernard Madoff Ponzi Scheme A Ponzi scheme is a white collar crime in which the perpetrator encourages people to invest in a business and promises high dividends within a short period of time.
  • Statistics of Crime Costs to the UK Healthcare The statistic is describing the claims by Labour that the NHS uses 500 million a year to treat wounds caused by knife crimes.
  • White-Collar Crime: Importance of Awareness When individuals are informed about white-collar crimes, they will be able to detect, evaluate, and avert natural and artificial threats to the welfare of persons and the setups of administrations.
  • Aileen Wuornos’ Background and Crimes Aileen Wuornos began her series of murders in 1989. For a short period, she killed seven people, and all of them were men.
  • Crime TV: How Is Criminality Represented on Television? The public’s views and comprehension of crime are heavily influenced by television, the internet, and print media, which can spread the message about the exaggerated danger to society.
  • Crime: What Modifies the Human Acts? A young man entering medical school has, as proximate and intermediate ends, the passing of his exams, and the advance from the first to the second class; more remote ends are the exams and classes […]
  • The Relationship Between Wealth Distribution and Crime Rates According to Anser et al, the levels of crime and violence in the community depend on the difference between the risks or costs and potential gains.
  • Crime Analysis Conceptual Study It is the work of crime analysts to assess the basics of a crime and give an analytical product which is used to handle such offenses and assist incarcerate the offenders, and the accomplice.
  • Parental Responsibility for Crimes of Children Parents should be held responsible for the crime of their children because in most cases criminal involvement of children is the result of lack of parental control.
  • Crime in Canada: Causes, Regulation and Legislation There are those activities that are universally accepted to constitute a crime, however, what might be considered the crime in one society is not necessarily applied in a different society; for instance, looking at a […]
  • Drug, Crime and Violence This essay offers a brief discussion of how the abuse of illegal drugs is related to both crime and violence. It is prudent to mention that drug and violence have been noted to be closely […]
  • Crime Scene Investigation and Evidence Classification They include the explanation of physical evidence to identify purposes, the discussion of the differences between class and individual characteristics of physical evidence, and the evaluation of the class characteristics’ importance.
  • The Crimes of Charles Manson, Serial Killer Even though his people did it himself, he was not involved in this, and the organization of a particular group of people is not in itself an immoral act but is prohibited in some places.
  • CCTV Cameras: Surveillance and the Reduction of Crime The present paper will seek to argue that greater surveillance is not a desirable answer to the problem of crime and that other solutions are required to reduce crime rates in the long term.
  • Crime Causes in Sociological Theories The former can be characterized as the outcome of the constructive or adverse influence of rewards/ penalties on the individual’s behavior.
  • Society’s Response to Crime Impacts on Justice True, the decisions of the court are generally based on nature of the crime, evidence and the manner of the plaintiff and defendant.
  • Social Theories of Crime in Explaining Gang Violence This theory incorporates the strain theory as well as the social disorganization it points out that as a result of strain and societal segregation there is a particular culture that establishes for the low income […]
  • An Epidemic of Knife Crime in the UK In the case of the former, it is evident that social class plays a key role in the emergence of knife crimes across the UK.
  • Social Disorganization and Crime Social disorganization can be conceptualized as the incapability of the community structure to attain the common values of its members and maintain effective social controls, or as the failure and degeneration of social institutions and […]
  • Campus Crimes Types and Causes According to the college administrators’ records, crimes in campuses were minimal in the 19th century and in the early 20th century.
  • Capital Punishment and Deterrence of Crime For the case of murder or crimes that necessitate capital punishment, the incentive to commit murder is directly related to the uncertainties that punishments for the crime will generate.
  • The Impact of the Internet on Traditional Crime How the Internet helps the criminals The advancement in the modern computer technologies and the Internet has put radical changes in the concept of information and the mode of exchanging the data.
  • Andrew Luster’s Crime and Media Attention Henry Luster, a psychiatrist, and Elizabeth Luster, the parents of Andrew Luster. The film concluded with a snapshot of Luster and an appeal for witnesses to his whereabouts to notify authorities.
  • “Sisters in Crime: The Rise of the New Female Criminal” by Adler This includes the extent, nature, control and cause of crime in the society. It focuses on supernaturalism in the definition and address of crime in society.
  • Economy and Crime: The Relationship Economic crime is a serious problem for the business world, and it has become more and more aggravating with the development of technologies and with the growing availability of internet access.
  • Salem Witchcraft Hysteria: Crime Against Women In the “Was the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria a Product of Women’s Search for Power?” Kyle Koehler and Laurie Winn Carlson present the “pro” and “cons” arguments for this claim.
  • Medea’s Justification for Her Crime Medea felt Jason had betrayed her love for him and due to her desperate situation she was depressed and her normal thinking was affected that she started thinking of how she would revenge the man […]
  • The Self Control Theory of Crime In this theory, the level of self control exercised by individuals in the presence of a strong or a weak incentive to commit a crime explains why some people commit crimes while others do not.
  • The Evolution of Behavioral and Cognitive Development Theories of Crime Behavioral theory is based upon the principles of behavioral psychology and is the basis for behavior modification and change. This theory is founded on the belief that the way in which people organize their thoughts […]
  • Note-Taking and Crime Scene Photography Concerning the effectiveness of notes, generally, they should contain a high level of detail, and straightforwardness and cover all areas of the crime scene.
  • Design Theory in “Ornament and Crime” Essay by Loos One of the striking examples of this opinion is the desire to combine the interior and exterior decoration of the building, making them a logical continuation of each other.
  • Surveillance as the Answer to the Crime Issue One of the main features of the “surveillance society” is the use of closed-circuit television that allows for detecting and preventing crimes.
  • The Cause of the Crime Since it takes a lot of time and resources to get involved in crime, it is evident that involvement in crime is entirely due to decision of the person to gain the rewards that are […]
  • Crimes and Victimization: Gender Issues Generally, a common way to perceive the dynamic between men and women in the context of crime and deviance underestimates women’s capacity to be self-sufficient and expects to see the predator-prey relationships between the genders.
  • Curtis Sliwa’s “The Guardian Angels”: Fighting Crime in New York City Almost at the same time, the number of burglaries and rapes tripled, the number of felony assaults and carjackings doubled, and the number of homicides increased by a thousand per year.
  • Reasons Why Women Are Often the Victims of Violent Crimes Law enforcement, family, and friends often chose not to pay attention to women in violent relationships, which is another cause of the number of crimes related to femicide to increase.
  • White Collar Crime Characteristics It is possible to conclude that white collar offenders are usually well off and have certain status in the society. On balance, it is necessary to note that demographic and psychological characteristics of white collar […]
  • “Thinking About Crime: Sense and Sensibility in American Penal Culture” by Michael Tonry Tonry’s goals of explaining the main underlying processes of American penal policymaking and the adverse effects of irrational decisions driven by the moral panic and the politicians’ inclination of gaining authority among the potential voters […]
  • Crime and Family Background Correlation The first half of the 20th century saw the crime rate increase moderately in a few areas; mostly in burglaries and muggings, but less in murders and drunkenness.
  • Crime and Delinquency, Eric Smith’s Case Thus the psychological problems that smith developed were due to the experiences he had gone through the courtesy of his bright red hair, freckles, and speech problems.
  • Transnational Crime and International Policing This further aids the level of operation and success of international policing by creating the need for control on transnational crime.
  • Searching and Recording the Crime Scene Therefore, based on the nature and size of the scene, it is best recommended for the zone and grid search method to be used in the location and collection of evidence.
  • Prostitution as a “Victimless” Crime In an analysis of prostitution as a “victimless” crime, it is primary to maintain that there is an ongoing debate over the classification of the crime into the “victimless” crimes.
  • Situational Crime Prevention SCP focuses on deterring crime by increasing the risk and effort in committing a crime. However, they add that the effect of such measures varies based on the location and type of crime targeted.
  • Victimless Crimes: Definition and Types Again, the taxpayers are the victims in such a case as they have to contribute to the rehabilitation of the drug users. As such, some of the so-called victimless crimes have identifiable victims.
  • Violent Crimes Controling and Decreasing in the US The display of aggression toward the environment and other individuals does not equalize the dependency between the criminal genes of the parents and their child’s behavior.
  • Victims of Crime Act: History and Development The necessary part of the paper is the information about changes to the original policy. The discussion of this act and how necessary it is for the criminal justice system in The United States is […]
  • Japanese War Crimes To fully understand the crimes committed, the discourse will also analyze the Japanese and international law and some of the agreements that Japan signed in relation to the crimes that were later committed.
  • Rogue Security Software: Digital Crime Scenario This rogue security software can appear on a website in the form of an advertisement which in most of the time informs that internet user of their win for being a visitor to the website […]
  • Organized Crime – John Gotti’s Analyze He argues that the American social structure and its structure of wealth distribution and that dream of achieving the ‘American dream’ all require crime to maintain social stability in the face of structural inequality.
  • Impact of Cyber Crime on Internet Banking The paper evaluates a con article on ‘The impact of cybercrime on e-banking’ [1]. H2: Identity theft will have a negative impact on the adoption of electronic banking.
  • Electronic Crime: Online Predators on Facebook Facebook, as one of the many social network sites, will be addressed in this paper and after looking at the dangers that such sites pose to the contemporary world, a conclusion will be arrived at […]
  • Crime Scene Investigation in Criminal Justice In the process of controlling the crowd and maintaining order with the aid of the police officers, I took some photographs of the surrounding and then approached the main spot of event. I managed to […]
  • Actus Reus and Mens Rea Aspects of Crime These facts imply that there are different contexts in the analysis of the case, and trying to find a common ground for the application of men’s rea would be a futile exercise.
  • Crime Factors & Levels in South Africa vs. Canada Developed and developing countries have different level of crime and crime control from the developing countries. This crime is concentrated in the urban of Ontario, British Columbia and other areas like Quebec.
  • Does Crime Make Economic Sense? Crime has great effects on the prices of the commodities being sold in the country; hence this will affect both the suppliers and the consumers which influences the income directly.
  • Criminal Investigations: Nature of Crime Investigators The fourth task of crime investigators in crimes against children is that their work should be able to facilitate effective decision-making and disclosures.
  • Prostitution as a Victimless Crime The association in the law and morality in the subject of prostitution is been a wide concern as prostitution can be considered as one of the oldest phenomena of humankind in a way of practicing […]
  • Freakonomics: What Attributed to the Sharp Drop In Crime? This article focuses on these reasons that were thought to have led to reduction of the rising crime rates experienced in United States in the 1990s and refutes the claims flaunted by the theorists.
  • Robert Merton’s Strain Theory Explaining Economic Crime Trends This theory states that “crime occurs when there are not enough legitimate opportunities for people to achieve the success goals imposed by the society”.
  • Comparing the Rate of Crime between the US, Japan, and Mexico The discussion will be general and mostly based on the crime index. The table shows the level of crime in the USA, Japan, and Mexico.67.
  • “Legend” Crime Drama Directed by Brian Helgeland Helgeland revives the images of the Kray brothers, Reggie and Ronny that at some point become one of the leading players in the brutal games of the gangster side.
  • Hacking as a Crime and Related Theories The move to embrace the novel technology has led to the emergence of a new form of crime and behavior referred to as “hacking”. Today, the term is used to refer to individuals engaged in […]
  • Criminology: Application of Crime Theories For an action to amount to crime, there has to be a breach of law followed by the administration of punishment by the state to the accused.
  • Noble Cause Corruption – A Crime-Fighting Sub-Culture The term Noble Cause Corruption refers to a crime-fighting sub-culture that involves the law enforcement members being engaged in activities that would otherwise be considered criminal or unethical for the purposes of the greater good […]
  • Official Crime Statistics: ‘Criminal Activity’ Measure The accuracy of victimization surveys, therefore, depends on the honesty of the respondent or the ability of the respondent to have a good memory of the criminal instances.
  • Medical Crimes in the Health Industry This is because the industry has such a long bureaucracy that makes the efficient management of the organization very complicated due to the decentralization processes.
  • Natural and Legal Crime Conceptual Distinction Natural crime is therefore described as a crime against the fundamental laws of nature as well as personal crimes which could or may sometimes not be against the laws of the land.
  • International White-Collar Crime Globalization and the harmonization of the European Community, two logical outcomes of the belief in free markets and value theory Adam Smith espoused in The Wealth of Nations, has also eased of movement of humans, […]
  • Forensic Serology and Its Key Aspects in Investigating Crimes The discoveries that have been made over the years about the components of blood are now being widely used by the police to ascertain the individual that may be responsible for involvement in a crime.
  • TV Violence, Increasing Crime Levels and Child Aggression Most of the proponents of that theory state that by witnessing a certain behavior in fiction people become more prone to repeating it in real life. One of the powers these advancements have given us […]
  • Conflict & Crime Control vs. Consensus & Due Process Model The model enforces the law through dialogue between the offenders and the law enforcers’ agencies. The police and courts are the main bodies in the conflict control model of criminal justice.
  • Forensic Psychology: Media and Crime Relationship Consequently, it is arguable that exposure to stimuli involving violence such as the one found in a violent video game and some TV programs including cartoons may cause activation of aggressive scripts among children.
  • Forensic Science: Examining Crime Evidence For a forensic scientist, it is paramount to be able to perform the three main functions: Gathering evidence finding the evidence from the crime scene that might be relevant to the case, and collecting it […]
  • Crime Prevention at the Workplace: Employee Theft Considering that any form of employee theft induces substantial harm to the financial performance of companies, the integration of adequate crime prevention procedures in the corporate security system is of great importance.
  • Crime Prevention and Control Effectiveness Another aspect that needs to be acknowledged is that it is impossible to avoid all of the crimes because some individuals will participate in such activities even if it is dangerous and significant risks are […]
  • La Cosa Nostra Organized Crime Available criminology scholarship demonstrates that La Cosa Nostra, also referred to as the mafia, the mob, the outfit, the office, and the family, was by any standards the most prominent criminal organization in the United […]
  • Crime Theories: Psychodynamics and Rational Choice The rational choice theory explained the causes of crime to be the ability of an individual to commit the crime, their need for valuable possessions and money, their physical health and ability to commit the […]
  • Crime Policies: Broken Windows Theory Massachusetts is one of the communities that have managed to apply this theory to improve security in their streets. One of the key things to note when implementing this theory in such a location is […]
  • Cyber Crime and Necessity of Cyber Security This is one of the policies that has been proposed to curb cyber crimes and is being debated in the congress.
  • Prohibition and the Rise of Organized Crime In the 1920s, the United States was facing worrying rates of crime that called for the intervention of the Congress to avert the situation.
  • Crime Punishment: Shame Is Worth a Try Kahan, therefore, proposes that the use of shame as punishment is put to trial and if found effective, must be implemented as an alternative to the imprisonment.
  • Race, Ethnicity and Crime There are a number of opposing issues concerning racism and disparity that has led to complication in the discussion of the issue of racism in the Criminal Justice System. The larger the differences between the […]
  • Functionalist Approach to Deviance and Crime This paper looks at the functionalist approach to the explanation of the causes of deviance and crime. Some level of deviance is however healthy as it leads to better adaptation of the society.
  • Crime and Deviance Crime is an act that is against the norm of a society and the registered law of the entire country. A person is usually taken to the court of law where the offence is listened […]
  • Major Crimes Committed by Women The most common reasons for the top crimes committed by women are the convergence of gender roles, the increase in financial pressures for women in households, and the leniency of the criminal justice system towards […]
  • Developmental Crime Prevention Developmental crime prevention is a subsystem of special criminological crime prevention, the target of which is the pre-criminal forms of deviant and delinquent behavior of minors.
  • Mens Rea and Actus Reus of Crime: A Case Study About a block down the street, it begins to sprinkle and Latisha opens the umbrella and realizes that it is not hers.
  • The Links Between Gender and Crime The present paper aims to examine the links between gender and crime through an analysis of a sexual assault case. Identification of crime patterns is a valuable tool to guide criminologists as it helps them […]
  • Petty Crime Offenses: A Case of Mary Lee It is easy for the prosecution, in this case, to request the judge to sentence the defendant due to her criminal behavior.
  • White-Collar Crime: The Notorious Case of Ford Pinto Additionally, the representatives of this organization argued that the actions of the company should be judged according to the standards of federal law.
  • Generalisation of Persons Who Commit Crime The generalisation about the people who commit crime indicates flaws in the processes of thinking and possible outcomes. It appears that the society chooses to pay attention to crime committed by specific groups, such as […]
  • Displacement: Crime Prevention It refers to circumstances where crime intervention efforts make the cost of committing an offense greater than the benefits accruing from the crime.
  • Investigation Methods: Terrorism and Cyber Crime The question on whether the investigations in these areas of cyber crime and terrorism to remain incident driven or to adopt strategic approach are still is of great concern to the security agencies and the […]
  • Crime Laboratories: Accreditation and Certification S, the four major accrediting bodies include the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board, the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, Forensic Quality Services, and the American Board of Forensic Toxicology, though each body […]
  • Concepts and Reasons of Violent Crimes in Modern Society The environment has specifically been pointed out to be influential in the case of corporate affairs whereby the risk of exposure of huge corruption claims may lead to elimination of the whistle blowers.
  • Extortion in Organized Crime Groups Blackmailing is a standard tool in organized crime, as it relies on one’s ability to threaten with severe consequences for non-compliance.
  • Guidelines for Responsible Reporting on Hate Crimes The media is responsible for maintaining a balance between their interests and the needs and rights of crime victims, the public, and defendants.
  • The Crime of Attempt: Adequate Punishment In this situation, it is necessary to cooperate with a lawyer to prove the absence of intent to harm or to verify the impossibility of committing a crime.
  • Hate Crimes from a Biblical Perspective Therefore, hate crimes include immoral conduct and a risk to the wellbeing of the general populace, and the courts are without a doubt vested with the jurisdiction to decide how the perpetrators of these offenses […]
  • Categories of Crime in Current Justice System A stable and effective legal system work is one of the fundamental aspects necessary for the evolution of society. The severity of the crime is determined by the damage done to a person and the […]
  • Crime Scene Investigation Techniques Digital GPS evidence refers to the location data that is collected and stored on digital devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, smart watches, and others.
  • The Most Effective Crime Reduction Approaches Therefore, the assessment and monitoring of the community must remain a core strategy for a crime analyst to prevent a rise in crime.
  • Mental Health of Crime Offenders The research was created with the idea that women have a significant role in promoting global health because of the importance of their health. According to the findings, life skills training programs improved women’s mental […]
  • A Theoretical Perspective on Crimes On the one hand, if the core of committing crimes is the moral values or rational decisions of the individual, then re-education seems to be a feasible strategy. Consequently, the concept of re-education is not […]
  • Cryptocurrency Crimes in Financial Markets One of the most relevant, and important news in recent times is the trend of cryptocurrency crimes in financial markets. In this case, it is necessary to improve security systems concerning the management, control, storage, […]
  • Discussion on the Role of Crime The results of this study can be implemented in the education and training of police officers and lead to a reduction in the number of illegal actions.
  • Crime Prevention With Rational Choice Theory In addition, pure RCT may be insufficient for explaining nuances associated with the psychological and social profiles of the offenders. In particular, the traditional RCT faces problems explaining violent crime and irrational risk and reward […]
  • Research in Criminal Justice: Crime Solvability Factors In the sphere of criminal justice, inquiry can doubtlessly assist in the formulation of improved and more progressive laws and institutions.
  • Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime as Threats to Homeland Security The US is among the nations that have suffered some of the worst terrorist attacks worldwide and it is also a hub of international criminal activities due to its wealth of resources and powerful economic […]
  • Sexual Crimes and Behavioral Problems Treatment The author’s central claim is the need for a comprehensive study of sexual crimes and the identity of a sex offender with mental abnormalities.
  • State Crimes: Strategies to Resisting Tortures in Prisons This paper intends to uncover the effective methods of resistance to state crime on the example of torture in prisons. The main argument will be that the specificity of repressive regimes, which are the main […]
  • The Community Policing Impact on Juvenile Crime Moreover, the involvement of the police when it comes to community activities and narrowing the gap between law enforcement and youth is also related to criminal activity in the region.
  • Police Administration Issue: Crime Victim Rights Moreover, the police administration has not acknowledged that the decision of the hospital does, in fact, protect the victims’ rights, a duty that is to be implemented by law enforcement.
  • Hate Crimes and Biblical Worldview The first four commandments of the Old Testament are the commandments about the love of God, and the next six are about the love of one’s neighbors.
  • Sociology Can Be Applied to Offenders and Crimes As a result, such people are likely to be involved in property theft and unlawfully obtain what does not belong to them.
  • Crime Problems and Criminal Justice
  • Suitability of Electronic Monitoring: Crime Control Perspective
  • Low Crime Clearance Rates in the United States
  • Crime Control and Prevention Methods
  • Transnational Organized Crime in the United States
  • Crime Reporting in Irish Media
  • Police Corruption: A Crime With Severe Consequences
  • Analysis of Crime and Punishment Bill
  • Investigating and Reporting White Collar Crimes: The Case of Bernie Madoff
  • “Time and Crime: Which Cold-Case Investigations Should Be Reheated?”: Key Ideas
  • “Hot Spots of Crime…” Article by Weisburd & White
  • Crime of Ricin Using or an Easy Way Out
  • Current Trends in Globalization of Crime
  • The Crime and Justice Impact on New Media
  • Legal Issues Related to Cyber Crime Investigations
  • Crime Rates in the United States
  • Processing a Physical and Electronic Crime Scene
  • Criminalistics: Forensic Science, Crime, and Terrorism
  • Crime Trends in the Jurisdiction
  • Websites Against Cyber Crimes: Investigating High-Tech Crime
  • Crimes, Future Challenges and Issues
  • Cultural Criminology: Inside the Crime
  • Juvenile Crime and Human Institutions’ Solutions
  • Crime of Extortion and Potential Defense
  • The United States Uniform Crime Report’s Aims
  • Department of Justice Project on Organized Crime
  • Illegal Immigration Policies and Violent Crime
  • Finding a Crime Series: Murders Committed by John Wayne Gacy
  • Review of High Tech Crime Investigation
  • Analysis of Crime and Violence Trauma
  • Crime Maps of Detroit and Michigan
  • Criminologists’ Views on Crime and Justice Issues
  • Napoleon Beazley: Analysis of Crime
  • Case Study on Tax Crimes: Distributional Implications of Joint Tax
  • Aspects of Sexual Crime Myth
  • The Drug Crime Story of the Stickup Kids
  • Document Falsification Crime and Response to It
  • Criminal Justice & Security: Measuring Crime Statistics
  • Overrepresentation of African Americans in Crime Statistics
  • Business-Related Crime and Preventive Measures
  • Factors Affecting Losses From Property Crime
  • Hate Crimes and Implications
  • Juvenile Violent Crime and Children Below Poverty
  • Increasing Level of Fear of Crime and Its Cause
  • Criminological Theories Explaining Overrepresentation of African Americans in Crime Statistics
  • The Crime Scene Investigation Effect Theory
  • Profiled in Life & Death: Crime Victims’ Compensation and Young People of Color
  • American Serial Killer Joseph Paul Franklin’s Crimes
  • Prison Sentence Alternatives for Drug-Related Crimes
  • Juvenile Crime of Lionel Tate: Causes and Effects
  • Crime Commitment and Punishment
  • The Federal Bureau Investigation Crime Statistics
  • White-Collar Crime-Related Data Sources in the US
  • Crimes Against Humanity – Genocide
  • Ordinary vs. Hate Crime Activities: Key Differences
  • Public Perceptions of Racial Crimes
  • Rediscovery of Crime Victims
  • Public Perceptions of Crime Analysis
  • Crime and Violence: Modern Social Classification
  • The New Perspective in the Management of Crime and Offenders
  • Measuring Crime Within Lynfield Estate
  • Restoring the Requirement of Mens Rea for All Crimes
  • GIS Comparing to Areas in Baltimore in Comparison to Crime
  • Who Are the Two Partners in All Crimes?
  • State Report: Crime Rates in Wisconsin
  • Sentencing Philosophies in Crime
  • Victimless Crimes in the United States of America
  • Youth Crime Statistics in the US
  • Hate Crimes – Bullying
  • The Crimes of Sexual Assault in Canada
  • Transnational Organized Crime in Port Security Operations
  • Social and Cultural Inequalities Impact On Crime Experience: London
  • Prison Reforms for Handling Crime Effectively
  • The ‘Street Games’ Athletic Intervention to Reduce Youth Crime
  • Conspiracies in Society: Power Elite and State Crimes Against Society Theories
  • Asian Hate Crimes in the United States
  • Disability Hate Crimes in England and Wales
  • Close-Circuit Television: Crime Control vs. Privacy
  • Victims and Crime Evaluation
  • Hate Crime Problem Overview
  • “Adventures in Crime” Book by Amanda Archer
  • Managing the Hate Crimes and Preparing Officers
  • Adaptations to Anomie. Theories of Crime
  • Rape Theories and Policies to Minimize Crimes
  • Federal Statutes: White-Collar Crime
  • Juvenile Use of Drug and Committing of Crime
  • Data-Based Analysis Approach in Preventing Crime at Dallas Police Department
  • Researching Hate Crimes in America
  • Crimes Against Unborn Children
  • Crime in 2020 During COVID-19
  • Evidence of a Relationship Between Crime and Economy
  • Federal, State, and Local Hate Crime Laws
  • The Costs and Benefits of Dealing With Juvenile Crimes in Boot Camps
  • Drug Crimes and Merton’s Anomie
  • Property Crime in Boston and Detroit
  • Main Aspects of Organized Crime Models
  • Crime Control Perspective & the Due Process Perspective
  • History of Crime Measurement vs. Contemporary Situation
  • Sociological Perspectives on Crimes of Power: Enron
  • Profiling and Analytical Skills in Crime Detection
  • The Difference Between Media Depiction and the Reality of Crime
  • The Use of Social Crime Prevention Techniques in the UK
  • Lipstick Analysis in Crime Detection
  • Effects of Community Policing Upon Fear of Crime
  • Homeland Security: Digital Crime and Terrorism Activities
  • Problem-Oriented Crime Intervention and Policy Analysis
  • Affect of the Organized Crime in Australia
  • Crime Challenges in the 21st Century
  • Deviance and Deviant Crimes
  • Human Consciousness Leading to Hate Crimes
  • The Government Solutions of Violent Crimes
  • Crime Statistics in United States
  • Causes of Committing Crimes
  • Anti Money Laundering and Financial Crime
  • Sexual Crimes: Criminal Liability
  • Crime in Virginia: Nature and Trends
  • Insider Trading Crime and Sentencing
  • Criminal Street Gangs as Organized Crime Groups
  • Developmental Theories and Crime Prevention Programs
  • Race and Culture Factors in Crime
  • Analysis of Mental Health in Crime
  • Isla Vista Mass Murder as a Hate Crime
  • The Genetics of Crime: ‘Criminal Gene’
  • Crime Prevention Strategies at Walden University
  • Louisiana’s Crime Law: Victim Rights
  • Crime Prevention, Law Enforcement and Correction Theories
  • Applied Crime Prevention in Hollywood 20 Cinema Location
  • Factors Related to Crime and Their Influence
  • The Effects of Campus Shootings on Fear of Crime on Campus
  • Global Crimes Impact Assessment
  • Improving Crime Policy in Canada by Using Criminological Evidence
  • Computer Crime in the United Arab Emirates
  • Hate Crime Statistics in Los Angeles and New York Metropolitan Areas
  • Theories on Crime
  • Criminology in Brief: Understanding Crime
  • White Collar Crime: Insidious Injuries
  • The Wire: A Crime-Drama Television Series
  • The Crime of Robbing the Big City Bank
  • Social Developmental Crime Prevention Programs
  • The Crime Phenomenon: Victimization and Its Theories
  • White-Collar Crime: An Overview
  • Gender Crime Rates: The Role of Division of Labor
  • Organized Crimes: Review
  • Types of Crime in Cyberspace
  • A Research of the Crime in State Nevada
  • Marriage and Crime Reduction: Is There a Relationship?
  • Application of CompStat Crime Model in Los Angeles
  • Problems Related to Defining and Regulating Crimes in the Home
  • The Crimes of Charles Manson
  • Copyright Implications: Crime Punishable by Law
  • Crime in America: What We May Learn From Its Causes?
  • Reducing Crime Rates by Analyzing Its Causes
  • White-Collar Crime Conceptual Study
  • How America’s Top Cop Reversed the Crime Epidemic
  • Impact of Economic Characteristics on Sex Crimes
  • Juvenile Crime Statistics
  • Factors Contributing to Gender Disparity in White Collar Crimes
  • Comparison Between Organized Crime And Terrorism
  • Mental Illness Relationship to Crime
  • Models of Organized Crime Executive Summary
  • White Collar Crime-Enron Corporation
  • The British Crime Survey’s Strengths and Weaknesses
  • Houston City Demographics and Crime Profile
  • Hate Crime Against the Jewish Community
  • Anomie, Crime, and Weakened Social Ties in Social Institutions
  • State of Crime in California
  • The Highest Crime Rate: Metropolitan County of Jefferson
  • Identifying Crime Patterns
  • Increasing the Rates of Crimes in Modern World
  • Crime Analysis Data Sources
  • Corporate Regulation and Crime
  • Understanding the Causes of Juvenile Crime
  • White-Collar Crime Offenders and Legislation
  • Strategic, Tactical, and Administrative Crime Analysis
  • Methamphetamine Drug Crime Registration
  • Classical and Biological Theories of Crime
  • Property and Computer Crimes
  • Increasing the Severity of Punishments Imposed for Crime
  • Crime in the Suites Effects of Power and Privilege
  • Causes of Organized Crime Analysis
  • Mr. Charles Dempsey Court Case: Cause and Consequences of the Crime
  • The Fears of Reporting a Crime: Why Witnesses Do Not Report Crimes
  • Neighborhood Watch Programs and Crime Prevention
  • Impact of Globalization and Neoliberalism on Crime and Criminal Justice
  • Routine Activities Theory of Crime by Lawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson
  • Electronic Crime Scene Investigation & Good Practice Guide
  • Cyber Crimes: Court – United States vs. Ancheta
  • White-Collar Crimes: Prevention and Fight
  • What Is a Crime? Is It Possible to Prevent Crime?
  • Asian Crime: Different Cultures, Different Attitudes
  • Community Cohesiveness and Incidence of Crime
  • Crime Theories: Intimate Partner Violence in the US
  • Age-Crime Relationships and Motivations
  • Processing the Crime Scene: Tools and Techniques
  • The Relationship of Drugs and Crime
  • Detrimental Effects of Gender Influenced Crime and Interventions
  • The Prevention of Crime and Community Justice
  • Use of the Information Technology to Solve Crimes: DNA Tests and Biometrics
  • Nature of Crime in the State of Virginia
  • Crime and Social Learning Theory Concept
  • Cyber Bullying and Positivist Theory of Crime
  • The Future of Global Crime: Globalization and Integration
  • The Parallel Between Crime and Conflicts in Africa, Asia and Latin America
  • Globalization and the Internet: Change of Organized Crime
  • War on Crime Influence on Power Shift Among Various Groups
  • Trends in Police Recorded Crime in Northern Ireland
  • Human Factor in Enabling and Facilitating E-Crimes
  • Financial Crime and Employment
  • Power Elite: Deviance and Crime Discussion
  • The Crime of Sexual Violence Committed by Men
  • Screening in Aviation: Prevention of Crime
  • Depiction of White-Collar Crime: Toxic Chemicals and Effects of the Pollutions
  • History of Crime in America Since the Early 1800s
  • US Attorney’s Office Press Release on Birmingham Crimes
  • Cyber Technology: Organized Crimes and Law Enforcement
  • Crime Myths and Domestic Terrorism
  • State or Federal Crime: Texas Kidnapping Study
  • Recidivism Rates for Sex Crimes
  • Prevention of Sex Offenders From Committing Crimes
  • Impacts of the Society’s Response to Crime
  • Policing Operations: Application of New Technologies to Combat Crime
  • Relationship Between Unemployment and Crimes
  • Drugs, Crime, and Violence: Effects of Drug Use on Behavior
  • The Three Strikes Law in Countering Crime
  • Hate Crimes in the United States: Bias Toward the Victim’s Identity
  • The Nature of Crime: Underlying Drivers Making People Criminals
  • Theoretical Impact on Sex Crimes Investigations
  • Social Pressure and Black Clothing Impact on Crime Judgments
  • Personal vs. Collective Responsibility in War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity
  • Economic Recession and Crime Rates
  • Criminal Justice System: Crime Scene Investigation
  • Urban Relationship Between Poverty and Crime
  • Middle Class and Crime: Historical Analysis of Crime
  • Community Policing as a Tool Against Crime
  • Women’s Crime: Gendered Criminology Theory
  • Crimes Against the State: Terrorist Attacks and Death Penalty
  • Crime Rates in UK: Quantitative Methods
  • Social Program for Management of Crimes Against Women
  • Do Drug Enforcement Laws Help to Reduce Other Crimes?
  • Organized Crime Investigation in Different Countries
  • Cutting-Off Hand Keeps Off Crimes in the Country
  • Organized Crime in the United States
  • Crime Mysteries of Jack the Ripper
  • China’s Legal System: Crime and Punishment
  • NGOs and the Fight Against Crime
  • Cyber-Bullying Is a Crime: Discussion
  • Crime Punishment: Humane Treatment of Prisoners Today
  • Probing Crime Based on Conduct Report
  • Criminal Justice for Physically Injured Crime Victims
  • Major Theories of Crime Causation
  • Does Drug Interdiction Increase or Decrease Drug-Related Crime?
  • Hate Crime as a Core Subject of Criminology
  • Youth Crime and Punishment
  • Policy Recommendations for Controlling Crime
  • City Violence, Crimes and Disruption
  • Responsibility for the Most Horrific Crimes Issue
  • Crime Prevention Programs in America
  • Rape: The Misunderstood Crime
  • Sex Crimes and Burglary: Patterns, Benefits, and Risk
  • Alcohol and Crime in the U.K., the United States, and Australia
  • Crime and Punishment in Texas
  • Three Perspective of One Crime
  • Financial Cost of Crime to Society
  • Crime in High Schools
  • Prevention & Control Of Crime
  • Crime and Subcultures in the Urban Area
  • Crime in Inner City Neighborhoods
  • Date Rape Is Not a Crime: Discussion
  • Effective Physical Security and Crime Prevention
  • Criminology: Drugs, Crime and Control
  • Youth Crime. Prejudice: Is It Justified?
  • New York City Community Policing and Crime Reduction
  • State Corporate Crime and Criminological Inquiry
  • “Crimes Against Humanity” by Ward Churchill
  • Psychological Theories Explaining Violent Crime
  • Granite City Building Inspectors: Service Crime
  • Torts and Crimes. Liability for Traffic Accidents
  • Crime of Genocide: Justice and Ethical Issues
  • White-Collar Crimes and Deferred Prosecution
  • The Uniform Crime Statistics Over 5 Years
  • Cyber Crime in the U.S. and Nigeria
  • Forensic Biology in Crime Scene Investigations
  • The Concept of Uniform Crime Reporting Program
  • Property Crime and Typologies
  • Crimes That Teenagers Do Not Commit
  • National Crime Victimization Survey and Analysis
  • The Crime of Innocence
  • The First Officer at Crime Scene
  • Crime Scene Reconstruction
  • Computer Crimes: Viewing the Future
  • Important Crime Scene Responsibilities
  • Computer Forensics and Cyber Crime
  • Computer Forensics: Identity Theft
  • Computer Crime Investigation Processes and Analyses
  • Crime Prevention and Juvenile Delinquency
  • Longford: British Biographical Crime Drama Film
  • Immigration and Crime Rates in the United States
  • Organized Crime in New York and Chicago
  • Bernie Madoff Ponzi’s Crime Scheme
  • Gender Factors of Crime in Campus
  • National Missing and Unidentified Persons System
  • “Broken Windows” and Situational Crime Prevention Theories
  • Problem‐Oriented Policing in Violent Crime Places
  • NGO Analysis of Canadian Crime Victim Foundation
  • Crime and Criminal Justice News
  • Deterrence: Discouraging Offenders from Re-Committing Crimes
  • Religion Role in Crime Definition
  • Transnational Organized Crime: Counterstrategy
  • Serial Killers, Their Crimes, and Stereotypes
  • Economics of Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking
  • Achieving Total Security in the Community
  • International Law: War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity
  • Crime Theories Differentiating Criminal Behavior
  • Comparing Different Indexes of Crimes
  • Anomie and Strain Crime Theories
  • Crime Theories: Shooting in Northwest Washington
  • White-Collar Crime Theories and Their Development
  • Robert Courtney’s Crime as Input to Business Regulation
  • Three-Strikes Law Ineffective in Crime Reduction
  • Violence, Security and Crime Prevention at School
  • Electronic Crimes and Federal Guidance in Regulation
  • Crimes in Biological, Psychological, Sociological Theories
  • Offenders’ Age and Anti-Black Hate Crimes
  • The Role of Location in Crime Fiction
  • Crimes Against Persons: Theory and Doctrine
  • Prohibition as a Cause of Increased Crimes Illegal Activity
  • Crime Prevention Approaches
  • White-Collar Crimes Causes
  • Processing a Crime Scene
  • Differences of Crime Perception in North Jersey
  • Children as Victims of Crime
  • Crime Prevention and Risk Management
  • Crime Data: Collection and Analysis Tools
  • Crime Rates of Sex Crimes and Firearm Violence
  • Hate Crimes in Modern Society
  • Organized Crime in the Balkans
  • Compliance Impact on Financial Crimes
  • Marijuana Crime in California State and Federal Courts
  • Digital Crime Causes and Theories
  • Pink-Collar Criminal: Gender in White-Collar Crime
  • Nanjing Massacre as Japan’s Denied War Crime
  • Gender and Crime Correlation in Strain Theory
  • Crime Scene Investigation: Principles and Process
  • ”Crime and Justice in the United States” by Bohm & Haley
  • Crime Television Series: “Al Fin Cayó!”
  • Internet Crime Prevention by Law and E-Business
  • Hate Crimes and Anti-Discrimination Laws
  • Crime Scene Investigation Stages and Protocols
  • Race, Ethnicity and Crime in America
  • White Collar Crimes Focus
  • Raskolnikov’s Crime in Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment”
  • Shoe Impression at a Crime Scene
  • Crime Causation and Diversion in the Florida State
  • Identity Theft Crimes in the United States
  • Violent Crimes Classification in the United States
  • Abortion as a Crime and the Fight Against It
  • Fort Lauderdale’s Law Enforcement and Crime Rates
  • Conflict Criminology and Crime Causation Theories
  • Cyber Law: Intellectual Property Crimes
  • Hate Crimes and the Law Discussion
  • Criminological Theories and American Crime Trends
  • Classical Criminology and Present Day Crime
  • Hughesville’s Environmental Design in Crime Prevention
  • Hans Von Hentig’s Approach to Crime
  • Incarceration Rates, Crime Rates, Public Safety
  • Law Enforcement’s Response on Hate Crimes
  • Insight into Hate Crimes: Who Is the Victim?
  • The Historical Investigation – Robert Salmon’s Crime
  • Economic Crime & Global Impact: Money Laundering
  • The Enron Company’s Ethical Crimes
  • American Mafia: Crime Prevention and Prosecution
  • Syrian War Crimes and International Criminal Court
  • Minorities, Immigrants, and Crime Prejudice
  • Victims of Crime Act and Crime Victims Fund
  • Cyberspace: Statistics, Policy, and Crimes
  • Crimes Classification in American Criminal Law
  • The Drug Effect: Health, Crime and Society
  • Social Deviance and Crime Organizations
  • Nature of Crime in the UAE
  • Organ Trade: Legal Position and Crime
  • The Debate Over Recent Recorded Crime in Turkey
  • Crime as a Sociological Problem
  • Technologically-Aided Crime Analysis
  • How to Stop Internet Crime?
  • Singapore’s Cyber Crime Scene
  • Organized Crime in Japan and the US
  • Crimes: Identity Theft in America
  • Home Depot Company’s E-Commerce Crime Case
  • CSI Effect: Crime-Related Shows and Judicial System
  • Punitive Versus Therapeutic Crime Management
  • Internet Crimes: Cyberstalking
  • Assault: Historical Common Law and Current Statute
  • Crime Issues: Objectives of Punishment and Sentencing
  • Controlling Organized Crime
  • Criminology: Prisons Impact on Crime Rates
  • Criminal Concepts Differentiation
  • Crime in Chicago: Witnesses Go Silent
  • Cyber-Crime – New Ways to Steal Identity and Money
  • Hate Crime Among Juveniles
  • The Extent of Crime in Urban Settings
  • Luka Magnotta and His Crime
  • Education Policy and Crime Reduction: USA/Africa Comparability Study
  • Patterns at Crime Scenes
  • Effects of Transnational Organized Crime on Foreign Politics
  • Transnational Organized Crime
  • Criminal Justice System Role in Curbing Crime Rates
  • The National Crime Victims Right Movement Media Strategy
  • Corporate White Collar Crime Analysis
  • Final Program Evaluation: Increasing Police Numbers to Reduce Juvenile Crime in the UAE
  • Increase Police Numbers to Reduce UAE’s Juvenile Crime Rate
  • Transnational Organized Crime: Prevalence, Factors and Impacts
  • Crimes, Homelessness, Mental Disorders
  • Analyzing Graffiti as a Crime
  • Social Criticism Work in the Scandinavian Crime Fiction Novels
  • Transnational Organized Crime Network: Definition and Aspects
  • Crime and Victimization in the US
  • “Hana-B” a Crime Drama Film by Takeshi Kitano
  • Corporate Crime – BP Oil Spill
  • Ethics in Technology: Cyber Crimes
  • The Effect of Marriage on Crime Rate
  • Crime & The Media
  • Can Genetics Cause Crime?
  • Are the Laws Propagating Crime?
  • When Was the First True Crime?
  • Does Capital Punishment Deter Crime?
  • Does Crime and Violence Affect the Tourism Industry?
  • Does Drug Use Cause Crime or Does Crime Cause Drug Use?
  • Does Marriage Reduce Crime?
  • What’s the Origin of Crime?
  • Does Social Deprivation Relate to Crime?
  • Why People Commit Crime?
  • Why Crime Rates Will Drop?
  • What Are the Social Causes of Youth Crime?
  • What Causes High Crime Rate?
  • What Are the Proper Steps in a Crime Investigation?
  • What Are the Psychological Causes of Crime?
  • What Are the Causes of Youth Crime in the UK?
  • What Are the Major Problems with Regard to the Collection of Crime Statistics?
  • How Accurate Are Official Crime Statistics?
  • What Is the First: Crime or Law?
  • How Did American White Collar Crime Transform?
  • What Are the Seven Elements of a Crime?
  • How Does Globalization Impact on Crime and Victimisation?
  • How Can Crime Best Be Measured?
  • Why Does Crime Change over Time?
  • How Crime and Deviance Can Be Seen as Functional for Society?
  • Computer Forensics Essay Topics
  • Drug Trafficking Research Topics
  • Crime Prevention Research Topics
  • Organized Crime Titles
  • Crime and Punishment Titles
  • Mass Incarceration Essay Topics
  • Criminal Procedure Titles
  • Cheating Questions
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

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101 Standout Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas

An argumentative essay is just what it sounds like: an essay where you argue. You pick a topic, take a stance, research information to support your opinion, state your claims, and voilà! You’ve got your essay.

Choose a topic that is debatable. You need to present your own personal stance but also discuss an opposing point of view. If the topic is too universally agreed upon, it won’t work.

As simple as that may sound, writing a persuasive essay can be quite difficult for even very experienced writers. It takes excellent organization and planning to clearly address your thoughts and requires stellar research skills to find valid arguments that support your claim.

But before you can state your case, you first need to come up with the topic you’re going to argue about.

How to Choose a Topic for an Argumentative Essay

When you choose a topic for an argumentative essay, it’s important to keep these tips in mind:

  • Your topic must be debatable. Duh... this seems obvious, but it’s worth stating. You need a topic that has (at least) two sides. Choosing a topic such as Puerto Rico is My Favorite Place is not really debatable. However, picking a topic like Puerto Rico Should Become the 51st State to Join the United States is something arguable. Some people agree with this statement, and others do not. There are pros and cons that can be discussed. ‍
  • Write about what people are talking about. Watch the news. Browse the internet. It’s more engaging to write about something that’s relevant right now. For example, if you keep hearing a lot about immigration, you might choose a topic such as America Should Close Its Borders . Or if you read a lot about standardized testing in schools, you can create a topic like Colleges Should Eliminate Standardized Testing From Their Application Process . When a topic is current and intriguing, it makes for a more interesting essay. ‍
  • Reflect on your interests. It’s always better to write about something for which you have a passion. If you love video games, you could write a persuasive essay such as Video Gaming is Healthy for Teens . If you’re passionate about sports, you could cover something like College Athletes Deserve to Be Paid . Researching and writing an argumentative essay takes quite a bit of time, so you should pick a topic you’re fascinated by to make the process a little less painless.

Forming General Arguments

To test whether or not the prompt you have in mind is up to snuff for an entire essay, you can test it out by putting it in a general argument.

Pick the topic you’re thinking about and see if it works as a two-sided debate in any of the following formats:

  • Is…effective? Productive? Helpful? Worth it? (i.e. Is school choice effective?)
  • Is…hurtful? Harmful? Wasteful? (i.e. Is fracking harmful to the environment?)
  • …should be allowed for… (i.e. Alcohol should be allowed for all people who are 18 and older. )
  • …should be forbidden for… (i.e. Football should be forbidden for children under the age of ten .)

If you can make a topic from any of these, you’re ready at this point to start outlining your essay . If not, you need to find a more specific starting point.

To see if your topic has enough depth to fill up a full essay assignment, try putting it into a general argument. This will help you determine if the prompt you have in mind is truly debatable.

Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas

Need some ideas to help you choose a topic? This list will get you started.

Note that these are listed as questions so you can take your own stance. For example, Should everyone have free healthcare? gives you at least two possible topics depending on your point of view: Everyone is Entitled to Free Healthcare vs. It is Not the Government’s Responsibility to Provide Healthcare for Everyone .

Laws & Policies

  • Should the drinking age be lowered/raised?
  • Should military participation be mandatory for all citizens?
  • Should all Americans be required to speak English fluently?
  • Should Americans be required to speak Spanish?
  • Should teachers be armed?
  • Should gun control laws be stricter?
  • Should the military age be lowered/raised?
  • Should there be limits to free speech?
  • Should marijuana be legal?
  • Should the internet be censored?
  • Are gun control laws too strict?
  • Should people of the same sex be allowed to marry each other?
  • Should abortion be legal?
  • Should laws be grounded in religion?
  • Should churches be tax-free institutions?
  • Should the voting age be lowered/raised?
  • Should felons have the right to vote?
  • Should the electoral college still exist?
  • Should Puerto Rico become a state?
  • Should all politicians have term limits?
  • Should everyone have free healthcare?
  • Should social security be privatized?
  • Should the United States build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico?
  • Should the minimum wage be raised?
  • Should wealthier citizens pay more taxes?
  • Should the use of the penny be eliminated?
  • Should every citizen be required to vote?
  • Is life better now than it was X years ago?
  • Who is the greatest president of all time?
  • Who is the most ethical/moral politician that has ever served?
  • Is globalization a good thing?
  • How can governments prevent World War 3?
  • Is democracy the best form of government?
  • Are teenagers now smarter than teenagers of past generations?
  • Does revolution result in real change?
  • Should the U.S. get involved with other countries’ wars?
  • Should cursive writing be taught in schools?
  • Should students have to wear school uniforms?
  • Should all students have free college tuition?
  • Should teachers be paid more?
  • Should K–12 school selection be based on where you live?
  • Should all students be required to study abroad?
  • Should year-round schooling be mandatory?
  • Should high school start times be later?
  • Should everyone be required to learn a foreign language?
  • Should schools have mandatory metal detectors and security guards?
  • Is standardized testing fair?
  • Should prayer be allowed in school?
  • Should sex education be required for all students?
  • Are single-sex schools more effective?
  • Should students be required to take a year off before starting college?

Science & Technology

  • Should we invest in space travel?
  • Are nuclear weapons helping make the world safe?
  • Are video games harmful?
  • Do video games cause children to be violent?
  • Does screen time have an effect on a child’s social behavior?
  • Should animals be used to test new products?
  • Has technology helped or hurt society?
  • Does technology make life easier?
  • Are online relationships legitimate?
  • Is cloning ethical?
  • How can we best fight against the obesity epidemic?
  • Should smoking be illegal?
  • Should energy drinks be banned?
  • Are diets helpful?
  • Is technology making healthcare more/less personal?
  • Should schools offer healthier food choices?
  • Should doctor-assisted suicide exist?
  • Should unhealthy foods and beverages be taxed at a higher rate?
  • Should physical education be mandatory for everyone?
  • Should recycling be mandatory?
  • Should every household have a trash limit?
  • Should people eat vegan to help save the environment?
  • Should tax money be used to save endangered species?
  • Should cars be outlawed in cities?
  • Should plastic straws and bags be banned worldwide?
  • Should there be limits on water usage?
  • Should solar and wind power be used more often than other energies?
  • Should college athletes be paid?
  • Should players have to stand for the National Anthem?
  • Do athletes have a responsibility to be role models?
  • Who is the greatest athlete of all time?
  • Is football too dangerous for young athletes?
  • Should sports betting be illegal?
  • Does playing a sport help build character in young children?
  • Should professional sports have cheerleaders?

Pop Culture & the Arts

  • Should beauty contests be terminated?
  • Should artwork be censored?
  • Do celebrities have responsibilities to be role models?
  • Is social media helpful or hurtful?
  • Do television shows accurately represent current American lifestyles?
  • Should music be censored?
  • Should people live together before marriage?
  • Should children be put in the spotlight at a young age?
  • Does money lead to happiness?
  • Should the death penalty be abolished?
  • Is there any time when breaking the law is okay?
  • Is money the root of all evil?
  • Are we responsible for other people or only for ourselves?
  • Do the ends justify the means of any action?
  • Can people ever change who they are?

Once you have chosen a topic that is relevant, debatable, and worth discussing, you are free to begin organizing your argumentative essay. Outline your opinion, do some research, and get started!

How to Write Essay Titles and Headers

Don’t overlook the title and section headers when putting together your next writing assignment. Follow these pointers for keeping your writing organized and effective.

Need a topic for your upcoming argumentative essay? We've got 100 helpful prompts to help you get kickstarted on your next writing assignment.

Writing a Standout College Admissions Essay

Your personal statement is arguably the most important part of your college application. Follow these guidelines for an exceptional admissions essay.

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50 Argumentative Essay Topics for Students

50 Argumentative Essay Topics for Students

4-minute read

  • 11th June 2022

The goal of an argumentative essay is to persuade the reader to understand and support your position on an issue by presenting your reasoning along with supporting evidence. It’s important to find the right balance between giving your opinions and presenting established research.

These essays discuss issues around a range of topics, including science, technology, politics, and healthcare. Whether you’re a teacher looking for essay topics for your students or a student tasked with developing an idea of your own, we’ve compiled a list of 50 argumentative essay topics to help you get started!

●  Does texting hinder interpersonal communication skills?

●  Should there be laws against using devices while driving?

●  Do violent video games teach or encourage people to behave violently?

●  Should social media sites be allowed to collect users’ data?

●  Should parents limit how long their children spend in front of screens?

●  Is AI helping or hurting society?

●  Should cyber-bullying carry legal consequences?

●  Should Supreme Court justices be elected?

●  Is war always a political decision?

●  Should people join a political party?

●  Is capitalism ethical?

●  Is the electoral college an effective system?

●  Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

●  Should the death penalty be legal?

●  Are governments around the world doing enough to combat global warming?

●  Is healthcare a fundamental human right?

●  Should vaccinations be mandated for children?

●  Are there any circumstances under which physician-assisted suicides should be legal?

●  Should parents be able to choose specific genetic modifications of their future children?

●  Should abortion be legal?

●  Is it ethical to perform medical experiments on animals?

●  Should patients who lead unhealthy lifestyles be denied organ transplants?

●  Should doctors be able to provide medical care to children against their parents’ wishes?

Mental Healthcare

●  What causes the stigma around mental health?

●  Discuss the link between insufficient access to mental health services and the high suicide rates among veterans.

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●  Should cannabis be used as a treatment for patients with mental disorders?

●  Is there a link between social media use and mental disorders?

●  Discuss the effect of physical activity on mental health.

●  Should sports be segregated by gender?

●  Should male and female athletes be given the same pay and opportunities?

●  Are professional athletes overpaid?

●  Should college athletes be paid?

●  Should sports betting be legal?

●  Should online access to art such as music be free?

●  Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?

●  Are there any circumstances under which books should be banned?

●  Should schools be required to offer art courses?

●  Is art necessary to society?

●  Should schools require uniforms?

●  Should reciting the Pledge of Allegiance be required in schools?

●  Do standardized tests effectively measure intelligence?

●  Should high school students take a gap year before pursuing higher education?

●  Should higher education be free?

●  Is there too much pressure on high school students to attend college?

●  Are children better off in two-parent households?

●  Should LGBTQ+ partners be allowed to adopt?

●  Should single people be able to adopt children as easily as couples?

●  Is it okay for parents to physically discipline their children?

●  Does helicopter parenting help or hurt children?

●  Should parents monitor their children’s Internet use?

Proofreading & Editing

An argument could also be made for the importance of proofreading your essay ! The reader can focus more on your message when your writing is clear, concise, and error-free, and they won’t question whether you’re knowledgeable on the issues you’re presenting. Once you have a draft ready, you can submit a free trial document to start working with our expert editors!

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160 Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Students in 2024

April 3, 2024

The skill of writing an excellent argumentative essay is a crucial one for every high school or college student to master. In sum, argumentative essays teach students how to organize their thoughts logically and present them in a convincing way. This skill is helpful not only for those pursuing degrees in law , international relations , or public policy , but for any student who wishes to develop their critical thinking faculties. In this article, we’ll cover what makes a good argument essay and offer several argumentative essay topics for high school and college students. Let’s begin!

What is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses research to present a reasoned argument on a particular subject . As with the persuasive essay , the purpose of an argumentative essay is to sway the reader to the writer’s position. However, a strong persuasive essay makes its point through diligent research and emotion while a strong argumentative essay should be based solely on facts, not feelings.

Moreover, each fact should be supported by clear evidence from credible sources . Furthermore, a good argumentative essay will have an easy-to-follow structure. When organizing your argumentative essay, use this format as a guide:

  • Introduction
  • Supporting body paragraphs
  • Paragraph(s) addressing common counterarguments

Argumentative Essay Format

In the introduction , the writer presents their position and thesis statement —a sentence that summarizes the paper’s main points. The body paragraphs then draw upon supporting evidence to back up this initial statement, with each paragraph focusing on its own point. The length of your paper will determine the amount of examples you need. In general, you’ll likely need at least two to three. Additionally, your examples should be as detailed as possible, citing specific research, case studies, statistics, or anecdotes.

In the counterargument paragraph , the writer acknowledges and refutes opposing viewpoints. Finally, in the conclusion , the writer restates the main argument made in the thesis statement and summarizes the points of the essay. Additionally, the conclusion may offer a final proposal to persuade the reader of the essay’s position.

How to Write an Effective Argumentative Essay, Step by Step

  • Choose your topic. Use the list below to help you pick a topic. Ideally, a good argumentative essay topic will be meaningful to you—writing is always stronger when you are interested in the subject matter. In addition, the topic should be complex with plenty of “pro” and “con” arguments. Avoid choosing a topic that is either widely accepted as fact or too narrow. For example, “Is the earth round?” would not be a solid choice.
  • Research. Use the library, the web, and any other resources to gather information about your argumentative essay topic. Research widely but smartly. As you go, take organized notes, marking the source of every quote and where it may fit in the scheme of your larger essay. Moreover, remember to look for (and research) possible counterarguments.
  • Outline . Using the argument essay format above, create an outline for your essay. Then, brainstorm a thesis statement covering your argument’s main points, and begin to put your examples in order, focusing on logical flow. It’s often best to place your strongest example last.
  • Write . Draw on your research and outline to create a first draft. Remember, your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. (As Voltaire says, “Perfect is the enemy of good.”) Accordingly, just focus on getting the words down on paper.
  • Does my thesis statement need to be adjusted?
  • Which examples feel strongest? Weakest?
  • Do the transitions flow smoothly?
  • Do I have a strong opening paragraph?
  • Does the conclusion reinforce my argument?

Tips for Revising an Argument Essay

Evaluating your own work can be difficult, so you might consider the following strategies:

  • Read your work aloud to yourself.
  • Record yourself reading your paper, and listen to the recording.
  • Reverse outline your paper. Firstly, next to each paragraph, write a short summary of that paragraph’s main points/idea. Then, read through your reverse outline. Does it have a logical flow? If not, where should you adjust?
  • Print out your paper and cut it into paragraphs. What happens when you rearrange the paragraphs?

Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School, High School, and College Students

Family argumentative essay topics.

  • Should the government provide financial incentives for families to have children to address the declining birth rate?
  • Should we require parents to provide their children with a certain level of nutrition and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity?
  • Should parents implement limits on how much time their children spend playing video games?
  • Should cell phones be banned from family/holiday gatherings?
  • Should we hold parents legally responsible for their children’s actions?
  • Should children have the right to sue their parents for neglect?
  • Should parents have the right to choose their child’s religion?
  • Are spanking and other forms of physical punishment an effective method of discipline?
  • Should courts allow children to choose where they live in cases of divorce?
  • Should parents have the right to monitor teens’ activity on social media?
  • Should parents control their child’s medical treatment, even if it goes against the child’s wishes?
  • Should parents be allowed to post pictures of their children on social media without their consent?
  • Should fathers have a legal say in whether their partners do or do not receive an abortion?
  • Can television have positive developmental benefits on children?
  • Should the driving age be raised to prevent teen car accidents?
  • Should adult children be legally required to care for their aging parents?

Education Argument Essay Topics

  • Should schools ban the use of technology like ChatGPT?
  • Are zoos unethical, or necessary for conservation and education?
  • To what degree should we hold parents responsible in the event of a school shooting?
  • Should schools offer students a set number of mental health days?
  • Should school science curriculums offer a course on combating climate change?
  • Should public libraries be allowed to ban certain books? If so, what types?
  • What role, if any, should prayer play in public schools?
  • Should schools push to abolish homework?
  • Are gifted and talented programs in schools more harmful than beneficial due to their exclusionary nature?
  • Should universities do away with Greek life?
  • Should schools remove artwork, such as murals, that some perceive as offensive?
  • Should the government grant parents the right to choose alternative education options for their children and use taxpayer funds to support these options?
  • Is homeschooling better than traditional schooling for children’s academic and social development?
  • Should we require schools to teach sex education to reduce teen pregnancy rates?
  • Should we require schools to provide sex education that includes information about both homosexual and heterosexual relationships?
  • Should colleges use affirmative action and other race-conscious policies to address diversity on campus?
  • Should public schools remove the line “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance?
  • Should college admissions officers be allowed to look at students’ social media accounts?
  • Should schools abolish their dress codes, many of which unfairly target girls, LGBTQ students, and students of color?
  • Should schools be required to stock free period products in bathrooms?
  • Should legacy students receive preferential treatment during the college admissions process?
  • Are school “voluntourism” trips ethical?

Government Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should the U.S. decriminalize prostitution?
  • Should the U.S. issue migration visas to all eligible applicants?
  • Should the federal government cancel all student loan debt?
  • Should we lower the minimum voting age? If so, to what?
  • Should the federal government abolish all laws penalizing drug production and use?
  • Should the U.S. use its military power to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan?
  • Should the U.S. supply Ukraine with further military intelligence and supplies?
  • Should the North and South of the U.S. split up into two regions?
  • Should Americans hold up nationalism as a critical value?
  • Should we permit Supreme Court justices to hold their positions indefinitely?
  • Should Supreme Court justices be democratically elected?
  • Is the Electoral College still a productive approach to electing the U.S. president?
  • Should the U.S. implement a national firearm registry?
  • Is it ethical for countries like China and Israel to mandate compulsory military service for all citizens?
  • Should the U.S. government implement a ranked-choice voting system?
  • Should institutions that benefited from slavery be required to provide reparations?
  • Based on the 1619 project, should history classes change how they teach about the founding of the U.S.?
  • Should term limits be imposed on Senators and Representatives? If so, how long?
  • Should women be allowed into special forces units?
  • Should the federal government implement stronger, universal firearm licensing laws?
  • Do public sex offender registries help prevent future sex crimes?
  • Should the government be allowed to regulate family size?
  • Should all adults legally be considered mandated reporters?
  • Should the government fund public universities to make higher education more accessible to low-income students?
  • Should the government fund universal preschool to improve children’s readiness for kindergarten?

Health/Bioethics Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should the U.S. government offer its own healthcare plan?
  • In the case of highly infectious pandemics, should we focus on individual freedoms or public safety when implementing policies to control the spread?
  • Should we legally require parents to vaccinate their children to protect public health?
  • Is it ethical for parents to use genetic engineering to create “designer babies” with specific physical and intellectual traits?
  • Should the government fund research on embryonic stem cells for medical treatments?
  • Should the government legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill patients?
  • Should organ donation be mandatory?
  • Is cloning animals ethical?
  • Should cancer screenings start earlier? If so, what age?
  • Is surrogacy ethical?
  • Should birth control require a prescription?
  • Should minors have access to emergency contraception?
  • Should hospitals be for-profit or nonprofit institutions?

Good Argumentative Essay Topics — Continued

Social media argumentative essay topics.

  • Should the federal government increase its efforts to minimize the negative impact of social media?
  • Do social media and smartphones strengthen one’s relationships?
  • Should antitrust regulators take action to limit the size of big tech companies?
  • Should social media platforms ban political advertisements?
  • Should the federal government hold social media companies accountable for instances of hate speech discovered on their platforms?
  • Do apps such as TikTok and Instagram ultimately worsen the mental well-being of teenagers?
  • Should governments oversee how social media platforms manage their users’ data?
  • Should social media platforms like Facebook enforce a minimum age requirement for users?
  • Should social media companies be held responsible for cases of cyberbullying?
  • Should the United States ban TikTok?
  • Is social media harmful to children?
  • Should employers screen applicants’ social media accounts during the hiring process?

Religion Argument Essay Topics

  • Should religious institutions be tax-exempt?
  • Should religious symbols such as the hijab or crucifix be allowed in public spaces?
  • Should religious freedoms be protected, even when they conflict with secular laws?
  • Should the government regulate religious practices?
  • Should we allow churches to engage in political activities?
  • Religion: a force for good or evil in the world?
  • Should the government provide funding for religious schools?
  • Is it ethical for healthcare providers to deny abortions based on religious beliefs?
  • Should religious organizations be allowed to discriminate in their hiring practices?
  • Should we allow people to opt out of medical treatments based on their religious beliefs?
  • Should the U.S. government hold religious organizations accountable for cases of sexual abuse within their community?
  • Should religious beliefs be exempt from anti-discrimination laws?
  • Should religious individuals be allowed to refuse services to others based on their beliefs or lifestyles? (As in this famous case .)
  • Should the US ban religion-based federal holidays?
  • Should public schools be allowed to teach children about religious holidays?

Science Argument Essay Topics

  • Would the world be safer if we eliminated nuclear weapons?
  • Should scientists bring back extinct animals? If so, which ones?
  • Should we hold companies fiscally responsible for their carbon footprint?
  • Should we ban pesticides in favor of organic farming methods?
  • Should the federal government ban all fossil fuels, despite the potential economic impact on specific industries and communities?
  • What renewable energy source should the U.S. invest more money in?
  • Should the FDA outlaw GMOs?
  • Should we worry about artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence?
  • Should the alternative medicine industry be more stringently regulated?
  • Is colonizing Mars a viable option?
  • Is the animal testing worth the potential to save human lives?

Sports Argument Essay Topics

  • Should colleges compensate student-athletes?
  • How should sports teams and leagues address the gender pay gap?
  • Should youth sports teams do away with scorekeeping?
  • Should we ban aggressive contact sports like boxing and MMA?
  • Should professional sports associations mandate that athletes stand during the national anthem?
  • Should high schools require their student-athletes to maintain a certain GPA?
  • Should transgender athletes compete in sports according to their gender identity?
  • Should schools ban football due to the inherent danger it poses to players?
  • Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in sports?
  • Do participation trophies foster entitlement and unrealistic expectations?
  • Should sports teams be divided by gender?
  • Should professional athletes be allowed to compete in the Olympics?
  • Should women be allowed on NFL teams?

Technology Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should sites like DALL-E compensate the artists whose work it was trained on?
  • Should the federal government make human exploration of space a more significant priority?
  • Is it ethical for the government to use surveillance technology to monitor citizens?
  • Should websites require proof of age from their users? If so, what age?
  • Should we consider A.I.-generated images and text pieces of art?
  • Does the use of facial recognition technology violate individuals’ privacy?
  • Is online learning as effective as in-person learning?
  • Does computing harm the environment?
  • Should buying, sharing, and selling collected personal data be illegal?
  • Are electric cars really better for the environment?
  • Should car companies be held responsible for self-driving car accidents?
  • Should private jets be banned?
  • Do violent video games contribute to real-life violence?

Business Argument Essay Topics

  • Should the U.S. government phase out the use of paper money in favor of a fully digital currency system?
  • Should the federal government abolish its patent and copyright laws?
  • Should we replace the Federal Reserve with free-market institutions?
  • Is free-market ideology responsible for the U.S. economy’s poor performance over the past decade?
  • Will cryptocurrencies overtake natural resources like gold and silver?
  • Is capitalism the best economic system? What system would be better?
  • Should the U.S. government enact a universal basic income?
  • Should we require companies to provide paid parental leave to their employees?
  • Should the government raise the minimum wage? If so, to what?
  • Should antitrust regulators break up large companies to promote competition?
  • Is it ethical for companies to prioritize profits over social responsibility?
  • Should gig-economy workers like Uber and Lyft drivers be considered employees or independent contractors?
  • Should the federal government regulate the gig economy to ensure fair treatment of workers?
  • Should the government require companies to disclose the environmental impact of their products?
  • Should companies be allowed to fire employees based on political views or activities?
  • Should tipping practices be phased out?
  • Should employees who choose not to have children be given the same amount of paid leave as parents?
  • Should MLMs (multi-level marketing companies) be illegal?
  • Should employers be allowed to factor tattoos and personal appearance into hiring decisions?

In Conclusion – Argument Essay Topics

Using the tips above, you can effectively structure and pen a compelling argumentative essay that will wow your instructor and classmates. Remember to craft a thesis statement that offers readers a roadmap through your essay, draw on your sources wisely to back up any claims, and read through your paper several times before it’s due to catch any last-minute proofreading errors. With time, diligence, and patience, your essay will be the most outstanding assignment you’ve ever turned in…until the next one rolls around.

Looking for more fresh and engaging topics for use in the classroom? You might consider checking out the following:

  • 125 Good Debate Topics for High School Students
  • 150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics
  • 7 Best Places to Study
  • Guide to the IB Extended Essay
  • How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay
  • AP Lit Reading List
  • How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay
  • 49 Most Interesting Biology Research Topics
  • High School Success

Lauren Green

With a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Columbia University and an MFA in Fiction from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin, Lauren has been a professional writer for over a decade. She is the author of the chapbook  A Great Dark House  (Poetry Society of America, 2023) and a forthcoming novel (Viking/Penguin).

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50 Argumentative Essay Topics

Illustration by Catherine Song. ThoughtCo. 

  • M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
  • B.A., History, Armstrong State University

An argumentative essay requires you to decide on a topic and argue for or against it. You'll need to back up your viewpoint with well-researched facts and information as well. One of the hardest parts is deciding which topic to write about, but there are plenty of ideas available to get you started. Then you need to take a position, do some research, and present your viewpoint convincingly.

Choosing a Great Argumentative Essay Topic

Students often find that most of their work on these essays is done before they even start writing. This means that it's best if you have a general interest in your subject. Otherwise, you might get bored or frustrated while trying to gather information. You don't need to know everything, though; part of what makes this experience rewarding is learning something new.

It's best if you have a general interest in your subject, but the argument you choose doesn't have to be one that you agree with.

The subject you choose may not necessarily be one you are in full agreement with, either. You may even be asked to write a paper from the opposing point of view. Researching a different viewpoint helps students broaden their perspectives. 

Ideas for Argument Essays

Sometimes, the best ideas are sparked by looking at many different options. Explore this list of possible topics and see if a few pique your interest. Write those down as you come across them, then think about each for a few minutes.

Which would you enjoy researching? Do you have a firm position on a particular subject? Is there a point you would like to make sure you get across? Did the topic give you something new to think about? Can you see why someone else may feel differently?

List of 50 Possible Argumentative Essay Topics

A number of these topics are rather controversial—that's the point. In an argumentative essay , opinions matter, and controversy is based on opinions. Just make sure your opinions are backed up by facts in the essay.   If these topics are a little too controversial or you don't find the right one for you, try browsing through persuasive essay and speech topics  as well.

  • Is global climate change  caused by humans?
  • Is the death penalty effective?
  • Is the U.S. election process fair?
  • Is torture ever acceptable?
  • Should men get paternity leave from work?
  • Are school uniforms beneficial?
  • Does the U.S. have a fair tax system?
  • Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
  • Is cheating out of control?
  • Are we too dependent on computers?
  • Should animals be used for research?
  • Should cigarette smoking be banned?
  • Are cell phones dangerous?
  • Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?
  • Do we have a throwaway society ?
  • Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?
  • Should companies market to children?
  • Should the government have a say in our diets?
  • Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?
  • Should members of Congress have term limits?
  • Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
  • Are CEOs paid too much?
  • Should athletes be held to high moral standards?
  • Do violent video games cause behavior problems?
  • Should creationism be taught in public schools?
  • Are beauty pageants exploitative ?
  • Should English be the official language of the United States?
  • Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?
  • Should the alcohol-drinking age be increased or decreased?
  • Should everyone be required to recycle?
  • Is it okay for prisoners to vote (as they are in some states)?
  • Should same-sex marriage be legalized in more countries?
  • Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school ?
  • Does boredom lead to trouble?
  • Should schools be in session year-round ?
  • Does religion cause war?
  • Should the government provide health care?
  • Should abortion be illegal?
  • Should more companies expand their reproductive health benefits for employees?
  • Is homework harmful or helpful?
  • Is the cost of college too high?
  • Is college admission too competitive?
  • Should euthanasia be illegal?
  • Should the federal government legalize marijuana use nationally ?
  • Should rich people be required to pay more taxes?
  • Should schools require foreign language or physical education?
  • Is affirmative action fair?
  • Is public prayer okay in schools?
  • Are schools and teachers responsible for low test scores?
  • Is greater gun control a good idea?

How to Craft a Persuasive Argument

After you've decided on your essay topic, gather evidence to make your argument as strong as possible. Your research could even help shape the position your essay ultimately takes. As you craft your essay, remember to utilize persuasive writing techniques , such as invoking emotional language or citing facts from authoritative figures. 

  • 100 Persuasive Essay Topics
  • Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs
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  • Tips on How to Write an Argumentative Essay
  • 501 Topic Suggestions for Writing Essays and Speeches
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  • Personal Essay Topics
  • Share full article

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If you’ve taught argument writing with our resources in the past, you already know we ask a fresh question every day as part of our long-running Student Opinion series . Teenagers around the world are invited to visit and post their thoughts on topics including politics, medical ethics, fashion, sports and entertainment.

We’ve rounded up lists of these prompts in the past, but this year we’re doing something new: Below you can find a categorized collection of all our recent, relevant Student Opinion questions, but alongside them we’re also including related Picture Prompts. These short, image-based forums are accessible to learners of all ages, but still provide engaging jumping-off points to help students make and support claims.

For instance, let’s say your class is interested in meme culture. A Student Opinion question asks, “ Do Memes Make the Internet a Better Place? ” and invites students to read and weigh in on a New York Times article that examines the role of memes in how teenagers process world events. Over 700 students have already submitted their thoughts .

But if you scan the “Technology and Social Media” category below, you’ll see we also have a Picture Prompt that asks a more direct, concrete question: “ What are your favorite memes? ” For many, that may be a fun, comfortable place to start.

So give your students both “voice and choice” by inviting them to find the questions and format that speak to them. All the prompts below are still open for comment. We look forward to seeing which ones inspire the most passionate arguments, and we invite your class to submit the results to our Eighth Annual Editorial Contest .

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Debate Topics

Need to write an argumentative essay? Preparing for an upcoming debate? ProCon.org has over 100 topics complete with pro and con arguments, quotes and statistics from experts, historical information, and other pertinent research.

Abortion – Should abortion be legal?

Alternative Energy – Can alternative energy effectively replace fossil fuels?

American Socialism – Should the U.S. become socialist?

Animal Dissection – Should K-12 students dissect animals in science classrooms?

Animal Testing – Should animals be used for scientific or commercial testing?

Artificial Intelligence – Is artificial intelligence good for society?

Banned Books – Should parents or other adults be able to ban books from schools and libraries?

Binge-Watching – Is binge-watching good for you?

Cancel Culture – Is cancel culture (or callout culture) good for society?

CBD for Pets – Is CBD good for pets?

Cell Phone Radiation – Is cell phone radiation safe?

Cheerleading – Is cheerleading a sport?

Churches & Taxes – Should churches (including mosques, synagogues, etc.) remain tax-exempt?

College Education – Is a college education worth it?

Congressional Term Limits  – Should term limits be imposed on U.S. Senators and Representatives?

Constitutional Carry of Handguns – Should permitless, “constitutional carry” of guns be legal?

Corporal Punishment – Should corporal punishment be used in K-12 schools?

Corporate Tax Rate – Should the federal corporate income tax rate be raised?

Cuba Embargo – Should the United States maintain its embargo against Cuba?

DACA & Dreamers – Are DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and the DREAM Act good for America?

Daylight Saving Time – Should the United States keep daylight saving time?

DC AND Puerto Rico Statehood – Should Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico be granted U.S. statehood?

Death Penalty – Should the death penalty be legal?

Defund the Police – Should police departments be defunded, if not abolished?

Dress Codes – Should dress codes be implemented and enforced?

Drinking Age – Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age?

Drone Strikes – Should the United States continue its use of drone strikes abroad?

Drug Use in Sports – Should performance-enhancing drugs be accepted in sports?

Election Day National Holiday – Should the election day be made a national holiday?

Electoral College – Should the United States use the electoral college in presidential elections?

Employer Vaccine Mandates – Should employers be able to mandate vaccinations?

Felon Voting – Should people who have completed felony sentences be allowed to vote?

Fighting in Hockey – Should fighting be allowed in hockey?

Filibuster – Should the U.S. Senate keep the filibuster?

Fracking – Should the United States continue fracking

Free College – Should public college be tuition-free?

Fur Clothing Bans – Should fur clothing be banned?

GMOS – Should genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be grown?

Gold Standard – Should the United States return to a gold standard?

Golf – Is golf a sport and are golfers athletes?

Gun Control – Should more gun control laws be enacted?

Historic Statue Removal – Should historic statues be taken down?

Homework – Is homework beneficial?

Illegal Immigration – Should the U.S. government provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants?

Internet – Is the internet “making us stupid?”

Kneeling during the National Anthem – Is kneeling during the national anthem an appropriate form of protest?

Mandatory National Service – Should the United States have mandatory national service?

Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) – Should medical aid in dying be legal?

Medical Marijuana – Should medical marijuana be legal?

Milk – Should humans consume dairy milk?

Minimum Wage – Should the federal minimum wage be increased?

Net Neutrality – Should the U.S. have net neutrality laws?

Obesity – Is obesity a disease?

Olympics – Are the Olympic games an overall benefit for their host countries and cities?

OTC Birth Control Pills – Should birth control pills be available over-the-counter (OTC)?

Penny – Should the penny stay in circulation?

Pit Bull Bans – Should breed-specific legislation (“pit bull bans”) be enacted?

Pokémon – Is Pokémon Go good for our society?

Police Body Cameras – Should police officers wear body cameras?

Prescription Drug Costs – Should the U.S. federal government regulate prescription drug prices?

Presidential Election, 2024 – 2024 Presidential Election Site

Private Prisons – Should prisons be privatized?

Recreational Marijuana – Should recreational marijuana be legal?

Reparations for Slavery – Should the federal government pay reparations to the descendants of slaves?

Right to Healthcare – Should all Americans have the right (be entitled) to health care?

Sanctuary Cities – Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?

Santa Claus – Is there really a Santa Claus?

Saturday Halloween – Should Halloween be moved permanently to Saturday?

School Uniforms – Should students have to wear school uniforms?

Single-use Plastics Ban – Should single-use plastics be banned?

Social Media & Digital Addiction – Does social media spur digital addiction and other social ills?

Social Security Privatization – Should social security be privatized?

Space Colonization – Should humans colonize space?

Standardized Tests – Do standardized tests improve education in America?

Student Loan Debt – Should student loan debt be eliminated via forgiveness or bankruptcy?

TikTok Bans – Should TikTok be banned?

Uber & Lyft – Are ride-sharing companies a benefit to society?

Universal Basic Income (UBI) – Should the United States implement a universal basic income?

U.S. Supreme Court Packing – Should packing the U.S. Supreme Court ever be considered?

Vaccines for Kids – Should states be allowed to mandate vaccines for school attendance??

Vaping E-Cigarettes – Is vaping e-cigarettes safe?

Vegetarianism – Should people become vegetarian?

Video Games & Violence – Do violent video games contribute to youth violence?

Voting Age – Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

Voting Machines – Are electronic voting machines the best method for voting?

Zoos – Should zoos exist?

Archived Topics

Please note that ProCon no longer updates these debates.

ACLU – Is the ACLU good for America?

Big Three Bailout – Should the big three car manufacturers be bailed out by the U.S. government?

Born Gay – Is sexual orientation determined at birth?

Climate Change – Is human activity primarily responsible for global climate change?

College Football Playoffs – Should college football replace the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) with a playoff system?

Dakota Access Pipeline – Should the Dakota Access Pipeline be completed?

D.A.R.E. – Is the D.A.R.E. program good for America’s kids (K-12)?

Gay Marriage – Should gay marriage be legal?

Congressional Insider Trading – Should insider trading by Congress be allowed?

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – What are the solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Obamacare – Is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) good for America?

Paying College Athletes – Should colleges and universities pay college athletes?

President Bill Clinton – Was Bill Clinton a good president?

President Ronald Reagan – Was Ronald Reagan a good president?

Presidential Election, 2008 – Which candidate would make the best U.S. president?

Presidential Election, 2012 – Which candidate should be U.S. president in 2012?

Presidential Election, 2016 – The candidates and where they stand on the issues

Presidential Election, 2020 – 2020 Presidential Election Site

Prostitution – Should prostitution be legal?

School Vouchers – Should states have school voucher programs?

Tablets v. Textbooks -Should tablets replace textbooks in K-12 schools?

Teacher Tenure – Should teachers get tenure?

Under God in the Pledge – Should the words “under god” be in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance?

U.S. Drone Shot down by Iran – Was the U.S. drone shot down by Iran over international waters?

U.S.-Iraq War – Should the U.S. have attacked Iraq?

WTC Muslim Center – Is it appropriate to build a muslim community center (aka the ”ground zero mosque”) near the World Trade Center site?

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Natalie Leppard Managing Editor [email protected]

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Argumentative Essay Topics, Examples, and Free Ideas

How to choose an argumentative essay topic.

Many students experience anxiety when it comes time to choose a topic for an assignment, and that is perfectly normal! Whether writing an essay, research paper, or even a simple book report, it’s important to pick something you are passionate about. Consider your interests and passions and use them to craft an assignment that you can be excited about. Sure, you can ask to write an assignment for me, but try to choose topic that speaks to your knowledge, creativity, and enthusiasm. With a little bit of effort, you can craft an assignment that you truly enjoy working on.

In order to choose an argumentative essay topic on your own, try to follow these tips:

  • Hot topic – the easiest way to choose an argumentative essay topic is to take a look at news websites and other web portals. There’s always one (or more) hot topic you can discuss
  • Passion – each individual is passionate about something. Take a few moments to think about your passions, write them down, and decide which one you’ll discuss in an argumentative essay
  • Don’t play it safe – a common mistake that many students repeat is playing it safe all the time. Once you sharpen the essay writing skills feel free to dip your toes outside the comfort zone. For example, you can discuss topics that seem controversial, not just those that everyone else writes about
  • Make it specific – choosing an area of interest e.g. abortion is one thing, but your topic shouldn’t be that vague. Abortion is a broad term with plenty of things to discuss. If you don’t make the topic precise, the entire writing process will get frustrating. For example, you can choose to write about the future of abortion among young adults under Trump administration
  • Debatable – the whole point of the argumentative essay is to take a stand and defend your argument. That means the topic should be debatable, not a generally accepted fact
  • Related to the class/lecture – yet another easy way to choose a topic is to write about a subject that is related to your class or lecture. That way you can demonstrate your knowledge of the subject and let your professor (or teacher) know you’re passionate about it

Good Argumentative Essay Topics

Here are some topics suggestions you should consider:

  • Should teenagers be required to obtain parents’ permission to use contraceptives?
  • Are athletes overpaid?
  • Is the use of animals for research purposes justified?
  • Scientists cloned monkeys; are humans next? Is human cloning ethical?
  • Should social media platforms regulate comments more thoroughly?
  • Is gun control an effective method of reducing crime rates?
  • Homeschooling prevents children to adopt various social skills
  • Violence in the media makes children violent
  • Does the existence of the Electoral College undermine the freedom of the American people to choose the leader they want?
  • Are beauty pageants exploitive?
  • Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
  • Should college tuition be more affordable?
  • Should surgeries and medications for all diseases be free for everyone?
  • Are schools and teachers responsible for low test scores and bad grades?
  • Abortion should be illegal because it’s murder
  • Abortion should be legal: women have the right to do with their body what they want
  • Anti-smoking campaigns are ineffective
  • Are law enforcement cameras a violation of public privacy
  • Are online product reviews trustworthy
  • Can hybrid cars save our planet
  • Democrats would have won the US election if Hillary Clinton weren’t their candidate
  • Did Shakespeare plagiarize his most popular works?
  • Do men and women need equal pay if males work more days on average than female workers?
  • Has diplomatic immunity been abused
  • Is China ahead economy and technology-wise compared to the US
  • Is it time to change Miranda laws
  • Is privacy more important than national security
  • Should the electoral process in the US change
  • Should medical treatments be free for all
  • Sibling bullying leads to psychotic disorders

Legal argumentative essay topics

  • At what age should girls have access to birth control without the consent of their parents?
  • Do the benefits of medical marijuana justify its legality?
  • Does outlawing controlled substances only create a larger black market?
  • Does the US law system offer enough protection for victims of domestic abuse?
  • Does Trump’s refusal to take refugees deny basic human rights to people in need?
  • In what situations, if any, does a woman have a right to an abortion?
  • Is the drinking age appropriate (should it be lower, higher, or stay the same)?
  • Is the process of electoral vote fair?
  • Online abuse – should court treat it as any other kind of abuse?
  • Should cigarettes and other tobacco products be outlawed?
  • Should corporations be granted personhood?
  • Should the death penalty be abolished?
  • Should nuclear weapons be outlawed worldwide?
  • Should prostitution be legal?
  • Should the United States put more restrictions on gun ownership and use?

Interesting argumentative essay topics

  • At what age should children be allowed to own a smartphone
  • Helicopter parenting harms the kids
  • Does the media invent scandals to frighten the public
  • Should TV shows and movies be more diverse
  • Lack of bias in the media associated with fake news
  • Are teens too exposed to sex-related content on TV
  • What we can learn from video games
  • Do immigrants need more rights
  • Can a woman and a man be just friends
  • Should Dreamers be allowed to stay in the US
  • The wall on the border with Mexico won’t fix anything
  • Should the UK return ancient artifacts to Egypt
  • Are drug tests at work a violation of privacy
  • Cloning of both humans and animals is unethical
  • Should prostitution be legal

Ethical argumentative essay topics

Here are some topic ideas:

  • Are atheists less moral than theists?
  • Are members of oppressed minority groups kept back by policies which encourage them to see cultures foreign to themselves as innately superior?
  • Are nude photographs appropriate in museums that are open to the public?
  • Are parents overexposing their children online?
  • Do patients have a right to die via physician-assisted suicide?
  • Do pre-employment drug tests infringe on personal privacy rights?
  • Does freedom of speech give people the right to use hate speech?
  • Is animal testing necessary?
  • Is death penalty right or wrong?
  • Is human reproductive cloning morally acceptable?
  • Should children’s beauty pageants be banned?
  • Should consumers buy items from countries that endorse child labor?
  • Should hunting with the sole purpose to entertain be banned?
  • Should schools and businesses give more incentives for people to do volunteer work?

Social argumentative essay topics

Social topics can refer to just about anything, here are some examples:

  • Are tattoos acceptable at the workplace?
  • At what age should citizens be allowed to vote in the United States?
  • Can heterosexual men and women truly be friends with no hopes or expectations of anything more?
  • Can online dating replace meeting a person in real life?
  • Do prisoners deserve the right to vote?
  • Excessive alcohol consumption in minors – does it stem from too much freedom and lack of parental control?
  • In what case(s) could it be considered fair for a company to not hire a candidate who smokes cigarettes?
  • Is education in the US failing teenagers across the nation? Too much pressure, expensive college enrollment, bullying – what can be done?
  • Is there too much pressure on teenagers to go to college?
  • Most prisoners released on parole return to prison within 12 months – is it the system’s failure?
  • Should more rights be given to immigrants?
  • Should the United States make English the official national language?
  • Should there be a legal curfew for minors?
  • Should women wear less revealing clothing in order to curb men’s catcalling?
  • Why online dating websites should be responsible for rapes and murders committed by members who are registered sex offenders

Advertising and media argumentative essay topics

Advertising and media evolved dramatically during the last few decades thus posing as an endless source of essay topics . Below, you can see some title ideas:

  • Are public service announcements effective?
  • Do journalists have a duty to eliminate as much bias as possible?
  • Do teenagers drink and smoke because advertisements make them think it is “cool” to do so?
  • Do TV shows and movies have the responsibility of being more diverse?
  • How “fake news” trend changes political and social life?
  • How do reality shows impact society?
  • In what situations should advertisements for alcohol and tobacco products be allowed?
  • Is it acceptable for companies to advertise in schools?
  • Is print advertising obsolete?
  • Sex and violence on TV – how do they change us?
  • Should news shows talk about celebrities?
  • Should sex be allowed to be portrayed on prime-time television?
  • Should warnings and side effects be made more clear in advertisements?
  • Spikes in violence on TV co-occur with violence on the streets – what can be done?
  • Where should networks draw the line for violence on television?

Argumentative essay topics by level:

Topics for middle school.

  • American football is boring with its stop-and-play game style
  • Can video games improve our cognitive skills?
  • Cheating means a student is resourceful
  • Do children really need a healthy diet?
  • Do students need a cash reward for good grades?
  • Do violent video games promote violence in reality?
  • Does TV have any educational value
  • Electronic vs. paper books: will the latter be extinct in a few years?
  • Graffiti: art or vandalism?
  • Is cheating during exams wrong?
  • Is having too much money a bad thing?
  • Is there anything we can learn from reality TV shows
  • Should cigarette smoking be banned?
  • When is the right time for children to start making their own decisions?
  • Why media should boycott Kardashians

Topics for high school

  • Are we too exposed to commercials?
  • Atheism: is it still a kind of religion?
  • Both religion and politics try to control people
  • Do students really need homework
  • Does karma exist
  • Does sex education really help teenagers
  • Have we become “technological zombies”
  • Is it necessary to build a career before getting married
  • Is pregnancy at 20 too early
  • Is social media stealing childhood
  • Should athletes be educated?
  • The role of education in the modern world
  • The role of music in the development of personality
  • Why lottery is a hazardous game

College argumentative essay topics

  • The American educational system is deeply flawed
  • Could Donald Trump-approved websites be fake news
  • Divorce has positive sides too
  • Do the benefits of marijuana overrule the risks
  • Do schools hand out too many A’s
  • Is the death penalty justified
  • News media is too biased
  • People should read more books
  • The representation of women in video games needs to change
  • Schools are giving students too many standardized tests
  • Should academic success be the primary factor to consider in college admission
  • Should parents be held accountable if a minor commits a crime
  • Voting is not important
  • When does freedom of speech turn into hate speech
  • When is it justifiable to take military force against another nation

Stuck on Your Argumentative Essay?

Check out these example persuasive essays.

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Family argumentative essay topics

Here are some ideas:

  • At what age should parents talk to their children about sex?
  • Do children deserve/need an allowance?
  • Is a child’s room really theirs, or is it their parents?
  • Is it acceptable for women to breastfeed in public?
  • Is it okay for parents to monitor teens’ internet use?
  • Should all people who want to have kids undergo a psychological evaluation prior to conceiving?
  • Should parenting classes be compulsory?
  • Should parents be able to spank their children?
  • Should parents buy presents for kids to motivate them to study and do their homework?
  • Should parents pay children for good grades?
  • Should parents push their children to do things they don’t want?
  • Should parents push their kids into extracurricular activities such as music or sports?
  • Should single people be able to adopt children as easily as couples?
  • Staying married for the sake of children only harms them, why?
  • Why does helicopter parenting never work?
  • Why should all kids have certain chores on a daily basis?
  • Firstborn children are smarter than their younger siblings
  • How to annoy your parents
  • How to know if a politician is telling the truth
  • How to pretend you are working
  • How to tell a “white lie” and get away with it
  • Organic foods are not healthier than regular items
  • Stereotypes are good for us
  • What if that royalty from Nigeria that shows up in your email inbox is real
  • What would happen if cats ruled the world
  • Where do all mismatched socks go
  • Why advertising works
  • Why I should have been the only child
  • Why standardized tests are the best
  • Why the clothes really do make the man
  • Why do you, actually, love spam email

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Essay examples

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50 Great Argumentative Essay Topics for Any Assignment

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General Education

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At some point, you’re going to be asked to write an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay is exactly what it sounds like—an essay in which you’ll be making an argument, using examples and research to back up your point.

But not all argumentative essay topics are created equal. Not only do you have to structure your essay right to have a good impact on the reader, but even your choice of subject can impact how readers feel about your work.

In this article, we’ll cover the basics of writing argumentative essays, including what argumentative essays are, how to write a good one, and how to pick a topic that works for you. Then check out a list of argumentative essay ideas to help you get started.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is one that makes an argument through research. These essays take a position and support it through evidence, but, unlike many other kinds of essays, they are interested in expressing a specific argument supported by research and evidence.

A good argumentative essay will be based on established or new research rather than only on your thoughts and feelings. Imagine that you’re trying to get your parents to raise your allowance, and you can offer one of two arguments in your favor:

You should raise my allowance because I want you to.

You should raise my allowance because I’ve been taking on more chores without complaining.

The first argument is based entirely in feelings without any factual backup, whereas the second is based on evidence that can be proven. Your parents are more likely to respond positively to the second argument because it demonstrates that you have done something to earn the increased allowance. Similarly, a well-researched and reasoned argument will show readers that your point has a basis in fact, not just feelings.

The standard five-paragraph essay is common in writing argumentative essays, but it’s not the only way to write one. An argumentative essay is typically written in one of two formats, the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model.

The Toulmin model is the most common, comprised of an introduction with a claim (otherwise known as a thesis), with data to support it. This style of essay will also include rebuttals, helping to strengthen your argument by anticipating counterarguments.

The Rogerian model analyzes two sides of an argument and reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Both essay styles rely on well-reasoned logic and supporting evidence to prove a point, just in two different ways.

The important thing to note about argumentative essays as opposed to other kinds of essays is that they aim to argue a specific point rather than to explain something or to tell a story. While they may have some things in common with analytical essays, the primary difference is in their objective—an argumentative essay aims to convince someone of something, whereas an analytical essay contextualizes a topic with research.

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What Makes a Good Argumentative Essay?

To write an effective argumentative essay, you need to know what a good one looks like. In addition to a solid structure, you’ll need an argument, a strong thesis, and solid research.

An Argument

Unlike other forms of essays, you are trying to convince your reader of something. You’re not just teaching them a concept or demonstrating an idea—you’re constructing an argument to change the readers’ thinking.

You’ll need to develop a good argument, which encompasses not just your main point, but also all the pieces that make it up.

Think beyond what you are saying and include how you’re saying it. How will you take an idea and turn it into a complex and well thought out argument that is capable of changing somebody’s mind?

A Strong Thesis

The thesis is the core of your argument. What specific message are you trying to get across? State that message in one sentence, and that will be your thesis.

This is the foundation on which your essay is built, so it needs to be strong and well-reasoned. You need to be able to expand on it with facts and sources, not just feelings.

A good argumentative essay isn’t just based on your individual thoughts, but research. That can be citing sources and other arguments or it can mean direct research in the field, depending on what your argument is and the context in which you are arguing it.

Be prepared to back your thesis up with reporting from scientific journals, newspapers, or other forms of research. Having well-researched sources will help support your argument better than hearsay or assumptions. If you can’t find enough research to back up your point, it’s worth reconsidering your thesis or conducting original research, if possible.

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How to Come Up With an Argumentative Essay Topic

Sometimes you may find yourself arguing things you don’t necessarily believe. That’s totally fine—you don’t actually have to wholeheartedly believe in what you’re arguing in order to construct a compelling argument.

However, if you have free choice of topic, it’s a good idea to pick something you feel strongly about. There are two key components to a good argumentative essay: a strong stance, and an assortment of evidence. If you’re interested and feel passionate about the topic you choose, you'll have an easier time finding evidence to support it, but it's the evidence that's most important. 

So, to choose a topic, think about things you feel strongly about, whether positively or negatively. You can make a list of ideas and narrow those down to a handful of things, then expand on those ideas with a few potential points you want to hit on.

For example, say you’re trying to decide whether you should write about how your neighborhood should ban weed killer, that your school’s lunch should be free for all students, or that the school day should be cut by one hour. To decide between these ideas, you can make a list of three to five points for each that cover the different evidence you could use to support each point.

For the weed killer ban, you could say that weed killer has been proven to have adverse impacts on bees, that there are simple, natural alternatives, and that weeds aren’t actually bad to have around. For the free lunch idea, you could suggest that some students have to go hungry because they can’t afford lunch, that funds could be diverted from other places to support free lunch, and that other items, like chips or pizza, could be sold to help make up lost revenue. And for the school day length example, you could argue that teenagers generally don’t get enough sleep, that you have too much homework and not enough time to do it, and that teenagers don’t spend enough time with their families.

You might find as you make these lists that some of them are stronger than others. The more evidence you have and the stronger you feel that that evidence is, the better the topic.  Of course, if you feel that one topic may have more evidence but you’d rather not write about it, it’s okay to pick another topic instead. When you’re making arguments, it can be much easier to find strong points and evidence if you feel passionate about our topic than if you don't.

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50 Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas

If you’re struggling to come up with topics on your own, read through this list of argumentative essay topics to help get you started!

  • Should fracking be legal?
  • Should parents be able to modify their unborn children?
  • Do GMOs help or harm people?
  • Should vaccinations be required for students to attend public school?
  • Should world governments get involved in addressing climate change?
  • Should Facebook be allowed to collect data from its users?
  • Should self-driving cars be legal?
  • Is it ethical to replace human workers with automation?
  • Should there be laws against using cell phones while driving?
  • Has the internet positively or negatively impacted human society?

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  • Should college athletes be paid for being on sports teams?
  • Should coaches and players make the same amount of money?
  • Should sports be segregated by gender?
  • Should the concept of designated hitters in baseball be abolished?
  • Should US sports take soccer more seriously?
  • Should religious organizations have to pay taxes?
  • Should religious clubs be allowed in schools?
  • Should “one nation under God” be in the pledge of allegiance?
  • Should religion be taught in schools?
  • Should clergy be allowed to marry?
  • Should minors be able to purchase birth control without parental consent?
  • Should the US switch to single-payer healthcare?
  • Should assisted suicide be legal?
  • Should dietary supplements and weight loss items like teas be allowed to advertise through influencers?
  • Should doctors be allowed to promote medicines?

Government/Politics

  • Is the electoral college an effective system for modern America?
  • Should Puerto Rico become a state?
  • Should voter registration be automatic?
  • Should people in prison be allowed to vote?
  • Should Supreme Court justices be elected?
  • Should sex work be legalized?
  • Should Columbus Day be replaced with Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
  • Should the death penalty be legal?
  • Should animal testing be allowed?
  • Should drug possession be decriminalized?

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  • Should unpaid internships be legal?
  • Should minimum wage be increased?
  • Should monopolies be allowed?
  • Is universal basic income a good idea?
  • Should corporations have a higher or lower tax rate?
  • Are school uniforms a good idea?
  • Should PE affect a student’s grades?
  • Should college be free?
  • Should Greek life in colleges be abolished?
  • Should students be taught comprehensive sex ed?

Arts/Culture

  • Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?
  • Should books with objectionable words be banned?
  • Should content on YouTube be better regulated?
  • Is art education important?
  • Should art and music sharing online be allowed?

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How to Argue Effectively

A strong argument isn’t just about having a good point. If you can’t support that point well, your argument falls apart.

One of the most important things you can do in writing a strong argumentative essay is organizing well. Your essay should have a distinct beginning, middle, and end, better known as the introduction, body and opposition, and conclusion.

This example follows the Toulmin model—if your essay follows the Rogerian model, the same basic premise is true, but your thesis will instead propose two conflicting viewpoints that will be resolved through evidence in the body, with your conclusion choosing the stronger of the two arguments.

Introduction

Your hook should draw the reader’s interest immediately. Questions are a common way of getting interest, as well as evocative language or a strong statistic

Don’t assume that your audience is already familiar with your topic. Give them some background information, such as a brief history of the issue or some additional context.

Your thesis is the crux of your argument. In an argumentative essay, your thesis should be clearly outlined so that readers know exactly what point you’ll be making. Don’t explain all your evidence in the opening, but do take a strong stance and make it clear what you’ll be discussing.

Your claims are the ideas you’ll use to support your thesis. For example, if you’re writing about how your neighborhood shouldn’t use weed killer, your claim might be that it’s bad for the environment. But you can’t just say that on its own—you need evidence to support it.

Evidence is the backbone of your argument. This can be things you glean from scientific studies, newspaper articles, or your own research. You might cite a study that says that weed killer has an adverse effect on bees, or a newspaper article that discusses how one town eliminated weed killer and saw an increase in water quality. These kinds of hard evidence support your point with demonstrable facts, strengthening your argument.

In your essay, you want to think about how the opposition would respond to your claims and respond to them. Don’t pick the weakest arguments, either— figure out what other people are saying and respond to those arguments with clearly reasoned arguments.

Demonstrating that you not only understand the opposition’s point, but that your argument is strong enough to withstand it, is one of the key pieces to a successful argumentative essay.

Conclusions are a place to clearly restate your original point, because doing so will remind readers exactly what you’re arguing and show them how well you’ve argued that point.

Summarize your main claims by restating them, though you don’t need to bring up the evidence again. This helps remind readers of everything you’ve said throughout the essay.

End by suggesting a picture of a world in which your argument and action are ignored. This increases the impact of your argument and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

A strong argumentative essay is one with good structure and a strong argument , but there are a few other things you can keep in mind to further strengthen your point.

When you’re crafting an argument, it can be easy to get distracted by all the information and complications in your argument. It’s important to stay focused—be clear in your thesis and home in on claims that directly support that thesis.

Be Rational

It’s important that your claims and evidence be based in facts, not just opinion. That’s why it’s important to use reliable sources based in science and reporting—otherwise, it’s easy for people to debunk your arguments.

Don’t rely solely on your feelings about the topic. If you can’t back a claim up with real evidence, it leaves room for counterarguments you may not anticipate. Make sure that you can support everything you say with clear and concrete evidence, and your claims will be a lot stronger!

What’s Next?

No matter what kind of essay you're writing, a strong plan will help you have a bigger impact. This guide to writing a college essay is a great way to get started on your essay organizing journey!

Brushing up on your essay format knowledge to prep for the SAT? Check out this list of SAT essay prompts to help you kickstart your studying!

A bunch of great essay examples can help you aspire to greatness, but bad essays can also be a warning for what not to do. This guide to bad college essays will help you better understand common mistakes to avoid in essay writing!

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Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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Persuasive Essay: the Imperative of Comprehensive Sex Education

How it works

So, sex education, huh? It’s one of those topics that always seems to get people talking, doesn’t it? Everyone’s got an opinion, and those opinions can be all over the map, from cultural and religious views to political standpoints. But, honestly, there’s a pretty strong case for having good, solid sex ed in schools. It’s not just about what happens in the classroom—it’s about helping kids grow up healthier and more informed about their bodies and relationships.

We really should make sure sex ed is a part of every school’s curriculum because it helps cut down on teen pregnancies and STIs and also helps kids develop better as people and members of society.

  • 1 The Need for Real Info
  • 2 Cutting Down on Teen Pregnancies and STIs
  • 3 Teaching About Consent and Healthy Relationships
  • 4 Dealing with Cultural and Societal Pushback
  • 5 Wrapping It Up

The Need for Real Info

One big reason for comprehensive sex ed is that kids need real, accurate info. Teens are at this crucial point in their lives, and getting the wrong info about sex can mess things up. If schools don’t teach them, they usually end up looking online or asking friends, and let’s be real, those sources aren’t always reliable. But with proper sex ed, they get scientifically accurate and age-appropriate info. This helps them make smart choices about their bodies and relationships.

There was this study in the Journal of Adolescent Health that found kids who had comprehensive sex ed were more likely to wait before having sex. And when they did have sex, they were more likely to use protection and practice safe sex. That just shows how important it is to give kids the right tools to handle their sexual health.

Cutting Down on Teen Pregnancies and STIs

You can’t ignore how much good sex ed helps in reducing teen pregnancies and STIs. Countries with strong sex ed programs usually have lower rates of both. Take the Netherlands, for example. They’re known for their great sex ed, and they have some of the lowest teen pregnancy rates in the world. That’s not just luck; it’s because they teach kids about contraception, consent, and the emotional sides of relationships.

On the flip side, those abstinence-only programs just don’t work as well. They don’t give kids the info they need if they decide to have sex. The CDC even says that states with abstinence-only education have higher rates of teen pregnancies and STIs than those with comprehensive sex ed. That difference really shows how important good, evidence-based education is for keeping kids healthy.

Teaching About Consent and Healthy Relationships

Good sex ed does more than just cover the health stuff. It also helps kids grow as people by teaching them about consent, respect, and healthy relationships. With all the talk these days about sexual harassment and assault, it’s super important to teach kids about consent and mutual respect.

These programs touch on emotional intelligence, communication skills, and respecting different sexual orientations and gender identities. It’s not just about the physical aspects of sex but also the emotional and psychological parts. Kids learn that good relationships are based on respect, consent, and understanding, setting them up for better interactions throughout their lives.

Dealing with Cultural and Societal Pushback

Even with all this evidence, some folks still aren’t on board with comprehensive sex ed. Cultural and religious beliefs often drive this resistance. But it’s important to understand that comprehensive sex ed isn’t about encouraging kids to have sex. It’s about giving them the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions.

Parents and teachers need to find a balance between respecting cultural values and making sure kids get the education they need to stay healthy. Open conversations between schools, parents, and communities can help bridge that gap, leading to mutual understanding and cooperation.

Plus, sex ed can be adapted to fit different cultural values while still giving essential info. This way, educators can handle specific cultural concerns but still make sure kids get the critical knowledge they need.

Wrapping It Up

The need for comprehensive sex ed in schools is pretty clear. It gives kids accurate info, reduces teen pregnancies and STIs, and helps them develop healthy, respectful relationships. Even though there’s some pushback, the benefits are way bigger than the concerns. By putting money into comprehensive sex ed, we’re investing in the health and future of our kids. Now’s the time to make these programs a priority, so every young person can grow up informed, healthy, and empowered.

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1 arrested after 53-year-old roommate fatally stabbed at Irvine home following argument

David González Image

IRVINE, Calif. (KABC) -- A 22-year-old man has been arrested in the stabbing death of his 53-year-old roommate at an Irvine home on Tuesday, police say.

Officers say the suspect admitted to arguing with his roommate over the last several days, and on Tuesday it turned physical.

Zackery Dean Hinkle, 22, allegedly stabbed his roommate, Terry Rahmatulla, police say. Officers tried to revive the victim at the scene but he was pronounced dead. Other residents at the home were not injured.

Hinkle was arrested for murder and brought to the Orange County Jail.

Residents living near Fortuna East and Park Place woke up to the unsettling sight Tuesday of investigators in their neighborhood around 6:30 a.m.

Some neighbors heard arguing coming from the home.

Ron Castleton and his wife, Sunny, live a few doors down from the home.

"It wasn't uncommon," Ron said. "It didn't happen every day but that household had some issues going on."

Tuesday morning authorities found the 53-year-old victim dead from multiple stab wounds.

Sunny said police had been called out to the home several times in the past.

"Not shocked because everybody kind of knows the family, troubled family," she said.

Ron added, "You knew that there was some dysfunction in that family. Didn't think it would result into something like this."

Police say there is no threat to the public but folks who live in the community say it's sad to see violent crime in the city go up. Irvine is often considered one of the safest cities of its size in the country.

Irvine resident Fue Pan said, "If it's domestic then we don't worry about it because within a family anything can happen but if it's from outside it's actually worrying us."

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