​What Makes a Good Argumentative Topic?

​What Makes a Good Argumentative Topic?

By Daniel Rios-Lopera

Audio Response

After reading the Genre Analysis Instructions, explain in your own words what you understand Genre Analysis to be, and describe what you think we will be doing with this assignment.

Open Audio Recorder

For our first essay (Genre Analysis), you will analyze how two different genres communicate about the same argumentative topic.

Instead of focusing only on what they say, you will study how form, audience, and rhetorical strategies shape their message.

Key Points:
✔ Choose one argumentative topic.
✔ Select two different genres (poster, article, video, editorial, etc.).
✔ Compare how each genre communicates the same issue.

Why is this important?

You will see that form and context matter as much as the content.

This analysis will make you a more critical reader and writer.

The topic you choose now will guide not only this essay, but also future assignments.

What is a Genre Analysis Essay?

This essay is more than a writing exercise—it teaches you skills you will use throughout college and beyond.

These skills are essential for your Literature Review, Research Paper, and academic career.

They prepare you to adapt communication for different audiences and contexts.

Why Do We Learn This?

Poll

Which skill do you think will be most useful for you?

• Strengthening critical thinking

• Understanding audience

• Practicing APA citation

• Analyzing style and structure

The first step in your Genre Analysis Essay is choosing a strong argumentative topic.

Not every idea works—your topic must allow for real debate and research.

Your Argumentative Topic must be:
✔ Debatable – People can disagree.
✔ Researchable – Reliable sources exist.
✔ Relevant – It matters to you or society.

A good topic now will make your Genre Analysis Essay—and future essays—much easier to write.

The wrong topic could leave you stuck with no real debate or sources.

What Makes a Good Argumentative Topic?

Good Topics ✅

• The voting age should be lowered to 16.

• Social media does more harm than good.

• Fast food restaurants should be banned in schools.

Weak/Bad Topics ❌

• The sun rises in the east. (informative only)

• Dogs are friendly animals. (too obvious)

• Pollution is bad. (too general)

Good vs. Weak Topics

Categorize

Options (6)

Climate change exists

The government should ban junk food ads targeting children

School uniforms should be mandatory in public schools

Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius under normal conditions

College education should be free for everyone

Dogs are mammals and need food and water to survive

Sort the following into Good or Bad argumentative topics:

Good Topic

Bad Topic

Now that you know what a strong topic looks like, here are the steps to help you find your own.

Key Points:

Brainstorm issues you care about.

Ask: Can people disagree on this?

Check if reliable sources exist.

Make your topic specific, not too broad.

Your chosen topic can be reused in your Literature Review, Research Paper, and other assignments.

Investing time now will save you effort later.

How to Find a Strong Argumentative Topic

Open Ended

Choose three areas of interest and write one possible argumentative topic for each. Also, explain briefly why each topic could be useful for your essay.

Example:

Area 1: Sports → College athletes should be paid. → Because it is debatable, has research, and is relevant.

Area 2: Politics → Voting age should be lowered to 16. → Because it affects young people and has two sides.

Area 3: Culture → Social media does more harm than good. → Because it is current, affects everyone, and is researchable.

Today you learned:

What a Genre Analysis Essay is

Why it helps your academic skills

What makes a strong argumentative topic

How to choose your own topic

If you have any questions, just contact me: [e-mail]

Wrap-Up & Reflection