Practice Topics

[These topics above are a number of sources, including  http://ielts.napishi.ru/prep/writing.html ,
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/English/topicarg.html and writefix.com]

Compare and Contrast Essays

Which do you think has a greater effect on a person -- heredity or environment? Explain.

The advantages and disadvantages of  having a large family.

Living in the town centre or in the countryside

Advantages and disadvantages of the legalization of cannabis

Radio and television

Letter writing and email

Advantages and disadvantages of living with one's parents after the age of 25 (based on a TOEFL exam question that was phrased like this: "Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?  People should never live at home with thir parents after the age of twenty five

 Stressful elements in the life of a housewife mother compared to the stressful elements in the life of a mother who works outside home.

Argumentative Essays

Physician-assisted suicide should be a legal option for terminally ill patients.

Science should be free to pursue genetic research, which could have enormous benefits to humanity.

Current intellectual property rights laws are inadequate and unenforceable in the electronic environment and will negatively impact the development of new technologies.

Changes need to be made in the law to increase internet security, and find and punish cybercriminals.

Americans have a constitutional right to own handguns and stricter laws and licensing will not effectively save lives.

The death penalty should be abolished.

The Electoral College system of electing a President and Vice-President needs to be replaced with a method that better represents the will of the American people.

Animal testing is unethical and should be outlawed.

The positive aspects of legalized gambling far outweigh the harmful side effects that occur.

Granting legal marriage rights under the law must extend to gays and lesbians to ensure that all citizens enjoy full human rights.

To strengthen educational standards and improve academic achievement,  high school students should be required to pass a standardized test to receive a high school diploma.

Intercollegiate athletics corrupt their educational institutions by creating a double standard and devaluing scholarship in favor of athletic competition.

To what extent should economic planning be influenced by the need of environmental conservation?

From 'writefix.com':

1. We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in businesses, hospitals, crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will they be used for in future? Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more suspicious of their benefits?
2. In what ways has information technology changed work and working practices in the past 10 years?
3. 'Telecommuting' refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is growing in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in the coming decades. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting?
4. Technology is making communication easier in today's world, but at the expense of personal contact as many people choose to work at home in front of a computer screen. What dangers are there for a society which depends on computer screens rather than face-to-face contact for its main means of communication?
5. Some businesses now say that no one can smoke cigarettes in any of their offices. Some governments have banned smoking in all public places. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons.
6. Should the same laws which prohibit the sale and consumption of heroin be applied to tobacco?
7. To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?
8. Human beings do not need to eat meat in order to maintain good health because they can get all their food needs from meatless products and meatless substances. A vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat. Argue for or against the opinion above.
9. Forests are the lungs of the earth. Destruction of the world's forests amounts to death of the world we currently know. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
10. Are our zoos cruel to wild animals? Discuss.
11. Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural environment. Discuss some of the arguments for and/or against keeping animals in zoos.
12. To what extent should economic planning be influenced by the need of environmental conservation?
13. Damage of the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of living. Discuss.
14. The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world cities can be attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. In order to reverse this decline in the quality of life in cities, attempts must be made to encourage people to use their cars less and public transport more. Discuss possible ways to encourage the use of public transport.
15. Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country. Do you agree?
16. What are factors which are related to academic success in high-school students?
17. Do the benefits of study abroad justify the difficulties? What advice would you offer to a prospective student?
18. The idea of going overseas for university study is an exciting prospect for many people. But while it may offer some advantages, it is probably better to stay home because of the difficulties a student inevitably encounters living and studying in a different culture. To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement? Give reasons for your answer.
19. Write a report to your sponsoring agency describing the English-language skills overseas students require. Make any recommendations you feel are necessary.
20. What kind of listening challenges do overseas students face in tertiary education? What recommendations would you offer?
21. Write a report to your sponsoring agency describing the accommodation problems faced by foreign students in Britain/US/Australia, etc. Make any necessary recommendations.
22. Education is recognized as vital to the future of any society in today's world. Governments throughout the world should make education compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 15. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
23. Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten. Discuss.
24. Children should never be educated at home by their parents. Do you agree or disagree?
25. Children learn best by observing behavior of adults and copying it. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
26. To what extent should universities function as training grounds for employment?
27. To what extent should university courses be geared to the economic needs of society?
28. Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorer nations by providing such things as food and education? Or is it a responsibility of the governments of poorer nations to look after their citizens themselves?
29. To what extent will migration from the developing world to the developed world become a social and political issue in the 21st century?
30. The dominance of black people in US sport is due to sociological rather than physiological factors. Discuss.
31. In Britain, when someone gets old, they often go to live in a home with other old people where there are nurses to look after them. Sometimes the government has to pay for this care. Who should be responsible for our old people? Give reasons.
32. In some countries the average worker is obliged to retire at the age of 50, while in others people can work until they are 65 or 70. Until what age do you think people should be encouraged to remain in paid employment? Give reasons for your answer.
33. In your opinion should government intervene in the rights of the individual with regard to family planning?
34. To what extent has the traditional male role changed in the last 20 years?
35. Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is why they have the greater role in raising children in most societies. Others claim that men are just as good as women at parenting Write an essay expressing your point of view. Give reasons for your answer.
36. The first car appeared on British roads in 1888. By the year 2000 there may be as many as 29 million vehicles on British roads. Alternative forms of transport should be encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. What do you think?
37. The best way to reduce the number of traffic accidents is to make all young drivers complete a safe driving education course before being licensed to drive.
38.  The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world cities can be attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use.. Discuss possible ways to encourage the use of public transport.
39. The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy. The benefits of nuclear technology far overweigh the disadvantages. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.
40. News editors decide what to broadcast on TV and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence their decisions?
41. Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more good news was reported?
42. TV: could you be without it? Discuss.
43. The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping people's ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement? Give reasons for your answer.
44. Tourism is becoming increasingly important as a source of revenue to many countries but its disadvantages should not be overlooked. What are some of the problems of tourism?
45. Are women are better parents than men?
46. Should children should be taught sex education in schools? 
47. Should money be spent on space exploration?
48. Should rich countries should forgive all debts for poor countries?
49. Will the Internet will bring people of the world closer together?
50. Does foreign aid helps donor countries more than the recipients?
51. Are zoos are necessary for education?
52. Is animal testing necessary?
53. Should rich countries should pay more for environmental damage?
54. Should retirement be compulsory at 65 years of age?
55. Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?
56. Are famous people treated unfairly by the media ? Should they be given more privacy, or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?
57. Should developing countries concentrate on Improving industrial skills or should they promote education first?
58. Safety standards are important when building people's homes. Who should be responsible for enforcing strict building codes - the government or the people who build the homes?
59. Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler?
60. In your opinion what factors contribute to a good movie?
61. Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler?
62. Does travel help to promote understanding and communication between countries?
63. If children behave badly ,should their parents accept responsibility and also be punished?
64. What should a government do for a country to become successful?
65. Should sports classes be sacrificed in High School so students can concentrate on Academic subjects?
66. Nowadays doctors can become very rich. Maybe they should not focus on profitable activities such as plastic surgery or looking after rich patients and concentrate more on patients health, no matter how rich they are?
67. Will modern technology, such as the internet ever replace the book or the written word as the main source of information?
68. Discuss the advantage and disadvantage of giving international Aid to poor countries.
69. Should criminals be punished with lengthy jail terms or re-educated and rehabituated, using community service programs for instance, before being reintroduced to society?
70. Computers can translate all kinds of languages well. Do our children need to learn more languages in the future?

 Has the automobile been harmful to our society? Discuss.

Television has made America a nation of watchers, not doers." Agree or disagree.

Is romantic love a good basis for marriage? Discuss.

Should children be disciplined by physical punishment? Discuss.

Was giving eighteen-year-olds the right to vote a mistake? Discuss.

The sale of cigarettes should be prohibited

College students should have complete freedom to choose their own courses

Should women in the military services be assigned combat duties? Discuss.

Attack or defend the practice of advertising by doctors and lawyers.