What Is a Good Topic for an Argumentative Research Essay?

One of the most common research paper subjects is society. Social topics include animal rights, gangs, gay marriage, health care reform, immigration and medical marijuana. When writing about perspectives on issues surrounding these topics, you should address both short-term and long-term effects, as well as analyzing who is positively or negatively affected by the current circumstances. While addressing the arguments of others is important, you should be providing your own analysis and drawing your own conclusions from your research.

A consistently controversial social issue about which you can write an argument paper is that of our rights under the United States Constitution. Topics you can write about include gun control, freedom of the press, the death penalty and post-9/11 surveillance of civilians. If you choose to write about this subject, you can address historical precedents, whether good or bad, in which the Constitution was altered to adjust to contemporary circumstances.

As technology advances, so do medical and scientific research. A possible subject for a research paper can involve the moral, ethical, social and health issues involved in the changing life sciences. Specific topics you can write about include assisted suicide (or euthanasia), genetically modified plants and animals, cloning and stem cell research. For this category there is an abundance of recent newspaper and magazine articles, both scientific and cultural, that can be used for research.

One social topic that affects you directly as a student is education. Subtopics in this field include standardized testing, charter schools and vouchers, the reduction of arts and physical education programs in schools, and affirmative action. When writing about education topics, make sure to consider the effects on students, teachers, families and communities, taking into account the diverse economic and racial groups involved.

You can also choose to write your essay about changes in the natural environment. Possible environmental topics include pollution, deforestation, fracking, offshore drilling, global warming, wildlife conservation and alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar power. With these topics, you can evaluate the impact on animal species, Earth's climate and plant life. When dealing with natural environment topics, remember that the ecosystem is a series of interconnected parts, so address the causes and effects across different segments of nature and society in your essay.