Pitchgrade

Presentations made painless

  • Get Premium

113 Morality Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Morality is a complex and often controversial topic that has been debated for centuries. It deals with questions of right and wrong, good and evil, and the principles that guide our behavior and decision-making. Whether you are studying ethics, philosophy, psychology, or simply interested in exploring moral issues, there are countless essay topics to choose from. In this article, we have compiled 113 morality essay topic ideas and examples to help you get started on your writing journey.

  • The role of religion in shaping moral values
  • Moral relativism vs. moral absolutism
  • The ethics of artificial intelligence
  • The morality of capital punishment
  • The impact of social media on moral behavior
  • The relationship between morality and law
  • Moral dilemmas in healthcare
  • The morality of animal testing
  • The ethics of whistleblowing
  • The influence of culture on moral values
  • The morality of genetic engineering
  • The role of empathy in moral decision-making
  • The ethics of euthanasia
  • The morality of war
  • The impact of technology on moral development
  • The relationship between morality and happiness
  • The ethics of environmental conservation
  • The morality of lying
  • The role of education in moral development
  • The ethics of torture
  • The morality of abortion
  • The impact of upbringing on moral values
  • The ethics of corporate social responsibility
  • The relationship between morality and politics
  • The morality of affirmative action
  • The influence of media on moral perceptions
  • The ethics of privacy in the digital age
  • The morality of censorship
  • The role of emotions in moral decision-making
  • The ethics of animal rights
  • The morality of using animals in entertainment
  • The impact of poverty on moral values
  • The relationship between morality and power
  • The ethics of cultural appropriation
  • The morality of cultural relativism
  • The influence of gender on moral beliefs
  • The ethics of reproductive technologies
  • The morality of child labor
  • The role of technology in shaping moral values
  • The ethics of online activism
  • The morality of online dating
  • The impact of globalization on moral development
  • The relationship between morality and religion
  • The ethics of cultural diversity
  • The morality of hate speech
  • The influence of peer pressure on moral behavior
  • The role of forgiveness in moral decision-making
  • The ethics of animal cruelty
  • The morality of beauty standards
  • The impact of social norms on moral values
  • The relationship between morality and authority
  • The ethics of surveillance
  • The morality of gun control
  • The influence of socioeconomic status on moral beliefs
  • The role of justice in moral development
  • The ethics of whistleblowing in the workplace
  • The morality of intellectual property rights
  • The impact of religion on moral values
  • The relationship between morality and emotions
  • The ethics of cultural assimilation
  • The morality of cultural preservation
  • The influence of technology on moral decision-making
  • The role of education in teaching moral values
  • The ethics of truth-telling
  • The morality of assisted suicide
  • The impact of social justice movements on moral development
  • The relationship between morality and identity
  • The ethics of political correctness
  • The morality of censorship in the arts
  • The influence of peer groups on moral behavior
  • The role of forgiveness in moral development
  • The ethics of animal experimentation
  • The morality of privacy in the workplace
  • The impact of globalization on moral values
  • The relationship between morality and social justice
  • The ethics of cultural appropriation in fashion
  • The morality of cultural relativism in education
  • The influence of media on moral decision-making
  • The role of empathy in teaching moral values
  • The ethics of online privacy
  • The morality of body image standards
  • The impact of social media on moral development
  • The relationship between morality and mental health
  • The ethics of cultural diversity in the workplace
  • The morality of hate speech online
  • The influence of socioeconomic status on moral behavior
  • The role of forgiveness in shaping moral values
  • The ethics of animal rights activism
  • The morality of environmental conservation efforts
  • The impact of technology on moral decision-making
  • The relationship between morality and social responsibility
  • The ethics of cultural sensitivity training
  • The morality of cultural assimilation policies
  • The influence of peer pressure on moral values
  • The role of empathy in moral development
  • The ethics of truth-telling in relationships
  • The morality of assisted reproduction technologies
  • The impact of social justice movements on moral behavior
  • The relationship between morality and cultural identity
  • The ethics of political correctness in the workplace
  • The morality of censorship in the media
  • The influence of peer groups on moral values
  • The ethics of animal welfare laws
  • The morality of privacy in the digital age
  • The impact of globalization on moral behavior
  • The relationship between morality and environmental ethics
  • The ethics of cultural appropriation in music
  • The morality of cultural relativism in art
  • The influence of media on moral values
  • The ethics of online harassment
  • The morality of body positivity movements

These are just a few examples of the many morality essay topics that you can explore in your writing. Whether you are interested in exploring ethical theories, analyzing real-world moral dilemmas, or discussing the impact of social factors on moral behavior, there is a wealth of material to draw from. So, pick a topic that interests you and start writing ''' there is no shortage of ideas to explore in the field of morality.

Want to research companies faster?

Instantly access industry insights

Let PitchGrade do this for me

Leverage powerful AI research capabilities

We will create your text and designs for you. Sit back and relax while we do the work.

Explore More Content

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2024 Pitchgrade

one pixel image

Home — Blog — Topic Ideas — 200 Ethical Topics & Questions to Debate in Essay

200 Ethical Topics & Questions to Debate in Essay

ethical topics

Ethical topics and questions are essential for stimulating thoughtful discussions and deepening our understanding of complex moral landscapes. Ethics, the study of what is right and wrong, underpins many aspects of human life and societal functioning. Whether you're crafting an essay or preparing for a debate, delving into ethical issues allows you to explore various perspectives and develop critical thinking skills.

Ethical issues encompass a wide range of dilemmas and conflicts where individuals or societies must choose between competing moral principles. Understanding what are ethical issues involves recognizing situations that challenge our values, behaviors, and decisions. This article provides a thorough guide to ethical topics, offering insights into current ethical issues, and presenting a detailed list of questions and topics to inspire your writing and debates.

Ethical Issues Definition

Ethical issues refer to situations where a decision, action, or policy conflicts with ethical principles or societal norms. These dilemmas often involve a choice between competing values or interests, such as fairness vs. efficiency, privacy vs. security, or individual rights vs. collective good. Ethical issues arise in various fields, including medicine, business, technology, and the environment. They challenge individuals and organizations to consider the moral implications of their actions and to seek solutions that align with ethical standards. Understanding ethical issues requires an analysis of both the potential benefits and the moral costs associated with different courses of action.

⭐ Top 10 Ethical Topics [2024]

  • Climate Change Responsibility
  • Data Privacy in the Digital Age
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • AI and Automation
  • Animal Rights
  • Freedom of Speech vs. Hate Speech
  • Healthcare Accessibility
  • Human Rights in the Age of Globalization

Ethics Essay Writing Guide

Writing an ethics essay involves more than just presenting facts; it requires a thoughtful analysis of moral principles and their application to real-world scenarios. Understanding ethical topics and what constitutes ethical issues is essential for crafting a compelling essay. Here’s a guide to help you address current ethical issues effectively:

  • Choose a Clear Topic: Select an ethical issue that is both interesting and relevant. Understanding the definition of ethical issues will help you narrow down your choices.
  • Research Thoroughly: Gather information from credible sources to support your arguments. Knowing what ethical issues are and how they are defined can provide a solid foundation for your research.
  • Present Multiple Perspectives: Show an understanding of different viewpoints on the issue. This will demonstrate your grasp of the complexity of current ethical issues.
  • Use Real-world Examples: Illustrate your points with concrete examples. This not only strengthens your arguments but also helps to explain ethical topics in a relatable way.
  • Structure Your Essay: Organize your essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. A well-structured essay makes it easier to present your analysis of ethical issues.
  • Provide a Balanced Argument: Weigh the pros and cons to offer a well-rounded discussion. Addressing various aspects of current ethical issues will make your essay more comprehensive.
  • Conclude Thoughtfully: Summarize your findings and reflect on the broader implications of the issue. This is where you can discuss the impact of ethical issues on society and future considerations.

By following this guide, you will be able to write an ethics essay that not only presents facts but also offers a deep and nuanced analysis of ethical topics.

Selecting the Right Research Topic in Ethics

Choosing the right research topic in ethics can be challenging, but it is crucial for writing an engaging and insightful essay. Here are some tips:

  • Relevance: Ensure the topic is relevant to current societal issues.
  • Interest: Pick a topic that genuinely interests you.
  • Scope: Choose a topic with enough scope for research and debate.
  • Complexity: Aim for a topic that is complex enough to allow for in-depth analysis.
  • Availability of Sources: Make sure there are enough resources available to support your research.

What Style Should an Ethics Essay Be Written In?

When writing an ethics essay, it is essential to adopt a formal and objective style. Clarity and conciseness are paramount, as the essay should avoid unnecessary jargon and overly complex sentences that might obscure the main points. Maintaining objectivity is crucial; presenting arguments without bias ensures that the discussion remains balanced and fair. Proper citations are vital to give credit to sources and uphold academic integrity.

Engaging the reader through a logical flow of ideas is important, as it helps sustain interest and facilitates a better understanding of the ethical topics being discussed. Additionally, the essay should be persuasive, making compelling arguments supported by evidence to effectively convey the analysis of moral issues. By following these guidelines, the essay will not only be informative but also impactful in its examination of ethical dilemmas.

List of Current Ethical Issues

  • The impact of social media on privacy.
  • Ethical considerations in genetic cloning.
  • Balancing national security with individual rights.
  • Privacy concerns in the digital age.
  • The ethics of biohacking.
  • Ethical considerations in space exploration.
  • The ethics of surveillance and data collection by governments and corporations.
  • Ethical issues in the use of facial recognition technology.
  • The ethical implications of autonomous vehicles.
  • The morality of animal testing in scientific research.
  • Ethical concerns in the gig economy.
  • The impact of climate change on ethical business practices.
  • The ethics of consumer data usage by companies.
  • Ethical dilemmas in end-of-life care and assisted suicide.
  • The role of ethics in the development of renewable energy sources.

Ethical Issues in Psychology

  • Confidentiality vs. duty to warn in therapy.
  • Ethical dilemmas in psychological research.
  • The use of placebo in psychological treatment.
  • Ethical issues in the treatment of vulnerable populations.
  • The ethics of involuntary commitment and treatment.
  • Dual relationships and conflicts of interest in therapy.
  • The use of deception in psychological experiments.
  • The ethics of cognitive enhancement drugs.
  • Ethical considerations in online therapy and telepsychology.
  • Cultural competence and ethical practice in psychology.
  • The ethics of forensic psychology and assessment.
  • The impact of social media on mental health and ethical practice.
  • The use of emerging technologies in psychological treatment.
  • Ethical issues in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
  • The role of ethics in psychological testing and assessment.

Ethical Debate Topics

  • Is capital punishment morally justified?
  • Should organ donation be mandatory?
  • The ethics of artificial intelligence in warfare.
  • Is euthanasia ethically permissible?
  • Should human cloning be allowed?
  • The morality of animal rights vs. human benefit.
  • Is it ethical to use animals for entertainment?
  • Should there be limits on free speech?
  • The ethics of genetic modification in humans.
  • Is it ethical to have mandatory vaccinations?
  • The morality of government surveillance programs.
  • Should assisted reproductive technologies be regulated?
  • The ethics of using performance-enhancing drugs in sports.
  • Should healthcare be considered a human right?
  • The ethical implications of wealth inequality and redistribution.

Medical Ethics Topics

  • Ariel Case Study: a Comprehensive Analysis
  • The Case for and Against Daylight Saving Time
  • Technological Advancements in Medical, Educational & Other Fields
  • The Language of Medicine
  • Medical Ethics: Beneficence and Non-maleficence
  • Overview of What Sonography is
  • The Use of Steroids and HGH in Sports
  • Media and The Scientific Community Treat People Like Tools
  • Informative Speech for Organ Donation
  • Medicine in Our World
  • The Origin of Medical Terminology
  • Preserving Sight: My Journey to Becoming an Optometrist
  • Case of Dr. Eric Poehlman's Ethical Violation
  • Should The NHS Treat Patients with Self-Inflicted Illnesses
  • My Education as a Medical Technologist

Ethics Essay Topics on Business

  • Ethics Report on Panasonic Corporation
  • Case Study on The ACS Code of Morals
  • Differences in Business Ethics Among East Asian Countries
  • Business Ethics in Sports
  • Business Ethics in Different Countries, and Its Importance
  • Selfless Service and Its Impact on Social Change
  • Challenges in Doing Business Across The Border
  • The Importance of Ethics in Advertising
  • Ethical Issues that Businesses Face
  • Profitability of Business Ethics
  • The Law and Morality in Business
  • How Ethnic Variances Effect Worldwide Business
  • The Ethical Practices in The Business Sector in the Modern Economy
  • Key Responsibilities and Code of Ethics in Engineering Profession
  • Analysis of The Code of Ethics in Walmart

Ethics Essay Topics on Environment

  • Understanding The Importance of Keeping Animals Safe
  • The Importance of Treating Animals with Respect
  • CWU and The Issue of Chimpanzee Captivity
  • The Process of Suicidal Reproduction in the Animal World
  • Analysis of The Egg Industry to Understand The Causes of The High Prices in Eggs
  • The Dangers of Zoos
  • Importance for Animals to Be Free from Harm by Humans
  • Should Animals Be Killed for The Benefit of Humans
  • Reasons Why Genetic Engineering Should Be Banned
  • What I Learned in Ethics Class: Environmental Ethics
  • Nanotechnology and Environment
  • Review of The Environmental Protection Act
  • How The Idea of Preservation of Nature Can Benefit from Environmental Ethics
  • The Relation and Controversy Between American Diet and Environmental Ethics
  • Green Technology

Work Ethics Essay Topics

  • The impact of workplace surveillance on employee privacy.
  • Ethical considerations in remote work.
  • Discrimination in the workplace.
  • An Examination of Addiction to Work in The Protestant Work Ethic
  • The Work Ethic of The Millennials
  • My Understanding of The Proper Environment in the Workplace
  • Social Responsibility & Ethics Management Program in Business
  • The Maternity Benefits Act, 1961
  • The Issue of Stealing in The Workplace
  • Chinese Work Management and Business Identity
  • Ethical Issues of Using Social Media at the Workplace
  • The Teleological Ethical Theories
  • Learning Journal on Ethical Conflicts, Environmental Issues, and Social Responsibilities
  • Social Media at Workplace: Ethics and Influence
  • Ethical Issue of Employees Stealing and Whistleblowing

Ethics Essay Topics on Philosophy

  • A Critical Analysis of Ethical Dilemmas in Education and Beyond
  • Overview of What an Ethical Dilemma is
  • The Implications of Exculpatory Language
  • Ethical Dilemmas in End-of-life Decision Making
  • What I Learned in Ethics Class: Integrating Ethics in Aviation
  • Doing What is Right is not Always Popular: Philosophy of Ethics
  • An Analysis of Public Trust and Corporate Ethics
  • Ethical Concerns of Beauty Pageants
  • Simone De Beauvoir’s Contribution to Philosophy and Ethics
  • The Impact on Decision-making and Life Choices
  • Importance and Improvement of Personal Ethics
  • Personal Ethics and Integrity in Our Life
  • Analysis of The Philosophical Concept of Virtue Ethics
  • Understanding Moral Action
  • How to Become a Gentleman
  • A Call for Emphasis on Private Morality and Virtue Teaching
  • A Positive Spin on Ethical Marketing in The Gambling Industry
  • An Overview of The Ethical Dilemma in a Personal Case
  • Bioethical Principles and Professional Responsibilities
  • Ethical Considerations in Counseling Adolescents
  • Ethical Dilemma in College Life
  • Ethical Theories: Deontology and Utilitarianism
  • Issues of Fraud, Ethics, and Regulation in Healthcare
  • Navigating Ethical Dimensions in Education
  • The Ethical Landscape of Advanced Technology
  • Research Paper on The Ethical Issue of Publishing The Pentagon Papers
  • The Trolley Problem: an Ethical Dilemma
  • Analysis of "To The Bitter End" Case Study
  • Ethical Theories: Virtue and Utilitarian Ethics
  • Feminist Ethics: Deconstructing Gender and Morality
  • Is Deadpool a Hero Research Paper
  • My Moral and Ethical Stance
  • The Concept of Ethics and The Pursuit of Happiness
  • The Ethics of Graphic Photojournalism
  • The Quintessence of Justice: a Critical Evaluation of Juror 11's Role
  • The Wolf of Wall Street: Ethics of Greed
  • The Importance of Ethics in Our Daily Life
  • Analysis of The Envy Emotion and My Emotional Norms
  • The Topic of Animal Rights in Relation to The Virtue Theory

Ethics Essay Topics on Science

  • The Cause of Cancer as Illustrated in a Bioethics Study
  • Bioethical Issues Related to Genetic Engineering
  • Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research
  • The Role of Ethics Committees in Biomedical Research
  • The Legal and Bioethical Aspects of Personalised Medicine Based on Genetic Composition
  • The Ethics of Clinical Trials: Ensuring Informed Consent and Patient Safety
  • Ethical Challenges in Neuroethics: Brain Privacy and Cognitive Liberty
  • Gene Therapy: Ethical Dilemmas and Social Implications
  • Overview of Bioethics The Trigger of Contentious Moral Topics
  • The Progression of Bioethics and Its Importance
  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Medical Ethics
  • The Drawbacks of Free Healthcare: Economic, Quality, and Access Issues
  • Bioethical Issues in My Sister’s Keeper: Having Your Autonomy Taken to Save Your Sibling
  • The Ethics of Biotechnology in Agriculture: GMOs and Food Safety
  • Ethical Considerations in Organ Donation and Transplantation

List of Ethical Questions for Students

Exploring ethical topics is crucial for students to develop critical thinking and moral reasoning. Here is a comprehensive list of ethical questions for students to discuss and debate. These topics cover a wide range of issues, encouraging thoughtful discussion and deeper understanding.

Good Ethical Questions for Discussion

  • Is it ethical to eat meat?
  • Should parents have the right to genetically modify their children?
  • Is it ever acceptable to lie?
  • Should schools monitor students' social media activity?
  • Is it ethical to use animals in scientific research?
  • Should companies be allowed to patent human genes?
  • Is it right to impose cultural values on others?
  • Should the government regulate internet content?
  • Is it ethical to have designer babies?
  • Should wealthy countries help poorer nations?
  • Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos?
  • Should there be limits to freedom of speech?
  • Is it right to use artificial intelligence in decision-making?
  • Should we prioritize privacy over security?
  • Is it ethical to manipulate emotions through advertising?

Moral Questions to Debate

  • Is genetic modification in humans ethical?
  • Should vaccinations be mandatory?
  • Is government surveillance justified?
  • Is it ethical to use performance-enhancing drugs in sports?
  • Is wealth inequality morally acceptable?
  • Should education be free for everyone?
  • Is it ethical to allow autonomous robots to make life-and-death decisions?

Ethical topics and questions are a rich field for exploration and discussion. Examining these issues, we can better understand the moral principles that guide our actions and decisions. Whether you're writing an essay or preparing for a debate, this comprehensive list of ethical topics and questions will help you engage with complex moral dilemmas and develop your critical thinking skills.

history thesis examples

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

moral essay prompts

Academic Writing Success

13 Thought-Provoking Personal Narrative Prompts

by Suzanne Davis | Sep 12, 2019 | Writing Essays and Papers | 2 comments

To be a person is to have a story to tell. –Isak Dinesen

What stories are within you?  A personal narrative is a story from your life. So, it is simple to write.  Maybe.  If you come up with an experience you’re dying to share–it is easy to get started. But, it isn’t always easy to think of an idea for a personal narrative.  So, I put together a list of 13 personal narrative prompts to help you find a compelling story you long to write about.

The idea of longing to write it is important because personal narratives need to show readers what your experience was like.  Desire to write inspires you to put more effort into your narrative’s description, character development, and plot.  Sounds a lot like writing a fictional story doesn’t it? Both are narratives, they need to engage your readers and show them something unique.

Personal narrative writing shows settings, people, actions, and feelings. When you write a personal narrative, you describe a story so that your reader sees, feels, and understands what you experienced.    When you write a personal narrative, you describe a story so that your reader sees, feels and understands what you experienced. Click To Tweet

You show (don’t tell) readers a personal story .  Check out the post “How to Master Writing a Compelling Personal Narrative Essay” https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/writing-a-personal-narrative/   to see how to use the show don’t tell approach in writing personal narratives.

Finding an engaging personal narrative prompt will help you discover a memorable essay.  Let’s find the right topic for you.

13 Personal Narrative Prompts

One of the best ways to show a personal story is to select a small episode or anecdote from your life and dig deep into it.  These 13 personal narrative prompts help you find a great essay topic.

#1 Favorite School Memory

Write a story about your favorite school memory.  Who was there? Where was it?  How did it happen?  How does it end?  Focus on one single event.  For example, if you played the violin in school you could tell a story about playing the violin in a concert.  Or if you played on a soccer team, you could tell the story of your tryout.

# 2 Worst School Memory

This is the opposite of #1.  Select a memory that is focused on a terrible situation.  What triggered that situation and what happened?  What was the result?  For example, this could be a situation where you were bullied.  Describe what happened, and how it ended for you.  Did anyone defend you, or help you?  Or did the bullying continue?

#3 Frightening Story

Write a story about a scary or frightening moment in your life.  What happened?  How was it scary?  Are you still frightened?  Fear is a strong emotion and it motivates people to keep reading and find out what followed.  Some examples of frightening moments are being trapped in a cave, lost in the woods or inside an old house with strange noises, or a traumatic event.  A frightening experience could also be any personal event where you didn’t feel safe and were afraid something terrible was going to happen.

# 4 “Just Between Friends” 

Write a story about something that happened between you and a friend.  Is it something important you experienced together?  Did your friend do something to help you?  Did that person hurt you?  Or did you do something to help your friend?  Did you hurt a friend?  Some ideas for this topic are an activity or event you both participated in, something you both started, a great act of kindness, a sacrifice one of you made to help the other.  It could also be something where you betrayed your friend, or your friend betrayed you.

#5 Family Story

This is similar to the topic of friendship except in this case it’s something that happened within your family.  What occurred, who was there, and what did you do? Is there an important funny, sad, or happy event in your family?  Did you do something important or special with your family?   Some examples of this topic are the birth of someone in your family, the death of a loved one, or something fun you did with your parents, siblings or grandparents, etc.

Personal Narrative Prompt--The Journey

Write a story of the best, strangest, or worst thing that happened to you on a vacation or trip to another place.  Focus on one event or experience. One mistake writers make with this essay idea is they describe an entire travel experience, and that isn’t interesting to your readers.  Some ideas for this writing prompt are getting lost in a city, being pickpocketed on a trip, or visiting a historical site.

#7 First Love

First loves are powerful and vivid stories.  Consider a story about how you met that person or a significant memory between you. This could be something wonderful, funny, or even terrible,  If the relationship is over how did it end?  Were you heartbroken?  These stories, or a story about any important relationship, leave an imprint on us.

#8 Success Story

Write a story about something you accomplished.  Describe what you did to achieve success, and how you reached your goal.  Were there obstacles you had to overcome? This is a tricky essay topic because sometimes people focus on the feelings of success or the final achievement rather than the story of how they succeeded.  Some ideas for this topic are to write about winning an event, earning an honor, confronting a personal challenge, or getting over a phobia.

#9 Personal Failure

Write about how you failed to do or failed to achieve something.  Describe what you tried to do, how you failed, and what you gained/learned from it.  Everyone fails at something.  Your readers understand the feeling of failure.  Some people connect with these personal narratives more than stories of success because they empathize with you. People learn a lot through failure, so when you write this type of story, hint or convey what you learned from failing.

#10 Accident

Write a story about an accident you caused or an accident that happened to you.  This could be negative as in a car accident or maybe it’s an accident of good fortune.  Describe how the accident occurred, who was involved, and how it ended.  Was it a bicycle accident?  How did it happen?  Did someone get hurt?

#11 Unresolved Experience

Personal Narrative Prompt--The Unresolved Experience

Describe something that happened to you, but where there’s no resolution.  What was the experience and how did it occur? What don’t you understand or know about the experience? Then, instead of having a resolution to the story, convey how you feel about not knowing what happened.

#12 An International or National Event or Incident

Write a personal story describing how you acted, witnessed, or responded to a significant national or international event or incident.  Did you play in the Olympics, or join a protest?  Did you survive a natural disaster?  What was your role in this circumstance?  What did you do?  For example, if you were in a hurricane describe what happened, who you were with, and how you survived.

#13 Change the World Experience

One of the best experiences I had in my life was creating and organizing a family literacy program for public schools. There are several stories within that experience I could write. If you were a volunteer for an organization or participated in a service project, think about what happened.  Was there a moment that changed everything? What occurred? Did any of those stories change you, your community, or another person?  These stories can be very moving because they have impacted you, what you believe, and how you see or view others. 

Choose a Personal Narrative Prompt and Write

The most important factor to consider in a personal narrative is yourself.  Choose an idea for a personal narrative that intrigues you.  If your narrative bores you, it’ll bore readers.  You want to write a descriptive personal story with vivid characters, actions, and emotions.

Also, select a story you want to share with others.  You’re revealing not just what happened to you, but also a piece of yourself.  Is your personal story something you want people to know?

It’s your story .  You decide what to write and who reads it.  Then write it well.

What is your favorite personal narrative topic?  Please share it below! 

Great prompts, Suzanne! I especially liked #10 the unresolved experience. Very thought provoking. These prompts would also be great for personal journaling.

Terri, thank you. You’re right. These writing prompts would work well with personal journaling. I’m glad you liked #10. It’s one of my favorites!

[…] So which descriptive essay prompt inspires you?  And if you want more creative writing prompts, check out my blog post, “13 Thought-Provoking Personal Narrative Prompts” https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/13-thought-provoking-personal-narrative-prompts/ . […]

Tutorpreneur Hero Award

moral essay prompts

http://becomeanonlinetutor.com/tutorpreneur-hero/

SSL Certificate Seal

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

Privacy Overview

221 Ethical Dilemma Essay Topics & Examples

An ethical dilemma essay has become an essential part of education for many professions that involve working with people. Below, we’ve collected topics for writing a paper on this subject.

🏆 Best Ethical Dilemma Essay Examples & Topics

📌 simple & easy ethical dilemma essay topics, 💡 most interesting ethical dilemma topics to write about, 🎓 good research topics about ethical dilemma, ✍️ ethical dilemma essay topics for college, ❓ questions for ethical dilemmas.

The concepts of ethics and moral dilemmas have originated long ago. They heavily influence the process of decision-making in a variety of fields, from social work and healthcare to a simple office workplace. Thus, you have to approach the ethical dilemma topic carefully. Writing a paper on the phenomenon should rely on locating the available evidence and citing the latest sources.

In this article, our team has gathered titles for your academic essay. Besides, with our tips and ethical dilemma paper examples, you will understand how to research and write it.

Emotional intelligence essays are an essential part of education for many professions that involve working with people, such as managers and teachers.

The concept is somewhat new, having been first introduced half a century ago and popularized at the end of the last century.

As such, you have to approach the topic carefully and rely on the latest available evidence to avoid citing outdated ideas.

Furthermore, as with any psychology-related topic, you should exhibit general caution and avoid the numerous pitfalls associated with the study of the human mind.

This article will help you understand what you should or should not do to write an excellent paper.

Here are some further tips for your work:

  • Psychology relies on scenarios where a person’s behavior can be as free of outside factors as possible. Toddler observation and scholarly experiments with carefully selected conditions are excellent examples of such situations, and you should use them to ground your descriptions in reality.
  • Be sure to adhere to academic guidelines, avoiding the use of first person, calls to action, and other additions that do not match the format. This approach is useful in general, as it applies to most essays and will be beneficial for future reports and similar submissions.
  • Write an emotional intelligence essay introduction and conclusion at the end of your paper. They make your work easier to read by giving it structure and direction. The introduction should contain a description of the topic and a thesis statement, and the conclusion should sum up the main points.
  • Try to set a central theme and address it in your essay instead of providing a general overview of the topic. There are many emotional intelligence essay questions that can be answered in considerable detail. As such, you should concentrate on one of them without getting distracted and sidetracked.

Come to IvyPanda for ethical dilemma essay examples as well as various titles that will help you begin your writing process!

  • An Ethical Dilemma Faced by Nestle: Case Analysis International staffing and development help Nestle to organize human resources in accordance with the needs of the company and its strategic goals.
  • BP Oil Company Ethical Dilemma The damages caused by the spill originated from the effects of the oil on the environment and the damaging effects of the cleanup activities.
  • Ethical Dilemma of Child Abuse In the above example, a nurse has to apply rational judgment to analyze the extent and threats when making decisions in the best interest of the victim of child abuse.
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Criminal Justice If one is to discuss the issue with the senior management of the organization in which the crime occurred, there is a high chance that the issue will not be taken as seriously due to […]
  • The Ford Pinto Case and Ethical Dilemma Lee Iacocca, the Ford company’s president, was accused of disregarding the need to improve the safety of Pinto cars due to the increased cost.
  • “Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice” by Pollock If hunting is the primary means of survival of a particular society, the euthanasia of the elderly and the sick can be deemed acceptable.
  • Early Childhood Education Center’s Ethical Dilemma Therefore, it is necessary to involve different people in the discussion of this case because there are several ethical responsibilities applied to a new child, the children of the class, the staff, parents, and the […]
  • Family Therapy: Ethical Dilemmas One of the ethical dilemmas in the case is that of deciding whether or not to disclose the information about Breen’s relationship with her boyfriend to her parents.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Example, Problem, and Solution Secondly, I was supposed to show other employees that no one is above the policies of this company and if anyone commits a mistake the individual must be punished.
  • Public Administration Ethical Dilemma and Theories Smith should take the responsibility of ensuring that the needs of the majority are upheld since the welfare of the community, and the organization is of importance.
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Counselling and Treatment Methods The case of Brett has become an ethical issue based on the following; questions are revolving around what information can be released to the parents and parents request to review the diagnosis since no procedure […]
  • Cultural Clash in the Board Room: An Ethical Dilemma Among Top Management in Almond China The first option he has is to resign from the company because he says that one of the reasons that motivated him to join the company is the values and standards the company up holds.
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Social Workers’ Practice In order to resolve the emerging dilemma, it is necessary to identify the involved stakeholders, model two possible courses of events, evaluate the implications of each and come to a conclusion regarding the preferential option […]
  • Ethical Dilemma in Nursing Case Study Today, being a nurse is associated with a number of complexities due to the need to comply with diverse obligations in social, political, and healthcare segments.
  • Samsung’s Ethical Dilemma of Child Labor The paper will critically analyze the ethical dimensions of the dilemma from the perspective of the utilitarian ethical theory. It will be argued that according to the fundamental principles of the theory, the company’s behavior […]
  • Ethical Dilemma: The Missing Needle Protector Health care professionals and patients have to develop a level of trust to support the recovery process for patients and the status of the hospital.
  • Richard Angelo: A Serial Killer and His Ethical Dilemma The convicted claimed he made the injections to cause crises to be able to revive patients and become a hero in front of his colleagues.
  • Ethical Dilemmas Facing Teachers The proponents of this system claim that it is authentic and offers a first hand experience to the learners. The needs in this system include having a strong foundation in the areas that the knowledge […]
  • Abortion: An Ethical Dilemma and Legal Position The core concerns in the controversy are whether women should have the right to decide to terminate a pregnancy or whether the unborn child has the right to life.
  • Ethical Dilemma With the Bank Teller On the other hand, the bank calls for honesty in service and client protection, and given that the teller took the money without permission from an inactive account belonging to a customer it is professionally […]
  • Arranged Marriage and Its Ethical Dilemma His family would be happy to see him married to the person they chose, and his father would save his reputation.
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare Institutions The interviewee outlined the major strategies used to handle ethical dilemmas in the healthcare facility. The supervisor will be required to assess the impact of the ethical or legal dilemma.
  • Ethical Dilemma in Journalism A good example is the clause in the code of ethics that states that reporters are supposed to show reverence to the privacy and dignity of the public.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Counselors Engaging in Relations with Clients They should keep a boundary in the way they relate to the clients to ensure that their relationship with the client does no harm or pose potential harm to the clients.
  • Ethical Dilemma of Patient Care Delivery However, the administration of more pain depressants is likely to escalate the addiction problem while the denial of the medication will aggravate the patient’s suffering.
  • The Acme Title Pawn Employee’s Ethical Dilemma While the situation is controversial, it can be stated that Joe should change the workplace and explain to his family the reasons for such a decision.
  • Ethical Dilemmas: An Analysis of Two Cases In the case of IVF, such a procedure is prohibited according to Joe and Mary’s religion which means that they must not engage in it.
  • An Ethical Dilemma and Lapse in Business An ethical dilemma and lapse differ in the people’s motivation driving decisions. Meanwhile, an ethical lapse occurs due to an unethical conversation involving selective quoting and misleading audiences.
  • An Ethical Dilemma – Religious Belief Versus Medical Practice In the first step, the ethical dilemma is between the principle of beneficence in the treatment of meningitis and the principle of autonomy with respect to the decision of the parents.
  • Joe Smith and Bill Bateman: Ethical Dilemma Analysis Indeed, their cooperation is attributed with the features of gray zone business conduct where the boundaries between the personal and the business issues are blurred.
  • Ethical Dilemma & Glyphosate: Post Foods Company In this case, some experts believe that it is a vivid instance of the unethical business practices, as Post Foods’s consumers do not expect to find any pesticides in the products that are overtly advertised […]
  • The Ethical Dilemma: Siemens In relation to the above dilemmas, the bounded bribery applies to the psychological tendency of the conspirators to fulfill selfish interests of self enrichment at the expense of the shareholders’ goals and objectives.
  • The Unocal Firm’s Ethical Dilemma in Burma The oil corporation was eager to investigate oil potential in Burma, a place that the rest of the world had abandoned due to several problems.
  • Truth vs. Loyalty: Tinkov’s Ethical Dilemma Moreover, his pacifist text and critique of the Russian aggression and dictatorship made Tinkov’s life unsafe. He chose truthfulness and freedom from greed over political loyalty and the well-being of his business.
  • Hyundai Dispatch Workers and Ethical Dilemma According to the workers, the leadership of Hyundai was responsible for the safety of the employees at the workplace. The representatives of the temporary employees occupied the company requiring changes in the employment terms.
  • Global Poverty: The Ethical Dilemma Unfortunately, a significant obstacle to such global reforms is that many economic systems are based on the concept of inequality and exploitation.
  • Ethical Dilemmas Surrounding Self-Driving Cars The video taken showed that the driver in the car was shocked and could not do anything to save the woman.
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Workplace Analysis Therefore, the main purpose of this project is to explore the types of dilemmas and the factors that affect the workers response to the dilemmas in a workplace.
  • The Ethical Dilemma in Nursing One of the most common ethical dilemmas that advanced practice nurses face is the lack of consent on the part of the patient.
  • Possible Solutions to the Ethical Dilemmas This varied, different group of the workforce is being required to work harmoniously jointly in the strength of teamwork and respect for the advantage of the company and the public they deal with.
  • Ethical Dilemmas in the Nursing Field As a human, I felt that the safety of the lady took precedence; hence I could not allow her to walk alone. As a nurse leader, I would encourage my staff to always put the […]
  • Ethical Dilemma in “The Reader” Film by S. Daldry She is surprised and confused by the hypocrisy of the judges and her co-defendants, who act as if they do not remember that period and as if they were not part of that society.
  • Ethical Dilemma and Environmental Surveillance Companies, for example, Planet Labs and Digital Globe have dispatched many miniaturized satellites in the most recent year with the objective of recording the status of the whole earth in real-time.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Swimming Pool Building This is evident when the contractor conducts the private work of the mayor without any delay, as well as the birthday gift that the contractor advances to the mayor as a friend.
  • Domestic Violence Ethical Dilemmas in Criminal Justice Various ethical issues such as the code of silence, the mental status of the offender, and limited evidence play a vital role in challenging the discretion of police officers in arresting the DV perpetrators.
  • “Ethical Dilemmas in MNCs’ International Staffing Policies” by Banai and Sama The paper assumes that in the age of the rise of global international corporations international staffing policies acquire the top priority because of their impact on outcomes.
  • Ethical Dilemma in Law Enforcement: Confidentiality and Misuse of Information Additionally, Badpenny’s choice to reveal private information was affected by the organizational structure of the University City Police Department and the Grantham County Sheriff’s Office.
  • Ethical Dilemma of Stopping City Authority In this scenario, the ethical dilemma is balancing the duty to enforce the law with the potential harm that could be caused by a public arrest of a fellow officer.
  • Ethical Dilemma Analysis: Criminal Justice Case The publicity of the case added another layer of complexity to the decision, as either verdict would alienate a part of the population.
  • The Ethical Dilemma of Navigating Disagreements in Nursing Care Disputes arise when nurses have different opinions on the type, frequency, and effectiveness of specific care options for a patient due to the differences in their scope of practice and focus.
  • Ethical Dilemma in Healthcare: Privacy and the Right to Know Moreover, the staff cannot ignore the fact that Tina is likely to be wrong in her decision not to reveal the diagnosis to Victoria.
  • Ethical Dilemmas Regarding Rape and Abortion Therefore, this paper discusses the module 8 case study and related cases regarding rape and abortion, applying dialectical thinking to the module 8 case and why Mary in the case study should not undergo abortion […]
  • Hiring the Previously Convicted Cybercriminals: Ethical Dilemma The deontological theory focuses not on the consequences of an act but on the intentions and desire of a person to act for the benefit of others.
  • Ethical Dilemmas Hindering Provision of Health Services in Tanzania The strikes have always been linked to two issues: 1) the working conditions of doctors, including infrastructure, the availability of medicines, equipment, and other medical supplies, and 2) the underpayment of wages and benefits.
  • Analysis of Ethical Dilemma: Euthanasia One of these is the right to live, which includes much more than the ability to simply exist, and suggests an adherence to a minimum of quality and self-determination.
  • Researching of IT Ethical Dilemmas In addition, there are Notified Data Breach Laws that oblige businesses and CSPs to report the incident to the government and all users of the service and customers in the event of a data breach.
  • The Legal and Ethical Dilemma in Dental Health The objective side of the crime in the case of silencing the incompetence of a colleague in dentistry is expressed in the failure to fulfill the duties of the statement to the appropriate authorities.
  • Ethical Dilemmas: Cases Analysis In the case of Joe and Marie, natural law theory also demonstrates that ethically the IVF procedure is morally justified for several reasons.
  • Ethical Dilemma of Parental Refusal From Children’s Vaccination Kerry attempts to convince the Smiths of the relevance of vaccination in preventing infection by chronic diseases. Autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice are ethical principles applicable in resolving the moral issue of whether or not […]
  • Ethical Dilemma of Saving Customers’ Personal Information The key point of the action was to be in line with the company’s code of ethics and, at the same time, show the wrongdoing of the colleague’s action to himself.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Gun Violence Discussion The teaching of access or locked on the presence of weapons in people for a long time is a reason for discussion.
  • Legal-Ethical Dilemma in Nursing An example of an urgent legal-ethical dilemma is the one reported and described by a practicing nurse and a patient, Marylyn.
  • Ethical Dilemma of a 2016 TV Commercial for Milk by Juhayna At the end of the ad, the creators claim that Juhayna’s milk is the best in Egypt after Dondou. The message presented in the advertisement can influence the decision of mothers to stop breastfeeding, which […]
  • Nurses’ Ethical Dilemmas in the Work Environment According to the scenario of Mr. According to the scenario of Mr.
  • The Concept of Ethical Dilemmas To evaluate this, such professionals should be subject to constant psychological and physical monitoring, observing the degree of their suitability for work.
  • Ethical Dilemma of Abortion Triumphalism In this issue and other matters, the affected person’s experience may not be a determining factor for the expression of opinion but is unique.
  • Self-Determination and Ethical Dilemma of Assisted Suicide The reason for both euthanasia and assisted suicide, the difference between which is in who actively ends the life, the doctor or the patient, is ending unbearable pain.
  • Ethical Dilemma Regarding Forced Vaccination It seems that people are already used to restrictive measures from the government and have accepted the need to use masks in public places, but the introduction of compulsory vaccination and the resulting bans proved […]
  • Ethical Dilemma: The Case Study Thus, a difficult dilemma emerged for Ali, who by eating the meal would violate his religious obligations and by refusing it would show disrespect to the hosts, and especially the mother of the colleague.
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Public Health Such an action could be unwelcomed by the health agencies, and their employees, but, at the same time, the research needs to depict an accurate analysis of the performance of the health programs.
  • The Ethical Dilemma in Guantanamo Bay Prison in the USA In Guantanamo Bay, it is the role of soldiers to ensure justice and protection of human rights. However, the housing of these prisoners and the condition of the Guantanamo Bay detainee camp is ethical.
  • Ethical Dilemma and Ethics and Honest Reporting And adhering to the principle of rights, professions have an ethical duty to evaluate the consequences of a particular decision they make in relation to the rights of other people.
  • The Ethical Dilemma on Abortion From the perspective of the Christian philosophy, a person is a product and manifestation of the love of God, hence the sanctity of any human life.
  • Ethical Dilemma at Abura Petrol Station He felt grateful to his friend for offering a job and wanted to meet the hopes of the petrol network’s owner.
  • Civil-Military Tension as Ethical Dilemma The first is to accept the situation as it is without questions, strictly following the orders and observing the limitations of their inferior position as consultants to the government.
  • Aspects of Media Ethical Dilemmas While all three sources have a goal of informing the audience of Burrous’s passing, the extent to which they unveil the details differs depending on the context, the source’s relation to the anchor, and the […]
  • Ethical Dilemma: Benefiting from High-Conflicting Personality The primary reason for the potential ignorance of one’s wrongdoing is the positive consequences of their actions that outweigh the total harm they bring.
  • Ethical Dilemma. Legal Protection for Employee On the other hand, the leaving colleague might have a change of heart and remain with the original company, so revealing the plans to the boss will affect his opportunities.
  • Abortion as Moral and Ethical Dilemma Despite the conflicting approaches to solving the moral and ethical dilemma of abortion, experts agree that it is possible to reduce the severity of the problem with the help of more excellent sexual education of […]
  • Ethical Dilemma Analysis: Easyriders v. Hannigan Hunnigan represents the case of California motorcyclists filing a suit against the Commissioner of California Highway Patrol for the purpose of permanent injunction against stopping motorcyclists on the ground of officer’s subjective opinion that helmets […]
  • Contemporary Ethical Reflection: Ethical and Legal Dilemmas in Health Care The counties also blamed the state for being ignorant of the problem of adequate financing of the Medicaid program on supporting the poor and disables.
  • Ethical Dilemmas in the Hiibel Legal Case in Nevada The search had a reasonable suspicion since, during the investigation of the assault, Hiibel was within the area of search, and when he was asked his name, he failed to answer the police officer.
  • Baby and Mother: End of Life Ethical Dilemma To sum the above mentioned, it should be mentioned that patients, physicians, and caregivers face a lot of dilemmas in regards to life situations.
  • Unethical Practices: Michael Jackson, Ethical Dilemma The case between the people and the king of pop, Michael Jackson, elicited two main ethical concerns: the passion of the prosecutor to convict the defendant and the possibility of the prosecutor to be an […]
  • Noting the Error in Projections: Scott Bestor’s Ethical Dilemma The second ethical issue is balancing the expectations of the management and the consequences of reporting the error in projections. Scott is aware that reporting the error to the management might result in disciplinary action […]
  • Behavior of a Police Officer Within an Ethical Dilemma First and foremost, one should note that one of the most typical ethical concerns in the relevant field is the cases of discrimination on the ground of the national origin.
  • Ethical Dilemma in Nursing Practice The psychologist can help the patient deal with the emotional aspect of pain. These skills empower the patient to cope with the pain and the side effects of treatment.
  • Accounting: Ethical Dilemmas Equally, I will consider the repercussions of agreeing to the command. I will also consider being a whistleblower and report the matter to the relevant authorities.
  • Ethical Dilemma in Nursing Finding a solution to the ethical issues in Max’s case was important because failure to do so would have different consequences for the patient, the parents, and the caregivers.
  • Moral, Ethical and Legal Dilemmas of Suicide Since it is a duty of medical practitioners to treat and care for patients, it would be immoral to allow a patient to commit suicide.
  • Asthma and Medications: The Ethical Dilemma in Treating Children One of the major causes of dilemma, however, is the inability to manage and treat the condition in children under the age of 7 years due to ethical dilemma.
  • Ethical and Moral Dilemmas in Accounting and Business Entities This may paint a wrong picture of the actual position of the company and may lead to collapsing if irregularities are not addressed as in the case of Enron.
  • Ethical Dilemma for Sam Torres In this case, it is possible to distinguish several ethical issues: 1) the conflict between Sam’s professional principles and his private interest such as desire to retain his job; 2) the interests of Bull & […]
  • Ethical Dilemmas That Practitioners Face in the Company According to the findings of the commission, it was discovered that ethical issues affecting the police body has to do with process corruption, issue of gratuities and improper associations, substance abuse, fraudulent practices, assaults and […]
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Business Processes Henry on the other hand is a manager and we are not told whether his organization is prepared to allow all staff to make use of such offers as that which Claire has provided in […]
  • Virtue Ethics: One Way to Resolve an Ethical Dilemma Other members of the usability team argue that although there was a clear loophole that the external members can choose to exploit so that they can be released from the work that they need to […]
  • Ethical Dilemmas Within Organisations During the COVID-19 The moral analysis of the acts of the management of Britannia Hotel can also be analyzed based on the ethics of duties with an emphasis on the individual.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Parental Notification The main issue that is to be addressed is that the boy asks the counselor not to notify his parents about the drug problem, but is it ethical to keep this information confidential?
  • Abortion: Ethical Dilemma in Pope John Paul II’s View This paper tries to examine the abortion ethical dilemma from the lens of the Pope’s thoughts and proposals. Towards the end of the 20th century, new ideas and thoughts began to emerge in different parts […]
  • LinkedIn Ethical Dilemma The candidates most likely to be recruited by the employers using the LinkedIn website are the premium account holders whose applications appear at the top of the applications pile.
  • The Ethical Dilemma: Aborting Babies With Handicaps The standard for such a condition is the elimination of the fetus and the doctor prescribed it as the only solution that would save the other of the twins.
  • NASW Code of Ethics: Social Workers and Ethical Dilemmas As part of my action, I accessed her files and changed the date that she was to leave the facility by adding a month to it. However, I had acted professionally because it was in […]
  • Ethical Dilemmas Overview and Analysis This student should be advised to report the matter to a teacher so that the owner of the iPod can be traced.
  • Resolving Ethical Dilemmas Considering that this may be an argument between younger and older generations, one can argue that there is a significant difference between the way that both house owners and the person that wants to buy […]
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Mental Health Treatment Treatment of inmates with psychological problems is a delicate and sensitive process because such inmates are not in the normal state to reason.
  • Empress Luxury Lines: Ethical Dilemma The dilemma infringes on Antonio’s principles and values because he thinks that the conduct of the company is not by the insurance company’s policies and principles and that, the management team should face the law.
  • The Ethical Dilemma by Pureco Corporation As the Pureco manager, I have the obligation of maximizing the stakeholders’ welfare, and considering that the company had already invested quite a huge sum of money in the establishment and marketing of the Newpen […]
  • Ethical Dilemma Concepts on Example Phoebe’s Case In order to protect her rights, the council should not interfere with her applications on the basis of what Phoebe did. In addition to punishment, she should be made to repeat the assignment and submit […]
  • Ethical Dilemmas: Morgan Brown Real Estate Company In the case of the latter ethical dilemma, it would be more effective and honest for this particular company to accept the fact that favouring one client over the other could lead to a tarnished […]
  • The Tobacco Marketing Ethical Dilemma The epidemiological evidence of the deadly tobacco effect in 1964 set the precedence for the mistrust between the tobacco production stakeholders and the public interest groups, that has led to long battle between the two […]
  • Ethical Dilemma of Law Enforcement Code of Ethics Police officers are the example for citizens of the country which they serve, and they should correspond to the position which is occupied.
  • Organ Donation: Ethical Dilemmas An example of an ethical dilemma surrounding the procedure is the case of rich man vs.poor man, or rather, the case of a person who can afford to buy an organ on the black market […]
  • Ethical Dilemma in Teacher Career One was the departmental association vice president and the professor in the university; he was also the advisor of a student that had a hard relationship with one’s colleague the professor of physics.
  • Dementia: Ethical Dilemmas Opting to withdraw the tube may lead to the physiological deprivation of the patient and as a result, the worst-case scenario is the death of the patient.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Solving a Situation, Decision Theory Under business ethics, this is a form of art which is said to examine the ethical principles or even the moral problems which might tend to occur as a result of running the business and […]
  • Ethical Dilemma in the Psychologists Career Therefore, the dilemma that I faced as a school psychologist dealing with the psychological issues of Ayesha has been the ethical choice needed to be taken between what is good and what is wrong that […]
  • Ethical Dilemma in Mental Health Patient Care My ethical response to the situation was that Catherine should only be attended to by the female staff especially when she was naked and that only the female staff needed to have access to the […]
  • Google Inc.’s Historical Ethical Dilemmas It is sad to say that various forms of unethical behavior are common in the workforce, and specific analysis is required to determine the impact of this phenomenon on the business industry.
  • Performance-Enhancing Drugs Use as Ethical Dilemma According to Christian beliefs, Paul should refuse to partake in the team’s abuse of PEDs because it offers him and his teammates an unfair advantage over other athletes.
  • Medical Ethical Dilemmas: Taking a Stand Morality is the idea of correctness and rightness that is constructed on people’s experiences and applied to the life of society.
  • Ethical Advertising: Dilemmas and Resolutions One of the core aspects that should not be overlooked is that the number of competitors is going to increase significantly, and it is entirely possible that the company will suffer because of such policies.
  • Post-Dated Cheque Ethical Dilemma in Accounting First, the recipients of the delayed check will lose interest corresponding to the duration of the delay. In this scenario, Tabitha will be held responsible for the unethical actions and the incurrence of losses by […]
  • Wasta (Nepotism) Ethical Dilemma at the Workplace Moreover, with the present social costs in our society that have arisen through the use of wasta, it is impossible to justify the use of wasta in hiring and performing business transactions.
  • Ethical Dilemma on the Company Valuation Mistake I could inform my team and the company boards of the said mistake; I could inform the team but keep the company in the dark, or I could ignore the mistake altogether.
  • Flight 93 Incident and Ethical Dilemma This paper evaluates the ethical standing of this question from a utilitarian point of view to establish the rightness or wrongness of the decision to shoot down the plane before it crashed.
  • Police Corruption and Citizen’s Ethical Dilemma There are three key stakeholders in the given situation, which are the policemen, who set the terms; the father, who is to take the pivoting decision; and the family, who depends on the decision which […]
  • Poverty in America: An Ethical Dilemma In contrast, a considerable percentage of the populations believe the society has the moral obligation to eradicate poverty, and thus, they hold the view that the solution to poverty reduction lies in the socioeconomic policies.
  • Ethical Dilemma Involving a Social Worker As a social worker, I have to decide whether to support the community group, which is unanimously opposed to the decision of the housing authorities to rent to the local mental health department to establish […]
  • Environmental Protection Agency’s Ethical Dilemma It is trying to find ways of meeting the demands of the new administration but in a way that will not compromise the need to protect the environment.
  • Physician-Assisted Dying: Legal and Ethical Dilemma The case study relates to the right of a patient to die in various ways. To begin with, terminally ill people have the right to choose whether to live, or be allowed to pass on.
  • Ethical Dilemmas in the “21” Movie At the beginning of the movie, we mistakenly take his attitude for granted, but the development of the plot discloses the negative consequences of the Professor’s actions.
  • Suicidal Ideation as Ethical Dilemma in Nursing According to the ethical guidelines that govern the profession of a nurse and other health care providers, their primary role is to protect life by enhancing the status of wellness of the patient.
  • California Micro Devices Company: Ethical Dilemma In 1989, Price Waterhouse, the firm’s chief auditor, observed that the company was engaging in questionable accounting practices and business dealings.
  • ProTech Company’s Ethical Dilemma According to the analysis of the data performed by Staci, the company seems to be having a high potential for growth over the next half-decade.
  • Ethical Dilemma in Business Communication Today This paper explores this dilemma in terms of the extent to which a firm may abide by the ethical provisions against the backdrop of the heightening competition.
  • Patient’s Secret Revelation: Ethical Dilemma She had to choose whether to hide the information, which she had received from a cancer patient and which was relevant to the treatment, from other nurses and doctors or to reveal it despite the […]
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Prison’s Research The present paper aims to discuss the applicability of confidentiality and privacy provisions to prison research by addressing both the general rules regarding confidentiality of information in research and the specific considerations that apply to […]
  • The Right to Die: Legal and Ethical Dilemma Consequently, the primary goal of the paper is to discover the freedoms of a patient, specifically, the right to die with the help of a controversial and confusing case of Mrs.
  • Teacher’s Ethical Dilemma and Legal Responsibilities However, she is legally obligated not to leak exams to her students in any way because that would defeat the very purpose of the exams.
  • A Compliance Officer Ethical Dilemma According to the compliance officer that was interviewed for this project, the SMAA program anticipated the high cost or unnecessary expenditures that are going to affect the reimbursement process if the physicians and other health […]
  • HBOS Plc Company’s Ethical Dilemma The ethical dilemma in the case is that the top management of the company used complex nature of the financial statements and the weaknesses in the accounting standards to manipulate the financial records with an […]
  • Employee’s Role in Ethical Dilemma Jan is aware of the possible layoffs at JLT that could affect Steve, and she knows the expenses that Steve, unaware of the resolution by the leadership, is about to make in building a house […]
  • Ethical Dilemma: Political Involvement in Abortion The development of medicine brought the issue to the fore in the late 19th century. Therefore, it is but natural that it is the right of a woman to make the choice.
  • KLM Company Responsibilities Ethical Dilemma To ensure that the expansion plan remained alive, the director suggested that a small team of employees should be a commission to start surveying the new market to identify the location where the firm would […]
  • Medical Error Disclosure: Ethical Dilemma The topic in question was chosen due to the obvious conflict between the interests of the patient and the population, in general, which medical ethics supposedly protects, and the interests of the provider, who is […]
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Rural Communities The fact that the rural area is different from the urban one has resulted in the creation of rural criminology. The ethical dilemmas that can arise in the process of working in rural areas for […]
  • Ethical Dilemma in the Workplace Her partner is adamant, which means she should overlook the guidelines and influence the audit to reflect an outcome that will be good for both her career and the company.
  • SuperCom Company Ethical Dilemma This section of the paper shows that the lack of informed consent, failure to report the ethical issue to authorities, and integrity issues are the possible ethical pitfalls in the case study.
  • Livestrong and Apple Companies Ethical Dilemmas The USADA probe against Lance Armstrong was not in any way related to the work of the Foundation and its mission for cancer patients and their families.
  • Journalism Ethical Dilemma: Moral Discourse This situation resulted in an ethical dilemma for the journalist who has to decide whether to publish the article about the accident and potentially dangerous products or to take the money and remain silent.
  • “Erin Brockovich” Movie Ethical Dilemma The response of the company when it became apparent that the chromium was causing cancer was to hide the evidence regarding their operations and its connection to the increased rates of cancer.
  • Engineers and Ethical Dilemmas Recently in the Kenyan media there was a situation in which a road engineer had been approached by the government to aid in the design and construction of a road in the Langata area.
  • Solving Ethical Dilemmas in Public Relations In the case study, the main problem arises from the client’s deceit concerning the independent nature of the scientist testing the products in a bid to ensure a favorable public image of the products to […]
  • Government and Organisational Regulation: Ethical Dilemmas Costas will be sure of getting good business in the future considering the fact that Dionisis is the Mayor and he is usually in charge of most contracts.
  • Topics in Ethical Dilemma: When the Choice Becomes too Complicated To solve the given issue, the principle of consequentialist theories can be used, i.e, the rightness of the employees’ actions can be evaluated only by its results.
  • Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go” and Major Ethical Dilemmas Raised Some claim that since clones are created in a laboratory with the help of specific tools and with the number of certain genes, they cannot be regarded as humans. In conclusion, it is necessary to […]
  • International Satellite Images Ethical Dilemma Comprehensively, when the code of ethics is entrenched as part of ISI’s business culture, the company would have a seamless process for managing ethical dilemmas.
  • Reporting Inflated Numbers: Ethical Dilemma From an ethical perspective, Barbara and the management team of the company conspired to inflate the asset values, overstate the reported income, and eliminate the liabilities from the financial reporting.
  • Ethical Dilemmas in The Case of Wilma The case of Wilma, a counselor in a community agency, and Donna who is a client suffering from an anxiety disorder and panic attack is a real dilemma. The most appropriate course of action in […]
  • Ethical Dilemma: Participation in Volunteer Activities Even though Carolyn Clark was forced by her boss to volunteer her services to the charity program, she ought to realize that there is a need to help the needy in society.
  • Public Scrutiny and Accountability: An Ethical Dilemma
  • Huntington’s Disease and Ethics
  • Ethical and Integrity Dilemma Within Employees in the Global Economy
  • Discussing an Ethical Dilemma
  • Ethical and Moral Dilemma: McDonald’s
  • End of life: the medical ethical dilemma
  • Ethics in Professional Psychology: Abortion Issue
  • Drug-Testing: Utilitarian Theory Ethical Dilemma
  • Role of Codes of Conduct in Child Labour Practice
  • Ethical Dilemma in Medical Practice
  • Ethical Dilemma of Psychologist
  • Workplace Health & Safety: The Ethical Dilemmas
  • Ethical Dilemma at the CornCo Company
  • Animal Testing: Ethical Dilemmas in Business
  • Ethical Dilemma- The Fate of Opel
  • Ethical Dilemma: “A weak Dollar Versus A strong Yuan”
  • Ethical Dilemma: Heroin Prescription
  • Ethical Dilemma: the Husband’s Right to Confidential Treatment
  • Decision Making Challenges Facing Ethical Dilemma
  • Globalization and Its Impact on the Health Care System: Ethical Dilemmas of Medical Treatment
  • Ethical Dilemma in Healthcare Administration
  • Ethical Dilemma in Accepting or Rejecting of Offers
  • The Ethical Dilemma – How to Make the Right Decision
  • What Are the Examples of Ethical Dilemmas?
  • What Are Some Examples of Ethical Dilemmas in the Workplace?
  • What Are the Oil Industry and Climate Change Strategies and Ethical Dilemmas?
  • Which Scenarios Are the Examples of True Ethics Dilemmas?
  • What Are the Most Difficult Ethical Dilemmas People Can Face?
  • How Do You Identify Ethical Dilemmas?
  • What Are the Examples of Ethical Dilemmas in School?
  • What Are Some Examples of Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare?
  • What Are the Seven Major Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing Practice?
  • What Are Some Common Ethical Dilemmas?
  • What Is the Difference between Ethical Issues and Ethical Dilemmas?
  • How Does a Person Resolve Ethical Dilemmas?
  • What Are the Ethical Dilemmas in Telephone Nursing?
  • What Are the Four Core Ethical Dilemmas Social Work Is Concerned With?
  • What Is Another Term for Ethical Dilemmas?
  • What Are Nurses’ Contributions to the Resolution of Ethical Dilemmas?
  • What Are the Four Steps for Solving Ethical Dilemmas?
  • What Are the Ethical Dilemmas of War?
  • What Are the Ethical Dilemmas in the Military?
  • What Are Ethical Dilemmas in a Community?
  • What Are the Ethical Dilemmas in Various Stages of Organizational Development?
  • What Are Some Ethical Dilemmas for Students?
  • What are the Ethical Dilemmas and Dominant Moral Strategies in Games?
  • What Are the Ethical Dilemmas in a Classroom?
  • What Are Ethical Dilemmas in University?
  • Is the Marketization of Education the Ethical Dilemmas?
  • What Is the Anatomy of the Ethical Dilemmas?
  • What Ethical Dilemmas Arose Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic?
  • What Are the Ethical Dilemmas in a Cross-Cultural Context?
  • What Is the Frequency of Ethical Dilemmas in a Medical Inpatient Service?
  • Social Development Essay Topics
  • Social Justice Essay Ideas
  • Ethics Ideas
  • Social Norms Essay Ideas
  • Social Responsibility Topics
  • Capital Punishment Topics
  • Human Rights Essay Ideas
  • Euthanasia Titles
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, February 28). 221 Ethical Dilemma Essay Topics & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/ethical-dilemma-essay-examples/

"221 Ethical Dilemma Essay Topics & Examples." IvyPanda , 28 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/ethical-dilemma-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '221 Ethical Dilemma Essay Topics & Examples'. 28 February.

IvyPanda . 2024. "221 Ethical Dilemma Essay Topics & Examples." February 28, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/ethical-dilemma-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "221 Ethical Dilemma Essay Topics & Examples." February 28, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/ethical-dilemma-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "221 Ethical Dilemma Essay Topics & Examples." February 28, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/ethical-dilemma-essay-examples/.

The New York Times

The learning network | 500 prompts for narrative and personal writing.

The Learning Network - Teaching and Learning With The New York Times

500 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/03/10/can-writing-on-a-college-entrance-exam-be-properly-assessed">Related Article</a>

Updated, March 2, 2017 | We published an updated version of this list, “650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing,” as well as a companion piece, “401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing.”

Every school day since 2009 we’ve asked students a question based on an article in The New York Times. Now, five years later, we’ve collected 500 of them that invite narrative and personal writing and pulled them all together in one place (available here as a PDF ).

The categorized list below touches on everything from sports to travel, education, gender roles, video games, fashion, family, pop culture, social media and more, and, like all our Student Opinion questions , each links to a related Times article and includes a series of follow-up questions. What’s more, all these questions are still open for comment by any student 13 or older.

So dive into this admittedly overwhelming list and pick the questions that most inspire you to tell an interesting story, describe a memorable event, observe the details in your world, imagine a possibility, or reflect on who you are and what you believe.

Childhood Memories

<a href="//well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/11/a-firm-grasp-on-comfort/">Related Article</a><a href="//www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/opinion/sunday/living-with-less-a-lot-less.html"><br /></a>

  • What Was Your Most Precious Childhood Possession?
  • What Were Your Favorite Childhood Shows and Characters?
  • What Were Your Favorite Picture Books When You Were Little?
  • What Things Did You Create When You Were a Child?
  • What Places Do You Remember Fondly From Childhood?
  • Have You Ever Felt Embarrassed by Things You Used to Like?
  • Do You Wish You Could Return to Moments From Your Past?
  • Was There a Toy You Wanted as a Child but Never Got?
  • What Objects Tell the Story of Your Life?
  • What Are Your Best Sleepover Memories?
  • What’s the Best Gift You’ve Ever Given or Received?
  • What’s the Most Memorable Thing You Ever Got in the Mail?
  • What Nicknames Have You Ever Gotten or Given?

Coming of Age

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/03/01/opinion/sunday/what-you-learn-in-your-40s.html">Related Article</a>

  • What Have You Learned in Your Teens?
  • What Personal Achievements Make You Proud?
  • What Are Some Recent Moments of Happiness in Your Life?
  • What Are You Grateful For?
  • What Rites of Passage Have You Participated In?
  • What Advice Would You Give Younger Kids About Middle or High School?
  • What Can Older People Learn From Your Generation?
  • What Do Older Generations Misunderstand About Yours?

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/opinion/sunday/too-much-helicopter-parenting.html">Related Article</a>

  • Who Is Your Family?
  • What Have You and Your Family Accomplished Together?
  • What Events Have Brought You Closer to Your Family?
  • What’s Your Role in Your Family?
  • Have You Ever Changed a Family Member’s Mind?
  • How Do You Define ‘Family’?
  • What Are Your Family Stories of Sacrifice?
  • What Possessions Does Your Family Treasure?
  • What Hobbies Have Been Passed Down in Your Family?
  • How Much Do You Know About Your Family’s History?
  • Did Your Parents Have a Life Before They Had Kids?
  • How Close Are You to Your Parents?
  • How Are You and Your Parents Alike and Different?
  • Do Your Parents Support Your Learning?
  • What Have Your Parents Taught You About Money?
  • Do You Expect Your Parents to Give You Money?
  • How Permissive Are Your Parents?
  • Do You Have Helicopter Parents?
  • How Do Your Parents Teach You to Behave?
  • How Do You Make Parenting Difficult for Your Parents?
  • If You Drink or Use Drugs, Do Your Parents Know?
  • Do You Talk About Report Cards With Your Parents?
  • Would You Mind if Your Parents Blogged About You?
  • How Well Do You Get Along With Your Siblings?
  • How Well Do You Know Your Pet?
  • What Role Do Pets Play in Your Family?
  • What Is Your Racial and Ethnic Identity?
  • Have You Ever Tried to Hide Your Racial or Ethnic Identity?
  • How Do You Feel About Your Last Name?
  • What’s the Story Behind Your Name?
  • What Are Your Favorite Names?
  • How Have You Paid Tribute to Loved Ones?

Community and Home

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2013/10/20/opinion/sunday/here-comes-the-neighborhood.html">Related Article</a><a href="//learning.blogs.nytimes.com/category/lesson-plans/"></a>

  • Would You Most Want to Live in a City, a Suburb or the Country?
  • How Much Does Your Neighborhood Define Who You Are?
  • What’s Special About Your Hometown?
  • What Would You Name Your Neighborhood?
  • Who Is the ‘Mayor’ of Your School or Neighborhood?
  • Who Are the ‘Characters’ That Make Your Town Interesting?
  • What Would a TV Show About Your Town Spoof?
  • What ‘Urban Legends’ Are There About Places in Your Area?
  • What Local Problems Do You Think Your Mayor Should Try to Solve?
  • Do You Know Your Way Around Your City or Town?
  • Have You Ever Interacted With the Police?
  • How Often Do You Interact With People of Another Race or Ethnicity?
  • Who Would Be the Ideal Celebrity Neighbor?
  • What Is Your Favorite Place?
  • How Much Time Do You Spend in Nature?
  • What Small Things Have You Seen and Taken Note Of Today?
  • What Would Your Dream Home Be Like?
  • What is Your Favorite Place in Your House?
  • How Important Is Keeping a Clean House?
  • Is Your Bedroom a Nightmare?
  • Do You Plan on Saving Any of Your Belongings for the Future?
  • With Your Home in Danger, What Would You Try to Save?
  • What Would You Put in Your Emergency ‘Go-Bag’?
  • Have You Ever Lost (or Found) Something Valuable?

Personality

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2009/08/29/business/29shortcuts.html">Related Article</a>

  • What Is Your Personal Credo?
  • What Motivates You?
  • What Makes You Happy?
  • What Are You Good At?
  • How Much Self-Control Do You Have?
  • How Good Are You at Waiting for What You Really Want?
  • What Role Does Procrastination Play in Your Life?
  • When in Your Life Have You Been a Leader?
  • How Well Do You Perform Under Pressure?
  • How Well Do You Take Criticism?
  • Are You Hard or Easy on Yourself?
  • How Full Is Your Glass?
  • Do You Have a Hard Time Making Decisions?
  • How Good Are You at Time Management?
  • How Productive and Organized Are You?
  • How Would Your Life Be Different if You Had Better Listening Skills?
  • How Competitive Are You?
  • Do You Perform Better When You’re Competing or When You’re Collaborating?
  • Do You Take More Risks When You Are Around Your Friends?
  • Do You Unknowingly Submit to Peer Pressure?
  • How Much of a Daredevil Are You?
  • What Pranks, Jokes, Hoaxes or Tricks Have You Ever Fallen For or Perpetrated?
  • How Do You React When Provoked?
  • How Often Do You Cry?
  • Do You Think You’re Brave?
  • What Are You Afraid Of?
  • What Are Your Fears and Phobias?
  • What Are Your Personal Superstitions?
  • Do You Like Being Alone?
  • How Impulsive Are You?
  • Are You a Novelty-Seeker?
  • What Annoys You?
  • Do You Apologize Too Much?
  • Do You Have Good Manners?
  • Are You a Saver or a Tosser?
  • Are You More Introvert or Extrovert?
  • Are You Popular, Quirky or Conformist?
  • Are You a Nerd or a Geek?
  • What Would Your Personal Mascot Be?
  • What Assumptions Do People Make About You?

Overcoming Adversity

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/03/23/opinion/sunday/what-id-say-to-my-fat-son.html">Related Article</a>

  • What Challenges Have You Overcome?
  • What Do You Do When You Encounter Obstacles to Success?
  • What Are Your Secret Survival Strategies?
  • How Do You Find Peace in Your Life?
  • How Have You Handled Being the ‘New Kid’?
  • Do You Ever Feel Overlooked and Underappreciated?
  • How Stressed Are You?
  • How Do You Relieve Stress?
  • Does Stress Affect Your Ability to Make Good Decisions?
  • What Challenges Have You Set for Yourself?
  • How Often Do You Leave Your ‘Comfort Zone’?
  • What Did You Once Hate but Now Like?
  • Does Your Life Leave You Enough Time to Relax?
  • Do You Set Rules for Yourself About How You Use Your Time?
  • Is ‘Doing Nothing’ a Good Use of Your Time?
  • What’s Cluttering Up Your Life?
  • What Work Went Into Reaching Your Most Difficult Goals?
  • When Have You Ever Failed at Something? What Happened as a Result?
  • When Have You Ever Succeeded When You Thought You Might Fail?
  • What Life Lessons Has Adversity Taught You?
  • What’s the Most Challenging Assignment You’ve Ever Had?
  • What Kind of Feedback Helps You Improve?
  • Is Trying Too Hard to Be Happy Making You Sad?
  • Do Adults Who Are ‘Only Trying to Help’ Sometimes Make Things Worse?
  • What Are Five Everyday Problems That Bother You, and What Can You Do About Them?

Gender and Sexuality

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/nyregion/city-unveils-a-campaign-to-improve-girls-self-esteem.html">Related Article</a><a href="//learning.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/tyell/"></a>

  • How Do Male and Female Roles Differ in Your Family?
  • Do Parents Have Different Hopes and Standards for Their Sons Than for Their Daughters?
  • Is There Too Much Pressure on Girls to Have ‘Perfect’ Bodies?
  • How Much Pressure Do Boys Face to Have the Perfect Body?
  • How Did You Learn About Sex?
  • How Should Parents Address Internet Pornography?
  • What Experiences Have You Had With Gender Bias in School?
  • What Have Been Your Experiences With Catcalling or Other Kinds of Street Harassment?
  • Do You Know Boys Who Regard Girls as ‘Prey’?
  • Do You Consider Yourself a Feminist?

Morality and Religion

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html">Related Article </a>

  • How Do You Help?
  • What Ethical Dilemmas Have You Faced?
  • Would You Help an Injured Stranger?
  • When Is the Last Time You Did Something Nice for a Stranger?
  • Have You Ever ‘Paid It Forward’?
  • How Much Do You Gossip?
  • How Comfortable Are You With Lying?
  • Have You Ever Taken Something You Weren’t Supposed To?
  • What Could You Live Without?
  • Do You Ever Feel Guilty About What, or How Much, You Throw Away?
  • Do You Ever Eavesdrop?
  • How Important Is Your Spiritual Life?
  • Do You Believe That Everything Happens for a Reason?
  • Can You Be Good Without God?
  • Are You Less Religious Than Your Parents?
  • Can You Pass a Basic Religion Test?
  • What Can You Learn From Other Religions?

Role Models

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/jobs/drowning-in-dishes-but-finding-a-home.html">Related Article</a>

  • Who Is Your Role Model?
  • Who Are Your Heroes?
  • Who Inspires You?
  • What’s the Best Advice You’ve Gotten?
  • Who Outside Your Family Has Made a Difference in Your Life?
  • If You Had Your Own Talk Show, Whom Would You Want to Interview?
  • To Whom, or What, Would You Like to Write a Thank-You Note?
  • What Leader Would You Invite to Speak at Your School?
  • What Six People, Living or Dead, Would You Invite to Dinner?

Technology and Video Games

moral essay prompts

  • Are You Distracted by Technology?
  • Do You Always Have Your Phone or Tablet at Your Side?
  • What Tech Tools Play the Biggest Role in Your Life?
  • What New Technologies or Tech Toys Are You Most Excited About?
  • To What Piece of Technology Would You Write a ‘Love Letter’?
  • Does Your Digital Life Have Side Effects?
  • Do Apps Help You or Just Waste Your Time?
  • Do You Spend Too Much Time on Smart Phones Playing ‘Stupid Games’?
  • When Do You Choose Making a Phone Call Over Sending a Text?
  • Do You Know How to Code? Would You Like to Learn?
  • Whom Would You Share Your Passwords With?
  • What Are Your Favorite Video Games?
  • What Have You Learned Playing Video Games?
  • Do You Play Violent Video Games?
  • When Should You Feel Guilty for Killing Zombies?
  • Who Are Your Opponents in Online Gaming?
  • Do You Like Watching Other People Play Video Games?

The Internet

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/23/science/super-awesome-sylvia-video-grid.html#index">Related Article</a>

  • How Careful Are You Online?
  • Do You Ever Seek Advice on the Internet?
  • How Do You Know if What You Read Online Is True?
  • How Much Do You Trust Online Reviews?
  • How Do You Use Wikipedia?
  • What Are Your Favorite Internet Spoofs?
  • What Are Your Favorite Viral Videos?
  • What Would You Teach the World in an Online Video?
  • What Are Your Experiences With Internet-Based Urban Legends?
  • What Story Does Your Personal Data Tell?
  • Do You Worry About the Lack of Anonymity in the Digital Age?
  • Do You Wish You Had More Privacy Online?
  • California Notice
  • Have You Ever Been Scammed?

Social Media

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2013/01/09/booming/in-your-face-book-heres-the-party-you-werent-invited-to.html">Related Article<br /></a>

  • How Do You Use Facebook?
  • What Is Your Facebook Persona?
  • What Memorable Experiences Have You Had on Facebook?
  • Does Facebook Ever Make You Feel Bad?
  • Would You Consider Deleting Your Facebook Account?
  • Do You Have ‘Instagram Envy’?
  • Do You Use Twitter?
  • Why Do You Share Photos?
  • How Do You Archive Your Life?
  • Have You Ever Posted, Emailed or Texted Something You Wish You Could Take Back?
  • Have You Ever Sent an Odd Message Because of Auto-Correct?
  • Would You Want Your Photo or Video to Go Viral?
  • Do You Worry Colleges or Employers Might Read Your Social Media Posts Someday?

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/01/08/nyregion/seeking-clues-to-gangs-and-crime-detectives-monitor-internet-rap-videos.html">Related Article</a>

  • What Are You Listening To?
  • Who in Your Life Introduces You to New Music?
  • How Much Is Your Taste in Music Based on What Your Friends Like?
  • What Music Inspires You?
  • How Closely Do You Listen to Lyrics?
  • Which Pop Music Stars Fascinate You?
  • Who Is Your Favorite Pop Diva?
  • What’s Your Karaoke Song?
  • What Song/Artist Pairings Would You Like to Hear?

Movies, Theater and Television

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/movies/from-internet-chat-to-related-projects-mean-girls-endures.html">Related Article</a>

  • What Were the Best Movies You Saw in the Past Year?
  • What Movies Do You Watch, or Reference, Over and Over?
  • What Movies, Shows or Books Do You Wish Had Sequels, Spinoffs or New Episodes?
  • Do You Like Horror Movies?
  • Who Are Your Favorite Movie Stars?
  • Would You Pay Extra for a 3-D Movie?
  • What Is Your Favorite Comedy?
  • What Are the Best Live Theatrical Performances You’ve Ever Seen?
  • Have You Ever Stumbled Upon a Cool Public Performance?
  • What Role Does Television Play in Your Life and the Life of Your Family?
  • What Television Shows Have Mattered to You?
  • Do Your Television Viewing Habits Include ‘Binge-Watching’?
  • How Often Do You Watch a Television Show When It Originally Airs?
  • What Old Television Shows Would You Bring Back?
  • Why Do We Like Reality Shows So Much?
  • What Ideas Do You Have for a Reality Show?
  • What Are Your Favorite Commercials?
  • How Much Are You Influenced by Advertising?

Reading, Writing and Fine Arts

moral essay prompts

  • Read Any Good Books Lately?
  • Do You Read for Pleasure?
  • What Are Your Favorite Books and Authors?
  • What Are the Best Things You’ve Read, Watched, Heard or Played This Year?
  • What Are Your Favorite Young Adult Novels?
  • What’s on Your Summer Reading List?
  • What Memorable Poetry Have You Ever Read or Heard?
  • What Are Your Favorite Cartoons?
  • What Magazines Do You Read, and How Do You Read Them?
  • Do You Enjoy Reading Tabloid Gossip?
  • When Have You Seen Yourself and Your Life Reflected in a Book or Other Media?
  • Do You Prefer Your Children’s Book Characters Obedient or Contrary?
  • Do You Read E-Books?
  • Would You Trade Your Paper Books for Digital Versions?
  • To What Writer Would You Award a Prize?
  • Why Do You Write?
  • Do You Keep a Diary or Journal?
  • Do You Have a Blog?
  • Do You Want to Write a Book?
  • When Do You Write by Hand?
  • Do You Write in Cursive?
  • Do You Write in Your Books?
  • What ‘Mundane Moments’ From Your Life Might Make Great Essay Material?
  • What’s the Coolest Thing You’ve Ever Seen in a Museum?
  • What Are the Most Memorable Works of Visual Art You Have Seen?
  • What Are Your Favorite Works of Art?

Language and Speech

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/opinion/sunday/like-degrading-the-language-no-way.html">Related Article</a>

  • What Are Your Favorite and Least Favorite Words?
  • What Words or Phrases Do You Think Are Overused?
  • How Much Slang Do You Use? What Are Your Favorite (Printable) Words?
  • How Much Do You Curse? Why?
  • Why Do So Many People Say ‘Like’ and ‘Totally’ All the Time?
  • Do You Sometimes ‘Hide’ Behind Irony?
  • How Good Is Your Grammar?
  • What New Emoticons Does the World Need?
  • Are You Fluent in Vocal Fry, Creaky Voice or Uptalk?
  • How Much Information Is ‘Too Much Information’?
  • When Did You Last Have a Great Conversation?
  • Do You Speak a Second, or Third, Language?
  • When Do You Remember Learning a New Word?

School and Teachers

<a href="//well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/better-ways-to-learn/">Related Article</a>

  • Do You Like School?
  • What Are You Really Learning at School?
  • What Are You Looking Forward To, or Dreading, This School Year?
  • Would You Want to Be Home-Schooled?
  • Would You Like to Take a Class Online?
  • Would You Rather Attend a Public or a Private High School?
  • How Would You Grade Your School?
  • What Can Other Schools Learn — and Copy — From Your School?
  • Is Your School Day Too Short?
  • What Do You Hope to Get Out of High School?
  • Do You Have Too Much Homework?
  • Does Your Homework Help You Learn?
  • What Is Your Best Subject?
  • What Memorable Experiences Have You Had in Learning Science or Math?
  • Are You Afraid of Math?
  • Do We Need a New Way to Teach Math?
  • What Are the Best Ways to Learn About History?
  • How Would You Do on a Civics Test?
  • How Important Is Arts Education?
  • What Is Your Most Memorable Writing Assignment?
  • What Would You Like to Have Memorized?
  • Does Your School Value Students’ Digital Skills?
  • What Was Your Favorite Field Trip?
  • Do You Participate in Class?
  • What Are Your Best Tips for Studying?
  • Do You Use Study Guides?
  • Is Everything You’ve Been Taught About Study Habits Wrong?
  • How Well Do You Think Standardized Tests Measure Your Abilities?
  • Do You Have a Tutor?
  • Are Your Grades Inflated?
  • When Has a Teacher Inspired You?
  • What Teacher Do You Appreciate?
  • What Teacher Would You Like to Thank?
  • What Do You Wish Your Teachers Knew About You?
  • Do Your Test Scores Reflect How Good Your Teachers Are?
  • Do Your Teachers Use Technology Well?

School Social Environment

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/04/02/us/20130403_RESTORATIVE.html">Related Article</a>

  • What Role Do School Clubs and Teams Play in Your Life?
  • Who Has the Power in School Social Life?
  • How Big a Problem Is Bullying or Cyberbullying in Your School or Community?
  • Does Your School Seem Integrated?
  • What’s the Racial Makeup of Your School?
  • Do You Ever ‘Mix It Up’ and Socialize With Different People at School?
  • Can Students at Your School Talk Openly About Their Mental Health Issues?
  • Is Your School a ‘Party School’?
  • How Common Is Drug Use in Your School?
  • Do You Know People Who Cheat on High-Stakes Tests?
  • How Does Your School Deal With Students Who Misbehave?
  • How Much Does Your Life in School Intersect With Your Life Outside School?
  • Would You Ever Go Through Hazing to Be Part of a Group?

Senior Year, College and Applications

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2013/03/31/opinion/sunday/a-simple-way-to-send-poor-kids-to-top-colleges.html">Related Article</a>

  • Where Do You Want to Go to College?
  • What Are Your Sources for Information About Colleges and Universities?
  • Is College Overrated?
  • How Much Does the SAT or ACT Matter in Your Life?
  • What Personal Essay Topic Would You Assign to College Applicants?
  • What Qualities Would You Look For in a College Roommate?
  • What Would You Do With a Gap Year?
  • What Makes a Graduation Ceremony Memorable?
  • How Do You Feel About Proms?

Work and Careers

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/business/high-debt-and-falling-demand-trap-new-veterinarians.html">Related Article</a>

  • What Are Your Longtime Interests or Passions?
  • Do You Have a Life Calling?
  • What Do You Want to Do With Your Life?
  • Do You Think You Will Have a Career That You Love?
  • What Investment Are You Willing to Make to Get Your Dream Job?
  • Would You Consider a Nontraditional Occupation?
  • Would You Want to Be a Teacher?
  • What Hidden Talents Might You Have?
  • What Do You Hope to Be Doing the Year After You Graduate From College?
  • Would You Rather Work From Home or in an Office?
  • What Career or Technical Classes Do You Wish Your School Offered?
  • What ‘Back-to-the-Land’ Skills Do You Have, or Wish You Had?
  • What Have You Made Yourself?
  • What Would You Create if You Had Funding?
  • How Did You Start Doing Something You Love?
  • Did You Ever Take a Break From Doing Something You Love?
  • What Have You Done to Earn Money?
  • Do You Have a Job?
  • Would You Quit if Your Values Did Not Match Your Employer’s?
  • What Are Your Attitudes Toward Money?
  • Can Money Buy You Happiness?
  • Where Do You See Yourself in 10 Years?
  • What Do You Want to Be Doing When You’re 80?
  • Do You Want to Live to 100?
  • What Do You Want Your Obituary to Say?

Dating and Friendship

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/fashion/the-etiquette-for-having-your-friends-befriend-each-other.html">Related Article</a>

  • Have You Ever Been in Love?
  • What Are the Most Meaningful Relationships in Your Life?
  • What Advice Would You Give to Somebody Who Just Started Dating?
  • What Are the Basic ‘Rules’ for Handling Breakups?
  • What Are Your Beliefs About Marriage?
  • Are You Allowed to Date?
  • Is Dating a Thing of the Past?
  • Do You Have a Best Friend?
  • How Do You Feel About Introducing Friends from Different Parts of Your Life?
  • How Should You Handle the End of a Friendship?
  • How Often Do You Have ‘Deep Discussions’?

Sports, Exercise and Games

<a href="//well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/09/are-you-programmed-to-enjoy-exercise/">Related Article</a>

  • Do You Like to Exercise?
  • How Has Exercise Changed Your Health, Your Body or Your Life?
  • Why Do You Play Sports?
  • What Is the Most Memorable Sporting Event You’ve Ever Watched or Played In?
  • What’s the Most Impressive Sports Moment You’ve Seen?
  • When Has a Sports Team Most Disappointed You?
  • What Sports Teams Do You Root For?
  • Does Being a Fan Help Define Who You Are?
  • How Far Would You Go to Express Loyalty to Your Favorite Teams?
  • What Fan Memorabilia Would You Pay Big Bucks For?
  • What Rules Would You Like to See Changed in Your Favorite Sports?
  • What Game Would You Like to Redesign?
  • What Are Your Favorite Games?

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/01/10/travel/2014-places-to-go.html">Related Article</a>

  • Where in the World Would You Travel if You Could?
  • What Is Your Fantasy Vacation?
  • What Would Your Fantasy Road Trip Be Like?
  • What Crazy Adventure Would You Want to Take?
  • How Has Travel Affected You?
  • What Famous Landmarks Have You Visited?
  • What’s the Coolest Thing You’ve Ever Seen in Nature?
  • What Are the Best Souvenirs You’ve Ever Collected While Traveling?
  • Would You Like to Live in Another Country?
  • Would You Want to Be a Space Tourist?

Looks, Fashion and Health

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/01/12/opinion/sunday/goodnight-sleep-clean.html">Related Article</a>

  • What Does Your Hairstyle Say About You?
  • How Far Would You Go for Fashion?
  • What Are the Hot Fashion Trends at Your School Right Now?
  • Do You Have a Signature Clothing Item?
  • Has Anyone Ever Said That You Look Like Someone Famous?
  • Would You Ever Consider Getting a Tattoo?
  • What Are Your Opinions on Cosmetic Surgery?
  • Do Photoshopped Images Make You Feel Bad About Your Own Looks?
  • What Are Your Sleep Habits?
  • How Much of a Priority Do You Make Sleep?
  • Do You Get Enough Sleep?
  • What Health Tips Have Worked for You?

Shopping and Driving

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/us/report-finds-americans-are-driving-less-led-by-youth.html">Related Article</a>

  • What’s Your Favorite Store? Why?
  • To What Company Would You Write a Letter of Complaint or Admiration?
  • To What Business Would You Like to Give Advice?
  • How Would You Make Over Your Mall?
  • Do You Shop at Locally Owned Businesses?
  • What Are the Best Things You’ve Acquired Secondhand?
  • How Important Is It to Have a Driver’s License?
  • Are You a Good Driver?

Food and Eating

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/dining/the-best-in-the-box-chocolate-covered-salted-caramels-for-valentines-day.html">Related Article</a>

  • What Are the Most Memorable Meals You’ve Ever Had?
  • What’s Your Favorite Holiday Food Memory?
  • What’s Your Comfort Food?
  • What Are Your Favorite Junk Foods?
  • What Food Would You Like to Judge in a Taste-Off?
  • Do You Prefer Your Tacos ‘Authentic’ or ‘Appropriated’?
  • Do You Pay Attention to Nutrition Labels on Food?
  • How Concerned Are You About Where Your Food Comes From?
  • Are Your Eating Habits Healthy?
  • What Are Your ‘Food Rules’?
  • Do You Eat Too Quickly?
  • What Do You Eat During the School Day?
  • Do You Eat Cafeteria Food?
  • How Much Food Does Your Family Waste?
  • What Messages About Food and Eating Have You Learned From Your Family?
  • What’s Your Favorite Restaurant?
  • What Restaurant Would You Most Like to Review?
  • Do You Cook?
  • What Would You Most Like to Learn to Cook or Bake?

Holidays, Seasons, Weather and Weekends

<a href="//rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/home-for-the-holidays-or-not-tell-us-your-stories/">Related Article</a><a href="//learning.blogs.nytimes.com/category/student-opinion/"><br /></a>

  • How Can People Make the Most of Long Holiday Weekends?
  • What’s Your Sunday Routine?
  • What’s on Your Fall Fashion Shopping List?
  • Will You Be Wearing a Halloween Costume This Year?
  • Do You Like Scary Movies and Books?
  • Do You Believe in Ghosts?
  • What Are Your Thanksgiving Traditions?
  • What Are Your Tips for Enjoying the Holiday Season?
  • How Will You Spend the Holiday Break?
  • Do You Make New Year’s Resolutions?
  • How Do You Fight the Winter Blues?
  • What Are Your Experiences With Severe Weather?
  • How Do You Feel About Valentine’s Day?
  • How Do You Celebrate Spring?
  • What Would Your Fantasy Spring Break Be Like?
  • How Careful Are You in the Sun?
  • What Are You Looking Forward to This Summer?
  • What Would Your Ideal Summer Camp Be Like?
  • What Are Your Favorite Summer Hangouts?
  • What’s Your Favorite Summer Food?
  • What Is Your Favorite Summer Movie?
  • Do You Have a Summer Job?
  • Do You Choose Summer Activities to Look Good on Applications?
  • What Are the Best Things You Did This Summer?
  • How Do You Prepare to Go Back to School?

Beliefs, Politics and Current Events

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/health/new-tool-to-ease-difficult-births-a-plastic-bag.html">Related Article</a>

  • How Would You Like to Help Our World?
  • What Cause Would Get You Into the Streets?
  • What Would You Risk Your Life For?
  • When Have You Spoken Out About Something You Felt Had to Change?
  • What Would You Invent to Make the World a Better Place?
  • How Do You Feel About Zoos?
  • What Is Your Relationship With Guns?
  • Do You Trust Your Government?
  • Do You Know Your First Amendment Rights?
  • Do You Worry About Terrorism?
  • Do You Believe in Intelligent Alien Life?
  • Given Unlimited Resources, What Scientific or Medical Problem Would You Investigate?
  • What Would You Do if You Were President?
  • Would You Vote This Year if You Could?
  • Do You Consider Yourself a Republican, Democrat or Independent?
  • What Event in the Past Do You Wish You Could Have Witnessed?
  • What Are the Most Important Changes, in Your Life and in the World, in the Last Decade?
  • What Do You Remember About Sept. 11, 2001?
  • What News Stories Are You Following?
  • How Do You Get Your News?
  • Why Should We Care About Events in Other Parts of the World?
  • What Questions Do You Have About How the World Works?
  • What Big Questions Do You Have?

If Only…

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/magazine/outsource-your-way-to-success.html">Related Article</a><a href="//learning.blogs.nytimes.com/category/current-events/"><br /></a>

  • What Would You Do if You Won the Lottery?
  • What Superpower Do You Wish You Had?
  • What Era Do You Wish You Had Lived In?
  • Would You Want to Be a Tween or Teen Star?
  • Would You Want to Grow Up in the Public Eye?
  • What Kind of Robot Would You Want?
  • What Would You Outsource if You Could?
  • What Would You Like to Learn on Your Own?
  • What Would You Wait in Line For?

This resource may be used to address the academic standards listed below.

Common Core E.L.A. Anchor Standards

3   Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

This is such a fabulous resource for inspiration! Thank you so much for putting this list together. I’ll refer to it often and share it with my readers on my poetry and writing blog.

These are great writing prompts. These remind me of the questions on StoryShelter.com. It’s nice to write there and have all your personal stories in one place where you can share them with friends or post anonymously. Anyone who does narrative or personal writing will find it really useful.

For example, this is how a bunch of people answered the question: “What would you do if you won the lottery?” https://www.storyshelter.com/question/what-if-i-won-the-lottery

Cool, right?

Wonderful list! The topics are thought-provoking and exciting to write. I can go writing on and on, on these topics.

How much do you know about your family history?

I know a little bit about my family history. My grandma talks about our religion sometimes, not every day. So I get to hear some facts about my religion. For example what we do on New Year’s or what happened when I wasn’t born yet. My family history is very interesting.

My mom she is Cambodian and my dad is Thai so I’m mixed Asian. Everybody say that I mostly look like my dad than my mom, and that’s interesting to me.

My dad side of the family, my great great grandma, grandpa and aunts and uncles. They are living in Thailand. I want to go to Thailand really bad. My mom side of the family, my great great grandpa, grandma and my grandma siblings. They are living in Cambodia. My grandma took some pictures in Asia. It looks so different than the United States of America.

So first off, my dad he was born in Thailand and my mom I think she was born in Cambodia. She said that she didn’t went to Cambodia so I really don’t know. So my family (parents, grandparents, aunts and uncle immigrated to the United States of America and became citizens. That time they lived in Stockton, California. I could of live there still. But my dad he went to school in New Hampshire and got a job here and the job over here paid a lot more money than California. So Then my mom side of the family came with my parents, and my dad side of the family stayed in California that was in the 1990s when they moved to New Hampshire. Then they separated, so now we don’t live together anymore.

Now my aunt lives in Massachusetts and my other aunt lives in Rhode Island. So when my parents lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, I wasn’t born yet. But I wish that we still lived in California. So we

My life is interesting to me. I have families in Cambodia and Thailand, and I haven’t met them yet. Also the things we do on New Year’s and other occasions. So that’s what I know about my family history.

Very interesting

OMG!! Where have you been all my life I am very excited about this!!

I wish I was more of a journaler. These are some fantastic prompts for writing personal stories. With 500 listed here, there’s no way you wouldn’t find an inspiring prompt.

I’m more of a fiction writer, and I’ve chosen to write prompts that help fiction writers expand their imagination.

What's Next

180 Ethics Topics & Ethical Questions to Debate

Our code of ethics is derived from what we think is right or wrong. On top of that, we have to agree to the moral standards established by the society we live in. Conventional norms generally label theft, murder, or harassment as bad. However, there are many influences that impact our considerations and understanding of ethics.

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that studies moral issues. This article outlines the three different types of ethics and presents a list of compelling ethics topics for essays and research papers, as well as ethical questions to debate.

You don’t know how to write about ethics or which ethical argument topic to choose for your paper? Maybe your assignment deadline is dreadfully looming over you? Our custom writing service is happy to help you craft a fantastic essay on ethics whenever the need arises.

🔝 Top 10 Ethical Topics

  • 🧑🤝🧑Types of Ethics
  • 🤔 Ethical Issues
  • 🖥️ Computer Ethics
  • 🧬 Bioethics
  • 🚓👮 Criminal Justice
  • ⚖️ Ethical Dilemmas

⭐ Top 10 Ethics Topics to Debate

😈 ethical questions to debate, 🔍 references.

  • Religious beliefs vs. medical care
  • Issues behind unpaid internships
  • Toxic environment at the workplace
  • The dilemma of reporting an accident
  • Should one’s political leanings be private?
  • The limits of doctor-patient confidentiality
  • Is it ethical to pay children for good grades?
  • Ethics at the workplace and discrimination
  • Should social media be allowed at the workplace?
  • Promotion of environmental responsibility in business

🧑🤝🧑 Types of Ethics

Modern philosophy splits ethics into three groups: metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.

  • The core question of metaethics is: “What is morality, and where does it come from?” It is also concerned with the emergence of human values, motivation, and reasoning.
  • Normative ethics seeks to answer the question, “How should I act?” An example of a normative moral theory is Kant’s Categorical Imperative: Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law . In other words: be kind.
  • Applied ethics seeks to apply moral considerations into real-life controversial subjects. Its contents can vary greatly and touch bioethics as well as criminal justice. It studies specific actions and practices from the point of moral acceptance.

Virtues are necessary.

However, ethics does not end with these three types. Over the centuries, philosophers have proposed various ethical theories. Their four general categories are deontological, utilitarian, right, and virtue ethics.

  • A deontologist is a person with a set of moral duties from which they will not adhere. When faced with an ethical conflict, they will always act according to their self-proclaimed obligations.
  • For a utilitarian , a decision needs to yield the greatest benefit for the majority.
  • If rights are the root of an ethical theory, these are the highest priority. A person’s rights can either be established in a society by law or bestowed from one individual upon another.
  • Judging someone by virtue means considering a person’s character rather than their actions. Here, an individual’s reputation, motivation, and ethics play a crucial role.

Now that you know the basics, you have the perfect ground to start your ethics essay.

🤔 Ethical Topics for an Essay

Ethical issues are situations in which an individual needs to evaluate which course of action is morally right. Essays on this topic shine a light on difficult questions. Therefore, students need to defend their position convincingly.

  • Discuss what we should do about climate change.
  • What are the moral problems surrounding abortion?
  • Can we still justify eating meat?
  • Investigate the use of plastic in the beauty industry.
  • Is it unethical to be extremely rich?
  • Should you buy Nestlé products despite the fact that the company privatizes water?
  • Is the unequal distribution of wealth unethical?
  • Discuss how workplace ethics should take sexism into account.
  • What can we do to combat racism?
  • Why are LGBT+ people discriminated against?
  • Should euthanasia be legal?
  • Can war be ethical?
  • Should schools punish students for attending the Fridays for Future protests?
  • Would drug use be unethical if it were legal?
  • Explain the moral problems that come with automating jobs.

The Ten Commandments.

  • Is it ethical to hire someone to do assignments for you?
  • How far should everyone’s right to privacy go?
  • Is using animals for scientific testing unethical?
  • How should governments deal with refugees? 
  • Discuss the carbon impact of having children.
  • Can modern societies still be held accountable for what their nation did in the past?
  • Analyze the benefits and disadvantages of universal income.
  • How much control should the state have on the press?
  • Should schools teach religion?
  • What are ethical concerns regarding downloading media from the internet?

🖥️ Computer Ethics Essay Topics

The advent of information technology has altered every aspect of our lives. Computer ethics applies traditional moral theories to everything surrounding computers and cyber security. The list below contains enthralling ethical topics concerned with the realm of computing.

  • How much work should we leave entirely to computers?
  • Discuss the dangers of storing vulnerable data online.
  • Are computers secure enough to contain so much information about our lives?
  • Discuss if hacking can be morally justified.
  • Examine privacy-related concerns regarding computers .
  • Should all software be free?
  • How can you legitimize the possession of a computer algorithm patent?
  • What can be done to prevent cyberbullying?
  • Investigate the moral effects anonymity has on internet users.
  • Whose laws apply if you wish to protect your rights online?
  • Discuss how the necessity to own a computer impacts poorer nations and people.
  • Which ethical problems can people face due to the internet’s possibilities?
  • When is sabotaging another person’s computer justified?
  • Analyze the social responsibility that comes with developing new software.
  • Are computer crimes less harmful than crimes against humans?
  • Who owns information that is distributed online?
  • What is more important: easy accessibility or privacy?
  • Investigate the moral problems associated with AI.
  • If a computer makes a critical mistake, whose fault is it?
  • Discuss the importance of netiquette.
  • How should tech companies deal with ethical problems?
  • Can AI algorithms ensure ethical behavior? 
  • Why do tech companies need ethics boards?
  • Which ethical conflicts appear when using drones?
  • Investigate racial bias in facial recognition systems.

🏅 Sports Ethics Topics for a Paper

Morality in sports is based on integrity, respect, responsibility, and fairness. Often, this puts athletes into a dilemma: do I want to be ethical, or do I want to win? Answering these questions is not always easy. The following list compiles sports topics for a research paper on ethics.

  • What are moral complications when using enhancement drugs?
  • Is gamesmanship unethical?
  • How important is ethics in sports?
  • Discuss the moral responsibilities of athletes .
  • What are ethical reasons to pay college athletes?
  • Investigate the ethical implications of kneeling for the national anthem .
  • Can college sports and the principles of higher education go hand in hand?
  • Investigate the sexist bias in sports.
  • Was it selfish when the American female soccer team went to court to demand equal pay?

Thomas A. Edison quote.

  • What moral obligations do universities have towards their athletes?
  • When can you justify cheating?
  • Concerning the environment, how can professional sports events be ethical?
  • Which ethical issues do healthcare workers have concerning sportspeople? 
  • Which moral duties do teams’ coaches have?
  • Are the extremely high salaries of sports professionals justified?
  • In 2003, the Olympics abolished the wild card system. Was that fair?
  • Because of the Paralympics, disabled athletes cannot take part in the real Olympics. Is that discriminatory?
  • Discuss how money influences the fairness of a sport.
  • Debate if and how children are exploited to become elite athletes.
  • Which moral duties should a good sport follow?
  • How much should parents get involved in their child’s physical education?
  • Investigate if everyday codes of ethics should apply to sports.
  • Discuss the ethical implications of motorsports.
  • Who is responsible if a player gets injured?
  • Are referees always fair?

🧬 Bioethics Topics for an Essay

Bioethics comes into play when we talk about life and health. It expands from genetics to neurology and even plastic surgery. In the name of the common good, researchers often find themselves in conflicting positions. This makes bioethics an especially exciting topic to write about.

  • Discuss the moral conflicts of genetic engineering. 
  • What are the ethical responsibilities associated with using CRISPR? 
  • Investigate the problems of stem cell research.
  • When can humans be used for drug testing? 
  • Should vaccinations be mandatory for everyone?
  • Investigate the ethics that apply to a medical worker.
  • Discuss the harmful effects of plastic surgery. 
  • Should a person who is brain dead be kept alive?
  • Is it just that medical care is linked to an individual’s ability to pay?
  • Should everyone be an organ donor by default?
  • What is more important: a person’s right to privacy or the information of at-risk relatives?
  • Is prenatal invasive testing ethical?
  • Should neuroenhancement drugs be legal?
  • Discuss ethical conflicts concerning Disclosure and Barring Service.
  • Is it ethical to improve memory functions with brain stimulation?
  • Analyze the ethical issues concerning precision medicine.
  • What are the problems of surrogacy? 
  • Should medical personnel collect healthy tissues of a deceased person without their consent?

Bioethics is closely connected with the fields of technology, medicine, politics, philosophy, and law,

  • What should be done with the child of a brain-dead pregnant woman?
  • How important is a subject’s anonymity during research?
  • Discuss the ethics of shared decision-making .
  • How much responsibility do mentally challenged people carry for their actions?
  • Was Sweden right not to impose strict lockdown rules during the COVID-19 pandemic?
  • To what extent are businesses responsible for their employees’ health?
  • Should universal healthcare be free?

🚓👮 Criminal Justice Ethics Topics to Write About

Law enforcers should always act ethically. Unfortunately, it is not always the case. Police officers and attorneys often end up in morally ambiguous situations. In many cases, they don’t do what the public deems the right thing. Below are the examples of criminal justice ethics topics.

  • When is it legitimate for a police officer to use violence?
  • How can an officer remain impartial?
  • Should law enforcement visibly wear guns in public? 
  • How much force is too much?
  • Investigate possible ethical implications associated with true crime podcasts.
  • Should prostitution be legal in the US?
  • How ethical is interrogation? 
  • Can torture be justified?
  • Discuss the ethical consequences of lying when working in criminal justice .
  • Is working undercover deception? 
  • Debate whether it is an American citizen’s moral duty to participate in jury duty.
  • Should the police be allowed to access everyone’s data?
  • Discuss the moral complications of “innocent until proven guilty.”
  • Should convicted pedophiles be allowed to see their children?
  • Can teaching ethics at schools prevent crime?
  • Analyze ethical problems of the Stanford Prison Experiment.
  • Should NATO have become involved in America’s Afghan war?
  • What are the ethical implications of shooter drills at school?
  • Was Edward Snowden morally in the wrong?
  • How should we deal with child soldiers?
  • Discuss if the prosecution of Julian Assange is justified.
  • Examine the ethical problems of private prisons.
  • What moral obligations should someone consider when granting prisoners the right to work?
  • When is capital punishment justified?
  • Is it ethical to incarcerate juvenile offenders? 

⚖️ Ethical Dilemma Topics to Write About

An ethical issue becomes a dilemma when different moral standards clash with each other. In this situation, it is impossible to find a path to an ethically permissible solution that is unambiguous. The following sample topics are a solid base to start a discussion on morals.

  • Should parents watch over what their children do on the internet?
  • Would you report an accident you caused if there are no witnesses?
  • What should a doctor do if a patient refuses life-saving treatment for religious reasons? 
  • Should you turn down a client if their political views do not match yours?
  • Would you promote something you are not convinced of to get money?
  • Should you lie to land a job that gets you out of poverty?

Ethical dilemmas.

  • Your partner cheated on you. Now, you get the chance to take your revenge with someone you really like. Would you do it? 
  • Should students use automated writing tools like free thesis generators , summarizers, and paraphrasers?
  • Your teacher is continuously mocking your classmate. You are a teacher’s pet. Would you speak up?
  • Your son likes to wear dresses. One day, he asks if he can wear one to school. Will you let him?
  • You are very religious. Your daughter wants to get married to another woman and invites you to her wedding. What will you do?
  • Prenatal testing showed that your unborn child has a disability. Would you terminate pregnancy?
  • You are in a long-term relationship. Suddenly, your partner gets a job offer in another part of the world. What would you do?
  • You have a terminal illness. This makes you a financial burden to your relatives. Are you obliged towards them to quit your treatment?
  • You have a red and a blue candy bar. Blue is your favorite, but you also know that it’s your friend’s favorite. Will you give it to them?
  • A friend asked you for a loan. Since then, they have not given you anything back. They are still not wholly stable financially. Will you ask them to return the money?
  • Your grandma passed away and bequeathed her favorite mink coat to you. You are a vegan. What do you do?
  • A few years ago, you borrowed a gun from a friend. Now, they ask for it back, but their mental state seems to be rapidly deteriorating. This makes you scared they are going to shoot someone, or themselves. What do you do?
  • You find out that your friend cheats on their spouse. You are close friends with their family. Will you tell on them?
  • For your birthday, your friend gave you a sweater they’ve made themselves. You think it’s ugly. Do you tell them?
  • You are a vegan. Should you buy vegan products which are highly problematic to produce? 
  • You are in a restaurant. Your order arrives too late. The waitress looks stressed. Will you make her take it back?
  • You went to the store and bought a new, expensive item. The clerk gives you too much change. Do you give it back?
  • You are walking with a friend and find $50 on the floor. Would you share it with them?
  • Your child firmly believes in Santa Claus. One Christmas, they start suspecting that he is not real. What do you do? 
  • Is having pets ethical?
  • Can eating meat be justified?
  • Should we defund the police?
  • Should atomic bombs be banned?
  • Can discrimination be justified?
  • Is it ethical to ask someone’s age?
  • Should children get paid for chores?
  • Is it unprofessional to send voice messages?
  • Should children be allowed to vote?
  • Should influencers promote products they don’t use?
  • Should there be any limitations to doctor and patient confidentiality?
  • Should physician-assisted suicide be allowed?
  • Can teenagers get plastic surgery?
  • What to do when you find out that your relative has committed an offense?
  • What to do when you see your friend cheating on the exam?
  • Should sportsmen be paid more than teachers?
  • Should gender quotas be used during parliamentary elections?
  • Do companies have the right to collect information about their customers?
  • Can politicians appeal to religious issues during electoral campaigns?
  • Should fake news be censored in a democratic society?

We hope that in this list you’ve found the ethics topic that fits you the best. Good luck with your assignment!

Further reading:

  • 430 Philosophy Topics & Questions for Your Essay
  • 226 Research Topics on Criminal Justice & Criminology
  • 512 Research Topics on HumSS (Humanities & Social Sciences)
  • 204 Research Topics on Technology & Computer Science
  • What’s the Difference Between Morality and Ethics?: Britannica
  • What is Ethics?: Santa Clara University
  • Ethics: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Metaethics: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Ethical Issues: Idaho State University
  • The Problem with AI Ethics: The Verge
  • Sports Ethics: Santa Clara University
  • What Is Bioethics?: Michigan State University
  • Ethics in Criminal Justice: Campbellsville University
  • Kant’s Formula of Universal Law: Harvard University
  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to LinkedIn
  • Share to email

457 Definition Essay Topics and Writing Tips

A definition explains the meaning of a term or a concept. In a dictionary, you’ll find a definition in a single sentence. A definition paper, however, encompasses several paragraphs. Such an essay, amongst other things, can include personal experience and examples. To write a successful definition paper, you need to...

270 Good Descriptive Essay Topics and Writing Tips

As simple as it is, the purpose of the descriptive essay is to explain or portray its subject. It can focus on any topic or issue you want to write about. Be sure that any middle school, high school, or college student can manage this type of creative writing assignment!...

160+ Best Rhetorical Analysis Topics

Rhetorical analysis essay focuses on assessing the method used for delivering a message. This assignment isn’t about giving an opinion on the topic. The purpose is to analyze how the author presents the argument and whether or not they succeeded. Keep reading to find out more strategies and prompts for...

164 Narrative Essay Topics for School & College Students

A narrative essay tells a story about a series of events. At the core of this kind of essay can be a personal experience or a fictional plot. Any story can be a basis for a narrative essay! Narratives can look similar to descriptions. Still, they are different. A descriptive...

242 Process Analysis Essay Topics for High School & College

Similar to the instructions in a recipe book, process essays convey information in a step-by-step format. In this type of paper, you follow a structured chronological process. You can also call it a how-to essay. A closely related type is a process analysis essay. Here you have to carefully consider...

150 Classification Essay Topics and Ideas

In a classification essay, you divide the subject into categories. To create these categories, you single out certain attributes of things. You can classify them according to their characteristics, themes, or traits. Sounds complicated? Be sure that any high school or college student can manage this type of essay!

275 Excellent Evaluation Essay Topics for College Students

Throughout your high school years, you are likely to write many evaluative papers. In an evaluation essay you aim is to justify your point of view through evidence.

240 Immigration Essay Topics

Immigration is a permanent move to a foreign country. It takes place all over the globe, including the United States. It played an important role in history, and it continues to influence society today. This article offers a variety of immigration essay topics. They are suitable for college-level works, as...

440 Good Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Should you buy a green or a red apple? Before making a decision, people often compare their options. In a compare and contrast essay, you analyze the similarities and differences between certain things. In this article, you’ll find interesting and easy compare and contrast essay topics for college, high school...

210 Good Opinion Topics for Essays

An opinion essay requires a student to present a point of view on a chosen subject and back it up with substantial evidence. Like in a debate, the writer has to give their opinion and defend it while using scholarly resources. This article will help you find a good opinion...

120+ Micro- & Macroeconomics Research Topics

It would be great if economics in college would just teach you how to save and make money. In reality, however, students usually write research papers on micro- and macroeconomics topics to learn about the production and consumption of goods on an international level.

417 Business Topics & Research Titles about Business

The corporate world is the world of the future – there’s no doubt about that. And education in ABM will help you conquer it! What is ABM strand, exactly? ABM stands for Accountancy, Business, and Management. Future leaders and entrepreneurs pursue education in this field to learn the skills essential...

PrepScholar

Choose Your Test

  • Search Blogs By Category
  • College Admissions
  • AP and IB Exams
  • GPA and Coursework

113 Perfect Persuasive Essay Topics for Any Assignment

author image

General Education

feature_essaytopics

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

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

What Is a Persuasive Essay?

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

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

All persuasive essays have the following:

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

What Makes a Good Persuasive Essay Topic?

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

It’s a Topic You Care About

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

You Have Enough Evidence to Support Your Argument

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

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

It’s a Manageable Topic

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

feature_argumentativeessay-1

List of 113 Good Persuasive Essay Topics

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

Arts/Culture

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

Government/Politics

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

body-sparkler-us-flag

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

feature_information_technology

Tips for Writing a Strong Persuasive Essay

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

Do Your Research

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

Make Your Thesis Perfect

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

Consider the Other Side

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

Summary: Persuasive Essay Ideas

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

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

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

What's Next?

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

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

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

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

PrepScholar

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Follow us on Facebook (icon)

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

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students

  • Lesson Plans
  • Grading Students for Assessment
  • Becoming A Teacher
  • Assessments & Tests
  • Elementary Education
  • Special Education
  • Homeschooling

moral essay prompts

One of the most common essay types is the opinion, or persuasive, essay. In an opinion essay , the writer states a point of view, then provides facts and reasoned arguments to support that viewpoint. The goal of the essay is to convince the reader to share the writer’s opinion.

Students aren't always aware of how many strong opinions they already hold. Use the following opinion writing prompts to inspire them to start thinking and writing persuasively.

Prompts About School and Sports

School- and sports-related topics often elicit strong opinions in students. Use these writing prompts to kick off the brainstorming process.

  • Ch-ch-ch-changes . What is one thing about your school that needs to change? Is bullying an issue? Do students need longer breaks or a dress code? Choose one vital issue that needs to change and convince school leaders to make it happen.
  • Special guest. Your school is trying to decide on a famous person to give a speech or presentation to students. Who do you think they should choose? Write an essay to convince your principal.
  • Oxford or bust. Is the Oxford comma essential or obsolete?
  • Scribble scrabble. Do students still need to learn cursive handwriting?
  • Co-ed conflict. Would students perform better if more schools were single-gender rather than co-ed? Why or why not?
  • Participation awards. Should there be winners and losers in sports, or is participation the ultimate goal?
  • Homework overload. Write an essay to convince your teacher to assign less homework.
  • Sports. Which sport (or team) is the best? What makes it better than the others?
  • No slacking . Write an essay persuading a fellow student to do their homework.
  • Class trip. This year, students get to vote on where to go for a class trip. Write an essay convincing your fellow students to vote for the place you’d like to go.
  • Superlatives. Which would you rather be: a top student, a talented athlete, or an accomplished artist?
  • Virtual athletes . Video games competitions are often aired on TV and treated like sports competitions. Should video games be considered sports?
  • Class debate. Should classes that students may not use or that don’t interest them (such as physical education or foreign language) be required?

Prompts About Relationships

Friendships, dating, and other relationships can be both rewarding and exasperating. These writing prompts about relationships will help students explore their feelings about both the positive and the negative moments.

  • Snitch. Your best friend tells you about his plan to cheat on a test. Should you tell an adult? Why or why not?
  • Give it a chance. Your best friend is convinced that she would hate your favorite book, even though she's never read it. Convince her to read it.
  • Friendships vs. relationships. Are friendships or romantic relationships more important in life? Why?
  • Driving age. What age do kids start driving in your state? Is that age too old, too young, or just right? Why?
  • Truth or consequences. Your best friend asks your opinion about something, but you know that a truthful answer will hurt her feelings. What do you do?
  • Who chooses? Your best friend is visiting, and you want to watch TV together, but his favorite show is at the same time as your favorite show. Convince him that your show is a better choice.
  • Fun times. What is the most fun thing you and your best friend have ever experienced together? Why does it deserve the top spot?
  • Dating. Are long-term dating relationships good or bad for teens?
  • New friends. You want to spend time with a new student at school, but your best friend is jealous. Convince your friend of the importance of including the newcomer.
  • Be mine. Is Valentine’s Day worthwhile or just a scheme for the greeting card and chocolate industry to make more money?
  • Debbie Downer. Should you cut ties with friends or relatives who are always negative?
  • He loves me not. Is it really better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?
  • Elders. Should you respect your elders merely because they are older, or is respect something that must be earned?

Prompts About Family, Pets, and Leisure Time

The following writing prompts related to family, furry friends, and free time will help students reflect on preferences, ethics, and integrity.

  • Self-reflection. This time, you're the one who needs convincing! Write an essay to persuade yourself to start a healthy habit (or kick a bad habit).
  • Paper wars. Should toilet paper hang with the loose end resting on the top of the roll or hanging from the bottom?
  • Movie vs. book. Choose a book that has been made into a movie. Which version is better, and why?
  • Weekend wanderings . Do you prefer to stay home on the weekends or get out and do things around town? Write an essay to convince your parents to let you do what you prefer this weekend.
  • Sweepstakes. A travel agency is hosting an essay contest to give away an all-expenses-paid trip to the one place in the world you’d most love to visit. Craft a winning essay that convinces them they need to choose you.
  • Zoo debate. Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos? Why or why not?
  • Presence of pets. Should there be limits on the types of places pets can go (e.g. airplanes or restaurants)? Why or why not?
  • Inspiring stories. What is the most inspiring book you’ve ever read? Why is it so inspiring?
  • Dollar discovery. You find a $20 bill in the parking lot of a crowded store. Is it okay to keep it, or should you turn it in to customer service?
  • Vacation day. What is the very best way to spend an unexpected day off from school and why is it the best?
  • Digital or print? Is it better to read books in print or digitally? Why?

Prompts About Society and Technology

The people and technology around us have a significant impact on our lives. These writing prompts encourage students to consider the effect that society and technological advances have on our day-to-day lives.

  • Reverse technology. Pick one technological advancement that you think the world would be better off without. Explain your reasoning and persuade the reader.
  • Out of this world . Do aliens exist? Why or why not?
  • Social media. Is social media good or bad for society? Why?
  • Emoji. Has the use of emoji stunted our ability to express ourselves in writing, or does it help us identify our emotions more precisely?
  • Auto safety. Have advancements like self-driving cars, blind spot indicators, and lane departure warning systems made driving safer, or have they just made drivers less attentive?
  • Exploration Mars. Write a letter to Elon Musk convincing him that you should be part of a colony to Mars.
  • Fundraisers. Is it okay for kids to stand outside stores and ask shoppers for money for their sports teams, clubs, or band? Why or why not?
  • Inventions. What is the greatest invention ever made? Why is it the best?
  • Important cause. In your opinion, what global problem or issue deserves more attention than it currently receives? Why should more time and money be invested in this cause?
  • Minimalism. Does living a minimalist lifestyle make for a happier life? Why or why not?
  • Gaming gains. Are video games generally a positive or a negative influence? Why?
  • Rose-colored glasses. Is the current decade the best era in history? Why or why not?
  • Paper or plastic. Should plastic bags be outlawed?
  • Writing Prompts for 7th Grade
  • Writing Prompts for Elementary School Students
  • 3 Real World Exit Slips for Formative Assessment
  • Engage Students With a Four Corners Debate
  • 8 First Day of High School Activities to Get to Know Your Students
  • Writing a Lesson Plan: Closure and Context
  • Topics for a Lesson Plan Template
  • The Best Interactive Debate Websites for Students and Teachers
  • Lesson Plan Step #8 - Assessment and Follow-Up
  • Using Bloom's Taxonomy for Effective Learning
  • Write Lesson Plans
  • Writing a Lesson Plan: Independent Practice
  • Writing a Lesson Plan: Guided Practice
  • Writing a Lesson Plan: Anticipatory Sets
  • 5 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month in the Classroom
  • Writing a Lesson Plan: Objectives and Goals

moral essay prompts

From 101 Creative Writing Exercises: Moral Dilemmas

by Melissa Donovan | Sep 17, 2019 | Creative Writing Exercises | 9 comments

101 creative writing exercises - moral dilemmas

Creative writing exercises: Moral dilemmas.

Today’s creative writing exercise comes from 101 Creative Writing Exercises , a book I wrote on the craft of writing.

This book takes you on an adventure through creative writing. You’ll explore different forms and genres of writing, including freewriting, journaling, memoir, fiction, storytelling, poetry, and article or blog writing.

101 Creative Writing Exercises imparts proven writing techniques while providing writing practice and creative inspiration.

Today, I’d like to share an exercise from “Chapter 9: Philosophy, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving.” This exercise is titled “Moral Dilemmas.” Enjoy!

Moral Dilemmas

We each have our own personal philosophies and values. Our values come from our families, religions, and cultures. They shape our morals and the decisions we make.

People are complex. What we believe is right or wrong changes when we find ourselves in real situations. Consider an honorable character who believes that one’s highest loyalty is to his or her family. Then that character learns his brother is a serial killer. Does he turn him in? Testify against him? Stories get interesting when characters’ morals are put to the test.

We all know the knight in shining armor should risk his life to save the damsel in distress. If he doesn’t, then he loses his status as hero and becomes a coward. What if the knight is forced to make a more difficult decision? What if his true love and his beloved sister are both in distress but he only has time to save one of them?

The Exercise

For this exercise, you will put a character’s morals to the test. Below, you’ll find a short list of moral dilemmas. Write a scene in which a character faces one of these moral dilemmas and has to make an agonizing decision.

  • In the novel Sophie’s Choice , a young Polish mother and her two children are taken to a concentration camp. Upon arrival, she is forced to choose one child to live and one to die. If she doesn’t choose, they both die. Write a scene in which your character must choose between the lives of two loved ones.
  • A single woman is close friends with the couple next door and has secret romantic feelings for the husband. She discovers that his wife is having an affair. Normally, this woman minds her own business but now she sees an opportunity to get closer to the man she wants.
  • Some countries have strict laws regarding drug possession. A family has traveled to one such country for vacation. Upon arrival (or departure), one of the teenagers’ bags is sniffed out by a dog. The bag is opened, the drugs are identified, and the guard asks whose bag it is. Both parents are considering claiming ownership. Everyone in the family knows the sentence would be death.
  • Your character gets to travel through time and face this classic moral dilemma: the character finds himself or herself holding a loaded gun, alone in a room, with a two-year-old baby Hitler.
  • A plane crashes into the sea. Most of the passengers escape with inflatable lifeboats but they do not board them correctly. Your character ends up on a lifeboat that holds eight people but there are twelve people on it, and it’s sinking. Your character can either throw four people overboard and eight will survive or they will all die except your character, who will get rescued after the others drown.

During the scene, the character should agonize over the decision and reveal his or her reasons for the choice that he or she makes.

Tips: Search online for “lists of moral dilemmas” to get more scenarios.

Variations: If you don’t want to write a scene, challenge yourself to come up with a few moral dilemmas of your own.

Applications: These moral dilemmas also work as story prompts. They force you to put your characters in situations that are deeply distressing, thus creating conflict and tension.

101 creative writing exercises

Wow. The baby Hitler one really bothered me. How could you shoot an innocent baby, even if it does turn out to do what it does? Besides, what if without Hitler things would somehow be different, in a bad way? That would be a terrible dilemma. I have no idea what I would do. I would think that I would go insane with that world changing decision resting on my shoulders.

Melissa Donovan

It’s a pretty disturbing dilemma, isn’t it? I’ve seen this one carried out in TV shows and movies. LOST had an episode that dealt with this issue and the characters took opposing sides. Some were willing to take the life of a child, knowing that he would grow up evil. Others argued that such a thing could never be justified. It’s a great exercise for the brain (and the heart).

Tiana

Well what if baby Hitler does something horrible to his adoptive family?

Rachel

This are great and challenging promps. I never thought to have specific moral dilemmas be the center of a story. But it is a great way to create tension and conflict, as you mentioned. I’ll have to try it out.

Rachel, I’m glad you liked these. Enjoy!

MelodyJ

Wow! These are some really good prompts. They all give me a lot to think about.

Thanks! Glad you liked them!

Dixie Barnes

If we have traveled back in time to when Hitler was a baby, why not try to adopt him and raise him as a Christian or at least as a nonviolent person? It would possibly save the lives of millions, not just the baby. No one knows how they would handle a situation, in actuality, but in fiction, why not try?

He was raised as a Christian. You can actually find many examples of people raised as Christians (or any other religion) who grow up and do horrendous things. The core of this question is that you have an opportunity to rid the world of a horrible evil but it requires committing a horrible act. Thus it’s a moral dilemma. I understand where you’re going with it, and I admire that your inclination is to cure him of his evil.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

writers creed

Subscribe and get The Writer’s Creed graphic e-booklet, plus a weekly digest with the latest articles on writing, as well as special offers and exclusive content.

creative writing exercises

Recent Posts

  • Writing Tips For Staying on Your Game
  • Writing Resources: Bird by Bird
  • Punctuation Marks: The Serial Comma
  • Getting Creative with Essay Writing
  • Tips for Crafting Language

Write on, shine on!

Pin It on Pinterest

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

EveryWriter

A New Community of Writers

300 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

February 15, 2024 by Richard Leave a Comment

300 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

Here are 300 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students, when looking to engage middle school students in daily writing, it can be difficult to come up with enough creative yet educationally meaningful prompts to fill the school year. That’s why I was thrilled to uncover an incredible list of over 300 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students. With about 180 school days, this mega list of prompts could last nearly two school years without repeating! As a middle school teacher striving to make writing fun while also pushing my students to think deeper, stretch their perspectives, and grow their skills, I appreciate prompts tuned specifically to 11-14 year olds on topics that resonate with their developmental stage and experiences.

The list has prompts spanning popular middle school genres and themes ranging from relationships with friends, family, teachers, and community; to personal growth around emotions, hardships, ethics, and decision making; to navigating their changing identity and society around them. Examples that caught my eye include: “How can peers positively stand up to bullying?” and “What leadership lesson challenged you?” Imagine how students will light up responding to prompts that speak their language and tap into what they care about! With 300 on deck, I can target different skills and rotate in new prompts easily. This treasury of writing ideas unlocks an exciting year ahead!

These prompts are organized in the following categories:

On Relationships

On technology, on emotions.

  • Issues in Schools
  • Entertainment
  • On Hero/Role Models
  • Write about what being a good friend means to you.
  • Describe your best friend and what makes your relationship special.
  • Write about a time a friend disappointed you. What happened and how did you handle it?
  • What is the best advice about friendship you have ever received? Who gave you the advice?
  • Describe a time you and your friend had an argument. How did you resolve it? What did you learn?
  • What qualities do you look for in choosing friends? Explain why those qualities are important.
  • What is your favorite memory with your best friend? What happened that makes it so memorable?
  • Should friends always agree with each other? Explain your opinion using an example from your life.
  • Write about a person who has been a mentor for you. How have they impacted your life?
  • Describe how you balance time between family and friends. Give examples.
  • Do you find making new friends easy or hard? Discuss a time you made a new friend.
  • Explain three qualities that make someone a good family member. Provide examples from your experiences.
  • Describe your relationship with your siblings or extended family members. Use examples.
  • Should family always come before friends? Discuss why or why not using examples from your experiences.
  • Write about a family tradition or ritual you have. Why is it meaningful to you?
  • How can families best support teenagers? What is something you wish your family understood better?
  • Have you ever had a teacher that was an important mentor for you? If yes, describe how they supported you.
  • Describe an adult aside from your family who has been a positive influence on you. Explain how they have helped you.
  • Do teachers have lasting impacts on students? Describe one of your teachers who inspired you.
  • Write about a figure you admire but do not personally know, like a celebrity, author, or athlete. Explain why you admire them.
  • Describe a disagreement you witnessed between two people. How did each handle it? Who handled it better in your view?
  • Think of someone you had a disagreement with in the past. Looking back, how could you have handled it better?
  • Why is it important to admit when you are wrong? Describe a situation when you had to admit you were wrong. What was it like?
  • Write about a time you compromised with someone who had an opposing view from yours. How did you find common ground? What did you learn?
  • Do you find it easy or difficult to get along with people different from you? Explain using examples.
  • How can people move past stereotypes? Share a time when you or someone else overcame a stereotype.
  • Describe a situation where jealousy impacted a friendship or relationship. What damage did it cause? What did you learn?
  • Why is trust so essential in relationships? Describe the building or breaking of trust in one of your relationships.
  • What have you learned from both good and bad relationships? How have those lessons shaped how you interact with people?
  • How do you define respect? Write about a time when respect was present or absent from a relationship.
  • Describe a time when words were very hurtful or healing in a relationship. What impact did this have on you?
  • Think about a relationship that is difficult. How could you act to improve it?
  • Write about a stranger who did a kind deed for you or someone else. How did this small act of kindness make a difference?
  • Should people give second chances? Share a story from your own life on second chances.
  • For what reasons do conflicts happen between family or friends? Share a personal story.
  • How can people prevent or resolve conflicts between each other? Share a time when conflict was prevented or resolved positively.
  • Think about a relationship that recently improved. What specifically changed for the better? What can be learned?
  • What does it mean to truly listen to someone? Why is listening skills important in relationships? Give an example.
  • Choose one word to describe each member of your family and explain why you chose those words.
  • What are fun ways for families to spend quality time together? What does your family do and what do you enjoy most? Explain.
  • If you had the chance to give advice to a good friend right now, what would it be and why?
  • What goals can people set to become better friends or family members? What’s one goal you have set for yourself?
  • Who do you turn to when you have problems? Why have you chosen to talk to this person/people?
  • Should we forgive friends or family who lie to us? Share your thoughts and experiences with forgiveness.
  • Is it ever okay to keep secrets from friends or family? Explain why or why not.
  • What does “being responsible” with friendships and family relationships mean to you? Give examples.
  • Do you think rules should be different for friends than family? Explain your thoughts with examples.
  • Describe a time you felt support from your friends or family during a difficult situation.
  • For you, what is the difference between a close friend and an acquaintance? Give examples from your life.
  • Explain why friendships and family relationships should be valued and prioritized. Use personal examples.
  • Describe your extended family like grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins. How often do you see them? What do you enjoy about those relationships?
  • What traditions or rituals does your family have? Why are they meaningful?
  • Has a relative ever given you great advice? What was it and why was it helpful?
  • How can families best support pre-teens and teenagers? What do you wish your parents understood better?
  • What qualities make someone a good brother or sister? Do you think you have those qualities? Explain.
  • Describe your mom, dad, or another caregiver’s personality. What are 3 great qualities they have?
  • If you had magical abilities, what problem would you solve for a family member? Why?
  • What does “unconditional love” mean to you? Describe how your family shows love.
  • Should parents be friends with their kids? Explain your view using examples and reasons.
  • How should parents handle teens who break rules or make poor choices? Discuss their responsibilities.
  • Describe one of your favorite memories with your family. What happened that makes it extra special?
  • For what reasons do conflicts happen in families? Share a story from your own family.
  • How can families prevent or resolve conflicts positively? Share a time your family resolved a conflict well.
  • If you could add a new family rule, what would it be and why? Would others agree it’s needed? Explain.
  • What does being a good listener mean in your family? Provide a time when good listening skills were helpful at home.
  • Describe one issue your parents had to compromise on while raising you and your siblings. Explain their perspectives.
  • What is one clue that a family member needs extra support? Describe a time you or someone else needed support.
  • How can trust be built, lost, or repaired in families? Provide a personal example.
  • What does “respect” require inside families? Describe how your family shows respect or could improve.
  • Share an example of how your family cooperates and supports one another. Why is this important?
  • How can families balance personal interests with responsibilities to the family unit or household? Give examples.
  • Have religious or spiritual beliefs impacted your family positively? Explain how.
  • What does “forgiveness” require in families? Describe someone forgiving or being forgiven. What was the outcome?
  • Is venting anger appropriately important in families? Share an example from your household.
  • What is one problem you think many families struggle with? Explain ideas for how to address this issue.
  • What is a rule that has helped create order or safety in your home? Why was it needed?
  • How do parents model good behavior for their children without realizing it? Give examples you’ve observed.
  • Write about an annoyance or frustration you have experienced with a parent, guardian, or sibling. How have you worked through this issue?
  • Explain why keeping promises and commitments to family matters. Provide a related example.
  • What are fun ways for families to spend quality time together? What does your family do that brings you together?
  • Should families pray or perform spiritual rituals together? Explain why this can be meaningful or not needed.
  • Is getting advice from elders important? Share an example of getting advice from your parents or grandparents.
  • How can parents and kids better understand each other’s perspectives? Explain with a personal example.
  • Describe one house rule you did not understand as a younger kid. Now that you are older, does it make more sense? Explain.
  • How should parents educate kids about racism or discrimination? Discuss using personal examples or observations.
  • Do you make friends easily outside your family? Explain how your family gives you confidence or holds you back socially.
  • What quality about your parents inspires you to be like them? Explain using examples.
  • What is one thing you wish you and your siblings would stop fighting about? Why does this issue cause problems? What could improve it?
  • Describe one thing you argue about a lot with your sibling(s) and one thing you get along well doing together. Compare the two relationship dynamics.
  • Explain one of your family’s funny little habits or traditions outsiders would find interesting or strange. Where did it originate?
  • For what reasons are family relationships often complicated? Share an example from personal experience.
  • If a new kid was joining your family as an adopted sibling, what advice would you give him or her about fitting into your established household?
  • Should parents give kids advice about friendship or let them learn those skills independently? Discuss, backing your view with reasoning.
  • Describe an ethical dilemma or complex problem your family faced together. How did working through it strengthen relationships? What did family members learn about each other?
  • How can parents and kids respect each other’s privacy? Discuss setting boundaries while still providing guidance.
  • How might experiencing hard times like illness, grief, job loss, etc. bring a family closer together? Describe a difficulty that ultimately strengthened bonds between your family members rather than weakening them.
  • Even in difficult or complex family relationships, what makes the bond stronger than conflict? Explain why you think family ties still endure.
  • Even if family relationships are challenging or imperfect, why work to understand versus give up on each other? Provide evidence that trying leads in a positive direction.
  • When do you think parents should stop influencing adult children’s choices? Explain where the line should be drawn and why.
  • What have you learned from your parents’ strengths and weaknesses? How will you carry these lessons into your future as an adult?
  • What is your favorite app or website? Describe what you like about it.
  • Explain 3 responsible ways you use the internet and social media.
  • Should there be laws about how people your age use the internet? Why or why not?
  • Describe when it’s okay or not okay to share information or photos online.
  • Write about a time technology like GPS maps or the internet really helped you or someone you know.
  • Explain why spending too much time on devices can be unhealthy. Provide evidence.
  • Describe problems or distractions technology like cell phones can cause at school. Should policies be made to address this issue?
  • How is communicating online and via text different from talking face-to-face? Include pros and cons of each.
  • Stories are spreading about technology like virtual reality. Describe what you think virtual reality will be like someday based on current information.
  • Do you think technology brings people together more than it isolates them? Use reasons and evidence to back your opinion.
  • How does the internet make researching for school easier and harder at the same time? Explain with examples from experience.
  • Write about a time technology failed to work properly. What problems did it cause? What was the backup plan to address needs?
  • How have smart phones impacted how youth and adults spend leisure time? Explain pros and cons.
  • Describe an app that helps make people’s lives easier somehow. Explain its standout features.
  • What are ways social media connects people positively? Also discuss risks and how to use social media responsibly.
  • Should everyone have access to affordable home internet? Explain pros and cons of internet access becoming an essential utility provided via programs for low income families.
  • Discuss an innovative medical technology that improves healthcare. How exactly does it help doctors treat patients better?
  • Would receiving instruction through technology at home some days help students learn? Explain the possibilities and challenges you envision.
  • How have delivery drones and self-driving vehicles started changing the way people transport items? Describe what future possibilities exist to revolutionize transportation.
  • Explain how smartphones both waste and make the best use of people’s time. Provide evidence.
  • How do various communication methods impact trust and relationships between people both positively and negatively? Cite examples.
  • Should schools invest in providing laptops or tablets to each student for learning? Explain reasoning using pros and cons.
  • How does advancing technology like electric cars, solar power, etc. positively and negatively impact the environment now and in the foreseeable future?
  • How have smartphones changed people’s behaviors for better or worse? Provide evidence from real world observations.
  • Should youth be on social media? At what age is appropriate? Cite reasons.
  • How does the online world impact body image perceptions? Discuss using observations or evidence. Provide solutions.
  • Explain pros and cons you see regarding video games’ impacts on things like kids’ brains, creativity, social skills, and values.
  • Discuss positive and concerning impacts highly advanced robotics may have on jobs, the economy, how people treat each other in relationships, self-worth and identity when more labor becomes automated.
  • How can the internet and connected technology increase existing inequities? Offer ideas to responsibly address this concern.
  • Explain why developing future technology sustainably matters. Provide examples like electric car batteries, solar panels, etc.
  • Should tech CEOs or companies do more about issues like device addiction? What exactly should change?
  • How does immediate access to so much information impact how people view issues? Explain how quality versus quantity of data impacts judgments made. Cite real world examples like politics, news stories, etc.
  • Discuss ways technology harms or helps entertainment quality and enjoyment like movies, shows, music, etc. Compare changes you see over time as innovation progresses.
  • How does the internet impact the spread of truth versus lies? Describe how credibility should be evaluated.
  • What existing technology truly excites you? Explain what you find interesting and innovative about it.
  • Share what harm has occurred when people use technology irresponsibly. Also discuss fixes to address concerns you see being neglected.
  • Should schools better educate students about using technology safely and wisely? Explain importance.
  • Discuss technology’s influence during an election. Consider media, voter engagement, political messaging, etc. Are changes mostly beneficial or concerning in your view? Explain.
  • Explain why websites and apps should value user privacy and security. What should companies transparently share and responsibly protect?
  • Has social media made peers kinder or less sensitive to each other? Explain your observations and solutions.
  • How does always on the go device access impact family relationships? Provide positives and hints for avoiding pitfalls.
  • How does being constantly plugged in emotionally impact people over time based on your observations?
  • Discuss an existing technology that worries you. Explain problems it fuels. What regulations could responsibly and ethically decrease harm?
  • How does social media impact mental health? Support your perspectives with observations, credible research sources, and possible solutions.
  • Share why empathy remains important even as technology progresses. Provide real world evidence supporting your claim.
  • Discuss how smartphones both hurt and help people fully live “in the moment.” Use personal examples and suggestions.
  • Explain effective tactics for determining if online content and interactions are credible versus manipulative or false. Cite real world examples like clickbait ads. What tips do you recommend?
  • Describe pros and cons of computers grading students’ writing versus teacher feedback. Which approach is better in your opinion? Support perspectives with reasoning.
  • How does always on technology impact people’s sense of wonder, curiosity to learn new things the old fashioned way, and ability to have insight? Provide observations.
  • What existing or emerging technology do you believe is getting too little or too much hype? Explain reasoning using evidence and examples.
  • Describe a time when you felt really proud. Why did this accomplishment make you feel that way?
  • When was the last time you felt grateful? What happened that made you appreciate something or someone?
  • Write about a situation where your emotions felt out of control. How did you eventually handle them?
  • What calms you down when feeling nervous or worried? Explain step-by-step what helps you.
  • What does courage feel like to you? Describe a situation where facing your fears made you braver.
  • Share about a hardship or failure after which you felt resilience. What gave you strength during the tough time?
  • Describe a memory where curiosity led to a fun adventure, interesting discovery, or new understanding.
  • What sparks your sense of joy or happiness most? Paint a picture with words sharing what that feels like.
  • How can friends show kindness to classmates who feel left out or lonely at school?
  • What should someone do when social media interactions stir up feelings like anger or envy? Explain smart strategies.
  • How might words impact someone’s self-worth without the speaker realizing it? Provide examples.
  • How can overcoming a challenge build grit to handle future tough situations emotionally? Recall a time this happened for you or someone else.
  • What values guide your life choices? Where did those become important to you?
  • How can students show more empathy and compassion at school? Provide examples.
  • How do responsibilities like chores influence attitudes and maturity levels? Explain using personal experience.
  • What action should people take if they witness bullying? Offer solutions.
  • Should students notify an adult if a peer’s joke goes too far emotionally? Explain why or why not.
  • How do colors impact someone’s mood? Describe colors that tend to make you feel peaceful, energized, cheerful, etc. and why.
  • What makes someone feel understood? Describe mindsets and behaviors that convey acceptance of others’ feelings.
  • Is letting anger out always required? Why or why not? Offer healthy strategies for processing anger.
  • Which is more important – self-confidence or self-awareness? Support your choice with sound reasoning.
  • How can students respect differences in learning abilities, cultures, beliefs, backgrounds, etc.? Provide positive examples.
  • Describe mindsets kids should avoid like blaming others for disappointments vs. taking responsibility for choices.
  • What advice would you offer someone who feels marginalized for being different like nationality, disability, etc?
  • Is perfectionism about looks and grades harmful? Explain problems and smarter mindsets to feel good enough.
  • How can families show members they matter through simple gestures like greeting questions, eye contact, etc?
  • Should people give second chances? Share why this does or does not make sense in certain relationships or situations.
  • When has a pet’s companionship lifted your spirits? Paint an upbeat picture sharing that memory.
  • Recount a time laughter healed hurt feelings between family or friends. What humor techniques restore connection?
  • Coach someone from your own past on building self-esteem despite mean kid behavior. Offer concrete empowering strategies.
  • How can students incorporate more emotional intelligence on social media? Consider acts of exclusion, meanness, etc. and remedies.
  • Provide examples of tone and body language that convey trust and acceptance of someone venting feelings. Offer additional tips.
  • Share how music enriches your life emotionally. Pick a song that impacts your mood and explain why.
  • Should people give compliments just to be nice? Explain pros and cons of this using personal examples.
  • How can focusing on gratitude, blessings, self-care, etc. safeguard mental health when undergoing stress? Discuss research-backed techniques.
  • Recount a time you put yourself in someone else’s shoes during a tense interaction. How did trying to understand them positively transform empathy?
  • Coach a shy student on making a tough social situation better through small acts of kindness. Provide uplifting guidance.
  • Suggest healthy emotional habits students should build to handle future challenges like first jobs, college, adulthood, etc.
  • How can recess sports and games nurture social skills like teamwork, good sportsmanship, managing disappointment after losses, etc.? Use examples.
  • Should students speak up about wrong assumptions peers make regarding diverse groups? Politely clarify truth to dispel stereotypes. Use examples.
  • Pick an emotion like awe, angst, delight, despair, wrath, bliss, etc. and paint a vivid personal picture where you felt that way.
  • How can social media interactions demonstrate more emotional intelligence? Consider exclusion, meanness, etc. and remedies.
  • When is it acceptable to hide feelings to spare someone pain versus speak truth with compassion? Explain where lines should be drawn.
  • How can focusing on society’s past moral progress fuel present optimism? Discuss using civil rights victories, democracy wins, etc.
  • Recount a time swallowing pride strengthened a valuable relationship. What wisdom did you gain?
  • How do fair leaders appeal to citizens’ highest ideals rather than stoke dark emotions like blame, fear, etc.? Share real examples like Lincoln.
  • Paint an inspirational picture of society lifting up youth wired to live meaningfully versus seek fleeting thrills. What specifically makes their lives shine?
  • How can rules promote ethical, wise digital community behavior versus thoughtless harm? Consider implementing guidelines for more supportive interactions.
  • Paint an inspirational picture of people uniting across political divides to solve real problems jeopardizing emotional and physical health like addiction, poverty, human trafficking, etc.
  • Recount a time you transformed hurt into helpfulness or comfort for someone else grappling with hardship. What emotional tools and insights can uplift both giver and receiver?

Issues in School 

  • Describe a challenging project and how you completed it successfully.
  • Explain why cheating on schoolwork is unethical. Have you dealt with a cheater? Discuss honestly.
  • Share about a teacher who inspired you to work hard. Traits? Qualities? Teaching style? How were they excellent?
  • Tell how you improved at something that was difficult at first like sports, music, math, etc. Hard work pays off!
  • Pick an ethical dilemma at school and explore solutions. Consider rights, rules, safety, fairness.
  • Discuss pros and cons of letter grades verses pass/fail evaluation systems. Which promotes actual learning?
  • Describe obstacles when group projects frustrate and solutions teachers could try instead.
  • How do pressures like getting into college impact student priorities? Reflect on whether the tradeoffs are worth it.
  • Discuss technology’s impact on school both positively and concerningly. Consider distraction, behavior, values, etc. Share ideas.
  • How can teachers and students unite when controversial real-world issues arise in class conversations? Explore respectful solutions.
  • What should teachers say and allow regarding politics, religion, activism etc.? Explain appropriate policies and ethical reasoning.
  • How can school sports best prevent injury? Consider health risks of head trauma, ACL tears, etc. Offer student perspective on rule changes, gear requirements, rest guidelines etc. needed to protect players.
  • Describe an ethical way you used tech for schoolwork versus a rule you’d add to curb misconduct. Consider cheating potential, theft, privacy invasions, harmful uses, etc. and consequences.
  • Discuss public school funding debates. Consider formulas, competing priorities, misperceptions, pros/cons of programs cut or supplemented by parent fundraising. Should policies shift? Why/why not?
  • How should schools handle mental health crises? Consider stress, anxiety, depression, trauma’s impacts. Discuss counseling, staff training needs etc. Destigmatize struggles!
  • How might school safety improve? Consider emergency protocols, building modifications, security roles, technology aids. Balance protection with warm environments.
  • What extracurricular activities matter most to you? Explore their life lessons like teamwork, resilience, commitment. Fund programs empowering students.
  • Discuss controversies around school uniforms and dress codes. Consider disciplinary fairness, cost factors, Pros? Cons? Alternatives?
  • How can students improve school spirit? Consider event turnout, community service participation etc. Share fun ideas!
  • Describe a great teacher. Traits? Qualities? Teaching Style? Why were they excellent? How did they inspire students?
  • Share a time good writing instruction made ah-ha connections for you. What teaching approach finally demystified skills? How does this help adults see school positively?
  • Discuss positive side effects when youth pitch service projects. Consider impacts on agency, purpose, skill-building.
  • How can peers positively stand up to bullying? Consider strategies matching context like severity, ages, power imbalances, supervision etc. Apply compassion.
  • What career discovery approach best serves students? Consider guest talks, job shadows, project relevance etc. How can exploration pair with current coursework?
  • Should cash incentivize good grades? Consider pros, cons and alternative motivations.
  • How might better nutrition improve school performance? Consider food quality, budget disconnects, health ripple effects.
  • What advice would you give struggling peers? Consider perspectives affecting motivation like learning differences, attention challenges, skill gaps, emotional blocks. Share supportive guidance.
  • What leadership lesson challenged you? Consider group projects, captain positions, committee roles. How can educators further grow student leadership?
  • Should middle schoolers use social media? Explain appropriate usage, privacy, ethics. Explore impacts face-to-face versus online communication, identity-building.
  • How do sports build character and community? Consider award/recognition systems also encouraging nonsport interests.
  • Share a time good teaching eased subject struggles. Consider learning style pairings, tutoring, visuals etc. What finally made content click? How can teachers apply such insights schoolwide?
  • How can students practice self-advocacy asking for help? Consider communication method pros/cons. Normalize speaking up!
  • How should schools handle grief support? Consider student perspectives on memorials, counseling, handlings of loss. What sensitivity helps healing?
  • Should cellphones be allowed in schools? Consider classroom complexities. How to responsibly integrate usage?
  • What career skills should schools teach? Consider financial literacy, interview tactics, job applications, workplace ethics alongside math, literature etc. Blend knowledge fields.
  • What homework policies best serve students and family lives? Consider hour limits, vacation blackout periods. How can schools support balance?
  • Should middle schoolers have recess? Consider mental health benefits balancing packed academic schedules.
  • How can dress codes embrace personal style without straying from professionalism? Consider flexibility for religious diversity.
  • What grading system most accurately reflects learning? Consider test reliance, extra credit, participation, skill gains versus deficits.
  • How young should career advising begin? Consider early goal-setting, age views of self/interests. What roles can teachers play?
  • Should community service become a graduation requirement? Consider purpose, logistics.
  • How can better school-parent communication occur? Consider platforms, frequency, accessibility etc. Building partnerships around the whole child matters!
  • Should teachers incorporate art forms into standard subjects? Consider benefits of music, visual art etc. blending into math, literature, science etc. Explore cross-disciplinary learning pros.
  • Pick a controversial real-world issue arising in class study. Outline respectful discussion ground rules enabling equitable idea sharing. Consider rule modification by grade.
  • Should schools screen students for mental health needs? Consider care connectors, warning signs role in prevention. Destigmatize support.
  • Should schools provide career counseling? If so, what issues should be addressed and what topics avoided? Consider student feelings discussing economic challenges.
  • Describe an imaginative teacher capturing learning in creative ways you enjoyed. What did their innovations teach in terms of thinking differently?
  • Should students evaluate teacher performance? Consider aspects like tone, control, care shown. Explore survey goals – accountability, improvement insights etc. Discuss complex power dynamics sensitively.
  • Is starting school days later better for health and learning? Consider research on adolescent sleep needs.
  • How can team and individual activities coexist in gym class Cooperatively rotating through stations enabling choices might help those loving and loathing competition. Discuss solutions valuing all skill preferences.

entertainment 

  • What is your favorite movie and why?
  • What is your favorite song and why does it make you happy?
  • Who is your favorite singer or musical artist? Describe their music.
  • What is your favorite TV show? Describe the characters and plot.
  • If you could star in any TV show or movie, what would you choose? Why?
  • What is the funniest video you’ve seen? Describe what happens in it.
  • What is your favorite book? Describe the main character and plot.
  • Who is your favorite author? What do you like about the stories they write?
  • Describe your perfect day watching movies or TV shows. What would you watch all day?
  • What is your favorite smartphone or tablet app for having fun? How do you use it?
  • If you could attend any concert, who would you see perform live? Why?
  • Describe the most entertaining YouTube video you’ve seen lately.
  • What entertainer or celebrity would you most like to meet? What would you talk about?
  • Describe a time when you laughed really hard at something funny. What happened?
  • What is the funniest joke you’ve heard? Why did you find it so funny?
  • Pick three famous people you’d invite to a dinner party. Why did you choose them? What would you talk about?
  • Describe a time when you performed in front of an audience. How did it make you feel?
  • What games or activities entertain your family when you’re all together? Why do you enjoy them?
  • Imagine you could enter any fictional world from a book, TV show or movie. What would you choose and why?
  • What local attractions or amusement parks have you visited for fun day trips? Describe what you did there.
  • What teachers at your school make learning the most fun? Describe their teaching styles.
  • Describe your ideal birthday party for entertainment. What would you do? Who would you invite?
  • What is the best school play, concert or other performance you’ve seen? Describe it.
  • What do you like doing on weekends for fun?
  • What entertainer or celebrity do you think has the best job? Why?
  • Describe your favorite hobby. How did you get started doing it? What do you like about it?
  • What is your favorite holiday? What entertainment traditions does your family have for it?
  • What outdoor activities entertain you? Describe one.
  • If you opened your own entertainment business for kids your age, what would you offer?
  • When you want to relax and destress, what TV shows, music or other things do you turn to? Why are they relaxing?
  • How do reality talent competitions like American Idol or America’s Got Talent entertain you? Do you want to someday audition for one?
  • Describe your perfect entertaining day off from school. What fun would you have?
  • What were the best fireworks you ever saw? Describe the display.
  • Write a short, imaginary dialogue between you and your favorite entertainer or fictional character. What do you talk about?
  • What is the funniest joke you know by heart? Why can you remember this one?
  • Describe an entertaining family tradition or celebration your family enjoys. What happens each time? What do you like about it?
  • What is your favorite live event you’ve attended, like a concert, play, or sporting event? Describe it. What entertained you?
  • Have you ever entered a talent show or performed for an audience? Describe your act and the performance. How did you feel?
  • Pick three famous historical figures you’d invite to dinner and describe why you chose them and what you might talk about.
  • What is the most beautiful place that you have visited that made you happy? Describe what you saw and did there.
  • What music always makes you smile and dance? Why does it have that effect on you?
  • Watching movies at home or going to the movie theater – which do you prefer and why? Describe your perfect movie experience.
  • What were your favorite school subjects as a younger kid? What made learning fun then?
  • Have you ever met someone famous? Who was it? Describe the experience.
  • If you had the power to become a fictional character for just one day, who would you be and why? Describe some things you would do as that character.
  • You can have superpowers for just one whole day. What powers would you choose and how would you use them for entertainment or to help yourself and other people?
  • You just won front row concert tickets to see your favorite band perform live. Who is the band and how excited are you as you take your seat? Describe the incredible night.
  • Describe your dream vacation – where would you go, who would you take, and what fun things would you make sure to do when you get there? Make your planning committee happy!
  • What outdoor summer hobbies and activities do you most look forward to each year? Describe your favorites in vivid sensory detail so the reader feels like they are there with you.
  • What do you find entertaining that most other people probably don’t? Describe or demonstrate it and try to convince readers to give it a try!

On Hero/role Model 

  • Who is your personal hero? Describe why you admire this person.
  • What qualities make someone a hero? Describe your idea of a hero.
  • Who in your family do you look up to the most? Explain why.
  • Describe a fictional character that you consider a hero. What do you admire about them?
  • If you could spend a day with any hero (real or fictional), who would you choose and why? Describe what you would do together.
  • Have you ever met someone you consider a hero? Tell about your experience.
  • What does being a role model mean to you? Describe someone who is a good role model.
  • Who is a positive role model in your community? What makes them a good role model?
  • Describe a time when you helped someone. Do you think that made you a role model or hero to them?
  • If you had a special power, how would you use it to be a hero in your town? Describe the ways you would help people.
  • What central traits do all heroes share? Explain some key qualities heroes have.
  • Explain why teachers can be everyday heroes. What makes a teacher a hero to students?
  • Describe a fictional superhero origin story for yourself. How did you get your powers and decide to become a hero?
  • Whose poster would you hang on your wall: a sports star, entertainer, historic leader, inventor, or someone else? Explain why you admire this person as a role model.
  • Who do you think is a hero in your family’s history? Write about one of your ancestors who inspires you.
  • When have you felt like a hero? Describe a time you helped someone in an important way.
  • What song best describes the qualities of a hero? Explain your choice.
  • What is the most heroic career , in your opinion? Describe why.
  • Have you read about an inspirational figure who overcame difficulties? Write about why their life story is heroic.
  • What fictional place would you want to live where you could train to become a hero? Describe your training.
  • Which of your friends shows heroic qualities? Share why you think they are hero material.
  • Describe a way you would like to help animals and become their hero.
  • What career would you like to have one day where you could be a hero? Explain the ways you could help people in that career.
  • Tell about a time you stood up for someone. Do you think that took strength or heroism?
  • Describe a character in book who is a good role model for teens. Explain why.
  • Who is your hero in sports? Why do you find them inspirational?
  • Have you ever written a story featuring yourself as the hero? Share some details.
  • What is the most courageous thing you have ever done? Why did it require courage?
  • Describe a way you would protect others from bullies if you could.
  • Explain why nurses, doctors and other medical professionals are everyday heroes.
  • Who is a “hometown hero” where you live and why are they admired?
  • What animal is your favorite hero from a movie? Explain why.
  • What is more important for being viewed as a hero – talent or good character? Discuss why you think so.
  • Describe someone at your school who you think behaves like a hero to others.
  • Tell about a time you exercised wisdom in a difficult situation. Does that make you feel heroic?
  • Design a new superhero. Describe their costume, superpowers, vehicle, mission and who they protect.
  • Parents often tell kids – “Be careful climbing too high or you might get hurt!” Do you think a hero would be careful or bold? Discuss why.
  • What 3 traits best describe a hero? Explain your choices.
  • How can ordinary people become heroes? Give some examples of ways everyday people have been heroic.
  • Pick two fictional mentors you have read about and would want to learn life lessons from about being a hero. Explain your choices.
  • Should people think of themselves as heroes or is it best to be humble? Discuss this idea.
  • What inspires you to want to make a positive difference in the world? How does this relate to being a hero?
  • How are teachers and students heroes for each other? Describe their heroism.
  • Tell about a historical hero who inspires you. Why do you look up to them?
  • How can music and movies motivate people to be heroes? Give examples of inspirational songs and films.
  • What will be the next great challenge that tomorrow’s heroes need to tackle and overcome? Speculate what that challenge might realistically be.
  • How can young people reveal their “inner hero” more? What would help them develop heroism?
  • How do images of heroes vary across different cultures? How might your idea of a hero change if you lived in another country?
  • Do you think there will ever be a time period that doesn’t need any heroes? Explain why you think so.
  • Imagine yourself at age 60 looking back – what do you hope young people say about your life that might inspire them or make them see you as a hero?

With over 300 thoughtful writing prompts for middle school students, the possibilities for sparking student engagement are endless. I’m energized imagining how students will dive into these age-appropriate topics and questions that resonate with their experiences and invite them to explore identity, relationships, responsibility, and more.

Whether it’s debating policies around technology in schools or opening up about a time they felt marginalized for being different, students will surely find prompts on this comprehensive list that interest them while also pushing their perspectives and building key literacy skills. Teachers can easily integrate these into warm-ups, journal entries, discussion springboards, and more activities.

Best of all, using so many prompts over a school year prevents repetition and boredom while allowing teachers to customize difficulty, vary formats to meet different learning styles, and scaffold writing skill development. With around 180 school days, weaving these 300 gems in daily exposes students to less redundant ideas so they sharpen a greater diversity of skills through unique responses rather than formulaic approaches. I foresee this prompting richer writing and deeper engagement that unlocks students’ potential. I can’t wait to incorporate these into my lesson planning and unit development this summer to start the year strong and set my young writers up for ongoing success! We have many more writing prompts on our site if you found these useful. 

Related Posts:

100 what-if scenarios writing prompts for students

About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Privacy Overview

University of Notre Dame

Undergraduate Admissions

Tips from Counselors

  • Home ›
  • Apply ›
  • Tips from Counselors ›

The Notre Dame Writing Section: We Walk You Through Our Essay and Short Answer Prompts

Published: August 03, 2023

Author: Montanna Kirven

Writingsectiongraphic

The Notre Dame application is open as of August 1. Each year, members of the admissions team formulate new short answers prompts for the application.

There are no “right answers” to these questions; rather, these questions provide another opportunity for applicants to tell us about themselves.

Before you start writing, we'd love to share some advice and guidance to help jumpstart your essay brainstorming.

Our admissions team can't wait to review your application and read your essays! Let's dive in!

The University of Notre Dame Writing Section consists of responses to two (2) brief essay questions and three (3) short-answer responses to questions you select from the options provided.

Directions: Please provide a response to two (2) of the following questions. The word count is a maximum of 150 words per response.

Notre Dame fosters an undergraduate experience dedicated to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual development of each individual, characterized by a collective sense of care for every person. How do you foster service to others in your community?

Our founder Reverend Edward Sorin, C.S.C. envisioned the University of Notre Dame to be a powerful force for good in the world, and this is a purpose the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Notre Dame strive to live out every day. Building bridges through compassion, serving others, and welcoming all in our global community are all vital to the Notre Dame spirit and experience.

It might be helpful to think of this prompt as asking you two questions: How do you foster a spirit of service? How do you foster a spirit of community?

Both service and community can look different for every individual. Maybe the community you serve is as close to home as your family, or as far away as the other side of the globe. Whoever, however, and wherever you choose to serve, we want to hear about how you build up your community.

What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (e.g., family support, culture, disability, personal background, community, etc.)? Why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the Notre Dame community?

At Notre Dame, we value the distinct experiences of every student and celebrate the diversity present in the Notre Dame family. This question gives you an opportunity to share how your life experiences have shaped you.

Maybe you’re an international student who will be bringing a unique perspective from outside the U.S., or you are a student living in a rural part of the country, or someone who wants to share how their cultural background or lived experiences have shaped their sense of self and identity.

Whether you’re coming from an urban city, have lived your whole life in the same suburb, will be the first in your family to attend college, or are the youngest of five kids, we want to hear how your personal experiences have impacted your identity—and how you will bring that with you to Notre Dame.

Describe a time when you advocated for something you believed in and influenced others through thoughtful discourse to promote a deeper understanding of a difficult situation.

One of my favorite book quotes is, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends.” We want to hear how you’ve fought for something you believe in, whether that has been amongst your friends, at school, at home, or another environment.

The key word in this prompt is “advocated.” How have you created change, helped someone see a different perspective, made someone feel included, fostered a dialogue, or found a way to make an impact? We want to hear how you’ve lived out your values as an advocate.

Short Answer

Directions: Please choose three questions from the options below. Your response to each short-answer question should be no more than 50 words.

What is worth fighting for?

The moniker of the Fighting Irish is more than just our athletic mascot—it represents a spirit of perseverance, commitment, and indomitable courage.

Everyone has something that lights a fire underneath them. Tell us what that is for you.

To see how our current students and faculty answer  “What Would You Fight For?” , check out the video series showcasing their work and global impact.

Everyone has different priorities when considering their higher education options and building their college or university list. Tell us about your “non-negotiable” factor(s) when searching for your future college home.

At this point in your college discernment process, you’ve probably done a fair amount of research into different colleges and universities as you’ve decided where to apply. We hope you’ve taken some time to discern what matters to you and what you are looking for next in your academic journey. The best  college “fit” is different for every single student.

This question is asking you to share what that ideal fit looks like to you. For example, you might be considering a school’s physical and institutional attributes, campus culture, academics and experiential learning, or cost/financial aid. You might also be considering values and the mission of your ideal college.

All these are important questions to ask yourself as you search for where to call home for the next four years. We hope that this prompt will give you space to contemplate and share what you hope to find in your educational experience.

What is something that genuinely interests you and how does this tie to the academic area you hope to study at Notre Dame?

Notre Dame attracts a community of intellectually curious students who are enthusiastic about their areas of study. What are you curious about, and maybe more importantly, why?

Whether you feel confident or unsure whether you will continue down the path of your intended major, that is OK! This question is asking you to think about your interests and why you are inspired to pursue them. Is there a question you hope to answer? A topic that fuels your passion? A problem you feel driven to solve?

You are about to embark on a great academic journey—let us know what you are most excited to explore and discover!

How does faith influence the decisions you make?

Whatever your relationship with faith and religion, we want to know about how faith has shaped you. Has faith informed your values? Inspired you? Challenged you? Compelled you to look at something in a new or different way?

The vibrant community of Notre Dame is made up of students from a variety of faith backgrounds and religious traditions. Perhaps your faith is something you’ve grown up with, or your spirituality has changed throughout your life. Alternatively, maybe you do not consider yourself to be religious, but encountered faith through a friend or experience. Regardless, tell us about your journey.

What brings you joy?

Since our founding by the  priests and brothers of the Congregation of the Holy Cross , Notre Dame has striven to educate both the mind and heart, with zeal and hope.

We want to know what fills your heart with zeal and hope! Whatever makes you joyful—an activity, a person, a cause, or anything in between— we want to hear about it. Maybe it reflects the values you hold or something inherent to you as a person.

No source of joy is too big or small for this prompt.

Montannakirven1

Montanna Kirven is an admissions counselor for the Northeast region of the United States. Learn more about Montanna.

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Student Opinion

525 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

Questions that invite students to write about themselves, their lives and their beliefs.

moral essay prompts

By The Learning Network

Updated with 80 new prompts from the 2022-23 school year!

We’ve been posting fresh writing prompts every school day for over a decade now, and every so often we create a themed collection like this one to help you find what you need all in one place.

Below, we’ve rounded up 525 evergreen questions to encourage you to write about your life. They cover everything from family, friendships and growing up to gender, spirituality, money, school and more. (They’re also all available here as a clickable PDF .)

We hope they’ll inspire you, whether you’re entering our related 100-Word Personal Narrative Contest this fall, or just want to improve your writing skills. Like all our Student Opinion questions , each links to a related Times article, which is free to read if you access it from our site.

So dive in and pick the questions that motivate you to tell an interesting story, describe a memorable event, observe the details in your world, imagine a possibility, or reflect on who you are and what you believe.

Overcoming Adversity

1. How Mentally Tough Are You? 2. What Is the Bravest Thing You’ve Ever Done? 3. When Have You Made the Best of a Difficult Situation? 4. How Have You Gotten Over Disappointment? 5. How Do You Get Over Rejection? 6. How Do You Deal With Self-Doubt? 7. How Resilient Are You? 8. What Do You Gain From Pursuing Something You Do Really, Really Badly? 9. How Do You Handle Fear? 10. Are You Too Hard on Yourself? 11. How Do You Silence Your Inner Critic? 12. Have You Ever Experienced ‘Impostor Syndrome’? 13. Have You Ever Benefited From Rejection? 14. Do You Give Yourself Enough Credit for Your Own Successes? 15. How Do You Overcome Your Fears? 16. Stress, Worry and Anxiety Are All Different. How Do You Cope With Each? 17. How Do You Cope With Grief? 18. How Do You Make Hard Decisions? 19. Have You Ever Quit Something? 20. Have You Ever Felt as if You Didn’t Belong? 21. When Has Starting Over Worked for You? 22. When Have You Reinvented Yourself? 23. Do You Find It Hard to Let Other People Help You? 24. Have You Ever Felt Like an Outsider? 25. Do You Appreciate When Celebrities Share Their Struggles? 26. Have You Ever Worried About Making a Good First Impression? 27. Have You Ever Felt Pressure to ‘Sell Your Pain’?

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Academic Editing and Proofreading

  • Tips to Self-Edit Your Dissertation
  • Guide to Essay Editing: Methods, Tips, & Examples
  • Journal Article Proofreading: Process, Cost, & Checklist
  • The A–Z of Dissertation Editing: Standard Rates & Involved Steps
  • Research Paper Editing | Guide to a Perfect Research Paper
  • Dissertation Proofreading | Definition & Standard Rates
  • Thesis Proofreading | Definition, Importance & Standard Pricing
  • Research Paper Proofreading | Definition, Significance & Standard Rates
  • Essay Proofreading | Options, Cost & Checklist
  • Top 10 Paper Editing Services of 2024 (Costs & Features)
  • Top 10 Essay Checkers in 2024 (Free & Paid)
  • Top 10 AI Proofreaders to Perfect Your Writing in 2024
  • Top 10 English Correctors to Perfect Your Text in 2024
  • Top 10 Essay Editing Services of 2024
  • 10 Advanced AI Text Editors to Transform Writing in 2024

Academic Research

  • Research Paper Outline: Templates & Examples
  • How to Write a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Write a Lab Report: Examples from Academic Editors
  • Research Methodology Guide: Writing Tips, Types, & Examples
  • The 10 Best Essential Resources for Academic Research
  • 100+ Useful ChatGPT Prompts for Thesis Writing in 2024
  • Best ChatGPT Prompts for Academic Writing (100+ Prompts!)
  • Sampling Methods Guide: Types, Strategies, and Examples
  • Independent vs. Dependent Variables | Meaning & Examples

Academic Writing & Publishing

  • Difference Between Paper Editing and Peer Review
  • What are the different types of peer review?
  • How to deal with rejection from a journal?
  • Editing and Proofreading Academic Papers: A Short Guide
  • How to Carry Out Secondary Research
  • The Results Section of a Dissertation
  • Checklist: Is my Article Ready for Submitting to Journals?
  • Types of Research Articles to Boost Your Research Profile
  • 8 Types of Peer Review Processes You Should Know
  • The Ethics of Academic Research
  • How does LaTeX based proofreading work?
  • How to Improve Your Scientific Writing: A Short Guide
  • Chicago Title, Cover Page & Body | Paper Format Guidelines
  • How to Write a Thesis Statement: Examples & Tips
  • Chicago Style Citation: Quick Guide & Examples
  • The A-Z Of Publishing Your Article in A Journal
  • What is Journal Article Editing? 3 Reasons You Need It
  • 5 Powerful Personal Statement Examples (Template Included)
  • Complete Guide to MLA Format (9th Edition)
  • How to Cite a Book in APA Style | Format & Examples
  • How to Start a Research Paper | Step-by-step Guide
  • APA Citations Made Easy with Our Concise Guide for 2024
  • A Step-by-Step Guide to APA Formatting Style (7th Edition)
  • Top 10 Online Dissertation Editing Services of 2024
  • Academic Writing in 2024: 5 Key Dos & Don’ts + Examples
  • What Are the Standard Book Sizes for Publishing Your Book?
  • MLA Works Cited Page: Quick Tips & Examples
  • 2024’s Top 10 Thesis Statement Generators (Free Included!)
  • Top 10 Title Page Generators for Students in 2024
  • What Is an Open Access Journal? 10 Myths Busted!
  • Primary vs. Secondary Sources: Definition, Types & Examples
  • How To Write a College Admissions Essay That Stands Out
  • How to Write a Dissertation & Thesis Conclusion (+ Examples)
  • APA Journal Citation: 7 Types, In-Text Rules, & Examples
  • What Is Predatory Publishing and How to Avoid It!
  • What Is Plagiarism? Meaning, Types & Examples
  • How to Write a Strong Dissertation & Thesis Introduction
  • How to Cite a Book in MLA Format (9th Edition)
  • How to Cite a Website in MLA Format | 9th Edition Rules
  • 10 Best AI Conclusion Generators (Features & Pricing)
  • Top 10 Academic Editing Services of 2024 [with Pricing]

100+ Writing Prompts for College Students (10+ Categories!)

  • Additional Resources
  • Plagiarism: How to avoid it in your thesis?
  • Final Submission Checklist | Dissertation & Thesis
  • 7 Useful MS Word Formatting Tips for Dissertation Writing
  • How to Write a MEAL Paragraph: Writing Plan Explained in Detail
  • Em Dash vs. En Dash vs. Hyphen: When to Use Which
  • The 10 Best Citation Generators in 2024 | Free & Paid Plans!
  • 2024’s Top 10 Self-Help Books for Better Living
  • The 10 Best Free Character and Word Counters of 2024
  • Know Everything About How to Make an Audiobook
  • Citation and Referencing
  • Citing References: APA, MLA, and Chicago
  • How to Cite Sources in the MLA Format
  • MLA Citation Examples: Cite Essays, Websites, Movies & More
  • Citations and References: What Are They and Why They Matter
  • APA Headings & Subheadings | Formatting Guidelines & Examples
  • Formatting an APA Reference Page | Template & Examples
  • Research Paper Format: APA, MLA, & Chicago Style
  • How to Create an MLA Title Page | Format, Steps, & Examples
  • How to Create an MLA Header | Format Guidelines & Examples
  • MLA Annotated Bibliography | Guidelines and Examples
  • APA Website Citation (7th Edition) Guide | Format & Examples
  • APA Citation Examples: The Bible, TED Talk, PPT & More
  • APA Header Format: 5 Steps & Running Head Examples
  • APA Title Page Format Simplified | Examples + Free Template
  • How to Write an Abstract in MLA Format: Tips & Examples
  • 10 Best Free Plagiarism Checkers of 2024 [100% Free Tools]
  • 5 Reasons to Cite Your Sources Properly | Avoid Plagiarism!
  • Dissertation Writing Guide
  • Writing a Dissertation Proposal
  • The Acknowledgments Section of a Dissertation
  • The Table of Contents Page of a Dissertation
  • The Introduction Chapter of a Dissertation
  • The Literature Review of a Dissertation
  • The Only Dissertation Toolkit You’ll Ever Need!
  • 5 Thesis Writing Tips for Master Procrastinators
  • How to Write a Dissertation | 5 Tips from Academic Editors
  • The 5 Things to Look for in a Dissertation Editing Service
  • Top 10 Dissertation Editing & Proofreading Services
  • Why is it important to add references to your thesis?
  • Thesis Editing | Definition, Scope & Standard Rates
  • Expert Formatting Tips on MS Word for Dissertations
  • A 7-Step Guide on How to Choose a Dissertation Topic
  • 350 Best Dissertation Topic Ideas for All Streams in 2024
  • A Guide on How to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper
  • Dissertation Defense: What to Expect and How to Prepare
  • Creating a Dissertation Title Page (Examples & Templates)
  • Essay Writing Guide
  • Essential Research Tips for Essay Writing
  • What Is a Mind Map? Free Mind Map Templates & Examples
  • How to Write an Essay Outline: 5 Examples & Free Template
  • How to Write an Essay Header: MLA and APA Essay Headers
  • What Is an Essay? Structure, Parts, and Types
  • How to Write an Essay in 8 Simple Steps (Examples Included)
  • 8 Types of Essays | Quick Summary with Examples
  • Expository Essays | Step-by-Step Manual with Examples
  • Narrative Essay | Step-by-Step Guide with Examples
  • How to Write an Argumentative Essay (Examples Included)
  • Guide to a Perfect Descriptive Essay [Examples & Outline Included]
  • How to Start an Essay: 4 Introduction Paragraph Examples
  • How to Write a Conclusion for an Essay (Examples Included!)
  • How to Write an Impactful Personal Statement (Examples Included)
  • Literary Analysis Essay: 5 Steps to a Perfect Assignment
  • Compare and Contrast Essay | Quick Guide with Examples
  • Top 10 Essay Writing Tools in 2024 | Plan, Write, Get Feedback
  • Top AI Essay Writers in 2024: 10 Must-Haves
  • 100 Best College Essay Topics & How to Pick the Perfect One!
  • College Essay Format: Tips, Examples, and Free Template
  • Structure of an Essay: 5 Tips to Write an Outstanding Essay
  • 10 Best AI Essay Outline Generators of 2024

Still have questions? Leave a comment

Add Comment

moral essay prompts

Checklist: Dissertation Proposal

Enter your email id to get the downloadable right in your inbox!

moral essay prompts

Examples: Edited Papers

Need editing and proofreading services.

  • Tags: Academic Writing , English as a Second Language / ESL , Language

Are you a college student looking to improve your writing skills? Look no further! This article includes 100+ writing prompts on technology, art, science, sports, personal growth, history, leadership, and more! 

With this, we’ve also included a special section of fun writing prompts for students. So let’s explore these amazing writing prompts!  

Elevate your writing with professional editing services! Learn more

1. Social issues and challenges 

1) Write an essay about the importance of gender equality and the steps to achieve gender equality. 

2) Craft an article about the rise of AI tools and how they are changing society. 

3) Write about democracy’s challenges due to disinformation and suggest solutions. 

4) Analyze the root causes of homelessness in urban areas and suggest innovative approaches to address this issue.

5) Describe how the rising prices of commodities (inflation) have led to an increase in the gap between the rich and the poor. Suggest what actions the government must implement. 

6) Elaborate on the impact of using mobile and computer technologies on mental health. 

7) Explain the importance of education in bringing social change. 

8) Describe the impact of climate change in your city and suggest solutions. 

9) Explore the role of art and culture in transforming society for the better. 

10) Discuss the economic, social, and cultural impact of immigration in the USA. 

2. Personal growth and self-reflection

11) Describe a difficult decision that you made and its positive impact. 

12) Reflect on how you worked towards achieving success and how you planned for it. 

13) Elaborate on how the experience of hearing a speech from a well-known celebrity changed your life. 

14) Describe an experience when you stepped outside of your comfort zone and took a risk.

15) Write about a skill or talent that you have developed and how it helped you in your personal life. 

16) Reflect on a time when you had to work as a part of a team and what you learned. 

17) Describe a time when you had to face your fear and the strategies you took to conquer your fear. 

18) Write about a time when you forgave someone for making a mistake and how it made you feel better. 

19) Elaborate on an incident that made you change a bad habit for the better. 

20) Reflect on an incident where there was a misunderstanding due to the lack of proper communication. What steps did you take to ensure proper communication? 

3. Technology and innovation

21) Discuss the role of technology in helping the world face the challenge of climate change. 

22) Explain the impact of robotics on fields such as healthcare, education, and customer service.

23) Analyze the impact of facial recognition technology on the world. 

24) Explore the potential of virtual and augmented reality technologies in education and entertainment. 

25) Explore the potential of wearable technology (like smart watches) to improve health. 

26) Examine the impact of 3D printing on manufacturing, supply chains, and enhancing production.

27) Describe the potential of blockchain technology in supply chain management, voting systems, or healthcare.

28) Explore the role of technology in improving communication.

29) Examine the potential of voice assistants like Alexa and Siri and AI writing assistants. 

30) Analyze the potential of mobile health apps in enhancing health and promoting easy access to medicines. 

Now let’s see some of the best creative writing prompts for students! 

4. Arts, culture, and creativity

31) Write a short story about a mad artist who brings change through his paintings. 

32) Compose a series of haiku poems inspired by seasons like summer, winter, autumn, and spring. 

33) Create a dialogue between two street artists discussing the importance of public art in society.

34) Write a flash fiction story about a meteor that falls in a village and its impact on the villagers. 

35) Pen a descriptive essay about a cultural food festival and the stories and traditions behind each dish.

36) Develop a short story about a time traveler who visits the 18th century and interacts with famous musicians and artists.

37) Craft a short story about a photographer who finds a photograph of a mysterious treasure, resulting in an exciting adventure.

38) Describe the art form of street theater and suggest strategies to promote it. 

39) Write about a detective team of English , Chinese, Australian, and Japanese officers that solve a case despite their cultural differences. 

40) Create a dialogue between two art critics discussing the merits and controversies of a controversial painting. 

Check out the environment-related writing prompts for students given below!

5. Environment 

41) Examine the consequences of deforestation and propose strategies for protecting forests worldwide.

42) Discuss the impact of plastic pollution and suggest innovative solutions for reducing plastic waste.

43) Analyze the role of eco-tourism in preserving the environment. 

44) Discuss the impact of meat consumption on the environment and explore the benefits of plant-based diets.

45) Explore the potential of electric vehicles in reducing carbon emissions.

46) Elaborate on strategies to conserve water and what steps should be taken at a global level to save water. 

47) Discuss the impact of electronic waste on the environment and propose strategies for waste management.

48) Explain the importance of recycling and propose ways to encourage more people to recycle. 

49) Discuss how renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy can help to conserve the environment. 

50) Describe various strategies to reduce soil erosion and suggest sustainable farming practices. 

Browse to explore science-related creative writing prompts for students! 

6. Science 

51) Explain the importance of genetic and DNA research in treating and preventing diseases. 

52) Discuss how scientific research has helped to enhance space research. 

53) Explore the benefits of collaboration between scientists belonging to different fields for developing innovative solutions. 

54) Describe how scientific technologies have revolutionized the transport industry. 

55) Explain various strategies related to how scientific innovation can be encouraged in schools and colleges. 

56) Pen a blog about how scientific discoveries have helped in waste management. 

57) Write an article about how chemistry research has led to better safety guidelines in industries. 

58) Discuss the potential of nanotechnology in electronics.

59) Analyze the importance of simulation and mention various simulation technologies to encourage experimentation. 

60) Explain the importance of various advanced technologies, including encryption technologies in ensuring cybersecurity. 

For sports lovers, the next section explores sports-themed good writing prompts for college students! 

61) Describe the efforts of the Olympics 2024 to promote sports like skateboarding and climbing. 

62) Give your opinion about how sports like judo and taekwondo help to encourage fitness. 

63) Explore the development of kite flying as a sport and its huge potential. 

64) Write about Simone Biles’ amazing return to gymnastics and why it is inspiring. 

65) Discuss how sports help to develop teamwork and leadership skills in students. 

66) Write about your favorite sport and suggest strategies to promote it. 

67) Pen an article about an unforgettable story about sportsmanship and fair play that you’ll always remember. 

68) Analyze the importance and role of sports journalism in shaping people’s opinions. Suggest ways to promote sports journalism. 

69) Explore the challenges, pros, and cons of hosting sports events on a global scale. Suggest strategies to face the challenges better. 

70) Describe the impact of technology on college sports, including wearable devices, social media, and video analysis. 

Want to write about travel and adventure? Get ready to explore creative writing prompts for college students inspired by these themes! 

8. Travel and adventure

71) Write about the growing popularity of solo travel and workations and how they can be encouraged. 

72) Describe a life-changing travel experience in detail. 

73) Explore the development of adventure tourism and list the top 5 spots famous for adventure tourism. 

74) Craft an article about your favorite World Heritage site that you’ve visited/would like to visit in the future. 

75) Give 20 tips about how to travel with a tight financial budget with limited resources to explore new destinations. 

76) Analyze the negative impact of over-tourism in famous tourist destinations. Suggest strategies to reduce negative consequences. 

77) Describe the importance of local customs and traditions while traveling to a new country. 

78) Write an essay on the importance of historical tourism and suggest how it can be encouraged. 

79) Explore how travel and tourism foster understanding between people belonging to different cultures. 

80) Write about how you faced serious obstacles and challenges while traveling. 

9. History 

81) Analyze the role of Nelson Mandela in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and his lasting impact. 

82) Discuss the role of Mao Zedong in the Chinese Communist Revolution and the transformation of modern China.

83) Explore the life and achievements of Leonardo da Vinci and his contributions to art, science, and engineering.

84) Write about a historical figure that inspires you the most and why. 

85) Examine the impact of World War 1 and World War 2 on society. 

86) Explain the achievements of Albert Einstein and his contributions to physics.

87) Examine the causes and consequences of the Cold War between Russia and the USA in detail. 

88) Discuss the impact of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Explore the role of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

89) Explore the significance of the Silk Route in facilitating cultural exchange and trade between East and West.

90) Explore the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, his philosophy of non-violence, and its impact. 

Now let’s see some writing prompts for college students about education and learning. 

10. Education and learning

91) Describe the importance of online courses and apps in learning. 

92) Write about your experience in learning a new language and how it helped you. 

93) Reflect on your most difficult exam and what you learned from the experience.  

94) Write a short article about a teacher who positively impacted your education. 

95) Analyze all the pros and cons of using technology for learning. 

96) Describe the benefits of studying multiple subjects in college.

97) Elaborate on the importance of time management and describe any 5 time management strategies that helped you learn. 

98) Discuss the role of extra-curricular activities like arts, crafts, and sports in personality development. 

99) Reflect on an experience where failure while learning encouraged you to perform better. 

100) Elaborate on strategies and learning methods through which colleges can encourage creativity through education. 

101) Explain how learning in groups and through practical projects can help gain knowledge. 

11. Leadership and collaboration

102) Describe various strategies for developing leadership skills through education. 

103) Write about a leader who inspired you the most. 

104) Explain the types and impact of leadership style on team performance. 

105) Analyze the impact of stress and burnout on leadership and collaboration. Suggest strategies for enhancing health and resilience within teams.

106) Examine the role of creativity and innovation in leadership and collaboration. Discuss strategies through which leaders can encourage creativity among team members. 

107) Describe strategies using which leaders can bridge generation gaps and encourage diverse perspectives in teams. 

108) Explain the importance of storytelling in leadership. Describe how stories can be used to inspire team members. 

109) Analyze the impact of cross-cultural differences on leadership. Mention strategies using which leaders can ensure clear communication in culturally diverse teams. 

110) Examine the role of networking and relationship-building in leadership and collaboration. Suggest strategies for building professional networks. 

111) Discuss the importance of accountability and ownership in leadership and collaboration. Recommend 10 strategies for fostering a sense of responsibility and commitment within teams.

Browse through the next section for fun writing prompts for students! 

12. Fun writing prompts 

112) Describe a day when a magical genie agrees to grant 5 wishes. What would you ask for? 

113) Imagine you could visit any fictional world in a book/movie of your choice. Which fictional world would you choose and what would you do?  

114) Pen a story, imagining yourself as a superhero. What superpowers would you choose and what would you do? 

115) Imagine and describe your day as a famous inventor. What would you invent and why? 

116) If you could have dinner with five famous personalities, who would they be and why? 

117) Write a story about a magical dream that surprisingly came true. 

118) Pen a story about a road trip that takes an unexpected turn, leading to a shocking decision. 

119) Write a letter to your best friend, expressing gratitude and remembering all the wonderful memories spent together. 

120) If you could trade places with someone and live someone else’s life for a day, who would it be and why? 

121) Pen a story where whatever you say starts happening in reality. What happens next? 

Now let’s see some interesting writing prompts for ESL students! 

13. Good writing prompts for ESL students 

122) Write about your favorite food and why you enjoy it so much. 

123) Describe a memorable celebration you were part of and what made it special. 

124) Pen an article about a circus you visited and what you experienced. 

125) Explain about your dream house in detail. 

126) Write about your favorite book/TV Show/movie and explain why you liked it. 

127) Describe your experience playing a memorable video game and why it is special for you. 

128) Pen some words about the festival you love the most and why. 

129) Write in detail about your trip to an amusement park and its unique features. 

130) Describe a music festival you went to and why it was unforgettable for you. 

131) Pen your experience about a time you helped someone and how it made you feel. 

Now that you know the best creative writing prompts for students, you can use them. Once you complete writing, the next step will be to edit the text. As experts in editing and proofreading services , we’d love to help you perfect your text! 

Here are some other useful resources for you: 

  • Academic Writing in 2024: 5 Key Dos & Don’ts + Examples
  • 50 Amazing ESL Resources for Students (Free & Paid)

Frequently Asked Questions

How to find writing prompts, what is a good writing prompt, what are easy topics to write about.

Found this article helpful?

Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Your vs. You’re: When to Use Your and You’re

Your organization needs a technical editor: here’s why, your guide to the best ebook readers in 2024, writing for the web: 7 expert tips for web content writing.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get carefully curated resources about writing, editing, and publishing in the comfort of your inbox.

How to Copyright Your Book?

If you’ve thought about copyrighting your book, you’re on the right path.

© 2024 All rights reserved

  • Terms of service
  • Privacy policy
  • Self Publishing Guide
  • Pre-Publishing Steps
  • Fiction Writing Tips
  • Traditional Publishing
  • Academic Writing and Publishing
  • Partner with us
  • Annual report
  • Website content
  • Marketing material
  • Job Applicant
  • Cover letter
  • Resource Center
  • Case studies

IMAGES

  1. 8 Best moral dilemma ideas

    moral essay prompts

  2. Solving a Moral Dilemma Personal Essay on Samploon.com

    moral essay prompts

  3. 35+ Best Moral Essay Topics [ Persuasive, Reflective,Argumentative ]

    moral essay prompts

  4. 25 Moral Dilemma Prompts by Not Your Mother's English Teacher

    moral essay prompts

  5. Essay on Moral Values for Students and Children

    moral essay prompts

  6. Moral Studies Assignment Essay Example

    moral essay prompts

VIDEO

  1. How to NAIL the UCLA Essay Prompts (pt. 1)

  2. Dissecting Writing Prompts & Rubrics

  3. 10 Lines Essay on Moral Values//English Essay/Moral Values

  4. How to Enter a Prompt in MidJourney 2023?

  5. Quotations for Moral Stories

  6. Creative Writing Exercise

COMMENTS

  1. Over 1,000 Writing Prompts for Students

    Of all the resources we publish on The Learning Network, perhaps it's our vast collection of writing prompts that is our most widely used resource for teaching and learning with The Times. We ...

  2. 157 Morality Essay Topics & Examples

    157 Topics on Morality & Essay Samples. Updated: Mar 2nd, 2024. 16 min. In your morality essay, you can cover ethical dilemmas, philosophy, or controversial issues. To decide on your topic, check out this compilation of 138 titles prepared by our experts. Table of Contents.

  3. 130 New Prompts for Argumentative Writing

    Try our student writing prompts. In 2017, we compiled a list of 401 argumentative writing prompts, all drawn from our daily Student Opinion column. Now, we're rounding up 130 more we've ...

  4. 113 Morality Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    The morality of cultural relativism in art. The influence of media on moral values. The role of empathy in moral decision-making. The ethics of online harassment. The morality of body positivity movements. These are just a few examples of the many morality essay topics that you can explore in your writing.

  5. 650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

    Here is a PDF of all 650 prompts, and we also have a related lesson plan, From 'Lives' to 'Modern Love': Writing Personal Essays With Help From The New York Times.. Below, a list that ...

  6. 200 Ethical Topics for Your Essay by GradesFixer

    Writing an ethics essay involves more than just presenting facts; it requires a thoughtful analysis of moral principles and their application to real-world scenarios. Understanding ethical topics and what constitutes ethical issues is essential for crafting a compelling essay.

  7. 12 Interesting Ethical Topics for Essay Papers

    Good looks are highly prized in society. You can see advertisements everywhere urging you to buy products that will supposedly enhance your appearance. While many products are topical, plastic surgery is probably the ultimate game-changer. Going under the knife to enhance your looks can be a quick fix and help you achieve the look you desire.

  8. 100 Classic Philosophical Writing Prompts

    So as you reflect on the 100 philosophical writing prompts presented in this article, we encourage you to approach them with an open mind and a spirit of curiosity. Don't be afraid to explore new ideas, to question your own beliefs, and to engage in respectful dialogue with others who may hold different perspectives.

  9. 13 Thought-Provoking Personal Narrative Prompts

    Finding an engaging personal narrative prompt will help you discover a memorable essay. Let's find the right topic for you. 13 Personal Narrative Prompts. One of the best ways to show a personal story is to select a small episode or anecdote from your life and dig deep into it. These 13 personal narrative prompts help you find a great essay ...

  10. 92 Moral Dilemma Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    Moral Dilemma in Saunders' Escape From Spiderhead. Thus, the theme of the story traces the definition of the nature of people and love and suggests that all humans, independent of their circumstances, have a choice in a moral dilemma. Moral Dilemma: Barking Dog and Neighborhood.

  11. 221 Ethical Dilemma Topics & Essay Samples

    221 Ethical Dilemma Essay Topics & Examples. An ethical dilemma essay has become an essential part of education for many professions that involve working with people. Below, we've collected topics for writing a paper on this subject. The concepts of ethics and moral dilemmas have originated long ago.

  12. 500 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

    Now, five years later, we've collected 500 of them that invite narrative and personal writing and pulled them all together in one place (available here as a PDF ). The categorized list below touches on everything from sports to travel, education, gender roles, video games, fashion, family, pop culture, social media and more, and, like all our ...

  13. 550 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

    Update, Sept. 9, 2022: We published a new collection of 445 narrative and personal writing prompts. We've been posting fresh writing prompts every school day for over a decade now, and every so ...

  14. 70 Argumentative Essay Topics That Will Put Up a Good Fight

    Click To Tweet. I've listed 70 argumentative essay topics below, phrased as questions, to help get you started. I've separated the topics into five categories—legal, moral, social, media, and family. And I've even included a helpful link for each topic. Feel free to use the topics for your own essay or as inspiration to create your own ...

  15. 180 Ethics Topics & Ethical Questions to Debate

    180 Ethics Topics & Ethical Questions to Debate. (35 votes) Our code of ethics is derived from what we think is right or wrong. On top of that, we have to agree to the moral standards established by the society we live in. Conventional norms generally label theft, murder, or harassment as bad. However, there are many influences that impact our ...

  16. 113 Perfect Persuasive Essay Topics for Any Assignment

    List of 113 Good Persuasive Essay Topics. Below are over 100 persuasive essay ideas, organized into ten categories. When you find an idea that piques your interest, you'll choose one side of it to argue for in your essay. For example, if you choose the topic, "should fracking be legal?" you'd decide whether you believe fracking should ...

  17. 49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students

    49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students. One of the most common essay types is the opinion, or persuasive, essay. In an opinion essay, the writer states a point of view, then provides facts and reasoned arguments to support that viewpoint. The goal of the essay is to convince the reader to share the writer's opinion.

  18. Moral Essay Topics

    Moral Revelation Theme. Moral revelation and redemption seems to be the focus of Flannery O'Connor's theme in A Good Man is Hard to Find, Revelation, and Everything that Rises Must Converge. O'Connor's upbringing stemmed from southern roots with a strong religious foundation from which she seems to center her short stories.

  19. Over 170 Prompts to Inspire Writing and Discussion

    During the 2020-21 school year, we asked 176 questions, and you can find them all below or here as a PDF. The questions are divided into two categories — those that provide opportunities for ...

  20. From 101 Creative Writing Exercises: Moral Dilemmas

    Creative writing exercises: Moral dilemmas. Today's creative writing exercise comes from 101 Creative Writing Exercises, a book I wrote on the craft of writing. This book takes you on an adventure through creative writing. You'll explore different forms and genres of writing, including freewriting, journaling, memoir, fiction, storytelling ...

  21. 300 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

    The list has prompts spanning popular middle school genres and themes ranging from relationships with friends, family, teachers, and community; to personal growth around emotions, hardships, ethics, and decision making; to navigating their changing identity and society around them. Examples that caught my eye include: "How can peers ...

  22. The Notre Dame Writing Section: We Walk You Through Our Essay and Short

    Essay. Directions: Please provide a response to two (2) of the following questions. The word count is a maximum of 150 words per response. Notre Dame fosters an undergraduate experience dedicated to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual development of each individual, characterized by a collective sense of care for every person.

  23. 525 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

    525 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing. Questions that invite students to write about themselves, their lives and their beliefs. Updated with 80 new prompts from the 2022-23 school year ...

  24. 100+ Writing Prompts for College Students (10+ Categories!)

    Now let's see some interesting writing prompts for ESL students! 13. Good writing prompts for ESL students 122) Write about your favorite food and why you enjoy it so much. 123) Describe a memorable celebration you were part of and what made it special. 124) Pen an article about a circus you visited and what you experienced.