personal essay topics for high school

Personal Essay Topics

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A personal essay is an essay about your life, thoughts, or experiences. This type of essay will give readers a glimpse into your most intimate life experiences and life lessons. There are many reasons you may need to write a personal essay , from a simple class assignment to a college application requirement . You can use the list below for inspiration. Consider each statement a starting point, and write about a memorable moment that the prompt brings to mind.

• Your bravest moment
• How you met your best friend
• What makes your mom or dad special
• How you overcame a fear
• Why you will succeed
• Why you made a difficult choice
• A special place
• A place you try to avoid
• When a friend let you down
• An event that changed your life
• A special encounter with an animal
• A time when you felt out of place
• An odd experience that didn't make sense at the time
• Words of wisdom that hit home and changed your way of thinking
• A person that you do not like
• A time when you disappointed someone
• Your fondest memory
• A time when you saw your parent cry
• The moment when you knew you were grown up
• Your earliest memory of holiday celebrations in your home
• Times when you should have made a better choice
• A time when you dodged a dangerous situation
• A person you will think about at the end of your life
• Your favorite time period
• A failure you've experienced
• A disappointment you've experienced
• A surprising turn of events
• What you would do with power
• What superpower you would choose
• If you could switch lives with someone
• How money matters in your life
• Your biggest loss
• A time when you felt you did the wrong thing
• A proud moment when you did the right thing
• An experience that you've never shared with another person
• A special place that you shared with a childhood friend
• A first encounter with a stranger
• Your first handshake
• Where you go to hide
• If you had a do-over
• A book that changed your life
• Words that stung
• When you had the desire to run
• When you had the urge to crawl into a hole
• Words that prompted hope
• When a child taught you a lesson
• Your proudest moment
• If your dog could talk
• Your favorite time with family
• If you could live in another country
• If you could invent something
• The world a hundred years from now
• If you had lived a hundred years earlier
• The animal you'd like to be
• One thing you'd change at your school
• The greatest movie moment
• The type of teacher you would be
• If you could be a building
• A statue you'd like to see
• If you could live anywhere
• The greatest discovery
• If you could change one thing about yourself
• An animal that could be in charge
• Something you can do that robots could never do
• Your most unfortunate day
• Your secret talent
• Your secret love
• The most beautiful thing you've ever seen
• The ugliest thing you've seen
• Something you've witnessed
• An accident that changed everything
• A wrong choice
• A right choice
• If you were a food
• How you'd spend a million dollars
• If you could start a charity
• The meaning of color
• A close call
• Your favorite gift
• A chore you'd do away with
• A secret place
• Something you can't resist
• A hard lesson
• A visitor you'll never forget
• An unexplained event
• Your longest minute
• An awkward social moment
• An experience with death
• Why you'll never tell a lie
• If your mom knew, she'd kill you
• A kiss that meant a lot
• When you needed a hug
• The hardest news you've had to deliver
• A special morning
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Student Opinion

525 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

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

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’?

Your Personality

28. Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist? 29. How Competitive Are You? 30. Do You Like Spending Time Alone? 31. Are You a Good Person? 32. Are You a Perfectionist? 33. Do You Hold Grudges? 34. Do You Seek Out New Experiences? Or Stick With the Things You Know and Love? 35. How Do You Express Yourself Creatively? 36. What Animal Are You Most Like? 37. Are You a Patient Person? 38. Are You a Worrier? 39. Are You a Risk-Taker? 40. How Do You Handle Boredom? 41. How Well Do Rewards and Incentives Work to Motivate You? 42. How Good Are You at Judging Your Own Talents? 43. Are You a Procrastinator? 44. Do You Suffer From ‘Task Paralysis’? 45. Do You Feel Joy at Others’ Success? 46. What Role Does Envy Play in Your Life? 47. How Do You Like to Be Comforted When You Are Sad? 48. How Easy — or Hard — Is It for You to Say No When You Want To? 49. Are You More of a Leader or a Follower? 50. How Well Do You Read Other People? 51. Are You Good at Giving Gifts? 52. Do You Complain Too Much, Too Little or Just the Right Amount? 53. How Would You Rate Your Listening Skills and Those of the People Around You? 54. Do You Prefer to Dwell in the Past, Live in the Present or Dream of the Future? 55. What Makes You Cringe? 56. What Disgusts You? 57. Are You Easily Distracted? 58. How Punctual Are You? 59. Are You a Good Conversationalist? 60. How Emotionally Intelligent Are You? 61. Are You an Orchid, a Tulip or a Dandelion?

Hobbies & Interests

62. What Are Your Hobbies? 63. What Is Your Passion? 64. How Do You Spend Your Downtime? 65. How Do You Have Fun? 66. What Would You Choose to Do If You Had Unlimited Free Time and No Restrictions? 67. What Activities Make You Feel Most Alive? 68. What Big Project Do You Hope to Accomplish Someday? 69. What Work, Sport or Pastime Do You Like to Do at Night? 70. What Seemingly Mundane Feats Have You Accomplished? 71. What Have You Made This Year? 72. What Do You Collect? 73. Which Fandoms Are You In? 74. What Competition Do You Think You Could Win? 75. What Is Something You Want to Try, Even Though Others Might Think It’s Weird? 76. Are There Activities You Used to Love That Are Now So Competitive They’re Not Fun Anymore? 77. What Would You Recommend That Is ‘Overlooked and Underappreciated’? 78. What New Innovations and Discoveries in STEM Intrigue You?

79. What Are the Little Rituals That Keep You Going? 80. What Are Your Best Life Hacks? 81. What Ordinary Moments Would You Include in a Video About Your Life? 82. What Habits Do You Have, and Have You Ever Tried to Change Them? 83. Do You Wish You Had a Different Morning Routine? 84. Does Your Life Ever Feel Too Busy? 85. How Can You Tell a Story About Your Life Right Now Through a Few Simple Numbers? 86. What Is Your Secret to a Happy Life? 87. What’s Your Sunday Routine? 88. What Slang Words Do You Use? 89. How Often Do You Treat Yourself to Something Special? 90. How Often Do You Just ‘Hang Out’ With Others? 91. What Are You Grateful For? 92. Where Do You Find Peace and Quiet? 93. Do You Spend Enough Time With Other People? 94. Do You Talk to Yourself? 95. Is Clutter a Problem in Your Life? 96. How Do You Remember What You Need to Remember? 97. When and For What Reasons Do You Seek Silence? 98. How Do You Greet Your Friends and Family? 99. What Is the Most Wholesome Thing You’ve Seen Lately?

Home & Community

100. Who Are the ‘Characters’ That Make Your Town Interesting? 101. If You Made a Mixtape for Your Hometown, What Sounds and Songs Would You Include? 102. What Do the Types of Dogs in Your Neighborhood Say About Where You Live? 103. What Are Your Hometown’s Shortcomings? 104. Do You Have a Favorite Local Hangout? 105. After Home and School, Where Do You Find the Strongest Feeling of Community? 106. What Grievances Do You Have With Your Local Community? 107. Who in Your Community Might Be Interesting to Interview? 108. What Role Do Parks Play in Your Life? 109. What Role Do Trees Play in Your Neighborhood? 110. How Diverse Is Your Community? 111. How Do You Come Together With Your Community? 112. What Is Unique About Your Hometown? 113. What’s Your Favorite Local Business? 114. Do You Wish You Had the Go-to House? 115. Do You Think You Might Like Communal Living When You’re an Adult? 116. Do You Have Enough Access to Places Where You Can Play and Exercise? 117. What Do the Objects in Your Home Say About You?

118. How Do You Define ‘Family’? 119. Who Is in Your Chosen Family? 120. How Well Do You Get Along With Your Siblings? 121. How Well Do Your Parents Deal With Sibling Conflicts? 122. Do You Have a Family Motto or Creed? 123. How Much Do You Know About Your Family’s History? 124. Where Would You Visit To Find Out More About Your Family’s Past? 125. What Is a Meaningful Family Relationship That You Have? 126. What Is Your Relationship Like With Your Grandparents and Elders? 127. Do You Have Any Family Heirlooms?

Parents & Parenting

128. How Involved Are Your Parents in Your Life? 129. How Similar Are You to the Adults Who Raised You? 130. Do You Push Your Parents’ Buttons? 131. How Do You Get What You Want From Your Parents? 132. Do Your Parents Yell at You? 133. What Advice Do You Have for Teenagers and Their Parents? 134. Are You Conforming to or Rebelling Against Your Parents’ Wishes for You? 135. Do Your Parents Spy on You? 136. Do You Turn to Your Parents for Advice? 137. How Do You Connect With Your Parents? 138. Do Your Parents Overpraise You? 139. Have You Ever Felt Embarrassed by Your Parents? 140. Who Cooks, Cleans and Takes Care of the Kids in Your Family? 141. What Kind of Time Management Skills Are You Learning from the Adults in Your Life? 142. Are Your Parents Addicted to Their Phones?

Role Models

143. What Role Have Mentors Played in Your Life? 144. Whom Do You Turn to for Good Advice? 145. What Can We Learn From Older Adults? 146. What Does the World Need to Know About an Important Person in Your Life? 147. Who’s Your ‘Outsider Role Model’? 148. What Does Dr. King’s Legacy Mean to You? 149. Who Do You Turn To in a Crisis? 150. Who Is Someone You Would Like to Thank? 151. Have You Ever Written Fan Mail? If Not, Would You? 152. How Have You Coped With the Death of an Idol?

Childhood Memories

153. What Is Your Earliest Memory? 154. What Things Remind You of Your Childhood? 155. What Childhood Rules Did You Break? 156. What’s the Craziest Thing You Did as a Kid? 157. What Magic Did You Believe In as a Child? 158. What Is the Most Memorable Thing You Have Ever Lost or Found? 159. Have You Ever Given, or Received, a Perfect Gift? 160. What’s the Best Party You’ve Ever Been To? 161. What Smells Trigger Powerful Memories for You? 162. What Is Your ‘Good Luck Charm’? 163. What Objects Bring You Comfort?

164. What Is It Like to Be a Teenager Now? 165. What Is the Best Thing About Being Your Age? 166. What Do Older Generations Misunderstand About Teenagers Today? 167. What Rites of Passage Mark the Transition to Adulthood in Your Community? 168. How Important to You Is Being Able to Drive? 169. Do Other People Care Too Much About Your Post-High School Plans? 170. Do You Hate When Adults Ask You What You Want to Be When You Grow Up? 171. Have You Ever Felt Pressured by Family or Others in Making an Important Decision About Your Future? 172. Do You Have ‘Emerging Adult’ Skills? 173. How Long Do You Hope to Live at Home? 174. What Letter of Inspiration Would You Write to Your Younger Self? 175. What Have You Learned From a Younger Person — and What Have You Taught An Older Person? 176. Have You Ever Helped an Adult? 177. When — if Ever — Do You Call Adults by Their First Names? 178. What Advice Do You Have for Younger Students? 179. Are You Optimistic About the Future? 180. Do You Want to Have Children Someday? 181. Do You Look Forward to Old Age? 182. What Legacy Do You Want to Leave Behind? 183. What Do You Want to Be Known for After Your Death?

Morality & Ethics

184. Have You Ever Taken a Stand That Isolated You From Your Peers? 185. What Acts of Kindness Have You Witnessed or Participated In? 186. How Good Are You at Apologizing? 187. Do You Ever Laugh at the Misfortune of Others? 188. When Have You Either Forgiven Someone or Been Forgiven Yourself? 189. Has Forgiving Someone Ever Made You Feel Better? 190. What Is the Code You Live By? 191. Have You Ever Been Surprised by an Act of Generosity?

Race, Ethnicity, Gender & Sexuality

192. What Cultural Traditions Are Important to You? 193. How Do You Connect to Your Heritage? 194. What Role Does Your Family’s Native Tongue Play in Your Life? 195. How Does Your Identity Inform Your Political Beliefs and Values? 196. How Much Racism Do You Face in Your Daily Life? 197. What Is Your Gender Identity? 198. Do You Feel Constricted by Gender Norms? 199. Have You Ever Been Told You Couldn’t Do Something Because of Your Gender? 200. What Messages About Gender Have You Gotten From Music? 201. How Do You Feel About Being Told to Smile? 202. What Has Your Sex Education Been Like? 203. How Do You Respond When People Ask, ‘Where Are You From?’ 204. What Does Your Accent Say About Who You Are?

Money & Social Class

205. What Are Your Expectations About Earning, Saving and Spending Money? 206. What Choices Do You Make About Money Every Day? 207. How Do You Get and Spend Money? 208. Have You Ever Tried to Make Money Online? 209. How Much Financial Help Do You Expect From Your Parents in the Future? 210. Do You Get an Allowance? 211. How Much Has Your ZIP Code Determined Your Opportunities? 212. What Has Television Taught You About Social Class?

Religion, Spirituality & Beliefs

213. What Role Does Religion Play in Your Life? 214. How Often Do You Start Conversations about Faith or Spirituality? 215. What Do You Think Are the Secrets to Happiness? 216. What Legends and Myths Do You Believe In? 217. Do You Believe in Astrology? 218. Do You Believe in Manifesting? 219. What Are Your Experiences With Meditation? 220. How Important Is Mindfulness to Your Daily Life? 221. How Do You View Death? 222. We Document Life’s Milestones. How Should We Document Death? 223. Do You Believe in Ghosts?

Technology & the Internet

224. How Are You Using A.I.? 225. What Old Technology Do You Think Is Cool? 226. What Don’t Adults Understand About Teenage Life Online? 227. What Online Communities Do You Participate In? 228. Could You Go a Year Without a Smartphone? 229. Is Your Phone Love Hurting Your Relationships? 230. How Much of Your Day is Voluntarily Spent Screen-Free? 231. How Would Your Life Be Different if You Didn’t Have Wi-Fi and Cellular Service? 232. Where Do You Go to Find Cool, Strange or Fascinating Information on the Internet? 233. Does the Future of Robots Get You Excited, or Fill You With Dread? 234. Do You Worry About Your Digital Privacy? 235. Do You Feel Safer When You Know You’re Being Watched? 236. Do You Leave Funny Comments Online? 237. Have You Experienced Any Embarrassing Zoom Mishaps? 238. Have You Ever Encountered Racist or Extremist Content Online? 239. How Do You Know if What You Read Online Is True? 240. How Much Do You Trust Online Reviews?

Social Media

241. How Much of Your Life Do You Share Online? 242. Do Social Media and Smartphones Make Your Friendships Stronger? 243. Are You the Same Person on Social Media as You Are in Real Life? 244. What Does TikTok Mean to You? 245. Who Is Your Favorite Social Media Star? 246. Would You Want to Be a Social Media Star? 247. Do the Adults in Your Life Follow You on Social Media? 248. Have You Ever Gone to a Place for the Primary Purpose of Taking Selfies? 249. Would You Want to Live and Breathe Creating Content for Social Media? 250. Do You Feel You’re Friends With Celebrities or Influencers You Follow Online? 251. What Role Does Instagram Play in Your Life? 252. How Does Social Media Affect Your Mental Health? 253. Does Social Media Affect Your Body Image? 254. Which Emoji Do You Use the Most? 255. Do You Ever Ignore Text Messages?

Music & Podcasts

256. What Music Are You Listening to Right Now? 257. Who Was Your Favorite Musical Artist This Year? 258. What Songs Explain You? 259. What Is Your Favorite Musical Instrument? 260. What Songs Matter to You Now? 261. What Was Your First Concert? 262. Which Celebrity Performer Would You Like to Challenge to a Friendly Battle? 263. What Would You Name Your Band? 264. Do You Listen to Podcasts? 265. If You Could Make Your Own Podcast, What Would It Be About?

Movies, TV & Video Games

266. What Have You Learned About Life From Watching Movies? 267. What Is Your Favorite Sports Movie? 268. What Are Your Favorite TV Shows? 269. Who Is Your Favorite Actor? 270. What’s in Your Queue? 271. What Is Your Favorite Memory of PBS? 272. How Do You Feel About Spoilers? 273. What Stereotypical Characters Make You Cringe? 274. Are You a Fan of Rom-Coms? 275. Do You Like Horror? 276. What’s Your Favorite Video Game Ever? 277. What Classic Video Games Do You Still Enjoy Playing? 278. What Video Games Would You Like to See Adapted for Film or TV? 279. Are You a Fortnite Addict? 280. Do You Gamify Your Life?

Books & Reading

281. What Role Have Books Played in Your Life? 282. What Books Do You Think Every Teenager Should Read? 283. Do You See Yourself in the Books You Read? 284. Has a Novel Ever Helped You Understand Yourself or Your World Better? 285. What’s the Best Book You Ever Read for School? 286. What Book Would You Add to the High School Curriculum? 287. How Do You Find New Books, Music, Movies or Television Shows? 288. What Have You Learned from Comics? 289. What Role Does Poetry Play in Your Life? 290. Do You Like Romance Stories? 291. What Is the Scariest Story You Have Ever Heard? 292. Have You Ever Read a Book You Weren’t Supposed to Read? 293. What Children’s Books Have Had the Biggest Impact on You? 294. Where Is Your Favorite Place to Read? 295. What Role Do Libraries Play in Your Life?

296. What Purpose Does Writing Serve in Your Life? 297. Do You Keep a Journal? 298. What’s Your Favorite Word? 299. What’s Your Favorite Punctuation Mark? 300. Do You Read or Write Poetry? 301. Do You Love Writing or Receiving Letters? 302. What Do You Want to Investigate? 303. What Would You Write a Book About? 304. What Would You Write in a Letter to the Editor? 305. If You Had a Column in The New York Times, What Would You Write About?

306. What Movies, Shows, Books, Music, Games or Other Works Have Made a Strong Impression on You? 307. What Work of Art Has Changed Your Life? 308. Who Is Your Favorite Visual Artist? What Is Your Favorite Work of Art? 309. Which Photograph Stays In Your Memory? 310. What Would You Like to Learn to Make by Hand? 311. Are You Intimidated by Classical Music and Art? 312. Do You Love to Dance? 313. Have You Ever Performed for an Audience or Shared Creative Work With Others? 314. What Show Do You Wish Your School Would Stage? 315. How Would You Design Your Ideal Museum? 316. What Broadway Show Would You Most Like to See? 317. What Are the Most Memorable Works of Visual Art You’ve Ever Seen? 318. What Could You Read, Listen to or Watch to Stretch Your Cultural Imagination? 319. How Often Do You Read, Watch or Listen to Things Outside of Your Comfort Zone?

320. How Did You Grow and Change This School Year? 321. Do You Like School? 322. What Motivates You to Learn? 323. Would You Want to Go to a School Like This One? 324. What ‘Pop-Up’ Classes Do You Wish Your School Offered? 325. How Is What You Are Studying in School Relevant to Your Life and the Larger World? 326. Do You See the Point in Learning Math? 327. How Much Do You Speak Up in School? 328. How Diverse Is Your School? 329. Is Your School a Safe Learning Space? 330. How Comfortably Can You Speak Your Mind at School? 331. Are You Able to Be Your Whole Self at School? 332. Do You Feel Your School and Teachers Welcome Both Conservative and Liberal Points of View? 333. How Have You Learned About Slavery? 334. How Much Have You Learned About Black History? 335. Has a School Assignment or Activity Ever Made You Uncomfortable? 336. Are You Stressed About School? 337. How Good Are You at Handling Challenging School Work? 338. Do You Need a Homework Therapist? 339. What Are You Doing to Change Your School? 340. What Are Your Thoughts on Riding the School Bus? 341. Is the Diversity of Your School Accurately Reflected in Its Promotional Materials? 342. How Have Your Teachers Shaped Who You Are? 343. Does Your Teacher’s Identity Affect Your Learning? 344. Has a Teacher Ever Changed Your Mind-Set? 345. Would You Want to Be a Teacher Someday? 346. What Have Been Your Experiences With Substitute Teachers?

347. How Prepared Are You For College? How Well Do You Think You’ll Do? 348. What Worries You Most About the College Admissions Process? 349. How Much of Your Real Self Have You Revealed on Applications? 350. What Worries Do You Have About College? 351. Do You Intend to Study Abroad While You Are in College? 352. Are You Worried About the Rising Cost of Attending College? 353. Do You Talk to Your Family About the Cost of College? 354. Do You Want Your Parents to Live Nearby When You Go to College? 355. What Specialty College Would You Create?

Work & Careers

356. What Jobs Are You Most Curious About? 357. How Much Does Having a ‘Dream Job’ Matter to You? 358. Would You Pursue a Career If You Knew You Likely Would Not Make Much Money? 359. Will You Follow in Your Parents’ Footsteps? 360. Would You Consider Moving Overseas for a Job? 361. Do Your Summer Plans Include Employment? 362. Would You Consider Serving in the U.S. Armed Forces? 363. What Volunteer Work Would You Most Like to Do? 364. Have You Had a Job Recently? What Has the Experience Been Like?

365. Do You Have Satisfying Friendships? 366. How Alike Are You and Your Friends? 367. Do You Have Any Unlikely Friendships? 368. How Have Your Friends Helped You? 369. Do You Like Your Friends? 370. How Often Do You Text Your Friends Just to Say ‘Hi’? 371. Have You Ever Been Left Out? 372. Do You Ever Feel Lonely? 373. Have You Ever Had a Significant Friendship End? 374. Do You Have Any Close Friends? 375. How Many Close Friends Do You Need? 376. How Do You React When Your Friendships Change? 377. What Have Your Friends Taught You About Life? 378. What Have You Learned About Friendship This Year? 379. Do You Have Any Intergenerational Friendships? 380. What Makes a Great Conversation?

Dating, Love & Relationships

381. How Much of a Romantic Are You? 382. What Does Love Feel Like to You? 383. How Do You Think Technology Affects Dating? 384. Have You Ever Been Ghosted? 385. Do You Want to Get Married Someday? 386. Would You Want to Be Proposed to on a Jumbotron? 387. If You Got Married, Would You Want to Keep Your Last Name or Take Your Partner’s?

388. What Are You Doing to Take Care of Your Health? 389. What Rules Do You Have for Staying Healthy? 390. Do You Have Any Bad Health Habits? 391. Do You Have More Good Habits Than Bad? 392. What Do You Think Are the Secrets to a Long Life? 393. How Well Do You Sleep at Night? 394. Do You Enjoy Taking Long Walks? 395. Do You Learn Better After Moving Around? 396. Do You Have a Healthy Diet? 397. What Is Your Relationship With the Weight-Loss Industry? 398. How Strong Is Your Sense of Smell? 399. Have You Ever Jumped Into Ice-Cold Water? 400. How Is Your Mental Health These Days? 401. Do You Ever Get the ‘Bad News Blues’? 402. How Do You Hold It Together When You’re Feeling Stressed? 403. How Does Your Body React to Stress? 404. How Do You Practice Self-Care? 405. What’s Your Favorite Mood Booster?

Sports & Games

406. What Kinds of Games and Puzzles Do You Like? 407. What Are Your Favorite Games? 408. How Would You Change Your Favorite Sport? 409. Have You Ever Learned Something From a Professional Athlete? 410. Have You Ever Felt Too Much Pressure to Win? 411. What Is Your Favorite Rivalry? 412. What Role Have Coaches Played in Your Life? 413. Have You Witnessed Bad Behavior in Youth Sports? 414. Do You Like a Comeback Story? 415. Would You Ever Want to Run a Marathon? 416. Would You Make a Good Ump?

417. What Is Your Dream Travel Destination? 418. What Is Your Most Memorable Family Vacation? 419. How Would You Spend Your Ideal Family Vacation? 420. Would You Ever Go on a Solo Vacation? 421. What Do You Think You Would Learn From Traveling to All 50 States? 422. What Are the Places in the World That You Love Most? 423. What City or Town Most Captures Your Imagination? 424. How Good Is Your Sense of Direction? 425. How Much Do You Know About the Rest of the World?

Shopping, Looks & Fashion

426. What’s Your Favorite Item of Clothing? 427. What Does Your Unique Style Say About You? 428. What Does Your Hairstyle Say About You? 429. Are You a Sneakerhead? 430. Do You Like Getting Dressed Up? 431. Could You Stop Shopping for an Entire Year? 432. Are You an Ethical Consumer? 433. What Would You Wait All Night in the Rain to Buy? 434. Do Politics Ever Influence How or Where You Shop? 435. Do You Wear Clothes for the Logo? 436. Would You Like to Be a Fashion Model? 437. How Do You Feel About Your Body? 438. How Do You Feel About Your Height? 439. How Do You Feel About Tattoos?

Meals & Food

440. What Foods Bring Up Special Memories for You? 441. What Foods Are Closely Linked to Someone You Love? 442. Who Is the Best Cook You Know? 443. How Do You Celebrate Your Culture Through Food? 444. What Do You Eat for Dinner on a Typical Weeknight? 445. What Are the Most Popular Dishes in Your House? 446. Are You Now, or Have You Ever Been, a Picky Eater? 447. What Are the Best Places to Eat in Your Town? 448. What Foods Best Represent Your Hometown? 449. What Are the Essential Foods to Eat Where You Live? 450. What New Flavor Ideas Do You Have for Your Favorite Foods? 451. What Convenience Foods Make You Happy? 452. How Do You Like Your Pizza? 453. Would You Ever Consider Becoming Vegetarian? 454. Would You Eat Food Grown in a Lab? 455. Have You Ever Experienced Food Insecurity? 456. What Do You Think Your Favorite Book or Movie Character Eats For Dinner?

Holidays & Seasons

457. Do You Make New Year’s Resolutions? 458. What Healthy Habits Do You Hope to Build in the New Year? 459. How Do You Celebrate Spring? 460. What Are Your Favorite Memories of Spring? 461. What Are Your Plans This Summer? 462. What’s the Most Memorable Thing That Happened to You This Summer? 463. What Were Your ‘Mundane Joys’ of Summer? 464. What Are Your Memories of Halloween? 465. What’s Your Favorite Halloween Costume, Past or Present? 466. How Much Scare Can You Handle in Your Halloween Entertainment? 467. What Does Thanksgiving Mean to You? 468. What Has Been Your Most Memorable Thanksgiving? 469. What Will You Talk About on Thanksgiving? 470. Did You Take Part in Any Thanksgiving or Post-Holiday Traditions?

Animals & Nature

471. How Do Animals Provide Comfort in Your Life? 472. What Have You Learned From Animals? 473. What Are Your Experiences With Animal Adoption or Fostering? 474. How Do You Feel About the Spiders, Insects and Other Tiny Creatures in Your Home? 475. How Do You Get Your Nature Fix? 476. What Are the Most Memorable Things You’ve Seen or Experienced in Nature? 477. What Is the Coolest Thing You Have Seen in Nature? 478. Have You Ever Tried to Grow Something?

Environment

479. How Are You Doing Your Part for the Environment? 480. How Concerned Are You About Climate Change? 481. Do You Experience Climate Anxiety? 482. Do You Think You Make Good Climate Choices? 483. Would You Change Your Eating Habits to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint? 484. Could You Live an Entire Day Without Plastic? 485. How Good Are You at Recycling? 486. How Have You Experienced Extreme Weather?

487. How Similar Are Your Political Views to Those of Your Parents? 488. How Important Is It to You to Have Similar Political Beliefs to Your Family and Friends? 489. Is Your Online World Just a ‘Filter Bubble’ of People With the Same Opinions? 490. Do You Think You Live in a Political Bubble? 491. How Do You Talk With People Who Don’t Share Your Views? 492. What Do American Values Mean to You? 493. What Does Your Country’s National Anthem Mean to You? 494. Are You Optimistic About the State of the World? 495. Have You Ever Changed Your Mind About a Hot-Button Issue? 496. How Have School Shootings Shaped Your Experience as a Student? 497. How Has the Threat of Gun Violence Affected You? 498. How Do You Feel About Active-Shooter Drills in Schools?

The Pandemic

499. What Does the End of the Pandemic Emergency Mean to You? 500. How Have the Last Two and a Half Years Made You Who You Are Today? 501. How Would You Describe Your Pandemic Experience in Six Words? 502. How Have You Commemorated Milestones During the Pandemic? 503. Do You Think You Have Experienced ‘Learning Loss’ During the Pandemic? 504. How Has the Pandemic Changed Your Relationship to Your Body? 505. What Have You Learned About Yourself During This Lockdown? 506. How Will We Remember the Coronavirus Pandemic?

507. Would You Want to Live to 200? 508. Would You Want to Live Forever? 509. Would You Like to Be Cryogenically Preserved (Frozen!) Upon Your Death? 510. Would You Want to Live a Life Without Ever Feeling Pain? 511. Would You Like to Be Famous? 512. Would You Want to Be a Child Star? 513. Would You Like to Be a Farmer? 514. If You Had an Extra Billion Dollars, What Cause Would You Support With Your Philanthropy? 515. Do You Think You Will Ever Travel to Space? 516. What Fantasy Invention Would You Want to Exist in Reality? 517. If You Could Have Any Animal Feature, What Would It Be? 518. What Fictional House Would You Want to Stay In? 519. What Scientific Mysteries Do You Want Solved? 520. What Idea Do You Have That Is Ahead of Its Time? 521. What Era Do You Wish You Had Grown Up In? 522. Do You Like Your First Name? Would You Change It If You Could? 523. What Would You Like to Ask Your 40-Year-Old Self? 524. What Items Would You Place in a Time Capsule for Future Generations? 525. If the World Was Ending, What Would You Want to Say?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.

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50 Engaging Narrative Essay Topics for High Schoolers

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What’s Covered:

Narrative essays vs. analytical essays, how to pick the right narrative essay topic, elements of a strong narrative essay, engaging narrative essay topics for high schoolers, where to get your narrative essay edited for free.

Narrative essays are an extensive form of writing that gives readers the opportunity to follow along as a person goes through a journey or sets of experiences. Rather than providing analytic insight, narrative essays simply share a story and offer a first-person account. These essays may seem easy to write at first, but it takes a certain finesse to write a narrative essay that is interesting, cohesive, and well-researched. Whether you’re looking for a unique topic to write about, or just want some new inspiration, CollegeVine is here to help! These 50 narrative essay topics are engaging, unique and will have you writing in no time.

A narrative essay is a great way to express your personal experiences and opinions, but it is important to remember that this type of essay is different from an analytical paper. In a narrative essay, you do not need to provide background information or explain your thoughts and feelings; instead, you simply tell a story. It’s important to avoid too much telling in your writing; instead, use creative details and vivid imagery to make readers feel as if they are actually right there with you.

Where You Will Encounter Narrative Essays

This type of essay is typically encountered in high school, where students may be required to write personal statements to prepare for their Common App essay . Narrative essays are also commonly seen in AP Language and Composition. Therefore, it’s important you are aware of the style because you are bound to have a narrative essay assignment.  

Of course, before you start writing, it is important to pick the right essay topic. There are many factors involved in the process of picking the perfect narrative essay topic for your story.

You should always choose a topic that you are passionate about, since writing on something you care about will make the process much easier. Not only will it be more interesting to create your paper around something that truly interests you, but it will also allow you to fully express yourself in your essay. You also want to be sure that the topic has enough material to work with. If your chosen topic is too short, you will not have enough content to write a complete paper. For example, if you are writing about your experience getting lost at the mall, make sure that you have enough information to work with to craft an engaging narrative. 

The best topic for an engaging narrative essay is one that focuses on showing versus telling, has a clear structure, and provides a dialogue. These elements come together to form an engaging narrative essay. Regardless of what subject you pick, any topic may be turned into a fascinating, A+ worthy narrative using the tips below.

Show, Don’t Tell

To write a good narrative essay, it’s important to show, not tell. Instead of simply informing your audience, show them what you mean. For example, instead of saying “I was nervous,” you could say “My heart began to race and my stomach filled with butterflies.” Also make sure to use sensory details, such as sights, sounds and tastes, and include a personal reflection at the end of your narrative. 

Begin with a Strong Opening Line

A good narrative essay will begin with an attention-grabbing opening line. But make sure to avoid common clichés, such as “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Instead, come up with something original and specific to you and your situation. For example: “My pre-calc teacher was obsessed with circles. I mean, he even used circular note cards.” Or, “It all started the day my mom brought home a guinea pig.”

Follows a Three-Act Structure

A strong narrative essay follows the same three-act structure as other essays. But in order to make it interesting, you’ll need to come up with a creative way to break things down into sections. For example, using the guinea pig example from above, you could write the following:

• Act 1 – Introduction: The day my mom brought home a guinea pig.
• Act 2 – Conflict: The day I had to say goodbye to my beloved pet.
• Act 3 – Conclusion: Looking back at how much I miss him now that he’s gone.

Conclude with Personal Reflection

To conclude your narrative essay, you’ll want to explain what this specific experience taught you or how you’ve changed. For example, upon realizing that her pre-calc teacher was obsessed with circles, the writer of the previous example begins to notice circular shapes everywhere. Another way to conclude your narrative essay is by touching on how this experience impacted you emotionally. For example, after losing his guinea pig, the writer explains how much he missed it.

Use Dialogue

Include a conversation in your essay to make it come alive. For example, instead of simply saying that you met a new friend, talk about how you introduced yourselves or what they were wearing when you met them.

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The following list of 50 narrative essay topics is divided into categories. This will make it easier to find a topic that fits your writing style.

1. What is a childhood song that still sticks with you today?

2. Your first day of Kindergarten

3. Talk about a time when you’re siblings looked up to you

4. Describe the best birthday party you’ve ever had

5. Talk about the best day you ever spent with a childhood friend

6. Explain your first childhood hobby

7. Describe your first halloween costume

8. A family vacation gone wrong

9. Your first family reunion

10. Describe a tradition that is unique to your family

11. Describe your family to a person who’s never met them before

12. What frustrates you most about your family

13. If you could only keep one memory of your family, what would it be and why?

14. Describe a time your family embarrassed you in public

15. The most beautiful place in the world

16. Your favorite season and why

17. If you were a part of nature, what element would you be? Why?

18. When you go outside, which of your senses are you most thankful to have?

19. Describe the first time you witnessed a tornado 

20. Write a poem about your favorite season

21. Describe yourself as one of the four seasons

22. Describe a time in which you felt connected with nature

23. Describe the first time you played an instrument and how you felt

24. What major event would be much worse if music was removed, and why?

25. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

26. What would a life without music look like?

27. If you could master one instrument, what would it be and why?

Relationships

28. What if you had never met your best friend?

29. Describe a time when you fixed a broken relationship

30. Talk about a movie that defined a relationship for you

31. Describe your first date

32. Describe the first time you made a friend

33. Describe your relationship with your parents

Self Reflection

34. Have you ever fooled someone? If so, describe what happened and how you felt about it

35. What is the worst thing you’ve done to someone else?

36. Write about the difference between how things seem and how they really are. 

37. Have you ever been embarrassed in some way? If so, describe the situation and how it affected you as well as those around you

38. Have you ever witnessed something really beautiful? Describe it

39. Is your glass half empty or half full?

Overcoming Adversity 

40. Have you ever been very afraid of something but tried your hardest to appear fearless? If so, describe that experience

41. When have you ever succeeded when you thought you might fail

42. What are your secret survival strategies?

43. Describe the last time you were stressed and why?

44. Describe a time when you were discriminated against

45. The most memorable class you’ve had and why

46. Your favorite study abroad memory

47. Describe your kindergarten classroom

48. Describe your first teacher

49. The first time you experienced detention

50. Your first field trip

Hopefully these topics will get you thinking about a personal experience that could make for a thoughtful and engaging narrative essay. Remember, a strong narrative essay must contain relatable details and a clear flow that keeps the reader entertained and engaged to read all the way to the end.

If you need some additional guidance on your narrative essay, use CollegeVine’s free peer review essay tool to get feedback for free!

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242 Personal Persuasive Essay Topics and Ideas

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Personal essays are some of the most diverse assignments you can receive. Whether you’re a student in middle school or university, the best personal essay will highlight an individual’s personal views and unique experience. They’re not confined by the restrictions of literary essays and give plenty of opportunity for introducing the writer’s personality. The key here is selecting the right topics to talk about in a personal essay. Usually, this is the toughest part. After all, it’s the emotional core of your text. A lot of people also struggle to write about themselves and their experience as subjects of the text. Where does one start? Essay topics in general are frustrating to formulate so if you need help with some inspiration, take a look at some more ideas here ! And if you’re wondering what some good personal essay topics are, you’ll find a lot of sample ideas here as well as a guide on how to write a persuasive text.

In this article:

How to Write Personal Essays

Personal narrative essay topics, personal experience essay topics, personal argumentative essay topics, personal cause-and-effect essay topics, personal persuasive essay topics, personal essay topics for middle school, personal essay topics for high school students and college students.

Start by taking a trip down memory lane. The most gripping stories come from personal experience, especially if you’re thinking of writing a personal narrative essay. Think about a memory from your past that includes some inciting incident. If this is the first time you come across this phrase, inciting incidents are typically the metaphorical “ hooks ” of the story that have the audience interested in your text.

You could talk about your experience working as a volunteer, for example, or if you aren’t the volunteering type, you can write about some exciting memories from your childhood and summer vacations. Have you taken a trip abroad that has really left an impression on you? Are you drawn to different cultures because of that exotic trip? Maybe you went to visit a museum of your favourite artist, and this has inspired you to become an artist yourself. Perhaps you were immersed by the sound of a different language and decided to have a go at it. What have you enjoyed the most in the process? What did you hate about it? Perhaps you tried acquiring a new skill, but it went completely the wrong way for you. The list goes on and on.

There’s something there. Just remember the golden rule: always be honest in your personal essays . Trying to change your viewpoint on a subject so that it fits the masses’ opinion won’t make your personal essay enticing. The topic you’ll talk about in your personal essay is extremely important and so is the first sentence. Writing phrases such as “ever since I was a baby, I wanted to become a doctor” isn’t convincing or truthful. Try not to stick to clichés. You want to make an impression with your text, so ask yourself: What would grab your attention if you were reading your persuasive essay? I always think of Charles Dickens’ first sentence from A Christmas Carol : “Marley was dead: to begin with.” It begs for explanation and resolve, and it’s short and simple. The same should go for the personal essay entry sentence.

Why Choose Personal Persuasive Topics for Your Essay

If you’re wondering why you should choose personal persuasive topics for your essay, the answer lies in the question. We are a narrative-oriented society, and much of our relatability comes from convincingly expressing to others our individual, personal experience. What better way to let your personality shine than through conveying your emotions and adventures in a gripping story?

Personal experience essay topics vary depending on your age, and it’s quite likely that a story that worked for a high school assignment won’t have the same effect in your university days. That’s why in the sections below, we have divided the best personal essay topics into different categories. That way, you can easily navigate across all topics (and there’s quite a lot of them – a total of 242 ), but don’t let that restrict you. If you’re confident, you can always choose a topic from any of the categories.

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Of course, there are other important takeaways from writing a great personal essay. Usually, your teacher or admissions officer will look out that you have successfully done the following:

• Communicated and implemented your critical thinking skills
• Spoken convincingly and from experience about challenging themes that make you stand out from the crowd
• Demonstrated your creativity and unique voice all the while applying persuasive techniques in your writing

With all this in mind, you can now start by selecting the right type of personal essay topic from our categories. We have included everything from personal essay topics for middle school to personal essay topics for high school, as well as narrative essay topics and many more. Go on, what are you waiting for?

Personal narrative essays are a great way to tell your unique take on a personal story. You just have to choose a project you feel passionate about. Typically, choosing a story involving your success and personality growth is your best bet, but of course, always make sure to check that your topic is suitable for the task given by your tutors. If you’re wondering what topics are suitable for a great personal narrative essay, check out the following ideas:

• Starting your first job
• Volunteering for the first time
• A memorable teacher that made an impact on you
• A dangerous experience
• Your first journey abroad/to the countryside
• An experience that changed your behavior
• An experience that made you gain/lose religious faith
• A comedic situation based on some misunderstanding
• Events from your summer vacation that changed your life
• The first time you got a pet
• The experience of meeting your little sibling for the first time 
• A time when you decided what your future job will be 
• The change of a relationship with some you didn’t expect you’d like
• The first time you experienced a dangerous event of some kind 
• The first time you won something
• Your experience participating in a sport/political/environmental design
• A story about a teacher who inspired you
• A story about a family member who is dear to you
• Your experience of being in charge of something for the first time
• Your experience traveling on your own for the first time 
• How a book you read changed your life 
• How the most exciting subject in school changed your life
• How technology changed the way you access information
• The first time you experienced an earthquake or tornado
• A story about someone who has become your patron/idol 
• Your reaction/opinion on an event that influenced your country 
• A moment you caught someone in a lie
• An episode that changed your relationship with your parents
• An event which showed you taking responsibility and leadership 
• An event in which you face discrimination 
• An experience of successfully fighting procrastination 
• A time when you helped people in a crisis
• The experience of creating secret places in your childhood
• An experience playing your favorite game
• A time you got lost 
• Your first time going on a trip by yourself 
• The influence of technology on your younger siblings vs you
• What you would do if you won the lottery for the first time 
• Your best childhood memory
• Your experience of discovering a disability for the first time 
• A secret talent you have 
• Your experience learning a musical instrument
• Your experience with an inexplicable event that happened to you
• A story about the greatest fear you have 
• How your favorite work of art inspires you
• The best advice you have heard in your life 
• A place you would go to if you could travel in time 
• A story about the most beautiful place you have visited
• Something you witnessed in your lifetime that you will never forget
• Your favorite holiday experience 
• Your most awkward moment in college
• Your biggest fear
•  The most crucial lesson in your life 
• Your experience of being betrayed by someone and your response to it 
• An advice your parents gave you that wasn’t useful
• Describe your biggest moment of failure 
• Your biggest argument with a family member
• A difficult decision you have made 
• The day you realized you had made a best friend
• The most interesting dream you have had 

Personal experience essays aren’t that much different from personal narrative essays. They still have an element of narrative storytelling within them, but this time, they focus more on a level of experience you have gained because of a certain event. Usually, personal experience essay topics are focused around the theme of personal development. Many things can be described and included in a personal narrative essay, and you not only are given the opportunity to demonstrate your personal views on a subject, but you can also have your level of determination and ambition evaluated by a professional teacher or college admissions officer. Usually, personal narrative essay papers are written when submitting a college application, but it’s also possible to receive such an essay in school. In my personal experience, some of the greatest essays presenting an intellectual challenge are in fact the personal experience essays.

Let’s get straight into some essay prompts:

• How do you handle stress when attending an important exam?
• Which school subject motivated you to study hard?
• Did a teacher have a significant influence on your confidence in selecting a career?
• Is homework a waste of time?
• How would you go about doing research for an essay?
• What motivates you to study and pursue your dreams?
• Everyone has a plan “A” when it comes to choosing a career. What is your plan “B”?
• How has your biggest failure shaped your personality today?
• What is your biggest accomplishment outside of college/school, and how did you come to achieve it?
• What is the difference between female and male roles in your family? In what way would you change them?
• How did a book/film change your worldview?
• What role have teams and clubs had in your life?
• What role has television had in your life? 
• What is your relationship with social media?
• How have moments of racial or religious discrimination affected you?

Personal argumentative essay topics are generally given to college students or sometimes to people applying for a degree in Humanitarian Sciences. Such essays are a great way for admission officers to evaluate your knowledge of current events and relevant social discussions. Personal argumentative essay topics are usually considered more difficult than narrative essays, for example. For more argumentative ideas and speech topics , check the guide! Thus, if you’re planning on taking up this challenge, make sure you have enough time to prepare. If you have a whole term to prepare for this personal argumentative essay topic, you’ll surely be able to tackle it. Also, if that sounds too engaging, don’t worry, there are plenty of other, easier essay ideas on our lists!

Check out our example personal argumentative essay prompts for argumentative essay topics:

• Should prisons be abolished? If so, what is the negative and positive impact of this global decision?
• How does higher education affect the merit in meritocracy?
• Should artificial intelligence be applied actively in warfare?
• Does revolution go hand in hand with violence?
• Has the COVID-19 pandemic made us more prepared for the prevention of future epidemics occurring worldwide?
• In what way has the instant gratification of social media changed our relationship to technology?
• How has the digital age changed children’s relationship to empathy?
• What would the impact of a potential legalization of productivity drugs look like in current society?
• Is there a difference in work performance between Ivy League alumni and lower-ranking university students?
• Is obesity preventable?
• Is gun control a necessary method for the prevention of shootings?
• Should everyone have the right to vote?
• Should the right to vote be exclusively available to people with some form of education?
• Does the #metoo movement yield meaningful social change?
• Is knife control a necessary and sufficient method of knife crime prevention?
• How can the value of digital collectible art be accurately determined?
• Is fan fiction writing real writing?
• Do all students need to learn a foreign language?
• Should students take a gap year between high school and university?
• Why should universities teach financial literacy?
• Should students participate in the maintenance of school property?

Personal cause-and-effect essay topics are pretty self-explanatory. You’re aiming to express your opinion on a subject that has a cause, for example, supposedly, school uniforms are meant to cause discipline among students. Exercising and backing up your opinion on this essay idea will make it personal. Here is a detailed guide on how to write a great cause and effect essay . Think of a topic that excites you. It could be something you’re unhappy with or something you think is unjust.

Here are personal cause-and-effect essay topics we came up with:

• How can video games boost people’s IQ?
• Can a personal relationship in a family improve with phone use?
• Can going to college make for happier marriages?
• How can the involvement of a parent change a child’s education?
• How have smartphones impacted general communication?
• What is the effect of cookies, and does it make people shop more?
• What is the effect of tablets on young children?
• What is the effect of mobile usage during class?
• Why can’t another popular engine be established in place of Google?
• What is the effect of the financial success Disney has had in the last 30 years?
• Should dating in school be banned?
• Can living together before marriage make a relationship between partners stronger?
• Can a couple sleeping in separate beds have a healthy relationship?
• What is the effect of bullying on mental health?
• What is the cause of bullying behavior?
• Why shouldn’t women have to work after an abortion or miscarriage?
• What is the impact of smoking on a pregnant mother ?
• How can the presence of acne affect the life of a teenager? What about an adult?
• Why do some people avoid vaccines?
• What causes a lack of interest in sports?
• How can teenagers better protect themselves against cyberbullies?
• What causes certain social media apps to lose popularity?
• Can continuous sporting activities cause character development?
• Is “cancel culture” sparking meaningful change?
• What is the root cause of racism?
• Why is it essential to manage forest fires?
• What are the harmful effects of antill hunting on the ecosystem? 
• Why is it important for everyone to conserve water?
• What is the environmental impact of a single-use plastic ban?
• Can a long-distance relationship work?
• What are the causes and effects of cheating during exams?
• Is it a necessity to have an obligatory Sex Ed class ?
• How has the Internet changed the public’s sexual education?
• Should there be student bars on campus?
• Should work become mandatory for anyone over the age of 18?
• What causes some sports to be more popular among students than others?
• What are the effects of using computers and tablets in school? What about university?
• Have libraries become more popular over the last few years? 
• What caused the General Data Protection Regulation, and why is it necessary?
• What are the effects of online dating apps such as Tinder or Grindr?
• What are the effects of drugs and alcohol on people?
• Should people be allowed to drive after drinking a single unit of alcohol?
• What are the effects of a family structure on an individual?
• Does having a sibling make a person more responsible?
• Are siblings better at sharing?
• How has the golden child syndrome affected millennials?
• How can teachers positively and negatively affect student lives?
• What are the root causes of commitment phobia in men and women?
• What is the effect of social media on romantic relationships?
• How does eating fast food affect the energy levels of an individual?

Unlike personal cause-and-effect essay topics, personal persuasive essay topics aim to convince the reader that your opinion is right. This type of academic writing assignment explains a particular problem and uses research combined with personal experience in order to end up with a powerful persuasive conclusion. Through logic and convincing evidence, as well as always keeping in mind the goal of persuasion, you can write a powerful assignment.

Here are some personal persuasive essay ideas to choose from for your next writing assignment:

• Is chess considered a sport or a game?
• How is modern music not as well-composed as music from the past, such as the 1970s?
• Is it important to put PG labels on music tracks or films?
• Elaborate on the importance of the right education when playing professional music.
• Is animal hunting an immoral hobby?
• Is it a good idea to keep pets indoors?
• The cruelty behind testing beauty products on animals
• Is it ethical to breed animals for sale?
• Schools have to reduce the amount of homework assigned to students.
• SATs and ACTs are not effective ways of examining the knowledge of students.
• There should be an Emotional Intelligence mandatory class for all years.
• Vaccines can lead to autism.
• Astrology isn’t an effective way of predicting future events.
• All transport vehicles should be automatic or electric.
• Can distant online learning replace traditional classes?
• Working from home is better for finance but worse for mental health.
• The current taxation system is unfair.
• Listening to music when writing homework is an effective way of sparking productivity
• Hustle culture has taxing effects on mental health.
• People volunteer for their personal benefit, instead of kindness
• People who have survived a near-death experience have a newfound appreciation for life.
• Is “fake it until you make it” a healthy way of progressing?
• Why do people lie on their resumes?
• Why book reading during summer vacations should become mandatory.
• Weekends should change from 2 days to 3 days.
• Why we should be making selective school sports mandatory in school.
• Cooking and body health classes should be mandatory subjects in school.
• Can e-books and Kindles replace physical books?
• Should the death penalty exist?
• Why should children have chores?
• Why should it be made mandatory for children to contribute to the overall maintenance, cleanliness, and gardening of schools?

When choosing a personal essay topic, it’s important to take on subjects and ideas related to your age. Some topics require a lot more research, while others can be a little too sensitive for a younger writer. Selecting the right one for you will leave you with less workload and can guarantee you a better grade. Of course, if you feel confident and knowledgeable enough, you can try your skills with a more difficult essay idea. Paper writing can be a difficult intellectual challenge, but we’re sure that with these essay ideas, you’ll be able to tell your personal story and write a great essay:

• How did you make a best friend?
• A special top-secret place you have.
• A story of a time a friend let you down.
• A time when you disappointed someone.
• What is your happiest memory?
• Your first time receiving a pet.
• Your bravest moment.
• A time you felt embarrassed.
• What would you do if you were omnipotent? 
• What would you do if you could switch lives with someone? Who would it be?
• How did a book change your life?
• What would you do if your pet could talk?
• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
• If you could shapeshift into an animal, what would you be? What would you do?
• If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Would you change anything?
• What’s your secret talent?
• The first time you fell in love.
• An accident that changed your life.
• Talk about the ugliest thing you have seen.
• Talk about the most influential family member.
• Talk about your favorite gift.
• Talk about something you can’t resist.
• Talk about a guest you had in your house that you’ll never forget.
• Talk about the hardest news you’ve had to deliver.
• Talk about a special gift you have received.
• Talk about something that if your mum knew, you’d be in a lot of trouble. A lot.
• If you could volunteer anywhere, where would it be?
• If you won a million dollars, how would you spend them?
• What is an unexplained event that stuck with you?
• The one thing you can’t resist.
• If you could be a superhero, what power would you have? Why?
• If you could teleport anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

This list of personal essay topics for high school students will definitely inspire you to practice your personal essay skills. Covering topics like communication, ethical consumption, personal experience and more, you’ll be able to gain new ideas and express your deepest thoughts within the confines of the page. These personal essay topics for high school students are also a great way of reflecting on your growth and personal opinion, while expressing your thoughts and opinions.

• What inspires you?
• What inanimate object best embodies you?
• What’s one thing your parents don’t understand about you?
• What is the one quality a good person must have?
• Describe the best decision you ever made
• What is one thing you would change that you know will make a great difference in your life?
• How do you respond to criticism? Talk about a time you were critiqued.
• Do you feel the impact of peer pressure in your life? How is it manifested?
• Are you religious, an atheist, or agnostic? Why and why not?
• Do you feel comfortable in your body? Do you feel pressure from the media about how you “should” look?
• What are your views on ethical consumption? Does it matter to you?
• What are your views on veganism? 
• Do you feel like your friends are honest with each other? Why and why not?
• When you look back on your time in high school, what part will you remember with fondness?
• If you could tell your 12-year-old self something, what would it be and why?
• Do you have a dream profession? What is it?
• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
• Do you believe in “soulmates”? Why and why not?
• What is your dream goal? Do you feel like you’ll ever achieve it?
• Do you believe in the concept of “best friends”? Why and why not?
• Do you believe in astrology? Why and why not?
• What do you think the world will look like in 100 years?
• If you could bring to life any famous historical figure and spend the day with them, who would you pick, and what would you do?
• If you could go back in time, would you kill Hitler? 
• What TV series you saw recently made an impression on you? Why?
• What part of high school do you wish you could get rid of?
• If you could start your own business, what would you do?
• What issues truly motivate you and why?
• If you were an admissions officer, what positive qualities would you look for in students?
• What period of school do you think is most important? 
• What is your dream profession? What are it’s positives and negatives?
• Do you think the world can function without money? What would that alternative universe look like?
• Do you think all students should go to college? Why?

Writing essays is a great way to showcase your writing skills, as well as clearly communicate your views and ideas. Personal essay writing improves your debating, logical, and deductive skills, so it’s important that you select a topic you’re passionate about and inspired by. This will give you enough fuel to power through the most difficult essay topics while at the same time enjoy what you’re writing about. We hope you enjoyed our personal persuasive essay topics! Make sure to bookmark and come back to this personal essay ideas list in the future when you’re given an assignment! Here are some more college essay topics , check them out!

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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.

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?

• 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?

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 .

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.

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110 Personal Essay Topics

Though written from a lived experience, personal essay topics can be tricky to come up with because they have to be universal enough for other people to relate to.

Since the skill of writing a good essay is being able to paint an image with words, students must choose a topic that will get others interested in the story and what it has to say about life, society, or themselves.

In essence, personal essays are written from a personal point of view and express a writer’s own insights, opinions, and feelings on a particular topic. Additionally, these types of essays lead to an overall point, lesson, realization, or revelation.

Most commonly, personal essays are written by high school students as part of their college applications. However, there are many other reasons that a personal essay may be assigned or written, including:

• Scholarship applications
• Job interview
• Writing contest
• Grad school admission

Students and others struggling with a valuable personal essay topic can choose from any of the 110 personal essay topics on this list to help them get started.

How to Write a Personal Essay

Writing a personal essay will require you to follow a traditional essay’s guidelines, structure, and format. However, you will also need to ensure that your essay is personal or tells a story about yourself rather than being entirely academic.

For example, you might want to explain an experience that changed how you saw the world or share an opinion on something important to you – even if the rest of the world doesn’t agree with it.

It often helps to make a list of experiences that you may want to share before starting with the writing aspect of the personal essay.

Introduction

The introduction to your personal essay will set the scene for the reader. Therefore, your personal essay needs to start with a compelling hook that will draw the reader in and make them want to read more.

This hook statement could be a humorous or poignant anecdote related to your topic or a line of questioning that the reader will be interested in following. For example, some possible opening lines for a personal essay could start with:

• “I remember exactly where I was when I first realized …”
• “What would you do if you knew the world was going to end tomorrow?
• “So, I once had this problem …”

These beginning lines will often create questions in the reader’s mind, which is an excellent way to capture their interest and keep them reading. Following this initial opening sentence, you can introduce other details as you build up the main point of the story.

Your introduction should end with a thesis statement that verbalizes the general direction the story will go.

Body Paragraphs

Generally, a personal essay will have no less than three body paragraphs that detail your experience in chronological order. Each section should discuss one part of the story, including the events leading up to it, what happened during the experience, and what you learned from it.

Body paragraphs may also include examples of feelings, emotions, or arguments that support your experience. The goal of a personal essay is to share a compelling story and teach the reader something about life or themselves by using specific details and language.

Consider this formatting when creating the body paragraphs of your personal essay:

1st Paragraph

• Beginning of the story that answers questions related to “Who?” and “Where?”
• Initial attitudes, moods, feelings, and assumptions about the event or experience about to take place

2nd Paragraph

• Middle of the story
• Details that show how the situation evolved over time, including any changes in mood or assumption on your part

3rd Paragraph

• Ending of the story/resolution
• The final analysis on overall feelings, emotions, and mood

By sticking to this formatting for the body paragraphs, students can ensure that they are telling the story correctly and including every key detail as it happens.

Conclusion Paragraph

The conclusion of a personal essay is optional and depends on what you want to accomplish with the telling of your story. If you want to leave the reader feeling inspired or emotionally moved, then focus on summarizing the main points in a short paragraph that ends on a positive note.

However, if this was a darker story, you may want to use the concluding paragraph to sum up your feelings after the experience has ended or explore any unanswered questions that remain.

In any event, your conclusion does need to include an overall moral or lesson of how the writer:

• overcame hardship
• rose to the occasion
• identified new traits or abilities that they never realized existed
• turned defeat into success
• followed their instincts and made the right choice
• came to appreciate something about life after the experience took place

Any of these statements can stand alone as a powerful lesson learned. However, when combined in one concluding paragraph, you will leave your reader with a profound impression.

Using any of these 110 personal essay topics will ensure that you have a strong and interesting story to tell.

Personal Essay Topics About Relationships

• What was a time when you made a friend?
• What would your worst enemy say about you?
• Talk about the death of a friend.
• How did it feel to be bullied in school?
• The time when you had to get along with a sibling despite being different ages
• What you learned from your first relationship
• Why marriage isn’t important to you
• How you discovered polyamory, and how it changed your view of relationships
• How your best friend made you a better person
• The lesson you learned from being catfished
• The first time you experienced heartbreak
• A funny story about how technology ruined a relationship.
• How did you learn to recognize love?
• Who would you consider your soulmate? What makes them that person specifically for you?
• What was your most embarrassing moment as a boyfriend or girlfriend, and what did you learn from it?

Personal Essay Topics About Hardships

• The worst thing that ever happened to me
• The roughest time in my family’s life
• The hardest challenge I’ve ever had to overcome
• How did you deal with the stress of moving?
• What was your most embarrassing moment as a kid?
• What are some reasons that I am grateful for my disability/illness/condition?
• When have you had an “Aha!” moment in life?
• What’s something terrible that happened to you that turned into something good?
• What’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned from my failures?
• The time when it almost felt like the world was against me
• How did I handle/recover from a severe illness/injury/accident?
• When was the first time I realized that life isn’t fair?
• What was the biggest struggle I went through in my teens?
• The most challenging situation I faced in high school
• When was a time when I made a negative impact on someone else?
• The first time I got caught stealing
• The most embarrassing mistake I ever made with money
• What was the most challenging thing about getting sober/clean/overcoming addiction?
• When did I realize that life is short and that nobody is promised tomorrow?
• How did you learn to persevere through tough times?

Personal Essay Topics About Success & Achievements

• Best moment in my sports career
• My greatest success story
• The time I overcame my fear and found strength I didn’t know I had.
• What’s the happiest day of my life?
• How did I learn to overcome failure?
• The time I knew that dreams really do come true
• My greatest triumph over adversity – and what it taught me about myself.
• What made you realize that you have to work hard in order to achieve something meaningful in life?
• When did I know that I had made it in life?
• When was the first time you were acknowledged for your achievements?
• The night when my hard work truly paid off
• My most powerful moment after overcoming a setback
• How did I become successful?
• What are some defining moments in my career?
• How did I make it through a difficult time in college/university?
• What motivated me to become the person I am today?

Personal Essay Topics About Personal Growth & Self-Reflection

• Whose lifelong encouragement helped make me who I am today
• The first time I took responsibility for my own actions
• What gave me the courage to be myself?
• The most valuable life lesson I’ve ever received. Who taught it to me, and what was the context?
• How did I get through a difficult childhood/adolescence/teenage years?
• What did I learn from becoming a yoga master?
• How has meditation helped me overcome anger issues?
• How did I recover from using drugs and alcohol?
• What’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned from quitting my job?
• When did I realize that life is too short to hate someone?
• The moment when I knew it was time for a change
• I made a mistake – and this is how I bounced back
• How did I overcome depression/anxiety/mental illness?

Personal Essay Topics About Passions & Hobbies

• How did learning a skill change my life?
• Why exercise makes me a better person
• My passion for writing
• What’s the best advice I’ve ever received? Who gave it to me, and in what situation?
• The moment when I realized my true calling in life
• The importance of keeping a journal and how it has helped me become a better person
• My biggest bucket list dream and why it’s so important to me
• What is my vision for the future?
• How did I find peace, contentment, and happiness?
• The time when I truly lived outside of my comfort zone
• When was the moment when I felt like I “got” meditation?
• My journey towards becoming vegan. What inspired me to make this change, and what were the challenges I faced?
• What lessons have been easy for me to learn, and which ones have been harder?
• The time when travel changed my life

Personal Essay Topics About Challenges & Failures

• The low point of my life and how I got through it
• How did an illness/injury/death in the family affect me?
• Why did I decide to stop going on blind dates?
• What were the consequences of losing my temper, and how did I make amends?
• The time when I was broken. What happened, who got hurt, and how did it affect me? How did I overcome this experience?
• When was the moment when I realized that my words carry weight?

Personal Essay Topics About Family & Childhood Memories

• The time when my family showed me what unconditional love means
• My most vivid childhood memory and how it has affected me as an adult
• How did I learn to be patient and kind?
• What was the moment that sparked a change in my life? What caused this change, and what happened after the changes took place?
• The moment when I realized the true meaning of friendship
• What lessons did growing up teach me about life?
• My childhood dream and what it taught me about myself
• How do I feel about my hometown after living in three different places?
• Why is it important to visit your birthplace/hometown during holidays/vacations?
• My family’s most influential life lesson and how it has affected me
• What was the moment when I realized that my parents had their own struggles?
• The time when I learned about my family history. What happened, why did this happen, and how did it affect me? How did things change after this event?
• What do I know about family traditions now that I didn’t understand as a child?
• Why are your family memories vital to you?

Personal Essay Topics About Cultural Heritage & Identity

• What does being bilingual/multilingual mean to me? Why is it unique?
• My first interaction with someone from another culture
• What’s wrong with cultural appropriation, and how did I learn to stop?
• The moment when I became aware of my race/ethnicity
• My culture’s most influential life lesson and how it has affected me
• How I learned to not be afraid of my cultural differences
• Why is diversity important in my community? In what ways do I contribute?
• The moment I realized that I am proud of my culture
• How has the immigrant/refugee experience shaped who you are today?
• How traditions have changed the way I view my family

Personal Essay Topics About Childhood Dreams & Aspirations

• What were my childhood dreams, and how have they changed over the years?
• How did I make peace with the fear of growing up?

Any of these 110 personal essay topics are perfect for students struggling to find a topic that will impress a college admission officer or any other person with whom you’re trying to connect with on a personal level through storytelling.

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Top 50 Personal Essay Topics

You might be set a personal essay as a criterion for your admission to college or it might be set at any time during your academic career. A personal essay is essentially a form of self-expression. It draws on other essay formats – like a narrative essay – but of all academic assignments it is the loosest and least dogmatic. It can be more prosaic than other more technical formats demand. Whatever form, at its core is the presentation of your experience or emotions. It is a time when you can find your muse and really express yourself in the written word.

• I went to college to say thank you to my parents
• How being bullied made me the person I am today
• William Blake is the poet I most admire
• My spirit of adventure
• How I propose to spend the long vacation
• Why I am taking a gap year
• What the “art of conversation” means to me
• Why I left Facebook
• I want to be able to drink legally before I’m 21
• How being in a band helped my leadership skills
• Why I chose a career in the medical field (or any other field)
• My first experience as a babysitter
• Becoming an older sister (or brother)
• I will be a lifelong learner
• My father (mother) is my hero
• Life skills I learned in college
• Why I love the Golden Age of Hollywood
• Chocolate is my comfort food
• The reasons I keep a food diary
• The bravest thing I have ever done
• The one thing I would change about the world
• I will never forget the day that …
• The advice I would give to a new high school student
• My siblings and childhood
• How I would spend $1 million
• The place I would most like to live
• The proudest moment of my life so far
• Did I feel pressured into going to college?
• Why I joined an online dating site
• I wish I had looked after my teeth
• The things I learned from my grandmother (father)
• I’m proud to be a Millennial
• The way I deal with my allergies
• Why opera moves me so much
• My love of Shakespeare
• I will never prefer eBooks over printed books
• Why pole dancing is my favorite form of exercise
• I wasn’t allowed a pet as a child. Today I have 5 pets.
• Why marine pollution breaks my heart
• I took a gap year but wish I had traveled more
• Why I plant a new tree every year
• I do not use social media
• I wish my mother had taught me to cook
• Visiting museums has taught me a great deal
• Monet and Van Gogh are my favorite artists
• An eclectic music taste makes me interesting
• I want to enter local politics in my 40s
• It’s time I learned to appreciate my Irish roots
• There was a time when …
• If I ruled the world …

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117 Great Persuasive Essay Topics for High School Level Students

When working on any essay, the first thing you’ll have to figure out is your topic. In high school, you are supposed to pick the kind of topic you will be able to dig into — that is, you have to make sure you can find enough info on the subject. Sure, today it seems that getting your hands on any kind of information is simple and question how long is a thesis isn't on the table yet. Still, you have to remember that apart from being available, the info you discuss should be engaging. So, that’s something to think about.

Argumentative and persuasive essays are most commonly assigned to high school students. So, there are plenty of papers in public domains that are written in one of these styles — and you can take a look at those if you need some inspiration. When working on an argumentative paper, for example, a student is supposed to present two polar different opinions on the subject and present enough evidence to support each point of view. But simply discussing two sides of the argument is not enough — a writer should also come up with a comprehensible conclusion. The same goes for persuasive essays — after all, the student’s primary goal here is to persuade the reader in his/her point of view.

In fact, a lot of argumentative essays are actually persuasive papers. So, if you’ve written at least one of those, you'll know how to write the other one. If you haven’t, here is a tip for you: choose a topic you feel strongly about. This is the certain way to make sure you will have enough ideas for a truly engaging paper; and, since you feel strongly about the subject, it will be way easier to prove your point of view to the reader.

Another word of advice while choosing a persuasive essay topic is to pick something that would be neither too broad, nor too narrow. Remember that most high school papers are no longer than five pages (often, even shorter than that), so it’s best to choose just one question and focus on it in your work. Also, remember that you will have to provide some factual evidence for your opinion (after all, any academic paper should be supported by academically recognized sources), so do not go for subjects that are purely opinionated and do not have any chance of justification.

Now that we’ve highlighted how important choosing a persuasive topic is for a student, let’s give you some great topic ideas to get you started.

50 Simple Essay Topics for High School

• How can a person overcome fear?
• Describe a piece of art (book, painting, poem) that changed your life.
• Should students evaluate their teachers?
• Do standardized tests really reveal student knowledge?
• Should there be extra incentives for good grades at school?
• Should Gym classes be obligatory?
• Should we make our school calendar longer?
• Can a class size influence student performance?
• Should schools punish inappropriate student behavior?
• Is there a connection between real-life violence and video games?
• Should illegal immigrants’ children get an education?
• Is there a way to deal with bullies in schools?
• How reality TV is enforcing dangerous stereotypes
• Is pop culture encouraging students not to pursue education?
• White lies: what are they and should we really believe them to be innocent?
• Should violent video games be sold to minors?
• Using cell phones for education: the pros and cons
• Should we conceal our real identities on the web?
• Technology: distraction or a bonus?
• Educational apps: how helpful are they?
• Should everyone go for a college education?
• The role of affirmative action in the modern world
• College admission criteria: is there anything else apart from SAT?
• The skinny model stereotype and its pressure on average girls
• Do we really have equal rights for men and women?
• Why so few girls pursue careers in exact sciences?
• Stopping sexual abuse against young women
• Should sports bets be legalized?
• Can cheerleading be considered a sport?
• Homosexual rights for sportsmen
• The role of sports in our world
• Are sports in the US too commercialized?
• The benefits of local sports franchises
• Should colleges pay their baseball players?
• The debate of the naming rights
• How should we treat juvenile offenders?
• Pros and cons of death penalty
• Leadership and the moral obligations that come with it
• A cure against mass shootings
• Should we change our gun control policy?
• Is there too much digital censorship these days?
• Should rich people pay higher taxes?
• Government and the confidence we place in it
• Privacy Vs. Security: which one comes first?
• Should the US monitor its allies and citizens?
• Should students be able to pick their teachers?
• Is it reasonable to lower the voting age?
• How important is fashion?
• The appropriate dating age
• Can older generation learn from the new one?

50 Persuasive topic ideas for high school

• The pros and cons of allowing cell phones in schools
• Free state college attendance for the state residents
• The pros and cons of marijuana treatment
• Is death penalty justifiable for violent offenders?
• Should illegal immigrants be granted same rights as citizens?
• Airport security: do we really need that many screenings?
• Should we allow birth control for minors?
• Free condoms at schools: atrocity or necessity?
• Should schools separate gym grades from the grade list?
• Free wi-fi in the cities: pros and cons
• How often should teachers pass qualification tests?
• Universal wealthy: how reasonable it is in the US realia?
• Animal product testing: ethical vs. practical
• Civil unions: should the government recognize them?
• Is it reasonable to keep suspected terrorists under custody?
• Should students be allowed to bring their music players to school?
• Can we charge plus size citizens double ticket fair?
• Corporate lobbyists and political campaigns: is their support legal?
• Should school dedicate more attention to world religions?
• Introducing obligatory community service in schools
• Is it safe to keep exotic pets?
• Cellphones in the classroom: should the teachers have them?
• Violent crimes and minors: should the government treat them as adults?
• Should we legalize euthanasia?
• Should federal government control and restrict certain content on the Internet?
• Sexual education as an obligatory subject in high schools
• Should ESL students pass state tests in their native languages?
• Can digital devices replace traditional textbooks?
• Is it reasonable to test professional sportsmen for drugs?
• Should corporate advertising be allowed in schools?
• Can students and over be friends on social media?
• How ethical it is to use stem cells from aborted children for the research?
• Should the USA spend more time on internal affairs and less on overseas issues?
• Drunk driving: should we enforce stricter punishment?
• Is it ethical for a rape victim to go for an abortion?
• Driving without a seat-belt: should it be considered a crime?
• Is it necessary for high school sportsmen to take drug tests?
• Should schools increase their budgets by selling food and drinks to students?
• Is it ethical to advertise alcohol on TV?
• Should foreign goods be taxed higher than internal products?
• Free bus rides for seniors: do we need them?
• Should the government ban sports betting?
• Should the government lower the budget for schools that show weak results on SAT?
• Would it be reasonable to euthanize dogs that have shown aggressive behavior towards people?
• Should we introduce government censorship on certain online content?
• Should we lower the minimal working age to 14 years old?
• The pros and cons of wearing uniforms in schools
• Should we allow getting a driving permit starting the age of 21?
• Should schools introduce fast food in their menus?
• Should booster seats for children be made obligatory?

12 Controversial Topics for School

• Are there any moral grounds that can justify torture?
• Should we consider police cameras an invasion of our privacy?
• Should we ban tobacco once and for all?
• Is the access to condoms affecting teenage irresponsible behavior?
• Is the mankind really responsible for global warming?
• Is it reasonable to teach creationism in schools?
• How fair is our election process?
• Should fathers get a paternity leave just as mothers do?
• Are parents disrupting their children’s privacy by posting photos online?
• Is advertising to children ethical?
• Is average CEO salary justifiable?
• Should the army promote their programs to high school students?

Best Topics for high school that are interesting and fun to read

• The positive aspects of rivalry
• The matter of age in a relationship
• Is boredom is the surest way to trouble?
• Should we increase or lower the drinking age?
• Are the college tuition fees too high?

Those are some of the most interesting, opinionated essay topics for high school level. The biggest perk of the above examples is that most of them are based on a student’s opinion. At the same time, most of these topics presuppose some research — so any idea you’re proving will not be without confirmation. If you want to get more inspiration check out exploratory essay topics as well.

The final word of advice would be to pay your attention not only to the topic you choose but also to the way you present and organize your ideas. Do not forget that any essay should have an intro, main body and conclusion. The main body should be divided into a series of logically connected paragraphs, each presenting a certain point.

Finally, if you are to write and essay but have little knowledge or interest in the subject, do not forget that there are plenty of custom essay writers that will gladly do the job for you. Perhaps, the toughest thing to do when looking for an essay writing service or lab report example is determining which of them are reliable and which are not. But, with a little bit of time and patience (and attention to detail, of course), you will have no problem figuring out which service is worth a shot. A tip: these companies usually have a great number of positive customer reviews, are available through multiple support channels and have no problem sharing useful information for free.

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75+ Persuasive Essay Topics for High School Students

Are you a high school student struggling to come up with a topic for your persuasive essay? Check out our list of 100+ persuasive essay topics that will inspire your writing.

As a high school student, writing a persuasive essay can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to choosing a topic. The topic of your essay can make or break your grade, and it’s essential to choose a subject that is both interesting and relevant. With so many different topics to choose from, it can be overwhelming to find the perfect one. That’s why we’ve created this list of 100+ persuasive essay topics for high school students. We hope it will inspire you and help you find the perfect topic for your next essay.

Table of Contents

75+ (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Persuasive Essay Topics for High School (HSC) Students

• The impact of social media on teenage relationships
• The importance of learning a second language
• Should students be required to volunteer in their communities?
• The dangers of vaping
• The importance of self-care and mental health
• Should schools implement a dress code policy?
• The impact of technology on education
• The benefits of learning a musical instrument
• Should high school students be required to take a personal finance class?
• The impact of social media on mental health
• The importance of physical education in schools
• Should schools require students to take drug tests?
• The impact of climate change on the environment
• The importance of diversity and inclusion in schools
• Should high school students be allowed to use cell phones in the classroom?
• The impact of video games on teenage behavior
• The importance of art education in schools
• Should schools offer free breakfast to students?
• The impact of standardized testing on education
• The benefits of taking a gap year before college
• The impact of fast food on teenage health
• The importance of sleep for teenagers
• Should high schools implement random drug testing for student athletes?
• The impact of single-sex schools on education
• The importance of financial literacy for teenagers
• Should schools teach students how to do taxes?
• The impact of bullying on teenage mental health
• The importance of sex education in schools
• Should high school students be required to wear uniforms?
• The impact of social media on body image
• The importance of extracurricular activities in schools
• Should schools offer vocational training programs?
• The impact of homeschooling on education
• The importance of computer science education in schools
• Should schools have a four-day school week?
• The impact of poverty on education
• The importance of learning life skills in school
• Should high schools have metal detectors?
• The impact of video game violence on teenage behavior
• The importance of music education in schools
• Should schools have armed security guards?
• The impact of single-parent households on education
• The importance of nutrition education in schools
• Should schools offer classes on mental health?
• The impact of online learning on education
• The importance of learning financial management skills in school
• Should high schools offer classes on entrepreneurship?
• The impact of domestic violence on teenage mental health
• The importance of phy
• Fitness in schools
• Should schools offer classes on meditation and mindfulness?
• The impact of technology on teenage communication skills
• The importance of learning about other cultures in school
• Should high school students be allowed to choose their own classes?
• The impact of parental involvement on education
• The importance of learning coding in school
• Is it important to learn a second language in high school?
• Should high schools have a dress code
• Should schools ban junk food?
• Should schools start later in the day to allow for more sleep?
• Should high schools teach financial literacy?
• Should schools eliminate grades and standardized testing?
• Should high school students be required to do community service?
• Should schools teach more about mental health?
• Should high school students be allowed to leave campus for lunch?
• Should schools provide free condoms to students?
• Should high school students be allowed to have part-time jobs?
• Should schools teach gun safety?
• Should high schools teach about climate change?
• Should schools have a mandatory course on diversity and inclusion?
• Should high school students be required to take a course on personal finance?
• Should schools teach self-defense?
• Should high school students be required to pass a drug test?
• Should schools have a mandatory course on nutrition and healthy eating?

In conclusion, choosing a persuasive essay topic for high school students can be challenging, but it is also an opportunity to engage with important issues facing young people today. It is important to select a topic that is relevant and meaningful, and that encourages critical thinking and open discussion. With this list of 100+ persuasive essay topics for high school students, we hope to inspire and motivate young writers to explore the world around them and find their own unique voice in the process. By honing their persuasive skills, high school students can learn to advocate for themselves and others, and become active and engaged citizens in their communities and beyond.

Hello! Welcome to my Blog StudyParagraphs.co. My name is Angelina. I am a college professor. I love reading writing for kids students. This blog is full with valuable knowledge for all class students. Thank you for reading my articles.

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Personal Essay Topics

Essay paper writing

Academic writing

Personal essay is considered to be one of the most interesting academic assignments. Writing such an essay, you are not just creating a regular text about some person but also have a great opportunity to demonstrate your views, feelings, or opinion on a given topic. In a good paper, you can influence the readers and present some new ideas to them.

Students often think that a personal essay is difficult to write. Moreover, they often get scared when they realize that they may need to prepare for this assignment longer than usual. Well, in fact, there is nothing complicated in this task. All you need to do is express the main idea clearly, discuss it, and be honest with your readers.

However, sometimes the situation gets worse when a teacher gives quite specific college personal essay topics, and you have no opportunity to touch upon some important issues that you might want to discuss. Relax and do not think of the topic as a limitation! Instead, try to provide a deeper comprehension of the issues and concepts related to the theme of your paper.

The next challenge of creating such a text is that you will need to combine a lot of writing styles. But do not panic! Look at this struggle from a different perspective, and it will become an advantage which allows you to express your thoughts more vividly. After all, it’s a fact that your writing style reflects your personality.

Of course, the success of your essay mostly depends on the topic, so you are welcome to choose one of the interesting personal essay topics presented by our essay writing service in this article. Then, working on the task, make sure that it is not a monotonous piece that will be difficult to read. Well-structured papers on relevant common personal essay topics provide an excellent opportunity to show your point of view and express your feelings regarding the subject.

How to write personal essays?

This question is pertinent among the new writers who struggle to create a whole text about a person. But there is nothing to worry about! First of all, try to collect as much information as possible. For example, look for some interviews with the individual you want to write about. If you have one of the top personal essay topics, it will be quite easy to find this kind of info.

The next aspect of a good essay is the formatting of the text. This is not the easiest part of writing, but it is definitely not the thing you should be concerned about. Make sure that you have a writing guide to refer to or just ask your professor about formatting rules at your college. By the way, mind that we are talking mostly about personal essay topics for college, so if you have to write such text for school or university, you will need to adapt it to the requirements of that educational institution.

Finally, let’s consider the structure of a good personal essay. In the first paragraph, you have to provide a brief biography of the person you are writing about. It should contain some information about their life, achievements, and some interesting facts. After that, try to find some info about the childhood years of this individual. Using this technique, you can create an interesting intro which will prompt your audience to read the text to the very end. If you have troubles with that, you can just pick one of the personal essay topics for high school students, as they should be easier to find info on. After you are done with the first section, it is time to move on to the most challenging part of writing. Here, you have to describe the outstanding years of a person’s life and analyze the most important experiences or events during that time . Do not get scared if you are assigned to write a text about yourself or someone you do not know. You may have excellent writing skills, but it is always difficult to tell personal stories or share memories. So don’t lose heart if you won’t succeed with your first personal essay.

Why choose to write on the personal persuasive essay topics

While reading the information above, you may get the following question, “Why would a novice writer pick such a complex topic to write on?” First of all, people need to do something new and challenging all the time in order to become well-versed in particular spheres. Secondly, students learn how to work on several types of texts, which not only helps them to become better writers but also reach a totally new level of proficiency. Another great thing is that if you pick one of the personal essay topics for college applications, you will be able to stand out from the crowd of those who are going to choose the easier topics.

So, now it’s time to start writing the actual essay. Do not worry if you still have no ideas what to write about. In this article, we will provide the list of personal essay topic options which will definitely help you to write a perfect paper and get an excellent mark.

College level personal essay topics

College-level personal experience essay topics are more challenging to cope with than school ones because you have to search and analyze a lot. Moreover, writing college-level essays presupposes the development of analytical and critical thinking skills. Just like writing a personal essay for college application, it requires a more in-depth evaluation of the issue under consideration. If you struggle to find a proper topic for your essay, here is a list of interesting themes for college students:

• The biggest fear in your life
• A difficult decision you have made
• When did you have the biggest argument with your sibling?
• The most interesting dream you have ever had
• Music that inspires you and makes you feel good
• Perfect family vacation
• The day you met your best college friend
• The most awkward moment in college
• Your phobias
• Things your parents have taught you
• The time you spoke out about something important to you
• How would you spend your gap year?
• What is the bravest moment of your life?
• What did you do when a close person betrayed you?
• The most important lesson in your life
• Describe the biggest failure in your life and what you have learned from it

Personal essay topics for education

These topics are slightly different from the previous ones. Educational themes are usually a bit more school-based, which means that you need to have some basic knowledge to complete them. A lot of things can be described in this essay, but it is important to include only relevant information and clearly state your opinion. By the way, these themes are considered the best personal essay topics among all. The reason is that writing this kind of essay, you have an opportunity to demonstrate your views, goals, and aspirations so that your teacher can determine your ambitions and potential in the study area. Therefore, let us move on to the actual examples:

• How can a professor motivate you to become a better person?
• What are the best methods to deliver a speech?
• Do you like doing homework, or is it a waste of time for you?
• The best lesson you have learned studying in college or high school
• Is it hard for you to prepare for school exams? How do you handle stress during that period?
• What second language did you learn and how?
• What motivates you to study hard and pursue your dreams?
• The right and wrong choices you made regarding study and education

Easy topics for personal essay

Students choose easy topics quite often because they are not willing to spend a lot of time on writing. Selecting such a theme is not a bad idea at all because these topics are usually quite broad. Make sure you know how to write the best pieces using these great personal essay topics:

• How to relax after a hard day?
• The greatest fear you have
• The best place in your house
• The best period of the history of your country
• Your favorite movie
• What would you buy right now if you had a lot of money?
• The work of art that you adore the most
• The best period of your life
• Who is your favorite singer?
• Secret talent you have
• The unexplained event that happened to you
• Your favorite season
• Your best birthday party
• Your favorite type of food
• The best childhood memory
• What would you do if you won the lottery
• Your favorite holiday

Some other good personal essay topics

If you are still out of ideas for personal essay topics, you can consider the themes listed below:

• The last act of kindness that you have made
• The job of your dream
• The most beautiful place in the world you have ever seen
• The best music band that helps you to fall asleep
• The most annoying things in your life
• A thing that reminds you of your childhood
• The role of money in your life
• The best words you have heard in your life
• Have you ever witnessed something that you will remember for the rest of your life?
• The best morning in your life
• Something that makes you feel guilty
• Your shopping habits
• A place you would go if you could travel back in time  

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100+ Personal Essay Topics For College And Writing Tips

Table of Contents

Looking for interesting personal essay writing ideas? We’ve got a bunch…

A personal essay is a typical assignment for high-school and college students. It’s a type of non-fiction that incorporates a variety of writing styles. Personal essay topics usually include real stories, experiences, and opinions of people.

Writers need to give an account of their own experience and express their thoughts on the subject of a paper. The key to success is to make an attempt to combine narration and opinion together. In this article, you will find a short writing guide and 100+ engaging personal essay topic ideas.

How to write personal essays?

Keep in mind that personal writing is always subjective. It is based on the writer’s observation, feelings, opinion, and experience. You are the speaker, so it’s quite natural to use such pronouns as I, my, me, we, and our.

First of all, most essay writing websites will say that you need to find a compelling topic. College personal essay topics include a lot of things.

Students may be asked to

• state their opinion about an issue
• document what they observed
• share a story
• give a description of an object, event, place, person
• relate a specific subject to their own life

Whatever theme you choose, it’s crucial to start an introduction of your paper with a strong hook to capture the audience’s attention. Introduce the subject in the first paragraph. Think about the main idea you want to communicate.

In the body of your paper, inform readers about the subject. It’s better to create an outline before to start writing. It will help you organize your thoughts, stay focused, and write clearly and concisely. Start each paragraph with a new idea. Show, don’t tell. Use strong verbs and include a lot of sensory details.

End with a thought-provoking conclusion. You need to explain what lesson you have learned, how your experience contributed to your development as a person and shaped your personality.

Why choose personal persuasive essay topics for writing

When writing on personal persuasive essay topics, writers must state their position or opinion on an issue and try to persuade people to accept their point of view, telling stories and appealing to their feelings and emotions.

That differs from elaborating on personal argumentative essay topics, when students have to support their point of view with strong arguments, reasons, relevant examples, appropriate illustrations, etc.

These types of papers are not easy to write as well as papers on personal cause and effect essay topics.

But there are important reasons why you may want to do that.

• You’ll improve communication and critical thinking skills .
• Challenging themes can help you stand out from the crowd.
• You will be able to demonstrate your creativity and ability to apply persuasive techniques.

… Can’t decide what idea to choose?

Here we have gathered a wide variety of moving ideas for your inspiration. Whether you need personal experience essay topics or personal narrative essay topics, we’ve got you covered.

Personal essay topics: what are they about?

You may write on any subject. Popular themes include hobbies, nature, childhood, illness, travel, making a difficult choice, learning something new, friends, family, and relationships.

You may use some personal challenge essay ideas and tell about overcoming an obstacle. Or you can buy argumentative essay if you don’t have time to work on college tasks tonight.

Actually, the subject is not as important as you think. Readers want to see your point of view that reveals your unique personality.

• How you met a special person in your life?
• A person you admire most.
• The best place in the local area.
• A place where you would like to live your whole life.
• Works of art you admire.
• The job of your dream.
• Your biggest disappointment.
• Books that made a great impression on you.
• What annoys you?
• Your family traditions.
• Are you addicted to technology?
• What modern songs inspire you?
• Could you live without money?
• Do you like commercials?
• What is your best method of studying?

Personal narrative essay topics

• Tell about your first trip abroad.
• The most unfortunate event ever happened to you.
• What happened during your first day at school?
• What is your first childhood memory?
• What is your most memorable family event?
• Did you experience failure?
• What games did you play when you were a child?
• The biggest challenge you have overcome.
• Do you remember your first birthday party?
• Tell how you learn something new.
• Have you ever encountered a wild animal?
• Tell about the first time you were home alone.
• How you cooked a meal for the first time?
• Tell how you helped someone.
• How you overcame fear?

Personal experience essay topics

• What things make you feel happy?
• How you came to healthy eating habits?
• How did you celebrate Christmas?
• Did you bring a stray animal home?
• How did you learn to drive?
• How you met a famous person?
• How did you learn something from enemies?
• Describe the accidents you witnessed.
• How you got hurt?
• Describe disastrous trips or vacations.
• Fantastic concerts you attended.
• Describe terrifying nightmares.
• Your reaction when provoked.
• Experience of being a leader.
• A friendship breakup experience.

Personal argumentative essay topics

• What could you live without?
• Why are you concerned about environmental issues?
• How much money do you need for happiness?
• What does your ethnic identity mean to you?
• Significance of personal growth.
• Male and female roles in your family.
• Your attitude to feminism.
• Explain what does it mean to be a Human.
• Most precious moments of your life.
• What is more critical: wealth or happiness?
• Your attitude to getting a tattoo.
• Is it important to be crazy about fashion?
• Your opinion on cosmetics surgery.
• Significance of healthy lifestyle choices.
• Your favourite holiday destinations.

College personal essay topics

• Have you been in love with someone?
• What is your life’s goal?
• What does success mean to you?
• How freedom matters in your life?
• How you leave the comfort zone?
• Things you appreciate in life.
• What things do you hate?
• How you met college roommates?
• Your plans on spending a gap year.
• How you got your first job?
• Describe intellectual challenges you would like to solve.
• What did you learn from failures?
• Outdoor activities you like most.
• Explain your commitments.
• What motivates you?

Personal persuasive essay topics

• Your opinion of distant learning and online education.
• Can listening to music help complete your homework faster?
• Can hobbies help in a future career?
• Is it ethical to buy products tested on animals?
• Why is volunteering important?
• Should drugs be banned?
• Your favourite restaurant everyone should visit.
• Things to do to help our world survive.
• How can we make the world a better place?
• Is it possible to avoid stress?
• Should zoos be forbidden?
• How online shopping makes me spend more money?
• Why I don’t smoke.
• Things I want to be doing when I become 85.
• Why do I recommend students to study abroad?

Personal cause and effect essay topics

• Why I don’t watch TV.
• Reasons I go in for sports.
• Effects of social media on the daily routine.
• How my failures make me stronger?
• Books that changed my world view.
• Reasons why I study computer science.
• Influence of my parents on my life choices.
• Importance of learning math for my future career.
• Effect of being a single child.
• How my pets make me a better person?
• Influence of regular exercise on my health and wellbeing.
• What makes me rebel against my parents?
• How did my parents help me to study?
• Why going to college made me an independent person?
• What caused my burn out?

Feel free to use our good personal essay topics for creating amazing pieces that will make a powerful impression on your readers and get you high grades.

Can’t grab your thoughts together and come up with a perfect personal essay? No worries! Our writers will do all the writing, while you enjoy your free time. Psst, it takes a few clicks only…

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25 Persuasive Essay Topics That Will Captivate High School Students

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Engaging in persuasive writing is a rite of passage for high school students. It's not only an essential academic exercise but also a skill that plays a crucial role in shaping their understanding of important societal and personal issues. A well-crafted persuasive essay forces students to marshal their thoughts, consider counter-arguments, and convincingly present their viewpoints.

This article aims to help you, the high school student, master the art of persuasive essay writing. We'll explore what a persuasive essay is, the importance of choosing a compelling topic, and provide 25 thought-provoking persuasive essay topics across various fields. We will also delve into how emerging technologies like AI might impact the future of persuasive writing.

Get ready to be inspired and challenge yourself as we embark on this exciting journey. Remember, writing is an art, and with the right tools and topics, you can create compelling essays that leave an impression. So, let's get started.

Understanding Persuasive Essays: The Basics

Before we dive into our list of fascinating topics, let's take a moment to revisit the basics of persuasive writing. What exactly is a persuasive essay? A persuasive essay, as the name suggests, is a type of essay where the writer picks a position on a particular topic and argues in favor of it. Your goal is not just to share information, but to convince your readers to embrace your viewpoint.

1. Components of a Persuasive Essay

The typical structure of a persuasive essay includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Introduction : This is where you introduce your topic and state your position. It usually ends with a thesis statement, which is a clear, concise statement of your main argument.

Body paragraphs : Each body paragraph focuses on a single point or argument that supports your thesis. It includes evidence, such as facts, examples, or quotes from experts.

Conclusion : The conclusion reinforces your thesis and summarizes the main points of your essay. It's your last chance to persuade the reader, so make it count!

2. The Importance of Choosing the Right Topic

Choosing the right topic for your persuasive essay is vital. It should be something you feel passionate about and are willing to research. A good topic can make the difference between a persuasive essay that is merely read and one that is read, thought about, and remembered.

Up next, we're going to delve into a variety of compelling topics to inspire your next persuasive essay. Stay tuned!

25 High School Persuasive Essay Topics

Now, we get to the crux of the matter: the essay topics themselves. These are designed to engage your high schooler's thought processes and challenge them to articulate their ideas persuasively. Let's dive in:

Topics on Education

• Should uniforms be mandatory in schools?
• The case for and against homework: Is it helpful or harmful?
• Should students have a say in curriculum design?
• Are standardized tests an accurate reflection of a student's abilities?
• The role of sex education in high school: More harm than good, or vice versa?

Topics on Social Issues

• Should voting age be lowered to 16?
• The impact of social media on teenagers: A boon or a bane?
• Cyberbullying: Should it be addressed more seriously in schools?
• Teen activism: Is it necessary for societal change?
• The death penalty: An effective deterrent or a cruel punishment?

Topics on Health and Wellness

• Should schools provide mental health services to students?
• The role of diet and nutrition in student performance.
• Pros and cons of mandatory physical education classes in schools.
• The case for and against vaccinations: Should they be mandatory?
• The impact of advertising on teenage body image.

Topics on Technology

• The effects of AI on society: More beneficial or harmful?
• Privacy issues concerning social media: Are teens aware?
• The role of technology in education: Are traditional classrooms obsolete?
• The future of technology: A utopia or dystopia?
• Is the dependency on technology making us less creative?

Topics on Personal Development and Life Skills

• Should entrepreneurship skills be taught in high school?
• The role of sports in shaping character and discipline.
• Discuss the influence of video games on cognitive development.
• Is volunteering and community service important in shaping one's personality?
• How does learning a new language benefit cognitive skills and cultural understanding?

With these diverse topics, we hope to ignite your high schooler's interest in various subjects and encourage them to delve deeper into issues that resonate with them personally.

How to Choose the Right Topic for You

Selecting the right topic is a crucial step in crafting a persuasive essay that will hold your readers' attention and make your arguments convincing. Here are some steps to guide you in choosing the perfect topic:

1. Pick a Topic You Are Passionate About

This might seem obvious, but it's easier to persuade others about something you feel strongly about. Passion often translates into persuasive, compelling writing. So, make sure the topic you choose is something you're genuinely interested in.

2. Make Sure It's Debatable

There's no point in writing a persuasive essay about a fact or something that everyone already agrees on. The topic should be controversial or have multiple perspectives that you can argue and debate.

3. Consider Your Audience

Keep your audience in mind when choosing a topic. What are their interests? What are their values? What issues would they care about? An understanding of your audience will help you pick a topic that will engage them and make your arguments more convincing.

4. Can You Research It?

Make sure there are enough resources available to research your topic. Check if there's sufficient data, statistics, expert opinions, or other kinds of evidence that you can use to support your argument.

5. Is It Relevant?

Choosing a topic that is timely or relevant increases the chances of engaging your readers. It could be a current event, a controversial issue, or a trending topic.

Remember, a great topic is the foundation of a great essay. But if you're struggling to find the perfect topic or to put your thoughts into words, don't worry. Writers Per Hour is here to help. Our professional writers are skilled in crafting custom persuasive essays that are compelling, well-researched, and tailored to your needs.

Wrapping it Up: Final Tips and Tricks for Your Persuasive Essay

Congratulations on selecting a topic for your persuasive essay . As you start your writing journey, here are some additional tips and tricks to ensure your essay stands out.

A persuasive essay usually consists of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction includes your thesis statement - the main argument you will be making in your essay. Body paragraphs should each focus on one point supporting your argument, backed up by evidence. The conclusion should restate your thesis and summarize your main points.

Research is key to crafting a persuasive essay. The more evidence you have to support your argument, the more persuasive your essay will be. Use reliable sources, and don't forget to cite them correctly.

Techniques like ethos, pathos, and logos can make your essay more persuasive. Ethos is about establishing your credibility and character, pathos involves appealing to the reader's emotions, and logos means using logic and reasoning.

Always make sure to check your work for any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. It can also be beneficial to get feedback from others. Fresh eyes can often spot errors or areas of confusion that you might have missed.

Don't get discouraged if your first few essays aren't perfect. Writing is a skill that improves with practice. Keep writing, keep learning, and keep improving.

Choosing a topic and writing a persuasive essay can be challenging, but with these tips, you'll be well on your way to crafting a compelling argument. And remember, if you're ever in need of help, the team at Writers Per Hour is just a click away. Our experienced writers are ready to help you with all your essay writing needs.

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20+ Argumentative Essay Topics for High School

by  Antony W

May 31, 2023

The first step to writing a high school-level argumentative essay is to determine what topics interest and singling out an idea that would be worth exploring.

In our experience, choosing arguable and educational topics tends to be challenging for most students than writing the essay itself. So we’ve put together a list of 20+ topic ideas to make it easy for you to get started right away.

Key Takeaways

• Having to look through a list of revenant topics can take much of your time, but it’s a worthwhile approach for identifying an area to focus on.
• Topic selection can be an intense process, but preliminary research can go a long way to help you choose the right area to focus your effort and attention.
• Once you have a suitable topic in mind, you can use the academically approved structure to write the essay. 

If you already have a topic but need help to complete the essay, click here to order . We’ll connect you with a professional writer with years of experience in writing argumentative essays. Plus, our custom writing service focuses on timely delivery and quality papers.

20+ High School Argumentative Essay Topics

The following is a list of 30+ argumentative essay topics that are interesting enough to explore if you’re at high school level:

Easy Essay Topics about Environment

• Should we aim to eliminate single-use plastics?
• To what extent are humans accountable for global climate change?
• Do electric cars truly live up to their environmental claims?
• How does vegetarian food affect the environment?
• Is the United States taking sufficient measures to combat global climate change?
• Can nuclear waste be securely stored?
• 10. Is the US making adequate efforts to decrease CO2 emissions?

Technology Essay Topics for High School Level

• Social media is harmful to high school children and always has grave consequences.
• Does technology make people more dependent, and if so, how significant is this issue?
• Should we consider the Internet as a public utility, and what are the implications of such a designation?
• Students must not have the permission to have phones in class let alone bring them to school.
• Should there be a legal age limit for social media use?
• Should the United States increase its investment in the space program?

Essay Topics that Focus on Human Ethics and Society

• Is the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports justifiable or unethical?
• Should the government abolish death penalty or maintain it as a form of punishment?
• Is censorship of art and media necessary for society or an infringement on freedom of expression?
• Should social media platforms be liable for the spread of fake news and misinformation?
• Is homeschooling a better alternative to traditional public education?
• Is the government responsible for providing healthcare to its citizens?
• Should recreational marijuana use be legalized or remain illegal?
• Is affirmative action necessary for promoting diversity in higher education and employment?
• Should the minimum wage be increased or kept the same?
• Is gun control an effective solution for reducing gun violence in society?

Argumentative Essay Topics Related to School

• Does the school dress code discriminate against certain genders?
• Should school uniforms be mandatory for students?
• Is a year-round school calendar better than the traditional one?
• Is homework an essential part of a student’s education?
• Should teachers be flexible with accepting late assignments?

Our experts can help you to write a high school level argumentative essay on any topic. You simply have to pay for argumentative writing and we will connect you with the best writer to help you get the work done.

Interesting High School Essay Topics

• Should flag burning be permissible?
• Can parents face legal consequences for their children’s truancy?
• Do social media have a negative impact on relationships?
• Should the government mandate businesses to prioritize diversity in hiring?
• Do you support raising the minimum wage?
• Is college education necessary for everyone?
• Is climate change a significant and genuine threat?
• Do wind farms provide benefits to the environment and the economy?
• Is it unsafe to use DNA for genealogy purposes?
• Should parents have the right to refuse medical treatment for their children?
• Is the US falling behind other countries regarding education?
• Do the actions of a nation’s leader influence the actions of its citizens?
• Should schools be required to provide art courses?
• Should all new vehicles be electric?
• Will AI have a positive or negative impact on the world?
• Should schools permit certain types of personal expression?

General Argumentative Essay Topics for High School

• Are e-readers inferior to printed books?
• Should college education be free for all?
• Do you think beauty standards should be more inclusive?
• Are all college majors equally valuable?
• Is social media harmful to children?
• Has technology redefined the concept of magic?
• Is climate change the most significant global threat?
• Should everyone have access to free healthcare?
• How effective are anti-discrimination laws in protecting disabled students?
• Is an online degree as valid as a degree from a traditional university?
• Is it a conflict of interest for a professor to require their students to purchase their own book?

Science Argumentative Essay Topics for High School

• Is social media exacerbating the mental health crisis, despite its potential to connect people?
• Are social media companies responsible for addressing the negative impact on their users?
• Should there be more regulations governing social media influencers?
• Is it appropriate to ban the use of Photoshop?
• Is modern technology enabling us to become more self-sufficient or more dependent? (While YouTube provides a wealth of knowledge, we rely heavily on GPS for navigation…)
• Does technology facilitate or impede modern-day communication?
• Is technology helping or harming the development of social and communication skills?
• Should the government allocate more funds to space exploration or focus on addressing issues on Earth?

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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15 Inspiring Personal Narrative Examples for Writers

Reveal a part of yourself in your essay.

Students start writing personal narratives at a young age, learning to use descriptive language to tell a story about their own experiences. Try sharing these personal narrative examples for elementary, middle, and high school to help them understand this essay form.

What is a personal narrative?

Think of a narrative essay like telling a story. Use descriptive language, and be sure you have a beginning, middle, and end. The essay should recount your personal experiences, including your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Learn more about personal narrative essays here:

• What Is Narrative Writing, and How Do I Teach It in the Classroom?
• Engaging Personal Narrative Ideas for Kids and Teens
• Best Mentor Texts for Narrative Writing in Elementary School

Elementary School Personal Narrative Examples

In elementary school, personal narratives might be quite short, just a paragraph or two. The key is to encourage kids to embrace a personal style of writing, one that speaks in their own voice. Take a look at these elementary school personal narrative essay examples for inspiration.

The Horrible Day

“next i fell asleep in my cereal and my brother stole my toast”—anonymous student.

In this short personal narrative written by a 2nd grader, the author describes a bad day with lots of details and an informal tone. It’s a great model for your youngest writers.

Read the full essay: The Horrible Day at Thoughtful Learning

Keep an Eye on the Sky!

“as we made our way out to the field, my stomach slowly turned into a giant knot of fear.” —anonymous student.

Any student who dreads gym class will connect with this essay, which turns a challenge into a triumph. This narrative from Time for Kids is annotated, with highlighted details and tips to help kids write their own essay.

Read the full essay: Keep an Eye on the Sky! at Time for Kids

Grandpa, Chaz, and Me

“i really miss grandpa, and so does my brother, even though he never met him.” —cody, 4th grade student.

Written by a 4th grader, this essay relates the author’s loss of a grandfather at a very young age. Using simple, personal language, they tell a compelling story in a few short paragraphs.

Read the full essay: Grandpa, Chaz, and Me at Thoughtful Learning

Surviving an Embarrassing Situation

“i had made the shot in the wrong basket, giving the green shirts the win” —anonymous student.

Personal narratives tell a story, with a beginning, middle, and end. This annotated essay outlines those parts, making it easier for young writers to do the same in their own writing.

Read the full essay: Surviving an Embarrassing Situation at Sopris West Educational Services

“Do you have a friend who loves you?” —Kendra, 4th grade student

Writing about friends gives writers the chance to describe someone’s physical characteristics and personality. This 4th grade essay uses personal details to bring a beloved friend to life.

Read the full essay: Ann at Thoughtful Learning

Middle School Personal Narrative Examples

By middle school, personal narratives are longer and more involved, telling more detailed stories and experiences. These middle school personal narrative essay examples model strong writing skills for this age group.

“As thoughts of certain death run through my mind, the world appears a precious, treasured place.” —Amy, student

Describing an opportunity to overcome your worst fears makes an excellent personal narrative topic. The vivid descriptions of the landscape and the author’s feelings help the reader make a strong connection to the author.

Read the full essay: The Climb at Thoughtful Learning

The Best Friend Question

“i’ve often wondered, does not having a best friend make me defective” —blanche li, age 13, diablo vista middle school, danville, california.

When her Spanish teacher asked students for an essay describing their best friend, 13-year-old Blanche Li fell back on her standard story: that of a made-up person. Here, she explains why she made up “Haley” and wonders what having an imaginary best friend says about her.

Read the full essay: The Best Friend Question at The New York Times

The Racist Warehouse

“i didn’t know racism was still around; i thought that situation had died along with dr. king.” —alicia, 8th grade student.

Strong personal narratives often relate the way the author learned an important life lesson. Here, an 8th grader describes her first experience with racism, in an essay that will sadly ring true with many readers.

Read the full essay: The Racist Warehouse at Thoughtful Teaching

“For the first time, we realized that we didn’t know how to express our voice, and we always suppressed it.” —Jocelyn C., 7th grade student, Texas

Seventh-grader Jocelyn C. describes the unique experience of spending two years living in an RV with her family, traveling the country. She relates the ups and downs of their trip, illustrating the way her family learned to live together in close quarters and embrace the adventure.

Read the full essay: RV Journey at Write From the Heart

An Eight Pound Rival

“i’m trying to accept that he didn’t mean to dominate the center stage all the time, that’s just one of the many lovable assets of his personality.”.

A new sibling can change everything in a family, especially when you’ve always been the baby. This middle schooler explains her challenging relationship with a little brother that she loves, even when he drives her a bit crazy. (Find this essay on page 42 at the link.)

Read the full essay: An Eight Pound Rival at Teaching That Makes Sense

High School Personal Narrative Examples

High school students have more complex stories to tell, though they’re sometimes reluctant to do so. Reading personal narrative essay examples like these can encourage them to open up and get their thoughts, feelings, and ideas down on the page.

Sorry, Wrong Number

“when i received the first text, i was a playful sixth grader, always finding sly ways to be subversive in school and with friends.” —michelle ahn, high school student.

When Michelle Ahn was 11, she started getting texts for a wrong number, a man named Jared. Rather than correcting the error, she spends the next few years occasionally engaging with his texters as “Jared,” learning more about him. Though she finally comes clean, her time as “Jared” exposes her to a way of life very different from her own, and opens her eyes to the inner lives of others.

Read the full essay: Sorry, Wrong Number at The New York Times

Caught in the Net

“little does everyone else know how often i’m not doing school research or paper writing; instead i’m aimlessly writing emails or chatting with internet friends and family hundreds of miles away.” —kim, college student.

Even before social media and smartphones swept the world, internet addiction had become a problem. Here, a student shares her experiences in AOL chat rooms, meeting people from around the globe. Eventually, she realizes she’s sacrificing life in the real world for her digital friends and experiences, and works to find the right balance.

Read the full essay: Caught in the Net at Thoughtful Learning

Nothing Extraordinary

“an uneasy feeling started to settle in my chest. i tried to push it out, but once it took root it refused to be yanked up and tossed away.” —jeniffer kim, high school student.

During an ordinary shopping trip, high schooler Jenniffer Kim suddenly realizes she’s ashamed of her mother. At the same time, she recognizes all the sacrifices her mom has made for her, and gladly takes the chance to make a tiny sacrifice of her own.

Read the full essay: Nothing Extraordinary at The New York Times

The Pot Calling the Kettle Black

“at this point in life, i had not yet learned to be gentle with myself, or others.” —anonymous student.

A teen who lives with bipolar disorder recounts a difficult conversation with her parents, in which her mother dismisses her as “crazy.” A few years later, this same teen finds herself in the emergency room, where her mother has just tried to die by suicide. “Crazy!” the daughter thinks. After her mother also receives a bipolar disorder diagnosis, the author concludes, “‘Crazy’ is a term devised to dismiss people.”

Read the full essay: The Pot Calling the Kettle Black at Pressbooks

What a Black Woman Wishes Her Adoptive White Parents Knew

“i know that i am different, but do not have the words to understand how.” —mariama lockington.

Though not written by a high schooler, this essay by Mariama Lockington makes an excellent mentor text for this age group. Lockington dives deep into her feelings about being adopted by parents of a different race, and shares her challenges in poignant language that speaks directly to the reader.

Read the full essay: What a Black Woman Wishes Her Adoptive White Parents Knew at Buzzfeed News

Do you use personal narrative examples as mentor texts in your classroom? Come share your experiences and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook !

Plus, strong persuasive writing examples (essays, speeches, ads, and more) ..

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