150 Funny Debate Topics That Will Make You And Your Students Laugh
Using debates in your English class can be a fantastic way to strengthen your students’ language skills and improve their vocabulary and fluency. The problem is many students may be reluctant to talk in class, especially about serious or controversial topics.
A great way to get your students engaged and talking in a debate class is to choose a fun debate topic so students can practice debating skills in a fun and not-so-serious way. Below, you’ll find a big list of 150 funny debate topics that are guaranteed to get your students talking, laughing, and thinking! Check out the bottom of the page for some practical tips on conducting your fun debate.
Funny Debate Topics
Here is a list of the best funny debate topics and fun questions to ask. These are great for kids, teenagers, and English language learners.
- Which makes a better pet? Cats or dogs?
- Would you rather be really big or really small?
- What came first? The chicken or the egg?
- Homework should be banned. Agree or disagree?
- Mcdonald’s is the best fast food restaurant. Agree or disagree?
- Summer is better than winter. Agree or disagree?
- Who are better teachers? Men or women?
- Would you like to live forever?
- Children under 16 should be allowed to vote. Agree or disagree?
- Children shouldn’t be allowed cell phones until they are over 18. Agree or disagree?
- ‘Smartphones’ make us stupid. Agree or disagree?
- What’s the best pizza topping?
- What’s more important? Being good-looking or being smart?
- Playing video games is bad for health. Agree or disagree?
- No one should ever tell a lie. Agree or disagree?
- Which is a better dessert? Cake or ice cream?
- Humans are the most dangerous animals on the planet. Agree or disagree?
- Aliens may be living among us. Agree or disagree?
- Clowns are scary. Agree or disagree?
- Math is an important subject to learn. Agree or disagree?
- Would you rather be good at sports or good at exams?
- Kids are smarter than grown-ups. Agree or disagree?
- Is it better to be rich with no friends or poor with many friends?
- It is important to wear a uniform at school. Agree or disagree?
- Should teachers have to wear a school uniform?
- Candy should be given as a reward in class. Agree or disagree?
- Are bad words bad?
- Students should be paid to go to school. Agree or disagree?
- Should students be allowed to use cell phones in class?
- Which is better? Tap water or bottled water?
- Pineapple on pizza: culinary delight or an absolute no-no?
- Should there be a cap on the number of selfies one can post per day?
- Toilet paper: over or under?
- Are cats plotting to take over the world?
- Is it okay to wear socks with sandals?
- Are ghosts just shy people in the afterlife?
- Should chocolate be considered a vegetable because it comes from beans?
- Is a hotdog a sandwich?
- Do aliens exist, and are they avoiding Earth on purpose?
- Should adults be allowed to ride in shopping carts?
- Are we all just living in a giant’s board game?
- Is it ever acceptable to clap when a plane lands?
- Do unicorns get jealous of narwhals?
- Should napping be a competitive sport?
- Is water wet, or just makes other things wet?
- Can a movie be so bad that it’s good?
- Should there be an express lane for people who walk fast?
- Is baby talk by adults cute or just weird?
- Is the moon made of cheese, and we’re all just being lied to?
- Should everyone have a personal theme song that plays when they walk into a room?
- Is time travel possible, but only to go back and fix awkward handshakes?
- Are squirrels secretly spies for birds?
- Is it better to know a little about a lot or a lot about a little?
- Do fish get thirsty?
- Is it ethical to eat food that’s fallen on the floor if no one is looking?
- Should dinosaurs be brought back for theme parks?
- Are silent discos a way to train for telepathic communication?
- Is the zombie apocalypse a valid excuse for not doing homework?
- Is it better to have shoes that can make you fly or a hat that can make you invisible?
- Is sneezing really your soul trying to escape?
- Should every day be Halloween?
- Do we need a universal sign for “It’s just a joke”?
- Is it better to fight one horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses?
- Should every person have their own personal cloud that follows them for shade and rain?
- Should there be a reality show about people watching reality shows?
- Are eyebrows considered facial hair?
- Is there a secret society of people who create autocorrect errors?
- Should robots have holidays?
- Can you be friends with someone who dislikes your favorite movie?
- Is it more efficient to always wear the same outfit?
- Should pets name their owners?
- Is there an alternate universe where you are the celebrity, and the celebrities are fans?
- Should everyone learn to speak at least one fictional language?
- Do we need designated areas for smartphone walking?
- Is the pen really mightier than the sword?
- Are all conspiracy theories just misdirected movie scripts?
- Is it possible to plan a spontaneous trip?
- Should left-handed people get their own holiday?
- Can laughter actually be the best medicine?
- Is life just a quest for the perfect chair?
- Should school start later in the day to allow for more sleep?
- Are superheroes more responsible for saving lives or causing traffic in cities?
- Is it better to have a dragon or a unicorn as a pet?
- Should homework be banned on weekends?
- Is it possible to survive on pizza alone for life?
- Are snow days better than holidays?
- Should animals be allowed to compete in the Olympics?
- Can a book club about comic books be considered studying?
- Are older siblings born leaders or just bossy?
- Should you be allowed to dress up every day and not just on Halloween?
- Do vegetables taste better when they are shaped like fries?
- Is it necessary to sing in the shower?
- Can you judge a book by its movie?
- Should there be an international day of napping?
- Are robots taking over boring jobs or just preparing to rule the world?
- Should everyone have a clone to do their chores?
- Is it better to travel to the past or the future?
- Do aliens have their own version of social media?
- Is summer better than winter, or is it the other way around?
- Should all cars be turned into bumper cars for fun?
- Can you have too much chocolate?
- Should pets be allowed in school?
- Ninjas vs. Pirates: Who would win?
- Is being messy a sign of creativity?
- Should you be able to eat dessert before dinner?
- Is it possible to laugh without smiling?
- Do video games train you to be a super spy?
- Should your bed make itself in the morning?
- Are all bugs secretly superheroes with tiny capes?
- Should everyone learn how to dance?
- Can you be friends with a robot?
- Is it better to be tiny like an ant or giant like a dinosaur?
- Should school sports include video gaming?
- Do wizards play their own version of Quidditch in real life?
- Are emojis a part of language?
- Should there be a world championship for pillow fights?
- Is it possible to become a chocolate taste tester as a job?
- Should there be a subject in school on how to become a millionaire?
- Can you trust someone who doesn’t like cartoons?
- Should all zoos be virtual reality experiences?
- Should parents be allowed to help with homework?
- Are birds secretly musicians?
- Should everyone have a personal robot by now?
- Is it possible to create an ice cream with every flavor in the world?
- Should there be an Olympics for everyday tasks?
- Is whispering rude?
- Should all houses come with a slide as well as stairs?
- Can you be allergic to homework?
- Should candy be considered a food group?
- Is it better to have a pool filled with jello instead of water?
- Should people be required to wear hats on Mondays for fun?
- Is it possible that every cat is actually a spy?
- Can homework be done telepathically in the future?
- Should there be a dessert at every meal?
- Is it better to have the ability to jump really high or run incredibly fast?
- Are books actually secret portals to other worlds?
- Should everyone have a personal soundtrack played around them based on their mood?
- Is it better to be a wizard, a superhero, or a pirate?
- Are teddy bears secretly the best security guards?
- Should schools have a subject dedicated to learning about dragons and mythical creatures?
- Is it rude to not laugh at a joke?
- If there was a game with an imaginary ball, would it be considered a sport?
- Can you trust someone who doesn’t like ice cream?
- Should there be a world championship of rock, paper, scissors?
- Is it better to invent a homework-doing machine or a chore-completing robot?
- Are clouds just the earth’s way of thinking?
- Should every person get a personal holiday on their birthday?
- Is it possible to create a language spoken only by blinking?
- Should there be a national day for celebrating cartoons?
- Are we all just characters in a novel written by a more advanced civilization?
Fun Debate Topics PDF
Tips For Conducting A Fun Debate
Once you’ve chosen a funny debate topic, there are some important things you should do before starting the debate to make sure it runs smoothly.
Introduce The Fun Debate Topic
Before starting your classroom debate, be sure to introduce the topic to students and make sure they understand what they will be debating. This is especially important when you are conducting a debate in an ESL class where English is not the students’ native language. Introduce the topic and ask students about their initial thoughts. Elicit some key vocabulary and expressions that your students may need when arguing their case.
Establish The Debate Rules
Even though students will be discussing a funny debate topic, they can still get quite emotional when arguing their case with their classmates. Be sure to establish the debate rules to make sure that students listen to one another and respect each other’s opinions.
Some good debate rules to follow are:
- Do not interrupt when others are speaking.
- Keep your answers short and concise.
- Listen carefully to your opponent and ask questions once they have finished.
- No idea is a stupid idea.
- Do not raise your voice.
- Always speak calmly and politely to your opponent.
Give Students Time To Research About The Debate Topic
The best debates are ones in which students can back up their opinions with facts. If possible, give your students time to conduct some research about the debate topic. This can be as simple as letting students use their cell phones in class. Or, if you have a computer room in your school, students can use the internet to research.
Give Students Time To Prepare Their Argument
Once students have conducted some research, it’s time for them to prepare their arguments. Have students write down their arguments. Then, encourage students to anticipate how their opponent will respond and prepare an answer. Even when debating a funny debate topic, giving students time to prepare will make the debate much more fun and educational. Download this debate planning worksheet to help your students prepare their opening statements and arguments.
Keep Track Of Time
To make sure your debate is fair and each side gets the same chance to lay out their argument, it is important to keep track of time. A great way to do this is to use a visual classroom timer so that both you and your students can see how much time they have. Using the classroom timer, give the first team 2 minutes to present their argument. Then, give the other team 2 minutes to present their case. Then, give both teams a few minutes to prepare their rebuttal. Next, give each team 2 minutes to present their rebuttal and their final summary of their argument.
MORE DEBATE TOPICS
Looking for more serious debate topics? Check out these Controversial Debate Topics and these Debate Topics For Middle School Students for more ideas for your next classroom debate.
