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How can doctors treat endometriosis?

+ Audio version of article + Links to activities about reproductive health and macrophages + Blackboard version of the article

How do bumble bees play?

+ Audio version of article + Links to lessons on bees and animal behavior + Blackboard version of article with bee footage

How can we tell whether we are talking to a computer or a person?

+ Audio version of article + Links to activities about AI and machine learning + Blackboard video version of article

How have the life choices of women in India changed over time?

+ Audio version of article + Links to lessons on demographics and empowering girls + Lesson Idea video

How do animals behave during a solar eclipse?

+ Audio version of article + Get involved: Link to citizen science projects about eclipses + Links to activities about solar eclipses

How do dolphin mothers speak with their babies?

+ Audio version of article + Links to lessons on dolphins and echolocation

What do parenting and brain size have to do with each other?

+ Audio version of article + Two reading levels available + Links to lessons on birds and brains

How does fear speech spread on social media?

+ Audio version of article + Links to lessons on identifying hate speech and misinformation + Link to lessons on how kids can navigate social media

Why do measles survivors get sicker?

What can we learn from carbon on Mars?

What can we learn about dinosaur skin using a laser?

How well can a computer think?

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Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students ⋅

Cool Science Projects for 13-Year-Olds

Science projects are enjoyable, hands-on activities with learning objectives.

How to Make Containers for an Egg Drop Experiment

Science is a key component of any 13-year-old's school studies. Technological advances are transforming the world at a rapid pace. You can use interactive, impressive-looking science projects to spark the interest of 13-year-olds in learning about chemistry, physics, biology and more. These science projects can be conducted at school with a large class or at home with your son or daughter.

Tornado in a Bottle

Have the 13-year-old take two empty 2-liter plastic soda bottles and fill one of them with water, then use duct tape to adhere the two mouths of the bottles together so that the empty bottle is on top. Once secure, flip the bottles and swirl your arm in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion as the water pours from the top bottle to the bottom bottle. Swirl until the water itself begins to swirl, and watch the vortex type of motion that causes liquid and gases to travel in spirals around a center line. In the center of the vortex, which resembles a tornado, a small hole will appear that allows the air to rise inside the bottle.

Radish Plants

Have 13-year-olds plant two radish seeds in separate containers. Place both radish containers in a well-lit window, but keep them at least 20 feet apart from each other. Have them take a magnet and place it next to one of the two containers, then water the containers as directed on the seed package. The radish plant near the magnet will grow shorter and lean toward the magnet. The other plant will grow taller and straight.

Ask 13-year-olds to design a container that will allow an egg to be dropped from a height of 8 feet without breaking the egg. Give them parameters as to what types of materials they can and can’t use. Allow them to practice drops from a ladder to test their inventions.

Film Canister Rocket

Conduct this experiment outdoors in an open area. Use a 35mm plastic film canister with the lid. Instruct all participants to wear safety goggles. Place half of a fizzing antacid tablet inside the canister and quickly add a teaspoon of water. Snap on the cap and place the canister on the ground with the cap side down. Ensure that all participants are standing at least 2 meters away. In approximately 10 seconds, you will hear a loud pop, and the film canister will launch into the air.

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Steve Spangler Science: Tornado in a Bottle
The Free Science Fair Projects Network: Do Magnets Affect Radish Plant Growth?
Science Bob: Build a Film Canister Rocket

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 great research paper topics.

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
Should graduate students be able to form unions?

What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
How does stress affect the body?
Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
What were the causes of the Civil War?
How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
What caused Hitler's rise to power?
Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
What are the pros and cons of fracking?
What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
How are black holes created?
Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
Has social media made people more or less connected?
What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

Are you also learning about dynamic equilibrium in your science class? We break this sometimes tricky concept down so it's easy to understand in our complete guide to dynamic equilibrium .

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These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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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70+ Fascinating Informative Essay Topics for Kids and Teens

Tell them what you know.

How has the role of women in the workplace changed in the last hundred years?

Informative essays are a chance to show what you know. They’re all about informing the reader, without trying to persuade or offer an opinion. Informative writing can include how-to process essays, biographical writing, an in-depth analysis of a topic, research papers, or compare-and-contrast essays . Just remember to stick to the facts, and be clear and descriptive. These informative essay topics offer something for all interests and ages.

How-To Informative Essay Topics

Social studies informative essay topics, science informative essay topics, pop culture informative essay topics.

Teach your reader the steps or process to:

Cook a recipe
Set a table
Make a quilt
Change a tire
Start a recycling program
Play a game
Build a birdhouse
Plant a garden
Make and care for a compost pile

Care for an animal
Start a business
Catch a fish
Tie a necktie
Train for a marathon
Prepare a campsite
Make a campfire
Clean a room
Wrap a gift
Plan a party
Kick a bad habit
Use social media responsibly

Manage time effectively
Make a budget
Describe the life of a world leader.
How has the role of women in the workplace changed in the last hundred years?

Explore the current path to becoming an American citizen.
What are some of the possible ways the pyramids were built?
Describe a time period in history.
How does one country’s economy affect another country?
What is the difference between socialism and communism?
Explore the benefits and drawbacks of legalizing drugs.
Describe the political system in a foreign country.
Explore the causes of a specific war or armed conflict in history.

Explore the causes of a specific war or armed conflict in history.

How is a new law passed in the United States?
Give an overview of the history of any country, state, or city.
Describe the three branches of American government.
Explain how the American judicial system works.
Describe the evolution of fashion throughout history.
Describe a science experiment, including the hypothesis, process, and conclusion.

Describe a science experiment, including the hypothesis, process, and conclusion.

Explain what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle.
What is the relationship between calories and fat?
What is the physics behind a bicycle?
How do plants convert sunlight into energy?
Describe any element from the periodic table, including its makeup and uses.
What is the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?
Describe the life cycle of any animal.
What are the benefits of recycling?
Describe the life of a prominent scientist.
Explain what E = mc 2 means.
Describe any disease, including its symptoms and treatments.

Describe any disease, including its symptoms and treatments.

Why do leaves change color in the fall?
Explain the difference between climate and weather.
Describe a specific ecosystem, including the plants and animals that live there.
Describe the history of video games.
What are recent trends in the video game industry?
Describe your favorite superhero.
Explain the motivations of any fictional villain.
Describe the life of your favorite celebrity.
Explore the development and growth of a main character in any book series.

Explore the development and growth of a main character in any book series.

Describe the process of making a movie or TV show.
Tell the story of any band, including its founding, successes and challenges, and breakup (if applicable).
Describe the life of a famous artist.
Explore the history of Disney World (or any theme park).
Plan the perfect fantasy football league team.
Describe popular trends and fads from any decade.
Explore the history of the Olympics.
Describe the music of a generation and how it reflected that time.

Describe the music of a generation and how it reflected that time.

Explain the history of the internet.

What are some of your favorite informative essay topics? Come share your ideas in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the big list of essay topics for high school (100+ ideas).

70+ Fascinating Informative Essay Topics for Kids and Teens

What one class should all high schools students be required to take and pass in order to graduate?

The Big List of Essay Topics for High School (120+ Ideas!)

Ideas to inspire every young writer! Continue Reading

BRYN DONOVAN

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50 Essay Topics for Kids

Hi friends! A while back, after I did a post of story ideas for kids , I got requests for essay topics for kids. I thought it was a little out of my wheelhouse, though, since I’ve never taught children. But then I thought, wait a minute…I’m married to someone who used to teach middle school English! So I invited Mr. Donovan to guest post today. Take it away, honey…

For these, I tried to think about 5th and 6th grade writing topics, but the truth is, most of these writing prompts would also work for kids much younger, and some of them would work for older kids. If you’re a busy teacher or homeschooling parent, I hope you find good ideas you can use.

While this list focuses especially on persuasive writing, it offers a wide range of subjects. I think many students will feel strongly about them since they know about them firsthand, and they may have fun writing about them. Some prompts may encourage students to try to persuade through the use of humor and personal stories, while others may lead them to compare and contrast two things or use logic and/or ethical arguments to support their points of view. Hopefully, their strong feelings will lead student writers to experience persuasive writing as an essential tool for their success.[spacer height=”20px”]

50 Essay Topics for Kids | fun creative writing prompts for busy teachers and homeschoolers (image: stack of spiral notebooks)

Personal Narrative Essay Ideas

The three things I can’t live without are…
In the past year, I’ve changed in the following ways…
A close call I once had occurred when…
My favorite hour of the day is…
I once got lost for a long period of time at…
One thing I love to shop for is…
The best sporting event I ever attended was…
Here’s a time that I was scared but took a chance.
Here’s what happened when I tried something for the first time.
The thing I’m most looking forward to this summer is…
A decision that was very hard to make for me was…
The last time I laughed really really hard was…
A time I was really proud of one of my parents/siblings was…
Describe a favorite family photo and the story it tells.
One time when I was having dinner with my family…

Persuasive Essay Ideas

Why It’s Important To Be a Good Winner
How to Make Friends and Keep Them
To Be Successful, You Need To…
How to Disagree With Someone Without Being Rude
The Best Thing About This School Is….and Here’s Why
The Best Place to Live Would Be…and Here’s Why
Why It’s Important to Set Goals
How to Prevent Bullying
Students Should Be Allowed to Learn At Their Own Pace
The Best TV Show On Right Now Is…Because….
The Best TV Show Ever Made Is….and Here’s Why
My Favorite Superhero Is…Because…
Why My Favorite Sport Is the Best Sport
Students Should/Shouldn’t Have Their Phones at School
Our Country Would Be Better If We Passed This Law
No One Should Ever Watch More Than Four Hours of TV, Movies, and Videos a Day
Why It’s Time to Remove the Penny From Circulation
It’s Likely that Extraterrestrials Exist
Taking Photographs of People Without Their Permission Should Be Prohibited
Telling A Lie Is/Isn’t Always Wrong

Compare and Contrast Essay Ideas

Baseball and basketball have both similarities and differences.
Here’s what I would and wouldn’t be willing to do for a million dollars
The biggest differences between winter and spring are…
Ways I’m alike and ways I’m different from my parent/sibling are…
Cats and dogs may be very different, but they’re also alike in some respects.
My two favorite bands compare and contrast in the following ways.
Compare and contrast your two favorite superheroes.
My two favorite restaurants are different in many ways.
Though very different, the sun and the moon do have a few similarities.
While my two favorite classes have key differences, they also have much in common
Skating and running have a lot in common.
Parent teachers and classroom teachers are different and alike in many ways.
Poems and stories have some similarities and some differences.
PCs and Mac computers have less in common than you might think.
The book and movie version of my favorite story have a lot of similarities, but they’re different in some ways.

50 Essay Topics for Kids | image: Open blank notebook and pen

If you have other ideas for easy essay topics for middle school, let us know in the comments. And if you liked the list, please share them on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter—we appreciate it, and busy teachers might appreciate it, too! Thanks for reading this, and have a great day!

– Gill Donovan

25 Christmas Writing Prompts for holiday inspiration! #fiction #ideas #idea starters #stories #romance

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106 Teenagers Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on teenagers, 🔎 easy teenagers research paper topics, 👍 good teenagers research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting teenagers research titles, 💡 simple teenagers essay ideas.

The Influence of Social Media on Teenagers
Drug Abuse among Teenagers Causes and Effects
Impact of Reality Shows on Youth: Essay Sample
Alcohol Taking by the Teenagers
Children’s Use of Technology and Social Media: Essay Example
Social Media Impact on Teenagers’ Socialization
The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers
Teenagers’ Contemporary Issues: Bullying at School Bullying can be caused by differences between students, and the existing assessment and support options contribute to improving the situation.
Teenagers’ Negative Representation by Australian Media Australian media critiques its own youth and views them as potentially dangerous renegades with unclear needs and purpose in their lives.
How Reality Television Influences Teenagers Given that young people are more exposed to television and the internet, the impact of reality television shows on their lives cannot be overstated.
TikTok Addiction Among Teenagers Teenagers who are addicted to TikTok are more likely to experience severe depression, anxiety, and limited working memory.
The Negative Influence of Social Media on Teenagers’ Mental Health This essay is purposed to explain the aspects in which excessive use of social media affects teenagers’ mental health.
An Interview With a Teenager Analysis The person who was interviewed in this research is known by the name Ann. She is 14 years of age which means that she is in her adolescence.
School Nurse’s Communication with Pregnant Teenagers The paper aims to discuss the case of a 17-year-old student who has type I diabetes and whose pregnancy test is positive.
Lack of Parental Support Forces Teenagers ‘Run Away’ From Home This paper describes how lack of attention and inability of parents to understand the problems faced by their teenage children results in “run away” from home.
Social Media Impact on Teenagers in the UAE This paper studies impact of social media on teenagers in the UAE. The research was based on a sample of 30 respondents through a mixture of direct interviews and questionnaires.
Plastic Surgery Among Teenagers More and more teenagers are seeking plastic surgeries in the United States and professionals believe that it stems from a lack of self-esteem and pressure from the media.
Use of Technology by Teenagers for Emotional Support Teenagers use technology for emotional support to connect and communicate with their friends and families; however, it hinders their experience of separation and finding of self.
Is Abortion Beneficial or Harmful To a Teenager? Abortion is the removal of a pregnancy before it is due. It is the elimination of a fetus or embryo from the mother’s uterus before it is due for birth.
Sexting in Teenagers: Legal Perspective in Canada The issue of sexting in teenagers should be addressed on several levels, including federal, local, and personal.
Teenagers’ Problems in American High Schools The problems experienced by teenagers in American schools can not be attributed to them rather they can be attributed to society and media.
Social Media and Video Games for Teenagers’ Self-Esteem Social media are more likely to harm the self-esteem of those adolescents. The influence of video games has a more supportive effect on self-esteem.
How to Travel With a Teenager? Most parents have a desire to go to any length to please their teenagers on holidays and therefore they get to spend a lot of money and time together.
Social Media Usage and Teenager’s Ecosystems Social media has complex impacts on the youth, which are majorly positive. However, it causes negative impacts in an educational, socio-political, and physiological manner.
The Problem of Playing Poker Among Teenagers in the United States Teenagers are becoming more and more involved in poker games. This is a problem because they are learning greed is good and are becoming addicted to a popular, mainstream game.
Effects of Social Media Use on Teenagers This paper aims to explore the impact of social media platforms on teenagers’ physical, social, and cognitive development.
Adolescence Songs: “A Teenager in Love” by Dion DiMucci “A Teenager in Love” by Dion DiMucci was a famous song during my adolescent years. Some of the most crucial lyrics are “Each time we have a quarrel / It almost breaks my heart.”
Prevention of Obesity in Teenagers This paper aims to create an education plan for teenage patients and their parents to effectively inform them and help them avoid obesity.
Divorce: Rates and Effects on Teenagers This paper aims at investigating the cause of divorce, examining the effects of divorce on teenagers as well as giving recommendations for the action.
Skate Park for Healthy Activities of Teenagers The promotion of healthy active life through the popularisation of sports will help discourage teenagers from developing bad habits.
Conversation between a Youth Worker and an Emo Teenager This paper aims to create a hypothetical conversation between a youth worker and an emo teenager about teenager’s decision to become emo and future goals in life.
Urban Poor Teenagers’ Psychology and Activities The purpose of this study is to investigate the psychological factors that influence teenagers in impoverished urban areas to engage in particular activities.
Eating Habits among the Teenagers The researcher may classify data into two types when developing a nursing intervention to encourage healthy eating habits among the teenagers.
Teen Pregnancy: Effects on Teenagers Teen pregnancy can lead to a deterioration in the physical and psychological health of a teenager, as well as negative socio-economic consequences.
Advocacy for Negligence and Child Abuse Amongst Black Teenagers Negligence and abuse amongst black teenagers require rehabilitation therapy and parental counseling to prevent further negative effects.
Car Seatbelt Legislation for Teenagers in Maryland The epidemiology of injuries in society, both occupational and not, are conditioned by the way of life of the citizens.
High-Risk Behaviors and Psychological Disorders Affecting Teenagers The most common high-risk behaviors among teenagers are smoking, alcohol and substance abuse, and computer addiction. This paper analyzes these high-risk behaviors.
Marijuana Legalization and Its Use Among American Teenagers Opponents against the liberalization of marijuana counter that marijuana is not a munificent drug and that its use can attract various problems to an individual.
Public Health Campaign on Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Teenagers This essay discusses unprotected sex among teenagers as a public health issue that promulgates the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
Substance Abuse Among Teenagers: Factors and Causes This study seeks to investigate the impact of gender, family structure, parental influence, and peer pressure on teenagers’ alcohol use.
Drug Abuse Among Teenagers Before analyzing the causes of addiction among teenagers, we have to look at this issue from sociological point of view.
Pregnancy in Teenagers: Possible Challenges In order to decrease the overall rate of teenage pregnancy, it is crucial to address the populations that are disproportionately affected by the issue.
Infantilization of Teenagers in Epstein’s Article This paper analyzes Epstein’s article “Let’s abolish high school” devoted to the problem of infantilization of teenagers as a result of artificial prolongation of school studies.
Marijuana Social and Health Effects on Teenagers Consumption of illegal drugs among teenagers or adolescents is a problem that has serious health and social concerns.
Medicine: Birth Control Devices for Teenagers Contraception is important for teenagers because it helps to avoid mistakes such as unintended pregnancies that can negatively affect their progress in school and other endeavors.
Alcohol Misuse in Teenagers: New Means to Address the Issue Despite the efforts of healthcare specialists, over the past few years, the rates of alcohol consumption in youth have grown impressively.
Teenagers Should Not Receive Their Driver S Licenses Until They Are at the Age of 21
Birth Control and Teenagers
Cigarette Smoking Among Teenagers
Sex and Age Disparity Among Teenagers
The Factors That Make Teenagers Use Drugs
Sexually Explicit Lyrics and Their Influence on Teenagers
The Factors That Drive Teenagers To Commit Suicides
Society and the Media Influences on Teenagers
Rock and Rap Does Not Have a Bad Influence on Teenagers
Teenagers Need Safe Sex Education
Philadelphia Teenagers and the Threat of Chlamydia
Amish Teenagers and Their Distinct Subculture
Phobias and the Impact on Teenagers
The New Popular Form of Communication Among Teenagers
Drug Abuse Among American Teenagers
Teenagers and the Desire of Perfection
Depression Affect Percent Teenagers
Teenagers Should Work and Learn Responsibility
The Physical and Psychological Effects of Obesity in Teenagers
Sex Without Love Has Become the Norm for Too Many Teenagers in This Century
Sexually Transmitted Disease Among Teenagers
Factors That Influences Teenagers to Use Marijuana
Substance Abuse and Teenagers
Suicide Among Teenagers and the United States
Teenagers and Cosmetic Surgery
Stroop Effect With Modern Teenagers
The Inclination Toward the Procrastination Habit in American Teenagers
Music and Its Effects on Behaviors in Teenagers and Young Adults
Teenagers and the Internal Conflict
Cosmetic Surgery Among Teenagers
Dysfunctional Family and Its Impact on the Teenagers Adjustment
Teenagers Should Not Undergo Plastic Surgery
Crime Factors Among Teenagers
Eating Disorders Amongst Teenagers
Exploring the Causes for the Rising Cases of Heavy Drinking in American Teenagers
Cognitive Psycho-social Physical Teenagers
The Negative Impacts and Influence of Peer Pressure on Teenagers
The Psychological and Emotional Effects of Abortion in Teenagers
The Insecurity Among Modern Teenagers
Teenagers Today Lack Moral Values and Self Discipline
Christian Religious Belief and the Grieving Process in Teenagers
Factors That Influence Teenagers on Alcohol and Effects
The Factors That Push Teenagers Into Violent Behaviors
Plastic Surgery for Teenagers
Factors That Influence Teenager’s Sexual Behaviors
Differences Between Vietnamese Teenagers and American Teenagers
Obesity Among Children and Teenagers
Teenagers Having Jobs While They Are Students
American Teenagers and Plastic Surgery
Romantic Relationships Between Teenagers
Cyber Crime and Its Impact on Teenagers
Relations Between Teenagers and Adults
Dealing With the Problem of Drug Use Among Teenagers
Benefits and Disadvantages for Internet Use for Teenagers
Depression Among Teenagers Who Are Homeless
Crime Protection Programs Children and Teenagers
Social Media and Its Effects on Teenagers
Management Strategies for Depressed Teenagers
Teenagers Suffering Bipolar Disorder
Dealing With Problems Between Parents and Teenagers

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These essay examples and topics on Teenagers were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on December 27, 2023 .

Parents' Guide

Developing critical thinking in teens, introduction.

For children aged 13 and older, the development of critical thinking continues to build from the skills acquired and the challenges faced in the first two developmental stages. These skills must continue to be reinforced as the child matures.

The four basic aspects of critical thinking we examined in the first part of this guide, concerning children aged five to nine , remain relevant, therefore. To review, these were:

Critical thinking based on arguing a point.

Developing self-esteem, the foundation of critical thinking.

Emotional management, a prerequisite for critical thinking.

The social norm of critical thinking.

We also saw new elements come into play between ages 10 and 12 in the acquisition of critical thinking and reasoning skills. These are likewise still important in considering the development of critical thinking in young teenagers:

The development of reasoning skills beyond argument.

Puberty and its implications in terms of interests, self-esteem, and emotional management.

The digital world, via gaming, the internet, and a burgeoning social or pseudo-social life (on social media targeted at young people).

To these concerns are added new set of factors come into play in later adolescence as the cognitive system matures and social life changes. These factors will hugely increase the critical potential of 13 to 15 year olds, while at the same time limiting it in certain respects. These factors are:

The development of formal logic, allowing for more and more complex and abstract lines of reasoning.

New social pressures, including heightened peer pressure and anxieties over social integration. The influences of groups and gangs, which tend to critique the established social order, can also lead to a conformity in attitudes and ways of thinking within the group.

Critical analysis of sources of information and the strengthening of interpretive skills.

Critical thinking in group projects, and as an element of citizenship and social progress .

Beginning at age 13, adolescents can begin to acquire and apply formal logical rules and processes. The rudimentary logic learned at previous stages can now be refined by teaching adolescents some more advanced logical notation and vocabulary, which are outlined in the coming sections. It is important to keep in mind, again, that critical thinking extends far beyond logic, offering tools to apply more broadly to arguments and information encountered in the everyday world.

In the teenage years, social pressures accelerate, and with the internet and social media, these pressures move faster and with more force than ever. As outlined in section two below, critical thinking can prove a valuable resource for teenagers to help cope with these pressures and resist the groupthink that easily emerges in social cliques both online and offline. Critical thinking can also play a role in helping young adults choose and pursue emerging goals, by constructing long-term plans and methods. Finally, critical thinking is an indispensable tool in helping young people understand and analyze the wealth of information sources now bombarding them.

1. Formal Logic

At the age of 13 and older, children can begin to learn the rules of formal logic and further hone their critical thinking skills. whether or not their children are learning these skills in school, parents can help by discussing how to analyze concepts and arguments..

From ages 11 to 12, there gradually develops what Piaget called the formal operational stage . New capabilities at this stage, like deductive (if-then) reasoning and establishing abstract relationships, are generally mastered around ages 15 to 16.

As we saw, by the end of this stage, teenagers, like adults, can use both formal and abstract logic—but only if they have learned the language of logic (“if,” “then,” “therefore,” etc.) and have repeatedly put it to use. Under these circumstances, children learn to extrapolate and make generalizations based on real-life situations.

Thus, from ages 10 to 12, by stimulating children intellectually—urging them to reflect and establish lines of reasoning—they gradually become able to move beyond a situational logic based on action and observation onto a logic based on rules of deduction independent of the situation at hand.

This ability to manipulate abstract symbols consolidates by around age 15, provided that one has been versed in formal logic.

A and B are two logical propositions, such that A is the opposite of B. From this, we may formally deduce (without reference to anything concrete) that the proposition P, which states “A or B,” is always true. There are no alternatives, so P fulfills all possibilities. We may also deduce that the proposition P 1 , “A and B,” is always false. Here, two contradictory propositions cannot both be true. If one is true, the other is false.

These formal operations require both a mature central nervous system and a mature cognitive system. But, since such examples of formal reasoning are detached from everyday life, they require deliberate practice. Even an adult who is out of practice can struggle with formal reasoning.

After working through several examples, parents can help children extract the logical rules behind those examples.

We can present these two rules of logic using more concrete examples, which makes formal reasoning at once more accessible and less intimidating. In concrete form, however, the reasoning will be less easily applied to new situations.

If proposition A is: “this salmon is farmed,” proposition B (the opposite of A) will be: “this salmon is not farmed.” B could also be expressed as: “this salmon is wild.” It is easy in this concrete context to see that P, “A or B,” is always true. A salmon must either be farmed or wild. It is also easy to conceive that P 1 , “A and B,” is always false because a salmon cannot be both farmed and wild.

Moving away from situational lines of reasoning allows teens to extrapolate and apply logic to the ever more complex challenges and life events they might encounter as they mature into their young adult years. Without formal logic, young teens and young adults won’t be able to define their formal reasoning abilities to extend past situational deductions and personal life experiences or form larger connections with their surroundings and the human experiences that occur around them everyday.

Once they learn to abstract from concrete examples and express these rules in formal logic, children can form and manipulate logical notation and apply it to a multitude of situations.

How can we help children from age 13 and older improve their formal logical deduction skills?

We must start by working on these two rules through concrete examples like that of the salmon. After working through several examples, parents can help children extract the logical rules behind those examples. This is the inductive phase: from concrete examples, we extract the common features and express them in a formal rule.

Next, it will be necessary to prove this rule solely by logical deduction. If we do not do this, we cannot be certain that the rule is valid in every context. Extracting the common features only results in rules which, at this stage, remain merely hypothetical. Only reasoning allows for the generalization of a rule.

Once students have mastered a collection of formal rules, they can be trained to recognize, within a problem or a given context, what rule is applicable. That is, they can take an initial claim (a hypothesis), apply a rule of deduction to it, and arrive at a conclusion.

2. Faulty Reasoning

One important way teenagers can improve their logic and reasoning skills is by using formal definitions. these are necessary for more precise and universal reasoning and can help children identify faulty reasoning., integrating these topic into family discussions can be enormously productive., extension vs. intension.

One idea in formal logic that can be valuable to learn at this age has to do with how concepts are defined. For very young children, categories or concepts are defined according to how they are encountered in everyday life. For example, the general concept of color is determined by all the examples of colors children have come across or imagined. The concept covers all these different experiences. This is called the concept’s “ extension .”

But it is important that children from the age of around 13 start to learn to define concepts not merely according to their extension, but in a formal, scientific manner.

For example, instead of using a definition drawn from experience, students can explain that a color is a perception that our eye, linked to the brain, produces when an electromagnetic wave of a given frequency hits our retina. This definition according to the formal, internal qualities of the concept is called the concept’s “intension.”

Definition by intension is more complicated, but it allows for the use of the concept in formal reasoning. Therefore, definition by intension gears the child’s mind towards higher-level abstract reasoning.

For example, if we have to determine whether or not a given entity is a color or not, the intensional definition will offer us formal criteria for making a judgment.

Here’s another example. The prime numbers can be defined formally by intension: they are “the numbers that are only divisible by themselves and one.” If we were to learn only the extension of the term “prime number,” on the other hand, we would only have a list of the numbers that we know are prime.

It is clear that if we only have this definition by extension and we encounter a new, very large number — higher than the largest number on the list we’ve learned—we will have no criteria for knowing whether it’s prime. But if we have the formal definition by intension, we will, with the help of a calculator, be able to determine whether it is only divisible by one and itself and, therefore, prime.

We can’t productively critique the arguments of others if we don’t share their definitions of concepts.

When we are young, we learn about the world through definitions by extension during the course of our interactions with objects and other people. Our brain defines concepts by extension and then extracts the common features to produce a working definition.

But these definitions are subjective since they depend on our history of encounters with relevant examples. Thus, all of the concepts we have created do not match other people’s concepts precisely, despite being identically named. They depend on the particular experiences we have had.

Yet, towards the ages of 13 to 15, with mathematical and formal logic, it becomes possible to define concepts by intension and, therefore, to share objective meaning with others. Teenagers can enter a world of shared and precise meanings. This is a prerequisite for the application of precise and formal critical thinking. We can’t productively critique the arguments of others if we don’t share their definitions of concepts.

The formal approach for children aged 13 and up should, then be twofold: formalize the definition of the concepts used and formalize the logical deduction itself. This comes with practice and enhances both children’s capacity to communicate and their critical faculties.

The Concepts of Intension and Extension

Recognizing faulty reasoning.

As has been discussed in previous sections, developing critical reasoning requires more than simply knowing how to reason formally and contextually. It is also necessary to learn how to recognize flaws in the reasoning of other people who may wish to convince us of their way of thinking, either for narcissistic reasons or to lead us to act to their own advantage.

Such flaws can occur on several levels:

Erroneous rules of logic, leading to false reasoning based on reliable hypotheses.

False hypotheses (starting points for reasoning): even if the reasoning is valid, the conclusion may be false. Certain politicians use this strategy very frequently.

Using a formal rule in a situation to which it does not apply. This often occurs in over-simplified mathematical modeling of complex material, for example when an essay in the humanities is interpreted using only the tools of formal logic.

These three types of flaws can be worked into family discussions, with the goal of training children to counter weak or manipulative lines of argument. School should not be too heavily relied upon to provide this kind of practice for your children. Already between the ages of 13 and 15, they are able to construct brilliant lines of reasoning, which will prevent them from being tricked by manipulative or intellectually limited people.

Flawed Reasoning

3. individuation, teenagers have a natural impulse to try to separate themselves from their parents and their backgrounds. a good critical thinking foundation can help ease the transition toward individuality and adulthood. better reasoning can help teenagers cope with their emerging independence and avoid an unthinking rejection of their background., what is individuation.

Individuating and the stages of individuation are concepts developed by renowned analytical psychologist Carl Jung . Jung founded analytic psychology and the concepts of extraverted and introverted personalities, archetypes, and the collective unconscious were also developed by Jung along with the theory of individuation.

In adolescence, the individuation process heralds the initial stages that a child takes toward becoming a unique individual, something more than just your parents’ offspring, is a psychological necessity.

Part of differentiating yourself from the world around you is developing a self-image. It is the only way to avoid fading completely into your surroundings—and ending up in utter conformity, or worse.

Individuation adolescence

Individuation is indispensable to society. In order to sustain itself, society needs diversity. Cultures lacking the social norm of individuation are more fragile. They produce citizens who have identical self-images and behavioral patterns, whereas adapting to change requires diversity, creativity, evolution, and, therefore, critical thinking.

Only very rarely (or not at all) have individuals in these cultures of weak individuation experienced the feelings of crisis and malaise we associate with adolescence. The transition from childhood to adulthood unfolds instead according to so-called “rites of passage.”

Our civilization has undergone a long and profound evolution through philosophy, science, psychoanalysis, and politics, leading us to a social norm that rejects the idea that the individual in the family, the social group, or the nation, is like a mere cell in an organ. Indeed, everyone has the right and even the “duty” to be reborn by deviating from their origins.

This is an immense challenge because this act of individuation, this self-creation, arises at a moment when children are not yet able to achieve this “rebirth” autonomously, as they enter an unknown world without even knowing what it will be like. We call this period “adolescence” or even “kidulthood” when it lasts a long time—a growing phenomenon.

Experiencing society predominantly through school or family simultaneously generates pressure to conform and to individualize. It comes as no surprise that this causes some problems.

The desire to be free and independent generates psychological conflict.

What is the process of individuation.

Children have not fully matured intellectually or cognitively when they are confronted with this contradiction. They are, therefore, unable to conceptualize it. This is why, in their behavior and attitudes, children can sometimes bear a closer resemblance to skittish animals than calm self-creators responsible for their own gradual reinvention.

Although unaware of it, children embark upon adolescence through “second-degree” conformity through culture, since adolescence is a societal construct rather than a psycho-behavioral component of puberty.

Paradoxically, children aged 13 to 15 or older may not experience teenage angst at all, thanks to their critical faculties. In fact, if they feel that their life is fulfilling and stable, they will be able to avoid getting sucked into an alternative world by other children their age. Their youth may pass without them having experienced teen crisis. Instead, they construct their identity reflectively and without drama.

This, of course, is not typical. The desire to be free and independent generates psychological conflict. The fear and the anxiety associated with this moment of struggle incites rationalizations, thoughts which retrospectively come to explain dissatisfaction, malaise, and rebellion. Every situation that is not comfortable or does not come off successfully, we tend to attribute to our external environment and other people. Consequently, if things are not going well for us—if we are not happy—we tend to blame it on an unjust world.

Parents of teenagers are very familiar with the result: sweeping criticism of everything teens encounter. To the teenager, everyone sucks: parents, teachers, politicians, journalists, and so on. This reaction can generate conflict, but, as is explained in the next section, it also presents a good opportunity for deepening critical faculties.

4. Teenage Negativity

The need to become an individual can often manifest itself in negative and unyielding attitudes. though teenagers’ criticisms and complaints can be unsophisticated, parents should still engage with them. critical reasoning can help make the process of becoming an individual less painful and more productive..

It can be difficult to know how to react to teenagers’ negativity. On the one hand, their attitudes may seem too extreme and unsophisticated to take seriously. On the other, they can be exasperating and even hurtful when directed against the parents themselves. But parents should do their best to avoid being either dismissive or defensive.

The teenager’s emotional negativity is an extreme version of something we are all prone to indulge in from time to time, no matter how highly we may prize our calmness and understanding. Parents should remind themselves that this negativity is part of a bid to become a fully-fledged autonomous individual with an opinion deserving of recognition and respect.

Parents can help them reach this goal by taking their teens’ complaints seriously. This doesn’t mean telling them they’re right when they aren’t, but treating them as conversation partners worthy of engagement. Parents can ask their children to substantiate and defend their claims using argument and evidence; challenge their children when they fail to argue well; and compliment them when make good points.

This can be a good opportunity for parents themselves to refresh their ability to put aside emotions and handle a topic fairly and dispassionately. By modeling these kinds of intellectual virtues parents make it more likely that their children will adopt them.

Arguing with teenagers can be fun, especially if they begin to experience the kind of satisfaction that comes out of reasoned debate over complicated issues.

Of course these arguments will not always go smoothly, but over time parents can help bring their children into the critical community. Arguing with teenagers can be fun, especially if they begin to experience the kind of satisfaction that comes out of reasoned debate over complicated issues.

The quest for individuality also manifests itself in a need to create or to win over a new group, a group that can become one’s ideal family. The phenomenon of teenage cliques or gangs—and even radical organizations—arises from this fact. Not being understood or accepted is stifling. We need an escape valve, and so, as social animals, we create or join a group that meets our needs.

Individuation and Belonging

5. sense of belonging in a community, although they may relentlessly criticize society, in so doing teenagers are really showing that they belong to it. parents should help teenagers learn to articulate their dissatisfaction and develop a sense of belonging. . critical thinking can help them reconcile their desire for independence with the value of tradition and belonging to society., what it means to belong.

Belonging means acceptance into a larger whole, society, community, or organization. It’s a fairly common experience that occurs at many levels of life from the familial unit, to work, to school, to the society as a whole.

From the age of 12 to 13, in order for children to be able to articulate their disagreements with the status quo, they must develop their critical reasoning skills. As adults, we must, again, engage with these critiques if they are well-founded. This shows children that rejecting their endeavors is not the automatic response. This makes them feel valued and capable of exercising autonomous thought which can, moreover, influence adults.

In this way, critical thinking also — perhaps unexpectedly — makes it easier for children to accept at least a part of the cultural heritage that is offered to or imposed on them by language, upbringing, and custom.

Allowing a teenager to convince others through argument and logical inference makes them feel more able to become an individual without breaking away from the group—a rebellion-free evolution. If they are allowed to articulate their dissent, they may even find school or home life less stifling than social life in a peer group where they are constantly pressured to conform. Encouraging this kind of critical thinking also protects them from negative influences (cults, crime, etc.), since their critical toolkit allows them to stay lucid when faced with wild, dangerous speech and behavior (alcohol, drugs, etc.).

From as early an age as possible, learning how to argue and reason critically using one’s capacities for inference allows for a balance in adolescence between individualization and an acceptance of heritage.

Indeed, the need to distinguish oneself and to proclaim one’s individuality is always met by membership in a group — now often with the help of social media. This need is only met if these groups are not as prescriptive and stifling as the society from which the child is trying to escape and if they do not cause harm.

Part of critical reasoning is the development of the capacity to question environmental, familial, and social norms and prescriptions. But this requires competence in a universal language made up of inferential logic and the art of arguing, which comes from the critiqued society. Critical reasoning itself thus serves as lasting proof that one remains a part of that society. In the very act of distinguishing themselves from the pack, teenagers show they belong.

Critical reasoning anchors children in reality, allowing them to achieve individuality in their own unique way. Parents can help by supporting their children’s projects and encouraging them to engage with the world around them.

Building a sense of belonging.

Cultural heritage—including language, law, food, art, manners and customs, traditions, and scientific knowledge—represents an incredible resource that is at once imposed and offered. Teaching children critical thinking and reasoning means that they will not simply dismiss this priceless treasure in its entirety even though they will partially free themselves from it. Critical reasoning makes the process of individualization less violent and painful for both children and parents, thanks to the balance between the assimilation of culture and a healthy questioning of it.

In other words, critical reasoning—expressed through argumentative and logical know-how and rooted in self-esteem and love—anchors children in reality, allowing them to achieve individuality in their own unique way. Parents can help by supporting their children’s projects and encouraging them to engage with the world around them.

Cognitive faculties participate, in this way, in the psychological make-up of children. Critical reasoning has a twofold power: it is both integrator and liberator. It alerts us to the ways our culture forms us and helps us partly to overcome it. It is a fundamental pillar of our citizenship, on a national and global scale.

Benefits of sense of belonging

Critical reasoning serves as proof to children that they are listened to and that they are the primary drivers of their own destinies. Subsequently, they are predisposed to put their faith in the future and in others. They become psychologically and intellectually equipped to imagine a future with other people, in which they undertake communal projects and attain important goals.

6. Analyzing Sources

Teenagers need support to cope with and analyze disinformation and deception online. they should work on developing critical reading and browsing habits and learn to identify different kinds of deceptive reasoning. families can practice analyzing false or misleading information together. .

By the age of 13, young people likely already have significant experience navigating the internet. They have all made extensive use of a variety of websites in order to find answers to their questions or to help with papers and schoolwork.

The internet has democratized the transmission of information, allowing anyone and everyone to put forward their ideas, opinions, or hypotheses on multiple online platforms. People usually post things online in an affirmative style which presents any given statement, no matter how dubious or speculative, as a well-known fact.

People’s personal blogs, companies’ promotional lifestyle websites, and free encyclopedias all feature articles on complex subjects, almost always with content that has not been vetted by any experts, whose critical thinking skills and reasoning would be invaluable.

It seems that everyone—or almost everyone—has the tendency to grant at least some level of truth to everything they find online, especially if the site looks credible and its language is elegant. The same gullibility often applies to what we see on television or read in newspapers.

It is important to make young people aware of the phenomenon of “fake news” and to give them concrete proof of the great deal of false—even outrageous—information online.

For example, it is possible to find videos claiming to prove that NASA’s moon landing was staged . Debunking these types of conspiracy theories, with the help of parents and educators, can be a useful exercise for students. As can discussing what makes certain sources reliable or unreliable.

For example, students could be shown a factual documentary on the moon landing and a video claiming the moon landing was faked and then asked to work out which one is false

In order to do this, they must use their logical knowledge to see if any false presumptions have been made. They must also ask themselves who made and commented in the videos. What is this person’s reputation? What are their professional qualifications? Has the document’s credibility been discussed in any forums?

Debunking these types of conspiracy theories, with the help of parents and educators, can be a useful exercise for students.

In analyzing these and similar sources, we will arrive at one of five possible situations:

An author has good intentions but his or her reasoning is flawed. The author draws unsubstantiated conclusions from trustworthy information. For example, we have proof that certain particles came out of thin air and did not evolve from anything. Some wrongly conclude that this proves the existence of God, since only God could create something from nothing. This information is true, but the reasoning is false, and the conclusion therefore does not follow. The solution involves the relationship between energy and mass in the equation E = mc 2 . In empty space, even the smallest amount of heat can cause spontaneous conversions of pure energy into matter.

An author has good intentions and reasons well, but uses false information. Here, the author can come to false conclusions, even if he or she reasons impeccably. For example, one could conclude that the acceleration of an object, induced by gravitational force, is dependent on its mass because if one drops a rock and a feather from a balcony, the rock will hit the ground before the feather. Here, the problem lies with the initial information, which is erroneous because it does not take the role of air resistance into account. The observation on which the argument is based is thus incorrect in this case, as is the conclusion. In reality, in a vacuum, the feather and the rock would reach the ground at exactly the same time.

It could be that the hypotheses and baseline observations, as well as the arguments drawn from it, are all incorrect. A false conclusion is likely to result.

Authors could be giving out false information intentionally with the aim of selling a product; harming another individual, group, or country; spreading a rumor to make themselves feel important; or sadistically causing mental anguish to others for their own enjoyment.

An author intends to get a point across by using an argument which appears to comply with logical reasoning but which actually contains one or more inferential leaps , deliberately introduced in order to prove that the conclusion is objective because it stems from rigorous thinking. Sophistry and paralogisms arise from this sort of trickery.

It is very important to expose adolescents to these five possible kinds of lies or deception, as well as to reflect on how to identify them by analyzing authors’ arguments and questioning the hypotheses or observations at the root of their arguments and their likely intentions, given the message’s context. For example, in an advertising context, we can understand that car manufacturers might benefit from lying about the amount of pollution produced by the vehicle they sell.

Nasreddin’s Sophisms

Paralogisms, 7. the critical mind, genuine critical thinking requires background knowledge. parents should help their children acquire broad and deep knowledge so they have the confidence and ability to call sources into question and avoid an unreflective acceptance of authority..

General knowledge is also a powerful tool for staying critical and skeptical in the face of this influx of information. It allows one to reconcile information and to check whether new data seems consistent with what they already know.

For example, if one were trying to evaluate arguments about how to address the recession caused by the 2008 global financial crisis, it would be useful to know the history of efforts to boost economic growth through government spending, especially those undertaken during the Great Depression of the 1930s . Citizens versed in this history will be far better equipped to evaluate and criticize the proposals put forward by politicians and economists in their own time.

Having general knowledge also means that one does not hold even the most reliable sources sacred, knowing that careful thought often undermines received wisdom.

For example, Einstein’s theory of general relativity called Newton’s law of universal gravitation into question, even though Newton’s law had apparently been confirmed by a wealth of experiments and observations. Einstein’s general knowledge and his independent way of thinking allowed him to postulate that gravity was not simply a force but a warping of space-time in the vicinity of stars. Since then, independent observational astronomical predictions have always supported the theory of general relativity.

Treating certain sources as sacred can be as dangerous as uncritically accepting everything that comes from the internet or elsewhere. The same phenomenon is involved when religious texts are interpreted as legitimizing violence or intolerance.

The interpretation—as well as the cultural, social, geographical, and historical contextualization—of a piece of information is indispensable to the formation of a critical mind. But critical thinking is difficult. It takes training, as well as background knowledge, to determine the reliability of a source, and this determination can never be definitive or certain.

These examples show that if we are responsible for educating adolescents on the verification of sources, we must be careful not to give permanent, definitive credit to any piece of information or knowledge, even if it comes from a seemingly very reliable source. Critical thinking, provided that it does not lead to permanent doubt or paranoia, is truly a way of life, facilitating progress and freedom.

Fact-Checking

Verifying sources, 8. critical thinking and progress, critical thinking can help children not only learn to analyze the world around them, but act to try to change it. good critical thinking can foster productive interests, deeper engagement with social problems, and the attitudes of good citizenship. in this way critical thinking is vital to social progress..

A goal (or a project or “dream”) is the meeting of, on the one hand, an idea born out of a need or desire and, on the other, a method—an “algorithm” for bringing the idea into reality. But these two dimensions to every goal are, in fact, two sides of the same coin, two facets of creativity.

As we have seen, the spark for critical thinking comes from self-esteem and unconditional love. This energy is indispensable to living with both a sense of joy and, at the same time, a continual dissatisfaction with the status quo. Taking joy in life is necessary to prevent this dissatisfaction from degenerating into depression or other pathologies. This joy provides the energy needed to turn dissatisfaction into ideas and dreams of change.

But in order for an idea to turn into a project capable of changing the world, both a methodology and logical, communicative rigor are required. These allow a large number of people to understand a problem in the same terms and gear themselves toward the same objectives. Without these tools, efforts at problem-solving tend to devolve into emotionalism or factionalism.

Methodological rigor is rooted in critical reasoning.

An education in critical thinking and reasoning is the best way to ensure a child can access goal-oriented thinking. A goal, much like the kind of formal logic we can exercise from the ages of 13 to 15, transforms the possible into the tangible.

Goal-oriented thinking leads children in their adolescence to join or set up active groups or associations. Activity in such groups requires skills in both logic and communication, and it tends to support their further development. It pushes those undertaking such projects to strike a balance between asserting themselves and listening to others—between critiquing and taking what others say on board.

In this sens e, critical thinking and the drive it inspires to undertake projects can be a kind of citizenship training. To rigorously and plainly critique a complex system (whether it be political, scientific, or philosophical, theological) is always to act as a citizen. It is beneficial to all.

Critical thinking not only enables students to reach their intellectual potential; it can also help them find purpose and, through purpose, happiness.

In this way critical thinking not only enables students to reach their intellectual potential; it can also help them find purpose and, through purpose, happiness. And, ultimately, it can help foster progress and social cohesion through cooperative action.

These links between critical thinking, undertaking projects, and citizenship should further encourage parents and educators to guide children toward this spirit of joyful dissatisfaction, as well as toward logical reasoning and the art of arguing.

If this mindset is acquired, teenagers won’t need pressure from above to take action as citizens or to participate in projects for social change that are bigger than themselves. There always lies the risk that when parents mandate this kind of participation as a kind of chore, children will reject it out of principle.

Instead of hoping their children will swallow whole what is offered them, parents should encourage them to seek the truth —to learn to reason and argue. Those around them, and society as a whole, will benefit from their skills, their independence, and their spirit.

Case Study 1

The concepts of intension and extension.

B eginning at around 13, students can begin formalizing their reasoning using intensional definitions. These formal definitions, which are internal to concepts themselves, rather than drawn from experience, can open up new avenues for reasoning and lead to new kinds of arguments.

Consider the following scenario:

During a presidential election campaign, 14-year-old Lea defends a candidate who, in her eyes, is the only one worth voting for. She explains her candidate’s platform to her friends around the table at lunch in the school cafeteria and says how she wishes she already had the right to vote and that she begged her parents to vote on her behalf.

Lea’s arguments seem to have convinced her friends, but Anna, sitting at one end of the table, interjects: ″Who cares? As my parents say, all presidents are liars! I’m never going to vote.”

The other girls and boys present agree loudly. A surprised Lea tries to think of a comeback, but can’t think of what to say.

The bell rings. Everyone gets up to go back to class.

When she gets home after school, Lea tells her mother about the scene at lunch and asks her opinion: ″What would you have said to Anna?”

If you were Lea’s mother, how would you have replied? How can you use reason to respond to Anna’s argument, which seems to be an argument from authority ?

There are two ways to determine whether all presidents are liars or not:

Extensional method: Research the history of presidential elections, and compare the promises made by candidates to their actions after being elected. This method will allow you to determine whether all presidents over the course of history have lied. Perhaps they all have lied. But even in this case, Anna’s argument would be valid but only up to the present day , since one cannot predict the future and, therefore, what a new president will do. Perhaps Lea could then defend her favored candidate by arguing that, once elected, he or she will be different.

Intensional method: Research political science and show that the electoral system and certain institutions pressure candidates to lie in order to get elected and that this is considered the “rules of the game.” If this can be demonstrated, it would be a valid pattern for the past and the future. In this hypothesis, Anna’s argument will be valid for the present and the future (so long as the same institutions remain in effect). Notice, however, that this method gives Lea an opportunity for more subtle reasoning. All presidents may end up making false promises or misleading the public on certain points, but we can distinguish between deliberate, malicious lies and those that arise from the pressures of the office. This would allow her to poke holes in Anna’s rationale for not voting, since certain candidates may still be more honest than others.

Case Study 2

Flawed reasoning.

Use these examples of flawed reasoning to introduce logical vocabulary and help your children identify flawed reasoning and how to identify flaws in an argument.. More definitions and basic concepts can be found here .

The examples are based on famous example of deductive reasoning attributed to Aristotle. In the exercises, Aristotle’s example is distorted in various ways, either using false information or faulty reasoning. Challenge your children to identify exactly why these arguments fail.

Here are some definitions of the terms used below:

Premises are the statements or information on which an argument is based (in these cases, the first two lines).

The conclusion (the third line in these examples) is the statement drawn from the premises.

When an argument is valid , that means its conclusion follows logically from its premises.

When an argument is sound , that means it is both valid and based on premises that are true, meaning its conclusion is also true.

These examples can help students to break up reasoning into logical steps, make the logical steps of an argument explicit to themselves, and identify where reasoning breaks down. Critical thinking must enable us to detect logical errors and to recognize whether they lead us to false conclusions. Notice, however, that flawed reasoning does not guarantee a false conclusion.

Aristotle’s Reasoning

“All human beings are mortal. Socrates is a human being. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.”

The premises are true, the reasoning is valid, and the conclusion is, as a result, true.

All human beings are women. Socrates is a human being. Therefore, Socrates is a woman.

One of the premises is false, the reasoning is valid, but the conclusion is false.

Half the human race is female. Socrates is a human being. Therefore, Socrates is female.

The premises are true, but the reasoning is invalid, and the conclusion is false.

Half the human race is male. Socrates is a human being. Therefore, Socrates is male.

The premises are true, the reasoning is invalid, but the conclusion is true.

Case Study 3

Peer pressure emerges in adolescent social groups as children attempt to assert independence from their parents and build their own identity through involvement in peer groups. This can lead to a number of paradoxical problems as children are pulled between an emerging sense of self and a need to belong. Even as their children seek to separate, parents can offer them help and support in working through some of these conflicts.

Consider this scenario:

Twelve-year-old David has just entered sixth grade at a big middle school in the city. He is a bit lost and finds a group of boys his age to spend time with during class and at recess. They all get to know each other over the next few weeks.

At the end of October, one of the boys suggests that they draw a big skull and crossbones on their backpacks in permanent marker to show that they belong to the group. Within a few days, all of the boys in the group have proudly drawn a skull and crossbones onto the front of their backpacks— everyone, that is, except David. He really likes his backpack. He picked it out himself and his parents bought it for him for the new school year. Furthermore, he has never had an affinity for skeletons, and skulls and crossbones hold no special meaning for him.

When the group reunites in the playground one Friday morning, one of the boys goes over to David and threatens him, saying, “If you don’t draw a skull and crossbones on your backpack, you’re out of the group!” The other children back the mean kid up.

Over the weekend, David is faced with a dilemma. He can either keep his backpack the way he likes it, even if that means being excluded from the group, or draw a skull and crossbones on it to show that he belongs to the group.

On Sunday night, he decides to talk to his parents about the situation. If you were in their place, what advice would you give him?

At dinner, his father offers him some advice:

″David, you shouldn’t see this as a problem with only two solutions. Just tell your friends that you don’t like either option and that you have another idea.”

″That won’t work. They told me that it had to be one way or the other,” replies David.

″Well, you should at least give it a try,” suggests his mother. “Tell them that you really like being part of the group and that you like them as friends, but that you don’t want to ruin your new backpack by drawing on it. Tell them that, in a group, everyone should have their freedom and that you shouldn’t have to do the same thing as everyone else all the time. Ask them to let you stay in their group, which means a lot to you, without having to do something you don’t want to. That’s a third solution.”

In this situation, the group of boys want David to show he’s part of the group by adopting a common code. David is under pressure to comply and must make a decision. The easiest solution for David would be to succumb to peer pressure. He could also stand his ground and refuse, but this would probably cause him pain since he would have to deal with the group’s disapproval and possible exclusion.

The group does not tolerate non-conformity since it threatens its existence. Eventually, however, resisting peer pressure could play in David’s favor, as his show of independence could earn him the respect of the other group members and thereby bolster his self-esteem.

There is no ″right decision.” Everything depends on David’s level of self-esteem, which will determine his capacity to stand firm in the face of the consequences of his choices.

Case Study 4

Nasreddin, a very famous figure in the Arab Muslim world, was the author of often absurd stories. Families enjoy reading his stories together and refuting his biased reasoning, which is designed to sharpen our critical thinking skills and ability to foil sophistry. Identifying the flaws in Nasreddin’s reasoning is a useful logic game and a good way to introduce logical concepts. Challenge your children to show where Nasreddin goes wrong, and come up with equivalent examples from current events or everyday life that involve the same flawed reasoning.

Very early one morning, Nasreddin was up sowing salt all around his house.

“What on earth are you doing with all that salt, Nasreddin?” asked his neighbor.

“I’m putting it around my house to ward off tigers.”

“But there aren’t any tigers here.”

“Well then, that’s proof that the salt worked!”

The Moon and the Sun

One day, Nasreddin was asked:

“Tell us, Nasreddin, which is more important: the sun or the moon?”

“The moon, of course,” he replied immediately.

“Because the moon appears at night, and that’s when we need light most.”

The Power of Age

Nasreddin arrived at a café one day, looking proud and happy.

“Hey, Nasreddin,” his friends called to him. “You look as if you’ve just found treasure.”

“Even better, even better,” he replied. “I am 70 and I have just discovered that I am still as strong as I was when I was 20.”

“And how did you discover that?”

“Simple! You see that huge rock in front of my house? Well, when I was 20, I couldn’t move it.

“Today, I tried again and I still can’t move it, just like when I was 20.”

Case Study 5

Paralogisms are fallacious arguments that appeal to evidence that is misleading, partial, or irrelevant. Below are some of the main strategies deployed in paralogisms. Ask you children to explain how the statements distort the facts or attempt to deceptively influence an audience. Use the paralogism examples as a starting point for discussing other examples in public life, advertising, or everyday conversation.

Paralogism Exercise #1

Spot the paralogisms in the following statements and explain why the reasoning is flawed.

″If smoking were bad for your health, it would be banned. Smoking is not banned. Therefore, smoking is not bad for your health.”

″If I am sick, I go see the doctor. I am not going to see the doctor. Therefore, I am not sick.”

″Intensive farming allows us to feed all human beings. Organic farming is not intensive farming. Therefore, organic farming will not allow us to feed all human beings.”

Paralogism Exercise #2

Three false dilemmas are presented below. Why are these apparent dilemmas not real dilemmas?

A close friend who is going to jump into a freezing lake on New Year’s Eve says, “A real friend wouldn’t let me do this alone.”

The night before election day, a candidate for office says, “It’s me or chaos.”

A slogan in an advertisement for Sneakie sports shoes reads, “Cool people wear Sneakies.”

Paralogism Exercise #3

Often biased or flawed reasoning uses false generalizations. How can we contradict the following statements?

Upon hearing that a politician is being investigated for tax fraud: “See? All politicians are corrupt.”

“Hypnosis works for giving up smoking. My brother managed to quit that way.”

“Social media is the best way to find love. Several of my friends met their partners that way.”

Paralogism Exercise #4

Beware of an “argument from authority,” especially those circulating online.

″Many scientists dispute the global warming phenomenon.” Who are these “scientists”? On which scientific studies have they based their opinions? Do they have personal, political, or economic connections with people or organizations that could benefit from challenging global warming? It is important to ask oneself all of these questions before accepting an argument.

Paralogism Exercise #5

Arguments based on numbers:

″This singer’s video already has 500,000 views online.” What does this say about the quality of their music?

″X93 – the latest phone, already owned by 2,000,000 people worldwide.” Does this mean that this device would suit my needs? Is this an indicator of its quality?

Paralogism Exercise #6

Arguments based on fear:

″You say that you’re against the death penalty, but murder will be much more common if we abolish it as a deterrent.”

Case Study 6

Several media companies offer fact-checking services. It is beneficial to consult them with teenagers and to pose questions about the ways in which media can distort the truth. These services can offer insight into the techniques various organizations and bad actors use to deceive audiences, as well as into the bias that can skew the information put out by various news organizations. Discussing these examples with your children get help raise awareness of the various ploys used to manipulate readers and viewers, and help them hone their analytical and critical skills.

Here are links to some trustworthy fact-checking sites: Politifact | Snopes | FactCheck.org | Poynter Institute

Examining the false stories fact-checked by these organization can be a helpful exercise. Here is an example of a false story fact-checked by Snopes:

Understanding examples like these can give students insight into techniques fake news sites use to hook and deceive an audience. Here, for example, the violent image may grab viewers’ attention and cause them to let their critical guard now. Attaching the fake story to a genuine news item (Samsung’s smartphone recall) also makes readers more likely to believe and share the false story, since it appears like a development in an ongoing story.

Student’s can also learn from the fact-checkers’ analysis. Here, they track down the original photos to show how the fake site has repurposed them, and they dig into the website reputation and background.

Researchers Sam Wineburg and Sarah McGrew recommend teaching students to navigate the internet more like fact-checkers. Students, they write, tend to “read vertically , evaluating online articles as if they were printed news stories.” Fact checkers, on the other hand, “read laterally , jumping off the original page, opening up a new tab, Googling the name of the organization or its president.”

Fact-checkers, Wineburg and McGrew write, are also less inclined to trust a website’s own description of its mission. They look for outside evidence from multiple sources to confirm or refute the website’s claims. And they don’t get hooked by enticing language or images, instead reading through a whole page of search results or information before deciding reflectively what links to follow or where else to look.

Finding good information online — and steering clear of bad information—are skills that can be taught and learned. They are increasingly vital at a time where multiple interests are leveraging the internet to attempt to monopolize our attention and shape our beliefs.

Case Study 7

Young people receive information from everywhere (social media, emails, texts, newspapers, television, online videos). Given the wealth of information coming in, much of it coming through or recommended by friends whose judgment and endorsement we are inclined to trust, it is easy to passively accept what we see or read. Young people should learn through examples how to resist this tendency and how to conduct thorough analyses of the media they are exposed to everyday.

It is important for parents to accompany them in conducting this sort of analysis so they can teach them how to critically evaluate these sources of information and how to avoid being misled. Below is a set of questions that you can apply to news sources with your children. They can be applied to any media source (the internet, printed media, TV/radio, etc.). We’ve divided these sets of questions into two sections: questioning the source and questioning the content.

1. Questioning the Source

What is the source? Is it reliable?

It is often possible to cast doubt on a source simply by looking at surface features. There are numerous fake news websites with unusual names or URLs (like, for example, worldnewsdailyreport.com) that should tip readers off to their unreliability. In addition, if a website looks poorly designed and managed, contains typos or formatting errors, this is also an important indicator that it is likely unreliable, if not intentionally false. Fake news also may also come under more plausible publication names, like, for example, the “Denver Guardian,” and with more convincing design. A simple internet search can usually bring up information from credible sources alerting the reader to the fraudulent nature of the source. Here is a list of unreliable news sources from Factcheck.org. With your child, practice determining the reliability of different kinds of information.

Who owns the source? Is the content sponsored?

When evaluating a source, it is also possible to do research into details about the source, such as who owns the source or who is funding the content or supporting it via advertising. It is often possible this way to identify potential biases or attempts to influence readers that may not be immediately clear at a first reading. Reliable sources may also sell space in their publications or websites to sponsors, who have obvious interests in what information is presented and the slant with which it is presented. See for example this “ China Daily ” paid post in the New York Times, which is placed on the Times website by Chinese state media. Exploring how and why information like this is presented can be a good learning experience. It is also useful to discuss how sponsored content is marked on this and other websites.

Who is the author of the content? What are their credentials? What possible biases may they have?

In addition to asking questions about publications, it is important to know who has written a given article or op-ed , what their reasons for doing so may be, and what expertise they have in the given area. Doing so can help determine the reliability of the information offered, the possible slants or biases with which the information is presented, and any financial or other interest the writer may have in the matter discussed. Most reliable websites will offer at least some of an opinion writer’s background, but an internet search can often return more detailed information. It is also important to help students recognize that an editorial author’s potential biases do not necessarily render the content absolutely unreliable. Critical thinking should not lead to knee-jerk rejection of all potentially biased opinions. Rather, a fair-minded independent thinker takes potential bias into account in evaluating content, weighing it along with other factors, like the strength of the argument and the evidence put forward.

2. Questioning the Content

What type of content is being offered? What is the issue under discussion?

Before we embark on an analysis of the content of a given source, it is important to identify what type of content is being offered. The way we approach analyzing an advertisement will be very different from the way we analyze a news story or an opinion piece. It’s also important that students be able to identify when a particular source is purposefully blurring the lines between categories. For example, so-called “advertorials” can disguise advertising or promotion in the guise of opinion pieces or feature articles. News stories may likewise present information in a particular misleading or biased manner, trying to persuade the reader of something, but without making it clear that they are actually offering an opinion, not simply news.

What sources are drawn on for the information or argument given? Are they reliable?

Even when we are satisfied that a source we are reading is generally reliable, it is worthwhile to pay attention to its own sources of information. If a particular piece of content cites facts without providing sources there is good reason to question the information. Moreover, students should get in the habit of following links and citations to verify that the secondary information comes from a reliable source and that the original content is characterizing it accurately.

What are the main arguments being offered? Are they strong and sound? Are they consistent with each other?

Media sources use a variety of means to try to convince the audience of a particular point or point of view. It is important to train ourselves to be conscious of what these means are and whether they are valid. If an article or video simply relies on emotional reactions or strong images to prove its point, without trying to put forward an argument, we should be skeptical. On the other hand, if there is an argument presented, we should begin training children to break it down and analyze it. Parents and their children can practice breaking down the argument into premises and conclusions, evaluating whether the evidence for the premises is strong and the conclusions follow rationally from them.

How might one argue against the position put forward?

Another important exercise to carry out, even if you generally agree with a position put forward, is to ask how it might be opposed. This can help identify weak points in the argument and show where evidence, even if it’s reliable, may not fully support the point of view being put forward. To this end, it can be helpful to research articles with opposing points of view, but which rely on the same set of facts. Discuss the merits of each article and how you would argue for and against each of them.

Complete the quiz to review important points in the guide.

The stage when children begin arguing more persuasively.
The stage when children are able to study calculus and other college-level math.
The stage when children can begin to grasp and manipulate abstract ideas.
The stage when children start dressing more elegantly.
Parents can work on improving their own understanding of logic.
Parents can enroll their children in college exam prep courses as early as possible.
Parents can use everyday examples to demonstrate the meanings of terms like proposition, contradiction, and validity.
Parents can discuss logical fallacies in popular media or current events with their children.
Parents can go over children’s essays and other schoolwork closely and dispute their reasoning.
The intension is the role a concept plays in logic; the extension is its role in everyday life.
The intension is how the concept is used; the extension is a formal definition of the concept.
The intension is a formal definition of the concept; the extension is a group of examples coming under the concept.
The intension is a narrow definition of the concept; the extension is a broader definition.
As crtical thinkers, they will be more likely to concentrate on their studies and ignore social life and their own individuality.
Critical thinking gives them tools to show their superiority to their peers and gain social esteem.
Critical thinking allows them to react thoughtfully to social pressure and assert their independence from friend groups when appropriate.
As critical thinkers, they will be better equipped to manipulate other people and make their way to the top of social circles.
Walk away. Teenagers need to learn that overheated opinions and conversations will get them nowhere.
Bring in a teacher or other adult authority figure to mediate. The parent-child relationship is too emotionally charged for productive arguments.
Engage them in arguments and challenge them to improve their criticisms (if they’re warranted). They’ll learn to argue with more moderation and subtlety.
Get into shouting matches with them. They need to see that their mistakes have consequences.
Was the author educated at a prestigious college?
Does the content’s impact rely on emotional language or sensationalistic images?
Who owns the source? Or who is supporting the content? What interests might they have?
Is the content meant to be news or opinion?
What do other reliable sources say about the issue under discussion?
The merging of two arguments into one
The study of planetary orbits
A convincing counterargument
A deceptive or misleading argument

Privacy Overview

103 Teenagers Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Welcome to our list of topics about teens! Here, you will find everything you need to write an essay on teenagers: topics, samples, and a free teenagers topic generator. Sounds interesting? Check it out!

🏆 Best Teenagers Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

👍 good essay topics for teens, 📌 most interesting teenagers topics to write about, 🔎 research topics for teens.

The Influence of Media Advertising on Teenagers – Essay Negative influences of advertising on teenagers include embracement of unhealthy eating habits, lack of self-esteem and confidence, perpetuation of violence and stereotypes, propagation of drinking and smoking, enhancement of teenagers’ propensity to risk, and development […]
Do Curfews Keep Teenagers Out of Trouble? This paper shall argue that curfews are beneficial to society in regard to the role they play in improving the lives of teenagers, and maintain social order. They help parents to monitor their children’s activities […]
Should Teenagers Have Mobile Phones? Essay This paper will address the negative impacts that mobile phones are having on teenagers’ school life. Campbell confirms that most teenagers have the desire to upgrade their phones in order to fit in with their […]
Communication Between Parents and Teenagers Communication between parents and their children, especially teenagers, is an ongoing process that can be developed and modified in order to create a sense of openness and support that will become a basis for the […]
How Do Teenagers Deal With Problems and Consequence Without Parent’s Support? This is because the parents are not in a position to be of good guidance during the period of the problems and they are not reliable and therefore teenagers tend to rely on themselves.
Sports Impact on Teenagers: Rhetorical Appeals Participating in any form of sports is of great significance as it helps to utilize, maintain, and improve an individual’s physical capabilities and develop advanced skills in that particular game.
Social Media and Teenagers’ Mental Health This book highlights the impact of social media on adolescent mental health and offers several solutions to this problem. 1, 2020, pp.
Academic Stress and Its Impact on Teenagers Another possible solution is raising awareness about the harms of stress to human health to educate students and their parents on the risks associated with stress.
Negative Effects of Multitasking on Teenagers Another reason the students multitask is that they simply do not see the negative impact it has on their coursework. That is the reason why multitasking is a poor practice for students.
Is Cyber Bullying Against Teenagers More Detrimental Than Face-To-Face Bullying? Social networking has also contributed greatly to the issue of cyber bullying especially in making it more harmful as compared to face-to-face bullying.
Abortion in Teenagers: Proposal Argument In the overwhelming majority of cases, the teenager who has encountered such problems is inclined to violate the law, which often leads her to illegal and sometimes unsafe abortion. According to WHO, it is the […]
Effects of Internet Addiction on Family Relationships Among Teenagers In the modern society, cyber bullying refers to the instances where the individual uses the internet to interfere with the rights and freedoms of others.
Phones and Teenagers’ Mental Health Connection This essay aims to discuss the connection between phones and teenagers’ mental health and explain why the use of smartphones is merely a reflection of problems that children would face either way.
Effects of Underage Drinking on the Academic Development of Teenagers In effect the question which is posed in this research seeks to investigate the severity of the effects of alcohol abuse on the school attendance of the teenagers.
Arab Culture and Teenagers With this approach, the parents have managed to mould their teenagers into the right path that is to stick to their culture.
Getting a Teenager to Clean His/Her Room This will teach Jimmy to be responsible and it may also make him understand that a tidy room is a norm and it is a great convenience.
Influence of Modelling in Teenager’s Eating Disorders The body types required for the models to have demand of them to maintain their body shape and sizes. The models influence on the teenagers is considered too great to cause eating disorders in them.
“The New Gay Teenager” by Ritch Savin Williams He explores how the concept of being gay is slowly changing as a result of pop culture influences brought about by the media which in effect has created a whole new generation of gays completely […]
Group Therapy for Pregnant and Parenting Teenagers It is important for the girls to understand that life still has meaning in spite of their circumstances. If the girls are able to develop a positive perception of life, they will be motivated to […]
Smoking Among Teenagers as Highlighted in Articles The use of tobacco through smoking is a trend among adolescents and teenagers with the number of young people who involve themselves in smoking is growing each day.
Sources of Conflict Between Parents and Teenagers One of the recurrent themes linked to dress codes and the conflict between parents and adolescents is the adherence to cultural norms.
Freaks, Geeks, and Cool Kids: American Teenagers, Schools, and the Culture of Consumption The first part of the book is titled “The Puzzle and the Tools”. The author of the book clearly states that it is not the American schools that make the teenagers behave in this manner.
Cyberbullying Impact on Teenagers The proposed research will be a qualitative review of the recent literature covering the issue of cyberbullying in teenagers for the purpose of identifying the prevalence and trends of this phenomenon.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Teenagers The thesis statement is: “Conviction is a better way to reduce drug and alcohol addiction among teenagers in the United States”.
An Opinion on Contraception for Teenagers What is the significance of providing birth control to adolescents without a prescription? What are the repercussions of not administering birth control to adolescents?
Sexual Education Among Teenagers The changes are evident in different spheres, such as the widening of the chest and the deepening of the voice in boys.
Tobacco Addictions Among Teenagers This makes it urgent to fight all forms of tobacco and nicotine use in order to preserve the health of adolescents.
Using Arts in At-Risk and Juvenile Teenagers The two programs are based on arts as art engagement can be therapeutic in and out itself, which is vital to enhance arts-based initiates for at-risk populations.
Bulimia in Teenagers: How to Make a Change This paper hypothesizes that to make a change a complex of psychological measures should be taken that includes the use of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, formation of the right attitude to food and body weight, and building […]
Placebo Effect on Mentally Ill Teenagers The major reason for using a placebo is to assess the effectiveness of the treatment administered to the patients. For instance, a study was conducted to evaluate the predictors of pills and characterize the impacts […]
Transgender Teenagers and Obstacles They Face Transgender teens are one of the most vulnerable groups of people due to the enormous amount of discrimination and everyday challenges they face.
Social Media Damages Teenagers’ Mental Health Thus, the selected social group that could help improve teenagers’ mental health is sports coaches and organizers of sports activities in schools.
Drug Addiction in Teenagers: Smoking and Other Lifestyles In the first part of this assignment, the health problem of drug addiction was considered among teens and the most vulnerable group was established.
Anxiety Issues Amongst Teenagers One of the most notable stress sources is a feeling of anxiety a state of mind characterized by negative mood and overall tension.
Substance Abuse in Teenagers The essay presents the issues and the causes of substance abuse among adolescents. Despite significant legislative and social communication efforts in the field, the prevalence of drug use remained relatively unchanged for the commonly used […]
The Role of Genetics and Diet of Acne in Teenagers It is significant that the number of relapses, the duration of the course of therapy, and the increase in the number of patients with moderate and severe forms of acne directly depend on the adherence […]
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Among Teenagers The third question is, does the race of the teenagers affect the lack of testing? Evaluation of the performance of a point-of-care test for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Peer Pressure and Smoking Influence on Teenagers The study results indicate that teenagers understand the health and social implications of smoking, but peer pressure contributes to the activity’s uptake.
Dietary Intervention in Teenagers With Obesity The sensitive topic of weight and diet is greatly influenced by a social factor of body image and deceptive objectification of the human body and healthy weight parameters.
Discussion of Body Shaming Among Teenagers The concept of body positivity was presented as well, and it was pre-assumed that it is an appropriate variant to address body shaming among teenagers.
Reasons of Alcohol Addiction in Teenagers Given the clinical diagnoses, the wide-spread nature of the problem, and the severe consequences impacting the life and health of millions of people, the in-depth investigation of the causes of the disorder is of critical […]
Cigarette Smoking Among Teenagers in the Baltimore Community, Maryland The paper uses the Baltimore community in Maryland as the area to focus the event of creating awareness of cigarette smoking among the teens of this community.
Planning Program: Decreasing Cases of DWI Among Teenagers It is important to acknowledge the role authorities will play in implementation and success of any plan like the one outlined above. Authorities will also play an important role in providing legislative support to successful […]
An Analysis in Relation to Mrs. Ingrim’s 15-Year Old Teenager In the past, the criminal justice system treated minors the same way as adults. When a person below the age of 18 years commits a crime, they are taken through the juvenile system as opposed […]
Offending Increase Among the Imprisoned Teenagers The article studies the degree at which feelings, family units, and surrounding correlates are linked with the increase of non-aggressive to aggressive offending among the imprisoned teenagers.
Using the Mobile Phone by Teenagers The aims and objectives of this study were; To find out the purpose for which the mobile phones are used in the everyday lives and how long the mobile phones are used during the day.
Effects of Human Trafficking in Teenagers: The Present-Day Situation In this case, the inclusion of the additional factor, the type of human trafficking, will contribute to a better understanding of the problem and develop a solution.
Aftermath of Human Trafficking in Children and Teenagers The major part of the available research is concentrated on the victims of sex abuse and the applied means of their treatment.
Effects of Social Pressures on Teenagers Today On the other hand, the “midriff” is used to represent the teenagers that are ready to always make sure that they purchase the products that are currently in the market.
Why Teenagers Must Be Allowed to Use Birth Control? It is the purpose of this paper to underscore why teenagers should be given the opportunity to use contraceptives. These findings point to the importance of contraceptives in solving the problem of teenage pregnancy in […]
Should the Teenagers Be Tried as Adults or Juveniles? Thus, it is logical to treat these teens as adults and the judicial system should proceed in accordance to the procedure enlisted in the case of an adult.
How Teenagers Can Avoid Becoming Alcohol Abusers Drinking a glass of wine or a can or two of beer during a social event is acceptable and does not impair the physical ability and senses of a person.
Cause and Effect of Teenagers Crazy Driving They have to acknowledge that they are the childhood role model for the kids and this includes being the indirect driving teacher of the child.
Teenagers in the UK and Carrying Knives The number of teenagers in the UK carrying knives for use on each other has slowly been increasing during recent years and the media is not publishing stories about knife crimes out of the blues; […]
Birth Control for Teenagers This is exactly the reason why the idea of using birth control should not be given to teenagers. The third reason why birth control should not be advocated for teenagers is that there are more […]
Healthy Behavior Barriers Among Teenagers The primary purpose of the study conducted by Zhai et al.was to explore the link between perceived family and peer gambling and binge drinking and problem gambling.
Teenagers’ Suicidal Thoughts and Contemporary Issues To screen for suicidal thoughts in the given age group, it is necessary to focus on the manifestations of this problem and related external stressors when asking questions.
Technology Impact on US Teenagers’ Reading Habits Since the turn of the century, numerous changes in the type and amount of material teenagers are reading in the United States have been witnessed.
Parental Divorce and Its Impact on Teenagers In their article, Gustavsen, Nayga, and Wu use the results of the Add Health survey to study potential links between the experience of parental divorce and the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors.
Teenagers With Autism Disorder Autism is seen as a spectrum disorder since its severity and symptoms vary greatly among affected individuals – from mild and occasional to persistent and interfering with all aspects of life.
Crimes That Teenagers Do Not Commit However, the most common reason for the specified age group to confess to the crimes that they never committed is the lack of techniques for questioning teenagers that can be observed in the modern legal […]
“Are Smartphones Really Destroying the Lives of Teenagers?” by Flora By showing the inconsistencies in research results, the author suggests that the use of smartphones on its own is not a dangerous behavior, but how teens use smartphones could play both a positive and a […]
Sexual Harassment of Teenagers in the USA The disregard of the probability of bullying to lead to incidences of sexual harassment has assisted to camouflage sexual harassment cases in U.S.schools as cases of teenage violence and teasing.
Relations of Parents and Teenagers This is although the children may be extremely proud of their parents and would like to take grow up to be just like them.
Teenagers Motivated to Smoking While the rest of the factors also matter much in the process of shaping the habit of smoking, it is the necessity to mimic the company members, the leader, or any other authority that defines […]
Sharp Teenager Recreation Center’s Business Plan The facility will be operated as a club, with teen members having the opportunity to suggest the programs of their choice, and the management being the final decision-making organ.
Email as a Dead Technology for Teenagers However, with the emancipation of the internet and the development of social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Gamma the number of youth who use email as a mode of communication has reduced.
Volunteering: Troubled Teenagers and Healthy Community I would get experience in guiding young people and making them a part of something bigger. I would try to show the kids the other way out, and they would make me a better person.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Hispanic Teenager Family dynamics and social withdrawal do not seem to have affected the client’s academic history; her grades are good and she has no history of behavioral problems.
Health Promotion: Depression Awareness in Teenagers In addition to community sensitization and promoting the expression of melancholic emotions by adolescents, the DAP program will include depression screening days in schools.
Cyberbullying in Teenagers: Offenders and Offending As the contemporary teenagers are a population group that is characterized by very frequent use of digital technologies and the internet on a daily basis, they are just as likely to become victims of cyberbullying […]
Suicide in Teenagers: Health Policy Research Therefore, the evaluation of regulations and strategies and the factors that contribute to the positive outcomes in the administrative process is essential to the achievement of better policy effectiveness.
Problem of the Depression in Teenagers Despite the lack of sufficient data on the variation of depression among young adults over the last 10 to 20 years in the US, from the literature review, the research identifies an increasing trend of […]
Mobile Culture: Texting Effects on Teenagers Given the abilities of smartphones to access the Internet and social media platforms, teenagers have turned their smart devices to tools of socialisation and communication in which texting is the most preferred mode of communication.
Giving Birth Control to Teenagers It is paramount to say that it is a significant problem that needs to be addressed because the number of cases of teenage childbearing is one of the highest in the United States compared to […]
“Let Teenagers Try Adulthood” by Leon Botstein – Youth Issues At the beginning of the article, the author explains the reasons for removing the so-called high school elite because this group does not contribute to the development of students’ personality.
Teenagers Suicide in New Jersey Factors that are attributed to the causes of teenage suicide have always drawn mixed reactions from policymakers, parents, and organizations that work to prevent the issue in America, specifically in the state of New Jersey, […]
Alcohol Effect on Teenagers Health It is a common idea that the lack of awareness concerning the effects of binge drinking is what makes teenagers grow addicted to liquor.
Suicide in Teenager 14-18 Years Old Although the statistics show that there has been a considerable reduction in the number of the reported cases of suicide, the current rates are still worrying.
Community Education Forum on Drug Use Among Teenagers The organizer can enlist the participation of volunteers to support the noble initiative. The organizer can provide leadership in communication and delegates other roles to volunteers.
Bullying and Suicide Among Teenagers Specific objectives Analyze the causes of bullying among teenagers in the country Analyze the effects of bullying among victims, perpetrators and by-standers Analyze the relationship between bullying in school and suicide among teenagers in the […]
Literature Review and Research Methodology Draft: Effects of Internet Addiction on Family Relationships Among Teenagers The focus of the literature review will be to find information on effects of the internet on family members and also to determine the current state of research as regards to the effects of the […]
The Effect of Cellphones and Internet on Teenagers From one point of view, it is possible to see that texting and using other features of a cell phone have become detrimental, but at the same time, there are some advantages to the communication […]
Peer System: How Adolescents Perceive Popularity? In order to characterize the attitude of youths to the concept of popularity and to determine the dependence of their attitude on such factors as age or social status, the authors used a survey method.
Peer Pressure as One of the Main Teenagers Problem The introduction of a healthy social and psychological environment in schools is a program that will be implemented to help curb negative effects of peer pressure.
Doctors’ Reluctance to Prescribe Birth Control Pills to Early Adolescents These are some of the proposed solutions that could help solve the problem of doctors not prescribing birth control pills to teenagers.
The Sex Life of Teenagers There are various reasons that can be behind the increase of adolescent sex in our society and this is what needs to be looked at.
Does TV Increase Violence Among Children and Teenagers? With the increase in media freedom, the media has brought a number of issues that have influenced on the life of a people, they have sometimes aired programs, and music and news that can reign […]
Gang Involvement of Teenagers The risks involved to members of a gang will vary based on the kind of activities the gang is involved in.
The Effects of Media on Teenagers Conclusively, from the above study, it is apparent that over reliance on internet as a means of communication negatively affect face-to-face interaction among family members, friends, and society for teenagers.
Join Us is the Program about Teenagers’ Needs In the first place, the hosts will be teenagers. The viewers will have the opportunity to choose topics for the programs.
Effects on Teenagers: Dysfunctional Families and Family Violence At the center of all this is the important relationship between parents and the kind of kind of treatment the parents give to the child.
Promoting Behavior Change among Teenagers The first step will involve sensitizing the teenagers on the negative effects of substance abuse. Finally, the teenagers will be educated on how to avoid the use of drugs.
How Screen Time and Social Media Impact Teen Mental Health
Risk Factors for Bullying and Cyberbullying Among Teens
Drug and Alcohol Use Among Teenagers
The Influence of Peer Pressure on Teen Decision Making
Relationship Between Adolescent Sleep Patterns and Academic Performance
The Prevalence and Consequences of Dating Violence in Teenagers’ Relationships
Technology Use and Digital Citizenship Among Teenagers
Challenges and Opportunities during Teens’ Identity Development
Body Image and Eating Disorders Among Teens
The Effects of Media and Advertising on Teenagers’ Consumer Behavior
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

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My Speech Class

Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

206 Great Speech Topics for Teens [Persuasive, Informative]

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

List of Speech Topics for Teens

Pick from our long list of 200+ interesting speech topics for teens. This page includes both persuasive and informative speech topic ideas.

“Divorce” should be possible between parents and their kids
It should be possible to choose your family
Why you don’t need money or cash
Why having siblings is a good thing
Monday should be the third day of a three-day weekend
Free access to a therapist after a breakup
Zombies are real
Being lazy is a true art
Why students should be allowed to choose what they learn about in school
There is plenty of truth to horoscopes
Why cell phone use should be allowed at school
Girls should be able to join boys sports teams
Junk food isn’t all that bad
Why homework does more harm than good
Staying in is the new sneaking out
Pets are far better to talk to than parents
Students should get iPads or Tablets rather than books
Eating should be allowed at any time during the school day
Study abroad should be available to students in high schools
Why sex education in school is so awkward and useless
More free time means more time to get into trouble
Teens should be taught practical skills in school
Teachers should be required to have a great sense of humor
There is nothing real about reality TV.
Practical skills must be taught at school.
Teens must tell their parents everything.
Personality matters far more than beauty.
Condoms mustn’t be handed out in schools.
All teens need a pet.
There is not enough rape and sexual assault prevention awareness.
It is okay for teens to sleep a lot.
Diet pills must not be easily available to teens anywhere.
Teenage girls should be forced to go back to school after having a baby.
Teen suicide is not given enough attention.
Cyberbullies must be dealt with more severely.
Homeschooled teens are socially awkward.
Teen boys and girls should be taught in separate classes.
Teen girls should have a say in regards to abortion.
Tattoos should be illegal for teens.
Teens that commit serious crimes should be charged as adults.
Teens wouldn’t be tempted to drink if there was no age restriction.
Yearly check-ups at gynecologists should be compulsory for teen girls.
More time should be spent reading.
Not enough is done to prevent teen pregnancy.
Magazines marketed at teens are too ‘grown up’.
The media is responsible for the moral decline of teens.
Teens must not get involved in online relationships.
Troubled teens must do community service.
No teen must be labeled a lost cause.
Parents must never get teens too much money.
Old school values must be implemented in schools.
Bullying changes a teen forever.
It is important that teens become volunteers.
Teens should spend more time with the elderly.
Beauty contests are harmful.
Parents have no right to embarrass their teens.
Eating disorders are a result of a mental illness.
Teens should avoid dating too young.
Driving tests should be free.
Teens should be rewarded for doing the right things.
Teens must have mobile phones.
Listening to music during study hall will improve concentration.
Make it illegal for teens to drop out of school.
Tablets must replace textbooks.
Every teen should learn to cook.
Cosmetic surgery is not for teens.
Facebook is for old people.
TV shows have too much influence on teens.
Having a Pen Pal is very hip.
Peer pressure can be a positive thing.
Teens should spend more time in nature.
Cool teachers are easier to learn from.
Driving age should be 18.
Birth control must be made available without parents consent.
Teens should not follow their teachers on social media.
Teens need to wear a school uniform.
Parents don’t prepare their teens properly for puberty.
Part-time jobs should be legal from the age of 14.
Teens divorcing parents shouldn’t be allowed.
Quiet time for teens is a necessity.
Everyone should keep a journal.
Teens should have their own savings account.
Parents have the right to always have access to their teens phone.
Teenagers can become millionaires.
Fame is bad for young people.
Boys get more acne than girls.
Respond to your enemies with kindness.
There is no such thing as a bff.
Piercing your tongue is disgusting.
Having too many friends is like having a part-time job.
Teens that are outsiders are the smartest.
Parents shouldn’t expect all teachers to leave a lasting impression on their children.
Funny guys get more dates than the handsome ones.
Wearing glasses makes you look cool.
Parents have the right to choose a teens dress code.
Teens are old enough to choose which parent to live with.
Group projects should be scrapped.
Prom is overrated.
Teens lead very stressful lives.
There is no getting out of a Friendship Zone.
Teens need adults to trust them.
Teens must stop trying so hard to look like everyone else.
Leggings are not pants.
Teens crave responsibility.
Risk is a temptation for teens.
FOMO is a real fear.
‘Because I said so’ is not a reply that works on teenagers.
Teens want to be spoken to as adults.
Children do care what their parents think of them.
Parents are embarrassing.
Drunk driving is the number one reason to up the driving age.
Date someone with the same beliefs.
Do not be devoted to one single sport, and choose for a physical team playing games and activities.
Most magazines do not use the appropriate attractive language for teens.
Teenagers should be banned from beauty surgery.
News network organizations should re-invent themselves to attract teens.
Most television shows are manipulating and influencing teens.
Teens should volunteer at a local soup kitchen for homeless.
Reinvent the pen pal handwritten letter with people from all over the world!
Peer pressure can be good when people influence you to act good.
Video games should be forbidden.
Academic camps help you preparing for the education college admission procedures.
How I met my first boyfriend/girlfriend
Best friends are hard to come by
The unrealistic standards that modern women are held to
Gay and lesbian teens are no different than me
Why I should tell your parents everything
Why you can’t trust your mom’s fashion advice
Why personality matters more than beauty
Time travel must be real

Informative

Basic Chinese phrases to survive travelling in China
Remarkable texts in ads
The top five bizarre tabloid news articles
Why a chicken still walks even with the head cut off
The most dangerous snakes you have to watch out for in the fields
How you can easily burn out of homework
Ten things to remember about garage sales
Special effects of horror movies revealed
The secrets behind the preparation of your food in fast food restaurants and the marketing trap you are walking in as soon as you enter the establishment where they serve meals to customers.
The top five parent excuse notes
Top tips to behave effectively in the class of Mr. or Mrs. …
Tips for buying gifts and gadgets for someone who is not a close friend but more of some sort of an acquaintance of your parents
Bad presents to get and bad gifts to give
The alarming signs you are addicted to web games
How to find out for sure if your friends are truly your friends
Different ways to use a brick
Cool, useful things my parents have taught me
How to teach your grandma to text
How to make your parents proud by doing what you love
Top five things I do that annoy my mom
How to fake a sickness and get out of school
The coolest art project I’ve made
The real feelings behind exams
The last time I got caught in a lie…
Things that boys/girls don’t know about girls/boys
Gym class: What’s the worst that could happen?
To get a job or not to get a job, that is the question
The most widely accepted excuses for not handing in your homework on time
How to master procrastination and still pass all your classes
Tips for pulling off the ultimate makeover
Popularity: How to get it, how to keep it
My generation’s obsession with all things scary
The best hobbies you won’t want to miss out on
What makes a bully become a bully
How to be smart and pretty
The difficulty of finding employment as a teenager
What it’s like being the oldest/youngest sibling
Ten uses for duct tape that everyone should know
What my life will be like in twenty years
If I ruled the world…
How to make people buy what you’re “selling”
When your family forces you to spend time with them…
The weirdest thing I’ve ever eaten
What my dream house would be like
The coolest place on Earth
The top tricks to faking a cold and getting away with it
How to do more homework in less time
Gossip: How to know what’s real and what isn’t
How schools can help obese students get their lives back
How to tell someone to “go away” without sounding rude
Teens’ obsessions with material objects and status
Things my parents say that annoy me
My dream job would be…
What to look for in a boyfriend/girlfriend
How not to get a date with your crush
The secrets to nailing the “innocent” look
Famous/successful people who were told “no” before they were told “yes”
How to get a new outfit out of your parents with little effort
Ways to get your parents to apologize to YOU
How to get the ________ you’ve been dreaming of (shoes, purse, pony, etc.)
How to make it through Valentine’s Day without a boyfriend/girlfriend
Best tips for picture-perfect selfies
For the funniest videos on YouTube, search for _______
The coolest science projects that will get you an A every time
Things I’ve learned that have made me wiser
If I could create my own holiday, it would be ________
How to get out of class/school without getting in trouble
The coolest inventions I’ve ever seen
How to prepare for your first kiss
If I could write a letter to the President
What I think the world will be like in 100 years
The latest hair trends
How to get someone to do your work for you without asking
The top five topics to talk about on your date
Why some young people are self-harming.
How to overcome your painful shyness in speech class

130 Awesome Speech Topics for Kids

Types of Public Speaking

34 thoughts on “206 Great Speech Topics for Teens [Persuasive, Informative]”

the earth is flat

how much flat could a flatearther prove if a flatearther could prove the earth was flat

Emberrsing photos

the earth is flat yuh

i do not believe the earth is flat, I believe it is triangle

I think the earth is flat beacause Jake Pauls and Logan Paul are flat. And they are the earth. #MaverickGang

xbox is better than ps4

The earth is not flat!

earth is flat tbh

i believe the earth is a donut and when we are looking at the ‘sky’ we are really looking at the sea

The earth is not flat it is a cube and Xbox is better than PS4

What is the hardest event to get over in your life and why?

Nursery Rhymes

how to get away with murder

The earth is obviously a bowl, otherwise all of the water would’ve fallen out of the earth.

I dislike the “Homeshooled teens are socially awkward” topic: I believe it is both false, rude, generalized, and not a proper subject for a speech whatsoever. A lot of the topics on this list are immature and shallow. I personally am a 13 year old homeschooling teen and next time I need an idea I will not come here. If you have questions or arguments please feel free to try to prove them….

Clearly you need to get some information on what “argumentative” speech is.

all of these topics sound like old men wrote them

the earth is shaped like a pyramid

nintendo switch is better than xbox

Clearly the earth is spherical However, I believe we are on the inside face of the sphere, which means that all these ‘stars’ they talk about are actually the lights on the other side of the world. And then the moon landings must have been faked.

i believe in the doughnut theory and think the bermuda triangle is the hole in the middle of the earth……..

Xbox is better then PS4 AF!!

ps4 is better than xbox and the earth is not round it is a hexagon

ps3 is better then ps4

The earth is round duhhh what did the guys see when they were in space? A round earth from earth what do u see? a round moon …… Illuminati Confirmed…….

disagree w most of these topics and yes the earth is a donut

can someone please give me a good speech topic please thanks

i- all you people are wrong. the earth is oBviOusLy kardashian shaped. they basically rule the world, it would make sense that the planet they’re living in loves them so much, it took their form. duh.

all video game platforms can burn xx

nah i’m just playing

I really like these Speech Topics they will help me more to win!

Is water wet

you can burn fire

kids should not be able to choose if their gay or not their to young to know and it will just be a phase just like blm

@the hard truth Those children have the freedom to be who they are, if you like it or not

basic names should be banned.

I accept the Privacy Policy

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Vivamus integer non suscipit taciti mus etiam at primis tempor sagittis euismod libero facilisi.

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13-Year-Old Child Development Milestones

Your child’s growth and development at age 13

Language and Cognitive Milestones
Physical Milestones
Emotional and Social Milestones
Other Milestones

How to Help Your 13-Year-Old Learn and Grow

How to keep your 13-year-old safe.

When to Be Concerned

As your child makes the transition from being a 12-year-old kid to a 13-year-old adolescent, you are bound to see some interesting changes. Not only will your child be making a mental shift as they begin to view themself as a teenager, but they also will be experiencing a variety of physical and emotional changes as well.

For instance, your 13-year-old may become sensitive to their changing bodies or take notice of the changes in their peers if they are slower to develop. This realization may cause them to worry that they are different or abnormal in some way—especially if they are not growing body hair or have not hit a growth spurt yet. They also will be experiencing a variety of emotional changes they begin to spend more time with their peers.

For parents, this time period can sometimes feel challenging because you may have your own concerns while also struggling to make sense of your teen's worries. But rest assured the teen years do not have to be a tumultuous time and can be some of the most rewarding years of parenting if you know what to expect.

Below we help remove some of the mystery surrounding teen development by walking you through the development of an average 13-year-old. You will find information on what you can expect from your teen cognitively, physically, emotionally, and socially as well as tips on how to keep your teen safe at this age. With a little knowledge and some useful tips, you will be able to navigate this stage in your child's development like a pro.

13-Year-Old Language and Cognitive Milestones

While 13-year-olds have fairly good problem-solving skills , they also have difficulty thinking about the future. They may also struggle to think about the consequences of their behavior before they act. This has to do with different parts of their brains develop at slightly different rates.

"Although 13-year-olds are starting to have a more concrete thinking style, their brains are still developing," says Florencia Segura, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician with Einstein Pediatrics in the Washington D.C. metro area. "They also tend to be very self-conscious at this age and have a tendency to believe they are the center of attention. If they have a pimple, then everyone is looking at it."

Thirteen-year-olds are also developing the ability to think abstractly. Instead of only thinking in terms of tangible objects, they begin to understand concepts such as faith and trust. They may also think they are unique or believe that no one understands them. As they mature, they will develop a better understanding of the world and how other people perceive them.

It also is common for 13-year-olds to think they are immune to anything bad happening to them, Dr. Segura says. Consequently, they may be more likely to challenge family rules or school rules. "They know what is right and wrong, but may still push the limits," she says. "They are beginning to break out of that childhood mold."

Teens this age also may become concerned with moral issues as they are able to grasp abstract concepts and are likely to recognize that breaking rules under certain conditions is not always wrong. As far as language development, most 13-year-olds communicate similarly to adults. They comprehend abstract language, such as figurative language and metaphors, and they may become less literal and more figurative as they mature.

"Depending on the child, they also may find school more challenging such as math getting harder," says Jonathan Jassey, DO, FAAP, a pediatrician and father of three in Bellmore, New York. "As a result, their cognition in school may be challenged as they are learning and handling more."

Additional Cognitive Developments

Develop skills needed when using logic
Can solve problems that have more than one variable
Question authority figures
Tend to reject solutions offered by parents
Find justice and equality to be important issues

13-Year-Old Physical Milestones

Most 13-year-old teens are dealing with the emotional and physical changes that accompany puberty, so it's normal for your teen to feel uncertain, moody, sensitive, and self-conscious at times. During this time, it becomes more important than ever to fit in with peers.

At 13, your teen is beginning to grow taller, gain weight, and become physically mature. Girls become fully physically developed during middle adolescence and boys reach physical maturity during late adolescence .

"Physical development is variable depending on the teen," says Dr. Jassey. "Usually females start developing between age 9 and 14 and boys begin developing between 10 and 15. On the flip side, you will have those who have not developed yet."

Dr. Jassey says you are likely to see a wide range of physical changes at this age. Girls may experience breast development and the start of their menstrual cycle , while boys may experience changes in their voice, testicular growth, and an increase in muscle mass.

Additionally, both males and females may begin developing body hair and their sweat glands will become more active. Some kids will even begin to develop acne at this age due to hormonal changes.

Interestingly, boys who mature physically the earliest may be more confident. But girls who mature earlier are often more self-conscious of their bodies.

This rapidly changing physical appearance can lead to self-conscious feelings. Sometimes teens struggle with appearance-related issues, such as acne or being overweight. Body image issues, such as eating disorders , may also develop during the teen years, Dr. Segura says.

"Eating disorders can occur with boys or girls," she says. "If you notice they are starting to be restrictive with food, overeating, experiencing weight loss, or hiding food, you need to talk to a healthcare provider about what you are witnessing."

Additional Physical Developments

Experience rapid changes in physical appearance
Feel anxious or insecure due to the different rates at which peers experience change
Exhibit a wide range of growth patterns between genders

13-Year-Old Emotional and Social Milestones

Thirteen-year-olds are dealing with hormonal shifts that can contribute to their mood swings . Add school stress or peer problems and their moods may seem to shift from minute to minute. Remember, your young teen is on the road to becoming an independent person who wants to make their own decisions about their body, their activities, and their friends.

At this age, most teens feel like the world revolves around them. They might think everyone is staring at them or they may assume everyone else’s behavior is somehow because of them, explains Dr. Segura. For example, when a friend doesn't text back, they might assume they are mad rather than assuming the friend is busy.

Most 13-year-olds also experience great fluctuations in their self-esteem. They may feel good about themselves one day and feel extremely inadequate another. They also may seek affirmation from you that they are on the right track, even though they claim to want to do things on their own.

While most 13-year-olds have given up their childhood toys, they still play with their friends in a variety of ways. From slumber parties and camping out in the backyard to board games and sports activities, most 13-year-olds want to be active with their friends.

"Thirteen-year-olds tend to want to spend more time with their friends than with family members," Dr. Segura says. "They also start to form an identity at this age as they experiment with hobbies, activities, clothes, hairstyles, and music. They try on different identities to see what fits."

Your teen may develop different personas or go through various phases, choosing to wear their hair in new ways to express themselves. You also may notice your teen pulling away from the family.

While it can be hard to watch your child spend less time with you, having fun with their peers can be an important social outlet and is an integral part of their development. It can also be instrumental in helping them manage stress.

As your 13-year-old becomes more independent, they also may begin to rely more on friendships, often confiding in them instead of you. For this reason, make sure you are regularly communicating with your child not only to find out how things are going in their life and what they think about different things, but also to touch base on important topics like sex, drugs, vaping , consent, bullying , and more.

These conversations are especially important because peer pressure can become a factor, especially because most teens this age are concerned about fitting in or of belonging, says Dr. Segura. Not surprisingly, teens often switch peers groups as their interests shift, so getting to know your child's friends becomes even more important. It's also normal for them to develop sexual interests at this age.

Although they may not be officially dating yet, it is important to have conversations about healthy relationships and consent. Also, if your child is exploring their gender identity or sexual orientation, it is important to list with an open mind.

"This is a time when they are exploring, asking questions," Dr. Segura says. "Being supportive and listening is important and if you have questions or do not understand what your child is experiencing or how to support them, talk to your pediatrician."

Additional Social and Emotional Developments

Concerned about physical development and appearance
See themselves as always being center stage
Seek trust and acceptance from peers
Strive for independence yet want and need adult approval

Other Milestones for Your 13-Year-Old

By this age, many teens have their own social media accounts and they’re able to communicate with their friends privately. For some teens, this provides a sense of relief as they often talk to their friends in a slightly different manner than they speak to their parents.

For other 13-year-olds, electronic communication means added pressure. They may feel compelled to join in conversations to be accepted by their peers or they may feel as though their friends are having more fun than they are when they view social media pictures.

"Expect some mood changes at this age," Dr. Jassey says. "Although this doesn't give teens the right to walk over their parents, you need to try to weather the storm and not take it personally. You have to pick and choose your battles at this age."

While mood swings are usually normal, it's important to keep an eye out for mental health problems. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues may emerge during this time. It's also important to talk to your teen about body image and how they feel about the changes they're experiencing.

"Keep in mind, teens this age don't like just talking," Dr. Segura says. "They are more likely to open up when you are doing other things like taking a walk, riding in the car, or shooting a basketball."

If your teen is experiencing challenges, brainstorm with them on ways in which they might solve a single problem. Encourage your child to think of several solutions before taking action. This simple step can help improve your child’s judgment and give them opportunities to practice their critical thinking skills.

Also, be sure you are direct with your child when talking about sensitive issues, like drinking, smoking, drugs, sexting , and sex. In order for your teen to see you as credible, acknowledge the slight upside that tempts teens to try these things. Say something like, “Kids usually think they’re more fun when they’re drinking alcohol,” and then explain the consequences.

When it comes to safety at this age, there are a number of things for parents to consider. For instance, kids this age should be reminded to wear seatbelts when riding in a car and helmets when on scooters, bikes, or skateboards, Dr. Segura says.

This also is the age when kids may get their own social media accounts or cell phones, so it is important to talk to them about how to stay safe online. Talk about what to share and not to share as well as establish some ground rules regarding social media use. Consider making your child's account private and make sure you know what they are doing online by following their accounts, Dr. Jassey suggests.

"Make sure you have productive conversations about how to do things the right way online," he says. "Talk about not hurting people online as well as how to deal with emotions when they are hurt by something others post. I also like the Life 360 app which lets me know where my kids are. It is like a security blanket for parents."

Finally, keep in mind that your teen wants to spread their wings and become more independent . Look for safe ways for them to do that. Think about your community and your teen's maturity level when making decisions about what you will allow them to do on their own.

"Try to find that happy balance between setting rules and allowing freedom in a safe and productive manner," says Dr. Jassey. "Being overbearing can be counterproductive at times. Make sure you are also having productive conversations about drinking, vaping, and sex and teach life lessons when you can."

When to Be Concerned

While all children develop at slightly different rates, it’s important to keep an eye on how your child is progressing. Some emotional issues or mental health problems may emerge in the early teen years and it’s important to seek professional help if you see any red flags, Dr. Segura says.

"Mood disorders may develop around this age," she says. "It is not uncommon for 13 year olds to experience depression and anxiety. If your teen has a persistently different mood, is disinterested in things, has a lack of motivation, is sleeping more, or even appears to be experiencing panic attacks, talk to your pediatrician."

Even refusing to shower or displaying hygiene issues could be a cause for concern. By this age, teens should be able to care for their bodies without much prompting.

Meanwhile, if your child is struggling academically, it could also be a cause for concern. Sometimes, learning disabilities or ADHD don’t become apparent until the teen years. Talk to your child’s teachers or discuss the issue with your child’s pediatrician if you are concerned.

"It is important to stay involved and show your teen that you care about school and their success," Dr. Segura says. "This means attending conferences and helping them develop a homework schedule . You also may have to help them keep track of their activities and responsibilities because their frontal lobe is still developing and they may need help staying organized."

A Word From Verywell

The teenage years can be a bit of a rollercoaster—for both you and your teen. But if you lay the groundwork now and provide your teen with the skills they need to make good decisions, the teen years will not be as tumultuous as you first imagined, especially if you approach it with the right mindset.

When your teen makes poor choices or decisions that do not make sense, try to remain calm. Look at these incidences as opportunities to help them learn from their mistakes and sharpen their skills. If they repeatedly make the same mistakes or struggle with specific issues, you may want to talk to a healthcare provider or mental health professional.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Early adolescence (ages 10 to 13) .

Michigan State University Extension. 12- to 14-year-olds: Ages and stages of youth development .

The Whole Child. Signs of normal development stages ages 13-18 .

Reynolds BM, Juvonen J. The role of early maturation, perceived popularity, and rumors in the emergence of internalizing symptoms among adolescent girls . J Youth Adolesc . 2011;40(11):1407-1422. doi:10.1007/s10964-010-9619-1

Centers for Disease Control. Young teens (12-14 years) .

Christie D, Viner R. Adolescent development . BMJ . 2005;330(7486):301-4. doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7486.301

National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus. Adolescent development .

By Sherri Gordon Sherri Gordon, CLC is a published author, certified professional life coach, and bullying prevention expert.

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Teens age 13-17 are needed for a study about tobacco prevention ads

By Hub staff report

Researchers are studying the way people respond to tobacco prevention and education ads. Participants will be between the ages of 13 and 17. The study involves a 90-minute session at Johns Hopkins medical campus, located in the East Baltimore. Your response to tobacco messages will be measured through monitors placed on your head, face and fingers; special glasses; and a survey.

Participants will receive one $50 Visa gift card, and an additional $25 Visa gift card to account for travel costs.

Find out if you are eligible for the study here .

For more information, contact study researcher Meghan Moran at TobaccoMessageStudy@jhu.edu . You may also call or text 410-929-6570. This study is sponsored by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

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Determining the Age-At-Death of Infants, Children, and Teens

Despite decades of research, determining the age-at-death of skeletal remains of individuals ranging from birth to about 20 years old (referred to in forensics as subadults) has proven daunting for forensic investigators. A team of researchers led by anthropologists Nicholas Herrmann, Texas State University, and Joseph Hefner, Michigan State University, has developed a statistical framework that enables more precise age estimations.

Herrmann’s project, supported by National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant 2018-DU-BX-0182, created a large reference sample of developmental dental data from diverse international populations. It also addressed common issues encountered in forensic casework, such as missing teeth, that can both inform and restrict the ability of accurately estimating a decedent's dental age.

The project examines dental development within a transitional analysis framework that allows for statistical rigor in analyzing dental radiographs of individuals from the United States, Europe, and Africa. The researchers’ primary goal is to update existing dental modeling with a reference database that uses a representative sample from modern populations “to aid in forensic identification of subadult human remains.” The project examined the “age-at-transition” values of development for three baby and 10 permanent teeth in subadults. By focusing on specific teeth, the researchers created “the most appropriate numerical parameters from which to most accurately estimate age.”

The researchers had collected almost 12,000 radiographs when they submitted their final report to NIJ in May 2023 and anticipate having more than 13,500 images when they complete the project. The data represent subadults from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, including African American, European American, American Hispanic, British, and South African.

The resulting database is the basis for the Transition Analysis Dental Age (TADA) estimation tool, a publicly available online tool for estimating age using dental development codes. The NIJ-funded TADA website provides “forensic practitioners with an accurate age estimation method based on a large, demographically diverse, modern subadult sample that captures the variation in dental development.”

Forensic investigators score teeth using a developmental code and then run an age analysis. “The final estimation includes a maximum likelihood age estimate based on the tooth stage of each tooth present,” the researchers said. It gives confidence levels of 90% or 95%, depending on the specific measurements.

Given that subadults represent a large portion of the missing and unidentified persons in the United States, it is important to improve several different identification methods. “Because it is not yet possible to reliably determine sex in subadult skeletal remains (outside of DNA analysis) and very little research has been conducted on determining ancestry for these individuals,” the researchers said, “age determination is currently the most reliable method of narrowing down candidate lists for identification.”

The TADA tool not only produces the most accurate age-at-death estimation possible, it also “will meet the Daubert standards for expert witness testimony,” the researchers said. Trial judges use the Daubert standard to determine if expert testimony has a valid scientific basis. The researchers have also consulted with a forensic odontologist to ensure that the TADA method conforms to American Board of Forensic Odontology standards.

Herrmann’s team continues to expand the database by working with institutions in India, Cyprus, and Guatemala. They intend to look at the impact of socioeconomic status on dental development in subadults to determine if there is a relationship between dental score patterns and demographic parameters, such as sex and ancestry.

About This Article

The research described in this article was funded by NIJ award 2018-DU-BX-0182 , awarded to Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. This article was based on the grantee report “ Investigation of Subadult Dental Age-at-death Estimation using Transitional Analysis and Machine Learning Methods ,” by Nicholas P. Herrmann and Joseph Hefner.

Cite this Article

Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Nile Valley Settlements, Found in Forgotten Treasure

Archaeology student’s urop project delves into 5,000-year-old wood charcoal that had languished at bu for decades.

Forget temples and tombs filled with priceless artifacts, BU student researcher Ranran (Angela) Zhang is studying ancient Egyptian history through a more unlikely treasure: wood charcoal burned 5,000 years ago.

Amy Laskowski

Cydney scott.

Ancient Egypt’s riches—its pyramids, temples, and treasures—have drawn archaeologists and explorers to the country for centuries. But one student found Egyptian treasure of a different kind, from a time before the pharaohs, in a long-forgotten cardboard box in a Boston University lab: chunks of wood charcoal burned 5,000 years ago that could unlock secrets of ancient life in less prominent villages and worksites across the vast country.

Ranran (Angela) Zhang, a student researcher in BU’s Environmental Archaeology Lab (EAL), designed an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program project to analyze the charcoal samples to understand how ancient communities along the Nile— described as “the lifeblood of ancient Egypt”—used the plants and trees around them.

With her research—which she will soon submit to an academic journal—Zhang aimed to identify the types of wood ancient Egyptians burned to answer broader questions about humans’ interaction with their surrounding environment. What kind of wood was available to these people? And how were they collecting it? She was especially interested in figuring out whether the settlements the fragments came from were short- or long-term occupations and what kind of lives the everyday people who called them home had.

Zhang, who is from China, says she likes that this work allowed her to explore the symbiotic relationship between plants and people—specifically people whose stories aren’t written in hieroglyphics on the walls of majestic tombs and temples. “I like that you’re looking at common people and what these common people ate and used,” she says. “And we’re able to reconstruct the daily activities of commoners like me.”

A Dig in the Desert

How did BU come to acquire the wood charcoal? In the late 1980s, Egyptologist Kathryn Bard , a College of Arts & Sciences professor emerita of archaeology and classical studies, traveled to Egypt to do a reconnaissance survey and identified two predynastic (4000–3100 BCE) settlements, Halfiah Gibli and Semaineh.

During multiple visits to the sites—about two kilometers away from one another and near the modern city of Nag Hammadi—Bard made some significant discoveries. She determined the Halfiah Gibli site contained a flint workshop and found agricultural tools; Semaineh had a kiln, with fragments of bread molds, ceramic figurines, and pottery.

Bard’s team also collected wood charcoal samples from the sites for radiocarbon dating, but they sat untouched for years—a common occurrence in archaeology, often due to staffing and the methodical analysis required for each project. When Bard retired in 2022, she gifted them to John Marston , a CAS professor of archaeology and anthropology, who leads the EAL and has done charcoal analysis on other sites.

Marston served as Zhang’s advisor on this project, and says it is so exciting in part because it has been impossible to export archaeological materials from Egypt since the early 1990s; Bard’s wood charcoal samples were taken before these laws were passed. In recent years, the Egyptian government has called for repatriation of its antiquities.

“The traditional focus of Egyptian archaeology has been much less on these boring people, from before the pharaohs, who were doing everyday household activities,” says Marston. “That’s not what Egyptian archaeology is known for. This area has been under-explored compared to other areas of the broader North Africa, Southwest Asia region.”

The caveat Marston makes is that the charcoal samples were not as systematically collected as they would be on a new project today, since they were originally taken for radiocarbon dating. “So, they’re a little bit small and a little bit sparse in comparison to what we would ideally like,” he says. “But it’s still an incredibly rare opportunity.”

Zhang says she came to BU with the hope of studying Egyptology, a dream that looked in jeopardy when Bard retired the year she arrived. “Seeing this box feels like destiny to me, because it’s so rare to be able to work directly with Egyptian material,” Zhang says.

Playing Wood Detective

When wood isn’t wholly burned in fireplaces, kilns, and buildings, it becomes inorganic charcoal. Since soil microbes and fungi don’t easily break this material down, Marston explains, it can be found thousands of years later—like in an archaeological dig—and is evidence of direct human interaction with an environment and landscape. It is one of the most commonly found archaeological materials.

“It provides an incredibly powerful lens to understand not only what plants were growing in an environment—woody plants, in particular—but also the ways in which people were choosing to interact with those plant resources,” he says. “We can also study them within their archaeological context to learn much more about how people were using those plants: Were they only fuel? Were they used as construction materials or other types of wooden objects? We have the capacity to look at any and all of those with wood charcoal analysis.”

In the lab, archaeologists can study the samples using a stereomicroscope to determine which tree species produced these charcoal remains. The field is known as anthracology. Zhang referenced wood atlases and manuals to help pinpoint the wood’s anatomical structures and other small details. From this meticulous analysis, she identified four different types of trees at the sites: Tamarix (tamarisks), Acacia (acacias) , Acacia nilotica (also called Egyptian acacia), and Faidherbia albida (otherwise known as white acacia).

Next, she examined the degree of curvature of each fragment to see if the wood came from small branches or large trunks. She also looked for any hyphae (a long, branching structure of a fungus) to shed light on whether the wood was freshly cut from the tree or already dead and lying on the ground when it was gathered to be burned. Looking at the curvature and hyphae data together, she—along with Marston and PhD student Pete r Kováčik (GRS’25), who both collaborated on the project—was able to hypothesize that these people were collecting smaller-diameter branches, as deadwood, from the ground.

“They were not intentionally modifying the landscape, but rather they utilized all the resources around them,” Zhang says. “It also seems that resources were very abundant.” For this reason, she concluded that these were either seasonal or small permanent settlements, maybe outposts of major cities or production centers.

Lastly, she entered her findings into databases to be used by archaeologists worldwide doing similar work.

Marston says Zhang is his first undergraduate student to do this type of work, which is particularly complicated, uses more sophisticated microscopes, and requires an understanding of cellular anatomy.

Angela applied herself with an incredible tenacity that enabled her to build the skills and the experience needed to be able to identify the archaeological wood charcoal and do a tremendous job in the identifications. John Marston

“Angela applied herself with an incredible tenacity that enabled her to build the skills and the experience needed to be able to identify the archaeological wood charcoal and do a tremendous job in the identifications,” he says. “It takes a remarkable level of commitment and achievement for an undergraduate student to do this.”

Next Steps: Using the Past to Inform the Future

Eventually, the research could be expanded to use geographic data, which could “target where people were collecting and can also add to the why, or the choice of location,” says Zhang, who will graduate in May. She’s currently applying to graduate schools in Europe, where she hopes to focus on environmental archaeology and archaeobotany, and work to answer more ecological questions about the past.

“What I hope to do is advocate that archaeological data, together with modern ecological data, can be used to inform future environmental practices, like in managing deforestation,” she says. Zhang hopes her UROP study findings could show other small, modern-day Egyptian villages, for example, ways to not deplete their limited resources.

“A lot of the times, these changes may be small and region-specific, but they’re doable,” she says.

This research was partially funded by BU’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

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Momentum grows behind Houston's proposed Hispanic History Research Center

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Hispanic History Research Center in Houston has been in the works for years, but now, significant signs of progress are developing.

The center is designed to be a home for the Houston Public Library's Latino archives, but community leaders are also adding their input for a grander vision.

More than 200 people got to talk with city leaders over the weekend about their ideas for a center that hosts the archives, community, and resource rooms, as well as exhibits unearthing Hispanic history in Houston.

That meeting was held at the center's future facility located in the East End on Navigation Boulevard along Buffalo Bayou's Turkey Bend. The city bought the building for about $10 million last year.

Voters approved funding for the center in 2017, but community activists said they had a hard time getting information about progress for years after that.

SEE ALSO: Hispanic Heritage Month: Latina-owned publishing company providing bilingual books in Texas schools

Now, they welcome the momentum and attention their effort is getting, especially with the recent election of three new Hispanic city council members.

The council members are also working together with the support of state leaders to digitize the archives and make them accessible to everyone at the new center.

David and Millie Contreras are community activists and also members of Houston's chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC.

"There's a lot of history out there that, perhaps, you may not know or your grandparents may know, but you never asked. Unless you ask, they'll tell you. There's stories out there, and this is community history. It's Houston history. It's Texas history. And it's American history. So that's what the youngsters and people in the community are missing out on," the Contrerases said.

The two activists are hoping none of us have to miss out on this history for too much longer.

The Hispanic History Research Center is expected to be completed sometime in 2026.

For updates on this story, follow Briana Conner on Facebook , X and Instagram .

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Teens, social media and technology 2022, tiktok has established itself as one of the top online platforms for u.s. teens, while the share of teens who use facebook has fallen sharply.

Pew Research Center conducted this study to better understand teens’ use of digital devices, social media and other online platforms. For this analysis, we surveyed 1,316 U.S. teens. The survey was conducted online by Ipsos from April 14 to May 4, 2022.

This research was reviewed and approved by an external institutional review board (IRB), Advarra, which is an independent committee of experts that specializes in helping to protect the rights of research participants.

Ipsos recruited the teens via their parents who were a part of its KnowledgePanel , a probability-based web panel recruited primarily through national, random sampling of residential addresses. The survey is weighted to be representative of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who live with parents by age, gender, race, ethnicity, household income and other categories.

The trend data in this report comes from a Center survey on the same topic conducted from Sept. 25, 2014, to Oct. 9, 2014, and from Feb. 10, 2015, to March 16, 2015. The survey was fielded by the GfK Group on its KnowledgePanel, which was later acquired by Ipsos .

Here are the questions used for this report , along with responses, and its methodology .

Since 2014-15, TikTok has arisen; Facebook usage has dropped; Instagram, Snapchat have grown

For the latest survey data on social media and tech use among teens, see “ Teens, Social Media, and Technology 2023 .”

The landscape of social media is ever-changing, especially among teens who often are on the leading edge of this space. A new Pew Research Center survey of American teenagers ages 13 to 17 finds TikTok has rocketed in popularity since its North American debut several years ago and now is a top social media platform for teens among the platforms covered in this survey. Some 67% of teens say they ever use TikTok, with 16% of all teens saying they use it almost constantly. Meanwhile, the share of teens who say they use Facebook, a dominant social media platform among teens in the Center’s 2014-15 survey , has plummeted from 71% then to 32% today.

YouTube tops the 2022 teen online landscape among the platforms covered in the Center’s new survey, as it is used by 95% of teens. TikTok is next on the list of platforms that were asked about in this survey (67%), followed by Instagram and Snapchat, which are both used by about six-in-ten teens. After those platforms come Facebook with 32% and smaller shares who use Twitter, Twitch, WhatsApp, Reddit and Tumblr. 1

Changes in the social media landscape since 2014-15 extend beyond TikTok’s rise and Facebook’s fall. Growing shares of teens say they are using Instagram and Snapchat since then. Conversely, Twitter and Tumblr saw declining shares of teens who report using their platforms. And two of the platforms the Center tracked in the earlier survey – Vine and Google+ – no longer exist.

There are some notable demographic differences in teens’ social media choices. For example, teen boys are more likely than teen girls to say they use YouTube, Twitch and Reddit, whereas teen girls are more likely than teen boys to use TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. In addition, higher shares of Black and Hispanic teens report using TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp compared with White teens. 2

This study also explores the frequency with which teens are on each of the top five online platforms: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook. Fully 35% of teens say they are using at least one of them “almost constantly.” Teen TikTok and Snapchat users are particularly engaged with these platforms, followed by teen YouTube users in close pursuit. A quarter of teens who use Snapchat or TikTok say they use these apps almost constantly, and a fifth of teen YouTube users say the same. When looking at teens overall, 19% say they use YouTube almost constantly, 16% say this about TikTok, and 15% about Snapchat.

About one-in-five teens visit or use YouTube ‘almost constantly’

When reflecting on the amount of time they spend on social media generally, a majority of U.S. teens (55%) say they spend about the right amount of time on these apps and sites, while about a third of teens (36%) say they spend too much time on social media. Just 8% of teens think they spend too little time on these platforms.

Asked about the idea of giving up social media, 54% of teens say it would be at least somewhat hard to give it up, while 46% say it would be at least somewhat easy. Teen girls are more likely than teen boys to express it would be difficult to give up social media (58% vs. 49%). Conversely, a quarter of teen boys say giving up social media would be very easy, while 15% of teen girls say the same. Older teens also say they would have difficulty giving up social media. About six-in-ten teens ages 15 to 17 (58%) say giving up social media would be at least somewhat difficult to do. A smaller share of 13- to 14-year-olds (48%) think this would be difficult.

Beyond just online platforms, the new survey finds that the vast majority of teens have access to digital devices, such as smartphones (95%), desktop or laptop computers (90%) and gaming consoles (80%). And the study shows there has been an uptick in daily teen internet users, from 92% in 2014-15 to 97% today. In addition, the share of teens who say they are online almost constantly has roughly doubled since 2014-15 (46% now and 24% then).

These are some of the findings from an online survey of 1,316 teens conducted by the Pew Research Center from April 14 to May 4, 2022. More details about the findings on adoption and use of digital technologies by teens are covered below.

Smartphones, desktop and laptop computers, and gaming consoles remain widely accessible to teens

Nearly all teens in 2022 have access to a smartphone, up from 73% in 2014-15

Since 2014-15, there has been a 22 percentage point rise in the share of teens who report having access to a smartphone (95% now and 73% then). While teens’ access to smartphones has increased over roughly the past eight years, their access to other digital technologies, such as desktop or laptop computers or gaming consoles, has remained statistically unchanged.

Teens living in lower-income households are less likely to report having a computer, gaming console

Access to computers and gaming consoles also differs by teens’ household income. U.S. teens living in households that make $75,000 or more annually are 12 points more likely to have access to gaming consoles and 15 points more likely to have access to a desktop or laptop computer than teens from households with incomes under $30,000. These gaps in teen computer and gaming console access are consistent with digital divides by household income the Center has observed in previous teen surveys.

While 72% of U.S. teens say they have access to a smartphone, a computer and a gaming console at home, more affluent teens are particularly likely to have access to all three devices. Fully 76% of teens that live in households that make at least $75,000 a year say they have or have access to a smartphone, a gaming console and a desktop or laptop computer, compared with smaller shares of teens from households that make less than $30,000 or teens from households making $30,000 to $74,999 a year who say they have access to all three (60% and 69% of teens, respectively).

Almost all U.S. teens report using the internet daily

Nearly half of teens now say they use the internet ‘almost constantly’

The share of teens who say they use the internet about once a day or more has grown slightly since 2014-15. Today, 97% of teens say they use the internet daily, compared with 92% of teens in 2014-15 who said the same.

In addition, the share of teens who say they use the internet almost constantly has gone up: 46% of teens say they use the internet almost constantly, up from only about a quarter (24%) of teenagers who said the same in 2014-15.

Black, Hispanic teens more likely than White teens to say they are online almost constantly

Black and Hispanic teens stand out for being on the internet more frequently than White teens. Some 56% of Black teens and 55% of Hispanic teens say they are online almost constantly, compared with 37% of White teens. The difference between Hispanic and White teens on this measure is consistent with previous findings when it comes to frequent internet use .

In addition, older teens are more likely to be online almost constantly. Some 52% of 15- to 17-year-olds say they use the internet almost constantly, while 36% of 13- to 14-year-olds say the same. Another demographic pattern in “almost constant” internet use: 53% of urban teens report being online almost constantly, while somewhat smaller shares of suburban and rural teens say the same (44% and 43%, respectively).

Slight differences are seen among those who say they engage in “almost constant” internet use based on household income. A slightly larger share of teens from households making $30,000 to $74,999 annually report using the internet almost constantly, compared with teens from homes making at least $75,000 (51% and 43%, respectively). Teens who live in households making under $30,000 do not significantly differ from either group.

The social media landscape has shifted

This survey asked whether U.S. teens use 10 specific online platforms: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, WhatsApp, Reddit and Tumblr.

YouTube stands out as the most common online platform teens use out of the platforms measured, with 95% saying they ever use this site or app. Majorities also say they use TikTok (67%), Instagram (62%) and Snapchat (59%). Instagram and Snapchat use has grown since asked about in 2014-15, when roughly half of teens said they used Instagram (52%) and about four-in-ten said they used Snapchat (41%).

Majority of teens use YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat; share of teens who use Facebook dropped sharply from 2014-15 to now

The share of teens using Facebook has declined sharply in the past decade. Today, 32% of teens report ever using Facebook, down 39 points since 2014-15, when 71% said they ever used the platform. Although today’s teens do not use Facebook as extensively as teens in previous years, the platform still enjoys widespread usage among adults, as seen in other recent Center studies .

Other social media platforms have also seen decreases in usage among teens since 2014-15. Some 23% of teens now say they ever use Twitter, compared with 33% in 2014-15. Tumblr has seen a similar decline. While 14% of teens in 2014-15 reported using Tumblr, just 5% of teens today say they use this platform.

The online platforms teens flock to differ slightly based on gender. Teen girls are more likely than teen boys to say they ever use TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat, while boys are more likely to use Twitch and Reddit. Boys also report using YouTube at higher rates than girls, although the vast majority of teens use this platform regardless of gender.

Teen girls are more likely than boys to use TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat; teen boys more likely to use Twitch, Reddit and YouTube; and Black teens are especially drawn to TikTok compared with other groups

Teens’ use of certain online platforms also differs by race and ethnicity. Black and Hispanic teens are more likely than White teens to say they ever use TikTok, Instagram, Twitter or WhatsApp. Black teens also stand out for being more likely to use TikTok compared with Hispanic teens, while Hispanic teens are more likely than their peers to use WhatsApp.

Older teens are more likely than younger teens to say they use each of the online platforms asked about except for YouTube and WhatsApp. Instagram is an especially notable example, with a majority of teens ages 15 to 17 (73%) saying they ever use Instagram, compared with 45% of teens ages 13 to 14 who say the same (a 28-point gap).

Despite Facebook losing its dominance in the social media world with this new cohort of teens, higher shares of those living in lower- and middle-income households gravitate toward Facebook than their peers who live in more affluent households: 44% of teens living in households earning less than $30,000 a year and 39% of teens from households earning $30,000 to less than $75,000 a year say they ever use Facebook, while 27% of those from households earning $75,000 or more a year say the same. Differences in Facebook use by household income were found in previous Center surveys as well (however the differences by household income were more pronounced in the past).

Roughly one-in-five teens are almost constantly on YouTube; only 2% say the same for Facebook

When it comes to the frequency that teens use the top five platforms the survey looked at, YouTube and TikTok stand out as the platforms teens use most frequently. About three-quarters of teens visit YouTube at least daily, including 19% who report using the site or app almost constantly. A majority of teens (58%) visit TikTok daily, while about half say the same for Snapchat (51%) and Instagram (50%).

Looking within teens who use a given platform, TikTok and Snapchat stand out for having larger shares of teenage users who visit these platforms regularly. Fully 86% of teen TikTok or Snapchat users say they are on that platform daily and a quarter of teen users for both of these platforms say they are on the site or app almost constantly. Somewhat smaller shares of teen YouTube users (20%) and teen Instagram users (16%) say they are on those respective platforms almost constantly (about eight-in-ten teen users are on these platforms daily).

Not only is there a smaller share of teenage Facebook users than there was in 2014-15, teens who do use Facebook are also relatively less frequent users of the platform compared with the other platforms covered in this survey. Just 7% of teen Facebook users say they are on the site or app almost constantly (representing 2% of all teens). Still, about six-in-ten teen Facebook users (57%) visit the platform daily.

Across these five platforms, 35% of all U.S. teens say they are on at least one of them almost constantly. While this is not a comprehensive rundown of all teens who use any kind of online platform almost constantly, this 35% of teens represent a group of relatively heavy platform users and they clearly have different views about their use of social media compared with those who say they use at least one of these platforms, though less often than “almost constantly.” Those findings are covered in a later section.

Black, Hispanic teens more likely than White teens to say they are almost constantly on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram

Larger shares of Black and Hispanic teens say they are on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram almost constantly than White teens. For example, Black and Hispanic teens are roughly five times more likely than White teens to say they are on Instagram almost constantly.

Hispanic teens are more likely to be frequent users of Snapchat than White or Black teens: 23% of Hispanic teens say they use this social media platform almost constantly, while 12% of White teens and 11% of Black teens say the same. There are no racial and ethnic differences in teens’ frequency of Facebook usage.

Overall, Hispanic (47%) and Black teens (45%) are more likely than White teens (26%) to say they use at least one of these five online platforms almost constantly.

Slight majorities of teens see the amount of time they spend on social media as about right and say it would be hard to give up

As social media use has become a common part of many teens’ daily routine, the Center asked U.S. teens how they feel about the amount of time they are spending on social media. A slight majority (55%) say the amount of time they spend of social media is about right, and smaller shares say they spend too much time or too little time on these platforms.

While a majority of teen boys and half of teen girls say they spend about the right amount of time on social media, this sentiment is more common among boys. Teen girls are more likely than their male counterparts to say they spend too much time on social media. In addition, White teens are more likely to see their time using social media as about right compared with Hispanic teens. Black teens do not differ from either group.

This analysis also explored how teens who frequently use these platforms may feel about their time on them and how those feelings may differ from teens who use these sites and apps less frequently. To do this, two groups were constructed. The first group is the 35% of teens who say they use at least one of the five platforms this survey covered – YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook – almost constantly. The other group consists of teens who say they use these platforms but not as frequently – that is, they use at least one of these five platforms but use them less often than “almost constantly.”

When asked how they feel about the time they spend on social media, 53% of teens who almost constantly use at least one of the platforms say they are on social media too much, while about three-in-ten teens (28%) who use at least one of these platforms but less often say the same.

Teens who are almost constantly online – not just on social media – also stand out for saying they spend too much time on social media: 51% say they are on social media too much. By comparison, 26% of teens who are online several times a day say they are on social media too much.

Older teens are more likely than younger teens to say it would be hard to give up social media

When reflecting on what it would be like to try to quit social media, teens are somewhat divided whether this would be easy or difficult. Some 54% of U.S. teens say it would be very (18%) or somewhat hard (35%) for them to give up social media. Conversely, 46% of teens say it would be at least somewhat easy for them to give up social media, with a fifth saying it would be very easy.

Teenage girls are slightly more likely to say it would be hard to give up social media than teen boys (58% vs. 49%). A similar gap is seen between older and younger teens, with teens 15 to 17 years old being more likely than 13- and 14-year-olds to say it would be at least somewhat hard to give up social media.

A majority of teens who use at least one of the platforms asked about in the survey “almost constantly” say it would be hard to give up social media, with 32% saying it would be very hard. Smaller shares of teens who use at least one of these online platforms but use them less often say the same.

The teens who think they spend too much time on social media also report they would struggle to step back completely from it. Teens who say they spend too much time on social media are 36 percentage points more likely than teens who see their usage as about right to say giving up social media would be hard (78% vs. 42%). In fact, about three-in-ten teens who say they use social media too much (29%) say it would be very hard for them to give up social media. Conversely, a majority of teens who see their social media usage as about right (58%) say that it would be at least somewhat easy for them to give it up.

A 2018 Center survey also asked U.S. teens about their technology adoption and usage. Direct comparisons cannot be made across the two surveys due to differences in the ways the surveys were conducted. ↩
There were not enough Asian American respondents in the sample to be broken out into a separate analysis. As always, their responses are incorporated into the general population figures throughout the report. ↩
A 2018 Center survey also asked U.S teens about their video gaming habits. Direct comparisons cannot be made across the two surveys due to differences in the ways the surveys were conducted. Still, there are common patterns between the two separate surveys; for example, teen boys were more likely to report access to a gaming console or that they play video games than teen girls. ↩

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Table of contents, connection, creativity and drama: teen life on social media in 2022, more so than adults, u.s. teens value people feeling safe online over being able to speak freely, u.s. teens are more likely than adults to support the black lives matter movement, how teens navigate school during covid-19, most u.s. teens who use cellphones do it to pass time, connect with others, learn new things, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

'You will always have a part of her in you': Florida teen saves dad's life with kidney

Symaria glenn, a 13-year-old girl from florida, suffered a fatal brain bleed and donated her organs to help five people, including her own father who had been on dialysis for years.

Shawn Glenn had many loved ones offer to help when he was diagnosed with kidney failure, but he always turned them down.

“I wanted everybody around me … to be healthy just in case something happened to me,” the West Palm Beach, Florida father of five told USA TODAY this week. “I wanted to wait for a non-living donor.”

He never imagined that his donor would be his own teenage daughter, Symaria Glenn. The 13-year-old suffered a brain bleed at the end of January and lost her battle with the illness on Feb. 3.

When doctors asked their family about donating her organs, her mother, Dhima Martin, thought allowing Symaria to do one last good deed would be fitting for the middle-schooler, who was always looking out for others during her life.

Just before the surgery to remove her organs at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Symaria was taken on an honor walk, in which all available hospital staff line the hallway between a donor's room and the operating room and observe the incredible gift they are giving.

Although doctors told her that her daughter could not be saved, Dhima Martin said she still held out hope that her daughter would pull through until the last minute, even during the honor walk.

“I said even as she was going for the surgery that if she wakes up on that table … stop, save my baby,” her mother said. “I felt she was already in heaven. I felt like she wasn't there so she gets to continue on and save lives.”

Altogether, Symaria donated six organs, saving five lives, including her dad's.

Teenager complained of headache before being found unconscious

On Jan. 30, Symaria went to school and had a routine day. That evening, the 7th-grader had her first volleyball game of the season, her mother said.

“I said something about being proud of her and she was like ‘Who, me?’” Dhima Martin recalled. “She was very humble. I said that to her in the car and she received it.”

The next day, she went to school and when her mom came home with cheesecake in tow, she was pretty excited. She ate some, did some of her homework and then told her mother her head was hurting. Her mom told her to lie down.

“Somewhere in between, I realized how serious it was,” her mother said, adding that she couldn’t wake her up.

Symaria Glenn's family gets devastating news

Symaria was rushed to one hospital in the Palm Beach area and was then airlifted to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, where they had a pediatric brain surgeon who could see her.

Her brain was bleeding and doctors weren’t able to stop it, nor were they able to perform tests because her brain continued to swell, her father said.

According to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, a brain bleed refers to bleeding between the brain tissue and the skull, or inside the brain tissue. Brain bleeds can limit oxygen supplied to the brain and cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, tingling in the extremities or facial paralysis.

When Symaria suffered a brain bleed and her father got the call that she wasn't responsive, he couldn’t understand how something like this could happen.

“I was asking why and how,” he recalled. “We were just at a volleyball game yesterday.”

Her mother added that she was perfectly healthy and had no preexisting conditions. Her family still doesn’t know what caused the issue.

Symaria ‘was the one that strived to be perfect’

Symaria is the second oldest child on her father’s side and the oldest on her mother’s side. She often acted like a mother to her siblings, her parents said, with her dad adding that she "was the one that strived to be perfect.”

“She was my goody two shoes,” he said, smiling. “She was my most selective one. She was the pickiest one.”

She wanted to do well in anything she tried, be it school, volleyball, acting or dancing.

Dhima Martin said her daughter always made people feel loved and seen. She loved Taylor Swift and loved to perform, and could often be seen dancing and singing around the house.

'You will always have a part of her in you'

Symaria’s father tried his best to shield his kids from his health struggles, which began in 2019. It started with pneumonia and multiple hospital visits. During one visit, a doctor told him his kidneys were failing.

He joined the national waitlist for organ donation in 2020, which included more than 90,000 other people in need.

He was forced to stop working in this trucking industry due to appointments and dialysis. He underwent dialysis for years before his daughter fell ill.

He didn’t tell Symaria and her siblings too much about his health and turned down many loved ones who offered to see if they were a match for him. When Symaria got sick, her mother’s words were enough to convince him to accept the donation.

“You will always have a part of her in you,” he recalled her saying, and that’s all he has thought about ever since.

Her mother said she knows her daughter’s heart and wanted to honor that by having her donate a kidney to her father.

“If Symaria could choose to save your life, she would,” she recalled saying. “That’s her dad, and without him, she wouldn’t be here in the first place. We would’ve never gotten to live with her, experience her, be loved by her."

Remembering Symaria and her sacrifice

Symaria’s father said it was bittersweet, receiving his daughter’s kidney. People often tell him congratulations on receiving a kidney.

"They don’t understand the cost,” he said. “She’s my hero. I have a part of her in me and I’m happy for that.”

Even now, she finds ways to make her mother smile. Her mother has found notes around the house that she wrote to her. She also has a jar with notes Symaria gave her as part of a birthday gift.

“It’s a little jar she made and it says, 'Take one every birthday,’” she said, adding that inside are handwritten notes from her daughter telling her she’s the best mom and that she loves her.

And her big heart wasn’t just reserved for family. The day before she got sick, she had emailed her school’s assistant principal because someone was being bullied.

“To go back and see this email that she wrote the day before not knowing that the next day, her life was changing forever … that’s Symaria,” her mother said.

Her mother also said she came to a realization as she prayed for her daughter to pull through.

“When she was at the hospital, I was praying for a miracle and then realized that her existence, her life in itself, was a miracle,” she said.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at [email protected] .

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