RandomBasis

Motion to argue

Random Debate Topic Generator

Draw a debate motion with a genuine case on both sides - school, ethics, tech or fun.

Runs locally in your browser. Nothing you generate is ever sent to a server.

Press "Generate Topic" to see a result here.

Category

About this random debate topic generator

Press Generate and a debate motion appears. Every topic is written so that a reasonable person could argue either side, which is the only property that actually matters in a debate topic.

What makes a motion work

A debate dies when the room already agrees. The useful test is whether you can imagine a thoughtful person on each side, and whether both sides have evidence rather than just feelings. The topics here are chosen on that basis, and the categories keep them at a level that suits the group - school topics for classes, lighter ones for a warm-up, broader social questions for a longer session.

Arguing the side you disagree with

The most valuable way to use a random motion is to assign sides by coin flip rather than by preference. Building the strongest case for a position you do not hold forces you to understand it properly, which is a different skill from winning and a more useful one.

Topics for the classroom

The school category sticks to questions students have direct experience of - homework, uniforms, exams, the length of the school day. Familiarity matters here: a debate about something abstract turns into a research exercise, while a debate about homework starts immediately.

Common uses

How the randomness works

The list is filtered to the category you chose, then a topic is drawn using your browser's cryptographic random source with rejection sampling, so no topic is favoured. Batches without repeats use a Fisher-Yates shuffle driven by the same source.

How do I use a debate topic?

Press Generate, split into two sides, and give each a few minutes to prepare. The side arguing against their own view usually learns the most.

Are these suitable for a classroom?

Yes. The topics are written as motions with a genuine case on both sides, and they avoid the most divisive political fault lines.

Can I get lighter topics?

Yes. The Fun filter has topics like whether cereal is a soup - useful for warming a group up before anything serious.

Can I get a list for a whole term?

Yes. Set the quantity and press once, then Copy All to take the full set.

What makes a good debate motion?

A motion works when a reasonable person could argue either side. If everyone in the room already agrees, there is nothing to debate.

Is the pick actually random?

Yes. Each topic is drawn with your browser's cryptographic random source, so every topic in the chosen category has an equal chance.