300+ Best Essay Topics for 2026: The Ultimate Academic Guide

High-quality writing begins with a high-quality subject. However, in today’s landscape, finding truly original ideas is increasingly difficult as AI tools often default to repetitive, generic suggestions. To succeed in 2026, students must select topics that showcase authentic human thought and high-level analysis.

This guide provides over 300 curated essay topics—categorized by type, educational level, and theme—to help you find a prompt that resonates.

What is a Good Essay Topic?

Before diving into specific lists, it is essential to understand the anatomy of a successful choice. A good essay topic is one that balances personal interest with academic utility. It must be narrow enough to cover in depth within the word count but broad enough to have a wealth of credible sources for research. In 2026, the best subjects are those that bridge the gap between ethics and emerging technology, or personal narrative and societal impact.

Note: If you find yourself stuck, professional essay help can guide you in selecting a prompt that resonates with high-level analysis.

The Four Pillars of Topic Selection

Use this expanded checklist to validate your choice before you begin the writing process:

Assignment Fit

• Matches your specific essay type (argumentative, narrative, expository, etc.).
• Sits comfortably within the assigned word count without being too superficial.
• Aligns with required directive terms like “analyze,” “evaluate,” or “compare.”

Research Viability

• The 30-Minute Rule: You can locate 3–5 peer-reviewed or credible sources quickly.
• The Scholarship Test: The topic appears in academic databases (like JSTOR) and isn’t just based on trending social media opinions.
• Data Recency: The theme is supported by recent, reliable data—crucial for 2026 subjects like AI and climate change.

Personal Interest & Authenticity

• Human-Centric Depth: The topic allows you to showcase “authentic human thought” rather than generic AI-generated perspectives.
• The Value Proposition: You can identify a unique angle or a new perspective you bring to the subject.
• Connection to Character: For college essays, the topic acts as a “personality filter” that reveals traits like resilience or intellectual curiosity.

Audience & Purpose

• Critical Thinking: The subject moves beyond obvious facts to spark meaningful discussion.
• Societal Impact: The topic bridges the gap between historical precedent and future implications.
• The “So What?” Factor: The essay clearly communicates why the topic is relevant to the reader today.

Top 10 Trending Essay Topics for 2026

For those seeking immediate inspiration, these themes represent the most searched and discussed academic essay topics this year:

1. The Silicon Sovereignty: Should personal data be treated as a property right or a human right?
2. Climate Migration: The legal challenges of redefining “refugee” status for environmentally displaced persons.
3. Neuro-Ethics: The morality of using brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to enhance academic performance.
4. The Death of the Dollar? Evaluating the viability of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
5. AI in the Judiciary: Can an algorithm ever be truly impartial in criminal sentencing?
6. Deepfake Democracy: The impact of synthetic media on voter trust and election integrity.
7. The Loneliness Epidemic: Analyzing the paradox of social isolation in a hyper-connected digital world.
8. Circular Economies: Can global fashion brands ever truly transition away from fast-fashion models?
9. Space Law: Who owns the moon? The conflict between private enterprise and international treaties.
10. Post-Pandemic Pedagogies: What have we permanently lost (and gained) in the shift to hybrid education?

Strategic Categories for Modern Academic Success

Navigating the world of higher education means mastering various writing styles. Each style serves a unique purpose in building a student’s intellectual toolkit. Below is an overview of popular academic essay topics organized by genre and complexity. 

Proven Persuasive Essay Topics

A persuasive piece requires a stance on a debatable issue. Success depends on the strength of evidence and the logic of the argument. These compelling essay topics challenge students to think deeply:

• Should AI-generated content require mandatory disclosure labels in academic publishing?
• The ethical implications of using artificial intelligence in judicial sentencing.
• Should developed nations pay climate reparations to developing countries?
• Why a universal basic income is a necessity in an automated economy.
• Should social media platforms be legally responsible for algorithmic radicalization?
• The case for replacing traditional letter grades with mastery-based feedback.
• Why every student should learn financial literacy as a core graduation requirement.
• The necessity of a global “Right to Disconnect” law for remote workers.
• Silicon Sovereignty: Should personal data be treated as a legal property right rather than just a privacy right?
• The Voting Age Debate: Should the legal voting age be lowered to 16 to address long-term policy impacts on youth?
• The Subscription Crisis: Is the “Subscription Model” of ownership destroying the fundamental concept of consumer rights?
• Neuro-Ethics: The morality of using brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to artificially enhance academic performance.

If you are preparing for a public speaking engagement instead of a written assignment, you can read more persuasive speech topics here to find subjects specifically optimized for oral arguments and audience engagement.

Essential College Essay Topics

Applications and introductory courses often focus on individual growth. These college essay writing service specialists suggest topics that act as a “personality filter.”:

• The most significant challenge faced during the transition to higher education.
• How a specific volunteer experience reshaped personal career goals.
• The influence of a specific historical figure on personal leadership styles.
• Balancing cultural heritage with the demands of a modern academic environment.
• The role of extracurricular activities in developing emotional intelligence.
• The “Idea of No Return”: A reflection on a concept so intriguing it causes you to lose track of time.
• The Non-Academic Win: A noteworthy accomplishment that has absolutely no connection to your GPA or formal resume.
• The Mirrorless World: A creative exploration of how self-perception would change in a world without physical mirrors.
• Defining Success: How your specific cultural traditions and family history shape your personal definition of a successful life.
• Technology & Connection: A narrative account of a time technology failed and forced a meaningful reconnection with nature or community.

Note: For more technical debating, understanding policy speech topics is essential for arguing systemic changes.

Strategic Admissions Logic: Why the Topic Matters

Behind every prompt is a human being. According to industry experts, admissions officers use the essay as a “personality filter.” It is the only part of the application that transforms a list of grades into a three-dimensional person.

The “3D Applicant” Framework

When selecting interesting essay topics, a student should aim to reveal traits that transcripts cannot capture. A senior writer asks: “Does this topic show my resilience, my humor, or my intellectual curiosity?” If a topic only repeats an award already listed in the ‘Activities’ section, it is a wasted opportunity.

To achieve this depth, many students look toward specialized writing styles to sharpen their voice. For example:

• Engaging with various response essay topics allows an applicant to demonstrate how they process and critique the world around them, turning a simple reaction into a sophisticated analysis of character. 
• Students may also benefit from exploring opinion essay structures to learn how to present a personal viewpoint with academic rigor.
• Similarly, students who have excelled in athletics can find a unique narrative angle by studying the structure of a professional sports speech, which often emphasizes the psychological journey of leadership and teamwork rather than just the final score on the field.

Creative College Essay Prompts (The “Blue Sky” Edition)

Sometimes, the best essay topic ideas come from left-field questions that force a student to think outside the academic box. These “out-of-the-box” prompts are designed to bypass the generic and reach the authentic:

• The Time Traveler’s Choice: If you could change just one event in world history, which would you choose and why?
• The “Idea of No Return”: Reflect on a concept so intriguing it causes you to lose track of time.
• The Non-Academic Win: Describe a noteworthy accomplishment that has absolutely no connection to your GPA.
• The Nobel Nomination: Who do you believe deserves a Nobel Prize in a non-traditional category?
• The Playlist of Life: If your journey so far had a soundtrack, which three songs would be on it and why?
• The 24-Hour Freedom: If you had 24 hours with zero obligations and unlimited resources, how would you spend your day?
• The Mirrorless World: What would a world without mirrors look like?
• Deleted Inventions: If you could delete one invention from history, what would it be and why?
• The 3D Applicant Framework: Use an ordinary object (like a broken lawnmower) as a metaphor to reveal a core personality trait like tenacity or wit.
• The Sensory Atmosphere: Describe a specific location—like a local market at dawn—using only sight, sound, and touch to reveal your perspective on the world.
• Questioning Beliefs: Narrate a specific moment when you questioned a long-held belief and how that shift redefined your definition of success.
• The Butterfly Effect: How has one seemingly “small” global disruption personally impacted your view of the interconnected world?

Grade-Level Topic Selection

Analysis of academic trends suggests that students search specifically by educational level. To match this standard, the following specific grade-targeted sections have been added to assist in finding good essay topics.

Essay Topics for Middle and High School

Secondary education requires a transition from simple description to foundational analysis. Students in these grades often benefit from informal essay topics that allow them to practice structure before moving to complex research.

Grade-Specific Prompts

• Grade 8 & 9: The impact of social media on teenage friendships and social circles.
• Grade 10: Should school uniforms be mandatory to reduce social inequality?
• Grade 12: Preparing for the “real world”: The necessity of financial literacy in the high school curriculum.
• Grade 8 & 9 (Creative): If you could delete one invention from history, what would it be and why?
• Grade 10 (Argumentative): Should the voting age be lowered to 16 to address long-term policy impacts?
• Grade 12 (Cause & Effect): The rise of short-form video content (TikTok/Reels) and its impact on adolescent attention spans.

Essay Themes & Category Breakdown

Understanding different essay topic ideas requires a look at the core themes that drive modern discourse. Whether a student is looking for a lighthearted prompt or a serious research question, these categories provide a roadmap.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

A rhetorical analysis shifts the focus from the message itself to the mechanics of persuasion. Instead of debating a topic, you evaluate the specific strategies—such as ethos, pathos, and logos—that a creator employs to sway an audience.

Core Analytical Prompts

• The Power of Ethos: How does a speaker’s background or reputation establish immediate trust with a skeptical audience?
• Pathos in Advertising: In what ways do modern commercials use emotional triggers rather than product facts to drive consumer behavior?
• Logos in Scientific Writing: How are data and logical structures used to build an “irrefutable” case in academic journals?
• Visual Rhetoric: Analyzing how color, framing, and lighting in a documentary influence the viewer’s moral perspective.
• Deconstructing Famous Oratory: A breakdown of the metaphors and rhythmic devices used in world-changing historical speeches.

To master these analytical frameworks, you can visit this specialized topic for a deeper look at rhetorical essay topics.

Argumentative Essay Topics

An argumentative essay requires a clear stance, high-level analysis, and robust rebuttals to opposing views. These topics bridge the gap between historical precedent and future implications:

• Global Issues: For those interested in sociopolitical shifts, browsing immigration essay topics can provide a framework for discussing border policy, cultural integration, and human rights.
• Should the voting age be lowered to 16 to address long-term policy impacts?
• Is the “Subscription Model” of ownership destroying the concept of consumer rights?
• Should universal basic income be funded by a tax on automation and robotics?
• The Silicon Sovereignty: Should personal data be treated as a property right or a human right?
• Climate Migration: The legal challenges of redefining “refugee” status for environmentally displaced persons.
• Space Law: Who owns the moon? The conflict between private enterprise and international treaties.
• CBDC Viability: Evaluating the “Death of the Dollar” through the implementation of Central Bank Digital Currencies.

To ensure your claims are backed by a solid logical framework, you can click here to learn more about the specific structural requirements of an argumentative essay. Mastering the balance between evidence and rebuttal is key to earning top marks on these complex subjects.

Descriptive & Narrative Essay Topics

These focus on “painting a picture” or “telling a story.” 

Descriptive Essay Topics

A high-quality descriptive essay uses vivid sensory details to paint a picture in the reader’s mind. By focusing on sight, sound, and touch, these topics help writers create immersive experiences that move beyond simple facts.

• The sensory atmosphere of a local market at dawn.
• The architecture of a “smart city” in 2050.
• The Salt of the Earth: A sensory profile of the Dead Sea’s receding shoreline.
• The Silicon Shadow: A description of the physical and digital feeling of constant connectivity.
• The “Smart Home” of the Future: Visualizing the daily interaction between humans and ambient artificial intelligence.
• A World Without Mirrors: Describing the visual landscape and social interactions in a society without reflection.
• The 2 AM Library: Capturing the specific textures, smells, and sounds of high-stakes academic persistence.
• A Local Market at Dawn: Using sight, sound, and touch to illustrate the transition from stillness to commerce.

If you want to master the art of imagery and “show, don’t tell,” you can read this comprehensive topic on selecting and writing the perfect descriptive essay. This resource provides deeper insights into using sensory metaphors effectively

Narrative Essay Topics

Effective narrative writing transforms personal experiences into compelling stories with clear emotional arcs. This style focuses on individual growth, making it a staple for college admissions and creative assignments.

• A time you questioned a long-held belief.
• The day technology failed and forced you to reconnect with nature.
• The “Idea of No Return”: A story about a concept or hobby so intriguing it caused you to completely lose track of time.
• The Non-Academic Win: Narrating a significant personal achievement that has absolutely no connection to your GPA or school awards.
• The Time Traveler’s Choice: A narrative exploring exactly which event in history you would change and the personal reasons behind that choice.
• Cultural Definitions: A story about a specific family tradition that fundamentally shaped your definition of success.
• The 24-Hour Freedom: A descriptive narrative of how you would spend a single day with unlimited resources and zero obligations.
• A Lesson in Failure: Describing the feeling of a significant setback and the exact moment your perspective shifted toward recovery.
• The Soundtrack of Growth: A narrative structured around three specific songs that define different chapters of your life journey.

Expository Essay Topics

Focus on explaining facts without taking a hard stance.

• The evolution of social media algorithms and their impact on content discovery.
• How the “Butterfly Effect” applies to modern global supply chain disruptions.
• Neuroplasticity and Learning: Explaining the biological process of how the brain rewires itself when acquiring new skills.
• The Circular Economy Model: How global brands are restructuring supply chains to eliminate waste and promote sustainable reuse.
• The Mechanics of CRISPR: Explaining how gene-editing technology functions in the context of preventative medicine.
• The Shift to Hybrid Education: Documenting the permanent changes in pedagogy and student engagement following the move to digital-first learning.
• Quantum Computing Foundations: Explaining the primary challenges of maintaining cybersecurity in an era of quantum advancement.
• The Rise of the Gig Economy: Analyzing the structural changes in the global workforce and the resulting impact on traditional employment rights.
• Internet Slang and Language Evolution: Documenting how digital communication platforms are formally altering the structure of the English language.

To find more inspiration for your next assignment, you can click here to explore additional engaging topics for expository essay writing that simplify complex concepts into clear, informative narratives.

Informative Essay Topics

Writing an informative piece requires presenting complex data in a way that is clear and engaging for the reader.

• The history of the printing press.
• The science behind neuroplasticity.
• The Evolution of Space Law: How international treaties have historically managed lunar ownership and private enterprise.
• The Mechanics of CRISPR: How gene-editing technology works to identify and repair hereditary defects in DNA.
• The History of Protest Music: Analyzing how 20th-century musical movements documented and influenced civil rights progress.
• Smart City Infrastructure: The architectural and digital components required to build a fully integrated “Smart City” by 2050.
• The Anatomy of a Deepfake: Explaining the technical process behind synthetic media and how it differs from traditional video editing.
• Urban Architecture and Mental Health: How specific building designs and city layouts influence the psychological well-being of residents.
• The Rise of CBDCs: An overview of how Central Bank Digital Currencies differ from decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

If you are looking for more inspiration, you can find a wider variety of informative essay topics to suit your specific assignment needs.

Comparative and Analytical Essay Writing

Advanced students often need analytical essay topics that involve complex analysis or identifying the root causes of global shifts. These assignments require a high level of critical thinking to bridge the gap between historical data and future implications.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

• Online Learning vs. Traditional Classrooms: A dual analysis of social development and academic retention.
• Renewable Energy: Comparing the scalability of Green Hydrogen vs. Lithium-Ion Battery storage.
• Literary Giants: The depiction of dystopian futures in Orwell’s 1984 vs. Huxley’s Brave New World. For more in-depth analysis of novels and plays, you can consult these literature essay topics.

If you are struggling to organize these complex relationships, seeking compare and contrast essay help can provide the specific frameworks and organizational templates needed to evaluate two entities side-by-side effectively.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

• Cause: The rise of short-form video content (TikTok/Reels). Effect: Changes in adolescent attention spans.
• Cause: The implementation of “Green Cities” initiatives. Effect: Impact on local property values and gentrification.

Tips: Looking for more ideas or guidance on writing this type of essay? Check out this comprehensive guide on good topics for cause-and-effect essays to explore more relevant and trending subjects. 

Proactive Warnings: Topics Best Avoided

What a student doesn’t write about is just as important as what they do. To maintain authority, the following “Danger Zones” should be avoided:

• The Sports Cliché: Avoid the “Big Game” story. Admissions offices are flooded with essays about winning championships or recovering from injuries. Unless the perspective is incredibly unique, these are often seen as “low-effort” topics. 

Note: If you are passionate about athletics but want to avoid the cliché, you can read how to structure a professional sports speech that focuses on deeper themes like psychology and leadership rather than just the final score.

• The Controversial Trap: While being bold is good, steer clear of highly polarizing political or religious topics in admissions contexts. If you choose to explore controversial essay topics, you must provide a balanced, evidence-based argument to avoid the pitfalls of subjective bias.
• The “TMI” Narrative: There is a fine line between “vulnerability” and “over-sharing.” Avoid topics that focus solely on trauma without showing significant growth and recovery.
• The “Nature vs. Nurture” Trap: Avoid essay topic ideas that are too broad to be solved in 2,000 words.
• The Subjective Bias: Avoid picking a topic based purely on personal feelings without checking if academic data exists to support the argument.
• The “Cliché” Choice: If every student in the class is writing about the “Pros and Cons of Social Media,” the grader will be bored. Seek a unique angle, such as “Social Media’s Impact on Rural Agricultural Markets.”

How to Select Good Essay Topics for Maximum Impact

Finding good essay topics involves more than picking a title that sounds impressive. A senior writer knows the best subjects offer research potential while remaining narrow enough to be covered in depth.

The Three-Step Framework for Selection

1. The Syllabus Scan: Ensure the topic meets all technical requirements. Does it allow for the specific directive terms (e.g., “analyze,” “evaluate”) required by the professor?
2. The “Scholarship” Test: Search your essay topic ideas on academic databases like JSTOR. If no peer-reviewed data appear, the topic is likely too niche or lacks academic weight.
3. The Value Proposition: Ask if the topic adds a new perspective. Avoid overused themes unless a specific, modern angle is applied.

Sensory Checklist: Testing Your Topic

One technique used by top-tier writers to validate a descriptive or narrative topic is the “Sensory Test.” If a topic cannot satisfy at least three of these categories, it may be too abstract for a vivid essay.

• Sight: Can the student visualize specific colors, movements, or lighting?
• Sound: Are there distinct auditory details (voices, ambient noise) connected to the theme?
• Touch: Can the reader “feel” textures, temperatures, or physical sensations through the words?

The Creativity Blueprint: Working Outside the Box

In essay writing, prompts are merely jumping-off points. A common mistake is thinking a provided prompt is a cage.

Storytelling Over Reporting

Instead of reporting facts, a student should aim to be a storyteller. For example, if the prompt asks about a “challenge,” don’t just list the steps taken to solve it. Describe the feeling of failure, the smell of the library at 2 AM, and the exact moment the perspective shifted.

This storytelling approach is equally vital for public speaking. If you are transitioning from a written paper to a speech competition, you can explore professional oratory topics that rely on these same narrative techniques to captivate a live audience.

The “Reverse” Brainstorming Method

If stuck for topic ideas, students should start with their personality traits:

1. List three traits (e.g., Tenacity, Wit, Empathy).
2. Connect each trait to a specific “ordinary” moment (e.g., Tenacity -> Fixing a broken lawnmower).
3. The lawnmower becomes the metaphor for the essay.

To suggest a solution to a problem, one might also look at proposal essay topics for a structured approach.

Advanced Essay Writing Strategies for University Students

Success in essay writing is about more than stringing sentences together. It is an art form that requires structure, voice, and clarity. University-level work demands a higher degree of formal analysis.

The 500-Word Essay Blueprint

Many university modules require concise responses. Mastering the 500-word format is a key skill, as it teaches students to eliminate fluff and focus on a singular, powerful thesis.

• Introduction (100 words): A sharp hook followed by a specific thesis statement.
• Body Paragraphs (300 words): Three paragraphs, each covering one piece of evidence.
• Conclusion (100 words): A synthesis of the argument with a final “so what?” factor.

If you are struggling to organize your arguments effectively, seeking structured essay writing help can provide the templates and blueprints needed to maintain a professional academic tone.

Specialized Research Essay Topics

When tackling a 3000-word research paper, the prompt must allow for a deep dive into data.

• The Impact of Remote Work on Urban Economics: Analyzing the decline of the central business district.
• Cryptocurrency and National Security: The role of decentralized finance in bypassing international sanctions.
• Essay Topics in English: The influence of “Internet Slang” on the formal evolution of the English language; How post-colonial literature reclaims history.

Essay Titles & Examples: Polishing the Presentation

A compelling title is the first step toward a positive impression. Use the “Hook & Focus” method common in high-level scholarship:

• Informative: The Invisible Architecture: How Urban Planning Dictates Social Inclusion.
• Argumentative: The Silicon Cage: Why Data Privacy is the Defining Civil Rights Battle of 2026.
• Descriptive: The Salt of the Earth: A Sensory Profile of the Dead Sea’s Receding Shoreline.
• Science: The Silicon Shadow: Privacy in the Age of Constant Connectivity.
• Media: Beyond the Binary: Gender Representation in 21st-Century Media.
• Economics: Green Gold: The Economic Viability of Hydrogen Fuel Cells.

Pro Tip: If you are assigned a quick classroom presentation, check out these 2-minute speech topics to deliver a punchy, concise message.

Categorized Topic Lists for Every Discipline

Science and Technology

• The future of CRISPR technology in preventative medicine.
• Cybersecurity challenges in the era of quantum computing.
• Is space tourism an ethical use of global resources?
• The psychological effects of deepfake technology on public trust.

Social Sciences and Humanities

• The evolution of “cancel culture” and its impact on free speech.
• How urban architecture influences community mental health.
• The history of protest music in the 20th-century civil rights movements.
• Analyzing the “gig economy” and its effects on workers’ rights.

Explore specialized humanities research topics to analyze cultural shifts

Business and Economics

• The impact of remote work on corporate innovation.
• Cryptocurrency vs. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
• Sustainable fashion: Can “fast fashion” ever be ethical?
• The role of micro-investing apps in democratizing wealth. Note: For those in corporate studies, reading about a business essay can provide the niche data needed for high-level papers.

Note: For those in specialized fields, exploring personal essay topics can provide the niche data needed for high-level papers.

Quick Picks: Easy, Simple, and Short Essay Topics

Not every assignment requires a deep philosophical dive. For classroom prompts or timed tests, consider these:

• Easy Essay Topics: Why my favorite hobby is essential for my mental health; The importance of recycling in small communities.
• Interesting Essay Topics: What would a world without mirrors look like?
• Short Essay Topics: A summary of the most influential book you’ve read this year.

Essay Questions & Prompts for Students

• “If you could delete one invention from history, what would it be and why?”
• “How do your cultural traditions shape your definition of success?”
• “Is privacy a luxury or a right in the 21st century?”

Final Checklist: The “Admissions Read” Test

Before submitting, the student should read the essay through the eyes of a stranger:

1. Does it sound like a teenager or a thesaurus? Authenticity wins over “big words.”
2. Does it answer the “Why?” Every story should explain why it changed the writer.
3. Is it a repeat? Ensure the essay adds new information not found in the resume.

Conclusion: Finalizing Your Choice

There are endless topics to write about, but the best one aligns with the writer’s curiosity. A student who cares about their subject will naturally produce a better, more engaging result. Whether the assignment is a simple 300-word essay or a massive 20-page thesis, the principles of clarity and research remain the same.

By using the categorized lists above—from the “Blue Sky” creative prompts to the complex “Silicon Sovereignty” research questions—and following the strategic selection frameworks, any student can find a subject that leads to high-ranking academic performance.

Strategic FAQ: Mastering Essay Topic Selection in 2026

1. What are the best essay topics for college students in 2026? 

Ans: In 2026, the best college essay topics focus on “AI Ethics,” “Sustainable Living,” and “Mental Health in a Digital Age.” These areas are highly researchable and allow for a mix of personal opinion and scientific data.

2. How do I come up with a professional title? 

Ans: Use the “Hook & Focus” method. For example, instead of “Recycling Problems,” use “The Plastic Paradox: Why Global Recycling Efforts are Failing to Curb Ocean Pollution.”

3. Can I write about a controversial topic? 

Ans: Yes, but with caution. For academic essay topics, controversy is welcomed if you provide a balanced, evidence-based argument. For a college application essay, ensure the controversy doesn’t overshadow your personal character.

4. How long should an essay be? 

Ans: Word counts vary. High school essays are typically 500–1,000 words, while university research papers often range from 2,000 to 5,000 words. Always check your specific rubric.

5. Is it okay to use first-person (I/me)? 

Ans: In narrative essay topics, the first person is required. However, in argumentative or research-based essay writing, the third person is the standard to maintain objectivity.