The government shapes society's beliefs and actions. Presidential elections, war, gay marriage, education, health reforms and crime and punishment are hot topics in the media. For controversial topics like these, be sure to thoroughly research the topic, using highly credible sources such as government documents, law books and reputable news sources.
If you are new to critical thinking essays, writing about government and society on a smaller scale may be a better option. For example, write about the effects new or eliminated laws in your city or state have on education, economics and overall community welfare.
A superfluous number of conflicting opinions exist on health topics. Doctors, scientists and other health experts continuously argue various stances on health topics from whether certain foods are harmful or beneficial to environmental effects on the body. Critical thinking topics may include the benefits or misconceptions of organic foods, the relationship between pharmaceutical drug representatives and doctors, diet and learning disabilities, obesity and exercise, global warming or the effects of modern technology on the body.
Philosophy is the theoretical study of existence, reality and the nature of knowledge. Topics might include the existence of a higher being(s), religious dogmas, atheism, death, the afterlife, life on other planets, heaven and hell and paranormal phenomena. Be sure to include ancient philosophers such as Aristotle, Socrates and Plato as well as modern-day philosophers like Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger in your essay or thesis.
How we live today is largely due to our history. Revolutionaries like Alice Paul, Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi have helped shape society. When writing a critical essay about history, research the facts of the historical event in addition to opposing standpoints. Questions to ask would include the ethical issues that the event or person raised, incidental repercussions and the opportunities presented by the event. For example, Margaret Sanger helped legalize birth control. Her work helped change laws that gave women reproductive rights. You might address how Sanger changed society's views towards women and what future laws have been put in place or changed since. You might also delve into the implications of population control, economics and education from the increase of women in the work force.