50 Rogerian Essay Topics

Not all essay writing is designed to press the point of an argument with no regard for the other side. In fact, when it comes to writing a Rogerian essay, the goal is to find a way to bring both sides of an issue together. This essay writing style is named for American psychologist Carl Rogers, who developed a non-confrontational approach to counseling and psychotherapy. Unfortunately, this type of essay can be challenging to write for many reasons, including:

You have to be able to see both sides of the issue, even if you don’t agree with either.
You’re not trying to score points or win an argument; you’re looking for common ground.
It can be difficult to stay impartial.

For students struggling with this type of assignment, we’ve created a detailed guide breaking down the fundamentals of Rogerian essay writing and included 50 Rogerian essay topics to help get the creative juices flowing.

Fundamentals of Rogerian Essay Writing

A Rogerian essay’s tone and writing style will differ from the more aggressive style of an argumentative essay. In a Rogerian essay, the writer starts by acknowledging that there is another side to the issue at hand and that valid points can be made for it. They then build on this common ground to further explore the issue. This means that students will need to do more research and pay closer attention to the other side of the problem.

The fundamental structure of a Rogerian essay is:

Introduce the issue at hand, making sure to mention that there are two sides to it.
Acknowledge the validity of the other side’s argument while also stating your own position.
Present your solution to the issue, making sure that it considers both sides of the debate.
Discuss any potential objections to your solution and how you would address them.
Summarize your argument and reiterate that common ground has been found.

The Introduction: Start by Stating the Issue

Your Rogerian essay will begin with an introduction in which you state the issue at hand. It’s essential to make sure that you mention that there are two sides to this issue so that your audience knows what they’re getting into. For example, if you’re writing about whether or not the government should fund Planned Parenthood, you might start your essay with something like this:

“There has been much debate surrounding the government’s role in funding Planned Parenthood. Some argue that the government has a responsibility to provide this kind of health care to its citizens, while others believe that doing so would be an endorsement of abortion. In this essay, I will attempt to find common ground between these two sides and explore a potential solution to the issue.”

Presenting Both Sides of the Argument: The Body paragraphs

Now that you’ve stated the issue at hand and acknowledged that there are two sides, it’s time to start exploring these sides in more detail. In the body paragraphs of your Rogerian essay, you will want to:

Present each side of the issue fairly and impartially.
Discuss the points that each side is trying to make.
Point out any areas where the two sides agree with each other.
Explore the implications of each side’s position.

For example, if you’re writing about the government funding Planned Parenthood, your body paragraphs might look something like this:

“Those who argue in favor of government funding for Planned Parenthood typically do so because it is a health care provider and that all citizens have a right to health care. They also point out that Planned Parenthood offers a variety of services beyond abortion, including cancer screenings and STD testing. Those who oppose government funding for Planned Parenthood typically do so on the grounds that they believe it should not be an endorsement of abortion. They also argue that other health care providers can offer the same services as Planned Parenthood.”

“It is important to note that both sides of this debate agree that all citizens have a right to health care. They also both agree that Planned Parenthood offers valuable services. Where they disagree is on the question of whether or not the government should be involved in funding this organization.”

Finding a Solution: The Conclusion

In the conclusion of your Rogerian essay, you will want to:

Present your solution to the issue.
Discuss any possible objections to your solution and how you would address them.
Summarize your argument and reiterate that common ground has been found.

For example, if you’re writing about government funding for Planned Parenthood, your conclusion might look something like this:

“I believe that the government should provide funding for Planned Parenthood. I think that this is the best solution because it would allow all citizens to have access to the health care services that they need. It would also be an endorsement of the important work that Planned Parenthood does. However, I recognize that some object to this solution because it would be an endorsement of abortion. To address this concern, I would point out that the government already funds various organizations that provide abortions, such as hospitals. I believe that funding Planned Parenthood would simply be an extension of this policy.”