If I say “animal testing,” which of the following two images comes to mind?
Image #1: Professional, ethical scientists carefully monitoring and testing animals and developing life-saving cures.
Image #2: People needlessly injecting, probing, and torturing defenseless animals.
While some of you may have an image that’s somewhere between ethical testing and torture, I’m sure many of you will either see Image #1 or Image #2.
Animal testing is one of those topics that can polarize opinions. It’s this extreme difference in opinion that can make this topic a good choice for a persuasive essay.
It’s easy to say you’re either for or against animal testing, but you can’t write an effective persuasive essay about the topic without evidence to support your opinion.
Use these animal testing articles to help support your persuasive essay.
Choosing Appropriate Animal Testing Articles
One of the most important things to remember about research and choosing articles for your persuasive essay is that not all sources are created equal.
Sources can be outdated, incorrect, biased, or simply not appropriate for your paper.
That blog written by your roommate about how to reduce stress and anxiety during exam week might provide some useful advice. But if you’re writing a research paper, you’re better off citing someone more credible, like a professor or doctor.
And because finding good sources takes time, don’t simply pick the first five sources you find after Googling “animal testing.”
Actually read the sources before you decide to use them for your paper. (I know, this adds some extra time to your research process, but trust me, it’s worth it.)
Wondering how to tell if a source is credible? Read How to Apply the CRAAP Test to Your Essay Sources.
Still not sure what credible articles might look like? Review the following animal testing articles to find support for your persuasive essay.
20 Animal Testing Articles to Support Your Persuasive Essay
Whether you’re for or against animal testing, your paper needs to do the following:
- Provide readers with background information
- Acknowledge the opposing view (learn more about opposing viewpoints and writing an argument here)
- Persuade readers of your viewpoint through by using good evidence.
I’ve divided these resources into categories to help you find the most appropriate articles for your persuasive essay.
I’ve also included an MLA 8 citation and APA citation for each article.
Articles on the history of animal testing
1. Animal Testing and Medicine
Written by a cardiologist, this article provides a brief overview of the history of animal testing but ultimately argues that animal testing is necessary and beneficial. (If you’re writing an argument of your own, check out How to Write a Winning Argument Essay.)
MLA 8 Citation
Hajar, Rachel. “Animal Testing and Medicine.” Heart Views: The Official Journal of the Gulf Heart Association, vol. 12, no. 1, 2011, p. 42, doi.org/10.4103/1995-705X.81548.
APA Citation
Hajar, R. (2011). Animal testing and medicine. Heart Views: The Official Journal of the Gulf Heart Association, 12(1), 42. http://doi.org/10.4103/1995-705X.81548
2. Animal Testing: A Long, Unpretty History
This article provides a brief history of animal testing, including animal testing completed by the Greeks and Romans in the 2nd century and more recent testing on chimpanzees.
MLA 8 Citation
Scutti, Susan. “Animal Testing: A Long, Unpretty History.” Medical Daily, Newsweek Media Group, 27 June 2013, www.medicaldaily.com/animal-testing-long-unpretty-history-247217.
APA Citation
Scutti, S. (2013). Animal testing: A long, unpretty history. Retrieved from http://www.medicaldaily.com/animal-testing-long-unpretty-history-247217
3. Animal Welfare Act
Published on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website, this page links to the full text of the Animal Welfare Act (which requires specific standards of treatment for animals used for commercial purposes or in research). This is a government website, and thus, the information is reliable.
MLA 8 Citation
“Animal Welfare Act.” U.S. Department of Agriculture, www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act.
APA Citation
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Animal welfare act. Retrieved from https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act
Pro/con animal testing articles
4. Pros and Cons of Animal Testing
Included in this article is a brief overview of the pros and cons of animal testing, two short animal experimentation videos, and an infographic about animal testing and cosmetics.
Want to use a pros and cons structure for your essay? Read How to Write a Pros and Cons Essay Like a Pro for helpful advice.
MLA 8 Citation
“Pros and Cons of Animal Testing.” Health Research Funding, 26 Feb. 2014. healthresearchfunding.org/pros-cons-animal-testing/.
APA Citation
Health Research Funding. (2014). Pros and cons of animal testing. Retrieved from http://healthresearchfunding.org/pros-cons-animal-testing/
5. Should Animals Be Used for Commercial or Scientific Testing?
This page offers a variety of pro and con quotes about animal testing from authors, doctors, professors, and other credible professionals.
MLA 8 Citation
“Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing?” ProCon.org, 7 April 2017, animal-testing.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001887.
APA Citation
Should animals be used for scientific or commercial testing? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://animal-testing.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001887
6. Animal Testing Cons: What Every Person Should Know
As the title indicates, this article focuses on the negative aspects of animal testing, such as the cost, the lack of protection for animals, and the fact that some tests are, in the end, simply pointless.
This article is a blog post published by Udemy, “…a global marketplace for learning and teaching online.” Though the article provides valuable information, keep in mind that blog posts may not be appropriate for all research papers.
(Check with your prof, and read the assignment guidelines to make sure you’re allowed to cite blogs.)
MLA 8 Citation
Klazema, April. “Animal Testing Cons: What Every Person Should Know.” Udemy.com, 13 June 2014, blog.udemy.com/animal-testing-cons/.
APA Citation
Klazema, A. (2014, June 13). Animal testing cons: What every person should know [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://blog.udemy.com/animal-testing-cons/
Pro/con animal testing websites
When citing full websites in APA, keep in mind that APA doesn’t require an entry in your references list. The APA citations below put the websites into formatting for the reference list in case your prof requires you to do it this way.
If not, then follow APA guidelines on citing full websites if you’re citing an entire site or for individual web sources if citing a particular page or article from a website.
7. Speaking of Research
The website Speaking of Research was “founded in 2008 by Tom Holder and inspired by the British student movement ‘Pro-test'” (www.pro-test.org.uk).
The organization “…aims to change the tide of the controversial animal rights debate in the United States by encouraging students and scientists to speak out in favor of the lifesaving medical research developed with animals.”
MLA 8 Citation
Speaking of Research. speakingofresearch.com/.
APA Citation
Speaking of Research. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://speakingofresearch.com/
8. Understanding Animal Research
This website offers a variety of resources for journalists, scientists, schools, and policymakers. It also links to a number of news articles and other resources.
MLA 8 Citation
Understanding Animal Research. www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/.
APA Citation
Understanding Animal Research. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/
9. International Association Against Painful Experiments on Animals
Founded in 1969, this organization argues against all forms of animal testing.
MLA 8 Citation
International Association Against Painful Experiments on Animals. www.iaapea.com/.
APA Citation
International Association Against Painful Experiments on Animals. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.iaapea.com/
10. PETA
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is the self-proclaimed largest animal rights organization in the world and focuses on ending animal cruelty.
MLA 8 Citation
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). www.peta.org/.
APA Citation
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.peta.org/
Animal testing news articles
11. How Animal Experiments Paved the Way for the CIA’s Torture Program
The author of this article, a neurologist and public health specialist, reveals that government torture of humans was directly inspired by similar animal testing. She also advocates for the government to stop its continued systematic experimentation on animals.
MLA 8 Citation
Akhtar, Aysha. “How Animal Experiments Paved the Way for the CIA’s Torture Program.” HuffPost, Oath Inc., 21 Jan. 2015, www.huffingtonpost.com/aysha-akhtar/how-animal-experiments-pa_b_6462706.html.
APA Citation
Akhtar, A. (2015). How animal experiments paved the way for the CIA’s torture program. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aysha-akhtar/how-animal-experiments-pa_b_6462706.html
12. New Law Gives Cats and Dogs in Research Labs a Second Chance At Life
Published by HuffPost, this article discusses a 2016 law that states, “All state-funded research labs must make dogs and cats used as test subjects available for adoption—as opposed to euthanizing them—when testing is complete.”
MLA 8 Citation
Hanson, Hillary. “New Law Gives Cats and Dogs in Research Labs A Second Chance At Life.” HuffPost, Oath Inc., 17 Aug. 2016, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/law-dogs-cats-adoption-testing-beagle-freedom_us_57b4b2b4e4b0fd5a2f40d552.
APA Citation
Hanson, H. (2016). New law gives cats and dogs in research labs a second chance at life. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/law-dogs-cats-adoption-testing-beagle-freedom_us_57b4b2b4e4b0fd5a2f40d552
13. U.S. Research Lab Lets Livestock Suffer in Quest for Profit
This lengthy New York Times article describes a variety of tests, surgeries, and other experiments a giant research lab is using in an attempt to re-engineer farm animals. While the animals are a potential benefit to both the farms and the consumer, the harm and pain inflicted on the animals are extreme.
MLA 8 Citation
Moss, Michael. “U.S. Research Lab Lets Livestock Suffer in Quest for Profit.” The New York Times, 19 Jan. 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/01/20/dining/animal-welfare-at-risk-in-experiments-for-meat-industry.html?_r=1.
APA Citation
Moss, M. (2015, January 19). U.S. research lab lets livestock suffer in quest for profit. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/20/dining/animal-welfare-at-risk-in-experiments-for-meat-industry.html?_r=1
14. About Cosmetics Animal Testing
Posted by Humane Society International, this article includes an overview of the testing of cosmetics on animals, as well as links to activism sites.
MLA 8 Citation
“About Cosmetics Animal Testing.” Humane Society International, 6 March 2013, www.hsi.org/issues/becrueltyfree/facts/about_cosmetics _animal_testing.html.
APA Citation
About cosmetics animal testing. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.hsi.org /issues/becrueltyfree/facts/about_cosmetics_animal_testing.html
15. To Kill a Lab Rat
Many animals used in testing are euthanized after experiments by being forced to inhale carbon dioxide. Animals feel distress during this process, and this article reports that labs, because of the pain and discomfort felt by animals, are being asked to use anesthesia.
Many, however, question whether this practice will be effective as it too may cause some distress to animals.
This article highlights the controversy surrounding the topic of animal testing. If you’re completing your own research on the subject, take a look at How to Write Perfect Survey Questions for Your Paper.
MLA 8 Citation
Grens, Kerry. “To Kill a Lab Rat.” The Scientist, LabX Media Group, 4 Nov. 2014, www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/41378/title/To-Kill-a-Lab-Rat/.
APA Citation
Grens, K. (2014, November 4). To kill a lab rat. The Scientist. Retrieved from http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/41378/title/To-Kill-a-Lab-Rat/
16. “Shocking” Animal Rights Exposés by Newspapers Were Nothing of the Kind
This article argues that, while it’s clear that some animal abuse occurs during experimentation, some newspapers sensationalize the reports. It further argues that only a handful of abuse cases can be substantiated.
MLA 8 Citation
Fox, Fiona. “‘Shocking’ Animal Rights Exposés by Newspapers Were Nothing of the Kind.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media Limited, 7 Oct. 2014, www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/07/animal-rights-uk-newspapers-buav.
APA Citation
Fox, F. (2104, October 7). “Shocking” animal rights exposés by newspapers were nothing of the kind. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/07/animal-rights-uk-newspapers-buav
17. Animal Experimentation Up 73%, Study Says
The animal rights organization PETA claims that the use of animals in federally funded labs has increased 75% in the past 15 years. The article also includes the opinion of the National Institute of Health, who argues that PETA has used the data inappropriately and, thus, dismisses the study.
This article is published by CBS News and is a credible news source.
MLA 8 Citation
Casey, Michael. “Animal Experimentation up 73 Percent, Study Says.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 26 Feb. 2015, www.cbsnews.com/news/peta-study-finds-animal-testing-in-federal-labs-on-the-increase/.
APA Citation
Casey, M. (2015). Animal experimentation up 73 percent, study says. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/peta-study-finds-animal-testing-in-federal-labs-on-the-increase/
18. Companies Are Making Human Skin in Labs to Curb Animal Testing of Products
Published by CNBC.com, this article explains that the cosmetics company L’Oreal is growing human skin (called EpiSkin) in labs. The lab-grown skin is used to test cosmetics and help reduce the number of animals used in testing.
MLA 8 Citation
Woods, Bob. “Companies Are Making Human Skin in Labs to Curb Animal Testing of Products.” CNBC.com, 28 May 2017, www.cnbc.com/2017/05/25/loreal-is-making-lab-produced-human-skin-to-curb-animal-testing.html.
APA Citation
Woods, B. (2017). Companies are making human skin in labs to curb animal testing of products. Retrieved from http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/25/loreal-is-making-lab-produced-human-skin-to-curb-animal-testing.html
19. The Price of Killing Off Animal Testing
Published in Newsweek, this article reports that, if animal rights activists achieved their goal of ending all animal testing, many people would suffer. The president of the Foundation for Biomedical Research even claims it “…would be a death sentence for millions of people around the world.”
MLA 8 Citation
Ericson, John. “The Price of Killing Off Animal Testing.” Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2014, www.newsweek.com/2014/02/21/price-killing-animal-testing-245548.html.
APA Citation
Ericson, J. (2014, February 20). The price of killing off animal testing. Newsweek. Retrieved from http://www.newsweek.com/2014/02/21/price-killing-animal-testing-245548.html
20. The 6 Craziest Animal Experiments
Just as it sounds, this article provides a brief discussion of six strange and sometimes controversial animal experiments.
MLA 8 Citation
Wolchover, Natalie. “The 6 Craziest Animal Experiments.” LiveScience, TechMedia Network, 1 August 2011, www.livescience.com/33420-6-craziest-animal-experiments.html.
APA Citation
Wolchover, N. (2011). The 6 craziest animal experiments. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/33420-6-craziest-animal-experiments.html
Finalizing Your Research
It’s probably safe to say that, although this blog post contains 20 credible animal testing articles to support a persuasive essay, not all of the articles included here will work for your paper.
This, of course, means you’ll need to do more research.
Remember, finding good sources takes time, so don’t just use the first animal testing articles listed in your Google search. In fact, Google isn’t even the best way to complete your research (really!).
Google is a great start, but there are other places to find credible resources. Where, you ask? Read the 5 Best Sources to Help with Writing a Research Paper to find out!
Looking for even more help writing a persuasive essay? Read these posts:
- What Is a Persuasive Essay and How Can You Makes Yours Good?
- How to Create a Persuasive Essay Outline
- Persuasive Essay Writing Made Simple
Want to see what other students have written about the topic ? Check out these example essays about animal testing.
Need someone to review your finished paper? Have a Kibin editor help revise and edit!
