Essay topics for the 2024 ENEM exam: 10 likely subjects

The essay topic for the 2024 ENEM exam is gaining prominence in the press and in preparatory courses as the exam day approaches.

1. Artificial Intelligences

Once a concept confined to science fiction films, artificial intelligence is now progressing by leaps and bounds, with remarkable advances in areas such as robotics, programming, computer science, industrial systems, and even within artistic production.

Artificial intelligences such as ChatGPTOpenAI's Bard, Google's Bard, and Meta's Chat LLaMA are transforming the world as we know it.

The enormous processing power of these systems allows for the instant production of content, from well-written literary reviews to sophisticated web programming code.

Therefore, it is very likely that the AI revolution will be addressed in the 2024 ENEM exam and may even be the topic of the essay.

2. Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The war, which has been ongoing since February 2014 with the dispute over the possession of Crimea, took a dramatic turn in February 2022 when Russia invaded eastern Ukraine.

According to Reuters data, more than 60,000 people have died since the start of the conflict. At the same time, 17 million people have been displaced and losses amount to R$ 2 trillion.

The Russo-Ukrainian War is the largest military conflict on the European continent since the end of World War II (1939-1945).

Given its tragic historical and geopolitical significance, this is a topic that will likely be addressed in the 2024 ENEM exam.

3. Violent Attacks in Schools

This sensitive issue involves relevant questions about safety, mental health, prevention, and public policy.

Especially if it is suggested as an essay, it will be an opportunity for students to reflect on and present proposals for dealing with this worrying reality.

At the same time, seek solutions that promote a safer and more welcoming school environment for all students.

4. Conscious Use of Information

"The Conscious Use of Information" is an essential skill in our digital age, where we are constantly bombarded with a vast amount of data and news.

In this sense, it is essential to learn how to filter reliable sources, verify the accuracy of information, and avoid spreading fake news.

Furthermore, we must be responsible when sharing content, avoiding the spread of misleading information that could harm individuals or society.

This debate could be proposed in Language and Humanities exams.

5. Fake News

Just as the conscious use of information is a very relevant topic today, so is the identification and combating of fake news.

Given the importance of the subject, which takes on dramatic proportions with each new democratic election, fake news could even be the main topic of the essay.

6. Excessive Information Consumption

Excessive consumption of information – whether reliable or false – can be quite damaging to people's mental health.

Cases of depression, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and agoraphobia fueled by overexposure to information are not uncommon.

Given the urgency of the issue, which affects thousands of young and adult Brazilians each year, the subject may be raised in the Language and Humanities exams.

7. Brazilian Prison System

Brazil has the third largest prison population in the world: almost 1 million inmates.

Of these, almost half (44.5%) are provisional – that is, they have not yet been effectively judged by the courts.

The annual cost of the prison population reaches R$ 20 billion. It is estimated that 1 in 5 inmates are HIV positive.

A thorny issue in itself, the Brazilian prison system can be addressed both as an objective question in humanities exams and as the focus of an essay.

8. Female Representation in Politics

While they make up 51.11% of the Brazilian population, women comprise only 17.7% of the Chamber of Deputies (2023-2027 legislature).

Although this percentage is increasing with each new election, this progress is falling short of expectations.

Even after the implementation of special policies and quotas for women, in order to encourage them to engage within political parties and run for elections, there is still much debate and improvements that need to be made.

It is against this backdrop that the 2024 ENEM exam may invite students to delve into the topic, whether in the essay or in the humanities questions.

9. Democratization of Access to Culture

This topic could be a direct continuation of the 2019 essay topic, which addressed the Democratization of Access to Cinema in Brazil.

Access to culture is a right enshrined in the Federal Constitution itself, which states that the State:

It will guarantee everyone the full exercise of cultural rights;
Access to sources of national culture;
It will support and encourage the appreciation and dissemination of cultural expressions.

Due to its importance, this topic may appear as a multiple-choice question on the Language, Humanities, or essay sections of the exam.

10. Global Warming

Global warming, a phenomenon widely discussed in scientific research, is an inevitable reality.

Amid the constant and uninterrupted increase in the planet's average temperature – 2023 was the hottest year of the century – this issue is urgent, including with the aim of raising awareness among younger generations.

Conclusion

The 2024 ENEM exam is approaching and, as always, the essay is a very important part of the assessment.

Preparing adequately for the possible topics that may be covered is fundamental to achieving a good score and standing out in the search for a place in higher education.

Each of the topics listed offers a unique opportunity for reflection and debate on relevant issues in today's society.

By familiarizing themselves with these topics and developing argumentation and analytical skills, students will be better equipped to face the challenge of the college entrance exam essay.

Victor Sousa

I am a member of the O Administrador team and I produce content about career, personal finance, financial education, productivity, and professional development. My goal is to share clear and practical information to help readers with their day-to-day decisions.

February 12, 2024

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