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112 Persuasive Speech Topics That Are Actually Engaging

What’s covered:, how to pick an awesome persuasive speech topic, 112 engaging persuasive speech topics, tips for preparing your persuasive speech.

Writing a stellar persuasive speech requires a carefully crafted argument that will resonate with your audience to sway them to your side. This feat can be challenging to accomplish, but an engaging, thought-provoking speech topic is an excellent place to start.

When it comes time to select a topic for your persuasive speech, you may feel overwhelmed by all the options to choose from—or your brain may be drawing a completely blank slate. If you’re having trouble thinking of the perfect topic, don’t worry. We’re here to help!

In this post, we’re sharing how to choose the perfect persuasive speech topic and tips to prepare for your speech. Plus, you’ll find 112 persuasive speech topics that you can take directly from us or use as creative inspiration for your own ideas!

Choose Something You’re Passionate About

It’s much easier to write, research, and deliver a speech about a cause you care about. Even if it’s challenging to find a topic that completely sparks your interest, try to choose a topic that aligns with your passions.

However, keep in mind that not everyone has the same interests as you. Try to choose a general topic to grab the attention of the majority of your audience, but one that’s specific enough to keep them engaged.

For example, suppose you’re giving a persuasive speech about book censorship. In that case, it’s probably too niche to talk about why “To Kill a Mockingbird” shouldn’t be censored (even if it’s your favorite book), and it’s too broad to talk about media censorship in general.

Steer Clear of Cliches

Have you already heard a persuasive speech topic presented dozens of times? If so, it’s probably not an excellent choice for your speech—even if it’s an issue you’re incredibly passionate about.

Although polarizing topics like abortion and climate control are important to discuss, they aren’t great persuasive speech topics. Most people have already formed an opinion on these topics, which will either cause them to tune out or have a negative impression of your speech.

Instead, choose topics that are fresh, unique, and new. If your audience has never heard your idea presented before, they will be more open to your argument and engaged in your speech.

Have a Clear Side of Opposition

For a persuasive speech to be engaging, there must be a clear side of opposition. To help determine the arguability of your topic, ask yourself: “If I presented my viewpoint on this topic to a group of peers, would someone disagree with me?” If the answer is yes, then you’ve chosen a great topic!

Now that we’ve laid the groundwork for what it takes to choose a great persuasive speech topic, here are over one hundred options for you to choose from.

• Should high school athletes get tested for steroids?
• Should schools be required to have physical education courses?
• Should sports grades in school depend on things like athletic ability?
• What sport should be added to or removed from the Olympics?
• Should college athletes be able to make money off of their merchandise?
• Should sports teams be able to recruit young athletes without a college degree?
• Should we consider video gamers as professional athletes?
• Is cheerleading considered a sport?
• Should parents allow their kids to play contact sports?
• Should professional female athletes be paid the same as professional male athletes?
• Should college be free at the undergraduate level?
• Is the traditional college experience obsolete?
• Should you choose a major based on your interests or your potential salary?
• Should high school students have to meet a required number of service hours before graduating?
• Should teachers earn more or less based on how their students perform on standardized tests?
• Are private high schools more effective than public high schools?
• Should there be a minimum number of attendance days required to graduate?
• Are GPAs harmful or helpful?
• Should schools be required to teach about standardized testing?
• Should Greek Life be banned in the United States?
• Should schools offer science classes explicitly about mental health?
• Should students be able to bring their cell phones to school?
• Should all public restrooms be all-gender?
• Should undocumented immigrants have the same employment and education opportunities as citizens?
• Should everyone be paid a living wage regardless of their employment status?
• Should supremacist groups be able to hold public events?
• Should guns be allowed in public places?
• Should the national drinking age be lowered?
• Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
• Should the government raise or lower the retirement age?
• Should the government be able to control the population?
• Is the death penalty ethical?

Environment

• Should stores charge customers for plastic bags?
• Should breeding animals (dogs, cats, etc.) be illegal?
• Is it okay to have exotic animals as pets?
• Should people be fined for not recycling?
• Should compost bins become mandatory for restaurants?
• Should electric vehicles have their own transportation infrastructure?
• Would heavier fining policies reduce corporations’ emissions?
• Should hunting be encouraged or illegal?
• Should reusable diapers replace disposable diapers?

Science & Technology

• Is paper media more reliable than digital news sources?
• Should automated/self-driving cars be legalized?
• Should schools be required to provide laptops to all students?
• Should software companies be able to have pre-downloaded programs and applications on devices?
• Should drones be allowed in military warfare?
• Should scientists invest more or less money into cancer research?
• Should cloning be illegal?
• Should societies colonize other planets?
• Should there be legal oversight over the development of technology?

Social Media

• Should there be an age limit on social media?
• Should cyberbullying have the same repercussions as in-person bullying?
• Are online relationships as valuable as in-person relationships?
• Does “cancel culture” have a positive or negative impact on societies?
• Are social media platforms reliable information or news sources?
• Should social media be censored?
• Does social media create an unrealistic standard of beauty?
• Is regular social media usage damaging to real-life interactions?
• Is social media distorting democracy?
• How many branches of government should there be?
• Who is the best/worst president of all time?
• How long should judges serve in the U.S. Supreme Court?
• Should a more significant portion of the U.S. budget be contributed towards education?
• Should the government invest in rapid transcontinental transportation infrastructure?
• Should airport screening be more or less stringent?
• Should the electoral college be dismantled?
• Should the U.S. have open borders?
• Should the government spend more or less money on space exploration?
• Should students sing Christmas carols, say the pledge of allegiance, or perform other tangentially religious activities?
• Should nuns and priests become genderless roles?
• Should schools and other public buildings have prayer rooms?
• Should animal sacrifice be legal if it occurs in a religious context?
• Should countries be allowed to impose a national religion on their citizens?
• Should the church be separated from the state?
• Does freedom of religion positively or negatively affect societies?

Parenting & Family

• Is it better to have children at a younger or older age?
• Is it better for children to go to daycare or stay home with their parents?
• Does birth order affect personality?
• Should parents or the school system teach their kids about sex?
• Are family traditions important?
• Should parents smoke or drink around young children?
• Should “spanking” children be illegal?
• Should parents use swear words in front of their children?
• Should parents allow their children to play violent video games?

Entertainment

• Should all actors be paid the same regardless of gender or ethnicity?
• Should all award shows be based on popular vote?
• Who should be responsible for paying taxes on prize money, the game show staff or the contestants?
• Should movies and television shows have ethnicity and gender quotas?
• Should newspapers and magazines move to a completely online format?
• Should streaming services like Netflix and Hulu be free for students?
• Is the movie rating system still effective?
• Should celebrities have more privacy rights?

Arts & Humanities

• Are libraries becoming obsolete?
• Should all schools have mandatory art or music courses in their curriculum?
• Should offensive language be censored from classic literary works?
• Is it ethical for museums to keep indigenous artifacts?
• Should digital designs be considered an art form? 
• Should abstract art be considered an art form?
• Is music therapy effective?
• Should tattoos be regarded as “professional dress” for work?
• Should schools place greater emphasis on the arts programs?
• Should euthanasia be allowed in hospitals and other clinical settings?
• Should the government support and implement universal healthcare?
• Would obesity rates lower if the government intervened to make healthy foods more affordable?
• Should teenagers be given access to birth control pills without parental consent?
• Should food allergies be considered a disease?
• Should health insurance cover homeopathic medicine?
• Is using painkillers healthy?
• Should genetically modified foods be banned?
• Should there be a tax on unhealthy foods?
• Should tobacco products be banned from the country?
• Should the birth control pill be free for everyone?

If you need more help brainstorming topics, especially those that are personalized to your interests, you can  use CollegeVine’s free AI tutor, Ivy . Ivy can help you come up with original persuasive speech ideas, and she can also help with the rest of your homework, from math to languages.

Do Your Research

A great persuasive speech is supported with plenty of well-researched facts and evidence. So before you begin the writing process, research both sides of the topic you’re presenting in-depth to gain a well-rounded perspective of the topic.

Understand Your Audience

It’s critical to understand your audience to deliver a great persuasive speech. After all, you are trying to convince them that your viewpoint is correct. Before writing your speech, consider the facts and information that your audience may already know, and think about the beliefs and concerns they may have about your topic. Then, address these concerns in your speech, and be mindful to include fresh, new information.

Have Someone Read Your Speech

Once you have finished writing your speech, have someone read it to check for areas of strength and improvement. You can use CollegeVine’s free essay review tool to get feedback on your speech from a peer!

Practice Makes Perfect

After completing your final draft, the key to success is to practice. Present your speech out loud in front of a mirror, your family, friends, and basically, anyone who will listen. Not only will the feedback of others help you to make your speech better, but you’ll become more confident in your presentation skills and may even be able to commit your speech to memory.

Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to write a powerful, unique persuasive speech. With the perfect topic, plenty of practice, and a boost of self-confidence, we know you’ll impress your audience with a remarkable speech!

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150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics for Students in 2024

April 1, 2024

Do you know that moment in your favorite film, when the soundtrack begins to swell and the main character stands up and delivers a speech so rousing, so impassioned, it has the entire room either weeping or cheering by the time it concludes? What distinguishes the effectiveness of such a speech is not only the protagonist’s stellar delivery but also the compelling nature of the subject matter at hand. Choosing an effective persuasive speech topic is essential for guaranteeing that your future speech or essay is as moving as these . If this sounds like a tall order, have no fear. Below you’ll find a list of some of the best and most interesting persuasive speech topics for high school students to tackle, from the playful (“Pets for President”) to the serious (“Should We Stop AI from Replacing Human Workers?”).

And if you’re craving more inspiration, feel free to check out this list of Great Debate Topics , which can be used to generate further ideas.

What is a Good Persuasive Speech?

Before we get to the list, we must address the question on everyone’s minds: what is a persuasive speech, and what the heck makes for a good persuasive speech topic? A persuasive speech is a speech that aims to convince its listeners of a particular point of view . At the heart of each persuasive speech is a central conflict . Note: The persuasive speech stands in contrast to a simple informative speech, which is intended purely to convey information. (I.e., an informative speech topic might read: “The History of Making One’s Bed,” while a persuasive speech topic would be: “Why Making One’s Bed is a Waste of Time”—understand?)

And lest you think that persuasive speeches are simply assigned by your teachers as a particularly cruel form of torture, remember that practicing your oratory skills will benefit you in all areas of life—from job interviews, to business negotiations, to your future college career in public policy or international relations . Knowing how to use your voice to enact meaningful change is a valuable skill that can empower you to make a difference in the world.

Components of a Great Persuasive Speech Topic

The ideal persuasive speech topic will inspire the audience to action via both logical arguments and emotional appeals. As such, we can summarize the question “what makes a good persuasive speech topic?” by saying that the topic must possess the following qualities:

• Timeliness and Relevance . Great persuasive speech topics grapple with a contemporary issue that is meaningful to the listener at hand. The topic might be a current news item, or it might be a long-standing social issue. In either case, the topic should be one with real-world implications.
• Complexity . A fruitful persuasive speech topic will have many facets. Topics that are controversial, with some gray area, lend themselves to a high degree of critical thinking. They also offer the speaker an opportunity to consider and refute all counterarguments before making a compelling case for his or her own position.
• Evidence . You want to be able to back up your argument with clear evidence from reputable sources (i.e., not your best friend or dog). The more evidence and data you can gather, the more sound your position will be. In addition, your audience will be more inclined to trust you.
• Personal Connection. Do you feel passionately about the topic you’ve chosen? If not, it may be time to go back to the drawing board. This does not mean you have to support the side you choose; sometimes, arguing for the opposing side of what you personally believe can be an effective exercise in building empathy and perspective. Either way, though, the key is to select a topic that you care deeply about. Your passion will be infectious to the audience.

150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should tech companies regulate the development of AI systems and automation to protect humans’ jobs?
• Should we limit screen time for children?
• Is it ethical for AI models like Dall-E to train themselves on artists’ work without the artists’ permission?
• Should the government regulate the use of personal drones?
• Is mass surveillance ethical? Does its threat to civil liberties outweigh its benefits?
• Are virtual reality experiences a valuable educational tool?
• Do the positive effects of powerful AI systems outweigh the risks?
• Do voice assistants like Siri and Alexa invade individuals’ privacy?
• Are cell phone bans in the classroom effective for improving student learning?
• Does the use of facial recognition technology in public violate individuals’ privacy?
• Should students be allowed to use ChatGPT and other AI tools for writing assignments?
• Should AI-generated art be allowed in art shows or contests?
• Who holds responsibility for accidents caused by self-driving cars: the driver or the car company?

Business and Economy

• Should we do away with the minimum wage? Why or why not?
• Is it ethical for companies to use unpaid internships as a source of labor?
• Does the gig economy benefit or harm workers?
• Is capitalism the best economic system?
• Is it ethical for companies to use sweatshops in developing countries?
• Should the government provide free healthcare for all citizens?
• Should the government regulate prices on pharmaceutical drugs?
• Should the government enact a universal base income?
• Should customers be required to tip a minimum amount in order to ensure food service workers make a living wage?
• Should someone’s tattoos or personal appearance factor into the hiring process?
• Should US workers have more vacation time?
• Is big game hunting beneficial for local communities?
• Should we legalize euthanasia?
• Is it ethical to use animals for medical research?
• Is it ethical to allow access to experimental treatments for terminally ill patients?
• Should we allow genetic engineering in humans?
• Is the death penalty obsolete?
• Should we allow the cloning of humans?
• Is it ethical to allow performance-enhancing drugs in sports?
• Should embryonic stem cell collection be allowed?
• Do frozen IVF embryos have rights?
• Should state and federal investigators be allowed to use DNA from genealogy databases?
• Should the government limit how many children a couple can have?
• Is spanking children an acceptable form of discipline?
• Should we allow parents to choose their children’s physical attributes through genetic engineering?
• Should we require parents to vaccinate their children?
• Should we require companies to give mandatory paternal and maternal leave?
• Should children be allowed to watch violent movies and video games?
• Should parents allow their teenagers to drink before they turn 21?
• Should the government provide childcare?
• Should telling your children about Santa Claus be considered lying?
• Should one parent stay home?
• Should parental consent be required for minors to receive birth control?
• Is it an invasion of privacy for parents to post photographs of their children on social media?

Social Media

• Should social media platforms ban political ads?
• Do the benefits of social media outweigh the downsides?
• Should the government hold social media companies responsible for hate speech on their platforms?
• Is social media making us more or less social?
• Do platforms like TikTok exacerbate mental health issues in teens?
• Should the government regulate social media to protect citizens’ privacy?
• Is it right for parents to monitor their children’s social media accounts?
• Should social media companies enact a minimum user age restriction?
• Should we require social media companies to protect user data?
• Should we hold social media companies responsible for cyberbullying?
• Should schools ban the use of social media from their networks?
• Should we be allowed to record others without their consent?
• Do online crime sleuths help or hurt criminal investigations?

Education – Persuasive Speech Topics 

• Would trade schools and other forms of vocational training benefit a greater number of students than traditional institutions of higher education?
• Should colleges use standardized testing in their admissions processes?
• Is forcing students to say the Pledge a violation of their right to freedom of speech?
• Should school districts offer bilingual education programs for non-native speakers?
• Should schools do away with their physical education requirements?
• Should schools incorporate a remote learning option into their curriculum?
• Should we allow school libraries to ban certain books?
• Should we remove historical figures who owned slaves from school textbooks and other educational materials?
• Should we have mixed-level classrooms or divide students according to ability?
• Should grading on a curve be allowed?
• Should graphic novels be considered literature?
• Should all students have to take financial literacy classes before graduating?
• Should colleges pay student athletes?
• Should we ban violent contact sports like boxing and MMA?
• Should sports leagues require professional athletes to stand during the national anthem?
• Should sports teams ban players like Kyrie Irving when they spread misinformation or hate speech?
• Should high schools require their athletes to maintain a certain GPA?
• Should the Olympic committee allow transgender athletes to compete?
• Should high schools ban football due to its safety risks to players?
• Should all high school students be required to play a team sport?
• Should sports teams be mixed instead of single-gender?
• Should there be different athletic standards for men and women?
• In which renewable energy option would the US do best to invest?
• Should the US prioritize space exploration over domestic initiatives?
• Should companies with a high carbon footprint be punished?
• Should the FDA ban GMOs?
• Would the world be a safer place without nuclear weapons?
• Does AI pose a greater threat to humanity than it does the potential for advancement?
• Who holds the most responsibility for mitigating climate change: individuals or corporations?
• Should we be allowed to resurrect extinct species?
• Are cancer screening programs ethical?

Social Issues – Persuasive Speech Topics

• College education: should the government make it free for all?
• Should we provide free healthcare for undocumented immigrants?
• Is physician-assisted suicide morally justifiable?
• Does social media have a negative impact on democracy?
• Does cancel culture impede free speech?
• Does affirmative action help or hinder minority groups in the workplace?
• Should we hold public figures and celebrities to a higher standard of morality?
• Should abortion be an issue that is decided at the federal or state level?
• Should the sex offender registry be available to the public?
• Should undocumented immigrants have a path to amnesty?
• Do syringe services programs reduce or increase harmful behaviors?
• Should there be a statute of limitations?
• Should those who are convicted of a crime be required to report their criminal history on job and housing applications?

Politics and Government

• Is the Electoral College still an effective way to elect the President of the US?
• Should we allow judges to serve on the Supreme Court indefinitely?
• Should the US establish a national gun registry?
• Countries like Israel and China require all citizens to serve in the military. Is this a good or bad policy?
• Should the police force require all its officers to wear body cameras while on duty?
• Should the US invest in the development of clean meat as a sustainable protein source?
• Should the US adopt ranked-choice voting?
• Should institutions that profited from slavery provide reparations?
• Should the government return land to Native American tribes?
• Should there be term limits for representatives and senators?
• Should there be an age limit for presidential candidates?
• Should women be allowed in special forces units?

Easy Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should schools have uniforms?
• Can video games improve problem-solving skills?
• Are online classes as effective as in-person classes?
• Should companies implement a four-day work week?
• Co-ed learning versus single-sex: which is more effective?
• Should the school day start later?
• Is homework an effective teaching tool?
• Are electric cars really better for the environment?
• Should schools require all students to study a foreign language?
• Do professional athletes get paid too much money?

Fun Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should we allow pets to run for public office?
• Does pineapple belong on pizza?
• Would students benefit from schools swapping out desks with more comfortable seating arrangements (i.e., bean bag chairs and couches)?
• Is procrastination the key to success?
• Should Americans adopt British accents to sound more intelligent?
• The age-old dilemma: cats or dogs?
• Should meme creators receive royalties when their memes go viral?
• Should there be a minimum drinking age for coffee?
• Are people who make their beds every day more successful than those who don’t?

Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics

• Is the movie ranking system an effective way to evaluate the appropriateness of films?
• Should the government place a “health tax” on junk food?
• Is it ethical to create artificial life forms that are capable of complex emotions?
• Should parents let children choose their own names?
• Creating clones of ourselves to serve as organ donors: ethical or not?
• Is it ethical to engineer humans to be better and more optimized than nature intended?
• Should we adopt a universal language to communicate with people from all countries?
• Should there be a penalty for people who don’t vote?
• Should calories be printed on menus?
• Does tourism positively or negatively impact local communities?
• When used by non-Natives, are dreamcatchers cultural appropriation?
• Should companies require their employees to specify pronouns in their signature line?
• Should commercial fishing be banned?
• Are cemeteries sustainable?
• Is it okay to change the race, culture, and/or gender of historical figures in movies or TV shows?

I’ve Chosen My Topic, Now What?

Once you’ve selected your topic, it’s time to get to work crafting your argument. Preparation for a persuasive speech or essay involves some key steps, which we’ve outlined for you below.

How to Create a Successful Persuasive Speech, Step by Step

• Research your topic. Read widely and smartly. Stick to credible sources, such as peer-reviewed articles, published books, government reports, textbooks, and news articles. The right sources and data will be necessary to help you establish your authority. As you go, take notes on the details and nuances of your topic as well as potential counterarguments. Research the counterarguments, too.
• Choose an angle. For example, if you chose the topic “Should we limit screen time for children?” your speech should come down firmly on one side of that debate. If your topic is frequently debated, such as abortion, capital punishment, gun control, social media, etc. try to find a niche angle or new research. For example, instead of “Should abortion be legal?” you might consider “Should you be able to order abortion pills online?” Another example: “Should the death penalty be banned?” might become “How long is it ethical for someone to stay on death row?” If you do some digging, even the most cliche topics have incredibly interesting and relatively unexplored sub-topics.
• Create an outline. Your outline should include an introduction with a thesis statement, a body that uses evidence to elaborate and support your position while refuting any counterarguments, and a conclusion. The conclusion will both summarize the points made earlier and serve as your final chance to persuade your audience.
• Write your speech. Use your outline to help you as well as the data you’ve collected. Remember: this is not dry writing; this writing has a point of view, and that point of view is yours . Accordingly, use anecdotes and examples to back up your argument. The essential components of this speech are logos (logic), ethos (credibility), and pathos (emotion) . The ideal speech will use all three of these functions to engage the audience.

How to Practice and Deliver a Persuasive Speech

• Talk to yourself in the mirror, record yourself, and/or hold a practice speech for family or friends. If you’ll be using visual cues, a slide deck, or notecards, practice incorporating them seamlessly into your speech. You should practice until your speech feels very familiar, at least 5-10 times.
• Practice body language. Are you making eye contact with your audience, or looking at the ground? Crossing your arms over your chest or walking back and forth across the room? Playing with your hair, cracking your knuckles, or picking at your clothes? Practicing what to do with your body, face, and hands will help you feel more confident on speech day.
• Take it slow. It’s common to talk quickly while delivering a speech—most of us want to get it over with! However, your audience will be able to connect with you much more effectively if you speak at a moderate pace, breathe, and pause when appropriate.
• Give yourself grace. How you recover from a mistake is much more important than the mistake itself. Typically, the best approach is to good-naturedly shrug off a blip and move on. 99% of the time, your audience won’t even notice!

Good Persuasive Speech Topics—Final Thoughts

The art of persuasive speaking is a tricky one, but the tips and tricks laid out here will help you craft a compelling argument that will sway even the most dubious audience to your side. Mastering this art takes both time and practice, so don’t fret if it doesn’t come to you right away. Remember to draw upon your sources, speak with authority, and have fun. Once you have the skill of persuasive speaking down, go out there and use your voice to impact change!

Looking for some hot-button topics in college admissions? You might consider checking out the following:

• Do Colleges Look at Social Media?
• Should I Apply Test-Optional to College?
• Should I Waive My Right to See Letters of Recommendation?
• Should I Use the Common App Additional Information Section?
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Lauren Green

With a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Columbia University and an MFA in Fiction from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin, Lauren has been a professional writer for over a decade. She is the author of the chapbook  A Great Dark House  (Poetry Society of America, 2023) and a forthcoming novel (Viking/Penguin).

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Persuasive Speech Topics: The Best 150 Ideas

Plus, a step-by-step guide for writing and delivering your speech.

Persuasive speech topics can inspire an audience and influence change in your community, town, or city. Whether you are giving a presentation at a large conference or converting a college essay into a speech to be given at your high school's auditorium, delivering a persuasive speech is not an easy task. We are here to guide you through this difficult process and provide you with 150 persuasive speech topics that can help you prepare your own inspirational presentation.

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Article Contents 13 min read

The art of persuasion.

The art of oratory is one of the oldest and most compelling persuasion tactics in human history. The power of speech has been used for centuries by men and women to negotiate peace, start revolutions, and inspire generations. At the source of change, we often witness a great speaker or speech that affected people’s worldviews. King Solomon, Socrates, Cicero, Elizabeth I, Napoleon, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, were all powerful speakers who changed the course of human history.  

Luckily, not every persuasive speech happens on such a grand scale. You do not have to become Napoleon to change the lives of people who hear what you have to say. You might have experienced this yourself – perhaps you have had a teacher who instilled in you a great passion for the study of physics during his lectures? Or you happened to attend a political, grassroots gathering where you heard a speech that changed your attitude towards homelessness or poverty. Or maybe your classmate's presentation revealed something about a novel you were reading in class that made you reflect on your own life and the people in it.

The power of a speech lies in your conviction and delivery of the topic you choose to discuss. A persuasive speech topic can be anything you are passionate about. Yes, it is true; whether you want to discuss the repercussions of the Cuban Revolution or analyze the power of K-pop in popular culture, it is up to you to enthrall the audience with your topic. The key to any successful speech is your confidence and enthusiasm. So, let’s start by examining what makes a speech persuasive.

To deliver a speech takes a lot of guts – not everybody is comfortable with public speaking. But to deliver a good speech takes conviction. Think of it like this: you must believe in the importance of your speech topic to discuss it. This must be something you care about and believe in; otherwise, your topic must be something that drives your curiosity, and you believe that it must be examined further.

Conviction stirs your desire to share this topic with others – you are convinced that other people will similarly find this topic fascinating! Whether it is the importance of recycling or bike lanes, the conviction is what will become the backbone of a successful and persuasive topic choice, as well as drive your desire to give a speech in the first place.

With conviction comes passion. These two elements of a successful speech are intimately intertwined. If you believe in the importance of something, you will be passionate about sharing it with the public.

If we look at some of the most famous speeches in human history, you will notice that conviction and passion are the driving force that makes these speeches legendary. Whether it's Cicero's defense of the Republic in the Roman Senate or Martin Luther King's speech in the defense of civil rights almost two millennia later, both these speakers believed in the importance of their convictions and were passionate about sharing their beliefs. In these cases, even despite the threats of death.

Unbiased Expertise

Conviction and passion should also drive your need to know everything there is to know about your topic. To give a persuasive speech, you must not only show confidence and excitement but demonstrate that you are an expert in the topic of your choice. Granted, if you are a high school student or an undergraduate who's been assigned to deliver a speech in less than 2 weeks, you are not going to become a world-renowned expert in your subject matter. However, as I pointed out, your speech topic should be something you are already passionate about, so you must have done some research and have some knowledge of your topic.

A persuasive speech should be based on facts. It should deliver arguments and counterarguments to show many sides of the issue you choose to discuss. For example, if you choose to discuss the importance of bike lanes, you can present several arguments in support of creating more bike lanes in your town or city, such as safety, decrease in traffic, environmental benefits, etc. However, make sure to include arguments that also show the other side of the issue, such as having to close down several major streets in your city to reconstruct the roads to fit in the new bike lanes and the side-effects of construction for businesses. Presenting both sides of the issue will show your comprehensive knowledge of the topic and demonstrate your professionalism.

Using the bike lanes topic as an example, I want to emphasize that showing unbiased research and knowledge of your topic can win the audience’s favor. You can, and should, still have your own opinion on the matter and defend your conviction in the speech but presenting the audience with both sides of the story is a tactic that will make them trust you.

Additionally, knowing both sides of the coin shows that you have come to your conviction after long and thorough research. You are not just presenting an uneducated opinion.

Taking care of the substance of your speech is the first step. While learning how to properly deliver your speech may seem less important, even the most well-researched and factually based speech will seem weak if the orator does not engage the public.

Though they certainly help your confidence, conviction and passion do not always result in strong delivery. This is understandable since public speaking is not everyone’s forte. While you may be animated and absorbing when you speak of your topic with friends, gripping an audience full of strangers is different.

There are three potential goals of any persuasive speech:

To familiarize your audience with a topic they have never considered before and inspire them to research it on their own. "}]" code="timeline1">

When you think about it, these objectives are pretty ambitious. Delivery plays a huge part in achieving these goals. It will be hard to move your audience to pursue any of these goals without clear articulation, professionalism, and charisma.

Strong delivery can be developed. Yes, there are those to whom oratory skills come more naturally, but this is rather an exception than the rule. Many successful orators were terrified of public speaking but worked hard to overcome their fears. A good example of this is King George VI of England. Before taking the throne in 1936, he was already an infamously bad speaker. The King trained to keep his speech impediment and nerves at bay once he was crowned and delivered one of the most inspiring speeches against Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich at the beginning of World War II.

Now that you know what makes a speech topic persuasive, let's go over a step-by-step formula that will help you choose the right topic for you. 

• Brainstorm where your convictions lie and what you are passionate about. You must reflect on what interests, hobbies, news, events, individuals, and activities of yours could be developed into a persuasive, strong narrative. 
• Narrow these down to 2 or 3 topics that are particularly important or riveting to you. 
• Now comes the practical side of the brainstorming process: take a moment to think whether preparing a comprehensive and compelling speech on this topic is feasible in the amount of time you have available. Consider the following questions: Are the topics of your choice well researched by you? Do you know these topics well? If you are not well-versed in the topic of your choice, do you have enough time to do research to present a comprehensive and complete narrative? Do you have enough time to form a well-developed stance about this topic? A thesis? Will you be able to cover several sides of this topic in the amount of time you have available?
• If you have answered “No” to these questions regarding each of the topics you had in mind, you must go back to the drawing board. 
• If you have come up with a topic that results in a positive response to all the questions mentioned in step 3, you might have found the winner.
• Start by developing a thesis, i.e., the main message of your speech. Without a thesis, you will not have a strong speech. 
• Develop arguments that endorse your thesis and support them with facts. Remember, a strong speech must be based on facts, rather than opinions and unsubstantiated statements.
• Research counterarguments to your thesis. While you may not personally support these, you must present a well-rounded picture of the issue you are discussing. 
• You can finish off your speech by responding to the counterarguments in a way that reinforces your thesis. Don't forget to re-emphasize your main message in the closing paragraphs of your speech.

Know your audience

It is always a good idea to know who your audience is. Whether you are giving a speech in your high school, or traveling to attend an undergraduate conference, reflect on who will be listening to your speech. Before you sit down to write it, consider whether you can give yourself the freedom to use technical language, jargon, or make inside jokes on the matter. In general, I would advise you to avoid overly technical or niche language. It is never a good tactic for making a persuasive speech – this might alienate a large part of your audience.

However, if you are delivering a speech to a like-minded audience, you may use "industry lingo". For example, if you are delivering a speech at a video game convention, it is likely that many, if not most, attendees will be familiar with the terms and vocabulary you use. You will be able to strengthen your speech by using language that unites you with your audience. In this case, you are encouraged to engage the public by making inside jokes, using niche terminology, and creating a relatable experience with your speech.

Knowing your audience will allow you to develop a language for your speech. It will also allow you to gauge how deep you can delve into the topic of your choice. For example, if you are a young physics aficionado who is giving a lecture on black holes to your sophomore classmates, you might want to consider the fact that many of them have never studied physics in depth. This may help you shape your speech into something accessible and interesting for others.

If you are unsure about who your audience might be, try researching it. It is always good practice to know whom you will be addressing. Not only will it help you prepare the speech, but it will also ease your anxiety about the day of your speech delivery.

Hook the audience

Your opening sentences can hook the audience and guarantee their attention. While it will be the substance of your speech that keeps them listening to you, the opening must be captivating for your speech to have a chance for success.

So, what do I mean by hooking the audience with your opening? For example, you can state a shocking statistic about your topic. It will be especially impactful if it is related to your audience’s experiences, geographical area, community, or hot-topic issue. Here’s an example for an opening sentence for a speech about the importance of bike lanes:

“Last year, the city of Toronto recorded 715 serious accidents involving cyclists, with over 5% of these accidents resulting in a fatality."

Now, if I was living in Toronto, I would be surprised to hear such information; especially, if I have never thought about this before. I am saddened by this statistic and would like to learn how we can help prevent these accidents.

Let’s examine another opening. This time, we will consider a speech topic involving a historical event. For example, if you are captivated by the mystery of Princess Anastasia of the Russian royal family, the House of Romanov, you might start your speech thusly:

“The question of whether the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova survived the brutal execution of her entire family by the Bolsheviks is one of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century.”

This sentence performs several tasks:

The opening sentence is your chance to establish yourself as the expert! You will seem like the authority on this topic, especially if you can pronounce the Princess's name without mistakes. "}]" code="timeline2">

Coming up with a strong opening sentence is not easy, but very worthwhile for delivering a persuasive speech. If you are having trouble finding the right opening sentence, you do not need to wait to start writing your speech. If you are stuck, move on to the main body of your speech and return to creating a captivating opening later.

To be persuasive, your speech must have a thesis. A thesis is the main argument you are trying to convince your audience of, or simply put, the purpose of you giving the speech. Without a thesis, your speech will be aimless, chaotic, and most likely, unengaging.

And while you can write your introduction after the main body of your speech is ready, you cannot write your speech without a thesis. It will be the landmark, the leading light, of your speech. Everything you say and every fact and argument you include in your essay must support your thesis. Certainly, you will be able to bring up alternative points of view later in the speech, but as we already discussed, your objective is to persuade the audience that your thesis is the correct one.

Let’s return to our bike lanes example. If you are a proponent of bike lanes, your thesis should be more than “Bike lanes are good”. While this can be considered a thesis, it is pretty thin. Instead, find a way to make your thesis compelling, include a supporting statistic, or a benefit of having bike lanes. For example: 

“Having more bike lanes in our city will not only reduce traffic by X% but also allow our city to be at the forefront of the environmentally friendly initiatives happening all over our country.” 

This thesis is clear and introduces the audience to some of the main points of the speech. The listeners get a concise prelude to what the speech is about and what it stands for.

Research and Arguments

Research is always conducted before you sit down to write. While you may have some general knowledge about your topic, remember that you are trying to be as persuasive as you possibly can be. This means that you need the latest statistics, the most up-to-date information, and the strongest support from experts in the field. 

Tip: keep in mind your thesis as you are writing. All your arguments and facts must be in support of the main purpose of your essay. While you should present alternative points of view in your speech to make it well-rounded and unbiased, a strong speech must contain arguments that make it clear that your thesis is the correct one.

Concluding your speech has a twofold purpose. In addition to persuading the audience of your thesis, you must complete your narrative. Give the audience some closure about the topic. On the other hand, you must leave them even more interested in learning about your research. In other words, they must be compelled to explore on their own.

Tip: your conclusion cannot be a dry summary of your thesis and arguments. While you must restate your thesis in the conclusion, you are strongly encouraged to incite an emotional response from your audience. For example:

“More bike lanes will alleviate the heavy traffic and relieve our city from car fumes and soot. It is our responsibility to start making our city more eco-friendly. These small steps will inspire even more initiatives across our hometown and lead to a brighter, greener, future."

In this example, the audience is not only reminded of the main purpose of the speech but is also encouraged to think of other green initiatives that can help their town. The author does a good job of invoking responsibility for the future to encourage their audience to act. 

Want to learn how to choose persuasive speech topics? Check out our infographic:

Now, let’s go over 150 persuasive speech topics that can inspire your own essay and presentation! Note that these are questions that should help you form ideas, arguments, and most importantly, theses. Rather than giving you the thesis upfront, we are encouraging you to come up with your own opinion and answers to these questions.

Your speech should be between 15 to 20 minutes long. Anything longer may lose your audience's attention. If applicable, don't forget to factor in some time after your presentation for questions from the audience.

The best way to approach the choice of topic is to reflect on your convictions and passions. If you are truly interested in a topic, your excitement will be felt by the audience.

Of course, you must be interested in your topic, first and foremost. Secondly, your speech must demonstrate a level of expertise and knowledge that will allow the audience to believe that you know what you are talking about. Thirdly, your delivery will have a great effect on whether you succeed in persuading the audience. Even a well-researched speech will suffer from poor delivery.

Firstly, only practice can really help you improve. Once you have written your speech, read it over several times. Do not memorize it, but rather, remember the structure, the flow of your arguments, your main points. Then start practicing pronouncing your entire speech in front of the mirror. Do this until you are quite confident with the content of the essay. Then, you can start practicing with family members, your friends, and classmates. Ask for their feedback: can they hear you well? Are you being articulate? Does your speech have a logical flow? Did they understand your thesis? Their feedback can help you modify not only your content, but also your presentation.

Your speech should take the form of an academic essay: introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Your speech must have a thesis, otherwise it will be meandering and pointless. A thesis will guide you and keep your essay/presentation well-structured. A thesis is what you will be arguing for (or against, if it's a negatively stated thesis) throughout your speech. And while you can include some alternative points of view in your speech, your thesis will inform every argument you make in the speech.

Typically, you should avoid using overly technical language. Even if you are presenting at a professional conference in front of peers, there is a chance that some of your audience will be unfamiliar with the professional terminology. To be inclusive, you should avoid niche language.

To be frank, there is no such thing. You can make a great speech on any topic of your choosing! Your research, your delivery, and your passion will determine whether your speech is successful.

Acknowledging opposing views and presence of debate will demonstrate your thorough knowledge of the topic. Additionally, you will demonstrate that you came to your conclusion/thesis after researching the topic, rather than simply forming an uneducated opinion.

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50 good persuasive speech topics

Good persuasive speech topics.

By:  Susan Dugdale  | Last modified: 08-06-2022

50 persuasive speech ideas, plus example topic treatments

You want good persuasive speech topics and, fortunately I've got quite a few here.☺

My list of 50 is below.

However, whether they are good for you and your audience is something to seriously think about before making your final choice.

What's on this page:

• How to use this list of persuasive topics effectively  
• What makes a good persuasive speech topic?
• How to 'angle' or position a topic to fit your audience and speech purpose
• Links to more persuasive speech resources  

How to be sure you are choosing the best topic

To be sure you make an informed decision, before you settle on a topic check the guidelines about what makes a good persuasive speech topic and the "how to" examples, as well as the list itself.

( Hint -  a not so subtle one : The absolutely best way to use my list is as a prompt to get your own creative juices working. That tip, combined with the series questions in the infographic below will help you cut through the time you spend dithering about trying to decide what topic to do.)

What makes a persuasive speech topic good?

A persuasive speech topic is good if it:

• fits with the audience - Are they interested in it? Does it benefit them in anyway? How is it of value to them? Can you make it appealing? If it's an old topic, (one that has done a million times before),  can you make it fresh and interesting?
• is a fit with you - You already know something about it, or you're really interested in finding out more, and you know what want you to achieve through giving the speech.
• can be researched and prepared within the time frame you need the speech for
• fits the criteria and the purpose of your speech - set by yourself, your teacher, club, the organization who hired you to speak ...

Use the series of questions in the infographic below to narrow down your search for a good topic. As I've said in the infographic,  the winner is the topic with the highest number of YES answers.

How to use this list of topics effectively

Treat each idea as a starting point - a hook to give your brain something to latch on to.

As you scan the list look for the speech topics triggering more than a flicker of interest.

Stop and consider those more carefully.  Examine the topic from as many angles as you can. Apply imagination. Shake, rattle and roll that idea around and u se the questions in the infographic  to see whether it fits your needs.

And remember, any topic can be handled multiple ways.

Same persuasive topic - different treatment

Here are two examples to show you how the same topic can be adapted for different audiences. The topic is "Voice Matters".

" Voice Matters - the impact of a teacher's voice on students" - Example 1

The Intended Audience: teachers

Speaker Credibility: many years of teaching English and drama, plus public speaking experience

Speech Angle: to persuade the listeners (teachers) that how their voices sound in their student's ears influences how they are responded to, how their students behave and ultimately how they learn.

Specific Speech Purpose: to have them sign up for a voice workshop

Main ideas:

• Voice image - how we are perceived by others is influenced by voice quality. This in turn impacts on how we are responded to. (Do check the link. It's really interesting how much voice quality influences our lives.)
• What is a good quality voice? What personality or character traits are attributed to a person who has a good voice? Use sound clips to demonstrate. Ask for suggestions from the floor. How could that affect students?
• What is a poor quality voice? What do people assume about the speaker with that type of voice? How could that affect students?
• How do you know what you sound like to others? Use prepared sound clip of self to demonstrate.
• Can voice quality or voice image be changed? Why would you do/not do that? Provide researched examples of before and after work on voice.
• Consequences of working/not working on voice image - Give results - better classroom atmosphere, more on-target behavior, less time off with voice strain ... * For sound, trustworthy information on how voice quality impacts on student learning please visit my page: How is your teaching voice?  You'll find links to academic studies, and more. Voice does matter!
• How to work on voice image - outline of action and time line involved
• Sign up for workshop and ongoing public speaking course

"Voice Matters - the benefit of a good telephone voice" Example 2

Someone else might come along looking for a good persuasive speech topic and pick "Voice Matters" too. This time the treatment goes like this:

Audience: job seekers

Speaker Credibility: senior recruitment specialist for a major firm in town

Speech Angle: to persuade listeners that their telephone voice, (how they say what they say), is their initial calling card to getting an interview

Specific Speech Purpose: to have the seekers sign up for course on telephone skills to get the appointment they need

Main Ideas: As illustrated in the first example above because the core material is the same or similar but the examples used to carry the persuasive argument and benefits will be relevant to the audience.

• Sport is the new religion.
• Social media affects mental health.
• There should be a law against drugged driving
• Truth and politics seldom mix.
• Protests are effective.
• All guns should be registered.
• Should single people be allowed to adopt a child.
• Exploitative advertising should be banned.
• Love is not a defense or an excuse.
• Adoption of other-race children should be encouraged.
• Space aliens exist.
• Euphemisms are dangerous.
• Children should not be allowed mind altering drugs of any sort.
• Arranged marriages have more chance of succeeding.
• The quality of our voice matters.
• Assisted suicide should be made legal.
• Government benefits weaken a country.
• Discrimination makes you stronger.
• Private education/schools promote elitism.
• Religion has no place in schools.
• Good or right thinking is a matter of opinion.
• Multi-national corporates should be outlawed.
• Immigration laws are there to protect us.
• We should buy locally to support our communities.
• To be vegan is the only right and moral way to live.
• Fashion cripples creativity
• Cars and city centers should not mix.
• Birth control should be compulsory for people with genetically inheritable diseases.
• A young single girl who has a child should give it up for adoption.
• Age gives a face character.
• The earth is smaller today.
• Swearing has lost its shock value.
• Organic farming is the way for the future.
• Plastic packaging should be banned.
• Manners are essential.
• Allowing yourself to have fun is good for your health.
• Reincarnation is the only way to explain some experiences.
• The death penalty is obsolete.
• Drones need to be regulated to protect privacy.
• Safety legislation leads to diminished personal responsibility.
• A big brand doesn't necessarily mean big value.
• Diets do more harm than good.
• Oil drilling is dangerous for the environment.
• Food does not make you fat.
• Advances in medicine are not necessarily good for us.
• Big brother is more alive and well every day.
• Death is not final.
• Community service should be compulsory for everyone.
• Everyone should have the right to wear what they wish.
• Addiction is an illness, not a crime. Alcoholics or drug addicts do not belong in prison.

More persuasive speech resources

For help turning your good persuasive speech topic into a fully fledged speech check these pages:

• Persuasive speech outline Find out how to prepare an excellent speech outline using the classic persuasive speech structure: the 5 steps of  Monroe's Motivated Sequence , (fully explained with an example speech)  and then download a blank speech outline to complete.
• How to write a persuasive speech Step by step easily followed instructions for refining your outline into an effective speech.

Another 822 persuasive speech topic ideas

If you haven't found the persuasive topic you want yet, check these pages: 

• 100 persuasive speech ideas ,  
• 309 'easy' persuasive speech topics   
• 105 fun persuasive speech topics
• 310 persuasive speech topics for college
• 108 feminist persuasive speech topics

• And last but not least, read a sample persuasive speech that follows the persuasive speech outline referenced above. Please note though before you go to that page the subject is somber: the impact of suicide on families.
• Return to the top of the page

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27 Persuasive Speech Topics to Captivate Your Audience

• The Speaker Lab
• June 13, 2024

Table of Contents

If you’ve ever written a persuasive speech, chances are you’ve struggled to choose a persuasive speech topic . It makes sense, right? You want to speak on something relevant yet unique, timely but timeless. Sometimes it feels like every good idea is already taken or too controversial. Or maybe the topic you’re considering seems too bland and won’t stir the pot enough. CEOs, entrepreneurs, authors—everyone with something important to say faces this challenge.

Well, fear not. We’ve got some fresh ideas for persuasive speech topics coming right up. These aren’t your high school debate prompts; they’re designed for individuals ready to make waves across industries and impact audiences. So if you’re on a mission to reshape perceptions and create genuine transformation, stick around.

Understanding the Power of Persuasion

Before we dive into these topics, let’s get one thing straight: understanding persuasion in speech is like having a superpower. But what makes some speeches stick with us forever? Persuasive speaking works its charm by tapping into our emotions and reasoning. It’s that perfect blend of ethos, pathos, and logos that the Greek philosopher Aristotle talked about centuries ago.

• Ethos: This is all about credibility. If the audience trusts the speaker (you), they’re more likely to be on board with your message.
• Pathos: Here’s where emotions come into play. The right emotional appeal can make an audience start to see things your way.
• Logos: Logic seals the deal. A well-reasoned argument backed by solid facts? Hard to argue against that.

This trio works together to create a kind of spellbinding effect that doesn’t just persuade, but also sticks with your audience long after the talk has ended. With these three rhetorical appeals in hand, you can do more than convince; you can transform thinking and ignite action because your persuasive speech topic resonates on a deeply personal level for each listener.

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Choosing Persuasive Speech Topics That Resonate With Your Audience

Tailoring your topic to your audience isn’t just important; it’s everything when it comes to persuasion. After all, if you don’t know who you’re talking to, how will you grab their attention? Imagine chatting about quantum physics with a room full of poets or discussing poetry at a tech conference. See the mismatch? Choosing the right persuasive speech topic means finding one that resonates deeply with your listeners’ lives and experiences.

To analyze your audience effectively, you’re going to want to do a little digging ahead of time.

• Dig into Demographics: Age, occupation, education level—these aren’t just numbers and titles; they’re clues into what might spark interest.
• Catch the Cultural Cues: What cultural backgrounds are present in your audience? Understanding their cultural fabric can influence what makes them laugh, what they hold sacred, and even the subjects that might be touchy.
• Tune into their Concerns: What keeps them up at night? Whether it’s climate change or personal finance, aligning your speech here can keep your audience engaged.

In essence, knowing your audience means respecting them enough to make sure they walk away feeling heard and understood rather than preached at or overlooked. And guess what? When folks feel respected and valued, they listen more closely.

Exploring Persuasive Speech Topics

Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or just starting out on your public speaking journey, choosing persuasive speech topics that resonate with audiences can feel difficult. However, knowing who’s sitting in your audience can make that decision a lot easier. Analyzing your audience ensures that your message hits home and sparks interest and debate. Consider some of the categories below as you brainstorm your speech topic.

• Current Events and Social Issues: Hot off the press. These topics are fresh, relevant, and have everyone talking already. You’re halfway there.
• Ethical Dilemmas and Moral Questions: Moral dilemmas offer rich soil for persuasion because they invite listeners to explore their values.
• Technology and Innovation: Tech shapes our future every day. Discuss its impacts or ethical considerations for endless engagement.
• Health and Wellness: This area touches everyone’s life at some point. From diet fads to healthcare policies—if it affects well-being, people want to hear about it.
• Educational Reform and Policy Changes: Schools shape societies’ futures; thus discussions around education reforms carry weight for many listeners looking toward tomorrow’s promise.

Your chosen topic doesn’t need to be grandiose or controversial. Sometimes simplicity speaks volumes more than we give it credit for. When crafting your persuasive speech, the goal is simply to choose a topic that both informs and transforms perspectives.

Current Events and Social Issues

Diving into the realm of current events and societal debates has the power to transform a decent speech into one that lingers in memory. Why? By engaging with present-day events and societal dilemmas, we are moved, provoked, and occasionally our perspectives on life are profoundly altered.

So, let’s dive right in. Here are some persuasive speech topics that are not just timely but packed with potential to spark debate, drive change, or at least get people thinking.

• Climate Change: It’s been talked about for years, but with wildfires raging and ice caps melting it’s a more critical topic than ever. How can we not only stop but reverse the damage?
• Social Justice Movements: From Black Lives Matter to Stop Asian Hate, these movements have stirred conversations worldwide. In what ways are governments expected to step up and guarantee fairness among their citizens? How can each person pitch in meaningfully to support these vital movements?
• The Tech Takeover: Technology is shaping our future, but at what cost? Let’s talk digital privacy rights or AI ethics.
• Mental Health Awareness: With a global pandemic throwing life as we know it out of balance, mental health has taken center stage. How do we build societies that support mental wellness?

Right now, we’re smack in the middle of events that will fill history books for generations to come. Each of these topics isn’t just relevant; they’re urgent. But remember this: while diving deep into any of them could make for powerful persuasive speeches, always aim for empathy over controversy.

Ethical Dilemmas and Moral Questions

We live in an era teeming with issues ripe for debate—climate change action versus economic growth challenges; genetic engineering marvels against ethical quandaries; digital age freedoms wrestling with security needs—the list goes on. Persuasive essay topics that deal with ethical dilemmas and moral questions can be great ways to challenge your audience—and even yourself. Take a look:

• Government Surveillance: Is it a necessary protection or an invasion of privacy?
• Vaccine Mandates: Is it a public health safety net or a personal freedom infringement?
• Data Privacy vs. Technological Advancement: Where do we draw the line?
• Artificial Intelligence: Should machines have rights like humans do?

Good persuasive speeches do more than wade through facts. They spark engaging dialogues, challenge people’s beliefs, and maybe even alter their viewpoints. Exploring persuasive speech topics about ethics and morality forces us to dig deeper and frequently nudges us beyond the boundaries of our comfort zones. But here’s the kicker: they also make your speech unforgettable.

Technology and Innovation

Technology’s relentless pace has us all on our toes, wondering what’s next. As a result, it gives us plenty of persuasive speech topics to consider.

• AI Ethics: Artifical intelligence can be a force for good, but it can also have negative outcomes, like the loss of jobs. Should it be regulated? If so, how?
• Data Privacy: What responsibility do corporations have to consumers when it comes to data privacy? This would be a great topic to explore data and privacy rights.
• Gene Editing: Thanks to technology like CRISPR, it’s now possible to edit genetic code. But is it ethical to edit the genes of humans, either born or unborn? How far is too far?
• Elon’s Mars Mission: Is exploring other planets our human duty or a waste of resources?

With technology moving faster than legislation can keep up, posing these questions is vital. Without scrutiny, technology can quickly become a dangerous tool, so it’s important to spend time exploring its implications. Whether you’re prepping for your next persuasive speech or simply want to stay informed, digging into these topics is a great way to keep your audience engaged and informed.

Health and Wellness

When it comes to persuasive speech topics, health-related issues pack a punch like no other because, well, who isn’t interested in living their best life? In addition, it’s a topic that everyone can easily relate to because our well-being is something that we all think about. As far the specific issue you choose, you’ll want to look back on the research you did on your audience. Are they fitness buffs looking for the next challenge or parents concerned about family nutrition? Tailor your topic accordingly.

• Effects of the Pandemic: Dive into how global pandemics reshape public health policies.
• Mental Health: In what capacity is mental health affected by technology? Is social media a concern? If so, what steps should parents take to protect themselves and their children in an increasingly digital world?
• Artificial Intelligence:  Chat about wearable tech transforming personal wellness or AI’s role in advancing healthcare solutions.
• Educational Reform & Policy Changes: Debate the necessity of nutritional education in schools or argue for more accessible healthcare services.

Health is a great topic for persuasive speeches because if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s wanting good health—not just for us but generations to come.

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Education Reform and Policy Changes

Schooling serves as the cornerstone for nurturing groundbreaking advancements, fostering fairness, and upholding democratic values. However, these days, many are calling for education reform . These voices challenge us to question norms, imagine new possibilities, and rally for collective action. Of course, not everyone sees eye-to-eye on what needs changing in our schools or how to do it. So before you pick one of the topics below, again, make sure you understand who you’re talking to. That’s step one towards making an impact.

• Standardized Testing: How necessary is it and who really benefits from it?
• Educational Funding: What is causing funding inequities between rich and poor districts? How might this be addressed? What solutions have been tried and have they worked?
• School Curriculum: How should schools implement inclusive curriculums reflecting diverse histories and experiences?

Before change can occur, questions must be asked. By posing questions about the state of education in the U.S., you can challenge what people really know about the system in place. And who knows? You just might surprise yourself by what you find.

Exploring persuasive speech topics is the first step towards delivering a memorable speech. When you understand the power behind every word and meet your audience’s expectations, you can craft messages that resonate.

Potential topics range from current events to technology and innovation. Even ethical dilemmas can turn into a great persuasive speech when handled carefully. Similarly, speaking on health and wellness turns personal goals into universal concerns that are sure to grip your audience. Last but not least, educational reform provides plenty of room for conversation, as it’s sure to affect generations to come.

These aren’t just topics, though. When you stand before an audience next time around, remember: you’re not just delivering a speech—you’re igniting change one word at a time.

• Last Updated: June 12, 2024

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105 Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics for Any Project

General Education

Are you struggling to find good persuasive speech topics? It can be hard to find a topic that interests both you and your audience, but in this guide we've done the hard work and created a list of 105 great persuasive speech ideas. They're organized into ten categories and cover a variety of topics, so you're sure to find one that interests you.

In addition to our list, we also go over which factors make good persuasive speech topics and three tips you should follow when researching and writing your persuasive speech.

What Makes a Good Persuasive Speech Topic?

What makes certain persuasive speech topics better than others? There are numerous reasons, but in this section we discuss three of the most important factors of great topics for a persuasive speech.

It's Something You Know About or Are Interested in Learning About

The most important factor in choosing and creating a great persuasive speech is picking a topic you care about and are interested in. You'll need to do a lot of research on this topic, and if it's something you like learning about, that'll make the process much easier and more enjoyable. It'll also help you sound passionate and informed when you talk, both important factors in giving an excellent persuasive speech.

It's a Topic People Care About

In fourth grade, after being told I could give a persuasive speech on any topic I wanted to , I chose to discuss why the Saguaro cactus should be the United State's national plant. Even though I gave an impassioned talk and drew a life-size Saguaro cactus on butcher paper to hang behind me, I doubt anyone enjoyed the speech much.

I'd recently returned from a family vacation to Arizona where I'd seen Saguaro cacti for the first time and decided they were the coolest thing ever. However, most people don't care that much about Saguaro cacti, and most people don't care what our national plant is or if we even have one (for the record, the US has a national flower, and it's the rose).

Spare yourself the smattering of bored applause my nine-old self got at the end of my speech and choose something you think people will be interested in hearing about. This also ties into knowing your audience, which we discuss more in the final section.

It Isn't Overdone

When I was in high school, nearly every persuasive speech my classmates and I were assigned was the exact same topic: should the drinking age be lowered to 18? I got this prompt in English class, on standardized tests, in speech and debate class, etc. I've written and presented about it so often I could probably still rattle off all the main points of my old speeches word-for-word.

You can imagine that everyone's eyes glazed over whenever classmates gave their speeches on this topic. We'd heard about it so many times that, even if it was a topic we cared about, speeches on it just didn't interest us anymore.

The are many potential topics for a persuasive speech. Be wary of choosing one that's cliche or overdone. Even if you give a great speech, it'll be harder to keep your audience interested if they feel like they already know what you're going to say.

An exception to this rule is that if you feel you have a new viewpoint or facts about the topic that currently aren't common knowledge. Including them can make an overdone topic interesting. If you do this, be sure to make it clear early on in your speech that you have unique info or opinions on the topic so your audience knows to expect something new.

105 Topics for a Persuasive Speech

Here's our list of 105 great persuasive speech ideas. We made sure to choose topics that aren't overdone, yet that many people will have an interest in, and we also made a point of choosing topics with multiple viewpoints rather than simplistic topics that have a more obvious right answer (i.e. Is bullying bad?). The topics are organized into ten categories.

Arts/Culture

• Should art and music therapy be covered by health insurance?
• Should all students be required to learn an instrument in school?
• Should all national museums be free to citizens?
• Should graffiti be considered art?
• Should offensive language be removed from works of classic literature?
• Are paper books better than e-books?
• Should all interns be paid for their work?
• Should employees receive bonuses for walking or biking to work?
• Will Brexit hurt or help the UK's economy?
• Should all people over the age of 65 be able to ride the bus for free?
• Should the federal minimum wage be increased?
• Should tipping in restaurants be mandatory?
• Should Black Friday sales be allowed to start on Thanksgiving?
• Should students who bully others be expelled?
• Should all schools require students wear uniforms?
• Should boys and girls be taught in separate classrooms?
• Should students be allowed to listen to music during study hall?
• Should all elementary schools be required to teach a foreign language?
• Should schools include meditation or relaxation breaks during the day?
• Should grades in gym class affect students' GPAs?
• Should teachers get a bonus when their students score well on standardized tests?
• Should children of undocumented immigrants be allowed to attend public schools?
• Should students get paid for getting a certain GPA?
• Should students be allowed to have their cell phones with them during school?
• Should high school students be allowed to leave school during lunch breaks?
• Should Greek life at colleges be abolished?
• Should high school students be required to volunteer a certain number of hours before they can graduate?
• Should schools still teach cursive handwriting?
• What are the best ways for schools to stop bullying?
• Should prostitution be legalized?
• Should people with more than one DUI lose their driver's license?
• Should people be required to shovel snow from the sidewalks in front of their house?
• Should minors be able to drink alcohol in their home if they have their parent's consent?
• Should guns be allowed on college campuses?
• Should flag burning as a form of protest be illegal?
• Should welfare recipients be required to pass a drug test?
• Should white supremacist groups be allowed to hold rallies in public places?
• Should assault weapons be illegal?
• Should the death penalty be abolished?
• Should beauty pageants for children be banned?
• Is it OK to refuse to serve same-sex couples based on religious beliefs?
• Should transgender people be allowed to serve in the military?
• Is it better to live together before marriage or to wait?
• Should affirmative action be allowed?
• Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
• Should Columbus Day be replaced with Indigenous Peoples' Day?

Government/Politics

• Should the government spend more money on developing high-speed rail lines and less on building new roads?
• Should the government be allowed to censor internet content deemed inappropriate?
• Should Puerto Rico become the 51st state?
• Should Scotland declare independence from the United Kingdom?
• Whose face should be on the next new currency printed by the US?
• Should people convicted of drug possession be sent to recovery programs instead of jail?
• Should voting be made compulsory?
• Who was the best American president?
• Should the military budget be reduced?
• Should the President be allowed to serve more than two terms?
• Should a border fence be built between the United States and Mexico?
• Should countries pay ransom to terrorist groups in order to free hostages?
• Should minors be able to purchase birth control without their parent's consent?
• Should hiding or lying about your HIV status with someone you're sleeping with be illegal?
• Should governments tax soda and other sugary drinks and use the revenue for public health?
• Should high schools provide free condoms to students?
• Should the US switch to single-payer health care?
• Should healthy people be required to regularly donate blood?
• Should assisted suicide be legal?
• Should religious organizations be required to pay taxes?
• Should priests be allowed to get married?
• Should the religious slaughter of animals be banned?
• Should the Church of Scientology be exempt from paying taxes?
• Should women be allowed to be priests?
• Should countries be allowed to only accept refugees with certain religious beliefs?
• Should public prayer be allowed in schools?

Science/Environment

• Should human cloning be allowed?
• Should people be allowed to own exotic animals like tigers and monkeys?
• Should "animal selfies" in tourist locations with well-known animal species (like koalas and tigers) be allowed?
• Should genetically modified foods be sold in grocery stores?
• Should people be allowed to own pit bulls?
• Should parents be allowed to choose the sex of their unborn children?
• Should vaccinations be required for students to attend public school?
• What is the best type of renewable energy?
• Should plastic bags be banned in grocery stores?
• Should the United States rejoin the Paris Agreement?
• Should puppy mills be banned?
• Should fracking be legal?
• Should animal testing be illegal?
• Should offshore drilling be allowed in protected marine areas?
• Should the US government increase NASA's budget?
• Should Pluto still be considered a planet?
• Should college athletes be paid for being on a sports team?
• Should all athletes be required to pass regular drug tests?
• Should professional female athletes be paid the same as male athletes in the same sport?
• Are there any cases when athletes should be allowed to use steroids?
• Should college sports teams receive less funding?
• Should boxing be illegal?
• Should schools be required to teach all students how to swim?
• Should cheerleading be considered a sport?
• Should parents let their children play tackle football?
• Will robots reduce or increase human employment opportunities?
• What age should children be allowed to have a cell phone?
• Should libraries be replaced with unlimited access to e-books?
• Overall, has technology helped connect people or isolate them?
• Should self-driving cars be legal?
• Should all new buildings be energy efficient?
• Is Net Neutrality a good thing or a bad thing?
• Do violent video games encourage players to become violent in real life?

3 Bonus Tips for Crafting Your Persuasive Speech

Of course, giving a great persuasive speech requires more than just choosing a good topic. Follow the three tips below to create an outstanding speech that'll interest and impress your audience.

Do Your Research

For a persuasive speech, there's nothing worse than getting an audience question that shows you misunderstood the issue or left an important piece out. It makes your entire speech look weak and unconvincing.

Before you start writing a single word of your speech, be sure to do lots of research on all sides of the topic. Look at different sources and points of view to be sure you're getting the full picture, and if you know any experts on the topic, be sure to ask their opinion too.

Consider All the Angles

Persuasive speech topics are rarely black and white, which means there will be multiple sides and viewpoints on the topic. For example, for the topic "Should people be allowed to own pit bulls?" there are two obvious viewpoints: everyone should be allowed to own a pit bull if they want to, and no one should be allowed to own a pit bull. But there are other options you should also consider: people should only own a pit bull if they pass a dog training class, people should be able to own pit bulls, but only if it's the only dog they own, people should be able to own pi tbulls but only if they live a certain distance from schools, people should be able to own pit bulls only if the dog passes an obedience class, etc.

Thinking about all these angles and including them in your speech will make you seem well-informed on the topic, and it'll increase the quality of your speech by looking at difference nuances of the issue.

Know Your Audience

Whenever you give a speech, it's important to consider your audience, and this is especially true for persuasive speeches when you're trying to convince people to believe a certain viewpoint. When writing your speech, think about what your audience likely already knows about the topic, what they probably need explained, and what aspects of the topic they care about most. Also consider what the audience will be most concerned about for a certain topic, and be sure to address those concerns.

For example, if you're giving a speech to a Catholic organization on why you think priests should be allowed to marry, you don't need to go over the history of Catholicism or its core beliefs (which they probably already know), but you should mention any research or prominent opinions that support your view (which they likely don't know about). They may be concerned that priests who marry won't be as committed to God or their congregations, so be sure to address those concerns and why they shouldn't worry about them as much as they may think. Discussing your topic with people (ideally those with viewpoints similar to those of your future audience) before you give your speech is a good way to get a better understanding of how your audience thinks.

More Resources for Writing Persuasive Speeches

If you need more guidance or just want to check out some examples of great persuasive writing, consider checking out the following books:

• Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History by William Safire—This collection of great speeches throughout history will help you decide how to style your own argument.
• The Essentials of Persuasive Public Speaking by Sims Wyeth—For quick direct tips on public speaking, try this all-purpose guide.
• Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds by Carmine Gallo—This popular book breaks down what makes TED talks work and how you can employ those skills in your own presentations.
• We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman—These two recent speeches by contemporary writers offer stellar examples of how to craft a compelling (and engaging) argument.

Conclusion: Persuasive Speech Ideas

Good persuasive speech topics can be difficult to think of, but in this guide we've compiled a list of 105 interesting persuasive speech topics for you to look through.

The best persuasive speech ideas will be on a topic you're interested in, aren't overdone, and will be about something your audience cares about.

After you've chosen your topic, keep these three tips in mind when writing your persuasive speech:

• Do your research
• Consider all the angles
• Know your audience

What's Next?

Now that you have persuasive speech topics, it's time to hone your persuasive speech techniques. Find out what ethos, pathos, logos, and kairos are and how to use them here .

Looking to take your persuasive technique from speech to sheets (of paper)? Get our three key tips on how to write an argumentative essay , or learn by reading through our thorough breakdown of how to build an essay, step by step .

Want a great GPA? Check out our step-by-step guide to getting good grades in high school so you can have a stellar transcript.

Interested in learning about other great extracurricular opportunities? Learn more about job shadowing , community service , and volunteer abroad programs.

Still trying to figure out your courses? Check out our expert guide on which classes you should take in high school.

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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150+ interesting speech topics and ideas to use in 2022

Interesting speech topics are of great significance when delivering a good quality speech. Unlike reading books, the lifespan of a speech depends on many factors, including good oratory prowess, the creative scripting of the speech, the ability to express issues accurately, and finally, the ability to title your speech persuasively. These qualities have been demonstrated in history by many influential people like Martin Luther King, Barack Obama, Julius Malema , Nelson Mandela, Professor PLO, and others.

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More often than not, when writing a speech, you find yourself asking what the best speech topics are? A good argument has to be persuasive. It has to put across an issue clearly and logically. The strength of a subject is in its ability to spark an interest from the audience. Therefore, each topic should be out of the box. Let's look at 150+ speech topics that you can use in a speech.

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Topics for speech in school

An interesting topic for a speech in school varies depending on the occasion. They might also be for verbal writing tasks. However, every topic has to be catchy to capture the attention of the audience. In addition, the topic has to summarise the plot of your speech.

• Private schools are not any better than public schools.
• Failing is part of the plan, but do not plan to fail.
• A standardized test is not an accurate measure of what a student can accomplish.
• No pain, no gain is still a worthy motto for success in school.
• Embracing racial diversity in school is essential for students.
• Celebrating each student's ability is to raise a conscious crop of students.
• Education is still the key to success.
• Being a follower is important only if you are aware.
• It is not a crime to come out of high school without a clear career path.
• Children should be protected from excessive internet consumption.
• Physical exercise is not good for children. It is great!
• Children should not trust their neighbours if they do not know them.
• Students should not be taught to compete but to complement.
• Parental pressure is good until it is bad.
• Comparison based on performance is terrible if it does not recognize personal strengths.

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Interesting speech topics for college students

College students have many issues going on on their campuses. To add to this, they are mentally mature to notice societal problems and create issue-based topics on them.

• Why schools should enhance the quality of students.
• Why you should travel more while you are still in college.
• Are students' future assured in the current economic times?
• Is change an excuse for lack of ethics in the professional space?
• Students have a brain. So, why limit them from using it?
• Is he a bad person or a bad student? Either way, he is a student.
• Students should enjoy their time on campus.
• Studying while working is an added advantage to a student.
• Having a mentor should be made mandatory for all students.
• The study environment affects the overall quality of a student.
• Do not be in a hurry to arrive in your future.
• Influence of social media on students.
• Believing that people will mature in college is a misconception.
• Cars are of no importance on campus.
• The library is the most incredible place on campus.

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Persuasive speech topics for college

• Adopting pets or buying from breeders? Which is best?
• Do people not understand the dangers of texting while driving?
• Is ignorance a lack of education?
• Is climate change a fact?
• Money is the root of all evil only if it lands on an evil hand.
• Which came first, the egg or the hen?
• I did fit an elephant in a fridge.
• Do introverts make good leaders?
• Religion is not a bad thing; lack of faith is!
• Money can buy happiness; it all depends on where you go shopping.
• Plastic is the new grass.
• Why is education so expensive, and yet it is the key to success.
• Natural resource managers should earn more than hedge fund managers.
• Cleanliness is a good thing.
• Should female students get more attention than male students?

Persuasive speech topics 2022

• Religion fundamentalism is slowly replacing love.
• Being right or wrong is not as important as being humane.
• Letting perfect be the enemy of good is bad.
• Who was the best South African president ?
• Is any race superior over the other?
• How political and historical injustices can be forgotten.
• Does the legalization of cannabis make it less harmful?
• Is science more superior to religion?
• What is the point of manufacturing nuclear weapons if they will destroy the world?
• Feminism is not the opposite of masculine but a complementary aspect of it
• Being a stay-at-home mom is a career.
• Breastfeeding in public is not wrong. Is it?
• The media is to be blamed for half of the world's problems.
• Is diversity a good thing?
• Is profit superior over good environmental conditions?

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Unique speech topics

Unique speech topics are primarily about those issues that are not spoken about regularly. These topics address problems of critical importance without sparking an adverse reaction from the audience.

• The internet is a double-edged sword.
• Do closed borders guarantee a country's success?
• Modern art is a result of ambition.
• Good morale has been replaced with a hunger for money.
• Racism shares a lifeline with politics.
• There is life after death.
• Trying to tame a wild animal is to shorten your life expectancy.
• Life is unfair.
• There needs to be a one-car-per-family rule.
• Farmers should only farm organic foods.
• Depression is a severe disease.
• Love is not chemistry.
• Nobody speaks English correctly.
• Coffee is healthy food.
• Miracles happen on earth.

Easy speech topics

Easy speech topics are mainly about everyday life. These topics are simple to create, but they also meet the required standard of a good speech topic.

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• Marriage is still a good thing.
• Do not borrow money from friends.
• A family that prays together stays together.
• I believe in God.
• Living in truth and spirit is better than living in pride.
• Spare the rod spoil the child.
• Parenting style should be standardized.
• Judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree is bad.
• Cosmetic surgery is immoral.
• Democracy is not the best form of governance.
• Ignorance is the worst form of living.
• Diet pills will not make you slim.
• College is for stupid people.
• Logic is not a replacement for instincts.
• Facebook is not a place to learn the difference between right and wrong.

Interesting persuasive speech topics

When writing persuasive speech topics, you have to do due diligence and familiarize yourself with your target audience. You also have to ensure that you find an issue that you are interested in so that you become as natural as possible while delivering your speech.

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• Does getting cheaper foreign employees, harm the economy?
• Should a housewife's role be valued in monetary terms?
• Should online teaching receive much attention like the conventional form of teaching?
• Does legalizing prostitution make it morally correct?
• Is the death sentence not murder?
• Should voting be made mandatory?
• Should the legal smoking age be increased to 100 years?
• Are paper books better than e-books?
• Is the rule of law the only solution to a dispute?
• Is the freedom of media more important than quality information?

Motivational speech topics for business

Several businesses need ideas on how to upscale and make their business es more successful. Whether it is a speech for motivating employees or how to do business better, we have you covered.

• How to deal with difficult business people.
• How some of the biggest failures resulted in fantastic success.
• Interesting tips from successful people.
• What is strategic planning, and how can you implement it?
• Dealing with rejection in business.
• How to build strong company values that will make your business more successful.
• How does building a solid company image make your business more successful?
• How to effectively communicate diagonally in a company to improve performance.
• Why your business should support local businesses and talents.
• How to assign tasks based on your employees' personalities.
• How to implement call-to-action strategies in your company or industry.
• How to build storytelling skills through emotional awareness.
• Why company leaders need to take responsibility for their choices and actions
• Unquestionable habits of wildly successful people
• Strategies for focusing at work.
• Best way to find a work-life balance.
• Time management plays a great role in self-growth.

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Funny but motivational speech topics

Sometimes the orator might want a lighthearted speech that will have the listeners giggling and laughing their problems away. So, if you have a funny bone, here are some hilarious speech topics that you could cover.

• Do boys gossip more than girls do?
• Why we should have break-up insurance policies.
• Why men should not wear skinny jeans.
• To become old and wise, you must first be a young and stupid person.
• Petition to have 6-month vacations twice a year!
• Chasing idle dreams is a good habit.
• Ten fun things to occupy yourself with during a test.
• My most profitable mistake.
• Things my dog would tell me if they could talk.
• Where did swear words come from?
• The advantages of being a man/woman.
• How to lose your job in 24 hours or less.
• Do men cry more than women?
• Top 5 dumbest questions and answers.
• What to write in a message in a bottle if you're trapped on an island.

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Controversial speech topics that spark up debates

When looking for an audience to be interactive, you can select some of these topics and be confident that people will be divided about the answers.

• Should the government ensure the protection of privacy?
• Should prostitution be made legal?
• Should abortion be banned? (i.e. are you pro-life or pro-choice?)
• Should military service be compulsory for the youth?
• Does religion do more harm to society than good?
• At what age should teens start dating, if at all?
• Should mobile phones be banned in schools?
• Is an all-meat diet healthy?
• Is mental illness equivalent to physical illness ?
• Are vaccines safe?

Attention-grabbing speech topics

These are speech topics that will have your audience listening keenly and thinking deeply.

• The only answer to cruelty is being kind.
• Flexible working hours reduce traffic jams.
• It is not cowardly to refuse to fight in a war.
• Without television, you are sure to have a happier life.
• Make the entrance to museums free.
• Cultural treasures should be returned to the country of origin.
• A free-market policy is disastrous for Africa.
• Growing up is harder for girls than it is for boys.
• Voting should be compulsory.
• Time is not money.
• Zero tolerance is a useful instrument to prevent violence.

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The topics above can provide creative solutions when seeking answers for the best speech topics and what I should write my speech about. These ideas will ensure you write issue-based subjects that will not only catch your listener's attention but also ensure that you write an informative and valuable speech.

READ ALSO: Top 6 motivational speakers in South Africa 2021

Briefly.co.za has published an article on the Top 6 motivational speakers in South Africa 2021 . This list can assist any budding motivational speakers or orators in getting some inspiration. Read on!

Source: Briefly News

Lynn Kandie Lynn Kandie is a reporter with 5 years of experience in writing. Before joining the team in 2018, Lynn wrote for Kenyan media platforms and several other websites. She graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2019 with honours after pursuing a BSc. in Meteorology. She is currently studying for a Master's degree in the same field. Lynn specialises in writing celebrity biographies, listicles and teasers for popular TV shows. Contacts; +254707596322, [email protected]

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75 Persuasive Speech Topics and Ideas

October 4, 2018 - Gini Beqiri

To write a captivating and persuasive speech you must first decide on a topic that will engage, inform and also persuade the audience. We have discussed how to choose a topic and we have provided a list of speech ideas covering a wide range of categories.

What is persuasive speech?

The aim of a persuasive speech is to inform, educate and convince or motivate an audience to do something. You are essentially trying to sway the audience to adopt your own viewpoint.

The best persuasive speech topics are thought-provoking, daring and have a clear opinion. You should speak about something you are knowledgeable about and can argue your opinion for, as well as objectively discuss counter-arguments.

How to choose a topic for your speech

It’s not easy picking a topic for your speech as there are many options so consider the following factors when deciding.

Familiarity

Topics that you’re familiar with will make it easier to prepare for the speech.

It’s best if you decide on a topic in which you have a genuine interest in because you’ll be doing lots of research on it and if it’s something you enjoy the process will be significantly easier and more enjoyable. The audience will also see this enthusiasm when you’re presenting which will make the speech more persuasive.

The audience’s interest

The audience must care about the topic. You don’t want to lose their attention so choose something you think they’ll be interested in hearing about.

Consider choosing a topic that allows you to be more descriptive because this allows the audience to visualize which consequently helps persuade them.

Not overdone

When people have heard about a topic repeatedly they’re less likely to listen to you as it doesn’t interest them anymore. Avoid cliché or overdone topics as it’s difficult to maintain your audience’s attention because they feel like they’ve heard it all before.

An exception to this would be if you had new viewpoints or new facts to share. If this is the case then ensure you clarify early in your speech that you have unique views or information on the topic.

Emotional topics

Emotions are motivators so the audience is more likely to be persuaded and act on your requests if you present an emotional topic.

People like hearing about issues that affect them or their community, country etc. They find these topics more relatable which means they find them more interesting. Look at local issues and news to discover these topics.

Desired outcome

What do you want your audience to do as a result of your speech? Use this as a guide to choosing your topic, for example, maybe you want people to recycle more so you present a speech on the effect of microplastics in the ocean.

Persuasive speech topics

Lots of timely persuasive topics can be found using social media, the radio, TV and newspapers. We have compiled a list of 75 persuasive speech topic ideas covering a wide range of categories.

Some of the topics also fall into other categories and we have posed the topics as questions so they can be easily adapted into statements to suit your own viewpoint.

• Should pets be adopted rather than bought from a breeder?
• Should wild animals be tamed?
• Should people be allowed to own exotic animals like monkeys?
• Should all zoos and aquariums be closed?

Arts/Culture

• Should art and music therapy be covered by health insurance?
• Should graffiti be considered art?
• Should all students be required to learn an instrument in school?
• Should automobile drivers be required to take a test every three years?
• Are sports cars dangerous?
• Should bicycles share the roads with cars?
• Should bicycle riders be required by law to always wear helmets?

Business and economy

• Do introverts make great leaders?
• Does owning a business leave you feeling isolated?
• What is to blame for the rise in energy prices?
• Does hiring cheaper foreign employees hurt the economy?
• Should interns be paid for their work?
• Should employees receive bonuses for walking or biking to work?
• Should tipping in restaurants be mandatory?
• Should boys and girls should be taught in separate classrooms?
• Should schools include meditation breaks during the day?
• Should students be allowed to have their mobile phones with them during school?
• Should teachers have to pass a test every decade to renew their certifications?
• Should online teaching be given equal importance as the regular form of teaching?
• Is higher education over-rated?
• What are the best ways to stop bullying?
• Should people with more than one DUI lose their drivers’ licenses?
• Should prostitution be legalised?
• Should guns be illegal in the US?
• Should cannabis be legalised for medical reasons?
• Is equality a myth?
• Does what is “right” and “wrong” change from generation to generation?
• Is there never a good enough reason to declare war?
• Should governments tax sugary drinks and use the revenue for public health?
• Has cosmetic surgery risen to a level that exceeds good sense?
• Is the fast-food industry legally accountable for obesity?
• Should school cafeterias only offer healthy food options?
• Is acupuncture a valid medical technique?
• Should assisted suicide be legal?
• Does consuming meat affect health?
• Is dieting a good way to lose weight?

Law and politics

• Should voting be made compulsory?
• Should the President (or similar position) be allowed to serve more than two terms?
• Would poverty reduce by fixing housing?
• Should drug addicts be sent for treatment in hospitals instead of prisons?
• Would it be fair for the government to detain suspected terrorists without proper trial?
• Is torture acceptable when used for national security?
• Should celebrities who break the law receive stiffer penalties?
• Should the government completely ban all cigarettes and tobacco products
• Is it wrong for the media to promote a certain beauty standard?
• Is the media responsible for the moral degradation of teenagers?
• Should advertising be aimed at children?
• Has freedom of press gone too far?
• Should prayer be allowed in public schools?
• Does religion have a place in government?
• How do cults differ from religion?

Science and the environment

• Should recycling be mandatory?
• Should genetically modified foods be sold in supermarkets?
• Should parents be allowed to choose the sex of their unborn children?
• Should selling plastic bags be completely banned in shops?
• Should smoking in public places be banned?
• Should professional female athletes be paid the same as male athletes in the same sport?
• Should doping be allowed in professional sports?
• Should schools be required to teach all students how to swim?
• How does parental pressure affect young athletes?
• Will technology reduce or increase human employment opportunities?
• What age should children be allowed to have mobile phones?
• Should libraries be replaced with unlimited access to e-books?
• Should we recognize Bitcoin as a legal currency?
• Should bloggers and vloggers be treated as journalists and punished for indiscretions?
• Has technology helped connect people or isolate them?
• Should mobile phone use in public places be regulated?
• Do violent video games make people more violent?

World peace

• What is the safest country in the world?
• Is planetary nuclear disarmament possible?
• Is the idea of peace on earth naive?

These topics are just suggestions so you need to assess whether they would be suitable for your particular audience. You can easily adapt the topics to suit your interests and audience, for example, you could substitute “meat” in the topic “Does consuming meat affect health?” for many possibilities, such as “processed foods”, “mainly vegan food”, “dairy” and so on.

After choosing your topic

After you’ve chosen your topic it’s important to do the following:

• Research thoroughly
• Think about all of the different viewpoints
• Tailor to your audience – discussing your topic with others is a helpful way to gain an understanding of your audience.
• How involved are you with this topic – are you a key character?
• Have you contributed to this area, perhaps through blogs, books, papers and products.
• How qualified are you to speak on this topic?
• Do you have personal experience in it? How many years?
• How long have you been interested in the area?

While it may be difficult to choose from such a variety of persuasive speech topics, think about which of the above you have the most knowledge of and can argue your opinion on.

For advice about how to deliver your persuasive speech, check out our blog  Persuasive Speech Outline and Ideas .

100 Persuasive Speech Topics for Students

• Homework Tips
• Learning Styles & Skills
• Study Methods
• Time Management
• Private School
• College Admissions
• College Life
• Graduate School
• Business School
• Distance Learning
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

If you are planning a persuasive speech, you should think about a topic that can engage your audience. For this reason, you may want to consider a few topics before settling on the one that allows you to be more descriptive and entertaining.

Another important factor when picking a persuasive speech topic is to choose one that can provoke your audience. If you stir up a little emotion in your audience members, you'll keep their attention.

The list below is provided to help you brainstorm. Choose a topic from this list, or use it to generate an idea of your own. It could even be an idea that opposes the proposed example. For instance, instead of arguing American workers should be guaranteed a three-day weekend by law, you could argue why this shouldn't be the case.

How to Pick a Good Persuasive Speech Topic

Persuasive speeches are generally meant to convince an audience to agree with an idea you present. The topics can range from political to scientific or societal, and professional to personal—or even fun. They can be almost anything.

Just remember, a persuasive speech is different than a persuasive essay because you are presenting to an audience. So as you decide on a topic, think about your audience and decide on a subject matter that will be appropriate, compelling, and engaging to discuss. Perhaps it's a timely issue attracting a lot of news coverage, or maybe you want to be motivational and encourage a healthy activity. Whatever it is, structure your argument with a hook to capture attention , a clear definition of the topic or issue, and finally, your proposed solution or opinion.

100 Examples of Persuasive Speech Topics

• Studying martial arts is good for mind and health.
• Competitive sports can teach us about life.
• Reality shows are exploiting people.
• Community service should be a graduation requirement for all high school students.
• The characteristics that make a person a hero.
• It's important to grow things in a garden.
• Violent video games are dangerous.
• Lyrics in a song can impact our lives.
• Traveling and studying abroad are positive experiences.
• Journal writing is therapeutic.
• You should spend time with your grandparents.
• A laptop is better than a tablet.
• Religion and science can go hand in hand.
• School uniforms are good.
• All-female colleges and all-male colleges are bad.
• Multiple-choice tests are better than essay tests .
• We should not spend money on space exploration.
• Open-book tests are as effective as closed-book tests.
• Security cameras keep us safer.
• Parents should have access to students' grades.
• Small classes are better than big classes.
• You need to start saving for retirement now.
• Credit cards are harmful to college students.
• We should have a royal family.
• We should protect endangered animals.
• Texting while driving is dangerous.
• You can write a novel.
• Recycling should be required in the U.S.
• State colleges are better than private colleges.
• Private colleges are better than state colleges.
• We should do away with penny coins.
• Fast food containers hurt the environment.
• Plastic straws are harmful to the environment.
• You can eat and enjoy healthy snacks.
• You can become a millionaire.
• Dogs are better pets than cats.
• You should own a bird.
• It's unethical to keep birds in cages.
• Liberal arts degrees prepare graduates to be better workers than other degrees.
• Hunting animals should be banned.
• Football is a dangerous sport.
• School days should start later.
• Night school is better than day school.
• Technical training is better than a college degree.
• Immigration laws should be more lenient.
• Students should be able to choose their schools.
• Everyone should learn to play a musical instrument.
• Grass lawns should be prohibited.
• Sharks should be protected.
• We should do away with cars and go back to horse and carriage for transportation.
• We should use more wind power.
• We should pay more taxes.
• We should do away with taxes.
• Teachers should be tested like students.
• We should not interfere in the affairs of other countries.
• Every student should join a club.
• Homeschooling is better than traditional schooling.
• People should stay married for life.
• Smoking in public should be illegal.
• College students should live on campus .
• Parents should let students fail.
• Giving to charity is good.
• Education makes us happier people.
• T​he ​ death penalty should be outlawed.
• Bigfoot is real.
• We should increase train travel to save the environment.
• We should read more classic books.
• Fame is bad for young children.
• Athletes should stay loyal to teams.
• We should reform our prisons.
• Juvenile offenders should not go to boot camps.
• Abraham Lincoln was the best president.
• Abraham Lincoln gets too much credit.
• Students should be allowed to have cell phones in elementary, middle, and high school.
• College student-athletes should be paid for playing.
• Elderly citizens on fixed income should receive free public transportation.
• Colleges and universities should be free to attend.
• All American citizens should complete one year of community service.
• Students should be required to take Spanish language classes.
• Every student should be required to learn at least one foreign language .
• Marijuana should be legal for recreational use nationwide.
• Commercial testing of products on animals should no longer be allowed.
• High school students should be required to participate in at least one team sport.
• The minimum drinking age in the U.S. should be 25.
• Replacing fossil fuels with cheaper alternative energy options should be mandated.
• Churches need to contribute their share of taxes.
• The Cuba embargo should be maintained by the U.S.
• America should replace income taxes with a nationwide flat tax.
• Once they reach the age of 18, all U.S. citizens should be automatically registered to vote .
• Doctor-assisted suicide should be legal.
• Spammers—people who bombard the internet with unsolicited email—should be banned from sending junk mail.
• Every automobile driver should be required to take a new driver's test every three years.
• Electroshock treatment is not a humane form of therapy.
• Global warming is not real.
• Single-parent adoption should be encouraged and promoted.
• Gun companies should be held accountable for gun crimes.
• Human cloning is not moral.
• Religion does not belong in public education.
• Juveniles should not be tried as adults.
• American workers should be guaranteed a three-day weekend by law.
• Controversial Speech Topics
• List of Supplies for High School Students
• 5 Tips on How to Write a Speech Essay
• Understanding Very Big Numbers
• 50 Topics for Impromptu Student Speeches
• How to Write and Structure a Persuasive Speech
• 18 Ways to Practice Spelling Words
• How to Write a Graduation Speech as Valedictorian
• Mock Election Ideas For Students
• How to Give an Impromptu Speech
• How to Run for Student Council
• National Competitions in Science and Math
• Benefits of Participating in High School Debate
• Basic Tips for Memorizing Speeches, Skits, and Plays
• How to Stop Overthinking Tests and Projects
• What Is a Blue Book?

Powerful 2 Minute Speech Topics: A-Z Guide (With 200+ Examples)

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Topics , Speech Writing

It is often believed that giving a 2-Minute Speech is the most challenging form of public speaking because of the time constraint. But here I am to tell you that there is something even more challenging than giving a 2-minute speech. And that is finding a powerful 2-minute speech topic !

2-minute speeches are short, crisp ways to present your opinion, understanding, or study to others. It is short. It is simple. And it is convenient, especially from the listener’s point of view.

To know more about 2-minute speeches, check out this short video below:

Here is what you can expect from this blog:

What is a 2-minute speech.

• How do you find a 2-minute speech topic?
• 2-minute speech topics

How to make a 2-minute speech script?

2-minute speeches to memorize, delivering 2-minute speeches.

2-minute speeches are short and crisp speeches of about 260-350 words.

Because 2-minute speeches are short, you can be assured of having constant attention from your audience. This means that you might have to come up with a 2-minute speech topic that is not only informative and interesting but one that stands out and makes the audience want to listen to it immediately.

So how do you find a 2-minute speech topic?

There are 2 ways you can find a 2-minute speech topic that would suit perfectly for your next speech.

First is when you go about doing your research and then ideating or selecting a topic that is more in line with your purpose of giving the speech.

The second and the most popular way to find a 2-minute speech topic is to go on to google and type 2-minute speech topics. You shouldn’t be shocked at the number of topics the internet has to offer to you. You might not even have to go anywhere else, jump on to the speech topics section if you want to get straight into selecting a 2-minute speech topic for yourself.

Researching for your 2-minute speech topic

So, you chose not to select one of the many topics available on the internet? That’s great! Want to know why?

1. It would help you come up with a topic that is more personalized and less common.

When you come up with the topic yourself, you move from the very broad topics available online and can find a topic that caters more to your area of interest or understanding.

2. You would be able to narrow down on a topic of your choice or area of interest.

3. it would help you gain an understanding of the topic from various points of view.

In the initial ideation stage, as you try to research the topic and find a topic for your 2-minute speech, you would be exposed to various political, environmental, or social perspectives of the same topic which would further help you to not only narrow down your topic but also understand your topic from various points of view, thus helping you ace a question-and-answer round.

Process of Finding a topic

Before beginning straight up by researching your topic, there are a couple of things that you might have to take a look into which will help you navigate through the next step (that is researching for your topic). These include:

1. Understanding the event for which you’d be giving the speech

Understanding the event or occasion where you will be giving the speech is important as it would give you a brief idea of what is expected in terms of the content and tone of your speech .

So, for instance, if you are giving a speech at a conference, it would have a more formal tonality to it as compared to a speech that you might present at your best friend’s wedding which would usually be filled with a lot of slang, humor, and casual tone.

2. Understanding your audience

The next thing you should try to find a little more clarity on is your possible audience. Understanding who the majority of your audience will comprise will help you in finding a topic that would be more in line with their broad interest, thus attracting them to listen to your speech right from the very beginning .

3. Your interests and knowledge

Yet another thing that you must take into consideration besides what the event and audience expect from you is your interest in the topic. Having a tad bit of understanding of the speech topic you would want to dive into can also help you in navigating through your research better.

4. Your purpose for giving the speech

Establish your purpose for giving the speech even before you start researching. The reason is very simple, you’d be able to understand which kind of a topic you should focus on depending on the purpose of your speech.

Do you plan on providing the audience with detailed information on the topic? Or are you trying to sell your view or product to the audience within these 2 minutes?

In both cases, your topic, as well as the structure of speech, would be very different.

Once you have an idea of your audience, your interests, and your knowledge areas, you can then move on to researching your topic.

A simple google search can be a good starting point.

Take the help of news articles, journals, blogs, and much more to narrow down and come up with a 2-minute speech topic that you feel most excited about!

Selecting a 2-minute speech topic from the internet

A-z list of 2-minute speech topics, find some of the best 2-minute speech topics here:.

• Abortion: Should the government have a say in it?
• Art:  A mode of storytelling
• A day in the life of a (add your profession, organization, or ethnicity)
• Artificial intelligence: a boon or a curse?
• Art and Craft: a lost activity
• Benefits of Yoga
• Benefits of meditation
• Ban on Animal testing
• Bullying and how to discourage it
• Buildings and Aesthetics: An architectural standpoint
• Chronic Depression and its cure
• Cults: The secrets you know nothing about
• Cultural difference: The harsh reality of moving abroad
• Corruption: the hidden dirt
• Cricket: sport turned into a religion
• Climate Change
• Disaster Management
• Domino effect in real life
• Demonetization in India
• Dance therapy and its uses
• Dealing with daily hassles of life
• Environmental pollution and its adverse effects
• Education system of India
• Election ethics and rules
• Elocutions: Everything you need to know
• Everything we know about aliens
• FOMO (Fear of missing out) and how to deal with it
• Falling in your dreams: the meaning behind it
• Fat loss fads you must avoid
• Fitness and influencing
• Forced labor: An unfortunate reality
• Girl Education: The inspiring story of Malala
• Generation gap and how it affects communication
• Gender sensitization and ways of being more aware of it
• Growing a terrace garden
• Gaining muscles: everything you need to know
• Health and Hygiene: Two underrated
• Hacks to do well in your academics
• Habits that are ruining your health
• Hollywood: An insight into the world of glamour
• Hitchhiking your way to find peace
• Importance of reading
• Importance of following a routine
• Importance of kindness
• Importance of education
• Importance of sports
• The language barrier and how to overcome it
• Loyalty: An endangered quality?
• Land Pollution and ways to deal with it
• Less is more: All about Minimalism
• Legalization of marijuana: An opinion
• Moral Policing: is it ethical?
• Memorizing speeches and their disadvantages
• Making friends as adults
• Manifestation: A belief or a joke?
• Millennials: generation of environmental advocates
• Mental health
• Music and its power to heal
• Media and its effects on forming opinions
• My role models
• Noise pollution
• National integration
• Natural resources: A tragedy of depleting future
• Negating minorities and their impact on the overall development of the country
• Natural disasters: Can we tackle them?
• Online dating and its effects on self-esteem
• Online education and its authenticity
• Overcoming fear through exposure therapy
• Olympics 2021
• Organ donation: Progress made so far
• Our Environment, our responsibility
• Pros and cons of being a vegetarian
• Political ideologies that shook the world
• Poor scores and their effect on the success
• Parenting styles over the years
• Paternal leaves in Indian organizations
• Poverty in India
• Positive thinking and gratitude
• Punctuality: Through the eyes of different cultures
• Quarantine and increase in social anxiety among people
• Qualifying for Olympics: Struggle unspoken of
• Quran and its teachings
• Questionnaire: The best way of collecting data?
• Questioning and its importance in the workspace
• Racism:  An unfortunate view in the society
• Right to education
• Religion vs Spirituality
• Reasons why failure is important
• The reality of fast-food brands
• Should body-shaming be a punishable offense?
• Sneaker trends that would blow your mind
• Sustainable fashion brands to follow
• Shaping perspectives through conformity
• Time management: A necessary corporate skill
• Travel and tourism: A Course
• Technology and its growing importance in everyday life
• Tourism in India
• The best day of my life
• Unity: A quality that formed countries
• Unity in Diversity in India
• Unemployment and its impact on the mental health of the youth
• Understanding climate change
• Understanding the importance of compounding
• Value of Education
• Value of Hard work
• Value of Discipline
• Videogames and their influence on violent behavior
• Viral: A trend or a tragic accident?
• Which is better: Studying in the country or moving abroad?
• What does sustainability mean?
• What is the Bermuda triangle?
• Water pollution and its solutions
• Waste management around the world
• World peace: An idea that is achievable or too far-fetched?
• Xenotransplantation: Future of organ transplantation
• Xerox: A brand or name for photocopy
• Xbox and its evolution over the years
• X-rays and how it harms the human body

2-minute speech topics for students

What are the best topics for students.

If you have asked yourself this question but haven’t received an answer yet, check out the list below to find one now!

• Opinion on the New education policy
• Need for sex education in schools
• Overcoming the problem of Brain Drain
• Addressing the issue of child labor
• Pros and cons of online degrees
• Boarding school vs full-time schools
• Co-ed school vs gender-specific schools
• Liberty to choose your subjects in schools
• Ban on uniforms
• Curbing school shootings
• Grading system: Changes required.
• Peer pressure and the need to fit in
• Coping with academic stress
• Are scores a good measure of student’s intelligence?
• Importance of focusing on extracurricular activities

2-minute speech topics for MBA students

• Advantages of cloud kitchens
• Importance of understanding the market
• Best marketing strategy
• Hard work vs smart work
• The rise of entrepreneurship in India
• Importance of internships in skills building
• Reservation system: My honest pinion
• Pros and cons of working from home
• Everything about GST you don’t know of
• Stocks or Cryptocurrencies?
• Using reels to market products
• Understanding the importance of influencer marketing
• Assessing job satisfaction among employees
• Biggest banking frauds in the world
•  How movies influence fashion trends
• The insane E-commerce discounts
• Women in Business
• Why age is just a number when it comes to entrepreneurship
• Management lessons from mythology
• Make in India or Make for India?

Speech topics for adults

• Are first impressions really the most lasting impressions?
• Importance of observing in everyday life
• Conforming vs standing out: What should you prefer?
• Impact of positive thinking in healing chronic diseases
• Importance of body language in public speaking
• Is buying luxury goods on a loan worth it?
• Why renting a house is better than buying it
• Why timetables never work
• How do colors affect the way we feel?
• How your brains are wired to think negatively
• Impact of childhood trauma on antisocial behaviors
• Love: Difference between what is real and reel
• Why being young is overrated
• Are you a victim of the fashion industry?
• How to easily start a conversation
• Savings in college could help you in your 40s
• Being happy all the time is an unachievable reality
• The advantages of taking calculated risks
• Dealing with stress on a daily basis
• How do you overcome obstacles?

2-minute speech topics for the Interview

• Understanding the future of the metaverse
• Hard work leads to smart work
• Effect of job satisfaction on life satisfaction
• How to motivate the employees in no time
• Gender Equality in the Workplace
• How to get over stage fright?
• How to give a speech in an interview?
• How organizational culture affects motivation?
• Management strategies that can help in improving productivity
• Ways to essentially decrease production costs

Funny 2-minute speech topics

• Why I would rather go to jail than clean utensils
• If I could live my cat’s life for a day
• The most profitable mistake I ever made
• Tutorial on how to deny reality
• Tips on walking your dog
• Why you must never eat fish food
• Things you can do to irritate someone
• Evolution of my new year’s resolutions
• Adulting and falling in love with the idea of arranged marriages
• Dating in 2022

2-minute speech topics on any proverb

• Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder
• Actions speak louder than words
• Health is wealth
• Joy of giving
• Don’t judge a book by its cover
• Knowledge is power
• Laughter is the best medicine
• Action speaks louder than words.
• A jack of all trades is a master of none.
• A good listener is a silent flatterer.
• All that glitters is not gold.
• Among the blind, the one-eyed man is the king.
• An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.
• As you sow, so you shall reap.
• What goes around comes back around.
• Curiosity killed the cat.
• Time is money.

Unique speech topics

• The tragedy of not being on social media
• Importance of taking a drop year
• Are scholarships always fair?
• Reasons teenagers start substance abuse
• Places on earth no man has ever been
• The most surveillance city in the world
• Why euthanasia is justified
• Formal schooling is important despite not being practical
• If the earth stopped rotating for a split second
• Benefits of boiling water

2-minute speech topics on famous personalities

• Mahatma Gandhi
• William Shakespeare
• Rabindranath Tagore
• Nelson Mandela
• Barack Obama
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
• Virat Kohli
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Winston Churchill
• Abraham Lincoln

Once you have decided on your topic for the speech, the next step is to come up with the speech itself or the script.

For this, you’ll have to understand the approx number of words you will be comfortable adding to your speech so as to not exceed the time limit of 2-minutes.

Next, you can go about the usual “ introduction, main body, and conclusion ” structure for structuring your script.

It isn’t necessary for you to frame the entire speech word for word, you can also frame it in a pointer format if that is more convenient for you.

How do you start a 2-minute speech?

As there isn’t much time in your hand, presenting detailed opening lines for a 2-minute speech would mean that you would have to cut down on your main content.

Instead, you can start by giving a very quick introduction like “Hi I am Nisha and I will be talking about the adverse effects of sleep deprivation today with you.”

You can also use other more fun and engaging ways to begin your speech and there are tons of ways you can do it. Check out the list below to find examples of a few:

1. Rhetorical questions

Rhetorical questions are questions wherein you want to provoke the audience to think and not to come up with any specific answer . An example of the same is given below.

So from a glance, do I look like marriage material? Nina Donovan

Jokes and humor are almost always appreciated by the audience provided it isn’t even slightly derogatory or demeaning to anyone. Opening your 2-minute speech with a joke can in fact be a good attention grabber that would also not take up a lot of your speech time .

Example of a joke used as an opening line:

Do you know when brown kids get slapped? Every brown birthday party. Hasan Minhaj

3. Statistics or figures

What is the best way to make someone understand the reality of any situation you ask? Figures, numbers, or stats!

Because when the audience sees the number in front of them, they can no longer be in denial or in their own world of assumptions. Hence, using statistics in your opening lines would definitely help you reach your goal of spreading awareness (if that is what your purpose is).

Suicide happens to be one of the leading causes of death in United states with approximately one indivdiual dying to suicide every 11 minutes. The question is why are we still overlooking this grave issue?

To know more about effective opening lines, check out our post on 50 speech opening lines .

Following your brief introduction, as you dive into your topic, there are a couple of things that you must keep in your mind, they are:

• Stick to only one takeaway . Having many takeaways might not help you effectively reach the audience.
• Try to add short stories only if you plan on adding a story to your speech. Make sure that it isn’t taking up a huge chunk of your speech time.

How do you end your 2-minute speech?

In short speeches, your ending or conclusion is very important. It needs to be impactful. You can either summarize your speech in a couple of seconds or you can re-establish your takeaway at this point in your speech. You can try to end with a powerful quote or try to motivate your audience to take some action .

An example of asking the audience to take an action is,

“So as we reach the end of the speech on effects of sleep deprivation, I’d want you to go back home and think to yourself, is browsing for  a couple of more minutes really necessary over your precious sleep?”

To take a deeper look into the closing lines for your speech, check out our video below!

2-minute speech on Brain Drain

Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadela, Leena Nair, and Paraag Agarwal what do they all have in common?

You probably guessed it right! They are the CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the world but there is yet another commonality that they have. They are all Indian Origin CEOs who gained their initial education from some of the top colleges in India to hold such exceptional positions in world-renowned companies now. 

If this isn’t a good example of brain drain, I’m not sure what is. Brain drains, a concept that is very common to Indians when we lose some of the smartest people of our country to better opportunities abroad. These companies not only offer the individuals with better work ethos and environment but also provide them with a handsome paycheck and add to that the amount of appreciation they receive for the work they chip in. Something that is either too rare or alien to the Indian work environment. 

But the scenario in India is changing. With the coming of start-up culture in India where the employees are given just as much priority as the company’s clients If the companies encourage such open and collaborative culture where there is a fair opportunity for growth provided to all the employees, we might be able to see some considerable fall in the problem of brain drain in India.

Importance of education 2-minute speech

Do you remember how in school they asked us to prove whether the two figures were triangles when you could easily have concluded that they indeed were triangles just by looking at them?

So then why do we say that education is important?

For starters, to be able to live a decent life, the basic requirement for any job is for you to possess at least a diploma or degree. Apart from the theoretical learning that we get through education, there are plenty of other skills and experiences we are exposed to like broadening our perspective by interacting with peers, enhancing public speaking skills, understanding the basics of how the world functions are it the laws and rights that the individual possesses or the understanding of geographical division and economic conditions in the society. Education helps in enhancing the capacities, attitudes, interests, urges, and needs of the individual. And hence when the student or individual is deprived of education, it isn’t just the theoretical knowledge that they miss out on but they also miss out on having a holistic development of themselves. This is what makes education very important in everyone’s life.

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Final Words

2-minute speeches are short and crisp which can serve as a blessing as you are not required to go too much into detail. You can come up with a 2- minute speech topic either by researching one that fits perfectly with your interests or you can find one online.

The idea is to enjoy giving the speech. And for you to enjoy delivering your speech, it is important for you to first come up with something that excites you and interests you!

Keep following Frantically Speaking for more such short guides to help you with your public speaking and communication skills.

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191 best persuasive speech topics: give an amazing speech.

Does the thought of public speaking make you cringe?

While almost everyone experiences some stage fright speaking in front of an audience, there are ways to tame this debilitating fear.

Half the battle of giving a speech is selecting a topic that engages your audience.

For any speech, whether informative or persuasive, your speech idea should meet these criteria:

• Well-researched with solid examples and evidence
• Broad enough to be universal, narrow enough to be original
• Meaningful and customized to your audience

Additionally, you should possess a measure of expertise on your topic.

Understanding the nuances of what you are speaking about is a sure way to ease those jitters. This is how you come up with the best speech idea.

When choosing a persuasive speech topic, all of the above criteria apply, along with a few additional requirements.

Click above to watch a video on Speech Topics.

What Makes a Good Persuasive Speech Topic?

While an informative speech merely presents factual information, a good informative speech topic goes a step further.

• The goal of a persuasive speech is to convince the audience that your perspective is valid.

This does not mean that the audience will agree with every opinion you present, but a good persuasive speech makes the audience think* .

A great persuasive speech makes an audience act.

As transcendentalist writer Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.”

Therefore, a strong persuasive speaker will:

• Present a clear and sincere perspective. The audience should not be questioning your stance on an issue.
• Exhibit passion that inspires others to think or act.
• Be confident in both your perspective and topic.

Not all persuasive speeches need to be deeply controversial, but there should be some gray area in your chosen topic.

Political , social and ethical issues make compelling persuasive speech topics for this reason.

The persuasive speech should address a burning question that incites intellectual debate:

• Should strict gun control laws be implemented?
• Is it possible to be an animal lover and a carnivore?
• Is the government at fault for the increasing homeless population?

Such questions may seem divisive, but, in a civilized society, they are essential to ask.

Posing such questions directly to your audience during your speech engages a group in the Socratic Method of critical thinking.

Furthermore, if a topic isn’t inherently controversial, then it might not make the most powerful speech.

Your job as a persuasive speaker is to argue your point, which is not necessary to do on topics that most people agree on.

In that vein, here are a handful of topics that would not make for good persuasive speeches.

• Learning a foreign language is important.
• Fighting in overseas wars can be dangerous.
• Social Security income is not sufficient for many retired Americans.
• Technical skills are crucial in the 21st-century job market.
• Cardiovascular fitness improves longevity.

…And you get the picture. So, what does make a good persuasive speech topic? Well, there are at least 191 answers to that question.

Get personalized advice!

191 best persuasive speech topics.

Before we reveal the 191 best persuasive speech topics, let’s preview each of the categories:

• Politics and law : This topic revolves around pressing issues including voting, Supreme Court decisions, political leadership, and criminal justice.
• Environmental activism : Climate change, offshore oil drilling, and green technology are just a few of the hot-button issues you’ll discover in this category.
• Social justice : Covering all issues of equality, social justice topics invite debate – and demand solid supporting facts or powerhouse emotional appeals .
• Ethics : Comprising our basic morals and values that drive our behaviors, the ethics category examines how to deal with issues like animal abuse, abortion, and stem cell research.
• Health : Regarding important issues like our food supply, how should we best protect and promote human health in the 21 st century?
• Potpourri : And now we come to the miscellaneous category of “everything else.” You’ll find engaging or even entertaining ideas related to music, movies, curriculum, and more.

Take a deep breath and read on!

Politics and Law

• Alternative political parties (i.e., Green Party, Libertarian Party, etc.)
• Declaring “Independent” or “No Party Affiliation” on voter registration.
• Should voters with no party affiliation be allowed to vote in primary elections?
• Are newly proposed voter registration laws discriminatory?
• How many terms should politicians be allowed to serve?
• Popular vote vs. Electoral College
• Are women underrepresented in Congress?
• Swing states (i.e., Florida and Ohio)
• Do current proposed abortion laws violate Roe v. Wade?
• Political correctness versus freedom of speech
• Terrorist watch lists – safety precaution or blatant prejudice?
• Corporate lobbyists and campaign contributions
• Are laws too lenient on violent criminals?
• Tax responsibility: income tax, property tax, sales tax.
• Should the voting age be increased or decreased?
• Capital punishment: right or wrong?
• DNA evidence in criminal cases: is it enough?
• Should criminal minors be prosecuted and sentenced as adults?
• How to deal with the issue of illegal immigration
• Should cigarettes be taken off the market and made illegal?
• Legalization of Marijuana
• Should health insurance be mandatory by law?
• Is the death penalty obsolete?
• Private vs. Public Prisons
• Should politicians be allowed to use private donations to campaign?
• Is it right for the government to fund partisan organizations?
• Appointment of Supreme Court Justice
• How can the mass shooting crisis be solved?
• Minimum wage: should it exist or be forgotten?
• Should citizens be required to serve in the military for a period of time?
• Gun rights on school campuses: is it safe?
• Military members and income tax

Environmental Activism

• Hybrid and electric cars on the road
• Oil spills and world wildlife
• Saving rainforests and their indigenous species
• Palm oil: should it be outlawed?
• Make all bills and business correspondence paperless.
• Dangers of drilling for oil
• Replacing plastic with glass and cardboard
• Trophy hunting: should the penalties be harsher?
• Banning disposable diapers in favor of cloth diapers
• Benefits of public transportation, biking, walking, or carpooling
• Conserving water in our everyday lives
• Wildfires on the rise in California
• Greenhouse gas emissions in Asia
• Global climate change and increased severity of storms
• Growing food as a homesteader
• Impact of big box stores on the environment
• Impact of online retailers’ packaging and shipping on the environment
• Turning the practice of recycling into a law punishable by hefty fines
• Overfishing and dwindling populations of marine wildlife
• Factory farms and greenhouse gas emissions
• Controlling E. Coli and other food borne illnesses
• Are is worth it to ban plastic straws?
• Drones and the environment
• Should hunting be outlawed in national parks to protect its wildlife?
• Hair care and air quality
• Better education for at home waste management
• Should it be illegal to flush certain things into the sewage system?
• Is it right to cut down a tree for the holidays?
• How do marijuana farms affect the surrounding area’s environment?
• Water contamination: What preventative measures can be taken?
• How to reduce your carbon footprint
• Should new homes support solar energy only?
• Organic farming practices

Social Justice

• Do you agree with the research on equal pay between men and women?
• Should government employees go without pay during a shutdown?
• Police brutality and shootings (in general or a specific case in the news such as Philando Castile in Minnesota)
• Should all policemen wear body cameras?
• Is racial discrimination on the rise? Why or why not?
• Scholarship opportunities for minority students
• The benefits (or challenges) of a multicultural society
• Should bullies be expelled from school?
• What can be done about anonymous online bullying?
• Unrealistic beauty/body standards and self-image
• How to create a strong community
• Welfare, SNAP, and other social assistance programs
• The 40-hour work week is too long.
• Comparing the work week in Europe to the work week in the United States
• Caring for an aging population: are Social Security and Medicare enough?
• Civil lawsuits should not receive so much attention in the media.
• Racial and ethnic profiling (including FBI criminal profiling)
• Being a foster or adoptive parent
• Buying local builds up the community.
• Refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance
• Battling stereotypes and making them obsolete
• Mandatory community service for all U.S. citizens
• Is common law marriage outdated?
• Should companies be allowed to deny service to anyone?
• Changing gender on a driver’s license
• Affirmative Action today
• DACA DREAMers Movement
• Legalization of gay marriage
• Should individuals be allowed to adopt?
• Re-sentencing for crimes involving marijuana in states where it is now legal
• Unlimited Paid Time Off vs Accrued time off
• License revoking for older drivers: is it against their rights?
• Wearing fur or using fur for any profit
• Mistreatment of farm animals: what is the solution?
• How do we address the increasing problem of homelessness?
• Tithing – how much should each person give?
• Euthanasia for terminally ill individuals
• Was it right for Dr. Kevorkian (assisted suicide physician) to be imprisoned?
• Pet shops and breeders versus shelters
• Returning or rehoming pets: is it right?
• Preselecting the gender and other aspects of an unborn baby
• Abortion: pro-choice or pro-life?
• Product testing on animals in labs
• Stem cell research
• Protecting children from inappropriate websites
• When should a child be allowed to have a smartphone?
• Should children be allowed into an R-rated movie even with a guardian?
• Should violent movies and video games be banned?
• Do zoos and circuses abuse animals?
• Arranged marriage: a cultural tradition or outdated practice?
• Raising children without being married
• How to impart ethical behavior to the next generation
• Ethics as a mandatory high school class
• Do parents deceive children by telling tales of Santa Claus?
• Should pharmaceutical patents be removed so affordable generics can be made?
• 13 Reasons Why: Did it glorify suicide?
• Wrongful termination case study
• Is the borrowing limit for student loans too high?
• Pay for play in college athletics
• Performance enhancing steroids in competitive sports
• Is it right to own a gun for personal protection?
• Mandated reporting (Mandated reporters are individuals who are required to report any information they receive about abuse, suicidal ideation, etc.)
• Can an influencer be held responsible if they promote a harmful product unknowingly?
• Conventional versus organic produce
• Food additives, preservatives, and cancer rates
• Meat consumption and its effects on life expectancy
• Dangers of sitting at a desk all day
• Fast food industry and obesity rates
• Medical marijuana to treat chronic conditions
• GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) in foods: to label or not to label?
• Mandatory CPR and First Aid training for new parents
• School cafeteria food and children’s health
• Alternative uses of oral contraceptives
• Restaurant responsibility with peanut, gluten, and other allergies
• Everyday products that could be dangerous: deodorant, toothpaste, etc.
• Teaching yoga and meditation in public schools
• Moving from the “medical model” to holistic health
• Massages as necessities rather than luxuries
• Which vitamin supplements are worthless and should go off the market?
• The mind-body connection and its influence on health
• Social media and mental health
• The cumulative effects of poor sleep (and how electronics impact our sleep)
• IVF (Invitro fertilization): Should becoming a parent be covered?
• Should there be more physical education in schools?
• Is diabetes reversible?
• Doctors and insurance: should they accept all insurance?
• Do detox diets really work?
• Is binge-watching Netflix bad for our health?
• Keto vs Paleo vs Vegan: which is better?
• Should a patient be allowed to deny medical care?
• Pre-existing conditions and insurance rates
• Employers should offer mental health days without question
• Alternative sex education (not abstinence-only and inclusive of LGBT lifestyle)
• Mind-body fitness versus traditional Western sports
• Best genre and time period of music
• Healthiest world cuisine
• Uneven distribution of wealth: the top 1% versus everyone else
• Cost of living versus average salaries
• What to do about cults, gangs, and similar groups
• How to get accepted into an Ivy League school
• Religion versus spiritualism
• Survival skills should be taught in school.
• Benefits of forest schools for children
• The best U.S. President in history
• The most influential leader or figure in history
• Most effective ways to manage stress
• Obscure movies that people should watch
• Multitasking: fact or fiction?
• Buying a house versus renting an apartment
• Most exciting travel destination
• How to ace any test
• Overcoming social anxiety
• How our phones are hurting our eyes
• Are multi-level marketing companies really pyramid schemes?
• Protests: are they effective?
• Is a wedding reception worth the price tag?
• Should catfishing be a criminal offense?
• Mandatory study abroad semester in college
• Student loan borrowing: should it ever be forgiven?
• Responsible credit card strategies
• Living with parents to save money
• Can someone find true love on The Bachelor?
• Telemarketers and Harassment
• Marvel vs DC

And there you have it – 100+ unique topics to stoke your imagination and help you identify your passion.

Feel free to go beyond these springboard ideas or customize them to your perspective.

Advice from Persuasive Speech Experts

To help you out even more, we asked the experts on the best tips for giving a persuasive speech.

From Melora Kordos, visiting assistant professor of theatre arts at Sweet Briar College:

When selecting a persuasive speech topic, a student should first look to her own interests and passions. If she chooses something that she cares deeply about or has great interest in, then she will be able to more easily identify the best three points that support her argument and focus on those in her speech. If she is not already engaged in the topic, it will be much harder to persuade others to agree with her point of view. She should use both logical and emotional appeals throughout her speech, giving her a better chance of resonating with a larger percentage of her audience.

From Dr. Allison Beltramini, associate professor of communications at Waubonsee Community College:

When doing a persuasive  speech , it’s helpful to choose a topic that you personally believe in or support. It’s much easier to speak on something that you have a connection to. The next tip is to do your homework. This includes exploring the opposite side of the issue. Your audience needs to know that you are well-versed in the topic. Incorporate this research to support the claims you are making. Curate your sources carefully. Know who/what organizations are behind the sources you are using. And please, verbally cite your sources. Using research without the verbal citations in your  speech  is plagiarism. Persuasion is incremental. You can’t just tell someone something and expect they will believe you. You have to set up the issue, show how the problem effect people, talk about what will help or fix the problem and show why the solutions will work. All of these steps are vital. Finally – practice is essential. Your  speech  should be prepared but conversational. Reading to an audience word for word is not a good idea.

From Nate Masterson, HR manager of Maple Holistics :

The key to giving a persuasive  speech  is to engage your audience, and there are several ways to do this. Firstly, make eye contact with different people in the audience, but make sure to scan the whole room and not just focus on one area. Also, research the group of people you will be addressing so that you better know their priorities, cultural norms, inside jokes, etc. To make sure that your speech is sufficiently compelling, stick to just a few main talking points or objectives. This will ensure that your speech stays focused and that you can spend adequate time and energy backing up these main points without boring your audience.

From Jeffrey Davis, executive speech coach at Speak Clear Communications :

First, the best speakers build their argument emotionally as well as logically. Every point has a complelling story attached to it. Second, they make arguments that are novel and innovative. The “how” of the argument is as important as the “why.” Lastly, great speakers do not hold back on hand gestures!  Gesturing is scientifically proven to enhance a speaker’s impression with the audience.

From Bridgett McGowen, CEO of BMcTALKS :

While it’s important your audience has a memorable experience during your presentation and that it learns something new or gains a new perspective on something it already knew, it is equally important to move the audience to actually do something with what you shared … something that will inspire or change their lives, professions, or communities … because you are there to persuade! Remember any time you present, consistently think to yourself “In what difference-making endeavor do I want my audience to join?” or “Now that everyone has heard this, now what?” Give them the answers to those questions to further your persuasive message.

From Martha Krejci, business coaching leader :

Don’t write everything out! The last thing you want to do is look like you’re reading a speech verbatim. You want to illuminate your authority in the field you are speaking about. Reading does not do that….at all. So, here’s what I do. I think about the end goal of what I’m trying to communicate. Then, reverse engineer the points that take us there. Write the points out on a notecard if you need it, or if you’re lucky enough to have a teleprompter, use that. And finally, above all…tell stories! Don’t just have a bunch of dry information that anyone with a wifi signal could google. Tell stories that bring your audience into your problem, but also your solution you propose. If you can master storytelling, you may just be surprised by how good you can get at public speaking.

From Neil Thompson, founder of Teach the Geek :

Telling an easy-to-follow story is crucial in being persuasive. If people have to think too hard to understand what you’re talking about, they’re less likely to listen. If they don’t listen, you won’t have a chance to persuade them. If there are studies, surveys, or other types of data that can vouch for what you’re saying, that’ll also go a long way to persuading others. Lastly, you have to believe what you’re talking about. If you truly believe your message, it’ll shine through and people will be inclined to believe you, too.

From Adam Cole, expert writer and author:

Number one is the invitation to listen. It ensures that the listener has a context in which to understand what you are presenting so that everyone is on the same page when the important information comes. The invitation may contain relevant humorous anecdotes to break the tension and present the speaker as appealing, and it must be accessible enough that the listener will at least know what the topic is and why they should care. Number two is the topic. Depending on the complexity of the topic, it should be structured for maximum clarity. While humor and anecdotes can be used to illustrate the point, they should not distract from it or become the focus (unless the task is to highlight the speaker, rather than the topic, which is ok). Number three is the follow-through. If the listener has learned something, a good summation will help them retain the most important points from the learning so that they can remember it and follow up with more learning (perhaps from the speaker’s books, videos, or other appearances!) Taking the topic and framing it in terms of an action step for the audience may be a powerful way for them to keep the presentation (and the speaker) in their heads.

Conclusion: Best Persuasive Speech Topics

Remember, your passion and expertise on the topic will translate to audience engagement – and hopefully a good grade!

• Delivering a persuasive speech doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience if you’re prepared and passionate.

In the words of Cicero: “A good orator is pointed and impassioned.”

To follow the advice of the great Roman orator, find your passion and then express it through your persuasive speech.

The skills you develop now in this area will benefit you throughout your professional and personal life.

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515 Powerful Persuasive Speech Topics [2024 Update]

Do you need a speech to inspire people, strengthen their confidence, or change their minds? Convincing skill is an essential part of a successful debate speaker. Want to dive into this exciting field of knowledge?

So, let’s get down to the business!

The Place4papers analyzed numerous scholarly and professional materials and created this article. Here you will find the following solutions in a brief and well-structured form:

• How to select the best topic for your persuasive speech
• List of 500 topics to master your writing skills
• Structural features of this type of task

Topics, tips, and examples from this tutorial will strengthen your persuasive skills.

✅ How to Choose a Good Persuasive Speech Topic

🌋 15 persuasive speech topics in 2024, ⚖️ advocacy speech topics, 🐂 persuasive speech topics about animals, 👔 business persuasive speech topics, ⛪ christian persuasive speech topics, 🌱 environmental persuasive speech topics, 🍔 persuasive speech topics about food, 🙋‍♀️♀ feminism persuasive speech topics, 🎵 persuasive speech about music: ideas for students, 💼 political persuasive speech topics, ✨ psychology persuasive speech topics, 📱 persuasive speech topics on social media, ⚽ sports persuasive essay topics, 👍 unusual persuasive essay topics, 😊 easy persuasive speech topics, 🤣 funny topics to argue about, 📚 persuasive topics for high school, 👉🏽 persuasive speech tips, 🔥 conclusion, 🔗 references.

Would you like to know how to pick an excellent persuasive speech idea for the exact situation?

Depending on the purpose, you should select a particular field of knowledge . You can use the funny, unusual, or easy criteria during brainstorming. This choice narrows down the investigation area significantly.

You need to think about the ideas that reflect your inner state and attitude to the discussed issue. In other words, select the side defending which you feel comfortable.

Of course, the opposite concepts are also applicable. You should prove that your point of view is correct. It also needs to be reliable or solve stated issues.

Try to argue with yourself. It may reveal the audience’s possible attitude towards your opinion. The method helps you to build a strong line of defense and achieve the goal.

Bottom line:

Argumentative speech skill teaches you how to debate or prove any point of view. It helps people solve various life problems. Besides, information delivery becomes more efficient.

• Should humanity be instilled in children?
• The problem of endangered species.
• Should human genome experimentation be stopped?
• Is overpopulation a myth?
• Is global warming not problem #1?
• Are painkillers good for you?
• Businesses and hiring disabled people.
• Universities should support students?
• Research should be better vetted.?
• Are low doses of alcohol harmful?
• How important are family traditions?
• Should education be accessible?
• Influence of the system on education.
• Does the church need more power?
• Should general control be tightened?

What if you want to discuss something interesting? For instance, you found the information in official news sources.

Take a closer look at this section.

The traditional advocacy persuasive speech should not be about something general. You need to discuss a specific problem. However, modern requirements do not prohibit using jokes and acting during your speech.

It is necessary to state a problem and explain its significance. You also need to provide the audience with a legislative solution. Knowing that, check out the following advocacy speech topics we created for you:

• The necessity of sex education in middle schools.
• More students should consider staying in their home state for university education.
• Parents are responsible for healthy habits for their children.
• Direct contact between teachers and parents decreases the efficiency of studying for high school students.
• Students should pay for parking spots at high school.
• Schools should organize after-‘Proms’ celebrations for the safety of students.
• Vegan parents should give their children a choice to eat meat.
• Economics and marketing classes should provide the students with funding for practical projects.
• Uniforms are beneficial for ‘students’ concentration.
• Alumna should visit their universities after graduation.
• Internships during university years are beneficial for finding a job in the future.
• Businesses should provide more work opportunities for the elderly.
• Cafes and restaurants need to consider encouraging the customers to bring their cups and mugs.
• Plastic straws should be banned on the national level.
• Schools should form an exact list of prohibited makeup and hairstyles.
• Need for governmental control over garbage recycling.
• Martin Luther King’s Day should be a workday.
• Age limitations in gaming are not effective.
• Learning foreign languages should be mandatory in universities.
• Dressing the twins in the same clothes may lead to psychological difficulties.
• Mandatory participation in extracurricular activities for school and university students.
• Excluding detention from disciplinary measures in high school.
• The number of visitors to national parks should be limited.
• Working from home can be more efficient than coming to the office.
• Maternity and paternity leaves should be extended to two years.

Do you like animals and want to protect them?

What are you waiting for?

You may see and meet animals almost everywhere. While some people have them as pets, others prefer watching them in a natural environment. We live on the same planet and need to coexist in harmony.

The Place4papers experts created a list of persuasive speech topics about animals. These ideas reflect modern trends.

Take a look!

• Zoo visitors should never feed the animals.
• Wild animals are not pets.
• If pets are allowed to leave the house, they should be chipped.
• People should receive a license before getting a pet.
• Adoption should be free of charge.
• Zoos should focus on local animals instead of exotic ones.
• Animal testing is unavoidable for now in pharmaceuticals.
• Some modern animals will not survive without humans.
• Direct contact with wild animals is disadvantageous for them.
• Genetical experiments with fauna are beneficial for nature.
• Humans are superior to other mammals.
• Bacteria are the most adopted of existing animals.
• Mutations can be positive.
• Birds should not be kept as pets.
• The government should encourage adoption over purchasing a pet.
• Human activities affect whale migration.
• Extinction may be a natural process.
• Animals are inspiration sources for artists.
• Breeding dogs with unnatural features may be hurtful for them.
• Growing up with a pet is beneficial for a child.
• Interacting with animals is helpful for lonely older people.
• A pet should not be a present.
• Allergy testing should be necessary for the family members before getting a pet.
• Neglecting a pet should lead be punished by law.
• More hotels should allow bringing a pet.

Are you interested in the current labor market or want to improve various business mechanisms?

You have selected the correct section!

Here we offer you plenty of business-related ideas to discuss. These topics are about career ladders, employers vs. employees relationships, company management, etc. With good persuasive speech topics from the following list, you may create a motivational and robust paper.

• Companies should create a relaxing atmosphere for their workers.
• Groups in organizations: motivational theories.
• Firms may need to provide babysitting services to their employees.
• Minimal lunchtime should be an hour.
• Businesses should switch to biweekly salary payments.
• Four-day workweeks may be beneficial for the businesses.
• Performance management and organizational behavior.
• Management has to put less pressure on workers when organizing corporate events.
• Businesses need to consider the informal dress code.
• Employees should be paid for several days of volunteering per year.
• A horizontal structure is more useful for modern business than the vertical one.
• Open workspace may be uncomfortable for some employees.
• Social networks should be allowed in the office.
• Equal pay for work of equal value.
• The career ladder should be transparent.
• Regular competency tests should be mandatory for employees and management.
• The salaries of the executive team should be transparent.
• Probation periods should be paid the same as regular work.
• The government should simplify the small business creation process.
• Minors should be allowed to work full-time if that is necessary for their family survival.
• Pregnant women should be allowed to work for as long as they can perform their duties.
• Starbucks’ customer experience management.
• Businesses should focus on the work results as opposed to hours.
• Working overtime should be an employee’s choice and never the result of managerial pressure.
• Companies should pay their employees’ education if it is necessary for their career progress.
• Large corporations should hire a medical specialist to be present in the office.
• Firms should provide computers for their employees.
• Businesses need to pay for taxis if their workers have to commute to/from dangerous areas.
• Procter & Gamble company’s performance management.
• Commuting time should be included in work hours.

Do you have an open mind and evaluate the incoming information before announcing your opinion?

That is what you are looking for:

The Bible has been translated into numerous languages worldwide. Besides, the Word of God has various interpretations. You need to be ready to argue about other religions and understand their features.

These topics allow your audience to take a look at Christianity and its reflection. Feel free to create an encouraging speech based on the ideas from the following list:

• The Bible does not contradict modern science.
• God encourages sex in marriage.
• People should be baptized when they are consciously aware of the procedure.
• Sunday school should be mandatory for all local Christian children.
• The Bible study needs to be considered as an elective school subject.
• Gender roles in the context of religion.
• Churches should offer both contemporary and traditional services.
• The Old Testament is important for understanding modern Christianity.
• Christianity and Islam have common points.
• Diverse interpretations do not change the essence of the Bible.
• Women play an important role in Christianity.
• The Bible does not encourage waiting for help passively.
• Missionary can be a full-time job.
• Christianity does not discourage art.
• Religion as a group phenomenon and its conflicts.
• God’s word encourages a healthy lifestyle.
• Prayers are beneficial for psychological health.
• Pets will not go to Heaven after death.
• Human nature from a religious perspective.
• Atheists may know the Bible better than Christians.
• Drinking wine may have hygienic reasons in the Bible.
• Formally following the Christian traditions does not guarantee a place in Heaven.
• Criminals may be Christians.
• Women’s roles in Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism.
• Allowing religious books in the army is beneficial.
• The Bible does not encourage house violence.
• Jesus Christ was more influential politically than Jesus Barabbas.
• The Bible does not support gluttony.
• The Word of God should be taught differently for various ages.
• Christianity: history, branches, and future.

How about investigating the ideas that governments of various countries actively discuss?

So, let’s get down to business.

These topics make it possible to argue about global concepts which concern each of us. We get plenty of information about recycling, global warming, green energy, chemicals in our food, and nuclear technologies from daily news sources.

All of the following topics cover the current environmental problems. Furthermore, the response you may get from the audience can help you improve your solution to the stated issues.

• Plastic vs. paper bags comparison.
• Humans may not be a deciding factor in global warming.
• Recycling should be prioritized over burring the garbage.
• Global warming, its causes, and potential solutions.
• Kindergartens need to implement gardening activities in their programs.
• Environmental education should be mandatory at schools.
• The government should support the single standard of device chargers to avoid unnecessary waste.
• Solar panels are currently not ecologically friendly due to their components.
• Deliberate throwing of garbage on the ground should be punished by law.
• Clocks and timers in the bathroom may decrease the shower time.
• Nuclear waste storage in the US and other countries.
• Environmental volunteering needs to be included in university programs.
• The government should encourage gardening among the general population.
• Nuclear energy is still necessary for human society.
• It is the government’s responsibility to make recycling convenient for the population.
• Big companies must be transparent about their production process.
• The built environment: greenhouse gas emissions.
• Chain restaurants should optimize their food waste on a daily basis.
• The government should encourage people to use personal bottles for drinking water.
• Garbage separation may not be ecologically safe for local areas.
• Showers are more efficient in saving water than bathtubs.
• Chemical cleaning detergents are harmful to the atmosphere and people.
• Using plastic cups and plates may be necessary during the pandemic.
• Corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
• Shaming people for wearing the same clothes two days in a row is harmful to the environment.
• Consumerism should be discouraged on the national level.

• Promoting local farming is good for business and the environment.
• Organic food and beverages should be served in plastic.
• Air pollution management in Beijing and the UAE.
• Free water should be served on-demand in restaurants and cafes.
• Hotels should provide disposable toiletries upon request.

Would you like to talk about such a familiar yet complex part of our daily lives as food?

Keep reading, and you will get fresh ideas!

People created numerous diets, consumption etiquette, cuisines, and restrictions related to this concept. There are plenty of temporary problems that humanity should solve. Now, you may discuss these ideas by selecting one of the following persuasive speech topics about food:

• Chain cafes and restaurants should not add sugar to beverages by default.
• The government should support private farming more.
• Sustainability in the foodservice industry.
• Vitamins and protein shakes do not replace traditional healthy meals.
• Artificial meat may solve famine problems in developing countries.
• Meal replacements may do more harm than good.
• Pure sugar is not needed in balanced eating.
• Childhood obesity as an urgent problem of epidemiology.
• Salads have different nutritional values.
• Breakfast preferences are heavily influenced by society.
• Schools and universities should encourage students to avoid food wasting.
• To what extent is fast food responsible for obesity?
• The government should implement lessons about healthy food into the ‘schools’ programs.
• Diet changes need to be discussed with a professional before implementation.
• Multivitamins are not beneficial for everyone.
• The government should develop guidelines regarding healthy food recommendations.
• Mono diets are never a good idea for healthy people.
• Drinking red wine is beneficial for older people.
• Chain stores should stop promoting the consumption of perfectly-looking fruits only.
• Kopi luwak can be easily replaced.
• Alcohol effects may be exaggerated.
• Eating animal protein at high altitudes may be harmful to consumers.
• Vending machines at schools should sell fruits.
• Peanut butter should be prohibited at schools due to allergies.
• Salads may be less healthy than meat and fish dishes.
• Quail eggs are overpriced in the US.
• Food aphrodisiacs often have a placebo effect.
• Brown sugar is not healthier than white ones.
• Medieval diet differs significantly from modern food consumption.

Do you agree that we have something to improve in the modern world?

That’s what we have prepared for you!

Humans have come a long way towards current society. People figured out how to modify the land to make it beneficial. We invented numerous things that enhanced the quality of our lives. The social structure also got some changes. Feminism is one of them.

The concept states that all genders are socially, economically, and politically equal. You may create a feminist persuasive speech that encourages other people to think about positive improvements in society. Feel free to write the gender equality persuasive speech with the following topics:

• Physically demanding jobs should require equal testing for all gender.
• Mass media should consider more unisex content.
• Holidays specifically for men and women are outdated.
• All ballet dancers should wear gender-neutral professional clothes.
• Feminism in Latin America.
• The government should consider removing information about gender from citizen’s passports.
• Prohibiting showing women’s breasts in public is a social construct.
• True feminism is not about suppressing men’s rights.
• Traditional chivalry may coexist with feminism.
• Clubs and bars should stop free entrance for ladies.
• Female soccer players should receive the same financial funding and training as male ones.
• Myths and stereotypes of feminism.
• Skirts and dresses should become unisex clothes.
• Men in the hospitality industry should be required to use cosmetic procedures if needed.
• All family members should perform the same amount of housework.
• The aim of feminism in the 21st century.
• Gender reveal parties should use letters instead of colors.
• Women’s rights and changes over the 20th century.
• Father-to-be must attend paternity psychological courses.
• Fathers should be encouraged to stay with their wives during childbirth.
• What exactly are the definition and characteristics of feminism in modern society.
• Mrs. Claus can deliver presents instead of Santa.
• All jobs’ names should be gender-neutral.
• Employers have to pay more attention to the male candidates’ physical shape.
• The media should try adult male beauty pageants.
• Female sumo wrestlers should be paid the same as males.
• Women’s rights need to be promoted until they become equal to men’s.
• It was important to start calling tropical storms by male names.
• Women’s liberation movement evolution in the US.
• There should be no gender-specific jobs, education, and responsibilities.

Are you listen to music every day? How does it affect us and the surrounding world?

Think about this.

Music accompanies humanity throughout almost entire history. You may produce this phenomenon with only your body and without any tools or instruments if needed. The accessibility makes it possible to produce and spread this art all over the planet.

The cultural concept grew at the state when people were required to define music genres. That happened because it became difficult to navigate in such a wide art sphere. Pick the best persuasive speech topic about the music from the following list:

• Not all Rock and Metal music is aggressive.
• Classical music positively affects growing plants.
• American hip-hop music.
• Musical routines help to organize children.
• Mainstream Rap music does not show real experience in most cases.
• Club culture slows down music evolution.
• Musical education should be mandatory in elementary schools.
• Online music performances may increase artists’ income from a long-term perspective.
• The government should not censor private music producers.
• Schools’ and universities’ orchestras should play music at a greeting every morning before classes start.
• Classical music is helpful when studying.
• Progressive metal may be as complex as the symphonic orchestra.
• Preferred music does not always correspond with the public image of a person.
• Upbeat music supports longer workouts.
• Music may be helpful for depression treatment.
• Deaf people can feel the music and rhythm.
• Animal sounds should not be considered music.
• Not all people can experience frisson when listening to music.
• Listening to loud music may cause permanent hearing damage.
• There is no music taste, just personal preferences.
• Life concerts provide worse sound than studio records.
• How technology affects the music industry?
• Sound depends on the musician’s skills more than the instruments.
• Lip-sync has positive sides for both audience and the singer.
• Singing without skills still has a therapeutic effect.
• Being an opera singer is physically demanding.
• Overplaying the songs decreases their popularity.

What do you think about the current political situation in your region or the entire country? Would you like to improve any government mechanisms?

Then take a look here:

We formed a list of topics about modern political life. These ideas reflect the political concepts incorporated into our lives.

You face these problems daily. Scan through the following pack of political persuasive speech topics and choose the best ideas:

• Information-sharing policies in security agencies.
• Voting for the local politicians should take place online.
• President should only work in the White House, not live there.
• Free university education is the government’s responsibility.
• American electoral college system.
• Presidential candidates should have military experience.
• Universal healthcare should be a primary goal for the US government.
• The presidential family should not be involved in politics.
• Military service should be mandatory for all genders.
• Presidential debates should be replaced by personal interviews with political experts.
• Politicians should not have personal social network profiles.
• The relationship between China and Japan.
• President should be elected from one of the regional governments.
• Unifying religious and secular powers is dangerous.
• Politicians should clearly state their program in the checklist form and highlight their progress toward solving each problem.
• Politicians should use public transportation and medical services.
• Charity activities should be mandatory for politicians.
• The US needs to step away from the two-party political system.
• Social identities and citizenship politics in Canada.
• The daily presidential schedule should include physical activities.
• Ministers must have a degree in their field.
• A presidential candidate should have experience in managing large groups of people.
• Political education should be mandatory in high school.
• Politicians must show high ethical standards during their terms.
• President and vice president should belong to different political parties.
• Democratic stability and political culture.
• Minors should not be allowed to attend political rallies.
• Elected politicians should be responsible for fulfilling their campaign promises.
• Government representatives should consider meeting science and technology leaders in person.
• Federalism and US Supreme Court.

What if you can analyze people’s actions from a psychological point of view?

Here’s the deal:

Today humanity has realized the necessity to increase our knowledge in psychology. It affects our lives constantly and almost everywhere. Media, grocery stores, politics, economics, and other spheres may also be evaluated from the psychological perspective.

Furthermore…

The following topics may help you open some people’s eyes to the problems they have noticed but never thought about the significance. Here is the list of psychology persuasive speech ideas:

• The human development processes.
• Shooter computer games may help overcome post-traumatic syndrome efficiently.
• There is no direct connection between violent computer games and criminal behavior .
• Too much creativity may be harmful to process efficiency.
• Origami may teach children task completion.
• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.
• Formal clothes force people to create an alternative behavior model.
• Violent movies and computer games will not affect children if parents explain their context to children.
• Pets in the office may significantly reduce employees’ stress.
• Erik Erikson’s Theory of personality.
• Singing classes may increase self-esteem.
• Prohibitions do not work.
• Most Marvel superheroes cannot be good role models because they got powers for nothing.
• Reflective decision-making in psychology.
• Parents should spend more time explaining to their children how to overcome difficult situations.
• The availability of numerous professional online courses for beginners leads high drop-out rate.
• Teaching with games cannot entirely replace traditional education.
• Psychological problems are not an excuse for rude behavior.
• Punctuality may affect people’s career success.
• Psychological research and its ethical issues.
• Too active children may not have any mental issues.
• Parents should get a pet to teach their children responsibility.
• Playing music may increase children’s concentration skills.
• Resistant people do not understand addictions.
• Dancing classes positively affect self-esteem.
• Physical punishments do not work; they may only damage the mental state of both the initiator and target.
• Schools should consider turning on chillout music during breaks for stress relief.
• Daily assemblies may help employees feel more useful for the organization.
• Work-life balance and workplace stress management.
• People should not cover up their laziness with burnout at work.
• Collective homework may be psychologically more efficient for children than the traditional one.
• Child play therapy.
• The overabundance of psychologists leads to self-centered people number increase.
• Doctors should prescribe prescript sedatives only when there are no other solutions.
• The brain does not rest in clubs and bars.
• Schools should teach students to accept and analyze negative answers.
• Achievement motivation theory.
• Toy toddler does not teach students responsibility.

Do you have an account on at least one social network?

Probably, yes.

That means you have experienced its influence. People use social media as workplaces, ad platforms, portfolios, and communication tools. These web solutions occupy plenty of aspects of people’s lives. As significant and complex constructs, social networks produce negative effects.

What’s the bottom line?

The topic is complicated and interesting to discuss. Check out these persuasive speech topics on social media:

• Social networks produce a fake image of reality for some people.
• Opinion leaders should not be allowed to recommend anything without appropriate certification.
• Social media effects on self-esteem.
• Social media should offer relevant information to a user.
• Social and personal media shaping communication.
• Employers should not consider the candidates’ social media activity as positive or negative factors during the interview.
• Social networks should accompany the political videos with disclaimers about the respect and possibility of the opposite point of view.
• Social media advocate procrastination.
• Schools should teach students how to use social media civilized.
• Social networks impact and prohibition in schools.
• The government should prohibit celebrities from swearing on social networks.
• Social networks should not pay money for content.
• After registration, the user’s page in a social network should be invisible to the internet with an option to make it visible.
• Social media should state the “opinion leader” term in the privacy policy and clarify their responsibilities.
• Social networks should not decide what is fake and what is true.
• Popular cultural values in social media.
• Social networks should make the blocking policy more specific.
• Toxic behavior on social media should obey real-life laws.
• Social networks should have an option to disable face recognition on photos.
• Politicians should not be allowed to post anything except official statements on social networks during their terms.
• It should be possible to create a social media account for children only from the parents’ ones.
• Social media is changing public perception.
• The government should prohibit social media from using the intellectual property of users for ads.
• Politicians should be responsible for the official statements on social networks by law.
• People should be allowed to hide all the personal information from their pages on social networks.
• Social media platforms should punish users for unreasonable complaints and intolerable behavior equally with bloggers.
• The social network activity should be considered separately from the person’s real-life behavior.
• Facebook privacy and advertising policy.
• Social networks may have more negative consequences than watching television.
• Paid access to social media may be a good alternative to sending sensitive users’ private data to third-parties.
• Profile- and content-based social media networks.
• The government should increase control of donations for both the influencers and users.
• Recommendations related to political topics should be moved to a separate section.

Are you an active person? Have you ever tried to motivate people to make positive changes in various aspects of human life related to sports?

Sports ended up as a huge and complex phenomenon. It includes biology, chemistry, economics, and many other spheres of knowledge.

The topic is rich in problems and possible solutions and is widely discussing. Check out the following list of ideas for the best paper:

• Fitness instructors should encourage beginners to limit their motivation from the start to avoid unnecessary injuries.
• All sports instructors should have related education or certification.
• Sports classes should be mandatory at schools and universities.
• The government should support sports organizations in providing free lessons.
• The coach should explain to parents the potential adverse effects of sports on their children’s health.
• College athlete compensation controversy.
• Swimming may be a safe alternative to train people with joint problems.
• Politicians and stars should explain to people that any regular physical activity may be considered a sport.
• The government should discuss with athletes, develop, and apply universal unisex sports clothes design.
• Yoga promoters should stop advertising expensive clothes.
• Self-defense martial arts should not be competitive.
• Sports with pets may improve the results.
• Symmetrical sports are beneficial for young athletes.
• All baseball players should be wearing helmets at all times.
• Eating fiber-rich foods may cause problems for long-distance runners before the race.
• Team sports may improve one’s social skills.
• Martial arts are an effective strategy for anger control.
• Swimming is beneficial for people with ADHD.
• The London 2012 Olympics: environmental analysis.
• Sports professionals should be disqualified for aggressive behavior after the competition.
• Aikido develops self-defense skills useful in daily life.
• Virtual reality may help to diversify cardio training.
• Professional athletes should publicly commit to nationally accepted moral standards.
• Sports careers should not provide additional benefits in the academic field.
• The government should encourage TV channels to show commercials about local sports organizations during the appropriate events.
• Each president of the US should announce their favorite sports and popularize them during the term.
• Professional athletes should partake in charity.
• Performance-enhancing drugs and ethics in sport.
• Chess should not be considered a sport.
• Athletes should not drink alcohol during the training seasons.

Are you looking for unusual problems that need to be solved as soon as possible?

Check out the current section!

Our world produces plenty of uncommon issues that people may or not notice. These problems can be serious but unnoticeable because of their rarity. To help you find the best solutions, we created the following list of unusual persuasive essay topics:

• Volunteer tourism and its effects on social life.
• Geology may be a good career choice for an introvert.
• Consuming energy drinks is less beneficial for a cyber athlete than healthy sleeping habits.
• Ice fishing is a good choice for a school field trip.
• All charity activities should be performed incognito.
• The official New York City taxi.
• Homeschooling is more expensive than other education options.
• The images of the early Disney princesses are outdated today.
• Unnatural facial expressions in dancing should be prohibited for professional competitors.
• Roads accidents are affected by weather conditions.
• Bright school uniforms could increase students’ self-esteem.
• Every westerner should study an Asian language at school.
• People from different parts of the world have similar legends and fairy tales.
• Eco-activists need to focus on water filtering systems rather than consumption limits.
• The prime reason for volunteering abroad is not charity.
• The United Arab Emirates’ economic: alternatives to oil.
• Wombat is one of the most hospitable animals on Earth.
• Martial arts can help prevent flat feet.
• Children should be offered a list of fitting sports based on their physical parameters.
• Gymnasts and dancers need to take a makeup course.
• Not all homeless people want to be saved.
• Dealerships should consider additional requirements for obtaining sports cars as oppose to regular vehicles.
• Blond hair may be a disadvantage in competitive belly dancing.
• The impact of sports tourism on countries.
• Studying world history from a neutral standpoint is nearly impossible.
• Loud music and uncomfortable furniture in fast-food restaurants serve a practical business purpose.
• Nobody sees and feels the world the same.
• Feeding wild animals may lead to them forgetting how to provide food for themselves.
• Renewable energy generation, application, impacts.
• Unconditional income will not make people happy.
• Celebrities and the working class have similar problems.
• Airlines after the deregulation act of 1978.
• Entrepreneurship is not the best choice for everyone.

What if you would like to discuss something straightforward that does not require in-depth research?

You are in the right place.

Here we put together a pack of easy persuasive speech topics. The topics from this section are precise enough for almost all age groups. Feel free to use them for training persuasive speech skills.

• Money as a unit of exchange and its history.
• Governments should design and promote the set of international etiquette rules.
• Human bodies need all nutrients in moderation.
• Learning technology in education.
• Cold-training is mostly beneficial for healthy people.
• Short but regular learning sessions are more useful for long-term studying than irregular ones.
• Travelling can be used as a method to avoid seasonal allergies.
• Celebrities will not be famous and successful without an audience.
• Educational cartoons are more useful for small children than traditional illustrated teaching materials.
• The nebular model of the solar system.
• Traditional tourism does not form a real picture of the observed country.
• It is possible to become a celebrity in almost any profession today.
• Modeling positive affects fine motor skills.
• Brushing teeth after breakfast keeps them clean longer than after waking up.
• A sphynx cat may be a good option as a pet for children prone to allergies.
• People suffering from depression do not always appear sad or melancholic.
• Relationships: importance and impacts.
• Lollypops or sunflower seeds can help overcome smoking habits.
• Practice without observation may be beneficial in a lack of time.
• Regular visits to beauty salons may be beneficial for business people of all genders.
• Schools’ and universities’ traditional grade system is not an efficient motivator anymore.
• Advantages of physical exercise for good health.
• Realistic CGI does not replace the impression from real actors’ play if the audience knows about the substitution.
• Not all bloggers are influencers.
• A successful sports career is not an excuse for extra benefits in common life.
• News creates a fake feeling of involvement in the global processes.
• Highly unlikely that violent content may provoke mentally stable people to commit a crime.
• Computer technology progress impact on health and social life.
• Professionalism and predictable behavior are more valuable features in science than genius.
• Humanity still needs competitive sports as a replacement for ancient lifestyle activities.
• Second language learning motivation.
• Binge-watching does not substitute traditional content consumption.
• Governments should encourage tourists to pass basic tests about target countries’ etiquette and traditions.
• Political debates do not provide voters with politicians’ programs.
• Popularity does not necessarily mean good for everyone.
• The government should work on the clear introduction of the remote work concept for the elderly.
• Extreme sports should be accessible only for people who passed special introductory tutorials.
• Social reactions to fashion styles.

Are you looking for amusing ideas for your persuasive speech?

We have something to offer.

The topics from this section may create entertaining and interesting discussions. It will be more fun if you do it with a serious expression. Accompany your speech about the significance of the problem with visual materials.

However, you need to take into account that the offered solutions should really solve the issues. With some acting, the discussion may become even more exciting. Check out the following list of fun persuasive speech topics:

• Urine does not help to heal the jellyfish sting.
• Airplanes were designed for small people advantage.
• Bananas may be hallucinogenic.
• Wearing brand clothes does not lead to success.
• Caterpillars in the salad are a sign of its quality.
• Moscow – the city of ants.
• Electric bikes in Thailand have to be monkey-proofed.
• Spinach does not add strength.
• Hedgehogs’ main diet is not limited to fruits.
• There is no mystery behind some mushrooms growing in circles.
• Teachers should start using memes in their lessons to grab students’ attention.
• Swallowing chewing gum is not nearly as harmful as parents tell their children.
• Uniqueness is not always beneficial.
• Stand-up comics’ speeches may be used as a worldwide political situation description.
• The killer whale has an unfitting name.
• Modern A.I. systems are not intelligent enough to capture the world.
• People insisting on the rejection of consumerism should stop using smart devices and expensive merchandise to promote their views.
• Mastering programming in a few months from level zero is nearly impossible.
• Ig Nobel Prize is scientific.
• Short stature may be advantageous in public transportation.
• Earl Grey tea tastes better with lemon than milk.
• Expensive foods are not always tasty.
• It is doubtful that that appropriate suit would make one a superhero .
• Cats prefer boxes regardless of their sizes.
• Placing the learning materials in the bathroom has a positive effect.
• Learning a language with Duolingo may be as effective as school classes.
• Cat food can be beneficial for humans.
• Animals may become high or drunk in their natural habitat.
• A free public toilet should become a good tradition worldwide.
• Glasses make people more trustworthy.
• Bald people should protect their scalp more than those with hair.
• Frozen food has an expiration date.
• Cats can be as loyal as dogs.
• UFOs do not always imply extraterrestrial life.

Are you close to finish school and proceed to the next phase of your life?

So, let’s get to business.

At this study level, you probably have a persuasive speech experience. You need this skill to be able to overcome various life challenges and convince other people of the correctness of your ideas. To master this skill, you may need some fresh serious high school persuasive essay topics to discuss.

Here they are:

• Schools should work more on explaining to students the toxic behavior harm, causes, and effects.
• Parents should partake in short volunteering activities during semesters to encourage students to be responsible for themselves.
• World War II and the US participation.
• Student medic teams should become common for school events.
• Educational institutions should teach students about time management from elementary school.
• College education and its value nowadays.
• Small tests and quizzes after each lesson are more beneficial than traditional ones in the long term.
• Official literature educational programs should include more modern authors.
• Global warming is not the result of human activity only.
• Schools should teach high school students how to analyze the labor market.
• Enhancing the performance of students.
• Low-graders’ shaming does not motivate them to study harder.
• Sports competitions during school years should only be allowed during weekends for athletes.
• Schools should implement political lessons into the schedule.
• The lessons of economics should equally discuss the stories of business success and failure.
• Standardized testing and its disadvantages.
• Students should have a choice whether to use paintbrushes or digital design tools during art classes.
• Teachers should encourage students to perform all mathematical calculations both manually and with digital devices’ help.
• Educational institutions should promote a healthy lifestyle more.
• Students should be allowed to paint graffiti on all outdoor schools’ surfaces after discussion and agreement with the management.
• Schools need to explain to students of all grades the number of people and resources involved in services around them.
• Benefits of sex education for teenagers.
• Students should have an opportunity to try various school professions during their study.
• P.E. classes should include self-defense tutorials for students.
• Math teachers should discuss the ideas of solving complicated problems with the whole class before and after examinations.
• Differentiated instructions in the middle school classroom.
• Discussions or lessons starting from the middle school about reasonable critical thinking may be beneficial for students.
• Learning how to take notes in high school will be helpful in college.
• Integration of technology into the studying process is more effective than prohibiting it.
• Students should be able to test out of any mandatory classes.
• Every student should participate in routine school cleaning.
• School improvement projects suggested by students should be considered by the management team.
• Collaborative learning in academic activities.
• Every debate competitor should complete a course of ethics before joining the club.
• All teachers should have open-door policies during their office hours.
• Teachers should consult with students’ parents before offering sweets and snacks as an award.
• Family involvement in the educational process.

Picked the best topic and would like to turn it into a good persuasive speech?

Then let’s go.

For a smoother writing process, define three main points before you start the speech creation. Here is the basic structure of this type of text:

‘Let’s dive into the details:

The introduction allows the audience to understand whether your topic is interesting and convincing enough. The greeting (the first element of the introduction) does not require anything special. It can be like: “Good day. My name is Simon.”

Then, you need a hook sentence that grabs attention. It can be humorous if the instructor allows that. For example, your topic is: “Active lifestyle is good for human health.” These are possible hooks:

• What exactly is the active lifestyle?
• Would you consider yourself an active person?
• Being active does not necessarily mean visiting the gym several times a week.

For a more compelling hook sentence, you may provide some supporting links to the appropriate scientific studies to credible sources. You grabbed attention and are ready to proceed to the next step.

And here it is:

The issue definition allows you to announce the problem. Check out the following example:

As you may notice, the sentence includes all three main points, does not repeat the topic, and states the problem.

What is next?

Do not forget to announce the solution . You need to include this part in the introduction. It finalizes the initial image of the future discussion. Besides, this text prepares the audience for the information in the text’s body. The section can be the following:

The solution announcement reveals the structure of the main discussion. However, it does not provide any details which you put in the body of your speech. In the example, we added the main points to the issue definition. You may omit them in the introduction. Provide solutions in general terms, and discuss the main points in the speech body.

Check it out!

There are three paragraphs in the body section. Usually, they have a similar structure and include one main point, supporting evidence, and transition sentence for each. With this last passage, you keep the speech flow.

Here you may take a look at possible paragraphs:

• Along with the improvement in living standards, there is a decrease in physical activity among residents from wealthy countries that leads to excess weight. Regular decent physical activity doses positively affect long-term weight loss ( Obesity and physical activity – National Library of Medicine ). However, this is not the only health issue that a modern person may face.
• You may hear about the abnormal blood pressure problem from many scientific studies. According to various proven research works , aerobic exercises improve blood pressure if used regularly and in adequate amounts. As you may notice, both mentioned solutions relate to the active lifestyle area of human life.
• The last solution is not an exception. It can be counterintuitive; however, walking in the fresh air (especially in the forest ) may significantly promote health and restore overall energy reserves. Jogging regularly improves overall quality of life and efficiency.

These are three body paragraphs that include main points. They provide supporting pieces of evidence/solutions and transition sentences. It is also necessary to add references to credible sources that prove the provided information.

The conclusion includes the summary and final statement:

• The summary provides an overview of the key elements covered by your persuasive speech.
• The final statement makes the end of your discussion obvious. It encourages the audience to investigate the topic further if they are interested in it.

Knowing that the conclusion of the example speech can be the following:

The Place4papers team appreciates you for reading this detailed article. Here you found plenty of ideas for a strong persuasive speech.

The persuasive speech tips include the following sections:

• We provide you with a detailed and short structure of this kind of paper.
• Then, our experts describe how to write an introduction to your speech.
• After that, you learn how to create body paragraphs.
• The Place4papers editors also explain how to form a good conclusion.

Feel free to use these well-structured tips as a basis for a new and motivating discussion.

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• The Philosophy of Music, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
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• A Visual History of Sports, YouTube
• How to Pick a Worthy Topic in 10 Seconds, A CS Research Topic Generator
• What Is Feminism, And Why Do So Many Women and Men Hate It, Forbes
• 120+ Good Persuasive Essay Topics From Easy to Unique, YourDictionary
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• The waves of feminism, and why people keep fighting over them, explained, Vox
• Topics for Persuasive Speeches, Oxford University Press
• Gale: Educational Publishing Company, Questia
• The History of Social Media: 29+ Key Moments, HootSuite
• 100 Persuasive Speech Topics for Kids, Love to Know
• 37 Inspiring Women Who Shaped Feminism, Harpersbazaar
• What Is Music?, The National Endowment for the Humanities
• The History of Social Media [Infographic], SocialMediaToday
• 100 Persuasive Speech Topics for Students, ThoughtCo
• Educational psychology, Britannica
• The 20 most famous animals of all time, Insider
• How to Write a Persuasive Speech, WikiHow
• Sports, History
• Top Persuasive Speech Topics for 2019, TutorBin
• School Psychology, American Psychological Association
• 414 Funny and Humorous Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative, Impromptu], MySpeechClass
• Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality, United Nations
• The Beginning of Sports, BleacherReport
• Feminism, History
• 15 Animals That Went to War, Iwm
• Educational Psychology and the Learning Process, VeryWellMind
• Music History from Primary Sources, Loc
• Social media’s growing impact on our lives, Apa

220+ Persuasive Speech Topics For All Students (Updated 2023)

Whether you’re a student preparing for a class presentation or an aspiring public speaker looking to captivate audiences, choosing the right persuasive speech topic is crucial. However, the process can be overwhelming, with countless possibilities to consider. Fear not! In this blog, we’ll delve into the world of persuasive speech topics, unravelling a treasure trove of ideas that are both impactful and easy to understand. 

From pressing social issues to intriguing debates, we’ll explore a wide array of subjects that will not only engage your audience but also leave a lasting impression. So, let’s embark on this journey together, and unlock the power of persuasive speech!

What To Keep In Mind While Selecting Persuasive Speech Topics

When selecting persuasive speech topics, it’s important to keep several key factors in mind:

Audience Relevance

Consider the interests, beliefs, and concerns of your audience. Choose a topic that resonates with them and is relevant to their lives or the larger community.

Personal Interest

Select a topic that you are genuinely passionate about. Your enthusiasm will shine through in your speech and engage your audience more effectively.

Knowledge and Expertise

Choose a topic that you have a good understanding of or are willing to research extensively. It’s important to present accurate information and back your arguments with evidence.

Controversy and Debate

Opt for topics that have varying viewpoints or invite discussion. Controversial subjects often spark interest and encourage audience engagement.

Impactful and Timely

Consider selecting a topic that addresses a pressing issue or has societal relevance. Topics related to current events or ongoing debates can generate greater interest.

Strike a balance between being challenging and respectful. Avoid excessively sensitive or offensive topics that might alienate or upset your audience.

Feasibility

Ensure that the chosen topic can be effectively covered within the given time constraints of your speech. Select a topic that can be adequately explored and supported within the allocated time frame.

Remember, the ultimate goal of a persuasive speech is to inspire, educate, and motivate your audience. By keeping these considerations in mind, you can select a persuasive speech topic that captures attention, encourages thoughtful discourse, and leaves a lasting impact.

10+ Religion Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Role of Religion in Shaping Moral Values.
• Examining the Impact of Religious Freedom on Society.
• Exploring the Controversy Surrounding Religion in Schools.
• Addressing the Need for Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding.
• Analysing the Relationship Between Religion and Science.
• Discussing the Importance of Religious Tolerance and Acceptance.
• The Ethics of Proselytising: Balancing Freedom of Religion and Respect for Others.
• Investigating the Influence of Religion on Gender Equality.
• Debating the Role of Religion in Politics and Governance.
• Exploring the Challenges and Benefits of Religious Pluralism in a Globalised World.

10+ Persuasive Speech Topics About Music & Fashion

• The Impact of Music on Mood and Emotions: Exploring the Power of Melody.
• Fashion Industry’s Influence on Body Image and Self-Esteem: Redefining Beauty Standards.
• Music Streaming Services: Revolutionising the Way We Discover and Enjoy Music.
• The Cultural Significance of Fashion: Celebrating Diversity and Expression.
• The Role of Music Education in Developing Creativity and Critical Thinking Skills.
• Sustainable Fashion: Promoting Ethical and Eco-Friendly Clothing Choices.
• Music as Therapy: Harnessing the Healing Power of Sound.
• Fashion Trends: Unveiling the Social and Psychological Factors Behind Their Popularity.
• The Evolution of Music Genres: Tracing the Influence of Historical and Cultural Movements.
• Fast Fashion: Examining the Environmental and Social Consequences of Disposable Clothing.
• Music and Memory: Exploring the Connection between Melodies and Recall.
• Body Positivity Movement: Challenging Stereotypes and Promoting Acceptance in Fashion.

10+ Arts and Culture Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Importance of Arts Education in Schools.
• Preserving Cultural Heritage: The Need for Funding and Support.
• The Power of Music Therapy: Promoting Mental Health and Well-being.
• Addressing Gender Representation in the Film and Entertainment Industry.
• The Role of Art in Promoting Social Change and Activism.
• Art Censorship: Protecting Freedom of Expression and Creativity.
• Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in the Arts and Cultural Sector.
• Art as a Catalyst for Economic Growth and Tourism.
• Exploring the Influence of Social Media on Art and Culture.
• The Impact of Art on Individual and Community Identity.
• Supporting Local Artists: Building Thriving Arts Communities.
• The Relationship Between Art and Science: Fostering Innovation.
• Art and Healing: The Therapeutic Benefits of Creative Expression.

10+ Government Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Importance of Voting: Exercising Your Civic Duty.
• Implementing Stricter Gun Control Laws for Public Safety.
• Addressing Climate Change: The Urgency for Government Action.
• The Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
• Promoting Equality: Ensuring LGBTQ+ Rights and Protections.
• Combating Fake News: The Role of Government in Media Literacy.
• Raising the Minimum Wage: Fighting Income Inequality.
• Reforming the Criminal Justice System: Reducing Mass Incarceration.
• Protecting Net Neutrality: Preserving an Open Internet.
• Enhancing Access to Affordable Healthcare: A Government Responsibility.
• Regulating Big Tech: Balancing Innovation and Consumer Protection.
• Investing in Renewable Energy: Transitioning to a Sustainable Future.

10+ Family Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Benefits of Family Dinners: Why Eating Together Matters.
• Should Parents Allow Children to Use Social Media?
• The Importance of Teaching Financial Responsibility to Kids.
• Balancing Work and Family: Tips for Achieving Work-Life Balance.
• The Effects of Divorce on Children and Strategies for Coping.
• Addressing Domestic Violence: How Families Can Break the Cycle.
• Homeschooling vs. Public Schooling: Which is the Better Option?
• The Dangers of Helicopter Parenting and Letting Kids Fail.
• The Impact of Technology on Family Relationships.
• Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Family Environments.
• The Pros and Cons of Having Only One Child.
• Navigating Family Conflict: Strategies for Effective Communication.

10+ Environment Persuasive Speech Topics

• The urgency of reducing plastic waste and embracing sustainable alternatives.
• The impact of deforestation on climate change and biodiversity loss.
• The need for stricter regulations on air pollution to combat respiratory diseases.
• Promoting renewable energy sources to mitigate the effects of fossil fuel consumption.
• The importance of water conservation in the face of increasing scarcity.
• Addressing the detrimental effects of pesticide use on ecosystems and human health.
• Raising awareness about the consequences of overfishing and the need for sustainable fishing practices.
• The role of individuals and communities in combating climate change through small lifestyle changes.
• The significance of preserving and protecting endangered species from extinction.
• The importance of recycling and waste management in reducing environmental pollution.
• Promoting sustainable agriculture practices to ensure food security and protect the environment.
• The impact of urbanization on natural habitats and the importance of green spaces in cities.
• Advocating for stricter regulations on industrial pollution to safeguard environmental and human health.
• The benefits of promoting eco-tourism as a sustainable alternative to mass tourism.

10+ Sports Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Importance of Physical Education Programs in Schools.
• The Benefits of Youth Sports in Character Development.
• The Need for Stricter Regulations in Professional Sports.
• The Impact of Sports on Mental Health and Well-being.
• Promoting Gender Equality in Sports: Breaking the Glass Ceiling.
• The Dangers of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Athletics.
• Addressing the Issue of Concussions in Contact Sports.
• The Role of Sports in Promoting Social Inclusion and Diversity.
• The Influence of Sports Sponsorships on Athletes and Teams.
• The Ethics of Animal Sports: Should They Be Banned?
• The Debate on Paying College Athletes: Fair Compensation or Exploitation?
• The Role of Sports in Fostering Teamwork and Leadership Skills.
• Promoting Sports as a Tool for Conflict Resolution and Diplomacy.
• The Impact of Technology on Sports: Enhancing Performance or Diminishing Fairness?
• The Significance of Title IX in Advancing Women’s Sports.

10+ Education Persuasive Speech Topics

• The importance of incorporating financial literacy in school curricula.
• Addressing the need for comprehensive sex education in schools.
• Promoting the benefits of arts education for well-rounded development.
• The significance of teaching critical thinking skills in the digital age.
• Implementing mindfulness and mental health education in schools.
• Bridging the gender gap in STEM education and careers.
• The value of inclusive education for students with disabilities.
• Promoting cultural diversity and inclusivity in educational institutions.
• Addressing the impact of standardized testing on students’ well-being.
• The role of technology in transforming traditional classroom learning.
• Promoting environmental education for a sustainable future.
• Advocating for comprehensive anti-bullying policies and education in schools.
• The benefits of bilingual education in a globalized world.
• Encouraging physical education and healthy lifestyles in schools.

10+ Scientific Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Importance of Vaccinations: Protecting Public Health Through Immunization.
• Climate Change: Urgency for Global Action to Combat Rising Temperatures.
• The Benefits of Renewable Energy Sources: Transitioning Towards a Sustainable Future.
• Exploring the Potential of Stem Cell Research in Advancing Medical Treatments.
• Artificial Intelligence: Balancing its Potential Benefits and Ethical Concerns.
• The Role of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Addressing Food Security.
• Space Exploration: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe and Expanding Human Knowledge.
• The Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Ecosystems: Seeking Sustainable Solutions.
• The Power of Meditation: Enhancing Mental Well-being and Cognitive Abilities.
• Human Cloning: Ethical Implications and Scientific Advancements.
• Nanotechnology: Unleashing the Potential of Tiny Innovations in Various Industries.
• The Influence of Social Media on Mental Health: Promoting Digital Well-being.

10+ Video Games Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Impact of Violent Video Games on Youth Behavior.
• How Video Games Promote Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Skills.
• The Benefits of Video Games in Enhancing Cognitive Abilities.
• The Role of Video Games in Fostering Social Connections and Collaboration.
• Exploring the Educational Potential of Video Games in the Classroom.
• Addressing Video Game Addiction: Recognizing the Signs and Seeking Help.
• The Positive Effects of Video Games on Mental Health and Well-being.
• Video Games as a Tool for Rehabilitation and Therapy.
• Debunking Stereotypes: Gender Representation in Video Games.
• The Influence of Video Games on Body Image and Self-Esteem.
• Examining the Link Between Video Games and Increased Physical Activity.
• The Ethical Implications of Loot Boxes and In-Game Purchases in Video Games.

10+ Public Speaking Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Importance of Mental Health Awareness in Schools.
• The Impact of Social Media on Society.
• Promoting Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future.
• The Need for Stricter Gun Control Laws.
• Raising Awareness about Climate Change and Its Consequences.
• Addressing the Gender Pay Gap in the Workplace.
• Combating Cyberbullying: Creating a Safer Online Environment.
• The Benefits of Implementing Comprehensive Sex Education in Schools.
• Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace.
• The Importance of Voting: Exercising Your Democratic Rights.
• Ending Animal Testing: Advancing Ethical Research Alternatives.
• Tackling Food Waste: Promoting Sustainable Consumption Habits.
• The Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Life and Ecosystems.
• Encouraging Organ Donation: Saving Lives through Generosity.
• Breaking the Stigma: Raising Awareness about Mental Illness.

10+ Medical Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Importance of Vaccinations: Debunking Myths and Promoting Public Health.
• The Ethics of Organ Transplantation: Balancing Supply and Demand.
• Addressing the Opioid Crisis: Strategies for Prevention and Treatment.
• Promoting Mental Health: Breaking the Silence and Ending Stigma.
• Advancements in Precision Medicine: Personalizing Healthcare for Better Outcomes.
• The Role of Telemedicine in Improving Access to Healthcare.
• Enhancing Patient Safety: Preventing Medical Errors in Healthcare Settings.
• Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Combating Obesity and Chronic Diseases.
• The Benefits of Integrative Medicine: Bridging Conventional and Alternative Approaches.
• Exploring the Impact of Technology on Healthcare Delivery.
• Promoting Sexual Health Education: Empowering Individuals to Make Informed Choices.
• The Importance of Early Detection: Screenings for Cancer and Other Diseases.
• The Role of Medical Research in Advancing Treatment and Finding Cures.

10+ Business Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Benefits of Implementing Flexible Work Arrangements in Companies.
• Promoting Ethical Practices in Business: Combating Corruption and Fraud.
• The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Building a Positive Brand Image.
• Fostering Innovation and Creativity in the Workplace.
• The Advantages of Embracing Diversity in Business Teams.
• Harnessing the Power of Technology for Enhanced Customer Experience.
• Promoting Work-Life Balance: Improving Employee Well-being and Productivity.
• The Importance of Effective Leadership in Driving Organizational Success.
• Addressing Workplace Gender Inequality: Achieving Gender Balance in Leadership Roles.
• The Benefits of Investing in Employee Training and Development Programs.
• Promoting Sustainable Business Practices: Environmental Responsibility and Profitability.
• Exploring the Advantages of Implementing Remote Work Policies.
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Business Operations and Job Market.
• Nurturing a Positive Company Culture: The Key to Employee Engagement and Retention.
• The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Effective Business Communication.

10+ Mental Health Persuasive Speech Topics

• Prioritizing Mental Health Education in Schools: Nurturing Emotional Well-being from an Early Age.
• Overcoming the Stigma: Promoting Open Discussions on Mental Health in Communities.
• The Need for Increased Accessibility to Mental Health Services: Breaking Barriers to Care.
• Mental Health in the Workplace: Creating Supportive and Productive Environments.
• Raising Awareness about Suicide Prevention: Saving Lives through Compassion and Understanding.
• Addressing the Impact of Social Media on Mental Health: Finding Balance in the Digital Age.
• Breaking Down Gender Stereotypes in Mental Health: Encouraging Emotional Expression for All.
• Promoting Self-Care Practices for Mental Well-being: Nurturing a Healthy Mindset.
• Combating Mental Health Stigma among College Students: Fostering Supportive Campus Communities.
• The Role of Exercise and Physical Activity in Enhancing Mental Health: A Holistic Approach to Well-being.

10+ Persuasive Essay Topics About Animals

• The Ethics of Animal Testing: Finding Alternatives for Scientific Research.
• Protecting Endangered Species: Preserving Biodiversity for Future Generations.
• The Cruelty of Animal Circuses: Advocating for a Ban on Animal Entertainment.
• Animal Agriculture and Environmental Impact: Promoting Sustainable Food Choices.
• The Importance of Animal Adoption: Encouraging Responsible Pet Ownership.
• Ban on Trophy Hunting: Preserving Wildlife and Ecosystems.
• Animal Rights in Entertainment: Ending the Use of Animals in Films and Shows.
• The Ethics of Zoos: Rethinking Captivity and Animal Welfare.
• Animal Experimentation: Promoting Ethical Guidelines and Oversight.
• Fur Industry: Advocating for Cruelty-Free Fashion and Alternatives.
• Marine Captivity: Ending the Keeping of Whales and Dolphins in Theme Parks.
• The Link Between Animal Cruelty and Violence Against Humans: Strengthening Laws and Awareness.
• Factory Farming: Promoting Humane Treatment of Farm Animals.
• The Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Improving Human Well-being.
• Wildlife Conservation: Combating Illegal Wildlife Trade and Poaching.

10+ Persuasive Speech Topics for College

• The Benefits of Financial Literacy Education for College Students.
• Promoting Mental Health Support Services on College Campuses.
• Addressing the Issue of Campus Sexual Assault: Ensuring Safety and Justice.
• The Importance of Ethical Consumption: Making Sustainable Choices in College.
• Encouraging Diversity in Higher Education: Embracing Inclusion on Campus.
• Combatting the Rising Costs of College Education: Exploring Solutions for Affordability.
• Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Encouraging Exercise and Nutrition in College.
• The Need for Comprehensive Sexual Consent Education in College.
• Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation in College Education.
• Empowering Students to Combat Fake News: Promoting Media Literacy on Campus.

10+ Unique Persuasive Topics

• The Power of Empathy: Cultivating Compassion in Everyday Life.
• Promoting Mindfulness: Finding Balance in a Fast-Paced World.
• The Benefits of Outdoor Education: Nurturing a Connection with Nature.
• Exploring the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in the Modern Age.
• Building Stronger Communities through Volunteerism and Civic Engagement.
• The Importance of Financial Literacy: Empowering Individuals for a Secure Future.
• Unveiling the Truth: The Role of Media Literacy in an Era of Misinformation.
• Redefining Beauty Standards: Embracing Body Positivity and Self-Acceptance.
• Harnessing the Power of Positive Thinking: Cultivating a Growth Mindset.
• The Impact of Arts Education: Fostering Creativity and Well-Being in Schools.

10+ Economic Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Benefits of Implementing Universal Basic Income.
• Exploring the Impact of Globalization on Job Markets.
• Addressing Income Inequality: Closing the Wage Gap.
• The Role of Government Regulation in Promoting Fair Competition.
• Promoting Sustainable Economic Growth through Green Initiatives.
• The Importance of Financial Literacy Education in Schools.
• Exploring the Pros and Cons of Minimum Wage Increases.
• The Impact of Automation on the Future of the Workforce.
• The Economic Benefits of Investing in Renewable Energy.
• Examining the Effects of Trade Wars on Global Economies.
• The Role of Entrepreneurship in Stimulating Economic Development.
• Analyzing the Economic Implications of Immigration Policies.
• The Significance of Economic Diplomacy in International Relations.
• The Influence of Consumer Behavior on the Economy.
• Exploring the Economics of Healthcare: Challenges and Solutions.

10+ Ethics Persuasive Speech Topics

• The Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Today’s Society.
• Animal Rights: Promoting Ethical Treatment and Protection.
• Ethical Considerations in Genetic Engineering and Human Enhancement.
• The Ethics of Capital Punishment: Examining the Death Penalty.
• The Moral Dilemma of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide.
• Ethical Issues Surrounding Privacy and Data Protection in the Digital Age.
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Ethical Business Practices for a Sustainable Future.
• Ethical Implications of Cloning and Genetic Manipulation.
• The Ethics of Animal Testing: Balancing Scientific Progress and Animal Welfare.
• Ethical Considerations in Medical Research: Informed Consent and Participant Rights.
• The Ethics of Privacy Invasion: Surveillance in the Name of Security.
• Ethical Challenges in the Age of Big Data and Data Mining.
• The Moral Debate of Physician-Assisted Death and End-of-Life Care.
• Ethical Implications of Human Trafficking: Combating Modern-Day Slavery.
• Ethical Issues in Globalization: Balancing Economic Growth and Social Justice.

How To Craft Persuasive Speech?

Remember, this is just a template, and you can modify and adapt it according to your specific speech topic and requirements.

An Example Of Persuasive Speech Topic

Title: the importance of volunteering in our community.

Introduction:

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,

Today, I stand before you to shed light on a topic that is close to my heart: the importance of volunteering in our community. We often get caught up in the busyness of our lives, but it is crucial to take a step back and recognize the profound impact we can have when we extend a helping hand. Through volunteering, we not only improve the lives of others but also enrich our own. Let’s explore how giving our time, skills, and compassion can make a lasting difference in our community.

Building Stronger Communities:

Volunteering fosters a sense of belonging and strengthens the fabric of our community. By working together towards a common goal, we forge meaningful connections and create a support system that benefits everyone involved. Whether it’s cleaning up local parks, organizing food drives, or mentoring youth, our collective efforts can transform neighborhoods and create a positive ripple effect.

Making a Difference in Individual Lives:

Each act of volunteering has the power to touch someone’s life in ways we may never fully comprehend. From offering a listening ear at a homeless shelter to tutoring underprivileged children, we have the ability to empower and uplift individuals facing adversity. Our actions can instill hope, provide opportunities, and inspire others to believe in their own potential.

Personal Growth and Development:

Volunteering is not just about giving; it is also an incredible avenue for personal growth. As we step outside our comfort zones and engage with diverse communities, we develop empathy, compassion, and a broader perspective on life. Volunteering allows us to hone our skills, learn new ones, and build a strong sense of self-esteem. It is an investment in ourselves that pays dividends in personal and professional spheres.

Addressing Social Issues:

Our community faces numerous social challenges, from poverty to environmental degradation. Through volunteering, we become agents of change, actively working to address these pressing issues. By dedicating our time and resources to organizations and causes that align with our values, we contribute to the collective efforts of creating a more equitable and sustainable world.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, volunteering is not a mere act of kindness; it is a transformative force that can shape our community and ourselves. By embracing the spirit of giving, we build stronger communities, make a profound impact on individual lives, experience personal growth, and contribute to solving societal issues. I urge each one of you to find a cause that resonates with you, explore volunteering opportunities, and embark on this incredible journey of service. Together, let’s make a lasting difference in our community, one selfless act at a time.

In conclusion, persuasive speech topics hold immense power to shape opinions, provoke critical thinking, and inspire action. Throughout this blog, we have explored a wide range of persuasive speech topics, covering social issues, ethics, and public speaking. 

Remember that when selecting a persuasive speech topic, it is crucial to consider the audience’s relevance, your personal interest, and the potential impact of the topic. Crafting a persuasive speech involves engaging the audience through a compelling introduction, presenting well-supported arguments, addressing counter arguments, and concluding with a strong call to action. 

By utilizing these techniques, you can effectively deliver a persuasive speech that leaves a lasting impression and drives positive change. So, embrace the art of persuasive communication, be the voice of change, and make your words resonate in the hearts and minds of your audience. 

Together, let’s harness the power of persuasive speech to create a better, more informed, and compassionate world.

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Interested in suggesting a potential topic, learning about how topics are selected, or applying to be part of a topic wording committee? 

Current Topics

Lincoln-douglas.

A Note About the LD Topic Release Schedule: Each summer, the Lincoln-Douglas Wording Committee assigns a set of three topics to each bi-monthly topic cycle. All potential topics for the year are released the Monday following the conclusion of the National Tournament. In June, chapter advisors and member students will know, “These three topics will be voted on for September/October. These three topics will be voted on for November/December,” etc. One week prior to the topic being released for that topic cycle, chapter advisors and member students will vote on which of the three topics they prefer. The topic that receives the most votes will be the topic for that cycle. 

Lincoln-Douglas Debate – 2024 September/October Topic

Lincoln-douglas debate – novice topic.

Resolved: In the United States, national service ought to be mandatory.

Note: The novice Lincoln-Douglas topic is an optional topic that coaches and tournaments may choose to use each year in September/October, or the first two months of the novice season. The same topic is used each year and is created to be accessible to new debaters so that coaches can have a consistent, beginner-friendly topic to guide their novice LD curriculum using educational materials provided by the NSDA. Coaches are encouraged to check with tournament hosts in their area before exclusively prepping for one topic over another.   Access sample cases   on the mandatory national service topic.

Public Forum

A Note About the PF Topic Release Schedule: Each summer, the Public Forum Wording Committee assigns a set of two topics to each topic cycle. All potential topic areas and resolutions for the year are released the Monday following the conclusion of the National Tournament. In June, chapter advisors and member students will know, “These two topics will be voted on for September/October. These two topics will be voted on for November/December,” etc. One week prior to the topic being released for that topic cycle, chapter advisors and member students will vote on which of the two topics they prefer. The topic that receives the most votes will be the topic for that cycle. 

Nationals topic options will be announced the last week of April.

Public Forum Debate – 2024 September/October Topic

Policy debate.

Policy Debate – 2024-2025 Topic

Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly strengthen its protection of domestic intellectual property rights in copyrights, patents, and/or trademarks.

Read a synopsis of the problem areas proposed for the 2024-2025 Policy Debate resolution.

Visit the NFHS website for a complete map of how states voted as well as the press release .

Novice Case Limits for the 2024-2025 Policy Debate Topic

• Patents: Emerging Technologies
• Patents: Green Technology
• Copyrights: Protect the Creative Arts
• Trademarks: Trademark Trolls

Big Questions

Big Questions – 2024-2025 Topic

A total of 495 coaches and 1,811 students voted for the resolution. The winning resolution received 52% of the coach vote and 53% of the student vote.

We invite you to incorporate issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion into your speech and debate activities. Explore our Extemp questions , Impromptu questions , and Congress legislation focused on these important topics.

Congress Legislation

A sample docket is provided monthly, on the first of the month.

Extemp Questions

Sample questions are provided monthly, on the first of the month.

World Schools Debate

Sample motions are provided monthly, on the first of the month

Potential Topics

Lincoln-douglas debate 2024-2025 potential topics.

The Lincoln-Douglas Wording Committee has developed a variety of potential resolutions for the 2024-2025 season. Member students and one chapter advisor per active school may vote for each topic one week prior to the topic release date. Topic voting for the September/October topic opens July 25, and the topic is announced August 1.

2024 September/October

• Resolved: The United States ought to adopt carbon pricing.
• Resolved: The United States ought to substantially increase restrictions on the Commander in Chief powers of the President of the United States.
• Resolved: The United States ought to require that workers receive a living wage.

2024 November/December

• Resolved: The United States ought to substantially increase incentives for nuclear power production.
• Resolved: The United States ought to adopt a wealth tax.
• Resolved: The Commonwealth of Australia ought to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

2025 January/February

• Resolved: The United States ought to formally recognize one or more of the following: Iraqi Kurdistan, the Republic of China, the Republic of Somaliland.
• Resolved: The United States ought to remove all or nearly all of its economic sanctions on one or more of the following: Islamic Republic of Iran, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
• Resolved: The United States ought to become party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and/or the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

2025 March/April

• Resolved: Social media ought to be regulated as a public utility.
• Resolved: The development of Artificial General Intelligence is immoral.
• Resolved: The United States ought to ban non-therapeutic human genetic engineering.

2025 National Tournament

• Resolved: Violent revolution is a just response to political oppression.
• Resolved: A just society ought to prefer social ownership to private ownership.
• Resolved: The United States ought to enact electoral reform that replaces the plurality voting system in federal elections.

Public Forum Debate 2024-2025 Potential Topics

The Public Forum Wording Committee has developed a variety of potential resolutions for the 2024-2025 season. Member students and one chapter advisor per active school may vote for each topic one week prior to the topic release date. Topic voting for the September/October topic opens July 25, and the topic is announced August 1.

• Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially expand its surveillance infrastructure along its southern border.
• Resolved: The United Mexican States should substantially increase private sector participation in its energy industry.
• Resolved: The United States should substantially reduce its military support of Taiwan.
• Resolved: The United States federal government should eliminate its intercontinental ballistic missiles.

2025 January

• Resolved: The East African Community Partner States should establish the East African Federation.
• Resolved: The African Union should grant diplomatic recognition to the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state.

2025 February

• Resolved: The United States should accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
• Resolved: International financial institutions should cancel all outstanding public debt from fossil fuel projects in low- and middle-income countries (LIMC).
• Resolved: In the United States, the benefits of the use of generative artificial intelligence in education outweigh the harms.
• Resolved: The United States federal government should ban corporate acquisition of single-family residences.
• Resolved: The United States federal government should eliminate its agricultural subsidies for domestic corn production.
• Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its investment in domestic nuclear energy.
• Potential topics will be available in April 2025.

Past Topics

Past topics - big questions.

2024-2025 – Resolved: Creativity is a more powerful force than intelligence.

2023-2024 – Resolved: Belief in the supernatural is incompatible with belief in science.

2022-2023 – Resolved: Humans are primarily driven by self-interest.

2021-2022 – Resolved: On balance, societies benefit from religious belief and practice.

2020-2021 – Resolved: Mathematics was discovered, not invented.

2019-2020 – Resolved: Objective morality exists.

2018-2019 – Resolved: Humans are primarily driven by self-interest.

2016-2017 – Resolved: Science leaves no room for free will.

Past Topics - Lincoln-Douglas Debate

• September/October – Resolved: The United States ought to require that workers receive a living wage.
• Nationals 2024 – Resolved: In a democracy, a people ought to have the right to secede from their government.
• March/April – Resolved: The primary objective of the United States criminal justice system ought to be rehabilitation.
• January/February – Resolved: The United States ought to substantially reduce its military presence in the West Asia-North Africa region.
• November/December – Resolved: The United States ought to prohibit the extraction of fossil fuels from federal public lands and waters.
• September/October – Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee the right to housing.
• Nationals 2023 – Resolved: Government employees have a moral obligation to leak classified information to address injustice.
• March/April – Resolved: The justices of the Supreme Court of the United States ought to be term-limited.
• January/February – Resolved: Justice requires open borders for human migration.
• November/December – Resolved: The People’s Republic of China ought to prioritize environmental protection over economic growth.
• September/October – Resolved: The United States ought to implement a single-payer universal healthcare system.
• Nationals 2022 – Resolved: Radicalism is preferable to incrementalism to achieve social justice.
• March/April – Resolved: In a democracy, a free press ought to prioritize objectivity over advocacy.
• January/February – Resolved: The appropriation of outer space by private entities is unjust.
• November/December – Resolved: A just government ought to recognize an unconditional right of workers to strike.
• September/October – Resolved: The member nations of the World Trade Organization ought to reduce intellectual property protections for medicines.
• Nationals – Resolved: A public health emergency justifies limiting civil liberties.
• March/April – Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee universal child care.
• January/February – Resolved: States ought to ban lethal autonomous weapons.
• November/December – Resolved: The United States ought to provide a federal jobs guarantee.
• September/October – Resolved: In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory.
• Nationals – Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy.
• March/April – Resolved: Predictive policing is unjust.
• January/February – Resolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.
• November/December – Resolved: The United States ought to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels.
• September/October – Resolved: In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions.
• Nationals – Resolved: Violent revolution is a just response to political oppression.
• March/April – Resolved: The illegal use of drugs ought to be treated as a matter of public health, not of criminal justice.
• January/February – Resolved: The United States ought not provide military aid to authoritarian regimes.
• November/December – Resolved: In a democracy, the public’s right to know ought to be valued above the right to privacy of candidates for public office.
• September/October – Resolved: In the United States, reporters ought to have the right to protect the identity of confidential sources.
• Nationals – Resolved: The United States’ use of targeted killing in foreign countries is unjust.
• March/April – Resolved: The United States ought to provide a universal basic income.
• January/February- Resolved: Plea bargaining ought to be abolished in the United States criminal justice system.
• November/December – Resolved: Wealthy nations have an obligation to provide development assistance to other nations.
• September/October – Resolved: In the United States, national service ought to be compulsory.
• Nationals – Resolved: A just government ought to prioritize civil liberties over national security.
• March/April – Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee the right to housing.
• January/February – Resolved: Public colleges and universities in the United States ought not restrict any constitutionally protected speech.
• November/December – Resolved: The United States ought to limit qualified immunity for police officers.
• September/October – Resolved: Countries ought to prohibit the production of nuclear power.
• 2016 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Immigration ought to be recognized as a human right.
• March/April – Resolved: The United States ought to promote democracy in the Middle East.
• January/February – Resolved: In the United States, private ownership of handguns ought to be banned.
• November/December – Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, jury nullification ought to be used in the face of perceived injustice.
• September/October – Resolved: Adolescents ought to have the right to make autonomous medical choices.
• 2015 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: Inaction in the face of injustice makes individuals morally culpable.
• March/April – Resolved: Just governments ought to ensure food security for their citizens.
• January/February – Resolved: Just governments ought to require that employers pay a living wage.
• November/December – Resolved: The “right to be forgotten” from Internet searches ought to be a civil right.
• September/October – Resolved: A just society ought to presume consent for organ procurement from the deceased.
• 2014 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: The United States ought to prioritize the pursuit of national security objectives above the digital privacy of its citizens.
• March/April – Resolved: Placing political conditions on humanitarian aid to foreign countries is unjust.
• January/February – Resolved: Developing countries should prioritize environmental protection over resource extraction when the two are in conflict.
• November/December – Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, truth-seeking ought to take precedence over attorney-client privilege.
• 2013 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Oppressive government is more desirable than no government.
• March/April – Resolved: The United States is justified in intervening in the internal political processes of other countries to attempt to stop human rights abuses.
• January/February – Resolved: Rehabilitation ought to be valued above retribution in the United States criminal justice system.
• November/December – Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee universal health care for its citizens.
• September/October – Resolved: The United States ought to extend to non-citizens accused of terrorism the same constitutional due process protections it grants to citizens.
• 2012 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: A government has the obligation to lessen the economic gap between its rich and poor citizens.
• March/April – Resolved: Targeted killing is a morally permissible foreign policy tool.
• January/February – Resolved: It is morally permissible for victims to use deadly force as a deliberate response to repeated domestic violence.
• November/December – Resolved: Individuals have a moral obligation to assist people in need.
• September/October – Resolved: Justice requires the recognition of animal rights.
• 2011 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: When forced to choose, a just government ought to prioritize universal human rights over its national interest.
• March/April – Resolved: The United States is justified in using private military firms abroad to pursue its military objectives.
• January/February – Resolved: In the United States, juveniles charged with violent felonies ought to be treated as adults in the criminal justice system.
• November/December Topic – Resolved: The abuse of illegal drugs ought to be treated as a matter of public health, not of criminal justice.
• September/October – Resolved: States ought not possess nuclear weapons.
• 2010 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: Compulsory inclusion of non-felons’ DNA in any government database is unjust.
• 2010 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: That the United States government has a moral obligation to afford the same constitutional rights to all people on United States soil.
• March/April – Resolved: In the United States, the principle of jury nullification is a just check on government.
• January/February – Resolved: Economic sanctions ought not be used to achieve foreign policy objectives.
• November/December – Resolved: Public health concerns justify compulsory immunization.
• September/October – Resolved: Public High school students in the United States ought not be required to pass standardized exit exams to graduate.
• 2009 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: Military conscription is unjust.
• 2009 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: When in conflict, the preservation of minority cultural values ought to be valued above the preservation of a unified national culture.
• March/April – Resolved: Vigilantism is justified when the government has failed to enforce the law.
• January/February – Resolved: The United States ought to submit to the jurisdiction of an international court designed to prosecute crimes against humanity.
• November/December – Resolved: In a democratic society, felons ought to retain the right to vote.
• September/October – Resolved: It is morally permissible to kill one innocent person to save the lives of more innocent people.
• 2008 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: Limiting economic inequality ought to be a more important social goal than maximizing economic freedom.
• 2008 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: That secondary education in America should value the fine arts over athletics.
• March/April – Resolved: Hate crime enhancements are unjust in the United States.
• January/February – Resolved: It is just for the United States to use military force to prevent the acquisition of nuclear weapons by nations that pose a military threat.
• November/December – Resolved: In the United States, plea-bargaining in exchange for testimony is unjust.
• September/October – Resolved: A just society ought not use the death penalty as a form of punishment.
• 2007 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: On balance, violent revolution is a just response to political oppression.
• 2007 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: That judicial activism is unjust in a democracy.
• March/April – Resolved: The United Nations’ obligation to protect global human rights ought to be valued above its obligation to respect national sovereignty.
• January/February – Resolved: The actions of corporations ought to be held to the same moral standards as the actions of individuals.
• November/December – Resolved: A victim’s deliberate use of deadly force is a just response to repeated domestic violence.
• September/October – Resolved: A just government should provide health care to its citizens.
• 2006 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: In matters of collecting military intelligence, the ends justify the means.
• 2006 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: When in conflict, an individual’s freedom of speech should be valued above a community’s moral standards.
• March/April – Resolved: Juveniles charged with violent crimes should be tried and punished as adults.
• January/February – Resolved: The use of the state’s power of eminent domain to promote private enterprise is unjust.
• November/December – Resolved: Judicial activism is necessary to protect the rights of American citizens.
• September/October – Resolved: In matters of U.S. immigration policy, restrictions on the rights of non-citizens are consistent with democratic ideals.
• 2005 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: the pursuit of scientific knowledge ought to be constrained by concern for societal good.
• 2005 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: the primary purpose of formal education ought to be to impart knowledge.
• March/April – Resolved: to better protect civil liberties, community standards ought to take precedence over conflicting national standards.
• January/February – Resolved: democracy is best served by strict separation of church and state.
• November/December – Resolved: the United States has a moral obligation to promote democratic ideals in other nations.
• September/October – Resolved: individual claims of privacy ought to be valued above competing claims of societal welfare.
• 2004 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified.
• 2004 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: a nation’s citizens’ rights ought to take precedence over its security.
• March/April – Resolved: as a general principle, individuals have an obligation to value the common good above their own interests.
• January/February – Resolved: a government’s obligation to protect the environment ought to take precedence over its obligation to promote economic development.
• November/December – Resolved: the U.S. has a moral obligation to mitigate international conflicts.
• September/October – Resolved: in the U.S. judicial system, truth seeking ought to take precedence over privileged communication.
• 2003 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: rehabilitation ought to be valued above punishment in the U.S. criminal justice system.
• 2003 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: capitalism is the most just economic system.
• March/April – Resolved: when in conflict, the letter of the law ought to take priority over the spirit of the law.
• January/February – Resolved: when in conflict, globalization ought to be valued above national sovereignty.
• November/December – Resolved: when in conflict, academic freedom in U.S. high schools ought to be valued above community standards.
• September/October – Resolved: when the United States is engaged in military conflict, the demands of national security ought to supersede conflicting claims of individual rights.
• 2002 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: laws which protect citizens from themselves are justified.
• 2002 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: the people’s right to know outweighs the government’s need for confidentiality.
• March/April – Resolved: limiting the freedom of expression of adults is justified by society’s interest in protecting children.
• January/February – Resolved: oppressive government is more desirable than no government.
• November/December – Resolved: a lesser developed nation’s right to develop ought to take priority over its obligation to protect the environment.
• September/October – Resolved: decentralized governmental power ought to be a fundamental goal of democratic society.
• 2001 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: on balance, violent revolution is a just response to oppression.
• 2001 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: providing for basic human needs of citizens in a society ought to be valued above individual property rights.
• March/April – Resolved: the public’s right to know ought to be valued above the right to privacy of candidates for public office.
• January/February – Resolved: the possession of nuclear weapons is immoral.
• November/December – Resolved: establishing a safe educational environment in grades K-12 justifies infringement of students’ civil liberties.
• September/October – Resolved: colleges and universities have a moral obligation to prohibit the public expression of hate speech on their campuses.
• 2000 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: inaction in the face of injustice makes an individual morally culpable.
• 2000 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: discriminations made by society on the basis of chronological age alone are justified.
• March/April – Resolved: the intervention of one nation in the domestic affairs of another nation is morally justified.
• January/February – Resolved: violent juvenile offenders ought to be treated as adults in the criminal justice system.
• November/December – Resolved: the use of economic sanctions to achieve U.S. foreign policy goals is moral.
• September/October – Resolved: when they conflict, respect for cultural sensitivity ought to be valued above the commercial use of free speech.
• 1999 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: capitalism is superior to socialism as a means of achieving economic justice.
• 1999 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: the objectives of democracy are best fulfilled through a separation of executive, legislative and judicial powers.
• March/April – Resolved: human genetic engineering is morally justified.
• January/February – Resolved: in the United States, a journalist’s right to shield confidential sources ought to be protected by the First Amendment.
• November/December – Resolved: capital punishment is justified.
• September/October – Resolved: the individual ought to value the sanctity of life above the quality of life.
• 1998 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: in the United States’ justice system, due process ought to be valued above the pursuit of truth when they are in conflict.
• 1998 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: individuals ought to sacrifice their ideals for the sake of compromise.
• March/April – Resolved: civil disobedience is justified in a democracy.
• January/February – Resolved: a just social order ought to place the principle of equality above that of liberty.
• November/December – Resolved: an adolescent’s right to privacy ought to be valued above a parent’s conflicting right to know.
• September/October – Resolved: global concerns ought to be valued above conflicting national concerns.
• 1997 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: the public’s right to know is of greater value than the individual’s right to privacy.
• March/April – Resolved: on balance, individuals ought to have a greater obligation to themselves than to their community.
• January/February – Resolved: in United States policy, the principle of universal human rights ought to take precedence over conflicting national interest.
• November/December – Resolved: when they are in conflict, a business’ responsibility to itself ought to be valued above its responsibility to society.
• September/October – Resolved: when in conflict, society’s goal of eliminating discrimination ought to transcend an individual’s right to participate in exclusive, voluntary associations.
• 1996 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: That limiting constitutional freedoms is a just response to terrorism in the United States.
• March/April – Resolved: when in conflict, American cultural unity ought to be valued above cultural diversity.
• January/February – Resolved: an oppressive government is more desirable than no government.
• November/December – Resolved: the pursuit of feminist ideals is detrimental to the achievement of gender equality.
• September/October – Resolved: individuals with disabilities ought to be afforded the same athletic competition opportunities as able-bodied athletes.
• 1995 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: when in conflict, the safety of others is of greater value than the right to privacy of those with infectious diseases.
• March/April – Resolved: on balance, institutional censorship of academic material is harmful to the educational development of the students.
• January/February – Resolved: laws which protect citizens from themselves are justified.
• November/December – Resolved: when in conflict, community standards are of greater value than individual liberty.
• September/October – Resolved: an individual’s freedom of expression is of greater value than political correctness.
• 1994 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: when in conflict, protection of the innocent is of greater value than prosecution of the guilty.
• March/April – Resolved: terminally ill patients have the right to die when and how they choose.
• January/February – Resolved: when called upon by one’s government, individuals are morally obligated to risk their lives for their country.
• November/December – Resolved: the public’s right to know is of greater value than the right to privacy of candidates for public office.
• September/October – Resolved: secondary education in the United States ought to be a privilege, not a right.
• 1993 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: the protection of domestic order justifies the curtailment of First Amendment rights.
• March/April – Resolved: the principle of majority rule ought to be valued above the principle of minority rights.
• January/February – Resolved: when in conflict, the spirit of the law ought to take priority over the letter of the law.
• November/December – Resolved: in the criminal justice system, truth seeking ought to take precedence over privileged communication.
• September/October – Resolved: the U.S. military interference in the internal affairs of other countries is justified.
• 1992 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: the United States government ought to provide for the medical care of its citizens.
• March/April – Resolved: the possession of nuclear weapons is immoral.
• January/February – Resolved: a victim’s deliberate use of deadly force is justified as a response to physical abuse.
• November/December – Resolved: human genetic engineering is morally justified.
• September/October – Resolved: a liberal arts curriculum is preferable to an employment-readiness curriculum in U.S. secondary schools.
• 1991 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: members of the United States Congress ought to value the national interest above constituent’s interests when the two are in conflict.
• March/April – Resolved: the pursuit of scientific knowledge ought to be limited by a concern for societal good.
• January/February – Resolved: showing disrespect for the American flag is antithetical to fundamental American values.
• November/December – Resolved: government limits on the individual’s right to bear arms in the United States are justified.
• September/October – Resolved: competition is superior to cooperation as a means of achieving excellence.
• 1990 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: individual obedience to law plays a greater role in maintaining ethical public service than does individual obedience to conscience.
• March/April – Resolved: development of natural resources ought to be valued above protection of the environment.
• January/February – Resolved: communities in the United States ought to have the right to suppress pornography.
• November/December – Resolved: all United States citizens ought to perform a period of national service.
• September/October – Resolved: that the United States ought to value global concerns above its own national concerns.
• 1989 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: the American criminal justice system ought to place a higher priority on retribution than on rehabilitation.
• March/April – Resolved: the public’s right to know ought to be valued above U.S. national security interests.
• January/February – Resolved: limitations upon the content of student publications by secondary school administrators are justified.
• November/December – Resolved: affirmative action programs to remedy the effects of discrimination are justified.
• 1988 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: violent revolution is a just response to oppression.
• March/April/May – Resolved: when they are in conflict, the principle of privileged communication ought to be subordinate to the maintenance of law and order.
• December/January/February – Resolved: the protection of society’s health interest through broad based mandatory testing of AIDS ought to be more important than personal privacy rights.
• September/October/November – Resolved: the protection of public safety justifies random, mandatory drug testing throughout society.
• 1987 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: when they are in conflict, the right to a free press is a higher priority than the right to a fair trial.
• March/April – Resolved: a parliamentary system of government would better fulfill the values underlying the American Constitution.
• January/February – Resolved: That decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court in criminal cases ought to reflect the values of the American people.
• November/December – Resolved: an unjust government is better than no government at all.
• 1986 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: giving sanctuary to illegal refugees in the United States justifiably places moral law above positive law.
• March/April – Resolved: allowing innocent people to be harmed is preferable than giving into terrorists’ demands.
• January/February – Resolved: the restriction of civil liberties in the United States for the sake of combating terrorism is justified.
• November/December – Resolved: the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations.
• September/October – Resolved: the use of sanctions to achieve U.S. foreign policy goals ought to be immoral.
• 1985 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: the American media works against the best interest of the American public.
• March/April – Resolved: a just social order ought to place the principle of equality above that of liberty.
• January/February – Resolved: nothing is politically right that is morally wrong.
• Resolved: U.S. immigration policy is inconsistent with American ideals.
• 1984 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: uniformity in education leads to mediocrity.
• January/February – Resolved: even in a democratic society morality can be legislated.
• 1983 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: Liberty is more precious than law.
• March/April – Resolved: protection of the environment should take precedence over the development of natural resources.
• January/February – Resolved: funding for human services programs should take precedence over a balanced budget.
• Resolved: the right to a free press outweighs the right to a fair trial.
• Resolved: the right to die takes precedence over other ethical and moral considerations.
• 1982 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: the economic health of a nation is more important than the social programs for its citizens.
• March/April – Resolved: it is undesirable to expend societal resources on the enforcement of laws against victimless crimes.
• January/February – Resolved: the rights of the victim should take precedence over the rights of the accused in felony cases.
• 1981 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: That the protection of human rights should have a higher priority in shaping America’s foreign policy.
• March/April – Resolved: military conscription is a superior alternative to a voluntary army.
• January/February – Resolved: it is morally unjustifiable to require an individual to join a labor organization as a condition of employment.
• 1980 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: The strength of the present methods of funding the social security system outweighs the weaknesses.

Past Topics - Public Forum Debate

• September/October – Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially expand its surveillance infrastructure along its southern border.
• Nationals 2024 – Resolved: The United States should establish a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement with the European Union.
• April – Resolved: The United Nations should abolish permanent membership on its Security Council.
• March – Resolved: In the United States, collegiate student-athletes should be classified as employees of their educational institution.
• February – Resolved: The United States federal government should ban single-use plastics.
• January – Resolved: The United States federal government should repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
• November/December – Resolved: The United States federal government should forgive all federal student loan debt.
• September/October – Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its military presence in the Arctic.
• Nationals 2023 – Resolved: The United States should adopt ranked-choice voting for its federal elections.
• April – Resolved: The United States Federal Government should ban the collection of personal data through biometric recognition technology.
• March – Resolved: The Republic of India should sign the Artemis Accords.
• February – Resolved: In the United States, right-to-work laws do more harm than good.
• January – Resolved: The United States Federal Government should increase its diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve internal armed conflicts in West Asia.
• November/December – Resolved: The United States’ strategy of Great Power Competition produces more benefits than harms.
• September/October – Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase its investment in high-speed rail.
• Nationals 2022 – Resolved: The United States should establish a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan.
• April – Resolved: Japan should revise Article 9 of its Constitution to develop offensive military capabilities.
• March – Resolved: In the United States, the benefits of increasing organic agriculture outweigh the harms.
• February – Resolved: On balance, Turkey’s membership is beneficial to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
• January – Resolved: The United States federal government should legalize all illicit drugs.
• November/December – Resolved: Increased United States federal regulation of cryptocurrency transactions and/or assets will produce more benefits than harms.
• September/October – Resolved: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization should substantially increase its defense commitments to the Baltic states.
• Nationals 2021 – Resolved: In the United States, social media is beneficial for democratic values.
• April – Resolved: The benefits of the International Monetary Fund outweigh the harms.
• March – Resolved: On balance, the benefits of creating the United States Space Force outweigh the harms.
• February – Resolved: On balance, the benefits of urbanization in West Africa outweigh the harms.
• January – Resolved: The National Security Agency should end its surveillance of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
• November/December – Resolved: The United States should adopt a declaratory nuclear policy of no first use.
• September/October – Resolved: The United States federal government should enact the Medicare-For-All Act of 2019.
• Nationals 2020 – Resolved: On balance, charter schools are beneficial to the quality of education in the United States.
• April 2020 – Resolved: The United States should remove nearly all of its military presence in the Arab States of the Persian Gulf.
• March 2020 – Resolved: The United States should increase its use of nuclear energy for commercial energy production.
• February 2020 – Resolved: The United States should replace means-tested welfare programs with a universal basic income.
• January 2020 – Resolved: The United States should end its economic sanctions against Venezuela.
• November/December 2019 – Resolved: The benefits of the United States federal government’s use of offensive cyber operations outweigh the harms.
• September/October 2019 – Resolved: The European Union should join the Belt and Road Initiative.
• Nationals 2019 – Resolved: The United States federal government should enforce antitrust regulations on technology giants.
• April 2019 – Resolved: The United Nations should grant India permanent membership on the Security Council.
• March 2019 – Resolved: The United States should promote the development of market rate housing in urban neighborhoods.
• February 2019 – Resolved: The United States should end its arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
• January 2019 – Resolved: The United States federal government should prioritize reducing the federal debt over promoting economic growth.
• November/December 2018 – Resolved: The United States federal government should impose price controls on the pharmaceutical industry.
• September/October 2018 – Resolved: The United States should accede to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea without reservations.
• Nationals 2018 – Resolved: On balance, the benefits of United States participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement outweigh the consequences.
• April 2018 – Resolved: The United States federal government should increase its quota of H-1B visas.
• March 2018 – Resolved: On balance, the current Authorization for Use of Military Force gives too much power to the president.
• February 2018 – Resolved: The United States should abolish the capital gains tax.
• January 2018 – Resolved: Spain should grant Catalonia its independence.
• December 2017 – Resolved: NCAA student athletes ought to be recognized as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• November 2017 – Resolved: The United States should require universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers of ownership.
• September/October 2017 – Resolved: Deployment of anti-missile systems is in South Korea’s best interest.
• Nationals 2017 – Resolved: In East Africa, the United States federal government should prioritize its counterterrorism efforts over its humanitarian assistance.
• April 2017 – Resolved: The United States ought to replace the Electoral College with a direct national popular vote.
• March 2017 – Resolved: The United States should no longer pressure Israel to work toward a two-state solution.
• February 2017 – Resolved: The United States should lift its embargo against Cuba.
• January 2017 – Resolved: In order to better respond to international conflicts, the United States should significantly increase its military spending.
• December 2016 – Resolved: The United States should end Plan Colombia.
• November 2016 – Resolved: On balance, the benefits of the Internet of Things outweigh the harms of decreased personal privacy.
• September/October 2016 – Resolved: In United States public K-12 schools, the probable cause standard ought to apply to searches of students.
• 2016 National Speech & Debate Tournament – On balance, a one-day national primary would be more beneficial for the United States than our current presidential primary process.
• April 2016 – Resolved: To alleviate income inequality in the United States, increased spending on public infrastructure should be prioritized over increased spending on means-tested welfare programs.
• March 2016 – Resolved: The United States should withdraw its military presence from Okinawa.
• February 2016 – Resolved: The United States federal government should adopt a carbon tax.
• January 2016 – Resolved: On balance, economic sanctions are reducing the threat Russia poses to Western interests.
• December 2015 – Resolved: On balance, standardized testing is beneficial to K-12 education in the United States.
• November 2015 – Resolved: In response to the current crisis, a government should prioritize the humanitarian needs of refugees over its national interests.
• September/October 2015 – Resolved: The United States Federal Government ought to pay reparations to African Americans.
• 2015 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: The benefits of First Amendment protection of anonymous speech outweigh the harms.
• April 2015 – Resolved: Committing United States ground combat troops to fight ISIL is in the best interest of the United States.
• March 2015 – Resolved: In the United States, students should be guaranteed two years of free tuition to a community or technical college.
• February 2015 – Resolved: On balance, economic globalization benefits worldwide poverty reduction.
• January 2015 – Resolved: United Nations peacekeepers should have the power to engage in offensive operations.
• December 2014 – Resolved: For-profit prisons in the United States should be banned.
• November 2014 – Resolved: On balance, the benefits of genetically modified foods outweigh the harms.
• September/October 2014 – Resolved: On balance, public subsidies for professional athletic organizations in the United States benefit their local communities.
• 2014 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: NATO should strengthen its relationship with Ukraine in order to deter further Russian aggression.
• April 2014 – Resolved: Prioritizing economic development over environmental protection is in the best interest of the people of India.
• March 2014 – Resolved: Single-gender classrooms would improve the quality of education in American public schools.
• February 2014 – Resolved: The Supreme Court rightly decided that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act violated the Constitution.
• January 2014 – Resolved: Development assistance should be prioritized over military aid in the Sahel region of Africa.
• December 2013 – Resolved: Immigration reform should include a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States.
• November 2013 – Resolved: The benefits of domestic surveillance by the National Security Agency outweigh the harms.
• September/October 2013 – Resolved: Unilateral military force by the United States is justified to prevent nuclear proliferation.
• 2013 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: The benefits of American drone strikes against foreign targets outweigh the harms.
• April 2013 – Resolved: The continuation of current U.S. anti-drug policies in Latin America will do more harm than good.
• March 2013 – Resolved: The U.S. government should not require its citizens to have health insurance.
• February 2013 – Resolved: On balance, the rise of China is beneficial to the interests of the United States.
• January 2013 – Resolved: On balance, the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission harms the election process.
• December 2012 – Resolved: The United States should prioritize tax increases over spending cuts.
• November 2012 – Resolved – Current U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East undermines our national security.
• October 2012 – Resolved: Developed countries have a moral obligation to mitigate the effects of climate change.
• September 2012 – Resolved: Congress should renew the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.
• 2012 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: Stand Your Ground laws are a legitimate expansion of the doctrine of self defense.
• April 2012 – Resolved: State mandated administration of childhood vaccinations is justified.
• March 2012 – Resolved: The United States should suspend all assistance to Pakistan.
• February 2012 – Resolved: Birthright citizenship should be abolished in the United States.
• January 2012 – Resolved: The costs of a college education outweigh the benefits.
• December 2011 – Resolved: In the United States, current income disparities threaten democratic ideals.
• November 2011 – Resolved: Direct popular vote should replace electoral vote in presidential elections.
• October 2011 – Resolved: Private sector investment in human space exploration is preferable to public sector investment.
• September 2011 – Resolved: The benefits of post-9/11 security measures outweigh the harms to personal freedom.
• 2011 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: That the United States should intervene in another nation’s struggle for democracy.
• April 2011 – Resolved: The United States federal government should permit the use of financial incentives to encourage organ donation.
• March 2011 – Resolved: North Korea poses a more serious threat to United States national security than Iran.
• February 2011 – Resolved: Wikileaks is a threat to United States national security.
• January 2011 – Resolved: In the United States, plea bargaining undermines the criminal justice system.
• December 2010 – Resolved: Cyberbullying should be a criminal offense.
• November 2010 – Resolved: High school Public Forum Debate resolutions should not confront sensitive religious issues.
• October 2010 – Resolved: NATO presence improves the lives of Afghan citizens.
• September 2010 – Resolved: Allowing deep water offshore oil drilling is in the best interest of the United States.
• 2010 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: Current trends in American political dialogue compromise meaningful democratic deliberation.
• 2010 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: That the constitutional right of freedom of religion has wrongly evolved into freedom from religion.
• April 2010 – Resolved: On balance, government employee labor unions have a positive impact on the United States.
• March 2010 – Resolved: Affirmative action to promote equal opportunity in the United States is justified.
• February 2010 – Resolved: In the United States, organized political lobbying does more harm than good.
• January 2010 – Resolved: President Obama’s plan for increasing troops in Afghanistan is in the United States’ best interest.
• December 2009 – Resolved: That merit pay based on student achievement should be a significant component of K-12 teacher compensation in United States public schools.
• November 2009 – Resolved: Failed nations are a greater threat to the United States than stable nations.
• October 2009 – Resolved: When in conflict, the United Nations should prioritize global poverty reduction over environmental protection.
• September 2009 – Resolved: United States policy on illegal immigration should focus on attrition through enforcement rather than amnesty.
• 2009 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: That the United States should normalize relations with Cuba.
• 2009 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: A society has an obligation to ensure adequate health care for its citizens.
• April 2009 – Resolved: That the Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 serves the best interest of the American people.
• March 2009 – Resolved: That, on balance, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 has improved academic achievement in the United States.
• February 2009 – Resolved: That, on balance, the rise of Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) has had a positive impact on the United States.
• January 2009 – Resolved: That, by 2040, the federal government should mandate that all new passenger vehicles and light trucks sold in the United States be powered by alternative fuels.
• December 2008 – Resolved: That, on balance, social networking Web sites have a positive impact on the United States.
• November 2008 – Resolved: That the United States government should implement universal health care modeled after the French system.
• October 2008 – Resolved: The United States should significantly increase its use of nuclear energy.
• September 2008 – Resolved: That the United States should implement a military draft.
• 2008 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: US policies established after September 11, 2001 have substantially reduced the risk of terrorist acts against the United States.
• 2008 NCFL° Nationals – Resolved: That the US Government should increase social services for indigenous peoples in America.
• April 2008 – Resolved: That the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 will successfully mitigate economic slowdowns over the next year.
• March 2008 – Resolved: The US system of presidential primaries is contrary to democratic values.
• February 2008 – Resolved: That Russia has become a threat to U.S. interests.
• January 2008 – Resolved: In a democracy, civil disobedience is an appropriate weapon in the fight for justice.
• December 2007 – Resolved:That the United States would be justified in pursuing military options against Iran.
• November 2007 – Resolved: That eliminating United States government budget deficits should be prioritized over increasing domestic spending.
• October 2007 – Resolved: That the United States should encourage the implementation of a soft partition of Iraq.
• September 2007 – Resolved: That the Fairness Doctrine should be reinstated.
• 2007 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: That the private ownership of handguns should be banned in the United States.
• 2007 NCFL Nationals° – Resolved: That the President and Vice-President of the United States should be elected by a direct vote of the American citizens.
• April 2007 – Resolved: United States corporations should honor all prior commitments to employee pensions.
• March 2007 – Resolved: That the quantity of credit available to American consumers should be significantly reduced.
• February 2007 – Resolved: The costs of legalized casino gambling in the United States outweigh the benefits.
• January 2007 – Resolved: That lobbyists negatively influence the legislative process in the United States.
• December 2006 – Resolved: Colleges and Universities in the United States should end their early admission programs.
• November 2006 – Resolved: That participating in multinational diplomatic efforts is beneficial to U. S. interests.
• October 2006 – Resolved: Current immigration laws in the United States should be enforced.
• September 2006 – Resolved: That the benefits of NASA’s space exploration programs justify the costs.
• 2006 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: That the United States government should ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
• April 2006 – Resolved: That the American media work against the best interest of the American public.
• March 2006 – Resolved: That big box retailers benefit the communities in which they are located.
• February 2006 – Resolved: That the policy decisions of the current Israeli government toward the Palestinian state have improved prospects for peace in the Middle East.
• January 2006 – Resolved: In the United States, public high school science curriculum should include the study of the Theory of Intelligent Design.
• December 2005 – Resolved: That the National Basketball Association (NBA) should rescind its dress code.
• November 2005 – Resolved: That the United States federal government should fund Hurricane Katrina relief and rebuilding by ending President Bush’s tax cuts.
• October 2005 – Resolved: That the United Nations should be the primary agent to lead and direct the fight against terrorism around the world.
• September 2005 – Resolved: In the United States, colleges and universities should be permitted to pay stipends to their Division I athletes.
• 2005 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: That, when a choice is required for public high schools in the United States, government funding should prioritize vocational education over college preparatory education.
• April 2005 – Resolved: The United States should issue guest worker visas to illegal aliens.
• March 2005 – Resolved: Student aptitude should be assessed through standardized testing.
• February 2005 – Resolved: In the United States, the current system of federal income taxation should be replaced by a flat rate income tax.
• January 2005 – Resolved: The United States Constitution should be amended to establish a mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court Justices.
• December 2004 – Resolved: Corporate offshoring aids in the economic development of the United States.
• November 2004 – Resolved: The United States government should allow Americans to purchase prescription drugs from other countries.
• October 2004 – Resolved: In the United States, public opinion polls positively affect the election process.
• September 2004 – Resolved: That he United States should establish a cabinet-level position to oversee its entire intelligence community.
• 2004 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: All young adults in every nation should be required to perform at least one full year of national service.
• April 2004 – Resolved: English should be the official national language of the United States.
• March 2004 – Resolved: The United States should provide universal health care insurance to all U.S. citizens.
• February 2004 – Resolved: Americans should be allowed to share copyrighted media over the internet.
• January 2004 – Resolved: The United States is losing the War on Terror.
• December 2003 – Resolved: Congress should repeal the No Child Left Behind Act.
• November 2003 – Resolved: That Federal judges should be elected in their district for a limited term rather than appointed by the President for a life term.
• October 2003 – Resolved: That the United States should comply with United Nations’ decisions concerning international peacekeeping operations.
• September 2003 – Resolved: Use of a cell phone should be prohibited while operating a motor vehicle.
• 2003 National Speech & Debate Tournament – Resolved: That the United States should assume primary responsibility for the rebuilding of Iraq.
• April 2003 – Resolved: Awards for pain and suffering in medical malpractice cases should be limited to $250,000.
• March 2003 – Resolved: Affirmative action should not be practiced in college and university admission.
• February 2003 – Resolved: The death penalty should be abolished in America.
• January 2003 – Resolved: The Federal Government should authorize oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve.
• December 2002 – Resolved: The the “Bush” tax cuts should be made permanent.
• October/November 2002 – Resolved: Commercial airline pilots should be armed in the cockpit.

Past Topics - Policy Debate

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase fiscal redistribution in the United States by adopting a federal jobs guarantee, expanding Social Security, and/or providing a basic income.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its security cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in one or more of the following areas: artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its protection of water resources in the United States.

Resolved: The United States federal government should enact substantial criminal justice reform in the United States in one or more of the following: forensic science, policing, sentencing.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce Direct Commercial Sales and/or Foreign Military Sales of arms from the United States.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its restrictions on legal immigration to the United States.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its funding and/or regulation of elementary and/or secondary education in the United States.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic and/or diplomatic engagement with the People’s Republic of China.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially curtail its domestic surveillance.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth’s oceans.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic engagement toward Cuba, Mexico or Venezuela.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its transportation infrastructure investment in the United States.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of space beyond the Earth’s mesosphere.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its military and/or police presence in one or more of the following: South Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase social services for persons living in poverty in the United States.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its public health assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Resolved: The United States federal government should establish a policy substantially increasing the number of persons serving in one or more of the following national service programs: AmeriCorps, Citizen Corps, Senior Corps, Peace Corps, Learn and Serve America, Armed Forces.

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially decrease its authority either to detain without charge or to search without probable cause.

Resolved: That the United States federal government should establish a foreign policy substantially increasing its support of United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Resolved: That the United States federal government should establish an ocean policy substantially increasing protection of marine natural resources.

Resolved: That the United States federal government should substantially increase public health services for mental health care in the United States.

Resolved: That the United States federal government should establish a foreign policy significantly limiting the use of weapons of mass destruction.

Resolved: That the United States federal government should significantly increase protection of privacy in the United States in one or more of the following areas: employment, medical records, consumer information, search and seizure.

Resolved: That the federal government should establish an education policy to significantly increase academic achievement in secondary schools in the United States.

Resolved: That the United States should substantially change its foreign policy toward Russia.

Resolved: That the federal government should establish a policy to substantially increase renewable energy use in the United States.

Resolved: That the federal government should establish a program to substantially reduce juvenile crime in the United States.

Resolved: That the United States government should substantially change its foreign policy toward the People’s Republic of China.

Resolved: That the United States government should substantially strengthen regulation of immigration to the United States.

Resolved: That the federal government should guarantee comprehensive national health insurance to all United States citizens.

Resolved: That the United States government should reduce worldwide pollution through its trade and/or aid policies.

Resolved: That the federal government should significantly increase social services to homeless individuals in the United States.

Resolved: that the United States Government should significantly increase space exploration beyond Earth’s mesosphere.

Resolved: That the federal government should adopt a nationwide policy to decrease overcrowding in prisons and jails in the United States.

Resolved: That the federal government should implement a comprehensive program to guarantee retirement security for United States citizens over age 65.

Resolved: That the United States government should adopt a policy to increase political stability in Latin America.

Resolved: That the federal government should implement a comprehensive long-term agricultural policy in the United States.

Resolved: That the federal government should establish a comprehensive national policy to protect the quality of water in the United States.

Resolved: That the federal government should provide employment for all employable U.S. Citizens living in poverty.

Resolved: That the United States should establish uniform rules governing the procedure of all criminal courts in the nation.

Resolved: That the United States should significantly curtail its arms sales to other countries.

Resolved: That the federal government should establish minimum educational standards for elementary and secondary schools in the United States.

Resolved: That the federal government should initiate and enforce safety guarantees on consumer goods.

Resolved: That the United States should significantly change its foreign trade policies.

Resolved: That the federal government should establish a comprehensive program to significantly increase the energy independence of the U.S.

Resolved: That the federal government should establish a comprehensive program to regulate the health care in the United States.

Resolved: That a comprehensive program of penal reform should be adopted throughout the United States.

Resolved: That the development and allocation of scarce world resources should be controlled by an international organization.

Resolved: That the United States should significantly change the method of selection of presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Resolved: That the federal government should guarantee a minimum annual income to each family unit.

Resolved: That governmental financial support for all public and secondary education in the United States be provided exclusively by the federal government.

Resolved: That the jury system in the United States should be significantly changed.

Resolved: That the federal government should establish, finance, and administer programs to control air and/or water pollution in the United States.

Resolved: That Congress should prohibit unilateral United States military intervention in foreign countries.

Resolved: That the United States should establish a system of compulsory service by all citizens.

Resolved: That Congress should establish uniform regulations to control criminal investigation procedures.

Resolved: That the foreign aid program of the United States should be limited to non-military assistance.

Resolved: That the federal government should adopt a program of compulsory arbitration in labor-management disputes in basic industries.

Resolved: That nuclear weapons should be controlled by an international organization.

Resolved: That Social Security benefits should be extended to include complete medical care.

Resolved: That the United States should promote a Common Market for the western hemisphere.

Resolved: That the federal government should equalize educational opportunity by means of grants to the states for public elementary and secondary education.

Resolved: That the United Nations should be significantly strengthened.

Resolved: That the federal government should substantially increase its regulation of labor unions.

Resolved: That the United States should adopt the essential feature of the British system of education.

Resolved: That the United States foreign aid should be substantially increased.

Resolved: That the federal government should sustain the prices of major agricultural products at not less than 90% of parity.

Resolved: That the government subsidies should be granted according to need to high school graduates who qualify for additional training.

Resolved: That the federal government should initiate a policy of free trade among nations friendly to the United States.

Resolved: That the President of the United States should be elected by the direct vote of the people.

Resolved: That the Atlantic pact nations should form a federal union.

Resolved: That all American citizens should be subject to conscription for essential service in time of war.

Resolved: That the American people should reject the Welfare state.

Resolved: That a federal world government should be established.

Resolved: That the federal government should require arbitration of labor disputes in all basic industries.

Resolved: That the federal government should provide a system of complete Medical care available to all citizens at public expense.

Resolved: That ever able-bodied male citizen of the United States should have one year of full time military training before attaining age 24.

Resolved: That the legal voting age should be reduced to eighteen years.

Resolved: That the United States should join in reconstituting the League of Nations.

Resolved: That every able-bodied male citizen in the United States should be required to have one year of full-time military training before attaining the present draft age.

Resolved: That the power of the federal government should be increased.

Resolved: That the federal government should own and operate the railroads.

Resolved: That the United States should establish an alliance with Great Britain.

Resolved: That the several states should adopt a unicameral system of legislation.

Resolved: That all electric utilities should be governmentally owned and operated.

Resolved: That the several states should enact legislation providing for a system of complete medical service available to all citizens at public expense.

Resolved: That the federal government should adopt the policy of equalizing educational opportunity throughout the nation by means of annual grants to the several states for public elementary and secondary education.

Resolved: That the United States should adopt the essential features of the British system of radio control and operation.

Resolved: That at least one half of all state and local revenues should be derived from sources other than tangible property.

Resolved: That the several states should enact legislation providing for compulsory unemployment insurance.

Resolved: That chain stores are detrimental to the best interests of the American public.

Resolved: That installment buying of personal property as now practiced in the United States is both socially and economically desirable.

Resolved: That the English cabinet method of legislation is more efficient than the committee system is in the United States.

Topic Release Schedule

Topic release schedule - lincoln-douglas debate.

If you would like to submit an LD resolution for consideration, please submit by April 1 for the following school year.

In addition, we have established a separate LD resolution for the first two months of the novice season. Coaches are encouraged to check with tournament hosts in their area before exclusively prepping for one topic over another.

Topic Release Schedule - Public Forum Debate

If you would like to submit a PF topic area or resolution for consideration, please submit by April 1 for the following school year.

The first two Public Forum topics are two-month topics in September/October and November/December, and then it reverts to a month-to-month topic. This schedule benefits novices who have more time to learn and improve their skills without switching topics.

Topic Release Schedule - Policy Debate

Topic release schedule - big questions debate.

Potential Big Questions debate topics are suggested by the national office. Member students and one chapter advisor per active school vote on the proposed topics July 25-31. The new topic is released on August 1 at 9:00 a.m. CT and used for the entire year. Learn more about Big Questions »

Topic Release Schedule - Congressional Debate

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Troy Kotsur

Representation or Stereotype? Deaf Viewers Are Torn Over ‘CODA’

They’re hesitant to criticize the Oscar-winning film because it showcases deaf actors and lives, but some find its hearing perspective frustrating or even upsetting.

By Amanda Morris

The Best and Worst Moments of the 2022 Oscars

The night made history, from That Slap to milestone wins by Troy Kotsur and Ariana DeBose, and a rousing performance by Beyoncé.

By The New York Times

Onstage Slap Rattles Oscars, Before ‘CODA’ Triumphs

On a night when “CODA” became the first film from a streaming service to win best picture, the focus was on Will Smith’s altercation with Chris Rock.

By Brooks Barnes and Nicole Sperling

Troy Kotsur makes history as the first deaf man to win an acting Oscar.

“This is dedicated to the deaf community, the CODA community and the disabled community,” he said in his acceptance speech, delivered in American Sign Language. “This is our moment.”

By Brooks Barnes

Predicciones de los Oscar 2022: ¿quién ganará los premios a mejor película, actor y actriz?

Ha sido un año interesante en el cine y en los premios de la academia hay contiendas abiertas. Así es como nuestro experto llenaría su quiniela.

By Kyle Buchanan

Oscars 2022 Predictions: Who Will Win Best Picture, Actor and Actress?

In an interesting year with a duel for the top award and some wide-open races, here’s how our expert is marking his ballot.

‘The Power of the Dog’ Wins Best Film at Wide-Open BAFTAs

Jane Campion won the best director prize at Britain’s Academy Awards for her tense western in an evening that saw a host of surprise winners.

By Alex Marshall

SAG Awards 2022: ‘CODA,’ Will Smith and Jessica Chastain Take Top Prizes

“We, deaf actors, have come a long way,” the “CODA” star Marlee Matlin tells the audience. On the TV side, “Succession,” “Ted Lasso” and “Squid Game” won big.

Troy Kotsur, actor de ‘CODA’, habla de su histórica y sanadora nominación al Oscar

Es sordo y soportó años de rechazo y problemas económicos. “Estaba tan acostumbrado al fracaso que no me di cuenta de que superaría incluso mis propias expectativas”, dijo en entrevista.

‘CODA’ Star Troy Kotsur on His Historic, Healing Oscar Nomination

The deaf actor who won a SAG Award endured years of rejection and financial struggle. “I was so used to failure that I didn’t realize I would surpass even my own expectations.”

Former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards speaks on women's rights at DNC

Co-Founder of Supermajority and former President of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards took the stage at the  Democratic National Convention in Chicago  on Wednesday, and spoke on nationwide access to reproductive health care in her endorsement of the Harris-Walz ticket.

Richards spoke about the effect of the Dobbs decision, which led to the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022 and created a patchwork of access to reproductive health care across the country. She shared the story of a twelve-year-old rape survivor in Mississippi who was forced to carry a pregnancy to term as a result, and start the seventh grade with a newborn baby.

The Democratic National Committee convention is in Chicago through Thursday, and Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to formally accept the party's nomination tomorrow.

What to know about Cecile Richards

• Who is she? Richards is a national leader for women’s rights. Richards was the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund for 12 years, and the co-founder of Supermajority, an organization that encourages women to engage in voting and politics.
• What role does she play? Richards previously worked to increase affordable access to reproductive health care and later served as Deputy Chief of Staff to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Now, Richards is a frequent speaker and commentator on politics and progressive issues.
• Key quote: "When women are free to make our own decisions about our lives and follow our dreams, we are unstoppable. But when Roe v. Wade was overturned a generation of young people lost that freedom."

When and where is the DNC

The Democratic National Convention will take place from August 19-22 in Chicago, Illinois.

The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, will be the  main venue  for the DNC.

Chicago has hosted the Democratic Convention 11 times, most recently in 1996 when the United Center saw President Bill Clinton nominated for a second time.

Democratic convention live updates: What time does the DNC start? What's the speaker lineup?

How to watch and stream the 2024 DNC

The convention will  air live on its website , from the United Center in Chicago between 6:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern (5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m Central) on Monday, and 7 p.m to 11 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central) the other days.

USA TODAY will provide livestream coverage on YouTube  each night of the DNC, Monday through Thursday.

What are the themes for each night of the DNC?

The DNC announced nightly themes for the convention. The title of the convention is "For the People, For Our Future."

Here are the themes for each night:

• Monday:  "For the People"
• Tuesday:  "A Bold Vision for America's Future"
• Wednesday:  "A Fight for our Freedoms"
• Thursday:  "For our Future"

My Speech Class

Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

509 Informative Speech Ideas and Topics

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

How to Choose the Right Informative Topic

Half the battle of presenting a speech or writing an essay is choosing the right topic. Choosing a good informative speech topic or informative essay topic can keep your audience entertained, your reader interested, and your own work process more enjoyable. Here are a few tips to help you choose a topic:

Know your audience or reader: Your informative presentation – whether through speech or essay – should cover a subject not already well known to your audience, but still relevant to them. If you do choose a topic they’re familiar with, then present new and exciting information. Consider the age, knowledge level, and interests of your audience when preparing your informational speech or essay.

Consider your own interests: Think of your own passions and areas of expertise that you think people could benefit from learning more about. Choosing a topic you care about will help your speech or essay be better received. Your passion will keep them engaged and curious to learn more.

Consider length requirements : How much time are you allotted for your informative speech? What is the page requirement for your informative essay? You should be able to thoroughly cover the topic in the amount of time you are given. If you don’t think you have enough knowledge or personal interest to talk about illegal drug use among teens, saving money as a college student, or another informative topic for 20 minutes, you may need to consider a different subject.

The good news is that there are countless options available. Below are lists of informative topics for speeches and essays. Remember that, in order to choose the best informative topic for you, you need to consider your audience, your interests, and your time and length requirements. Then, customize the central idea to suit your situation.

Best 10 Informative Speech Topics

Don’t have time to read our full list of 500+ topic ideas? Here is our list of 10 best informative speech topics.

Can We Write Your Speech?

Get your audience blown away with help from a professional speechwriter. Free proofreading and copy-editing included.

• How to adopt a dog
• The history of motorcycles
• The best sales tactics
• The differences between male and female communication
• America’s fastest growing cities
• The importance of education for the economy
• Different stages of poverty
• How to cook vegetarian
• How to keep your skin looking young and wrinkle free
• The different types of poetry

List of Informative Speech Topics

• Communication
• Current Events
• Environment
• Food and Drink
• International Relations
• National Security

Relationships

• Supernatural
• Demonstration
• Easy / Simple
• Interesting
• Legislation
• Pop Culture

10 Animal Informative Speech Topics

• The role of cats throughout history.
• Caring for hermit crabs.
• What are the best pets?
• The lives of ants.
• The different types of tropical fish.
• The different exotic breeds of cats.
• How to raise rabbits.
• The beauty of wolves.
• How to adopt a dog.
• Raising pet snakes.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics About Animals .

10 Automotive Informative Speech Topics

• Is it better to buy or lease a car?
• How to choose the right tires for your car.
• How to make your car run better.
• What to look for in a new car.
• How to change your car’s oil.
• Dirt bike riding safety tips.
• How to drive a stick shift.
• The history of motorcycles.
• How to change a flat tire.
• The best muscle cars.

14 Business Informative Speech Topics

• Taking your brand to the next level with three easy steps: promoting, advertising and marketing.
• How business owners’ personal characteristics impact their business.
• What is the impact of training and development on employee job performance?
• Leadership styles and their effects on employee productivity.
• Engaged employees result in high retention.
• Developing personal power in an organization.
• Impacts of incentives on employee performance.
• Psychological tactics in marketing.
• How to create a successful brand.
• The importance of accounting research.
• The benefits of enterprise resource planning.
• The benefits of multilevel marketing.
• The best sales tactics.
• How to nail the negotiation in your first meeting.

See this page for a full list of Informative Speech Topics for Business .

8 Communication Informative Speech Topics

• How deaf people talk with emotion.
• The differences between male and female communication.
• How to be a persuasive speaker.
• How to improve your conversation skills.
• Some simple conversation tips.
• What is neural linguistic programming (NLP)?
• Why smiles are contagious.
• How to manage communicative disorders.

4 Current Events Informative Speech Topics

• America’s fastest growing cities.
• The Occupy Wall Street movement.
• Poverty in New York City.
• What is the national happiness rate?

6 Economy Informative Speech Topics

• The history of taxes on carbon dioxide emissions.
• What would be the impact on economic growth if everyone produced their own food?
• The impact of progressive taxation on the provision of social services.
• Economic growth of the People’s Republic of China.
• The effects of price and demand of agricultural products.
• The importance of education for the economy.

10 Education Informative Speech Topics

• How EFL teachers can use the internet as a classroom aid.
• Should teachers and students be friends on social networks?
• Why is our education system only based on theory and not practical knowledge?
• Should students be permitted to eat during classes?
• The importance of formal education for building a successful career.
• The pros and cons of teaching students three languages in school.
• What materials work best in a sandbag for blocking floodwaters?
• Hypnosis: its misconceptions and common uses.
• Learning disabilities and their effects on learning in college.
• Are test scores a good indication of a school’s competency?

See this page for a full list of Informative Persuasive Speech Topics .

10 Environment Informative Speech Topics

• Should politicians bring more pollution to our country?
• What would happen if finite resources were not used wisely?
• Four main reasons for generating genetically modified crops.
• The effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on maize.
• Are we going to lose the rainforest?
• The best ways to protect the environment.
• Commercial crops and their effect on the water table.
• The environmental impact of a meat based diet.
• Recycling helps mitigate the greenhouse effect.
• Why we should stop global warming.

See this page for a full list of Environmental Informative Speech Topics .

3 Ethics Informative Speech Topics

• Is it sometimes better to tell a lie than to tell the truth?
• Is tolerance the same as love?
• Is hunting morally acceptable?

10 Family Informative Speech Topics

• Adopted children should always have the option to see their biological parents.
• The impact of single parenting and its effects on children.
• The appropriate penalties for parental negligence.
• What it is like being the youngest of a family of 19 kids.
• The importance of the parent-child relationship.
• My father is my hero.
• How to pick a name for your children.
• Cases of domestic violence against men.
• The importance of family.
• The history of foster care.

See this page for a full list of Family Informative Speech Topics . We also have a page with Speech Topics for Kids .

18 Financial Informative Speech Topics

• How banks are getting paid twice for your mortgage.
• How to save money in college.
• How to build credit.
• How to save money on your income taxes.
• How to apply for a credit card.
• The basics of financial aid.
• The importance of saving money.
• How to recognize stock market trends.
• The process of buying a house.
• The basics of internet banking safety.
• The best investment strategies.
• How to live on $5 a day/ Eating well on $5 a day.
• Tips on how do deal with money problems.
• The history of our currency.
• How the US Dollar affects the Euro.
• Debt relief programs.
• Does China have a serious stock market?

9 Food and Drink Informative Speech Topics

• The difference between Gatorade and Powerade.
• How to cook a delicious dinner.
• How to grow your own food.
• The different types of coffee.
• How to cook vegetarian.
• How to make a cocktail.
• The best types of cheese.
• The best exotic fruits.
• How to make Chinese food.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topic Ideas On Food, Drink, and Cooking .

11 Fun Informative Speech Topics

• The history of Valentine’s Day, the celebrations in different cultures.
• Some laugh, but there are many courageous people who overcome stuttering.
• Funny Saint Patricks Day parades, pub decorating, Irish fun runs.
• Differences between apes and monkeys, monkeys in space programs, how they live in groups in the zoo.
• Your hand: what your signature, handwriting and your hand palm lines say about your character.
• Amphibian vehicles – search for information about those rare car-boat vehicles, and you have lots of fun informative speech topics to talk about!
• Cartoons in relation to our Freedom of Speech and Expression principles.
• Show the listeners to your public speaking speech some flags of unknown countries, ask them what nation you mean and explain colors and symbols.
• The extraterrestrial life stories and future theories from French author Jules Verne.
• Etiquette and manners, how to cope with special situations, how to behave at official ceremonies you see enough public speaking speeches spicing humor.
• Fashion styles and dress codes at parties and ceremonies.

See this page for a full list of Fun Informative Speech Topics .

5 Geography Informative Speech Topics

• The antipodes – Places on Earth which are diametrically opposite to each other.
• Cartography – How terrestrial globe spheres are crafted.
• Climatology – Patterns in climate change, like rising temperatures and flooding.
• Coasts – Types of coasts, deltas, sea cliffs and beaches.
• What does the continental drift theory mean in vulcanology?

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics On Geography .

9 Government Informative Speech Topics

• The role of accounting in the control of public expenditures in Nigeria.
• What factors affect community participation in public meetings?
• How difficult is it to run a country of 1.2 billion people?
• Speeding cameras are meant to provide government money.
• Should the President be paid while being in office?
• The Federal government’s separation of powers.
• Journalism is our weapon against corruption.
• How a bill passes in state government.
• The best city planning practices.

10 Health Informative Speech Topics

• Steroids, antibiotics, sprays: are these things hurting us?
• The effects of dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder.
• Bigger isn’t always better: the effect fast food has on America.
• The importance of proper stretching before a workout.
• How to keep your skin looking young and wrinkle free.
• The different types of insomnia.
• The causes and effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
• The psychosocial aspects of organ transplantation.
• Controversial ideas about whooping cough vaccines.
• The reasons why stress and depression should be taken seriously.

See this page for a full list of Informative Speech Topics on Health and Fitness . We also have a page with Medical Topics and Psychology topics.

10 History Informative Speech Topics

• The beauty of ancient Egyptian art.
• The most beautiful paintings in history.
• The history of fashion.
• The history of high heels.
• The history of cosmetic makeup.
• The history of Tibetan burial practices.
• What Olympic events did ancient Greece have?
• The history of swear words and their impact on society.
• Words and their meanings that have changed with time.
• Why dragons perform in Chinese New Year celebrations.

See this page for a full list of History Speech Topics .

16 International Relations Informative Speech Topics

• Economic development and the role of the private sector in reducing poverty in Lesotho.
• Tourism and remittances are the solutions for Tonga’s economic growth.
• The military of the Philippines.
• Is South Africa ready for a female president?
• Can democracy bring stability to Pakistan?
• South Africa is an amazing country.
• The impact of U.S drone strikes.
• The discovery of oil in Equatorial Guinea.
• How to help refugees.
• Why everyone should live in China.
• The status of trade relations in East Africa.
• The effects of the Dowry system in India.
• Sri Lanka after thirty years of war.
• Why Africa is underdeveloped.
• The political system of India.
• The purpose of the United Nations.

2 Language Informative Speech Topics

• English is a link language for many parts of the world.
• The origins of cliches.

6 Literature Informative Speech Topics

• Inside the mind of Edgar Allen Poe.
• How to write a book.
• The three trials of Oscar Wilde.
• The meaning of The House on Mango Street.
• The history of vampires in literature.
• The different types of poetry.

21 Media Informative Speech Topics

• What steps are involved in creating a movie or television show?
• How Spotify hurts new artists.
• The benefits of watching less TV.
• How the media has hurt our body image.
• Books that were turned into terrible movies.
• The benefits of reading a newspaper.
• The basics of photography.
• The history of the Titanic movie.
• Some famous advertising campaigns.
• The effects of misleading advertisements.
• Some important women in the media.
• The best foreign TV shows.
• The benefits of satellite radio.
• The best TV sitcoms.
• Al Jazeera, the largest Arabic news channel is the Middle East.
• How Disney produces and distributes short animated films.
• The amazing stage performance of Christina Aguilera.
• The love life of Jennifer Aniston,
• The story of CNN International reporter, Christiane Amanpour.
• The ten actors who played James Bond.
• Top three worst Woody Allen movies.

9 Music Informative Speech Topics

• The different types of marching bands.
• The history of french horns.
• The history of house music.
• The evolution of rock and roll.
• The beauty of reggae music.
• Music as a “lifestyle”.
• The best electronic dance music.
• How to play the kazoo.
• The beauty of Haitian music.

4 National Security Informative Speech Topics

• How illegal things are smuggled into the country.
• The United States military branches.
• The importance of the Air Force.
• The branches of the military.

10 Politics Informative Speech Topics

• Should the U.S. restrict immigration?
• The benefits of communism.
• The most important women in politics.
• Define the term foreign policy and offer current examples.
• The delicate position of women and children in war torn societies and countries on the globe.
• How issues on oil in Nigeria lift the oil prices worldwide.
• How a free trade agreement works.
• The major environmental problems in Australia.
• National gun control statistics compared to the statistics of other countries.
• The function of the Federal Reserve Board in maintaining a stable financial system.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics about Politics .

10 Psychology Informative Speech Topics

• The benefits of greeting people.
• Positive thinking is the key to peaceful living.
• The meaning of dreams.
• How to explain child geniuses.
• Difference between empathy and sympathy.
• How to be more sensitive for an emotionally insensitive person.
• How to know a person’s true personality when we are so good at disguise nowadays.
• Secrets about quiet people.
• How to respond or take a compliment.
• Why do people lie and how to deal with that.

See this page for a full list of Psychology Speech Topics .

12 Relationships Informative Speech Topics

• How marriages today differ from marriages from the 60’s.
• The secrets of happy and successful relationships.
• How to choose the right relationship.
• How to get along with your roommate.
• The guidelines for military marriages.
• How to make long distance relationships work.
• The average age to get married.
• How to talk to people when you have nothing to say.
• How to recognize toxic friends.
• Your Brain Falls in Love Not Only Your Heart.
• Who Was and Is Cupid and Co.
• All You Wanted to Know About Engagement.

10 Religion Informative Speech Topics

• A comparison of Genesis and Revelation in the Bible.
• Modern values are violating religious values.
• How Christ is present in our world.
• What percentage of the world’s population are Christians?
• Why worshipping Satan isn’t a bad thing.
• Why the bunny symbolizes Easter.
• God helps those who help themselves.
• A comparison of different religions.
• The history of the Christian church.
• The main principles of Christianity.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics on Religion and Spirituality .

10 Science Informative Speech Topics

• The difference between an alligator and a crocodile.
• Why whales should not be hunted for food.
• Transhumanism and the evolution of the human race.
• How we can create geniuses.
• Falabella horses are the smallest in the world.
• Why is the colonization of Mars important?
• Albert Einstein’s contributions to science.
• The isolation of nicotinic acid from tobacco.
• The journey to becoming a nuclear physicist.
• Some interesting facts about the human brain.

See this page for a full list of Informative Science Speech Topics .

31 Self-Help Informative Speech Topics

• The difference between boundaries and limits.
• The benefits of affirmation.
• Three goals to strive for in life.
• How to present yourself with confidence.
• Why it’s important to be yourself.
• How to manage your anger.
• How to make a good first impression.
• How to prepare for a job interview.
• Your actions determine your future.
• How to set goals and achieve them.
• How to enhance your public speaking skills.
• How to increase your motivation.
• What makes life meaningful?
• How to take your next big step in life.
• How to construct an argument.
• How to boost your self-esteem.
• How to be happy being single.
• How to avoid procrastination.
• How to improve your manners.
• How to be a good leader.
• The importance of a good attitude.
• How to be more romantic.
• How to break bad habits.
• How to overcome conflict.
• Happiness: The thing we all look for but never really understand.
• What it’s like to be falling in love.
• What is love and what’s not.
• The secret to resolving conflicts.
• Dancing is your secret weapon for happiness and health.
• Things to remember if you don’t want to die with any regrets.

10 School Informative Speech Topics

• Schools should not make money by selling unhealthy candy and soft drinks to students.
• Music with foul language in it should not be allowed at school dances.
• Students should be able to listen to their MP3 players during class.
• Students who commit cyberbullying should be suspended or expelled from school.
• Boys and girls should be taught in separate classrooms.
• Homeschooling produces better results than public schools.
• High School will be the best time of your life.
• Boys are lazier than girls.
• All students should wear school uniform.
• It is possible to Ace your way through High School.

See this page for a full list of School Speech Topics for All Grades .

10 Society Informative Speech Topics

• Why it is bad to judge people by their appearance.
• The lives of isolated indigenous people.
• How to tell someone they are annoying you without being rude.
• How human behavior affects society.
• Left handed people: the underrepresented minority group.
• Is the military a fulfilling career choice for women?
• The effects of discrimination.
• The importance of newspapers in our daily life.
• Do actors and athletes make too much money?
• Why I’m optimistic about our nation’s future.

See this page for a full list of Informative Society Speech Topics .

10 Sport Informative Speech Topics

• Should female students be allowed to play on male sports teams?
• How to do a walking handstand or a cartwheel into the splits.
• Is netball or hockey more dangerous?
• The benefits of sports for all ages.
• Why the spelling bee shouldn’t be on ESPN.
• The worst professional sports teams.
• The importance of sports and games.
• What you should have in your golf bag.
• The history of professional fighting.
• The worst trades in sports history.

See this page for a full list of Informative Sports Speech Topics .

3 Supernatural Informative Speech Topics

• The mystery of the Bermuda triangle.
• The evidence that bigfoot exists.
• The existence of telepathy.

41 Technology Informative Speech Topics

• How roads are built.
• Is wind energy cheap, effective, and practical?
• Why college students should be careful about what they put on social media.
• The uses for artificial intelligence computer networks.
• The danger of putting too much personal information on social networks.
• Modes of communication are constantly changing.
• How has social media impacted our daily lives?
• The line between the human brain and a computer.
• Why technology is a bad thing for growing minds.
• How technology has destroyed human interaction.
• How is text messaging affecting teen literacy?
• The advantages and disadvantages of social media.
• The effects of violent video games on children.
• The decline of interpersonal communication due to technology.
• The difference between hardware and software.
• Antivirus software: beware of malware functions.
• The history of programming languages.
• How voice over IP works.
• What would we do without electricity?
• The benefits of 3D printing.
• The major technological changes since 1990.
• The negative effects of cellphones.
• How to avoid computer viruses.
• The evolution of the internet.
• Computers through the decades.
• How airport biometrics systems work.
• Robots now and in the future.
• How satellites help communication.
• How a water plant operates.
• How watches work.
• The evolution of video games.
• How cellular phones work.
• The evolution of the iPhone.
• How to build a computer.
• How nuclear power works.
• How search engines work.
• How air pressure works.
• The best new technologies.
• The future of electric cars.
• How to practice cyber safety.
• A guide to different social media sites.

15 Travel Informative Speech Topics

• How students can find great vacation bargains.
• The best cruise vacations.
• Famous parliament buildings
• How to test the quality of water when traveling.
• Interesting underground railroad systems in capital cities.
• Investigation shipwrecks at the bottom of the sea.
• The benefits of wind tunnels on transport.
• The discovery of the famous temples in the Maya culture.
• The influence of global warming on Alpine skiing.
• The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• The Wright Brother’s first flight.
• Totem poles and obelisks are symbols of unity, tradition, and pride.
• What you need to know about the Principality of Andorra.
• Why is there a Titanic replica?
• Why the unsinkable and invincible Titanic sank.

9 Workplace Informative Speech Topics

• The benefits of break time for nursing mothers in the workplace.
• The prevalence of dangerous chemicals in the workplace.
• How to survive working in a restaurant.
• Why underwater welding is dangerous.
• How it is to work in the fast food industry.
• How to get a great internship.
• How to become a comedian.
• The most dangerous jobs.
• What are the fastest growing careers?

List of Informative Essay Topics

14 college informative essay topics.

• Benefits of a college degree
• Crimes on college campuses
• Healthiest foods in the campus cafeteria
• How students can stay safe on a college campus
• How students can use eLibrary Curriculum Edition for research
• How to beat senioritis
• How to find cheap textbooks
• How to pick a major
• How to study for and pass a test
• Saving money as a college student
• The story of how your school was founded
• Ways of preventing college dropout
• Whether binge drinking is a problem on your college campus
• Your favorite club or organization on campus

5 Demonstration Informative Essay Topics

• How to bake a cake
• How to knit a scarf
• How to organize a closet
• How to swing a golf club
• How to train your dog

7 Easy / Simple Informative Essay Topics

• A genre of music
• America’s fastest growing cities
• Breeds of dogs
• How a computer works
• Interesting cultures
• Lesser known presidents
• Natural disasters

9 Education Informative Essay Topics

• How to choose a persuasive speech topic
• How to deliver a funny informative speech
• How to deliver a persuasive speech
• How to maintain audience attention during a speech
• How to win your audience with descriptive speech
• How to write a persuasive essay
• How to write an argumentative essay
• How to write an expository essay
• The difference between a thesis statement and a topic sentence

10 Fun Informative Essay Topics

• An impressive world record
• Fun games to play at the beach.
• The history of ice cream
• The revolution of the selfie
• Ways different cultures celebrate Valentine’s Day
• What do people do when they win the lottery?
• What people don’t know about Disneyland
• What you can learn from grade K students
• What your horoscope means
• Why people get tattoos

6 Funny Informative Essay Topics

• Everything you need to know about skinny jeans
• Funny St. Patrick’s Day parades
• How to be nice to people you don’t like
• How to cheat in poker
• How to look attentive when you’re actually not
• Things you can learn from your pet

See this page for a full list of Funny Informative Speech Topics .

10 Health Informative Essay Topics

• All about gluten
• Cause-and-effect relationship of air pollution
• Causes of cancer
• How caffeine works
• How stress affects your body
• How to make exercise a habit
• How to quit smoking
• Symptoms of Alzheimer Disease
• Symptoms of depression
• How to get rid of bad habits

6 Hobbies Informative Essay Topics

• Best places for scuba diving
• Choosing your next book to read
• Peace lily care tips
• Professional baseball stadiums
• The history of your favorite sport
• Types of tropical fish

9 Interesting Informative Essay Topics

• Effects of global warming
• Exotic pets
• How to perform an attention-getting first dance at your wedding
• Near-death experiences
• Places to see in northern Nevada
• The biography of Clyde Tombaugh
• The history of a cliche marriage ritual
• What is your dog actually thinking?
• What your handwriting says about you

See this page for a full list of Informative Interesting Speech Topics .

7 Life Informative Essay Topics

• How to drive a stick-shift
• How to pay off your student loans in under 10 years
• How to succeed in multi-level marketing
• The process of buying a car
• Tips for being an effective networker
• Traveling the world for cheap
• Why people lie

7 Legislation Informative Essay Topics

• Fees and taxes for an electric car
• Minimum wage laws
• The history of drinking age rules
• What dogs are affected by breed specific legislation?
• Anti-trust crimes.
• Benefits of pleading guilty.
• Felony penalties for aggravated stalking.

See this page for a full list of Legal Speech Topics .

10 Pop Culture Informative Essay Topics

• A biography of your favorite celebrity
• All about your favorite author
• All about your favorite television show
• Former childhood stars
• History of your favorite product brand
• Instances where the movie is better than the book
• The Miss America pageant
• The pop art movement during the 20th century and the changes it brought about
• What makes a pop sensation
• Your favorite form of public broadcasting

7 Relationships Informative Essay Topics

How to be a good friend

• How to choose your friends
• How to get along with your in-laws
• How to make a marriage work
• How to survive a blind date gone wrong
• The different types of friendships
• The history of online dating

Picking Your Topic

At first glance, an informative speech may seem like the simplest type of presentation . The basis of an informative speech is to introduce a topic to the audience and then describe or explain it . It sounds fairly straightforward, but special care must be given to selecting a topic or the entire speech may not be well received.

Informative speeches can easily become boring for an audience for several reasons. First, the speaker should be sure not to present a topic which is already well known, or the audience will quickly lose interest. The topic should be something the audience has never encountered, or at least include new and exciting information on a familiar topic. Speakers should remember, when preparing the speech, that their own level of interest will become apparent during delivery of the presentation. In other words, if the speaker is bored by the topic, the audience will feel bored as well.

Knowing the audience is a primary factor in choosing an informative speech topic. The speaker should consider the age, knowledge level, subculture, and other demographics of his listeners when preparing the speech. It is important to present information which is neither too elementary nor too difficult for the audience to comprehend. The chosen topic should reflect the interests of the audience, and should be intriguing to them without rehashing information they already know. For example, college students may be interested in a topic on alcohol use, but they are already very familiar with a topic like the dangers of drinking and driving. In this case the speaker might concentrate his topic on the health benefits of red wine. This way, he has chosen a topic which interests the audience, but is likely to present new information which will not bore his listeners.

Finally, speakers should consider time limits when choosing an informative speech topic. A topic should be covered thoroughly enough that the audience feels as if most of their questions on the topic have been answered. On the other hand, a tight time restriction may prevent the speaker from adequately covering a very intricate topic. When time is limited, a subject which requires lengthy explanation should be avoided. The audience should leave an informative speech feeling as if they’ve gained new insight on a topic. It is good if they are interested in doing their own research to learn more about the subject, but they should never leave the presentation feeling confused or unclear about what they have just heard.

Informative Speech Idea In 5 Steps

1. step one – make a list.

Make a short list of your personal interests and informative speech topic ideas. To help you determine your interests on an informative speech topic, think about your favorite objects, products, people, animals, events, places, processes, procedures, concepts, policies, theories, and so on. Answer these important questions:

• Is there something you love to talk about, always have wanted to research?
• What interests you very much, or do you like or love at first glance?
• Do you have developed special skills in personal or professional life?
• What interesting informative topics do you know a lot of or want to know more about?
• What are some personal or professional experiences and skills in certain situations related to your favorite subjects?
• Can you reveal hidden secrets, new perspectives or insights on some topics?

2. Step Two – Analyze Your Audience

Determine the interests and needs of your audience. What do they want to learn? Can you teach them on a subject you like?

3. Step Three – Check Your Interests

Review the short list of your interests and make a decision. Choose the informative speech topic that is also interesting to your audience. Take care of their interests, questions and needs.

4. Step Four – Research and Write

Research  just one new single aspect  of that informative speech idea. Look for valuable or amazing information that surprises your listeners. Fresh data, facts, intelligence, and advice will catch their attention immediately! To help you researching: look for new facts, figures, stories, statistics, surveys, personal experiences, professional experiences, quotations, comparisons and contrasts.

5. Step Five – Add Help Props

Demonstrate steps, stages, pros and cons, and remarkable effects by the use of public speaking software or other visual aids , that display the material you want them to be understood or remembered.

Informative Speeches FAQ

1. Speeches About Objects 2. Speeches About Processes 3. Speeches About Events 4. Speeches About Concepts

An informative speech is one that provides information and educates the audience on a specific topic. An informative speech should help your audience learn, understand, and remember information you are presenting.

1. Know your audience or reader 2. Consider your interests 3. Consider length requirements

You can see this page with speech examples .

Vote of Thanks Examples

613 Original Argumentative Speech Topics Ideas

15 thoughts on “509 Informative Speech Ideas and Topics”

Demonic Possession

Creativity is the Mother of Invention.

1-How to be a good friend: you have to do everything to make them happy, don’t snatch on them

2-How to choose your friends: Choose friends with similar values Choose friends with common goals

3-How to get along with your in-laws:1-Get to know them. … 2-Know your limits. … 3-Keep things cordial. … 4-Put your relationship first

4-How to make a marriage work

5-How to survive a blind date gone wrong 1-Ask open-ended questions. … 2-Tell a funny anecdote. … 3-Let your date talk. … 4-Answer questions fully. … 5-Listen to them carefully.

6-The different types of friendships

7-The history of online dating

the evolution of humans

school doesn’t need to exist

Nice compilations this is helpful

Hamburgers vs hotdogs

Chocolate Caffeine Grass is Greener on the other side April Fools Why teens should have a part time job or not

History of Tobacco

Effects of anxiety on teenage students.

how depression affects people and others around them

peer pressure and its effects on students

Different ways kids handle peer pressure.

depression and how it can effect a students mindset

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‘The Rings of Power’ interview: Dialect coach Leith McPherson on the land of Rhûn, Black Speech and Taylor Swift

As the conductor of middle earth’s many tongues, leith mcpherson has spent over a decade sculpting the linguistic landscape of tolkien’s universe, transforming actors into authentic speakers of elvish, black speech, and beyond.

Published - August 20, 2024 03:08 pm IST

Dialect coach Leith McPherson coaches actor Owain Arthur on set of ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 1 | Photo Credit: Amazon Prime Video

A UK-born, Australia-based expert, Leith McPherson has spent over a decade immersing actors in the rich, fictional tongues of Middle Earth. Her journey began with Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy, where she first made her mark, and has since positioned herself as the go-to authority for bringing Tolkien’s languages to life on screen. 

As we settle into our conversation, it’s immediately clear that Leith is far more than merely the dialect coach on the series; she’s a custodian of Tolkien’s hefty linguistic legacy. Her decade-long tryst with Middle Earth hasn’t just been about making sure actors could pronounce “Mithrandir” without tripping over their tongues; rather, her mission seems much grander — imbuing each character with a linguistic identity that felt as authentic as the prosthetic limbs and pointy ears they don. “It always comes from the intentions that Professor Tolkien originally had,” she explains with reverence. “He wanted to explore a world through language. That’s the part of the show that I get to focus on. And I absolutely love it.”

Incredible costumes at DragonCon #AnEveningatBree ; with special guests John Howe and Leith McPherson. @LOTRonPrime #cosplay #MiddleEarth pic.twitter.com/rdeXrzzUkx — TheOneRing (@theoneringnet) September 14, 2022

The sophomore season of The Rings of Power , she tells me, ventures into “untread corners of Middle-earth,” presenting a fresh challenge: to honour Tolkien’s original phonetic legacy while also creating a fresh auditory experience for new, unexplored cultures.

For Leith, the challenge was a welcome one. “This season, we journey to the land of Rhûn,” she says. Rhûn is largely a mystery in Tolkien’s published works, a vast expanse of Middle-earth left intentionally vague by the author. But for the series, Tolkien scholars working with the show have unearthed some of Tolkien’s unpublished notes and used them to build out the beginnings of a language for Rhûn. “Never heard before, never worked with before,” Leith says, her voice practically glowing with enthusiasm. “That was just a gift this season.”

Of course, not all of Middle-Earth’s languages come with such a wealth of source material. Take Black Speech, the guttural tongue of Sauron and his followers, for example. Outside of the infamous ‘Ring verse’, there are only a handful of words available to work with. So how does Leith tackle such a daunting task?

“This was something I established early on that I did not have the credentials to do,” she admits with a chuckle. “Fortunately, we have access to a team of Tolkien scholars who provide all the language work for the show.” Leith’s role, then, is to help actors not just pronounce these words correctly, but to embody them. “My job is to make it feel like it’s a truthful part of them expressing themselves as these characters in this fantastical world.”

One such moment came with Charles Edwards, who plays Celebrimbor, the notorious elven smith responsible for forging the titular Rings of Power. “Charlie had to do a bit in Black Speech — a fairly long bit,” Leith recalls. “We shot for a whole morning, and every single take, I was like, ‘Charlie, give me something to do!’ But he just nailed it, take after take.” It’s this kind of dedication that Leith seems to live for, moments where the passion of Tolkien’s work comes to life through the voices of the actors.

Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor in ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 | Photo Credit: X/ @TheRingsofPower

When it comes to coaching actors, Leith’s approach is deeply personal. She tailors her methods not just to the language at hand, but to the individual actor and character. “The process is individual,” she explains. “Not only to the cultural groups — like the elves or the orcs — but to the actor as well.” For example, working with an elf like Gil-galad, the High King of the Elves, requires a different approach than working with a character like Adar, an Uruk with a tragic past. “Speaking Black Speech is a physically different thing to do,” she notes. “Even when I’m recording the lines for the actors, I can’t just read it flat. You really kind of get into it.”

The physicality of language is something Leith emphasizes across all her work. Whether it’s the elegant, flowing phrases of Quenya or the brutality of sounds in Black Speech, language is more than just words — it’s a full-body experience. “Language is a physical act,” she says. “When someone tells us that they love us, that has a physical effect on us.”

It’s this attention to the physicality of language that makes Leith ’s work so immersive, especially in a world as rich and detailed as Tolkien’s. “For elves, which are timeless creatures, you try to connect to that,” she explains. “You work in a world for these actors where it’s a little bit like Macbeth or an old tale where language has an actual effect — magic has an actual effect on the world around you.”

Steering away from Middle Earth, Leith’s work beyond Tolkien’s universe includes working on the stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , which she admits has a slightly different process. “It always starts with truth and connection. Whether I’m dealing with contemporary speech or a language Tolkien invented, it’s about grounding the actor in their character’s reality. If I’m not tapping into that authenticity, then I’m just layering something artificial onto their performance”, she says.

Before we wrapped, I couldn’t help but ask about her recent jaunts to Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour at Wembley (she’s been twice, naturally). With Swift’s formidable vocal range, I asked whether she’d be a natural at Quenya. Leith chuckles, “Oh, I think Taylor could handle anything! Look at Reputation — she’d be fine with the Black Speech as well! Is there anything Taylor cannot do? I think that’s where I would leave that.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leith McPherson (@leithmcp)

The Rings of Power Season 2 premieres on Amazon Prime Video on August 29

Related Topics

English cinema / World cinema / television

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