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75 Persuasive Speech Topics and Ideas

75 Persuasive Speech Topics and Ideas

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Selecting an Engaging Topic for Your Persuasive Speech

Are you tasked with writing a persuasive speech? Persuasive speeches are a form of communication that seeks to inform, educate, and motivate or convince the audience to adopt a certain viewpoint. When selecting a topic for your speech, you must consider factors such as the audience's interest, emotional topics, and desired outcome. Keep reading to learn more about choosing an effective topic for your persuasive speech!

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Topic

  • Familiarity: Become familiar with the chosen topic by doing research and gather evidence.
  • Interest: Select a topic that is of interest to you and your audience.
  • Audience's Interest: Choose a relatable topic to your audience.
  • Visualize: Visualize the desired outcome for your speech.
  • Not Overdone: Avoid topics that are overdone or that you may not be adequately prepared to discuss.
  • Emotional Topics: Consider topics that will evoke an emotional response from your audience.
  • Desired Outcome: Aim for the outcome you wish to achieve with your persuasive speech.

When selecting a topic for your persuasive speech, consider topics such as animals, arts/culture, automotive, business and economy, education, ethics, health, law and politics, media, religion, science and environment, sports, technology, and world peace. With the right topic, you'll be able to captivate, inform, and persuade your audience!

Potential Topics for Persuasive Speeches

Persuasive speech topics are an important part of the classroom environment. From discussing the pros and cons of tipping in restaurants to debating the merits of higher education, these topics can help foster critical conversations among students. Here are some examples of potential topics for persuasive speeches:

  • Should tipping in restaurants be mandatory?
  • Should boys and girls 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 legalized?
  • Should guns be illegal in the US?
  • Should cannabis be legalized for medical reasons?
  • Is equality a myth?
  • Does what is "right" and "wrong" change from generation to generation?
  • Is there ever 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?
  • 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?
  • 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?
  • What is the safest country in the world?
  • Is planetary nuclear disarmament possible?
  • Is the idea of peace on earth naive?

These topics can help spark lively and thought-provoking conversations, and ultimately help high-schoolers hone their persuasive writing skills.

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