persuasive speech topics reddit

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

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!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

• Choosing Good Topics
• Controversial
• Demonstration
• Extemporaneous
• Informative
• School/College
• Special Occasion
• Public Speaking Help
• Writing a Speech
• Free Sample Speeches
• Share Your Speech
• Fun Persuasive Speech Topics

Here are over 50 fun persuasive speech topics to help you create a light-hearted speech that will be enjoyable to listen to AND to write!

Many people end up covering the same tired topics that they see in the media each day, only because they can't come up with a better idea. That won't be you, of course, because these topics are fresh and entertaining!

Here are 54 thought-provoking ideas to consider:

First 27 Fun Persuasive Speech Topics

• The movie rating system is rigged.
• Voting should be mandatory.
• Marijuana should be legalized and sold in coffee shops.
• Colleges should loan students textbooks for free.
• College tuition should include parking and coffee.
• Schools should not require coursework unrelated student's major.
• College students should be required to wear uniforms.
• Let go of the past.
• Jury duty should not be mandatory.
• Health insurance should be free to all.
• Students should be exempt from taxes.
• As gas prices increase, wages should too!
• Teachers should be required to provide study guides for exams.
• All college parking lots should have safety lights installed.
• Becoming a vegetarian makes for a healthier lifestyle.
• Losing weight is a great way to change your life.
• Lying is a natural and necessary part of good relationships.
• Carpe diem! (Seize the day!)
• Start planning for the future.
• Don't eat fast food!
• Don't fall prey to fad diets!
• Be yourself! (Leadership rather than following others)
• Parent-teacher conferences should be mandatory.
• Say "no" to college credit card offers.
• Minimum wage should be raised.
• Luck is not a matter of chance (click to read a sample speech).
• Become an organ donor

2nd 27 Fun Persuasive Speech Topics

• Cats are better than dogs.
• Elvis is alive!
• Michael Jackson was abducted by aliens!
• Miley Cyrus's twerking was a shrewd publicity stunt.
• Home schooling is the best education program!
• Private schools are better than public schools!
• Donate to charity!
• Satellite is better than cable!
• McDonalds is better than Burger King.
• Buying is better than renting.
• Renting is better than buying.
• Don't procrastinate.
• Celebrities receive preferential legal treatment.
• Reality TV is not "real".
• Keep a journal.
• Women can do anything men do and they can do it better!
• Athletes should be good role models.
• Winning isn't everything but it sure beats losing.
• All is fair in love and war.
• Teachers deserve pay raises!
• Students with "A's" should be exempt from finals.
• Everyone should own a pet!
• Wal-mart is the best place to shop!
• Use credit cards responsibly.
• Everyone should take a self defense class.
• Parents should take an active role in their children's education.

Sample Speech -  Walmart is the best place to shop!

Introduction:

Ladies and gentlemen, have you ever found yourself drifting off to sleep, dreaming of a place that meets all your needs, where you can indulge in the ultimate shopping experience, and where the sight of neon price tags sends shivers down your spine? A place where the aisles stretch for miles, and you find yourself lost in a wonderland of discounts and deals? Well, my friends, hold on tight because I'm about to show you that this dream is not a mere figment of your imagination but a concrete reality just around the corner. I stand before you today to address a subject of great importance. A subject that has rocked the very foundation of our society, creating rifts between friends, families, and even roommates: Where is the best place to shop? Welcome to the enchanted world of Walmart!

I'm sure the shiny, bright lights of the fancy department stores or the trendy boutiques that sell one-of-a-kind garments have seduced some of you. But today, I'm here to tell you about the unsung hero of the retail world: the glorious, the fabulous, the one and only - Walmart!

I know what you're thinking, "Walmart? Really?" But hear me out. Walmart is the magical wonderland where dreams come true, and you can buy socks, toilet paper, and a big-screen TV all in one trip at rock-bottom prices. If that's not the epitome of convenience, I don't know what is.

First, let's discuss the sheer variety that Walmart has to offer. Where else can you stroll through the aisles and pick up a new outfit for your dog, a toaster oven, and a canoe while humming along to the soothing sounds of elevator music? There's a reason they call it a supercenter, my friends, and it's not just because it's the size of a small city.

Secondly, let's talk about the true star of the show: those unbeatable, low, low prices! At Walmart, you too can dream of becoming rich like a 1980s pop star and get your “money for nothing.” According to Harvard Alumni Aziz, Walmart focuses on providing the lowest possible price among the competition instead of providing promotions. Aziz (Alumni). “Wal-Mart: Every Day Low Prices Business Model - Technology and Operations Management.” Digital, Data, and Design Institute at Harvard, 9 December 2015, https://d3.harvard.edu/platform-rctom/submission/wal-mart-every-day-low-prices-business-model/ . Accessed 9 May 2023. Have you ever thought, "Gee, I wish I could buy a 24-pack of soda for the price of a single bottle at the convenience store?" Well, look no further! Walmart is the ultimate destination for penny pinchers and frugal fashionistas alike.

And I need to share the people-watching opportunities. Who needs Dire Straits MTV to look at the Yo-Yos? Do you dream of world peace? Walmart is the unofficial United Nations of retail, where all walks of life unite to bond over a shared love of bargain hunting. It's the one place where you can witness a cowboy, a goth, and a soccer mom politely argue over the last discounted flat-screen TV. It's like an ever-changing reality show you can watch for free while grocery shopping! If you have yet to visit this unifying retail juggernaut and need further proof, check out People of Walmart's website. People of Walmart is a humor blog that depicts the many customers of Walmart stores across the United States and Canada. Then, turn off the Youtube and get down to your local Walmart. 90% of the U.S. population lives within 15 miles of Walmart stores, so you don’t have far to go.

Some of you might be concerned about the ethics of shopping at a big box store. Rest easy and enjoy sweet dreams. Walmart has made strides in recent years to become more environmentally friendly and socially responsible. They've implemented sustainability initiatives, increased wages, and provided scholarships to employees. It's a story of redemption, like a retail version of "A Christmas Carol."

Conclusion:

So, my fellow shoppers, I implore you to reconsider your retail allegiances. Give Walmart a chance; I promise you you'll never look back. You may even find yourself wandering those vast aisles at midnight, wearing your favorite sweatpants, and experiencing a sense of retail nirvana that you never thought possible.

In the end, my fellow dreamers, I hope you see the undeniable allure of Walmart as a place where our fantasies of convenience, affordability, and variety can come true. So embrace the retail nirvana that awaits you within those cavernous aisles, and let your inner bargain-hunter soar. By choosing Walmart as our go-to shopping destination, we live the dream and share in a beautiful tapestry of humanity that transcends all boundaries. So let's make our dreams a reality, one shopping cart at a time. Thank you, and may you find your path to retail bliss.

Free email delivery

MASTER INFORMATIVE SPEAKING WITH OUR FREE CHECKLIST!

We are offering you a  FREE   SpeakFlight Informative Speaking Preparation Checklist. This valuable resource is packed with step-by-step guidance to help you create compelling, memorable, and effective informative speeches.

Share this page

Return to the Top of the Page

Recommended pages:

Ideal for Teens

Persuasive Speech Tips:

A Guide to Persuasive Speech Writing

More Tips for Writing Good Persuasive Speeches

Another Example Outline

3 Tips for Writing a Speech That Gets Results

Brainstorming Techniques:

Coming up With Ideas

More Ways to Find the Perfect Topic

BST's Favorite Open Source and Free Mindmapping Software

Example persuasive speeches for inspiration:

Gender Selection

Energy Medicine

The Role of Marriage in Society

Fun Speech about Luck

Second-Hand Smoke

Using a Cell Phone Whilst Driving

School Uniform Policies

Become an Activist

• Best Speech Topics
• Persuasive Speech Topics

Easily search your speech type

Just check out the sitemap for best-speech-topics.com , which lists all the pages on the site, or use the search box below:

Get to Know Us

• Privacy Policy

Attention Grabbers

• Positive Quotes for Kids
• Quotes for Graduation Speeches
• Poems & Quotes on Death
• Quotes on Retirement

Most Popular Pages

• Free Samples
• Good Speech Topics
• Hypnotize Your Audience
• Welcome Speech

Select a Speech Topic

• Argumentative
• Commemorative
• Inspirational
• Interesting
• Other Topics

Let Us Help You

• How To Write a Speech
• Demonstration Outline
• Informative Outline
• Introductions
• Using a Microphone
• Speech Help
• Speeches Made Easy

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

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?
• High School Success

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).

• 2-Year Colleges
• ADHD/LD/Autism/Executive Functioning
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Data Visualizations
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High Schools
• Homeschool Resources
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Outdoor Adventure
• Private High School Spotlight
• Research Programs
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Teacher Tools
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

Improve your practice.

Enhance your soft skills with a range of award-winning courses.

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 .

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

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.

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

• How It Works
• PhD thesis writing
• Master thesis writing
• Bachelor thesis writing
• Dissertation writing service
• Dissertation abstract writing
• Thesis proposal writing
• Thesis editing service
• Thesis proofreading service
• Thesis formatting service
• Coursework writing service
• Research paper writing service
• Architecture thesis writing
• Computer science thesis writing
• Engineering thesis writing
• History thesis writing
• MBA thesis writing
• Nursing dissertation writing
• Psychology dissertation writing
• Sociology thesis writing
• Statistics dissertation writing
• Buy dissertation online
• Write my dissertation
• Cheap thesis
• Cheap dissertation
• Custom dissertation
• Dissertation help
• Pay for thesis
• Pay for dissertation
• Senior thesis
• Write my thesis

250 Best Persuasive Speech Topics For All

Some students struggle to find persuasive speech topics. That’s because they must have the audiences’ interest in mind. They must also consider their interest level. Nevertheless, learners can find engaging persuasive topics for speech. They only need compelling and unique ideas to help them generate the best topics for persuasive speech.

What are Persuasive Speech Topics?

Good topics for persuasive speech, persuasive speech topics about animals, simple persuasive speech topics, persuasive speech topics for college, persuasive speech topics for teens, health persuasive speech topics, funny persuasive speech topics, environmental persuasive speech topics, problem solution persuasive speech topic, sports persuasive speech topics, persuasive speech topics about music.

The purpose of a persuasive speech is to educate the target audience. Therefore, good persuasive speech topics focus on educating a target audience about a specific issue. Writing a speech about these topics is mainly about convincing the audience to agree with your viewpoint.

Topic selection is an essential thing to recall when writing a persuasive speech. A learner can write about a specific idea that will engage the audience. The topic should also be interesting and help the audience to understand the idea and the viewpoint. In simple terms, students should look for engaging, interesting, and compelling topics for a persuasive speech. Here is a list of persuasive speech topics ideas that students should consider.

Some persuasive speech topics college and high school students write about are just good. That’s because they are engaging and interesting to read about. Here are examples of good topics to do a persuasive speech on.

• Should people continue to use plastic bags when buying groceries?
• NASA’s budget should be increased
• Should tourists be allowed to continue taking selfies with animals?
• Is coffee consumption harmful?
• Plastic surgery is no longer a medical procedure but a habit
• The disadvantages of social networks outweigh their advantages
• Patients’ dedication influences the outcome of a therapy
• Men can’t understand women
• Governments should abolish the death penalty
• Free media needs some control
• Lack of finances is a major challenge for people that need education
• People should embrace and promote surrogacy more
• Artificial intelligence has improved the daily lives of many people
• Religious-related animal slaughter should be prohibited
• Self-driving vehicles should be illegal
• People should avoid using cell phones while driving
• Celebrities should get stiffer penalties when they go against the law
• The basic exam should be mandatory for teachers to refresh their knowledge
• Every city should have a free bike-sharing program
• Humans have a lot to do to end world hunger and poverty
• Money cannot buy happiness or love
• Junk food outlets should be banned
• Society should value elders and learn more from them
• Parents should provide incentives to their children when they do right instead of punishing them for wrongdoing
• Governments should encourage recycling.

These are easy persuasive speech topics that most learners can research and write about. Nevertheless, each of these topics requires creativity to come up with an interesting speech that people will be glad to listen to from the beginning to the end. Some of these history research topics may also be helpful.

Students can also write interesting speeches about animal topics. Here is a list of interesting persuasive speech topics about animals you can consider.

• Some pets are dangerous to the community
• Owners should be held responsible if their pets hurt the health of another person
• Humans should tame more animals and turn them into their household pets
• Battery farming is unethical
• Factory farming is too cruel and should be illegal
• Adopting a kitten versus buying one
• Is breeding pets and selling them a good idea?
• Keeping a pet can make your life better
• The government should do more to save the animals that are facing the extinction threat
• What should humans do to save some animal species from extinction?
• Why humans should adopt more forest animals
• Humans should safeguard the dolphin populations
• Keeping a cat is beneficial to humans
• Advantages of keeping a horse
• Why you should neuter your cat
• Benefits of keeping a snake pet
• Effects of a pet on a child
• A cat is a perfect pet
• Effects of puppy mills on humans
• Wild animals like sharks and lions should be tamed
• Is excluding a dog for biting somebody ethical?
• Pit bulls are a vicious breed
• People should adopt more pets instead of buying them from breeders
• The government should close all aquariums and zoos
• The government should legalize the ownership of monkeys and other exotic animals
• The government should ban animal hunting ]
• Dogs are the best pets
• Every high school student should have a pet
• Children are not safe in zoos
• A mosquito is the most annoying bug

These are undoubtedly fun persuasive speech topics to research and write about. Nevertheless, students should be ready to spend time researching before writing about some of these topics.

Maybe you want to write about something simple. In that case, consider any of these easy persuasive speech topics for college.

• Learning and practicing martial arts benefits the body and mind
• Reality television shows exploit the audience
• People can learn more about life from competitive sports
• What makes an individual a hero?
• All high school graduates should provide community service after graduating
• Benefits of growing plants in the garden
• The world is an interesting place to live due to human differences
• How song lyrics affect our lives
• Benefits of studying and traveling abroad
• Therapeutic benefits of journal writing
• How learning a second language benefits a person
• People should travel to different countries to learn outside the classroom
• All countries should use the same currency
• Every kid should have a friend outside their country
• Taking cereal for breakfast is not healthy
• A daily shower is not important
• Kids should design their clothing
• Boredom is beneficial for kids
• Every human is unique
• Benefits of growing in a city
• Why being the only child for your parents is good
• Every kid should have a television in the bedroom
• Men should not wear pink clothing
• Following your dreams is not easy
• Setting goals is important for human success

These are some of the easiest public speaking persuasive speech topics to write about. However, they also require some level of research to gather relevant information that the audience will be interested to listen to.

If in college, consider any of these topics for your speech.

• The major changes in the cost of education over the past decade
• The government should legalize gambling
• The impact of corporate corruption
• What are the effects of zoning laws
• Popular election reforms
• Causes of corruption among the police officers
• The most essential women rights
• Advantages of purchasing products made in your country
• Is copying or downloading copyrighted materials legal?
• The major causes of inflation
• How people become young billionaires
• Why is the education cost always increasing
• Describe the primary economic principles
• What is the principle behind funding medical research?
• Describe the most effective investment strategies
• Books are the best learning materials
• Sports can enhance learning effectiveness
• Why online learning is becoming increasingly popular
• Virtual reality is education’s future
• Extracurricular activities waste a lot of time

These are some of the top persuasive speech topics for college students. Nevertheless, you should be ready to research extensively if you opt to write about any of these persuasive speech topics for college students.

If you’re in high school and you want to write a persuasive speech, you need topics your target audience can relate to. Here are some of the best persuasive speech topics for teenagers.

• The government should allow kids to divorce their parents
• Kids should be allowed to pick their families
• Why it’s good to have siblings
• Teens should be allowed free therapy sessions after breakups
• Schools should allow students to choose what to pursue at an early age
• Boys and girls should belong to the same sport teams
• Talking to pets is sometimes better than talking to parents
• Students need tablets and iPads more than books
• Teaching sex education is useless and awkward
• Every teen should have a pet
• Teens should be allowed more time to sleep
• Parents are not giving teen suicide enough attention
• Personality is better than beauty
• Teens should be comfortable to share everything with their parents
• High school students should be allowed to study abroad
• Students should be allowed to eat at any time at school
• Home-schooling make some teens socially awkward
• Teen girls and boys should have separate classes
• Teens should not be allowed to have tattoos
• Bullied teens behavior changes forever
• Teens should be allowed more time to hang out with their elderly
• Beauty contests do more harm than good
• Teens should not start dating at an early age
• Mental illnesses cause eating disorders
• No parent should embarrass a teen
• More teens should participate in volunteer activities
• All teens should participate in cooking lessons
• Influence of TV shows on teens
• Why teens should wear a uniform in school
• Teens should be allowed more quiet time

Most teens will most likely enjoy writing about these topics. This list also has some of the best persuasive speech topics Reddit audiences will be glad to read about.

Perhaps, you want to write a speech on a health topic. In that case, this list has some of the best health and medical persuasive speech topics to consider.

• How to eat healthily
• Overcoming stress and leading a healthy life
• The government should prohibit drug advertisements
• Why wearing pajamas when sleeping is good for human health
• Using aborted fetuses for medical research should be legalized
• What is the best age to learn about medical treatment for contraception?
• Fast food is to blame for most cases of child obesity
• Is vegetarianism good for children?
• Advantages and disadvantages of medical marijuana
• Are placebos important in medicine?
• Are there animal testing alternatives?
• How to prevent and treat child violence
• Reasons and solutions to mental illnesses
• How different music genres affect the human brain
• Impacts of depression on a person’s immune system
• Impact of insomnia on the overall health of a person
• How dieting helps a person lose weight
• Effects of meat consumption on health
• The government should legalize assisted suicide
• Acupuncture as a medical technique
• Governments should increase taxes on sugary drinks
• Revenue collected from taxes on sugary drinks should be used in promoting public health
• The fast-food industry is legally accountable for most obesity cases
• School cafeterias should provide healthy foods only
• Birth control should be legal for female minors
• The government should allow doctors to prescribe contraception to teens under 16 years
• Every country should provide universal health care to its citizens
• Regular exercise improves human health
• Should schools distribute free condoms?
• Is using animals for medical research a necessary evil?

This list also has controversial persuasive speech topics that can elicit different reactions from the audiences. Nevertheless, you need to come up with evidence to support your standpoint. What’s more, this category also has call to action persuasive speech topics in which the writer ends by asking the audience to do something or take a specific stance.

Maybe you want to write a funny but persuasive speech for your audience. In that case, choose one of these humorous persuasive speech topics.

• How to make somebody stop their annoying behaviors
• Why males don’t consider females funny
• Do vegetarians love animals?
• Colleges should add parking fees to the tuition
• Christmas is more of a pagan holiday rather than a Christian celebration
• Procrastinating is a way to avoid working
• Playing by the set rules is for losers and boring
• People choose to grow up
• Having cupcakes in both hands is a balanced diet
• Acting on rage should not be your thing
• The more you’re honest with your partner the more you get in trouble
• Girls and boys are equally smart
• Life is an exam without retakes and preparations
• First sight love doesn’t exist
• Men should always be prepared with pick-up lines

These are hilarious persuasive speech topics to research and write about. Nevertheless, you need to be creative to compose a great speech on these topics.

If you love conserving the environment, you may want to write a speech about this issue. This category also has agriculture persuasive speech topics because farming can affect the environment. Here are environmental topics to consider for your persuasive speech.

• How agricultural practices ruin the environment
• The current environmental protection regulations are not enough
• Garden owners should grow more exotic plants
• The government should regulate the use of vehicles to protect the environment
• Effects of disposable diapers on the environment
• Why governments should enforce recycling
• How single-use bags affect the environment
• The current fishing restrictions are not sufficient
• Governments should do more to protect rare species
• Governments should do more to protect the ocean life
• How the environment will benefit from a reduction in paper usage
• Humans should stop using natural resources recklessly
• How noise pollution affects human development negatively
• Humans are responsible for environmental degradation
• Humans should use renewable energy more
• Governments should limit the use of fossil fuels and natural resources
• Effects of greenhouses on humans
• Developed countries are responsible for global warming
• Every country should be concerned about global warming
• Governments should implement strict penalties to conserve endangered species
• Governments should encourage more people to use public transport
• Negative effects of pollution on humans
• Benefits of hybrid cars for the environment
• Everybody is responsible for keeping their community clean
• How carpooling protects the environment

This list also has political persuasive speech topics because governments are responsible for making policies that conserve the environment.

This category comprises topics that present a problem and a solution. For instance, you can find business persuasive speech topics that present problems and solutions in this category. Here are examples of problem solution topics for persuasive speeches.

• How students can become better at tests and exams
• How to make college environments safer
• Best criteria for selecting a college
• How to help your suicidal friend
• Ways to reduce stress among students
• How to balance study, work, and active social lives
• How to reduce student procrastination
• How to deal with homesickness
• How to improve your college or school
• How to prepare home-schooled learners for college
• How to help a depressed person
• What schools can do to improve literacy
• Best ways to deal with illegal immigration
• Best ways to deal with terrorism
• How to punish people caught using cell phones while driving
• How to make driving a more pleasant and less stressful experience
• How to reform the school system
• How to deal with the identity theft problem
• How governments should deal with advertisements that target children
• How to deal with cyber-attacks
• How to prevent deaths that arise from drunk-driving
• Effective ways to manage college class attendance in college
• How to help college students that fail and don’t want their parents to know
• Ways to manage student finances
• How students can stay healthy and fit

Pick any of these topics if you want to present a problem and a solution in your speech.

If you’re a fan of sports, you may want to write a persuasive speech about this subject. This category can also include video game persuasive speech topics. Here are some of the ideas to explore in this category.

• Drug tests should be more frequent among professional athletes
• What are the impacts of violent video games on the youth?
• How do gaming consoles benefit the youth
• Gender should not be a factor in sports
• Male athletes should compete with female athletes
• Female and male athletes should be paid equally
• Marching band should be considered a sport
• Boxing should be illegalized
• Effects of parental pressure on athletic kids
• Every student should learn to swim in the school
• Cheerleading is not a sport
• Fan-girls know nothing about sports
• Comparing footballers is foolish
• People should stop being mean to opposing teams
• Home workouts are not effective

Pick any of these topics if you love writing about sports.

If you love music, pick your speech topic from this list.

• Rap is a violent music genre
• Jazz music is almost extinct
• Music country is less famous
• Pop music is undergoing a tough transformation
• White people don’t love rap music
• Anybody can write good music
• Governments should ban loud music
• Not every piece of music soothes the mind
• Music is not always positive
• How music and psychology are related

Pick and research about any of these topics to write a speech your audience will love to listen to. You can also contact our professional dissertation writers who are ready to help you with topic selection, writing, editing, and other things.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment * Error message

Name * Error message

Email * Error message

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

As Putin continues killing civilians, bombing kindergartens, and threatening WWIII, Ukraine fights for the world's peaceful future.

Ukraine Live Updates

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.

Find Out Exactly How Much You Could Make As a Paid Speaker

Use The Official Speaker Fee Calculator to tell you what you should charge for your first (or next) speaking gig — virtual or in-person! 

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.

Ready to Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig?

Download our free 26-page guide and get the 14 exact steps you can follow to book a paid speaking gig right now!

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

Explore Related Resources

Learn How You Could Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig In 90 Days or Less

We receive thousands of applications every day, but we only work with the top 5% of speakers .

Book a call with our team to get started — you’ll learn why the vast majority of our students get a paid speaking gig within 90 days of finishing our program .

If you’re ready to control your schedule, grow your income, and make an impact in the world – it’s time to take the first step. Book a FREE consulting call and let’s get you Booked and Paid to Speak ® .

About The Speaker Lab

We teach speakers how to consistently get booked and paid to speak.  Since 2015, we’ve helped thousands of speakers find clarity, confidence, and a clear path to make an impact.

Get Started

Let's connect.

[email protected]

Copyright ©2023 The Speaker Lab. All rights reserved.

The 139 Best Persuasive Speech Topics

• Post by: Professor Conquer
• Last updated on: December 15, 2023

Spread the love

Are you struggling to write your assignment for speech class?

Writing good persuasive speech topics will be necessary for the argument of your assignment, but this is not an easy feat.

This article is an ultimate guide on how to write the best persuasive speech topics! We will provide you with some ideas for your speech assignment. By the end of this article, you will have an extensive list of topics for speech in school, 20 opinion topics, and persuasive speech topics with call to action.

Ready to get started?

What is a Persuasive Speech?

Let’s start with basic details—what exactly is a persuasive speech?

A persuasive speech is a type of speech that is solely designed to convince audience members to accept the speaker’s point of view.

So, if you were given a topic on chocolate ice-cream, a persuasive speech would attempt to convince all your audience members that chocolate ice-cream is indeed the best flavor in the world.

Other examples of persuasive speeches include sales pitches, debates, legal proceedings, etc. Many persuasive speeches are a call to action, which tends to make these speeches exciting, engaging, and suspenseful.

Persuasive speeches can be formal or informal but must be arranged to have audience members convinced of the speaker’s perspective.

The components of a persuasive speech usually entail of logical and emotional appeals. The rational aspect of persuasive speeches presents a cohesive argument supporting the opinion or perspective of an issue; whereas, the emotional aspect of persuasive speeches seeks reactions from audiences to accept or reject a notion.

We would like to consider one more component because—why should people even believe your persuasive speech? According to the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, another additional component to speech that is important for influencing others is credibility. People must perceive you as knowledgeable, in control of your ideas, and demonstrate that you have critically constructed this perspective with consideration to all other insight and context.

In a way, persuasive speeches are getting the best of your audience members by pulling strings on their logic and on their emotions, all while conveying your credibility. Thus, to convince others through persuasive speeches is really a masterpiece of art.

Some say that the masterful art of persuasion is inherited at birth; while others need to acquire it through schooling, practice, and training. You will find that many budding politicians, students, and business entrepreneurs went through some degree of training to strive to master this skill because of its benefits, power, and practicality in applied settings.

If you are not someone who was “born” with the art of persuasion, do not fret! Practicing persuasive speeches is what makes this skill considerably strong in application, particularly if you are using this with a diverse set of audiences and across a variety of topics.

We will make sure to start you off right with our list of persuasive speech topics for speech in school in the section, 51 Examples of Good Persuasive Speech Topics.

What Types of Persuasive Speeches are There?

In the realm of persuasive speeches, there are three different types of speeches that serve different purposes. These include (1) policy persuasive speeches, (2) value persuasive speeches, and (3) factual persuasive speeches.

Let’s go into more detail about what each one is used for and what makes it distinct from the other.

1. Policy persuasive speeches are specific to policies, rules, or political candidates. Your purpose is to persuade the audience of your argument to support or reject an idea in this context.

For example, let’s say you’ve been given the topic of presidential policies since 2016. Your policy persuasive speech could point out all the policies and expectations that haven’t been delivered from 2016 to now, convincing your audience members of candidates who may fit the role to carry out such responsibilities better.

Other examples may include federal evaluators who present evidence to support for new policies. One evaluator in particular presented disparities in Medicaid data, which then led to new policies to present data on health disparities and ongoing quality control measures. The important thing to remember in policy persuasive speeches within this context is to stick to your evidence.

Here is another example of a policy persuasive speech portrayed in video .

2. Value persuasive speeches are considered more value driven than any form of evidence. With value persuasive speeches, you are focusing on the moral aspect of a particular issue, convincing your audience members about why something is wrong or right.

Value persuasive speeches can be tricky because these tend to be controversial since you are navigating a variety of people’s longstanding ethics and morality, which aren’t at all as consistent as we expect. For these types of arguments, it’s important to know your audience, but also maintain your value perspective from a moral stance.

Here is an example of a value persuasive speech portrayed in video .

3. Factual persuasive speeches refer to speeches that are simply based on facts. These speeches are typically based on a specific thesis or theory that explains how something happened or exists (or the complete opposite). As a speaker, you are presenting evidence to support your thesis rather than presenting values or opinions.

Factual persuasive speech usually includes persuasive speech topics with call to action. Factual persuasive speech is different from policy persuasive speech because there is no emotional appeal to the argument here. You are applying inductive reasoning to have audience members agree or come to the same point.

Here is an example of a factual persuasive speeches on the importance of laughter .

What Makes an Effective Persuasive Speech?

Enjoying this article? Get our 137-page guide to doing well in high school here.

Now that we know about the variety of types of persuasive speeches, let’s discuss the effectiveness of persuasive speeches.

What makes an effective persuasive speech?

We’ve already talked about the importance of the logical and emotional appeal of your argument, along with your credibility as a speaker. However, the effectiveness of a persuasive speech also depends on various other factors that go beyond the words and topic of the speech.

Consider your audience. Every audience member has a particular set of values, way of thinking, and presumed assumptions or beliefs that have been reinforced throughout their childhood and perhaps even up to their adult life, regardless of whether these assumptions are true or false. In a persuasive speech, you must alter the perspectives of all these audience members.

Thus, the effectiveness of a persuasive speech can be deeply impacted by how willing people are to accept a new worldview.

Additionally, your credibility as a speaker moves beyond your words and appearing knowledgeable. Body language, voice, confidence level are all important factors driving effectiveness of persuasive speeches.

How to Write a Strong Persuasive Speech: 5 Tips

Based on the three essential components of a persuasive speech (logical appeal, emotional appeal, and credibility), we have made a brief list on 5 tips to help you write a strong persuasive speech .

1. Choose a topic that interests you or your passions so that you can be fully committed to researching this topic. This will increase the likelihood of writing a speech that is meaningful and successful.

2. While you are developing your speech, make it personal, connect to your life, provide real-world examples to personalize and reinforce the argument that is being communicated

3. Incorporate the perspective of your audiences. You will need to strategize your arguments around how the audience thinks, so make sure to be attentive to their experiences when writing your speech.

4. Know your topic inside and out. Research as much as you can about your topic, identifying both the pros and cons to understand the various perspectives of the issue. Consider practicing arguments for both sides of the issue to strengthen your knowledge about the topic; this will prepare you for any questions and heighten your critical assessment.

5. Identify a topic that is engaging, interesting, and aligns with current times. Strong persuasive speeches should be innovative and insightful, not done to death. Choosing an innovative topic will evoke more interest and thought-provoking reactions.

In terms of preparing to write a strong persuasive speech, we also wanted to provide you with the following set of questions to guide the structure.

What is the goal?

First, you want to identify your goals. What is your purpose? What function does this speech serve? Is it a persuasive speech topic with call to action? Or is it simply a factual persuasive speech?

Remember that each type of speech varies, so you’ll need to first identify your goals before initiating anything else.

What is the main idea or argument being made?

This question may seem obvious, but it’s important that you build around your main ideas or your main argument. You should have supporting details that either justify your argument or present alternate perspectives that tie back to the pros/cons of the idea. Make sure that your details are connected to the overarching point you are trying to communicate.

Where is the emotional appeal of the topic?

Recall that there needs to be an emotional appeal to persuasive speeches. As a speaker, you should consider how you have made the topic relevant to your audiences. Why should anyone care about what you’re talking about?

Make sure to establish that personal connection to create a strong and effective persuasive speech.

Where does evidence fit?

A strong persuasive speech uses evidence to support the basis of its argument. While you are welcome to pull strings on the emotional aspects of this evidence, we are strongly against the use of statements that are not grounded in evidence.

What sources are you using?

Good research uses plurality of sources to obtain diverse perspectives of the phenomenon being studied. In that same vein, consider using a diverse array of sources to support your persuasive speech.

Make sure to pull personal narratives, narratives that you asked other people about, academic journals, newsletters, community members, academic communities, etc. Collect as much as you can about the issue with diverse sources to really capture the essence of your issue/topic. This will definitely make for an effective persuasive speech.

139 Examples of Good Persuasive Speech Topics

Middle school persuasive speech topic examples.

1. Why you should continue studying during the summer

2. Healthier lunch options for better students

3. Why hobbies outside of school are important

4. Using planners to do well in your homework

5. Keeping the community clean is important for our future

6. Girls should be allowed to play on the boys’ baseball teams

7. Video games should be used in classrooms

8. Reasons why taking good notes in class will improve your grades

10. Books are better than kindles

High School Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. Community service is important for college preparation

2. Reasons you should take Advanced Placement (AP) courses

3. Reasons why elective courses should be more flexible

4. Your grade point average (GPA) is more important than volunteering

5. The inequities in standardized testing in the U.S. school system

6. Reasons why civic engagement (voting) is important for our future

7. We should have green gardens in our high schools

8. Vegetarian diets better sources of protein

9. We should have anti-bullying campaigns every semester

10. Reasons why classes on anti-racism is important for high school students

College Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. How freedom of speech is connected to power and status

2. How culture plays a role in beliefs of vaccinations

3. Global warming impacts our entire well-being

4. Reasons why you should recycle

5. Going against the grain – why you should say no to more work

6. Women deserve equal pay rates

7. Should free college tuition be provided to low-income students?

8. Is online learning better than in-person classes?

9. Access to contraceptives on campus will decrease risks to sexual diseases

10. College institutions should be held more accountable for any discriminatory acts on campus

11. Smaller classes are more helpful than large classes

Arts Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. Music therapy can treat symptoms from anxiety

2. Paper books are better than electronic kindles

3. Diversity in arts is an ongoing issue

4. Graffiti is influential in urban settings

5. Tattoos are related to forms of self-expression

6. Music can help delay symptoms related to Alzheimer’s

7. How art can bring communities together

8. Local artists are the best artists for murals and commissioned art

9. Art influences all types of design from engineering to fashion

10. History of art should begin with products from indigenous people

11. Listening to classical music can enhance your cognitive abilities

12. How art can improve your mental health

Cultural Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. Cultural beliefs: Haiti’s perception of mental illness

2. The cultural practice of female genital mutilation: Reasons why it should be stopped

3. How cultural appropriation can erase cultural origins

4. The benefits of learning about diverse cultures outside of your own

5. The value of cultural responsiveness in school and the workplace

6. Subcultures are deviant

Education Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. Hispanic serving institutes should receive more funding to support minority students

2. Reasons why it is important to stop the school to prison pipeline

3. Universal curriculums in education ignore cultural context

4. Diversity in teachers is crucial for minority student success

5. There are more positive than negative effects from affirmative action

6. Community college is as good as any college

7. Everyone should go to college

8. School curriculums should not include religion

Law Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. The narratives supporting immigration policies are harmful

2. Puerto Rico should become a state

3. Presidents should not be allowed to serve two terms in a row

4. Legalized prostitution can improve the economy

5. Prisoners with no recidivism should have their voting rights reinstated

6. There is a strong need to deliver evidence-based mental health services in the prison system

7. Some laws are antiquated and should be dispelled from our policies

8. There should be free health services for all people

9. Gun policies are integral in gun violence

10. Transgender people should have legal protection against discrimination

11. Addressing homelessness from a policy perspective

12. There is discrimination in housing policies

13. Reasons why we should get rid of the death penalty

Literary Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. Learning language through classical literature is important

2. Some of the greatest literary pieces reflect racist ideals

3. The challenges in censoring literature

4. Why we should read beyond Shakespeare

5. Reading is good for your overall health

Medicine Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. Holistic approaches in medicine are better for your overall well-being

2. There are inequities in how the medical system benefits some groups over others

3. Lack of access to health information increases health disparities

4. Doctors should be trained in cultural responsiveness

5. The importance of funding for the World Health Organization during pandemics

6. Instances when assisted suicide is appropriate

7. Vegetarian diets are better for your health

8. Diabetes can impact your work performance

9. You can overcome illness without medication

10. Healthy food products are too expensive

Political Science Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. Cultural norms can influence politics in different ways across countries

2. The pros of political scandals

3. How revolutionary movements create social change

4. No one should own nuclear weapons

5. Reasons why democratic parties have more minority voters

6. How capitalism can harm a country

7. How Brexit can help the UK’s economy

8. The pros of raising taxes to stimulate an economy

9. Why student loans should be forgiven

10. How non-profit organizations have more legislative responsibility in impoverished communities

Psychology Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. Mental health inequities can be minimized if community-based organizations collaborated

2. Taking a strengths-based approach to underserved communities

3. DSMV is not inclusive of context

4. Why positive psychology and meditation is better than punishment

5. Freud had it wrong all along

6. Why we should consider intersectionality in psychology

7. Genetics over culture—explaining origin of psychological disorders

8. There is unfair treatment in our healthcare system

9. Experimenting with animals is unethical

10. Youth perspectives should be integrated into treatment

11. Therapy is not the only answer—alternative forms of psychological treatment

Religion Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. Spiritual capital can be a source of resilience

2. Missionary visions are modern-day colonialism

3. Prayer should be practiced freely in schools

4. Trans-people should be allowed to be priests

5. Religious slaughter of animals is inhumane

6. Church should be separate from state in all policies

7. The immorality of “superchurches”

8. Religion is politicized in presidential elections as a means for control

9. Reasons why we should challenge traditional roles to support women’s spirituality

10. Religions should change their practices to reflect current times

11. There is no superior religion

Sociology Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. There are significant gender differences in spatial awareness

2. Social norms can share your self-esteem

3. Gender stereotypes: A woman‘s independence is not determined by her caretaking qualities

4. Working women are better mothers

5. Deviant behavior can be rehabilitated

6. Why groupthink behaviors are dangerous for democracy

Technology and Innovation Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. Technology plays a critical role in social distancing

2. Without technology, innovations would no longer exist

3. Current medical technology is exceedingly replacing human body parts

4. Virtual reality technology should be used in patients with dementia

5. How technology is diminishing writing classes

6. The dangers of social media for young children

7. Using social media for good

8. Environmental benefits from electric cars

9. Net Neutrality threatens our freedom of speech

10. There are more lucrative careers in technology than any other field

World History Persuasive Speech Topic Examples

1. Indigenous histories should be voiced not ignored

2. Some holidays are more harmful than others

3. Reasons why you should not celebrate Columbus Day

4. Laws in Nigeria need to value women more

5. Plagues and hygiene: Why we should implement best hygienic practices to prevent history from happening again

6. Wars are ongoing hangovers of the colonial mind

Wrapping Things Up: The Best Persuasive Speech Topics

Phew! That was an extensive list! We hope that we’ve persuaded you to use our guide to develop the best persuasive speech topics for school and beyond. At this point, you should have a firm grasp on what persuasive speeches entail, how to write effective topics for speech in school and have options to select from to write persuasive speech topics with call to action.

The important thing to remember is that logic, emotion, and credibility are critical components of your persuasive speech, taking into consideration the speech topic, your overall appearance and behavior, and your audience’s interpretation of it all. Stay attentive and engaged to your environment to create effective speeches for impact.

If you enjoyed this post, you may like our post on good research paper topics here .

> Should I Take a Speech Class in High School?

> Should I Take a Speech Class in College?

Professor Conquer

Professor Conquer started Conquer Your Exam in 2018 to help students feel more confident and better prepared for their tough tests. Prof excelled in high school, graduating top of his class and receiving admissions into several Ivy League and top 15 schools. He has helped many students through the years tutoring and mentoring K-12, consulting seniors through the college admissions process, and writing extensive how-to guides for school.

If you found this helpful, help us out by sharing this post!

Readers of this post also read...

A Guide to Effective Study Group Strategies

Perhaps you have exams coming up and you’re considering studying with your friends but aren’t sure how to kick things off. Crafting the ultimate study group involves making sure that the time you spend together...

Is a D Passing in College? What is a Passing Grade in College?

There’s no doubt that college can be stressful, especially when exam season kicks in and you have to juggle multiple assignments and exams together. And in the case you’re worried about getting a D in...

The 15 Best Summer Internships for High School Students

High school holidays are no longer a time to visit long-distance relatives or laze around in different parks and pools. Students now see it as additional time to beef up their résumés and improve their...

*AP®, Advanced Placement®, and SAT® are registered trademarks of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this site. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc., which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this site.

Test names and other trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this site.

Conquer Your Exam is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Popular Posts

• Our Ultimate Guide to Scholarships
• 125 ACT Tips and Test Taking Strategies
• 125 SAT Tips and Test Taking Strategies
• 2024 AP Exam Test Dates
• 51 Time Management Tips for Students
• 25 Tips on How to Ace a Test

Terms & More

• Terms of Use / Privacy Policy

Speech And Debate

Persuasive Speech Topics

Last updated on: Nov 20, 2023

Persuasive Speech Topics - 150+ Topics for Students

By: Cordon J.

11 min read

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Sep 22, 2020

Finding perfect persuasive speech topics for  writing a speech  can be challenging. Since the students have to keep in mind their interest level and the interest of the audience.

However, it’s not impossible.

Unique and compelling topic ideas can play an important role in engaging and persuading the audience.

On this Page

What is a Persuasive Speech?

A persuasive speech aims to educate the audience about a particular topic. The main purpose of a persuasive speech is to convince your audience of your points of view.

When writing a persuasive essay, the most important thing to remember is the selection of the topic. You can write about an idea that will engage your audience and would be interesting for them.

The persuasive speech topics should be bold and should serve the purpose of your speech. This will also help them understand your purpose for writing the piece in the first place.

Persuasive Speech Topics for Students

• Should we give away the pet that harmed someone else?
• Should we use horses for transportation in the city?
• Reasons for not keeping forest animals as pets.
• Should drivers apply for a driver’s license know how to drive a manual automobile?
• Advertisements should be changed; they play with our minds.
• Should animal selfies in tourist locations be allowed?
• Should animal slaughter for religious purposes be allowed?
• Self-driving cars: legal or not?
• Should plastic bags at grocery stores still be used?
• Should NASA’s budget be increased?

Discover Captivating Topics in a Click!

Persuasive Speech Topics for University Students

• How to procrastinate to avoid work?
• Why do men consider women to be not funny?
• College parking should be added to the tuition fee.
• Do vegetarians really love animals?
• How can you get someone to stop being annoying?
• Medical experiments shouldn’t be done on animals.
• It isn’t ethical to date your coworker.
• Women getting paid less is justified
• Child pornography laws should be improved and made much stricter.
• The Kardashians are more influential than the president.

Persuasive Speech Topics for College Students

• Ipads and tablets should replace textbooks and other college books.
• Students should always take detailed notes during a lecture.
• College students should attend all lectures and not skip classes.
• Students must be careful about what they post on social media.
• Elderly people are at more risk for identity theft.
• Students should consider opting for their passion as their major.
• Taking a gap year is an intelligent choice.
• Students should take summer classes to get ahead of schedule.
• Students should enhance their vocabulary and not rely on auto-correct.
• Can the internet crash worldwide?

Persuasive Speech Topics for High School

• Community service should be compulsory for everyone.
• Is it okay to get your pet neutered?
• Should school field trips be within the same city or country?
• Exams shouldn’t be introduced until College.
• Palm oil: good or bad?
• Is education in prison any good?
• Disposable diapers are dangerous for the environment, thus must be banned.
• Young adults and children should be kept away from chat rooms on the internet.
• Should all kids be taught how to cook?
• Should C++ be eliminated from the face of the earth?

Persuasive Speech Topics for Kids

• Boxing should be legal.
• Playing instruments in school should be a part of teaching.
• Kids required to learn basic essay writing skills
• Fangirls don’t know anything about sports.
• Athletes should be careful with how they spend their money.
• Public schools should not restrict kids from wearing a uniform.
• How to convince your mom to bake pizza for you
• Comparing Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi is foolish.
• How to convince your dad to buy you Xbox
• We should have a six months summer break twice a year.

Good Persuasive Speech Topics

• Does consuming coffee cause any harm?
• Plastic surgery is becoming a habit instead of a medical procedure.
• Social networks cause more damage than good.
• The free media should be controlled.
• Lack of financial education is a real problem in society.
• Therapy depends on the patients’ dedication.
• The death penalty should be banned.
• Surrogacy should be promoted more.
• How has Artificial Intelligence improved our daily lives?
• Men are unable to understand women.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Persuasive Speech Topics About Mental Health

• Genetically modified foods have a bad effect on people’s mental health.
• People experiencing mental health problems should not be considered mad.
• Mental health problems are nothing to be ashamed of.
• Ten effective ways to prevent mental health
• Working out at home isn’t effective.
• People shouldn’t be mean towards the opponent team.
• What are the five most common mental health problems?
• You should not be rude towards others.
• A bipolar patient should be treated with care.
• People with autism can lead healthy and normal life.

Easy Persuasive Speech Topics

• Same-sex schools are better than co-ed school systems.
• Parents should go through their kid’s belongings daily to look for drugs.
• Teenage kids shouldn’t be given birth control pills without their parents' permission.
• Students involved in cyberbullying should be expelled from school.
• Kids under the age of 17 should have a 9 PM curfew.
• It should be mandatory that kids should learn a second language.
• Children of single parents are not confident.
• One child policy should be implemented to control the population.
• Breastfeeding in public places should be allowed.
• There should be free WiFi in public places.

Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics

• Are internet relationships beneficial for college students?
• Women and men have different perspectives on love and relationships.
• Is it possible to maintain a long-distance relationship?
• Should you live with your fiancé before marriage?
• Teens should have more freedom of using cell phones.
• Jealousy can destroy all relationships, no matter how strong.
• Why is it challenging to break up with dishonest partners these days?
• Counseling is a great solution for handling damaged relationships.
• Men cheat more in comparison to women.
• The secret to having a fruitful relationship is intimacy.

Sports Persuasive Speech Topics

• Are gaming consoles and violent video games hurting the youth?
• Men are competing against women.
• Athletes should be made to take a drug test frequently.
• Gender shouldn’t matter in sports.
• Should Male and female athletes be paid equally?
• Should marching band be considered a sport?
• Parental pressure and its effect on athletic kids.
• Should swimming be taught to every student in school?
• Should boxing be made illegal?
• Cheerleading should not be considered a sport.

Persuasive Speech Topics on Health and Fitness

• Preventing and treating violence against children.
• Solutions and reasons for mental illness in society.
• How do various genres of music affect the brain?
• Depression impacts the immune system of a person.
• How does insomnia impact overall health?
• Is there an alternative to animal testing?
• The significance of placebos in medicine.
• The pros and cons of medical marijuana.
• Is it safe for children to become vegetarians?
• Fast food is the major reason for obesity among children.

Funny Persuasive Speech Topics

• Playing it by the rules is boring and for losers.
• Acting on your rage shouldn’t be a thing.
• Having a cupcake in both hands is a perfect example of a balanced diet.
• Growing up is an option.
• Being honest with your parents can get you in trouble.
• Girls are as smart as boys.
• Life is a test with no preparation and retakes.
• There is no such thing as love at first sight.
• Pick-up lines can come in handy at times.
• Christmas is a pagan holiday, not a Christian one.

Controversial Persuasive Speech Topics

• Can money buy happiness?
• Have we lost the art of listening?
• Does kindness make the world a better place?
• Should people keep their complaints to themselves?
• What is more important: talent or hard work?
• When should you compromise?
• Can society be moral without religion?
• Violent video games create aggressive teenagers.
• Can the government be trusted?
• Should world leaders place morality above all else?

Persuasive Speech Topics about Environment

• Solutions for reducing the impact of global warming.
• Is it possible to handle the population explosion?
• How do humans destroy forests?
• The potential dangers of GMO food.
• Is it safe to utilize nuclear power?
• Can flood impact be predicted?
• Previously undiscussed impacts of earthquakes.
• How can minimizing paper waste help to preserve trees?
• Fossil fuels are ruining the atmosphere.
• Exotic animals should be allowed to live in their natural habitat.

Unique Persuasive Speech Topics

• What is happening in the field of space exploration?
• Why is Pluto not a planet?
• The United States should make further technological advancements.
• Should Apple Music always be free?
• Too much screen time will make children lazy.
• Why are people so addicted to the internet?
• How is deforestation impacting the planet?
• High school students should be taught a foreign language.
• How can we expand renewable energy on a global scale?
• Assisted suicide should be allowed for terminally ill patients.

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Informative Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should you go after your passion for business with little experience?
• Is the history of the Bible correct?
• Why is driving a sports car not practical for everyday use?
• Transgender people should be allowed to join the military.
• Is preschool necessary?
• Is it ethical to pay a surrogate?
• Why is alien abduction real?
• Anime should be taught at school.
• The main cause of obesity in America is the fast-food industry.
• Pink should be a gender-neutral color.

Simple Persuasive Speech Topics

• Libraries should be closed down, and everyone should get unlimited access to e-books.
• Can you really trust a therapist?
• Love plays the greatest role in our lives.
• How important is the brand name for their success?
• Polygamy should be banned everywhere.
• Schools should not have physical punishments.
• Assigning a police officer at every club can decrease drinking while driving.
• Netflix is the reason for eyesight problems in young adults today.
• Can looks impact your success in life?
• Minors shouldn’t be allowed to work in the fashion industry.

General Persuasive Speech Topics

• Facts that prove there’s life on other planets.
• Is it possible for humans to survive on Mars?
• China’s government shouldn’t put restrictions on the number of kids a couple can have.
• Distance learning should replace traditional schools.
• Can clones replace actual humans?
• Is acupuncture a valid medical technique?
• Self-driving cars should be legal.
• Factory farming should be banned.
• How do puppy mills affect us?
• Entry to museums should be free.

What are Good Persuasive Speech Topics?

It is important to know the criteria for good persuasive speech topics if you want to write on an interesting and engaging topic.

The first step is to look for something that you find compelling.

You have to research your topic to write an impressive and persuasive speech. It will be easier if your selected speech idea matches your interest level.

Secondly, the audience is also equally important.

Who is this speech for? Is it for your peers and your instructor?

Once you identify your audience, you will be better equipped to write your speech. Think about how you can make your speech relatable yet unique.

Choosing a topic that is too simple might be a mistake. The reason is that it may cause your audience to lose interest in what you are saying. If you choose a common topic for your speech, then use a different angle for this. You can explain it from a different perspective to your audience.

Since it is not something new, some unique information will be interesting. Research is crucial to know what catchy and fun persuasive speech topics you want to write about. The research will also allow you to write well and appear well informed about your subject.

Being familiar with your subject matter will allow you to write it in a better way. This aspect is really important to convince your audience.

Now that you have explored the list of our best public speaking persuasive speech topics, you can choose one for your speech. Select a topic that will help you to write an engaging, outstanding, and impressive speech.

Once you have decided on a topic to talk about, polish your skills by learning some important factors of persuasive speech. Start writing your speech and make an impressive public appearance.

If you feel that you do not have enough skills for writing your persuasive speech, you can hire professional help. You can provide your topic of interest to the essay writers. They will conduct research and write a persuasive speech for you.

The essay writers at  5StarEssays.com  will provide you with the best persuasive speech that will help you impress your audience. Our  write my essay  website is the one that you need for writing an impressive speech.

Or if you are in a but of a hurry, we have AI powered essay writer for your help that can help you generate a speech within 90 seconds!

Cordon. is a published author and writing specialist. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years, providing writing services and digital content. His own writing career began with a focus on literature and linguistics, which he continues to pursue. Cordon is an engaging and professional individual, always looking to help others achieve their goals.

Was This Blog Helpful?

Keep reading.

• How to Write a Speech - Outline With Example

• Informative Speech Topics - Interesting Ideas By Experts

• Commemorative Speech: Guide to Craft an Engaging Speech

• 50+ Demonstration Speech Ideas for Your Next Great Speech

• Impromptu Speech Topics - 150+ Interesting Ideas

• Debate Topics (2024) - Top 200+ Compelling Topics

• 100+ Motivational Speech Topics for an Inspirational Speech

• Extemporaneous Speech - How to Write One Successfully?

• Graduation Speech - Write Your Best Graduation Speech

People Also Read

• writing an analytical essay
• precis writing
• history research paper topics
• press release example
• literary analysis essay topics

Burdened With Assignments?

Advertisement

• Homework Services: Essay Topics Generator

© 2024 - All rights reserved

The Admissions Strategist

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.

*As an Amazon Associate, buying products recommended in this blog will help us create more amazing content.

Learn how we can help you with college and career guidance! Check out our YouTube channel!

Click Here to Schedule a Free Consult!

Stay on track and ease your anxiety with our second-to-none college application assistance.

• Ethics & Honesty
• Privacy Policy
• Join Our Team

(732) 339-3835

[email protected]

• Games, topic printables & more
• The 4 main speech types
• Example speeches
• Commemorative
• Declamation
• Demonstration
• Informative
• Introduction
• Student Council
• Speech topics
• Poems to read aloud
• How to write a speech
• Using props/visual aids
• Acute anxiety help
• Breathing exercises
• Letting go - free e-course
• Using self-hypnosis
• Delivery overview
• 4 modes of delivery
• How to make cue cards
• How to read a speech
• 9 vocal aspects
• Vocal variety
• Diction/articulation
• Pronunciation
• Speaking rate
• How to use pauses
• Eye contact
• Body language
• Voice image
• Voice health
• Public speaking activities and games
• Blogging Aloud
• About me/contact

Easy persuasive speech topics: examples

309 good persuasive topics + resources for writing persuasive speeches

By:  Susan Dugdale  

Let's be right up front about this.

'Easy' and 'persuasive' are seldom paired when it comes to speech topics! Therefore, examples of easy persuasive speech topics are a bit of a rarity, and finding them can be tricky.

However, all is not completely lost. They can, and do, come together, but only if you work at it.  Let me show you how. 

What's on this page

309 potentially easy persuasive speech topics.

• the myth of 'easy' and an 'easy speech'
• what makes a successful persuasive speech
• how a persuasive speech topic can become easy
• additional persuasive speech resources

The myth of 'easy' and an 'easy' speech

That word 'easy' is so very tempting. It seductively implies something you can fling together, without a lot of effort, at short notice. 

An 'easy' persuasive speech is not going to take a lot of work to plan, research, to write, or to practice. Everything needed to prepare it will be done without hassle, because it's, 'easy'. The entire process will flow smoothly from start to finish without fuss.

When you present the speech, the audience will be spell-bound, riveted by your outstanding choice of subject and its treatment. In short, they will be amazed. Gob smacked * , and 100% persuaded!

* astounded, overwhelmed.

Return to Top

What a successful persuasive speech usually takes

To give a successful persuasive speech means being able to use a compelling mix of reasoning and emotional appeal to convince whoever you are talking to that your point of view is right or at least, worth considering. Generally doing that well takes thought and effort.

You need to have chosen a subject your audience will be genuinely interested in and to use just the right combination of logical reasoning and emotional appeal to engage and hold them from the first words you say till your last. That in turn means thinking your speech through carefully, step by step, and then doing whatever is needed to make it work.

Those things include:

• deciding on a specific speech purpose, (what you want people to do as a result of listening to your speech)
• research to pull facts together to ground your speech, to give you a solid platform to build your speech on
• understanding your audience so you know how best to shape your material to address their concerns
• sorting out any additional resources you may want to use (e.g. images, graphs, handouts ...)
• practice, and then more practice. 

You, see? Easy and persuasive don't seem to have a lot in common.

However, there is a way through.

How a persuasive speech topic becomes easy

You'll be glad to know there are exceptions. 

A persuasive topic becomes 'easy' if:

• it fits with the criteria you've been given, 
• you already know a lot about it, 
• there's a readily accessible, and credible body of knowledge covering it, 
• you're passionate about it, and
• you genuinely want to do what is required to do it well.

Difficulties miraculously melt away when you are totally engrossed! 

Below are 309 good persuasive topics chosen for their broad appeal, and because they are subjects people generally feel strongly about.

• 69 topics based on education
• 135 based on aspects of health : mental health , the psychology of motivation , autism , natural medicine , the dangers of alternative medicine , current medical issues

21 food themed persuasive speech topics

• 53 topics based on ethics, morals and values
• 20 economy themed topics  

Read them through, making a note of any that jump out and that you think you may be able to use. These will be the ones you'll find much 'easier' than the others because you're already interested! 

69 persuasive speech topics on education

Put a group of people together who share concerns about the direction society seems to be headed and it won't be long before the hot topic under discussion is education!

• that there is no such thing as the best form of education 
• that some types of education are a waste of time and resources
• that all education should be free
• that education should be paid for by those who want or use it
• that schools should provide experienced specialist support teachers to meet the needs of all their pupils 
• that no child should be denied an education on the grounds of gender, race, poverty or the legal status of their parents
• that online learning can never replace real-time and place class room learning
• that competition with other students is a necessary part of education
• that different learning styles need to be to be taken into account by teachers
• that a student who drops out of school has been failed by the school system
• that the problems created by illiteracy are bigger than we think
• that society benefits from promoting gender equality and women's empowerment through education
• that it is vital to teach media literacy to combat fake news and misinformation
• that scholarships for those who need them should be increased
• that a college education is not the right choice for everyone
• that private schools support elitism
• that the advantages of project-based learning far outweigh the disadvantages
• that having a bilingual education is an advantage in a globalized world
• that a good education is the passport to a better life
• that a school uniform helps make everyone equal
• that schools need to systematically teach critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• that teachers should be held responsible for the performance of their students
• that the students of a teacher who is enthusiastic about their topic will always achieve better grades
• that textbooks, and other school supplies, should be provided free of charge to those who need them
• that there needs to a comprehensive education program on consent and sexual assault prevention in schools
• that life skills, (how to cook, how to budget and manage money effectively, how to shop economically, how to garden...) should be taught in schools
• that making some school subjects compulsory should be abolished
• that coding and computer science should be taught from an early age
• that taking a gap year should be encouraged
• that an arts education fosters creativity and critical thinking 
• that alternative forms of education should be encouraged, and supported
• that teachers should be thoroughly background checked
• that teachers should have to pass a regular 'fitness to teach' test
• that the school leaving age should be raised
• that students should not be forced to take classes they do not want to
• that there are significant advantages for using technology in the classroom
• that school violence is a mirror of the society we live in
• that students who take part in protests are actively learning about their rights and responsibilities
• that grades do not reflect intelligence
• that truancy is powerful comment on the relevancy of schools 
• that homework, for homework's sake, should be banned
• that residential segregation has a direct impact on the quality of education students receive
• that prestigious schools maintain their prestige through only admitting students who are likely to succeed
• that schools should focus on the core subjects: reading, writing and arithmetic
• that parents should be far more involved in their children's education
• that a person who is homeschooled is not disadvantaged 
• that far too much importance is placed on IQ tests
• that corporal punishment should never be used
• that meditation and other forms of mindfulness should be taught in schools
• that single sex schools are better for girls
• that intelligence is more than quick accurate recall and clever problem solving
• that a holistic education is best
• that an education should be a right, not a privilege
• that it is important to teach students about empathy and emotional intelligence  
• that no girl should ever be barred from school because she is pregnant
• that there is no 'right, one way' to educate a child
• that bullying, in any form, by anyone, should be addressed immediately and appropriately
• that students need to be taught how to handle social media responsibly
• that the arts are equally as valuable as the sciences
• that an old-fashioned school curriculum teaches respect and values
• that it is advantageous to learn at least one other language, in addition to your mother tongue
• that the foundation of all education is laid down in the home
• that civics and ethics should be core subjects
• that extracurricular activities are an essential part of a well-rounded education
• that cheating on a test or in an examination is understandable
• that community service should be an essential part of education
• that financial education is essential and should be taught to all students in all schools
• that guns should never be taken to school
• that getting top marks in an examination is not the only way to prove a person’s intelligence

 135 persuasive speech topics about health

Health, according to the World Health Organization , is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity."  It's a huge topic! And that is an understatement! 

46 mental health persuasive speech topics

• that mental health should be taken more seriously by general health practitioners
• that mental health should be discussed in schools
• that mental health and physical health are interdependent
• that early intervention is important to prevent long-term mental health problems
• that good mental health begins with a good diet
• that being 'mad' does not mean a person is 'bad'
• that a person can learn to become more mentally resilient
• that to be vulnerable is to be strong
• that laughter heals
• that how the media portrays mental health issues influences public perception for better and for worse
• that mental health issues are passed down from generation to generation
• that mental health issues can unnecessarily limit what people choose to do with their lives
• that poverty and homelessness underpin many mental health issues
• that we need mental health screenings and regular check-ups to monitor our overall well-being
• that prolonged lack of sleep can cause mental health concerns
• that religious practices and beliefs can contribute to mental health problems
• that anxiety and depression need to be more widely understood
• that sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me is a lie.
• that vacations are essential for good mental health
• that learning to live with mental health is very different from suffering from it
• that acknowledging our own struggles with mental health makes it easier to understand other people's
• that teachers need training to recognize symptoms of possible mental health issues in their students
• that there is a direct link between physical exercise and mental health
• that substance abuse can mask mental health issues
• that green environments promote good mental health
• that bullying can have serious consequences
• that the real reason a bully bullies is never the person who is being bullied by them
• that the impact of chronic pain on mental health needs to be more widely understood
• that negative self-worth beliefs are reflected in mental health problems
• that treatment for mental health issues should be fully integrated with any other health service providers 
• that loneliness and isolation are often factors in mental health concerns
• that cultural difference can underpin mental health issues
• that being mentally unwell is not a sign of weakness
• that shaming a person for needing treatment for mental illness is both cruel and ignorant behavior
• that regular doom-scrolling significantly impacts on a person's mental health
• that overlooking symptoms of mental health problems is dangerous
• the pressure to 'fit in', to conform and to become someone else's idea of who you should be is unhealthy
• that seeking help for mental health concerns is a positive proactive thing to do
• that taking responsibility for our own mental wellbeing is vital
• that to be a little bit crazy is a good thing
• that understanding the cyclical link between addictive behaviors and mental health issues is critical to providing solutions
• that how we talk to ourselves, about ourselves, influences our state of mind
• that self-care and self-compassion are important for maintaining good mental health
• that the adverse impact of traumatic events on mental health is often ignored or underestimated
• that strategies for recovery from trauma and ongoing resilience should be taught in schools
• that peer support groups and community networks are an important part of a person's recovery because they  provide a sense of belonging and support 

For 50 more mental health persuasive speech topics

24 persuasive ideas: the psychology of motivation

Why do people behave the way they do?

What makes one person deliriously happy when they're in front of a large group of people telling them what to do and another person, utterly miserable?

Why do some people absolutely have to have the latest widget-wodget? And why do others not think about widget-wodgets at all?

The answers are found in motivation.

Motivation is the driving force behind our behavior. It provides the explanation for what we do. 

• that personal success is motivating
• that envy is a powerful motivator
• that 'Fear of Missing Out' (FOMO) motivates/influences people to do things regardless of whether they really want to or not
• that seeing success in significant others gives people the motivation to make positive changes
• that finding out what motivates a person at a fundamental level is key to persuading them to follow a certain course of action
• that social media is responsible for motivating people to strive for the unattainable
• that carefully selected strategies for motivating students lead them to excel in their studies.
• that fear of failure motivates many people
• that the desire to be better than others, and to be seen to be better, is a powerful motivator for many people
• that money makes the world go round: the need and desire for money motivates how we behave
• that desire for public recognition and acknowledgment is a powerful motivating force 
• that the possibility and promise of becoming famous and powerful can motivate all sorts of extreme behavior
• that knowing what you do is helpful, useful, and kind is motivating
• that mindfulness practices increase personal motivation
• that the desire to understand a particular process or to solve a specific problem is the motivation behind most innovative developments and inventions
• that setting inspiring yet realistic goals motivate a person to strive to reach them
• that fear of consequences motivates people to continue to do what they would rather not
• that curiosity motivates exploration and experimentation
• that being motivated by the acquisition of material rewards, wealth and possessions, will ultimately not be enough
• that fear and anxiety motivate aggression
• that serving your community the best way you can is motivating
• that positive self-talk increases and sustains motivation
• that people are happiest and most creative when they motivated by what they are passionate about
• that being genuinely and sincerely proud of oneself is motivation to keep ourselves on track
• that we need to understand and nurture what motivates us to become the best of ourselves

For more information:  Motivation and What Really Drives Human Behavior (positivepsychology.com)

10 persuasive speech topics about autism

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of mild to severe conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. A recent (2020) study revealed that 1 in 36 children (2.7%) in USA have been diagnosed with the disorder. And that number is increasing. 

• that promoting autism awareness matters and makes a difference
• that early intervention and treatment is important 
• that education for students with autism should be inclusive and supportive
• that the myths and stereotypes about autism need challenging 
• that inclusive hiring practices and workplace accommodations are beneficial for everyone: employers and employees.
• that families affected by autism need accessible resources, services, and support systems.
• that technology plays an important role in enhancing communication for nonverbal individuals with autism.
• that ongoing research, and funding, is required to improve understanding and treatment options.
•  that there needs to be a holistic approach to autism care.
• that individuals on autism spectrum have value and strengths just like any other person.

19 persuasive speech topics on natural medicine

The term 'natural medicine' is one of several used interchangeably to describe any medical product or practice that is not standard (conventional) medical care.

Other synonyms are:

• alternative medicine or therapies,
• holistic medicine which implies taking into account the 'whole' person rather than focusing on and treating isolated symptoms,
• herbal (plant based) remedies and,
• complementary medicine: a treatment regime that includes elements of conventional and alternative medical care.

'Natural medicine' polarizes people. There are those who are vehemently against any form of it and who will not consider any treatment other than what is current standard medical practice. Then there are those who resolutely choose alternative options. Either way, it's a fascinating field!    

• that traditional herbal remedies effectively treat common ailments
• that acupuncture is beneficial for pain management
• that practicing meditation and mindfulness improves mental health
• that chiropractic treatments effectively relieve back and neck pain
• that yoga supports physical and mental wellness
• that naturopathy should be used as a complementary approach to conventional medicine.
• that homeopathy is effective in treating chronic illnesses.
• that aromatherapy can relieve stress and enhance relaxation.
• that traditional Chinese medicine should be incorporated into modern healthcare.
• that good nutrition prevents disease
• that massage therapy promotes physical and mental well-being.
• that energy healing treatments like Reiki and acupuncture work well
• that CBD (cannabidiol) oil helps people effectively manage pain and anxiety.
• that the advantages of integrative medicine: combining conventional and alternative approaches should not be underestimated
• that herbal supplements support good immune system health.
• that holistic Ayurvedic medicine and practices are proven and promote wellness.
• that the common myths about alternative health care and its potential harms are overstated
• that acupuncture is an effective fertility treatment 
• that hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for public speaking fear, smoking cessation, weight loss, and more...

14 persuasive speech topics on the possible dangers of using alternative medicine

• that there are hidden risks in using unregulated alternative health care practices
• that there are potential dangers in relying solely on alternative health care for serious medical conditions
• that there are risks in self-diagnosis and self-treatment with alternative health care
• that misinformation is a problem in alternative health care practices
• that there are potential adverse effects with unproven alternative health care treatments
• that there are hidden financial risks with alternative health care therapies
• that evidence-based medicine is more reliable than alternative health care approaches
• that we need to protect vulnerable people from the dangers of untested alternative health care remedies
• that unqualified practitioners in alternative health care fields can cause harm
• that relying on unverified testimonials and anecdotal evidence in alternative health care is dangerous
• that there are risks of negative interactions with conventional medications while using alternative health care treatments
• that unregulated supplements and herbal remedies in alternative health care could be dangerous
• that alternative health care therapies for incurable diseases promote false hopes 
• that informed consent and transparency in alternative health care practices is important

22 current medical issues speech topics

• that vaccine hesitancy must be addressed and countered 
• that stigmas around mental health must be challenged
• that good accessible mental health care should be available for all
• that cosmetic and reconstructive surgery should only be for those who genuinely need it
• that comprehensive specialized mental health programs and support systems need to in schools 
• that the lessons for the opioid crisis must be learned
• that inequal access to medical services needs addressing
• that the balance between patient autonomy and a physician's responsibility needs careful monitoring
• that strategies for promoting healthy aging and elderly care are essential with an aging population
• that organ donation needs to be actively encouraged to overcome the shortage of organs available for transplantation
• that the ethical implications of genetic testing need careful consideration
• that healthy active lifestyles must be promoted to combat childhood obesity and the obesity epidemic
• that the increasing role of technology in healthcare presents as many innovations as it does challenges
• that pharmaceutical drugs need to be accessible and affordably priced
• that the impact of social media on body image need to be countered by actively promoting positive self-perception
• that developing countries need support to improve health care infrastructure and access 
• that precision medicine or personalized healthcare has better patient outcomes
• that we should encourage conversations about end-of-life care before the need for it arises
• that the legal and ethical concerns about euthanasia and assisted suicide can be humanely and respectfully resolved
• that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medicine presents great opportunities as well as challenges
• that improving obstetric care would lower maternal mortality rates
• that for the good of the health of the mother, abortion on demand should be legal
• that all tobacco products should be banned
• that the use of medical marijuana by patients in hospitals needs careful consideration from a legal standpoint

The subject of food: its cultivation, preparation, scarcity or abundance, generates passionate debate regardless of who we are, or where we are on the planet.

Have fun with these!

• that poor nutritional health in first world countries is the result of poor food choices
• that the use of unsustainably produced palm oil in food and other products should be banned
• that the benefits of eating locally sourced food outweigh the disadvantages
• that we must reduce food waste to lessen its environmental impact
• that eating fast food long-term is dangerous
• that a plant-based diet is healthier
• that the negative effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our food system outstrip their shorter term benefits
• that organic farming has positive effects on health and the environment
• that nutrition education in schools helps combat childhood obesity
• that a sugar tax would help control the consumption of foods with high sugar content
• that factory farming is unethical
• that we need to adopt humane animal welfare practices
• that advertising and marketing of unhealthy food choices makes them attractive
• that food safety and strictly enforced regulations are necessary for public health
• that food waste should be against the law
• that food deserts (areas that have limited access to affordable and nutritious food) have an enormous impact on the health of communities 
• that there are workable, sustainable, affordable strategies to combat the effects of food deserts and food insecurity
• that the food we eat effects our mental as well as our physical health
• that producing food sustainably helps combat climate change 
• that there are significant health risks associated  artificial food additives and preservatives
• that genetically modified foods must be labeled for consumer awareness

53 topics: ethics, morals and values

The words 'ethics', 'morals' and 'values' are frequently interchanged as if they mean the same thing. However, although there is considerable overlap between them, they don't.

Values  are the core beliefs on which we center and base our lives. They are the values we have decided are important and can be personal as well as shared. Examples are honesty, service, cooperation, family, heritage, freedom of expression, independence, privacy, loyalty, integrity, or success. 

Morals  are based on our values. They elicit feeling or emotional responses in us. For instance, we feel good when we behave in accordance with our values, and bad when we don't. Like values, our moral codes can be either personal or shared.

For example: if one of our core values is the importance of family, then we will feel guilty and uncomfortable if we don't honor it. We make a moral judgment about our own behavior. 

Ethics : These let us know what is right and wrong. For instance, many professions have a code of ethics to regulate the behavior of their members. Examples are medical practitioners, lawyers, and teachers. They are rules based on a shared moral code as are the laws governing how we function as a society. 

Because life and people's experience of it, is not static, values, morals and ethics can change over time. And although there are some behaviors that have generally always been unlawful, (murder, fraud, infanticide...), what was acceptable and normal once, does not guarantee its rightness now.

For a fuller explanation please see this excellent article:  What's the Difference Between Ethics, Morals and Values?

28 topics based on morals and ethics

• that there are major ethical implications of the role of artificial intelligence in our daily lives
• that the unmonitored use of facial recognition technology is a violation of individual rights
• that corporations have a moral responsibility to address climate change
• that war is never right ethically or morally
• that the ethics of genetic engineering and its impact on society need careful monitoring
• that it is important to fully consider the ethics in the development and use of emerging technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency need
• that the ethical challenges of data privacy and protection in the digital age must be met for the safety and security of society
• that the ethical implications of using animals for scientific research requires regular reviewing
• that the ethical and moral implications of our current abortion laws need thorough and careful investigation
• that the ethics of capital punishment need scrutinizing. Is it ever morally justifiable?
• that the ethical implications and long-term impact of gene editing and designer babies need careful consideration
• that it is no longer either ethical or moral to differentiate salaries or workplace benefits on the basis of gender
• that the moral obligations of healthcare professionals in end-of-life decisions need to be fully considered 
• that whistleblowing is an ethical way of ensuring corporate accountability
• that the use of drones and autonomous weapons demands a thorough review of the ethical considerations involved
• that an individual has the right to choose their own death. The moral dilemma of euthanasia, if there is one, is their own to solve. 
• that the ethical implications of the long-term impacts of genetic testing and personalized medicine need to be thoroughly investigated
• that social media platforms have ethical responsibilities in combating the spread of online harassment and misinformation
• that the moral issues surrounding the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports need to examined calmly and carefully
• that the ethics of factory farming and its impact on animal welfare need to be thoroughly and regularly reviewed
• that the ethical and moral implication of discriminatory adoption laws should be investigated
• that the ethics and impact of online advertising should be independently monitored
• that the ethical considerations in the allocation of healthcare resources should always play a major role in decision making
• that the moral implications of genetic cloning and its potential consequences will force our governing bodies to legislate against it
• that the ethics of global wealth distribution and poverty alleviation will always be in question while inequality exists
• that the ethical challenges of conducting research on human subjects is entirely justifiable
• that internet censorship is both sensible and ethical
• that it is ethical and morally responsible that children should have their use of social media and the internet monitored.

25 persuasive speech topic ideas on values

• that we must never tell lies to children except about Father Christmas, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Rabbit
• that honesty in personal and professional relationships is best at all times
• that embracing diversity is essential for a harmonious society
• that team sports build good character traits
• that empathy, (compassion and understanding), has the power to change lives
• that education is fundamental for personal growth and the progress of society
• that privacy and the protection of personal information matters more than ever
• that everybody is entitled to privacy, including children and teenagers
• that taking personal responsibility and promoting sustainability for our planet's environment is vital for our and its survival
• that actively advocating for gender, racial and social justice promotes equality
• that life was better before the influence of online social media took over
• that everyone should spend several months per year working for the betterment of others in a non-profit social service organization
• that regular acts of kindness and goodwill make a positive impact no matter how small
• that becoming self-aware increases our emotional intelligence, which in turn, improves our relationships with others
• that the lives of all living creatures should be valued and protected
• that we need to celebrate, tolerate and accept differences in beliefs, cultures and lifestyles
• that expressing oneself freely is more important than getting the grammar, punctuation and spelling right
• that integrity, honoring moral principles, in personal and professional settings, builds trust and respect
• that cooperation, volunteering and civic engagement builds strong healthy communities
• that everybody should learn to cook and clean for themselves
• that we need to value, understand and learn from our history
• that genuinely and sincerely acknowledging and apologizing for hurtful, damaging behavior promotes healing and encourages transformation
• that it is better to earn your own living rather than to be financially provided for by someone else
• that money is not a meaningful measure of success

20 persuasive speech topics about the economy

What is an 'economy'? What does the word mean?  I hear and read it frequently and its often in different contexts. 

For example, at my local grocery store there's a large sign telling me that buying 10 cakes of soap at a never to be repeated discounted rate of 33% off per cake is good economy.

On the news I hear that our economy is challenging. There have been significant rises in the price of food over the past six months and mortgage rates are set to increase.

That's two different uses. The first is implying that buying in bulk will save me money. The second suggests it refers to the ebb and flow of monetary exchange for goods and services in society. 

I sought a definition for clarity and found this:

"An economy is a complex system of interrelated production, consumption, and exchange activities that ultimately determines how resources are allocated among all the participants. The production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services combine to fulfill the needs of those living and operating within the economy.

An economy may represent a nation, a region, a single industry, or even a family."

For more information:  Economy: What It Is, Types of Economies, Economic Indicators (investopedia.com)

This definition covers the dynamic interconnecting web of exchanges for goods and services underpinning our daily lives, and that is the focus of the topics below.  

• that promoting entrepreneurship for economic growth has benefits
• that investing in renewable energy for a sustainable economy is important
• that there are both advantages and disadvantages of globalization on national economies
• that the impact of automation on employment requires carefully thought through strategies for economic adaptation.
• that multinational corporations need stricter regulations 
• that increasing the minimum wage to improve income equality benefits everyone
• that the advantages of a universal basic income for economic stability outweigh its disadvantages
• that government should play an active role in fostering innovation and technological advancements
• that financial literacy education benefits both individuals and the economy
• that promoting fair trade practices benefits developing economies
• that income inequality impacts on social stability and economic growth
• that free trade agreements have significant advantages
• that investing in infrastructure for economic development is important
• that implementing sustainable economic policies has benefits for long-term growth
• that government has a role in reducing poverty and income disparities
• that immigration and inclusive immigration policies have a positive impact on the economy
• that the advantages of austerity measures during economic crises outweigh the disadvantages
• that promoting small businesses is important for local economic development
• that investing in education and skills training benefits economic competitiveness
• that technology transforms traditional industries and creates new economic opportunities

More persuasive speech resources

Persuasive speech topics.

• 105 fun persuasive speech topics : ideal for light-hearted, informal speeches
• 100 non-boring persuasive speech ideas   - a 'tired' topic is not for you. Choose something fresh and original.
• 50 good persuasive speech topics with treatment examples to show you how the same topic is treated differently for different audiences.
• 310 persuasive speech topics for college : mental health, society, family & friends, animals, education
• 108 feminist persuasive speech topics : the top current women's rights & feminist issues

For assistance with planning and writing

• Writing a persuasive speech - a 7 step action plan that includes how to choose a topic, analyze your audience, set a good speech purpose, decide on a structural pattern (with examples) and, more.
• A persuasive speech outline example using the 5 step structural pattern: Monroe's Motivated Sequence. (With a free printable outline)
• A persuasive speech example using Monroe's Motivated Sequence

speaking out loud 

Subscribe for  FREE weekly alerts about what's new For more see  speaking out loud  

Top 10 popular pages

• Welcome speech
• Demonstration speech topics
• Impromptu speech topic cards
• Thank you quotes
• Impromptu public speaking topics
• Farewell speeches
• Phrases for welcome speeches
• Student council speeches
• Free sample eulogies

From fear to fun in 28 ways

A complete one stop resource to scuttle fear in the best of all possible ways - with laughter.

Useful pages

• Search this site
• About me & Contact
• Free e-course
• Privacy policy

©Copyright 2006-24 www.write-out-loud.com

Designed and built by Clickstream Designs

Get the Reddit app

The subreddit for discussion related to college and collegiate life.

What is a current issue that would make a good persuasive speech topic?

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

100 interesting persuasive speech topics to amaze your audience

Discover interesting persuasive speech ideas to create good persuasive speech topics.

Bharti Jain

Storytelling

Crafting a compelling, persuasive speech is both an art and a science. It’s about weaving words that don’t just inform but also influence, inspire, and ignite action. Whether you’re addressing a room full of tech enthusiasts or presenting a groundbreaking idea to a boardroom, choosing the right topic can captivate your audience and leave a lasting impact. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore 100 intriguing persuasive speech topics, break down the anatomy of a compelling argument, and offer practical insights to transform your ideas into powerful speeches that resonate.

What is a persuasive speech?

Let’s face it: public speaking can be intimidating. But a persuasive speech is your chance to shine, to convince your audience to see the world through your lens. It’s more than just presenting facts—it's about making your case with passion and persuasion, encouraging your audience to adopt your viewpoint or take specific actions.

Key elements of a persuasive speech:

• Thesis statement : This is your north star, guiding every point you make. Your thesis is the backbone of your argument, clearly stating your position.
• Facts and examples : These are your weapons of persuasion, providing the evidence and real-world context that bolster your thesis.
• Emotionally invested language : Craft your narrative to tug at heartstrings or spark excitement. Emotion can be as persuasive as logic.
• Counterarguments : Acknowledge the other side to show you've done your homework and to strengthen your position.
• Call to action : Conclude with a rallying cry that compels your audience to act—because persuasion is all about moving the needle.

In crafting a successful persuasive speech, the speaker must seamlessly integrate these components, ensuring that the message resonates with the audience and prompts them to think or act differently.

Persuasive speech vs informative speech

Not all speeches are created equal. Before diving into persuasive presentations , it's essential to distinguish between persuasive and informative speeches. Both types serve distinct purposes and employ different strategies to achieve their goals.

In essence, while an informative speech is designed to enlighten the audience, a persuasive speech aims to change the audience's perception or behavior. Understanding these differences is crucial in preparing for the speech and selecting a good persuasive speech topic.

What makes a good persuasive speech topic?

Choosing the right topic is the linchpin of any successful persuasive speech. It’s not just about selecting an interesting subject; it’s about crafting a narrative that captures your audience's imagination and aligns with your speaking goals. Here’s what makes a good persuasive speech topic:

Choosing a topic that resonates with your audience is crucial for a persuasive speech. Whether you're speaking at a business conference, a community event, or a college debate, your subject should be timely and pertinent to the occasion. Consider the current events, trends, and issues that are top of mind for your audience. For instance, a speech on climate change would be highly relevant if you’re addressing environmental activists, while a talk about the latest technological advancements might captivate a group of entrepreneurs.

Tips to ensure relevance:

• Know your audience: Understand their interests, values, and concerns. Tailor your topic to align with these factors.
• Stay current: Focus on topics that are in the news or trending on social media. A speech on a recent policy change or a viral movement can make your message more impactful.
• Connect personally: Share anecdotes or examples that relate directly to your audience's lives or experiences, making your speech more relatable and engaging.

Controversy

A compelling, persuasive speech often tackles controversial issues that provoke thought and discussion. Topics with multiple viewpoints can captivate your audience, encouraging them to consider different perspectives and engage in lively debate. Think of issues like gun control, healthcare reform, or social justice, where opinions vary widely and passions run high.

Why controversy works:

• Provokes curiosity: Controversial topics naturally draw attention, as people are often intrigued by arguments they haven't considered before.
• Encourages engagement: Audiences are more likely to participate in discussions or ask questions when the subject matter is debatable.
• Stimulates critical thinking: Presenting a topic with diverse viewpoints challenges the audience to think critically and form their own opinions.

Clarity is king when it comes to persuasive speaking. Your topic should be specific and straightforward, allowing you to present a concise and focused argument. Avoid subjects that are overly complex or ambiguous, as they may confuse your audience and dilute your message.

How to maintain clarity:

• Define your thesis: Clearly state your main argument in one or two sentences. This will serve as your guiding light throughout the speech.
• Use simple language: Avoid jargon or technical terms that might be unfamiliar to your audience. Keep your language accessible and relatable.
• Break it down: Divide your argument into clear, manageable points. Use examples and analogies to explain complex ideas in a simple way.

Emotional appeal

Persuasive speeches often rely on emotional appeal to connect with the audience on a deeper level. Topics that evoke strong feelings or address long-standing social issues can be particularly impactful. Whether you're aiming to inspire hope, elicit empathy, or provoke outrage, tapping into your audience's emotions can be a powerful tool for persuasion.

Leveraging emotional appeal:

• Tell stories: Use personal anecdotes or case studies to illustrate your points. Stories are a great way to humanize your argument and make it more relatable.
• Appeal to values: Align your message with the core values and beliefs of your audience, whether it's justice, freedom, or compassion.
• Use vivid imagery: Paint a picture with your words, using descriptive language that evokes vivid mental images and feelings.

Availability of evidence

Your argument needs a backbone, and that backbone is evidence. Ensuring there is sufficient research and data available to back up your claims is crucial for making a convincing argument. A well-supported speech not only builds credibility but also makes it easier for your audience to trust and accept your viewpoint.

Building a strong argument:

• Research thoroughly: Gather data from reputable sources, such as academic journals, government reports, or expert opinions. Use this information to support your claims.
• Present data clearly: Use charts, graphs, or statistics to illustrate key points. Visual aids can help clarify complex information and make your argument more compelling.
• Address counterarguments: Anticipate opposing views and provide evidence to refute them. This demonstrates that you’ve done your homework and strengthens your position.

How to turn a topic into a persuasive speech topic?

Finding the right topic is just the beginning. To craft a persuasive speech that captivates and convinces, you'll need to transform your chosen topic into a compelling narrative. Here’s how to convert your ideas into a speech that resonates with your audience and stands out.

Choose a topic : Select a subject that interests you and your audience.

Define your viewpoint : Determine your position on the topic.

• Research : Gather evidence and examples to support your argument.

Outline the main points : Identify the key points that will form the body of your speech.

Craft a thesis statement : Develop a clear and concise thesis statement that encapsulates your argument.

Engage your audience : Consider your audience's values and interests to create an emotionally invested speech.

By following these steps, you can craft a persuasive topic that aligns with your goals and captivates your audience.

General topic : The benefits of exercise

Persuasive topic : Why regular exercise should be mandated in school curriculums to combat childhood obesity

General topic : Artificial intelligence in the workplace

Persuasive topic : Why AI should be integrated into workplace operations to enhance productivity and innovation

General topic : Effective business presentations

Persuasive topic : The importance of storytelling in business presentations for engaging audiences and driving decisions

General topic : Telemedicine in healthcare

Persuasive topic : How telemedicine can revolutionize healthcare accessibility and improve patient outcomes

General topic : Business communication skills

Persuasive topic : Why emotional intelligence should be a core component of business communication training

A list of 100 interesting persuasive speech topics

Choosing the right persuasive speech topic is crucial to engaging and captivating your audience. Whether you're speaking at a conference, a classroom, or a corporate event, the right topic can make all the difference in delivering a memorable speech that persuades and inspires action.

AI (artificial intelligence)

• The role of AI in shaping the future of work.
• How AI can enhance healthcare diagnostics and treatment.
• The ethical challenges of AI in decision-making processes.
• Why AI should be integrated into education systems.
• The impact of AI on creative industries and innovation.
• How AI is revolutionizing customer service experiences.
• The benefits of AI in managing and analyzing big data.
• Why AI safety should be a global priority.
• The potential of AI in advancing environmental conservation.
• How AI can improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

Business communication

• The importance of clear communication in business success.
• How cultural awareness can enhance international business relations.
• The role of technology in modern business communication.
• Why employee feedback is crucial for organizational growth.
• The benefits of team collaboration and communication tools.
• How nonverbal communication impacts business interactions.
• The importance of active listening in business negotiations.
• Why transparency should be a core business communication value.
• The impact of poor communication on business reputation.
• How effective communication can drive customer satisfaction?

Science & technology

• The ethical considerations of genetic engineering.
• How space exploration contributes to scientific advancements.
• The impact of climate science on policy-making.
• Why renewable energy is essential for a sustainable future.
• The role of technology in advancing medical research.
• How artificial intelligence can improve public safety.
• The benefits of biotechnology in agriculture.
• The importance of data privacy in the digital age.
• How nanotechnology is revolutionizing various industries.
• The impact of robotics on manufacturing processes.

Pharma & health

• The benefits of a plant-based diet for overall health.
• How mental health awareness can reduce stigma and improve treatment.
• The role of exercise in preventing chronic diseases.
• Why vaccination should be mandatory for all children.
• The impact of sleep deprivation on cognitive function.
• How stress management techniques can improve quality of life.
• The importance of regular health screenings and check-ups.
• The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices.
• The need for comprehensive sex education in schools.
• How diet and nutrition affect mental health.
• The importance of branding in building consumer trust.
• How personal branding can boost professional success.
• The role of brand identity in market differentiation.
• Why consistent branding is essential for business growth.
• The impact of brand loyalty on business revenue.
• How storytelling can enhance brand perception.
• The benefits of rebranding for business reinvention.
• Why brands should prioritize social responsibility.
• The influence of branding on consumer buying decisions.
• How brand partnerships can expand market reach.
• The need for universal health insurance: Is it time for change?
• How insurance companies can adapt to climate change risks.
• Why car insurance should be mandatory for all drivers.
• The role of technology in transforming the insurance industry.
• How insurance companies can better serve low-income families.
• The importance of transparency in health insurance policies.
• Why pet insurance should be a priority for pet owners.
• The impact of natural disasters on the insurance market.
• How life insurance can provide financial security for families.
• The benefits of offering insurance discounts for healthy lifestyles.
• How online shopping is changing the retail landscape?
• The role of branding in retail success: A case for consistency.
• Why sustainable practices should be a retail industry standard.
• The impact of social media on retail consumer behavior.
• How technology is enhancing the retail customer experience.
• The importance of supporting local retailers in a global economy.
• How data analytics is revolutionizing retail strategies.
• The benefits of implementing contactless payment systems in retail.
• Why retail employees deserve better compensation and benefits.
• The role of retail in shaping consumer culture and trends.
• The importance of financial education in schools.
• How credit scores affect financial opportunities.
• The role of budgeting in achieving financial stability.
• Why investing in stocks can build long-term wealth.
• The benefits of saving for retirement early.
• How cryptocurrency is changing the financial landscape.
• The impact of debt on personal financial health.
• Why emergency funds are essential for financial security.
• The role of financial planning in achieving life goals.
• How interest rates influence economic growth.

Business and economy

• The benefits of supporting small businesses in local communities.
• How corporate social responsibility can drive business success.
• The impact of globalization on local economies.
• Why ethical practices are essential in business operations.
• The role of innovation in maintaining a competitive edge.
• How entrepreneurship can stimulate economic growth.
• The importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
• The benefits of remote work for businesses and employees.
• How the gig economy is reshaping the labor market.
• The impact of financial literacy on personal wealth.

Miscellaneous

• The ethical implications of artificial intelligence in daily life.
• How social media affects mental health and society.
• The role of technology in improving healthcare outcomes.
• Why cybersecurity should be a top priority for businesses.
• The impact of automation on the job market and employment.
• The benefits of virtual reality in education and training.
• How blockchain technology is revolutionizing financial transactions.
• The influence of technology on modern communication.
• The importance of digital literacy in the 21st century.
• The future of remote work and its impact on productivity.

Crafting your persuasive speech

With this comprehensive list of persuasive speech topics, you have a wealth of ideas to inspire your next presentation. As you begin writing a persuasive speech , keep in mind the importance of understanding your audience and tailoring your message to resonate with them.

Steps to write a persuasive speech:

• Choose a topic : Select a topic that interests you and your audience.
• Outline : Organize your main points and supporting details.
• Write : Start writing your speech with a strong thesis statement and a clear structure.
• Revise : Edit and refine your speech for clarity and impact.
• Practice : Rehearse your speech to ensure a confident and engaging delivery.

Tips for delivering a persuasive presentation:

• Engage your audience : Use storytelling and relatable examples to connect with your listeners.
• Use visual aids : Enhance your speech with visuals that support your message.
• Vary your tone and pace : Keep your audience engaged by varying your speaking style.
• Address counterarguments : Strengthen your argument by acknowledging and refuting opposing views.
• End with a call to action : Encourage your audience to take specific steps based on your speech.

By following these guidelines and exploring the list of topics , you can craft a persuasive speech that captivates your audience and leaves a lasting impression.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. what are some examples of great persuasive speech topics for high school students.

High school students can benefit from engaging with a variety of persuasive speech ideas. Examples include discussing the impact of school uniforms on student performance, the benefits of a longer lunch break, or the need for mental health resources in schools. These topics are designed to resonate with students and address relevant issues in their daily lives.

2. How can I choose a perfect persuasive speech topic for college admissions?

To select a perfect topic for your persuasive speech in a college admissions context, consider issues that highlight your unique perspective and skills. Topics like the importance of financial literacy education, the role of technology in enhancing learning, or the benefits of community service can demonstrate your critical thinking and persuasive skills, making your speech stand out.

3. What makes a persuasive speech effective?

An effective persuasive speech requires a clear thesis, compelling evidence, and an emotional appeal. Start with a strong thesis statement to guide your argument, provide solid facts and examples to support your claims, and use emotionally invested language to connect with your audience. Additionally, addressing counterarguments and concluding with a strong call to action can significantly enhance the impact of your speech.

4. How can I develop easy persuasive speech topics for a class presentation?

To develop easy persuasive speech topics for a class presentation, focus on subjects that are straightforward and relevant to your audience. Examples include arguing for healthier school lunch options, the benefits of extracurricular activities, or the importance of recycling. These topics are not only accessible but also engage your audience by addressing familiar and relatable issues.

5. What strategies can help in creating a great persuasive speech that impresses your audience?

To create a great persuasive speech that impresses your audience, start by understanding their interests and concerns. Choose a topic that is both relevant and engaging. Structure your speech with a clear thesis, solid evidence, and emotional appeal. Incorporate personal anecdotes or vivid imagery to make your message more relatable and memorable. Lastly, practice your delivery to ensure confidence and effectiveness throughout your speech.

How Prezent can help with persuasive speech topics

Crafting an engaging and persuasive speech topic is a pivotal step in the art of public speaking. It requires not only creativity but also a structured approach to ensure your ideas resonate with your audience. Prezent offers a variety of features that can significantly enhance your process of selecting and developing persuasive speech topics. Let's explore how Prezent.ai can help you ace your next speech:

Fast decks for efficient topic development

• Instant decks and templates : Prezent provides a range of pre-designed templates and presentation decks that can serve as inspiration for your speech topics. These templates can help you quickly organize your thoughts and ideas, allowing you to structure your persuasive argument effectively.
• Customizable themes : With customizable themes, you can tailor your presentation to fit the tone and style of your speech. Whether you're aiming for a professional look or a more creative approach, Prezent's themes help you visualize your topic, making it more engaging and memorable.

Storyline approach for structuring ideas

• Structured storylines : Prezent offers a library of storylines that guide you in crafting a coherent and persuasive narrative. These storylines are designed to help you structure your speech topic logically, ensuring your argument flows seamlessly from introduction to conclusion.
• Industry-specific content : The platform provides access to a wide array of industry-specific content, helping you gather relevant information and insights to support your topic. This feature is particularly useful for crafting persuasive speeches that require in-depth knowledge and evidence.

Team collaboration for idea refinement

Prezent's collaboration features enable you to work with colleagues or mentors to refine your speech topic. You can gather feedback, share ideas, and make edits in real-time, ensuring your topic is polished and well-developed before delivery.

AI-driven content suggestions

Prezent leverages AI technology to provide content suggestions tailored to your specific needs. This feature can help you identify compelling angles for your speech topics, ensuring they resonate with your audience and are relevant to current trends.

Audience insight

Prezent offers tools to analyze and understand your target audience better. Knowing who you are speaking to can influence the choice of your topic.

Prezent is more than just presentation software; it is a comprehensive tool that supports every step of developing and delivering a persuasive speech topic. From structuring your ideas to enhancing visual appeal and fostering collaboration, Prezent offers features that empower you to create compelling, well-organized presentations that captivate and persuade your audience. Sign up for a free trial or book an expert demo to see how Prezent works.

More zenpedia articles

Communicate with confidence: Understand and adapt to the 4 types of communication styles

Mastering the art of asking open-ended questions: Best tips, question examples & common uses

What is a pitch deck: A guide for entrepreneurs with expert tips and template example

Get the latest from Prezent community

Join thousands of subscribers who receive our best practices on communication, storytelling, presentation design, and more. New tips weekly. (No spam, we promise!)