50+ Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics For Speakers And Students

If you are struggling to come up with an interesting persuasive speech topic, then you are not alone. The first time I gave a speech in my high school assembly, I had prepared for it for a month. I spent quite a lot of time selecting an intriguing topic, one that could actually impress the audience, and it was: ” Should homework be completely abolished?”

However, selecting a speech topic is as difficult as delivering the speech, and many students struggle with it. Topic selection is the most crucial stage that determines how well you will be able to deliver your speech and what its impact will be. This is because an uninspiring topic can make the audience disengaged, while a compelling speech topic can spark curiosity and change the audience’s opinions. If you are also in search of persuasive speech topics, then this blog is for you, with 70  ideas.

What Makes A Great Persuasive Speech Topic?

First of all, you must stop considering your speech as another presentation.  The main purpose of a speech is to influence, educate, and inspire people by utilizing logic, emotion, and credible evidence. Whether you are preparing for a school assignment, a competition in high school, public speaking at an event or for your workplace, a good speech topic determines success.

A great speech topic is one that is relevant, meaningful, and debatable, and that pushes the listeners to think critically and develop a new viewpoint regarding an issue.

It should appear intriguing to you as well as the audience. Therefore, think about the themes that actually interest you and are also relevant to your audience.

1. It Must Matter To Your Audience:

Once you are aware of your audience, you must analyze their interest, concerns,  and which topic can make them emotionally invested. This is because the more you adapt the topic for them, the more you will be able to connect with them.

The major themes that can intrigue the audience if they are students are:

1. Online learning
2. Artificial intelligence
3. Mental health
4. Climate change
5. Social media

2. You Are Passionate About It:

When you are preparing for a speech, you have to dive deep into it. Therefore, before you finalize a topic, just ask yourself: would I enjoy learning about this topic, or would this topic spark my curiosity? If your answer is no, then stop right there because you won’t be able to deliver the speech with impact, and the audience can easily identify when the speaker is bored or excited.

3. You Have Enough Background Knowledge Related To The Topic:

If you have in-depth background knowledge for a particular topic, then that’s great. This is because it will be easy for you to build ideas on it, as your foundation will be strong and your research process will also be easy.

However, if you want to form a new topic from scratch and you also have enough time, then you can consider that too.

4. It Must Neither Be Too General Nor Too Specific:

Make sure your topic is neither too broad nor too narrow because if it’s too broad, you will not be able to cover each dimension of the topic in the allotted time, and if it’s too narrow, you might not be able to find enough content for it.

5. Don’t Go For Repeated Topics:

If you really want to impress your audience with your speech, then your topic must be fresh and unique. It should not be the one that they have already heard about 1 time before and can predict your ideas and arguments.

6. It Is Debatable:

Make sure your persuasive speech topic is debatable, i.e., it has multiple viewpoints. This is because if there is no room for persuasion, then the audience will be bored.

7. There Is Enough Research Available:

A persuasive speech requires lots of evidence; therefore, you must choose a topic that has:

1. Statistics
2. Research studies
3. Expert opinions
4. Real-world examples.

How To Write A Convincing Persuasive Speech?

When you are done with topic selection for a persuasive speech, you can move forward to writing an impressive speech, and it involves some major steps.

1. You Must Start Your Speech With A Hook:

Now you might be wondering what a hook is.  It serves the function of grabbing the attention of the audience immediately; it can be an anecdote, a statistic, a quote, a question, a personal story, or a fact.

2. What Do You Want To Persuade Your Audience?

A persuasive speech persuades the audience to accept a viewpoint on a specific issue.  Therefore, the next step when writing the speech is to identify the stance and the thesis of your speech.

3. In Your Speech, Add Arguments That Will Support Your Thesis:

The next step when writing the speech is to research the topic to find arguments to support your thesis or stance. For this, you need to go through multiple reliable sources and you can also use your personal stories of yourself as well as of someone you know. Furthermore, an argument should not be a claim, but also be supported by evidence, statistics, examples, etc.

4. Your Speech Must Connect Emotionally With The Audience:

The speech that persuades the audience is the one that connects emotionally with the audience and it is only possible when you address their concerns in your speech.

5. Don’t Forget Counterarguments:

For every argument you provide in your speech, you need to provide its counterargument too as it is crucial to strengthen the credibility of your arguments.

6. End With A Strong Conclusion:

End your speech with a call to action or a compelling statement. Also, restate the thesis, reinforce your message, and summarize the main points.

Now that you have written your persuasive speech, you need to practice and practice. Practice in front of the mirror, in front of friends and family. Ask for their feedback and work on your weak areas. Notice your hand movement, eye contact, and body language.

Practice will determine the ultimate success of your speech.

Common Mistakes To Avoid In A Persuasive Speech:

1. A topic that is too broad or narrow.
2. Not researching the topic before the speech.
3. Ignoring the counterarguments in your speech.
4. Not speaking confidently.
5. Speaking too quickly.
6. No logic in the speech.
7. No eye contact and not engaging the audience.
8. Not practicing.

Tips To Impress Your Audience:

1. Choose a topic you’re genuinely interested in.
2. Know your audience’s interests.
3. Use credible sources to support your arguments.
4. Include stories or examples to make your speech relatable.
5. Speak clearly and maintain eye contact.
6. Use confident body language.
7. End with a memorable note that inspires action or reflection.

70 Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics:

Education:

1. Homework is not useful.
2. School uniforms are not necessary.
3. How Is Online Learning More Useful?
4. Education must be free for all.
5. Is using AI for assignments beneficial or harmful for students?
6. Should Schools Teach Financial Literacy?
7. Tests or exams are not a Measure of Intelligence.
8. Attendance at university must be optional.
9. Physical education must be mandatory.
10. What are the benefits of teaching art and music classes in high school?
11. Should independent learning be offered as a larger option in high school?

Technology:

12. Artificial Intelligence is helpful to society.
13. Children under 13 shouldn’t be allowed on Social Media.
14. The impact of technology on one’s social skills.
15. Data Privacy is a Human Right.
16. Smartphones should not be allowed During School Hours.
17. Technology can never Replace Teachers.
18. Screen time should be limited to a few hours.
19. Do online friendships have the same benefits as in-person friendships?
20. Are social media influencers beneficial or harmful to society?

Environment:

21. Climate Change is the ultimate challenge of this time.
22. Electric Vehicles are more advantageous than gasoline cars.
23. Cities Must Plant More Forests.
24. Recycling should be a habit for everyone.
25. Should hunting be made illegal?
26. What is the biggest current threat to the environment, and how would you suggest we remedy it?
27. Should disposable diapers be banned?

Health & Lifestyle:

28. Mental health impacts academics more than anything.
29. Fast Food Restaurants Must Display Calorie Counts.
30. 10k steps each day is a way towards a healthy life.
31. Sleep is also Important Before Exams.
32. Why Should Schools Offer Free Healthy Lunches?
33. Is Fitness More Important Than Appearance?
34. Why shouldn’t you eat after 6 pm?

Social Issues:

35. Voting must be mandatory for all citizens.
36. Everyone must Learn Basic First Aid.
37. Bullying should lead to serious consequences.
38. Why Employers Must Consider Skills Over Degrees?
39. Why Should Public Transportation Be Free?
40. The Internet has become a basic human right.
41. Parents should Limit Children’s Screen Time.

Ethics & Morality:

42. Lying can never be moral or ethical.
43. Wealthy Individuals Must Pay Higher Taxes.

Business & Economics:

1. Why should businesses be encouraged in a country?
2. Three days off in a week is enough for employees.
3. A person should not aim for a 9-5 job.
4. Internships must be paid.

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Science & Innovation:

48. Should Space Exploration Receive More Government Funding?
49. Artificial Intelligence Is a Greater Opportunity Than a Threat.
50. Cloning Should Be Permitted for Medical Purposes.
51. Should Governments Invest More in Scientific Research?
52. Robots Should Never Replace Dangerous Human Jobs.
53. Should Plastic Be Replaced with Biodegradable Alternatives?

Politics & Law:

54. The Voting Age Must Be Lowered to 16.
55. The right to vote is also for prisoners.
56. Multiparty systems have more merits than demerits.

Media & Entertainment:

57. Violent Video Games must not be allowed for children under 12.
58. Why Is Celebrity Culture Harmful to Society?
59. Social media influencers are not trustworthy.
60. Social Media Platforms must Remove Harmful Content Faster.
61. Why should a school teach media literacy?
62. Are Movie Ratings Effective?
63. Why Should Professional Athletes Be Considered Role Models?

Fun & Unique:

64. Everyone Must Learn a Second Language.
65. Is Reading Better Than Watching Movies?
66. Public speaking is a skill everyone must learn.
67. Why Should Schools Have Longer Summer Vacations?
68. Libraries Must Become Fully Digital.
69. Why Should Plastic Water Bottles Be Banned?
70. Public Speaking Should Be Mandatory in Every School.

You can find more 2-minute speech topics on the internet.

All In All!

A persuasive speech topic selection is not as easy as it requires consideration of your interests as well audience’ interests. Also, it is the most crucial step as it determines the success of your persuasive speech. However, with this guide, you will be able to select a relevant and high-quality topic!

FAQs:

1. How Should A Good Speech Begin?

Ans: A good speech begins with a hook and instantly captures the audience’s attention. You can start with a what-if question, a personal story, and so on.

2. What Are Some Good Persuasive Speech Topics?

Ans: Some good persuasive speech topics are:

1. Why should unpaid internships be illegal?
2. Why is AI harmful to learning?
3. Should zoos be banned?

3. What Are Some Persuasive Speech Topics About School?

Ans: Some persuasive speech topics about school are:

1. Should phones be banned during school hours?
2. Why should mental health be considered in school?
3. Is morning school better than evening school or afternoon school?

​4. Can I Add My Personal Stories In A Persuasive Speech?

Ans: Yes, you can add personal stories in a persuasive speech. It will capture the audience’s attention and spark their curiosity.

5. How Can I Complete My Speech Within The Allotted Time?

Ans: To complete your speech in the allotted time, you can write a clear outline and practice until you get it perfect.

6. What Are The Major Challenges In Persuasive Speech?

Some of the major challenges in a persuasive speech include: audience resistance, balancing emotion with logic, and establishing credibility.

7. How To Be A Master Of Persuasive Speech?

Ans: Practice is the only answer to becoming a master of persuasive speech.

8. How To Choose A Good Persuasive Speech Topic?

Ans: To choose a good persuasive speech topic, you must think of the issues you are passionate about, ensure the topic is debatable and meaningful to your audience, and also check that sufficient evidence is available for research.

9. How To Craft A Convincing Persuasive Speech?

Ans: To craft a convincing persuasive speech requires understanding your audience and balancing logic with emotion.

10. Is Persuasive Speech A Complex Task?

Ans: Yes, persuasive speaking is highly complex because it requires changing an audience’s minds or behaviors.

11. Why Do Students Struggle With Persuasive Speech?

Ans: Students struggle with persuasive speeches because of topic selection, confidence, and the balance between emotion and logic.

12. What Are The Elements Of A Great Persuasive Speech Topic?

Ans: A great persuasive speech topic is arguable, relevant to the audience, and intriguing.