Persuasive Speech Topic based on a question of fact

In areas without an absolute answer, persuade your audience that one thing or another is fact. For example, if we don't know whether aliens exist, try to persuade them that they don't. Your persuasive speech topic would be, "Aliens Cannot Possibly Exist."

Persuasive Speech Topic based on a question of value

Talk about whether something is good or bad, worthless or ideal. For example, try to persuade your audience that national borders are inhumane, or that basketball is ideal sport. Your persuasive speech topic would be, "Basketball is Ideal Sport."

Persuasive Speech Topic based on a question of policy

Argue for immediate action or tacit approval about what should be done. This is a call to action. You must not only persuade them that you're right, and that action is necessary, but that it is immediately important. Then provide them with a clear plan of action in line with your persuasive speech topic - what to do and how to do it.

For example, explain how many people are dying of AIDS in Africa, what it's doing to their economy and governments, and how it will inevitably effect America. Then tell them how to get involved with raising money and influencing American politics. Your persuasive speech topic would be, "How You Can Help Save America from Africa's AIDS Problem."

Links to More Persuasive Speech Topic Ideas:

http://www.valencia.cc.fl.us/lrcwest/kaysmith.html http://www.suffolk.lib.ny.us/libraries/cmmk/speech.html

Also see a free persuasive speech sample at: http://pulsemed.org/free-persuasive-speech.htm

What does Toastmasters say about informative speech topics?

According to Toastmasters International, best known public speaking organization, people learn when information is relevant, relates to what they already know, involves them, is clearly organized, is presented in an interesting way, is repeated, and involves visual aids.

So, in some ways, your informative speech topic is not as important as spin you put on it, how your package it, and how you present it.

First it must be interesting to you. Second, information must reach your audience by being interesting to them... there are all kinds of presentation tricks you can do to involve them, but that's another topic!

But here's an example- I wanted to inform people about something specific with acupuncture. People are afraid it will hurt. Yet, most of my patients think it's basically painless, and were pleasantly surprised first time how good it made them feel. I wanted to contrast negative expectation with positive reality. So my informative speech topic was "How Acupuncture Feels" but I used surprise as a tactic to deliver message. I also used analogy, because "Acu Buzz" was so elusive- I compared it to a number of good and complicated experiences (swimming and taste of oysters) that were hard to describe but fairly commonplace. I answered their questions, kept it interesting, delivered something unexpected, and related it to something they already knew about.