Persuasive Speech Topics

Stating your point and convincing your audience to believe you and make a move is a challenging task. However, with the right guide, you can make a persuasive speech that wins the heart of your audience. It all starts with the topic. Understanding how persuasive writing works and selecting a topic would make it easier for you.

What is a persuasive speech?

A persuasive speech is a type of speech aimed at influencing the beliefs or attitudes of your audience about a given subject. As the name implies, the overall goal is to persuade the audience. When selecting a topic for this type of speech, you need to set aside evidence to support your claims.

Controversial persuasive speech topics

1. Active gun control is the only way to stop mass shootings
2. Pregnancy termination should require consent from the mother and father
3. Parents are responsible for raising bullies in middle school
4. Privacy vs. security – is the government’s attempt to provide security encroaching on privacy laws?
5. Should biological weapons be considered in warfare?
6. Why the death penalty should be legal across the country
7. Transgender people should have full access and benefits as their natural-born counterparts
8. The ethical implications of arms trading
9. Equal pay or prejudice against men?
10. Gun laws – the second amendment needs an amendment

Mental health persuasive speech topics

11. Should parents be blamed for self-harm among teenagers?
12. The dangers of prescribing mood stabilizers for mild mental health challenges
13. The value of mental health awareness programs in high school
14. Poverty or excessive wealth is the root cause of mental health challenges
15. Considering social media censorship to curb anxiety in the real world
16. Promoting productivity in the workplace through mental health awareness campaigns
17. Alcohol should be illegal, like drugs
18. Considering the long-term mental health implication of domestic violence
19. Treating obesity as a mental health crisis

Persuasive speech topics about animals

20. Animals are suffering the most from deforestation and global warming
21. Exotic pets should be illegal in households, whether endangered or not
22. Stricter punishments should be implemented for the unethical treatment of animals
23. Animal testing should be illegal in every state in the United States
24. A closer look at animal treatment for human entertainment in zoos
25. The government needs to take a closer look at the horse racing industry for ethical violations
26. Pets in the United States need a bill of rights of their own
27. Using animals for clothing products should be illegal
28. Human breeding of different animal species should be illegal

Persuasive speech topics about music

29. Rap music is key in promoting violence, especially in low-income areas
30. The evolution of rock music and how it influences behavior
31. Music therapy is a suitable treatment for a range of mental health challenges
32. Music can be a useful teaching tool for toddlers and teenagers alike
33. Promoting patriotism through high-quality music lyrics
34. The internet makes monetizing music problematic
35. Music should be made a core part of the high school curriculum
36. Curbing violence starts with censoring and regulating circular music

Persuasive speech topics about sports

37. Compensation for athletes who sustain injury should be a norm in college and professional leagues
38. Stricter drug testing protocols should be put in place in the sporting industry to ensure fair play
39. Open LGBTQ professionals are treated unfairly in sports
40. Why college athletes deserve fair compensation for their skills
41. An interception from educational institutions will increase female participation in sports
42. The sexual objectification of female athletes by the mass media
43. Why paralympic athletes deserve more media attention across the globe
44. Nutrition plays a key role in athletic performance

Persuasive  speech topics for teens

45. The prevailing teenage pregnancy rate is due to a lack of understanding of the consequences
46. Parents need to treat teenagers the same irrespective of sex or gender
47. Why sex education is more effective in the home than in schools
48. The importance of making students bilingual from middle school age
49. Children who enjoy violent video games are more likely to be violent in real life
50. Volunteer work should be a prerequisite for graduation in every high school
51. LGBT teens would be more comfortable if schools tried to create a safe space
52. Digital text and notebooks are better for students than paper books

Science persuasive speech topics

53. Parents should encourage their children to pursue science pathways from childhood
54. Governmental and non-governmental investment in science is a necessity
55. The government should ban genetically modified foods
56. Space exploration is worth every penny
57. More funding from the government is required for medical research
58. Without intervention, the planet earth may end up like Mars
59. Human evolution is still ongoing, and there is evidence to support this
60. Technological advancement might be the last hope for saving the planet

If you are still looking for tips on writing the best persuasive speech, you can find some great ideas on this website.