I need some ideas for a persuasive speech for my speech class. I don't want to do something thats been overdone, like abortion, civil rights, drug use, etc. I'm interested in medical/science type stuff. Are there any topics that are related to medicine/science that wouldn't be too hard to do, but are still controversial? thanks!
2007-02-23 07:49:42 · 10 answers · asked by sandcastlesinair 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Thirty years ago when I was in college, a guy in my Public Speaking class gave the best persuasive speech I have ever heard.
This was a guy who normally came to class wearing good slacks and a nice shirt-- unusual at a time when most of us in college were wearing scruffy jeans and tee shirts. Well, he came into class wearing a trench coat completely buttoned and belted, with his lower legs bare except for stars-and-stripes Converse All-Stars and stars-and-stripes socks. And he was carrying a glass that contained water and, improbably, a live gold fish.
When the time came for him to give his speech, he marched to the front of the room, pulled the goldfish out of the glass (and yes, it was a real, live goldfish), held it up for a moment, then dropped it into his mouth and swallowed it. (He'd taken the precaution of standing near the trash can in case he upchucked it, but he held it down.)
As soon as he got his composure back, he took a stance and started his speech. "Involvement. In the 1950's, college students showed their involvement by doing things like swallowing goldfish and packing themselves into phone booths..."which nicely tied the goldfish into his speech, which was on the importance of being involved in the campus community, not just attending classes.
Now all the while he was relating this, he was fidgeting with the buttons on his trenchcoat and undoing the belt. He continued all the while to talk about the importance of involvement and how he was involved in campus activities because it was important to get into the swing of things. All the while his voice was rising and becoming more emotive.
He finally reached the end of his speech. "Involvement is important! And I'm glad to say that I'm involved as the president of a large club-- OF STREAKERS!" And he threw his trench coat off and stood there, mother-naked, for a split second before turning and sprinting out of the classroom door, to the sound of thunderous applause from the rest of us.
He got an A+ on his speech, and I am very sure that even though more than 30 years have passed, every single one of us who was in that class can recall his speech like it was yesterday.
My point: sometimes a persuasive speech isn't persuasive because of the subject matter, it's because of the presentation. I think you need to think less about the subject of your speech and more about how you will get your audience on your side. I'm not necessarily advocating the approach the guy in my speech class took, but think outside the box when you think about what you want to do.
Good luck.
2007-02-23 08:13:59 · answer #1 · answered by Karin C 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Here are a list of ideas: 1.The benefits of students have cell phones at school 2.Why you should or should not wear saggy pants 3.How television is or is not educational for kids 4.Violence in cartoons 5.People are not born racist but are taught to be racist 6.How grades are unimportant and doesn't really show how smart a kid is. 7.Assisted Suicide 8.High Schools should have daycares on campus for teen mothers 9.Kids are growing up to fast 10.Censorship of music or books
2016-03-29 09:01:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sorry that i don't know much about metaphysics, but there was a book called the secret that was on OPRAH'S show the other day. I am reading it now, and it's all about the power of intention. maybe you can write something about this. it's the whole thing about how if you wish for something then you can have it. I bet you that is up for debate.
2007-02-23 08:05:26 · answer #3 · answered by Lovely 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might want to try something along the lines of "Should Euthanasia be legalized". That topic is still causing some debate.
2007-02-23 07:55:45 · answer #4 · answered by lexi84 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why they should stop keeping certain medicaitons behind the counter ... or ... why they should put more medications behind the counter. (In case you don't know, they recently started putting many types of cold medicines and other medicines behind the pharmacy counter b/c it was used to make meth as well as was being abused, mostly by teens).
2007-02-23 07:54:19 · answer #5 · answered by blue_girl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try a .44 Magnum.
This device has done more to stimulate the thought processes of practically all audiences, since it was first introduced.
2007-02-23 07:53:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Stem cell research
2007-02-23 07:52:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some controversial and good topics are:
- euthanesia
-clonning
-embryo donation
Good luck!
2007-02-23 08:41:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep, stem cell research.
2007-02-23 08:15:51 · answer #9 · answered by billwnewbie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just one idea? I can offer you 554 - well, at list that is today's count:
http://www.myspeechclass.com/persuasivetopics2.html
2014-04-03 22:50:03 · answer #10 · answered by Thomas 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋