Persuasive Speech Topic Ideas

Having trouble coming up with a topic idea?

Here are some for you to consider.

Adoption
Aliens Exist
Book Banning
Cloning
Cults
Dangers of Fast Foods
Divorce
Funding for the Arts
Healthy Eating
Homeschooling
Immunizations
Living Wills
Organ Donation
Public vs. Private Schools
Recycling
Welfare Reform
Use of Astroturf for Sports
TV Effects on our Lives
The real meaning of Christmas
Gay Rights
Homeland Security
Human Cloning
Animal Rights
Bigamy
Bird Flu
Breast Feeding in Public
Child Labor
City Curfews
Death Penalty
Drunk Driving
Endangered Species
Fat Tax on Food
Euthenasia
Gangs
Gambling
Minimum Wage
Racial Profiling
Sex Education
Smoking
Teen Pregnancy
Violent Video Games
Women in the Military
Draft for Women

Informative speeches due tomorrow

Don't forget! Informative speeches are due tomorrow! We will also have our final quiz and go over your final projects. 

Another opportunity for your extra credit speeches.

Go and get what you need to give your extra credit speech to the class, and also support your fellow students! 

Debate Assignment - Due October 28

Debate Assignment


Due Monday, October 28, 2013

This assignment is worth 100 points

Debate # 1:  Pro:  Michael vs. Con: Julia

Topic — Michael: Macs are better than PCs

Julia: Pcs are better than Macs

Debate # 2: Pro: Debbie vs. Con. Katie

Topic—Debbie: public schools should stop funding art programs

Katie: public schools should not stop funding art programs

Debate # 3:  Pro: Chris & Samantha vs. Con: Katrina

Topic—Chris & Samantha: The legal drinking age should be lowered to 18

Katrina: The legal drinking age should not be lowered to 18 and should stay at 21

Debate format:

Intro

Each side (Pro and Con) will have 3 minutes to provide the audience with an introduction and 2-3 reasons why they support their topic. All reasons of support must show examples. For example, if you are assigned to talk about how schools should keep funding art programs, then you would want to find information that shows how the arts help children learn and maybe have a statistic to tell the audience.

After each side (Pro and Con) has stated their case I will provide 3 minutes of rebuttal preparation.

Rebuttal

During the rebuttal each side will be given 5 minutes to refute any of the statements the other side may have stated in their introduction. In preparation to this, you should be thinking in advance what the other side will say in their introduction so that you can research reasons why this is wrong.

Conclusion

Finally, each side will have 3 minutes to give a final conclusion and final thoughts on why their side is correct.

Questions

The class will have an opportunity to ask any final questions of both opponents.

Voting

After each debate is over, the class will vote (anonymously) on a winner of each debate. Each winner chosen by the class (there will be a total of 3 winning sides) will receive 5 extra credit points for this assignment.

How to Prepare:

Now that you have your assigned side in the debate, it is your task to research the topic. You will need to gather evidence that will be used to support your position. Use this evidence as an aid to persuade the audience to your side. Use the best of what you have found and house it in effective, confident delivery. Practice makes perfect. It is the combination of solid evidence and polished delivery that leads to success. It is also critical to consider what the opposition will say. Think through all the possible arguments your opponents will make. Success in a debate hinges on the ability to show that the opposing team’s reasoning is weaker that yours.

Grading:

1) Clear introduction of topic with 2-3 supported reasons (from outside credible sources) why you support this side – 25 points


2) Rebuttal comments have support from outside credible sources  - 25 points


3) Clear conclusion and final call for action to the class – 15 points


4) Hand in index cards and typed bibliography of at least 3 sources the day of debate – 25 points


5) Asked questions during the question and answer period of the debate – 10 points


Total 100 points

Another event choice for your extra credit assignment

Free food and movie Wednesday

How to speech assignment due next Monday

How to Speech​

 

Due date: Monday, October 21, 2013

 

This assignment is worth 100 points.

 

For this speech you will pick a topic to teach the class on. For example you may want to tell the class how to bake a cookies, or cook a certain dish, cut hair, change car oil, use a certain type of paint, use a piece of technology, beat a video game…the possibilities are endless! Be creative! Some “How To Speeches” students have done in the past have included: carve a pumpkin, make a braid, make brownies, create an origami bird, sponge paint a room, etc.

 

Make sure to have a visual with you. You can actually show us how to do whatever your topic is in class, as long as it isn’t hazardous. (No flames, hazardous chemicals or alcohol, etc). If you choose not to show how in class, make sure you have images or some type of example with you.

 

The speech should be 7-10 minutes in length.

 

Have a clear introduction on what your “how to” topic is, and a clear reason why you are demonstrating this to the class.

 

You will be graded on the following:

 

•  Clear speech introduction, body and conclusion – 30 points.

•  Speech length – 10 points.

•  Hand in note cards and/or speech outline – 10 points

•  Speech visual – 30 points.

•  Keeping the interest of the class – 10 points

•  Class participation, including asking speakers questions and staying attentive during classmates’ speeches – 10 points

Total: 100 points

 

If you have questions, e-mail me attaracantore@yahoo.com