This page is a collection of over 1000 persuasive speech topic ideas for college students. Use this list as a last resort: you are much more likely to be successful when you choose a topic that genuinely interests you, rather than merely picking one from a list. Talking about something you know well makes it much easier and fun!
Our list is huge! It is by far the best list you will find online – both in terms of quantity and quality. We add and remove ideas weekly to keep the list up-to-date. Some persuasive speech ideas have been done to death. They are tired and stale, and are not likely to excite you or your audience (think abortion, gun control, smoking, same-sex marriage). If you can’t find one on our persuasive speech topic list or persuasive essay list that grabs you, consider a newer and fresher topic, something unique and original.
Many timely persuasive speech topics can be found on radio, TV, your local newspaper, or your Facebook and Twitter feeds. We also have Argumentative (which is a persuasive topic as well, just on a controversial issue) and Policy topics. If you know of a cool topic, please send it to us and we will publish it on a page with fresh topics.
For persuasive essay topic ideas have a look at our list of Interesting Research Paper topics: these can be easily adapted for persuasive speeches.
How to Choose the Right Persuasive Speech Topic?
Crafting a persuasive speech or writing a persuasive essay begins with picking the right topic. A good persuasive speech topic is one that you can use to grab the audience’s attention, inform and persuade, and provide a strong persuasive argument for adopting your point of view.
How to narrow down this list of ideas?
First, make a rough inventory:
Review your inventory list and narrow your choices by answering these questions:
All the answers on the questions above help you to find your angle of approach for a conclusive speech. So, select a few specific angles. Those can serve as the basic main points.
List of Persuasive Speech TopicsTen Animal Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Speech Topics About Animals.
Twelve Automotive Persuasive Speech Topics
Ten Business Persuasive Speech Topics
The world of business has so many aspects to it, but at the end of the day they are all about customer relations, about making money and about the relationship between employers and employees.
Below are topics that can be used to persuade your audience on a variety of business topics.
A tongue in cheek topic that can be used is “Hiring a lazy person isn’t always a bad thing”, this could be used to persuade an audience that often lazy people find the quickest solution to get something done, resulting in quickly completed work because they just want to get it over and done with.
See this page for a full list of Persuasive Speech Topics for Business.
Five Constitutional Issues Persuasive Speech Topics
Ten Easy and Simple Persuasive Speech Topics
Below follow topics that should be easy enough to persuade your audience without going into too much research. There are some which can be used as ‘tongue in cheek’ topics such as ‘The paparazzi are the real stalkers’ and ‘People need to visit the dentist more often’.
See this page for a full list of Easy and Simple Persuasive Speech Topics.
Nine Economy Persuasive Speech Topics
Ten Education Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Education Persuasive Speech Topics.
Ten Environment Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Environmental Persuasive Speech Topics.
Ten Ethics Persuasive Speech Topics
Ten Family Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Family Persuasive Speech Topics. We also have a page with Speech Topics for Kids.
Six Fashion Persuasive Speech Topics
Eleven Financial Persuasive Speech Topics
Fifteen Food and Drink Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Speech Topic Ideas On Food, Drink, and Cooking.
Ten Fun Persuasive Speech Topics
Fun topics are a great way to get people to listen to what you have to say, because when they are entertained they listen more carefully. Fun topics also help the speaker be more at ease, because the topics are more relaxed. Below follow 100 topics that you can have fun with while persuading your audience. .
See this page for a full list of Fun Persuasive Speech Topics.
Ten Funny and Humorous Persuasive Speech Topics
Humour is a fabulous way to get people’s attention. Below are questions and statement topics that can be used to get your points across on a variety of topics.
It is important to remember that there can be a fine line between funny and insulting. So use wit and make it fun without insulting your audience. This would be important to remember with a title like ‘The most dangerous animal out there is a silent woman’.
See this page for a full list of Funny Persuasive Speech Topics.
Sixteen Government Persuasive Speech Topics
Ten Health Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Persuasive Speech Topics on Health and Fitness. We also have a page with Medical Topics.
Ten School Persuasive Speech Topics
School is a whole new world, where students discover more about themselves and life around them. These are topics that students will most likely have to deal with at some point during their elementary, middle, and high school careers.
See this page for a full list of Persuasive Speech Topics for School Students.
Ten College Students Persuasive Speech Topics
The following topics are for college students and about the many different aspects that they will deal with during their time in college.
See this page for a full list of Persuasive Speech Topics for College Students.
Ten Teens Persuasive Speech Topics
The following topics are aimed at teens and subjects which are important and matter to teens.
See this page for a full list of Great Speech Topics for Teens.
Five History Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of History Speech Topics.
Ten Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics
Interesting topics will always have an audience glued to every word, even when they may disagree with your point of view. Ultimately it is your job to persuade them that your view is in fact correct.
These topics have a mix of simpler speeches such as “Pick up lines do work” here both humour and a few examples of pick up lines have worked will get you going in the right direction. For a speech with a bit more research put into it there are topics such as “Stem cell research in murder”.
See this page for a full list of Persuasive Interesting Speech Topics.
Thirteen International Relations Persuasive Speech Topics
Ten Law Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Legal Speech Topics.
Three Literature Persuasive Speech Topics
Seventeen Media Persuasive Speech Topics
Ten Motivational Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Speech Topics For Motivational Speaking.
Six Music Persuasive Speech Topics
Six National Security Persuasive Speech Topics
Ten Politics Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Speech Topics about Politics.
Three Practical Knowledge Persuasive Speech Topics
Seven Psychology Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Psychology Speech Topics.
Twenty Three Relationships Persuasive Speech Topics
Eight Religion Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Topics on Religion and Spirituality.
Ten Science Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Persuasive Science Speech Topics.
Eleven Self-Help Persuasive Speech Topics
Ten Society Persuasive Speech Topics
See this page for a full list of Persuasive Society Speech Topics.
Ten Sport Persuasive Speech Topics
Some sports topics can quickly turn into an argument between fans so keep in mind that special care should be taken with some of the suggested topics.
The term soccer was used to distinguished between soccer and American football, feel free to use the term football for those countries that do not use the term soccer.
See this page for a full list of Persuasive Sports Speech Topics.
Twenty-Eight Technology Persuasive Speech Topics
Twelve Travel Persuasive Speech Topics
Eight Workplace Persuasive Speech Topics
Cite this article as: Jim Peterson, '434 Good Persuasive Speech Topics,' in My Speech Class, May 11, 2009, http://www.myspeechclass.com/persuasivetopics2.html.
Learn about your topic. It is important to know as much as you can about the topic you'll be speaking on. If you aren't already well-versed in the subject (e.g. because it has been assigned to you), do some research and learn as much as you can.
I take my dog Oskar to work with me nearly every day. He rides in a trailer that I tow behind my bike 2.5 miles uphill to the Kibin office. I’m lucky that I work for a place that allows dogs.
Other dog companions aren’t so fortunate. Shouldn’t responsible dog owners be allowed to bring their beloved furballs anywhere they wish?
But, this post isn’t about teaching you to persuade your boss to let you bring your dog to work (although that would be cool). No, the goal of this blog post is to teach you how to write a persuasive essay outline.
In this post, I’ll break down the components of a good persuasive essay. I’ll also set you up with a downloadable outline template that you can use when you are ready to persuade your teacher to give you a better grade in English class this semester.
What is a Persuasive Essay Anyway?
The goal of a persuasive essay is to convince your readers that your viewpoint is the right viewpoint. In a persuasive paper, you pull out all the stops to say, “It’s my way or the highway!”
Unlike argumentative essays, where facts reign supreme, you don’t necessarily have to use researched, absolute facts to support your persuasive paper.
The goal of your persuasive paper is to persuade by any means necessary. If that involves including emotional anecdotes or stories instead of facts, that’s fine.
Don’t believe me? Ask any politician. When it comes to powers of persuasion, the facts don’t necessarily matter.
While including actual facts and evidence can be an effective way to persuade, it’s okay to play dirty in a persuasive essay. Make your readers laugh, cry, or quake in fear as long as it gets them to believe that what you are saying is true.
That said, you can’t go in and write your essay without any direction. To really persuade someone in your persuasive essay, you have to be smoooooth. You have to have finesse. To be smooth and finesseful (not a word, by the way), you should start with an outline.
Here’s an example of a persuasive essay outline:
Persuasive Essay Outline Intro
First, it’s important to select a topic that you can take a stand for.
Let’s say we’re writing about animal rights. I’m not talking about your typical “people shouldn’t hurt animals” essay. I’m talking about bestowing actual human rights on to my favorite animal: dogs.
1. Write a hook. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Always start your introduction with a strong hook. Make your audience want to read your essay.
For example, “Your dog is smarter than your baby, and more useful and loyal too. Plus, your dog will never, ever turn into an angsty teenager. If dogs are such good people, why don’t they have rights?”
Define your audience. This is a sentence or two that helps your reader define himself as being a member of your target audience. In my example, I’m specifically speaking to dog owners who live in Portland, Oregon.
For example, “For all Portland dog companions who have ever been turned away from a restaurant, disallowed access to transit, or rejected from a public park, it’s time to stand up for your pet’s rights—and your rights too!”
2. Present your thesis statement. Here is where you get to the meat of your persuasive essay and define the exact viewpoint that you want your audience to adopt.
Much as you would in an argumentative essay, you must take a stance on your topic. No wishy-washy “eh, I could go either way” stuff allowed.
Pick a side. Stick to it. Defend it to the end!
For example, “The dogs of Portland deserve the same rights and privileges as granted to our youngest humans, such as the right to visit restaurants, ride buses, walk off-leash, and go to the cinema so long as they are accompanied by a responsible human companion.”
Persuasive Essay Outline Body Paragraphs
The exact number of body paragraphs you include will depend on the parameters of your assignment and your topic. A bigger assignment and/or topic will require more reasons and paragraphs. A smaller assignment and/or topic will require fewer reasons and paragraphs. For the purpose of this blog post, I’m including three example reasons.
Each reason you come up with can be emotionally charged, logically irrefutable, or ethically binding—so long as it’s persuasive. In addition, each persuasive reason you offer should be supported by a fact or an example.
Body Paragraph 1
Body Paragraph 2
Body Paragraph 3
Persuasive Essay Outline Conclusion
Now that you have outlined your reasons and supporting facts and examples, it’s time to seal the deal in your essay’s conclusion. Your conclusion should contain the following important components:
1. Brief summary. Remind your audience of why this topic is important.
For example, “Dogs all across Portland are being unfairly denied the basic right to accompany their human companions to public places. It’s time for Portland dog owners to stand up for their furry friends.”
2. Benefits to the reader. Explain how acting on this issue will benefit your audience.
For example, “Not only will taking a stand for your canine benefit dogs everywhere, it will also benefit you. Next time you want to take a weekend away, ride the bus to work, or enjoy a matinee, you won’t have to worry about who will take care of your dog while you are away. This issue is about your rights as a dog companion too.”
3. Acall to action. What do you want your readers to do now that they’ve (hopefully) subscribed to your viewpoint on the topic?
For example, “Vote ‘yes’ on Portland City Ballot initiative 14 this election. It’s time to stand up for the rights of our most loyal friends.”
Downloadable Persuasive Essay Outline Template and Additional Resources
Now that you have a better idea of what it takes to create a persuasive essay outline, go forth and persuade the world!
I created the above visual outline using the online mind-mapping app at text2mindmap. It’s a great resource to brainstorm your persuasive essay topic, or create a visual persuasive essay outline.
Here is another useful persuasive essay outline builder that I found during my research.
Finally, here is a Persuasive Essay Outline Template (Word doc) I created just for you.
Feel free to use it to get started.
Once your writing is complete, be sure to have an editor review your essay for you. After all, you don’t want all your preparation to be for nothing.
Good luck!
Psst... 98% of Kibin users report better grades! Get inspiration from over 500,000 example essays.
Strong closing lines are important if you want your audience to take action. Learn how to conclude your presentation with the influence and power it needs to compel your audience to take your prescribed action.
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October 18, 2012
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How to End a Persuasive Speech
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byLisa. B. Marshall
One of the most common questions I receive regarding public speaking is how to end or conclude a persuasive speech effectively. I think the problem is that many people spend so much time on the opening attention-getter, on organizing the main points, using the rule of three, inserting humor, etc., that they run out of steam when it comes to end. Today I’ll cover how to end a persuasive speech with a bang and not a whimper.
Need to know how to end a speech?
More on effective openings and closings (end of a speech)? What is a Persuasive Speech?
First, let’s review. A persuasive presentation is a speech that’s made in an effort to influence a specific outcome. Your goal is to persuade your audience to believe in your cause and to take action to support you. Political speeches and fundraising speeches are great examples of persuasive presentations. In a persuasive speech, your final words – your closing– are the most important.
Don’t Cut Your Conclusion Short
Before I show you how to craft a persuasive ending, you need to know what not to do. Speakers often work so hard on the introduction and body of the speech that the conclusion is an afterthought.
Have you ever heard a speaker say something like this?
“Well, it looks like I’m about out of time. If you want to know more, I’ll stick around for a few minutes.”
“Are there any questions? No, it doesn’t look like it. Thanks for coming.”
Your conclusion should signal the end, but it is not just a final sentence. As a general rule of thumb, it should be about 10% – 15% of your speech. In a persuasive speech, you use this time to summarize the benefits of taking a specific action. If you told stories in the body of the presentation, now is the time to remind the audience of the main stories you told.
If you choose to signal the end with the words “in conclusion” (and I don’t recommend this), make sure you mean it. Don’t ramble on for another 30 minutes or add new points to your talk.
A Call to Action and a Solution
In a persuasive presentation, the closing words are where you drive your point home. If the audience walks away with one thing, it should be your closing call to action. This is when you deliver the specifics of what it is that you want your audience to do—to be part of the solution. Be passionate. And carefully choose how aggressive you’d like to be.
Let’s say you’re making a speech to friends and donors of a non-profit organization you represent. This is your annual fundraising drive. Without generous donations, you won’t make your budget goals for the year. The intro and body of your talk described the ways your nonprofit has provided support and what your goals are for the future. Again, your closing is a specific call to action and a solution. For example:
“Our budget has been cut by 25% and private donations are the key to our organization’s survival. Before you leave tonight, please consider signing up to help with one of our important fundraisers this year.”
Your persuasive conclusion needs to offer a solution your audience can be a part of. In this example, the audience was asked to help with fundraising to raise support. To make this more tangible, you could briefly list a few of the fundraisers, what roles you need volunteers to fill, and instructions for whom to contact about helping. Or a much more aggressive approach may be:
“Our budget has been cut by 25% and private donations are the key to our organization’s survival. I’m sending around the volunteer forms, please sign up to help with one or two of our important fundraisers this year. In addition, you’ll see the donation forms which you can hand to Paul on your way out.”
Make Your Ending Memorable
After you’ve delivered your call to action and concrete steps your audience can take, make your exit memorable. You’re looking for applause and agreement. You want to know that your message got through.
Since we’re in the middle of election season, I’ll use a recent acceptance speech to show what I’m talking about. These transcripts show the “exit” line delivered by President Barack Obama. This speech was written by a master speechwriter, and the goal is to energize his party so they’ll vote for him. You can see in the transcript from NPR that the words and delivery accomplished their goal.
'We don't turn back. We leave no one behind. [Cheers.] We pull each other up. [Cheers, applause.] We draw strength from our victories. [Cheers, applause.] And we learn from our mistakes. But we keep our eyes fixed on that distant horizon knowing that providence is with us and that we are surely blessed to be citizens of the greatest nation on earth.'
You probably don’t have a professional speechwriter, but you can still make your ending memorable. Find a quote that supports your view point or tell a quick story that shows how the support you’re asking for has made a difference in someone’s life. Use motivational words that inspire your audience to stand or cheer in agreement.
When you’re asked to give a persuasive speech, remember that your final words are your most important. Use them to turn your audience to your point of view and tell them what action you need them to take.
This is Lisa B. Marshall, The Public Speaker. Passionate about communication; your success is my business.
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A Free Persuasive Speech SAMPLE
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