120 Persuasive Speech Topics Set to Engage

A good topic can make or break your persuasive speech. You don’t want to go off convincing your audience of something they already agree with, after all. No, you want to compel them to accept a new stance, consider a radically fresh hypothesis, or do a specific thing.

Not sure what makes for a compelling topic in the first place? No worries: as a trusted place to find essay writers, EssayWriters experts often have to select topics for persuasive speeches. We asked them to draw on their experience to create this list of 120 great topics to kick off your brainstorming.

Before we start listing our persuasive speech topics for students, let’s brush up on what a persuasive speech is. It’s all in the name: a persuasive speech is a speech meant to convince your audience to adopt your stance or change their behavior. Such speeches rely on ethos, pathos, or logos modes of persuasion.

Persuasive speeches can be tough for two reasons. First, there’s the persuasion part: you have to find the right arguments to sway opinions. Then, there’s the speech part: you have to deliver it in a way that captures the audience’s attention, which does take a good deal of charisma.

So, why exactly does it matter so much what topic you pick? Well, it’s simple: good topics for persuasive speech captivate audiences and keep them engaged.

How do you settle on the right topic, then? We advise you to ask yourself these three questions:

- What piques your interest? Being interested in the topic will make preparing the speech easier, while your enthusiasm is likely to help convince the audience.

- How often have you heard about it? Some polarizing topics, like the death penalty, are just better not to dive into. Most people already have a firm opinion on them, and you’re unlikely to change it.

- Is there another side to the debate? Steer clear of the cut-and-dried ideas that you’ve heard defended so often that they’ve become clichés. Yes, everyone knows they should drive less to save the planet; you’re not going to change any minds there.

With that out of the way, let’s get to our main course: the 120 speech topics that are bound to keep your audience engaged. Our experts relied on their years of experience to come up with each of these topics from scratch. Some are new twists on the classics; others are fresh, one-of-a-kind ideas you won’t find anywhere else.

So, go ahead: browse our 120 topics to find the ones that strike a chord with you. Work on them as-is, elaborate on them, or use them as a starting point in your brainstorming; it’s all up to you!

Don’t want to sweat it? We know: sometimes, you simply want to get a quick win with an assignment or two. So, here are 20 easy topics to help you take care of your speech fast:

Persuasive speeches don’t have to revolve around serious issues like climate change or authoritarianism. These 20 topics will make for a fun pastime for you and your audience:

“Interesting” is a subjective qualifier, but these 20 topics are well poised to stir your curiosity — and that of your audience, of course:

Want your persuasive speech to truly stand out? Our speechwriters came up with these 20 topics from scratch; you won’t find them anywhere else:

If you’re in the market for a topic with a proven value, these 20 touch on the ideas with an established appeal:

Looking for cream-of-the-crop topics that are bound to make for a compelling speech? These 20 topics are tried-and-true hits that never fail to captivate an audience:

Ready to get your adventure in persuasive speech writing started? Chances are, you’re a bit hazy on what exactly that entails. So, our experts have decided to share their five-step approach to writing any persuasive speech. Follow their advice to make sure your speech stays with the audience — and fulfills its purpose, of course!

Preparation is key, as always. In this case, it means learning about the topic, both to gather evidence for your thesis and discover counterarguments to address them in your speech. Then, based on the research, define the goal (i.e., thesis) you want to achieve with the speech.

Consider your audience, too. Are they new to the topic, or are they knowledgeable about it? Are they already likely to agree with your points, or will they need a bit more persuading?

First, decide which mode(s) of persuasion you will use. You can appeal to the audience’s logic (logos), ethics (ethos), or emotions (pathos). Focus on one or combine several modes.

Then, jot down the key arguments you will use to persuade your audience. Their number will depend on how much time you’re allowed to spend on your speech. Three or four points are usually enough to present your case.

While you’re at it, make sure you present your arguments in a logical order — and stay laser-focused on your topic. Here’s the anatomy of a good persuasive speech, in broad strokes:

- Strong opening: hook, link to the audience, your credentials, your goal, roadmap for the rest of the speech

- Main body: three to four points with evidence and examples; consider addressing counterarguments

- Conclusion: summary of your points, call to action

Let us reassure you: your initial draft won’t be perfect as-is. Ever. Even experienced speakers have to revise their drafts before they deem them ready.

So, leave your draft alone for some time and return to it with a fresh pair of eyes. While revising it, make sure the flow is smooth, all information is presented in a logical order, and you don’t stray from the point.

This step doesn’t concern writing, strictly speaking, but it’s crucial if you’re preparing a speech. It’s not enough just to write it down; you also have to deliver it, and do it well. So, take time to practice your delivery. Do it in front of a mirror or a camera, if possible.

While you’re at it, don’t hesitate to give your draft a final coat of polish if you notice awkward phrasing or repetitions.

Writing a persuasive speech for the first (or even the tenth) time can be an anxiety-inducing experience. After all, you have to come out in front of people and try to convince them that your idea has merit. All the while, you also have to make sure you don’t forget a key point or stumble through words.

That’s why preparation is key. Yes, that might sound like a cliché, but that doesn’t make it any less true. You need to prepare your speech well, which means finding the right arguments and evidence and anticipating counterarguments. You should also practice it enough times that you can recite your speech even if you’re exhausted.

That said, however, remember that preparing a speech isn’t the same as memorizing a poem. Make sure to focus on remembering key arguments and evidence instead of learning the speech by heart. Otherwise, your delivery might come across as wooden.