177+ Persuasive Speech Topics for Students

Persuasive Speech Topics

Do you remember that favourite Aura moment? When the stands up after getting a serious beat. The Soundtrack is right on track, and then the main character stands up and delivers a speech so rousing, it has the entire room either weeping or cheering by the time it ends. What distinguishes the effectiveness of such a speech is not only the protagonist’s stellar delivery but also the compelling nature of the subject matter at hand.

Choosing an effective persuasive speech topic is essential for guaranteeing that your future speech or essay is as moving as these. If this sounds like a tall order, have no fear. Below you’ll find a list of some of the best and most interesting persuasive speech topics for high school students to tackle, from the playful (“Pets for President”) to the serious (“Should We Stop AI from Replacing Human Workers?”).

And if you’re craving more inspiration, feel free to check out this list of great debate topics, which can be used to generate further ideas.

How would you know if your speech is Good or Bad?

Before we get to the list of our speech ideas, we must address the question on everyone’s minds. What is a persuasive speech, and how would someone decide if a topic is good or not? A persuasive speech is a speech that aims to convince its listeners of a particular point of view. At the heart of each persuasive speech is a central conflict.

Note: The persuasive speech is used to pass mere information. (As an example, an informative speech topic could be written as: “The History of Making One’s Bed,” and a persuasive speech topic would be: “Why Making One’s Bed is a Waste of Time”- get it?)

And lest you believe your teachers just give persuasive speeches as a sadistic exercise, remember that honing your oratory skills will serve you well in every aspect of life- job interviews, business negotiations, and your college life in the future in the field of public policy or international relations. It is a good skill to have when you can create a positive change in the world.

Mostly Good Persuasive topics are Controversial

Something else that should be noted about good persuasive speech topics is that they are often more emotional. This is perfectly fine as long as you believe what you are arguing. The exception to this rule is if you are working on an assignment where your teacher or professor wants you to argue the side of the opposition. If that is the case, gather as much data as possible and center your argument on logos (logic) since the pathos (passion, empathy) won’t be there.

Listed below are a few good topics for persuasive speech engagements. By no means is this collection of persuasive speech topics exhausting, but it may give you a place to start or an idea from which you can base your persuasive speech. 

Here Are Some Good Topics For Persuasive Speech Engagements:

• Should undergraduate degrees be free? 
• Should there be a flat income tax rate? 
• Should hunting be illegal? 
• Should there be a minimum age to become president? 
• Should public schools be required to provide laptops or tablets for students? 
• Should social media be censored? 
• Should books be banned from public libraries?
• Should books be banned from school libraries? 
• Should schools have dress codes? 
• Should everyone be required to drive electric cars? 
• Should contraception be free? 
• Should there be universal healthcare? 
• Should marijuana be legalized? 
• Should parents or teachers teach students about sex?
• Should physical punishment be allowed in schools?
• Should high schools have open campus policies in terms of students being able to go off-campus for lunch? 
• Should colleges follow affirmative action quotas? 
• Should we have high-speed rail systems? 
• Should the government be able to seize land by reason of eminent domain? 
• Should people be required to use reef-friendly sunscreen? 
• Are parents supposed to vaccinate their children so that they can be allowed to study in public schools?
• Are pet owners obliged to spay or neuter their pets?
• Should parents allow their children to have social media accounts? 
• Should parents post their children on social media?
• Should the United States be a direct democracy? 
• Should everyone be vegan? 
• Do you possess a valid identification to vote in the UK elections?
• Is the decriminalization of illicit drug use a correct decision?

Persuasive Speech Topics About Business & Economy

• Should we do away with the minimum wage? Why or why not?
• Is it ethical for companies to use unpaid internships as a source of labour?
• Does the gig economy benefit or harm workers?
• Is capitalism the ideal economy?
• Should companies exploit sweatshops in third-world countries?
• Is it necessary that the government should offer free healthcare to every citizen?
• Is the government supposed to control the prices of pharmaceutical drugs?
• Should the government enact a universal base income?
• Should customers be required to tip a minimum amount in order to ensure food service workers make a living wage?
• Should someone’s tattoos or personal appearance factor into the hiring process?
• Should US workers have more vacation time?
• Is big game hunting beneficial for local communities?
• Do tariffs help or hurt the economy?

Persuasive Speech Topics About Family

• Is the government supposed to restrict the number of children that a couple can have?
• Does spanking children represent a valid way of discipline?
• Is it right to leave the decision of the genetic engineering of the children to the parents?
• Should we require parents to vaccinate their children?
• Should we require companies to give mandatory paternal and maternal leave?
• Should children be allowed to watch violent movies and video games?
• Should parents allow their teenagers to drink before they turn 21?
• Should the government provide childcare?
• Should telling your children about Santa Claus be considered lying?
• Should one parent stay home?
• Should parental consent be required for minors to receive birth control?
• Is it an invasion of privacy for parents to post photographs of their children on social media?
• Should parents make children eat vegetables?

Persuasive Speech Topics About Social Media

• Does it mean that the social media platforms should discontinue political advertisements?
• Are the advantages of social media more than the drawbacks?
• Is it the responsibility of the government to blame social media companies when hate speech is committed on their platforms?
• Is social media causing us to be less or more social?
• Are platforms such as TikTok fueling the mental health problems among teens?
• Is the government supposed to control social media to safeguard the privacy of the citizens?
• Should parents spy on their children’s social media?
• Should social media companies enact a minimum user age restriction?
• Should we require social media companies to protect user data?
• Should we hold social media companies responsible for cyberbullying?
• Should schools ban the use of social media from their networks?
• Should we be allowed to record others without their consent?
• Do online crime sleuths help or hurt criminal investigations?
• Should colleges be allowed to review an applicant’s social media accounts during the admissions process?

Persuasive Speech Topics About Sports and Fitness

• Are colleges supposed to pay student-athletes?
• Do we need to outlaw violent contact sports such as boxing and MMA?
• Do sports leagues have to force professional athletes to stand during the national anthem?
• Are sports teams to be prohibited in case they have misinformed or hateful players, such as Kyrie Irving?
• Does it necessarily require that high schools require their sportsmen to have a minimum GPA?
• Are transgender athletes supposed to participate in the Olympics?
• Should high schools ban football due to its safety risks to players?
• Should all high school students be required to play a team sport?
• Should sports teams be mixed instead of single-gender?
• Should there be different athletic standards for men and women?
• Should there be a minimum age to play contact sports?
• Should breakdancing be an Olympic sport?
• Should companies sell data that they gather using wearable health and fitness gadgets?

Debate Topics on Technology

Technology is one of the hottest debate topics around the world…Here are some cool ideas for you.

• Are we becoming lonely because of technology?
• Is online privacy a right?
• Is there a need to restrict screen time for children?
• Is there too little technology in the classroom?
• Can one live without technology in the modern world?
• Are social media sites to be controlled?
• Is it possible to have universal internet access for all?
• Is wearable technology going to help health outcomes?
• Is 5G safe for the health of the population?
• Do we need to worry about the digital divide?
• Can virtual reality become the future of entertainment?
• Are tech companies to blame for misinformation?
• Can blockchain technology transform finance?

Persuasive Speech Ideas About AI

Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic with a lot of topics to debate about…

• Will AI replace human jobs in the future?
• Should there be regulations on the use and development of AI.
• Can AI make healthcare better?
• Is AI dangerous to human privacy?
• Using AI in law enforcement is a good idea.
• Is it possible to use AI to solve climate change?
• Is the surveillance using AI ethical?
• Is it okay to give AI control over such vital areas as medicine?
• Is it possible to use AI to make art as good as the artists?
• Is the use of AI making people less intelligent?
• Should AI be used in education to personalize learning?
• Can AI predict and prevent crimes before they happen?
• Is it moral to create AI weapons that can be used in the military?
• Do we need to grant AI rights just as human beings possess?
• Is AI useful in controlling and reducing pandemics?
• Is it possible to use AI when making judicial decisions?
• Is AI-based genetic editing ethical?
• Is AI supposed to take part in financial trading and investments?
• Does the creation of super intelligent AI pose a threat to humanity?

Some Speech Topics on Education

Education is ever changing, and so are the discussions on policies, practices, and ethics.

• Is income-based tuition in universities a good idea?
• Is it time to make schools later?
• Are students supposed to train for a trade in secondary school?
• Is homework in primary schools something that should be prohibited?
• Should GCSEs be changed to a more modern assessment system?
• Should private schools be abolished?
• Should students be graded on effort rather than performance?
• Should cursive handwriting still be taught?
• Should gap years be mandatory before university?
• Should mobile phones be banned entirely during school hours?
• Is Ofsted inspection doing more harm than good?
• Should higher education be fully funded by the government?
• Should schools have mental health counsellors on-site?
• Should financial literacy be a mandatory subject?
• Should schools do away with school uniforms?

Some Essential Speech Topics that You Should Know…

Climate Change is an interesting debate topic. Everyone has a different view on it. Here are some ideas that will help you start…

• Is it time that the UK banned single-use plastics?
• Is the government making its contribution to combating climate change?
• Is meat consumption to be taxed as a way of reducing carbon emissions?
• Is it mandatory that companies reveal their environmental impact?
• Is train travel a substitute for flights in the UK?
• Are fast fashion companies responsible for environmental degradation?
• Is it the case that the UK is about to reach net-zero in 2030?
• Is there a restriction on the number of pets because of environmental issues?
• Should schools teach climate change as a core subject?
• Should local councils fine households that don’t recycle?
• Should electric cars be subsidised more heavily?
• Should fossil fuel advertising be banned like tobacco?
• Is nuclear energy a safe solution to climate change?

Some Interesting Speech Topics about Law and Human Rights

Laws are the reflections of the values of a society, and not everybody shares the same opinion on what is fair.

• Is the voting age in the UK going to be reduced to 16?
• Is hate speech a crime?
• Are prisoners entitled to vote?
• Is assisted suicide something that should be legalised?
• Is it time to bring back the death penalty?
• Is it necessary to wear body cameras all the time by the UK police?
• Does the trial by jury work in contemporary law?
• Are protesters supposed to be prohibited from blocking the roads?
• Is it necessary to have drug testing in certain professions?
• Should facial recognition surveillance in the street be prohibited?
• Is it time to have a written constitution in the UK?
• Does all crime have a statute of limitations?
• Does the UK face a threat to freedom of speech?
• Is corporal punishment acceptable at home?
• Is digital privacy a right of everyone?

Persuasive Speech Topics About Pop Culture & Society

Pop culture mirrors society, and often sparks strong opinions.

• Should reality TV be banned for promoting unrealistic standards?
• Is celebrity culture damaging to young people?
• Should influencers be required to disclose filters and edits?
• Is cancel culture necessary or toxic?
• Does hate speech in music lyrics need to be censored?
• Are sports stars and celebrities role models?
• Does the media promote dangerous stereotypes?
• Are violent video games supposed to be restricted to adults?
• Is there a need to have movie and show content warnings?
• Should UK TV broadcasters increase diversity quotas?
• When famous people turn into celebrities, are they denied the right to privacy?
• Does binge-watching cause any harm to the mind?
• Should awards shows be more inclusive and transparent?
• Is pop culture contributing to body image issues in teens?

Convincing Topics on Health and Wellbeing

Health is not only physical, but personal, political, and even controversial.

• Are mental health days to be considered as sick days in the workplace?
• Should we ban sugar products in schools and colleges?
• Should alternative treatment like acupuncture be available on the NHS?
• Why should advertising of junk food before 9 PM be banned?
• Is organ donation in the UK better as opt-out than as opt-in?
• Is the prohibition of smoking in every public place a good idea?
• Should the government subsidise gym membership?
• Are fast food companies to be taxed because they are causing obesity?
• Is it necessary to provide menstrual products to students free of charge?
• Is it necessary to prohibit the consumption of energy drinks by children below 12 years?
• Should exercise be prescribed prior to medication by GPs?
• Is there a legal age limit to cosmetic surgery?
• Is it possible to provide free therapy to everyone under 25?
• Are wearable fitness trackers something that doctors should prescribe?
• Is there a need to further limit alcohol consumption in the UK?

Persuasive Speech Topics About Ethics & Morality

Ethical questions force us to analyze our values and the way society is heading.

• Is the UK supposed to legalise euthanasia?
• Can one ever do something illegal in the name of a good cause?
• Do wealthy nations have to take up more refugees?
• Is it necessary to prohibit animal testing?
• Is eating meat moral in the era of climate change?
• Is it the right of parents to genetically alter their unborn babies?
• Is fast fashion purchasing ethical when you are aware of the effects all over the world?
• Is there a place for billionaires?
• Is it ethical for influencers to advertise something they do not use?
• Is AI content a form of intellectual property?
• Is it illegal to get a cosmetic surgery if someone is under the age of 18?
• Does the UK government need to censure CEO compensation in proportion to employee compensation?
• Is it unethical to be comfortable and not care about poverty in the world?
• Are companies to be held responsible for the mental health effects of their products?

How to Practice and Deliver a Persuasive Speech

1. Speak to yourself in a mirror, record yourself, and/or practice a speech in front of family or friends. In case you will use visual aids, a slide presentation, or notecards, rehearse to use them naturally in your speech. You are advised to rehearse as many as 5-10 times until you become very familiar with your speech.
2. Exercise body language. Do you look at your audience or the floor? Folding your arms across your chest or pacing to and fro in the room? Twiddling your hair or knuckle cracking, or fiddling with your clothes? Training on how to use your body, face, and hands will make you feel more relaxed when the time of your talk arrives.
3. Go slowly. Talking quickly in a speech is natural too- who does not want to get it over with? However, by speaking slowly, breathing, and pausing where necessary, your listeners will be able to identify with you a lot better.
4. Be easy on yourself. The way you come back after making a mistake is what matters a lot, not the mistake. The most effective thing to do is usually to shrug off a blip and go on good-naturedly. Your audience will hardly notice 99% of the time.

Some Final Thoughts on this

It may be challenging to find the best persuasive speech topics. However, the following tips and clues will help you create a successful argument that will make even the most suspicious audience go on your side. It is an art that also requires time and practice, and therefore, do not worry in case you fail to get it immediately. Do not forget to use your sources, speak as the expert, and have fun. Once you learn how to speak persuasively, then go out and begin to make a difference using your voice!