There is a small but important difference between planning a persuasive speech and writing a persuasive essay. First, if you are planning a persuasive speech, you should think about a topic that can create mental pictures in the minds of your audience. For this reason, you may want to consider a few topics before settling on the one that allows you to be more descriptive and entertaining.

Another important factor when picking a persuasive speech topic is to choose a topic that can provoke your audience a little.

If you stir up a little emotion in your audience, you'll keep their attention. And that will make your speech better!

The list below is provided to help you brainstorm. You can choose a topic from this list or use the list to generate an idea of your own.

• Studying martial arts is good for mind and health.
• Competitive sports can teach us about life.
• Reality shows are exploiting people.
• Community service should be required for teens.
• These qualities make a hero.
• It's important to grow things in a garden.
• Violent video games are dangerous/harmless.
• Lyrics in a song can impact our lives.
• Traveling and studying abroad is positive.
• Journal writing is therapeutic.
• You should spend time with grandparents.
• Lap top versus tablet: one is better.
• Religion and science can go hand in hand.
• School uniforms are good/bad.
• All-girl colleges and all-boy colleges are good/bad.
• Multiple choice tests are better than essay tests.
• We should/should not spend money on space exploration.
• Open book tests are as effective as closed book tests.

• Security cameras keep us safer.
• Parent's should have access/should not have access to students' grades.
• Small classes are better than big classes.
• You can build a savings account.
• Credit cards are harmful for college students.
• We should have a royal family.
• We should/should not protect endangered animals.
• Texting while driving should be illegal.
• You can write a novel.
• You can go to your college of choice.
• State colleges are better than private colleges.
• Private colleges are better than state colleges.
• We should do away with penny coins.
• Fast food containers hurt the environment.
• You can eat and enjoy healthy snacks.
• You can become a millionaire.
• Dogs are better pets than cats.
• You should own a bird.
• It's unethical to keep birds in cages.
• Liberal arts degrees prepare better workers.
• Ghost hunting is dangerous.
• Football is dangerous/safe.
• School days should start later.
• Night school is better than day school.
• Technical training is better than a college degree.
• Immigration laws should be stricter/more lenient.
• Students should be able to pick their schools.
• Everyone should learn to play a musical instrument.
• Cockroaches should be eliminated.
• Sharks should be protected.
• We should do away with cars and go back to horse and carriage for transportation.
• We should use more wind power.
• We should pay more taxes.
• We should do away with taxes.
• Teachers should be tested like students.
• We should control the weather.
• Every student should join a club.
• Homeschooling is better than traditional school.
• People should stay married for life.
• Smoking in public should be illegal.
• Students should live on campus.
• Parents should let students fail.
• Giving is good.
• Education makes us happier people.
• Death penalty is good/bad for society.
• Bigfoot is real.
• We should increase train travel to save the environment.
• We should read more classic books.
• Fame is bad for children.
• Athletes should stay loyal to teams.
• We should reform our prisons.
• Juvenile offenders should/should not go to boot camps.
• Abraham Lincoln was the best president.
• Abraham Lincoln gets too much credit.