150 Argumentative Speech Topics
Argumentative speech topics how to guide and a list of more than 150 public speaking speech topics for an argument presentation. Learn how to develop strong convincing points and to persuade the opposition. Before you scan the list of argument speech topics, I will describe the basics for this kind of public speaking. They regard debate topics for speech class as well as argumentation speeches for every other speech writing ocassion.
The speaker presents a personal opinion, judgment or idea about a controversial and current issue, problem, value or dispute in a way that the opinion of the audience will change in favor of his / her side.
Argumentative speech ideas are controversial and refer to current political, social, business, religious issues, disputes, policies and values.
A few argumentative speech topics examples to start with:
Education
Reduce tuition for those students who maintained an A average during the previous year.
Smoking
Sale of cigarettes must be outlawed for the public health.
Women in The Military
There is no reason why women can't fill all jobs in the military to include combat.
Classic Appeals In An Argumentative Speech
Argument speech topics are characterized by the classic appeals to logos, pathos and ethos in the pro and contra arguments.LOGOS
Prove that we need a change in thinking, beliefs and behavior by appealing to reason and the rational intellect. Find common ground between you and your audience. Give some background they may need to fully understand the argumentative speech topic and your arguments. State your point of view. That's an effective way to create credibility and to persuade that you are reasonable.
PATHOS
Anticipate and accommodate the ethical, religious, social, or political beliefs and feelings of your listeners. Appeal to emotion, to their passions and deeply held values. Be passionate, but don't overdo your argumentation.
ETHOS
Appeal to character, the sense of right and wrong, sense of justice and fair play of your audience. Persuade the listener to identify himself with these traits and acknowledge that this is exactly how he feels.
Mix these pure rhetorical public speaking appeals in your speech topics.
Scan my list of examples of argumentative speech topics. Of course they have to be narrowed, but first pick out the issues of your concern. Or modify the argumentation topics of the list till they match your interests and concerns.
Consider it just as a start, of course this list is not exhaustive. These are not my personal opinions, they are just examples!
- Which are the argumentative speech topics you have some knowledge about?
- Which argument speech topics you think are important for public discussion?
| Academic Dishonesty Academic Freedom Acid Rain Addiction Affirmative Action Afghanistan Africa Aid Age Discrimination Aging Population Agriculture Technology AIDS/HIV testing Airpollution Alcohol Abuse Animal Abuse Animal Experimentation Animal Rights Animal Welfare Anorexia Anti-Semitism Arms Sales Artificial Intelligence Bigamy Bilingual Education Biodiversity Biological And Chemical Weapons Biomedical Ethics Biotechnology Bioterrorism Birth Control Breast Feeding in Public Bulimia Cameras in Courtrooms Campaign Financing Capital Punishment Censorship Chat Rooms Child Abuse Child Labor City Curfews Civil Liberties Civil Rights Condoms In Schools Conserving The Environment Consumer Protection Creationism Debtor Nations Diabetes Dieting Disabilities Domestic Violence Drug Trafficking Drugs and Sports Drunk Driving Electoral System Endangered Oceans Endangered Species Energy Alternatives Environmental Crises Epidemics Ethnic Violence Euthanasia | Family Planning Family Violence Famine Relief Efforts Fat Tax On Food Fathers'/Mothers' Rights In Divorce Federal Deficit Feminism Food Borne Illnesses Food Safety Foreign Oil Dependence Foreign Policy Fraud Free Enterprise System Free Speech Gambling Gangs Garbage And Waste Gay Marriages Gene Testing Genetic Engineering Global Resources Global Warming Globalisation Government Deregulation Gun Control Hate Crime Argumentative Speech Topics Health Care System Home Schooling Homeland Security Homeless Human Cloning Human Rights Illegal Immigration Inner-City Poverty Intellectual Property Iraq Islamic Fundamentalism Learning Disabilities Legal System Legalization Of Drugs Living Wills Massmedia Regulation Media Violence Medical Ethics Methadon Treatment Middle East Peace Process Military Argumentative Speech Topics Minorities Moral Decisions | National drinkingage National Health Insurance National Security Naturalization North KoreaOlder Citizens Organ Donation Organ Transplants Organized Crime Overpopulation Patriotism Peer Pressure Pesticides Polygamy Pornography Poverty Prejudice Prison Reform Privacy Property Rights Racism Recycling Religions Reproductive Technologies Right To Strike School Violence Sex Education Single Parent FamiliesSlavery Smoking Social Justice Social Welfare Space Exploration Spying/Intelligence Supremist Groups Surrogate Motherhood Territorial Disputes Terrorism Transportation Victims' Rights Video Games Violence and Abuse Voting Behavior War Crimes War On Drugs Water Resources Welfare Reform Women Drivers Working Women |
Specific Aspects Of Your Argumentative Speech Topics
Find narrower aspects and specific controversies within your argumentative topics. Make an inventory of facts, controversies, questions, issues, opinions, judgments and ideas, problems, causes, effects and solutions related to ethical and moral thinking or behavior. For example think about the arguments or disagreements you have with people or institutions about the topic. Ask yourself:- What are my concerns, attitudes, beliefs, and values?
- What are my principles that shape my attitudes and beliefs in relation to the speech topic?
- Why do I think this argumentative speech topic is very important for public discussion?
- What argumentative speech ideas are appropriate to the ocassion and to the audience?
The Argumentative Speech Topics Assignment
Study the rules and the do's and don'ts of the occassion very carefully. These are possible checks:- A debate?
- An argumentative speech assignment for college?
- Or you need debate topics for speech class?
- Where, when and how long do I have to speak?
- Is there an opponent speaker? Who is it?
Who Are Your Listeners?
Know who your listeners are. Keep their interests and attitude in mind. Because some listeners already are on your side, others will agree with your contentious speech, and sometimes there are people who will not share you opinions. Ask yourself:- Who are they?
- Collegues?
- Classmates?
- A debating society?
- Community members or complete strangers?
- What are their needs and interests?
State An Argumentative Speech Topic Proposition
You need a clear proposition to state the topic and purpose of your argumentative speech topics. Write down just one major idea, in one single sentence. That declarative statement, claim, or assumption has to summarize the importance of your idea and fit with your interests and the needs and wishes of your audience. Use a positively and often forcefully tone. So, to put it shortly:- What is it that you want your audience to reconsider or agree with?
- What do my listeners must remember?
How To Develop Arguments
Develop convincing and reasoned arguments that address the proposition and that prove your proposition. Prove that you are right in your ideas about the topic.- Offer appropriate background facts and figures, and give new information. Just consider yourself as the likeable who will show The Way.
- Construct fair, informed, and credible arguments, which are sustained by evidence and reasonable thoughts.
Deal With Opposing Arguments
Defend yourself against the main oppositional arguments when you prepare your argumentative speech topics. If the majority of your listeners is against you, then be extra careful how you deal with the opposing arguments. Don't enhance their animosity, don't step on toes! Get your audience to admit your argumentative speech has a point. Here's how:- List and explore the opposing arguments well-mannered, polite, full of understanding.
- Give much details in a way the oppositional listeners acknowledge their side of the question.
- Admit you understand the main opposing arguments and why.
- Then show delicately how your view is more reasonable, why it is the right one.
Final Tips For Argumentative Speech Topics
By now you've learned how to choose, narrow the focus, develop arguments, and deal with the opposition for this kind of speech writing. Consider my writing tips while you're developing argumentative speech topics:- Use relevant transition words and phrases. Let your arguments flow smoothly.
- Present and analyze opposing views first.
- Than introduce and advocate the arguments of your argumentative speech topics.
