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130 Awesome Speech Topics for Kids

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

Kids always do best when they are interested in what they are asked to talk about. But every child has different interests, and therein lies the challenge – selecting awesome speech topics that kids will want to talk about.

A few points you want to consider:

If the topic is too “adult,” they may be too young to cope with what they find.
If the topic is too simplistic, their growing sense of awareness may be stunted.

Keep in mind the goal of the speech – do you want to educate, to entertain, to express ideas, or something else?
Consider topic that suits child’s character: someone who has an extensive imagination won’t like the same topics as someone who is more factual and practical.

Here is a broad range of speech topics for kids you can choose from.

Family and friends, miscellaneous, more miscellaneous….

Why I love my mom and dad
Funny things my parents say
Let me tell you about my imaginary friend
Things that really happen at grandma’s house when mom and dad aren’t there
Secrets my mom does all day when I’m not around
What my brother/sister thinks of me
What my dad does in the bathroom for all that time
If I had a choice between getting money or spending time with my family, I would choose…
What did I do for my mom last mother’s day
Let me tell you about my family
My family’s traditions
Original projects to surprise my parents on Mother’s Day (in the Spring) and Father’s Day (often marked in June).
Where we went on vacation/holiday with my family
What is my favorite song
My favorite band or singer, and one of his or her greatest hits I would like to play with some clarification.
The best fairy tale, or a variation child speech topic can be a cartoon character.
My favorite season of the year is…
My favourite time of day or week.
The funniest April Fool’s Day joke.
5 of my favorite words
Top favorite Christmas song of all times
3 favorite things to buy at the market
If I went to my favorite restaurant I would order…
Mom and my favorite place to visit is..
My favorite thing about summer
What my favorite pizza toppings are
My favorite New Year’s tradition
Favorite sundae toppings
The most delicious meal I’ve ever had
If I built the ultimate sandwich, it would have…
The worst vegetable on the planet
How many things can you make with a potato
Describe the flavors of Thanksgiving foods
One thing I know how to cook is…
The contents of your lunch box.
Different ways to eat an apple
Why I don’t care about the “Five second rule”
I don’t like to eat … Fill in something you dislike
A day in the life as a fly
What my dog is thinking
What would it be like if dinosaurs roamed the Earth?
My dream mythical creature for a pet would be…
If I could talk to animals…
What do cows think about
How do animals talk to each other
How to care for your pets, the right way
What rights should animals have?
What different wild animals have I seen
How penguins live on Antarctica and only there and not on the North Pole (besides the zoo of course)
A day at the wildlife sea aquarium, with dolphins, sharks, whales and seals.
How kangaroos care for their children.
What birds visit your backyard at home
How do rainbows work
What planet would I visit if I had my own rocket ship
Why the sky is blue
How are stars made
Where do clouds come from?
Where babies come from
What outer space is like
Why do the leaves on trees change color in the fall
How water is so important
What makes the Sun so bright
How do boats float
Why do we have dreams when we sleep
Why are eyes different colors
What makes the world go ’round
How do planes fly
The stars, black holes, galaxies and the interstellar medium in our cosmos
Biggest birthday wish
Best indoor winter activities
Coolest superhero power
If I was the President of the U.S….
My dream vacation
If I were a character in a book, I would be…
Why I’m on Santa’s nice/naughty list
The inside scoop on __________
If I could change one thing about the world, it would be…
How I really feel about seeing the doctor
The best part about holidays
If I had three wishes, they would be…
If I were famous, it would be for my…
My secret life as a spy
My best invention
Fun games to play on long car rides
Silly songs I know
In my dream house, there would be…
The best part about being sick
Why the tooth fairy must be real
What my name means
Disney World: the first person I’d want to see is…
If I was the author of a book, I’d write about…
The charity I’m going to donate to when I’m older is…
What happiness means to me
The best thing about me is…
If I could be a character in any video game, it would be…
How I care for the environment every day
Why are farmers important
What I want to be for Halloween next year
What I want to be when I grow up
Why best friends are so special
If I was a princess or prince, I would …
My toys, dolls or mini racing cars collection.
My trip to Disney World or other resort.
How I decorate my room at home.
My biggest adventure.
Good kid games online.
Nice birthday presents you like to get.
What you could do without television or video.
Foreign hollidays we do not celebrate.
Things – food or scary situations – that make you sick.
What is more important: Doing what’s right or being popular
The best memory I can remember
Who I was named after
What it would be like to meet an alien
My greatest fear
The happiest day of my life
Something I have done that I am proud of
What adult in my life do I look up to the most
How to plan a surprise party
A day at the beach
The coolest toy I have
What I know about (insert sport)
Vampires or werewolves?
Steps to drawing a flower
If I re-wrote the story, “The Little Mermaid” or “Bambi” it would go like this…
How to make a snowman
The strangest place I’ve ever been
Are table manners really important
Tell a myth or legend about your future self
The coolest art/craft I’ve ever made
If I were in charge, the rules I would make would be…

If you are selecting a topic together, sit down with your child and read through this list together and make your own list of which topics stood out to your child . Suggest alternatives or adaptations to some topics. The goal is to get their juices flowing. You want this to be a choice that they are comfortable with.

Help them decide by reminding them who their audience will be and what the occasion is . This will help determine what is appropriate and what the audience will want to hear. Your child probably wouldn’t want to talk about Barbie at a formal function or to an audience of mostly boys.

All that’s left to do is prepare and practice, because we all know – practice makes perfect!

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205 Controversial Topics for your Essay, Speech, or Debate

206 Great Speech Topics for Teens [Persuasive, Informative]

25 thoughts on “130 Awesome Speech Topics for Kids”

Sure! It’s about I only want a ribbon about u are afraid Togo on stage and don’t want to go to the next level except a good grade.

A day in a life of me as an old person

im so bad at writing speechs

You should keep some simple and affective topics on which children can speak on. But still good.

this really helped me I am trying to look for a speech and this helped me ALOT!!!!thanks and had lots of good ideas

it’s very good for a child under like 8 but i am 9 and i use it and when our teacher said were have a speech contest i flip out! but i found this web site and it helped me a lot. In fact, i won the speech contest!

Ok you guys are good in all but I feel like I don’t know if kids are going to want to listen to these baby ideas and where baby’s come from and I am in grade six and I don’t think people really want to listen but you guys ar good for like grade threes or something like that because I don’t think people over the grade of four are going to want to listen to this

OK you guys r good but i need more ideas all of are cool but i need to win a speech contest

I love the ideas kind of random but still funny and interesting

please help me to write speech

ya i’m in a speech contest too and thx you have helped me lot’s 🙂

I couldn’t think of anything so I simply did: why I can’t think of a speech topic!

I LOVE your topic Me it inspires me and I think I am going to write about that for my speech contest entry.

i LOVVVE the ideas im going to come first in my speech comments

i wish you would give more responsible topics because i don’t want to write a speech on the steps to write a flower i would want to amaze the judges with a out of this world speech not a stupid one i am in sixth grade and i am about to do a huge essay contest and i want to write something jaw dropping

thank you!!! this is very helpful to us it give us more confidence and knowledge

I need a topic that I can talk about for 20 MINUTES!!!. These topics seem too trivial for an impromptu speech for 20 minutes, but good topics for shorter speeches!

love your ideas so good you really have a brillant brain sir

Thank u a lot

No this is not the topics i am looking for….. I’m looking for persuasive speeches could u please add topics for that

Winning Isn’t Everything

Well, it’s pretty good for school, but I need topics like “Benefits of ___” or “What we should do about pollution”, etc. I’m doing this for a Public Speaking class and we have to do speeches sort of like a ‘TED talk’

I want a speech on the Democratic for my school

I’m kinda annoyed they don’t take you to a site that helps you write it like I need this thing next Monday!

I love those crazy and cute topics….once I read them they grab my heart at once and now my mummy is saying me to make ur speech on this and that blaa … blaaa…. but I can’t leave those cute science topics….thank you so much for whoever have those kind of sweet topics

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100 Persuasive Speech Topics for Kids

Michele is a writer who has been published both locally and internationally.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Kids' persuasive speech topics cover everything from current events to age old childhood milestones. If you've been assigned a persuasive writing speech, look for a topic you know a lot about and really stand behind.

Easy Persuasive Speech Topics for Beginners

Students in grades two and up who are just starting to learn about the different types of essays and writing can select easy topics about things they are very familiar with. These persuasive writing prompts work great for short speeches.

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Fun and Interesting Topics

Kids should start every morning with yoga.
Cereal is not a healthy breakfast.
Showering every day isn't important.
Kids' clothing should always be designed by kids.
Being a YouTube star is a real job.
Boredom is good for kids.
Borrowing books from the library is better than buying them from a store.
Hamsters are the best first pet for kids.
Every person is completely unique.
My town is the best place for families with young children to live.
Being an only child is better than having siblings.
Kids should have TVs in their bedrooms.
Jeans are the most uncomfortable article of clothing.

Educational Topics

Cursive writing shouldn't be taught in schools.
Lunch periods should be longer for younger kids and shorter for older kids.
Kids shouldn't be allowed to bring homemade treats to share at school.
Homework should be optional for kids.
Schools should mandate that all kids learn about all holidays celebrated around the world.
All schools should have outdoor classrooms available.
All foods should be grown or raised by small farmers.
Playing video games is a good hobby for kids.
Gardening is an easy way to eat healthier.
Reading is more important than math.
Kids should get to choose what classes they take in elementary school.

Global Topics

People's differences make the world a more interesting place.
Kids under age 13 shouldn't be allowed to have jobs anywhere in the world.
The world is round.
Dinosaurs really did exist and go extinct.
People should only be allowed to eat food that grows or lives in their country.
International pen pals are good for kids.
Learning a second language is helpful for everyone.
There should be one form of money that every country uses.
Every country should have its own kind of schools.
Governments should offer free travel to other countries for educational purposes.

Intermediate Persuasive Speech Topics for Children

Kids in upper elementary grades who have some practice in writing persuasive speeches can choose topics that might be a little more controversial. These unique speech topics leave room for longer arguments and feature more interesting subjects.

Kids should have cell phones.
Kids, not adults, should decide how much screen time to have each day.
Every town should be required to have a playground.
Waffle cones are better than regular ice cream cones.
Dogs are better companions than cats.
Wearing pajamas in public is inappropriate.
Short hair is for boys and long hair is for girls.
Kids should have fewer toys and more cardboard boxes to play with.
Girls like to play with action figures.
Pokemon are cooler than Yo Kai.
Mosquitos are the most annoying of all bugs.
Zoos are unsafe for young children.
Kids under age 13 should be banned from having social media accounts.
Classrooms shouldn't have traditional desks.
School lunches should include some junk food options.
Every school should have child representatives on their hiring committee.
Naps are important for kids of all ages, not just babies and toddlers.
The government should stop making paper money and only use coins.
Robots make life easier for humans.
Children's books should be written by children.
Field trips and real-world experiences are more useful than classroom lectures.
Columbus discovered America.
Kids should be allowed to skip high school and go to college early if they want.
Dancing in public should be outlawed.
Voice recognition locks are safer than fingerprint recognition locks.
People should only eat foods they grow or catch.
All people in the world should speak English.
All countries should have the same rules about weapons.
Every child should spend a year living in another country with their family.
Men and women should have the same rights no matter what country they live in.
Adults should encourage child participation in strikes and marches for important causes.
The current U.S. President represents the country well.
Global competition is good for everyone.

Advanced Persuasive Speech Topics for Kids

Upper elementary and lower middle grade students with lots of speech writing experience can pick more complex topics that elicit bigger emotional reactions.

TV shows and movies for kids should have stronger content guidelines.
Real life heroes like police officers and firefighters would be more approachable if they dressed like Power Rangers and other super heroes.
Virtual reality games are better than 3D games.
Parents of bullies should be punished for their child's actions.
"Crap" and "Heck" are bad words.
Riding a bike is not that easy.
Funny cat videos are funnier than funny baby videos.
There's no such thing as too many stuffed animals.
Goats say "maa," not "baa."
Kids sports are safe.
Holidays shouldn't be celebrated in schools.
Kids should rate their teachers at the start and end of every school year.
Recess and classroom physical activity breaks help kids focus in school.
School buses should have a driver and at least two aides.
Classes should be grouped by ability levels rather than ages.
Technology makes people's lives better.
Middle school is still elementary school.
Schools should mandate classes where kids teach each other.
No one, teachers or students, should be allowed to bring cell phones into the school.
Kids should be allowed to take off their shoes in their classroom.
Students should not have to ask permission to take drinks and bathroom breaks.
Global warming isn't real.
Every country can have its own guidelines for who is allowed to leave or enter.
Kids can help combat climate change.
Astronauts will find life on other planets.
Daylight Savings Time should be eliminated.
Aquariums and zoos help with wildlife conservation.
People should be allowed to clone animals.
Sugar should be outlawed.
McDonald's is better than Burger King.
Tribal cultures should be preserved.
Companies should not be allowed to build their products in other countries.
People should call countries by their native name, not a translated name.

State Your Case

Most people agree that writing in elementary school is important because it gives kids a way to express their thoughts and feelings in a way others can understand. Persuasive writing is all about stating your case, or point, and all the facts that support this opinion. Choose a topic you believe in or are passionate about to create the best persuasive speech.

101 Incredible Speech Topics for Kids

16 February 2023

Are you looking for some incredible speech topics for kids?

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

In this blog post, we’ll give you 101 amazing ideas for speech topics that will have your young public speaker feeling confident and excited to take the stage for their next presentation. From discussing their favourite sports team to sharing a personal story, there will surely be a topic on this list that resonates with every child.

So without further ado, let’s get started!

Looking for some fun debating topics? Check out our blog on debate topics here !

What makes a good public speaking topic?

Finding good speech topics, especially as a kid, can be an intimidating task.

As children, our interests tend to change, and it may be difficult to find speech topics that we can expand upon and still engage the audience.

It is important to remember that kids should aim to give presentations on any topic they are passionate about. Ideally, when looking for successful kids’ speech topics, school students should pick a particular topic:

they know well, as this will help them give a good speech without too much extra research;
that has enough content, which will help with speech length; and
is interesting and relevant to the audience they’ll be presenting to.

Taking some time to consider all of these factors will go far in making sure kids create informative, valuable presentations that make their parents proud!

The three different kinds of speeches

Whether your child is a budding public speaker or simply looking to bolster their confidence in front of an audience, it’s important to be aware of the three main types of speeches they can give: Informative, Entertaining, and Persuasive speeches.

An informative speech teaches people something as they explain a process, inform about a topic, or share information with an audience.
An entertaining speech is more light-hearted and focuses on entertaining an audience with a story, joke, or anecdote.
A persuasive speech aims to convince an audience of a particular viewpoint. In these types of speeches, it’s important for the speaker to have strong topic knowledge as well as supporting evidence to back up their argument.

By understanding these three speech styles, young public speakers can choose the speaking style that makes them feel the most comfortable and excited about the task of public speaking.

We have provided a range of topics that fit into each of these three speech types and therefore will be perfect for any young public speaker, regardless of their personal preference!

Remember: you can always put a spin on any speech topic to make it more informative, persuasive, or entertaining. Feel free to challenge yourself by turning one of our persuasive speech topics into a comedic presentation or taking an entertaining topic and using it to build a persuasive speech – there is usually no need to restrict yourself to one particular style of expression!

Informative Speech Topics

At our public speaking courses for kids, we know how important it is to find the perfect informative speech topic. We want your young public speakers to explore ideas and topics that resonate with their interests and spark their passion for presenting!

From urban bees to sports nutrition, science experiments to art history, the possibilities are endless!

Our list of kid-friendly speech topics provides a great starting point for creating an informative, engaging presentation. Whether they choose a familiar subject or something new and exciting, our goal is to support student excellence in every way possible.

Check out these informative speech ideas:

Exploring the Benefits of Outdoor Play
The History of Video Games
How to Become an Eco-Friendly Consumer
The Positive Impact of Music Education
What Makes a Great Leader?
The Science Behind Climate Change
Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet
Understanding the International Space Station
Discovering Ancient Civilizations
Exploring Different Cultures Through Dance and Music
Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
The Art and Science of Computer Programming
Every Day Victories
The Harms of Violent Video Games
Types of Alternative Energy Sources
Exploring Different Types of Art
The Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep
Ancient Mythology and Folklore
The Science Behind the Human Brain
Famous Scientists in History
The Most Delicious Meal of All Time
Recycling and Waste Management Solutions
Global Warming vs Climate Change
Robotics: Past, Present, and Future
Understanding the Solar System
The Biggest Social Issues of our Times
The Secret Life of…
Investigating Animal Habitats in Nature
Why E-Books are the Future
Exploring the Wonders of Chemistry

Entertaining Speech Topics

Figuring out entertaining topics for public speaking can be a challenge, especially when the speaker is young.

However, the right topic can be the key to making a great impression on your audience.

Whether you are interested in discussing robotics or telling stories of your own life experiences, there is bound to be an entertaining speech topic suitable for everyone!

Our rich variety of topics ensures that young public speakers have plenty of choices when it comes to finding what will make for a captivating performance.

Check out these 30 fun topic ideas that can humour, shock, or entertain the audience:

Proof that We Live in a Computer Game
The Best Jokes for Kids
My Imaginary Friend
My Crazy Summer Vacation
How I Got In Trouble With My Parents
Weird Foods Around the World
Fun Facts About Dinosaurs
Frighteningly Funny Ghost Stories
If I Were a Cartoon Character…
Embarrassing Moments We’d Rather Forget!
Epic Pranks I’ve Pulled off So Far
Interesting Reasons Why We Laugh
Life Through a Dog’s Eyes
My Favourite Outdoor Activity
If I had One Superpower…
Superheroes and Their Amazing Powers
The Best Thing About Dragons
Why Too Much TV is a Good Thing
Funny Things I’ve Heard on the Bus
Unusual Hobbies Around the World
Weird Etiquette Rules That Don’t Make Any Sense
How to Make Your Own Board Game
Mysteries of the Deep Sea
Exploring Outer Space: Astronomy for Kids
Fantastic Fables from Other Countries
Bizarre Traditions From Around the World
The Art of Storytelling: Creative Writing Ideas
Fun Facts About Animals
Learning with Lego: Building a Better Future
The Power of Imagination: Mindful Meditation Techniques

Persuasive Speech Topics

Writing a persuasive speech can be intimidating for kids, but it doesn’t have to be.

Not sure where to start? No problem! We have plenty of kid-friendly persuasive speech topics to get students’ creative juices flowing.

From discussing the importance of friendship and relationship building to spurring environmental awareness, we have the perfect persuasive speech topics for any young public speaker.

Become confident and display your power of persuasion with our helpful advice and engaging list of topics.

Have a look at these 30 persuasive speech topics that can help kids call others to action:

The Benefits of Social Media
How to Become a Responsible Citizen
The Value of Having Good Manners
Taking Care of the Environment: Reducing Pollution and Waste
The One Thing I Know About Eating Healthy Foods
Exercise for Kids: Why It Is Important
The Impact of Technology on Education
Building Better Communities Through Community Service
Developing Self-Discipline for Success in Life
Argumentative Strategies That Can Be Used In Everyday Life
The Power of Positive Thinking
Creating Lasting Memories with Family Time
Exploring Different Cultures with Travel and Adventure
The Importance of Teamwork and Collaboration
My Favourite Restaurant
Why I Learned a Second Language (and You Should Too)
Exploring Causes for Climate Change and Possible Solutions
Learning the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure
Making Wise Choices When Shopping Responsibly
Understanding Cyberbullying and Taking Action Against It
Finding Success in Failure: Reframing the Mindset
Learning About Money Management through Financial Literacy Programs
Practising Compassion, Kindness, and Respect For Others
Building Self-Confidence Through Leadership Activities
Using Creativity to Solve Everyday Problems
Exploring Ways to Balance School and Extracurricular Activities
Making Healthy Choices Through Positive Leadership
The Wisdom of Being a Young Person
Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Schools
Learning How To Analyze Fake News with Critical Thinking Skills

Classic Speech Topics for Kids

Not sure if you want to do an informative, persuasive, or entertaining speech?

Are you looking for classic topics that have been done time and time again but are popular topics for a reason?

Look no further than these classic speech topics:

My Favorite Book
What I Learned From My Pet
How to Have Fun Without Technology
The Place That Inspires Me the Most
The Power of Music
What It Means To Be A Good Friend
My Best Day Ever
If I had Three Wishes…
Living a Simple But Fulfilling Life
Celebrating Diversity in Our Community
My Hero: The Person Who Inspires Me the Most

Impromptu and Abstract Speaking Topics

Whilst approaching impromptu and abstract speech topics can be daunting, there actually isn’t much difference between them and normal speech topics.

Impromptu speech topics are usually more generic, providing students with the opportunity to reflect on their own lived experiences and share that with their audience. Rather than spending time finding the perfect content to fit impromptu speech topics, the better approach is generally to bend the topic to something that you’re familiar with and comfortable speaking about, whether it be knitting being the best part of your day or a conversation you had with a friend about time travel.

Being prepared will give your child the confidence necessary to make their presentation successful – so if you’re not sure what speech topic you’re likely to get, make sure to think up plenty of anecdotes before the presentation!

Picking the perfect speech topics for kids

Now that you have a fantastic speech idea, it’s time to get writing!

Let our resources help guide you through the speech crafting process (we’ve got plenty of blogs and videos to help) and give your child the opportunity to shine on the stage. Don’t forget to practice your speaking manner either, including your tone of voice and body language!

Moreover, our in-person and online courses provide step-by-step instruction and guidance throughout each program so kids learn exactly how real-world speaking works – all tailored specifically for your own future speaker.

You can also visit our YouTube Channel for advice to guide you through the entire speech writing process, as well as expert tips for practising your performance!

So don’t wait – take advantage today and get ready to stand out from the crowd with an amazing speech!

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Public Speaking for Kids: 30 Topic Ideas for 30 Days

Samidha raj.

Writer , Jersey City , New Jersey

A great public speaker, whether a young child or a seasoned professional, is someone who reflects charisma and confidence to captivate their audience. It’s okay to feel nervous or to have fear of public speaking. Great public speakers often get nervous, but this nervous energy keeps their adrenaline flowing.

However, what is not okay is sounding and looking nervous when speaking in public. This makes the audience feel disconnected from the speaker. Public speaking training for kids seems like a daunting task, but it’s really a matter of practice.

Help your children to project magnetism and self-assuredness when they speak with these 30 inspiring speech topics for 30 days. Your kids can practice public speaking by taking one topic every day for the next 30 days. This will help them fire their imaginations to be confident public speakers. Here are some topic ideas for public speaking for children, but feel free to invent your own! Choose a topic today!

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Public Speaking for Kids: Ideas for Topics

Here are the 30 topic ideas for 30 days of the month:

The best part about living on Earth
Let me tell you about my imaginary friend
If you were to write a book for your kids your age to read, what it would be about?
My favorite cartoon character
My favorite time of the day or week
The most delicious meal I’ve ever had
If I could talk to animals
If I could change one thing about the world, it would be
My favorite game
If I had a million dollars, what would I do?
My dream job
The funniest movie I have ever seen
My typical day at school
What sports do you like? Why?
Interesting things you see in the sky
The best day of my life
My best friend
A much-needed invention
What planet would you visit and why?
If you could have one superpower, what it would be?
What’s your favorite outdoor activity?
Tell us why too much TV is bad for your health
If you could make one toy, what would it be?
What is your favorite thing to do with your family?
If you were the President for the day, what would you do?
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be?
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
What is your least favorite food?
What’s the first thing you think of when you wake up?
What is your favorite kind of music, and why?

Speaking on the above topic ideas will instill the power of confidence in your kids. When your child is charged with a healthy dose of self-assurance, nothing can get in the way of their success. So, take this 30-day, 30-topic challenge and boost your child’s confidence in becoming a great public speaker. You will see a decided improvement in your child’s eye contact, body language, and presentation skills.

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112 Persuasive Speech Topics That Are Actually Engaging

What’s covered:, how to pick an awesome persuasive speech topic, 112 engaging persuasive speech topics, tips for preparing your persuasive speech.

Writing a stellar persuasive speech requires a carefully crafted argument that will resonate with your audience to sway them to your side. This feat can be challenging to accomplish, but an engaging, thought-provoking speech topic is an excellent place to start.

When it comes time to select a topic for your persuasive speech, you may feel overwhelmed by all the options to choose from—or your brain may be drawing a completely blank slate. If you’re having trouble thinking of the perfect topic, don’t worry. We’re here to help!

In this post, we’re sharing how to choose the perfect persuasive speech topic and tips to prepare for your speech. Plus, you’ll find 112 persuasive speech topics that you can take directly from us or use as creative inspiration for your own ideas!

Choose Something You’re Passionate About

It’s much easier to write, research, and deliver a speech about a cause you care about. Even if it’s challenging to find a topic that completely sparks your interest, try to choose a topic that aligns with your passions.

However, keep in mind that not everyone has the same interests as you. Try to choose a general topic to grab the attention of the majority of your audience, but one that’s specific enough to keep them engaged.

For example, suppose you’re giving a persuasive speech about book censorship. In that case, it’s probably too niche to talk about why “To Kill a Mockingbird” shouldn’t be censored (even if it’s your favorite book), and it’s too broad to talk about media censorship in general.

Steer Clear of Cliches

Have you already heard a persuasive speech topic presented dozens of times? If so, it’s probably not an excellent choice for your speech—even if it’s an issue you’re incredibly passionate about.

Although polarizing topics like abortion and climate control are important to discuss, they aren’t great persuasive speech topics. Most people have already formed an opinion on these topics, which will either cause them to tune out or have a negative impression of your speech.

Instead, choose topics that are fresh, unique, and new. If your audience has never heard your idea presented before, they will be more open to your argument and engaged in your speech.

Have a Clear Side of Opposition

For a persuasive speech to be engaging, there must be a clear side of opposition. To help determine the arguability of your topic, ask yourself: “If I presented my viewpoint on this topic to a group of peers, would someone disagree with me?” If the answer is yes, then you’ve chosen a great topic!

Now that we’ve laid the groundwork for what it takes to choose a great persuasive speech topic, here are over one hundred options for you to choose from.

Should high school athletes get tested for steroids?
Should schools be required to have physical education courses?
Should sports grades in school depend on things like athletic ability?
What sport should be added to or removed from the Olympics?
Should college athletes be able to make money off of their merchandise?
Should sports teams be able to recruit young athletes without a college degree?
Should we consider video gamers as professional athletes?
Is cheerleading considered a sport?
Should parents allow their kids to play contact sports?
Should professional female athletes be paid the same as professional male athletes?
Should college be free at the undergraduate level?
Is the traditional college experience obsolete?
Should you choose a major based on your interests or your potential salary?
Should high school students have to meet a required number of service hours before graduating?
Should teachers earn more or less based on how their students perform on standardized tests?
Are private high schools more effective than public high schools?
Should there be a minimum number of attendance days required to graduate?
Are GPAs harmful or helpful?
Should schools be required to teach about standardized testing?
Should Greek Life be banned in the United States?
Should schools offer science classes explicitly about mental health?
Should students be able to bring their cell phones to school?
Should all public restrooms be all-gender?
Should undocumented immigrants have the same employment and education opportunities as citizens?
Should everyone be paid a living wage regardless of their employment status?
Should supremacist groups be able to hold public events?
Should guns be allowed in public places?
Should the national drinking age be lowered?
Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
Should the government raise or lower the retirement age?
Should the government be able to control the population?
Is the death penalty ethical?

Environment

Should stores charge customers for plastic bags?
Should breeding animals (dogs, cats, etc.) be illegal?
Is it okay to have exotic animals as pets?
Should people be fined for not recycling?
Should compost bins become mandatory for restaurants?
Should electric vehicles have their own transportation infrastructure?
Would heavier fining policies reduce corporations’ emissions?
Should hunting be encouraged or illegal?
Should reusable diapers replace disposable diapers?

Science & Technology

Is paper media more reliable than digital news sources?
Should automated/self-driving cars be legalized?
Should schools be required to provide laptops to all students?
Should software companies be able to have pre-downloaded programs and applications on devices?
Should drones be allowed in military warfare?
Should scientists invest more or less money into cancer research?
Should cloning be illegal?
Should societies colonize other planets?
Should there be legal oversight over the development of technology?

Social Media

Should there be an age limit on social media?
Should cyberbullying have the same repercussions as in-person bullying?
Are online relationships as valuable as in-person relationships?
Does “cancel culture” have a positive or negative impact on societies?
Are social media platforms reliable information or news sources?
Should social media be censored?
Does social media create an unrealistic standard of beauty?
Is regular social media usage damaging to real-life interactions?
Is social media distorting democracy?
How many branches of government should there be?
Who is the best/worst president of all time?
How long should judges serve in the U.S. Supreme Court?
Should a more significant portion of the U.S. budget be contributed towards education?
Should the government invest in rapid transcontinental transportation infrastructure?
Should airport screening be more or less stringent?
Should the electoral college be dismantled?
Should the U.S. have open borders?
Should the government spend more or less money on space exploration?
Should students sing Christmas carols, say the pledge of allegiance, or perform other tangentially religious activities?
Should nuns and priests become genderless roles?
Should schools and other public buildings have prayer rooms?
Should animal sacrifice be legal if it occurs in a religious context?
Should countries be allowed to impose a national religion on their citizens?
Should the church be separated from the state?
Does freedom of religion positively or negatively affect societies?

Parenting & Family

Is it better to have children at a younger or older age?
Is it better for children to go to daycare or stay home with their parents?
Does birth order affect personality?
Should parents or the school system teach their kids about sex?
Are family traditions important?
Should parents smoke or drink around young children?
Should “spanking” children be illegal?
Should parents use swear words in front of their children?
Should parents allow their children to play violent video games?

Entertainment

Should all actors be paid the same regardless of gender or ethnicity?
Should all award shows be based on popular vote?
Who should be responsible for paying taxes on prize money, the game show staff or the contestants?
Should movies and television shows have ethnicity and gender quotas?
Should newspapers and magazines move to a completely online format?
Should streaming services like Netflix and Hulu be free for students?
Is the movie rating system still effective?
Should celebrities have more privacy rights?

Arts & Humanities

Are libraries becoming obsolete?
Should all schools have mandatory art or music courses in their curriculum?
Should offensive language be censored from classic literary works?
Is it ethical for museums to keep indigenous artifacts?
Should digital designs be considered an art form?
Should abstract art be considered an art form?
Is music therapy effective?
Should tattoos be regarded as “professional dress” for work?
Should schools place greater emphasis on the arts programs?
Should euthanasia be allowed in hospitals and other clinical settings?
Should the government support and implement universal healthcare?
Would obesity rates lower if the government intervened to make healthy foods more affordable?
Should teenagers be given access to birth control pills without parental consent?
Should food allergies be considered a disease?
Should health insurance cover homeopathic medicine?
Is using painkillers healthy?
Should genetically modified foods be banned?
Should there be a tax on unhealthy foods?
Should tobacco products be banned from the country?
Should the birth control pill be free for everyone?

If you need more help brainstorming topics, especially those that are personalized to your interests, you can use CollegeVine’s free AI tutor, Ivy . Ivy can help you come up with original persuasive speech ideas, and she can also help with the rest of your homework, from math to languages.

Do Your Research

A great persuasive speech is supported with plenty of well-researched facts and evidence. So before you begin the writing process, research both sides of the topic you’re presenting in-depth to gain a well-rounded perspective of the topic.

Understand Your Audience

It’s critical to understand your audience to deliver a great persuasive speech. After all, you are trying to convince them that your viewpoint is correct. Before writing your speech, consider the facts and information that your audience may already know, and think about the beliefs and concerns they may have about your topic. Then, address these concerns in your speech, and be mindful to include fresh, new information.

Have Someone Read Your Speech

Once you have finished writing your speech, have someone read it to check for areas of strength and improvement. You can use CollegeVine’s free essay review tool to get feedback on your speech from a peer!

Practice Makes Perfect

After completing your final draft, the key to success is to practice. Present your speech out loud in front of a mirror, your family, friends, and basically, anyone who will listen. Not only will the feedback of others help you to make your speech better, but you’ll become more confident in your presentation skills and may even be able to commit your speech to memory.

Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to write a powerful, unique persuasive speech. With the perfect topic, plenty of practice, and a boost of self-confidence, we know you’ll impress your audience with a remarkable speech!

Writing a speech

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

28 August 2020

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Speech topics

Examples from our community, 1,162 results for 'speech topics'.

Understanding the features of a successful speech

I can understand what features are often found in successful speeches and why they are used.

Lesson details

Key learning points.

A speech should have a clear purpose.
A speech may use techniques such as rhetorical questions or repetition.

Common misconception

All speeches must include all of the features included in this lesson.

A good speech may include some of these features but it is not essential that all are used.

Features - Features are the parts or characteristics that make something unique.

Repetition - Repetition means doing or saying something over and over again.

Rhetorical questions - Rhetorical questions are questions that do not require an answer.

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited ( 2024 ), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Americans’ views of offensive speech aren’t necessarily clear-cut

About six-in-ten U.S. adults (62%) say that “people being too easily offended by things others say” is a major problem in the country today.

In a separate question, 47% say that “people saying things that are very offensive to others” is a major problem, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in April.

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to understand Americans’ views on whether offensive speech – and people being too easily offended by what others say – are major problems for the country. For this analysis, we surveyed 8,709 U.S. adults from April 8 to 14, 2024.

Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology . Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and its methodology .

A bar chart showing that Republicans and Democrats differ in their concerns about offensive speech.

There are substantial differences in these views between Republicans and Democrats.

Eight-in-ten Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say people being too easily offended by what others say is a major problem. By comparison, 45% of Democrats and Democratic leaners say the same.
In contrast, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say that people saying things that are very offensive is a major problem in the country today. A 59% majority of Democrats say this, compared with 34% of Republicans.

Looking at Americans’ views on these two questions together, about a third (32%) say that people being too easily offended by things others say and people saying very offensive things to others are both major problems.

A bar chart showing that about a third of Americans say people being offensive and being too easily offended are both major problems.

About as many Americans (30%) say people taking offense too easily is a major problem, but very offensive speech is not. A much smaller share (15%) say that people saying very offensive things is a major problem, but people too easily taking offense isn’t. And another 23% say that neither is a major problem in the country.

Sizable shares within both parties say both issues are major problems – 30% of Republicans and 32% of Democrats say this.

However, half of Republicans, compared with just 12% of Democrats, say people being too easily offended is a major problem, but people saying very offensive things isn’t. Slightly more than half of conservative Republicans (53%) hold this combination of views, along with 44% of moderate and liberal Republicans.

By contrast, about a quarter of Democrats (26%) – and a third of liberal Democrats – say people saying very offensive things is a major problem, but people being too easily offended is not. Just 4% of Republicans hold this combination of views.

Another 29% of Democrats, but just 15% of Republicans, say neither of these is a major problem.

There are also significant demographic differences in attitudes about offensive speech.

Race and ethnicity

A dot plot showing that race and gender differences in opinions about offensive speech.

While at least half of Americans across racial and ethnic groups say being too easily offended is a major problem in the country, White adults are particularly likely to say this. Nearly two-thirds of White adults (65%) say this is a major problem, as do 59% of Hispanic, 59% of Asian and 50% of Black adults.

No more than about one-in-ten in any of these groups say people getting offended too easily is not a problem in the country today.

Conversely, Black (63%), Asian (58%) and Hispanic (55%) adults are more likely than White adults (42%) to say that people saying very offensive things to others is a major problem.

Men (62%) and women (63%) are about equally likely to say people being too easily offended is a major problem.

But women (54%) are far more likely than men (40%) to say offensive speech is a major problem.

Within political parties, there are some differences by gender, race and ethnicity on these questions.

On whether people being too easily offended is a major problem:

Hispanic Republicans (71%) are less likely than White Republicans (83%) to say this is a major problem. (The sample size for Black and Asian Republicans is too small to evaluate these groups individually.)
There are no gaps between men and women in either party.

On whether offensive speech is a major problem:

Democratic and Republican women are more likely than men in their parties to say offensive speech is a major problem. Among Democrats, 63% of women and 54% of men say this. And in the GOP, 43% of women and 27% of men say the same.
While roughly two-thirds of Black (67%), Hispanic (65%) and Asian Democrats (64%) say this is a major issue, a narrower majority of White Democrats (54%) share that view.

Note: This is an update of a post originally published Dec. 14, 2021. Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and its methodology .

Discrimination & Prejudice
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J. Baxter Oliphant is a senior researcher focusing on politics at Pew Research Center .

Many adults in East and Southeast Asia support free speech, are open to societal change

Americans’ views of technology companies, most americans say a free press is highly important to society, most americans favor restrictions on false information, violent content online, freedom of speech and lgbt rights: americans’ views of issues in supreme court case, most popular.

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Trump keeps losing his train of thought. Cognitive experts have theories about why

By Olivia Goldhill Aug. 7, 2024

A screen shows former president Donald Trump's mouth as he speaks — politics coverage from STAT

I n a speech earlier this year, former President Trump was mocking President Biden’s ability to walk through sand when he suddenly switched to talking about the old Hollywood icon Cary Grant.

“Somebody said he [Biden] looks great in a bathing suit, right? When he was in the sand and he was having a hard time lifting his feet through the sand, because you know, sand is heavy. They figure three solid ounces per foot. But sand is a little heavy. And he’s sitting in a bathing suit. Look, at 81, do you remember Cary Grant? How good was Cary Grant, right? I don’t think Cary Grant — he was good. I don’t know what happened to movie stars today,” he said at a March rally in Georgia. Trump went on to talk about contemporary actors, Michael Jackson, and border policies before returning to the theme of how Biden looks on the beach.

This shifting from topic to topic, with few connections — a pattern of speech called tangentiality — is one of several disjointed and occasionally incoherent verbal habits that seem to have increased in Trump’s speech in recent years, according to interviews with experts in memory, psychology, and linguistics.

Back in 2017, Trump’s first year in the White House, a STAT analysis showed Trump’s speaking style had deteriorated since the 1980s. Seven years on, now that Trump has the GOP presidential nomination, STAT has repeated the analysis. The experts noted a further reduction in Trump’s linguistic complexity and, while none said they could give a diagnosis without an examination, some said certain shifts in his speaking style are potential indications of cognitive decline.

Both Trump’s and Biden’s cognitive abilities have received extensive public scrutiny in an election initially involving two men of retirement age, though concerns about Biden’s mental competence have faded since he announced he wouldn’t be seeking re-election.

Trump has often said that he’s taken and passed an unspecified cognitive test. Last week, speaking to the National Association of Black Journalists, he said, “I want anybody running for president to take an aptitude test, to take a cognitive test. I think it’s a great idea. And I took two of them, and I aced them.” The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

Related: Trump’s real health care agenda isn’t in Project 2025 — it’s in his own words

Questions about Trump’s memory are typically raised when he makes a glaring verbal slip, such as mistaking names. Among the most publicized examples in recent months were when the 78-year-old confused former president Obama and Biden, and spoke about Nikki Haley when he meant to refer to Nancy Pelosi. Yet for all the attention they drew, experts in aging and cognition said those errors were relatively insignificant.

“Everyone to some degree has some level of mixing up of names,” said Ben Michaelis, a clinical psychologist who has carried out cognitive assessments for the New York Supreme Court. “It’s a bit of a red herring.” Zenzi Griffin, a psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin agreed, noting the phonetic similarities between “Nikki Haley” and “Nancy Pelosi” (both names start with “N” and both their first and last names end with an “ee” sound.) “That level of similarity really makes it an easy error to make,” she said.

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Other verbal shifts are more telling. At STAT’s request, four experts reviewed four clips of Trump’s speeches in recent months, and compared them to speeches from 2017. Several noticed Trump’s 2024 speeches included more short sentences, confused word order, and repetition, alongside extended digressions such as Trump’s comments on Biden and Cary Grant, or in another speech, comments on banking abruptly giving way to Trump lamenting the cost of electric cars.

These could be attributed to a variety of possible causes, they said, some benign and others more worrisome. They include mood changes, a desire to appeal to certain audiences, natural aging, or the beginnings of a cognitive condition like Alzheimer’s disease.

One other academic, James Pennebaker, a social psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, performed a more formal analysis for STAT based on complete transcripts of 35 Trump interviews from 2015 through this year. Rather than reviewing specific clips, he used statistical software to track word use in detail, highlighting changes in Trump’s speaking style. Although Pennebaker said he’d want to analyze more texts before submitting his findings to an academic journal, he concluded that the texts showed significant changes in Trump’s linguistic tendencies.

Since the end of Trump’s presidency in 2021, Pennebaker’s analysis showed a steep increase in “all-or-nothing thinking,” as indicated by a roughly 60% increase in use of absolute terms like “always,” “never,” and “completely.” This habit, Pennebaker said, can be a sign of depression, which also fits with other changes in Trump’s word choices: His dialogue now has far fewer positive words than previously, and includes more references to negative emotions, especially since his return to civilian life.

Increased all-or-nothing thinking can also be linked to cognitive ability, and such a sharp increase is associated with cognitive decline, said Pennebaker. “Another person who’s all-or–nothing thinking has gone up is Biden,” he added.

Related: Trump wasn’t always so linguistically challenged. What could explain the change?

Another clear trend from his analysis showed that, since 2020, Trump has increasingly spoken about the past, with around a 44% increase in past-focused sentences, and is spending very little time talking about the future. This is particularly striking, said Pennebaker, given that presidential candidates are typically forward-looking and making promises about what they will deliver. It’s something that Vice President Kamala Harris picked up on in her first campaign speech, in which she criticized Trump’s vision as being “focused on the past.”

Even as Trump speaks with more derailments, Pennebaker found that he’s relied on unusually simple words and sentence structures since before he was elected president. A linguistic metric of analytic thinking shows that Trump’s levels of complexity have always been unmistakably low, said Pennebaker. Whereas most presidential candidates are in the 60 to 70 range, Trump’s speeches range from 10 to 24. “I can’t tell you how staggering this is,” said Pennebaker. “He does not think in a complex way at all.”

Michaelis, who also reviewed Trump’s speaking style for STAT in 2017 and showed how it had become significantly less sophisticated over the decades, said the most important change in the past seven years is Trump’s increasing digressions and speeches that don’t stay on topic, which he explained can be an indication of diminished cognitive ability. “Tangentiality certainly amped up and it’s difficult to follow him,” Michaelis said. “You’d expect some cognitive diminishment of course, he’s 78 years old — if he was your grandfather you wouldn’t expect anything different. He just happens to be running for president.”

Although Michaelis said he couldn’t offer a formal diagnosis, he said Trump’s speaking style was cause for concern. “There’s reasonable evidence suggestive of forms of dementia,” he said. “The reduction in complexity of sentences and vocabulary does lead you to a certain picture of cognitive diminishment.”

Trump’s habit of speaking off-topic is likely related to the frontal lobe, the part of the brain involved in executive function such as planning and problem-solving, said Andrew Budson, a neurology professor at Boston University and author of “Seven Steps to Managing Your Aging Memory.” This is the area of the brain and aspect of thinking that is most often affected by aging, which makes it difficult to remain focused on one topic, and leads to jumping around in conversation. Such a habit could also reflect ADHD or poor sleep, he said, though it can also be a sign of impending Alzheimer’s.

“There are absolutely changes that are occurring, without any doubt,” he said. Previously, Trump was more focused on topics and could articulately describe events. “Now, it’s much more about evoking different things, using general terms and saying the same thing again and again, then jumping to something else, then jumping back to it,” he added.

Related: Physicians weigh in on potential impact of Trump’s ear wound: ‘It’s a matter of inches’

This repetitive speaking style could indicate decreased efficiency in the frontal lobe, said Budson, though this could also happen with normal aging rather than a pathological condition. He added that the changes in Trump’s speaking style since 2017 could also reflect a political strategy and desire to connect with a certain audience, or else an increasingly relaxed manner around crowds Trump feels comfortable with.

In addition to shorter sentences, Michaelis noticed Trump using words in the wrong order or inventing words, which adds to confusion in understanding him, and can be signs of cognitive problems that come either with natural aging or conditions such as Alzheimer’s. He pointed to this passage from a campaign event in January:

“We’re also going to place strong protections to stop banks and regulators from trying to debank you from your political beliefs,” Trump said in the New Hampshire speech . “What they do, they want to debank you. And we are going to debank, think of this. They want to take away your rights. They want to take away your country, the things you’re doing. All electric cars. Give me a break. If you want an electric car, good. But they don’t go far. They’re very expensive.” (While others have previously used the term de-banking, Trump’s unusual syntax left room for confusion.)

“I’m not clear what de-banking means,” said Mark Liberman, a linguistics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, who noticed that Trump also seems to be speaking more slowly now than compared to seven years ago.

Determining a definitive cause for Trump’s shifts in language would require in-person tests and interviews, Lieberman said. And analysis is further complicated by Trump’s long-standard unusual communication manner: “You’ve got to keep talking. Never stop. Make up names for your opponent, make fun of your opponent, promise all kinds of things,” said Liberman, who compared Trump’s style to wrestling promo talk.

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Olivia goldhill.

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Olivia Goldhill works to hold corporations and public bodies to account, with a particular interest in reproductive health, mental health, and psychedelics.

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To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page .

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Researchers expose vulnerability of speech emotion recognition models to adversarial attacks

by Intelligent Computing

Recent advancements in speech emotion recognition have highlighted the significant potential of deep learning technologies across various applications. However, these deep learning models are susceptible to adversarial attacks.

A team of researchers at the University of Milan systematically evaluated the impact of white-box and black-box attacks on different languages and genders within speech emotion recognition. The research was published May 27 in Intelligent Computing .

The research underscores the considerable vulnerability of convolutional neural network long short-term memory models to adversarial examples, which are carefully designed "perturbed" inputs that lead models to produce erroneous predictions. The findings indicate that all considered adversarial attacks can significantly reduce the performance of speech emotion recognition models. According to the authors, the susceptibility of these models to adversarial attacks "could trigger serious consequences."

The researchers proposed a methodology for audio data processing and feature extraction that is tailored to the convolutional neural network long short-term memory architecture. They examined three datasets, EmoDB for German, EMOVO for Italian and RAVDESS for English. They utilized the Fast Gradient Sign Method, the Basic Iterative Method, DeepFool, the Jacobian-based Saliency Map Attack and Carlini and Wagner for white-box attacks and the One-Pixel Attack and Boundary Attack for black-box scenarios.

The black-box attacks, especially the Boundary Attack, achieved impressive results despite their limited access to the internal workings of the models. Even though the white-box attacks had no such limitations, the black-box attacks sometimes outperformed them; that is, they generated adversarial examples with superior performance and lower disruption.

The authors said, "These observations are alarming as they imply that attackers can potentially achieve remarkable results without any understanding of the model's internal operation, simply by scrutinizing its output."

The research incorporated a gender-based perspective to investigate the differential impacts of adversarial attacks on male and female speech as well as on speech in different languages. In evaluating the impacts of attacks across three languages, only minor performance differences were observed.

English appeared the most susceptible while Italian displayed the highest resistance. The detailed examination of male and female samples indicated a slight superiority in male samples, which exhibited marginally less accuracy and perturbation, particularly in white-box attack scenarios. However, the variations between male and female samples were negligible.

"We devised a pipeline to standardize samples across the 3 languages and extract log-Mel spectrograms. Our methodology involved augmenting datasets using pitch shifting and time stretching techniques while maintaining a maximum sample duration of 3 seconds," the authors explained. Additionally, to ensure methodological consistency, the team used the same convolutional neural network long short-term memory architecture for all experiments.

While the publication of research revealing vulnerabilities in speech emotion recognition models might seem like it could provide attackers with valuable information, not sharing these findings could potentially be more detrimental. Transparency in research allows both attackers and defenders to understand the weaknesses in these systems.

By making these vulnerabilities known, researchers and practitioners can better prepare and fortify their systems against potential threats, ultimately contributing to a more secure technological landscape.

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Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in Arizona: Giffords, Kelly take the stage

Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting Arizona on Thursday and Friday along with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as part of a tour of swing states.

The big Arizona event will take place Friday evening at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, The Arizona Republic has confirmed. The campaign has not yet announced what time the rally will begin or released details about how the public can attend.

The event will be one of Harris and Walz's first appearances together on the campaign trail since the vice president picked Walz from a short list of contenders that also included Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz .

Their visit is part of a tour of seven battleground states. The pair made their debut on Tuesday in Philadelphia, with stops planned in Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada for the remainder of the week.

Follow our live coverage from Republic reporters of Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as they campaign in metro Phoenix.

Giffords, Kelly take the stage

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz, took the stage with his wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.Giffords suffered a near-fatal gunshot wound in 2011. She has recovered her ability to speak and walk. She retold the story at Glendale’s rally.“We are living in challenging times,” Giffords said. “We’re up to the challenge.”Kelly, who was on the shortlist for Harris’ running mate, reiterated his support for the Harris-Walz ticket.

— Laura Gersony

Pro-Palestinian groups march outside rally

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters marched with signs and flags at 4 p.m. on Friday outside the event.

“Kamala Harris your hands are red, 40,000 children dead,” the group chanted as they walked near the entrance of Desert Diamond Arena. Nearly 15,000 children have been killed in Gaza as of April 22, according to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights .

It is unclear if they will be able to get inside as the event is at capacity.

The Arizona chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation posted on Instagram that the group had been relocated multiple times by event security.

— Shawn Raymundo and Helen Rummel

Desert Diamond Arena reaches full capacity

Those looking to enter Desert Diamond Arena for Vice President Harris’ rally were turned away just before 4 p.m. as the event reached maximum capacity.

An event staff member confirmed the fire marshal is not letting any more people inside the arena.

Wes Hooker, a 62-year-old rideshare driver from Phoenix, looked to get into the rally by 3:30 p.m. when doors were scheduled to close. He left after being told he couldn’t enter.

— Shawn Raymundo

'We’re obsessed with coconut': Harris, Walz stop at campaign office

Harris and Walz's motorcade made a stop at a campaign office in north Phoenix on their way to the rally in Glendale.

A group of volunteers greeted them. They were making signs for this evening's rally.

The mood was exuberant as Harris and Walz thanked the volunteers one by one.

“What is that?” Harris asked, pointing to a large black dot on one poster.

“It’s a coconut,” a volunteer replied, a reference to Harris’ viral remark .

Harris laughed.

“We’re obsessed with coconut,” another told the vice president. “And we’re obsessed with you, too.”

Addressing the group, Harris described how, during her first-ever campaign, volunteers sat at one table together to stuff envelopes.

“This reminds me of that,” she said. “That’s part of what is powering our campaign, nationally and here in Arizona.”

Field presence has been a strength of the Biden-Harris campaign in must-win Arizona. Democrats began opening campaign offices late last year. Trump's ground operation was slower to take shape, trailing behind the pace it set in 2020.

The GOP has built out its ground game since then, though it continues to rely on outside support from the conservative group Turning Point USA.

— Laura Gersony

Harris motorcade departs downtown Phoenix hotel

Vice President Kamala Harris' motorcade left the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix hotel at about 2:50 p.m.

— Dan Nowicki

Rally protest expected from pro-Palestinian groups

The Arizona chapter of the Party of Socialism and Liberation and other activist groups announced plans for a protest at Harris’ rally in Glendale.

On Thursday, pro-Palestinian groups in Detroit protested at her rally chanting, “Kamala, Kamala, you can’t hide. We won’t vote for genocide.” After the vice president’s first attempt at quieting the crowd failed, she followed with a more direct response.

“You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that,” Harris said to the group. “Otherwise, I’m speaking.”

Some of the protesters also align with a bloc of Democratic voters who submitted “uncommitted” ballots in primary elections across the country as a show of discontent with President Joe Biden.

Both Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, have faced criticism from some pro-Palestinian groups about their position on the war in Gaza . A similar protest could take place in Arizona as activist groups mobilize.

“Palestinians can’t wait for us to vote the 'lesser of two evils' into power for this genocide to end,” a post from multiple advocacy groups reads. “300 days of endless suffering, protests, and brutality ― all under the watch of the Democrats.”

— Helen Rummel

Scheduling conflict keeps Hobbs from attending rally

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs won’t attend Friday’s rally with Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

It is unclear exactly why the Democratic governor will skip the high-profile event, which comes three days after Hobbs gushed that Walz was “America” and she was “absolutely thrilled” he had been tapped to be the vice presidential nominee.

Hobbs’ spokesperson, Christian Slater, said the governor had a scheduling conflict on Friday but wouldn’t say what that conflict was.

On Thursday, Hobbs was also missing from the lineup of Democratic lawmakers who snapped pictures as Harris’ plane arrived in Phoenix.

Hobbs was in Clarkdale on Thursday afternoon for a rural policy forum focusing on infrastructure, workforce development and broadband. She also announced a new microbusiness loan program.

— Stacey Barchenger

Which Arizona politicians will be at Friday’s rally?

Some of Arizona’s top Democrats will attend the rally, including state Attorney General Kris Mayes and Reps. Greg Stanton and Ruben Gallego.

Sen. Mark Kelly and Arizona Democratic Party chair Yolanda Bejarano also are expected to attend. Gov. Katie Hobbs, meanwhile, will not be there.

Both Hobbs and Mayes skipped Harris' visit to Arizona in March, before she became the Democrats' presumptive presidential nominee, citing scheduling conflicts.

RSVPs for the event have reached capacity, according to an invitation sent by the campaign.

Doors open, lines moving smoothly

Doors have opened for this afternoon's Harris-Walz rally in Glendale. Lines to pass security were long but moving smoothly just after 1 p.m.

Attendees were given hand fans, ice pops and water bottles to help fight the high temperatures, which hovered around 102 degrees.

As of Friday afternoon, the precise timeline of the Harris-Walz rally remained unclear. The campaign has not publicly announced when the event will begin, though attendees have been told to arrive no later than 3:30 p.m.

The campaign wrote that for security reasons, only confirmed RSVPs would be granted access to the rally and an invitation for the event says RSVPs are at capacity.

Harris and Walz had initially planned to make a campaign stop in North Carolina on Thursday evening, and another in Georgia on Friday afternoon. The campaign canceled both stops due to extreme weather from Tropical Storm Debby . The vice president and her entourage spent the night in Phoenix instead.

— Laura Gersony and Fernando Cervantes

Directions released for rallygoers

Police have designated routes to the parking areas to ensure smooth traffic flow for those attending the rally for Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz in Glendale.

The rally, where Harris and Walz will be kicking off their brand-new battleground campaign, is planned for Friday afternoon at Desert Diamond Arena.

Glendale police suggested on their social media page :

For those coming from the north, exit onto Glendale Avenue, head east to 91st Avenue then south to parking lots Grey and Yellow.
For those coming from the south, exit on Cardinals Way, head east to 91st Avenue, then north on 91st Avenue to parking lots Grey and Yellow.

“Let's make sure everyone arrives without any hassle! Thank you for your cooperation,” police officials said in the social media post.

Harris and Walz are on a sprint to the White House , rising to the top of the presidential ticket after President Joe Biden stepped aside last month. They are facing a contentious race against Donald Trump.

― Michelle Cruz and Stephanie Murray

Road closures continue in downtown Phoenix

Several roads will be closed for a second day in parts of downtown Phoenix on Friday, due to Harris’ visit.

Roque Espinoza, a Phoenix street transportation worker, said the following road closures were in effect:

Second Street was closed from Van Buren Street to between Fillmore and Taylor streets
Taylor Street was closed from First to Third streets
Polk Street was closed from First to Second streets
Third Street was closed from Taylor to Van Buren streets

The roadways are blocked by law enforcement vehicles, traffic barricades and large steel trash bins. Local traffic is still allowed access in some areas after passing security checkpoints.

Harris and her vice presidential pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will campaign in Arizona on Friday as part of a cross-country battleground state tour, according to a Harris campaign official. The vice president has been a frequent visitor to Arizona, coming here six times during her tenure in the Biden administration.

The visit to the Phoenix area on Friday will mark her first time visiting as the candidate at the top of the presidential ticket.

Arizona is a crucial battleground state on the electoral map. President Joe Biden won by fewer than 11,000 votes here in 2020, his smallest margin of any state.

― David Ulloa Jr. and Michelle Cruz

Where does the race between Trump and Harris stand in Arizona?

Since Kamala Harris took over the top of the ticket last month, she has made up much of the ground that President Joe Biden had lost to former President Donald Trump in the years since the 2020 election. The race has narrowed, public polling shows, and the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan group that forecasts elections, this week moved Arizona from “lean Republican” to “toss-up." 

A new survey from the Arizona polling firm HighGround found Harris narrowly leading Trump in Arizona  44% to 42% among likely voters. She has a 15 percentage point lead among female voters, but Trump has a 10 percentage point lead with men. The survey was conducted July 30-Aug. 5 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 percentage points.

— Stephanie Murray

Can vice president candidate Tim Walz’s 'Normal Joe vibe' appeal to Arizona men?

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz knocks Republicans for being “weird.” Can he win over Arizona men by being “normal”? 

Vice President Kamala Harris’ brand new running mate  is coming to Arizona,  and political watchers here say he could draw independent male voters into her coalition if he can follow the playbook of another Democrat Harris considered for the post: Sen. Mark Kelly. 

The 60-year-old Walz was relatively unknown outside of his home state of Minnesota until this week. Now, he has three months to introduce himself on the biggest stage in politics — and avoid being shoved into a political box. 

“What has underwritten the success of Mark Kelly in Arizona, it's the same basic thing that I think is going to underwrite the success of Walz in Arizona,” said David Waid, former executive director of the Arizona Democratic Party. “He is a Democrat who breaks the mold, who breaks the expectations and can't be put neatly into a box.” 

If Walz can play up his working class and pro-union bona fides, his background as a teacher and his perspective as a hunter who understands gun rights, he could tap into what helped Kelly win back-to-back races in 2020 and 2022, Waid said.

VP Kamala Harris' past visits to Arizona

Vice President Kamala Harris’ stop in Arizona this week marks her and Tim Walz’s first appearance in the state since becoming the presumptive Democratic ticket after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race on July 21.  

But Harris’ visit isn’t her first time in the Valley. She has visited Arizona half a dozen times over the last four years as vice president.  

She most recently returned to  Arizona on June 24  — the anniversary of U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.  

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff also  visited Phoenix  in late July to affirm support for President Joe Biden and Harris, who were the Democratic presidential and vice presidential nominees at the time.  

Harris visited the state in the last four years to advocate for issues from  solar energy  to  immigration and gun violence . But the topic of abortion rights has dominated the discussions during her most recent visits.  

— Sabine Martin

Kari Lake hurls broadsides at Kamala Harris ahead of Arizona speech

Kari Lake assailed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris ahead of her  Friday rally in Phoenix  while several dozen Arizonans described as independents and Democrats said they backed Lake’s U.S. Senate bid.

At a news conference in Gilbert , Lake, two Republican members of Congress and the state’s GOP chair took turns hitting Harris, her running mate, Lake’s opponent, and President Joe Biden.

It came not long after former President  Donald Trump held a rambling news conference  from his Florida resort similarly ripping Harris as her campaign has tapped a cash gusher and favorable recent polling in a race that not long ago appeared headed to Trump.

The splintered messages seemed intended to hold back Democratic momentum and often zeroed in on a theme that helped give Trump a sizable lead over Biden in the first place: border security.

— Ronald J. Hansen

A 'forward-looking speech' to come from Harris

Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., and Mesa Mayor John Giles, a notable Republican who expressed his support for Harris in a late-July op-ed published in The Arizona Republic , greeted the vice president at the airport.

At the terminal, Giles said he knew the vice president was aware of his cross-party support, but was surprised to hear her thank him in person upon her arrival.

“She expressed her appreciation for my support, and that was more than I expected,” he told The Republic.

“Watching this airplane come in. ... It’s very inspiring to be reminded what the strength of the U.S. (is) and (the) power of the president’s office and vice president’s office.”

Stanton, who is seeking a fourth term representing Arizona’s 4th Congressional District, expressed his appreciation for her ability to “consolidate support” in the short time since her candidacy announcement.

“It’s really been an amazing thing to watch, it’s a huge accomplishment. She’s been able to bring together the diverse interest not only of the Democratic Party but independent and moderate Republicans,” he said.

“Tomorrow you’re going to see her provide a very uplifting speech, a very forward-looking speech, in direct contrast to what the American people saw from the former president in his press conference that was based on grievance and crowd size and backward-looking. The VP and Governor Walz are going to have a very forward campaign.”

— Rey Covarrubias Jr.

Walz follows Harris' arrival in Phoenix

Walz arrived at Sky Harbor around 7:10 p.m., about 40 minutes after the vice president landed in Phoenix.

The Minnesota governor arrived in an unmarked white aircraft, taxiing about a quarter of a mile west of Air Force 2.

Harris arrives at Phoenix Sky Harbor

Harris arrived in Phoenix via Air Force Two on Thursday evening just before 6:30 p.m. at Sky Harbor International Airport's Lincoln J. Ragsdale Executive Terminal.

Wind gusts neared 20 mph as the plane landed, just as a monsoon storm appeared on the outskirts of the Phoenix metro area.

The aircraft arrived from the west, flying over Phoenix metro before taxing in front of the executive terminal. Among local dignitaries receiving her were Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.

Harris was expected to make her way into downtown Phoenix, where a barricade was set near Van Buren and 2nd streets early Thursday.

She is set to kick off campaign events alongside Walz on Friday.

Who is Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate?

Walz was elected Minnesota's 41st governor and his tenure began in 2019.

Walz, 60, brings political acuity, suburban-and-rural appeal and progressive patriotism to a competition where all three criteria are seen as helpful for Democrats to clinch a 2024 win against the Republican ticket of former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio.

A military veteran, former public-school teacher and six-term member of Congress, Walz is serving the sixth year of his eight-year stint as governor of the North Star State .

He was born in West Point, Nebraska, and grew up in Valentine, Nebraska. He joined the National Guard at 17 and served for 24 years. He earned a social science degree at Chadron State College in 1989 and a master of science in educational leadership from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2001.

He went on as a U.S. representative for Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, serving six terms in the House from 2007 to 2019.

As Harris was mulling a vice presidential pick, Walz gained attention for his plain-speaking style and his takedown of Republicans as “weird,” a message that resonated with much of the Democratic base.

Harris, Walz campaign at UAW hall near Ford plant

Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, began their day in Michigan before traveling to Arizona.

A day after firing up a boisterous crowd at a Detroit Metro Airport hangar , Harris and Walz rallied UAW members at a Michigan union hall described as ground zero for last year’s auto strike against the Detroit Three and the subsequent contract ratification.

They preached a message of unity and highlighted their connections to union members and the union movement.

The rally Thursday afternoon at UAW Local 900 in Wayne allowed the pair to focus their message on a union crowd made up of UAW members who had walked the picket line.

Michigan is a key battleground state in this year’s presidential race between Harris, the Democratic nominee, and her Republican challenger, former President Donald Trump. The union vote, powered by a recent UAW endorsement of Harris , could prove significant for the outcome.

Harris said the “true measure” of a leader’s strength isn’t by who you beat down, but by who you bring up.“It’s about the collective,” she said, “No one should ever be made to fight alone.”

— Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press

Supported by

Trump and Allies Assail Conviction With Faulty Claims

After former President Donald J. Trump was found guilty, he and a number of conservative figures in the news media and lawmakers on the right have spread false and misleading claims about the Manhattan case.

Share full article

A low-angle view from behind former President Donald J. Trump as he addresses news media members who are standing behind red rope.

By Linda Qiu

Reporting from Washington

After former President Donald J. Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, he instantly rejected the verdict and assailed the judge and criminal justice system.

His loyalists in the conservative news media and Congress quickly followed suit, echoing his baseless assertions that he had fallen victim to a politically motivated sham trial.

The display of unity reflected the extent of Mr. Trump’s hold over his base.

The former president and his supporters have singled out the judge who presided over the case, denigrated the judicial system and distorted the circumstances of the charges against him and his subsequent conviction.

Here’s a fact check of some of their claims.

What Was Said

“We had a conflicted judge, highly conflicted. There’s never been a more conflicted judge.” — Mr. Trump in a news conference on Friday at Trump Tower in Manhattan

This is exaggerated. For over a year, Mr. Trump and his allies have said Justice Juan M. Merchan should not preside over the case because of his daughter’s line of work. Loren Merchan, the daughter, served as the president of a digital campaign strategy agency that has done work for many prominent Democrats, including Mr. Biden’s 2020 campaign.

Experts in judicial ethics have said Ms. Merchan’s work is not sufficient grounds for recusal . When Mr. Trump’s legal team sought his recusal because of his daughter, Justice Merchan sought counsel from the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, which said it did not see any conflict of interest .

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IMAGES

KS2 Worksheet
KS2 Speech marks Lesson Plan
Parts of Speech
Parts of Speech
Informative speech topics
Direct speech and indirect speech

COMMENTS

130 Awesome Speech Topics for Kids
One thing I know how to cook is…. The contents of your lunch box. Different ways to eat an apple. Why I don't care about the "Five second rule". I don't like to eat …. Fill in something you dislike. Animals. A day in the life as a fly. What my dog is thinking.
100 Persuasive Speech Topics for Kids
Waffle cones are better than regular ice cream cones. Dogs are better companions than cats. Wearing pajamas in public is inappropriate. Short hair is for boys and long hair is for girls. Kids should have fewer toys and more cardboard boxes to play with. Girls like to play with action figures.
Lesson: Writing a speech
Keywords. Preparation - The action or process of getting ready to do something.. Point - A point is an idea or reason to support your opinion.. Explanation - An explanation means giving reasons to help someone understand an opinion.. Proof - Proof refers to the evidence used to support an opinion.. Summary - A summary will briefly recap the main parts of a speech.
Public Speaking for Kids
Have a look at these 30 persuasive speech topics that can help kids call others to action: The Benefits of Social Media. How to Become a Responsible Citizen. The Value of Having Good Manners. Taking Care of the Environment: Reducing Pollution and Waste. The One Thing I Know About Eating Healthy Foods.
Unit: Speeches
I can write a speech by following the PEPS structure. 1 Slide deck. 1 Worksheet. 2 Quizzes. 1 Video. 6. 6. Delivering a speech to an audience. I can deliver a speech to an audience. 1 Slide deck. 1 Worksheet. 2 Quizzes. 1 Video. Pupils. Learn online. Teachers. EYFS. Specialist. Key stage 1. Key stage 2. Key stage 3. Key stage 4. Curriculum ...
Speech Writing
Speech writing is the method of conveying a thought or message to a reader using the correct punctuation and expression. Speech writing isn't much different from any other form of narrative writing. There are8 parts of speech in the English language. These parts are nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and ...
Persuasive speech writing
Persuasive speech writing. Lesson that encourages students to write a persuasive speech using examples and techniques. Also focusses on using different sentence types and topic sentences. Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.
To convey character and advance action through use of speech
After reviewing speech rules, we will consider how to incorporate speech effectively so that it supports characterisation and advances the action. Licence This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.
Speech writing planning grid
Focus. Spoken language. A handy planning grid for preparing a speech. Includes useful tips and prompts such as opening with a punchy line, using a tone appropriate for the audience, and finishing with a 'weird or wonderful' fact! Suitable for KS2. 34.5 KB.
FREE!
This teaching resource guides students on how to write a persuasive speech. Your students will write an introduction, three points, and a conclusion, while being encouraged to use speech techniques such as metaphors, repetition, rhetorical questions, etc. Simple, but clear and useful for the first lesson on persuasive speech.
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Write a Speech Activity
This speech template is particularly useful, as it comes with 3 handy tips for your students to consider when preparing and giving their speeches. The template advises students to do the following: Practise reading your speech in front of the mirror or in front of people you are comfortable with. Remember to keep your head up and try to project ...
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docx, 26.72 KB. docx, 28.11 KB. pptx, 342.58 KB. doc, 27 KB. Lessons designed to assist GCSE students with writing a speech. The first lesson generates some discussion and recognition of features of a speech, with the second lesson focusing on the students creating their own speech. This was designed for IGCSE but can be used for any sessions.
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Lesson: Understanding the features of a successful speech
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This speech template is particularly useful, as it comes with 3 handy tips for your students to consider when preparing and giving their speeches. The template advises students to do the following: Practise reading your speech in front of the mirror or in front of people you are comfortable with. Remember to keep your head up and try to project ...
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Simple direct speech KS2 speech bubble statements (editable) x2- This resource gives you a great opportunity to edit and customise your classes learning specific to their interests and class topic. Ordering and punctuating sentences cards - This is a perfect opportunity for children to get hands-on with their learning, building and editing ...
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Trump and Allies Assail Conviction With Faulty Claims
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