: Students use this interactive tool to help them track their notes they take in preparation for their essay.
: Students use this worksheet to examine and answer questions regarding their peer's essay.
: This rubric is used as a guide for students as they are writing their essay, and for teachers to use as a grading tool.
Nearly everything we read and hear is an argument. Speeches are special kinds of arguments and should be analyzed as such. Listeners should keep in mind the context of the situation involving the delivery and the audience-but a keen observer should also pay close attention to the elements of argument within the text. This assignment requires students to look for those elements.
"Since rhetoric is the art of effective communication, its principles can be applied to many facets of everyday life" (Lamb 109). It's through this lesson that students are allowed to see how politicians and leaders manipulate and influence their audiences using specific rhetorical devices in a manner that's so effective that the speeches are revered even today. It's important that we keep showing our students how powerful language can be when it's carefully crafted and arranged.
Further Reading
This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.
This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.
This website contains audio of the Top 100 speeches of all time.
Included on this site is audio of famous speeches of the 20th century, as well as information about the speeches and background information on the writers.
The "Great Speeches Collection" from The History Place are available here in print and in audio.
This website includes information on finding and documenting sources in the MLA format.
Students will
Discuss the audience and the author’s manipulation of the audience. Consider posing questions such as
Martin Luther King, Jr. uses an appeal to pathos in his “I Have a Dream” speech through his historical allusion to Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.” This is particularly effective for his audience of people sympathetic to the cause of African American men and women who would have been especially moved by this particular reference since it had such a significant impact on the lives of African Americans.
Students explore the ways that powerful and passionate words communicate the concepts of freedom, justice, discrimination, and the American Dream in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
While drafting a literary analysis essay (or another type of argument) of their own, students work in pairs to investigate advice for writing conclusions and to analyze conclusions of sample essays. They then draft two conclusions for their essay, select one, and reflect on what they have learned through the process.
Useful for a wide variety of reading and writing activities, this outlining tool allows students to organize up to five levels of information.
This strategy guide clarifies the difference between persuasion and argumentation, stressing the connection between close reading of text to gather evidence and formation of a strong argumentative claim about text.
If you’ve ever written a persuasive speech, chances are you’ve struggled to choose a persuasive speech topic . It makes sense, right? You want to speak on something relevant yet unique, timely but timeless. Sometimes it feels like every good idea is already taken or too controversial. Or maybe the topic you’re considering seems too bland and won’t stir the pot enough. CEOs, entrepreneurs, authors—everyone with something important to say faces this challenge.
Well, fear not. We’ve got some fresh ideas for persuasive speech topics coming right up. These aren’t your high school debate prompts; they’re designed for individuals ready to make waves across industries and impact audiences. So if you’re on a mission to reshape perceptions and create genuine transformation, stick around.
Before we dive into these topics, let’s get one thing straight: understanding persuasion in speech is like having a superpower. But what makes some speeches stick with us forever? Persuasive speaking works its charm by tapping into our emotions and reasoning. It’s that perfect blend of ethos, pathos, and logos that the Greek philosopher Aristotle talked about centuries ago.
This trio works together to create a kind of spellbinding effect that doesn’t just persuade, but also sticks with your audience long after the talk has ended. With these three rhetorical appeals in hand, you can do more than convince; you can transform thinking and ignite action because your persuasive speech topic resonates on a deeply personal level for each listener.
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Tailoring your topic to your audience isn’t just important; it’s everything when it comes to persuasion. After all, if you don’t know who you’re talking to, how will you grab their attention? Imagine chatting about quantum physics with a room full of poets or discussing poetry at a tech conference. See the mismatch? Choosing the right persuasive speech topic means finding one that resonates deeply with your listeners’ lives and experiences.
To analyze your audience effectively, you’re going to want to do a little digging ahead of time.
In essence, knowing your audience means respecting them enough to make sure they walk away feeling heard and understood rather than preached at or overlooked. And guess what? When folks feel respected and valued, they listen more closely.
Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or just starting out on your public speaking journey, choosing persuasive speech topics that resonate with audiences can feel difficult. However, knowing who’s sitting in your audience can make that decision a lot easier. Analyzing your audience ensures that your message hits home and sparks interest and debate. Consider some of the categories below as you brainstorm your speech topic.
Your chosen topic doesn’t need to be grandiose or controversial. Sometimes simplicity speaks volumes more than we give it credit for. When crafting your persuasive speech, the goal is simply to choose a topic that both informs and transforms perspectives.
Diving into the realm of current events and societal debates has the power to transform a decent speech into one that lingers in memory. Why? By engaging with present-day events and societal dilemmas, we are moved, provoked, and occasionally our perspectives on life are profoundly altered.
So, let’s dive right in. Here are some persuasive speech topics that are not just timely but packed with potential to spark debate, drive change, or at least get people thinking.
Right now, we’re smack in the middle of events that will fill history books for generations to come. Each of these topics isn’t just relevant; they’re urgent. But remember this: while diving deep into any of them could make for powerful persuasive speeches, always aim for empathy over controversy.
We live in an era teeming with issues ripe for debate—climate change action versus economic growth challenges; genetic engineering marvels against ethical quandaries; digital age freedoms wrestling with security needs—the list goes on. Persuasive essay topics that deal with ethical dilemmas and moral questions can be great ways to challenge your audience—and even yourself. Take a look:
Good persuasive speeches do more than wade through facts. They spark engaging dialogues, challenge people’s beliefs, and maybe even alter their viewpoints. Exploring persuasive speech topics about ethics and morality forces us to dig deeper and frequently nudges us beyond the boundaries of our comfort zones. But here’s the kicker: they also make your speech unforgettable.
Technology’s relentless pace has us all on our toes, wondering what’s next. As a result, it gives us plenty of persuasive speech topics to consider.
With technology moving faster than legislation can keep up, posing these questions is vital. Without scrutiny, technology can quickly become a dangerous tool, so it’s important to spend time exploring its implications. Whether you’re prepping for your next persuasive speech or simply want to stay informed, digging into these topics is a great way to keep your audience engaged and informed.
When it comes to persuasive speech topics, health-related issues pack a punch like no other because, well, who isn’t interested in living their best life? In addition, it’s a topic that everyone can easily relate to because our well-being is something that we all think about. As far the specific issue you choose, you’ll want to look back on the research you did on your audience. Are they fitness buffs looking for the next challenge or parents concerned about family nutrition? Tailor your topic accordingly.
Health is a great topic for persuasive speeches because if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s wanting good health—not just for us but generations to come.
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Schooling serves as the cornerstone for nurturing groundbreaking advancements, fostering fairness, and upholding democratic values. However, these days, many are calling for education reform . These voices challenge us to question norms, imagine new possibilities, and rally for collective action. Of course, not everyone sees eye-to-eye on what needs changing in our schools or how to do it. So before you pick one of the topics below, again, make sure you understand who you’re talking to. That’s step one towards making an impact.
Before change can occur, questions must be asked. By posing questions about the state of education in the U.S., you can challenge what people really know about the system in place. And who knows? You just might surprise yourself by what you find.
Exploring persuasive speech topics is the first step towards delivering a memorable speech. When you understand the power behind every word and meet your audience’s expectations, you can craft messages that resonate.
Potential topics range from current events to technology and innovation. Even ethical dilemmas can turn into a great persuasive speech when handled carefully. Similarly, speaking on health and wellness turns personal goals into universal concerns that are sure to grip your audience. Last but not least, educational reform provides plenty of room for conversation, as it’s sure to affect generations to come.
These aren’t just topics, though. When you stand before an audience next time around, remember: you’re not just delivering a speech—you’re igniting change one word at a time.
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At the same time, 'you can't censor your way to freedom,' an opposing attorney said..
An attorney representing education officials appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis Friday told a federal appeals court that Florida lawmakers, if they so choose, can prohibit professors from criticizing the governor in the classroom.
“In the classroom, the professor’s speech is the government’s speech, and the government can restrict professors on a content-wide basis and restrict them from offering viewpoints that are contrary,” said Charles Cooper of the Cooper & Kirk law firm, responding to a judge posing that scenario.
The remarks came during oral arguments before a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals over a key provision of DeSantis' much-touted " Stop WOKE Act ," which limits discussion of race, gender and other topics in state university classrooms.
That provision was blocked by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker of Tallahassee, who called it " positively dystopian ." The circuit court last year denied the state's request to undo the block before it reached a final decision on the case.
Friday's argument, held in Miami, focused on the line between academic freedom and the state government's ability to control institutions it funds and oversees.
"Let's say that conspiracy theories were taking hold, and there were a group of professors who were teaching that the moon landing never happened or that 9/11 was an inside job," said Judge Britt Grant, appointed by former President Donald Trump. "Is there nothing, in your view, that the Florida Legislature could do about that?"
"That would be within the province of the university, first and foremost," responded attorney Leah Watson of the American Civil Liberties Union, representing Florida professors challenging the law. She's part of a legal team with the ACLU of Florida, NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Ballard Spahr law firm.
Attorney Greg Greubel of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), in response to the same question, said, "You can't censor your way to freedom, and there are a lot of classes in public universities that teach conspiracy theories so that students can understand the theories behind them and argue against them."
The debated law , which was signed by DeSantis, says it's discrimination to "subject any student or employee to training or instruction that espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates or compels" them to believe a list of eight things, including that they should bear personal responsibility for historic wrongs or feel guilt because of their race, color, sex or national origin.
Grant pushed back on Gruebel's point by saying that such instruction on conspiracy theories was different than endorsing those theories, but he counted that the passive way the statute was written makes its applicability broader than that.
"It's important to note that this is not a case about what universities can do; this is a case about what the state cannot do," said Gruebel, who represents a University of South Florida professor and a First Amendment student group at the university, at another point in the hearing. "And the state cannot pick winners and losers in the marketplace of ideas. The college classroom is a marketplace of ideas."
Following up on the state's attorney's argument that what professors say is controllable government speech , Grant asked if that would mean red states and blue states would start seeing "entirely different sets of facts."
"I suspect that happens quite distinctly now in many respects," Cooper said. "But that's the genius of federalism ... These are state institutions, and the states themselves get to make decisions about the content of the courses taught in their schools, and that includes viewpoints.
This is not the first legal fight over government speech Florida has seen this year.
The state has also argued in federal court that book removal decisions in schools, regardless of reason, are protected government speech. Judges have not yet weighed in on that.
And this is not the only provision of the "Stop WOKE Act" that's been challenged.
Several months ago , the 11th Circuit upheld the block of a different key provision of the law that restricted businesses' diversity practices and trainings.
But that hasn't stopped the state from still targeting such practices.
For example, Attorney General Ashley Moody announced last month that her office had filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations over Starbucks' diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA TODAY Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule can be reached at [email protected] .
After a hearing last week where the state argued that public university professors’ speech is government speech, the professor plaintiffs in the case to overturn the Intellectual Freedom Act, or Stop Woke act, are pushing back.
Jennifer Sandoval, a communications professor at the University of Central Florida, said many of her colleagues have already changed their curriculum despite the law being enjoined.
“It is not just limiting what I can talk about,” said Sandoval, speaking during a virtual news conference on Monday, “but actually now saying that the state can be the deciding factor. So it’s very clear to me that there are some things here that we can talk about as long as they are popular with certain folks and power in the state. And that’s just not at all why I became a professor.”
The discussion followed events last week in a legal battle that began with passage of the law in 2022.
The law forbids educators from promoting concepts that make anyone feel “guilt, anguish or other psychological distress” related to race, color, national origin or sex because of actions “committed in the past.” U.S. District Judge Mark Walker called the law “positively dystopian” when he ruled in 2022 that it could not be enforced as it applied to higher education.
Lawyers for the state argued to a panel of judges on Friday at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Miami that they should overturn Walker’s injunction.
The state’s lawyers argued that because professors are government employees, “the government can restrict professors on a content-wide basis and they can restrict them from offering viewpoints that are contrary.”
If they didn’t wish to comply with Florida’s rules, lawyers argued the professors could leave for other states “friendlier to their viewpoints.”
The professors who spoke on Monday are plaintiffs represented by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Leroy Pernell, a law professor at Florida A&M University, said the state’s arguments strip professors of their First Amendment speech rights.
“This type of approach is something we don’t associate with a free country,” he said. “This shouldn’t be expected in an educational system. It’s been pointed out that this isn’t consistent with the academic accreditation standards of virtually every discipline.”
He added he was troubled by “the notion that if you don’t like it, leave.”
Sharon Austin, a political science professor at the University of Florida, said she was asked to develop a course on race in 2020, following the killing of George Floyd. For 32 years, she said, she’s taught courses that deal with race.
“Professors who teach courses about race, like myself and the other professors who are on this call, are going to be more likely to be targeted by this, because I think that the Legislature doesn’t really understand the way things work in academia,” she said.
A ruling isn’t expected for months.
Divya Kumar is the higher education reporter. Reach her at [email protected].
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In a filing, the lawyers in the classified documents case made an aggressive, and at times misleading, argument against prosecutors’ request for the judge to curb his attacks on agents.
By Alan Feuer
Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump pushed back on Friday night in an aggressive — and at times misleading — way against an effort to curb his public attacks on the F.B.I. agents working on his classified documents case in Florida.
In a 20-page court filing , the lawyers assailed prosecutors in the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, for seeking to limit Mr. Trump’s remarks about the F.B.I. on the eve of two consequential political events: the first presidential debate, scheduled for June 27, and the Republican National Convention, set to start on July 15.
“The motion is a naked effort to impose totalitarian censorship of core political speech, under threat of incarceration, in a clear attempt to silence President Trump’s arguments to the American people about the outrageous nature of this investigation and prosecution,” the lawyers wrote.
The dispute began last month when Mr. Smith’s team asked Judge Aileen M. Cannon, who is overseeing the case, to revise Mr. Trump’s conditions of release to bar him from making any public remarks that might endanger agents involved in the proceeding.
The request came days after Mr. Trump made a series of blatantly false statements , claiming that the F.B.I. had been prepared to shoot him when agents executed a search warrant in August 2022 at Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence in Florida. In that search, the agents discovered more than 100 classified documents. Mr. Trump is now charged with illegally retaining classified information and obstructing the government’s attempts to retrieve it.
The distortions arose from a gross mischaracterization by the former president of a recently unsealed order for the Mar-a-Lago search that included boilerplate language intended to limit the use of deadly force when agents execute warrants.
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Also, argumentative speech does not contain unproven opinions. Make sure you research and present the argument that is a relevant argument. 4. Refute alternate positions. At the end of a strong argumentative speech, you have to refute alternate positions. By dealing with the opponent, make some powerful arguments.
An argumentative speech is a persuasive speech in which the speaker attempts to persuade his audience to alter their viewpoints on a controversial issue. While a persuasive speech may be aimed more at sharing a viewpoint and asking the audience to consider it, an argumentative speech aims to radically change the opinions already held by the ...
Make a claim. Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim. Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim) Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives. The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays.
166 Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas (Organized in Sections) Interesting and Controversial. Education. For Kids. Political. Religion. History. Immigration, Racism, and Native American Issues. Science and Research.
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.
50 Argumentative Essay Topics. Illustration by Catherine Song. ThoughtCo. An argumentative essay requires you to decide on a topic and argue for or against it. You'll need to back up your viewpoint with well-researched facts and information as well. One of the hardest parts is deciding which topic to write about, but there are plenty of ideas ...
Argumentative Essay Example 2. Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through female Anopheles mosquitoes. Each year, over half a billion people will become infected with malaria, with roughly 80% of them living in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Try our student writing prompts. In 2017, we compiled a list of 401 argumentative writing prompts, all drawn from our daily Student Opinion column. Now, we're rounding up 130 more we've ...
When you're writing a persuasive essay, you need more than just an opinion to make your voice heard. Even the strongest stance won't be compelling if it's not structured properly and reinforced with solid reasoning and evidence. Learn what elements every argumentative essay should include and how to structure it depending on your audience in this easy step-by-step guide.
An argumentative speech is a type of speech where the speaker takes a position on a controversial issue and presents arguments to persuade the audience to adopt a similar viewpoint. The goal is to convince the audience through logical reasoning, evidence, and emotional appeal. Argumentative Speech Bundle Download.
April 3, 2024. The skill of writing an excellent argumentative essay is a crucial one for every high school or college student to master. In sum, argumentative essays teach students how to organize their thoughts logically and present them in a convincing way. This skill is helpful not only for those pursuing degrees in law, international ...
An argumentative essay attempts to convince a reader to agree with a particular argument (the writer's thesis statement). The writer takes a firm stand one way or another on a topic and then uses hard evidence to support that stance. An argumentative essay seeks to prove to the reader that one argument —the writer's argument— is the ...
We've compiled a list of 110 persuasive speech topics—broken down by category—for you to choose from or use as inspiration. Use the set of three questions we shared above to determine which of these interesting persuasive speech topics is right for you. Art, Media, and Culture.
The purpose of a persuasive speech is to convince your audience to agree with an idea or opinion that you present. First, you'll need to choose a side on a controversial topic, then you will write a speech to explain your position, and convince the audience to agree with you. You can produce an effective persuasive speech if you structure your ...
Step 2: After the Story, Now, Give Your Advice. When most people write a persuasive presentation, they start with their opinion. Again, this makes the listener want to play Devil's advocate. By starting with the example, we give the listener a simple way to agree with us.
The aim of a persuasive speech is to inform, educate and convince or motivate an audience to do something. You are essentially trying to sway the audience to adopt your own viewpoint. The best persuasive speech topics are thought-provoking, daring and have a clear opinion. You should speak about something you are knowledgeable about and can ...
Foundation of Persuasion. Persuasive speaking seeks to influence the beliefs, attitudes, values, or behaviors of audience members. In order to persuade, a speaker has to construct arguments that appeal to audience members. Arguments form around three components: claim, evidence, and warrant. The claim is the statement that will be supported by ...
100 Examples of Persuasive Speech Topics. Studying martial arts is good for mind and health. Competitive sports can teach us about life. Reality shows are exploiting people. Community service should be a graduation requirement for all high school students. The characteristics that make a person a hero.
The three main types of persuasive speeches are factual, value, and policy. A factual persuasive speech focuses solely on factual information to prove the existence or absence of something through substantial proof. This is the only type of persuasive speech that exclusively uses objective information rather than subjective.
Arguments have the following basic structure (see Figure 19.1): Claim: the main proposition crafted as a declarative statement. Evidence: the support or proof for the claim. Warrant: the connection between the evidence and the claim. Each component of the structure is necessary to formulate a compelling argument. The Toulmin Model.
From Theory to Practice. Nearly everything we read and hear is an argument. Speeches are special kinds of arguments and should be analyzed as such. Listeners should keep in mind the context of the situation involving the delivery and the audience-but a keen observer should also pay close attention to the elements of argument within the text.
Good persuasive speeches do more than wade through facts. They spark engaging dialogues, challenge people's beliefs, and maybe even alter their viewpoints. Exploring persuasive speech topics about ethics and morality forces us to dig deeper and frequently nudges us beyond the boundaries of our comfort zones.
Following up on the state's attorney's argument that what professors say is controllable government speech, Grant asked if that would mean red states and blue states would start seeing "entirely ...
Leroy Pernell, a law professor at Florida A&M University, said the state's arguments strip professors of their First Amendment speech rights. "This type of approach is something we don't ...
Jeremy Hunt: Tories must win the argument if I am to avoid 'Portillo moment' - Mr Hunt said Sir Keir Starmer could be left with a 'free hand' if Conservative voters drift to Reform UK and ...
Biden has taken centerpiece speeches on democracy on a traveling road show. It was a key theme of his 2022 State of the Union address as he defined the battle between democracy and autocracy as ...
In a filing, the lawyers in the classified documents case made an aggressive, and at times misleading, argument against prosecutors' request for the judge to curb his attacks on agents.