A persuasive speech is a form of motivational speaking. You are asking your audience members to make a voluntary change in their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. If your audience already agrees with your argument, then your talk will not be persuasive, unless you seek to motivate them to act upon a belief or attitude.

It is unlikely that you will be able to persuade an audience to change a value or principle. Consider carefully surveying your audience to learn where they are anchored on your topic. Then seek to make incremental changes.

Below are some persuasive speech topic suggestions:

• Title IX should be supported and extended.
• Ticketmaster has a monopoly on getting tickets.
• The U.S. should ratify the Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW), sponsored by Amnesty International.
• Campaign finance reform should become a more salient topic is discussion in the next Congressional session.
• HMOs and other forms of managed health care are insufficient for ensuring that all Americans receive adequate health care.
• RU-486 should not be available to American women.
• RU-486 should be available to American women.
• The United Nations is still a best avenue to promote world order.
• Ephedra should be banned from all collegiate and professional athletics.
• You're never too busy to get involved in volunteering.
• School vouchers are a poor substitute to improving public education.
• Smoking should be prohibited in all public buildings.
• Forget the fad diets; focus instead upon FDA recommendations for particular groups.
• Spay and neuter your pets.