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How to Find Persuasive Speech Topics

By: David Baker

Finding persuasive speech topics is not as troublesome as one might think. For the most part, it's as simple as deciding what you want to persuade your audience of. Popular categories include politics, the economy, religion and business. Within each of these categories there are hundreds of subcategories to choose from depending on your goal. Are you trying to convince your listeners that they should do something, purchase something, believe something, or become something? Then your subject is simply a variation of one of these subtopics. For example, perhaps I want to convince a group of co-workers that they should start using the blue widgets instead of the white ones. The topic of my speech could be something like "Why blue widgets are superior to white widgets for use in the office". Easier than you thought, isn't it?

A vital first step is being aware of what your audience is like. Do they already agree with you on most of the facts, and merely need to be persuaded to act, or are you facing a hostile environment where you'll have to choose your words with caution? Are they already apt to listen to you? Are they forced to be there by their boss, or their parents? These factors will influence your choice of topics and how you present your material.

Presumably, you're trying to persuade your listeners of some course of action that is in their best interest. If not, I suggest you choose another topic; most audiences are smart enough to see through self-serving speakers and will resent being misled. However, this opens up another subcategory of topics for persuasive speech: helping people help themselves. This is an excellent way to frame any lecture, as most people will appreciate being helped.

A final issue that is of great importance in selecting topics is your own area of knowledge. One of the key factors in persuading a group or audience is the authority of the one giving the lecture. An audience is more likely to listen to someone with a doctorate in botany give a lecture about plants than they would a lecture about history. In short, you need to know what you're talking about, or at least have the credentials that imply you do. Those areas in which you have perceived authority are the ones you should concentrate on, unless you are already have the trust of the audience.

Article Source: http://www.speaking.freearticledirectories.com

David Baker has many years of experience as a professional persuasive speaker. For a free guide to writing persuasive speeches, visit www.epersuasivespeechtopics.com/FreeOffer or visit www.epersuasivespeechtopics.com to learn more about giving persuasive speeches.

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