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Writing a persuasive speech
persuasive speech topics for college

310 persuasive speech topics for college

60 education topics, 50 mental health...

Can you engage, inform, and persuade? Can you do all three at once?

That’s what a good persuasive speech does. It challenges an audience’s thinking or position on a topic or an issue, asks them to pause, and consider changing their minds.

There are 310 great persuasive speech topics for college students and/or their teachers here.

Plus, how to prepare a speech for a set time allowance and more about choosing a good topic and writing a great persuasive speech.

Label: 310 persuasive speech topics for college

Each of them could make an excellent speech. Whether any of them do, or not, depends on a number of factors. The two main ones are you, and your audience.

What makes a persuasive speech topic good or interesting? (A very quick overview)

A subject is right for you if:

it is about something you are genuinely interested in or passionate about, and
it is something you know your audience will relate to and it would be interesting, or beneficial, for them to know about.

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50 mental health persuasive speech topics

that academic pressure causes anxiety and depression in college students
that increased use of social media heightens anxiety about physical appearance
that poverty and homelessness are often root causes of poor mental health
that addictive behaviors are not a sign of poor character
that binge drinking can mask depression
that typical adolescent angst and teenage depression are not the same
that self-harming is a cry for help
that living in green cities improves mental health
that seeking out positive news stories makes a difference
that limiting the consumption of unfiltered social media helps mental well being
that learning to objectively scale experiences helps keep them in perspective
that understanding family patterns of behaviour is useful for understanding ourselves
that being mentally unwell is not proof of incurable insanity
that building resilience will guard against becoming mentally unwell
that depression and anxiety, like flu, can be contagious
that mental health is improved by some form of consistent exercise
that everybody needs people who love and understand them
that doing kind things for other people improves mental health
that monitoring and changing how we habitually talk to ourselves can improve personal mental health
that forgiving ourselves, in the same way we would a friend, for minor transgressions is healthy
that loneliness contributes to mental health issues
that genetic inheritance influences our mental health
that eating healthily improves mental health
that chronic bullying is a sign of poor mental health
that the desire to fit in, to be the same as everyone else, is a sign of insecurity
that mental strength is built by being eager to learn new things
that mental strength is built by accepting responsibility for our thoughts and actions
that mental strength is built by being willing to make mistakes and to be OK about that
that mental strength is built by learning not to measure self-worth by comparing ourselves to others and by being OK about who we are
that mental strength is built through being genuinely pleased for the success of others
that we protect our mental health by knowing when and how to withdraw from situations and people that are not good for us
that good mental health is supported by managing our own expectations of ourselves realistically
that good mental health is something that has to be worked on everyday
that good mental health requires us knowing our own strengths and weaknesses
that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ model for good mental health because we are individuals
that we have more mental health issues today, because we are more willing to openly discuss them than previous generations
that asking for help when you know you need it is a sign of good mental health
that learning to be happily alone is good for mental health
that learning to set challenging realistic goals and working towards achieving them helps to build and sustain good mental health
that being genuinely grateful for the good in our lives helps sustain robust mental health
that re-framing problems as challenges or opportunities helps develop mental resilience
that keeping a journal promotes good mental health
that children need appropriate guidance and discipline to develop good mental health
that the foundation for good mental health in adults is built in childhood
that our primary influencers (parents, family, teachers, friends...) shape our mental health
that mental and physical health are inseparable
that mental health issues in children are not necessarily their parents fault
that mental health in many sectors of our communities has been severely tested by the pandemic
that mental health issues highlighted by the pandemic have forced us to think more creatively about how we meet them
that we are often stronger mentally than we think we are

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60 education persuasive speech topics

that education should be free and freely available to whomever wants it
that education systems should be free of bias
that all children should have equal educational opportunities
that any form of educational segregation (gender, racial, economic, religious...) should be unlawful
that education is power
that the control of a country’s education system should not be in the hands of politicians or a political party
that a vocational education is more useful
that the principal role of education is to teach individuals to be stable, strong members of society
that a good education is one that teaches a person to take responsibility for themselves financially
that there is no time in our lives when we are finished being educated
that schools squash creativity and initiative
that going to school and being educated are two different things
that we learn more outside of a classroom than inside it
that lack of formal education is the cause of societal unrest
that our current school systems only really work for children from stable backgrounds
that one good caring teacher can make all the difference
that a teacher has the potential to influence their students’ lives enormously
that being a teacher is a privileged position
that teachers should be acknowledged and highly valued
that the criteria for entering teacher training should be more discriminating
that teacher training should be longer and more rigorous
that teachers should be tested every five years in order to renew their license to teach
that practical education is better than theoretical
that the school leaving age should not be raised
that the most important lessons at school happen in the playground
that enrolling a child in any form of educational institution should be optional
that parents should have the right to decide what classes their child attends
that homeschooling does not hinder a child in any way
that homeschooling is better for a child’s mental health
that homeschooling is an option only economically advantaged parents can offer their children
that parents who decide to homeschool their children need to feel OK about spending large chunks of time with them
that psychological screening should be used to decide what school a student goes to
that our grading systems fail to motivate students who struggle
that separating a grade given for a piece of schoolwork from one’s self-esteem, or person, is difficult
that grading is a frequently misunderstood, misapplied, inexact science
that face to face real time learning is more effective than online learning
that streaming (grouping students in classes according to their intellectual ability) should be banned
that the principal function of education is to teach people to think rationally and creatively
that failing at school is never the fault of the student
that accelerate classes are elitist
that the drive to get more students into higher education is misplaced
that school uniforms should be compulsory
that all children should have access to extra tuition as it is needed
that an education system based on grades and examinations only benefits a small percentage of the children it is supposed to serve
that online learning centers like the Kahn Academy democratize education
that teachers should receive financial rewards based on the success of their students
that financial literacy should be given similar teaching time as reading and writing
that socio-economic factors indicate the likelihood of future educational success
that intellectual ability develops best in a safe secure stress-free environment
that girls perform better academically in all girl schools
that single-sex schooling slows the growth of appropriate social skills
that children less than 10 years old should not given graded tests and ranked according to their scores
that active community service should be part a school’s curriculum
that meditation techniques should be taught in all schools
that homework teaches time management and self discipline
that developing imagination and creativity is equally important as developing stable work habits and good numeracy and literacy skills
that smaller class sizes make it more likely a student will thrive
that entrepreneurial skills should be encouraged and taught in schools
that all high school students should be assigned or have access to a mentor
that weapons of any sort should be banned from school campuses

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50 family themed persuasive speech topics

Label: 50 family persuasive speech topics

that what makes a person a valued family member is not necessarily a blood tie
that being one of many children in a family is an advantage
that being part of a close multi-generational family has advantages for everyone
that only children have more expected of them than children who have siblings
that the eldest child in a family carries more responsibility than their siblings
that the youngest child in the family is the most spoilt
that the middle child in a family has the least favoured position
that the order of the birth of siblings has a major impact on their psychological development
that older parents are better equipped financially and emotionally to parent well
that consciously choosing to have a child makes a positive difference to how a child is parented
that it is better to be a loved child in a poor family than an unloved child in a wealthy one
that parents should not compare their children
that children should obey their parents
that a child should not have everything they ask for
that children should have regular age-appropriate household tasks to do
that children have a right to privacy
that children need to know they are loved and supported no matter what happens
that parents should not bicker or fight in front of children
that a child should never be disciplined by hitting
that a parent needs to behave like a parent, not a friend, or a child
that parental favouritism damages children
that boys and girls should be treated equally
that parents should attend classes on parenting before being permitted to have a child
that babies and small children are better off at home with their mothers
that designer children should be illegal
that a woman should have the right to terminate a pregnancy
that being a dad is not the same as being a father
that parents divorcing causes significant issues for their children
that home should always be a safe place
that parents are responsible for how their children behave
that a child will follow the pattern set by the adults around them
that a teenage mother should be fully supported to look after her child and develop herself
that taking a child into custody should be the very last resort
that divorced parents should always talk respectfully about each other in front of their children
that combining families when parents remarry should be handled with great care
that children should never witness their parents fighting over them
that children should never be played off against each other
that parents set behavioral boundaries to keep their children safe
that publicly shaming a child is cruel
that parents do not always know best
that a child has the right to expect that their parents take good care of them
that children are never better than each other only different
that the demands of family life and work need to be better balanced
that children should not be made to kiss or hug people they do not want to
that parents should make time to talk with and listened to their children
that becoming an adopted relative: grandparent, aunt or uncle is a great way to enrich a child’s life
that solo parents need non-judgmental practical support to help raise their children
that baby sitters need to be old enough to be responsible as well as known to children before they are left with them
that there is no such thing as a bad child
that a bullied child needs compassionate support and understanding

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50 persuasive speech topic ideas about friends

Label: 50 friends persuasive speech topics

that we all need a little help from our friends
that everybody needs at least one best friend
that a person’s life is influenced by childhood friends
that we are defined by those who we are friends with
that “liking” media posts is a form of friendship
that a true friend is someone who knows your fears, vulnerabilities and weaknesses and loves you just the same
that a friend is someone you know you can depend on
that the most important relationship a person will ever have is an enduring friendship
that true friendship transcends boundaries and overcomes obstacles
that we need to be taught how to sustain healthy friendships
that a friend helps a person keep themselves in check
that a friend is someone we will accept the truth from
that a real friend is not possessive about you
that in a real friendship the amount of giving and taking are balanced
that a real friend encourages the best in you, not the worst
that mutual trust is the foundation of a good friendship
that a friend is someone who has your best interests at heart
that a friend does not gossip cruelly behind your back
that a friend is someone you enjoy being with
that a friend is someone who doesn’t make you feel anxious about saying or doing the wrong thing
that boys are better at being friends than girls are
that making new friends as we get older is harder
that being a loyal friend does not mean agreeing with everything a friend says or does
that getting help to break away from toxic friendships is a healthy thing to do
that listening is vitally important in a friendship
that a true friend will prioritize and rearrange their schedule in order to be with you
that we need a variety of different types of people as good friends
that to be a good friend we need to respect boundaries and beliefs
that we can disagree with a friend and remain friends
that being a friend does not mean accepting poor behavior towards yourself or others you care about
that we achieve and become our best selves through the support and love of friends
that learning to be a good friend is an essential life skill
that friendships can come and go and that’s OK
that a good friend will never publicly humiliate you
that behaving in certain ways in order to attract or impress friends will not really work
that a friend is someone who likes you for who you are, not for what you have, look like or do
that apologizing sincerely for your part in a misunderstanding or falling out between friends is essential for the friendship to survive
that learning to leave a friendship with grace when it no longer works is a valuable skill to have
that men often have mates but few friends
that our mental health improves when we have loving caring friends
that a real friend is someone you can be away from for years and then resume a deep connection very quickly
that there are degrees, and different types, of friendship and all of them are valuable
that there can be no such thing as a platonic friendship between a man and a woman
that having an imaginary friend as a small child is normal
that a true friendship between an older person and a child is something to be encouraged
that building genuine friendships with open hearts and minds breaks down prejudice
that parents should intervene in their children’s friendships if they see them making poor choices or compromising themselves
that there is a fine line between discussing a friend’s problems because you are concerned about them and discussing them because you find them amusing or good for shock value
that comparison and competition between friends is inevitable
that friendship is one of life’s essentials

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50 society themed persuasive speech ideas

Label: 50 society persuasive speech topics

that to fit into the society you live in you must conform
that society does not tolerate difference
that society reflects the attitudes of the people who live in it
that we can not live outside society
that the influence of society is totally pervasive
that change is the enemy of society
that in a capitalist society there will always be winners and losers
that there is no such thing as an ideal society
that social and economic inequality will force change in society
that ruling a society through fear and/or force will never create stability
that a society that maintains a rigid class structure is bound to fail
that those in charge of society should act in the interests of all its members
that the problems a society faces are of its own making
that the controls a society puts in place are for the benefit of its members
that there will always be some people who have, and some people who do not
that the most damaging rules of a society are its unwritten ones
that virtual society is replacing older forms of society
that the knowledge society is breaking down barriers
that western society is losing its influence
that high society sustains itself by living off the efforts of those below it
that modern society is neither better or worse, just different
that an equal society is a worthy aspiration
that a progressive society absorbs change for the good of its members
that crime is a threat to society
that how a society treats its most vulnerable members is a measure of how much it cares
that a wealthy society is built on much more than money
that a self-made man or woman will always be a hero in a capitalist society
that if corporations paid their fair share of taxes, our societies would benefit hugely
that compulsory citizenship classes would make us better members of society
that a healthy society values the contributions of its members equally
that a civilized society is a fiction
that the role of education is to enable people to take their places productively in society
that the rules of a society are made by the most powerful to keep the weak in their place
that, in theory, a socialist society is classless
that communism and socialism are not the same thing
that a democratic society is protected by every adult who is eligible to vote doing so
that what makes a member of society good depends on the society you belong to
that a society that can not tolerate criticism is inherently weak
that the members of a society often use social sanctions to keep in each other in line
than an authoritarian society rules through fear
that constant oppression will eventually cause an uprising of people looking to change the society they live in
that those who lead societies need to be fully aware of the enormous responsibilities they carry on behalf of the people they serve
that modern media escalates the problems we have in society
that changes in what society considers to be moral, and normal, sexual behavior is inevitable
that we do not immediately go straight to hell if we challenge society’s traditionally held views on abortion
that a society that has to imprison or kill its dissenting members in order to keep control is immoral
that society provides form and meaning in our lives
that living in society’s rat race is inescapable
that changes in any society only come about through the willingness of some its members to speak out and act
that true heroes are people who know the potential risks of challenging those in power in the societies in which they live and do it anyway

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50 persuasive speech topics about animals

Label: 50 animal persuasive speech topics

that pet euthanasia is humane
that feeding naturally carnivorous animals a vegetarian diet is wrong
that giving a pet to a child to care for teaches responsibility
that dogs resemble their owners
that battery farming should be banned for health reasons
that battery farming should be banned for ethical reasons
that keeping dangerous animals as pets should be banned
that zoos should be regularly audited to ensure they are meeting the needs of the animals they house
that hunting animals for sport is wrong
that anthropomorphizing animals is foolhardy
that taking an animal or bird from its natural habitat is cruel
that animal or bird breeding programs set up for monetary gain are wrong
that keeping a large four-legged pet in an apartment is wrong
that people need to prove they can look after a pet before they get one
that people with pets have better mental health
that understanding a pet is easier than understanding a person
that training an animal to do tricks to entertain is inhumane
that blood sports (cock fighting, dog fights, bear baiting, bull fights, fox hunting...) involving animals should be banned
that pets should be neutered or spayed
that all animals should be protected
that protecting endangered animals is sentimental hogwash
that the money spent on saving endangered habitats would be better spent on hospitals and schools
that animals are intelligent
that animals should not be eaten
that animals have rights
that keeping endangered animals in zoos ensures their survival
that animals can be farmed sustainably
that animal breeding programs based on what’s currently fashionable should be banned
that there are no ‘bad’ animals, only animals that have become bad as a result of how they have been treated by humans
that animals that become pests have a right to be treated humanely
that the practice branding animals with a branding iron should be stopped
that any form of testing of any substance on any animal should be banned
that inter-breeding species to create a hybrid animal is against the laws of nature and should be banned
that the companion animals in hospitals, schools and other institutions give meaning to people’s lives
that the companion animal programme should be fully supported by state or government funds
that the best service animal is a dog
that animals have individual personalities and habits, just like people.
that wearing clothing made from the skin, bone or any other part of an animal, requiring their death before it can be made, is unethical
that owning a dog and taking it for regular walks makes it easier to talk to strangers
that all dogs should be on a leash in public places
that some breeds of dogs do not make safe family pets
that the use of drugs to artificially boost an animal’s growth for meat, or milk production should be banned
that a person can only hunt in the wild if they have a license
that adopting an animal from a pet shelter is the best way to get a pet
that volunteering in an animal shelter is an antidote to depression
that pet owners who dress and adorn their animals to display their personal wealth or to create an impression are abusing their animals
that we should make a switch from farming cows for milk to goats because they are more environmentally friendly
that recycling plastic packaging would protect marine environments
that the process of natural selection guarantees the strongest and best adapted species
that vivisection (experimentation on live animals) for scientific purposes of any sort should be outlawed

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How to prepare a speech for a set time allowance

Here's a three minute speech example to illustrate.

If you speak at an average rate (between 130 to 150 words per minute, a 3 minute speech has approximately 360 – 450 words.

To be effective, you’ll want to allocate your time (and word count) three ways: approximately 70% for the middle or body of your speech and 15% each for the opening and conclusion. The largest portion goes to the body as this is where you lay out your reasoning and evidence to support your topic.

Speaking to time takes practice: lots of it. The only way to accurately know how long your speech will take to deliver is to go through it out loud as if you were actually giving it and time it. This is critical if you're speaking in a competition or if you're being formally assessed. Going over time can result in penalties.

For the approximate number of words-per-minute (wpm) for speeches ranging from 1 minute to 10 minutes long please see: how many words per minute in a speech.

For more about speech rate

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More about choosing a good persuasive speech topic and preparing a great speech

For a more in-depth discussion about choosing a good persuasive topic, and crafting a persuasive speech please see:

persuasive speech ideas and read all the notes under the heading “What make a speech topic good?"
writing a persuasive speech. You’ll find notes covering:
setting a speech goal,
audience analysis,
evidence and empathy (the need for proof or evidence to back what you’re saying as well as showing you understand, or empathize with, the positions of those for and against your proposal),
balance and obstacles (to address points against your proposal, the obstacles, in a fair and balanced way),
varying structural patterns (ways to organize you material) and more

And click the link for hundreds more persuasive speech topic suggestions ☺

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