250+ captivating speech topics and ideas that will keep your audience hooked

A good speech depends on many factors, including good oratory skills, creative scripting, the ability to express issues accurately, and the ability to title your speech persuasively. Influential people like Martin Luther King, PLO Lumumba, Julius Malema, Nelson Mandela, and others have demonstrated these qualities in history. If you have been selected to speak to an audience, this article can help you find captivating speech topics you can talk about.

More often than not, when writing a speech, you find yourself asking what the best speech topics are. A good speech must be persuasive and deliver your ideas clearly and logically. The strength of a good speaker is in their ability to spark an interest from the audience. Have a look at speech topics you can use.

Persuasive speech topics on social issues

You can address pressing social issues through speeches. You can discuss religion, politics, health, etc. Here are some persuasive speech topics on social issues:

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• Religion fundamentalism is slowly replacing love
• Being right or wrong is not as important as being humane
• Is science superior to religion?
• Who was the best South African president?
• Is any race superior to the other?
• How political and historical injustices can be forgotten
• Does the legalization of cannabis make it less harmful?
• What is the point of manufacturing nuclear weapons if they will destroy the world?
• Feminism is not the opposite of masculinity but a complementary aspect of it
• Being a stay-at-home mom is a career
• Breastfeeding in public is not wrong. Is it?
• The media is to be blamed for half of the world's problems
• Is diversity a good thing?
• Is profit superior over good environmental conditions?
• Money can buy happiness; it all depends on where you go shopping
• Plastic is the new grass
• Good morale has been replaced with a hunger for money
• Racism shares a lifeline with politics
• There is life after death
• Adopting pets or buying from breeders? Which is best?
• Do people not understand the dangers of texting while driving?
• Is climate change a fact?
• Money is the root of all evil only if it lands on an evil hand.
• Do introverts make good leaders?
• Religion is not a bad thing; lack of faith is!
• Democracy is not the best form of governance
• Do closed borders guarantee a country's success?
• Farmers should only farm organic foods
• Celebrities have a personal responsibility to use their platform for good
• High-paying job or a fun job: which one to choose and why?

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Speech topics for kids

Choose a speech topic the children can quickly understand. To gain their attention, you can also start your speech with a famous or relatable joke or song. Here are some suitable speech topics for children:

• My dream job
• What is your least favorite food?
• My favorite game
• My favorite cartoon character
• Education is still the key to success
• Cleanliness is a good thing
• The value of having good manners
• Spare the rod spoil the child
• I believe in God
• Physical exercise is not good for children. It is great!
• Do boys cry more than girls?
• Children should not trust their neighbors if they do not know them.
• The harms of violent video games
• The benefits of a good night’s sleep
• How I got in trouble with my parents
• Superheroes and their amazing powers
• The importance of teachers in our society
• The importance of healthy eating
• Should you exercise daily?
• Why Bedtime Stories Are Important
• Why Kids Should Help with Household Chores
• The importance of always telling the truth
• The reasons why stealing is wrong, no matter what the circumstances are
• Why should we never take advantage of other people's trust?
• Why is it important to be respectful of other cultures and religions?

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Speech topics for teens

You can choose a topic that allows you to find a commonality with your audience. Students will be interested in your speech more if it addresses issues you and them experience. Here are some speech topics for teens:

• Time is not money
• Ignorance is the worst form of living
• At what age should teens start dating, if at all?
• Growing up is harder for girls than it is for boys
• The importance of teamwork and collaboration
• Understanding cyberbullying and taking action against it
• Finding success in failure
• Living a simple but fulfilling life
• How do you speak confidently in public?
• What is the best age for owning a mobile phone?
• Will punishing bullies help?
• Fame is bad for young children
• Should teenagers have more freedom in their lives?
• The Importance of Civic Engagement for Youth
• How do you learn from your mistakes?
• The dangers of drugs and why people should avoid them
• Why premarital sex is not a good idea?
• Technology has made our lives easier, but at what cost?
• Teenagers should be protected from excessive internet consumption
• Facebook is not a place to learn the difference between right and wrong
• The only answer to cruelty is being kind
• It is not cowardly to refuse to fight in a war
• Without television, you are sure to have a happier life
• Make the entrance to museums free
• Zero tolerance is a useful instrument to prevent violence
• Studying martial arts is good for the mind and health
• Parents should have access to students' grades
• Life is unfair
• Depression is a severe disease
• Love is not chemistry
• It's unethical to keep birds in cages

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2-minute speech topics for students

Speech topics for students vary with the occasion, gender, and age of the audience. Go for a catchy topic that will capture the attention of the audience. Here are some unique speech topics for Grade 12 students and high schoolers:

• A standardized test is not an accurate measure of what a student can accomplish
• Failing is part of the plan, but do not plan to fail
• Private schools are not any better than public schools
• How can you overcome exam fever?
• No pain, no gain is still a worthy motto for success in school
• Embracing racial diversity in school is essential for students
• Celebrating each student's ability is to raise a conscious crop of students
• Being a follower is important only if you are aware
• It is not a crime to come out of high school without a clear career path
• Students should not be taught to compete but to complement
• Parental pressure is good until it is bad
• Should mobile phones be banned in schools?
• Comparison based on performance is terrible if it does not recognize personal strengths.
• Should online teaching receive as much attention as the conventional form of teaching?
• Exploring Ways to Balance School and Extracurricular Activities
• The Benefits of Learning a Second Language in High School
• Why reality TV is a waste of time
• The benefits of learning basic first aid and CPR in high school
• Why is traditional schooling better than homeschooling?
• Reasons why students do not pay attention in class
• Teachers should be tested like students
• Should schools have uniforms?
• Should the school day start later?
• Is homework an effective teaching tool?
• Should a student be allowed to skip school if they want to?

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Interesting speech topics for college students

College students are mentally mature enough to understand issues in their lives and societal problems. These unique speech topics for students in college can help you write speeches that can inspire and motivate them to press on:

• Why schools should enhance the quality of students
• Why you should travel more while you are still in college
• Are students' futures assured in the current economic times?
• Is change an excuse for a lack of ethics in the professional space?
• Students have a brain. So, why limit them from using it?
• Is he a bad person or a bad student? Either way, he is a student
• Students should enjoy their time on campus
• Studying while working is an added advantage for a student
• Having a mentor should be made mandatory for all students
• The study environment affects the overall quality of a student
• Do not be in a hurry to arrive in your future
• Influence of social media on students
• Believing that people will mature in college is a misconception
• Cars are of no importance on campus
• The library is the most incredible place on campus
• Is ignorance a lack of education?
• College is for stupid people
• Are paper books better than e-books?
• Why is education so expensive, and yet it is the key to success
• Should female students get more attention than male students?
• Why college students should advocate for affordable housing solutions
• The impact of student loan debt on mental health and future opportunities
• How university students should leveraging social media for social change
• The benefits of implementing peer-to-peer learning communities on campus
• Why universities should prioritize mental health and well-being initiatives
• Traveling and studying abroad are positive experiences
• Credit cards are harmful to college students
• Technical training is better than a college degree
• All college students should live on campus
• Should students be allowed to use ChatGPT and other AI tools for writing assignments?

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Easy speech topics on family

When asked to give a speech about family, you can choose strategic topics for parents, children, and the entire family. Here are some easy speech topics on family:

• Marriage is still a good thing
• Do not borrow money from friends
• A family that prays together stays together
• Parenting style should be standardized
• Should a housewife's role be valued in monetary terms?
• There needs to be a one-car-per-family rule
• Coffee is healthy food
• Why is conflict healthy for relationships
• Should children’s reality shows be banned?
• The role of grandparents in modern families
• The effects of divorce on children's lives
• Mental health issues within the family
• Gender roles and expectations on family dynamics
• Is an all-meat diet healthy?
• How to pick a suitable name for a child
• Nurturing emotional intelligence in children
• Understanding and nurturing sibling relationships
• The importance of strong family bonds
• The role of communication in maintaining healthy family relationships
• Exploring cultural diversity within families: traditions and customs
• Understanding the unique challenges faced by blended families
• The importance of a child's relationship with their parents
• What are the pros of getting into the family business?
• How to teach children to value money
• Should one parent stay home?
• Should parents let children choose their own names?
• Is spanking children an acceptable form of discipline?
• Should parental consent be required for minors to receive birth control?
• Should the government limit how many children a couple can have?
• How to deal with sibling rivalry

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Unique speech topics in English

When writing speech topics, you must familiarize yourself with your target audience. You also pick a topic you are interested in so that your speech can sound as natural as possible. Here are some unique speech topics in English:

• Does legalizing prostitution make it morally correct?
• Is the death sentence not murder?
• Should the legal smoking age be increased to 100 years?
• Is the rule of law the only solution to a dispute?
• Is the freedom of media more important than quality information?
• Cosmetic surgery is moral
• Diet pills will not make you slim
• Living in truth and spirit is better than living in pride
• Judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree is bad
• Logic is not a replacement for instincts
• Nobody speaks English correctly
• The internet is a double-edged sword
• Modern art is a result of ambition
• Miracles happen on Earth
• Should institutions that profited from slavery provide reparations?
• Is social media making us more or less social?
• Should social media companies enact a minimum user age restriction?
• Everyone should donate blood at least once a year
• Diet beverages do not actually make you lose weight
• Immigration laws should be more lenient

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Motivational speech topics for business

Talk about business when you are addressing business-minded people. Find a topic that resonates with the business owners, employees, or other stakeholders. Here are some appropriate speech topics for business:

• How to deal with difficult business people
• How some of the biggest failures resulted in fantastic success
• Interesting tips from successful people
• What is strategic planning, and how can you implement it?
• Dealing with rejection in business
• How to build strong company values that will make your business more successful
• How does building a solid company image make your business more successful?
• How to effectively communicate diagonally in a company to improve performance
• Why your business should support local businesses and talents
• How to assign tasks based on your employees' personalities
• How to implement call-to-action strategies in your company or industry
• How to build storytelling skills through emotional awareness
• Why company leaders need to take responsibility for their choices and actions
• Does getting cheaper foreign employees harm the economy?
• Unquestionable habits of wildly successful people
• Strategies for focusing at work
• The best way to find a work-life balance
• Time management plays a great role in self-growth
• Natural resource managers should earn more than hedge fund managers
• Flexible working hours reduce traffic jams.
• A free-market policy is disastrous for Africa
• The role of central banks in managing monetary policy
• The relationship between credit risk and profitability in banking
• The role of government in promoting economic growth
• The impact of globalization on public finance
• The role of forensic accounting in fraud detection
• The challenges of cross-border banking regulation
• The impact of inflation on the stock market
• How has technology transformed the financial services industry?
• Should governments regulate cryptocurrency?

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Funny, motivational speech topics

Sometimes, you might be asked to deliver a lighthearted speech to entertain and educate an audience. So, if you have a funny bone, here are some hilarious speech topics you focus on:

• Why we should have break-up insurance policies
• Why men should not wear skinny jeans
• To become old and wise, you must first be young and stupid
• Petition to have 6-month vacations twice a year!
• Chasing idle dreams is a good habit
• Ten fun things to occupy yourself with during a test
• My most profitable mistake
• Things my dog would tell me if they could talk
• Where did swear words come from?
• The advantages of being a man/woman
• How to lose your job in 24 hours or less
• Top 5 dumbest questions and answers
• What to write in a message in a bottle if you're trapped on an island.
• Why should you not use funny pick-up lines?
• Why should you not friend your parents on Facebook?
• The urgent need for a ministry of meme regulation
• The art of procrastination: a humorous guide
• The undeniable benefits of procrastination
• Awkward social situations and how to navigate them
• Misadventures in cooking
• The joy of not knowing what you’re doing
• Why adults should have mandatory nap times
• Why breakfast foods make the best dinner
• If animals could talk: What would they say?
• How to survive a week without the internet
• The art of sleeping in class without getting caught
• Bizarre food combinations that actually work
• Curious wedding traditions from around the globe
• Life lessons learned from watching cartoons
• Why being clumsy is actually a talent

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Attention-grabbing speech topics on marriage and relationships

Relationship topics can help individuals, couples, or families address daily life or future plans for their marriages or relationships. So, if you need to discuss marriage and relationship issues with your audience, here are some attention-grabbing speech topics to use:

• Is monogamy natural or a societal construct?
• Is jealousy a sign of love or insecurity?
• What impact does a significant age gap have on a partnership?
• Deciding on children: a joint or individual decision?
• How does social media usage impact romantic partnerships?
• Can a relationship survive infidelity and regain trust?
• Should couples live together before marriage?
• Personal space: essential for a good relationship?
• How chore division affects a couple’s happiness
• The significance of date nights
• The importance of shared hobbies
• Decision-making: democratic or by expertise?
• Can relations with significant age differences work in the long term?
• Should couples have separate or joint bank accounts?
• The advantages of taking time apart
• How do financial disparities affect relationship dynamics?
• Should couples share their passwords as a sign of trust?
• Managing finances: Equal split or single earner?
• Soulmates: Is it till a concept for today?
• In-laws: How to establish healthy boundaries
• Do shared political beliefs lead to stronger relations?
• The critical role of trust in distant partnerships
• Strategies for sustaining intimacy across the miles
• Do opposites really attract?
• Do distant bonds grow stronger than those formed nearby?
• Should couples keep secrets to protect their partner’s feelings?
• How do cultural differences shape relationship expectations?
• Career vs. family: finding balance or inviting conflict?
• Should partners have the right to refuse sex without justification?
• Does a higher level of education lead to better decision-making in relationships?
• How important is it for adults in relations to have separate friendships and hobbies?
• Can you justify staying in an unfulfilling partnership for the sake of the children?
• Is financial stability a prerequisite for a successful marriage?
• Is the traditional concept of marriage still relevant in today’s society?
• How does the transition to retirement affect long-standing relations?

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Controversial speech topics

Some topics are controversial but necessary for people to talk about. If you have been selected to speak about controversial issues, research widely and be careful with your wording to avoid getting misunderstood by your audience. Here are some famous controversial speech topics people seek to discuss:

• Should the government ensure the protection of privacy?
• Should prostitution be made legal?
• Should abortion be banned? (i.e., are you pro-life or pro-choice?)
• Should military service be compulsory for the youth?
• Does religion do more harm to society than good?
• Is mental illness equivalent to physical illness?
• Are vaccines safe?
• Cultural treasures should be returned to the country of origin
• Voting should be compulsory
• Women should rule the world!
• The positive effects of donating money
• The death penalty should be abolished
• Single parents should be allowed to adopt
• Why should assault weapons be legal
• Health insurance should cover music therapy
• Universal healthcare is not a right
• Wealth inequality a threat to society
• Should we get rid of paper money?
• Women or men: who gossips more?
• Why should euthanasia be legal
• Is it a good idea to start a business with a friend?
• Is the fast-food industry accountable for obesity?
• Churches need to contribute their share of taxes
• Global warming is not real
• Is dieting the only way to lose weight fast?
• Why should we not interfere in other country’s affairs?
• Why should animal hunting be banned?
• Should everyone's wealth and income information be publicly available?
• Is taxation theft?
• Why men spend more money than women?
• How money laundering practices violate financial ethic
• Work can provide more than money

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Which topic is best for speech?

It is important to select a topic you understand well, and that is of interest to you and your audience. This will help you easily capture the people's attention as you deliver your speech.

What are the factors to consider before selecting a speech topic?

When choosing a topic for a speech, consider your audience's average age, gender, ethnic background, type of career, and knowledge of the topic.

What is a unique way to start a speech?

You can start a speech with a story about something that happened to you, photos or video, statistics, a quote, a joke, or pose a question to the audience.

How do you end a speech?

You can end a speech with an inspirational quote, a call to action, a story, statistics, a joke, or pose a question to the audience. Memorize your final sentence and speak slowly when you conclude.

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What are some unique topics?

Here are some unique topics for speech:

• Is the rule of law the only solution to a dispute?
• Is the freedom of media more important than quality information?
• Cosmetic surgery is moral
• Diet pills will not make you slim
• Living in truth and spirit is better than living in pride
• Judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree is bad
• Logic is not a replacement for instincts
• What is the easiest speech topic?

Which topic is best for a 2-minute speech?

Here are some captivating topics for a 2-minute speech:

• How political and historical injustices can be forgotten
• Does the legalization of cannabis make it less harmful?
• What is the point of manufacturing nuclear weapons if they will destroy the world?
• Feminism is not the opposite of masculinity but a complementary aspect of it
• Being a stay-at-home mom is a career
• Breastfeeding in public is not wrong. Is it?
• The media is to be blamed for half of the world's problems
• Is diversity a good thing?

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What topics are the most interesting?

Some of the trending topics people are interested in today are:

• Terrorism
• Global warming
• Dieting
• GMO food
• Vaccines
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of the mass media
• Social media-related topics
• Nuclear weapons
• Gender-based violence
• Interracial relationships
• Feminism
• Gender equality
• International relations and diplomacy

The topics listed in this article can be helpful when seeking speech topics for your oration. These ideas will help you find the most appropriate subjects to discuss with your audience and deliver information they deem valuable.

Briefly.co.za published an article on the top motivational speakers in SA. Motivational speakers make a lot of money depending on their knowledge area and years of expertise, fame, and status.

The path to becoming a motivational speaker takes time and practice. The list can inspire any budding motivational speakers. So, read the article to discover iconic orators from South Africa that you can look up to.

Source: Briefly News