Scribd
Upload
83 views

Persuasive Speech

An argumentative speech aims to change the audience's opinions on a controversial issue by presenting a strong argument and evidence to support the speaker's claim. The speaker must choose a topic that is currently being debated in society and on which reasonable people can disagree. An effective argumentative speech will present the speaker's claim, provide facts and sources to back up the claim in two subclaims, address an alternative position in a counterclaim, and then refute the counterclaim while reaffirming the speaker's original position in the conclusion. Example topics include legalizing marijuana, regulating CEO pay, banning smoking in public places, and legalizing assisted suicide.

Uploaded by

Ade Ade
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
83 views

Persuasive Speech

An argumentative speech aims to change the audience's opinions on a controversial issue by presenting a strong argument and evidence to support the speaker's claim. The speaker must choose a topic that is currently being debated in society and on which reasonable people can disagree. An effective argumentative speech will present the speaker's claim, provide facts and sources to back up the claim in two subclaims, address an alternative position in a counterclaim, and then refute the counterclaim while reaffirming the speaker's original position in the conclusion. Example topics include legalizing marijuana, regulating CEO pay, banning smoking in public places, and legalizing assisted suicide.

Uploaded by

Ade Ade
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Argumentative Speech

Definitions

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 audience. This type of speech is extremely
challenging; therefore, the speaker should be careful to choose a topic which he feels prepared to
reinforce with a strong argument.

Argumentative speeches generally concern topics which are currently being debated by society, current
controversial issues. These topics are often derived from political debates and issues which are commonly
seen in the media. The chosen topic may be political, religious, social, or ethical in nature. The audience
should be challenged to re-examine their long-held values, and will be asked to alter deeply held
convictions based on new evidence or viewpoints on the issue.

Obviously, selecting a topic that is debatable is key to creating an effective speech. The topic should not
be something which is generally already proven, or would require an enormous leap of faith or logic in
order to convince the audience. The speaker should already possess a strong interest and have a deeply-
held opinion on the subject, or else his arguments will probably not come across as believable to the
audience.

N Steps Explanation
o
1
INTRODUCTION Grab the audience’s attention by using an attention getting device!
Lead your audience into your claim.
2
CLAIM My side of the argument

3 Explain the problems that are part of the issue or background.


SUBCLAIM #1 Information important to the issue. Use facts and give sources.
Example of facts: statistics from a number of train stations show
that….
4
SUBCLAIM #2 Prove that there is damage being done or that could be done.
Make the audience care.
Use facts and give sources.
A fact can be proven; it’s not someone’s opinion.
Example of facts: non-smoker commuters ended up with smoke-
related diseases rose to… %

5 WARRANT The reason why everyone should believe your claim, and the
explanation of why or how the facts (evidence) supports the claim.

6
COUNTERCLAI
The other side of the argument.
M

7
BACKING Tear apart the counterclaim.
Explain why it’s wrong.
Reestablish why your claim is right.

8 Restate claim and finish up without Introducing new material.


CONCLUSION End strongly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILrTA0xbIFU

List of Argumentative Speech Topics

1. Women make better presidents.

2. Sale of human organs should be legal.

3. Health benefits of marijuana.

4. Green cars are not green.

5. Minors should be tried for murder at any age.

6. Organ donation should be mandatory.

7. Health risks of smoking are exaggerated.

8. Workers should get four weeks paid vacation each year.

9. Modern offices should have facilities for an afternoon nap.

10. Terminally ill patients should be allowed to use heroin.

Society

11. Couples should be banned from adopting overseas.

12. Feminism is bad for society.

13. Gay couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples.

14. Gender equality is a myth.

15. Polygamy creates healthy relationships.

16. Having sex with prostitute is not cheating.

17. Churches should be required to pay taxes.

18. Physical punishment is good practice for raising children.

Media

19. Fast Food advertisements and promotions should be banned.

20. Reality television makes people stupid and should be regulated.

21. Social networks are killing sincere relationships.

Technology

22. Life was better when technology was less and more simple.

23. Space exploration is a waste of money.

24. NASA space landing on the moon was a hoax.

25. Technological progress signifies the decline of human, moral, spiritual and traditional values.

26. Modern technology has increased material wealth but not happiness.

27. New technologies create new problems.


Politics

28. War as an instrument of foreign policy.

Health and Sport

29. Eating meat and dairy is bad for your body.

30. Genetically modified food should be the answer to the world’s hunger problem.

31. Vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat.

32. The only difference between normal and organic food is the cost.

33. Dangers of herbal remedies.

34. Smoking a pipe is more harmful than smoking cigarettes.

35. Athletes who are caught using steroids should be banned from professional sport for life.

36. Running is unhealthy.

37. Bread is bad for your health.

Environment

38. Hunting is good for environment.

39. Working from home is good for environment.

40. Nuclear power is better than solar power.

Constitutional Issues

41. Ban on smoking in public places is undemocratic.

42. Euthanasia should be legalized.

43. Prostitution should be legalized.

44. Salaries of actors, professional athletes and CEOs should be regulated and capped.

45. Voting should be compulsory for all citizens.

46. Retirement should be made compulsory at the age of 80.

47. Men should be forced to take paternity leave from work.

48. Compulsory military service is good for society and the country.

49. Voting age should be lowered.

50. Laws to protect the victims of domestic abuse should be enforced.

Education

51. Mobiles phones should be banned in schools for both students and teachers.

52. Benefits of attending a single-sex school.

53. Mandatory dress code.

54. Why educational computer games should be used in school

Ethics

55. Assisted Suicide.


56. Abortions should be legal in cases of rape and incest.

57. Zoos, aquariums and circus violate animal rights and should be shut down.

58. Should scientists bring back extinct species through cloning.

You might also like