Topics for Persuasive Speeches: Help for New Teachers

Speeches can be challenging. These lesson ideas teach students elements of a good speech, and how to brainstorm good persuasive speech topics, build confidence and practice critical thinking skills.

Teaching students how to give an effective speech is a part of many middle and upper grade curriculums, but this skill may be difficult for new teachers, especially if they haven't had much training in how to give an effective speech. New teachers can use the persuasive speech to teach students to overcome fear of public speaking, to think critically, and to find good persuasive speech topics to share with the class. Follow these steps to help students learn how to give an effective persuasive speech.

Topics for Persuasive Speeches

Students in middle school are ready for the challenges of learning to deliver a persuasive speech. Students in these grades have a lot on their minds, and they often want to convey these ideas to others in an effort to influence parents, teachers and peers to “see things their way.”
Introduce this lesson with a discussion and brainstorming session. List topics students feel strongly about that would make good speech topics. Some are:

• Food in the school cafeteria
• Curfews
• Homework
• Allowances
• Favorites – book, movie, rock star
  

Teacher Speech Demonstration With Example Speech

Once students have a list of possible persuasive speech topics, it is then time for a discussion on how to give a good speech. Teachers should lead a discussion about characteristics of a good public speaker and then model good speaking for students. A “what makes a good speaker demonstration” is in order, with the teacher modeling both an effective speech and one that is less well presented.

Characteristics of a Good Public Speaker

After the teacher models each example speech, have students create a list of what the teacher did well, or not so well, in each. In this exercise, emphasis should be on the way the teacher delivered the speech, not the content. Help students to generate a list of effective speech components including:

• making eye contact with audience
• speaking clearly and being easily understood
• presenting ideas in an organized and well thought out manner
• speaking loudly without mumbling or stammering
• engaging the audience
• including a good introduction, middle and ending to the speech
  

How to Write a Persuasive Speech

Next, have students select a topic from the brainstormed list. Help them outline their topics. Be sure to discuss two important details that need to be included in any persuasive speech outline – the need to be aware of both points of view on the given topic, and the need to use reasons supported by facts to convince the audience. Opinions may be strong, but they can’t be the basis for a good persuasive argument.

While students may not need actually state the opposing point of view, they do need to think about that so that they can create viable reasons for their own ideas. For example, if students are trying to persuade a teacher not to give homework, they need to think of why homework is given and what teachers use it for, and offer alternatives that teachers might use to meet those needs.

Be a Good Audience

Model giving and receiving constructive feedback by allowing students to critique the teacher’s speech first. Talk with the class about being a good audience. Just as speakers need to make eye contact, good listeners make eye contact with the speaker as well. They should be attentive and respectful of the speaker at all times.
Stress good listening skills and positive ways to give feedback. Teach students the cardinal rule for offering constructive feedback: say something nice first, before offering any kind of critique.

Students Give Speeches and Critique Each Other

Once students have completed their outlines, have them begin to practice their speeches. Encourage the use of note cards, but do not allow students to “read” from a prepared text of the speech.

Have students work in pairs to fine-tune both their arguments and their speech making skills. Each student in the pair can use a rubric of sorts to give his partner feedback. Some questions to consider:

• Did the speaker make eye contact?
• Did the speaker speak clearly?
• Did the speaker speak loudly?
• Did the speech have a good beginning, middle and end?
• Were ideas presented in a clearly understood manner?
• Was an opposing point of view considered?
• Was the speech convincing?
  

Once students feel confident, have them present their short speeches to the class.

A public speaking class for kids is an important part of any middle grade curriculum. Teach students the elements of a good speech, help them brainstorm good persuasive speech ideas and guide them in the delivery of the speech. Use a rubric to give feedback and help students improve as they practice public speaking in school.

Copyright 2012. Original copyright 2009 Irene Taylor. Permission to republish  in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing.