160+ Best Persuasive Speech Topics & Ideas for Students 2024

When preparing for a persuasive speech, the first step is choosing a topic that will grab your audience's attention. A strong topic not only sparks interest but also encourages your listeners to think deeply and consider your point of view. Finding the right persuasive speech topics for students can make all the difference in delivering a speech that is both engaging and impactful.

Once you have your topic, use Tenorshare AI Slides to quickly create professional and eye-catching presentation slides that will help make your speech even more effective.

Components of a Good Persuasive Speech Topic

Relates to Student Life

Good persuasive speech topics for students should connect to their daily experiences, such as school policies, social media use, or balancing studies and extracurriculars.

Easy to Understand and Follow

The topic should be clear and straightforward. Avoid topics that are too complex or confusing. Students should be able to easily understand both sides of the argument.

Backed by Facts and Examples

Choose topics that allow students to use real-life examples, facts, or studies to support their arguments. This helps in making a convincing case that their peers can believe in.

Engages Emotions and Opinions

A strong topic can stir emotions and encourage students to form their own opinions. Topics like "Should homework be banned?" or "Is social media harmful?" often spark lively discussions.

Room for Debate

Topics should have enough room for different opinions and debates. Issues like "Should uniforms be mandatory in schools?" or "Should students be paid for good grades?" allow for opposing views.

Relevant and Timely

Good topics often touch on current issues that are important to students, like "Should online learning continue after the pandemic?" This keeps the topic fresh and interesting.

Uses Well-Designed Slides and Clear Content

For a strong presentation, create professional slides that are simple and to the point. Using tools like Tenorshare AI Slides can help students quickly make polished slides that support their arguments and keep the audience engaged.

Persuasive Speech Topics for Students about Mental Health

• Schools should provide mandatory mental health days for students.
• Mental health education must be included in school curriculums.
• Stigma around mental health issues needs to be addressed in schools.
• Should therapy be made free for all students in colleges?
• Peer support programs can significantly improve student well-being.
• Social media use should be limited to protect mental health.
• Universities should have mental health professionals available 24/7.
• Should students be required to take mindfulness and meditation classes?
• Dormitories should have designated quiet zones for relaxation.
• Counseling services should be mandatory for freshmen.
• Exercise and mental health: Should physical activity be encouraged in schools?
• Is there a need for more mental health awareness campaigns in schools?
• Stress management courses should be part of the college curriculum.
• Should mental health check-ups be as regular as physical health check-ups?
• Mental health support groups should be accessible to all students.

Persuasive Speech Topics for Students about Life

• Everyone should have a personal budget to manage finances.
• Traveling while young teaches life skills that can't be learned in school.
• College students should take a gap year to gain real-world experience.
• Failure is a necessary part of success in life.
• Is it better to follow passion over a secure job?
• Volunteering is a crucial part of personal growth.
• Learning how to cook is a life skill every student should have.
• Should social media breaks be mandatory for better mental health?
• Facing rejection builds resilience and character.
• Should all students learn basic first aid?
• Balancing work and life is more important than career success.
• Should time management be taught as a critical life skill in schools?
• Taking risks is essential for personal and professional growth.
• Kindness should be promoted as a strength, not a weakness.
• Is self-care becoming too commercialized in today's society?

Persuasive Speech Topics for Students about School

• Should schools start later to improve student performance?
• Uniforms in schools promote equality and focus on education.
• Homework should be limited to encourage extracurricular activities.
• Digital devices should be integrated into classroom learning.
• Should arts education be mandatory for all students?
• Is standardized testing an effective way to measure student ability?
• Schools should teach practical skills like cooking and financial literacy.
• Are single-gender classrooms more effective for learning?
• Physical education should be prioritized to combat childhood obesity.
• Should students have more freedom to choose their courses?
• Schools should provide more mental health support for students.
• Should bullying prevention programs be mandatory in schools?
• Extracurricular activities are as important as academic subjects.
• Should schools implement a no-homework policy?
• The role of teachers should go beyond just academics.

Funny Persuasive Speech Topics for Students

• Cats make better pets than dogs.
• Why every student should own a pet rock.
• Pineapple on pizza: A delicious controversy.
• Why Mondays should be optional in schools.
• The case for eating dessert before dinner.
• Aliens exist, and they are better than us at sports.
• Should we all communicate in emojis only?
• Why students should wear pajamas to school.
• Unicorns would make great class pets.
• Social media influencers should be the new history lessons.
• Why ketchup should be a vegetable in school cafeterias.
• Teachers should be replaced by robots with a sense of humor.
• Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?
• Homework should come with a free pizza.
• Ban math and make dance the universal language.

Persuasive Speech Topics for Students in College

• Should colleges offer more flexible class schedules?
• Dorm rooms should have mandatory quiet hours.
• Online classes should remain an option post-pandemic.
• Should there be a cap on college tuition fees?
• Is student debt relief necessary for economic growth?
• Mandatory internships should be a part of college education.
• Should colleges provide free public transportation for students?
• Is it time to end fraternities and sororities in colleges?
• Should colleges focus more on practical skills over theory?
• Free speech zones should be expanded on college campuses.
• Should there be a grade-free first semester for freshmen?
• Colleges should offer more courses on emerging technologies.
• College athletes should be paid for their participation.
• Is campus safety adequately prioritized in colleges?
• Should mental health leave be standardized in college policies?

Persuasive Essay Topics for Students

• Should school uniforms be banned?
• Are video games beneficial to students?
• Should junk food be sold in school cafeterias?
• Is homeschooling better than traditional schooling?
• Should smartphones be banned in classrooms?
• Is animal testing necessary for scientific research?
• Should schools have a four-day week?
• Should students be required to learn a second language?
• Are extracurricular activities more important than academics?
• Should students have a say in their curriculum?
• Should homework be optional?
• Are boarding schools better for student development?
• Should schools provide free sanitary products?
• Should students learn about climate change in all subjects?
• Is it time to abolish standardized tests?

Persuasive Speech Topics for College Athletes

• College athletes should be compensated for their efforts.
• Should there be stricter rules for doping in college sports?
• The importance of mental health support for student-athletes.
• Should college athletes be required to maintain a minimum GPA?
• Is it fair for college athletes to skip classes for games?
• Should college sports have more gender equality?
• Athletes should have better career counseling for post-sports life.
• Should colleges pay for the injuries of student-athletes?
• Are scholarships enough for college athletes?
• College sports programs should be transparent about their finances.
• Should there be a limit on practice hours for college athletes?
• Athletes should have more influence in sports management decisions.
• Should college athletes unionize for better rights?
• Do college sports foster enough diversity and inclusion?
• Are college athletes exploited for their talents?

Persuasive Speech Topics for College Sports

• Should colleges prioritize sports over academics?
• Are sports scholarships fair to non-athletic students?
• Should college athletes be allowed to endorse products?
• Is the commercialization of college sports hurting education?
• Should college sports teams share their revenue with players?
• Are college sports essential for student community building?
• Should sports be made mandatory for all students in college?
• Do college sports promote a toxic competitive culture?
• Should colleges offer eSports as a varsity sport?
• Should there be equal funding for men's and women's sports?
• Should college sports have stricter codes of conduct?
• The role of coaches in shaping student-athletes' futures.
• Should colleges invest more in sports science facilities?
• Is it ethical to recruit athletes as young as high school?
• Should sports be considered as part of the academic curriculum?

Persuasive Policy Speech Topics for College Students

• Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?
• Should student loans be forgiven for all graduates?
• Should there be a ban on plastic bottles on campus?
• Should voting be mandatory for all college students?
• Should gun control laws be stricter in university campuses?
• Should colleges be required to have renewable energy sources?
• Should there be stricter anti-harassment policies in colleges?
• Is it time to reform the immigration policies for international students?
• Should there be a cap on tuition fees?
• Should financial aid be expanded to include living costs?
• Should standardized tests be abolished for college admissions?
• Should colleges offer more vegan options in dining halls?
• Should there be mandatory climate change courses in all colleges?
• Should universities enforce a diversity quota?
• Should colleges provide free menstrual products?

Short Persuasive Speech Topics for College Students

• Should students take a gap year?
• Are smartphones a distraction in class?
• Should all textbooks be digital?
• Is online learning as effective as in-person learning?
• Should colleges offer more night classes?
• Are grades an accurate measure of intelligence?
• Should college campuses be smoke-free?
• Is public transportation better than driving?
• Should students have pets in dorms?
• Should attendance affect grades?
• Is group study more effective than studying alone?
• Should caffeine be restricted on campus?
• Are single-sex dorms better for students?
• Should finals be replaced with projects?
• Is art as important as science in education?

Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics About Education

• Should students grade their teachers for better learning?
• Video games as a learning tool in schools.
• Should schools focus on skills instead of grades?
• The benefits of meditation classes in schools.
• Should students opt out of subjects they dislike?
• Why financial education is essential for students.
• Ban homework to boost creativity and reduce stress.
• Do school uniforms help or hinder student expression?
• Teaching empathy should be part of the curriculum.
• Should community service be a graduation requirement?
• Replace exams with project-based assessments.
• Make mental health education mandatory.
• Start teaching coding from early grades.
• Should foreign language learning be required?
• Benefits of outdoor education alongside classroom learning.

Conclusion

Choosing the right persuasive speech topics for students is key to delivering a memorable and effective speech. With a well-chosen topic and the help of Tenorshare AI Slides, you can create a presentation that is clear, engaging, and persuasive. This tool makes it easy to organize your ideas and design slides that support your message. Start with a strong topic, use Tenorshare AI Slides to build your presentation, and you'll be ready to deliver a speech that truly resonates with your audience.