j03th3j3w

this fall i decided to partake in a Communications course( more like a speech class). I am glad i made the decision to take the class, but the class is almost over and our final speech is due in a few weeks. i have to get up and try to persuade my audience into something... the only thing is.. i cant think of what i want to persuade my audience with. so... i was hopeing that you clever folks here could help me choose a topic. now the topic cant be too broad(i.e. abortion or capital punishment) something easy and basic. the speech time limit is 6min minimum to 9min maximum(which is very easy to make, that is unless i pick a huge topic) so any ideas will be very helpful... thank you in advance!

spived2

you could watch that movie bowling for columbine and just use a lot of that material to make a speech about the issue of gun control. That's what I would do, but don't copy it verbatum if you decide to use that idea.

__________________

"This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V." - V

lordjeebus

When I was high school I entered in speech contests in the "persuasive" category. I was quite successful.

My strategy was to make my speeches stand out by picking an absolutely ludicrous argument, and use all sorts of logic and rhetoric to make it sound like an almost good idea.

For instance, I was living in Tokyo, a city with a wild and violent crow population. I did some research and formulated a speech that argued that crows were as intelligent as humans, only too clever to reveal it to us, and that they intended to overthrow the human race. I stretched a lot of facts out of proportion (in an obvious way) but I made my reasoning very clear. It was a huge success.

Another idea -- think of things that really annoy you but that other people don't mind so much. Clearly these other people need some convincing.

TIO

Try to convince them that they should raise their right arm at the end of the talk. I reckon that would be a fun challenge, with very tangible effects. Convince them that it will temporarily increase their circulation, and that the exercise is good for them.

__________________
Strewth

Mephisto2

Depending on your own beliefs, try to persuade them either:

A) The death penalty is wrong
- no proven deterent
- innocents executed
- costs more

or

B) The death penalty is right
- societal vengence
- some people deserve it
- is a deterent


Mr Mephisto

f00sion

crows actually are one of the smartest animals on earth.

__________________
Tell me what we’re fighting for— I don’t remember anymore, only temporary reprieve.
And the world might cease if we fail to tame the beast;
from the faith that you release comes an atheist peace.

lordjeebus

certainly true. that's what motivated my speech.

the absurdity stemmed from my claims that they had carefully thought-out covert plans for global supremacy.

considering how smart they are, it is almost believable.

I really like TIO's idea.

j03th3j3w

this idea is too broad... like i said... cant do it.. need something simple.. like the right arm idea.. i love that.. the crow one is very good too... but will require some research.. either way.. i love the ideas.. thank you

yournamehere

I had the same course.

I used the staggering statistics on the deaths of innocents, law enforcement officers, lawyers, judges, military personnel, and political candidates in the U.S., Mexico, and especially Columbia to persuade people to drop the lame "doing drugs is a victimless crime" B.S.

__________________
If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors:
"If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too."
It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

j03th3j3w

ok.. i think i have decided on a topic... ya know how tons of ppl think that video game violence shapes the violence tendencies of children.. and some adults... and how this is completely ludacris.. but.. i will persuade my audience to believe that the video game industry is not responsible for such acts of violence as many have claimed! thank you all for the great ideas as well!