It’s hard to give a persuasive speech about something you don’t find particularly inspiring or an informative speech on a topic you know nothing about. Finding a topic that is interesting to you will prove useful, making you more motivated to research, refine your ideas, and generate audience enthusiasm.
But when you have a variety of interests, it can be hard to pinpoint one to speak about. One way to get started is to write up a list of topics that interest you. For example, take a look at the variety of interests listed in Table 12.1. Creating a thorough and detailed list of topics that interest you (or even others) can be a great tool for stimulating speech ideas.
TABLE 12.1 PERSONAL INTEREST TOPICS
Source: O’Hair, Stewart, & Rubenstein (2007), tab. 7.4, p. 98. Adapted with permission.
| Personal Experiences | Controversial Issues | Current Events | Hobbies | Beliefs and Values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camping trips | Gun control | The economy and new job prospects | Rock climbing | Social justice |
| Life- |
Smoking bans | National debt | Hiking | Environmentalism |
| Education | Animal testing | Sporting events | Cycling | Supernatural events |
| Organizations | Immigration | Musical performances | Camping | Humanitarianism |
| Accomplishments | Prayer in public schools | Acts of terrorism | Cooking | Spirituality |
| Military service | Internet privacy | Cyberbullying tragedies | Online gaming | Mysticism |
| Volunteer work | National health care | Global warming | Auto restoration | Retribution |