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112 Persuasive Speech Topics That Are Actually Engaging

What’s covered:, how to pick an awesome persuasive speech topic, 112 engaging persuasive speech topics, tips for preparing your persuasive speech.

Writing a stellar persuasive speech requires a carefully crafted argument that will resonate with your audience to sway them to your side. This feat can be challenging to accomplish, but an engaging, thought-provoking speech topic is an excellent place to start.

When it comes time to select a topic for your persuasive speech, you may feel overwhelmed by all the options to choose from—or your brain may be drawing a completely blank slate. If you’re having trouble thinking of the perfect topic, don’t worry. We’re here to help!

In this post, we’re sharing how to choose the perfect persuasive speech topic and tips to prepare for your speech. Plus, you’ll find 112 persuasive speech topics that you can take directly from us or use as creative inspiration for your own ideas!

Choose Something You’re Passionate About

It’s much easier to write, research, and deliver a speech about a cause you care about. Even if it’s challenging to find a topic that completely sparks your interest, try to choose a topic that aligns with your passions.

However, keep in mind that not everyone has the same interests as you. Try to choose a general topic to grab the attention of the majority of your audience, but one that’s specific enough to keep them engaged.

For example, suppose you’re giving a persuasive speech about book censorship. In that case, it’s probably too niche to talk about why “To Kill a Mockingbird” shouldn’t be censored (even if it’s your favorite book), and it’s too broad to talk about media censorship in general.

Steer Clear of Cliches

Have you already heard a persuasive speech topic presented dozens of times? If so, it’s probably not an excellent choice for your speech—even if it’s an issue you’re incredibly passionate about.

Although polarizing topics like abortion and climate control are important to discuss, they aren’t great persuasive speech topics. Most people have already formed an opinion on these topics, which will either cause them to tune out or have a negative impression of your speech.

Instead, choose topics that are fresh, unique, and new. If your audience has never heard your idea presented before, they will be more open to your argument and engaged in your speech.

Have a Clear Side of Opposition

For a persuasive speech to be engaging, there must be a clear side of opposition. To help determine the arguability of your topic, ask yourself: “If I presented my viewpoint on this topic to a group of peers, would someone disagree with me?” If the answer is yes, then you’ve chosen a great topic!

Now that we’ve laid the groundwork for what it takes to choose a great persuasive speech topic, here are over one hundred options for you to choose from.

• Should high school athletes get tested for steroids?
• Should schools be required to have physical education courses?
• Should sports grades in school depend on things like athletic ability?
• What sport should be added to or removed from the Olympics?
• Should college athletes be able to make money off of their merchandise?
• Should sports teams be able to recruit young athletes without a college degree?
• Should we consider video gamers as professional athletes?
• Is cheerleading considered a sport?
• Should parents allow their kids to play contact sports?
• Should professional female athletes be paid the same as professional male athletes?
• Should college be free at the undergraduate level?
• Is the traditional college experience obsolete?
• Should you choose a major based on your interests or your potential salary?
• Should high school students have to meet a required number of service hours before graduating?
• Should teachers earn more or less based on how their students perform on standardized tests?
• Are private high schools more effective than public high schools?
• Should there be a minimum number of attendance days required to graduate?
• Are GPAs harmful or helpful?
• Should schools be required to teach about standardized testing?
• Should Greek Life be banned in the United States?
• Should schools offer science classes explicitly about mental health?
• Should students be able to bring their cell phones to school?
• Should all public restrooms be all-gender?
• Should undocumented immigrants have the same employment and education opportunities as citizens?
• Should everyone be paid a living wage regardless of their employment status?
• Should supremacist groups be able to hold public events?
• Should guns be allowed in public places?
• Should the national drinking age be lowered?
• Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
• Should the government raise or lower the retirement age?
• Should the government be able to control the population?
• Is the death penalty ethical?

Environment

• Should stores charge customers for plastic bags?
• Should breeding animals (dogs, cats, etc.) be illegal?
• Is it okay to have exotic animals as pets?
• Should people be fined for not recycling?
• Should compost bins become mandatory for restaurants?
• Should electric vehicles have their own transportation infrastructure?
• Would heavier fining policies reduce corporations’ emissions?
• Should hunting be encouraged or illegal?
• Should reusable diapers replace disposable diapers?

Science & Technology

• Is paper media more reliable than digital news sources?
• Should automated/self-driving cars be legalized?
• Should schools be required to provide laptops to all students?
• Should software companies be able to have pre-downloaded programs and applications on devices?
• Should drones be allowed in military warfare?
• Should scientists invest more or less money into cancer research?
• Should cloning be illegal?
• Should societies colonize other planets?
• Should there be legal oversight over the development of technology?

Social Media

• Should there be an age limit on social media?
• Should cyberbullying have the same repercussions as in-person bullying?
• Are online relationships as valuable as in-person relationships?
• Does “cancel culture” have a positive or negative impact on societies?
• Are social media platforms reliable information or news sources?
• Should social media be censored?
• Does social media create an unrealistic standard of beauty?
• Is regular social media usage damaging to real-life interactions?
• Is social media distorting democracy?
• How many branches of government should there be?
• Who is the best/worst president of all time?
• How long should judges serve in the U.S. Supreme Court?
• Should a more significant portion of the U.S. budget be contributed towards education?
• Should the government invest in rapid transcontinental transportation infrastructure?
• Should airport screening be more or less stringent?
• Should the electoral college be dismantled?
• Should the U.S. have open borders?
• Should the government spend more or less money on space exploration?
• Should students sing Christmas carols, say the pledge of allegiance, or perform other tangentially religious activities?
• Should nuns and priests become genderless roles?
• Should schools and other public buildings have prayer rooms?
• Should animal sacrifice be legal if it occurs in a religious context?
• Should countries be allowed to impose a national religion on their citizens?
• Should the church be separated from the state?
• Does freedom of religion positively or negatively affect societies?

Parenting & Family

• Is it better to have children at a younger or older age?
• Is it better for children to go to daycare or stay home with their parents?
• Does birth order affect personality?
• Should parents or the school system teach their kids about sex?
• Are family traditions important?
• Should parents smoke or drink around young children?
• Should “spanking” children be illegal?
• Should parents use swear words in front of their children?
• Should parents allow their children to play violent video games?

Entertainment

• Should all actors be paid the same regardless of gender or ethnicity?
• Should all award shows be based on popular vote?
• Who should be responsible for paying taxes on prize money, the game show staff or the contestants?
• Should movies and television shows have ethnicity and gender quotas?
• Should newspapers and magazines move to a completely online format?
• Should streaming services like Netflix and Hulu be free for students?
• Is the movie rating system still effective?
• Should celebrities have more privacy rights?

Arts & Humanities

• Are libraries becoming obsolete?
• Should all schools have mandatory art or music courses in their curriculum?
• Should offensive language be censored from classic literary works?
• Is it ethical for museums to keep indigenous artifacts?
• Should digital designs be considered an art form? 
• Should abstract art be considered an art form?
• Is music therapy effective?
• Should tattoos be regarded as “professional dress” for work?
• Should schools place greater emphasis on the arts programs?
• Should euthanasia be allowed in hospitals and other clinical settings?
• Should the government support and implement universal healthcare?
• Would obesity rates lower if the government intervened to make healthy foods more affordable?
• Should teenagers be given access to birth control pills without parental consent?
• Should food allergies be considered a disease?
• Should health insurance cover homeopathic medicine?
• Is using painkillers healthy?
• Should genetically modified foods be banned?
• Should there be a tax on unhealthy foods?
• Should tobacco products be banned from the country?
• Should the birth control pill be free for everyone?

If you need more help brainstorming topics, especially those that are personalized to your interests, you can  use CollegeVine’s free AI tutor, Ivy . Ivy can help you come up with original persuasive speech ideas, and she can also help with the rest of your homework, from math to languages.

Do Your Research

A great persuasive speech is supported with plenty of well-researched facts and evidence. So before you begin the writing process, research both sides of the topic you’re presenting in-depth to gain a well-rounded perspective of the topic.

Understand Your Audience

It’s critical to understand your audience to deliver a great persuasive speech. After all, you are trying to convince them that your viewpoint is correct. Before writing your speech, consider the facts and information that your audience may already know, and think about the beliefs and concerns they may have about your topic. Then, address these concerns in your speech, and be mindful to include fresh, new information.

Have Someone Read Your Speech

Once you have finished writing your speech, have someone read it to check for areas of strength and improvement. You can use CollegeVine’s free essay review tool to get feedback on your speech from a peer!

Practice Makes Perfect

After completing your final draft, the key to success is to practice. Present your speech out loud in front of a mirror, your family, friends, and basically, anyone who will listen. Not only will the feedback of others help you to make your speech better, but you’ll become more confident in your presentation skills and may even be able to commit your speech to memory.

Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to write a powerful, unique persuasive speech. With the perfect topic, plenty of practice, and a boost of self-confidence, we know you’ll impress your audience with a remarkable speech!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 105 interesting persuasive speech topics for any project.

General Education

Are you struggling to find good persuasive speech topics? It can be hard to find a topic that interests both you and your audience, but in this guide we've done the hard work and created a list of 105 great persuasive speech ideas. They're organized into ten categories and cover a variety of topics, so you're sure to find one that interests you.

In addition to our list, we also go over which factors make good persuasive speech topics and three tips you should follow when researching and writing your persuasive speech.

What Makes a Good Persuasive Speech Topic?

What makes certain persuasive speech topics better than others? There are numerous reasons, but in this section we discuss three of the most important factors of great topics for a persuasive speech.

It's Something You Know About or Are Interested in Learning About

The most important factor in choosing and creating a great persuasive speech is picking a topic you care about and are interested in. You'll need to do a lot of research on this topic, and if it's something you like learning about, that'll make the process much easier and more enjoyable. It'll also help you sound passionate and informed when you talk, both important factors in giving an excellent persuasive speech.

It's a Topic People Care About

In fourth grade, after being told I could give a persuasive speech on any topic I wanted to , I chose to discuss why the Saguaro cactus should be the United State's national plant. Even though I gave an impassioned talk and drew a life-size Saguaro cactus on butcher paper to hang behind me, I doubt anyone enjoyed the speech much.

I'd recently returned from a family vacation to Arizona where I'd seen Saguaro cacti for the first time and decided they were the coolest thing ever. However, most people don't care that much about Saguaro cacti, and most people don't care what our national plant is or if we even have one (for the record, the US has a national flower, and it's the rose).

Spare yourself the smattering of bored applause my nine-old self got at the end of my speech and choose something you think people will be interested in hearing about. This also ties into knowing your audience, which we discuss more in the final section.

It Isn't Overdone

When I was in high school, nearly every persuasive speech my classmates and I were assigned was the exact same topic: should the drinking age be lowered to 18? I got this prompt in English class, on standardized tests, in speech and debate class, etc. I've written and presented about it so often I could probably still rattle off all the main points of my old speeches word-for-word.

You can imagine that everyone's eyes glazed over whenever classmates gave their speeches on this topic. We'd heard about it so many times that, even if it was a topic we cared about, speeches on it just didn't interest us anymore.

The are many potential topics for a persuasive speech. Be wary of choosing one that's cliche or overdone. Even if you give a great speech, it'll be harder to keep your audience interested if they feel like they already know what you're going to say.

An exception to this rule is that if you feel you have a new viewpoint or facts about the topic that currently aren't common knowledge. Including them can make an overdone topic interesting. If you do this, be sure to make it clear early on in your speech that you have unique info or opinions on the topic so your audience knows to expect something new.

105 Topics for a Persuasive Speech

Here's our list of 105 great persuasive speech ideas. We made sure to choose topics that aren't overdone, yet that many people will have an interest in, and we also made a point of choosing topics with multiple viewpoints rather than simplistic topics that have a more obvious right answer (i.e. Is bullying bad?). The topics are organized into ten categories.

Arts/Culture

• Should art and music therapy be covered by health insurance?
• Should all students be required to learn an instrument in school?
• Should all national museums be free to citizens?
• Should graffiti be considered art?
• Should offensive language be removed from works of classic literature?
• Are paper books better than e-books?
• Should all interns be paid for their work?
• Should employees receive bonuses for walking or biking to work?
• Will Brexit hurt or help the UK's economy?
• Should all people over the age of 65 be able to ride the bus for free?
• Should the federal minimum wage be increased?
• Should tipping in restaurants be mandatory?
• Should Black Friday sales be allowed to start on Thanksgiving?
• Should students who bully others be expelled?
• Should all schools require students wear uniforms?
• Should boys and girls be taught in separate classrooms?
• Should students be allowed to listen to music during study hall?
• Should all elementary schools be required to teach a foreign language?
• Should schools include meditation or relaxation breaks during the day?
• Should grades in gym class affect students' GPAs?
• Should teachers get a bonus when their students score well on standardized tests?
• Should children of undocumented immigrants be allowed to attend public schools?
• Should students get paid for getting a certain GPA?
• Should students be allowed to have their cell phones with them during school?
• Should high school students be allowed to leave school during lunch breaks?
• Should Greek life at colleges be abolished?
• Should high school students be required to volunteer a certain number of hours before they can graduate?
• Should schools still teach cursive handwriting?
• What are the best ways for schools to stop bullying?
• Should prostitution be legalized?
• Should people with more than one DUI lose their driver's license?
• Should people be required to shovel snow from the sidewalks in front of their house?
• Should minors be able to drink alcohol in their home if they have their parent's consent?
• Should guns be allowed on college campuses?
• Should flag burning as a form of protest be illegal?
• Should welfare recipients be required to pass a drug test?
• Should white supremacist groups be allowed to hold rallies in public places?
• Should assault weapons be illegal?
• Should the death penalty be abolished?
• Should beauty pageants for children be banned?
• Is it OK to refuse to serve same-sex couples based on religious beliefs?
• Should transgender people be allowed to serve in the military?
• Is it better to live together before marriage or to wait?
• Should affirmative action be allowed?
• Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
• Should Columbus Day be replaced with Indigenous Peoples' Day?

Government/Politics

• Should the government spend more money on developing high-speed rail lines and less on building new roads?
• Should the government be allowed to censor internet content deemed inappropriate?
• Should Puerto Rico become the 51st state?
• Should Scotland declare independence from the United Kingdom?
• Whose face should be on the next new currency printed by the US?
• Should people convicted of drug possession be sent to recovery programs instead of jail?
• Should voting be made compulsory?
• Who was the best American president?
• Should the military budget be reduced?
• Should the President be allowed to serve more than two terms?
• Should a border fence be built between the United States and Mexico?
• Should countries pay ransom to terrorist groups in order to free hostages?
• Should minors be able to purchase birth control without their parent's consent?
• Should hiding or lying about your HIV status with someone you're sleeping with be illegal?
• Should governments tax soda and other sugary drinks and use the revenue for public health?
• Should high schools provide free condoms to students?
• Should the US switch to single-payer health care?
• Should healthy people be required to regularly donate blood?
• Should assisted suicide be legal?
• Should religious organizations be required to pay taxes?
• Should priests be allowed to get married?
• Should the religious slaughter of animals be banned?
• Should the Church of Scientology be exempt from paying taxes?
• Should women be allowed to be priests?
• Should countries be allowed to only accept refugees with certain religious beliefs?
• Should public prayer be allowed in schools?

Science/Environment

• Should human cloning be allowed?
• Should people be allowed to own exotic animals like tigers and monkeys?
• Should "animal selfies" in tourist locations with well-known animal species (like koalas and tigers) be allowed?
• Should genetically modified foods be sold in grocery stores?
• Should people be allowed to own pit bulls?
• Should parents be allowed to choose the sex of their unborn children?
• Should vaccinations be required for students to attend public school?
• What is the best type of renewable energy?
• Should plastic bags be banned in grocery stores?
• Should the United States rejoin the Paris Agreement?
• Should puppy mills be banned?
• Should fracking be legal?
• Should animal testing be illegal?
• Should offshore drilling be allowed in protected marine areas?
• Should the US government increase NASA's budget?
• Should Pluto still be considered a planet?
• Should college athletes be paid for being on a sports team?
• Should all athletes be required to pass regular drug tests?
• Should professional female athletes be paid the same as male athletes in the same sport?
• Are there any cases when athletes should be allowed to use steroids?
• Should college sports teams receive less funding?
• Should boxing be illegal?
• Should schools be required to teach all students how to swim?
• Should cheerleading be considered a sport?
• Should parents let their children play tackle football?
• Will robots reduce or increase human employment opportunities?
• What age should children be allowed to have a cell phone?
• Should libraries be replaced with unlimited access to e-books?
• Overall, has technology helped connect people or isolate them?
• Should self-driving cars be legal?
• Should all new buildings be energy efficient?
• Is Net Neutrality a good thing or a bad thing?
• Do violent video games encourage players to become violent in real life?

3 Bonus Tips for Crafting Your Persuasive Speech

Of course, giving a great persuasive speech requires more than just choosing a good topic. Follow the three tips below to create an outstanding speech that'll interest and impress your audience.

Do Your Research

For a persuasive speech, there's nothing worse than getting an audience question that shows you misunderstood the issue or left an important piece out. It makes your entire speech look weak and unconvincing.

Before you start writing a single word of your speech, be sure to do lots of research on all sides of the topic. Look at different sources and points of view to be sure you're getting the full picture, and if you know any experts on the topic, be sure to ask their opinion too.

Consider All the Angles

Persuasive speech topics are rarely black and white, which means there will be multiple sides and viewpoints on the topic. For example, for the topic "Should people be allowed to own pit bulls?" there are two obvious viewpoints: everyone should be allowed to own a pit bull if they want to, and no one should be allowed to own a pit bull. But there are other options you should also consider: people should only own a pit bull if they pass a dog training class, people should be able to own pit bulls, but only if it's the only dog they own, people should be able to own pi tbulls but only if they live a certain distance from schools, people should be able to own pit bulls only if the dog passes an obedience class, etc.

Thinking about all these angles and including them in your speech will make you seem well-informed on the topic, and it'll increase the quality of your speech by looking at difference nuances of the issue.

Know Your Audience

Whenever you give a speech, it's important to consider your audience, and this is especially true for persuasive speeches when you're trying to convince people to believe a certain viewpoint. When writing your speech, think about what your audience likely already knows about the topic, what they probably need explained, and what aspects of the topic they care about most. Also consider what the audience will be most concerned about for a certain topic, and be sure to address those concerns.

For example, if you're giving a speech to a Catholic organization on why you think priests should be allowed to marry, you don't need to go over the history of Catholicism or its core beliefs (which they probably already know), but you should mention any research or prominent opinions that support your view (which they likely don't know about). They may be concerned that priests who marry won't be as committed to God or their congregations, so be sure to address those concerns and why they shouldn't worry about them as much as they may think. Discussing your topic with people (ideally those with viewpoints similar to those of your future audience) before you give your speech is a good way to get a better understanding of how your audience thinks.

More Resources for Writing Persuasive Speeches

If you need more guidance or just want to check out some examples of great persuasive writing, consider checking out the following books:

• Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History by William Safire—This collection of great speeches throughout history will help you decide how to style your own argument.
• The Essentials of Persuasive Public Speaking by Sims Wyeth—For quick direct tips on public speaking, try this all-purpose guide.
• Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds by Carmine Gallo—This popular book breaks down what makes TED talks work and how you can employ those skills in your own presentations.
• We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman—These two recent speeches by contemporary writers offer stellar examples of how to craft a compelling (and engaging) argument.

Conclusion: Persuasive Speech Ideas

Good persuasive speech topics can be difficult to think of, but in this guide we've compiled a list of 105 interesting persuasive speech topics for you to look through.

The best persuasive speech ideas will be on a topic you're interested in, aren't overdone, and will be about something your audience cares about.

After you've chosen your topic, keep these three tips in mind when writing your persuasive speech:

• Do your research
• Consider all the angles
• Know your audience

What's Next?

Now that you have persuasive speech topics, it's time to hone your persuasive speech techniques. Find out what ethos, pathos, logos, and kairos are and how to use them here .

Looking to take your persuasive technique from speech to sheets (of paper)? Get our three key tips on how to write an argumentative essay , or learn by reading through our thorough breakdown of how to build an essay, step by step .

Want a great GPA? Check out our step-by-step guide to getting good grades in high school so you can have a stellar transcript.

Interested in learning about other great extracurricular opportunities? Learn more about job shadowing , community service , and volunteer abroad programs.

Still trying to figure out your courses? Check out our expert guide on which classes you should take in high school.

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics for Students in 2024

April 1, 2024

Do you know that moment in your favorite film, when the soundtrack begins to swell and the main character stands up and delivers a speech so rousing, so impassioned, it has the entire room either weeping or cheering by the time it concludes? What distinguishes the effectiveness of such a speech is not only the protagonist’s stellar delivery but also the compelling nature of the subject matter at hand. Choosing an effective persuasive speech topic is essential for guaranteeing that your future speech or essay is as moving as these . If this sounds like a tall order, have no fear. Below you’ll find a list of some of the best and most interesting persuasive speech topics for high school students to tackle, from the playful (“Pets for President”) to the serious (“Should We Stop AI from Replacing Human Workers?”).

And if you’re craving more inspiration, feel free to check out this list of Great Debate Topics , which can be used to generate further ideas.

What is a Good Persuasive Speech?

Before we get to the list, we must address the question on everyone’s minds: what is a persuasive speech, and what the heck makes for a good persuasive speech topic? A persuasive speech is a speech that aims to convince its listeners of a particular point of view . At the heart of each persuasive speech is a central conflict . Note: The persuasive speech stands in contrast to a simple informative speech, which is intended purely to convey information. (I.e., an informative speech topic might read: “The History of Making One’s Bed,” while a persuasive speech topic would be: “Why Making One’s Bed is a Waste of Time”—understand?)

And lest you think that persuasive speeches are simply assigned by your teachers as a particularly cruel form of torture, remember that practicing your oratory skills will benefit you in all areas of life—from job interviews, to business negotiations, to your future college career in public policy or international relations . Knowing how to use your voice to enact meaningful change is a valuable skill that can empower you to make a difference in the world.

Components of a Great Persuasive Speech Topic

The ideal persuasive speech topic will inspire the audience to action via both logical arguments and emotional appeals. As such, we can summarize the question “what makes a good persuasive speech topic?” by saying that the topic must possess the following qualities:

• Timeliness and Relevance . Great persuasive speech topics grapple with a contemporary issue that is meaningful to the listener at hand. The topic might be a current news item, or it might be a long-standing social issue. In either case, the topic should be one with real-world implications.
• Complexity . A fruitful persuasive speech topic will have many facets. Topics that are controversial, with some gray area, lend themselves to a high degree of critical thinking. They also offer the speaker an opportunity to consider and refute all counterarguments before making a compelling case for his or her own position.
• Evidence . You want to be able to back up your argument with clear evidence from reputable sources (i.e., not your best friend or dog). The more evidence and data you can gather, the more sound your position will be. In addition, your audience will be more inclined to trust you.
• Personal Connection. Do you feel passionately about the topic you’ve chosen? If not, it may be time to go back to the drawing board. This does not mean you have to support the side you choose; sometimes, arguing for the opposing side of what you personally believe can be an effective exercise in building empathy and perspective. Either way, though, the key is to select a topic that you care deeply about. Your passion will be infectious to the audience.

150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should tech companies regulate the development of AI systems and automation to protect humans’ jobs?
• Should we limit screen time for children?
• Is it ethical for AI models like Dall-E to train themselves on artists’ work without the artists’ permission?
• Should the government regulate the use of personal drones?
• Is mass surveillance ethical? Does its threat to civil liberties outweigh its benefits?
• Are virtual reality experiences a valuable educational tool?
• Do the positive effects of powerful AI systems outweigh the risks?
• Do voice assistants like Siri and Alexa invade individuals’ privacy?
• Are cell phone bans in the classroom effective for improving student learning?
• Does the use of facial recognition technology in public violate individuals’ privacy?
• Should students be allowed to use ChatGPT and other AI tools for writing assignments?
• Should AI-generated art be allowed in art shows or contests?
• Who holds responsibility for accidents caused by self-driving cars: the driver or the car company?

Business and Economy

• Should we do away with the minimum wage? Why or why not?
• Is it ethical for companies to use unpaid internships as a source of labor?
• Does the gig economy benefit or harm workers?
• Is capitalism the best economic system?
• Is it ethical for companies to use sweatshops in developing countries?
• Should the government provide free healthcare for all citizens?
• Should the government regulate prices on pharmaceutical drugs?
• Should the government enact a universal base income?
• Should customers be required to tip a minimum amount in order to ensure food service workers make a living wage?
• Should someone’s tattoos or personal appearance factor into the hiring process?
• Should US workers have more vacation time?
• Is big game hunting beneficial for local communities?
• Should we legalize euthanasia?
• Is it ethical to use animals for medical research?
• Is it ethical to allow access to experimental treatments for terminally ill patients?
• Should we allow genetic engineering in humans?
• Is the death penalty obsolete?
• Should we allow the cloning of humans?
• Is it ethical to allow performance-enhancing drugs in sports?
• Should embryonic stem cell collection be allowed?
• Do frozen IVF embryos have rights?
• Should state and federal investigators be allowed to use DNA from genealogy databases?
• Should the government limit how many children a couple can have?
• Is spanking children an acceptable form of discipline?
• Should we allow parents to choose their children’s physical attributes through genetic engineering?
• Should we require parents to vaccinate their children?
• Should we require companies to give mandatory paternal and maternal leave?
• Should children be allowed to watch violent movies and video games?
• Should parents allow their teenagers to drink before they turn 21?
• Should the government provide childcare?
• Should telling your children about Santa Claus be considered lying?
• Should one parent stay home?
• Should parental consent be required for minors to receive birth control?
• Is it an invasion of privacy for parents to post photographs of their children on social media?

Social Media

• Should social media platforms ban political ads?
• Do the benefits of social media outweigh the downsides?
• Should the government hold social media companies responsible for hate speech on their platforms?
• Is social media making us more or less social?
• Do platforms like TikTok exacerbate mental health issues in teens?
• Should the government regulate social media to protect citizens’ privacy?
• Is it right for parents to monitor their children’s social media accounts?
• Should social media companies enact a minimum user age restriction?
• Should we require social media companies to protect user data?
• Should we hold social media companies responsible for cyberbullying?
• Should schools ban the use of social media from their networks?
• Should we be allowed to record others without their consent?
• Do online crime sleuths help or hurt criminal investigations?

Education – Persuasive Speech Topics 

• Would trade schools and other forms of vocational training benefit a greater number of students than traditional institutions of higher education?
• Should colleges use standardized testing in their admissions processes?
• Is forcing students to say the Pledge a violation of their right to freedom of speech?
• Should school districts offer bilingual education programs for non-native speakers?
• Should schools do away with their physical education requirements?
• Should schools incorporate a remote learning option into their curriculum?
• Should we allow school libraries to ban certain books?
• Should we remove historical figures who owned slaves from school textbooks and other educational materials?
• Should we have mixed-level classrooms or divide students according to ability?
• Should grading on a curve be allowed?
• Should graphic novels be considered literature?
• Should all students have to take financial literacy classes before graduating?
• Should colleges pay student athletes?
• Should we ban violent contact sports like boxing and MMA?
• Should sports leagues require professional athletes to stand during the national anthem?
• Should sports teams ban players like Kyrie Irving when they spread misinformation or hate speech?
• Should high schools require their athletes to maintain a certain GPA?
• Should the Olympic committee allow transgender athletes to compete?
• Should high schools ban football due to its safety risks to players?
• Should all high school students be required to play a team sport?
• Should sports teams be mixed instead of single-gender?
• Should there be different athletic standards for men and women?
• In which renewable energy option would the US do best to invest?
• Should the US prioritize space exploration over domestic initiatives?
• Should companies with a high carbon footprint be punished?
• Should the FDA ban GMOs?
• Would the world be a safer place without nuclear weapons?
• Does AI pose a greater threat to humanity than it does the potential for advancement?
• Who holds the most responsibility for mitigating climate change: individuals or corporations?
• Should we be allowed to resurrect extinct species?
• Are cancer screening programs ethical?

Social Issues – Persuasive Speech Topics

• College education: should the government make it free for all?
• Should we provide free healthcare for undocumented immigrants?
• Is physician-assisted suicide morally justifiable?
• Does social media have a negative impact on democracy?
• Does cancel culture impede free speech?
• Does affirmative action help or hinder minority groups in the workplace?
• Should we hold public figures and celebrities to a higher standard of morality?
• Should abortion be an issue that is decided at the federal or state level?
• Should the sex offender registry be available to the public?
• Should undocumented immigrants have a path to amnesty?
• Do syringe services programs reduce or increase harmful behaviors?
• Should there be a statute of limitations?
• Should those who are convicted of a crime be required to report their criminal history on job and housing applications?

Politics and Government

• Is the Electoral College still an effective way to elect the President of the US?
• Should we allow judges to serve on the Supreme Court indefinitely?
• Should the US establish a national gun registry?
• Countries like Israel and China require all citizens to serve in the military. Is this a good or bad policy?
• Should the police force require all its officers to wear body cameras while on duty?
• Should the US invest in the development of clean meat as a sustainable protein source?
• Should the US adopt ranked-choice voting?
• Should institutions that profited from slavery provide reparations?
• Should the government return land to Native American tribes?
• Should there be term limits for representatives and senators?
• Should there be an age limit for presidential candidates?
• Should women be allowed in special forces units?

Easy Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should schools have uniforms?
• Can video games improve problem-solving skills?
• Are online classes as effective as in-person classes?
• Should companies implement a four-day work week?
• Co-ed learning versus single-sex: which is more effective?
• Should the school day start later?
• Is homework an effective teaching tool?
• Are electric cars really better for the environment?
• Should schools require all students to study a foreign language?
• Do professional athletes get paid too much money?

Fun Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should we allow pets to run for public office?
• Does pineapple belong on pizza?
• Would students benefit from schools swapping out desks with more comfortable seating arrangements (i.e., bean bag chairs and couches)?
• Is procrastination the key to success?
• Should Americans adopt British accents to sound more intelligent?
• The age-old dilemma: cats or dogs?
• Should meme creators receive royalties when their memes go viral?
• Should there be a minimum drinking age for coffee?
• Are people who make their beds every day more successful than those who don’t?

Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics

• Is the movie ranking system an effective way to evaluate the appropriateness of films?
• Should the government place a “health tax” on junk food?
• Is it ethical to create artificial life forms that are capable of complex emotions?
• Should parents let children choose their own names?
• Creating clones of ourselves to serve as organ donors: ethical or not?
• Is it ethical to engineer humans to be better and more optimized than nature intended?
• Should we adopt a universal language to communicate with people from all countries?
• Should there be a penalty for people who don’t vote?
• Should calories be printed on menus?
• Does tourism positively or negatively impact local communities?
• When used by non-Natives, are dreamcatchers cultural appropriation?
• Should companies require their employees to specify pronouns in their signature line?
• Should commercial fishing be banned?
• Are cemeteries sustainable?
• Is it okay to change the race, culture, and/or gender of historical figures in movies or TV shows?

I’ve Chosen My Topic, Now What?

Once you’ve selected your topic, it’s time to get to work crafting your argument. Preparation for a persuasive speech or essay involves some key steps, which we’ve outlined for you below.

How to Create a Successful Persuasive Speech, Step by Step

• Research your topic. Read widely and smartly. Stick to credible sources, such as peer-reviewed articles, published books, government reports, textbooks, and news articles. The right sources and data will be necessary to help you establish your authority. As you go, take notes on the details and nuances of your topic as well as potential counterarguments. Research the counterarguments, too.
• Choose an angle. For example, if you chose the topic “Should we limit screen time for children?” your speech should come down firmly on one side of that debate. If your topic is frequently debated, such as abortion, capital punishment, gun control, social media, etc. try to find a niche angle or new research. For example, instead of “Should abortion be legal?” you might consider “Should you be able to order abortion pills online?” Another example: “Should the death penalty be banned?” might become “How long is it ethical for someone to stay on death row?” If you do some digging, even the most cliche topics have incredibly interesting and relatively unexplored sub-topics.
• Create an outline. Your outline should include an introduction with a thesis statement, a body that uses evidence to elaborate and support your position while refuting any counterarguments, and a conclusion. The conclusion will both summarize the points made earlier and serve as your final chance to persuade your audience.
• Write your speech. Use your outline to help you as well as the data you’ve collected. Remember: this is not dry writing; this writing has a point of view, and that point of view is yours . Accordingly, use anecdotes and examples to back up your argument. The essential components of this speech are logos (logic), ethos (credibility), and pathos (emotion) . The ideal speech will use all three of these functions to engage the audience.

How to Practice and Deliver a Persuasive Speech

• Talk to yourself in the mirror, record yourself, and/or hold a practice speech for family or friends. If you’ll be using visual cues, a slide deck, or notecards, practice incorporating them seamlessly into your speech. You should practice until your speech feels very familiar, at least 5-10 times.
• Practice body language. Are you making eye contact with your audience, or looking at the ground? Crossing your arms over your chest or walking back and forth across the room? Playing with your hair, cracking your knuckles, or picking at your clothes? Practicing what to do with your body, face, and hands will help you feel more confident on speech day.
• Take it slow. It’s common to talk quickly while delivering a speech—most of us want to get it over with! However, your audience will be able to connect with you much more effectively if you speak at a moderate pace, breathe, and pause when appropriate.
• Give yourself grace. How you recover from a mistake is much more important than the mistake itself. Typically, the best approach is to good-naturedly shrug off a blip and move on. 99% of the time, your audience won’t even notice!

Good Persuasive Speech Topics—Final Thoughts

The art of persuasive speaking is a tricky one, but the tips and tricks laid out here will help you craft a compelling argument that will sway even the most dubious audience to your side. Mastering this art takes both time and practice, so don’t fret if it doesn’t come to you right away. Remember to draw upon your sources, speak with authority, and have fun. Once you have the skill of persuasive speaking down, go out there and use your voice to impact change!

Looking for some hot-button topics in college admissions? You might consider checking out the following:

• Do Colleges Look at Social Media?
• Should I Apply Test-Optional to College?
• Should I Waive My Right to See Letters of Recommendation?
• Should I Use the Common App Additional Information Section?
• High School Success

Lauren Green

With a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Columbia University and an MFA in Fiction from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin, Lauren has been a professional writer for over a decade. She is the author of the chapbook  A Great Dark House  (Poetry Society of America, 2023) and a forthcoming novel (Viking/Penguin).

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• Should students be allowed to have phones in elementary and high schools?
• Should students have to wear uniforms?
• Should college athletes be paid for playing?
• Should the elderly receive free bus rides?
• Should state colleges be free to attend?
• Should all American citizens have to complete a year of community service?
• Should students be required to take Spanish classes?
• Should marijuana be legal for medicinal purposes?
• Should the voting age be lowered to thirteen?
• Should the driving age be raised to twenty-one?
• Should students be paid for having good grades?
• Should illegal immigrants be allowed to get drivers licenses?
• Should not wearing a seat-belt be illegal?
• Should student’s textbooks be replaced by notebook computers or tablets?
• Should students have to pass a basic skills test to graduate high school?
• Should schools raise money by selling candy and sugary soft drinks to students?
• Should schools serve french-fries and fried potato products to students at lunch?
• Should students’ grades in gym affect their grade point averages?
• Should girls be allowed to play on boys sports teams?
• Should teens be able to buy violent video games?
• Should boys and girls be in separate classes?
• Should teenage girls be allowed to get birth control without the permission of their parents?
• Should our country have free health care?
• Should immigration laws be reformed?
• Should the federal government recognize civil unions?
• Should people who download music and movies illegally be punished?
• Should school athletes have to be on the honor roll to play in games?
• Should music with curse words be allowed at school dances?
• Should public schools begin the day with a silent prayer time?
• Should students be able to listen to music on headphones during study hall?
• Should schools offer fast food options like McDonald’s or Taco Bell?
• Should smoking be allowed at parks and other outdoor public venues?
• Should cities offer free public Wi-Fi?
• Should the government place a tax on junk food and fatty snacks?
• Should the 2 nd amendment give citizens the right to own assault weaponry?
• Should people traveling in airplanes have to undergo intensive security screenings?
• Should genetically modified foods be sold with a warning label?
• Should teachers have to pass a basic skills test every ten years to renew their certification?
• Should people be allowed to keep exotic animals like chimpanzees or tigers?
• Should people be allowed to keep pit-bull dogs?
• Should the city offer a bike sharing program?
• Should there be an ordinance citing people who fail to recycle $50?
• Should there be an ordinance citing people who play music too loudly $50?
• Should prostitution be legalized and regulated by the government?
• Should celebrities who break the law face stricter penalties?
• Should the government increase spending on the space program?
• Should larger passengers have to pay for two plane or movie theater tickets?
• Should children have to use booster seats in cars?
• Should people have to get a license to become parents?
• Should there be tougher federal restrictions for content on the internet?
• Should people be allowed to curse on daytime television?
• Should owners be legally accountable for clearing snow from sidewalks on their property?
• Should sexual education be taught in public schools?
• Should students be able to get free condoms at school?
• Should students who commit cyber-bullying be suspended from school?
• Should corporations be allowed to advertise in schools?
• Should students be allowed to eat during class?
• Should more be done to protect and preserve endangered animals?
• Is it appropriate for students and teachers to be friends on Facebook?
• Should students have open campus lunch periods?
• Should abortions be legal?
• Should abortions be legal in cases of rape and incest?
• Should the death penalty be used to punish violent criminals?
• Should students learn about world religions in public schools?
• Should schools start later in the morning?
• Should the USA end overseas military operations?
• Should politicians be allowed to accept campaign contributions from corporate lobbyists?
• Should people with terminal illnesses have the right to doctor assisted suicides?
• Should Puerto Rico become a state?
• Should stem cell researchers be able to use stem cells from aborted babies to cure diseases?
• Should school athletes have to take drug tests?
• Should professional athletes have to take drug tests?
• Should America convert to the metric system?
• Should high school students have to complete community service hours to graduate?
• Should teens over 13 years of age be allowed into R rated movies?
• Should state tests be given in other languages for ESL students?
• Should scientists be allowed to test products intended for human use on animals?
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930 Comments

Wessam bedear.

Thanks for your support and cooperation. It is really helped a lot . Much appreciated

Reginald Ademola

Thank you so much for making your resources freely available.

Eric Villari

Thanks for all the effort you’ve put into the site. I teach in Australia, and I tweak and change topics/wording to suit, but It’s a great survey course in general Literacy you’ve put together… Thanks!

Thank you so much. What an informative and comprehensive site. You have provided an array of persuasive topics. I love this site!!

Marg L Brewerton

Thank you for these ideas. An extra idea from one of my students: Should we fix earth or spend our money on interplanetary travel?

Barbara Pulehetoa

I love this website. thank you for making this website

amazing website helped a lot

In my language arts class we are assigned to write two opinion essays the first one my teacher gave us but the second one we choose. i have a trouble with choosing but now that i came to this website i can choose easily and fast. thank you, thank you, thank you for this website.

this site has been absolutely resourceful and its the best site iv been on

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50 Argumentative Essay Topics

Illustration by Catherine Song. ThoughtCo. 

• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

An argumentative essay requires you to decide on a topic and argue for or against it. You'll need to back up your viewpoint with well-researched facts and information as well. One of the hardest parts is deciding which topic to write about, but there are plenty of ideas available to get you started. Then you need to take a position, do some research, and present your viewpoint convincingly.

Choosing a Great Argumentative Essay Topic

Students often find that most of their work on these essays is done before they even start writing. This means that it's best if you have a general interest in your subject. Otherwise, you might get bored or frustrated while trying to gather information. You don't need to know everything, though; part of what makes this experience rewarding is learning something new.

It's best if you have a general interest in your subject, but the argument you choose doesn't have to be one that you agree with.

The subject you choose may not necessarily be one you are in full agreement with, either. You may even be asked to write a paper from the opposing point of view. Researching a different viewpoint helps students broaden their perspectives. 

Ideas for Argument Essays

Sometimes, the best ideas are sparked by looking at many different options. Explore this list of possible topics and see if a few pique your interest. Write those down as you come across them, then think about each for a few minutes.

Which would you enjoy researching? Do you have a firm position on a particular subject? Is there a point you would like to make sure you get across? Did the topic give you something new to think about? Can you see why someone else may feel differently?

List of 50 Possible Argumentative Essay Topics

A number of these topics are rather controversial—that's the point. In an argumentative essay , opinions matter, and controversy is based on opinions. Just make sure your opinions are backed up by facts in the essay.   If these topics are a little too controversial or you don't find the right one for you, try browsing through persuasive essay and speech topics  as well.

• Is global climate change  caused by humans?
• Is the death penalty effective?
• Is the U.S. election process fair?
• Is torture ever acceptable?
• Should men get paternity leave from work?
• Are school uniforms beneficial?
• Does the U.S. have a fair tax system?
• Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
• Is cheating out of control?
• Are we too dependent on computers?
• Should animals be used for research?
• Should cigarette smoking be banned?
• Are cell phones dangerous?
• Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?
• Do we have a throwaway society ?
• Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?
• Should companies market to children?
• Should the government have a say in our diets?
• Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?
• Should members of Congress have term limits?
• Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
• Are CEOs paid too much?
• Should athletes be held to high moral standards?
• Do violent video games cause behavior problems?
• Should creationism be taught in public schools?
• Are beauty pageants exploitative ?
• Should English be the official language of the United States?
• Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?
• Should the alcohol-drinking age be increased or decreased?
• Should everyone be required to recycle?
• Is it okay for prisoners to vote (as they are in some states)?
• Should same-sex marriage be legalized in more countries?
• Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school ?
• Does boredom lead to trouble?
• Should schools be in session year-round ?
• Does religion cause war?
• Should the government provide health care?
• Should abortion be illegal?
• Should more companies expand their reproductive health benefits for employees?
• Is homework harmful or helpful?
• Is the cost of college too high?
• Is college admission too competitive?
• Should euthanasia be illegal?
• Should the federal government legalize marijuana use nationally ?
• Should rich people be required to pay more taxes?
• Should schools require foreign language or physical education?
• Is affirmative action fair?
• Is public prayer okay in schools?
• Are schools and teachers responsible for low test scores?
• Is greater gun control a good idea?

How to Craft a Persuasive Argument

After you've decided on your essay topic, gather evidence to make your argument as strong as possible. Your research could even help shape the position your essay ultimately takes. As you craft your essay, remember to utilize persuasive writing techniques , such as invoking emotional language or citing facts from authoritative figures. 

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English Speech Topics for Students

• Updated on  
• Apr 2, 2024

Writing an exciting and thoughtful speech requires selecting a good topic, researching it thoroughly, and forming individual opinions to express the same. School students are usually asked to speak on a contemporary topic to help them become good public speakers as well as learn the art of expressing oneself in front of an audience. While many speech competitions often allot topics beforehand, you might also have heard of extempore where topics are given on the spot for speech. This blog brings you a list of common English speech topics as well as some helpful tips and tricks that can assist you in effectively expressing your thoughts and opinions in front of an audience. Before starting, we would like to give you one piece of advice: you can also Humanize AI to humanize these topics for better readability and human touch, if required. Let’s begin!

Checkout our 200+ Essay Topics for Students in English

This Blog Includes:

List of best english speech topics for students, 1-minute speech topics, 2-minute speech topics, 3-minute speech topics, easy topics for speech in english, english speech topics on environment, english speech topics on technology, english speech topics on independence day, english speech topics on diwali, english speech topics on corruption, english speech topics on feminism, english speech topics on mother’s day, english speaking topics on capitalism, engish speech topics on gandhi jayanti, english speech topics on reading, english speech topics on communism, english speech topics on deforestation, english speech topics on social issues, english speech topics on important days & events, english speech topics on greatest leaders in india & around the world, english speech topics on indian culture, english speech topics on proverbs, english speech topics on human rights, english speech topics on education, english speech topics on the importance of water, miscellaneous speech topics, types of persuasive speech topics, tips for writing and speaking a speech.

Speeches are all about one’s thoughts. It should not be copied from somewhere. It is all about what the speaker thinks of any given topic. However, take a look at the following list of English Speech topics on different contemporary issues as well as concepts.

• The Best Day of My Life
• Social Media: Bane or Boon?
• Pros and Cons of Online Learning
• Benefits of Yoga
• If I had a Superpower
• I wish I were ______
• Human Rights
• Environment Conservation
• Women Should Rule the World!
• The Best Lesson I Have Learned
• Paperbacks vs E-books
• How to Tackle a Bad Habit
• My Favorite Pastime/Hobby
• Why should every citizen vote?
• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Is it real or not?
• Importance of Reading
• Importance of Books in Our Life
• My Favorite Fictional Character
• Introverts vs Extroverts
• Lessons to Learn from Sports
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Quick Read: English Speaking Books

Quick Read: Essay on Peer Pressure

Quick Read: Essay on Health and Fitness for Students

• I mportance of Kindness
• Is there Value in Homework?
• Things I learned in Lockdown
• How can food be recycled?
• Should Art be a part of the school curriculum?
• Should schools teach sign language?
• Women make better presidents/prime ministers
• Why books are better than movies?
• Life was better when technology was simple
• Impact of technology on our health
• Should children’s reality shows be banned?
• Learning in the Wake of COVID-19
• Hard Work vs Smart Work
• What Makes Learning Fun?
• The Coolest Inventions You’ve Seen
• Nuclear Energy
• Importance of AI in Education
• Importance of Extracurricular Activities
• Should exams be banned?
• How to Tackle Bullying in Schools?

• Speech about dreams
• Speech about life
• Speech on time
• Speech on discipline
• Speech on happiness
• Speech on kindness
• Speech on value of time
• Speech on health and fitness
• Speech on Doctor
• Speech on Nurse
• Graduation Day Speech
• World Health Day Speech
• Sex Education Speech
• Importance of Education
• Is it beneficial to learn a Second Language?
• Music has healing power
• Success in life
• Self Confidence
• 18th birthday
• Love is more powerful than hate
• Social Impact of Covid-19
• How can Online Learning be Fun?
• Make Public Transport Free
• Should violent video games be banned?
• Speech on Learning

Exploring English Speech Topics? You must also take a look at Extempore Topics !

• Climate Change
• Ozone Layer Depletion
• Reducing Water Levels
• Deforestation
• Global Warming
• Waste Management
• Water-Saving Techniques
• Reducing the Green Cover of Earth
• Endangered species need protection
• Importance of fishing regulations
• Importance of investing in alternative fuels
• Impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms
• The misuse of the term “sustainable development” by environmentalists
• Microbial benefits
• E-Waste Management
• Natural Disasters and their impact on economic growth
• Energy alternatives – Only solution to the environmental damage
• Extinction of rare species
• World Environment Day
• Disaster Management
• Over and Improper Use of Natural Resources
• Air, Water and Soil Pollution
• Efficiency of Recycling

Also Read: How to Write Dialogue: Format, Tips and Examples

• Technology and Mental Health
• Privacy in the Digital Age: Navigating the Challenges of Data Collection and Surveillance
• The Impact of Technology on Society
• Artificial Intelligence: The New Normal
• The Role of Social Media in Communication and Social Interactions
• Sustainable Technology: Innovations for a Greener Future
• The Rise of E-commerce
• Gaming Technology: Entertainment, ESports and Interactive Experiences
• The Digital Divide: Bridging the Gap for Equal Access to Technology
• The Ethical Dilemmas of Emerging Technologies

Also Read: English Vocabulary: Meaning, Types, Tips to Improve

• The Journey of Independence Day
• The Significance of Independence Day
• Indian Independence Day
• Remembering the Founding Fathers
• The Spirit of Independence
• Independence Day and Volunteering
• Independence Day Speeches
• India’s Road to Freedom
• Independence Day and National Identity
• Independence Day in the Digital Age
• Independence Day and Women’s Empowerment
• Diwali: The Festival of Lights and Its Significance in Hindu Culture
• Diwali and the Victory of Good Over Evil
• Diwali and the Art of Giving
• Diwali and the Spirit of Forgiveness
• Diwali and Cultural Exchanges
• Diwali and the Essence of Joy
• Diwali and Social Responsibility
• Diwali and Artistic Expressions
• The Rituals and Traditions of Diwali
• Diwali and the Symbolism of Light
• The Economic Consequence of Corruption
• Corruption and International Aid
• Media and Corruption
• Fighting Corruption
• Corruption in Politics
• The Role of Transparency and Accountability in Curbing Corruption
• The Role of Technology in Combating Corruption
• Whistleblowing and Protecting Mechanism
• Corruption in Business and Corporate Practices
• Understanding Feminism
• The Future of Feminism
• Feminism and Parenting
• Feminism and Online Activism
• Feminism and Environmental Activism
• Feminism and Reproductive Rights
• The Gender Pay Gap: Examining Inequalities in the Workplace
• Feminism and its Evolution
• Feminism and Body Positivity
• Feminism and Media Representation: Encouraging Authentic and Diverse Portrayals of Women
• Expressing Gratitude and Love to Mothers
• The Influence of Mothers in Shaping Our Values and Beliefs
• Motherhood and Education
• Mother’s Day and Volunteerism
• Mother-Daughter Relationship
• The Role of Mothers in Shaping Society
• Mother’s Day Crafts and DIY Gifts
• Learned Lessons from Mothers
• Mother’s Day Around the World: Cultural Traditions and Celebrations
• Capitalism: An Introduction to the Economic System and its Principles
• The Future of Capitalism
• Pros and Cons of Capitalism
• Capitalism and Globalisation
• Capitalism and Consumerism
• Capitalism and Financial Crisis: Undertaking the Risk and Mitigation Measures
• Capitalism and Environmental Sustainability
• Capitalism and the Role of Government
• Corporate Social Responsibility in Capitalism
• Capitalism and the Digital Economy
• Mahatma Gandhi: The Father of the Nation and His Ideals
• Remembering Gandhi: Reflecting On His Life and Legacy
• Gandhi’s Influence on the Indian Independence Movement
• Satyagraha: The Power of Truth and Nonviolent Resistance
• Gandhi’s Philosophy of Swaraj
• The Role of Women in Gandhi’s Freedom Struggle
• Gandhi’s Teaching on Education and Moral Values
• Gandhi’s Lasting Legacy
• Gandhi’s Vision for a Just and Inclusive Society
• The Relevance of Gandhi’s Principles in Today’s World
• The Influence of Reading on Emotional Intelligence and Empathy
• Reading and Mental Health
• Benefits of Reading
• Reading and Empowerment
• The Role of Reading in Academic Success and Lifelong Learning
• Promoting a Reading Culture: Encouraging Reading Habits in Society
• Reading Biographies and Memoirs
• Reading and Social Connections
• The Joy of Reading: Escaping Into the Different Worlds and Characters
• Reading and Personal Identity
• The Current State of Communism
• Communism: An Introduction to the Ideology and Its Historical Context
• The Evolution of Communist Movements
• The Role of the State in a Communist Society
• The Fall of Communist Regimes
• Communism and Religious Freedom
• Communism and Gender Equality
• Communism and Workers’ Rights
• The Criticisms of Communism
• Deforestation: Causes, Consequences and Global Impact
• Deforestation and Climate Change
• Deforestation and Carbon Sequestration
• Deforestation and Individual Actions
• Deforestation and Wildlife Trafficking
• Deforestation and Sustainable Development
• Deforestation and Indigenous Communities
• Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss
• Deforestation and Forest Fires
• The Importance of Forests

Quick Read: Speech on Nuclear Energy

• Women Empowerment
• Education of Girl Child
• Unemployment
• Casteism 
• Reservation
• Importance of Maintaining Hygiene
• Child Labour
• Social Distancing
• Organ Donation
• Importance of the Right to Education
• Child Trafficking
• Cultural Diversity
• Struggles of Immigrants
• Impact of Globalisation
• Adult education
• Independence Day
• Mother’s Day
• World Cancer Day
• World Population Day
• World Health Day
• Ambedkar Jayanti
• Gandhi Jayanti
• Human Rights Day
• Zero Discrimination Day
• Women’s Day
• Thanksgiving
• Anti-Terrorism Day
• Hindi Diwas 

Check out this list of all the important national and international days in 202 4 !

• Mahatma Gandhi
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Raja Rammohan Roy
• George Washington
• Albert Einstein
• APJ Abdul Kalam
• Nelson Mandela
• Kailash Satyarthi
• Diversity in India
• Speech on Holi
• The Role of Yoga and Meditation in Indian Culture and Its Global Impact
• The Importance of Traditional Indian Clothing
• Indian Folklore
• Indian Festivals
• The Art of Indian Dance
• Traditional Indian Medicine (Ayurveda)
• Indian Epics and Mythology
• Social Customs and Etiquettes in Indian Society
• Indian Sports and Games

Also Read: Speech on Indian Culture

• Honesty is the best policy
• When there’s a will, there is a way
• Actions speak louder than words
• Knowledge is Power
• Ignorance is Bliss
• Don’t judge a book by its cover
• Hard work is the key to success

Explore these proverbs & their meanings through this blog on Difficult Phrases !

• The Role of International Organisations in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: A Milestone in Human History
• Gender Equality: Breaking Barriers and Empowering Women
• Ensuring a Safe and Sustainable Environment for the Next Generation
• The Right to Education: Empowering Minds
• Bridging the Gap Between the Rich and Poor
• Human Rights and Armed Conflicts
• Global Fight to Combat Human Trafficking
• Human Rights and Climate Change
• Religious Freedom: Tolerance and Coexistence in a Diverse Society

To know what to mention in such speech topics, explore the Great Personalities in the World !

• Importance of teacher in your life
• SAT scores for college application
• Student bullies should be expelled
• Consequences of cheating in exams
• Homeschooling is better than normal schooling
• Importance of value education
• Importance of sports and physical exercises
• Schools vs colleges
• What is the difference between a school, college and university in the USA?

Check Out: Synonyms List

• The Water-Energy Nexus
• The Essence of Water: Exploring the Live-giving Properties of H2O
• Water as a Driver of Economic Growth and Prosperity
• Water Security: Ensuring Equal Access and Quality for All
• Water and Agriculture
• The Role of Water in Ecosystems
• Water and Blue Economy
• Water Diplomacy: Promoting Collaboration for Transboundary Water Management
• Water and Cultural Significance: Exploring Symbolisms and Rituals
• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): Foundational for Human Health and Dignity
• Article 370
• Women rights
• The Constitution of India
• Youth of India
• Culture of India
• Importance of Unity
• Generation Gap
• Importance of Value Education
• Old Age Homes
• Family Values
• Leadership skills
• Rise of Smart Classes
• Grading System
• Importance of Practical Education
• Benefits of Co-Education
• Importance of Co-Curricular Activities
• The uselessness of Power-Point Presentations
• Rise of Technology
• Excessive usage of the Internet
• Speech on Fear
• Speech on Dependence on Technology
• Importance of Social Media
• Speech on India of My Dreams
• Indian Education System
• Speech on My India

While exploring persuasive English speech topics, you must make sure that they are stimulating, engaging, concise and clear. There are three main types of Persuasive Speech topics which are:

1. Factual Persuasive Speech : These topics include facts, figures and statistics to thoroughly analyse the given topic and assess whether it’s true or false.

2. Policy Persuasive Speech : Discussing policies, laws and reforms, these speech topics critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the given policy or law and suggest the improvements that can be made.

3. Value Persuasive Speech : Mainly focusing on social or political issues, these speech topics present the critique and argument of whether certain actions are morally right or not.

While speaking on a particular topic, there are certain things that you must keep in mind to make your speech expressive and effective. Let’s take a look at some useful topics that help you in acing any topic you are speaking on.

• Always research the topic. If you are participating in an extempore, then make sure to go through the common and popular topics as well as the unconventional ones that you might get. Preparation is the key to delivering an impressive speech. For inspiration, look up various speech examples to see how effective speakers engage their audience
• Whether you are given a topic on the spot or you are prepared for the speech, it is always pivotal that you seem interested in speaking about it. Relate the given issues to your own life and this will help you in giving it your twist.
• Pay extra attention to your body language and enunciation. While a gesticulative approach will make you seem outward, having timid body language can cause a wrong impression.
• Ponder upon the different viewpoints on a topic . Try to present a holistic view of the given topic but don’t forget to present your opinion on it as well. Along with this, don’t try to take sides unless the topic demands you to.
• Involve your audience, if possible. This way, you will be able to interact with the people and it will also be useful in fighting the fear of public speaking.
• Don’t mug up a speech. It becomes evident when someone just speaks on a topic continuously and the audience might realise that you have memorized it or you might forget a certain part which will let the whole speech fade away from your brain.
• Instead, make notes about the topic in your mind, remember certain keywords and try to maintain a particular flow in your speech.
• Incorporate humour in your speech in a way that you do not offend anyone or overdo it but get a positive reaction from the audience. Humour is a great way of lightening the mood as well as ensuring the whole speech is interactive and engaging.
• When you need more specialized assistance, a  US essay writing service  can be a valuable resource for crafting your speech.

While preparing for English Speech topics, you must also check out IELTS Speaking Topics !

Juvenile delinquency is acceptable. Prostitution should be legal. Underage driving should be punishable by law. Beauty pageants for children should be banned. Prisoner’s right to vote. Voting rights should not be universal. Guns should be banned from college campuses.

A three-minute speech is undoubtedly a wonderful starting point for public speaking. This is because you need to communicate with your audience more effectively when you just have a short amount of time. In addition, the speech ought to be concise, pertinent, and clear.

Life is the gift of God in the form of trust that we will make it meaningful in whatever we can. We are all unique individuals. No one is born like you and no one will ever be, so cherish your individuality. Many times, I come across people accusing God of things that they don’t have. They always cursing their lives.

 2-minute speeches are  short and crisp speeches of about 260-350 words .

Related Reads

Thus, we hope that this list helps you in preparing for different English speech topics. Gearing up for IELTS ? Sign up for an online demo session with our experts at Leverage Edu and we will assist you in preparing for its different sections as well as improving your reading, listening, speaking and writing skills to ensure that you ace the exam with flying colours!

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14 comments

I take english speaking classes, please provide me sone more material to help student’s.

Here are some articles on books and study material that will help your students- https://leverageedu.com/blog/english-speaking-books/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/books-by-charles-dickens/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/best-books-by-george-orwell/

I want topic on students and online classes

It is helpful for my school homework thanks 😸

Glad we could help!

Nice advise 👍

Thank you, Pragya!

Not good topics 🤔🤔

Thanks for the suggestion. We will update the blog!

Helpful for students . So I like it

Thanks for reading! Also, read: Daily Used English Words Speech on Importance of English Reach us at 1800 57 2000 for study-abroad related matters!

You people are giving great contribution in internet learning and it is for all….

Hi, thank you for your valuable feedback.

Awesome! Its really awesome article, I have got much clear idea concerning from this post.

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45 Public Speaking Topics and Ideas

October 4, 2018 - Helen Hooper

Do you enjoy standing up in front of a large audience and making a speech? Or do you get so nervous that you forget what you were going to tell the audience about?

If the answer to the second question is “yes,” then you’re not alone. Many people, including well-known entrepreneurs, politicians, and actors, aren’t fans of public speaking. For example, did you know that Richard Branson is among them? Yes, one of the best entrepreneurs in history has a real far of public speaking!

“I loathe making speeches, and always have,”  Branson admitted  in one of the interviews. “Over the years, however, I have become much more practiced at giving speeches, though it still makes me a bit nervous.”

“Fortunately, the fear of public speaking shouldn’t be an insurmountable obstacle for you with some learning and practice,” says Gordon Stevens, a motivational coach. “The more you develop your skills, the more confident you’ll feel during your speeches.”

Moreover, having strong public skills can greatly boost your career and improve your position in the labor market.  Warren Buffet stated  “you can improve your value by 50 percent just by learning communication skills – public speaking”

So, whether you’re looking for topics for your next public speech or just for practice, take a look at these 45 ideas, including tips on how to choose the best ones for your purpose.

Public speaking topics

Category: science.

1. Why humans should colonize mars

Let’s be honest here, humans are endangered species because all of us live only on one planet. Colonizing mars increases the chance of long-term survival of humankind and has many other benefits, so it’s definitely a great topic to talk about.

2. When will AI exceed human performance?

It’s one of the most discussed topics in science right now because AI has been developing at an amazing speed in the recent years. So, there are tons of quality materials to retrieve information from, such as  this article from cornell university .

3. What is the future of commercial space flight?

Elon musk has recently announced the name of the first space tourist who will orbit the moon several times on SpaceX’s most advanced spacecraft, the BFR. When do you think this will happen?

4. Should nanotechnology research continue?

With all the risks and ethical issues that nanotechnology research is facing now, it could be an interesting topic to discuss.

5. Should we bring extinct species back from the dead?

Animal cloning is becoming more common, so cloning extinct species appears to be a matter of time. But should we really bring back animals like mammoths? What would we do with them if we succeed?

6. Potential for super greenhouse effect on earth

Global warming is the real thing, and governments around the world are starting to take this issue seriously. But where are we on our way to triggering a runaway greenhouse effect that turned our neighboring planet Venus into a hellish world?

7. What is gene therapy?

For example, could we use it to prevent diseases and conditions?

8. Why whales should not be hunted for food

Also an interesting topic that touches upon one of the most relevant issues in environmental health.

9. Stephen Hawking’s contributions to science

One of the greatest minds in history, Stephen Hawking, passed away recently, so it would be great to share his main contributions to science.

10. When will the next solar superflare hit earth?

The scientists know it’s coming, but can we make some predictions?

Category: self-development and self-help topics

11. How can you improve public speaking skills?

Why not, right?

12. What leadership style is the most suitable for your personality?

There are a number of leadership styles, so finding out which one suits you is an interesting idea.

13. How to get a fresh start after a breakup / divorce?

14. Why you should become a freelancer

15. Why being lazy isn’t always a bad thing

16. What Richard Branson recommends to everyone to make everyday a success

Here are  some materials  for you to start researching.

17. Why you should visit at least 5 countries by the time you’re 30

18. Gluten isn’t bad for health

19. Scientific evidence on why you shouldn’t skip your breakfast

20. Why success if often an extreme tolerance for failure (Jeff Bezos experience)

Jeff Bezos is an excellent example of a person who  thinks of a failure as a chance to learn .

Category: society

21. Do professional athletes make too much money?

22. Why the your country should promote legal immigration

23. Is it possible to eliminate poverty in every country in the world?

24. The internet should be free for everyone

25. Why punishing children for bullying others isn’t a solution

This conversation article  has some good ideas on that for you to explore.

26. The U.S. should encourage the spirit of volunteerism

27. Society should make monopolies illegal

28. Is our society too dependent on technology?

29. Why we need to support local businesses

30. Being gay: choice or nature?

31. Cell phone use while driving should be banned in all U.S. states.

Category: workplace

32. How to spot a toxic employee?

33. Give 5 reasons why we should abolish tipping restaurant servers

This Huffington Post article  will be of great help to you on this topic.

34. Why the minimum wage should be raised?

35. Top reasons why best employees invest in employee wellness programs

36. The best ways to increase employee engagement for better performance

37. Should age discrimination be a criminal offence?

38. All internships should be paid internships

39. The minimum age for unsupervised driving should be raised to 18

40. LGBT workers are protected from workplace discrimination.

Category: controversial

41. Airline passengers should sacrifice their privacy for the sake of flight safety

42. Your government should promote conservation

43. Your government should make animal testing illegal

44. The use of the internet by teens should be limited

45. The internet contributes to media bias

How to choose a public speaking topic?

Check out these quick tips for picking a great topic:

• Choose a topic that you’re fairly familiar with or have an interest in. This might help you to include some personal experience as a bonus to your speech.
• Know your audience. Your topic should always resemble the interests of your audience, otherwise they could find it boring. In this case, you’ll be wasting yours and their time.
• Pick up a hot topic that describes a current event, place, or process.

Read this article for additional information on  choosing a public speaking topic .

385 Speech Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best speech topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on speech, 📌 simple & easy speech essay titles, 💡 interesting topics to write about speech, 📑 good research topics about speech, 🔎 most interesting speech topics to write about, ❓ essay questions about speech.

• Steve Jobs Commencement Speech Analysis In his speech, Jobs demonstrates the virtuous use of the rhetoric appeals in the development and presentation of one of the most persuasive commencement speeches in order to draw the students’ attention to the significant […]
• Essay on Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination…….
• Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in Greta Thunberg’s Speech Her goal is to talk about the sufficient steps to fight against climate change and accuse the older generations of failing the younger ones and stealing their childhood with their empty phrases.
• Barack Obama’s Victory Speech 2008 – Analysis The use of “answer” again here indicates that he is ready to solve the problems that have been affecting the U.S.in the new century and echoes the theme of change.
• I Have a Dream Speech Analysis The speech has become a symbol of a new era of freedom and symbol of the American civil rights movement.”I Have a Dream” is a representation of the “America Dream” about a free and equal […]
• Speech Analysis: “How to Live Before You Die” by Steve Jobs In the first part of his speech, Jobs told the story of how his life’s experiences started to make sense in the end, even though that when he was young, Jobs was often unable to […]
• The Comparison of the Speeches by Martin Luther King and Alicia Garza Both speeches address the same issue that concerns the inequality that exists in the US society when it comes to the rights of black and white people.
• Time Travel and Possible Consequences Even though the idea of time travel has been practically proven impossible, I would be thrilled to travel to the future and see the innovations and progress that people will have witnessed.
• Michelle Obama American Dream Speech Analysis – Michelle’s purpose was to introduce her husband as man who was more concerned about the common citizens’ concerns and who was willing and able to help everyone to realize his/her American dream because he himself […]
• Coffee and Why It Is Good for You For this reason, the monks thought of using the coffee powder to keep them energized and awake during prayers, and this is how coffee was discovered.
• Malcolm X’s “Ballot or the Bullet” Speech The speech was powerful and motivational, with the speaker masterfully using the rhetorical devices of ethos, pathos, and logos to appeal to his audience.
• Freedom of Speech in Social Media Essay Gelber tries to say that the history of the freedom of speech in Australia consists of the periods of the increasing public debates on the issue of human rights and their protection.
• Severn Suzuki’s Speech at the 1992 UN Earth Summit It could be that it was due to the honesty of her delivery and the innocence of her views that helped to heighten the impact beyond that of the slightly monotone manner in which she […]
• “I Have a Dream” Speech Analysis – Essay Although the speech is of great significance in our society today critics say that King was excessively rhetorical and that he did not provide a way to solve the many problems he addressed.
• ’A More Perfect Union’ Barack Obama Rhetorical Analysis In his speech, Obama is very conscious and aware of his audience. The message contained in his speech is that of peace and unity.
• The Little Black Boy Figures of Speech & Literary Devices Examples of images used in the poem include “…my soul is white”, in the first stanza, second line, the part which the author uses the words “…black as if bereaved of light” is also an […]
• On How to Eradicate Homelessness The truth of the matter is that majority of the homeless are people with dreams, ambitions and desire to succeed. According to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, paucity has been the key […]
• Martin Luther King’s Speech: A Summary King noted that the constitution and the Declaration of Independence guaranteed the freedom and equality of all the citizens of the country.
• Severn Suzuki’s Effective Speech Her speech made adult people listen to the speaker very attentively as the girl’s speech was simple and inspiring. This contributed to the effectiveness of the speech.
• The Speech “How to Live Before You Die” by Steve Jobs He has full control of the direction of the speech and strong mastery of the subject. The last story narrated by Steve is on the sensitive topic of death.
• Cancel Culture: A Persuasive Speech Cancel culture is a phenomenon of modern society that has arisen thanks to the development of social media. However, in this situation, it is difficult to determine who sets the boundaries of the morally correct […]
• Censoring Free Speech: Pros and Cons Censorship of speech simply refers to the act of suppressing the freedom of free speech. In such cases, the government should be supported in the censorship of free speech.
• Speech Genre However, the presenter of a speech genre is free to use accent to express individuality and is capable of mixing genres from diverse spheres.
• Beauty Pageants for Children: Persuasive Speech Children Beauty Pageant is the outdoor entertainment of children in elaborate and colorful attires that focuses on the ranking of the contestants based on their physical appearance and their genuine ability to respond to the […]
• ICT and Free Speech Free speech in relation to the use of ICT technologies has been a controversial topic of discussion. To ensure free speech is a right to all citizens, the government should invest in ICT infrastructures this […]
• Informative Speech: The Eiffel Tower The answer lies in the main material that was used for the construction of the tower. However, when it comes to the design of the Eiffel Tower, not everything was about the looks.
• Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” Speech Critique The purpose of the king’s speech was to motivate the endorsement of change within the Americans, and the state, in relation to Americans’ inappropriate views towards unlike races or tribal groups in America.
• Michele Obama’s Speech: A Rhetorical Analysis The main message of the First Lady was to draw attention to the suppression of the advertising of unhealthy food to minors.
• Abraham Lincoln’s Speech “The Gettysburg Address” The brief analyses has shown major characteristics of the speech and it is easy to understand what it means for me and why.
• Malala Yousafzai’s Speech Analysis In addition, this method contributes to the effective fixation of the request in the thoughts of the listeners, which increases the effectiveness of the end of the speech, focusing on the cry for help.
• “The Atlanta Compromise Speech” by Booker T. Washington The idea was that if it became clear to the whites that the black community was ready to contribute to national and global development, the barriers of social inequity and racial injustice would gradually diminish.
• Analysis of McCain’s Concession Speech It was during this night of the election that John McCain honorably accepted the outcome of the elections and therefore gave his concession speech in Phoenix, Arizona to the whole nation.
• Addressee’s Influence on Speech Style When addressing an audience, the kind of words used by the addresser is dictated by the age of the addressee. This is because the ability of a child to comprehend certain statements and words depend […]
• How to Write a Speech? The main objectives of a writer when writing a speech is to engage the attention of the audience, use a language that is easy to understand, and present ideas in a way that makes them […]
• Rhetorical Analysis of Patricia Ryan’s Speech “Don’t Insist on English” The main idea Patricia Ryan’s wants to deliver to the audience in her speech is that the globalization of English language does not give an opportunity for English-speaking countries to notice the entire knowledge of […]
• Any Given Sunday: Peace by Inches Speech During the course of his speech, D’Amato draws parallels between what he understands as being the most important challenges of one’s existence and what accounts for the hardest challenges in the realm of professional football, […]
• President Obama’s Inaugural Speech Analysis In his speech, Obama was seen to take advantage of the significance of that moment to address the Americans’ main concerns.
• Analysis of “On the Three Metamorphoses” Speech by Zarathustra The idea of fleeing the real world that is habitable in the thinking of man, to the desert preoccupied by fear, dangers and uncertainty refers to the need for independence of the spirit.
• Greta Thunberg’s 2019 Climate Action Speech Techniques In addition, her task was to convey to the younger generation that it was time to pay attention to the problem of ecology.
• Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can” Speech Analysis The purpose of the speech is to convince the audience that he is the man who can make people live better.
• Philosophy of language: Speech act theory Foundation of the speech act theory The best way to analyze the features that form the foundation of the speech act theory is to make a comparison between it and other theories that are presented […]
• Martin Luther King Jr.’s and Alicia Garza’s Speeches Comparison He demonstrates inspiration and magnetism, explaining the history of the issues affecting the audience. Garza is passionate about leaving her home and joining the movements on the streets to pass the message of freedom.
• “Speech Sounds” by Octavia E. Butler The author’s mood changes the plot, and the choice of characters and setting contribute to a better understanding of the message.
• The Teacher Speech With Parents These instances are broadly meant to ensure that the parents get the best understanding of the information concerning the school and more importantly enable them to fully participate in the education of their children.
• Analysis: Speech In Favor of Capital Punishment by John Stuart Mills Mills rightly points out that the very grounds of humanity used to support the removal of the death penalty should also be the ones used to support retaining of the sentence.
• Rhetorical Theory Applied to Michelle Obama’s Speech The next step was the discussion of the candidate’s history, her skills, and the nature of the election. In conclusion, this rhetorical analysis reveals the strengths and weaknesses of Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic […]
• Australia History of Country Known for Its Unusual Nature and Beautiful Sights In this presentation, I will discuss the indigenous and English settlements in Australia and how these affected the state’s culture and the national holidays.
• Informative and Persuasive Speeches The promotion of humorous education as a teaching methodology can take place differently, and one of the most successful and effective ways is an allusion to a culture that is close to the target audience.
• Ensuring Healthy and Clean Environment: Importance of Recycling Ensuring that we have air to breathe, water to drink and that we do not create a planet which becomes the very cause for the end of the human race.
• Therapy and Mental Health Counseling: Speech The scholars emphasize that, unlike medications, therapy is a journey that requires awareness and acceptance of the change to heal from stress and trauma.
• Hitler’s Speech in Reaction to the Treaty of Versailles Hitler believed that the treaty of Versailles made Germany a colony to the outside world; he blamed it for the suppression of Germany’s workforce.
• The King’s Speech The film, The King’s Speech is a story filled with intricate anti-stereotypic images and paradigm shifts within a larger plot of the British royal family.
• Mobile App Development Career Speech On the other hand, mobile app development might be a tedious task, which requires superior analytical skills and mastery of programming languages. In conclusion, mobile app development is a fascinating and rewarding career.
• 1789 Abolition Speech by William Wilberforce When it comes to ensuring a high rhetorical value of a particular speech, which is meant to convince people in the validity of the speaker’s line of argumentation, it represents the matter of a crucial […]
• An Analysis of President Nelson Mandela’s Speech It is of importance to note that in his speech; Mandela was very sincere and direct especially when he was talking about the light that is found within the human soul.
• Speech and Written Forms of Communication Due to the dynamism of speech as a means of communication, it has a great impact on the confidence, speaking, and listening skills of students while the static nature of written communication greatly affects writing […]
• Similarities of the Pericles’ Speech and “Oedipus the King” On the other hand, Sophocles, in the play “Oedipus the King,” emphasizes on the value of the city in the speech of the king.
• Inspirational Speech: The Last Lecture by Randolph Pausch The Last Lecture by Randolph Pausch is a good example of an inspirational speech that prompts the listeners to reevaluate their views on life, death and relations between people. The introduction of his speech contained […]
• Soujourner Truth: “Ain’t I a Woman?” Speech The ideas of Soujourner Truth that she emphasized in the speech Ai not I a Woman? are still important and relevant today.
• Steve Jobs’ Speech “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” Analysis Let us have a closer look at the parts of the speech namely the introduction, the main body consisting of three stories from Steve Jobs’ life and the conclusion which is rather an appeal to […]
• Clutter in English Speech and Writing To avoid clutters, a writer should avoid unnecessary words, avoid repetition and economize words. Highlighting and removing redundant and unnecessary words and phrases can help one to be a concise writer.
• Logos, Ethos, and Pathos in Hillary Clinton’s Speech Looking at the example of the Clinton speech, her address focuses on the rights of women and the need to protect them.
• Types of Speech Used in Everyday Life and Their Role for Achieving Academic Success As a college student with experience in making presentations and participating in various workshops, I consider the development of informative and professional speaking especially vital for my future career. In an academic setting, the most […]
• ‘A More Perfect Union’ Speech Analysis The speech ‘More Perfect Union’ became the basic method of Obama’s address racial problem in the USA; he covered the issues concerning the current nature of politics and social misprints left on the basis of […]
• “The Danger of a Single Story” Speech by Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, in her speech “The Danger of a Single Story,” demonstrates the impact of biased ways of thinking, using examples from her own experience. As a consequence of the divisive nature of stereotypes, […]
• Lyndon Johnson’s and Ronald Reagan’s Speech The address given by President Lyndon Johnson at the University of Michigan reflects the aspirations of many people for social change.
• Speech in “Speaking ‘Like a Man’ in Teamsterville” by Gerry Philipsen Gerry Philipsen, who is commonly referred to as the father of The Speech Codes Theory, did an ethnographic analysis to establish the different meanings that are shared in a culture and he published his findings […]
• Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate Whereas chocolate is high in milk and fat, dark chocolate has a number of health benefits for consumers. While much can be argued about chocolate in general, dark chocolate has more benefits than disadvantages to […]
• Admiral McRaven’s Speech at the University of Texas The contents of the speech were coded based on the frequency of certain word’s appearance and classified; then, the codes were interpreted to identify themes emerging in the speech’s message.
• “Why Sit Ye Here and Die?” Speech by Maria Stewarts The first is that black people should have the right to education, as white people. Stewart’s speech was most probably criticized because it united all black people who were under the rule of white people […]
• Nelson Mandela: Speeches and Leadership Nelson Mandela is, undoubtedly, one of the strongest and the most inspiring political leaders of the 20th century, the embodiment of the human spirit’s limitless possibilities.
• Seatbelt Use as a Part of the Safe Driving Experience By not wearing a seatbelt, people risk their lives and health and contribute to the financial burden of motor vehicle crashes.
• Barack Obama’s Speech as a Rhetorical Example The main message of the speech was clearly understood – the president outlined his further steps in the development of the country, he would make.
• Freedom of Speech on Campus The primary issue identified by the case study is the extent to which free speech can be used and is protected regarding sensitive social aspects and discussions.
• University Graduation Ceremony Deliverance I want to thank the staff of the University for the time and effort they spent on us. All the success we managed to achieve and the goals we are going to reach in the […]
• Special Occasion Speech Analysis Although I witnessed many special occasions speeches, most of all, I remembered the speech of the school teacher on the tragic circumstances – the remembering of September 11.
• James Rachel’s Speech About Cultural Relativism James Rachels argues that this theory considers all the cultural practices to be good and valued according to the view of their adepts. Cultural Relativism is a good theory that enables people to learn various […]
• King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech: Rhetorical Analysis The speech is full of outrage and contains allusions to the Bible and the US Declaration of Independence. The main theses of King’s political speeches were not only the equalization of the rights of Whites […]
• Speech Evaluation: Martin Luther King, Jr. The analysis of the speech helps to understand various tools and techniques, which he implemented to find the way to reach the audience.
• Free Speech on the Internet Overview The growing pace in the use of the internet for expression has been elating: it is a renewal of the fight for democracy and the restoration of egalitarianism.
• The Internet and Freedom of Speech: Ethics and Restrictions Because of a lack of security technology, across the board prohibition is justified under the law, a concept that is in itself considered unlawful by a strict definition of the First Amendment of the Constitution […]
• Che Guevara: The Speech Before the General Assembly of the UN Traditionally, capitalism has been defined as “the ownership and control of the means of production by a class of “capitalists” and an economic and political system that favors this”. The modern meaning of socialism is […]
• People Affected by Fires and Natural Disasters Need Help With Food, Water, Shelter Today, I would like to talk to you about natural disasters and how to minimize their impacts by contributing to charity funds, and how your contribution can make a difference.
• Tom Reagan’s Speech: A Case for Animal Rights Tom Reagan gave this speech as a contribution to the answer to the question of whether there is a need for the animal kingdom to have a bill of rights.
• Speech Development and Disorder Accidents can also cause language impairment of the brain affected will determine the degree of the problem in language and speech.
• Plato’s “The Apology of Socrates” Speech Analysis He also suggests that the speech could be the real account of the apology of Socrates based on the premise that the people in Athens at the time Plato had written the speech could have […]
• Speech Disorders in Children: Definition and Therapy 3-19% of children at the age from two to seven have speech and language disorders. According to the study conducted in the United Kingdom by Broomfield and Dodd, the prevalence of speech disabilities is approximately […]
• Children Develop Speech, Language, and Communication Through Plays This is the most crucial stage in the development of a child and forms the basis for the development of speech, language, and communication.
• Analysis of Dan Ariely’s Speech at the TED Conference In our real life, when we make important decisions, it may seem to us we are right but in fact, it is only the illusion of the rightness of this or that decision.
• The Speech “Message to the Grassroots” by Malcolm X When Malcolm refers to black people as a big family and when he constantly repeats the word “common” in regards to the white man as the common enemy, he makes the audience experience a feeling […]
• Argument Analysis on Barbara Jordan’s Watergate Speech Barbara’s primary audience in this speech is the chairman of the U. The style of Barbara Jordan’s speech is formal.
• Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” Speech Analysis The nouns and adjectives used in this oration had a special meaning applicable to the battlefield. Lincoln certainly could deliver a longer speech that the audience would listen to and remember.
• Sarah Kwon’s and Alicia Batice Speech: Critique The introduction of the speech is not a usual summary of the body of the presentation. Claims are supported by credible evidence, and the conclusion is simple and is an effective summary of the presentation.
• Rhetorical Devices in the Famous Speeches There is no doubt that the persuasiveness and vigor of the speech are created due to the message that is conveyed by it: support of German people who wanted to be free, and due to […]
• Washington’s “Great Debaters” and Art of Making Speeches The major focus of the movie is on the skills of the debaters and on their abilities to ground their statements and prove the assumptions they make: When capitalism was young, the old puritanical concept […]
• School Bus Drivers & Cars on the Road The other drivers of the road also become aware of the presence of a school bus on road and that consciousness makes them aware of the reason to drive safely.
• Concepts of Speech: Critique As a matter of fact, it is not only my observation of myself as a speaker I have conducted research on my speech and my class fellows’ speech keeping myself in the shoe of audience […]
• Mikhail Gorbachev’s 1988 UN Speech The reason Gorbachev chose the United Nation as the forum to deliver the speech had something to do with the target audience.
• Steve Jobs’ Stanford Speech Rhetorical Strategies Speaking of the goals which Steve Jobs pursued when having a public speech in front of the students of the Stanford University, one has to mention that these goals had nothing to do with Jobs’ […]
• Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Speech on California’s Politics Arnold Schwarzenegger’s final speech is entitled “State of the State” and devoted to the burning issues of California. The speech begins with a funny story about the pig and the pony, referring to the idea of teamwork of two opposite parties. Schwarzenegger recalls the tragic events connected with wildfires occupied California during 2007 in his […]
• Douglas’s Speech “What the Black Man Wants” While arguments of the inferiority of the Negro were being used to deny them their rightful place in the nation, Douglas asserted that it was rather the humiliation that his race had had to endure […]
• Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Speech He was also able to relate the topic to the concerns of the graduates and finally he was able to link himself to the subject.
• Speeches That Changed the World Kennedy uses the passage of a torch to the new generation, to emphasize on the passage of the responsibility of enhancing freedom and liberty in the world, to the new generation by the old generation.
• Social Work and Speech-Language Pathology Firstly, in both cases, professionals in these disciplines often have to work with people from various population groups. Secondly, since both fields work with people who belong to vulnerable population groups, their clients may have […]
• Analysis of Speech by Senator Robert Byrd The purpose was to convince the people of the United States that the war in Iraq is a mistake and should not be proceeded with.
• Inaugural Speech of Abraham Lincoln He also said in the thirtieth paragraph of his first inaugural address that the power that the Chief Magistrate possessed came from the people5.
• Interpreting Speech at Council of Clermont The reconstruction of the documents created by the mentioned historians allows considering and evaluating their content in order to reveal the most appropriate speech documentation.
• Ho Chi Minh’s Speech and Achievements This was the reason why he declared that the country was ready to be independent and free. His efforts and actions led to the emancipation of many individuals in this country.
• Barack Obama’s Inaugural Speech and Rhetoric Obama seems to be talking from a point of experience and his understanding of the challenges he articulates is a proof to his assertion.
• “The Strenuous Life” Speech by Theodore Roosevelt These challenges have to be met in a way that benefits the nation. No public servant should be unfaithful to his duties and should always have the interest of the people in mind.
• Current Immigration Issues in the United States First of all, the goal of this speech is to inform the audience of the current immigration issues in the country and how they have been and are promised to be treated by the politicians.
• Rhetorical Analysis of Obama’s Speech In his speech, Barack Obama makes a magnificent attempt to address the issues of racial dishonesty and white privilege that is still observed in America, to describe the “black anger” that is inherent to the […]
• Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” Speech The speaker explains why the issue of slavery continues to separate the nation. He offers the best promises to deal with slavery.
• The Compatibility of Aristophanes’ Speech with Socrates’ Ideas The discussion of the myth presented in Aristophanes’ speech is compatible with Socrates’ visions of the issue of love because both philosophers consider love as a desire of something or a lack of an important […]
• Language and Culture: The Honorifics (Speech or System) of Japanese and Korean In Japan, honorific use is determined by the category of the addressee, that is, he/ she might be superior to the addresser, and this corresponds directly to the verb in use.
• Freedom of Speech in China and Political Reform Although the constitution of China has the provision of the freedom of speech, association, press and even demonstration, the freedom is not there in reality since the constitution forbids the undertaking of anything that is […]
• Analyzing Martin Luther Speech “I Have a Dream” It is also imperative to note that Luther is addressing all Americans, both white and black, and hence the use of words “we” and “our”.
• Queen Elizabeth I Speech Before Her Troops Analytical Essay The apparent reason for the queen’s speech is to motivate her troops in the face of the imminent conflict with the Spaniards.
• Figures of Speech: Figurative v. Literal Language According to Heywood, figurative language is the use of words, phrases, and expressions that compel the audience to use its sense of imagination. The function of a metaphor is to facilitate understanding by instilling a […]
• Steve Jobs Speech Analysis It is imbued with the spirit of creativity and cleverness of a man who has seen and experienced so much in his life.
• Glassblowing Speech by Courtney Draper The oration was logical, contributing to a complete understanding of the story, and accordingly, the delivery fully met the theme and purpose.
• Preparing a Speech on Arachnophobia I selected this topic because arachnophobia is a panic disorder of psychology since the fear of spiders does not respond to a real danger but is an acquired reaction.
• Nurses’ Political Activism Process Speech As a result, there will be better access to CDC’s programs related to cancer prevention, early detection, education, and screening, as this is the first point of the policy. To draw a conclusion, one may […]
• Self-Image Speech: Nora’s Case Nora used several types of transitions throughout her speech which helped her organize the flow of her self-presentation. Finally, Nora used a chronological connector, “lastly,” to make a smooth transition to her engagement ring, the […]
• Informative Speech Topic Selection: Cyberbullying One can adapt the speech concerning the peculiarities of how to react to cyberbullying for the first subgroup and the explanations of the consequences of the offensive practices for the second one.
• Freedom of Speech in Stafford’s Burning a Book One of the components of such an idea is the freedom of expression, which is closely connected with the right to express one’s opinion and beliefs in written form.
• M. L. King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech Delivery In addition, during the time without the internet, the number of people a certain location could hold also contributed to the overall speech’s effect.
• Freedom of Speech as a Basic Human Right Restricting or penalizing freedom of expression is thus a negative issue because it confines the population of truth, as well as rationality, questioning, and the ability of people to think independently and express their thoughts.
• Speech Preparation Outline: Importance of Taking Public Speaking Classes General Purpose: To Inform/ Persuade the Audience Specific Purpose: By the end of the speech, the audience will agree that completing public speaking has psychological, professional, and social benefits.
• Rhetoric in Obama’s 2008 Speech on Racism When the audience became excited, it was Obama’s responsibility to convey his message in a more accessible form. To conclude, Obama’s speech in 2008 facilitated his election as the first African American President in history.
• Putin’s 2007 Munich Speech and Policies of the West However, the signs of the impending catastrophe were visible long before the outlaw recognition of the so-called “LNR and DNR” and even before the launch of this Donbas issue and unacceptable Crimea annexation.
• Steve Jobs’ 2005 Commencement Speech Analysis Throughout the speech, the presence of the character is evident due to the moderate tempo of speech, volume, and tone of speech.
• Speech by President von Der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary In the conclusion, she summarized the impact of the invasion on Ukrainians and cemented the speech with a message of hope.
• The Christian Care Center’s Mission: Speech General purpose: To inform Specific purpose: By the end of my speech, the audience will know of the Christian Care Center and its purpose of helping the less fortunate and marginalized members of society by […]
• Martin Luther King’s and Alicia Garza’s Speeches A master of words, a preacher, and a fighter for the equality of people before God and the law, King speaks with hope for a better future for the world and the nation.
• African American Problems Through Speeches For example, as early as in the title of the speech, Obama’s A Perfect Union makes reference to the established nation by the Founding Fathers and the definition of ‘perfect.’ As such, Obama posits that […]
• Aspects of Informative Speeches That is, a speaker might want to describe, inform, explain, or instruct something to the audience. For instance, a speaker might instruct the students on how to succeed in job interviews.
• On the Verge of WWIII and Putin’s Speech About Crimea Annexation The difficulty of the USSR to succeed in the war made the West question its ability. The deployment of the weaponries by NATO in Western Europe became a threat to the USSR, and the Soviet […]
• Speech of President Abraham Lincoln on Gettysburg Field The Battle of Gettysburg is one of the most significant and well-known not only during the Civil War but also in the entire history of the United States.
• Employees’ Right of Free Speech on Social Media Afterwards, the employer said that the action of the employer fell under the public policy exception to employment at will, considering that it restricted the participation of the employee in the political process.
• Charismatic Rhetoric of Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech For example, Obama’s rhetoric and custom linguistic strategies allowed him to appeal to the values of the majority of American citizens.
• Freedom of Speech and Propaganda in School Setting One of the practical solutions to the problem is the development and implementation of a comprehensive policy for balanced free speech in the classroom.
• Twitter and Violations of Freedom of Speech and Censorship The sort of organization that examines restrictions and the opportunities and challenges it encounters in doing so is the center of a widely acknowledged way of thinking about whether it is acceptable to restrict speech.
• Policy Primer: COVID-19 and Free Speech According to Singh and Singh, the COVID-19 outbreak has served as a manifestation of long-existing social issues, including inequality, the economic gap between the developed and developing countries, and the legislature’s inability to address the […]
• George W. Bush’s Inaugural Speech It is rather interesting that, in the text, Bush says that “the best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world”. This text also helps to think about […]
• Student Free Speech Rights in the Virtual Platforms The Supreme Court is likely to resolve the issue by suggesting a compromise between the opponents and the author of the speech.
• The Informative Speech Overall Analysis The key theme, topic, and values of the future informative speech are directly related to respect, honor, and recognition of oneself, property, and other people.
• Gendered Speech within Cultural Models When Pete is in the fraternity together with other males, he tends to demonstrate his authority through his posture and the use of language means.
• The Speech “Change or Illusion” by Desmond Tutu Tutu believes the right to vote that the whites had was one of the integral instruments in the hands of the white supporters in the face of aparthy.
• Amos the Prophet: Life, Views, Writing and Speech Styles He was commanded to go to the people and proclaim God’s judgment, and Amos could not resist it because the Lord had chosen him.
• “The Ongoing Challenge to Define Free Speech” by Stephen J. Wermiel The author tries to define the scope and meaning of freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Thereby, there are many disagreements about freedom of speech and freedom of the press that has not […]
• Freedom of Speech in Social Networks The recent case of blocking the accounts of former US President Donald Trump on Twitter and Facebook is explained by the violation of the rules and conditions of social platforms.
• Sojourner Truth’s Speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” The first rhetorical tool is an appeal to the community, consisting of combinations of the means of expression used and a particular manner of speech.
• Adrian Petterson’s Speech on Videogames The authors present the fruitful theoretical toolkit for the analysis of the designs of games, which are abusive and sometimes intend to make players feel anger and disappointment.
• The Speech “Make Free Public Wifi for All Americans” by Montanez The general purpose of the speech is to inform the audience about public Wi-Fi necessity, which the speaker does when he talks about his own lack of access to Wi-Fi in childhood.
• The Speeches by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X I want to thank you for this interesting and properly built discussion about how justice and the law are combined in the speeches by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. The indefatigable aggressiveness of the […]
• Teachers’ Freedom of Speech in Learning Institutions The judiciary system has not clearly defined the limits of the First Amendment in learning institutions, and it’s a public concern, especially from the teachers.
• The Speech About the Assassination of Osama bin Laden by Barack Obama To conclude, we can consider this speech as a good example of weighted but at the same time pompous and threatening speech regarding the issue of national security.
• Modern Internet and Hate Speech One of the significant reasons hate speech on the Internet and in general in the media is quickly and firmly entrenched in its latent resolution for most people.
• Michelle Obama’s Tuskegee University Commencement Speech
• Free Speech Regulated on Social Media
• Eros in Plato’s Symposium Speeches
• The Role of Social Media Sites in Moderating Speech
• Persuasive Speech Topic and Structure
• Berta Caceres’ Planet Protection Speech Analysis
• The Speech on the Use of Alternative Energy Sources for Different Audiences
• Historical Impact of John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Speech
• Graduation Speech on the Event of Graduating from College
• Malcolm X: Galvanizing Change Through Speech
• The Speech of Miss Polly Baker and Benjamin Franklin
• Discussion on Speech Four Genres
• Discussion of Public Speeches Aspects
• Potency of Free Speech in Capitalist Society
• Free Speech vs. Anti-Discrimination Practices Conflict
• The Allusion in Patrick Henry’s “Speech to Virginia Convention”
• Comparing Benjamin Franklin’s Work to Red Jacket’s Speech
• Written Speech: Conveying the Ideas to the Audience
• George Floyd’s Speech on Police Abuse
• Freedom of Speech in Shouting Fire: Stories From the Edge of Free Speech
• Booker T. Washington’s Atlanta Exposition Speech
• “Return to Normalcy” Speech by Warren G. Harding
• Freedom of Speech as the Most Appreciated Liberty
• Attention-Grabbing Techniques in Public Speeches
• Preparing for a Persuasive Speech
• Transforming the Wasteland: Newton Minow’s Speech
• How to Overcome Fear and Succeed: Informative Speech
• Lincoln’s Speech Against the American-Mexican War
• Obama’s Health Care Speech to Congress Summary
• Speech Disorder Interventions
• The Ballot or the Bullet Speech by Malcolm X
• Frederick Douglass 1865 Speech Review
• Why Defamation Laws Must Prioritize Freedom of Speech
• The Power and Effect of Rhetoric in King’s Speech “I Have a Dream”
• Informative Speech on Nostradamus
• Free Speech and the Internet
• Nelson Mandela’s Speech from the Dock
• Treating Children With Speech Sound Disorders
• Martin Luther King’s Speech “I Have a Dream”
• Communication Strategies. Anxiety of Public Speeches
• The Speech of Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani
• Stuttering as a Speech Disorder
• A Ban to Fundraising Violating Free Speech and Dispensation of Justices
• Brief Historical Overview of Free Speech in the United States
• Speech and Voice Recognition
• The Public Speeches by Kennedy, Mac Arthur and King
• How to Use Speech Recognition Program
• Training Effects on Speech Production Using a Hands-Free Electromyographically Controlled Electrolarynx
• The Role of the Speech-Language Pathologist in the Management of Persons With a Laryngectomy
• Communication & Rhetoric: Stanley Fish Speech Analysis
• “Teachers, Social Media, and Free Speech” by Vasek
• The First Amendment: Free Speech and Education
• Bethel School District v. Fraser: Free Speech Issue
• Video Games: Protecting Free Speech
• Importance of Speech-Language Pathologist
• Protesting as a Way of Exercising Freedoms of Speech and Expression
• The Iron Curtain Speech by Winston Churchill
• Franklin Roosevelt’s Speech Analysis
• Donald Trump’s Announcement Speech Critique
• Freedom of Speech: Is Censorship Necessary?
• Pizza: A Poem With No Words
• Free Speech and Mutual Respect on Campus
• Voices of the Revolution Concepts: Document Analysis. Patrick Henry’s Speech
• Religious Extremism in Pakistan’s and Afghanistan’s Leaders’ Speeches
• Linguistic Anthropology. Speech Community
• Protection of Corporate Political Speech
• Supreme Court Decision: Corporations and Freedom of Speech
• Obama Speech on Race – March 2008
• Rhetorical Problem of George H.W. Bush Speech Descriptive Analysis
• Racist Speech: Sociology Issues Analysis
• Should Colleges Adopt and Enforce Speech Codes?
• Malcolm X’s “Ballot or Bullet” Speech: An Analysis
• Value of Copyright Protection in Relation to Freedom of Speech
• Ambiguity and Jargon in Everyday Speech
• Classical and Rogerian Persuasion in Speech
• Freedom of Speech and the Internet
• Breakdown of Patton’s Speech
• Justice in America Based on Famous Speeches
• First Amendment Right of Free Speech in the USA
• Hu’s Speech at the 17 National Party Congress
• The Sixties: Malcolm X’s Speech
• Speech Development and Disorders
• Power of Corporate America and Free Speech
• The Freedom of Speech: Communication Law in US
• Freedom of Speech and Expression in Music
• Harvard President Larry Summers’ Controversial Speech
• The Exact Measurement of the Sound of Speech
• Frederick Douglass’ Speech: Oratorical Analysis
• Campus Speech Codes and Freedom
• Free Speech in the First Amendment
• Georges Clemenceau’s Letter and President Wilson’s Fourteen Points Speech
• Validity of a Non-Speech Dynamic Assessment of Phonemic Awareness
• “The Ballot or the Bullet“ the Speech by Malcolm X
• Martin Luther King’s Public Speech
• The Technique of a Great Speech
• Freedom of Speech and International Relations
• Cherie Blair Speech Analysis
• Professional Identity Speeches
• Information Technology Law: Hate Speech Online
• Semantic and Pragmatics: Speech Acts
• Tougher Laws Against Drunk Driving
• Hate Speech in “The Office”: Mitigating Conflicts
• The Speech the Graduates Didn’t Hear
• Should Unrestricted Speech Be Allowed on College Campuses?
• Steve Ballmer’s Speech for the Stanford Students
• Child’s Speech: Morphologic and Syntactic Analysis
• Meaghan Daly’s Speech on Aboriginal Exclusion
• President Obama’s State of the Union Speeches
• Mayor Henry Agostini’s Speech
• Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis: Speeches Comparison
• Persuasive Speech of a Hero Analysis
• Pastor Joel Osteen’s Public Speech Analysis
• Allegedly Threatening or Intimidating Speech
• World’s Economic Powerhouse: China Consumer Price Index
• Helen Zia’s Speech About Social Activism
• The Importance of Freedom of Speech
• Paul’s Speech at the Areopagus at Mars Hill
• Money Compensation for Student-Athletes
• Parts of Speech Recognition: Lesson Plan
• Universal Health Care System in the US Speech
• Free Speech vs. Bullying Laws
• Vice-Presidential Acceptance Speech Project
• Brain and Speech Production in Neuroscience
• Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech
• Quality and Timely Innovation: American Products & Services
• Governmental Power: Luther’s Speech
• Genetic Factors of Speech Coding at the Subcortical Level
• Articulatory Variation: Speech Patterns
• The Speech “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King
• Speech Production in Children with Cleft Palate
• Donald Trump’s Immigration Speech
• Dr. Martin Luther King’s Speech I Have a Dream
• The Speeches of Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan
• Speech-Language Therapy in Early Childhood
• Canada’s Freedom of Speech and Its Ineffectiveness
• Canadian Media Violence, Pornography, Free Speech
• American Student Rights and Freedom of Speech
• Marsha Sue Ivins’ Speech for World Space Week
• Freedom of Speech in Modern Media
• Immigration in Trump’s Candidate Speech
• Community Speech Norms’ Acquisition by Asian Immigrants
• “I Have a Dream” Speech by Martin Luther King Jr
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• Projecting Sexual Orientation Through Speech
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• Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey Speeches Analysis
• Freedom of Speech: Julian Assange and ‘WikiLeaks’ Case
• Will Free Speech Survive Government Repression?
• Musallam Al Barrak Speech in 2012
• President Barrack Obama 2013 Inaugural Speech
• Political Rhetoric: Barack Obama’s March 18 Speech
• President Bill Clinton Speech Critique
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• Advertising and Freedom of Speech
• Charles Kennedy’s Speech About Drinking Problem
• Freedom of Speech and Expression
• Supporting Students with Speech Impairment
• Speech Language Pathology Research
• Steve Jobs Speech Summary and Analysis
• Developmental Pragmatics: The Speech Act of Apology
• The Problem of Speech Genres
• Freedom of speech in the Balkans
• Serial Position Effect and Irrelevant Speech
• Critique of a speech by Tristram Stuart
• Comparison of the Inaugural Speeches
• Diotima Speech Analysis
• Shekha Mozah 2010 Zurich Speech
• Obama’s Speech in India
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• First Amendment: Commercial and Political Free Speech
• Martin Luther King’s Last Speech
• Stephen Colbert’s Speech
• Controversies Over Freedom of Speech and Internet Postings
• Thomas Friedman and His MIT Speech: A Retrospective and an Analysis
• Thom Friedman’s Position Speech
• The Position Paper on Thomas Friedman’s Speech
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• Practical aspects of the field of speech and language development
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• What Is Formal Speech?
• How Was Power and Authority Shown in Churchill’s Speech?
• What Makes a Good Speech?
• How Do You Prepare a Speech?
• What Do You Say Before Starting a Speech?
• What Are the Steps of Speech Recognition?
• When Did Speech First Appear?
• How Do You Introduce Yourself in a Speech?
• What Is the First Line of Speech?
• What Do You Say at the End of a Speech?
• Where Did Speech Come From Originally?
• What Is the Most Common Type of Speech Disorder?
• What Is Apraxia of Speech?
• What Are the Three Basic Types of Speech Impairments?
• What Is Disordered Speech?
• What Is Lisp Speech?
• How Do You Start a Conclusion for a Speech?
• What Are the Types of Speech Recognition?
• What Is Speech Recognition Used For?
• What Are Speech Therapy Exercises?
• What Are Speech and Language Skills?
• What Is the Motor Theory of Speech Perception?
• What Are the Visual Influences on Speech Perception Processes?
• What Are the Steps in Speech Therapy?
• Freedom of Speech Ideas
• Censorship Essay Ideas
• Freedom Of Expression Questions
• Human Rights Essay Ideas
• Martin Luther King Titles
• Presidential Debate Ideas
• Nonverbal Communication Essay Titles
• Public Speaking Research Ideas
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, February 29). 385 Speech Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/speech-essay-topics/

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Bibliography

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IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

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IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics & Questions

IELTS speaking part 1 topics and questions. Prepare for your test by developing ideas for topics and practicing answering questions. There is a download link at the bottom of the page for the list of topics. These topics will be used most years and will mostly likely be used at some point in 2024.

What is IELTS speaking part 1?

A face to face interview with the examiner (4-5 minutes) 12 Questions based on 3 Topics Questions about yourself, your life and your country

Speaking Part 1 Common Topics List

Below is a list of topics and questions that the examiner can ask you in part 1 of the IELTS speaking test. You should prepare ideas for these topics but not memorise whole answers. Your answers should be natural when you speak in the test. Prepare your daily life, your recent memories, your childhood memories, your opinions, popular things in your country etc. Remember – part 1 is all about you and your country.

• Daily routine
• Dictionaries
• Family & Friends
• Leisure time
• Neighbours & Neighbourhood
• Shopping Sport

Questions & Topics for IELTS Speaking Part 1

These four topics are the most common in IELTS speaking part 1. You should prepare ideas and practice answering these questions. You are VERY LIKELY to get one of these four for your first topic.

Work What is your job? Where do you work? Why did you choose that job? Is it a popular job in your country? Do you like your job? Do you get on well with your colleagues? What was your first day like? What responsibilities do you have at work? If you had the chance, would you change your job? Do you plan to continue with your job in the future?

Study What do you study? Where do you study that? Why did you choose that subject? Is it a popular subject in your country? Do you like that subject? Do you get on with your colleagues? What was your first day like? What are the main aspects of your subject? If you had the chance, would you change subject? Do you plan to get a job in the same field as your subject?

Note: if you don’t work or study, please say so. When the examiner asks “Do you work or do you study?”, this isn’t a trick question. Just be open and honest. For example, “I don’t work or study at the moment.” or “I’m a housewife.” If you don’t work or study, the examiner will ask about your home or hometown instead.

Note: Your hometown refers to the village, town or city where you spent most of your childhood. It might not be the same place you were born. If you grew up in many different places, choose the place you are most connected to.

Hometown Where is your hometown? Do you like your hometown? Do you often visit your hometown? What is your hometown like? What is the oldest place in your hometown? What is there for a foreigner to do or see in your hometown? How could your hometown be improved? Has your hometown changed much since you were a child? Is there good public transportation in your hometown? Do you think your hometown is a good place to bring up children?

Home Where is your home? Do you live in a house or a flat? Who do you live with? Are there many rooms in your home? What is your favourite room? How are the walls decorated? What would you change about your home? Do you plan to live there in the future? What facilities are there near your home? What is your neighbourhood like? Do most people live in houses in your country?

Common Questions in Speaking Part 1

Art Are you good at art? Did you learn art at school when you were a child? What kind of art do you like? Is art popular in your country? Have you ever been to an art gallery? Do you think children can benefit from going to art galleries?

Bicycles Do you have a bike? How often do you use it? How old were you when you learned to ride a bike? Do many people in your country using bicycles? Do you think using bicycles should be encouraged?

Birthdays Do you usually celebrate your birthdays? How did you celebrate your last birthday? Which birthdays are the most important ones in your country? Do you think children should celebrate their birthdays with a party?

Childhood Did you enjoy your childhood? What is your first memory of your childhood? Did you have a lot of friends when you were a child? What did you enjoy doing as a child? Do you think it is better for children to grow up in the city or in the countryside?

Clothes Are clothes important to you? What kind of clothes do you usually wear? Do you ever wear the traditional clothes of your country? Where do you usually buy your clothes? Have you ever worn a uniform? Do most people in your country follow fashion?

Computers Do you often use a computer? How do you usually get online? Do you prefer desktops or laptops? What do you use your computer for? Do you think it is important to learn how to use a computer?

Daily Routine When do you usually get up in the morning? Do you usually have the same routine every day? What is your daily routine? Do you ever change your routine? Is your routine the same today as it was when you were a child? Do you think it is important to have a daily routine?

Dictionaries Do you often use a dictionary? What do you use dictionaries for? What kinds of dictionaries do you think are most useful? Do you think dictionaries are useful for learning a language? What kind of information you find in a dictionary? Useful video lesson: Dictionary vocabulary

Dreams Do you often have dreams when you sleep? Do you usually remember your dreams? Do you think dreams are important to remember? Do you ever have daydream? What kind of daydreams do you usually have?

Drinks What is your favourite drink? Is it common for people to drink tea and coffee in your country? Did you prefer different drinks as a child? Do you think it is important to drink lots of water? What is a traditional drink in your country for celebrating?

Evenings What do you often do in the evenings? Do you do the same thing every evening? Do you prefer to spend your evenings with family or friends? Do you ever work or study in the evenings? What is a popular activity for young people in your country in the evenings? Do you do the same thing in the evenings as you did when you were a child?

Family & Friends Do you spend much time with your family? Who are you closest to in your family? Do you prefer spending time with your family or friends? Who is your best friend? Are you still friends with people from your childhood? Is family important in your country?

Flowers Do you like flowers? What’s your favourite flower? When was the last time you gave someone flowers? Do any flowers have a special meaning in your country? Why do you think women like flowers more than men? See similar topics for part 2 and 3: Parks, Gardens, Trees & Flowers

Food What’s your favourite food? Have you always liked the same food? Is there any food you dislike? What is a common meal in your country? Do you have a healthy diet? What do you think of fast food?

Going Out Do you often go out in the evenings? What do you like to do when you go out? Do you prefer going out on your own or with friends? How often do you go out in a week? Where do most young people like to go out in your country?

Happiness Are you a happy person? What usually makes you happy or unhappy? Does the weather ever affect how you feel? What makes you smile? Do you think people in your country are generally happy people?

Hobbies Do you have a hobby? What equipment do you need for it? Do you think hobbies should be shared with other people? Did you have a hobby as a child? What hobbies are popular in your country? Why do you think people have hobbies?

Internet How often do you go online? What do you use the internet for? How do you get online? Do you have your own computer? What’s your favourite website? Do you think children should be allowed unsupervised access to the internet?

Languages How many foreign languages do you speak? When did you start learning your first foreign language? How many foreign languages do children in your country learn at school? Do you think it is important to learn a foreign language?

Leisure Time What is your favourite leisure activity? What did you enjoy doing in your free time as a child? Do you prefer to spend your free time with other people or alone? What is a common leisure activity in your country? Do most people in your country get two days off a week? Do you think leisure time is important?

Music Do you like music? What’s your favourite type of music? Can you sing? Did you learn music at school? If you could learn a musical instrument, what would it be? Do you think music is important?

Neighbours & Neighbourhood Do you like your neighbours? Are neighbours usually close to each other in your country? What is your neighbourhood like? Do you think your neighbourhood is a good place for children? How could your neighbourhood be improved? Do you think it is important to have a good relationship with your neighbours?

Newspapers How do you usually get your news? Do you often read the newspapers? What kind of news do you usually follow? How do most people get the news in your country? Do you think international news is important?

Noise Do you live in a noisy area? What kinds of sounds you you hear on a daily basis? Where do you go to spend time in peace and quiet? Are there any sounds which you think are pleasant? Do you have any noisy friends?

Patience Are you a patient person? Do you ever get impatient? When was the last time you lost your patience? Which person in your family is the most patient?

Pets Do you have a pet? Do you like animals? What’s your favourite animal? What is a popular pet to have in your country? Did you have a pet as a child? Why do people have pets?

Reading Do you often read? What is your favourite kind of book to read? Do you often read newspapers? Do you have any e-books? What books did you read as a child? Do you think it is important to encourage children to read?

Shopping Do you like shopping? What’s your favourite shop? Do you prefer shopping alone or with others? What kinds of shops are there where you live? Have you ever bought anything online? Do you think men and women have different opinions about shopping?

Sport Do you like sport? What’s your favourite sport? Do you often watch sport on TV? Did you play sport as a child? What is the most popular sport in your country? How do most people in your country keep fit?

TV Do you often watch TV? What sorts of things do you watch on TV? What is your favourite TV program? Do you ever watch foreign programs or films? What did you watch on TV when you were a child? Do you think children should watch TV?

Transport How did you get here today? What is your favourite mode of transport? Do you ever use public transport? Do you like the transport system in your country? What is the difference between taking a bus and taking a train?

Weather What’s the weather like today? What’s your favourite weather? Do you like the weather in your country? Is the weather the same in all parts of your country? Does the weather ever affect the way you feel? Does the weather in your country ever affect transportation?

Download a free pfd copy of most of the topics and questions on this page:  IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics & Questions

More IELTS Speaking Topics

Topics and questions for speaking part 1 and speaking part 2.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics & Questions

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics & Questions

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50 Duolingo English Test Speaking Topics with Answers

Many students are nervous about the Duolingo English Test "Speaking Sample" question. Even if you prefer writing in English to speaking in English, you can score well if you understand what these questions are looking for and practice answering them.

In this article, we will review the Duolingo English Test "Speaking Sample" question and the topics covered in these questions. We will also be providing you with 50 Duolingo cue cards for you to practice with and tips for improving your scores on these questions!

Table of Contents

An overview of duolingo english test "speaking sample" questions.

• Duolingo English Test Speaking Topics

How to Improve Your Duolingo English Test Speaking Samples

It can be helpful to review what Duolingo English Test " Speaking Sample " questions ask of students before trying out our Duolingo cue cards.

For students who don't know, in the last ten minutes of the Duolingo English Test, there is a section for speaking and writing samples . For "Speaking Sample" questions you will be given a prompt and will have up to 3 minutes to respond. This question only appears once on the test, so make it count!

On test day, your answer to Duolingo "Speaking Sample" questions will be recorded on video and the recording will be sent with your scores to the universities you are applying to. For this reason, you should ensure that your response is at least somewhat professional and that you are wearing appropriate clothing in the video - save the clown costume for Halloween! 🤡

Speaking questions count toward your " Production " and "Conversation" subscores on the test and are graded using the following criteria:

• Content : Relevance, style, development, and effect on the reader
• Discourse coherence : Clarity, cohesion, progression of ideas, and structure
• Lexis (vocabulary) : Lexical diversity, lexical sophistication, choice of words, formation of words, and spelling
• Grammar: Grammatical complexity, grammatical accuracy, and punctuation
• Fluency : Speed, natural use of pauses, and reliance on filler words, repetition, and starting/stopping
• Pronunciation : Intelligibility, individual sounds, word stress, sentence stress, and intonation

👉 These first two scoring criteria – "content" and "discourse coherence" – are not self explanatory, so we made a video to help you understand them better.

Keep these criteria in mind when you answer "Speaking Sample" questions. If you are still confused about whether you are meeting this criterion, create a free account on Arno by visiting duolingo.goarno.io . 😍 For each practice question you try, we give you an estimated score, feedback on your grammar and vocabulary, and a high-scoring, rewritten version of your response – instantly!

Duolingo English Test Speaking Sample Topics

Prompts for "Speaking Sample" questions will fall into one of three categories:

• Explanatory - describe something in detail
• Informative - educate the listener on a topic
• Argumentative - express your opinion on a subject and include reasons to support it

Your job is to pretend that the person you are talking to knows nothing about the topic at hand! Then you'll need to teach them all about that topic and/or explain what and why you believe what you do, providing as much detail as possible.  

Thankfully, Duolingo uses the same topics for "Speaking Sample" questions to help you prepare your ideas ahead of test day. We've listed these below with some top tips and example questions:

• Hobbies or Art

"Talk about a hobby or activity that you enjoy in your free time. How did you get started, and why did you like it?"

Make sure to identify a hobby that you engage in (or can pretend to engage in) ahead of test day to prepare for these questions. If you get a question like this, it can be a great opportunity to show the kind of clubs or classes you want to get involved in in college to admissions teams! Please note, "talk about" often just means "describe" - in this case you can just provide details about what the hobby is and how to participate in it to begin your response.

2. Communication & Technology

"Discuss the importance of communication in today's world. How has technology affected the way we communicate?"

“What is your favorite piece of technology and why? How has it improved your life and the lives of others?”

These questions often want you to inform the listener about the impact of a piece of technology on yourself and the wider world. In these cases, you can discuss either positive impacts, negative impacts, or both.

"Describe a place you have visited that had a significant impact on you. What made the experience memorable?"

“If you could travel to any country in the world, which one would you choose and why? What attracts you to that country?”

To prepare for these questions, prepare a response to a question about a place you have been and a place you haven’t been but would like to go. Did the trip teach you something about the place you were visiting? Did it teach you something about yourself?

4. Education & School

"Discuss the role of education in society. What do you think should be the primary focus of education systems?"

"Discuss a subject you’re passionate about and explain why you find it interesting and how you continue learning about it.”

Given that these samples are sent to the institutions where you are applying, it might be a good idea to make sure your answer aligns with the types of schools you are selecting.

5. People (friends, families, figures)

"Talk about a person who inspires you. What qualities do they possess that make them inspirational?"

"Explain the importance of friendship in your life. How do your friends help you grow and support you in difficult times?"

“Talk about a historical figure you admire. What do you find inspiring about their accomplishments and life story?”

A good way to prepare for these questions ahead of time is to select a friend, family member, and/or inspirational figure who you know a lot about, ahead of time, so no time is wasted choosing who you are going to talk about. If your question is about someone you do not directly know, like a historical figure, pick someone that you are genuinely interested in – this way you will likely have more to say on the topic!

6. Environment

"Describe an environmental issue that concerns you. What steps can individuals and governments take to address this issue?"

These are the most "content-based" questions you’ll see, meaning you should probably know a little bit about the environment to answer these questions. If you don't know much about this area, this can be easily fixed by reading a couple of articles online or listening to a podcast on the topic. Although, please note that you are not expected to be an environmental "expert". In fact, the content of your response barely matters! The questions are instead testing your fluency in English and how you communicate; knowing more about the subject will simply make it easier to respond. In this case, if you don't know much about a particular environmental issue, that won't prevent you from getting a good score if you are able to communicate what you DO know in a clear, comprehensive way.

"Discuss a cultural custom or tradition from your country. What is its significance and how is it celebrated?"

“What is your favorite holiday and why? Describe how your family celebrates it and any special traditions related to it.”

Duolingo loves to ask you questions about traditions and holidays in your home country. Make sure to choose one that you can talk a lot about and are familiar with. i.e. don't pick Arbor Day.

"Describe your favorite food and explain what makes it special. How does it connect to your culture or personal experiences?" Answering questions like this one can be as simple as explaining the process of making the food or what the food contains, and linking it to a memory you have with that food.

9. Your future

“Talk about a skill that you have learned or would like to learn in the future. How will it benefit you in your personal or professional life?”

Break down questions like this into smaller parts such as: what is the skill, how it has benefitted your development, and how will it shape your future.

10. Your past & your childhood

"Talk about an accomplishment or goal you have achieved. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them to reach your goal?”

“Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision. What factors did you consider, and how did you reach your decision?”

“Describe a favorite childhood memory and explain why it is so special to you?”

To prepare for these the golden rule is to pick a good memory, a bad memory, and a memory from a long time ago!

11. Transportation

“What are the advantages and disadvantages of using public transportation versus driving a personal car for everyday commuting?”

Next time you are traveling somewhere, it might be helpful to stop and think about what you do and don't like about the journey and why.

12. Language

“Explain the importance of learning a new language. How can it benefit individuals and society?”

These questions are usually student favorites because the chances are, if you are taking the Duolingo English Test, you know at least two languages.

13. Movies, Books, and TV shows

“Discuss a book, movie, or show that made a significant impact on you. What was the story about, and what emotions did it evoke?”

Again , to prepare you might want to select one of each to talk about before the test just in case this question comes up.

14. Your Favorites

“Talk about your favorite kind of music and explain why you enjoy it. How does it make you feel when you listen to it?”

“Describe your favorite type of weather and explain how it affects your mood and daily activities”

“Describe an animal that you find fascinating. What do you find interesting about it?”

The key with questions like this is just to provide details about your favorite animal/weather/music and then provide reasons why it is your favorite over other choices.  

“Describe a typical day in your life. What activities and tasks do you usually do during the day?”

It’s impossible to predict every topic for this question type. If you get a question that doesn't fit into the above topics DON’T PANIC! Duolingo still wants the same kind of response for all these questions, following the criteria we discussed earlier.

🦉 Please note, that sometimes these topics will overlap. For example, " Describe a favorite dish from your culture. What are its ingredients, and how is it prepared? What makes it special to you? " combines "Food" and "Culture" topics.

Next up are 50 Duolingo English Test "Speaking Sample" practice questions and high-scoring, model answers for you to study with. You may wish to print these out and fold them over so that the example question is on one side and the model answer is on the other side. Alternatively, you can just answer the question and then scroll down when you have finished to reveal the example response. Either way, with these cue cards you can practice answering Duolingo English Test questions and then directly compare your answer to the model answer.

👉 As you gain more familiarity with the questions, try using a timer to make sure you are answering the questions within the time limits set by Duolingo (3 minutes).

• "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #1

One hobby that I really enjoy is creative writing. Specifically, I like to write short stories and books within fantasy , horror, or dystopian genres.

I enjoy writing for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, I enjoy writing because I find that it's a great way to express my feelings and also to express and develop my creativity. I think it's a great way to escape the mundane realities of life because you can be anyone, anywhere, doing anything when you create your own characters, worlds, and plots. I also find that it's a very powerful thing to do because you can really reach a lot of people with a message in your writing. Furthermore, I also enjoy the challenge of sentence-level crafting. For example, really making sure that each sentence carries impact and is very specific in the language used and the image created.  Finally, I'd say I enjoy it because it gives me a certain sense of flow, which is the human experience of being very involved in a task and focused on a meaningful task. This is just a very enjoyable feeling.

How I began writing is difficult to pinpoint because I've been interested in creative writing for as long as I can remember.  So, really my passion for creative writing started from reading. I always loved to read as a child and my mom always used to read to me. And as such, I always wanted to try and write books like the ones that I was reading. I got into writing further during my high school and college education where I took specific classes in this area and worked with other people to make my writing better in workshops. And so, that's why I enjoy creative writing and how I got involved in it.

2. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #2

Education is extremely important in society for many reasons. Notably, education helps to create responsible adult citizens. For example, when a child goes to school and learns about the world around them, about history, politics, etc., they also learn how to be law-abiding citizens in their country when they're older and how to be a productive member of society, contributing to the greater good.

Education also plays an important role in society in terms of educating the masses about ways to keep themselves and others safe and healthy. For example, health classes and biology classes in school teach people to look out for certain symptoms, the development of diseases, and the importance of healthy habits. In the same vein, sex and drug education not only helps to keep kids aware and safe of dangerous activities when they are young, but also when they go on to being an adult in the real world.

Finally, education also plays an important role in society by giving people opportunities. For example, if a student is raised in a poor environment and is stuck in a cycle of poverty, education can help them get out of that cycle by opening doors to scholarships and later well-paying careers.

I do think one primary focus of education should be in enabling students to get the best opportunities they can to succeed in life, no matter what their background is. Similarly, a primary focus on education should be on equality, racial justice and justice for all. For example, in classes such as citizenship, history, and geography classes, etc, students can learn about people with different backgrounds than themselves, to foster a sense of empathy for others.

Another primary focus in education systems should be on creating a well-rounded individual, somebody who knows a lot about the world and a lot about various different subjects. This will not only help them to become a more empathetic and understanding person who's capable of living in a diverse world, but it will also prepare them for the diverse challenges that come with adult life. For example, while somebody might not want to focus  on math in their higher education, it's important that they get a foundational basis in math as a youth, in order to be able to do things like pay their bills and taxes efficiently and accurately.

3. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #3

One individual who inspires me is Tara Westover, the author of the memoir "Educated". Tara Westover was raised by a Mormon family in Idaho who didn't believe in formal education or modern medicine. Westover's family also had strict beliefs about gender roles such as: a woman's place should be in the domestic sphere and raising children. In the memoir, Tara describes having an increasingly tough relationship with her family, who often disagreed with her pursuit of formal education. Nevertheless, Tara Westover ended up getting her bachelor's degree at a US college and later her Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge.

The reason Tara Westover inspires me is that she made her own success from her skills, talents, and hard work. During her education, she experienced a lot of mental turmoil, familial struggles, and a tough time fitting in with her peers... she persisted and was able to do really well in her studies. She also wrote an amazing best-selling novel that inspired a lot of its readers to really appreciate what they have and work hard to achieve their own goals and dreams.

As such, one of the qualities she possesses that makes her inspirational is her determination. Tara Westover wanted to become educated and, despite the hurdles in her way, she continued to seek and achieve her goals. Another quality that makes her inspirational is her talent for writing. She is a really great writer who uses really beautiful prose to convey her ideas. I also think the fact that she advocates for education, and equal opportunities for students in her writing, makes it extra powerful and impactful.   Finally, the fact that she was able to think outside of her immediate environment and challenge what she learned from her upbringing is a real testament to her intelligence, openness, and creativity – qualities most people (myself included) strive to possess.  

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One environmental issue that concerns me is the current state of the meat industry. The consumption of meat is very detrimental to the environment for a plethora of reasons. Firstly, when we excessively breed cattle for the purpose of producing meat, their defecation releases methane, which is incredibly damaging to the ozone layer. In turn, the sun's rays are better able to heat up the earth, contributing to global warming. Like a chain reaction, global warming leads to the melting of the ice caps and numerous natural disasters such as floods. This can impact not only humans but the creatures that live on Earth as well. Other environmental issues resulting from the meat industry include water pollution from animal waste, deforestation and habitat destruction to create farms, and inhumane animal practices. The last consequence is particularly disturbing to me. Not only are most of these animals raised in inhumane conditions, in small cages and with little food, but they are also killed in extremely distressing and brutal ways.

Individuals can address this issue by reducing or eliminating their meat consumption. They can also join protests about the conditions of cattle on farms and only purchase from farms that raise animals in humane conditions. Governments can try to address this issue by encouraging their people and citizens to reduce their meat consumption through education about the meat industry and its impact on the environment. Agencies should also impose regulations on the meat industry in terms of how much they can produce and waste, how they dispose of waste, and how they care for their animals; strict penalties for unsafe or inhumane practices should also be implemented.

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Halloween is a popular tradition in the United States of America, but had its origins in ancient Celtic festivals, such as Samhain, which used to mark the end of the harvest and the start of winter. Back then, it was believed that the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred on this night, so spirits could cross over into the living world. Most Americans no longer celebrate Samhain or believe that spirits can cross over to Earth on Halloween, but the celebration is still associated with spooky things like ghosts, witches and vampires.

Halloween is often celebrated by trick-or-treating, where children go out in the neighborhood, announce "trick-or-treat?" at the door, and receive candy in return. Children (and adults) also enjoy dressing up in costumes on Halloween before attending gatherings and parties. These costumes are usually inspired by things that are ordinarily scary, such as ghostly entities and horror movie characters. Finally, another Halloween tradition is to go to a local farm and pick pumpkins and apples. Usually, Americans will carve up the pumpkins and put lights in them; they'll turn the apples into baked goods, such as apple pies. Using these fruits and vegetables are ways to celebrate the harvest, so we can see the ancient ties to Samhain coming back through in that.

While some people argue Halloween is just a commercial endeavor for companies, Halloween remains a significant and important time of the year for many Americans. Firstly, Halloween brings the community together because it involves lots of neighborhood gatherings! Another reason is that Halloween encourages people to use their creativity, whether it's in baking goods, carving pumpkins, or decorating the home; many children and adults alike also handmake costumes and decorations to create a festive atmosphere. Halloween is also a great opportunity to have fun with friends and family, watch spooky movies, and/or attend celebrations. While it can seem macabre from an outside perspective, it's a great opportunity for people to explore darker ideas like death and magic in a lighthearted way.

As such, Halloween encourages everybody to work together and use their creative skills to create a fun atmosphere and celebrate the fall. Whilst it no longer has its roots in the ancient Celtic festivals, it still remains a very well-loved holiday for all the family.

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My favorite holiday is Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25th every year in my country. Christmas is my favorite holiday because it's the one time a year that the whole family gets together, despite being in various places and being extremely busy throughout the rest of the year. It's also a very meaningful time that is spent valuing friends and family by gifting them thoughtful presents and spending quality time together.

My family celebrates Christmas with many special traditions. In the lead-up to Christmas, we put candies or little gifts into an advent calendar for each other. This way, every day in December, we receive something small to boost our anticipation for the 25th. Another tradition is going Christmas shopping to pick out presents for loved ones. Once purchased, presents are then wrapped up in gift paper so that they remain a surprise until the day itself. Sometimes you'll also write special cards to family and friends too, wishing them a happy holiday season.

Before Christmas day, celebrating families decorate the house with traditional items like wreaths, holly, ivy, candles, and of course a Christmas tree, which is decorated with tinsel and glass and plastic ornaments. Usually, a star or an angel is also put on top of the tree, and stockings, which have little presents put in them on Christmas Eve, will be put around fireplaces.  

On Christmas Day, the family meets up and shares a large meal with vegetables, meat, potatoes, and various desserts. It's a tradition in our family to eat a lot of food, listen to festive songs, and watch Christmas movies on the day itself, although many families celebrate religiously by attending church services in their local communities.

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Friendship is important to me for many reasons. One such reason is that friends can support you during difficult times in a plethora of ways. For example, friends can provide you with advice during hard times, which can be a great way to guide you forward when you're not sure what next step to take. Friends can also provide you with emotional support in challenging times by listening to your thoughts and feelings on the event. It can make a problem feel much smaller when you say it aloud and express your feelings about it in a non-judgmental, validating space! Friends can also, of course, provide physical support during hard times. For example, they can help you clean your house or give you food if you're struggling or you're extremely busy. They can also give you money if you're in a financial struggle or housing when you're in between places, which can ultimately be life-saving. This support from friends can be invaluable pillars in life, when it gets tough! Finally, an often overlooked (but important) aspect of friendship is that friends can provide you with fun and distraction when you're going through a hard time, which can be an great way to clear your mind so you can make the best decisions and choices. On a basic level, it also heightens the joy that can be derived from everyday events.

Friends also help you grow as a person by providing you with a unique perspective on things. For example, they might introduce you to a new activity or point of view you hadn't considered before, broadening the mind and making you more a well-rounded person. Friends may also challenge your values and beliefs in a way that makes you upset, but that in and of itself teaches you conflict resolution, communication, and cooperation skills. Friends can also help your growth by believing in you and encouraging you when times are hard to keep going; most friends have known you for a very long time and can see the situation from an outside perspective, for this reason can give you the motivation and inspiration in a way that nobody else could provide. In conclusion, friends are almost like the family you choose and are one of the most important, enjoyable aspects of life!

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My favourite mode of transportation is driving by car. The advantages of driving by car and why I like it so much is that you can play your own music, e-books, or podcasts on the journey, making it much more entertaining. Another reason I enjoy traveling by car is that you can fill the car with all the things you need for the journey. If you're moving, you can fill it with your packed boxes; even if you're not moving, you can fill it with the snacks and food that you need for the journey and/or a change of clothes. Another reason why cars are my favorite method of transporation is that you can spend the time with  friends and family, only the people that you want in your car will be in your car. For this reason, it makes it a much more private and personal way of getting around. I also enjoy travelling by car because you can see the sights. For example, when you're driving through the USA, you can get a good sense of the scenery and some really fantastic views through the window. Finally, an advantage of driving by car is that you can control the temperature of the car. For example, if it's a hot day, you can turn up the AC and if it's a cold day, you can turn on the heating. In summary, you really can personalise the journey to your needs.

However, while travelling by car is my favourite method of transportation, you have to acknowledge that there are some disadvantages. Driving by car can be infuriating if you live in a big city: you can get stuck in traffic and are often involved in difficult driving circumstances such as erratic bikers and pedestrians. Another disadvantage of this mode of transportation is that it's quite bad for the environment. Driving has a much higher carbon emission than something like biking or walking or even using public transportation. Further, when you're driving, you definitely cannot read or text like you can with other methods of transporation. Even if you're in the passenger, reading can make some people feel extremely sick in the car, due to the motion. And so, those are the advantages and disadvantages of driving by car. But I would still say that being a passenger in a car is my preferred mode of transportation for the reasons listed, the most primary reason being that you can definitely take in the sights and personalise your journey to your needs.

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My favorite type of weather is definitely the rain. One of the reasons why rain is my favourite type of weather is because it definitely calms me down and makes me feel lethargic when I can hear the sound of raindrops in the window at night. The sound is very calming and as such often leads me to feel very relaxed. Some activities that I engage in when it's raining include going for a walk, obviously wearing rain clothes, just to enjoy the weather outside. Another activity is just curling up with a good book indoors and a cup of coffee. As a kid I definitely also enjoyed the rain because I found that it cheered me up. Specifically the prospect of putting on my rain boots and jumping around and splashing in puddles. I definitely liked to engage in those pastimes as a kid. Nowadays I just prefer to stay warm inside when it's raining. I also really enjoy the way that the rain often reflects the light of the city around me. I think it can make for a very beautiful scene and a very rare looking scene because rain doesn't occur often where I live. Another thing about the rain that I enjoy is the fact that it can cool me down on a very hot day. When it's a really hot and humid day and the rain's coming down it can be a great way to cool off and to feel refreshed. Certainly I think that rain can also be associated with some of my favourite places to visit. For example, I really enjoy visiting the UK and the rain in the UK is quintessential to the British experience. For this reason it reminds me of the UK and encourages me to reflect on fonder times, boosting my mood and encouraging reminiscence. So those are all the reasons that rain is my favourite type of weather.

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If I could travel to any country in the world, it would be Iceland. I would like to travel to Iceland for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, it's always been on my bucket list to see the Northern Lights and you can see the Northern Lights in Iceland from certain locations and times of year. The Northern Lights attract me to Iceland because it's one of the natural wonders of the world; I think it would be a real sight to behold. And as with anything in the sky, like constellations, it not only interests me but definitely forces me to think more philosophically about my life and how small I am in a very large universe. Another reason that I'm attracted to visiting Iceland is the fact that it has "midsummer" during the summer months. I've never experienced being in a country where it's light outside all of the time, even at like two o'clock in the morning and night time. I'm very attracted to novel experiences, so I feel like this would definitely be interesting for me to not only view but to see how the locals adjust to constant sunlight. In the same vein,  I'm also very interested to learn more about the history, geography and language of the Icelandic people. Because I'm curious about other cultures, languages and experiences beyond my own. Another reason why I'd like to go to Iceland is because of the very varied landscapes. There are mountains in Iceland and hot pools that are self-heating. There's also just a lot of different beautiful scenery landscapes to view. Finally, I'm also interested in going to Iceland because it's quite a remote country and I feel like it would be a great way to spend quality time with myself, given that it's not very busy or populated. So for these reasons and more, I'm definitely planning to go visit Iceland in the future.

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My favorite piece of technology is my smartphone, more specifically my iPhone. The iPhone is my favorite piece of technology because it has significantly improved my life and others' lives in a multitude of ways. For example, now that I have a GPS built into my phone via Apple Maps, I am much better able to navigate new geographical locations. This makes traveling much easier and it also saves a lot of time, energy, and money in trying to navigate towards new places even when I'm not traveling, such as on my way to a job interview or a friend's home. Smartphones have also vastly improved communication. Now I have a smartphone, I'm better able to communicate with friends and family who do not live nearby; I'm also able to make better connections professionally via my iPhone, such as contacting professionals and employers from a distance. Prior to smartphones, people used to have to make phone calls from a payphone or a home phone, now we don't even have to memorize the numbers or have the numbers; you can look them up online if you're trying to contact somebody. Furthermore, the iPhone makes it very convenient to take and retain photographs. The quality of the iPhone is much better than many cameras used to be. Subsequently, you have all your photos and memories at your fingertips. This can also be a great way to show people pictures of things on the go because you will nearly always have your iPhone with you. Finally, the iPhone is extremely useful because it allows you to access the internet from wherever you are. For this reason, it means that if I'm stuck about something or have a question, no matter where I am or what I'm doing, I can quickly Google the answer and find out. This is much easier than researching before smartphones existed when you would have to be on the home computer or even in a library sorting through many files that might not even have the answer. We can now have a wealth of information at our fingertips. For all these reasons, the smartphone or the iPhone is my favorite piece of technology. It allows you to travel, communicate and find out information much more conveniently.

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One historical figure that I admire is Sigmund Freud, the psychologist. Sigmund Freud coined so many terms in psychology that we now take them for granted. What's inspiring about his accomplishments is, again, that we use many of his terms and concepts today without even thinking. And in this way, it has spurned so much research and investigation in the field of psychology and neurology. For example, when we say things without meaning to say them, this is called a Freudian slip, which comes from Freud's examination of the unconscious mind. Further, Freud was one of the first people to come up with the idea of an unconscious mind in psychology. For this reason, he is greatly accomplished because decades and decades later, there are still studies going into the unconscious mind and it's something that we generally accept as part of the human psyche. In this sense, his accomplishments transcend his timeline and lifetime, speaking to his talent as a psychologist.

In the same vein, Freud's theory, the psychodynamic theory, is still used today to treat patients for a variety of mental illnesses and has been validated by empirical research articles. This is inspiring because it just shows how timeless and important his work was. What I find particularly inspiring about his life story is that he was originally a doctor of medicine. Because he thought out of the box and didn't give up when he wasn't excelling in medicine, he was able to transcend current knowledge and essentially coin so much of what we know about psychology today. Freud also worked doggedly to get his theories out into the world with the purpose of making many people's lives better. So whilst Freud is frequently attacked for his views and theories, and particularly for the quality of his research, it can't be denied that he shaped the field enormously and has subsequently helped so many people with his ideas.

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One book that has had a significant impact on my life is The Diary of Anne Frank. The book describes Anne Frank's life in hiding during the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands, during which she describes the turmoils of fighting for her life alongside her family. I learned from this book the importance of humanizing statistics in tragic events. A lot of the time on the news when things are reported, and in history books when things are described, statistics will be listed for the amount of people that were affected or killed by an event such as the Holocaust. When we read testimonials like Anne Frank's, it really brings the person behind the statistic to life. In turn, this helps us to better empathize with victims/survivors, see that they're not so much different from us, and thus feel more encouraged to mourn their loss and pass on the lessons learned from historical events.

Another thing that I learned from the book is how some people survived the Holocaust. For example, by hiding as Anne Frank did. I didn't know much about this aspect of the Holocaust before reading the book and came to know about it through Anne Frank's journal. Anne Frank's journal is also important to me because it's such a coming-of-age story. We see this young woman go through all the same feelings that we go through as we grow older, even in captivity. This just really speaks to so many elements of the human condition, and of childhood emerging into adulthood. Again, going back to my first point, this humanizes the people behind the statistics.

Another aspect the diary taught me about was the daily life in Nazi-occupied Germany. Before this moment, I knew a lot about the concentration camps, but not what life was like leading up to the concentration camps, and how some people successfully evaded them. Through learning about Anne Frank's daily life, I also got to know what some people did to resist the occupation. For example, housing Jewish people from the Nazi-German people. This is an incredibly valuable and important lesson because it shows that you can defy bad and evil with even just a small-scale good deed.

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One skill that I have learned recently is how to sculpt clay to make ceramic pieces and or jewelry. I really enjoy doing this because it lets me use my creativity, it's also just a great way to focus the mind and slow it down. For this reason, it's certainly benefited me so far in my personal life. In addition, learning how to sculpt things like jewelry boxes and jewelry has definitely helped me in my personal life by helping me to make gifts for loved ones. In this way, when I make a ceramic piece, I can make a very meaningful gift that I spent a lot of time on that's personalized to the person without spending a lot of money. Having skills in this area of art has also helped me to make friends within a community of artists. For example, I've made friends who also like to do the same pastime and in turn, they have taught me how to hone my skills using what they know. Engaging in ceramics has also helped me to strengthen friendships with people who I had existing relationships with. For example, people who share the same interests as me or want to learn in this area have come over and enjoyed taking part side by side. It's also been useful for creating unique decorations for my home. It helps me to save money by creating my own pieces instead of buying ones that are less tailored to my taste. And so, for all of these reasons, I definitely find that clay ceramics have been a great help in my personal life.

Ceramics and arts and crafts have also been extremely helpful in my professional life. Having hobbies in this way and skills in this way is not only interesting to an employer and helps them get to know you more, but it also showcases your creativity. I've also used it to acquire additional educational certificates in this area, helping me to fulfill requirements for school curriculums. As such, learning how to use clay to create ceramics has been an incredible help in multiple areas of my life.

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Unfortunately, one of my family members has been extremely sick. And whilst this has been a very negative experience for everyone involved, it has also taught me lots of valuable lessons. Firstly, the way that this family member showed resilience despite the pain they were enduring has been extremely motivational to me and has taught me that no matter what challenges or dark times come my way, I can keep my head held high, my dignity in place, and can still achieve the dreams and goals that I have in place for myself. This family member never let their illness get in the way of the things that they wanted to do.

Another lesson that I learned is that life is incredibly short and unpredictable. My family member wasn't very old when they became sick, and their life expectancy has been drastically shortened. In turn, this has taught me to seize the day and to not put off opportunities out of fear or procrastination. In a sense, it's taught me to just go for it, because you never know how much time you have left. Equally, it's taught me to make sure that I always tell my loved ones that I love them because you never know when their time will get cut short, or if yours will. This moral shaped the way that I now approach challenges and shape my life philosophy.

Finally, this family member has taught me the value of relationships and family in life. Despite being sick, this person still continues to care for those around them and prioritize them. This is incredibly inspirational because it shows just how selfless they are. In turn, it's inspired me to be more selfless myself and to try to display care not only for this person but all other people in my life. It's also shown me that you never know what somebody's going through. This person doesn't often talk about their illness or the things they're going through, despite all they have suffered, and for this reason, I've learned that it's important to show everyone loving kindness when possible because you just never know when someone's going through something difficult. In turn, you can hope that people will show you the courtesy.

In conclusion, this person taught me that you never know when your health might decline, your time run out, or opportunities will change. So, go for that job, take that trip, and kiss your loved one.

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One subject that I'm incredibly passionate about and interested in is criminal psychology. I'm interested in this subject because it's so multifaceted. Firstly, many offenders are themselves mentally ill and or suffer from substance abuse. This has interesting implications for the criminal justice system as a whole and raises interesting questions like what is justice, how can we reduce recidivism in the United States, and how we can improve the justice system as a whole. This is something that I find incredibly meaningful and engaging to think about because "justice" upholds society at its core. In general, I also find criminal psychology fascinating because the brain is one of the body's most complex and interesting organs - it controls everything that humans do. So, when we can understand a little bit more about the human brain (and where it goes wrong), we're just so much closer to understanding everything there is to know about human life as we know it. There can't be a much more interesting topic than that.

I continue to learn about criminal psychology in a plethora of ways. One thing I really enjoy doing is reading scientific articles in this area, particularly when they involve neuroscience and psycho-biological processes. I find this interesting because in general, I'd like to learn more about the very complicated inner workings of the human brain and how they control everything that we do. Furthermore, the argument of nature versus nurture in the criminal world is also informed by these articles. Another way that I try to continue learning about criminal psychology is by listening to criminal psychology podcasts and reading criminal psychology books. My favorite is learning from professionals who work in the field, such as FBI behavioral profilers and or criminal psychologists. I find that this is a great way to get to know how cases are investigated, and solved, and the sentences for such cases. One can learn a lot from hearing professionals in this area talk about the work they do in the field. And so in all of these ways I continue to learn about this subject and that's why it interests me.

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I learned an important lesson when I finished my undergraduate studies and went to work at my first proper full-time job. There I had a very difficult boss who I found very challenging to work with. She was sometimes extremely uncommunicative and often quite rude to me. The lesson that I learned from this was that sometimes people leave jobs, not managers. It's very important to properly vet who you'll be working under when looking for jobs. I also learned that it's extremely important to learn different communication styles in order to work with people who are different to you. So, adjusting the way that you communicate and the way you do work according to that person. This has influenced my decisions in various ways. Now when I go for job interviews, I tend to interview the other person as well as letting them interview me. I also like to ask questions about their managerial style. Further, I like to make sure that the person I'm working under will be respectful in their approach towards me so that I can maximize how much I'm learning from them and actually enjoy the work day. I also learned just how important it is to have a good boss and to enjoy your work life because a lot of that is about balance. That is definitely something that I've carried forward throughout my career and will continue to do so. A big part of this lesson was also learning to advocate for myself. For example, when my boss would say comments that were personally attacking, I learned to set boundaries but also learned not to take other people's opinions personally as well. Of course, within that, you also learn self-love, self-advocacy, and self-respect as well. Finally, this experience has taught me how to be a better supervisor myself. To avoid being that kind of boss, I definitely try to incorporate communication, empathy, and an open-door policy  in my own leadership style.

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A favorite dish from my culture is jambalaya, creole style. Jambalaya is made using three different types of meat, usually chicken or pork, sausage, including chorizo or smoked sausage, and seafood like crawfish or shrimp. It's then also mixed with a few different vegetables such as onion, bell peppers, and celery. Once all of these ingredients are chopped and cooked, they're mixed in with rice, seasoning, and broth and cooked together in one pot until the rice is done. You can also have tomato sauce added in some different types, but I prefer to cook without it. Jambalaya can also be made as a very delicious spicy dish, and that's one of the reasons why I really enjoyed the taste; I love spicy foods. It also has a very rich flavor, but what makes it special to me is that it reminds me of one of my favorite places on earth, which is home, New Orleans, Louisiana. The reason this dish is to special to me is because the recipe was passed down through generations from my grandma to my mom to me, so it definitely has a lot of rich familial history in there too. In turn, I really enjoy sharing the recipe with people who haven't tried it. What makes it special too is I think it's extremely unique to that area of the United States, in part because of the French influence in that area which brought the dish to the United States. I think also that it tastes really great when it's actually prepared and made in that specific area because often the crawfish and shrimp are extremely fresh. As such, jambalaya is very special to me because it reminds me of home,  reminds me of family, and just has a lot of unique flavors that I don't think can be found anywhere else in the US, let alone the world. It's also a really easy dish to cook, given that it can all be cooked in one pot, so it's just something that is a really easy go-to dish, one that can be even more filling when served with homemade cornbread, as is the American way.

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One movie or movie series that made a significant impact on me is the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The story is about a hobbit who is presented with a magical ring by a wizard and his great-uncle, a fellow hobbit. With a team of friends, the young hobbit and wizard have to travel to Mordor to destroy the ring because it has the potential for great destruction and negative power. The story made a significant impact on me because it was one of the first fantastical novels that I read and inspired me to write similar novels someday. The story is also so impressive because it encompasses lots of different languages, species, etc. And so in that sense, it invokes awe in me because the author created essentially a whole different world for the story. Further, the story elicited significant emotions and morals within me. In terms of morals, the story shows you to never give up. Even if the odds are against you like they were against Frodo Baggins being a small hobbit, it shows that you can work together with friends and family to achieve your goals. And that everybody contributes something unique and important to a team. Another moral provided by The Lord of the Rings is this argument between industry and nature. So, it definitely evoked emotions in me to protect the beautiful nature that we have and prevent environmental pollution from industry destroying that nature. Because the characters are so likable, the story also evokes a lot of feelings in me: a sense of sadness when the characters are losing, fear for the characters when faced with evil characters, and a sense of camaraderie and hope when things are going well.

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One time I had to make a difficult decision was when I was deciding what I was going to major in in college. I was deciding between two subjects that I really, really enjoyed and I often find the hardest choices can be when we have multiple great options. The factors that I considered were multitude. One factor that I considered was the job prospects offered within each major. I asked myself: how easy it would be to get a job after graduation in that field? What kind of jobs would be available in that field with the degree that I would get? What kind of salaries that would be offered within that field? Another factor that I considered when making that decision was the kind of assessments that would be given to me within that major. For example, whether I would enjoy the kind of assessments that would be given, which would be essays in one, exams in the other. I also pondered how good I was at taking those specific types of assessments. A final factor that I considered was perhaps the most important: which subject did I enjoy the most and find the most meaning in? I deeply considered in what ways I would use the skills gained from that major later down the line. And how those skills would be able to create meaning in my life and other people’s lives. Interestingly, how I reached my decision was to not make a decision at all! I decided to major in both subjects, even though it involved a lot more work and was only an option at a few certain schools. And so how I came to this conclusion was I realized that I enjoyed and was good at both different types of assessments. I enjoyed learning about and found both meaningful in distinct but also interlinking ways. And the job prospects offered by both, again, fed into each other. And so, looking at it from that perspective was extremely helpful. And how I reached that decision was realizing that I couldn't give up on either one - it would feel like a great loss. Other people also really helped shape this decision. They taught me that you don't always have to choose. You can do it all!

21. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #21

Learning a new language is incredibly important for many reasons. Firstly, learning a new language is important because the world is increasingly globalized. So, when somebody learns a new language, it opens their job and education prospects, allowing them to travel for work or even work or study in a different country. This flexibility and demonstration of worldliness is increasingly appealing to many careers and employers. Another way that learning another language can benefit individuals and society is by giving people a better understanding of different cultures. A lot of culture is derived from the language that we use. As such, you can gain a better insight into a culture or another country through the language that's used. In turn, this promotes a more open-minded worldview and one that celebrates cultural differences and understands cultural differences. This can lead to greater respect amongst people and subsequently a greater peace between people. Another importance of learning a new language is that it allows people who travel to another country to stay safe. There are always people who will need help or assistance when traveling to another country. As such, if you speak another language or that person's language, you'll be able to help them in a difficult scenario and/or seek help yourself. Learning a new language also means that an individual can gain more from their travel, excursions, and expatriate experiences. This is because it allows them to seamlessly integrate into the culture and interact with locals, gaining a better understanding of the culture, making friends in the new culture, and eventually being better able to settle into that new culture. This can benefit the individual by giving them a more enriched travel experience but can also aid the society in which they are living because that way they can teach about their own culture to the locals of the new culture as well.

22. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #22

One skill that I possess is in the realm of cooking. I developed a talent for cooking through watching my mom cook as I was a child and reading through her handwritten recipe books but also the recipe books that she bought. We also watched a lot of cooking shows together where I picked up skills vicariously. When I got older, I also further developed my skills by participating and helping my mom cook, and eventually, I took classes in high school. During high school I used this skill in my everyday life during class and was able to enter competitions with the foods that I cooked and compete with other students; I found that was a great way to learn how to work independently and creatively on certain projects. What's great about having a skill or a talent for cooking is that you use it naturally in your everyday life. I'm able to prepare a lot of dishes for friends and families at multiple different occasions. This can be a great way to show loved ones that I care about them is by providing them with food and of course it's a great way to sustain yourself -- to be able to know how to cook good dishes quickly and on a budget. It's a very important skill to use in everyday life because the foods that we cook and prepare and eat not only can have great meaning in our lives and enjoyment in our lives, but they can also nourish us with the vitamins and nutrients that we need to be happy and healthy individuals with extensive longevity. By preparing dishes from around the world I have also found that I can better understand and celebrate other cultures Finally, I've developed this skill in adulthood by looking at the recipe when I go home after a great meal and attempting to prepare it myself, learning from mistakes when something doesn't come out quite as I had hoped, and figuring out where I went wrong. I also think one of the best ways to develop cooking skills is by sharing tips, hints, and tricks with people around you.

23. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #23

One of my favorite places to visit is Disney World in Florida. What makes it special to me is that it's almost like going back to being a child and having that childlike wonder of fun and adventure come to life. I enjoy multiple aspects of Disney World. For example, I enjoy Epcot because you're able to eat foods from around the world or, at least, inspired by food from around the world. There's a pavilion for 10 different countries that you can go and visit and just get a taste of different cultures in a way that is obviously not possible to do in one day in real life by going to all those different countries in one day. So, it's a really great way to just get a taste of and celebrate different cultures all in one visit. I also really enjoy visiting Magic Kingdom at Disney. Here you'll see a lot of the iconic Disney characters. There are also lots of theme park rides to enjoy and a lot of shows, parades, and fireworks. What makes it special to me is I often go with my partner who I love very much. So, it's something very special that we share together, and have a lot of fun memories there. It's also special to me because it's filled with all the characters that I really enjoyed as a child. So, I can reminisce on being a child and also get that sense of being a kid again and forgetting my worries for a moment. The third place that you can go in Disney World that I enjoy is called Animal Kingdom. What makes it special to me is that you get to see a lot of different animals all in one place there. The animals are very well taken care of and it's just wonderful to see animals from across the world. It's a rare opportunity. Another aspect I love about Disney World is the quality of the food. There are lots of delicious foods to enjoy there of high quality and it's just very special sometimes to just enjoy a really great meal with whoever you're in a unique setting, for example, the restaurant that is underneath the aquarium. So, all in all, there's a wide range of things to do at Disney World and all of those things are usually fun, interesting, and very unique.

24. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #24

Technology has always had a strong influence in society but given the developments and strides made in technology over the past few decades, this has become increasingly important to consider. Technology has significantly improved our lives by making things more convenient, efficient, and accessible. For example, in terms of communication, we can now message friends, family or even potential business partners from across the world with significant ease, thanks to things like the internet and social media. We also have better access to information. Any question we have, we now have the answer at our fingertips. This makes learning and researching, but also sharing research and news and information, extremely easy, Another way technology has been great and important has been allowing entertainment to burgeon, allowing the creation and accessibility of more interesting interactive experiences. For instance, things like video games, virtual reality, and streaming services, have really changed the way we spend our leisure time. We have much more options within entertainment at our fingertips and the people making the entertainment also have an easier job producing that. However, there are a lot of challenges that come with technology in the modern day. For example, as technology becomes more popular, there are a lot of cyber security and privacy concerns. There are a lot of ways that people can get scammed or have their data used in ways that they would prefer not to be. Further, it has often led people to become more isolated, staying in their homes versus opting for in-person social situations. In turn, when people are getting their social interactions primarily online, it makes them very susceptible to things like misinformation and conspiracy theories. They also may lose social skills. Finally, as we have seen with the writer’s strike in the USA, there is a lot of job displacement because of technology. As technology propels itself forward, many jobs become obsolete or unimportant and can be replaced by AI, which can be a struggle for many people's livelihood.

25. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #25

Environmental conservation is extremely important for many reasons. First and foremost, conservation is important because of human health. When we use up all the clean air, clean water and things like that, quality and length of life significantly depletes. In a similar vein, it's important to conserve natural ecosystems by keeping our air and water clean, for example, to ensure that ecosystems can continue to thrive in future generations. Keeping animals and plants stable and resilient is extremely important and to ensure that we don't lose these species of animals and plants due to reckless human activity. It’s extremely important to conserve natural resources such as trees and plants to prevent the environment from getting any worse than it already is. For example, by failing to conserve trees and contributing to deforestation, we increase the amount of methane in the environment, which can only warm up the earth further, making it less habitable for future generations. There are lots of ways that we can protect our planet for future generations. For example, with biodiversity, we can promote conservation efforts that target endangered species and their habitats. We can do this by sanctioning poaching and animal cruelty and sanctioning habitat destruction. We can also try to promote sustainable farming practices and more energy-efficient technologies to reduce the pollution of our air and water and reduce greenhouse gases. Another impactful thing that people can do is reduce their overall consumption by buying things only when needed from sustainable resources and reusing or recycling the things that we do buy before purchasing more. Finally, we can also do things like reduce our plastic use, our water uses and our transportation use by doing things such as car pulling, using public transportation or minimizing single-use plastic.

26. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #26

One skill that I would really like to learn is roller skating. This is because participating in any sport is extremely good for you in getting you outside in the fresh air, exercising, and working your muscles. In the same vein, rollerblading is also a great way to train your leg and arm muscles which can be great for improving strength, endurance, and stamina in many ways, particularly by including your energy. It's also a great way to spend some time alone with yourself - just listening to music and getting that endorphin rush from exercise is great for the mind and soul. I think that it's also just a very fun and interesting sport to take up because there are often lots of roller discos where you can learn how to dance while you rollerblade or even just circle, round in circles, and listen to tunes Rollerblading, I think, would also allow me to participate in team sports such as roller derby. This would be a great way to meet new people in the city who are like-minded and have similar interests. A couple of my friends already do rollerblading. I think it would be a great way to make sure that we make time for each other by participating together in this sport and working together to build our cooperation and communication skills when working on a team. I think rollerblading is also a very interesting hobby because it's a very vintage hobby. A lot of people did it in the 1980s and 1990s. It would be great to reconnect with nature, get away from screens, and take part in something that previous generations, including members of my family, have participated in. Finally, I think it's a great way to go around and see the sights of the city. For example, you can rollerblade in most places where you can ride bikes or walk. For this reason, it could be a great way to discover new places and new areas in your local neighborhood that you've never been to before.

27. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #27

If I could spend a day with any historical figure, I would choose the British playwright and poet William Shakespeare. I would choose Shakespeare because I really enjoy his plays, even though it's hundreds of years after he wrote them. Despite being born in a completely different time period, I can appreciate how timeless the themes are, how funny the jokes remain, and how dramatic all the aspects are. This is a testament to his talent as a creator. I would ask William Shakespeare a multitude of questions. Firstly, I would ask him whether he wrote all his plays and poems because it's widely debated that he had help and or that somebody else wrote some of his plays. Another question that I would ask William Shakespeare is about his creative process. For example, what influenced a lot of his plays and poems, what his creative process was like, and things like that. I would also probably ask him which of his play's characters and scenes were his favorite. The biggest question that I would ask him too is whether he was as famous as he is today and whether he expected his pieces to resonate with people for as long as they have. He might be surprised to learn that. I would also ask him what he thinks about why his works have endured if they have. What I would like to learn from Shakespeare is more about his writing process and how to write better myself. So, I would probably ask him how he overcame writer’s block and ask him to teach me how to overcome writer's block myself. And again, how to write timeless pieces. I would also like to learn from him how best to comment on society in my own works. Finally. I would also like to learn about life in his time. How were his plays initially received? What was his life was like outside of writing?

28. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #28

One accomplishment or goal that I achieved was getting a very high score on the Duolingo English test and getting a score high enough to get into my top choices for universities. I faced a lot of challenges in the way to achieving my desired score for the Duolingo English test but overcame all of them in various ways. One challenge that I faced was not scoring as highly as I would have liked on my initial test. This was very disheartening at first. It made me feel like I wouldn't ever get the score that I needed to get into the universities I wanted to attend. But I practiced with Arno and did a lot of their practice questions and eventually, when I retook the test, I was able to achieve the score that I needed. Another challenge that I faced was having a lot of struggles with the speaking portion of the Duolingo English test. To overcome this goal, I made sure that I invested in a high-quality microphone, that I practiced varying my sentence structure in my speaking, and that I improved my vocabulary by looking up different synonyms to avoid repeating the same words. Arno’s blog really helped with this, by providing these incredible tips. A final challenge that I faced when studying for the Duolingo English test was not being sure what kind of scores I needed to get into the schools I wanted and what sort of questions were asked. I overcame this by researching the Duolingo English test deeply and using Arno’s guide to the Duolingo English Test. I found that being better informed about the test made me perform much better on the second test because I knew what to expect. As such, I was able to overcome all these challenges and score what I needed to score.

29. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #29

One time I had to adapt to a new environment or situation was when I studied abroad. During this time, I had to be extremely flexible to face the challenges that came my way. One challenge that I faced in this situation was a language barrier. In the country in which I was studying, most people didn't speak my native language, and my language skills in my host country's language weren't that great. As a result, there were a lot of miscommunications between myself, my host family, and locals within the community. I overcame this challenge by just simply getting better at the language, and by practicing and constantly taking classes in that area. And soon I was able to converse fluently in that language with the people around me and make friends this way. On a related note, another challenge that I faced was struggling to make friends in a completely new place. This was in part because of the linguistic and cultural differences between me and the people of my host country. Eventually, the way that I overcame this was by being more proactive about making friends and going out of my way to try to seek new friendships (as well as learn the language). These steps eventually led to really great things because I not only was able to explore the culture of the friends that I made, but they were able to explore mine, increasing the understanding between us. One other challenge that I had in this situation was adapting to new foods. The food was extremely different in my host country and wasn't what I was used to. The way I overcame this was by trying all the different foods that we had to offer and just embracing these differences. I found that I came to really enjoy preparing and eating these dishes and broadening my palate and food cultural appreciation. In conclusion, when I was studying abroad I had to adapt to a new environment and this was challenging, I was able to overcome it by being open-minded about the place that I was in and flexible in my approach.

⭐ Admissions committees love hearing about the way you adjusted to travel or expatriate experiences. It showcases the way you will seamlessly be able to fit into their academic community, your likelihood of taking up further opportunities to study abroad when enrolled, and the contributions you will likely make to the domestic students on campus. It is also one of the many things that make you a unique candidate that will stand out in the applicant pool.

30. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #30

One childhood memory that's a favorite of mine and is extremely special to me is the day that our family adopted our cat, Spots. I remember the day that they brought home Spots, I was so excited to get to know him, look after him, and integrate him into the family. This moment was extremely special to me because I developed such a strong bond with my pet cat, and he was around for a significant portion of my childhood. We did lots of things together in childhood and he was always in the background for the good and not-so-good times. Another reason why this memory is extremely special to me is because it taught me a lot of responsibility in terms of looking after something else and particularly looking after animals. It taught me that you must approach animals with caution, care, and understanding and it also taught me how to provide them with the best care, such as keeping them clean, happy, healthy, fed,  feeling well-loved and entertained. Another reason why the memory is so special to me is because it became a part of my own journey with animals. For example, I later went on to have a pet of my own, and a lot of what I learned from looking after this childhood cat, I applied to look after a cat of my own. Looking after a rescue pet also showed me how meaningful it can be to provide shelter for animals in need. This encouraged me to get involved in animal advocacy and activism during high school, and later begin my academic career as a veterinarian. Further, becoming close companions with a non-human entity really helps you develop an understanding and empathy for environmental causes that attempt to protect animals. It's a large reason why I'm a vegetarian is. As such, this memory and just all the memories I've shared with these cats have really shaped my personality, experiences, interests, and my future which I plan to dedicate to animals, particularly ones who are in need of a good home and or are in rescue shelters like Spots.

⭐ Here at Arno we love cats. No top tip here... just a fun fact.

31. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #31

Honeybees are fascinating for many reasons. Firstly, they have a very complex social structure. Honeybees are very different from most animals in that they are not only highly social, but have chaste systems, consisting of the queen bee, worker bees and drones. The queen bee is the leader of most colonies and is primarily in charge of laying egg and organizing the other bees; she often lives longer than the other bees too. This is interesting because it's not often that you find a matriarchal structure in the animal kingdom. Within this, honeybees also communicate in very rare and interesting ways. For example, by doing something called a “waggle dance” to indicate when nectar or pollen is nearby. This is very different from other animals that usually use sounds to communicate. Another interesting aspect of bees is the way that they contribute to human lifestyles Bees can produce honey from the nectar in flowers which can be used in a variety of different dishes and foods by humans. Their beeswax can also be used to form candlelight. Honeybees are also great pollinators, meaning that a lot of crops are spread by honeybees, again enabling us humans to access a lot of different fruits and vegetables. As such, bees have been human for a very long time. Finally, I find it interesting yet sad that despite all of the benefits and interesting aspects of the honeybee, they are incredibly endangered and often face threats and challenges due to human activities such as habitat loss, exposure to pesticides, and diseases. So, it's somewhat interesting and evocative of human nature that despite all their good qualities, they aren't protected very much or as much as they should be.

32. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #32

One advantage of using public transportation for everyday commuting is that it's much better for the environment. This is because the carbon emissions that would be used by all the people driving a car, are reduced to the carbon emissions emitted by just one form of transportation. However, a disadvantage of using public transportation is that it often can be quite unreliable. This is because it involves a lot of communication between different employees and different train lines and can often be disrupted easily if there's, say, an electrical error or a weather issue. Further, you don't know who you're going to be sharing the car with. So sometimes you can interact with dangerous characters. Using a personal car for everyday commuting has the advantage in that you can have space of your own in the car. You can play whatever music you want in the car, travel with who you want, adjust the temperature accordingly, etc. You can also store things in your car specifically needed for that journey. For example, if you're going to work, you can keep your work bag in your car along with different snacks, etc. A disadvantage of driving in a car is that it can cost a lot more money to have a car versus using public transportation. For example, whilst catching a metro every day for a couple of does add up it's still much more than purchasing a car, purchasing car insurance, paying to get the driver's license, etc. Another disadvantage of driving is that you can get into car accidents much more easily. They're much more frequent than public transportation accidents and, as a result, you also must be much more responsible. For example, you can’t be distracted when you're in a car by reading or texting, you also definitely can’t have been drinking. In general, you just have to be very focused, alert, and awake. By contrast, we frequently see people texting, coming back from an event with alcohol, or even falling asleep on public transportation.

33. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #33

On a typical weekday in my life, I usually wake up, have a cup of coffee and some breakfast, get ready for the day, and go to work. On my commute in the morning, I usually listen to some music or a podcast that I like, and I'll listen to that same podcast or music on the way home too. During my lunch break, I’ll usually catch up with my colleagues at a nearby deli or café. When I come back from work, I'll usually change out of my clothes and sometimes study, or if studying isn't needed, I'll just relax. Relaxing might involve going out with friends, doing one of my hobbies such as arts and crafts or reading, or it might just involve engaging in some entertainment such as watching a favorite movie or TV show with my partner. Because I live with my partner, a typical day also involves lots of conversations with my partner. I also frequently engage in social media throughout the day on most typical days, texting friends to prepare for the weekend and just generally staying in contact with friends and family that I miss and want to stay up to date with. Further, I like to prepare dinner when I get home from work and it's usually something simpler and quicker. On a weekend day, it's slightly different. I usually don't work on the weekend, so I'll usually just study, go out with friends and, like I said, engage in various hobbies or entertainment methods. I will also usually take my time to prepare more extensive, interesting meals or go out for dinner. On weekends, I usually also spend time cleaning the house and planning the week ahead to prepare for the cycle to start again.

⭐ You don't have to have an interesting daily routine to answer a question like this well. Just make sure to describe as much as you can in the time allotted! To structure a question like this think systematically so that you cover all details – in this case, the student structured their response in the order of the day as it unfolds to make sure they didn't miss anything out. Your production subscores will thank you!

34. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #34

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 is a historical event that I find incredibly interesting. After World War II, Germany was divided into occupation by four different other countries. France, England, the United States and Russia. In turn, Berlin was divided into similar four parts, but primarily the East and the West. Western Germany was defined by capitalism, whereas Eastern Germany, or East Berlin, was defined by communism. The fall of the wall separating the East and West basically symbolized the end of the Cold War between the East and the West, specifically the East and the West of Germany. It also showcased the relief involved in this divide being destroyed. When the Berlin Wall was up, there was a lot of tension between the schools of thought countries and between inhabitants of West and East Berlin. The falling of the wall symbolized that this was now over and that Berlin was unified. For many, it also symbolized a new era moving on from World War II. As such, it's an incredibly important moment in history because it symbolized the reunification of Germany and the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union. It also signified the triumph of peaceful protests which were caused by people's desire for freedom and a desire for moving on again from not only the Cold War, but World War II. Many people see the broken wall, which is still up today, as a general sign and celebration of peace between nations and anti-war legislation. Many artists have also visited the wall and created artworks on it that represent and support these messages. As such, it also has provided a conversation about peace and civility for all to engage in.

⭐ As you can see, Arno is always adding new practice questions. If you somehow manage to finish the many questions we already have, soon there will be more to practice with!

35. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #35

One memorable event from my childhood is the day I went snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is a giant coral reef in Australia spanning miles; it has lots of different marine life in it. On the day of the event, I boarded a boat from Port Douglas and we journeyed towards the dive site. At the dive site, we put on all of our snorkeling gear and descended into the waters. It was amazing to see because I saw lots of different corals in different shapes, sizes, and colors. There was also a diverse range of marine life including bright fishes like angelfish, clownfish, reef sharks, sea turtles, and rays.  I thought it was absolutely amazing just to explore and see all of this marine life up close. One of the most memorable parts of the trip in and of itself was also driving back to the shore. It was sunset at that time and seeing the sun setting over the ocean was just a really fantastic and breathtaking experience. I remember it so vividly because there were so many different sights to see and I was in awe of how unique ocean life is. Just thinking about how much of the ocean is still left unexplored. I also felt very grateful for the opportunity to have seen all of these different wildlife in their natural habitats. I also remember it vividly because the tour guide spoke a lot about ocean conservation and the importance of that. I carried that message through from my childhood to my adulthood thinking about different ways that we can protect the ocean and preserve its biodiversity. I remember that seeing the clownfish in their natural habitat was particularly interesting to me and the sea turtles because at the time I was a big fan of finding Nemo. I just remember being extremely excited to see these creatures in the flesh after being a big fan of the movie as a kid. So that was another really great aspect of the trip for me.

36. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #36

My favorite kind of music is jazz music. Jazz music originated in the U.S. in the early 20th century to late 19th century among African-American communities in New Orleans. It's one of my favorite types of music because it's so diverse and has a wide range of styles and sub-genres. For example, cool jazz, Latin jazz, and swing, each with their own unique characteristics. Some of the key figures in jazz include Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong, who have left a lasting impression on the field. Another really interesting thing about jazz is that when Americans expatriated to Paris in the 1920s, a lot of the expatriates brought jazz music with them, so I definitely always associate it with a vintage 1920s feel, and it also reminds me of my trips to France and Paris. One of the things that I really enjoy about jazz music is the improvisation, which is very unique to jazz. I think it's absolutely amazing when jazz musicians just spontaneously create melodies and solos; it really highlights just how talented they are, and often leaves me feeling in awe of their ambitious, inventive, and interesting contributions to music. I also find that the rhythmic elements of jazz make me feel very confident and calm, and this is just a really great feeling that I enjoy when listening to it. Listening to Jazz music also keeps me very focused when I'm doing something like studying, because a lot of the time it doesn't have lyrics, and the beat is very focused. I also find that live performances of jazz music compared to other music types often tend to really incorporate the audience in the performance. It's very easy to appreciate jazz, but it's also important to acknowledge its African-American influences and rich history.

37. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #37

Wireless headphones are a piece of technology that's made a significant impact on my life. Using wireless earphones has really opened up my ability to multitask; it enables me to listen to music privately without disturbing the people around me, whilst also continuing with different things that I do with my hands. So in a sense, it's made me a lot more productive and efficient. For example, I really like to use wireless headphones when I'm working out, particularly when I'm rollerblading. Wireless earphones have really made it a lot easier and more motivating to go and work out because I no longer drop my earphones or have to mess around with the wires while I'm running. My arms and body are also freer to move, whereas before the motion used to pull out the earphones if I moved in a certain direction or way, and I used to get worried about it falling in the way of my rollerblades. So, that's become a lot easier and much more improved. Another time that I use wireless headphones is when I am cleaning my home. I used to clean with music out loud, but it would distract the people that I lived with. And when I used wired headphones, it just really limited my movement and sometimes I'd have to do certain tasks that involve a lot of movement, like cleaning the bathroom with no music at all. Having the wireless headphones has really made me more efficient in that way, while also making doing mundane chores like cleaning the house much more enjoyable. Finally, using wireless earphones has been great for when I'm doing crafting or actual work. This is because again, I don't have to distract the people around me at work when I'm at my office playing music. When I have the earphones in, I can just tuck them in my ears and it just makes the workday go quicker. And I find that listening to music when I'm working also makes me feel more motivated and focused. So it's great for all those reasons. And it certainly made me more productive and made mundane tasks more enjoyable. Similarly, when I'm crafting  I can now listen to a podcast; when I'm using messy materials or materials that involve a lot of hand movements like clay, it definitely enables me to be a bit freer and not have to worry about dipping my headphones or my phone.

38. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #38

Midsummer, known as Jāņi in Latvia, is one of the most important festivals in my culture. It falls on the summer solstice and it goes from June 23rd to 24th. Because of the geographical position of Latvia, Midsummer Night is incredibly short and sometimes doesn't even exist at all because the sun doesn't set. As such, this is a very unique thing to my country, that you can't find in most places on earth. To celebrate nature, there are a lot of creative things to participate in, such as creating flower crowns and wreaths made from natural objects. There are also lots of folk songs and dances along with jumping over the bonfire, which is meant to cleanse you from negativity and bring good luck. It's a very significant festival, not only because it celebrates nature and the culture of Latvia, but because it also brings people together to celebrate; it's a great time to connect with fellow Latvians, friends, and family, along with celebrating the heritage of one's family.  I think that it's also just a really cherished holiday because it's a time to celebrate the resilience of Latvia after all that it went through under the Soviet Union. Together we show gratitude that Latvia has its independence, for example. Originally, the celebration was for the harvest, so it's just a great way to really show gratitude for the things that we have in life that we sometimes take for granted like food and nourishment. And so, another part of the celebration is the traditional foods, such as cheese with caraway seeds, bacon, fresh vegetables, etc. So again, it's just a great way to become creative and share what we have with fellow Latvians, family, and friends.

39. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #39

One very memorable meal that I had to eat was when I visited Thailand and went to a street fair. Here I actually tried eating insects for the first time. In general, the bustling vibes of the morning and the street fair were something to remember, but definitely, my nerves about eating the insects were at an all-time high beforehand because I've always been afraid of insects. At the fair, they were selling different types of edible insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, and silkworms. The insects that I tried were the grasshoppers and they were seasoned, deep-fried, and smelled extremely delicious. One of the things that I remember most about this meal was just being surprised at how well it all smelled, but also the casualness within which this culture ate bugs. As such, the experience opened my mind to the different types of foods that we eat around the world and differences in cultural norms; I would certainly recommend trying it if you're ever in a country that does eat bugs for this reason!

When I plucked up the courage to give the grasshoppers a try, I found that it wasn't my favorite meal,  but it was certainly memorable because it didn't taste how you would expect at all. It was really quite delicious; crunchy on the outside, spicy, and savory. I would compare grasshoppers to the taste of nuts in a way, and I did end up eating the whole lot! I also remember thinking about how eating bugs could be a much more sustainable way to get protein. Thus, I  found it extremely memorable because it introduced me to a unique and delicious experience that I'll definitely never forget and recommend to other people, although I won't be eating them anytime soon in the USA.

40. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #40

Communication is incredibly important in today's world because of how globalized it is. Nowadays, many people work, live, or go to school in a different country than the one they were raised in. For this reason, technology is incredibly important because it allows us to communicate with loved ones and to sustain relationships even when we're far away, whereas, before the advance of technology, the only way really was via letters or via physical visits, which can be costly, expensive and extremely slow. Another reason is that it enables easier searching for job opportunities. Now we can communicate with employers from anywhere at any time and this just really opens up the amount of opportunities that we are exposed to and able to receive, making it extremely useful in today's rapidly-paced world.

Technology has affected the way that we communicate in several ways. One way that it's affected the way we communicate is that a lot of people often opt for communication through technology, such as texts, emails or video calls, as opposed to meeting in person. This can be great for its convenience but also has its troubles in the sense that it can sometimes lead to no non-verbal behavior being included in the conversation, which can lead to information being misconstrued or miscommunicated because the tone of voice and the person's non-verbal behavior cannot be gauged along with what they're saying. Further, it's affected the way we communicate because now we communicate frequently through social media with people that we don't know as well or don't know at all. This can lead to a lot of non-experts talking about areas of specialty, which can lead to the spread of misinformation and also a sense of narrow-mindedness. We tend to follow people who agree with us and thus tend to only be exposed to certain kinds of ideas over and over again, reducing our exposure to diverse viewpoints and ideas. These interactions are usually also emotionally salient, which can give us the impression that things are always not well in the world that we live in. I think this is definitely one of many contributors to rising mental health disorders. Finally, another way that technology has affected the way that we communicate is by making it more challenging for some people to pay attention in in-person conversations. Youth might not be used to talking in person, making eye contact, or things like that, so they can come across as a little bit awkward or impatient during in-person conversations. This can be incredibly detrimental to the authenticity of social interactions, and should be avoided at all costs!

41. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #41

My favorite food is paella. Paella is essentially a rice dish with lots of different spices and herbs, vegetables, meats, and seafood, all cooked in one pan. Paella is extremely special because it originated in Valencia, but eventually gained cultural importance in Spain and beyond. The reason it's special to me is because I am also from the Valencia region, so it just really makes me feel when I'm eating the dish like I have a deep-rooted connection to home when I'm away from it. I also really enjoy sharing this dish when I go to different countries with the people that I meet because it gives me a sense of pride about where I'm from. Paella connects to my personal experiences because the recipe I follow was passed on from my dad to me and from my granddad to my dad, so it definitely represents a sort of culinary heritage in our family and always makes me feel connected to home when I'm away from it and missing it. It connects to the culture as well because it's just, there's lots of different variations of paella, which outside of the Valencia region, which is just really interesting to see when you go to different parts of Spain. It's definitely also a really big draw for tourism; a lot of people often come to Spain and enjoy trying paella for the first time, so it certainly contributes to the tourism industry. Sharing paella is also a big part of local festivals and celebrations and the traditions there. For example, in La Tomantina near Valencia, there's a food fight where participants throw tomatoes at each other and then paella is often served as a communal meal afterward to celebrate the day and the event. It's also often prepared for smaller social gatherings where people can often contribute their own tastes, ideas, and ingredients to the meal, making it something that is a culmination of different people's expertise and contributions. So for all of these reasons, it's extremely special to me, but also to my culture.

42. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #42

One of my favorite hobbies is taking photographs on old film cameras. What I enjoy about doing this is that you have to be very selective in the photographs that you take, so you have to think really carefully. On a digital camera, you can take as many shots as you want, one after another, with unlimited memory. With a film camera, you only have a certain number of (quite expensive) films. Whilst this may be a disadvantage for many people, I find it just makes me think very carefully about the composition of my photos, and what exactly is the most interesting part of the scene or person that I'm taking photographs of. As such, I am much more intentional about my photography with film cameras.

Another aspect I enjoy about film photography is that you only get to see the photos once you've developed them, which is usually days or hours later, at the very least. This gives a very interesting element of surprise to the photograph-taking process. You really don't know what you've got until you've developed it, and for this reason, you can just sometimes be pleasantly surprised when something you weren't sure was going to come out that great ends up being one of your favorite pieces.

Another aspect I enjoy about film photography is actually being in the darkroom and mixing the chemicals. Not only is this quite a fun process and unique process, just being in the dark and using old chemicals, but it really makes you appreciate every photograph you develop. Further, being in the dark room helps you learn about the chemistry of photograph development, which I find interesting, and gives a really vintage feel to the experience that translates into the photos themselves. This makes me feel like I'm taking part in a tradition in art that goes back for many, many decades. Further, film photographs usually come in black and white, which can really emphasize certain parts of the photograph.

I became interested first in film photography when I took a class in it. It was a class that I wasn't sure about taking, but I ended up coming away from it really enjoying it and coming out with some very beautiful pieces. So in that way, that class is why I switched from digital to film photography. But I'd always been interested in photography, particularly when I was traveling to a new place or exploring a new city. I really liked capturing the things that I saw so that I could look back on them later and the memories that were made.

43. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #43

One extremely memorable trip that I took was to the southeast of the United States to build houses for the less fortunate. I found this incredibly special and educational because it served as a great reminder that there are a lot of people who need help from more fortunate members of society, even in a modern-day country like the USA. It also taught me the value of hard work. For example, before that, I was quite young, so I'd never had a job before. It was so great to see the end result because it showed me directly the impact of my labor. The event also taught me valuable lessons about teamwork and communication. It was very special to see all of our hard work come together to build the houses that we did. It was also very special to see the faces of the people on the other end of receiving the houses because they found it so valuable. This definitely also taught me that I'd like to do similar work again in the future and that some of the most meaningful jobs, where you work the hardest, are the ones where you know it's going to directly benefit the people in your community. I also obviously learned a lot about construction. I didn't know much about how to construct buildings and things like that, and the safety precautions that must go into that work – not to mention the time and energy. How to build homes that look great and that are safe and practical at the same time. All of these things were just something that I'd never considered or even thought about before.

As such, the experience gave me a newfound respect for construction workers, and also my own house. So, that's been a really fantastic learning curve for me. I think what also made it meaningful is that I got close to some friends that I had never before really interacted with. It taught me better how to make friends, and how to work together with those friends for a common goal. There were times when it got quite difficult to build the house, and we just really had to resolve any issues and focus on our strengths and weaknesses individually, to create the best result possible – many conflict resolution skills were learned all around. In the same vein, it gave me a better insight into architecture as a whole. So it was just a really novel, unique, and important experience that I recommend to anybody who has the opportunity in their school.

44. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #44

One historical figure that I admire is Mary Curie, the physicist and chemist. Mary Curie was known for her pioneering research on radioactivity, and she received not only one Nobel Prize but two in different scientific fields (physics and chemistry). This is just so inspiring to me because most scientists can only dream of achieving one Nobel Prize, but to receive it in two different scientific fields just shows how much she stood out for her sheer intelligence, determination, and dedication to the field.

Another reason why she's inspiring is because she did all of this in the face of adversity, trailblazing the way for women in STEM everywhere. Science is still a male-dominated field, but was especially so in the times when she was working. The fact that she persisted and became a scientist was impressive enough, but the fact that she also received the Nobel Prize is just such an outstanding achievement and shows just how determined she was. She was determined to achieve what she did. And she didn't let social rules and adversity stop her, inspiring future generations of female scientists to do the same.

Another reason why she's inspiring is because of her humanitarian contributions to science. She really made a difference in this world by establishing mobile radiography units, which provided services to wounded soldiers during World War I. This saved so many lives and is still used today in the field of medicine. She also inspired radiotherapy for cancer treatment. Again, this had a lasting impact on the field and many people's lives.

As such, Mary Curie is an icon of scientific excellence, education, and research. Her inspiration and her work live on today, encouraging many other women and scientists to make similar contributions to the advancements of science, to save lives. This, in a sense, is just one of the most important and meaningful ways to use one's life as a human being, to leave the world in a better place than you found it.

45. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #45

One memorable experience I had while traveling was when I visited the Taj Mahal on my trip to India. The Taj Mahal was extremely memorable and stood out to me because of its beautiful and unique architecture. It was like nothing I had ever seen, having that whole palace built out of white marble. It was truly so intricate, beautifully crafted, and a wonderful example of expert architecture skills. Similarly, another thing that really impressed me or stood out to me about the design of the Taj Mahal was the beautiful gardens surrounding it and the reflective pools. It really added to the ambiance of the moment and just really emphasized the stunning creativity that was involved in creating it. It also changes colors three times a day, which is something I'd never really seen or at least noticed in buildings! It looked pink in the morning, white in the evening, and then one time when I was driving by at night it looked almost golden. This was just a real sight to behold and the amount of effort that went into it. The Taj Mahal also stood out to me for its history. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. It was just so beautiful to see how love can lead to such beautiful inventions, creations, and art. I definitely found that just how long it had been in place also really stood out to me. I just felt like I was standing on a part of history and I felt very grateful and lucky to have been able to see it. There's a reason the Taj Mahal is one of the man-built wonders of the world and it was just generally a once-in-a-lifetime experience to view this beautiful monument. I would definitely recommend it to everyone who plans on going and I would definitely visit again. It's a wonderful way to learn about Indian history and culture.

46. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #46

One hobby or interest of mine that has evolved over time has definitely been coding. I learned to code initially just as a hobby and something I enjoyed as a child. Inspired by my information technology classes in school, I became very interested in the idea of creating things through code and writing my own code. So I started to learn and teach myself from YouTube videos. Following this, I actually attended a short coding boot camp for children when I was young, where I further honed my skills and met similar-minded people who were also interested in coding; this really ignited my abilities and my passion for the hobby. Ever since I've been in awe of all the amazing things that you can create with code and the ability to even be creative in such a mathematical field. This has continued to evolve. During college, I ended up majoring in computer science and taking a lot of classes that involved coding. As such, my hobby began to evolve into my academic career. I also took on many side gigs during and after college that involved creating things for people who needed my services. So again, we can see how I began to use my not only improve my skills in this hobby but begin to utilize them in my academic career and beyond. I now have a career that primarily focuses on coding. In turn, I learned the importance of hobbies and interests and the way that they can actually shape your future endeavors. I feel extremely lucky that something that just very much interested me and was a hobby originally has now become my day job and is something that I'm paid for on a regular basis. I now not only know how to code in one programming software but many others. I just would really encourage anybody who has a hobby or interest to continue to pursue their skills in it. You never know what you might get to achieve and I think it's most people's end goal or dream to have your hobby become your main source of income, this way you enjoy going to work on a daily basis rather than seeing your career simply as a way to pay the bills.

47. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #47

One way that I've had to work in a team was when I worked as a nurse in a hospital. My role was to provide care for the patients, for example, medication management, giving education to patients about their conditions, the treatment that they need to do, and post-discharge care. The hand-off itself, helps patients leave the hospital safely and in a way that they will recover quickest.

The way that I work in a team as a nurse is first by acting in shifts. I'm not always looking after the same patient. So we'll have to make sure that the next nurse on shift and the nurse on shift before me are informed by knowledge passed on between nurses. To be a good team member, I write detailed notes for the next nurse to provide the best care to the patient. And in turn, the nurse before me will give me notes that I review carefully to avoid repeating work. This way I can continue the hard work that they've done in preparing this patient for release. I would also say that you have to work as part of a team with the family to get them on board with the patient's treatment and to help them develop a plan for when the person is released. In this sense, you use the information that the family knows about the patient and the information that you've learned from treating them in the hospital to make sure that they are fully and comprehensively looked after and won't be returning to the hospital anytime soon.

Another way that this involves teamwork is communicating with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors, to develop care plans for patients. I will often work with these professionals to gain their expertise and also provide my expertise in return. In this way, we're always working together to get the patient the best care possible. The outcome of such teamwork is that the patient gets the best treatment possible, has the speediest recovery possible, and leaves feeling much better than they did when they entered the hospital. It also leads to a cohesive communicative team that is able to help people in the future using the expertise of one another to get the job done. In this way, I've come to learn that teamwork is just about using everyone's strengths to make up for their weaknesses.

48. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #48

I always really enjoyed the days in school when scholastic book fairs would be held. These were always one of my favorite memories because I really enjoyed reading. Scholastic book fairs frequently involved the presentation of carefully selected books, including bestsellers, award-winning books, and educational books that you could purchase and choose from in the school library. I always found this to be extremely memorable because I was always able to find a book that really appealed to me, and usually on a new topic that I hadn't considered interesting before. For example, one time I found myself very drawn to a book on marine biology. Whilst I had never considered this subject interesting before, reading and purchasing that book taught me a lot about marine biology and really shaped my life by making me attracted to experiences involving the ocean, such as diving, exploring, swimming, etc. It also gave me a great appreciation for marine life, encouraging me to get myself involved in environmental, specifically marine life, activism to conserve the ocean, prevent littering in the ocean, and of course protect endangered species in the ocean. I also found that these fairs positively affected my life because the Scholastic book fairs helped to serve as a fundraiser for the school, enabling us to do other things in the future like trips and excursions. The fairs also supported our school library, which is where I spend a lot of my lunchtime and supported our creative writing club, which I found extremely important, engaging, and enjoyable during school. The fairs were also a great way to make friends and engage in my community. I often spent a lot of time with my friends going around the Scholastic book fair, and it was a great conversation opener and a way to bond over the types of books that we enjoyed. And so, scholastic book fairs became a very cherished memory for me. It encouraged a lifelong love of books and reading that I've carried with me through to adulthood, and that has given me a quite well-rounded understanding of the world, comprehensive reading skills, and of course personal development from the things that I learned.

49. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #49

One TV show that inspired and influenced me is the documentary or TV show called Blackfish. Blackfish is all about the captivity of killer whales in marine parks, specifically a captive orca named Tilikum in SeaWorld. Tilikum was captured off the coast of Iceland and was involved in several fatal incidents with trainers during his time at SeaWorld. This influence made not only an impact on me but also an impact on the world as a whole. Blackfish raised some ethical questions about keeping animals in captivity for human entertainment. It showed people how the confinement and treatment of the orca Tilikum not only led to endangering humans but also really damaged the psyche, life, and well-being of this innocent creature. The documentary showcased the small enclosure that Tilikum was kept in, despite being a very large animal that needs social interaction with its own kind, and how this claustrophobia and social isolation led to him becoming stressed and aggressive. The whale was later punished and blamed for his aggression, despite it being humans that led him to these behaviors. It made an impact on me because previously I was very interested in going to SeaWorld and thought that the captivity of animals in this way was a good thing to keep them preserved and conserved. However, it definitely changed my mind on this, because I realized that a lot of these animals that we see are purely kept for entertainment and in awful conditions, and it's just how unfair that is. Now I no longer go to these places and sign petitions against them when they come my way. Blackfish also had a wider impact on the use of these animals for entertainment. For example, after Blackfish, SeaWorld faced a significant decline in attendance and revenue due to the outrage from it. It's now rebranding itself as more of a water park and tends to, at least in the public eye, treat its animals much better. It also led a lot of activists to push for increased regulations and restrictions on the captivity of not only killer whales, but other animals, and as a result, some places did implement laws to improve this area. It also shifted industry practices by making it safer for trainers, and training trainers when animals are distressed.

50. "Speaking Sample" Cue Card #50

One person who's had a significant influence on my life is my partner. They've had an impact on my life because I see them on a daily basis, first and foremost. So they're a part of every one of my life's challenges, successes, great moments, and sad moments. They're there for it all, even the mundane moments. And they have been for many years now.

They've had an impact on the way they have because they're a very calm and intelligent person. In this way, they have definitely calmed me down and taught me not to take life so seriously all the time. And sometimes just make sure that we take a moment to realize even the biggest issues will one day just be a funny story or a lesson learned. This has definitely taught me to just make the most of the time I have and not get beaten down too much by negative moments.

Watching my partner be so supportive and motivating in everything that I do, and in others as well has also taught me valuable lessons. This has taught me the value of myself because they see what I'm capable of teven when I doubt myself. So, it's taught me to stop second guessing my abilities and just go for opportunities –  usually, this will work out. My partner has also taught me the importance of supporting the people around me, the impact that you can make on someone's life by doing that.

Another way they had an impact and that I learned from them is through self-care. This person really prioritizes self-care and rest, and I think this was a very important lesson for me to learn, because it taught me that you can only really perform your best when you have your basic needs met, when you eat well, are hydrated, have slept well, etc. In conclusion, my partner has had a great impact on me because I now prioritize those things and make sure that when I feel myself getting overwhelmed or stressed, I take a moment to myself to nourish myself in that way.

⭐ Some questions sound similar because they are topics that come up frequently! Make sure to examine the slight differences between similar questions; they may be asking for different kinds of responses!

• Review our blog for tips on improving your responses to Duolingo Speaking Questions and improving your overall Duolingo English Test scores . You can also find more model answers and cue cards here... because Arno is the best!!! 😎
• Vary your sentence structure. This can be hard to do when writing, and even harder when speaking but will help you improve your "grammatical complexity" scores. An easy way to vary your sentence structures is by using connecting words. A great acronym for this is FANBOYS: Furthermore, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So!
• Use synonyms. To meet Duolingo's requirements for "lexical diversity" and "lexical sophistication" avoid repeating the same words. Identify words you use often and look them up in a thesaurus to see other words you can use in their place. Entering your practice responses into Arno will also highlight high-scoring, advanced words to use again in the future or recommend higher-scoring words with the same meaning. Another top tip is just noting down any new words you come across when you are reading, even if you are reading for fun!
• Say a lot, but say it well. For production subscores, it's important to try to speak as much as possible during the three minutes given by Duolingo. To ensure you are speaking clearly, take a deep breath and think before you speak. This way you can cover a lot of information while still demonstrating your English proficiency and ability to communicate your ideas.
• Review the topics that come up often. Earlier in the article we learned that Duolingo is a big fan of recycling the same topics for the Duolingo English Test speaking sample questions. You can use this to your advantage by thinking about your thoughts and opinions on these topics ahead of time, so you are not wasting time on test day trying to come up with ideas.
• Remember - there are no right or wrong answers. Try not to be nervous about providing your opinion on a topic or describing something about yourself! In the end, you are the expert on your own opinions and hobbies. If you get stuck, you could even make something up!
• Practice. Practice. And practice some more. Taking practice questions is the best way to evaluate your study progress and prepare for the test. There are many ways to practice for the Duolingo English Test , but the best way is by joining Arno !

Arno has unlimited, free practice questions, including "Speaking Sample" questions, for you to try. Once you have recorded your response to a question, we automatically transcribe it because while you may want a copy of your response... NOBODY wants to hear their own voice played back to them. Thank you, Arno. 🙏

Arno then provides instant, detailed feedback on how you can improve your performance.

As you can see, we not only provide an estimated score for your responses but also pronunciation feedback including pronunciation accuracy, fluency, and completeness. Arno even points out specific words where your pronunciation needs improvement!!!

As with all of our questions feedback, we also provide vocabulary and grammar assessments and tips. This kind of feedback can be helpful even for native English speakers!

Finally, we also provide a rewritten (or re-spoken) version of your response that includes all this feedback and more. This way you always have access to a "model answer" for comparison!

So go ahead and create your free account on duolingo.goarno.io by clicking below!

Motivational Speaker Techniques To Encourage Students’ English Speaking Skills

As teachers, we’re always looking for ways to improve our students’ English speaking skills and build their confidence in speaking English. An effective way to do this is to integrate motivational speaking techniques into our teaching methods and teach our students some engaging speaking strategies to use. 

It is important to point out to students that speakers in public talks such as TED talks or other significant speeches sound confident because of the key components that make up a successful talk. By adopting some of these, students can begin their journey to confidence and enjoyment in speaking English.

Great motivational speaker techniques 

Knowledge and clarity.

Great motivational speakers possess a deep knowledge of their subject, which helps their audience trust in the speaker. 

• For students, this emphasises the importance of understanding the content they are speaking about. 
• Encourage students to research and fully understand the topics they discuss. This will ensure they can present information clearly and confidently. 
• This can be practised through classroom presentations or group discussions where the focus is on explaining concepts in simplified terms.

Confidence and purpose

Confidence often comes from speakers feeling well-prepared and passionate about their subject. 

• Teach students to define the purpose of their speeches and talks – whether to inform, persuade or entertain. This clarity helps them deliver their message with conviction and engage their audience more effectively. 
• Role-playing different scenarios in class can help students build confidence and define their speaking goals.

Storytelling

Whether it’s a personal anecdote or something else, stories can captivate an audience and make the speech memorable. 

• Remind students that by telling a story, the audience is instantly more engaged and likely to follow along throughout the talk. 
• Help students develop their storytelling skills by integrating stories into language lessons. They could start with narrating simple personal experiences and gradually move to more complex narratives as their skills improve.

Audience awareness

Understanding the audience is crucial for effective communication. 

• Have students think of a talk or presentation they’ve recently seen. Then, have them think about who the audience for the talk was. 
• Tell students that speakers tailor their content and delivery to match the audience’s knowledge level and background. This involves using appropriate language, examples and explanations that the audience understands and can relate to. 
• In class, students can practise audience awareness by presenting the same information in different ways to different groups and tailoring the language they are using and the way they are presenting the information. 

A strong conclusion

A strong finish is essential in great motivational speaking. It reinforces the message and often includes a call to action that leaves the audience inspired. 

• Teach students to summarise their key points effectively and end with a compelling conclusion that prompts further thought or action. 
• This could be practised through debates or persuasive speeches in class, where students are encouraged to conclude with strong statements and a call to action.

Practical exercises to enhance English speaking skills

• Focus on activities that enhance clarity in communication. For example, paraphrasing or connecting complex ideas with simpler concepts.
• Have students do exercises that improve non-verbal communication, such as maintaining eye contact, using gestures and controlling hesitations.
• Help students reflect on the purpose of their talk or presentation, and choose language that aligns with their goals, for example, to convince, inform, teach or entertain.
• Have students discuss how best to explain complex ideas. Remind them that any information should be appropriate and understandable to the audience without requiring much prior knowledge.
• Explore the use of extreme adjectives and the connotations of words with your students, emphasising how language choice can inspire and motivate an audience.

Incorporating motivational speaking techniques into your lessons can have a significant impact on students’ engagement and confidence in communicating their ideas. By having these skills, students will not only improve their English proficiency but also gain valuable life skills in speaking and presenting to audiences. 

You can read more about teaching your students presentation skills here. Or read our paper for in-depth advice on teaching English pronunciation.

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IELTS Common Speaking Topics With Answers Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3

In IELTS exam, the speaking test remains the same for both Academic and General Training. The speaking test of IELTS has three parts. The first part is about the general introduction, the second part is about the cue card and the final part is about two-way discussions.

In this article, we will discuss about IELTS Speaking test, the important speaking topics, and also some tips on how to attempt the speaking section!

What is the IELTS Speaking Test?

The IELTS Speaking test is designed to evaluate your spoken English abilities across a range of skills, including fluency, coherence, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. The test is divided into three parts:

IELTS Speaking Topics

Part 1: general introduction.

• Duration: 4-5 minutes
• You will answer questions about yourself, your home, family, work, studies, and interests.

Part 2: Cue Card

• Duration: 3-4 minutes (including 1 minute of preparation)
• You will speak on a given topic for 1-2 minutes, using a prompt card to guide your response.

Part 3: Two Way Discussion

• You will discuss more abstract ideas and issues related to the topic from Part 2.

The IELTS Speaking test covers a wide range of topics to evaluate your ability to communicate in different contexts. Here are some common topics you may face:

IELTS Speaking Topics Part 1

Ielts speaking topics part 2 & 3.

Must Read: 15 IELTS Speaking Cue Card Topics for 2024

IELTS Speaking Format

The IELTS Speaking test is designed to assess your spoken English skills through a structured, face-to-face conversation with an examiner. This section provides an overview of the test and detailed information about its three parts, including the time allocation for each.

Time Allocation for Each Part

Ielts speaking part 1: general introduction.

Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test lasts 4-5 minutes and involves a face-to-face conversation with the examiner. This section is designed to help you relax and get comfortable with the speaking environment. The examiner will ask questions about familiar topics such as your home, family, work, studies, and interests.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Cue Card

Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test i.e. Cue Card lasts for 3-4 minutes. During this part, you will be given a question booklet or task card with a topic and some points to cover in your response. You have 1 minute to prepare and make notes if you wish, and then you will speak for 1-2 minutes on the given topic.

• Cue Card: You receive a question booklet or cue card with a topic and bullet points that you should address in your talk.
• Preparation Time: You have 1 minute to prepare and make notes.
• Speaking Time: You speak on the topic for 1-2 minutes.

Example Cue Card

Describe a memorable event in your life. You should say:

• What the event was?
• When and where it happened?
• Who was there?
• And explain why it was memorable.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two Way Discussion

Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking test is a two way discussion with the examiner that lasts for 4-5 minutes. This section follows on from Part 2 and is designed to assess your ability to engage in a more extended conversation on abstract topics related to the theme of the Part 2 task. The questions in Part 3 are more complex and require you to express and justify your opinions, analyze issues, and discuss ideas in greater depth.

• Transition from Part 2: The examiner will introduce the questions based on your Part 2 talk.
• Discussion Questions: The examiner will ask a series of questions related to the theme of the Part 2 topic.
• Two-Way Discussion: Engage in a conversation with the examiner, expressing your opinions, providing examples, and discussing various aspects of the topic.
• Follow-up Questions: The examiner may ask additional questions to delve deeper into specific points raised during the discussion.

Example Topic and Questions

Topic : Technology and Society

Example Questions:

• What role do you think technology plays in people’s lives today?
• How has technology changed the way people communicate?
• Do you think technology has more positive or negative effects on society? Why?
• In what ways do you think technology will continue to evolve in the future?
• How do you think technological advancements have impacted traditional industries?

IELTS Speaking Marking Criteria

The examiners have established four separate criteria that determine the score of the speaking portion of the IELTS exam. To achieve the ideal IELTS results, you must constantly practice speaking subjects with responses. The following table lists the marking criteria for IELTS speech topics:

Helpful Tips for IELTS Speaking Test

By incorporating the following tips and strategies into your preparation routine, you can enhance your performance in each part of the IELTS Speaking test and approach the exam with confidence:

How to Prepare for Part 1

• Familiarize Yourself with Common Topics : Practice discussing everyday topics like family, hobbies, and work.
• Practice Speaking Aloud: Regularly speak in English to improve fluency and confidence.
• Expand Your Vocabulary: Learn synonyms and phrases to express yourself better.
• Provide Detailed Answers : Share personal experiences and opinions for richer responses.
• Listen to English Conversations : Familiarize yourself with accents and expressions by listening to podcasts or radio.

Effective Strategies for Part 2

• Manage Your Time: Use the one-minute preparation wisely to organize your thoughts.
• Focus on Content: Prioritize addressing all points on the task card and provide relevant examples.
• Use Connectors : Transition smoothly between ideas using phrases like “firstly” or “in conclusion.”
• Speak Clearly and Confidently: Maintain a clear pace, articulate your words, and make eye contact.
• Practice Time Management: Get a sense of speaking for 1-2 minutes on various topics to manage time well.

Mastering Part 3 Discussions

• Understand the Theme : Listen carefully to the theme introduced by the examiner and brainstorm potential questions.
• Express Your Opinions : Justify your opinions using phrases like “in my opinion” or “I believe.”
• Provide Examples: Support your arguments with relevant examples or personal experiences.
• Engage Actively: Treat the discussion as a dialogue, listen attentively, and respond thoughtfully.
• Practice Critical Thinking: Analyze complex issues from different perspectives to express complex opinions.

Also Check:

• How to prepare for IELTS?
• What is IELTS exam all about?
• IELTS Indicator: Overview, Key Features & All You Need to Know

IELTS Speaking- FAQs

What is the format of the ielts speaking test.

The test consists of three parts: Introduction and Conversation, Long Turn, and Discussion.

How long does the Speaking test last?

The entire Speaking test typically lasts for 11 to 14 minutes.

Can I use notes during the Speaking test?

You’re allowed to make notes during the one-minute preparation time in Part 2.

How is the Speaking test scored?

Examiners assess fluency, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and coherence on a scale from 0 to 9.

What topics are covered in Part 1?

Part 1 covers everyday topics like family, hobbies, work, and interests.

How can I improve my fluency?

Practice speaking English regularly with friends, tutors, or language exchange partners.

What should I do if I don’t understand a question?

Politely ask the examiner to repeat or clarify the question. It’s essential to ensure you understand before responding.

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Schenck V. United States: a Landmark Supreme Court Decision on Free Speech

This essay about Schenck v. United States examines the Supreme Court’s landmark 1919 decision that upheld Charles Schenck’s conviction under the Espionage Act for distributing anti-draft leaflets during World War I. The ruling introduced the “clear and present danger” test, establishing that free speech could be limited when it poses a significant threat to national security. Written by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., the decision emphasized that while free speech is fundamental, it is not absolute. This case set a precedent for balancing individual rights against public safety and continues to influence debates on free speech and national security.

How it works

Amid the year 1919, the distinguished United States Supreme Court rendered a groundbreaking judgment in the matter of Schenck v. United States, profoundly molding the legal topography of unrestricted expression in America. The crux of the case orbited around Charles Schenck, an eminent socialist and general secretary of the Socialist Party of America, who incurred conviction under the Espionage Act of 1917 for disseminating leaflets that advocated resistance to conscription during the Great War. The Supreme Court’s edict in this instance not only affirmed Schenck’s conviction but also enshrined the “clear and present danger” criterion, a pivotal benchmark for delineating the boundaries of unrestricted expression under the First Amendment.

The backdrop of Schenck v. United States is deeply entrenched in the tumultuous epoch of World War I, a juncture when apprehensions regarding national security were at an apex. The Espionage Act of 1917 was promulgated to forestall meddling with military maneuvers and recruitment, and to quell endorsement for adversaries during wartime. Schenck and his compatriots disseminated pamphlets that decried conscription as a transgression of personal liberties and implored citizens to affirm their dissent by passively opposing conscription.

Upon Schenck’s apprehension and indictment for conspiring to flout the Espionage Act, he contended that his deeds were safeguarded by the First Amendment’s assurance of unrestricted expression. The case expeditiously ascended to the Supreme Court, where the magistrates encountered the arduous endeavor of harmonizing national security exigencies with the constitutional prerogative of unrestricted expression.

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., articulating for a unanimous Court, issued the verdict that erected a precedent for construing the confines of unrestricted expression. Holmes acknowledged the elemental significance of unrestricted expression but asseverated that it is not an absolute entitlement. He famously averred, “The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic.” This analogy underscored the tenet that expression which engenders a clear and present danger of engendering substantial harm can be circumscribed.

The Court deduced that Schenck’s leaflets, which instigated men to oppose conscription during a period of warfare, posed a clear and present danger to the nation’s endeavors to galvanize and sustain its military forces. Consequently, the government was warranted in curbing such expression to safeguard national security. This adjudication affirmed Schenck’s conviction and consolidated the judicial framework for assessing the admissibility of expression in scenarios where it might instigate deleterious deeds.

The “clear and present danger” standard institutionalized by Schenck v. United States became a cornerstone of First Amendment adjudication. It furnished a rubric for forthcoming cases involving expression that could conceivably engender deleterious ramifications. This criterion was subsequently honed and revised by subsequent Supreme Court decrees, such as Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), which introduced the “imminent lawless action” test. Nonetheless, Schenck endures as a seminal case in comprehending the equilibrium between unrestricted expression and national security.

The ramifications of Schenck v. United States transcend its immediate milieu. It accentuated the tensions between civil liberties and governmental authority during crises. The verdict underscored the notion that the entitlement to unrestricted expression is not absolute and can be curtailed when it poses a noteworthy threat to public order or national security. This notion has been invoked in sundry forms throughout American chronicles, especially during epochs of heightened political and social turbulence.

In contemporary dialogues, Schenck v. United States persists as a point of reference for discourses on unrestricted expression, particularly in scenarios involving hate speech, incitement, and national security. The case functions as a reminder of the precarious equilibrium that must be preserved between safeguarding individual liberties and ensuring collective safety. It also elucidates the evolving complexion of constitutional interpretation and the function of the judiciary in grappling with intricate societal quandaries.

In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s verdict in Schenck v. United States was a watershed decree that established pivotal legal principles pertaining to the boundaries of unrestricted expression. By introducing the “clear and present danger” criterion, the Court provided a framework for assessing when expression can be lawfully restrained to avert significant harm. This case remains a pivotal juncture in the annals of American jurisprudence, mirroring the persistent struggle to harmonize individual rights with the imperatives of national security and public order.

Cite this page

Schenck v. United States: A Landmark Supreme Court Decision on Free Speech. (2024, May 28). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/schenck-v-united-states-a-landmark-supreme-court-decision-on-free-speech/

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PapersOwl.com. (2024). Schenck v. United States: A Landmark Supreme Court Decision on Free Speech . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/schenck-v-united-states-a-landmark-supreme-court-decision-on-free-speech/ [Accessed: 31 May. 2024]

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

166 Argumentative Essay Topics

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Writing an argumentative essay is hard enough. But picking a good topic can sometimes get you stuck before you’ve even started.

Although it seems like a small part of the essay writing process, your topic idea can actually make or break your paper. Suppose the issue you’ve settled on doesn’t carry enough potential to be researched and explored from different sides. In that case, you may end up wasting a lot of time on unproductive work before you finally give up and try to find a better subject.

That’s why we compiled an extensive catalog of argumentative essay topics organized by subject matter that you can use for inspiration. Feel free to browse through all sections or jump to the area you’re looking for.

In this article:

Choosing a Great Argumentative Essay Topic

What makes a good argumentative essay topic, interesting and controversial, immigration, racism, and native american issues, science and research, technology and social media, health, medical, and nursing, psychology and mental health, music, popular culture, and other creative endeavors, funny, easy, and simple.

Before we jump into the lists, let’s go over what you need to look for in an essay topic.

Many students assume that they can pick an issue first and then think about their essay later. But that actually sets you up for potential disappointment. A topic may seem tenable or defensible at first, but once you dig a bit deeper, it may turn out the issue is settled beyond doubt, and there’s no real point in writing about it. It may also be a good idea to sketch out your argumentative essay outline and even draft a thesis statement before making a final decision about what you want to explore.

Here’s a helpful video that explains the importance of preliminary research:

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Another thing to consider is how fascinating the topic is for you . It’s great to engage your audience, but you can’t really be sure if an issue is captivating for your teacher or professor. But you can be entirely sure if it’s interesting to you. And the more you care about the subject you’ve chosen, the more enjoyable it will be for you to put in the work.

It may seem at first that you can write an essay about anything, so why bother thinking too much about the topic? Well, you can write about anything, but not everything you write can fit the requirements of your assignment. An argumentative essay has to fit a specific format and style, and the topic you pick has to conform to those. Here are a few main characteristics of a good argumentative essay topic:

If no one disagrees with the argument you’re trying to make, what’s the point of arguing about it? Trying to convince your audience that texting while driving is dangerous is a waste of time because the assumption is that most people don’t need convincing. That’s why it’s crucial to pick an issue with at least some validity on both sides.

If your topic is not specific enough, you can’t really make a good point one way or the other. Should we do more to protect animals? That depends—are we talking about rhinos or mosquitos? And who should do the protecting—governments or ordinary citizens? Drill down your topic to something you can make a definitive point about.

If you can’t find something to back your argument with, then maybe it’s purely a matter of opinion. Are pancakes better than pizza? Who’s to say? A good topic allows you to make a point based on facts. That said, defending an insupportable position is sometimes good practice for pure critical thinking and works great for impromptu assignments where there is no time for research.

Of course, after you’ve picked a topic, you still have to write the actual essay. Here’s a video to help guide you through the process:

166 Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas (Organized in Sections)

Below you’ll find a number of lists of argumentative essay topics organized in sections by subject matter. They range from sports to history and anything in between. Keep in mind that many of the issues have to do with more than one field of knowledge, so there is some overlap between sections.

You may notice that all of the topics are in the form of a question. We’ve done that to make them neutral towards the issue they touch upon, but for the purposes of an argumentative essay, you might want to convert them to a statement that conveys the claim you’ll support in your paper.

One of the best ways to ensure your audience is engaged in your essay is to choose a topic that’s, to some extent, contentious. Your teacher or professor is unlikely to doze off if the issue at hand is something that everyone has a strong opinion about. Controversy will make your job easier, too—it’s a lot more painless to do research and write when you have a genuine interest in the topic.

But there’s also a pitfall to hot-button topics, especially age-old ones. There’s a chance the arguments you choose have been made a thousand times already. That’s not to say you should never write about euthanasia or abortion. Just pick your ideas carefully and make sure they’re fresh and original to avoid making your audience yawn.

Below are a few controversial argumentative essay topics from across subject matters to give you inspiration:

• Should human cloning be allowed?
• Should abortion be subject to stricter regulation?
• Should there be greater gun control?
• Do video games cause violent behavior?
• Should the death penalty be abolished?
• Is torture justifiable as an interrogation technique?
• Should there be any exceptions to free speech?
• Did the #metoo movement go too far?
• Is capitalism the only effective economic system?

Most topics on this page can work for any academic level in which students are already versed in research and persuasive writing. But in this section, we’ve collected issues specifically related to education and sorted them into the different stages of school. So besides college, here you’ll find topics that can be used by high school and middle school students.

For College

Below is a selection of argumentative essay ideas that have to do with college life. Is college worth it? Is it too expensive? Read on to find similar questions.

• Should everyone go to college?
• Is college education overrated?
• Is college admission overly competitive?
• Are Ivy League colleges worth the cost?
• Has college tuition become too expensive?
• Should family income play a role in determining who gets a scholarship?
• Is a gap year beneficial or a waste of time?
• Are some college majors more valuable than others?
• What are the benefits of an MBA?
• Is an online college degree as good as one from a brick-and-mortar college?

For High School

Here you’ll find a collection of topics related to high school and all of its triumphs and struggles—perfect for students in this age group.

• Should schools be required to have security?
• Is standardized testing helping or hurting students?
• Does high school encourage creativity or conformity?
• Should high school students work during the school year?
• Should high school students be required to take drug tests?
• Should arts education be voluntary in high school?
• Should the senior year be voluntary?
• Is prom overrated?

For Middle School

Middle school is a great time to start developing writing skills and the ability to make a strong argument. Here’s a list of topics on middle school that are bound to be relatable for students of that age.

• Do teachers give middle school students too much homework?
• Should energy drinks be banned for middle schoolers?
• Should vending machines be banned in schools?
• Is school cafeteria food too unhealthy?
• Should middle school be single-sex or co-ed?
• Is distant learning effective for middle school students?
• Should students have a choice on what subjects to study in middle school?
• Should learning a foreign language be required in middle school?

As a bonus, we’re including a special section on bullying—an ongoing problem at all school levels that’s always worth discussing, including in an academic paper.

• Should schools do more to prevent bullying?
• Should parents of bullies be held responsible for their children’s behavior?
• Where is the line between pranks and bullying?
• Do kids bully others because they are mistreated at home?
• Is cyberbullying less harmful than real-life bullying?
• How should cyberbullying be punished?

To make children write an essay, even if it’s just one page, you definitely need to give them a topic they care about. Here are a few ideas:

• Is it ever acceptable to eat dessert before dinner?
• Is it OK for kids to read grown-up books?
• Should kids be allowed to watch grown-up movies?
• Should children get paid when they get good grades?
• Is it better to be a single child or to have siblings?
• Do parents treat their daughters differently than their sons?
• Should parents punish kids if they haven’t done their chores?

Whether you’re looking for a topic for your political science term paper or simply need a strong topic idea for your persuasive writing class, you’ll find something worth exploring in the list below.

• Are US elections representative of the will of the people?
• Should the voting age be lowered?
• Should voting be mandatory?
• Should the Electoral College be abolished?
• Should corporations pay more taxes?
• Should senators and house representatives have term limits?
• Should recycling be mandatory?
• Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
• Should same-sex marriage be allowed?
• Should healthcare be free for everyone?
• Will universal basic income be beneficial for society?

Religious issues often elicit a strong response, but beliefs are not always subject to rational argumentation. Still, such topics often touch on society as a whole and can be great subjects for a paper.

• Should creationism be part of the school curriculum?
• Is religion responsible for war?
• Is science an enemy of religion?
• Should public prayer be banned in schools?
• Should religion be taught in schools?
• Should laws be affected by religion?
• Should churches be required to pay taxes?

History is always up for debate, and there’s plenty of credible sources to explore, so if you need an essay topic for your history class, feel free to pick one from the list below.

As a bonus, we’ve added a couple of specialized subsections on World War 2 and American history.

• Can we ever know the “truth” about historical events?
• Is life better now than it was 100 years ago?
• Have peaceful revolutions ever led to real change?
• What caused the fall of the Roman Empire?
• Was Julius Caesar a tactical genius or a deranged dictator?
• Did European colonialism help or harm the colonized populations?
• Did nuclear weapons help make the world safer or more dangerous?
• Were the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the only way to end World War 2?
• Should the US have stayed out of World War 2?
• What caused the rise of Nazism in Germany?
• Was Stalin’s rule more harmful than Hitler’s?
• Could World War 2 have been avoided if Hitler had been admitted to art school?

American History

• Who was the greatest US president of all time?
• Could the Civil War have been avoided?
• Was the Declaration of Independence a declaration of war?
• Was the Constitution a proslavery document?
• Should the US founding fathers who owned slaves be revered as much as those who didn’t?
• How did Abraham Lincoln’s assassination affect Reconstruction?

Here we have a group of issues that are often related, but we sometimes wish they weren’t. In any case, they’re an excellent opportunity to practice argumentative writing.

• Should it be mandatory for Americans to speak English fluently?
• Should immigrants who enter the US illegally be granted residency?
• Should children of immigrants who enter the US illegally be entitled to public education?
• Is affirmative action helping or hurting racial equality?
• Should the US government pay reparations for slavery?
• Is the Black Lives Matter movement equivalent to the Civil Rights movement?
• Should Columbus Day be abolished and replaced with Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
• Should Native Americans be compensated for how settlers treated them?

Here you’ll find topics related to various scientific fields that you’re bound to find evidence on to build a solid research paper.

• Should the government fund scientific research?
• Should corporate interests influence scientists?
• Do people have enough trust in science?
• What is the biggest issue facing humanity that scientists should focus on the most?
• Should we spend resources looking for alien life?
• Is space travel worth the cost?
• Do humans cause climate change?
• Is fracking harmful to the environment?
• Are scientific breakthroughs or government regulations a better solution to the environmental crisis?

Many issues around technology and social media are up for debate, so they can serve as an excellent basis for a persuasive essay.

• Is technology helping or hurting society?
• Has the internet caused more harm than good to society?
• Are we becoming too dependent on computers?
• Is technology making us more isolated?
• Is AI dangerous for humanity?
• Are smartphones dangerous?
• Is social media helping us stay connected or making us more lonely?
• Are social media companies responsible for the spread of fake news?
• Does social media contribute to political radicalization?
• Should Facebook be banned from collecting data from users?
• Should people be allowed to stay anonymous online?

In this section, we’ve curated argumentative essay topics related to health and medicine that are worth exploring.

• Should the morning-after pill be sold to underage teens?
• What is the best way to fight the obesity epidemic?
• Are GMOs dangerous?
• Should there be limits on sugary drink sizes?
• Is healthcare a fundamental human right?
• Should assisted suicide be legalized?
• Should doctors be banned from promoting drugs?
• Should medical marijuana be legal?
• Should parents be able to deny medical treatment for their children?
• Are nurses compensated fairly?
• Should nurses be allowed to prescribe drugs?
• Is the nursing profession better suited for women?

If you’re struggling to come up with an argumentative essay topic for your psychology class, feel free to pick one from the list below.

• Does screen time negatively affect children’s psyche?
• Should psychotherapists inform the police if a client admits to breaking the law?
• Do dreams have any meaning?
• Is positive thinking helpful or harmful?
• Can lie detectors ever be trusted?
• Are projective tests such as inkblots reliable?
• Can hypnosis help us remember forgotten events?
• Is prejudice against different people inherent to humans?
• Is anxiety ever helpful?

There’s no shortage of discussions surrounding sports, but they’re often too specialized to be interesting for the layman. Here are a few broad and contentious ones that can lay the grounds for a strong argumentative essay.

• Should athletes be considered role models?
• Should coaches make as much money as players?
• Should athletes face repercussions if they don’t stand for the National Anthem?
• Is football too dangerous?
• Is sports betting different from casino gambling?
• Is cheerleading a real sport?
• Do sports rely too much on computer predictions nowadays?
• Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in sports?

Here you’ll find argumentative essay topics related to music, films, and other art forms that shape today’s pop culture.

• Is music getting better or worse over time?
• Is listening to music an effective remedy against stress?
• Are television shows an accurate representation of the American lifestyle?
• Did the golden age of Hollywood pass?
• Should celebrities be considered role models?
• Should any artwork be censored?
• Is art unique to humans, or can it be observed in other animals?

If you care about animals, you might want to write an argumentative paper on a topic related to animal welfare. Here are a few ideas:

• Should animal research be banned?
• Should zoos or aquariums be banned and replaced with wildlife reserves?
• Should fur be banned?
• Should we stop eating animals?
• Should the government try to save endangered species?
• Is hunting for sport justifiable, or should it be banned?
• Do animals have emotions?
• Do pets help kids learn to be caring and empathetic?

Sometimes you just don’t want to deal with complex and serious issues or excessive research. That’s why we curated a collection of light-hearted and easy argumentative essay topics.

• Is complaining helping us deal with stress?
• Is talent more important than hard work or vice versa?
• How much compromise is OK in a relationship?
• Should couples live together before getting married?
• How important is it to keep your home clean and tidy?
• At what age do you become an adult?
• Are parents entitled to knowing everything about their kids?
• How long is it acceptable to stay in a restaurant after finishing your meal?

Looking for a topic for a different type of essay? We’ve compiled a huge catalog in our Essay Topics page. If you want something that carries a stronger emotional charge for your paper, speech, or debate, you can also check out our list of Controversial Topics .

127 Funny Controversial Topics

121 Funny Debate Topics for Your Class

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Joe Biden 'Sleeping' During Memorial Day Speech Raises Questions

A video appearing to show President Biden with his eyes shut for an extended period during a Memorial Day event on Monday has been widely shared on social media, with conservative activists alleging he was sleeping during an address by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin .

Biden commemorated Memorial Day at the Arlington National Cemetery on Monday where he laid a wreath by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as part of an annual show of respect.

Ahead of their likely presidential rematch in November, Donald Trump , 77, has focused heavily on the cognitive faculties of 81-year-old Biden, branding him "sleepy Joe." However, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee himself has been accused of falling asleep during his ongoing hush money trial in Manhattan, though he strongly denied this on his Truth Social website.

On X (formerly Twitter ), a number of conservative-leaning accounts shared a 48-second clip in which an unknown person zooms in on Biden during television coverage of the Memorial Day event. An unidentified woman's voice can be heard saying: "Look Biden's sleeping. His eyes have been closed for about 30 seconds."

The woman asks: "Do you think the media are going to use this?" The voice then says: "He's going to drool—wake up Biden!"

The footage was shared on X by several accounts including '1776,' an account that has an early design of the American flag and an artist's flattering impression of Trump as its cover photo.

Along with the video, the '1776' account wrote : "The amount of c*** Trump got about sitting in court, we will never see this in the media, this guy is sleeping in Memorial Day. Unreal [angry face emoji]."

The post went viral, receiving more than 6,000 reposts, 13,000 likes, and 262,000 views on X.

Newsweek contacted the White House press office and representatives of Joe Biden 's 2024 presidential election campaign for comment by email outside of usual business hours.

The X account of Graham Allen, a conservative social media commentator with over 410,000 followers on the platform, also shared the footage, writing : "Joe Biden was literally sleeping during a MEMORIAL DAY ceremony. DISGUSTING."

This post was also widely shared receiving over 3,700 reposts and 409,000 views.

Ian Miles Cheong, a popular conservative commentator with over one million X followers, also posted the video, adding : "Biden fell asleep at the Memorial Day address. What in the world is wrong with him?"

However, another X user, who claimed to be in Virginia, hit back in the comments replying : "Trump had tiny energy after sleeping in court all week during the day."

Speaking at the Arlington National Cemetery, Biden paid tribute to America's war dead who he said were "bound by a common commitment not to a place, not to a person, not to a president, but to an idea—the idea of the United States of America."

The president said: "Freedom has never been guaranteed. Every generation has had to earn it, fight for it, defend it in the battle between autocracy and democracy, between the greed of a few and the rights of many."

On Truth Social, Trump posted a Memorial Day message in which he took aim at E. Jean Carroll , a magazine writer who a New York court concluded the former president sexually assaulted at a Manhattan department store, then defamed after she spoke out.

He said: "Happy Memorial Day to All, including the Human Scum that is working so hard to destroy our Once Great Country, & to the Radical Left, Trump Hating Federal Judge in New York that presided over, get this, TWO separate trials, that awarded a woman, who I never met before (a quick handshake at a celebrity event, 25 years ago, doesn't count!), 91 MILLION DOLLARS for 'DEFAMATION.'"

Trump was found liable for sexually assaulting and defaming Carroll by a New York City jury in 2023 and ordered to pay $5 million in damages. He was later instructed to pay Carroll a further $83.3 million after a court concluded he had continued defaming her. Both verdicts are being appealed by Trump who denies any wrongdoing.

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Trump press conference livestream: Watch as former president discusses conviction

One day after he was found guilty on all 34 counts in his New York criminal  hush money trial , former President Donald Trump is expected to give a press conference Friday morning.

USA TODAY is providing live coverage of Trump's press conference, which is scheduled to begin Friday at 11 a.m. ET in Trump Tower. You can watch live at the embedded video live at the top of the page or on USA TODAY's YouTube channel .

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, was found guilty by a jury Thursday of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. He is the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.

Donald Trump's guilty verdict: How will it hit his reelection bid? Is his political fallout here?

“This is just a disgrace,”  Trump told reporters  in the hallway outside the courtroom after he was convicted. “We didn’t do anything wrong. I’m an innocent man.”

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

It was the closure to a more-than six weeks-long trial, the first criminal trial in U.S. history against a former president.

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Study reveals brain mechanisms behind speech impairment in Parkinson’s

Most Parkinson’s disease patients struggle with speech problems. New research by Stanford Medicine scientists uncovers the brain connections that could be essential to preserving speech.

May 28, 2024 - By Nina Bai

Research by Stanford Medicine scientists may explain why some treatments for Parkinson’s — developed mainly to target motor symptoms — can improve speech impairments while other treatments make them worse. Lightspring /Shutterstock.com

Parkinson’s disease is most well-known and well-studied for its motor impairments — tremors, stiffness and slowness of movement. But less visible symptoms such as trouble with memory, attention and language, which also can profoundly impact a person’s quality of life, are less understood. A new study by Stanford Medicine researchers reveals the brain mechanisms behind one of the most prevalent, yet often overlooked, symptoms of the disease — speech impairment.

Based on brain imaging from Parkinson’s patients, the researchers identified specific connections in the brain that may determine the extent of speech difficulties.

The findings , reported May 20 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , could help explain why some treatments for Parkinson’s — developed mainly to target motor symptoms — can improve speech impairments while other treatments make them worse.

More than a motor disorder

“Parkinson’s disease is a very common neurological disorder, but it’s mostly considered a motor disorder,” said Weidong Cai , PhD, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and the lead author of the new study. “There’s been lots of research on how treatments such as medications and deep brain stimulation can help improve motor function in patients, but there was limited understanding about how these treatments affect cognitive function and speech.”

Over 90% of people with Parkinson’s experience difficulties with speech, an intricate neurological process that requires motor and cognitive control. Patients may struggle with a weak voice, slurring, mumbling and stuttering.

“Speech is a complex process that involves multiple cognitive functions, such as receiving auditory feedback, organizing thoughts and producing the final vocal output,” Cai said.

The senior author of the study is Vinod Menon , PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of the Stanford Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience Laboratory .

The researchers set out to study how levodopa, a common Parkinson’s drug that replaces the dopamine lost from the disease, affects overall cognitive function. They focused on the subthalamic nucleus, a small, pumpkin-seed-shaped region deep within the brain.

Weidong Cai

The subthalamic nucleus is known for its role in inhibiting motor activity, but there are clues to its involvement in other functions. For example, deep brain stimulation, which uses implanted electrodes to stimulate the subthalamic nucleus, has proven to be a powerful way to relieve motor symptoms for Parkinson’s patients — but a common side effect is worsened speech impairment.

Same test, different scores

In the new study, 27 participants with Parkinson’s disease and 43 healthy controls, all older than 60, took standard tests of motor and cognitive functioning. The participants with Parkinson’s took the tests while on and off their medication.

As expected, the medication improved motor functioning in the patients, with those having the most severe symptoms improving the most.

The test for cognitive functioning offered a surprise. The test, known as the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, is given in two forms — oral and written. Patients are provided with nine symbols, each matched with a number — a plus sign for the number 7, for example. They are then asked to translate a string of symbols into numbers, either speaking or writing down their answers, depending on the version of the test.

As a group, the patients’ performance on both versions of the cognitive test was little affected by medication. But taking a closer look, the researchers noticed that the subset of patients who performed particularly poorly on the spoken version of the test without medication improved their spoken performance on the medication. Their written test scores did not change significantly.

“It was quite interesting to find this dissociation between the written and oral version of the same test,” Cai said.

The dissociation suggested that the medication was not enhancing general cognitive functions such as attention and working memory, but it was selectively improving speech.

“Our research unveiled a previously unrecognized impact of dopaminergic drugs on the speech function of Parkinson’s patients,” Menon said.

Uncovering connections

Next, the researchers analyzed fMRI brain scans of the participants, looking at how the subthalamic nucleus interacted with brain networks dedicated to various functions, including hearing, vision, language and executive control.

Vinod Menon

They found that different parts of the subthalamic nucleus interacted with different networks.

In particular, they discovered that improvements on the oral version of the test correlated with better functional connectivity between the right side of the subthalamic nucleus and the brain’s language network.

Using a statistical model, they could even predict a patient’s improvement on the oral test based on changes in their brain’s functional connectivity.

“Here we’re not talking about an anatomical connection,” Cai explained. Rather, functional connectivity between brain regions means the activity in these regions is closely coordinated, as if they are talking to each other.

“We discovered that these medications influence speech by altering the functional connectivity between the subthalamic nucleus and crucial language networks,” Menon said. “This insight opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions tailored specifically to improve speech without deteriorating other cognitive abilities.”

This newly identified interaction between the subthalamic nucleus and the language network could serve as a biological indicator of speech behavior — in Parkinson’s as well as other speech disorders like stuttering.

Such a biomarker could be used to monitor treatment outcomes and inspire new therapies. “Of course, you can directly observe the outcome of a medication by observing behavior, but I think to have a biomarker in the brain will provide more useful information for the future development of drugs,” Cai said. 

The findings also provide a detailed map of the subthalamic nucleus, which could guide neurosurgeons performing deep brain stimulation in avoiding damage to an area critical to speech function. “By identifying key neural maps and connections that predict speech improvement, we can craft more effective treatment plans that are both precise and personalized for Parkinson’s disease patients,” Menon said.

The study received funding from the National Institutes of Health (grants P50 AG047366, P30 AG066515, RF1 NS086085, R21 DC017950-S1, R01 NS115114, R01 MH121069 and K99 AG071837) and the Alzheimer’s Association.

About Stanford Medicine

Stanford Medicine is an integrated academic health system comprising the Stanford School of Medicine and adult and pediatric health care delivery systems. Together, they harness the full potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education and clinical care for patients. For more information, please visit med.stanford.edu .

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