Speech Topics

Persuasive, informative and impromptu speeches

The three types have different goals. A persuasive speech asks the audience to believe or do something. An informative speech explains how something works or why it happens. An impromptu speech is one you give with little or no preparation, often on a personal or light topic.

Pick the type first, because it decides how you plan. The sections below give topics from the generator for each type and a simple structure to follow.

Persuasive speech topics

A good persuasive topic makes one clear claim the audience could act on today.

To structure it, open with why the issue matters to this audience. Give two or three reasons, each with an example or a fact. Answer the strongest objection. End by telling people exactly what to do. Topics from easy to deep:

• Everyone should make their bed every morning
• You should turn off notifications to stay focused
• Every neighborhood should have a little free library
• Everyone should learn to cook five simple meals
• Everyone should use a password manager
• People should repair their phones instead of buying new ones
• Public speaking should be taught in every grade
• Phones should be left outside the bedroom at night
• Owning fewer things leads to a happier life
• Light pollution deserves as much attention as air pollution

Informative speech topics

An informative topic explains how or why something works, without taking a side. "How bees make honey" informs. "We should protect bees in our own backyards" persuades.

To structure it, preview your main points in the opening. Explain them in order: by steps, by time or by parts. Close with a short summary and one fact worth remembering. Topics from easy to deep:

• How bees make honey
• Why the sky is blue
• How a caterpillar becomes a butterfly
• How volcanoes form
• How 3D printers work
• How passwords get stolen and how to protect yours
• How vaccines train the immune system
• How credit scores work
• How black holes form
• How recommendation algorithms choose what you see next

Impromptu speech topics

Impromptu topics are short and open, so anyone can talk about them without notes. Many are personal, like a favorite place, a habit or a piece of advice. Some ask a "what if" question that you answer with your imagination:

• Your favorite way to spend a rainy day
• If you could add one hour to your day, how would you use it?
• What you would pack for a trip to Mars
• A small thing that annoys you more than it should
• If you were mayor for a day
• An invention the world still needs
• Advice you would give your younger self
• What success means to you
• A tradition you think should change

How to give an impromptu speech

Use PREP: Point, Reason, Example, Point. It works for any topic and keeps a 1 minute talk from wandering. Spend your prep time choosing the point. The rest follows from it.

1. Point: state your answer in one sentence, like "My favorite way to spend a rainy day is baking with my sister."
2. Reason: say why in one or two sentences.
3. Example: tell one short, specific story that shows the reason.
4. Point: repeat your answer in new words, then stop.

Speech topics for high school and college students

High school students do well with Easy and Medium topics tied to school and daily life, such as "Every student should join at least one club" or "How to read a nutrition label". These need little research, so you can focus on delivery.

College speeches usually need sources, so try Deep topics like "How antibiotics work and why they can stop working" or "Ocean exploration deserves as much funding as space exploration". Set Difficulty to match, and filter Categories like School, Science & nature or Society.

How long is a 1 minute or 5 minute speech?

Many speakers talk at roughly 130 to 150 words per minute, so a script of that length fills about a minute. Your pace may be faster or slower, so treat these as estimates and time a practice run:

• 1 minute: about 130 to 150 words. Room for one point and one example.
• 2 minutes: about 260 to 300 words.
• 3 minutes: about 390 to 450 words. Room for two or three points.
• 5 minutes: about 650 to 750 words. Room for an opening, three points and a closing.

1 minute and 5 minute speech topics

Impromptu topics fit a 1 minute talk well: one point, one story, done. Persuasive and informative topics carry enough material for 3 to 5 minutes, especially at the Medium and Deep levels.

The timer goes up to 5 minutes, so you can run a full 5 minute speech in one go. If the whole thing feels like too much at first, practice in two parts: a 3 minute run for your opening and first points, then a 2 minute run for the rest.

Practice with the prep timer

The prep timer copies a real class or contest: you see the topic, think, then talk. Choose Prep of 30 seconds, 1 minute or 2 minutes. When prep ends, a sound plays and the speaking timer starts. Turn off Sound if you practice somewhere quiet.

A good daily routine: three impromptu topics, 30 seconds of prep and a 1 minute timer each. Record yourself on your phone and listen for filler words like "um" and "so". Pause instead. When 30 seconds feels easy, switch to No prep.

In a classroom, press Full screen so everyone sees the topic and the clock, or Share to send the same topic to the whole group.

Want a side to argue instead? Try our debate topics. For quick speaking topics mixed with conversation and writing ideas, use the random topic generator.

How to choose a speech topic

Choose a topic you care about or are curious about. The audience can hear the difference. Then check it against these questions:

• Does it fit the audience? A class of 12-year-olds and a room of coworkers need different topics.
• Does it fit the time? A 1 minute talk can't cover "How the United Nations works".
• Is the goal clear? Decide if you want to persuade, inform or share a story, and pick the matching mode.
• For a persuasive speech, would some people disagree? If everyone already agrees, there's nothing to persuade.
• For an informative speech, will most of the audience learn something new?