But how do you find persuasive speech topics? How do you know a good one when you see one? Follow these steps and you will be well on your way to nailing this persuasive speech.

Steps:

1. BRAINSTORM TOPICS YOU KNOW.
   Persuasive speech topics are best when they come from an overflow of knowledge. If you need to research just to get up to speed on a topic, then this might not be the topic for you. Take out a piece of paper right now and write down every topic you can think of that you have interest in. People want to know that you are an authority at some level on this topic. (This is called an ethos appeal)
2. NARROW YOUR TOPICS DOWN TO SOMETHING SPECIFIC.
   Persuasive speeches that stay in the land of the general always bring a yawn. You are trying to persuade people to either think, feel, or act differently about a specific topic. Circle a few topics on your first paper that seem to have promise. Draw lines out from each circle and start adding more specific sub-topics. For example, you might have listed Sports as a topic you are interested in. Draw lines out from the circle and start adding subtopics like: baseball, basketball, physical therapy, health, fitness, strength, speed, recreation, etc. (This helps you focus your logos)
3. CHOOSE A SUBTOPIC YOU CARE ABOUT DEEPLY.
   The best persuasive speech topics are topics that raise passion in the speaker. A certain level of emotional appeal (pathos) is necessary to persuade people. So start with something you know about, that is specific enough for you to care deeply about it. If we use the sports example, you might care deeply about people getting and staying in good physical condition. It’s a good idea to write down why you care about this topic.
4. WRITE A PERSUASIVE PURPOSE STATEMENT.
   Once you have your topic, subtopic, and reason for caring down, craft a purpose statement for the speech. I want this speech to ____________ people to _______________. The statement filled in could read: I want this speech to inspire people to start a weekly exercise routine. Or, I want this speech to motivate people to choose a primary hobby sport. Alternatively it could be an emotional persuasion such as ‘ I want this speech to change people’s emotional reaction to the word athlete.’ Make the persuasive purpose statement clear, and you are ready to start researching and writing.

Tips:

• Persuasive speech topics should be specific enough to be covered in the amount of time you have, but general enough that each person in your audience has a reason to care.
• Tailor your speech topic to the audience you will be addressing. What do they care about? How can you use what they care about to help them care about your topic?
• See related articles above and to the right for more on this topic.

[Via eHow]

Related posts:

1. How to Develop Persuasive Speech Topics
2. How to Write a Conclusion for Persuasive Speeches

Follow this process to find your informative speech topic that will work well.

Steps:

1. Brainstorm a list of things you know something about.
   It is very difficult to make an informative speech interesting if you are not first interested yourself. Take out a piece of paper, or open a text file, and start brainstorming topics that interest you. Try to make your list of informative speech topics specific. In other words, write down ‘Buddhist meditation practices’ instead of ‘Buddhism.’
2. Circle three or four you want to learn something more about.
   Even though you already know something about it, you do not want to simply give a speech on stuff you already know. The most interesting informative speeches are ones in which at least some of the information is new enough to the speaker to be interesting or engaging for the speaker. Draw lines out from your circled topics and start listing subtopics that you want to learn more about. If your interests were running, rock climbing, music, and art then you might list subtopics such as marathon training, lead climbing, 60’s rock, or fresco painting for informative speech topics.
3. Narrow that list down to the most widely interesting.
   Now that you have narrowed your list to things you want to learn about, narrow it farther. A speech is not just about the speaker’s interests (or it will be a very boring speech). What might your audience enjoy learning about the most from your brainstormed list? What would fascinate them? Try to pick one that you think will most interest the audience you will be speaking to. Though you can make nearly any topic interesting, 60’s rock might be more interesting to your peers than lead climbing or vice versa. In short, for an informative speech topic to work well you have to know your audience.
4. Pick the one you are most excited about.
   You now have a list of topics that you know something about already, are specific, are interesting to you, and interesting to others. The final step is to just decide on one. Any topic that matches those criteria will do. But you may want to consider which ones you will be the most naturally excited about. Is there one which more naturally lends itself to visual aids in a speech? Choose the informative speech topic that you will enjoy most and will also give you the best chance of success.

Tips:

• Informative speech topics should drive you to research new information. Do the work to make the speech worth giving.
• You will know you have enough research when you are excited about the topic and find yourself wanting to tell your friends about you have found.
• See related articles on this page for more on speech courses and speech in general.

Related posts:

1. How to Choose Informative Speech Topics
2. How to Choose a Topic for an Informative Speech
3. How to Write an Informative Speech

1. Teens and Finances
   Research the relationship between teenagers and finances. State the No. 1 problem before offering a solution.
2. Working Women
   Study working women with children and work-attendance issues. Tell the audience of one problem and then give suggestions for solving the issue.
3. Eyes
   Compare medical complications of wearing contacts and then tell the audience what they should do now that they’ve been shown the problem.
4. Fathers
   Research reasons that men abandon their children and give suggestions to solve the problem.
5. Considerations
   Problems are everywhere. A good problem/solution speech will begin with an interesting problem and conclude with a way to counteract the issue. Speeches that are relevant to people’s lives are everywhere, waiting to be found.

No related posts.

Steps:

1. Remember that the groom chose you to be his best man. Be yourself in your best man speech, and don’t worry about giving the speech in any overly-formal format that doesn’t reflect you.
2. Keep it short. You don’t want to just say “Cheers” or deliver a one-liner, but you also don’t want to ramble on and on–this day is not about you. Your speech should be long enough to say what you want to say, but no longer. As a rule of thumb, try to keep the toast between 2-4 minutes. A lot of people say seven minutes should be the maximum, but really anything over five minutes can tend to get a bit tiresome. See how easy this is?
3. Prepare your speech in advance. Write it out. The sooner you get it written, the more time you’ll have to practice and perfect it, and the more confident you’ll be when you have to get up in front of everybody.
4. Introduce yourself and explain how you know the bride and groom. It’s likely that not everybody present will know you, so you should say who you are, how you met the bride and groom, and how long you’ve known them.
5. Thank the parents and guests. It’s traditional to thank the people paying for the wedding, usually the bride’s parents. Be subtle. Don’t thank them for “paying for” the celebration, but rather for helping to make it possible. It’s also nice to thank all the guests for being there.
6. Tell a little story. The main part of your speech should be a story that tells a little bit about the groom and, possibly, the bride. There are basically two approaches: tell a funny story or a heartwarming story. Or you could combine the two. A particularly appropriate story might talk about how the bride and groom met or something that happened earlier in their relationship. If you can’t think of anything memorable, talk to friends or family of the groom.
• The story should be appropriate for people of all ages, and it should not be humiliating or offensive. Avoid mentioning the groom’s ex-girlfriends, his time in prison, or anything derogatory about the bride.
• While the story doesn’t have to be about both the bride and groom–you are the groom’s best man, after all, and may not know the bride very well–it’s good to spend at least a little time talking about the bride, as well. Try to make the speech balanced. If you can’t think of any appropriate stories, or if you don’t know the bride well enough to include her in a story, make some observations about love or marriage in general or about the groom’s feelings for the bride.
7. Expound on the groom’s virtues. Either during the story or after it, it’s time to build your buddy up. For example, talk about his loyalty as a friend, his compassion, or the fact that you know how much he loves the bride and how he’ll make a great husband. In a way, you can think of yourself as a salesman, selling the groom to members of the bride’s family who may not know him as well as you do. It’s completely normal to find this part a little embarrassing. Just remember that this is your buddy’s day, and no one’s going to laugh at you for getting a little sappy. Don’t forget to also pay homage to the bride. You don’t want to give the impression that you don’t know why this wonderful guy is marrying her.
8. Propose a toast. This is the most important part of the speech, which is, after all, frequently called a best man’s toast. You just want to wish the couple the best in their lives together. How you do so is completely up to you. You could use a quote, or you can just speak from your heart. When you’re done, raise your glass, say “Congratulations,” “Cheers,” “Salud,” or some other appropriate toasting word, and be sure to drink to your own toast.

Tips:

• Bring some notes up with you in case you go blank during the toast. You don’t want to read your speech off a piece of paper, but a brief outline on a notecard can help you make sure you don’t forget any important parts.
• Tasteful humor tends to go over well in most speeches, and a best man’s toast is no exception. A good joke is especially valuable as an icebreaker at the beginning of your speech, and some comic relief is always welcome after a sappy, heartwarming story. That said…
• Don’t force humor. If you’re comfortable giving humorous speeches and have done it before, great. If you don’t like speaking in public, and aren’t confident in your ability to be funny, it’s much better to read a serious speech off index cards than to try to become a comedian for one night. And most jokes from “best jokes for weddings” books or web sites are NOT funny. Remember, no one will be mad at you for not being funny enough, but they will definitely remember you negatively if you fill your speech with terrible jokes. Better to be dull than an idiot.
• You can find a lot of examples of best man speeches on the internet, either for free or for purchase. You may find these helpful just to give you some ideas, but don’t copy them. Speak from your heart, and let your individual voice come through. Your own words will be far more meaningful than any canned speech.
• If you want to try something a little different, consider a slideshow of relevant photos or text as a visual aid. Remember, though, keep it short.
• Things to Bear in Mind
• compliments can have the same effect as a good one-liner so compliment often.
• ensure your speech combines humor with sincerity.
• a short poem (4 or 5 lines will do) about the Bride and Groom is always very well received.
• no matter how well you have memorized your speech bring a copy with you on the big day as nerves can effect the most confident of speakers.
• mention how the Groom is the happiest he has ever been since the Bride entered his life.
• use quotes from famous people. There are lots of marriage quips and one-liners made from famous people that are ideal for using in a Best Man speech, an example being this quote from Oscar Wilde who said “Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.”
• props can enhance a Best Man speech so try to have a prop to use, examples might be; an umbrella (for winter weddings), a crumpled brown envelope where you can pretend to have “found one of the Groom’s old school reports, or a toy wrestling belt for the sports fan.

[Via WikiHow]

Related posts:

1. Speech Topics – How to Write a Speech About Yourself
2. How to Write a Funny Speech

Steps:

1. Give up the belief that you have to be perfect. Most people are afraid of public speaking because they fear the embarrassment of making mistakes in front of others. Anxiety over mistakes only makes mistakes more likely. Having anxiety could be the biggest mistake of all! Even professional speakers occasionally make mistakes. The difference is that they don’t consider mistakes major obstacles to success. The secret is to accept that mistakes are going to happen sometimes, and to develop the ability to recover from them quickly. Dr. L. Michael Hall, author of Secrets of Personal Mastery, advises, “Give yourself permission to be gloriously fallible!”
2. The way to recover from a mistake is to observe it dispassionately, take whatever corrective action is appropriate, regain your composure, focus on what to say next, and get on with it. Dwelling on an error and feeling bad about it only adds to your confusion. Leave the mistake behind and move forward.
3. You can’t please everyone in your audience. Sure-some listeners may think you are a moron for making a mistake. Some won’t even notice it. Others may admire the way you recover so easily. Some may be relieved to know you are human. Some won’t care one way or the other.
4. Mistakes can provide excellent feedback for improvement. Mistakes often promote single-trial learning, so it’s almost certain you will never make the same mistake twice. Ask yourself “What is the worst that can happen if I make a mistake during this speech?”Making a mistake does not carry a death sentence.
5. Visualize the outcome you want.People who fear public speaking visualize their upcoming speaking opportunities as abysmal failures. They see themselves fumbling clumsily with notes, stammering, becoming mute, turning red, possibly crying, horrifying audiences with their stupidity, and slinking away to live out the remainder of their miserable lives in exile, reviled as a social reject. Psychologists call this method of preparation “negative anticipation.”
6. STOP IT! Each time you engage in this mental flagellation, shake yourself out of it. Say “STOP” loudly to yourself. Do anything to get your mind out of the failure trap. Sing, whistle, recite poetry, walk around the block, or talk to a friend. You can even make those scary images seem silly and laughable, by imagining your audience in clown costumes, or seeing your performance in fast motion.
7. In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, author Steven Covey tells his readers to “begin with the end in mind.” Visualize yourself giving that speech the way you want to. If you anticipate success, you are more likely to get it. Mentally rehearse that you are speaking confidently with a smooth delivery to an appreciative audience. Hear the words coming out of your mouth in a flowing cadence. See yourself with an erect posture, breathing free and easy. By visualizing this way, you are programming your mind and body for the results you want.
8. Prepare Positively.Stop worrying about yourself and get excited about your subject! You have something important to say and others want to hear about it. If you can, pick a subject you enjoy. Speak on topics you know well. Even if you are delivering dreary statistics about last year’s crop failure, put something of yourself into your speech. Include an anecdote, or a quotation. Bring in the human interest perspective. Practice and preparation are easier if your subject matter is important and/or enjoyable to you. If you think your material is interesting and meaningful, your audience will catch your enthusiasm and appreciate your sincerity.
9. Love your listeners.Once, just before I was about to speak to classroom of 70 students, a colleague asked me, “How can you be so confident will all those people judging you and finding fault with you?” Now there is a defeatist presupposition, if I ever heard one! It had never even occurred to me to think of my students in that way! “I am confident,” I answered, “because I don’t think that way. I assume my audiences are friendly. I assume they are here because they are interested in what I have to say. I love my audiences and I assume they love me.” You get back what you put out—and nowhere is this adage more true than in public speaking. If you want your audiences to like you, you have to like them first.
10. Put the past behind you—at least the ugly parts.Some people have speaking anxiety because of some humiliating incident of the past—often in childhood. Such events can be highly traumatizing for children (and not a joyride for adults, either) and can cause life-long, paralyzing fear. If such an incident is the basis of your fear, visit a therapist or counselor who specializes in phobias. Phobias are nothing to be ashamed of. Researchers estimate that 80 percent of the population has at least one in a lifetime. Contrary to popular belief, many phobias can be cured, usually in three or four therapy sessions.
11. Maybe your fear isn’t a true phobia, but still relates to past flops and embarrassments. Remember: All good speakers started out as not-so-good speakers. They improved because they resolved to do better the next time.
12. Get some rest and avoid hassles.Plan ahead and get a good night’s sleep before your presentation. If you have trouble falling asleep, drink some warm milk (yes, it does work), and think some pleasant, relaxing thoughts. It may help to listen to a relaxation tape or soft music, or do some light reading before going to sleep. If you can, clear your calendar of stressful events that could interfere with your ability to concentrate and speak confidently and sincerely. In other words, don’t schedule a job interview, a dentist visit, or a meeting with your ex-spouse’s lawyer on the same day you are going to deliver that all-important speech!
13. Avoid mood-altering substances.Some people mistakenly think that drinking lots of coffee or alcohol, smoking cigarettes or popping a tranquilizer before speaking will improve their delivery. They do it to pep up or calm down. Mood-altering substances are an emotional crutch you don’t need. The problem is that you can’t regulate the dosage. You don’t know how much is too much. Once it is in your bloodstream, there is little you can do about it. Your relaxation may turn to sluggishness. Your pep may turn to jitters. It’s best to avoid these substances altogether.
14. Additionally, eat lightly, or not at all, one hour before speaking. A full stomach can lower your energy level and concentration, because your body is busy digesting food. Any nervousness can make digestion difficult. You don’t want a belch or a gurgling stomach interrupting your speech!
15. Look your best.Take some time with your appearance. Polish your shoes and comb your hair. Wear attractive, flattering, professional-looking clothing. When you look good, you feel confident. If you aren’t sure what looking good is all about, do what professional speakers do. Have a few sessions with an image consultant to learn about the colors and styles that look best on you. Women can get personalized advice on hair and make-up. A good image consultant can tell you how to look fantastic without spending a fortune.
16. Remember to breathe.Anxiety tightens the muscles in the chest and throat. With a restricted airway and without enough oxygen, your voice can come out as a squeak! Deep breathing, on the other hand, sends oxygen to the lungs and brain and expands the throat and chest, promoting relaxation. As you approach the platform, take a deep breath and relax.
17. Focus on friendly faces.While speaking, maintain eye contact with your listeners. Find friendly faces and focus on them. Smiles and approving nods will give you extra encouragement.
18. It’s ironic that some people are more afraid of public speaking than of driving on the highways. Yet, vastly more casualties and fatalities result from traffic accidents than from public speaking. Fear is a natural survival mechanism. It can motivate us, or stop us in our tracks. In situations that pose a threat to life and limb, fear motivates us to be careful. On the other hand, fear is a problem when it interferes with our goals and achievements. These ten tips will help you progress toward confidence on the platform. Ultimately we succeed when we conduct ourselves according to the rewards we want, rather than the things we fear.

Tips:

• Get plenty of sleep the night before your speech. Being fatigued during your speech can make you feel more stressed.
• On the morning of your speech, eat something but don’t drink soda. Carbonated beverages will give you dry mouth.
• If you start to speak and your voice is shaky, take a pause. Clear your throat. Take a drink of water if it’s available.
• Focus on someone in the back of the room. This has a calming effect on some speakers. It feels weird, but it doesn’t look weird.
• If there is a microphone, talk to it. Many speakers concentrate on the microphone and pretend it’s the only person in the room. This works well.
• Prepare an “I don’t know” answer if people will be asking questions. Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know. You can say something like, “That is a great question. I’ll look into that.”
• Prepare a good ending line. Avoid an awkward moment at the end. Don’t back away, mumbling “Well, I guess that’s all.”
• Walk up to your speaking location early, to give your nerves time to calm down.

[Via WikiHow]

Related posts:

1. Speech Topics: How To Deal With A Fear Of Giving a Speech
2. Speech Topics – How to Write a Speech About Yourself