How to choose a topic...

[Cyber Burn]

Thanks Benton, I'll keep practicing and try to make quality cue cards and hope for the best. I'll let you know how things turn out.

[BentonGrey]

Good luck my friend!  Just remember: relax, and focus on the fact that you're talking about something you love.  Enjoy having a captive audience.  The most important thing is to just relax.  I know it's easier said than done, but if you can go up there and just enjoy the chance to tell them about something really cool, you'll all enjoy the experience! 

[Cyber Burn]

Well, I did the speech, got my grade back, and surprisingly, I did better than expected. Now it's time to prepare for my next speech. It has to be a Persuasive speech, the only topic choice I have so far is "Why everyone should donate blood".

[BentonGrey]

I'm glad to hear that CB.  The more you do this, the easier it will be.  Ten years ago I never thought I'd be able to routinely stand up in front of dozens and dozens of people and lecture every day of the week, but you get used to it. 

That's a good topic, seems solid.

[Reepicheep]

I have never donated blood.

Convince me!

[BWPS]

No one will ever convince me! I have the most common blood type and I'll pass out, and that will ruin half my day. AND WHAT ABOUT THE JWs? Oh man, you are going to have your work cut out for you.

In seriousness, though, I had to do the same kind of speeches in and I almost passed out then too, so congrats on the first (second) speech, and good luck on the next one.

[Cyber Burn]

I have never donated blood.

Convince me!

Donate blood Now!!! Or I'll find you and squeeze you dry!

Convinced yet? 

[BentonGrey]

Okay, okay already!

Haha, I think you've got a winner.

[Cyber Burn]

If only it were that easy. But at least I have my topic, so that's a start.

[laughing paradox]

If the teacher had a sense of humor, I'd make a persuasive speech about something silly, like why the penguins are the best animal to visit at a zoo.

Good job on your previous speech. You can't lose with comics.

[Cyber Burn]

Thanks LP, unfortunately, the topic has to be researchable, so silly is pretty much out.

[Cyber Burn]

My "Blood Donation" topic just got shot down, apparently it's a taboo topic in the speech classes, so now I need a new topic.

Wish I had known this before I started writing it.

[Reepicheep]

How about "Why everyone should submit to the next Reich" ?

[Deaths Jester]

How about "Why everyone should submit to the next Reich" ?

Reep, quit channelling Hitler.  Remeber what happened last time you did that?  It wasn't pretty! 

[BentonGrey]

Haha, wow, not going near that one....

That stinks CB!  Do you have any other ideas?  What about something on censorship, like SOPA and PIPA?

[Cyber Burn]

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about SOPA and PIPA. So I wouldn't know where to start.

[BentonGrey]

Well, there was LOTS of news about those two pieces of legislation, but that's neither here-nor-there.  If it isn't something that interests you already, it probably isn't right for your speech.  What about the importance of voting, lowering the drinking age, legalizing marijuana, health care reform, tax reform, censorship of kids TV shows...?  All of those topics are subjects of debate these days, could be researched, and could be the topic of a persuasive speech.  I'll ask you what I always ask my students when they are searching for topics: what do you think people should do, think, or believe that many of them currently do not?  What makes you ANGRY?

[Cyber Burn]

You always have the best ideas Benton, I like the topic of "lowering the drinking age". Even though I'm against it, I do feel that if our youth can go overseas to protect our country, then they are old enough to make their own choices regarding alcohal.

[BentonGrey]

Thanks CB, I just hope you find such ideas useful.  Well, that's one of the enduring arguments about the subject, and there has been a lot of discussion along those lines.  Considering our really weird attitude about drinking here, there's lots of room for a speech on the subject.

[BWPS]

They should raise the going overseas to protect our country age to 21.