Extemporaneous Informative & Persuasive Speaking Topics
District II
Effective Date: March 30 - April 4, 2009
Informative Speaking Topics - Preliminaries
- Too Big to Fail: What would the collapse of AIG mean for America and the world?
- Why is promoting Republican Party unity becoming a challenging task for Michael Steele?
- Why is France’s re-integration in NATO helping the alliance?
- What are the social effects of steadily increasing cell phone use in the United States?
- Why are political officials in Britain becoming alarmed about the condition of the nation's military force?
- In what ways are U.S. education leaders attempting to address the issue of high school dropout rates?
- Why do critics of the Obama economic policy find it difficult to believe that the president will substantially reduce the federal deficit in future years?
- Japan: What are the causes of continuing political disruption in this nation?
- What indications are there that the Obama administration is seriously considering negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan?
- What key issues were discussed during the White House meeting of Barack Obama and Brazil’s President da Silva?
- Why has Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner become a target for criticism?
- Cuba: In what ways does this nation continue to feel the lingering effects of Fidel Castro’s leadership?
- Who is Larry Summers?
- What do the latest reports indicate about the severity of the AIDS problem in South Africa?
- Why did the unusual case of Kentucky football coach David Stinson send shock waves through high school athletic programs nationwide?
- Why does it appear former rival groups in Iraq are settling past differences?
- Why do some conservatives in the United States tend to oppose the Fairness Doctrine?
- What are the latest developments regarding United Nations’ Sudan war crimes investigation?
- How does the International Monetary Fund attempt to assist developing nations?
- Why are major changes likely for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration?
Informative Speaking Topics - Finals
- What steps has Hugo Chavez taken to solidify his leadership position for the future?
- What is the political outrage and fallout from the AIG bonus payment debacle?
- Why has missile defense become a major issue in Eastern Europe?
- Why is there growing concern about crime rates along the Texas border with Mexico?
- What are the latest developments in the case of Bernard Madoff?
- Why does Nancy Reagan support Barack Obama’s position regarding stem cell research?
- Why is concern beginning to resurface regarding environmental issues in Brazil?
- What are the details of Barack Obama’s plans for Iraq?
- Why is the technology sector promoting an increase in computer-related education in U.S. public schools?
- How are political officials in Italy addressing the problem of political corruption?
- What are the major challenges currently facing California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger?
- How do fuel efficiency standards affect the environment in major American cities?
- What is the current state of the political system in Bangladesh?
- What are the primary challenges facing American consumers during the current recession?
- In what ways is Syria supporting the promotion of stability in Lebanon?
- How are U.S. trade and U.S. foreign policy related?
- Why are critics of the Obama administration suggesting that the U.S. is becoming a socialist nation?
- How is the “power sharing” government functioning in Zimbabwe today?
- Why are major environmental organizations concerned about ecosystems in Kenya?
- How is the international community addressing the current economic crisis?
Persuasive Speaking Topics - Preliminaries
- Should Mexico seek assistance from its Central American neighbors in dealing with the problem of illegal drug trafficking?
- Is Yemen becoming a safe-haven for the al-Qaeda terrorist organization?
- Has the state of Texas benefitted from the leadership of Governor Rick Perry?
- Are human rights returning to Myanmar?
- Is Harry Reid unfairly criticized by fellow Democrats in the U.S. Senate?
- Is Radical Islam on the rise in the Middle East today?
- Will America’s schools use historic stimulus dollars to invest in current initiatives or serious reform measures?
- Is President Obama having success in translating his personal popularity into political credibility?
- Argentina: Are labor problems in this nation continuing to have a destabilizing effect on the nation’s government?
- Is the issue of stem cell research growing more divisive in American society?
- Are sanctuary cities contributing to a national increase in urban crime in the United States?
- Will the loss of jobs by China’s migrant workers destabilize the country?
- Should the U.S. federal government make major changes in the nation’s immigration policy?
- Have relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Jewish community suffered as a result of Pope Benedict’s leadership?
- Do recent developments suggest that U.S. relations with Russia are on the decline?
- Should the government of Spain allow ETA separatist groups to have an increased voice in the nation’s government?
- Is the violence likely to continue in Sri Lanka?
- Are U.S. public schools becoming more competitive when compared to those in foreign nations?
- What does the future hold for Roland Burris?
- Northern Ireland: Is the peace process on the verge of destabilization?
Persuasive Speaking Topics - Finals
- Will Republicans pay a political price in the future for their current reluctance to support economic proposals of the Democratic Party?
- Are energy policies in the industrial world eroding the influence of OPEC?
- Has the North American Free Trade Agreement resulted in the outsourcing of Texas jobs?
- Does China appear on the verge of taking the international lead in the area of space exploration?
- Should greater emphasis be placed on rehabilitation in U.S. prisons today?
- Uganda: Is political instability likely to continue in this troubled African nation?
- Is economic stimulus providing cover for massive increases in earmark spending proposals?
- Will the tourism industry sustain the economies of Caribbean nations?
- Do teacher pay-for-performance programs work?
- During the current economic times, will major investors turn to gold when searching for a stable market?
- Should the United States attempt to open the doors of negotiation with Iran?
- Is Texas an environmentally friendly state?
- Are relations between the United States and France improving?
- Can the Obama administration restore Americans’ confidence in the economy?
- Is reform coming to Pakistan’s government?
- Would a longer school year provide some of the answers to today’s U.S. education woes?
- Is the United States on the verge of a serious food safety crisis?
- Should the U.S. federal government make major changes in the nation’s immigration policy?
- Is Rush Limbaugh beginning to lose his support among rank-and-file Republicans?
- Is the political violence nearing an end in Greece?