2007-2008 State Meet
Extemporaneous Informative Speaking Topics |
Informative Preliminaries - State Meet - Effective Date: May 2, 2008
1. What challenges face state and local authorities in the aftermath of the raid on the polygamist compound in Texas?
2. Which Asian nations are most seriously affected by the increasing food shortage?
3. Why is there controversy surrounding the Olympic torch?
4. Syria: What role is this nation playing with regard to the conflict in Iraq?
5. What do the results of the Pennsylvania primary reveal about the strength of Barack Obama’s candidacy?
6. What indications are there that the political future of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe is in trouble?
7. Why is former President Jimmy Carter being accused by the U.S. State Department of hampering American foreign policy?
8. Tobacco use: What are the latest trends among the youth of America?
9. What progress have government leaders made in their efforts to restore political stability in Thailand?
10. In what ways are rising oil prices affecting consumer decision-making in the United States?
11. Why are political views in much of South America moving in an increasingly more liberal direction?
12. Capital punishment: What does the recent Supreme Court decision mean to the death penalty in Texas?
13. What does the steadily increasing size of the prison population in the United States indicate about trends in American society?
14. What are the causes of disagreement between leaders of Colombia and Ecuador?
15. In what ways is the United Nations involved in the Kosovo independence movement?
16. The school choice movement: How do states compare in their approach?
17. What are the major political challenges that remain for Lebanon?
18. What does the electoral victory of Slivio Berlusconi indicate about the political direction of Italy?
19. Why is the Federal Reserve Board continuing to support reductions in interest rates?
20. Kenya: What are the primary objectives of Prime Minister Raila Odinga?
Informative Finals - State Meet - Effective Date: May 3, 2008
1. How are rising gasoline prices likely to affect the tourism industry in Texas?
2. Why is “big government” becoming a concern for voters in the United States?
3. What steps has the United Nations taken to address the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan?
4. What does the resignation of Ian Paisley mean for the political future of Northern Ireland?
5. How are sub-prime loans potentially harmful for American consumers?
6. What role has the Internet played in escalating plagiarism?
7. What is the sanctuary city movement?
8. Pope Benedict XIV: What did his visit to the United States mean for Catholics in this nation?
9. What do the latest scientific reports indicate about the relationship between global warming and the intensity of hurricanes?
10. How would the United States benefit from improved relations with Ethiopia?
11. What did President Bush’s latest diplomatic trip to Europe mean for the future of NATO?
12. Why is the Bush administration supportive of the Colombian free-trade agreement?
13. How has the Texas agriculture industry reacted to current drought conditions experienced by much of the state?
14. Why are environmentalist groups concerned about sustained economic growth in the Amazon region?
15. What’s new on the horizon in computer technology?
16. Why is religious freedom becoming a concern in Egypt?
17. What are the demographic patterns of support for the major 2008 presidential candidates?
18. Afghanistan: What changes are in store regarding U.S. policy in this nation?
19. Why is China concerned with developments in Tibet?
20. What steps is the United States taking to increase oil imports from African nations?
Persuasive Preliminaries - State Meet - Effective Date: May 2, 2008
1. Have state and local authorities dealt appropriately with the FLDS polygamist organization in Texas?
2. Was NATO right in delaying membership for the Ukraine and Georgia?
3. Is President Bush’s “lame duck” status affecting his ability to successfully work with Congress?
4. Are smoking bans good public policy?
5. Will Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe bow to international pressure?
6. Will the prolonged primary battle between Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton work to the advantage of John McCain?
7. Is increased ethanol production likely to cause major international food shortages?
8. Are current economic conditions in Haiti contributing to political instability?
9. Should the Federal Reserve Board be granted more regulatory power over the American economy?
10. Will the success of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games be affected by China’s human rights record?
11. Have diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia become strained during the Bush administration?
12. Is the U.S. government adequately addressing the needs of American veterans?
13. Would Hugo Chavez’s plans to nationalize Venezuela’s steel and cement industry help or hurt the economy there?
14. Will U.S. policy toward North Korea attract criticism from South Korea?
15. Can polluters meet the new greenhouse gas emissions goals set by the Bush administration?
16. Will the Basque separatist movement in Spain continue to cause political disruption in the nation?
17. Is Asia facing a major crisis because of rice shortages?
18. Can America continue to afford the cost of its troops in Iraq and Afghanistan?
19. Are various Iraqi groups and organizations becoming unified in their opposition to Moqtada al-Sadr?
20. Will the current violence in Burundi lead to a major regional disturbance in central Africa?
Persuasive Finals - Regional Meet - Effective Date: May 3, 2008
1. Is the Democratic Party gaining strength in the state of Texas?
2. Does the African Union provide a major stabilizing influence in Africa?
3. What are the causes of the increase in violent crime in major U.S. cities?
4. Is President Evo Morales bringing socialism to Bolivia?
5. How do the views of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama compare on the issue of U.S. foreign trade policy?
6. East Timor: Will the independence movement ultimately succeed?
7. Are environmental concerns related to the fence along the U.S. / Mexico border justified?
8. Will the communist rebel movement in Nepal bring an end to the reign of King Gyanendra?
9. Will mergers in the airline industry mean problems are ahead for U.S. air travelers?
10. Are Iranian nuclear ambitions contributing to regional instability in the Middle East?
11. How will Senator Obama’s denouncement of his pastor affect his campaign?
12. Should the United States engage in talks with representatives of Hamas?
13. Is the U.S. farm industry becoming overly reliant on federal tax credits?
14. Are the diplomatic efforts of Felipe Caldéron leading to improved relations between Mexico and the United States?
15. Would the Texas economy suffer as the result of a U.S. protectionist trade policy?
16. Will the political departure of Fidel Castro lead to expanded rights for Cubans?
17. Is the political system of Turkey becoming fragmented as a result of increasing Islamic influence
in the nation?
18. Has the war in Iraq resulted in an erosion of U.S. international diplomatic credibility?
19. Will current gasoline price trends lead to national expansion of mass transit systems?
20. Is anti-American sentiment declining throughout Western Europe?
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