Extemporaneous Informative & Persuasive Speaking Topics
State
Effective Date: May 25, 2009
Informative Speaking Topics - Preliminaries
- Why has the issue of investigating interrogation methods used by the CIA during the Bush administration become a politically divisive issue in the nation’s capital?
- What shift in foreign policy is the new government in Israel attempting to take?
- Who are the leading characters in the political drama that has emerged from the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota?
- How is the United Nations assisting with relief missions in Sudan?
- What was the focus of the Obama administration’s first 100 days?
- In what ways is the G-20 organization addressing the current international economic crisis?
- What is the extent of scientific knowledge gained from U.S. operation of the Hubble telescope?
- Why is it beginning to appear that Colombia is slowly beginning to win its battle against illegal drug operations?
- As the current session of the Texas legislature nears an end, what changes in curriculum can be expected for the state’s public schools?
- What are the latest developments in Sri Lanka?
- What changes can be anticipated concerning federal regulation of the credit card industry?
- Why is the government of Laos facing criticism regarding the severity of the nation’s anti-drug laws?
- As wildfires affected large areas of Southern California, what challenges were state officials forced to address?
- Why is twitter becoming an increasingly more important part of daily life in the United States?
- Kosovo: What problems is the former Serbian province experiencing as it pursues independence?
- Why does U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan appear to be gaining support from political leaders on both sides?
- What are the details of the legal charges being filed against Aung San Suu Kyi by the government of Myanmar?
- How does U.S. immigration policy affect Texas landowners in the border region?
- What hurdles must be cleared before Canada and the European Union formalize a free trade agreement?
- Facing the possibility of a worldwide pandemic, how did the World Health Organization react to the recent swine flu outbreak?
Informative Speaking Topics - Finals
- What did government-imposed stress tests of major banks reveal about the relative strength of the industry?
- Why was Japan’s reaction to the North Korean missile test considered diplomatically meaningful?
- What obstacles does President Obama face as he attempts to persuade Congress that universal health care is necessary for the United States?
- Why 1s President Hamid Karzai struggling to gain popularity in Afghanistan?
- What are the major challenges presently facing Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi?
- What is President Obama seeking to achieve by his apparent efforts to reach out the Islamic world?
- What strategies are the nation’s largest school districts employing to address the dropout rate?
- Why is Jordan King Abdullah optimistic about changes in U.S. Middle East policy currently advocated by the Obama administration?
- As Gordon Brown’s popularity begins to wane, what is the forecast for the political future of the British prime minister?
- What actions is General Motors taking to gain solvency?
- How is China responding to allegations that it is interfering in the political affairs of Nepal?
- What does the decline of newspaper circulation in the United States reveal about current cultural trends in the nation?
- What motives are prompting Australia’s increased monetary commitment to weapons purchases?
- Who is being considered to replace David Souter on the United States Supreme Court?
- Gang activity: How is it affecting Texas public schools?
- Peru: In what ways is the political stability of this nation affected by activities of the Shining Path rebel movement?
- Why is Paul Krugman critical of the Obama administration?
- What areas of Africa are identified by the United Nations as troubled regions?
- Why has President Obama been accused of switching his position on several key campaign issues?
- What factors contributed to the political stabilization in Moldova?
Persuasive Speaking Topics - Preliminaries
- Did officials in the state of Texas respond appropriately to the recent outbreak of swine flu?
- Does the election of Ricardo Martinelli as president of Panama mean that the recent drift to the political left in Latin America is beginning to subside?
- Does the United States continue to face the threat of major terrorist attacks?
- With economic turbulence mounting in Russia, will political unrest likely follow?
- NASA: As the deadline to end shuttle flights approaches, is the United States on the verge of losing interest in space exploration?
- Does the release of Roxana Saberi suggest that diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States are beginning to thaw?
- Will the steadily increasing U.S. federal debt weaken the nation’s competitive strength in the international arena?
- Should the United Nations be concerned about the failure of Saudi Arabia to allow for improved women’s rights?
- Was the federal government’s response to this year’s Midwestern floods sufficient?
- Is violence beginning to steadily increase in Iraq?
- Should the Obama administration increase restrictions on assault weapons?
- Will Pakistan’s government survive the latest insurgency?
- Is the threat by some Texas politicians to secede from the Union a serious one?
- Is justice being achieved in Sudan war crimes trials?
- Will higher taxes on the nation’s wealthy ultimately prove counterproductive for the U.S. economy?
- In spite of recent violence, are peaceful times ahead for Northern Ireland?
- Should the United States return Guantanamo Bay to Cuban sovereignty?
- Can African governments do more to reduce acts of piracy along their shores?
- In light of ever-increasing protests in the nation, will the democratic process in Thailand experience additional setbacks?
- What should the United States do to help Mexico with its drug war?
Persuasive Speaking Topics - Finals
- Should U.S. credit card companies be subjected to increased federal regulation?
- Are German officials justified in taking legal action against alleged war criminal John Demjanjuk?
- Are growing concerns among leading American conservatives over the issue of stem cell research
- warranted?
- Has the economy of Mexico suffered serious economic damage as a result of the swine flu outbreak?
- Is it likely that the major U.S. automakers will make a complete financial recovery?
- Does the influence of major environmental organizations limit U.S. alternative energy options?
- Will the appointment of Stanley McChrystal as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan mean major changes regarding American policy in the region?
- Is the popularity of President Susilo Yudhoyono likey to increase in Indonesia?
- Will current recovery programs in the United States ultimately result in dramatic changes for the nation’s economy?
- China: Is government-provided health care meeting the needs of this nation’s citizens?
- Is the United States showing signs of losing its international superpower image?
- In light of allegations regarding past corruption charges, is the political effectiveness of Jacob Zuma in question?
- Is America less safe under President Obama’s watch?
- Does participation in extracurricular activities contribute to student success in American high schools?
- Did Russian officials unfairly object to NATO military exercises held in Georgia?
- Is Nancy Pelosi a thorn in President Obama’s side?
- Does the Movement for Democratic Change have a major voice in the political affairs of Zimbabwe?
- Will first time home buyers provide the housing market its needed income?
- What can the international community do to curb the global water shortages?
- Are U.S. coal-fired power plants destined to become relics in the near future?