A common persuasive speech topic has to do with the right to legal abortions. Tweak this topic a little by writing a persuasive speech in which you argue that the only authentic opposition to abortion on demand is total opposition. Argue the point that allowing exceptions in case of rape or incest is tantamount to blaming the baby for being conceived in an unwanted way.
Australia has mandatory voting for its citizens, and refusal to vote results in a fine. Argue in favor of making voting mandatory for U.S. citizens in light of the fact that most voter turnout falls below 60 percent, even in general elections.
Persuade your audience that since there is no real way of knowing which athletes have used illegal steroids until they have already set records or won championships, professional sports might as well give in and legalize steroids.
Soft drinks contain both sugar and caffeine, and an excess of both is judged to be less than a healthy combination for growing kids. Write a persuasive speech that argues that no soft drinks should be sold in schools unless they are either noncaffeinated, sugar-free or both.
A persuasive speech can be constructed around the argument that cell phones provide no more of a danger to motorists than women applying lipstick while driving or men fiddling with their CD player or satellite radios. Argue against laws that prohibit cell phone use while driving.
Advertisements for women's clothing have long been targeted as providing an unhealthy as well as unreasonable expectation of weight and looks for the average woman. Argue for a ban against advertising for women's clothing that does not feature models of all shapes and sizes as being equally attractive.
Halloween celebrations inside schools have become a thing of urban legend. Persuade your audience that millions of kids grew up attending Halloween carnivals at school and dressing in costume on the big day up until the 1980s and the world didn't come to an end, so why not bring back school observations of Halloween.
Several times over the course of American history, the presidential candidate with the most votes did not win the election. Persuade your audience that the Electoral College damages the very concept of a democratically elected president, since it has the potential to overrule the will of the people.
Credit card companies have the legal right to raise the level of interest that they charge a customer when that customer is late not only with his credit card payment, but with his house payment. Try to persuade your audience that such a legal right is fair to both the company and the consumer.
Additional penalties may be levied against a defendant if the crime committed is labeled a "hate crime." Write a persuasive speech that argues that all crimes are hate crimes in some sense and that it is unfair to judge one criminal motivation over another as being more deserving of tougher sentencing rules.