Informational speech topics pertain to a certain subject, and the speech is given with the intention of sharing knowledge. Topics could be about a hobby: Tennis, aromatherapy, your favorite rock bands or learning a foreign language are all potential topics.
Informational topics could also be about places. Discuss your favorite destination vacation, your native country or give insight about your favorite tourist attraction. Though you can speak on places you’ve never been nor attended, ideally, stick to places you’ve visited.
Lifestyles are other potential speech topics. Inform the audience about the Paleolithic diet, polyamory, Scientology or various conspiracy theories.
For broad subjects, such as tennis or education, narrow your choice into subcategories to find a more specific, interesting speech topic. Tennis, therefore, could be narrowed into tennis celebrities, tennis fashion or rules of the game.
If your speech asks the audience to take action on a certain issue, the speech is likely persuasive. Choose a topic that explains your stance on a certain position, why the issue is important and what the audience can do to enforce your stance.
Such topics include genetically modified foods, health care, global warming, environmentalism and upcoming elections.
Laurie Rozakis, author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Public Speaking," explains that persuasive topics can also answer a question pertaining to a broader subject. For example, pick a subject matter and answer a related question: If the topic is computers, narrow it down to “Should the government have access to an individual’s computer records without his consent?”
An inspirational speech is one of the hardest to give: Motivating audience members to change their belief systems in a positive way or encouraging them requires a moving topic.
Choose a topic related to a motivational person. Explain the life of a famous figure, such as Mahatma Ghandi, or better yet, the biography of a city resident who has overcome great obstacles: Interview the restaurant server supporting his kids while putting himself through college. Inspirational people can be found in the elderly home, grocery store or high school.
A historic event can be a good inspirational topic. Talk about a local protest, political revolution or natural disaster. Tell the stories of people involved in the event as a way to move the audience.