Chapter 26: Developing Arguments for the Persuasive Speech

• Research the history of parental involvement in education to persuade my audience that parents should/should not have a say in deciding their child’s school curriculum


• Read and cite famous critics to support my view that a particular work of art is/is not good


• Research popular and critical opinions of neglected works of art to persuade my audience that works of art can be good even when they have received excessive criticism


• Research the development of reality television shows to persuade my audience that such shows are/are not merely appeals to the baser human instincts


• Research the history of endangered species legislation to persuade my audience that current laws are/are not effective


• Research the history of a social activist movement to persuade my audience that the movement has/has not been effective


• Compare the opinions of scientists and religious leaders to persuade my audience that human cloning is/is not ethical


• Research how the advertising industry markets junk food to children in order to persuade my audience that there is/is not a connection between advertising and child obesity


• Research the history of prisons in order to persuade my audience that prisoners should/should not be given a free education in prison


• Using the “inoculation effect,” research and anticipate the likely ideas that may be held by an audience about the need to censor television violence, and then argue the opposite position


• Compare poverty and homelessness in the U.S. to poverty in India or another country to persuade my audience that one country’s anti-poverty policies are more/less effective than another’s


• Research genetic engineering to persuade my audience that growing genetically modified vegetables is right/wrong


• Research the history of women’s reproductive rights to persuade my audience that the abortion pill should/should not be banned


• Research the artistic development of two famous writers, musicians, or artists in another field to persuade my audience that one is more important than the other


• Research the development of modern poetry to persuade my audience that free verse was/was not a step in the right direction


• Research the history of U.S. military intervention in foreign lands to persuade my audience that troops should/should not be sent into combat


• Research the history of television, radio, and the telephone to persuade my audience that the Internet is/is not much different from the other types of communication that preceded it


• Research the history of the portrayal and impact of sex in the media to persuade my audience that pornography is/is not harmful


• Study cooking techniques to persuade my audience of the best way to prepare a particular dish


• Research the use of standardized testing in education to persuade my audience that standardized tests do/do not ensure that children get a good basic education