Approved Regents' Test Essay Topics

Copyright, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334,© 1990. All
rights reserved.
Discuss the influence that advertising If you were asked to make a fair evaluation of
has had on your life or the lives of your your teachers, what criteria or standards would
friends. you use for the evaluation? Discuss.
What influence should students have in
Has college made you less sure about what is
the determination of college policies?
right and what is wrong? Discuss.
Explain.
How has your attitude toward your
If your doctor told you that you had only a few
home (either town or family) changed
months to live, how would you alter your way
between the time you entered college
of life? Discuss.
and now? Discuss.
Name someone you consider to be a
Do college students benefit from participation
modern hero or heroine and explain
in extracurricular activities? Explain.
why you so classify the person.
Is too much emphasis placed on grades Each year, many teen-agers run away from
in our educational system? Explain. home. What do you think are the chief causes?
Should every able-bodied citizen be required to
Explain why you would or would not serve for a certain period of time in some
want to live in a large city. branch of the military service? Why or why
not?
What do you believe are the chief
How does your public image differ from your
reasons for students' academic failure in
private self?
college? Explain.
Name two or three characteristics which you
How has the automobile been harmful feel a person must possess to be considered
to our society? Explain. "educated," and explain why you consider these
traits essential.
If you were an employer, under what
Should sex education be taught in public
circumstances would you fire an
schools? Why or why not?
employee? Explain.
"Television has made America a nation
What are the essential characteristics of an
of watchers, not doers." Agree or
effective leader? Discuss.
disagree.
Do you think that sports help develop "Treat people as if they were what they ought to
 be and you help them to become what they are
good character? Discuss. capable of being." Do you think that this is an
effective practice? Discuss.
Explain the chief reasons why students Should the United States pass gun control laws?
drop out of high school. Discuss.
Should the 55 mph speed limit be Should Georgia legalize gambling to raise more
retained? Explain. revenue? Discuss.
Should Georgia's sales tax be removed
Is romantic love a good basis for marriage?
from groceries and other necessities?
Discuss.
Discuss.
Do you think that you receive your money's
Should children be disciplined by
worth for your student activity fees? Why or
physical punishment? Discuss.
why not?
Discuss one cause for which you would Are spectator sports overemphasized in this
be willing to risk your life. country today? Discuss.
Is college a good place to find out who Discuss the most important characteristics an
you really are? Discuss. elected official should have.
Which of the college courses that you have had
Do you long for the past or look eagerly
do you consider to be the most beneficial?
toward the future? Explain.
Why?
Has credit buying affected your way of What changes would occur in your way of life if
life? Explain. you were forced to live in a cash economy?
If, in your judgment, the leaders of this country
Was giving eighteen-year-olds the right
are clearly wrong in adopting a particular
to vote a mistake? Discuss.
policy, what should you do? Explain.
If you could have a conversation with a
Discuss some practical ways in which each of
famous person (living or dead), whom
us can help to conserve natural resources.
would you choose and why?
Do you believe that violence in television
What steps need to be taken in order to
programs leads to violence in our society?
reduce crime? Explain.
Explain.
Explain your reasons for admiring a How has the women's liberation movement
particular high school or college affected relationships between men and
teacher. women? Discuss.
Which do you think has a greater effect
on a person -- heredity or environment? Explain why you do or do not vote.
Explain.
Discuss what could be done to increase In your opinion, what invention or discovery
 has brought about the most far-reaching and
the public's respect for police officers.
lasting changes in our civilization? Explain.
Should government-owned wilderness
Should every college student be required to
areas be preserved? Discuss why or
study history? Explain why or why not.
why not.
Is it beneficial for a high school
graduate to work full-time for a year Should the government subsidize our Olympic
before entering college? Why or why teams? Why or why not?
not?
If you had the power to change any
event in history (outcome of an What characteristics do you regard as important
election, who won a war, etc.), which in a person you would choose as a friend?
would you choose to change, and why?
Should both parents assume equal
What vice or weakness do you find most
responsibility in child rearing? Explain
offensive? Explain.
why or why not.
How great a role do you think
"knowing the right people" plays in What are the essential characteristics of a good
getting ahead in school or in work? parent? Discuss.
Explain.
"American family life would be more stable if
Should court proceedings be televised?
parents, not couples involved, arranged
Explain why or why not?
marriages." Agree or disagree.
Students at public colleges currently
pay, through tuition and fees, about
one-fourth of the cost of their
Is there any job that you would absolutely
education; however, some people say
refuse to take? Explain.
students should pay a greater share of
the cost. Argue for or against this
proposal.
Should government employees such as
What advice would you give to an entering
police officers and fire fighters have the
freshman? Discuss.
right to strike? Discuss.
Should prostitution be legalized? Which courses that you did not take in high
Discuss. school do you now wish you had taken? Why?
Research indicates that you and your
friends are likely to have fewer children
What makes one college course more enjoyable
than your parents and grandparents.
than another? Explain.
What do you think are reasons for this?
Explain.
 "Professional athletes and entertainers are
Should smoking in public places be
among the highest paid people in this country --
illegal? Explain why or why not.
and justifiably so." Agree or disagree.
What are the characteristics of a good Should college students have complete freedom
college student? Explain. to choose their own courses? Discuss.
If you were to be deprived of one of
your five senses (sight, touch, smell, Would you prefer to rear a family in the city or
taste, and hearing) which one would the country? Explain why.
you most hate to give up? Explain.
In general, do movies and/or television How should public high schools deal with
provide a realistic picture of life in students considered to be constant
Ameri- ca? Explain. troublemakers? Discuss.
Some states now permit single men and women
Should the military draft be reinstated?
to adopt children. Do you favor such a policy?
Discuss.
Explain why or why not.
For what qualities or achievements would you
Should college students be required to
feel justified in calling an individual successful?
attend classes? Discuss.
Explain.
Recent elections have been
characterized by small turnouts of
eligible voters. Some democracies --
Discuss some of the status symbols of today's
Australia, for example -- require their
society.
citizens to vote. Explain why such a
policy should or should not be adopted
in the United States.
Various commentators have suggested
that no person should serve more than
Should people on welfare be forced to work?
twelve years in either the U.S. Senate
Explain why or why not.
or the U.S. House of Representatives.
Discuss.
Why do you believe radio has Should all college courses be specifically
continued to be popular in the age of related to one's future occupation? Explain why
television? Discuss. or why not.
Many families today are growing home
Is there too much government
vegetable gardens. Discuss some reasons for
regulation in our lives? Explain.
this.
How can a course in government,
To what do you attribute the recent decline in
political science, or civics help students
literacy? Discuss.
to become better citizens? Explain.
What do you think are the major causes Choose a profession whose members make a
 worthwhile contribution to society and discuss
of divorce? Explain. the benefits that society receives from members
of this profession.
Discuss ways to increase the public's What, in your opinion, are some of the reasons
respect for elected officials. so many people have pets? Discuss.
Apart from chronological age, what are
Do you prefer shopping at a large shop- ping
some major differences between an
center or at downtown stores? Discuss.
adolescent and an adult? Explain.
It is only recently that doctors and lawyers have
Should women in the military services
begun to advertise. Attack or defend this
be assigned combat duties? Discuss.
practice.
"The current generation is lazy and
Discuss what you like or do not like about the
lacks discipline." Defend or attack this
South.
state- ment.
Does our society allow women to assume
What do you think would be the conse-
masculine roles more readily than it allows
quences of the legalization of
males to assume roles traditionally called
marijuana? Explain.
feminine? Discuss.
If you were made the programming
direc- tor of a major television network, If you could live in some other historical period,
what changes in the programming which would you choose, and why?
would you make? Explain.
Should fathers be given the same We now have more people over 65 than at any
chance as mothers to gain custody of other time. What are the major effects of this
their minor children? Discuss. increased proportion of older people? Discuss.
Should victims of crime be Do you function best in the morning, afternoon,
compensated? Explain. or evening? Explain.
It has been proposed that American presidents
What do you think are the major effects be elected for one six-year term and not be
of divorce upon children? Discuss. eligible for reelection. Do you agree with this
proposal? Discuss.
Why did you choose the career for Do you favor increased spending for national
which you are preparing? defense? Why or why not?
Should the United States severely "In spite of advances in scientific knowl- edge,
restrict the import of foreign cars for people are still superstitious." Agree or
sale in the United States? Discuss. disagree.
Watching the "soaps" has become an American
Should cheating be grounds for
pastime. Why are these tele- vision shows so
dismissal from college? Discuss.
popular?
Which is most useful to a college
student -- a pick-up truck, a car, or a
bicycle? Explain.
Why do some couples choose to live
together without getting married?
Explain.
Do college students benefit from
having to earn at least part of their
tuition? Discuss.
Are Americans too dependent on the
automobile? Discuss.
Why are so many people over the age
of twenty-one enrolling in college?
Discuss.v
Do Americans seem unable to relax in
their leisure time? Discuss.
Should American students be required
to learn a second language? Why or
why not?
Are elementary and high schools
adequately meeting the needs of their
students? Discuss.
In what ways has the availability of fast Robert Frost said, "We come to college to get
food restaurants affected your eating
habits?
Because of the high cost of gasoline,
many people are using transportation
other than the automobile. In your
opinion, what other types of
transportation are most feasible?
Should college students be required to
take physical education courses? Why
or why not?
If you could ban anything in the world,
what would it be and why?
Do you think that you have the
qualifica- tions of a good parent?
Discuss.
In the United States, as a rule, are the
punishments imposed appropriate to the crimes
committed? Explain.
Would you like to be a candidate for public
office? Why or why not?
If music reflects the mood of an age, what does
current music say about America? Explain.
What are the characteristics of an effective
television newscaster? Explain.
Discuss changes which would make the public
less hesitant to report crime.
"Human rights" is a term frequently used but
seldom defined. What rights should belong to
every human being? Discuss.
Do you or your family support public television
(the educational channels) either as viewers or
contributors? Why or why not?
How do you account for the popularity of horror
films? Discuss.
over our littlemindedness." Discuss in relation
to your own experiences.
What do you hope to accomplish within the
next ten years? Explain.
It has been said that "Evil, like good, has its
own heroes." Name some characters that you
consider to be "evil heroes." Explain.
Should prison inmates be allowed to take
college courses? Explain why or why not.
If you were awarded an expense paid trip to any
one place in the world, where would you go?
Why?
 If you were guaranteed a steadily improving
What do you consider the most standard of living (in terms of buying power,
important event of the past decade? free time, quality of goods and services, etc.),
Why? would you be willing to give up your right to
vote? Explain.
Jogging has become extremely popular
Is it possible for anger ever to be bene- ficial?
in the last few years. Explain why you
Explain.
jog or why you don't.
How can the individual citizen reduce
What are the most important skills and/or values
the probability of his or her home's
that children learn from their parents? Explain.
being burglarized? Explain.
We often hear education attacked or defended
Is it better for a political leader to be
on the basis of its utility. Define and explain
feared instead of loved? Why or why
what you mean by "useful" or "useless" when
not?
you apply those terms to academic work.
What specific sacrifice or sacrifices Most people consider themselves part of a
would you endure as a partial solution particular generation. Discuss what you
to our country's economic problem? consider the most important values of your
Discuss. generation.
Should a graduating college senior be
required to pass a comprehensive Is an academically competitive atmosphere
examination in his or her major before helpful or harmful to you as a student? Discuss.
receiving a degree? Why or why not?
Should the government do more to
"Manners belong to a bygone age; they are no
discourage cigarette smoking? Why or
longer relevant." Attack, defend, or modify.
why not?
At a scientific conference, Russia's chief space
scientist, Leonid I. Sedov, taunted a U.S.
In your view, what would most impress
colleague: "You Americans have a better
(favorably or unfavorably) a foreign
standard of living than we have. But the
student spending his or her first
American loves his car, his refrigerator, his
weekend in an American home?
house. He does not, as we Russians do, love his
Discuss.
country." If you had to answer Mr. Sedov, what
would be your reply?
Do competitions like the Miss America Discuss the advantages and/or dis- advantages
Pageant exploit women? Discuss. of nuclear power as a source of energy.
In what areas should all college
Is marriage an outmoded institution in the
graduates be required to have some
United States? Explain why or why not.
competence? Why?
Is athletic competition good for Many American homes and offices have
 become a jungle of houseplants. Why do you
children under twelve years old?
think that so many people surround themselves
Explain why or why not.
with growing things?
If you could make one scientific Given all the evidence that cigarette smoking is
discovery in your lifetime, what would harmful, why do people con- tinue to smoke
it be? Why? cigarettes? Discuss.
If the average life span were increased
What would cause you to end a friendship?
to 150 years, what major changes in
Explain.
society would you expect? Discuss.
When we return to places we knew as
children, we are often surprised at how
different these places seem. Compare
Do you believe that banning certain books from
and/or contrast your impression of
public and school libraries is justified? Discuss.
some place you knew as a child with
your current impression of the same
place.
Can you tell something about a person
Do high schools put too much emphasis on
from the way she or he dresses?
athletics? Discuss.
Explain.
What would you place in a time-
capsule to allow people opening the "Self-discipline is the most important ingredient
capsule 1,000 years from now to for success." Attack or defend.
understand life in the 1980's? Explain.
Does our public educational system promote
Describe a model physical fitness plan.
mediocrity? Discuss.
Is it harmful for children to be in day-
Should the custom of tipping be abolished?
care centers all day? Explain why or
Explain why or why not.
why not.
"In the United States, we waste a great Beauty contests, despite some criticism, are still
natural resource: the elderly." Agree or very popular. In your opinion, what are the
disagree. chief reasons for their popularity? Explain.
What are the chief causes of shoplifting?
Is war sometimes justifiable? Explain.
Discuss.
Overcrowded prisons are one of the major
Should the death penalty be abolished?
problems facing Georgia. What might be done
Discuss.
to ease this problem?
What can be done to prevent violence Should law enforcement agencies be permitted
and crime in public schools? Discuss. to tap telephone lines? Explain.
Should public agencies be required to If you could pass one law, what would it be?
inform parents if their minor children
(those under 17) seek birth control? Why?
Discuss.
What do you consider to be your duties Should national and state governments set aside
as an American citizen? Discuss. land for parks? Discuss.
Do you believe that it is the
responsibility of the young to provide Why are many people afraid of growing old?
financial security for the aged? Why or Discuss.
why not?
The changes brought on by the women's
What can parents do to prepare their liberation movement are typically seen as
children for school? Discuss. benefitting women. Do men also benefit from
women's liberation? Discuss.
According to studies, the average
American watches television as much Do you have a positive or a negative view of
as six hours a day. Why do Americans lawyers? Explain.
watch so much television? Discuss.
America has many regional foods.
What would you recommend to a If you could hold any job for one year, what
traveller who wanted to experience would you choose? Why?
Southern food? Explain.
If you could change one thing about
How can parents promote good reading habits
your childhood, what would it be?
in their children? Discuss.
Discuss.
Is it better to have brothers and sisters Is the traditional role of fathers changing?
than to be an only child? Explain. Discuss.
It has been said that computers are
Is the person without knowledge of com- puters
taking over our lives. Do you agree or
in the 1980's handicapped? Discuss.
disagree? Explain.
Should adoption records be open to the people
Does a person's name affect his or her directly involved (the person adopted, the
personality? Discuss. biological parents and/or the adoptive parents)?
Explain why or why not.
How does a person make a good first
What is your most prized possession? Why?
impression in an interview? Discuss.
What is your definition of a gentleman
What is the value of recreation? Explain.
or a lady? Explain.
Should teenaged children of divorced Many American communities have only one
parents have the right to decide which newspaper. What negative effects could this
parent to live with? Discuss. absence of competition have? Explain.
P.T. Barnum said that "a sucker is born
Why are there more female than male public
every minute." Explain how this idea
school teachers? Explain.
relates to American advertising.
Do you favor or oppose a rule that would
Should college physical education
prohibit professional teams from recruiting
grades be included in the grade point
college student athletes until their college sports
average? Discuss why or why not.
eligibility is over? Why or why not?
Knowledge can be gained from books Whether we want them or not, many of us get
and scientific observation. What are tagged with one or more nicknames during our
some other important sources of lives. Discuss the positive and/or negative
knowledge, and why are they valuable? aspects of the practice of nicknaming.
Archaeologists have learned much about the
lives of first-century Romans from the
Whom would you identify as a truly excavations of houses buried by lava at
wise person? What makes him or her Pompeii. Suppose that your home were
seem wise to you? preserved just as it is now. What con- clusions
about life in the 1980's might this evidence lead
future archaeologists to draw?
What steps should be taken to improve the
Discuss what people reveal about them-
quality of education in our public schools?
selves by the way they drive.
Discuss.
Discuss the following statement: "As Name your favorite game or sport and explain
we get older, our toys cost more." why you find it enjoyable.
What should a college athlete consider Athletic programs at some colleges are big
in deciding whether to turn professional business. Discuss the advantages and/or
or to remain in college? disadvantages of this situation.

Partners in marriage often write their own

detailed marriage contracts, covering such
Discuss how student evaluations of
matters as the number of children they wish to
faculty could be used by administrators,
have and the management of mon- ey. Would
faculty, and/or students.
you write such a contract? Explain why or why
not.

Should financial aid be denied to those In the development of a national budget, which
students who have not registered for the should be more important -- fighting poverty at
draft? Explain. home or arming to fight an aggressor? Explain.
Should all students be required to take a Which of the four seasons of the year appeals to
course in computer science some time you the most? Why?
during their education? Explain why or
why not.
Suicide among high school and college
students is on the rise in this country.
What is the best advice you ever got? Explain.
Discuss possible reasons why young
people take their own lives.
Discuss why people are fascinated by
amusement parks such as Disney World Explain why you do or do not hunt.
and Six Flags.
"The love of money is the root of all Discuss some of the roles a college student
evil." Agree or disagree. plays.
What steps would you recommend be taken to
How effective is television in
make health care in America more available to
disseminating news? Explain.
everyone? Explain.
Is it better to know a little about many Should an introduction to art, music, and drama
sub- jects than to know a lot about one be a part of every college student's education?
subject? Discuss. Explain why or why not.

Do you believe young college students Should cardiopulmonary resuscitation

should postpone marrying until they (CPR)/first aid courses be a required part of the
graduate? Why or why not? college's curriculum? Discuss why or why not.

How do you expect your college

Should every college student take a course in
education to change the rest of your
public speaking? Discuss.
life? Discuss.

What are some possible reasons for the

What could be done to make students more
recent decline in the reading skills of
interested in learning about science? Discuss.
high school students? Discuss.
Should the law require automobile
Discuss some of the appeals used in automobile
drivers and passengers to use safety
advertisements.
belts? Discuss.

What steps should be taken to reduce Is increased life expectancy a blessing or a

the number of drunk drivers? Discuss. curse? Discuss.

Every applicant for a Georgia driver's

Should the United States offer foreign aid only
license must choose whether to be an
to those nations which support our policies?
organ donor. Would you choose to be a
Discuss.
donor? Explain why or why not.
Do you support the nuclear freeze
move- ment that has recently gained What is your favorite piece of furniture?
momentum in both Europe and the Explain.
United States? Explain why or why not.

Though a favorite sport of many,

Are large stockpiles of sophisticated military
boxing is a dangerous sport that leaves
weapons necessary to deter foreign aggression?
many boxers suffering from eye and
Discuss.
brain damage. Should it be outlawed?

Why do people still go to movie

theaters despite the availability of
television movies and video cassettes?
Discuss.
How have your eating habits changed
since you've been in college? Discuss.
Does a person have to be wealthy and
powerful in order to be considered
successful? Discuss.
Should citizens be permitted to defend
themselves and their property through
If you were forced to live without television,
how would you spend the time you normally
spend watching TV? Discuss.
Do you think of yourself as a "goal- oriented"
person? Explain.
If you had the power to do one thing to improve
the world, what would you do? Discuss.
What do you think are the best methods of
disciplining children? Explain.
means of deadly force? Discuss.
If you could have a household robot,
"A person may be fairly judged by what he
for what jobs would you want it
finds amusing." Discuss.
programmed? Discuss.
Is it the responsibility of the United
States to share its food supplies with
What is the value of foreign travel? Discuss.
the hungry people of the world?
Explain.
About a decade ago Alvin Toffler,
author of Future Shock and The Third
The United States has never had a female
Wave, referred to contemporary society
president. To what do you attribute this?
as the "throw away" generation. Is that
Discuss.
term descriptive of your generation?
Explain.
If you could choose any culture or society,
What is the difference between "good"
which one would you choose to live in?
and "bad" stress? Explain.
Discuss.
Discuss some of the advantages and/or
Why have the Sunbelt states been
disadvantages of having two or three
gaining population in the last two
generations of a family living together under the
decades? Discuss.
same roof.
Why do people play practical jokes?
What does it mean to be fully alive? Explain.
Explain.
If you were alone for a week, what
Should teachers be required to pass competency
books (or records) would you select to
tests? Discuss.
read (or listen to)? Discuss.

What type of music do you prefer?

Why?
Which of your talents do you value
most? Why?
Should the school year be extended to
include longer hours and more days
required to obtain a high school
diploma? Discuss.
Discuss some of the differences you
have noticed between written and
spoken language.
Why is college football so popular? Discuss.
Do you feel that college professors show
favoritism among students? Discuss.
If you were among the first colonizers of a new
planet in the twenty-first century, what would
you not want your fellow colonists to transport
from the planet Earth? Explain.
Americans generally condemn day- dreaming as
a waste of time. Do you agree with this view, or
do you see some benefits of daydreaming?
Discuss.

When you are approached for a
charitable contribution, do you
generally contribute? Why or why not?
The evidence shows that for many
reasons the family-owned and family-
run small farm is a vanishing American
insti- tution. Should this situation cause
con- cern in American society? Why or
why not?
Do you read the newspaper every day?
Why or why not?
Is noise pollution becoming a serious
threat to the welfare of Americans?
Discuss.
Is it better to have loved and lost than
never to have loved at all? Discuss.
Do you favor or oppose the use of
animal organs (such as hearts or
kidneys) as transplants in humans when
human organs are not available?
Explain.
Would you be better off if you didn't
own a television? Discuss.
If you could participate in only one
extra- curricular activity, which would
you choose? Why?
Should the government allow unlimited Should the government cut funds from
numbers of refugees from political
oppression to enter the U.S.? Discuss. support a strong defense budget? Discuss.
Should the advertisement of alcoholic
Publishers report that astrology columns are
among the most widely read features in
newspapers. Do you check your astrological
forecast from time to time? Why or why not?
Do you suppose you would be happier if you
lived more simply, eliminating the effort it takes
to acquire an abundance of luxuries? Why or
why not?
The "Living Will" directs a person's family and
physicians not to keep that person alive by
artificial means if that person were to suffer a
totally incapacitating disease or illness. Would
you consider signing such a document and
giving it to your own family? Why or why not?
"Very few of us really know how to listen."
Discuss why you agree or disagree with this
statement.
"Any teacher who can be replaced by a
machine, should be." Discuss why you agree or
disagree with this statement.
The Supreme Court has recently ruled that
public schools have the right to conduct
searches of students' persons and property when
there is reasonable cause to suspect the presence
of weapons or drugs. Do you support or oppose
such searches? Explain.
It is said that the United States has the highest
crime rate of any country that keeps accurate
records. What, in your opinion, are some of the
reasons for the unusually high rate of crime in
the U.S.? Discuss.
What measures might be effective in reducing
drug traffic in Georgia? Discuss.
educational, cultural, and welfare pro- grams to
Should tax dollars be used to subsidize public
beverages be banned from television?
television and radio broadcasts? Discuss.
Discuss.
If you were placed in a position to Many states have enacted laws banning all non-
reduce the national debt, what area returnable drink containers. Should Georgia
would you cut? Why? pass such a law? Why or why not?
Some think that divorces are too easy to What steps can be taken to reduce the amount of
obtain today. Do you agree or disagree? litter found along highways and in the
Explain. countryside? Discuss.
Presidential greatness is often debated by
Should stricter laws be enacted banning
professional historians. Which U.S. president
billboards along our major highways?
would you identify as the greatest? Justify your
Why or why not?
selection.
Several communities have recently
passed laws making it illegal for bars to
promote the consumption of alcohol Who is the person in public life (govern- ment,
through sales specials such as happy entertainment, sports, etc.) whom you admire
hours, two-for-one hours, and ladies' the least? Explain.
night. Do you agree or disagree that
these laws are needed? Discuss.
What is your favorite source of Would you want to survive a nuclear war?
entertain- ment? Explain why. Discuss.
Is it better to have lived in one place all
one's life than to have moved around? What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Discuss.
Nearly all students have had classmates who
Do Americans place too much
they wished were anywhere else but in that
emphasis on physical appearance?
particular class. What kinds of students do you
Discuss.
find most annoying? Discuss.
Should the media show more respect
"The best things in life are free." Discuss why
for celebrities' desire for privacy?
you agree or disagree with this statement.
Discuss.

If you had to choose between a job that you

Is there anything that teachers can learn loved that paid $15,000 a year and a job that
from students? Discuss. you hated that paid $25,000 a year, which job
would you take? Explain why.
According to Vince Lombardi, "Winning is not
Why do so many people like to have
the most important thing; it's the only thing."
collections of something (antiques,
Explain why you agree or disagree with this
coins, stamps, dolls)? Discuss.
view.
With the widespread availability of Should student evaluations of faculty members
calcu- lators, is it necessary for students be made available to students? Discuss why or
to learn arithmetic? Discuss. why not.
There is a shortage of mathematics
teachers in the secondary schools. What Has the space program benefited the average
specific actions should be taken to American? Discuss.
lessen this shortage? Discuss.
With news readily available from the
What are the advantages and/or dis- advantages
electronic media, why are newspapers
of being single? Discuss.
still popular? Discuss.
Should parents encourage their teenage
children to work even if the family does Who is a sex symbol today? Explain.
not need the money?
Which advertisements do you find most
What do you do to cope with stress?
appealing or offensive? Why?
Do you think that the average person
would rather conform (be like everyone What problem in this contemporary world do
else in his group) than stand out as an you find most disturbing? Explain.
individual? Discuss.
Has television brought members of the Are robots a blessing or a curse to the labor
family together? Discuss. force? Discuss.
If you wanted to be one of the first
What animal do you like (or dislike) the most?
civilians to fly in space, how would you
Why?
sell yourself to NASA?
Should polygraph tests be used as a If you could live in any city in the world, which
condition of employment? Discuss. would you choose and why?
What single experience do you believe
every human being should have, one Should children diagnosed as having AIDS be
without which human life, in your permitted to attend public schools? Discuss why
opinion, would not be complete? or why not.
Explain.
What is the greatest bargain you have Should college students be tested for AIDS?
ever got? Explain. Discuss why or why not.
Discuss some of the pressures on Should final examinations in college courses be
college students. comprehensive? Discuss.
If you were a fashion designer for college
Discuss the advantages and/or
students on a budget, what wardrobe would you
disadvantages of being a commuting
suggest that would be reason- ably priced and
student.
adaptable to various occasions?
 Many college freshmen complain that they have
Explain what motivates you to strive never learned how to study. What pointers
for good grades in college. could you give to help people with poor study
habits? Explain.
Is it an advantage or a disadvantage to
Should colleges make it optional for students to
have a job while attending college?
pay activities fees? Discuss why or why not.
Discuss.
What types of students do you like to Should computer literacy be required of all
have in your classes? Discuss. college students? Discuss why or why not.
Should the government increase taxes
How do you think our future will be influenced
to help improve the standard of living
by the great influx of foreign products into the
of poor people? Discuss why or why
United States? Explain.
not.
In order to protect American industry,
should the U.S. government impose Have you observed any significant dif- ferences
heavy tariffs on foreign goods coming between high school and college teachers?
into this country? Discuss why or why Explain.
not.
What advice would you give to a
How can we reduce the problem of illiteracy in
student just beginning high school?
our nation? Explain.
Explain.
Do American students know far too
Should high school students be required to wear
little about their Russian counterparts?
uniforms? Discuss why or why not.
Discuss.
What can public schools do to lower
the number of high school dropouts? Should schools establish dress codes? Discuss.
Explain.
Is the preservation of all species of
plant and animal life crucial to the Is concern for a clean environment a dead issue
continued existence of mankind? today? Discuss.
Discuss.
One suggested partial solution to the
drug problem is to furnish drugs to Should employers have the right to require their
certified addicts, thus removing the employees to take drug tests? Discuss why or
profit for drug dealers. What do you why not.
think of this idea?
Should a person tell his or her spouse
What can be done to help prevent a marriage
about past love affairs? Discuss why or
from ending in divorce? Explain.
why not.
Would you rather spend a weekend Of the sources of entertainment which are
with your friends or your family? popular today, which do you find least
Explain. appealing? Discuss.
What was the most important event of
your life? Discuss why this event was What types of movies do you prefer? Explain.
so important.
Which do you believe has been most Have recent reports on airline crashes and near
influential in your life -- good luck collisions changed your attitude toward air
(chance) or good decisions? Explain. travel? Discuss why or why not.
What impact has attending college had
What types of reading materials do you prefer?
on your relationships with others?
Discuss.
Explain.
If you could buy one very expensive How do you account for the popularity of your
thing, what would it be? Explain. favorite entertainer?
What kind of research would you
How would your life change if you inherited a
suggest doing before making a major
million dollars?
purchase such as a car or stereo?
Name a person, place, or thing that is
What career, other than the one for which you
currently very popular but that, in your
are preparing, do you find most appealing?
opinion, is overrated. Explain why it
Explain.
does not deserve its popularity.
What situations are most stressful for Discuss the importance that a relative (other
you? Discuss. than a parent) has had in your life.
Given the choice, would you rather live If you were to set up a personal museum of the
in the mountains or near the beach? most significant objects you own, what would
Discuss. you include and why?
Do you like surprises? Explain why or
Explain why you do or do not smoke.
why not.
Discuss a New Year's resolution that What region of the United States do you like the
you actually kept (or wish you had). most? Why?
If for some reason you were prevented
Explain why you do or do not like having
from attending college, what career
picnics.
would you pursue? Why?
People dress to project an image or to follow
Is there one place on earth that means
trends or to be comfortable. Discuss why you
more to you than all others? Why?
dress the way you do.
What have you been promising to
If you could relive one day in your life, which
throw out for years that you just cannot
day would it be? Explain.
seem to part with? Discuss.
What is your idea of a perfect vacation? What are some characteristics of people you try
Explain. to avoid when selecting friends? Explain.
Name some of your family's traditions (perhaps
What would be the ideal number of
concerning holidays, birthdays, vacations, or
chil- dren for you to have in a family?
other activities) and discuss why they are
Discuss.
important to you.
How are you different from your
Explain why you would or would not
parents (or other adults significant in
recommend a movie you saw recently.
your up- bringing)? Explain.
What advice would you give to a
What influences from the past have helped
person about the process of ending a
shape the person you are today? Discuss.
meaningful relationship?
If you could have free, unlimited service for
If private ownership of automobiles five years from an extremely good cook,
were impossible, how would your life chauffeur, housekeeper, masseuse, or personal
change? secretary, which one, if any, would you choose?
Why?
What foreign country would you like to
What can be done to encourage more and better
visit, and why would you like to go
candidates to seek public office? Explain.
there?
Has media scrutiny of public officials' Should local governments pass a law restricting
private lives become excessive? the ownership of dangerous pets such as pit
Discuss. bulldogs? Discuss why or why not.

More and more people are seeking plastic

What advice would you give to a young surgery for purely cosmetic reasons. Why are so
person just beginning to date? many people willing to accept the costs and
risks of this kind of surgery?

Explain why you think so many people
get the post-Christmas blues.
Americans are fast becoming the most
overweight people in the world. To
what do you attribute this trend?
Explain.
What can be done to make the
treatment of the elderly more humane?
What has been the most useless
invention of the twentieth century?
Explain.
Are people in the U.S. overly concerned about
being thin? Discuss.
Should animals be used in medical research?
Discuss.
What can be done to make the public more
aware of the dangers of drinking and driving?
Do you think a person's looks affect his or her
success in the job market? Discuss why or why
not.
What should be done to reduce the How can Halloween be made safer for young
problem of homelessness in the U.S.? people?
Some television series (such as
M.A.S.H. and Leave It To Beaver) have What are the chief reasons for our youth's
enjoyed a long life both in production interest in music videos? Explain.
and in reruns. Explain why.
According to some observers,
Choose a character in a recent movie or
Americans are watching less network
television show whom you find especially
television. What do you think are the
appealing or unappealing. Explain your choice.
reasons for the decline in interest?
Why are television game shows so Why do many people prefer watching television
popular? Discuss. news shows over reading newspapers? Discuss.
Do you like being in the presence of
small children? Discuss why or why
Women today are waiting until they are older to
not. Should people accept it as their
marry for the first time. Why?
duty to take care of their aging parents?
Discuss.
If you could take back any deed you Fill in the blank in the following statement and
have done and do it differently, what discuss: "They don't make ________ like they
would it be? Why? used to."
What commonly held ideas about the
What is the dumbest thing you ever did?
South seem to you most true or untrue?
Explain why you did it.
Explain.
What kind of injustice makes you How is the threat of AIDS changing dating
"fighting mad"? Explain. habits? Explain.
Which qualities or characteristics of What can be done to reduce the high rate of
child- hood should we strive to preserve teenage pregnancy in the United States?
throughout our lives? Discuss. Explain.
How should students who turn in
Should high-school students go steady? Discuss
someone else's work as their own be
why or why not.
punished? Discuss.
Name the worst movie or television
Is there ever a situation in which a person
pro- gram you have ever seen, and
should hide his or her true feelings? Explain.
explain why you dislike it.
Name some place you would not like to go on a
Name your favorite pastime and
date and explain why you would choose not to
explain why you enjoy it.
go there.
Propose a model sex education
program.
Take A Side - 25 Debate Topics

• God can prevent evil, but doesn't.

• Ex's should remain friends.
• Space exploration should be an international priority.
• Restrict free speech.
• Culture places too great an emphasis on athletic success.
• Let the world police itself.
• The pen is mightier than the sword.
• Multiple births of more than three children.
• Individual doesn't matter.
• Test nuclear weapons.
• Legalize all drugs.
• English as the world language.
• Negotiate with terrorists.
• The media are corrupt.
• Public shame is an appropriate means of punishing criminals.
• Right to die is a personal choice and not the courts.
• Schools should not prepare students for work.
• Rock the boat.
• The news should be interesting rather than important.
• Shop at home (from your computer).
• Fun is more important than work.
• The US should be less involved in world affairs.
• We shouldn't fix it if it ain't broke.
• Peace is undesirable.
• Breaking the law.

Topics for Debate

Here are 20 topics to discuss with a friend or group. Practise agreeing and disagreeing
even if you have to argue against something you actually believe in. One way to have fun
with this is to make up a bunch of cards that say agree or disagree. Each person has to
pick up a card and then the topic is read out. It is more fun to have a debate this way
because you don't have to play your true self. Try to continue each discussion for at least
five minutes. Use the expressions that you learned, including agreeing, disagreeing,
asking for opinions, interrupting, etc.

• Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

• Swimming in the ocean is better than swimming in a public pool.

• Alcohol should be illegal.
• Children should provide room and board for their aging parts.
• Studying grammar is more important than practicing conversation skills.
• Television is the leading cause of violence in today's society.
• Dogs make better companions than cats.
• Smoking should be permitted in public places.
• Females are better students than males.
• A parent shouldn't pierce a baby's ears.
• Women should be allowed to go topless in public.
• Lawyers should make a higher salary than nurses.
• Everyone should plan their own funeral.
• Reading English is more difficult than writing English.
• Summer is the best season of the year.
• Children under 13 should not be allowed to babysit.
• High school students should wear uniforms.
• 21 should be the legal driving age around the world.
• Rock and Roll is the best kind of music.
• The government should pay for post secondary education.
• Debatepedia's top debate articles
•
• Capital Punishment - Is the death penalty ever justified?
• Abortion - Should abortions of any kind be permitted?
• Same sex marriage - Is same sex marriage wrong and should it be illegal?
• Withdrawing from Iraq - Should the US Government immediately withdraw
troops from Iraq?
• McCain vs. Obama - Who is the better candidate for president of the United
States, John McCain or Barack Obama?
• Tibet independence - Should Tibet seek and gain independence?
• Animal testing - Is it morally acceptable to experiment on animals for human
purposes?
• Guantanamo Bay - Is Guantanamo Bay's existence justified, or should it be
closed?
• Prostitution - Should prostitution be legalized?
• Nuclear energy - Is nuclear energy worth exploiting?
• Euthanasia - Should euthanasia or assisted suicide be legalized?
• Marijuana, Legalization of - Should marijuana be legalized?
• Polygamy - Should polygamous marriages (to more than one person) be legal?
• Turkey, EU membership - Should Turkey be given membership in the EU?
• Vegetarianism - Should humans stop eating animals and become vegetarians?
• Banning Human Reproductive Cloning - Should human reproductive cloning
be banned and punishments put in place against it?
• Banning Muslim head scarves - Should the wearing of Muslim head scarves be
banned in schools, public buildings or society in general?
 ESSAY TOPICS
ESL 91
FALL, 2000
NOTE: These topics are copyrighted by Dr. Loretta Kasper
Permission to use these topics must be obtained IN WRITING from Dr. Kasper
email: lkasper@kbcc.cuny.edu

Business

Essay Topic: Discuss the psychological factors involved in advertising. How do

advertisers use the basic determinants of consumer behavior--needs, motives,
perceptions, and attitudes--in designing product advertisements? What types of ads
are most likely to appeal to or change our needs, motives, perceptions, and
attitudes?

Essay Topic: Define the four marketing utilities and explain their role in business.

Computer Science

Essay Topic: Trace the developments in the history of the computer

Essay Topic: Discuss how computer has changed education. How specifically is/can
technology be used in classroom to improve learning and instruction?

Environmental Science

Essay Topic: Imagine that it is the year 2050. Although governments and their
citizens were warned about the dangers of the greenhouse effect as early as the
1970's, they did not take the necessary steps to prevent it from worsening. As a
result, global warming and ozone depletion continued unchecked. In a well-
organized essay, describe what life would be like in 2050 under these conditions.
What would be the state of the climate? What would the nations of the world look
like? What would be the day-to-day living conditions of the people of the world?
 Essay Topic: Describe one of the following earthquakes:

The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906

The Northridge Earthquake of 1994

The Haicheng Earthquake of 1975

The Prince William Sound Earthquake of 1964

The San Francisco Earthquake of 1989

Be sure to include all important information, such as the date of the earthquake, the
magnitude of the earthquake, any precursors to the earthquake, the major effects of
the earthquake. Please include a bibliography containing at least two sources in
addition to your textbook reading. These sources may be print or electronic.

Psychology

Essay Topic: Discuss the various components of human memory. What is the
difference between Short-term memory and Long-term memory? How are
memories stored in the brain? What can we do to help improve our memory?

Essay Topic: Do you think that the families of schizophrenics should be responsible
for the decision to commit the schizophrenic, or do you believe that a person, even if
diagnosed as schizophrenic, should have some say in the decision to commit? In
your answer be sure to use concrete examples from the readings and other materials
used for the lesson. Provide both psychological and physiological support for your
opinion.

•
• Persuasive Speech Topics
• The case for organ donation
• The need for recycling
• Why the death penalty should be abolished
• The need for gun control

The dangers of taking illegal steroids

How to pay off your credit card

Avoiding drinking or drunk driving

Why we should abolish school uniform

Global Warming - What we can do about it

Why we should wear seat belts in cars

Why you should become a blood donor

The dangers of gambling

Gay marriage

Euthanasia

Avoiding student debt

Avoiding junk food

More topics

Animal rights

Ten things you can do for a Dollar/ Euro/ Pound

What you should wear for your next date/ job interview
 I can make you thin
Pay off your student loan in three easy steps
Volunteering - What can you do about it?
Golf - the best hobby in the world or a complete waste of time?
Ten good tips for legal tax avoidance
Three easy ways to improve your time management
Can drugs reverse the ageing process?
If you believe - they put a man on the moon
Princess Diana - a cover up?
Internet - the death of the newspaper?
Can we eradicate AIDS in Africa?
Is Broadband economic in rural areas?
What good is keep fit?
Sex, drugs and rock and roll - good fun or a major health hazard?
Getting to the top of the waiting list
Road congestion charging - the way of the future?
Dogs - wolves in the living room or man's best friend?
7 easy ways to simplify your life?
The five day detox
The Loch Ness monster really does exist
Creative thinking
Has the DaVinci code just been made up?
Half man - half robot. Should we be scared?

Political

Creative thinking

Vote for me
Why there should be a United States of Europe
An easy way to give up smoking
Why prostitution should be legalized
How we can get more people to vote?
Why the death penalty should be abolished in the United States
Why we should not consume genetically modified crops?
Should religious clothes be banned in schools?

The war in Iraq - was it justified

ORGAN DONATION

Ladies and gentlemen, today I am here to share with you my views on

organ donation, in the hope that you will take them on board and give
someone the ultimate gift after you have left this earth - the gift of
life.

Ladies and gentlemen, at this moment in the US there are 79,000 U.S
patients on the transplant waiting list. Three thousand a month are
added to this total. Not a lot you may say when the population is close
to three hundred million, but now add twenty to thirty family and
friends to each patient, and the number increases vastly.

Every day between 16 and 17 people die whilst waiting for a

transplant. Again you may say not a lot - but in the average mans’
lifetime the death toll is 1,980,160 - almost two million people. Ladies
and gentlemen you can help. By donating your vital organs after you
have passed away you can save lives.
For the more sentimental of you, of the 79,000 patients waiting for a
transplant, over 10 per cent of these are children under 18 years of
age.

So, how can you help? All you have to do is get in touch with your
local doctor and he will tell you all you need to know. You fill out one
form, and receive a card; it really is that easy. Then, once you have
passed away in many years to come, your organs will be removed and
will give somebody else the chance of life.

After a transplant of a vital organ, the average survival rate is over

80%. A massive increase from the 20% that would live without the
surgery.
Some people worry. Will they be left open after the surgery as they
are already dead, or will they still be able to have an open casket
funeral? The answers to these are simple. You will be treated with the
up most respect in the surgery and the same procedures apply to the
body as a living body. And yes, you will be able to have an open
casket funeral if you wish to.

Ladies and gentlemen - the gift of life is the most amazing gift
anybody can give. How I see things, and what made me become a
donor, is that after I am gone I will have no use for my organs. So
why should I deprive someone else from using them.

Please consider what I have said today. Thank you.

You can freely use this speech for your own purposes, but you cannot
publish it or display it on a web site without the prior permission of
Presentation Helper.
List Of 200+ Controversial Speech Topics

Scan the list of controversial speech ideas below and select a few
topics you like. Focus on specific controversies within an issue.
Every controversial or convince speech topic has its own sub-
topics with different contentious speech issues, questions and
topics for speech class. Consider this just as a start.
ADDICTION AND DRUGS - Alcohol Abuse, Children of Alcoholics, Drugs and Sports, Medical Marijuana.

BUSINESS, FINANCE AND ECONOMICS - Bribery, Budget Deficits, Credit Card Fraud, Income Tax, Malpractice
Insurance, Junk Bonds, Leadership, Direct Marketing, Minimum Wage, Wage Price Policy.

COMPUTING, INTERNET AND MEDIA - Chatrooms Internet, Computer Viruses, Spam, Cybercrime and Privacy,
Harmful Media, Internet Hate Speech, Internet Pornography, Media Violence, Television And Children, Violent
Computer Games.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE SPEECH TOPICS - Education Reform, Bilingual Education, Ethics In Life Sciences,
Creationism versus Evolutionsm, Dating, Campus Issues, Home Schooling, Information Science, Intelligence
Levels, Intercultural Education, School Prayer, School Choice, School Uniforms, School Violence, Condoms In
Schools, Space Exploration.

ENVIRONMENTAL, NATURE AND ANIMAL - Acid Rain, Air Pollution, Animal Cloning, Animal Experimentation,
Animal Rights, Antarctica Research, Biodiversity, Changing Weather Patterns, Ecology, Endangered Oceans,
Endangered Species, Energy Conservation, Global Resources, Global Warming, Oil Spills, Littering, Marine
Pollution, Noise Pollution, Pesticides, Rain Forests, Recycling, Vivisection, Water Pollution, Water Resources.

ETHICAL AND MORAL CONTROVERSIAL SPEECH TOPICS - Abortion, Assisted Suicide, Beginning Of Life Issues,
Birth Control, Euthanasia, Gender Identity, Genetic Engineering, Human Cloning, Implanted GPS, Physician
Assisted Suicide, Pro Choice Movement, Pro Life Movement, Reproductive Technologies, Separation of Church and
State, Stem Cell Research.

FAMILY, MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE - Bigamy, Family Violence, Gay Marriage, Gay Parents, Polygamy, Single
Parent Families, Surrogate Mothers, Teenage Fathers, Teenage Mothers.

FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS - Censorship, Contraception, Free Press, Privacy.

LAW AND ORDER CONTROVERSIAL SPEECH TOPICS - Airline Safety Rules, Alternative Imprisonment, Amnesty,
Capital Punishment, Chain Gangs, Constitutional Issues, Corporal Punishment, Crimes Without Victims, Criminal
Justice System, Drunk Driving, Gangs, Gun Control, Hate Crime, Homeland Security, Intellectual Property and
Piracy, Legal System, Peer Pressure, Speed Limits, Urban Terrorism, Welfare Fraud, Wiretapping, Youth Violence,
Zero Tolerance.

MEDICAL, HEALTH AND NUTRITION - Aids Testing, Alternative Medicine, Anorexia Treathment, Artificial
Insemination, ADHD, Bulimia, Burn Out, Depression, Dieting, Food Labeling, Food Prices, Health Care System,
Infectious Diseases, Medical Ethics, Medicine Abuse, Passive Smoking, Plastic Surgery, Tobacco Industry.

MISCELLENEOUS CONTROVERSIAL SPEECH TOPICS - Aliens and UFO's, Bermuda Triangle.

POLITICS AND GLOBAL POLICY - Afghanistan, Armed Conflicts, Arms Control, Asylum Policy, Ballot Initiatives,
Biological And Chemical Weapons, Boycotts, Campaign Funding, Child Labor, Cold War Politics, Immigration Laws,
Farm Susidies, Iraq, Islamic Fundamentalism, Militias, Nuclear Technology, Nuclear Weapons, Peace Movements,
Political Correctness, Privatization Of Social Security, Slavery, Terrorism, United Nations, Voting Behavior, War
Crime Trials, War on Drugs.

SOCIETY - Affirmative Action, Aging Population, Celibacy, City Curfews, Demographics, Dropouts, Homeless
Persons, Flexible Hours Of Labor, Inner City Poverty, Integration, Moral Majority, Nonsmoking Areas.

WOMEN ISSUES - Breast Feeding in Public, Breast Implants, Feminism, Women in the Military, Women's Rights,
Working Mothers.

The Speech Assignment

Determine the details and requirements of your controversial speech assignment.
Ask yourself these important questions:

• When, where, how long do I have to speak?

• Do you have to argue with the audience or other speakers afterwards?
• Who are your listeners?
• What are their social, cultural and educational backgrounds?
• How many?
• What is there attitude towards your point of view? Positive? They are not sure
what to think? Negative?
• Which of the selected controversial speech topics are appropriate for the
occassion?
• Which ones interest me and could be of interest for my listeners?

How To Research Speech Topics

Find all possible sides, statements and answers of the selected controversial speech
topics. Research and discover:

• Background information, new aspects or new questions.

• Disagreeing opinions, beliefs, arguments, values and policies.

To tickle your mind quickly: check out possible sub-topics or special angles of view of
the list above.

Choose A Side
By now, pick out one controversial speech topic and take a stand. Your choice has to
deal with the assigment rules, the occassion, your personal interests and the
reaction of your listeners. Ask yourself:

• What is my opinion, concern, belief about this controversy?

• And why do I think like this?

Develop Supporting Arguments

Research supporting arguments for your speech topics. Document your findings.
Quote them correctly in the citation format your instructor has required.

• Look for evidence - facts, examples, statistics and figures.

• Use - when appropriate - visual aids to illustrate and prove your central
message.
• Also search for valuable quotations, definitions, and comparisons.

Study The Opposing Arguments

The next step is looking for arguments that disagree with the conclusions of your
controversial speech topics. Study them carefully, summarize them. Understatement
is the best way to reply or attack the opposition.

Write a Speech Topic Statement

Formulate one single phrase - that's to say a contentious speech idea - in which you
state the message of your controversial speech topic very clearly. Keep it simple and
attractive. Arouse them with a powerful public speaking statement!

Examples of controversial speech topics statements are:

Global Warming Isn't A Threat
College Authorities Should Ban Hate Speech
Cameras In Courtrooms: Yes!

Or opposite sides of course if you like! By now you have learned how to create, write
and develop controversial speech topics.

General Checklists For Good Speech Topics

First answer these questions. Think about subjects, events,

people, places, problems, causes and effects, and values in your
community, school, college, university, city, state, country or
region.
GOOD SPEECH TOPICS ABOUT YOUR INTERESTS

• What are your values in life and career?

• What are your hobbies?
• What special or unusual experiences have you had?
• What beliefs or strong opinions do you hold?
• What are your pet peeves?
• What would you like to know more about?

THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF YOUR AUDIENCE

• Who are your listeners?

• What are their needs?
• What is their socioeconomic status?
• Are they representing an organization? Which one?
• What do they want to learn?
• Why do they want to listen to you?
• What is popular? What do they think is a good topic for a
speech?
• What questions would they have?
• What special or unusual experiences did they have?
• What beliefs or strong opinions do they hold?
• What values do they stand for?

THE OCCASION

• Why are you invited as public speaker?

• Are there speech assignment rules?
• Do you have to present good extemporaneous speech
topics in a minimum of preparation time? Where? When?

Narrowing Good Speech Topics

Now narrow your ideas into the best angles of approach for good
speech topics. If you don't like the outcome, try other ideas. Only
answer questions that are appropriate to your ideas and select
the main points for a text to speech. If you are in a hurry, try my
quick speech topic steps.

GOOD SPEECH TOPICS ABOUT OBJECTS

 • What is it?
• The definition?
• Other names?
• What are the main features and functions?
• What does it do? How does it work?
• Color? Shape? Size?
• Can it operate stand alone?
• Different types?
• Can it be divided into parts? How?
• Are there accessoires?
• How is it produced?
• What can you do with it? How can it be used?
• In what steps? How? Why? When? Where? That sequence
always work for creating good speech topics.
• What does it mean for you/us?
• What did it mean in the past?
• What is it similar to?
• What are the differences in comparison with other kinds?
• Is it better or not? Why?
• What do you like about it?
• Dislike?
• What do other people say about your good speech topic?

GOOD SPEECH TOPICS ABOUT EVENTS

• What is going to happen/happened? When? How? Where?

• What is/was it about?
• Is it historical?
• Is it current?
• Is it in the future?
• What is/was the value or impact? Why?
• What are the major parts/steps/facts?
• Why is/was it important?
• What is/was the goal of the event?
• Is/was there a mission statement?
• In what is/was the event different to other years?
• What are the comparisons/differences with other events?
• What do you like about the event?
• Don't like?
• What do other people say about the event?
 • Who are invited?
• Who is/are the speaker/speakers?
• Are there special circumstances?

GOOD SPEECH TOPICS ABOUT PEOPLE

• What is a good description of her*?

• What is her character?
• What are/were her goals?
• What does her biography write about her?
• Does/did she belong to a movement or group?
• What are the differences with other people that do/did/aim
the same?
• What are the main achievements in her life? Examples?
• What are the most important facts of her life?
• What are or were her values or motivational goals?
• How does/did she do it/invented/publish/act on it?
• What do you think of her? Why?
• What do other people think of her? Why?
• Can you cite her?

*) Of course She/her can also be read as He/him

GOOD SPEECH TOPICS ABOUT PLACES

• Where?
• What is it called?
• What does it look like?
• What is a good description?
• Size?
• Architecture?
• People?
• What are very special facts?
• Historical value?
• Why do you like the place?
• What do other people think of the place? Why?
• Why is it important to you/us?
• Why is it useful?
• How can it benefit your audience?
• Can you compare it to other places?
• What are the differences? Beter/worse?
 • Stories, poems to honor the place?

GOOD SPEECH TOPICS ABOUT VALUES

• What values do you hold?

• Why do you stand for it?
• How do you practice your value(s)?
• Why should we think, feel or do the same?
• Is there a legal component? Which one?
• Can you give examples?
• Is there any opposition against your value? Why? How?
• What are the pros and cons?
• Can it causes changes?

GOOD SPEECH TOPICS ABOUT PROBLEMS, CAUSES AND

EFFECTS

• Can you characterize it?

• Do other people consider it also as a problem?
• Why or why not?
• Hard facts and figures?
• Are there legal grounds or objections?
• Circumstances?
• Can you solve the problem?
• How, what are your solutions?
• Can you put it in a particular context?
• Is there any similarity to other problems?
• What are the causes?
• What are the effects or consequences?

Final Tips For Good Speech Topics

Bottomline: Always choose a topic you're interested in, know a lot about or you can
easily research. Learn to find for example good persuasion topics everywhere you go.
Keep our eyes and ears open, like my friend Jonathan has done. He has listed good
speech topics sources. They are very helpful in combination with the checklists above.
They help you at unexpected occasions when you quickly have to come up with good
speech topics for an impromptu. And by now, after trying my checklists, are you still
asking yourself: What are good speech topics?

Discussion Forums for ESL Learning

 Peter Connell
peter [at] asahikawa-nct.ac.jp
Asahikawa National College of Technology, Japan
The following report outlines a 10-week discussion forum, held during the summer of
1997, in which members of the public were invited to Asahikawa National College of
Technology to practice their English skills in a discussion format. The program was
designed to provide a means for students to break away from the usual teacher-centered,
textbook-dominated environment reminiscent of many ESL classrooms (including my
own) and move into one whereby the teacher takes on the role of a moderator who guides
the initiatives taken by the students, from here on known as 'participants'. Although the
event didn't proceed without problems, it fulfilled the goal of motivating participants to
take on more responsibility for acquiring information by themselves and sharing it with
others.

Program
The idea of my college holding a series of discussions in English which are open to the
public and sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Education was quite appealing to me.
I've always believed that universities and colleges, at least in Japan, tend to lack sufficient
connection to the citizens who financially support them. With the encouragement of a
Japanese colleague, I presented a plan to the Ministry of Education to conduct a
discussion forum in which local people could participate in English in discussions on a
variety of topics.

The overall purpose of the project was to provide an opportunity for Japanese people to
use their English skills in a more natural way than they might get in an ESL classroom.
Through this experience, it was hoped that the participants could further their
communicative competence in English in preparation for the times when they discuss
similar topics with native-English speakers in the future. One had to always keep in mind,
however, the main risk in this approach - namely, the prospect of the participant's
perception of his/her failure to communicate and therefore a desire to drop out of the
program as a result.

Preparation

The plan we had drawn up was approved and limited to 20 hours of lesson time. We
proceeded to choose 10 topics to be discussed for 2 hours each week. My
Japanese
colleague and I wanted topics which were closely associated to international themes,
partly due to our personal interests and partly to justify a discussion in English. After all,
if the issue is so localized, what's the point of discussing it in English?

We set out to advertise for approximately 20 participants, focusing on those who had the
confidence to express their opinions and feelings in English, and in public. Relevant
articles were taken from English-language newspapers in Japan as well as those from
abroad to provide some background information to help participants to prepare for each
meeting. Participants were not required to read them or use them during the forum as they
could have an obstructive influence on the discussion.

We were delighted to see the program oversubscribed (22 people finally selected) in spite
of the nominal fee required, although we anticipated problems that would likely arise
with such a large group. Wouldn't the atmosphere be inhibiting? Wouldn't participants
feel unable to say all the things they want to say? On the other hand, such forums are
rarely held in this part of Japan and one could imagine a large group is needed in order to
simply have enough people who are willing to speak spontaneously. Indeed, helping
participants to adapt to our format was no easy task.

Roles
In the first meeting, our roles (mine as distinguished from the participants') were orally
clarified. My role was not that of a teacher, but somewhat of a moderator who
coordinates discussion by calling on people to speak, clarifying comments at my
discretion and intercepting occasionally with questions as if 'throwing logs on the fire'.

The role sounds pretty heavy-handed but along with some corny jokes, I tried to
encourage attendees to imagine themselves not as passive students but active participants
who have at least as much knowledge of the topics as the moderator, if not more. They
would have to be conscious of the desires of others to speak -- and at the same time be
spontaneous in the initiation of questions or comments on the points being raised.

Topics

Here is a list of the weekly topics:

1. Does the presence of increasing numbers of foreign residents have an overall

positive or negative impact on Japanese society?
2. Has Japan done enough to make up for its war-time deeds?
3. Does the educational system adequately encourage Japanese young people to take
an interest in international affairs?
4. Is Japan a 'unique' society in relation to other countries?
5. Does Japan do enough to help less fortunate countries?
6. Can Japan maintain its economic competitiveness?
7. Do Japanese people have enough interest in environmental issues at home or
abroad?
8. Does the Japanese Constitution article #9 help or hinder Japan's relationship with
other countries?
Article #9 of the Japanese Constitution states that the Japanese people renounce "the threat or use
of force as a means of settling international disputes." To achieve this goal, "land, sea and air
forces, as well as other war potential will never be maintained."
 9. How is tourism beneficial for Japanese who want to acquire international
understanding?
10. Does the teaching of English in elementary school further children's
internationalization?

Format
As the moderator, I introduced the topic in the beginning of the discussions. Often I
would rephrase the question or make some clarification with concrete examples of what
aspects would be touched on as the meeting proceeded in order to prevent
misunderstandings from early on.

Each participant was allowed approximately a minute to summarise his/her views, often
based on personal experiences. To many, this approach might appear to foster a series of
mini-speeches and not discussion. This is true. However, it was deemed necessary in
order to help some of the reluctant speakers to 'break the ice' and become accustomed to
public speaking. It was presumed that the more often they did this successfully, the more
confident they'd become at making comments more spontaneously during the meeting.
This proved to be true according to the participant feedback. At the end (about 20
minutes later), anyone was free to make comments on what was previously said.

When the comments started to dry up, I introduced a series of sub-questions. For
example, in the first topic on the list, I asked participants if they could comment on any
positive or negative personal experiences with foreigners they had encountered. Those
with something to say either to answer my question or respond to the comments of others,
would raise their hands. I would then call on them to speak until I thought it was a good
idea to offer another question relating to the topic. This, of course, would be unnecessary
if the participants would initiate their own sub-topics and, in a sense, take control of the
meeting. As for the raising of hands, it was regarded as appropriate by the moderator
because it allowed language learners who are still not totally confident in their oral
English to organise their thoughts without the pressure of being prematurely interrupted.
Subsequently, domination of the event by more confident speakers was prevented.

In the last 20 minutes, everyone was given a chance to make a brief final comment.
Throughout the meeting, one was conscious of the fact that some people speak out more
than others. This may appear unfair to an observer, but for 80 minutes opportunities to
speak anytime were encouraged. Forty minutes were allocated to guarantee everyone the
chance to make at least two brief comments during the meeting. Otherwise, it was feared
that many participants would resort to only a listening role.
Success or Failure?
As everyone has their own standards as to what constitutes a vibrant discussion, I decided
to distribute a questionnaire at the end of the series of meetings to help me determine the
successes and failures of the project (see appendix for a sample in both English and
Japanese). The questions and a general summary of responses are as follows:

Did you enjoy the discussion forum? Please state why or why not?

The overwhelming majority of the 18 participants who stayed until the end of the
program (4 had dropped out previously) stated that they enjoyed it very much. Here are
some reasons given:

• 'We had plenty of opportunity to express our opinions.'

• We 'could gain knowledge from listening to others.'
• We 'could speak freely without worrying about grammatical errors.'
• We 'could take part in a meaningful discussion which is so rare.'

There were several problems raised by some members, most of which I had already
discovered after conducting the first few meetings. One participant, who stated that he
didn't enjoy the forum so much, felt that the sub-topics ('logs on a fire') introduced by the
moderator changed too quickly which exacerbated his difficulty in concentrating. I
suspect that some others had the same feeling and, as the moderator, I now realise that I
should have relaxed and allowed the discussion to be carried out at a slower pace.

Which topics did you enjoy the most? Please state reasons for your choice(s).

The most popular topic was #9 about tourism. Several participants indicated that their
personal experiences as tourists overseas as well as the lack of seriousness in the
discussion made it particularly enjoyable and easy to relate to. The second most popular
was #4 about Japan's uniqueness. One member came to the conclusion that 'Japan is
strange' while another appreciated learning about the foreign perception of Japan's
uniqueness.

Were there any topics that were not interesting?

Most responses were either 'nothing' or not provided.

The most unpopular topics were #2 and #6. As for #2, one member claimed to have no
knowledge of it while another stated his belief that 'war deeds of other countries must be
discussed.' As for #6, two members said that they had no interest in the topic.
What other topics of international concern would you have been interested in discussing?

Those who responded to this question provided the following ideas in no particular order:

• scientific issues (examples not provided)

• racial discrimination
• religion and the national character
• aid for North Korea
• comparing Japanese lifestyle with those of other countries
• Spratly Islands
• whale-catching
• foods
• Japanese multinational corporations
• Asian issues (especially China)

Did you like the meeting format (structure)? What did you like or dislike about it?

The responses were mostly positive, and mainly cited the appropriateness of having
everyone making opening and closing comments. This allowed everyone to have a
chance to speak, albeit not without some coercion.

Individual criticisms/suggestions were varied including the ones below:

• 'Fewer participants would have been desirable.'

• 'The meeting should have been 90 minutes.'
• 'It should have been a little more relaxing.'
• 'More detailed articles which matched the moderator's questions should have been
provided.'
• 'Although it was good to allow people to make comments in the beginning and
end, it also could have been done in the middle.'

Please comment on the moderator. Did he do a good job? How could he have done
better?
Generally, the moderator was praised for doing a good job in directing the discussion. In
particular, he was complimented by some as being well-prepared, fair-minded and
humorous.

Suggestions that were proposed centered on the idea that he should have made more
effort to get participants to discuss topics with each other more often instead of only
responding to his questions. One suggestion was that it was not always necessary to raise
hands to speak and that such a procedure was rather detrimental to a more relaxed, free-
flowing discussion.

My goal as a moderator was to encourage as many as possible to actively participate.

There was no record kept as to who was speaking and how often although such
information could be obtained from an analysis of the forum's transcripts. In order to
avoid overly interfering with the discussion as well as satisfy my personal curiosity of
seeing how willing participants will offer opinions in public, no one was directly called
upon to speak aside from designated periods in the beginning and the end of the meeting.
Generally speaking, some participants were more outgoing than others but all of them
took the opportunity to actively participate at their own pace.

As for the suggestion that the moderator should have encouraged participants to discuss
topics with each other, no specific idea was offered as to how this desirable outcome
could be developed. As the moderator, I believed that it would be too ambitious for
participants who aren't use to speaking English publicly to a large group to handle the
added pressure of a formal debate. Clearly, a minority did have the willingness to raise
objections to others' opinions (and they often did), but as most did not have this
confidence, it was viewed as unrealistic for such a condition to be imposed.

Were the articles useful? Why or why not?

The news articles were well-received as they provided the following:

• a good chance to read English

• a good source of relevant information
• useful technical terms related to the topics
• various viewpoints information which is difficult to find

Although many participants appreciated receiving the materials, they found them difficult
to read due to lack of time or insufficient knowledge of English. As mentioned earlier,
one respondent wanted more specific or detailed information.

Would you like to take part in another forum? Why or why not?
All the respondents answered in favor of joining another forum. Here are some reasons:

• 'I will be able to express my opinion better next time.'

• 'We Japanese should discuss serious topics.'
• 'Japanese people need training to discuss.'
• 'I can hear various opinions.'
• 'It encourages me to study English.' 'Japanese people have little opportunity to do
this kind of thing.'

Please make any other recommendations or comments.

Several members expressed the desire to keep a forum of this nature on-going (beyond
the 10 meetings allocated). Some of them recommended getting more native-speakers of
English involved and observing an example of a 'model discussion' in order to learn about
the role of discussion in western society.

Summary of the forum's attributes for ESL learners

According to the questionnaire's findings, the forum was a successful program.
Participants indicated that their language ability improved in the following ways:
• They practiced making realistic conversations as opposed to those which are
contrived through excessive instructional (i.e. teacher and text) guidance.
 • They could speak relatively freely without worrying too much about minor
grammar errors.
• In the future, they could initiate conversations without being directly called upon.
• They could learn useful technical terms related to the topics through listening to
other members' opinions and reading the news articles.
• They felt that discussion forums were especially useful for Japanese who rarely
engage in such activities.
• They felt encouraged to establish new goals for their English study. Even if
communication under pressurized circumstances was difficult, it was regarded as
useful training in the pursuit of English language fluency. They appeared to look
forward to future English-speaking events in order to have the opportunity to
improve on their performance.

Areas for Improvement

In spite of the discussion forum's success, future planners for a similar program may be
advised to pay heed to participant criticisms and suggestions. A summary of these points
is, at times, riddled with contradictions. Some people believed the forum had lots of
variety while others wanted more. Some found the news articles to be difficult while
others wanted them to be more detailed. Some people liked the strictly organized
structure in which all participants are called upon to speak while others wanted a more
free-wheeling debate without excessive moderator interference.

There was common feedback, however, that can help organizers of future forums. In
general, the exercise of discussion in English on a comprehensive topic is difficult, even
for advanced speakers of English. Due to the popularity of the event, more careful initial
screening of participants could have helped collect a more cohesive group of confident
English speakers. This was not done as it was feared that the program would be
undersubscribed. Hence, there was a sizable gap between participants' confidence in
public speaking as well as language levels with none falling below what may be regarded
as an intermediate level.

As the pressure was high, especially for participants lacking in confidence, it's important
for organizers to keep the atmosphere light and relaxing, even when a 'heavy' topic (e.g.
#2) is introduced. As the forum progressed, members gradually began to relax and could
contribute more effectively as a result. If more relatively light topics (e.g. #9) were
introduced in the first few forums, it might have helped to prevent some participants from
dropping out of the program in the early stages.

Another way to lower the pressure would be to initially separate the participants into
small groups to discuss the topics as one can experience in educational workshops. A
chosen leader could present the views of his/her group. An over dependency on this
format, however, may have the detrimental effect of allowing participants to casually slip
into their native tongue and not provide them with sufficient opportunities to express
their opinions directly to a wider group. Organizers can decide for themselves how much
pressure is beneficial for language learners according to their specific circumstances.
 Finally, with increasing numbers of advanced speakers of English in Japan, even flawed
discussion forums like the one outlined may be useful in motivating students to continue
to study English. In addition, the transition of the role of teacher to moderator or
organizer can help introduce greater flexibility in the management of language learning
environments.

Biographical information

Peter Connell has been teaching English conversation classes in Japan for 8 years and
currently teaches in Asahikawa, Hokkaido.

1. Alternative Beliefs 2. Animal Welfare

3. The Arts 4. Crime & Punishment
5. Cultural Differences 6. Economics
7. Education 8. Environment
9. Fashion 10. Food
11. Health 12. Holidays
13. Language Learning 14. Male & Female Roles
15. Marriage 16. The Media
17. Political Systems 18. Religion
19. Rich and Poor World 20. Science & Technology
21. Society 22. Sport
23. Traditions 24. Transport
25. Travel 26. Violence
27. Work 28. Youth & Old Age