Who says persuasive topics have to be boring? For students sick of tired topics like the death penalty and the drinking age, why not liven up class and tap into everyone's favorite guilty pleasure: celebrity news and gossip! While these fun persuasive speaking and essay topics may lack social significance, they certainly do not lack in controversy, and will get the attention of even the most sleepy early morning speech class.
Need some ideas? Here are some current celebrity persuasive speaking topics for the 2009-2010 school year.
Michael Jackson Topics
Like it or not, the June 25, 2009 death of Michael Jackson resulted in an endless bombardment of news. From the perspective of a student who is researching a topic, this is a promising thing, as finding sources for a Michael Jackson related topic will be a cinch. Moreover, students in search of credible sources won't have to look far, as Michael Jackson news found its way to The New York Times, Newsweek magazine, and pretty much every other respected news source.
Here are a few of many possible Michael Jackson topics that might make a good persuasive speech or essay.
- Has there been too much news about Michael Jackson?
- Who should get custody of Jackson's children?
- Was Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, negligent of his attempts to resuscitate Jackson?
- Was Jackson truly the "king of pop"?
- Did Jackson contribute positively to representations of African Americans in the media?
- Should Jackson be recognized as a "global humanitarian," as a Texas Congresswoman proclaimed?
- Was Jackson a child molester?
- Did Jackson indeed have vitiligo, a skin disorder that lightens the skins of victims?
Reality TV Topics
Reality TV may not be the most positive source of entertainment in our culture, but it's always a good source of current celebrity news and gossip. Keep in mind that not everyone watches every reality TV show, so it's important to include background information about these shows in persuasive speeches and papers. It's also helpful to choose topics that have gotten quite a bit of media exposure.
Here are some possible reality TV topics:
- Should Paula Abdul have left American Idol?
- Will American Idol be better off without Paula Abdul?
- Has American Idol been a positive influence on popular music?
- Are the parents in Jon & Kate Plus 8 exploiting their children by showcasing them on the program?
- Was Jon (or Kate) responsible for the breakup of their marriage?
- Has there been too much media coverage of the Jon & Kate Plus 8 breakup?
- Does America's Next Top Model portray women in a positive way?
- Does The Biggest Loser help people lose weight?
- Can couples really fall in love on reality shows?
- Is reality TV "real"?
More Current Celebrity Gossip Topics
If Michael Jackson seems like he's becoming a tired topic himself, there are plenty of other juicy celebrity news stories out there that can be transformed into persuasive topics. A quick browse of celebrity gossip news websites and magazines is a good way to find current topics. It's important to remember, though, that much celebrity news is just gossip, so students should verify things they read in as many sources as possible before presenting them as fact.
Here are just a few ideas for celebrity news and gossip topics:
- Angelia Jolie: humanitarian or home-wrecker?
- Should Britney Spears have custody of her children?
- Has Britney Spears' comeback been a success?
- Should Britney Spears' song "If U Seek Amy" be censored?
- Should Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey get back together?
- Paris Hilton: smart business woman or airhead?
- Is celebrity gossip harmful to our culture?
Celebrity Topics: Pros and Cons
So should students use celebrity gossip to find creative persuasive speaking and essay topics? Perhaps it depends on the assignment. If the instructor is looking for something with social significance, this might not be the way to go. On the other hand, if the primary purpose of the assignment is to be persuasive, then the topic is probably less important than the technique. At any rate, celebrity topics will certainly be seen as unique and grab the attention of the listener or reader.
Naomi Rockler-Gladen - Instructional designer and freelance writer, Naomi Rockler-Gladen writes some of Suite101's most read work.
