My Speech Class

Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

259 Interesting Speech Topics [Examples + Outlines]

Photo of author

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

interesting speech topics

The most asked question I get almost every day from students is this:

What makes a topic interesting?

Well, the answer is simple. You have to like it yourself, the subject has to be appropriate to the rules of the assignment, to the audience and the setting of the meeting:

In this article:

How To Find An Interesting Topic

Best interesting speech topics, interesting persuasive speech topics, interesting informative speech topics, topics with outline.

1 – Look in magazines, journals, and newspapers for events.

Can We Write Your Speech?

Get your audience blown away with help from a professional speechwriter. Free proofreading and copy-editing included.

Current or historical, that does not matter at this point, both are okay – and recent engaging and exciting facts, and perhaps valuable information that attracts the attention.

Articles about subjects that interests you and that are comfortable for you to talk about are good indications.

2 – Jot down any possible idea that comes up for interesting speech topics. I always draft a short list for myself of candidate issues if I am contracted for a public speaking engagement.

And then I skip the ones that are too difficult and too complex to prepare and master in 8 to 10 minutes time.

3 – Review some online books on the subject for more detailed current information about your topic. Or go to a library and ask for books and reference articles about your subject.

Without exception, all librarians I know will help you sorting out the speechwriter subject with their advice and recommendations. For example you choose for an alluring pleasure physical activity or farming and countryside topic.

Try to understand how the author has covered it. What’s his structure? What points, information or arguments are the strongest? What examples and illustrations has she or he used?

4 – Peerless reliable statistics and new discoveries can help writing and refining.

Look for controversies, rare and strange opinions. What do you think of it? What do you want your audience to think of it?

5 – Think about related engaging interpretive hints to talk about. When you view your rough list, try to find new points, different angles of view or just turn your thoughts upside down. Look at the special aspects that surprise the listeners.

>>>  For example try these 2 more detailed summary outlines with main points and subpoints. Use my sample structure to add or otherwise wipe steps and stages you do not need.

>>>  In addition to these patterns, you find more ideas for outlined main points in my Minute Section (in the navigation menu bar right on your left of this portal page). Or move straight to sixty plus lineups for speechwriters.

That can be very enlighting for enhancing public discernment. They also can  see , feel, or even  taste  and  smell  what you try to explain or demonstrate in a couple of minutes.

6 – Look for supporting and also for opposing opinions, plus interesting speech topics statements. Add visual aids where you want to emphasize or to give some prominence to an unimaginable point in your interesting topic idea.

7 – Watch news shows, history documentaries and debating programs – for example, the morning shows and the evening news. They are especially helpful for developing a rough list of wheedling brainstorms.

Interesting Speech Topic Examples

Don’t have time to read our full list of 200+ topic ideas? Here is our list of 10 interesting speech topics.

  • Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder
  • Children don’t play enough
  • Animal testing is necessary
  • Girls are too mean to each other
  • Men should get paternity leave
  • Tattoos are an addiction
  • If I had a year to do what I want
  • Butterflies: deadly creatures
  • How to ruin a date in the first minute
  • The meaning of dreams

Here is our list of top interesting persuasive speech topics.

  • Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder.
  • Hyper active kids don’t need medication.
  • Books are always better than the movie.
  • Pick up lines do work.
  • Televise all court proceedings.
  • Suspend referees that are found to show too much bias.
  • There is no place for monarchs any more.
  • It is false that no one is above the law.
  • You tube needs to monitor comments.
  • Online friends show more compassion.
  • Cross cultural couples respect each other more.
  • Graffiti must be recognised as art.
  • You can loose weight without exercising.
  • Children don’t play enough.
  • Carpets are harmful and shouldn’t be in homes.
  • Sex education doesn’t work.
  • Ban smoking in all public places.
  • Women cheat just as much as men.
  • Prohibit destruction of rainforests.
  • Global warming is a myth.
  • Justice is never the same for all.
  • Video games are not the blame of violence at school.
  • Financial rewards is the only way employees stay loyal.
  • The world isn’t only black and white.
  • Give girls over 16 contraceptives without parents consent.
  • Calories should be included in restaurant menus.
  • Sugar tax won’t reduce obesity.
  • Pregnancy as a result of rape should be terminated.
  • All couples must live together before getting married.
  • Animal testing is necessary.
  • Children’s beauty pageants are wrong.
  • There are not enough cameras in public spaces.
  • Freedom of speech rights needs to be rewritten.
  • Random DUI test should be done on parents picking up children after school.
  • Atheists are more peaceful than religious people.
  • Heterosexual men and women can be just friends.
  • Adoptive parents need maternity leave too.
  • Print advertisements don’t work.
  • Click bate headlines are the cause of less followers.
  • Don’t give children allowances.
  • Stop checking in on social media.
  • There would be more divorces if couples didn’t have children.
  • Compensate organ donors.
  • Celebrities are not role models.
  • Do drug tests on welfare recipients.
  • Stem cell research is murder.
  • People should be considered adults at 21.
  • Religion is the cause of war.
  • Life was not easier a century ago.
  • Men are better forgivers.
  • Making substances illegal only makes people want them more.
  • Parenting classes must be compulsory.
  • Helicopter parents are damaging their children.
  • Give working moms special privileges.
  • Social media fame is a scam.
  • Make paparazzi photographing children a criminal offence.
  • Food should never be seen as a reward.
  • 6 hours is not enough sleep for an adult.
  • People can live without eating meat.
  • Curfews do not keep teens out of trouble.
  • Electronic textbooks don’t have the same impact as the printed version.
  • This generation cannot fix anything.
  • Boredom always leads to trouble.
  • Girls are too mean to each other.
  • Affirmative action isn’t right.
  • School system is responsible for low test scores.
  • Men should get paternity leave.
  • Fast food needs to come with more warnings.
  • Killing a murderer is immoral.
  • Famous people must stay away from politics.
  • Long distance relationships do work.
  • Men are the stronger sex.
  • Jobs shouldn’t be gender specific.
  • Religion won’t die away.
  • Women shouldn’t give birth after 40.
  • Abortion is murder.
  • Tattoos are an addiction.
  • Drug addiction is a choice.
  • Social media will run it’s course and die out.
  • Caesarian sections are safer than normal births.
  • There is a connection between science and religion.
  • Never pay children for good grades.
  • People in open marriages are not happy.
  • The soul does exist.
  • People’s salaries should reflect their performances.
  • English will always be the business language of the world.
  • Why you should always put yourself first.
  • Earth has not been explored properly.
  • Women are more intelligent than they give away.
  • Alternatives to evolution exist.
  • Prisons create criminals.
  • Sick building syndromes exist.
  • Strategic defense and ethics do not match.
  • The War on Terror is based on a hidden agenda.
  • Aging is a threat to pension funding.
  • Airline safety restrictions won’t stop terrorists.
  • Alcohol advertising stimulates underage alcohol use.
  • All humans are spiritual in one way or another.
  • Arts express the level of quality in different cultures.
  • Atheists do care about Christmas.
  • Australian aboriginal tattooing is art.
  • Ban the filibuster from Congress.
  • Body piercings can cause serious complications.
  • Books are outdated.
  • Censorship is a violation of freedom of speech.
  • Charities must minimize the organizational and overhead costs.
  • Child testimonies in abuse cases are not credible.
  • Corporal punishment could be ethical, provided that it is proportional.
  • Creative expression and creativity are not the same.
  • Electronic baby timeshare does help to prevent teen pregnancy.
  • English and Spanish should be the only languages in the world.
  • Establishing democracy in Iraq is mission impossible.
  • Fashion gurus have good reasons to promote skinny girls.
  • Female genital mutilation is not unethical when done by cosmetic surgery doctors.
  • Feminism will help improve the position of females in Africa.
  • Fill in a country … should be condemned as human rights violator.
  • Future generations have to keep their jobs until they drop.
  • George Orwell was just right when he wrote his novel ‘1984’ … Big Brother is watching us all the time.
  • Governments should not own news broadcasting corporations.
  • Granting amnesty perpetuates immigration and makes border patrols fruitless.
  • Harry Potter books are more popular among elderly persons.
  • Hollywood movies have a bad influence on the world.
  • Homelessness in rural areas is substantially undercounted compared to metropolitan and suburban areas.
  • Hospitality is a valuable instrument to better foreign relationships.
  • Houses affected by natural disasters should not be rebuilt.
  • International satellite news broadcasting poses a threat to indigenous cultures.
  • It is possible to be pro-life and pro-choice.
  • It’s a myth that bottled water is better than tap water.
  • Journalism codes are no longer respected by journalists.
  • Limiting immigration is limiting opportunities.
  • Link debt relief of developing countries to carbon emission reduction.
  • Local aid to African communities is more effective than national aid.
  • Mentally disabled people cannot be executed.
  • Motivation courses only have one objective: to fund the instructor’s bank account.
  • MP3 music belongs in the free public domain for educational institutions and the general public.
  • News programs must be interesting rather than important.
  • Open source software is better than Microsoft.
  • Parental advisory labels hinder the freedom of speech of artists.
  • People have the right to decide about their own life and death.
  • Political correctness kills freedom of speech.
  • Poverty can be cut by half in this century.
  • Princess Diana’s death was not a tragic accident.
  • Public insults should be considered as hate speech and should not be protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution.
  • Right to work laws are useless.
  • Robin Hood was a not a hero.
  • Sex and sexuality are from different hemispheres.
  • Telling lies is a justifiable instrument.
  • The local council elections in Cuba are no elections at all.
  • The right to privacy is not absolute.
  • There is no secure protection of property rights in developing countries.
  • There should be cultural content quotas in broadcasting.
  • Tobacco and alcohol billboards litter the streets.
  • United Nations will never truly exist in Europe.
  • Vegetarians would not eat vegetables if they were born in rural Africa.
  • We should have a king instead of a president.
  • Weblogs are intellectual property and therefore must be legally protected.
  • With the current economic situation, we will all be working until we are old and grey.
  • Zero tolerance is a useful instrument to prevent violence.

Here is our list of top interesting informative speech topics.

  • A comparison of the official definition of terrorism in different parts of the world.
  • A week of monastery life.
  • Abu Sayyaf links to global terror organizations.
  • Architectural movements in the late nineteenth century.
  • Armed conflicts in Africa.
  • Artificial intelligence opportunities.
  • Biochemical weapons explained.
  • Bioethics versus human rights.
  • Combatting modern slavery.
  • Debunking weight loss myths.
  • Development goals of the United Nations.
  • Everything we can find in our Solar System.
  • Five ways to give and donate to charity funds.
  • Forms of public diplomacy.
  • Fraud detection systems explained.
  • How giant sea aquariums are constructed.
  • How nepotisms started in the Middle Ages.
  • How the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is structured.
  • How the American Civil War began.
  • How the application for immigration and naturalization works.
  • How the CIA can track terrorists.
  • How to apply Feng Shui to your bedroom.
  • How to outlaw reactionary conservative groups and individuals.
  • Is it possible to clone humans?
  • Major incidents and consequences in the first decade of this millennium.
  • Middle East roadmap for peace.
  • Migration trends.
  • Offshore installation accidents over the years.
  • Racism and cultural diversity in mass media.
  • Refugees and forced displacement.
  • Result on foreign aid funding in the long term.
  • Scientific explanations for the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle.
  • State sponsored tyranny explained.
  • The 9/11 Commission assignment and its main conclusions.
  • The best consumer electronics innovations to date.
  • The chain of cargo and freight services at international airports.
  • The difference between soft and hard drugs.
  • The effect of counter terrorism legislation on ordinary people.
  • The European convention on human rights explained.
  • The flying fortress called Air Force One.
  • The four general goals of the Homeland Security Department.
  • The functions of Samurai warriors in Ancient Japan.
  • The future of fashion.
  • The Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war.
  • The governing system of rules during the Middle Ages.
  • The history of Amtrak.
  • The innovative and unique styling of Dodge trucks.
  • The long term complications of sunburn.
  • The philosophical doctrine of Nihilism.
  • The pros and cons of pacifism.
  • The relations between federal budget deficit, national debt and trade balance.
  • The role of Emperor Akihito in Japan.
  • The secrets of crop circles revealed.
  • The short history of the second man on the Moon, Buzz Aldrin.
  • The struggle to patent computer software.
  • The war costs in Iraq and Afghanistan
  • Two party system compared multiple party systems.
  • What is acne and what are its causes.
  • Why the NASA shuttle program was stopped.
  • Why the Romans built huge aqueducts in France.
  • Venezuela and the constitutional power crisis.
  • A diamond exploration certification system will not prevent conflict-diamonds trade.
  • Handwriting analysis and how it reveals aspects of your personality.
  • Hindu Cinema: not just Bollywood movies.
  • How many disasters always happen at Christmas time.
  • How sleepwalkers perform the most unusual things while asleep.
  • Different lifestyles of generations.
  • Importance of sleeping
  • What makes me happy
  • My ideal trip to Asia
  • What would it be like to live with a famous person?
  • If I were a volcano
  • If l could the queen
  • Benefits of being a vegetarian
  • How girls worldwide are treated differently
  • History of Mainamati in Bangladesh
  • Broccoli flavored Oreos
  • The Importance of public speaking
  • A world without boundaries
  • Stars and shooting stars
  • How I came to school for the first time
  • Conspiracy theories
  • The pros and cons of being dead
  • Confusing grammar
  • When my birthday was there
  • Importance of languages
  • How to study effectively
  • If I walked backwards
  • The power of a lie
  • Power of words
  • If I was invisible
  • Why I smile
  • Fear of the unknown
  • Fashion trends I hate
  • Why do we have toes?
  • Why I want to be a lawyer (or whatever job u pick)
  • How colours affect your mood

Need a topic for your speech about an interesting persuasion statement?

Here are some of the best speech ideas and two easy informative subjects you can alter into a firm convincing claim.

Need other attracting ideas?

Check the navbar on the left and you will find thousands of special hints and tips for your public presentation 🙂

1. Whistleblower Protection Is Not Effective

  • Whistleblower laws don’t protect against reprisals, disciplinary measures and spin from superiors.
  • Huge companies have enough money to buy legal advice for a long period, laws offer employees no financial shield.
  • Legislation often doesn’t address the issue itself, the problem, the allegations often are not investigated.

Another topic for your speech on business could be on fair trade:

2. Is Fair Trade Really Fair?

  • Protectionism and markets are often stronger than fair trade appointments.
  • Buying products is subsidizing poor farmers and manufacturers in developing countries. It isn’t helping them to make them stronger.
  • It is anti-competitive and it undermines the economy in Third World nations.

And what do you think of this explosive persuasive topic for your speech?

3. Nuclear Power Is Dangerous Stuff

  • An accident could cause thousands of fatalities and for billions of dollars property damage.
  • There is no proper technology to handle radioactive waste material.
  • Health risks for people working in the plant and for those who are living nearby could not be foreseen in advance and certainly not at the long term.
  • Costs of nuclear plant safety measurements are very high.

And now two informative suggestions for a topic for your speech. But you easily transform them into some of the best speech ideas for persuasion speeches:

4. Checklist Before Taking A New Job

  • A bigger company means more interesting job and task opportunities.
  • It makes it possible to extend your existing network of trusted contacts.
  • Like to travel abroad? Is it a Yes or No?
  • How about the probability that you will keep your job – in other words what about the job security? What are the hidden clues?
  • Is there a chance you can make you professional dreams and personal goals come true?
  • How about the pay? Get all salary information, and decide on how much you want to earn from the start.
  • Are there other requirements? Some personal wishes you would like to fulfill?

5. The Advantages Of Working In The Night

  • No disturbing by telephone.
  • No traffic jam.
  • Not being awakened by the alarm clock in early morning hours …

You can think about the disadvantages too … Approach this subject from different sides and you double your opportunities!

89 Medical Speech Topic Ideas [Persuasive, Informative, Nursing]

292 Sports Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative]

10 thoughts on “259 Interesting Speech Topics [Examples + Outlines]”

Are you in the Now?

Renewable energy pros and cons.

I want to learn the most detailed writing. Am a New student and i need to improve my own My subject is an informative one : Ivorians women teaching in Abidjan universites.

I need more topics to choose from for my oral presentation

Hello, I’d appreciate it if you’d stop perpetuating falseties about global warming and climate change. They are very much real, and putting them on a list like this only further pushes the myth that they are false. These topics are not up for debate.

Some of these are really creative.

#184 made me laugh. As someone who grew up with Harry Potter, perhaps students these days will consider me an older person ha.

Regards, Chris

thaaaank you very much this is help me a lot

Thanks for the ideas!

A lot of these “creative” topics are not only offensive but help push distructive rhetoric.

this helped me out so much.was just sitting there lost about what to speak at the academic decathlon.thanks

Leave a Comment

I accept the Privacy Policy

Reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities

Vivamus integer non suscipit taciti mus etiam at primis tempor sagittis euismod libero facilisi.

© 2024 My Speech Class

Speech Writing

Entertaining Speech Topics

Barbara P

Entertaining Speech Topics for Your Next Debate

10 min read

entertaining speech topics

People also read

The 10 Key Steps for Perfect Speech Writing

Understanding the Speech Format - Detailed Guide & Examples

How to Start A Speech - 13 Interesting Ideas & Examples

20+ Outstanding Speech Examples for Your Help

Common Types of Speeches that Every Speechwriter Should Know

Good Impromptu Speech Topics for Students

How to Write a Special Occasion Speech: Types, Tips, and Examples

Introduction Speech - A Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

How to Write the Best Acceptance Speech for Your Audience?

Presentation Speech - An Ultimate Writing Guide

Commemorative Speech - Writing Guide, Outline & Examples

Farewell Speech - Writing Tips & Examples

How to Write an Extemporaneous Speech? A Step-by-Step Guide

Crafting the Perfect Graduation Speech: A Guide with Examples

We have compiled a list of entertaining speech topics for anyone who wants to talk about casually odd, foolish, silly, or crazy fun stuff. 

Choose the one that suits the best for your audience and write a hilarious speech.

You can also modify them according to your target audience and get the best tailormade result out of them. 

Arrow Down

  • 1. What is an Entertaining Speech?
  • 2. Tips for Choosing an Entertaining Speech Topic
  • 3. Amazing Entertaining Speech Topics for Students
  • 4. Easy Entertaining Speech Topics
  • 5. Good Entertaining Speech Topics
  • 6. Motivational and Interesting Entertaining Speech Topics
  • 7. Informative Entertaining Speech Topics
  • 8. Impromptu Entertaining Speech Topics
  • 9. Entertaining Persuasive Speech Topics
  • 10. Demonstrative Entertaining Speech Topics
  • 11. Unique Entertaining Speech Topics 
  • 12. Tips for Writing a Hilarious Entertaining Speech

What is an Entertaining Speech?

Speech writing is an extremely boring task, but it becomes interesting when humor is added. 

An entertaining speech is designed to amuse the audience while delivering the message. These speeches are written to entertain the audience and make them laugh. 

Like other types of speeches , entertainment speeches should communicate a clear message. However, the manner of speaking is not the formal way and is slightly different from traditional styles.

Although entertainment and funny speeches follow the same speech format as other types of speeches, they can be really fun to write. 

Tips for Choosing an Entertaining Speech Topic

When we say the word “entertainment,” we don’t refer to the ‘humor’ only but also the ‘drama’. Therefore, you need to choose a topic for an entertaining speech that brings joy to the audience and intrigues their emotions.

Here are some basic tips from experts to choose the best topic for a funny and entertaining informative speech:

  • Think of your interests and your inspiration so that you don’t get bored while delivering the speech. If that happens, your audience will lose interest immediately.
  • Think of your audience and things that interest them. Choose a topic that is interesting for both of you, i.e., you and your audience.
  • Conduct research and collect some humorous ideas that are unusual and unique
  • Pick up a normal issue or subject and give it a dramatic twist.
  • Tell a funny story about some personal experience.
  • Laugh at, and ridicule institutions and organizations but do not offend.
  • Ask what if? And show the possibilities until it becomes amusing.
  • Decide what message you want to communicate with your speech.

If you use this checklist to choose a topic for an entertaining speech, you can easily deliver a serious message while making the audience laugh.

Amazing Entertaining Speech Topics for Students

Now that you know what aspects you need to consider while selecting an entertaining speech topic, let’s choose a topic for your speech. 

Entertaining Speech Topics for Middle School

  • The funniest thing I did to my father
  • How to eat deep-fried Oreos in 259 easy steps
  • Once I shot milk out of my nose.
  • When I don’t want to go to school, I tell my mom that my stomach is hurting.
  • I popped in my pants on my first day at school.
  • I want to marry Cameron Diaz.
  • Don’t eat vegetables; they have feelings too.
  • Kids should have an hour’s break to watch cartoons in school.
  • I lied to my teacher about my granny’s death.
  • Can I have jalapeno on my dark chocolate fudge cake?

Entertaining Speech Topics for Grade 5

  • The Adventures of My Pet
  • Why I Love Playing Video Games
  • The Funniest Jokes I Know
  • The Magic of My Favorite Fairy Tale
  • A Day in the Life of a Superhero
  • The Coolest Science Experiments You Can Do at Home
  • The Wackiest Inventions in History
  • How to Train Your Dragon (or Pet)
  • The Mystery of Ancient Pyramids
  • My Dream Treehouse: A World of Imagination

Entertaining Speech Topics for Grade 6

  • The Art of Telling Ghost Stories
  • My Favorite Mythical Creatures
  • The Funniest Pranks I've Pulled on My Friends
  • The Secret Language of Emoji
  • How to Become a Master Chef in Your Kitchen
  • The World of Unicorns and Rainbows
  • The Quirkiest Sports You've Never Heard Of
  • The History of Superheroes: From Comics to Blockbusters
  • Exploring Haunted Places: Fact or Fiction?
  • The Magic of Harry Potter: A World of Wizards and Spells

Entertaining Speech Topics for Grade 7

  • The Art of Memes: A Humorous Look at Internet Culture
  • Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse: A How-To Guide
  • The Science of Laughter: What Makes Us Giggle
  • The History of Board Games: From Ancient Egypt to Modern Classics
  • The Strange Habits of Your Favorite Celebrities
  • Time Travel: Where Would You Go and Why?
  • The Power of Dreams: Unlocking Your Imagination
  • Movie Magic: Behind the Scenes of Hollywood Blockbusters
  • The World's Weirdest and Tastiest Ice Cream Flavors
  • The Mythical Creatures of Native American Folklore

Entertaining Speech Topics for Grade 8

  • Worst Twitter mistakes.
  • My most embarrassing childhood memory.
  • What are the major features of the city of the future?
  • The funniest thing I’ve ever heard.
  • The most memorable childhood moment.
  • What is your favorite song?
  • Worst messages on a birthday card?
  • Funny informative speech topics.
  • What your favorite weather says about you.
  • Tallest basketball player of all time.

Entertaining Speech Topics for High School

  • My favorite misheard song lyrics.
  • How did I tell my best friend that I love her?
  • I have a personal experience of watching a ghost dancing on the terrace.
  • Higher education is a guarantee to be a successful person.
  • How to get a toddler to go to sleep in 595 easy steps?
  • My worst encounter with my ex?
  • Have you ever mixed a Pina Colada with coffee?
  • When nothing goes right, go left.
  • The worst date I ever had.
  • The day my mom figured out Snapchat.

Funny Entertaining Speech Topics for College Students

  • When I got caught cheating on my girlfriend?
  • Boys do more gossip than girls.
  • Everything that goes wrong with me is because of my horoscope.
  • When I took an ice bucket challenge for the first time?
  • A breakup insurance policy needs to be invented.
  • Explain baseball or football to a foreigner in an exciting way.
  • Who came first: The egg or the chicken?
  • How did I meet your mother?
  • A monkey snatched my bag. 
  • Boys should not wear skinny jeans.

Easy Entertaining Speech Topics

  • The worst pickup lines.
  • 17 easy steps to take a nap after 16 hours of sleep.
  • How to lie efficiently?
  • Adults are a weird species.
  • How to tell someone to get lost without saying the word ‘get lost’?
  • You need to be young and stupid to get old and wise.
  • How to control your facial expressions?
  • Life should come with background music and pleasant air.
  • I don’t need to make notes; I’ll remember everything.
  • Whenever I need expert advice, I talk to myself.

Good Entertaining Speech Topics

  • How to become friends with a 3-year-old baby?
  • A silent woman is more dangerous than an angry tiger.
  • How to win an argument when you know that you are wrong?
  • It’s funny how 8 glasses of water a day seems impossible, but 8 glasses of wine can be done in one meal.
  • I regret all those naps that I didn’t take as a child.
  • A man’s “I’ll be there in 5 minutes” is the same as a woman’s “I’ll be ready in 5 minutes”.
  • How to control your laugh at a serious moment?
  • I will start studying tomorrow.
  • If you don’t like me, raise your standards.
  • How to keep your parent off of Facebook?

Motivational and Interesting Entertaining Speech Topics

  • I’m not weird; I’m just the limited edition.
  • My life seems to me like a test I didn’t study for.
  • People make mistakes, just to be sure.
  • Always keep smiling; it drives people crazy.
  • We should have a day every week in which we can be as useless as a “P” in psychology.
  • If you don’t like me, no problem, everyone doesn’t have good taste.
  • Before you decide to marry someone, you should see how they react to traffic congestion.
  • Cinderella is proof that a pair of shoes can change your life.
  • A woman is rolling her eyes behind every successful man.
  • How to love Mondays?

Informative Entertaining Speech Topics

  • The best things in life are not free.
  • We cannot live without the English language.
  • The new American dream is to balance work and social life.
  • Girls are beautiful, even without makeup.
  • Why we should not completely rely on autocorrect?
  • How to be the center of attention?
  • The correct way to lie?
  • The right way to make your spouse do the dishes?
  • How to make the best pancakes?
  • How to fall out of love in 508 steps?

Impromptu Entertaining Speech Topics

  • Why I’m still single?
  • My weekend plans mean that I want to stay at home, watch Netflix, and chill.
  • How to make a horrible Valentine's Day card?
  • Why do women treat their faces like a coloring book?
  • The biggest fashion fail of the year.
  • How to behave like a princess?
  • How to win an argument?
  • How to play with someone’s feelings?
  • I can’t believe I got the job.
  • When to give up?

Entertaining Persuasive Speech Topics

  • Most people are all bark, but no bite. 
  • Autocorrect can ruin your life.
  • Money does not talk, but it loves to say bye-bye all the time.
  • The good news is nothing lasts forever; the bad news is nothing lasts forever.
  • Worst Instagram mistakes that everyone should avoid?
  • How to pretend that you have understood everything?
  • How to pretend to be interested?
  • How to be patient when you just can’t?
  • The world has real superheroes.
  • Most of the famous people out there are crazy.

Demonstrative Entertaining Speech Topics

  • How to deliver a speech most funnily?
  • How to tell a lie and not get caught by your mother?
  • How to steal your professor’s glasses?
  • How to embarrass your childhood friend in 36 ways?
  • How to make fun of your brother’s snickers?
  • How to get dumped by your girlfriend?
  • How to ruin your first date?
  • How to find the love of your life on a blind date?
  • How to blame your dog for ruining your prom night?
  • How to eat nachos with vanilla ice cream?

Unique Entertaining Speech Topics 

  • The Art of Stand-Up Comedy: Making People Laugh Through Laughter Therapy.
  • The Unbelievable History of Magic and Illusion: Secrets Revealed.
  • From Myth to Reality: The Science Behind Superheroes.
  • The World of Competitive Eating: Chomping Records and Chasing Glory.
  • The Language of Memes: A New Form of Global Communication.
  • Inside the World of Extreme Sports: Thrills, Risks, and Triumphs.
  • The Mystery of Unsolved Mysteries: The Art of Investigation.
  • The Evolution of Video Games: From Pong to Virtual Reality.
  • The Power of Laughter: How Comedy Can Heal and Bring People Together.
  • The Peculiar Habits of Famous Inventors: Where Genius Meets Eccentricity.

Tips for Writing a Hilarious Entertaining Speech

Hopefully, you will have chosen the topic for your speech by now. Let’s compose an entertaining speech structure. The following tips will help you organize and write your speech easily.

  • Start the speech by introducing yourself.
  • Conduct research and collect some fun facts and details about the topic.
  • Craft an outline to organize your content logically.
  • Hit the audience with a humorous and attention-grabbing statement.
  • Give some reasons for the audience to listen to or agree with what is being said.
  • Include some funny and humorous things to make your speech interesting and entertaining.
  • You can use funny quotes and dialogue to make your speech effective.
  • Once you are done with the writing process, practice delivering it.
  • Practice as much as you can, and try to include some funny gestures. 

Entertaining speeches are really fun to deliver, but the speech writing process might stress you out.

You can effortlessly relieve the stress by seeking professional assistance for the speech writing process.

Our speech writing service specializes in delivering top quality speeches. Our expert writers are ready to furnish you with exceptional speeches at highly competitive rates.

Don't wait any longer, contact our essay writing help online for your writing needs.

AI Essay Bot

Write Essay Within 60 Seconds!

Barbara P

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

Get Help

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

speech writing

  • PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
  • EDIT Edit this Article
  • EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
  • Browse Articles
  • Learn Something New
  • Quizzes Hot
  • This Or That Game New
  • Train Your Brain
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
  • Education and Communications
  • Communication Skills
  • Public Speaking
  • Speechwriting

How to Write a Funny Speech

Last Updated: April 18, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 170,459 times.

Writing a speech is already a challenge, so why bother adding humor? Successful humor will relax the audience, making them more attentive and receptive. It can break down perceived barriers between you and the audience, fostering a sense of camaraderie with the audience. Read on to learn how to use humor to your advantage when giving a speech. [1] X Research source

Choosing Your Topic

Step 1 Find a topic.

  • Think about -- and then make -- a list of things you know a lot about or enjoy talking about. Single out the topics you’re knowledgeable about but also know you can be funny about. This might rule out topics that are hard to joke about, like poverty, domestic violence, etc.
  • Use this list (in combination with the next step) to select a potential topic.

Step 2 Consider your audience.

  • What’s the general age of your audience?
  • What do your audience members have in common?
  • What kind of speech are they expecting to hear?
  • What kind of humor are they likely to appreciate?

Step 3 Determine whether the speech should be humorously informative or just humorous.

  • If you’re writing a speech whose primary goal is to convey information or ideas, you’ll want to integrate humor while focussing on the ideas you want to convey. So draft the informative parts of your speech first, then integrate jokes and humor.
  • If you’re writing a speech whose primary goal is humor -- perhaps a satire or parody -- then you’ll want the humor center stage from the beginning. Choose a topic that lends itself to your sense of humor as well as to what the audience is likely to find amusing.

Writing Your Speech

Step 1 Decide your “big idea.”

  • Remember to choose a specific topic -- if your main idea/topic is too broad, you won’t do it justice in a relatively short speech. Choose something that you can describe in reasonable depth in the time allotted.
  • For example, if you’re writing a humorously informative speech about early American cinema, your main idea might be, “the advent of sound in film hurt rather than helped the medium by detracting from its visual potential”. This is specific enough not to be overwhelming while still leaving you room to develop substantial supporting points.
  • If, on the other hand, you’re writing a satirical speech, say, about reality television, your main idea might be, “nothing has contributed more to the cultural and intellectual richness of American society than reality television”.

Larry David

Mine your own unique experiences for inspiration. "It's always good to take something that's happened in your life and make something of it comedically."

Step 2 Decide your main points.

  • Write down your main idea.
  • Below it, write out everything that comes to mind when you think about that idea. Use whatever visual or textual brainstorming method you prefer (eg, clustering, listing, freewriting, etc.).
  • Eliminate anything that’s too far away from the topic, that you don’t feel comfortable discussing, or that would require too much time and depth to cover.

Step 3 Outline your speech.

  • I. Introduction (where you state your main topic and the points you’ll make)
  • II. Main point one
  • III. Main point two
  • IV. Main point three
  • V. Conclusion (in which you sum up the main points, re-state your main idea, and issue a call to action from the audience, if appropriate)

Step 4 Begin with a “hook.”

  • Effective hooks include humorous personal anecdotes, surprising or entertaining examples, or direct questions to the audience that invite their participation and give them a chance to laugh at themselves. [10] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
  • For example, if you’re writing a speech about studying abroad, you might start by asking if anyone has ever wished they had an accent or intentionally faked one. You can then suggest they do it right and live somewhere they’ll actually have a legitimate accent.

Step 5 Write simply and clearly.

  • Err on the side of clarity over style, subtlety or artistry. Unlike a written piece, a speech is as much about delivery as it is about content, and the audience will be less attuned to the intricacies of sentence construction and more attuned to your overall message and the expressions as you give it.
  • Avoid overly long and complicated sentences. Long and difficult sentences will be hard to follow. Simplify your point and/or break complicated sentences into smaller, more easily digested ideas.

Step 6 Use vivid and specific adjectives.

  • For example, a word like “incendiary” is both more vivid, specific, and aurally interesting than a word such as “controversial”. “Incendiary” communicates the idea of something explosively provocative, while “controversial” is a more general term for something that generates disagreement.

Incorporating Humor

Step 1 Work humor into the text, once you have the foundation of your speech.

  • Consider generational differences with humor -- use references and jokes that address topical issues for that age group. For example, if you’re writing a speech about volunteering to an audience of high school students, relate the information in your speech to specific things and events relevant to teenagers. You might make a joke about volunteering versus staying home and trying to be Jimi Hendrix on Guitar Hero. Or you might pick a guitarist more recent than Jimi!
  • Know what the audience members have in common. Use it when writing jokes oriented around those shared elements, which are more likely to hold the audience’s attention. Doing so is invariably a crowd-pleaser. For example, if you’re addressing teachers, you might make a humorous reference to students’ most bizarre homework excuses.
  • Situational and observational humor that’s tailored to its audience is often particularly effective.

Step 2 Get inspired.

  • Watch your favorite funny movie, television show, or comedian.
  • Read works by your favorite humorous writers.
  • Don’t hesitate to take cues from their delivery -- learn from what they do to make a joke successful. (But don’t plagiarize!)
  • Pay attention when you make people around you laugh. Note the things you do or say that make people laugh and how you do it.
  • If, for example, your friends can’t stop laughing when you humorously re-enact stressful situations or conversations, try to incorporate similar elements into your speech.

Step 3 Keep the humor responsible.

  • Targeting particular people or groups is not only inconsiderate, it can alienate members of your audience.
  • Avoid jokes that are made at the expense of one side or another in a contentious issue, like jokes about one side of a political or religious debate.
  • Don’t make jokes about experiences you don’t understand. A good general rule is to write what you know. So if you, for example, have a learning disability, you might make a joke about the difficulties of dealing with standardized tests. But if you don’t have a learning disability, don’t make jokes about those who do -- you don’t share their specific experience, so you may unintentionally be making jokes about sensitive, potentially even hurtful, issues. [13] X Research source
  • Also take the taste level of your audience into consideration when deciding if a joke is going to be offensive. If you’re giving a speech to a room of educated adults, you’ll probably want to avoid overly bawdy or sexual humor.

Step 4 Keep the humor relevant.

  • The more relevant your jokes are to the specific matter at hand, the more likely they are to be successful with and entertaining.

Step 5 Be self-deprecating.

  • But don’t go to extremes of self-loathing, as that will have the opposite effect. The audience won’t know whether to laugh or what you’re trying to accomplish.

Step 6 Maintain focus.

  • Remember just what information it is you need to convey and ensure that it’s clear.
  • Don't let the humor become distracting. Humor can be a great tool for enhancing the information you’re conveying, as long as it doesn’t become a larger focus than the informative content itself. [15] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source

Step 7 Edit and revise -- multiple times.

  • Give yourself enough writing time so that you can go through and revise multiple times.
  • The more attentive you are to the details, the more successful your speech is likely to be.

Delivering Your Speech

Step 1 Practice.

  • Read the entire speech aloud until you’re comfortable enough with the material that you don’t need to read directly from your script but can simply use it as a prompt when needed.

Step 2 Vary your tone and expressions.

  • If you watch comedians and humorists closely, you’ll find that they tend to lead in to their jokes in a particular, deliberate way. Specifically, they’ll use a combination of slower speech, significant pauses, and punctuated emphasis. So when you’re leading up to a joke, cue your audience by slowing down your delivery, pausing slightly before delivering the punchline, and emphasizing key words within the punchline. [18] X Research source
  • Emphasize important words, but not to the point that it becomes distracting. Practice how you would naturally speak the lines, paying attention to specific places where your tone rises, falls, or becomes more expressive. Keep those inflections in your speech and play them up enough to be animated, but stop short of being continually exaggerated, which will likely distract the audience from the content of the speech itself.
  • Watch and listen to speeches you admire. Pay attention to how the speaker manipulates their tone and pacing to enhance the speech and try to apply those same techniques to your own speech.

Step 3 Record yourself.

  • It can be somewhat uncomfortable to watch or listen to yourself, but doing so will help improve your presentation enough to be worth the momentary discomfort.

Step 4 Use large physical gestures.

  • Think of being somewhat theatrical, you want your gestures to be visible and distinct from a distance. Favor several broad gestures over a series of small ones. [20] X Research source

Step 5 Have fun.

  • Allow yourself to feel nervous. Accept that you’re going to feel that way and decide not to worry about it.
  • The more confidently you act, the more confident you’ll eventually feel.
  • You have a chance to share your humor and ideas with an interested audience -- enjoy it!

Expert Q&A

Patrick Muñoz

You Might Also Like

Give a Thank You Speech

  • ↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-publicspeaking/chapter/humor-in-public-speaking/
  • ↑ http://www.drmichellemazur.com/2013/04/speech-topic.html
  • ↑ http://www.write-out-loud.com/how-to-use-humor-effectively.html
  • ↑ Patrick Muñoz. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.
  • ↑ http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/speech-preparation-3-outline-examples/
  • ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/speeches/
  • ↑ http://writetodone.com/how-to-write-funny/
  • ↑ http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/How_to_add_humor_to_your_speechwithout_being_a_com_47538.aspx

About This Article

Patrick Muñoz

  • Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Gary Heiser

Gary Heiser

Aug 14, 2016

Did this article help you?

Gary Heiser

Featured Articles

Relive the 1970s (for Kids)

Trending Articles

How to Celebrate Passover: Rules, Rituals, Foods, & More

Watch Articles

Fold Boxer Briefs

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Duke University

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

stupid things to write a speech about

112 Persuasive Speech Topics That Are Actually Engaging

What’s covered:, how to pick an awesome persuasive speech topic, 112 engaging persuasive speech topics, tips for preparing your persuasive speech.

Writing a stellar persuasive speech requires a carefully crafted argument that will resonate with your audience to sway them to your side. This feat can be challenging to accomplish, but an engaging, thought-provoking speech topic is an excellent place to start.

When it comes time to select a topic for your persuasive speech, you may feel overwhelmed by all the options to choose from—or your brain may be drawing a completely blank slate. If you’re having trouble thinking of the perfect topic, don’t worry. We’re here to help!

In this post, we’re sharing how to choose the perfect persuasive speech topic and tips to prepare for your speech. Plus, you’ll find 112 persuasive speech topics that you can take directly from us or use as creative inspiration for your own ideas!

Choose Something You’re Passionate About

It’s much easier to write, research, and deliver a speech about a cause you care about. Even if it’s challenging to find a topic that completely sparks your interest, try to choose a topic that aligns with your passions.

However, keep in mind that not everyone has the same interests as you. Try to choose a general topic to grab the attention of the majority of your audience, but one that’s specific enough to keep them engaged.

For example, suppose you’re giving a persuasive speech about book censorship. In that case, it’s probably too niche to talk about why “To Kill a Mockingbird” shouldn’t be censored (even if it’s your favorite book), and it’s too broad to talk about media censorship in general.

Steer Clear of Cliches

Have you already heard a persuasive speech topic presented dozens of times? If so, it’s probably not an excellent choice for your speech—even if it’s an issue you’re incredibly passionate about.

Although polarizing topics like abortion and climate control are important to discuss, they aren’t great persuasive speech topics. Most people have already formed an opinion on these topics, which will either cause them to tune out or have a negative impression of your speech.

Instead, choose topics that are fresh, unique, and new. If your audience has never heard your idea presented before, they will be more open to your argument and engaged in your speech.

Have a Clear Side of Opposition

For a persuasive speech to be engaging, there must be a clear side of opposition. To help determine the arguability of your topic, ask yourself: “If I presented my viewpoint on this topic to a group of peers, would someone disagree with me?” If the answer is yes, then you’ve chosen a great topic!

Now that we’ve laid the groundwork for what it takes to choose a great persuasive speech topic, here are over one hundred options for you to choose from.

  • Should high school athletes get tested for steroids?
  • Should schools be required to have physical education courses?
  • Should sports grades in school depend on things like athletic ability?
  • What sport should be added to or removed from the Olympics?
  • Should college athletes be able to make money off of their merchandise?
  • Should sports teams be able to recruit young athletes without a college degree?
  • Should we consider video gamers as professional athletes?
  • Is cheerleading considered a sport?
  • Should parents allow their kids to play contact sports?
  • Should professional female athletes be paid the same as professional male athletes?
  • Should college be free at the undergraduate level?
  • Is the traditional college experience obsolete?
  • Should you choose a major based on your interests or your potential salary?
  • Should high school students have to meet a required number of service hours before graduating?
  • Should teachers earn more or less based on how their students perform on standardized tests?
  • Are private high schools more effective than public high schools?
  • Should there be a minimum number of attendance days required to graduate?
  • Are GPAs harmful or helpful?
  • Should schools be required to teach about standardized testing?
  • Should Greek Life be banned in the United States?
  • Should schools offer science classes explicitly about mental health?
  • Should students be able to bring their cell phones to school?
  • Should all public restrooms be all-gender?
  • Should undocumented immigrants have the same employment and education opportunities as citizens?
  • Should everyone be paid a living wage regardless of their employment status?
  • Should supremacist groups be able to hold public events?
  • Should guns be allowed in public places?
  • Should the national drinking age be lowered?
  • Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
  • Should the government raise or lower the retirement age?
  • Should the government be able to control the population?
  • Is the death penalty ethical?

Environment

  • Should stores charge customers for plastic bags?
  • Should breeding animals (dogs, cats, etc.) be illegal?
  • Is it okay to have exotic animals as pets?
  • Should people be fined for not recycling?
  • Should compost bins become mandatory for restaurants?
  • Should electric vehicles have their own transportation infrastructure?
  • Would heavier fining policies reduce corporations’ emissions?
  • Should hunting be encouraged or illegal?
  • Should reusable diapers replace disposable diapers?

Science & Technology

  • Is paper media more reliable than digital news sources?
  • Should automated/self-driving cars be legalized?
  • Should schools be required to provide laptops to all students?
  • Should software companies be able to have pre-downloaded programs and applications on devices?
  • Should drones be allowed in military warfare?
  • Should scientists invest more or less money into cancer research?
  • Should cloning be illegal?
  • Should societies colonize other planets?
  • Should there be legal oversight over the development of technology?

Social Media

  • Should there be an age limit on social media?
  • Should cyberbullying have the same repercussions as in-person bullying?
  • Are online relationships as valuable as in-person relationships?
  • Does “cancel culture” have a positive or negative impact on societies?
  • Are social media platforms reliable information or news sources?
  • Should social media be censored?
  • Does social media create an unrealistic standard of beauty?
  • Is regular social media usage damaging to real-life interactions?
  • Is social media distorting democracy?
  • How many branches of government should there be?
  • Who is the best/worst president of all time?
  • How long should judges serve in the U.S. Supreme Court?
  • Should a more significant portion of the U.S. budget be contributed towards education?
  • Should the government invest in rapid transcontinental transportation infrastructure?
  • Should airport screening be more or less stringent?
  • Should the electoral college be dismantled?
  • Should the U.S. have open borders?
  • Should the government spend more or less money on space exploration?
  • Should students sing Christmas carols, say the pledge of allegiance, or perform other tangentially religious activities?
  • Should nuns and priests become genderless roles?
  • Should schools and other public buildings have prayer rooms?
  • Should animal sacrifice be legal if it occurs in a religious context?
  • Should countries be allowed to impose a national religion on their citizens?
  • Should the church be separated from the state?
  • Does freedom of religion positively or negatively affect societies?

Parenting & Family

  • Is it better to have children at a younger or older age?
  • Is it better for children to go to daycare or stay home with their parents?
  • Does birth order affect personality?
  • Should parents or the school system teach their kids about sex?
  • Are family traditions important?
  • Should parents smoke or drink around young children?
  • Should “spanking” children be illegal?
  • Should parents use swear words in front of their children?
  • Should parents allow their children to play violent video games?

Entertainment

  • Should all actors be paid the same regardless of gender or ethnicity?
  • Should all award shows be based on popular vote?
  • Who should be responsible for paying taxes on prize money, the game show staff or the contestants?
  • Should movies and television shows have ethnicity and gender quotas?
  • Should newspapers and magazines move to a completely online format?
  • Should streaming services like Netflix and Hulu be free for students?
  • Is the movie rating system still effective?
  • Should celebrities have more privacy rights?

Arts & Humanities

  • Are libraries becoming obsolete?
  • Should all schools have mandatory art or music courses in their curriculum?
  • Should offensive language be censored from classic literary works?
  • Is it ethical for museums to keep indigenous artifacts?
  • Should digital designs be considered an art form? 
  • Should abstract art be considered an art form?
  • Is music therapy effective?
  • Should tattoos be regarded as “professional dress” for work?
  • Should schools place greater emphasis on the arts programs?
  • Should euthanasia be allowed in hospitals and other clinical settings?
  • Should the government support and implement universal healthcare?
  • Would obesity rates lower if the government intervened to make healthy foods more affordable?
  • Should teenagers be given access to birth control pills without parental consent?
  • Should food allergies be considered a disease?
  • Should health insurance cover homeopathic medicine?
  • Is using painkillers healthy?
  • Should genetically modified foods be banned?
  • Should there be a tax on unhealthy foods?
  • Should tobacco products be banned from the country?
  • Should the birth control pill be free for everyone?

If you need more help brainstorming topics, especially those that are personalized to your interests, you can  use CollegeVine’s free AI tutor, Ivy . Ivy can help you come up with original persuasive speech ideas, and she can also help with the rest of your homework, from math to languages.

Do Your Research

A great persuasive speech is supported with plenty of well-researched facts and evidence. So before you begin the writing process, research both sides of the topic you’re presenting in-depth to gain a well-rounded perspective of the topic.

Understand Your Audience

It’s critical to understand your audience to deliver a great persuasive speech. After all, you are trying to convince them that your viewpoint is correct. Before writing your speech, consider the facts and information that your audience may already know, and think about the beliefs and concerns they may have about your topic. Then, address these concerns in your speech, and be mindful to include fresh, new information.

Have Someone Read Your Speech

Once you have finished writing your speech, have someone read it to check for areas of strength and improvement. You can use CollegeVine’s free essay review tool to get feedback on your speech from a peer!

Practice Makes Perfect

After completing your final draft, the key to success is to practice. Present your speech out loud in front of a mirror, your family, friends, and basically, anyone who will listen. Not only will the feedback of others help you to make your speech better, but you’ll become more confident in your presentation skills and may even be able to commit your speech to memory.

Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to write a powerful, unique persuasive speech. With the perfect topic, plenty of practice, and a boost of self-confidence, we know you’ll impress your audience with a remarkable speech!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

stupid things to write a speech about

virtualspeech-logo

Improve your practice.

Enhance your soft skills with a range of award-winning courses.

45 Public Speaking Topics and Ideas

October 4, 2018 - Helen Hooper

Do you enjoy standing up in front of a large audience and making a speech? Or do you get so nervous that you forget what you were going to tell the audience about?

If the answer to the second question is “yes,” then you’re not alone. Many people, including well-known entrepreneurs, politicians, and actors, aren’t fans of public speaking. For example, did you know that Richard Branson is among them? Yes, one of the best entrepreneurs in history has a real far of public speaking!

“I loathe making speeches, and always have,”  Branson admitted  in one of the interviews. “Over the years, however, I have become much more practiced at giving speeches, though it still makes me a bit nervous.”

Richard Branson giving a public speech

“Fortunately, the fear of public speaking shouldn’t be an insurmountable obstacle for you with some learning and practice,” says Gordon Stevens, a motivational coach. “The more you develop your skills, the more confident you’ll feel during your speeches.”

Moreover, having strong public skills can greatly boost your career and improve your position in the labor market.  Warren Buffet stated  “you can improve your value by 50 percent just by learning communication skills – public speaking”

So, whether you’re looking for topics for your next public speech or just for practice, take a look at these 45 ideas, including tips on how to choose the best ones for your purpose.

Public speaking topics

Category: science.

1. Why humans should colonize mars

Let’s be honest here, humans are endangered species because all of us live only on one planet. Colonizing mars increases the chance of long-term survival of humankind and has many other benefits, so it’s definitely a great topic to talk about.

2. When will AI exceed human performance?

It’s one of the most discussed topics in science right now because AI has been developing at an amazing speed in the recent years. So, there are tons of quality materials to retrieve information from, such as  this article from cornell university .

3. What is the future of commercial space flight?

Elon musk has recently announced the name of the first space tourist who will orbit the moon several times on SpaceX’s most advanced spacecraft, the BFR. When do you think this will happen?

4. Should nanotechnology research continue?

With all the risks and ethical issues that nanotechnology research is facing now, it could be an interesting topic to discuss.

5. Should we bring extinct species back from the dead?

Animal cloning is becoming more common, so cloning extinct species appears to be a matter of time. But should we really bring back animals like mammoths? What would we do with them if we succeed?

6. Potential for super greenhouse effect on earth

Global warming is the real thing, and governments around the world are starting to take this issue seriously. But where are we on our way to triggering a runaway greenhouse effect that turned our neighboring planet Venus into a hellish world?

7. What is gene therapy?

For example, could we use it to prevent diseases and conditions?

8. Why whales should not be hunted for food

Also an interesting topic that touches upon one of the most relevant issues in environmental health.

9. Stephen Hawking’s contributions to science

One of the greatest minds in history, Stephen Hawking, passed away recently, so it would be great to share his main contributions to science.

10. When will the next solar superflare hit earth?

The scientists know it’s coming, but can we make some predictions?

Category: self-development and self-help topics

11. How can you improve public speaking skills?

Why not, right?

12. What leadership style is the most suitable for your personality?

There are a number of leadership styles, so finding out which one suits you is an interesting idea.

13. How to get a fresh start after a breakup / divorce?

14. Why you should become a freelancer

15. Why being lazy isn’t always a bad thing

16. What Richard Branson recommends to everyone to make everyday a success

Here are  some materials  for you to start researching.

17. Why you should visit at least 5 countries by the time you’re 30

18. Gluten isn’t bad for health

19. Scientific evidence on why you shouldn’t skip your breakfast

20. Why success if often an extreme tolerance for failure (Jeff Bezos experience)

Jeff Bezos is an excellent example of a person who  thinks of a failure as a chance to learn .

Category: society

21. Do professional athletes make too much money?

22. Why the your country should promote legal immigration

23. Is it possible to eliminate poverty in every country in the world?

24. The internet should be free for everyone

25. Why punishing children for bullying others isn’t a solution

This conversation article  has some good ideas on that for you to explore.

26. The U.S. should encourage the spirit of volunteerism

27. Society should make monopolies illegal

28. Is our society too dependent on technology?

29. Why we need to support local businesses

30. Being gay: choice or nature?

31. Cell phone use while driving should be banned in all U.S. states.

Category: workplace

32. How to spot a toxic employee?

33. Give 5 reasons why we should abolish tipping restaurant servers

This Huffington Post article  will be of great help to you on this topic.

34. Why the minimum wage should be raised?

35. Top reasons why best employees invest in employee wellness programs

36. The best ways to increase employee engagement for better performance

37. Should age discrimination be a criminal offence?

38. All internships should be paid internships

39. The minimum age for unsupervised driving should be raised to 18

40. LGBT workers are protected from workplace discrimination.

Category: controversial

41. Airline passengers should sacrifice their privacy for the sake of flight safety

42. Your government should promote conservation

43. Your government should make animal testing illegal

44. The use of the internet by teens should be limited

45. The internet contributes to media bias

How to choose a public speaking topic?

Check out these quick tips for picking a great topic:

  • Choose a topic that you’re fairly familiar with or have an interest in. This might help you to include some personal experience as a bonus to your speech.
  • Know your audience. Your topic should always resemble the interests of your audience, otherwise they could find it boring. In this case, you’ll be wasting yours and their time.
  • Pick up a hot topic that describes a current event, place, or process.

Read this article for additional information on  choosing a public speaking topic .

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, ideas for things to write a speech about.

I've been asked to give a speech to my high school's student assembly and I want to make it engaging and impactful. Could anyone share some unique and interesting things to write a speech about? Thanks in advance!

It's awesome that you have the opportunity to speak at your high school's student assembly! It's essential to choose a topic that resonates with your audience and you're passionate about. Here are some ideas that you can consider for your speech:

1. The power of kindness: Discuss the impact of small acts of kindness and encourage students to make a conscious effort to spread positivity and support to one another.

2. Embracing failure and learning from it: Share the importance of viewing failure as an opportunity for growth, and provide examples of famous individuals who faced setbacks before achieving success.

3. The value of diverse perspectives: Emphasize the importance of embracing and learning from different cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles by sharing some examples of how diversity has positively impacted society.

4. Environmental responsibility: Discuss the role students can play in maintaining sustainability and eco-friendly behaviors, such as recycling, carpooling, and reducing energy use.

5. Mental health awareness: Speak on the importance of acknowledging, discussing, and addressing mental health challenges, and provide resources that students can utilize to seek help or support others.

6. The impact of social media and digital connections on interpersonal relationships: Discuss the pros and cons of social media and the importance of engaging in genuine, face-to-face interactions with their peers as well as setting healthy boundaries with technology use.

7. Overcoming self-doubt and embracing one's potential: Encourage students to recognize their strengths, talents, and potential by sharing strategies on how to build self-esteem and confidence.

8. Pursuing personal passions: Share the value of pursuing personal interests, hobbies, and goals, not just for enjoyment, but as a means of self-discovery and self-improvement.

9. Building a growth mindset: Discuss the concept of a growth mindset and explain how adopting this attitude can lead to greater success and personal development.

10. The importance of community service and giving back: Share different ways students can get involved in their local communities, the benefits of volunteering, and the impact it can have on themselves and others.

Whichever topic you choose, make sure to include personal anecdotes, relevant examples, and actionable steps that your audience can take away from your speech. Good luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

90 years of expert advice and inspiration, for every couple.

  • Engagement Rings
  • Wedding Bands
  • Celebrity Weddings & News
  • Wedding Planning
  • Destination Wedding
  • Invitations & Stationery
  • Wedding Décor
  • Flowers & Bouquets
  • Food & Drink
  • Wedding Cakes
  • Photography
  • Wedding Dresses
  • Bridesmaid Dresses
  • Makeup & Hair
  • Accessories
  • Groom Style
  • Wedding Party Attire
  • Wedding Guest Attire
  • Bridal Fashion Week
  • Skincare & Wellness
  • Engagement Party
  • Bridal Shower
  • Bachelorette Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
  • Registry Tips
  • Anniversary Gifts
  • Wedding Favors
  • Friends & Family
  • Marriage Proposal Ideas
  • Married Life
  • Love & Dating
  • The Brides Team
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Editorial Policy
  • Terms of Use and Policies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Wedding Ideas & Advice
  • Wedding Reception Ideas

36 Funny Wedding Toasts and Speeches That'll Get the Whole Room Laughing

Plus, tips on writing and delivering a humorous speech that won't come off as a roast.

stupid things to write a speech about

Photo by Abby Jiu Photography

In This Article

Have you been asked to give a wedding toast ? First and foremost, congratulations! It’s clear that you mean a great deal to the marrying couple and that they trust you to speak on their behalf in front of everyone that has ever been important to them. It's a tremendous honor, but we understand that you might be feeling a bit nervous about your new role as reception orator. Where should you begin?

The most important thing to know about wedding speeches is that the best ones are both heartfelt and humorous—and, most importantly, well under five minutes. While you’ll want to dive deep into your own memories of and feelings about the couple for the heartfelt bits, zingers don’t necessarily come naturally to all of us. To help you out in the laughs department, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite funny wedding toasts and marriage quotes below. Feel free to borrow with abandon and mix them up as needed—whatever it takes to make your speech really shine! 

Photo by Twah Dougherty Photography

Funny Wedding Toast Ideas 

These one-liners and well-wishes are sure to garner some chuckles.

  • "What do late nights, wild parties, and hanging out with friends on the weekend have in common? You won’t be able to do any of those things from now on. But congratulations on your wedding!"
  • "May your children be blessed with rich parents." 
  • "Here's to you and here's to me, I hope we never disagree, But if, perchance, we ever do, Then here's to me, and to hell with you."
  • "Let’s raise our glasses to the two secrets of a long-lasting marriage: a good sense of humor, and a short memory."
  • "May all of your ups and downs be only in the bedroom." 
  • "Remember: In life, there are only two tools anyone really needs in their toolbox—duct tape and WD40. Duct tape keeps things from moving when they shouldn’t, and WD40 gets things moving when they’re stuck."
  • "May you both live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live."
  • "May you never lie, cheat, or drink. But if you must lie, lie with each other. And if you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink with us. Cheers to the newlyweds!"
  • "We are gathered here today to honor something so truly magical, so truly unique and wonderful, that it simply had to be celebrated. I am, of course, talking about the doughnut wall."
  • "As Bill and Ted once said: 'Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes.'"
  • "Saying 'I do' at your wedding is like clicking the 'I accept' box any time a new piece of software on your computer or phone asks you to read its terms and conditions: You do it despite having no idea what will come next. Congratulations on your marriage!"
  • "Never laugh at your spouse’s choices. Remember: they also chose you. Cheers!"
  • "Now, let’s raise our glasses to the happy couple. I actually like both of you—do you have any idea how rare that is?"
  • "May the most you wish for be the least you get." 
  • "May your household multiply, and may your hearts never be divided."

While quotes are great, keeping your wedding toasts personal or even providing quotes you remember from the couple getting married is always a good choice.

Photo by Jose Villa

Funny Quotes for Your Wedding Toast 

Use these humorous bits to offer the newlyweds wisdom and advice with a wink in your toast.

  • "The secret to a good marriage is to be a little deaf." — Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
  • "We are all a little weird, and life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness and call it love." — Dr. Seuss 
  • "I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life." — Rita Rudner
  • "Marriage is not just spiritual communion. It is also remembering to take out the trash." — Dr. Joyce Brothers
  • "Love is blind. Marriage is the eye-opener." — Pauline Thomason  
  • "A good marriage is like a casserole: only those responsible for it really know what goes into it." — Unknown
  • "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt." — Charles Schulz
  • "Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes. There’s too much fraternizing with the enemy." — Henry Kissinger
  • "To keep your marriage brimming with love in the loving cup, whenever you're wrong, admit it; whenever you're right, shut up." — Ogden Nash
  • "For marriage to be a success, every woman and every man should have her and his own bathroom. The end." — Catherine Zeta-Jones
  • "If you’re wrong and you shut up, you’re wise. If you’re right and you shut up, you’re married." — Unknown
  • "Marriage is the only war in which you sleep with the enemy." — Unknown
  • "If at first you don’t succeed...try doing it the way your wife told you." — Unknown  
  • "Spend a few minutes a day really listening to your spouse. No matter how stupid [their] problems sound to you." — Megan Mullally 
  • "The secret to a happy marriage remains a secret." — Henny Youngman
  • "The best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly who you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you. The right person is still going to think the sun shines out of your ass. That’s the kind of person that’s worth sticking with." — Mac MacGuff in Juno 
  • "You’ll know you’ve mastered marriage when you ask your spouse to hand you 'that thingy' over there and they know exactly what you mean.” — @sixfootcandy on Twitter
  • "Love is a lot like a backache. It doesn’t show up on X-rays, but you know it’s there." — George Burns
  • "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times—always with the same person." — Mignon McLaughlin
  • "If your husband tells you you're being too dramatic, don't forget to bow when you thank him." — @3sunzzz on Twitter
  • "Marrying someone is easy. Staying married after going to Ikea on a Saturday with an empty stomach is not." — @maryfairybobrry on Twitter

Photo by Les Loups

Tips for Writing and Delivering a Funny Wedding Toast

A funny wedding toast is a great way to keep everyone engaged; guests (especially after a few drinks at cocktail hour) don't always have the best attention spans for long, emotional speeches. A toast that's light, short, and appropriately funny is the recipe for one attendees will remember—and for all the right reasons. Just be sure to follow a few important tips for writing, practicing, and delivering a funny wedding toast.

Avoid too many inside jokes.

Have you ever been out with a group of friends and experienced everyone laughing about something that makes absolutely no sense to you? If so, you know that there's no worse feeling than being on the outside of an inside joke. While it's perfectly fine to include a few lines that make sense to just a few people in attendance, it's important to ensure that the vast majority of your toast resonates with everyone on the guest list.

Don't poke fun at the happy couple.

Remember that this is a toast, not a roast. It's best to be humorous but not mean-spirited or cruel. You want guests to laugh with you instead of at the happy couple, so avoid anything that feels as though you're mocking the newlyweds. Sharing funny stories and musings is a better course of action than retelling every embarrassing story you know about the bride or groom.

Be sure to strike the right balance between funny and serious.

While you don't have to pair every funny line with something more sentimental, it is nice to ensure there's a good mix of content in your speech. Balance all that (tasteful) humor with more serious sentiments—how much you love the couple, what their bond has taught you about happy relationships, and your hopes and dreams for their long, happy future together—and you've got a guaranteed hit.

Have someone else vet it.

Who can forget that scene in Wedding Crashers where Rachel McAdams thinks she's written the world's funniest speech and Owen Wilson kindly tells her to speak from the heart instead? While you might think you've penned a winner, it's best to let someone you trust weigh in before you take it to the crowd. Be open-minded about their feedback and willing to adjust if they note any major red flags.

Practice, practice, practice.

Your speech might be rock solid, but if you're tripping over every word or rushing through what you've written, guests will never know how great it is. Though definitely don't have to memorize it, you should practice it a few times through to make sure there are no clunky phrases or tough to pronounce words. Nail your timing and make sure you give your jokes a little breathing room for laughs, too.

Related Stories

How to Write a Wedding Toast: Examples, Tips, and Advice

How to Write a Sister-of-the-Groom Speech

Everything to Know About Your Groom Speech: Tips, Advice, and Examples

How to Write the Perfect Best Man Speech

How to Write a Father-of-the-Groom Speech

How to Write a Father of the Bride Speech

Public Speaking Experts Share Their Top Tips for Giving an Amazing Wedding Speech

Mother-of-the-Bride Speech Examples and Writing Tips

How to Write a Maid of Honor Speech

How to Write a Timeless Engagement Toast

How to Write an Unforgettable Newlywed Reception Toast

101 Romantic Wedding Quotes to Include in Your Vows

60 Wedding Toast Quotes for Every Speech

52 Love Quotes for Her That Express Exactly How You Feel

50 Funny Quotes About Marriage

Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Champagne Toasts

Party City Logo

55 Best Funny Graduation Quotes for All of Your Instagram-Worthy Photos

Need some inspiration for a grad card or a caption for cap and gown pictures? Try one of these hilarious quotes.

preview for Best Commencement Advice for New Graduates

If you're the one scoring the diploma this upcoming spring, you know that getting to the end included a lot of laughs, late nights in the library, expensive textbooks, and an endless list of assignments. How could you not poke fun at it all with one of these hilarious short messages? And if you're the proud family member or relative who wants to elicit a few giggles with their gift and card, then you also can't go wrong with a quip from this roundup. Take a look at our favorite funny graduation quotes below — and if you still need a few gift ideas, check out our recommended gifts for college kids and top presents for high schoolers .

Robert Orben

funny graduation quotes — robert orben

A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that “individuality” is the key to success.

RELATED : 140 Best Graduation Quotes Perfect for the Class of 2023

Patricia Akins

funny graduation quotes — patricia akins

Remember, when it comes to applying for jobs, books are judged by their cover!

Mark A. Cooper

funny graduation quotes — mark a cooper

Life has no remote....get up and change it yourself.

George Foreman

funny graduation quotes — george foreman

I think sleeping was my problem in school. If school had started at 4:00 in the afternoon, I’d be a college graduate today.

Harry Banks

funny graduation quotes — harry banks

If at first you don’t succeed, try to hide your astonishment.

Elbert Hubbard

funny graduation quotes — elbert hubbard

Do not take life too seriously — you will never get out of it alive.

Sarah Brown

funny graduation quotes — sarah brown

The only thing that ever sat its way to success was a hen.

Muhammad Ali

funny graduation quotes — muhammad ali

If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.

Thomas Dewar

funny graduation quotes — thomas dewar

Minds are like parachutes — they only function when open.

James E. Ryan

funny graduation quotes — james e ryan

Each year at graduation, I am obliged to offer a few “brief remarks,” which are usually not as brief as they should be.

Erma Bombeck

funny graduation quotes — erma bombeck

Graduation day is tough for adults. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home as contemporaries. After 22 years of child-raising, they are unemployed.

Lily Tomlin

funny graduation quotes — lily tomlin

The road to success is always under construction.

George W. Bush

funny graduation quotes — george w bush

To those of you who are graduating this afternoon with high honors, awards and distinctions, I say, "Well done." And as I like to tell the C students: You too, can be president.

Doug Larson

funny graduation quotes — doug larson

The trouble with learning from experience is that you never graduate.

Bette Reese

funny graduation quotes — bette reese

If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.

Jon Stewart

funny graduation quote by jon stewart

The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life, is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective.

Frank A. Clark

funny graduation quote by frank a clark

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere.

funny graduation quote by john green

Every year, many, many stupid people graduate from college. And if they can do it, so can you.

Andy Sorkin

funny graduation quote by aaron sorkin

You’re going to fall down, but the world doesn’t care how many times you fall down, as long as it’s one fewer than the numbers of times you get back up.

Neil Gaiman

funny graduation quote by neil gaiman

Be wise, because the world needs wisdom. If you cannot be wise, pretend to be someone who is wise, and then just behave like they would.

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} 100+ Quotes For Any Occasion

earth day concept with tropical forest background, natural sence with canopy tree in the wild

Inspiring Quotes From People with Disabilities

summer quotes bald senior man drinking juice while relaxing in yellow inflatable ring

60 Best Summer Quotes and Sayings 2024

young girl having fun with her grandfather and father by sea at sunset

90 Thoughtful and Funny Quotes About Family

Quotes About Kids

Heartwarming Quotes for Kids

i'm going to miss college and you

129 Inspirational Graduation Quotes

friends enjoying teatime eating raspberry cake at home

40 Hearfelt and Hilarious Mother-in-Law Quotes

single mother playing with young sons in front of house

70 Sweet Mother and Son Quotes for Mother's Day

portrait of a young, powerful, beautiful woman wearing glasses and a bandana, flexing her bicep muscle

40 Best Quotes for International Women's Day

rear view of long haired woman in a dress dancing in a flower field raising arms at sunset

50 Spring Quotes We Love

cropped hands of people throwing mortarboards against clear sky

126 Best Graduation Instagram Captions of 2024

happy mother's day tulip bouquet

125 Heartfelt Mother's Day Quotes

Places on our 2024 summer school are filling fast. Don’t miss out. Enrol now to avoid disappointment

Other languages

  • 11 Tips for Giving a Great Speech

stupid things to write a speech about

You might also enjoy…

  • How to Survive Your First Academic Conference: 10 Vital Tips
  • 6 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block

Chances are you’ll be asked to give speeches or presentations in classes at school. If you get involved in volunteer groups, brief speeches to open events or thank participants are a must. Then there are the speeches at events such as weddings, as well as speeches that you might have to give in the workplace. That amounts to the average person being required to give quite a lot of speeches, even if they don’t get involved in an area such as politics where the ability to give a good speech becomes even more important. You might also have suffered through quite a number of bad speeches from other people – whether that’s at family events where the microphone squeaks the whole way through or a school presentation where the headteacher can’t quite make the jokes work. If you don’t want to inflict the same sort of experience on others, here are our top tips for giving a great speech.

1. Practise your microphone technique

Correct spacing is key - you want to be heard but don't want to end up deafening your audience!

2. Keep it short

Be strict with yourself when it comes to timing.

Particularly at something like a party or a wedding, no one will be unhappy if your speech runs a little short; it’ll just give them more time to investigate the canapés. If you are giving a speech for a class in school, and it’ll be assessed, you need to prioritise keeping it within the required time limits. But even under these circumstances, if you’ve been tasked – say – with giving a 10-15 minute speech, it’s usually better to come in nearer the 10 than the 15 minute mark. Put simply, even if your speech is terrible, your audience can probably tolerate it for 10 minutes. Much longer, and they’ll be struggling. This shouldn’t limit what you can cover; in the film Up , the whole of Carl and Ellie’s heartbreaking love story is told in under 12 minutes. Do you really need longer to make your points? Achieve brevity by writing out the speech you would give if you had all the time in the world, and then cut anything that seems extraneous or boring.

3. Consider what your audience wants to hear

If you are giving a speech in class because it’s your assignment, what your audience wants to hear is likely to be “the bell ringing for lunch”; you can’t help them there. But under other circumstances, consider what your audience wants to hear and what you want to say, and strive for there to be as much overlap as possible. In the context of a political speech, for instance, what you want to say might be why your party should receive votes; what your audience wants to hear is what your party would do for them, if they won power. Hopefully it should be possible to write a speech that meets both sets of needs, rather than focusing solely on whatever it is that you want to say and leaving your audience disappointed.

4. Pick a theme and stick to it

Beware: digressions ahead.

Here’s a goal for giving a speech: someone sitting near the back, who’s messing around on their phone for at least two-thirds of it and focusing mainly on how long it will be until lunch, should nonetheless be able to give a reasonably accurate answer to the question, “what was it about?” If you’re supposed to be giving a speech in defence of the nuclear deterrent, for example, both the topic and your position on it should be clearly identifiable. This means – to stick with the nuclear deterrent example – not talking for a while about jobs, and then the wider economy, and then the North-South divide, and then Scottish independence, and then Ukraine with a brief digression into South Ossetia before rounding off by squeaking out “and that’s why we should renew Trident!” seconds before you run out of time – no matter how relevant that cornucopia of topics may feel (and they are all relevant, albeit tenuously). It means that even if you do have to take a while to explain a more complex idea, you need to be concise, and bring it back to your theme as quickly as you can.

5. Speak slowly

Most people speak more quickly than they realise when they’re on stage, especially if they’re nervous. But no one will be able to follow your speech if you’re jabbering it out. Thankfully, this one is easy to fix with a little effort and practise. First of all, figure out how quickly you’re actually speaking: do a word count for your speech and then time yourself saying it. A fast speaker will speak at maybe 160 words per minute, a slow speaker at 100 wpm and an average speaker at 130 wpm. For a formal speech, you want to be speaking on the slow side. While this will vary by culture and environment, 120 wpm is a reasonable target to aim for; slow enough that everyone should be able to understand you, and fast enough that you hopefully won’t be sending them to sleep.

6. Tell a couple of jokes

A touch of humour won't go amiss, even if you're not a natural comedian.

This is a tricky tip because there are lots of pitfalls in the world of telling jokes. For instance, there’s the temptation to include an in-joke that three of your friends will understand and find hilarious, that is utterly baffling to everyone else in the room. Avoid this – if you include any jokes, witty references or anything along those lines, make sure they are accessible to everyone present. All the same, if you can manage a joke or two, it can be a useful way to break up a speech and retain the audience’s interest. A little self-deprecation (not too much!) or the use of classic joke formats such as “the scene was chaotic; it looked as if a bomb had hit and we didn’t know where to start on repairs – but that’s enough about the hen party…” work nicely even if you’re not very confident. Don’t turn it into a stand-up comedy sketch if you’re not a comedian, don’t wait for ages for laughter that’s not showing up, and don’t make jokes at the expense of anyone who you don’t know for sure can take it.

7. Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself if you need to

If you follow US or UK politics at all, you’ve probably heard some of these phrases recently: take back control, make America great again, long-term economic plan, son of a bus driver. Three of these have already led the party or people they’re associated with to electoral victory; the fourth remains to be seen. To take the ‘son of a bus driver’ as an example, this refers to Sadiq Khan, now Mayor of London. There can be hardly anyone in London who doesn’t know what their Mayor’s dad did for a living. Meanwhile, many of them probably can’t remember his rival Zac Goldsmith’s name, let alone anything he said during the campaign. The point is that repetition works. In pursuit of point 4, if you want people to remember your key theme, you’re going to have to say it more than once. Don’t assume that everyone will have paid attention to everything you’ve said, unless you’re in a classroom setting where they’ll get told off if they don’t.

8. Only use the visual aids you need

Scratch the notes and speak directly to your audience.

This tip applies to two things: PowerPoints and notes. If you can do without either (and your assignment allows it), then do. Every time you’re glancing over your notes or up at the screen, fiddling with the laptop to get the slide to move on, fighting with a video that isn’t working or struggling to read your own handwriting, is time that you’re not spending engaging with your audience. A well-written, clear speech delivered without notes is always going to be better than someone awkwardly reading aloud the bullet points on their PowerPoint slides. If you must do a presentation – for instance, because there are photos that need to be included – have as little text on it as possible, preferably none. That way, if there are people at the back who can’t really see the screen through the sea of heads in front of them, they’ll still be able to follow what you’re saying.

9. Get a friend to check for awkward mannerisms

Mannerisms that are entirely fine in normal life become awkward and strange when you’re speaking in public. Perhaps you’re inclined to fiddle with your hair or your cuffs, you rock back and forth on the balls of your feet, or you have a habit of reaching your hand to your cheek when you’re talking. No one would notice in everyday conversation, but when you’re on a stage, it’ll become all they’ll see. Some of this is easily avoidable – for instance, if you have long hair that you’re inclined to twirl or otherwise fiddle with, tie it up. For other mannerisms, get the critical friend who helped you sort out your microphone technique to tell you what they are, and do your best to suppress the more annoying ones.

10. Look around the room

Overly intense eye-contact can easily feel intimidating.

Talking about eye contact usually has the effect of making normal eye contact a lot harder, and so does giving a speech. All of a sudden, you’re up on stage, and you have no idea what a normal way to look at a group of people is. Some speakers deal with this by picking a point in the middle distance and speaking to it; others by picking a particular person near to the back and addressing their entire speech at them. This is obviously no fun for that person, who probably spends the whole thing feeling extremely uncomfortable, but it’s not too weird for everyone else. Better still, though, if you can manage it, is to look slowly and steadily around the room, trying to make eye contact with a decent range of people, before returning to the middle distance for a while, rinse and repeat. This needs to be slow and steady, or you give the impression that you’ve just smelled smoke and are casting about for a fire exit before the stampede beings.

11. Don’t be scared of a good reaction

If your speech is genuinely engaging, funny, inspiring or any of the other things you might hope it would be, your audience will react to it. There might be laughter, or applause, or even a bit of cheering depending on the setting. This can be daunting because when you’re practising your speech in front of your bedroom mirror, there’s no way to prepare for it. And it’s where even the best speakers can go wrong, by launching straight into what they were going to say next without waiting for the laughter or applause to stop, or by looking painfully awkward while it’s going on. It’s a pitfall that’s mostly solved by being aware it might happen. If your audience is applauding you or otherwise reacting well, it’s OK to smile, look up, wait for them to stop and then keep going with your speech – it’s as simple as that. You could even throw in a “thank you” before you continue in the knowledge that it’s all going well. Image credits: microphones ; audience ; boy with microphone ; clock ; winding road ; enjoy a joke ; sticky notes ; 

stupid things to write a speech about

stupid things to write a speech about

30 Funny Opening Lines for Wedding Speeches

Handy one-liners to make the guests lol.

stupid things to write a speech about

If you've read our post on how to make a great best man speech , you'll know that we recommend starting with a joke, and here, we're sharing 30 foolproof examples! The beauty of this list is that it works for any wedding speech, whether you're a groom, bride, best man, bridesmaid, groomsman, bridesman, groomsmaid, father of the bride, father of the groom, mother of the bride, mother of the groom, granny or grandad, or just a close pal with a knack for public speaking! Boasting everything from eye roll-worthy classics to offbeat gags, our round-up of funny opening lines for wedding speeches is sure to have something to suit your personal style, and many of them can be customised to pack an even bigger punch on the day. Kick off with one of these gems, and you'll not only put the audience at ease, you'll set yourself up for a terrific wedding speech!

stupid things to write a speech about

25 Funny Opening Lines for Wedding Speeches

Note: [Name] can indicate yourself, the bride/groom, the couple as a whole, or another member of the bridal party!

1. “Gosh, what an emotional day it’s been. Even the cake is in tiers!”

2. “Hi everyone! I’m [Name] and it’s time for me to give the speech I frantically scribbled down 15 minutes ago!”

3. "The couple have requested that I don't share any embarrassing stories... so that's it from me! Thanks for listening!"

4. "[Name], I love you so much, and I really hope you'll feel the same about me after you hear my speech."

bride giving a speech

5. "I just want to start by congratulating [previous speaker's Name] on their wonderful speech. I always knew it would be hard to follow and I was right, I couldn't follow a word of it."

6. "The couple actually had a bit of trouble finding someone to make a speech today. They started by asking their funniest friend, and they said no. Then they asked their most charming friend, and they said no. After that, they asked their best-looking friend and, again, they said no. Then they asked me, and, after already turning them down three times, I couldn't refuse again."

Bride gives speech Olga Hogan Photography: Hannah & Eoghan

7. "Ladies and gentlemen, today we witnessed a unique event in history - it's the first and presumably last time anyone has trusted me to give a speech!"

8. "[Name] and I share the same sense of humour, so if you don't like my jokes, you can blame them!"

9. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to celebrate something truly magical. Something so rare and fortuitous and wonderful that it simply must be celebrated. I am, of course, talking about the open bar/donut wall/photo booth/[Name] wearing a tie ."

stupid things to write a speech about

10. "Where do I start with [Name]? They're kind, intelligent, gorgeous, charming... [directed at them] sorry, I'm having trouble reading your writing, you'll have to tell me the rest later."

11. "I think we can all agree that it's been a fantastic day. But unfortunately that ends right here with my speech."

12. "Loyal. Kind. Honest. Generous... That's enough about me, I'm here to talk about [Name]!"

stupid things to write a speech about

13. "I'd like to begin my speech by giving the happy couple some relationship advice, but unfortunately I'm single and spend most of my time trying to coax my cat into little outfits/browsing Doctor Who fan sites/playing Rock Paper Scissors with Alexa."

14. "A few months ago, [Name] called me up and asked, 'What are your feelings on marriage?' I had to tell them that, while I was very flattered, I wasn't ready to settle down just yet."

15. "Can everyone hear me OK? If you can't hear me in the back, the silence from the people at the front should reassure you that you're not missing anything."

stupid things to write a speech about

16. "Hello everyone! I'm [Name]. I'm sure you all know me as (Name's best friend/sister/mum/dad), but if you don't, well done on sneaking into the wedding unnoticed!"

17. "Before I begin, I must explain that, this morning, [Name] asked me to remove anything resembling innuendo from my speech. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go through it again, but if I come across anything risqué, I'll whip it out immediately."

18. "[Name] knows that I'm a bit nervous about this speech, and they gave me some great advice. They said 'Don't try to be too charming, witty or intellectual... just be yourself!'"

stupid things to write a speech about

19. "All of us gathered together in this room, we've got something really important in common - none of us have got a clue what I'm going to say next!"

20. "I was told that the secret to a good speech is to start with something that's relevant to everyone in the audience. So here it goes - all of your cars have been stolen."

21. "I want to start by saying that, of all the weddings I've attended over the years, this one is, by far, the most recent."

stupid things to write a speech about

22. "I'd like to start by congratulating [Name] on their excellent taste... in speakers."

23. "Before we start, can everybody do me a favour and get up off their seats? Now can everyone take one step backward, please? Now can everyone move one step to the right? And now can everyone move one step left? Thank you. Someone told me that the key to giving a good speech was to move people, but I think they must have been having me on, because this is going terribly!"

wedding speech opening lines funny opening lines sincere opening lines (9)

24. "I'm so happy to be overseeing the only five minutes of today that [bride or groom's Name] didn't plan. Only joking, they went over my speech with me at the bar half an hour ago. [Pulls extra page out of pocket] But I did manage to hide one page!"

25. Guys, before I start, just some housekeeping notes, the venue has asked that you don't stand on any of the chairs and tables for my standing ovation."

26 . I sincerely hope that each day of [Insert names] marriage is better than the the one before, the only thing is that also means they'll look back on today, their wedding day, and say that it was the worst day of their lives.

27. I’ve been worried about giving this speech for a while now. You'll be glad to hear, that last night I slept like a baby. I woke up every two hours, bawling my eyes out.

stupid things to write a speech about

28. Please keep clapping and cheering to a minimum. I’m terribly hungover. I know, you shouldn’t drink the night before a wedding, but I couldn’t very well let the groom/bride drink alone, could I?

29. Just some last messages here to read out: one from [NAME’S] football team for [PARTNER] " Apologies we couldn’t all be there today, good luck with [NAME], we found him/her to be useless in most positions, but wishing you all the best for tonight ."

30. Before I start ladies and gentlemen, let us observe a few moments of silence in memory of the 3,000 prawns, 250 chickens, and the many, many carnations, roses and wedding coordinators who selflessly gave their lives to make this wedding celebration possible.

Found your opening line for your wedding speech? We also have a handy checklist of people you need to remember to thank !

Image credits

Marc lawson photography, via one fab day, see more in:.

stupid things to write a speech about

You might also like...

stupid things to write a speech about

How Trump has become angrier and more isolated on Truth Social

Rebecca Lavrez, also known as the “J6 Praying Grandma,” has been unfairly targeted by Crooked Joe Biden’s DOJ, and now faces up to 1 YEAR in prison for peacefully walking around the Capitol, and praying for our Failing Nation on January 6th! Rebecca is a 72-year-old Grandmother and Small Business Owner from Colorado, and now she is one of Joe Biden’s J6 HOSTAGES!!! Crooked Joe Biden spends more time prosecuting Patriots like Rebecca, AND ME, than Violent Criminals, Thugs, Murderers, and ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS who are destroying our Country. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST. MAGA2024! https:// restoringgodlyculture.com/

https://www. breitbart.com/2024-election/20 23/06/22/trump-supporters-selfie-with-snoozing-chris-christie-on-plane-goes-viral/

IOWA IS TRUMP COUNTRY, THANK YOU! MAGA!!!

Let them debate so I can see who I MIGHT consider for Vice President!

CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT I HAD TO FLY TO A FILTHY, DIRTY, FALLING APART, & VERY UNSAFE WASHINGTON, D.C., TODAY, & THAT I WAS THEN ARRESTED BY MY POLITICAL OPPONENT, WHO IS LOSING BADLY TO ME IN THE POLLS, CROOKED JOE BIDEN, IT WAS A VERY GOOD DAY!

HOW CAN MY CORRUPT POLITICAL OPPONENT PUT ME ON TRIAL(S) DURING A CAMPAIGN THAT I AM WINNING (BY A LOT!), BUT FORCING ME TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY AWAY FROM THE “CAMPAIGN TRAIL” IN ORDER TO FIGHT BOGUS ACCUSATIONS & CHARGES? IS THIS GOING TO BE THE FUTURE OF ELECTIONS IN AMERICA? CAN A PRESIDENT ORDER HIS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO INDICT AN OPPONENT JUST PRIOR TO AN ELECTION? WHY DIDN’T THEY DO THIS 2.5 YEARS AGO? WHY NOW? NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE IN THE USA. THIS IS ALL ABOUT ELECTION INTERFERENCE!

https://www. newsmax.com/newsfront/trump-io wa-state-fair-campaign/2023/08/12/id/1130543/

Why does FoxNews constantly put on slow thinking and lethargic Bill Barr, who didn’t have the courage or stamina to fight the Radical Left lunatics while he was A.G., and who, even more importantly, refused to fight Election Fraud. He knew what was going on, just look at his past remarks! Unless FoxNews starts putting the RIGHT people on, their Ratings will never recover.

https:// dailycaller.com/2023/08/21/ala n-dershowitz-says-trump-call-to-brad-raffensperger-is-the-most-exculpatory-piece-of-evidence/

Mark Milley, who led perhaps the most embarrassing moment in American history with his grossly incompetent implementation of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, costing many lives, leaving behind hundreds of American citizens, and handing over BILLIONS of dollars of the finest military equipment ever made, will be leaving the military next week. This will be a time for all citizens of the USA to celebrate! This guy turned out to be a Woke train wreck who, if the Fake News reporting is correct, was actually dealing with China to give them a heads up on the thinking of the President of the United States. This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH! A war between China and the United States could have been the result of this treasonous act. To be continued!!!

https:// justthenews.com/government/fed eral-agencies/media-fumed-over-trumps-kids-cages-bidens-migrant-facilities-appear

Remember when I told you that the poorly rated and not at all funny Late Night Talk Shows are nothing less than a major Campaign Contribution to the Radical Left Democrat Party. Watch what is going on - so interesting!

https://www. thegatewaypundit.com/2023/09/w ayne-root-we-are-living-communist-police-state/

HELLO IOWA PATRIOTS! https:// ia.donaldjtrump.com/

https:// dailycaller.com/2023/09/12/opi nion-donald-trump-was-the-ultimate-peacemaker-president-bryan-leib/

Oh, really bad news! The Owned by China Forbes Magazine deal with Russia just fell apart, so China will continue to own and run it, and say bad things about your favorite President, ME. But eventually it will cease to exist, be worthless. BAD WRITERS! Anyone that pays more than $50 Million for this pathetic outlet of Fake News is a fool!

https:// thenationalpulse.com/2023/11/2 9/deutsche-bank-testimony-destroys-ag-letitia-jamess-case-against-trump/

https://www. bigdatapoll.com/blog/national- poll-trump-maintains-lead-over-biden-in-december/

Crooked Joe Biden’s errand boy, Deranged Jack Smith, is obsessed with attacking your favorite President, me, and with interfering in the 2024 Presidential Election, which I am Dominating. Deranged Jack is so Viciously and Desperately Angry that the Supreme Court just unanimously rejected his flailing attempt to rush this Witch Hunt, that he is ignoring the Law and clear instructions from the D.C. Court that this “case” should be stayed, and there cannot be any more filings. Today’s pathetic motion is not just Illegal, it is also another Unconstitutional attempt to take away my First Amendment Rights, and to prevent me from saying the TRUTH — that all of these Hoaxes are nothing but a political persecution of me, the MAGA Movement, and the Republican Party by Crooked Joe and his Despicable Thugs. The Radical Left Communists, Marxists, and Fascists are petrified of me speaking the TRUTH because the American People don’t want them destroying our Country. Make America Great Again!

Garrett Ventry: “Republican voters want President Trump’s policies: tax cuts, border security, energy dominance, and conservative Supreme Court Justices...”

https:// paulingrassia.substack.com/p/t rump-reclaims-new-york-in-grand

https://www. dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1 2930345/collection-maga-hats-donald-trump-sale.html

Has everybody seen the revelation, just announced in the Great State of Georgia, that the Fulton County D.A., Fani Willis, who Criminally Indicted your Favorite President, ME(!), & many other Innocent People/Patriots, HIRED & EXORBITANTLY PAID a “Romantic Partner” to Prosecute the 45th President of the United States of America, & then “financially benefitted from their relationship.” In other words, he was paid a “fortune,” & then took “Beautiful” Fani on expensive, but all paid for by Georgia, vacations to faraway lands!   THE ATLANTIC JOURNAL CONSTITUTION: “The bombshell public filing alleged that Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade, a private attorney, paid for lavish vacations he took with Willis, using the Fulton County funds his law firm received. County records show that Wade, who has played a prominent role in the [FAKE!] ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE against TRUMP & others, has been paid nearly $654,000 [WOW!] in legal fees since January 2022. The DA authorizes his compensation.”…..

Governor Chris Sununu, the now failing Governor of New Hampshire, where I am beating his endorsed candidate, Nimbra, by big numbers, and DeSanctimonious by even bigger numbers, should spend more time keeping Democrats from voting in the Republican Primary - How ridiculous is that? Anyway, it doesn’t matter, because Nimbra doesn’t have what it takes. She’s weak on China, Russia, Borders, and Crime, but never saw a war she didn’t like. I defeated ISIS, Rebuilt our Military, and brought our soldiers back home. I hope Sununu’s endorsement of Nimbra has more strength than Kim Reynolds’ Iowa endorsement of DeSanctus! How did that work out? MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Vanity Fair: “You also confessed to sexually harassing Roger Ailes while you had a show on his cable channel America’s Talking. He is also on your list of hideous men, but was once a friend.”

E. Jean Carroll: “Oh, I did it. Every day I had a chance. I call him the pearl of his sex. Right on the air. I roll up my trouser legs. I would wait for the camera to come over. Then I would slowly pull up the right and then the left trouser leg. It would say Roger Ailes. I would say, ‘He’s my future husband.’ It never stopped. I’d ask him to twirl for me. I adored him.”

Wow! We are doing really well despite all of the Biden Votes going for Haley!!!

https:// amac.us/newsline/society/twitt er-files-reporter-matt-taibbi-uncovers-plot-to-stop-trump-democracy-be-damned/

Mike Olcott is running in Texas State House District 60 against RINO Glenn Rogers, who voted to Impeach Texas’ Great Attorney General, Ken Paxton. In the State Legislature, Mike will Champion School Choice, Secure the Border, Fight for Election Integrity, Grow the Economy, and Protect and Defend our Second Amendment, which is under siege by the Radical Left. Mike is strongly supported by Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Attorney General Ken Paxton, and many other fantastic Texas Conservatives. Mike Olcott has my Complete and Total Endorsement!

Nikki Haley loses to Joe Biden in almost every single Poll - I WIN!

No, I said NATO has to pay its bills, and if it doesn’t pay its bills, we are not going to protect you. THE MONEY CAME POURING IN! Under other Presidents, NATO was BROKE.

https://www. washingtontimes.com/news/2024/ mar/4/the-real-prosecutors-of-fulton-county-fani-willis-/

Jason Simmons is running to serve as Chair of the North Carolina Republican Party. He is replacing my friend, Michael Whatley who, with my support, was recently elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Like Mike, Jason Simmons has been with me since Day One, and has been key to our many Republican Victories in the Tar Heel State. Jason will be fantastic for the MAGA Movement, and I look forward to working with him to once again defeat Crooked Joe Biden in North Carolina. Jason has my Complete and Total Endorsement!

These are Rigged cases, all coordinated by the White House and DOJ for purposes of Election Interference. THE NUMBER ENGORON SET IS FRAUDULENT. It should be ZERO, I DID NOTHING WRONG! The D.A. Case, that I am going to today, should be dismissed. No crime. Our Country is CORRUPT!

VOTER INTIMIDATION by the White House THUGS, and it will never work!

I’m not running to terminate the ACA, AS CROOKED JOE BUDEN DISINFORMATES AND MISINFORMATES ALL THE TIME, I’m running to CLOSE THE BORDER, STOP INFLATION, MAKE OUR ECONOMY GREAT, STRENGTHEN OUR MILITARY, AND MAKE THE ACA, or OBAMACARE, AS IT IS KNOWN, MUCH BETTER, STRONGER, AND FAR LESS EXPENSIVE. IN OTHER WORDS, MAKE THE ACA MUCH, MUCH, MUCH BETTER FOR FAR LESS MONEY (OR COST) TO OUR GREST AMERICAN CITIZENS, WHO HAVE BEEN DECIMATED BY BIDEN, HIS RECORD INFLATION, BAD ECONOMY, AFGHANISTAN CATASTROPHE, AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. CROOKED JOE BIDEN IS, BY FAR, THE WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES! MAGA2024

Judge Juan Merchan is totally compromised, and should be removed from this TRUMP Non-Case immediately. His Daughter, Loren, is a Rabid Trump Hater, who has admitted to having conversations with her father about me, and yet he gagged me. She works for Crooked Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Adam “Shifty” Schiff, and other Radical Leftists who Campaign on “Getting Trump,” and fundraise off the “Biden Indictments” - including this Witch Hunt, which her father “presides” over, a TOTAL Conflict - and attacking Biden’s Political Opponent through the Courts. Former D.A. Cy Vance refused to bring this case, as did all Federal Agencies, including “Elections.”

According to The Righting's Analysis of Election Year Traffic, CNN is down 19%, The New York Times is down 22%, Slate is down 42%, The Washington Post is down 43%, The Daily Beast is down 45%, and The Drudge Report is down 81%!

Judge Engoron and Letitia James should be forced to explain why he ruled that Mar-a-Lago was worth $18,000,000 when, in fact, it is worth from 50 to 100 times that amount. How did the Attorney General of the State of New York force this Corrupt Judge to do that in order to help her narrative - AND WHY?

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL, INCLUDING CROOKED AND CORRUPT PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES THAT ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO INTERFERE WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2024, AND PUT ME IN PRISON, INCLUDING THOSE MANY PEOPLE THAT I COMPLETELY & TOTALLY DESPISE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DESTROY AMERICA, A NOW FAILING NATION, LIKE “DERANGED” JACK SMITH, WHO IS EVIL AND “SICK,” MRS. FANI “FAUNI” WADE, WHO SAID SHE HARDLY KNEW THE “SPECIAL” PROSECUTOR, ONLY TO FIND THAT HE SPENT YEARS “LOVING” HER, LONG BEFORE THE GEORGIA PERSECUTION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP BEGAN (AND THEREBY MAKING THE CASE AGAINST ME NULL, VOID, AND ILLEGAL!), AND LAZY ON VIOLENT CRIME ALVIN BRAGG WHO, WITH CROOKED JOE’S DOJ THUGS, UNFAIRLY WORKING IN THE D.A.’s OFFICE, ILLEGALLY INDICTED ME ON A CASE HE NEVER WANTED TO BRING AND VIRTUALLY ALL LEGAL SCHOLARS SAY IS A CASE THAT SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT, IS BREAKING THE LAW IN DOING SO (POMERANTZ!), WAS TURNED DOWN BY ALL OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES, AND IS NOT A CRIME. HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

One of the worst Senators in the United States Senate is, without question, Bill Cassidy, A TOTAL FLAKE, Republican though he may be. He campaigned in the Great State of Louisiana on TRUMP, TRUMP, TRUMP, and was absolutely thrilled when he was able to get my very important Endorsement. His advertisements were all about “TRUMP,” and our relationship, which basically didn’t exist in that I did not know him well. In any event, he easily won Re-Election. Cassidy is a total “stiff,” but Louisiana didn’t need him to protect them, because they had ME, 100%! Nevertheless, when the Democrats’ Impeachment Hoax started, this Lamebrain Senator actually voted against me. He thought it was so “cool,” until he got home, and was literally pelted with everything that could be used for such an inglorious happening, especially words, with lots of foul language thrown in….

Donald Trump's Truth Social profile picture

For years, Donald Trump was among Twitter’s loudest and most inescapable voices: a brash, bomb-throwing businessman turned president who could capture the global news cycle with a single tweet.

On Truth Social, he is serving up an even more extreme version of his online self.

His following is diminished, but his posting has accelerated. He has traded combative tweets for even more belligerent screeds. Diatribes against his perceived enemies have drawn gag orders from judges in multiple cases. His media diet has become almost exclusively right-wing. And above all, he persists in spreading lies about his 2020 election loss, deep into his campaign for another term.

Here on his company’s social network, the former president’s increasingly confrontational posting keeps his most ardent followers primed for action, helps him raise money and provides daily fodder for a media sphere that exists largely to amplify him. And he has reason to believe his efforts are paying off: Polling shows that Trump has convinced as many as 70 percent of Republicans that Biden won the 2020 election because of voter fraud.

Few Americans hang out in this corner of the internet. Truth Social’s most popular account, Trump’s, has a fraction of the following he boasts on Twitter.

stupid things to write a speech about

87.3 million followers

Each circle

TRUTH SOCIAL

6.7 million

Data as of March 15

stupid things to write a speech about

Each circle represents

1 million followers

But it’s here that Trump — who reshaped campaigning and the presidency with his use of social media — offers an intimate view of what his second term could look like: isolated, vitriolic and vengeful.

The Washington Post analyzed all of Trump’s online posts from the official launches of his presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2024 to show how his social media use has changed from his first presidential run.

Many of Trump’s Truth Social posts in this story contain falsehoods, misleading statements or baseless claims. The Post is including them to illustrate how Trump’s online behavior has changed, but readers should note that much of what he says is inaccurate. Footnotes marked with ⓘ provide additional context on a post .

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung, in response to a request for comment from The Post, said that “President Trump uses Truth Social — which is as hot as a pistol — to speak truth to power and get his message out unfiltered.”

On a typical day, Trump’s feed is a flurry of polls and links interspersed with a drumbeat of attacks and dire warnings about the state of the country:

A snapshot of Trump's Truth Social feed on April 2, 2024

4.01k ReTruths

14.6k Likes

Trump falsely states in this post that the civil financial penalties he faces were arbitrary, when in fact they were the result of extensive litigation in which Trump and his associates were found to have fraudulently inflated his wealth . The state court case was filed by the New York attorney general and was not directed by President Biden or the Justice Department.

5.07k ReTruths

16.7k Likes

The judge in Trump’s hush money case issued a gag order barring Trump from making public statements about witnesses, prosecutors and others involved in the case, saying his remarks could pose a “risk to the administration of justice.” The judge expanded the gag order after Trump made false claims about the judge’s daughter.

15.4k Likes

Some of Trump’s court cases are in state court, outside the federal government’s jurisdiction. Trump’s federal indictments were brought by special counsel Jack Smith , who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee the investigations with more independence than other federal prosecutors receive from the Justice Department.

3.73k ReTruths

15.3k Likes

He’s prolific. He posts 29 times a day on average, far more than he tweeted during his first campaign and most of his presidency:

stupid things to write a speech about

18 times a day

29 times a day

stupid things to write a speech about

He also is now more likely to write in all caps:

Posts written in all caps

Data from nov. 15, 2022, to march 15, 2024.

And when he’s not self-promoting, he’s often on the warpath, lashing out at his perceived enemies in hundreds of aggressive, insult-filled screeds. At least 570 posts since he announced his presidential bid in November 2022 have contained insulting language directed at someone.

Posts featuring direct personal insults

He frequently targets the judges and prosecutors in his court cases and has used his account to publicly attack the credibility of potential witnesses, including former allies such as Mike Pence and Mark Meadows . He also regularly goes after members of Congress who investigated his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks and, of course, President Biden — Trump recently shared a video that featured an image of the president with his hands and feet tied together.

Some of the people Trump has attacked say they have received threatening calls, emails and letters, leading them to request enhanced security . Three judges have issued gag orders limiting what Trump can say about people in the cases. Just days into his hush money trial in Manhattan, prosecutors said Trump had violated a gag order there by posting links critical of Michael Cohen — his former lawyer and a key government witness — and prospective jurors. (His attorneys denied the accusation.)

Alongside the attacks, Trump’s feed is packed with links to right-wing news sites and conservative influencers.

stupid things to write a speech about

Right-wing media

Data from June 16, 2015,

to March 15, 2016

donaldjtrump

b r eitba r t

livesigning

Data from Nov. 15, 2022,

to March 15, 2024

r sbnetwork

justthenews

thegate w a ypundit

thenationalpulse

dailycaller

stupid things to write a speech about

It wasn’t always this way. On Twitter, he used to link to a mix of mainstream and partisan sources.

But on Truth Social, he has largely walled himself off from mainstream political discussions. Instead, he posts a blend of polarized riffs on the news, fawning op-eds and interviews, and content from far-right accounts.

The social media share card for a Right Side Broadcasting Network article

1.88k ReTruths

8.03k Likes

The social media share card for a Revolver News article

3.98k ReTruths

10.5k Likes

The social media share card for a Daily Caller article

3.11k ReTruths

10.7k Likes

Which helps fuel a feedback loop of false conspiracy theories and misinformation — particularly around the 2020 presidential election.

Posts referencing election denialism

Trump consistently recycles baseless claims about election misconduct and Jan. 6. And he writes messages nearly every day claiming he is a victim of political persecution.

Some of his posts about immigration also echo the “great replacement theory” — the racist lie that political elites want immigrants and racial minorities to displace White Americans — or refer to border crossings as an invasion.

Posts referencing immigration as an invasion

In between all that, Trump reposts bizarre AI-generated art and crudely doctored images. And the site abounds with fringe companies peddling diet supplements, political-themed knickknacks and gold bars.

A doctored image that distorts Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' faces during a 2024 State of the Union address

The company that owns Truth Social, Trump Media & Technology Group, went public last month, and Trump’s stake in the company is worth nearly $3 billion as of Friday. Trump is barred from selling his shares for six months, but the company could offer him a massive financial lifeline as he faces hundreds of millions of dollars in legal penalties .

That ownership could give Trump even more reason to make Truth Social a place for attention-grabbing outrage. “TRUTH IS AMAZING!” he said in a recent post. “For better or worse, people want to hear what I have to say.”

About this story

Editing by Sarah Frostenson . Data editing by Anu Narayanswamy . Design editing by Betty Chavarria . Graphics editing by Kevin Uhrmacher . Photo editing by Christine Nguyen and Monique Woo . Copy editing by Mike Cirelli.

Methodology

The Post gathered data on Trump’s posting on Truth Social via Junkipedia , a repository of social media content, and data on his posting on Twitter via the Trump Archive . Analysis for both of his presidential campaigns spans the date when he formally announced his candidacy to March 15 of the election year. For Twitter, the range is June 16, 2015, to March 15, 2016, and for Truth Social, the range is Nov. 15, 2022, to March 15, 2024. For posting frequency, reposts are counted; for all other analysis, they are excluded. Images, including ones with text, were not included in the analysis.

Posts where all the text, except for a link, was capitalized were counted as all caps. The Post identified election-denial posts by searching for words associated with elections, such as “vote,” “elect” and “ballot,” used alongside words associated with election denial, such as “steal,” “fraud” or “interfere.” The Post identified personal insults by searching for derogatory terms or nicknames, such as “crooked,” “puppet” or “DeSanctimonious,” used alongside a person’s name, using a combination of named-entity recognition and manual checks to identify named individuals.

IMAGES

  1. How to Become a Speech Writer

    stupid things to write a speech about

  2. Speech Writing Competition

    stupid things to write a speech about

  3. Ask a Stupid Question Day Writing Prompts

    stupid things to write a speech about

  4. How to Write a Speech About Yourself

    stupid things to write a speech about

  5. Stupid Questions • JournalBuddies.com

    stupid things to write a speech about

  6. 28 Sarcastic and Funny Quotes about Stupid People & Stupidity

    stupid things to write a speech about

VIDEO

  1. My Stupid Friends Write WW2 Peace Terms

  2. speech writing format || Speech writing || How to write speech #speechwriting #ssc #class (11-12)

  3. I Write Stupid Music

  4. Deliver Speech On Road Safety || Speech Writing on Road Safety

  5. Stupid Text To Speech Part 1 #meme #subscribe #funny #viral #shorts #dont_forget_to_like_and_sub

  6. How to write a SPEECH / Features & model for High School & Higher Secondary Exams/ focused on SSLC

COMMENTS

  1. 414 Funny and Humorous Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative

    414 Funny and Humorous Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative, Impromptu] Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class. Public speaking can be a lot of fun, especially when humor is included.

  2. 100 Funny Speech Topics [Informative, Persuasive]

    Informative and Funny Speech Topics: The history of toilet paper: A roll through time. Decoding the mysteries of the teenager's bedroom. The secret life of a cat owner. The evolution of dance moves: From the twist to TikTok. How to survive a zombie apocalypse with household items. The science behind why we laugh.

  3. 110 Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics to Impress Your Audience

    We've compiled a list of 110 persuasive speech topics—broken down by category—for you to choose from or use as inspiration. Use the set of three questions we shared above to determine which of these interesting persuasive speech topics is right for you. Art, Media, and Culture.

  4. 259 Interesting Speech Topics [Examples + Outlines]

    Here is our list of 10 interesting speech topics. Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder. Children don't play enough. Animal testing is necessary. Girls are too mean to each other. Men should get paternity leave. Tattoos are an addiction. If I had a year to do what I want. Butterflies: deadly creatures.

  5. 100+ Funny and Most Entertaining Speech Topics (2024)

    Entertaining Speech Topics for Grade 6. The Art of Telling Ghost Stories. My Favorite Mythical Creatures. The Funniest Pranks I've Pulled on My Friends. The Secret Language of Emoji. How to Become a Master Chef in Your Kitchen. The World of Unicorns and Rainbows. The Quirkiest Sports You've Never Heard Of.

  6. 200+ Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics for 2024

    Here are some tips to help you finish your persuasive speech in the best quality: 1. Create an Outline. The best way to make sure that your essays and papers are written perfectly is to work following outlines. An outline serves as the frame that you can check against while working on your persuasive speech.

  7. How to Write a Funny Speech (with Pictures)

    1. Decide your "big idea.". Once you have your topic, you'll next need to think about the main point of your speech. [4] Decide what main message you want to get across. [5] Remember to choose a specific topic -- if your main idea/topic is too broad, you won't do it justice in a relatively short speech.

  8. 75 Persuasive Speech Topics and Ideas

    The aim of a persuasive speech is to inform, educate and convince or motivate an audience to do something. You are essentially trying to sway the audience to adopt your own viewpoint. The best persuasive speech topics are thought-provoking, daring and have a clear opinion. You should speak about something you are knowledgeable about and can ...

  9. 100 Good Persuasive Speech Topics & Ideas

    Three major things to think about when choosing a persuasive speech topic from this list are: 1) make sure that the speech topic is something you are interested in learning about, 2) make sure the ...

  10. 112 Persuasive Speech Topics That Are Actually Engaging

    112 Engaging Persuasive Speech Topics. Tips for Preparing Your Persuasive Speech. Writing a stellar persuasive speech requires a carefully crafted argument that will resonate with your audience to sway them to your side. This feat can be challenging to accomplish, but an engaging, thought-provoking speech topic is an excellent place to start.

  11. 333 Informative Speech Topics To Rock Your Presentation

    The three circles are labeled: "things I am interested in," "things my audience cares about," and "things I can research.". The center point where these three circles overlap is the sweet spot for your speech topic. When (Length): The length of your speech can drastically impact how in-depth you dive into the topic.

  12. 30 Funniest Awards Speech Acceptance Punchlines

    Adrien Brody kisses Halle Berry. After winning the Best Actor award at the Oscars in 2003, Brody walked confidently onto the stage and into the surprised arms of Halle Berry. As it turns out, one of the more funny speeches in the history of the Oscars did not need to involve any dialogue. Punchline: "Woah."

  13. Public Speaking Humor

    "Disastrous" Public Speaking Story. When I was the Marketing Director for a New York City television station, I became an in-demand speaker. The first presentation I ever agreed to do was on How to Give an Effective Presentation for the MBA students at NYU's Stern School of Business and I wanted it to be perfect. However, having never done any public speaking, I was quite nervous.

  14. 45 Public Speaking Topics and Ideas

    24. The internet should be free for everyone. 25. Why punishing children for bullying others isn't a solution. This conversation article has some good ideas on that for you to explore. 26. The U.S. should encourage the spirit of volunteerism. 27. Society should make monopolies illegal.

  15. Ideas for things to write a speech about?

    It's awesome that you have the opportunity to speak at your high school's student assembly! It's essential to choose a topic that resonates with your audience and you're passionate about. Here are some ideas that you can consider for your speech: 1. The power of kindness: Discuss the impact of small acts of kindness and encourage students to make a conscious effort to spread positivity and ...

  16. 6 Tips for Writing a Persuasive Speech (On Any Topic)

    Use short words. Write short sentences. Avoid awkward constructions that might cause a speaker to stumble. Tip: Read the speech aloud as you're writing. If you do it enough, you'll start ...

  17. 7 Steps to an Inspiring and Memorable Speech

    Respect them by having at least one main point, but also remember that having too many messages creates the same problem as having none. 2. Think about structure. It's a basic but oft-forgotten ...

  18. 36 Funny Wedding Toasts and Speech Quotes

    There's too much fraternizing with the enemy." — Henry Kissinger. "To keep your marriage brimming with love in the loving cup, whenever you're wrong, admit it; whenever you're right, shut up ...

  19. 55 Best Funny Graduation Quotes

    Neil Gaiman. Be wise, because the world needs wisdom. If you cannot be wise, pretend to be someone who is wise, and then just behave like they would. Your class of 2023 grad will not stop smiling ...

  20. 11 Tips for Giving a Great Speech

    11. Don't be scared of a good reaction. If your speech is genuinely engaging, funny, inspiring or any of the other things you might hope it would be, your audience will react to it. There might be laughter, or applause, or even a bit of cheering depending on the setting.

  21. Best Man Speech: How to Write, Free Template, Examples & Tips

    6. Propose a toast. Finally, close out your best man speech with a heartfelt toast. Ask everyone to raise a glass and provide well wishes to the newly married couple. Steal this wedding toast: "Everyone, please join me in raising a glass to such a wonderful couple. I wish you a lifetime of peace, love and happiness.

  22. 30 Best Funny Opening Lines for Wedding Speeches

    20. "I was told that the secret to a good speech is to start with something that's relevant to everyone in the audience. So here it goes - all of your cars have been stolen." 21. "I want to start by saying that, of all the weddings I've attended over the years, this one is, by far, the most recent."

  23. Colin Jost sleepwalked through his White House Correspondents Dinner speech

    Tonight was the annual White House Correspondents Dinner, when America celebrates its most teeth-grittingest night of blazing-tepid comedy. Yes, the annual tradition that sees Washington D.C.'s ...

  24. Joey Bart makes 1st start vs. Giants since trade to Pirates

    He had seen things online, and the writing appeared to be on the wall that he was not going to be a Giant much longer. He also had a funny feeling about Pittsburgh. They appeared to have a need for a catcher, and he had family ties to the area since his father, Tommy, grew up in nearby Lower Burrell. So when Giants president of baseball ...

  25. Fact check: Biden makes false and misleading claims during ...

    In the same Tuesday speech in Scranton, Biden repeated his regular promise that nobody making less than $400,000 per year will pay even a cent more in taxes under his proposals. He then added ...

  26. Trump's Truth Social posts grew more belligerent since move from

    Here on his company's social network Trump is offering followers an intimate view of what his second term could look like: isolated, vitriolic and vengeful.