Platform Speech Topic Ideas

In June, the High Court in Johannesburg granted the request by a Chinese civil rights organization to switch Chinese South Africans from “caucasian” (as they were during apartheid) to “black” (which would allow them to better qualify for government benefits). [BBC News, 6-18-08]

Grand Theft Auto and/or video games

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4762320
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/eric2_0/2008/04/post.html

Health Topics:

- Cancer medication causing “bone death”

- Video games treating ADHD

- Using Botox for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

- Hypnosis for pain treatment

- Islet cell transplantation for Type I Diabetes

- Flu Shots to treat cardiovascular conditions

- Legal ban on Trans Fats

- Metabolic Syndrome epidemic

- BrainGate Neural Interface System (neurotechnology for victims of paralysis)

- New Cancer drug Avastin

- Bioengineering of a synthetic form of turbocharged HDL (good cholesterol)

- AmpliChip CYP450 Test (genetic analysis that helps doctors better predict how an individual patient will respond to a certain medication)

- New Stem cell treatment for Children with high-risk medulloblastoma

- New studies that show cell phones
do cause cancer (and other ailments as well)

- Immunotherapy trials (vaccines that reduce cancer)

- Newly discovered protein that assists group A Streptococcus bacteria (Flesh-eating Bacteria)

- Report linking brain circuits and overeating

- Research to enable people to renew or replace damaged and missing body parts

- Research showing that adult human brain tissue can regenerate

- Research on the continuing global risk of transfusion-transmitted infections

- New study on the brief period of cross-immunity explains the timing of epidemics

- Neurologists testing devices to treat epilepsy

- Research developing a device to detect and prevent epileptic seizures

Science & Nature Topics:

- Particle Acceleration by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (laser-like transfer of energy)

- New study on the quantum theory of back-action

- Combating Biodegradation (natural process that destroys billions of dollars worth of subsurface petroleum)

- Marine Extinction from rising ocean acidity

- Proposal to inject sulfur into the atmosphere to slow down global warming

- Reducing the impact of global warming by decreasing the levels of nitrous oxide in soil

- Ethane and Propane produced by microorganisms in the deep ocean floor

- UK Microsatellite discoveries

- New high-tech tool to determine historic climate changes from earth and marine sediment core samples

- Pollution affecting underwater volcanoes

- New Research May Reduce Global Need for Nitrogen Fertilizers

- Acid rain developments

- New chemical process for removing unwanted minerals from coal (could lead to reductions in carbon dioxide emissions)

- New study on the impact of soil erosion on the environment & human health

- The first metagenomic study of an activated sludge wastewater treatment process

- Drought policy: Managing Drought and Water Scarcity in Vulnerable Environments: Creating a Roadmap for Change in the United States

- Recycled Paper and Compost, Tools to Control Plant Disease

- New study about the world’s most widely used organic insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis.

- “Green Chemistry” solution to oil recovery and clean-up problems

- US Government’s secret Colorado oil discovery and drilling

After Dinner Speaking:

Camel Beauty Contest
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSKUA74812720070427

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/08/camel-contest/teague-text

Hysteria over the Large Hadron Collider-the huge particle accelerator that ended up not destroying the world.

Look up other insane conspiracy theories for an ADS

http://www.lhcdefense.org/

Gadgets that make you look like a jerk.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28039226

Jesus Toast and other likenesses of benevolent bearded Europeans

http://www.blacktable.com/gillin041202.htm

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7 comments

A good topic would be hitler because whenever you talk about hitler you are automatically going to win the round it is a well known fact
by Max August 28, 2008 at 1:52 am

Reply
- That would be an amazing after dinner speech. As long as you got Judges that do debate too.
  by Jessica September 24, 2009 at 6:04 am
  
  Reply
Kind of a fluff topic. However, could be fun and effective; and I have not seen it done… surprisingly! Oratory (persuasive) on how pride can affect someone, whether it be negative, positive, or both. The fact that excessive pride can make one egotistical, and lack of pride will leave us without confidence. Just an idea.
by Bryanna Larrea September 25, 2008 at 4:04 am

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Left this out of comment above. Sorry! Would need to include how pride affects our society as well… this one could be quite interesting!
by Bryanna Larrea September 25, 2008 at 4:05 am

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These are good ides! :]

i used the one about the
cell phones causing brain
cancer, good stuff.
by Elena.M October 29, 2008 at 8:16 pm

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[...] Are you a platform speaker struggling to identify a good topic? Look over the pages to the right – Platform Speech Topic Ideas or Sources for Platform [...]
by Platform Speech Topics « Speak Up: Speech & Debate Education October 31, 2008 at 5:26 pm

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Hello finally now becoming a member, glad to be here! I glimpse forward to partcipating and have read a whole lot so far, so hello!

I’ve been involved in some other groups and have identified this site to have a great deal improved subject matter, so it tends to make sense to eventually become an active member!

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by purplexox February 23, 2011 at 6:32 pm

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