Short Speech Topics

You will find 20 excellent short speech topics below that work when time is limited. Choosing a meaningful short speech topic may difficult in some circumstances.

As Mark Twain once said

Why?

Because it's infinitely harder to communicate ideas and make an impact in a short space of time.

This, then, makes it that much more important to choose the right short speech topic.

Choose the wrong theme for your speech and you will struggle to deliver a presentation that covers it adequately. Choose the right topic, however, and you can create something powerful that will stick in the minds of your listeners, even if you are only able to speak for a few minutes.

Tips for Creating a Short Speech

• Pick something you feel strongly about. It's easier to make an impact in a short time when you speak with real passion.


• Pick something your audience is interested in too! All the passion in the world won't engage your listeners if the topic hold no interest for them!


• Consider speaking about a personal experience. Heartfelt emotions will be more keenly felt by your audience than those mustered up solely for the purpose of your speech!


• Focus on keeping your phrases brief and your words simple. See this page for help with this. A short speech is not the place for meandering thoughts and complicated sentence structures. Conciseness is key!


• Make sure your speech still includes the three key elements of any good presentation - a strong introduction, body and conclusion.


• Clearly identify the purpose of your speech. Is it to inform? Educate? Motivate? Criticize? Explain? Make sure that every word you write supports your overall purpose.


• Think hard before choosing a persuasive topic - this can be one of the most difficult types of speeches to deliver in a short space of time! It's not impossible, though - so be sure to have a strong argument if you want to convice people to think differently about something in only 5 minutes or so!


• Create a good title (if you will have the opportunity to use one).

Example Formats for Your Short Speech

Persuasive

Here's a simple template for a short persuasive speech...

For example....

Demonstration

Demonstrations make great short speeches because these are very visual and thus make a big impact - but time yourself beforehand to be absolutely sure that you can complete your demonstration in the time allowed! Choose a good short speech topic like the ones listed below to ensure a successful presentation.

Problem and Solution

Divide this speech into 2 parts.

• First, set out the problem.
• Then, present the solution.

The problem part should be the longest. This may sound illogical, but it gives the solution more impact when the problem is presented in detail. Describe the problem as vividly as possible and the audience will be looking forward to hearing your ingenious solution!

20 Short Speech Topics

1. How social media is uniting the world
2. Why pets are better than children
3. 5 things to do with a Raspberry Pi
4. How to solve the problem of online trolls
5. My wish for humanity
6. How to take the perfect selfie
7. Why we should all be vegan
8. If I were an animal I'd be a______
9. A day in the life of a dollar bill
10. The butterfly effect (how one tiny change in circumstances can alter the course of your life - focus on one example)
11. 5 ways to save time in the kitchen
12. If I had 5 minutes to talk to Donald Trump I would _____
13. What advice I wish someone gave my parents before I was born
14. Why the Gettysburg Address is the best speech ever written
15. Online dating - cringeworthy or cool?
16. My most embarrassing moment
17. If I won the lottery I would _____
18. Why ______ is the best book ever written
19. Why it's sometimes necessary to lie
20. How to write a short speech (they won't be expecting that one!)