Like Gorgias's Helen, Lysias's speech in the Phaedrus, and Plato's first speech in the same, argue for something that is improbable. Argue that someone most people would think is guilty of wrongdoing is not, or that someone thought not guilty is. Argue that something normally thought good, like love, is bad, or argue that opposite. Argue something fanciful, like that horoscopes really come true. You may even argue against commonly held beliefs about history or science. Not surprisingly, conspiracy theory websites can be a good place for ideas.
Here are some possible topics to get you thinking:
- The earth is really flat.
- We never landed on the moon.
- Bush (or Clinton) was the best president we ever had.
- The Twilight series of books are great literature.
- Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome is the best movie—ever.
- Dinosaurs became extinct because of attacks by alien invaders.
- McDonalds food is good for you.
- Chuck Norris is a wimp.
One requirement I have is that you play the argument straight. Your audience may laugh (and you may a little, too), but you have to present the argument as if you truly believe it and for good reason. As the syllabus says, I will evaluate your speech on framing, organization, content, and delivery and style. However, I won't require a visual (you'll need one for speech 2).
Length: 2-5 minutes.
Points: 20 / 200 (10% of term grade)
The above image may look like Aristotle, but it is actually Chuck Norris. I got it from a website of quotations, enjoyquotes.blogspot.com
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