December 2011 Practice Extemp Topics

Informative Speaking

1. South Sudan: How is this young nation preparing to deal with the return of its displaced citizens?
2. What evidence led to the conviction of Conrad Murray?
3. Mario Monti: What are the plans of this newly-installed Italian Prime Minister?
4. What recent technological breakthroughs indicate the potential for improved cardiac health in United States citizens?
5. What are the similarities in the Bernie Fine and Jerry Sandusky cases?
6. Why has confidence in the US economy risen in recent months?
7. Dalai Lama: How did his recent public speaking tour of India incite new conflict between India and China?
8. What factors contributed to American Airlines need to file for bankruptcy?
9. What brought to a close the promising presidential campaign of Herman Cain?
10. What struggles does Egypt face with its upcoming election?
11. What is the ‘Texas plan’ to increase diversity in colleges throughout the state?
12. Greece: To what extent has the promised rescue loan alleviated the fears of the Greek people?
13. How has technology assisted the new generation of political activists?
14. What obstacles did Congo have to overcome in conducting its presidential election?
15. What recent events signal trouble for US intelligence in the Middle East?
16. China: What indicators reveal that the global economic slump has impacted this nation?
17. Why is candidate Rick Perry staying in the presidential race?  
18. How has alternative energy helped achieve energy security for Latin America?
19. Post-tsunami Japan: What events signify that this region has yet to completely recover from the natural disaster?
20. What events forced William Hague to close the British embassy in Tehran?
21. What proposed legislative changes are being advocated in order to make college more affordable?
22. What concerns has the United States expressed about the Russian parliamentary elections?
23. What recent discoveries has the border patrol made in combating drug trafficking along the Texas border?
24. What steps have been taken to ensure the safety of the athletes and fans at the 2012 Olympic games in the UK?
25. What is President Obama’s plan to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan?
26. How has Google contributed to censorship on the Internet?
27. What has contributed to the decrease in poverty in Latin America?
28. Family farms in America: What shape are they in?
29. Why were Iranian diplomats recently expelled from the United Kingdom?
30. What threat to our national security would be risked from captured U.S. spy drones?
31. Why is Newt Gingrich surging in the Republican race to the White House?
32. China’s Underground Great Wall: What is it, and what implications does it hold on a global scale?
33. Why is there controversy surrounding the Senate’s recent defense bill?
34. How are European countries handling the Eurozone debt crisis?
35. What are the recent developments in the #Occupy movement?

Persuasive Speaking

1. Is the Euro crisis reaching a tipping point?
2. What responsibility should Jim Boeheim shoulder for his involvement in the scandal regarding the Syracuse University basketball program?
3. Is the #Occupy movement turning violent?
4. Public education: What changes must Texas implement to improve school financing?
5. In the wake of the Robert Stevens case, was the United States government negligent in preventing an anthrax outbreak?
6. In Egypt, will Democratic legitimacy trump military rule?
7. How will Britain’s decision to close their embassy in Tehran affect relations between the West and Iran?
8. Who is most responsible for the Penn State football scandal?
9. Why did Turkey place new economic sanctions on Syria?
10. Does President Saleh’s decision to leave power signify the end of the political turmoil in Yemen?
11. What must Texas do to improve its ranking in preventing adolescent tobacco use?
12. Does Turkey still desire to be part of the European Union?
13. Should the election results in Congo be annulled?
14. How close is North Korea to completing its uranium enrichment project?
15. Is the International Criminal Court correct in its decision to try former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo with crimes against humanity?
16. Was the sentence received by Rod Blagojevich justified?
17. Is it too soon to pull troops out of Afghanistan?
18. Allies or adversaries: What is the diplomatic relationship between China and India?
19. Should the Texas legislature mandate an annual football game between Texas and Texas A&M?
20. How is blogging impacting elections globally?
21. Space exploration: Should we fund the space program to further exploration of other worlds?
22. Is the United Nations the most recent target for cyber terrorists?
23. Are Russians growing tired of Vladimir Putin?
24. Is India’s democracy failing?
25. Latin America: Is this region leading the charge in the search for renewable sources of energy?
26. Is Germany the next victim of the Euro crisis?
27. Is hazing still a major problem on college campuses?
28. Is the Keystone XL pipeline good for the United States?
29. Is declining Western influence in the Arab world a good thing?
30. Will Turkey’s eastern earthquakes contribute to uniting Turks with their minority Kurdish population?
31. Will changes take place in post-Burlusconi Italy?
32. Seven billion people: Are the world’s resources sufficient for the staggering population growth?
33. Will U.S. foreign policy successes influence the American voter to support Barak Obama in the next election?
34. Can the federal government afford to lessen the burden on those with student loans?
35. Does Ohio’s decision to reverse a law curbing collective bargaining rights signal growing political power for American unions?