Broadway Persuasive Speech Topic

[MusicInMyMind11]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 4:27am

I have to do a persuasive speech for a public speaking class, and I really, really want to do a Broadway topic. Really the only requirement is that it has to be 5-7 minutes and it has to have statements that can be backed up factually (which is why I'm having a problem with this). Anyone have a good idea? Or at least at starting point for an idea? And, maybe some evidence for it?
Thanks guys!

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 8:09am

How Rodgers and Hammerstein changed the American musical

[caitlinette]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 5:47pm

How about something along the lines of, "Musical theater is not the corny song and dance affair that many people believe it to be, but instead an art form that reflects real life with inspiration and poignancy"?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 5:51pm

How can that be backed up factually?

[binau]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 5:58pm

How do you define 'factually'?

I mean it will make me cringe if your teacher claims that being 'factual' means just regurgitating the opinions of others (apparently more 'factual' than your own).

But while claiming "Musical theatre is not a corny song and dance affair" is an opinion, you can use 'facts' to support it. Though I guess to be 'backed factually' you will need a secondary source, I guess. But this would be hard to do (as you have mentioned), [ignoring that I still dispute whether that is 'factual'].

Maybe you should just do something boring/something scientific, because scientific studies should use objective data, which your teacher would probably agree is a 'fact'. (But again just blindly reporting results of studies as facts isn't really a good thing either, because the study may have issues).

God I feel like I'm some kind of strange tangent, but my point is that I think just saying something is 'factual' or not, unless the fact is based on a sound deductive argument, will be difficult, as everything otherwise can always be disputed.

Talk to your teacher about what is considered 'factual'.

Updated On: 11/22/09 at 05:58 PM

[ggersten]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 6:19pm

If it is a "persuasive" speech, then you need to "persuade" your audience of something. There is a "persuasive burden." This usually is one of two things - persuading people of a problem or persuading people of a solution. And "problem" is pretty broad. What do you want to persuade people of?

For example: Do you wish to persuade people that Broadway musicals are or are not still a vital part of American culture? Facts would be attendance figures today versus let's say the "golden era" (including tour numbers); sales figures of OBCR and of cross-over songs; television ratings for the Tony Awards (adjusting for general downturn in viewing); film adaptations and their financial numbers.

Do you want to persuade people that Broadway is not just musicals, but also dramas and comedies where nobody sings? Facts are the numbers of shows. But you might want to expand based on recoupment numbers.

Do you want to persuade people to invest in a Broadway show (musical or drama)? Perhaps guide your audience as to the best place to drop a million dollars as an investment? You could talk about what creators are successful in terms of return on investment (recoupment) but keep in mind you still might have a Dance of the Vampires or Pirate Queen or LoveMusik. But you could also talk about the different revenue streams - recordings, books, tours, licensing and royalties that your audience might not think about.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 6:56pm

My God, I was the gayest child ever and even I had interests outside of Broadway, at least in as much that I didn't have to try and shoehorn my love of show tunes into anything I was given even a whiff of free reign with.

Is there nothing in the world you care about enough to try and persuade others to see your way of thinking besides something vaguely about Broadway?

You should try and persuade them that teenagers who solicit Broadwayworld for help with their schoolwork aren't really the brightest bulbs in the bunch, because right now I am NOT convinced.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 7:52pm

My earlier post was deleted by the Broadwayworld Gestapo but it voiced the same exact sentiments and I agree, one-hundred percent, with Phylis.

You're given the chance to educate a classroom of teens. What about social equality, or a charitable foundation, or something regarding Cancer support, etc., etc., etc.

[ggersten]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 8:30pm

Who said this was a high school class?

And when I coached speech and debate at college, the speaker needed to care about the topic. Otherwise, the speech was dull and lifeless. If the OP wants to speak about Broadway - fine. It's actually probably harder than ANOTHER speech about the evils of drunk driving or why people should be nice to others and do charitable work. There's just no "burden" there - the speech fails on the assignment. I judged hundreds of persuasive speeches - both by high school and college kids - (and in my last year, one of my students finished third in the nation) and you can tell the stock speech that students didn't care about and probably 75% failed because there was no persuasive burden. I'd rather have heard a speech about why drunk driving wasn't bad - because that is a hard sell. But, for the OP to do a speech where s/he has to convince the audience of something about "Broadway" is not going to be easy. The OP has to make the audience aware of something they haven't thought of and try to convince them of a proposition or action.

Anyway, it didn't sound like the OP was asking someone here to write the speech - just to help with ideas. Why is asking here for help with an idea a worse thing than asking other students/classmates?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 8:38pm

I had to do a persuasive speech when I was in college and I did mine on why Pete Rose should be in the hall of fame. My topic was more a matter of opinion but by the time I was done every person agreed with me. My platform was that if there can be murders, alcoholics, wifebeaters, and steroid users in the hall why keep Rose out?

Why don't you do a topic about how movie to musicals actually help open the door to new musical theatre fans?

[MusicInMyMind11]

Posted: 11/22/09 at 11:03pm

I meant factually as you need to have sources backing up most of your statements. Sorry if that was confusing.

Those are some really great speech ideas, really. I was thinking of what I could do, but I couldn't think of ways to back them up. I'm going to do some research on all of them tonight, and see what I could do. This was a great starting point, and I really do thank you guys for all your help.

Phyllis Rogers Stone and MusicSnob1 - The reason I was asking on this board were because I WANTED to do a speech on Broadway. It's not that I don't have any other interests, it's because Broadway is one of my main interests. I'm a musical theatre major - I love theatre. The main thing our teacher told us to do was think of something that we loved and give a speech on it - the first thing that popped into my mind was a speech on how Phantom is the best musical of all time. I decided that that was something that was a little too narrow minded, (and I'm a little bit too biased too :) and maybe it wouldn't be all that interesting to a class of freshman, so I wanted to broaden my topic out a bit - while still staying in the theatre realm. I didn't want to give a speech on what I feel are the cliched topics of gay marriage and blood donations. While I feel both are important, everyone in that class knows about those topics. I wanted to actually TEACH them about something, instead of just handing them canned facts. Others will get up there and teach about cancer, but I want to get up there and teach about something that I love, like ggersten said! Besides, I will be writing the speech all by myself - I'm a big girl. I didn't get into a musical theatre program without doing my own work. I just wanted a starting off point - and this is exactly what this board did for me. (and I thank you guys wholeheartedly for that).
So, before you guys go off about me not going my own work, read my prompt first. I wanted an idea, not someone to write my speech, on something that I love, not the cliched every day speech.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/23/09 at 4:06pm

ggstern, I don't think anyone said it was a high school class.

I have to do a persuasive speech for a public speaking class, and I really, really want to do a Broadway topic. Really the only requirement is that it has to be 5-7 minutes and it has to have statements that can be backed up factually (which is why I'm having a problem with this). Anyone have a good idea? Or at least at starting point for an idea? And, maybe some evidence for it?
Thanks guys!

So, you may be writing it all yourself, but you still came to this board asking for an idea for a topic about something that YOU are supposed to feel strongly about, as well as evidence to back it up.

I wouldn't even make a comment about you saying you are a musical theatre major and the first thought that popped in your head was that Phantom was the best musical of all time.

Have a great speech.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 11/23/09 at 4:20pm

I'm glad that you decided against the PotO topic because if I had a student who gave a speech on how it was the best musical of all time I'd probably fail them.

Good thing I TA psychology courses and not MT, huh?

Updated On: 11/23/09 at 04:20 PM

[EricHenryEdgarHansen]

Posted: 11/15/17 at 7:37pm

I am in a similar position as MusicInMyMind11 in my public speaking class. I discovered this thread today while looking for help to clarify what I have in my head. This post has been one of the highlights of my day thus far, and I thank those of you who contributed to my positive change in mood.