Persuasive Speech

Specific Purpose:     To persuade audience members to (change the thinking or behavior, to adopt your point of view and/or to persuade audience members that a policy should be started, changed, or stopped, and to urge their cooperation by asking for specific action, not passive agreement (page 417)).

Topics:  Topic choices should reflect your passion for an issue. You must believe in it in order to convince others; avoid overused ideas and controversial ideas in which research may overwhelm the process.

（Should learn a foreign languageÂ

Requirements:

• You are to use the Monroe Motivated Sequence (page 423) as your structural style.Â
• You are urged to use audience involvement in the resolution of the issue by including the ‘Immediate Action’ provision (page 417) in your speech; the call to action is essential.
• You must utilize an interview as ONE of your sources for this speech: an expert or experienced person on your topic or issue. Gain approval from instructor if your expert is a friend or related to you (pages 138-143).Â
• You may decide to use emotional language to evoke the desired audience response. You should carefully consider the ethics of your persuasive goal, using logos, ethos, and pathos.

Organization:

• A written preparation and final outline is required for this speech and should include all relevant content and sources.  Follow the model in your text (pages 171-181), all main and sub points must be written in a complete-sentence format.  Your bibliography listing the sources you consulted must be included in proper format.
• A speaker’s outline is recommended when delivering the speech.  For an example see pages 182-189 in your text.

Sources:

• At least three credible sources must be mentioned in the speech and referenced properly in the outline. One of those sources MUST be an interviewed source and no more than one of the three can be a website (read page 125 about evaluating an internet resource)
• Instructors may limit the number and type of electronic sources you can use.
• Many instructors find Wikipedia and Google lacking as credible sources

Visual Aid:

• At least three PowerPoint or Prezi slides must be shown during this speech.  Additional visual aids may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor.