Persuasive Speech Assignment

Persuasive Speech Assignment

DUE: Tuesday August 18

Time Limit: 7 - 9 mins.

Purpose: to persuade your audience. Again, you select the topic. This time, keep in mind that you must select a topic about which your audience holds varying beliefs (you need to persuade, this cannot be done if everyone already agrees with you).

Sources: You want your audience to believe you and take your side. You must convince them using CONCRETE EVIDENCE from sources to back up your own opinions. Your opinions are not enough (although both soft and hard evidence is encouraged – soft is not enough), because you may not be an expert. At least 2 credible sources are required. Find sources related to your topic and read them to get supporting material and ideas for building your arguments (you must cite both of them during your speech and have them on your speech outline in MLA or APA format), and to understand opposing viewpoints.


Format: The organization of this speech is similar to the others you have done. Introduction: 1) gain attention; 2) Show relevance to audience 3) build your credibility---why are you speaking on this topic? 4) reveal your central theme/ idea and preview speech. Body: This is where you explain the need/problem, cause, effect, value, fact, or policy (give definitions, examples, illustrations, statistics, testimony, etc.), show how the problem relates to the audience and offer a workable satisfaction/solution. Next, provide the audience with a vision of anticipated outcomes associated with your solution (visualization step). Show the audience how the solution you are proposing has been successful elsewhere, and how it will work in your situation. Challenge the audience to do something within 24 hours (call to action) related to your topic. Conclusion: 1) summarize the main points; 2) provide a memorable ending, something we can't forget because it's so powerful. 3.) Provide closure
This speech must be persuasive (not simply informative). You may use a question of fact, value or policy. The topic must be relevant to us and well adapted (Remember: Audience, occasion and yourself). It should not be too simple or too complex. It must be narrowed (this means that you narrow the topic so that you adequately cover all essential material in the time limit, but also not too narrow that you leave the audience wanting more or/and go under the time limit).Decide upon the most effective organizational pattern based upon your goals and organize your speech accordingly. Use critical thinking skills! The speech must be free of the fallacies of reasoning and unethical persuasive techniques such as, scare tactics.


Visual Aid: 1 visual aid is required for this speech (2 dimensional, 3 dimensional, audiovisual…) Remember not to bring in anything that may negatively affect your credibility or cause too much noise and distract the audience form your message.
Outline: ALL OUTLINES ARE DUE BEFORE YOU PRESENT. NO EXCEPTIONS! Refer to your textbook for sample persuasive speech outlines. As always, outlines must be typed and must include source information in MLA/APA format.