first speech topic is available so you may research and give your speech on Affordable Housing.
You now have two things to do prior to Monday.
Create your 4 survey questions to determine your classmates’ viewpoints and attitudes on Affordable Housing.
Refer to the PowerPoint slides on Persuasion, especially the slides on Target Audience and Survey Questions.
Try to have a mix of the question types (Fixed Alternative, Scale Questions, and Open-Ended).
ALL INFORMATION SHOULD COME FROM THIS WEBSITE NOTHING CAN COME FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE
Sample Persuasive Speech
Problem-Cause-Solution Order
General Purpose: To persuade
Specific Purpose: To persuade my listeners to support the rotation of names on voting ballots
Central Idea: Rotating names on a ballot can eliminate the unfair advantage that some candidates
Enjoy
Introduction
Imagine you are running for political office.
Then imagine you lose the election because your name is not listed first on the voting ballot.
This unfairness happens year after year, all over the world.
The reason for this is very simple and random: the first names listed on the voting ballots receive an unfair advantage over all other names that follow.
In preparation for this speech I have done extensive research on the topic of voter ballots.
Over the next few minutes, I will persuade you to support the rotation of names on the voting ballots.
Transition: Let’s begin with the problem by examining this example.
Body
Main Point I. Typically, the first name listed on a voting ballot will receive 2 to 4 percent more votes than the other names, according to the New York State Board of Elections representative and attorney David McCoy.
Although name placement doesn’t guarantee victory, it does provide an unfair advantage to the first person listed.
Imagine this scenario: Anne Adams and Linda Yates are running for mayor (change slide).
Simply because her name appears first, Anne Adams will receive a 2 to 4 percent advantage.
This seems like a minimal number, but it is enough to provide a winning victory in a close race.
Watch what happens when we apply the 2 percent advantage example.
Adams will win, 51 to 49 percent (change slide).
But if names are alphabetically reversed, or rotated, Yates would win, 51 to 49 percent.
Transition: We examined the problem; now, let’s discuss the causes.
Main Point II. The average voter shows a preference for whichever names is listed first on a voter ballot.
This raises a question of “why?”
Dr. Jon Krosnick of Stanford University has researched this tendency to select the name listed first and drew the following conclusions.
Many voters are unaware of the issues that each candidate stands supports, or they are undecided on who to vote for.
However, because they feel obligated to vote, these voters tend to choose the top name on the list.
This tendency for the first-listed candidate to win is well-documented in local and minor elections.
Statistics professor Don Peters of the City College of New York, conducted a longitudinal study on election results of the past 26 years for the New York City School District (change slide).
Prof. Peters’ research confirmed that candidates were much more likely to win if their name was listed first.
Transition: We have examined the problem and its causes, next let’s explore a potential solution.
Main Point III. A simple way to resolve this issue is to rotate all the names.
A. Each candidate’s name would appear in the top spot an equal number of times.
Let’s expand our original example of Adams and Yates to include one additional candidate. (Change slide.)
Yates, Adams and Garcia are running.
One third of voters would see Yates’ name first, one third would see Adams’ name first and one third would see Garcia listed first.
This process is fair because it allows each person to experience the 2 to 4 percent advantage on an equal number of ballots.
Name rotation has been successfully tried in some states and counties.
For instance in the state of Ohio, rotation occurs by district.
Dr. Krosnick’s research further reveals that Ohio has the fairest election in the nation.
In other areas, there are campaigns that are in support of the rotation system.
Throughout the world, some nations are trying to establish fair election procedures.
Voter reformers are at work in nations that list names alphabetically, including Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
In New Zealand, some candidates change their last name to Aaronson, Abbey and Abernathy to have a chance at the top position on the ballot (Change slide).
Conclusion
In conclusion, let’s review what we discussed today.
The first candidate listed on a voter ballot typically receives a 2 to 4 per cent advantage over the other candidates.
The solution is to implement a rotation system with each candidate listed first an equal number of times.
It is a simply solution, and also one that is free.
I urge you to support the rotation system in your community and state elections.
Please sign your name and print your email on the attached petition to support the change.
With enough support, you can help prevent an unqualified candidate from being elected, simply because of the spelling of their last name.
