PERSUASION OUTLINING – PROBLEM/CAUSE/SOLUTION, CAUSE/EFFECT/SOLUTION, MONROE
There are several ways to organize a persuasion speech. We will focus on the three most popular: Problem-Cause-Solution, Cause-Effect-Solution, and Monroe’s Motivated Sequence.
For all three organization patterns, all structural components that we have been working on should stay in place including all seven steps of an introduction, internal previews, two subpoints per main point, three steps of a conclusion, etc. The persuasive organization patterns help you to organize the three main points. All persuasive speeches for this course should have three main points. Description of each is listed below.
PROBLEM-CAUSE-SOLUTION
The problem-cause-solution speech is a three main point speech named for the focus of each main point: first point covers problems, second point reveals the causes of that problem, and third point focuses on solutions.
First point: Problem
In the point, regardless of how you subpoints are set up, the audience should understand what the problem is and why the problem is bad. In other words, define the problem and describe its harms.
Second point: Causes
By the end of the first point, the audience should be so enraged or concerned by the problem that they want to know what is causing the harms. So, point 2 becomes the causes, telling the audience either what created the problem in the first place, or what allows the problem to continue.
Third Point: Solutions
Solve for the causes. If the causes are eliminated, then the problem shouldn’t exist. Include a personal solution. Tell the audience what they can specifically do to help solve the problem. For example, if the problem is plastic bags cause environmental harm, the personal solution is to start using reusable bags.
CAUSE-EFFECT-SOLUTION
The cause-effect-solution speech is a three main point speech named for the focus of each main point: first point covers causes of a problem, second point reveals the effects of that problem, and third point focuses on solutions.
First point: Causes
This is identical to the cause point above. Tell the audience what is causing a problem to take place by focusing on what created the problem or what is allowing the problem to continue as of this moment in time.
Second point: Effects
This point focuses exclusively on harms. Tell the audience what harms have been created by the causes or what harms will occur. By the end of this point, the audience shold be ready and willing to move into solutions.
Third point: Solutions
Again, eliminate the causes and offer a personal solution.
MONROE’S MOTIVATED SEQUENCE
Named after longtime Purdue University Professor Alan H. Monroe, the motivated sequence is a five step persuasion organization pattern, with significant real-world implications. Even though is has five steps, the middle three are the main body points, so it has the same main points as the other two organization patterns. Monroe is thoroughly described in pages 122-123 of your text. A quick summary is listed below.
Attention: Get the audiences attention and introduce the problem. Give a preview of the speech. In other words, the attention step is your seven step intro.
Need: This is a hybrid cause-effect point. In other words, convince the audience that there is a harm (need) caused by something.
Satisfaction: The satisfaction step is the solution step. Eliminate causes and offer a personal solution.
Visualization: This is unique to Monroe. Ask the audience to visualize a world with your solutions in place. Or scare them into showing how bad things will get if the solution is not completed.
After the visualization step in complete, begin the conclusion. This final part of a Monroe’s speech (replacing your social significant ending) is the
Action: Tell the audience what to do in that exact moment. The action step is essentially a call to action. If you are giving a speech persuading people to donate to a charity, this is where you ask for the money.
WHY THE NEED FOR THREE?
Problem-Cause-Solution works best for speeches that are brand new or the audience has never heard of. Cause-Effect-Solution works better for problems that are a little older or can easily be explained in the intro as the goal here is to create an immediate sense of urgency. Monroe works better if arguing from the positive, or in a sales process. If you think about it, all good infomercials are essentially Monroe speeches.
TESTING LOGIC- TOULMIN’S MODEL AND FALLACIES
TOULMIN’S MODEL
Toulmin’s model helps to test for the validity of an argument. It’s a really practical tool for navigating through everyday life and gauging the validity of persuasive messages that come our way.
The book does an excellent job of summarizing Toulmin. Please read pages 174-179 of the text.
FALLACIES
Fallacies are faulty arguments. Having read about Toulmin’s model, fallacies should be easier to identify if you can pick out the warrant. Once the warrant is discovered, compare the relationship to the list of fallacies to see if there is an argumentative error.
The fallacies are listed on pages 186-191 of your textbook.
You will get practice working with fallacies in both the fallacy quiz, and next week’s listening assignment.
CITING SOURCES WHILE SPEAKING
Citing sources in a speech is not the same as citing sources in an APA paper. While one can never technically cite too much information, the focus should be on citing information that will improve your personal ethos. Usually, this is a matter of recency (how new is the source) and quality (does the information come from a reputable place). Below you will find what you must cite while speaking for every type of source.
Books (Author and Title)
“The book, Why I Love Speech Class by Orville Oratory states…”
Magazines (Publication and Date)
“The Economist of June 14, 2019 indicates…”
Journals (Publication and Date)
“The May 2018 Journal of the American Medical Association reveals…”
Newspapers (Publication and Date)
“According to the February 14, 2016 New York Times…”
Websites (Url or Agency + date the site was either accessed or updated)
“According to ed.gov” or “The U.S. Department of Education’s website claims…”
Reminders:
Always cite at the beginning of a sentence (Source, then data…) Remember, the spoken word is different than writing a paper and the source should be indicated before the corresponding information to improve speaker credibility.
Try to use different words to indicate what the source says (states, reveals, explains, concludes, etc.)
3 out of the four sources must be published. The fourth source can come from anywhere.
Assignments/Assessment
1. PERSUASION SPEECH
This unit all leads to developing this speech.
Time Limit: 6-8 minutes
Goal: The primary goal of the persuasion speech is to explain a problem to the audience and motivate (persuade) the audience to accept and partake in a proposed solution. The speech should use one of the organizational patterns we discussed in class: problem-cause- solution, cause-effect-solution, or Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. You should indicate which organizational pattern you are using at the top of your outline.
15 pts. – Introduction – are all of the necessary steps present? AGD, thesis, preview, etc? Include a source in the intro to improve ETHOS.
15 pts. – Structure – does the speech follow one of the outline patterns listed above? Are all subpoints parallel and independent? Are there internal previews? Transitions?
50 pts. – Problem/Strength of Argument – do we understand the problem at hand? (Problem should be well defined and researched.) Is your argument logical? (Problem should be fallacy free, adequately sourced, solid Data/Warrants/Claim.) Do we understand what is causing the problem? Do you adequately cover the problem’s harms? Please see the grading rubrics posted online—these points are more specifically divided up with one rubric for Problem/Cause/Solution and Cause/Effect/Solution speeches and a separate rubric is used for speeches based on Monroe. You must include both quantitative and qualitative evidence to be successful! Do not forget to include narrative evidence. PATHOS and LOGOS.
25 pts. – Solutions – Do you solve the problem (causes eliminated)? Does your solution include something that the audience can personally do to solve the problem (personal solutions)? Is there proof that your solution works?
5 pts. – Conclusion – restate thesis/tags, refer back to AGD, social significant ending.
30pts. – Delivery – eye contact, pacing, rate, gestures, facial expressions, no vocal patterns, no vocal garbage, energy, excitement, feeling, no more than two 5”x7” notecards (or 2 half sheets of paper.)
10 pts. – Sources/Outline – This speech needs at least FOUR sources. THREE of them need to be from published sources. Include a references page at the end in proper APA format. You should also indicate in your TYPED OUTLINE where each source is used/cited.
2. PERSUASION SPEECH OUTLINE 25 POINTS
For your persuasive speech outline, you will complete the following and submit to the persuasion outline dropbox:
Write out Introduction
Write out your entire introduction in paragraph form including at least one source. Correctly cite the source as if you were speaking (follow the “Citation Rules” handout. 9 points
Outline Body
Complete the body of the speech in outline format while completing the following: 6 points
List the proactive tag for each point
Indicate where all evidence will be used
Make sure that sub points are clear and independent
The body portion of the outline should be long enough for me to completely understand your argument and where you will be using your evidence, but short enough to that it remains an outline, not a complete paper.
The reader should be able to tell from your outline which of the four persuasive organizational patterns you are using
References Page
Complete a references page in correct APA format. All sources that are in your references should be used in the outline somewhere. Your final outline, submitted with the speech should have at least 4 sources, 3 of which should be published. Most good persuasive speeches have 7-10 sources. For this initial outline, provide at least 2 sources. 10 points
These directions are repeated in the dropbox.
