Persuasive Speech
Assignment Description
Purpose: To change how your audience behaves, thinks, believes, or feels toward a
particular issue.
Objectives: For this speech, you need to:
1. Select a topic that is appropriate for your audience and the speaking
assignment.
2. Develop an approach to that topic that is appropriate for your audience and the
speaking
assignment.
3. Choose an effective organizational pattern for your main points.
4. Form an argument that avoids any major logical fallacies.
5. Include a variety of supporting materials that support your argument.
6. Cite at least three sources in your presentation.
7. Structure your speech with an identifiable introduction, body, and conclusion.
8. Use visual aids that enhance your presentation (optional)
9. Demonstrate effective delivery skills.
Description:
Topic: Persuasive
Time: 5-7 minutes (points will be deducted if over or under time limit)
All persuasive speeches should have an identifiable introduction, body, and conclusion
with at least three verbal citations. Citations may be cited in the Introduction (as a way to
establish credibility and/or in the Body of the speech with their respective main or
supporting points. The body should build a well-developed argument.
Introduction: The introduction should contain three (3) parts: (1) an Attention
Getter which gets the audience interested and engaged in the topic, (2) a Credibility
Statement which demonstrates why you are qualified to discuss your topic (e.g., this could
include mentioning your sources, your educational background, your previous experience,
your interest and passion for the topic, or other relevant information), and (3) a Thesis
Statement/Preview which creates a sense of expectation for your audience.
Body: The body of the informative speech should contain approximately 3-5 main points.
(There may be some exceptions.) The main points should be arranged in a way that makes
sense to the audience. Each main point should include supporting points. The supporting
points should (1) provide more information about its respective point, (2) illustrate/clarify
its respective point, and/or (3) provide reason to believe its respective point.
Conclusion: The conclusion should contain two (2) parts: (1) an Alert/Summary which
reviews the main points, and (2) a Closing Thought which creates a sense of closure for the
audience (typically by referring back to the attention getter).
Outline: A key-word/phrase outline for this speech is required. It should contain the
following: (1) an Introduction which includes an Attention Getter, Credibility Statement,
and Thesis Statement/Preview, (2) a Body which includes all relevant main points and
supporting points for each, and (3) a Conclusion which includes an Alert/Summary and (2) a
Closing Thought. The outline should be in outline format and demonstrate appropriate
usage of outlining symbols and indentation, and (4) a list of citations/references that were
used for the presentation.
