Persuasive Speech
“Shrek” is the greatest movie of all time.
Specific Purpose/Goal: To persuade the audience to believe that “Shrek” is the greatest movie of all time. Central idea/Thesis Statement: Shrek has many aspects from successful movies that make it a knock- out. Organizational Pattern: Reason Giving Type of Persuasive Speech: Value
Introduction
I. Attention-getter: “Somebody once told me”
II. Relate to audience: Most people instantly knew what I was talking about, and I only said four words.
III. Establish Credibility: I’ve watched this movie many times, but more times recently than I did even as a child.
IV. Preview Statement: I hope that we can put the memes aside and look at why Shrek is perhaps the greatest movie of all time.
[We’ll start with the basic “good movie” elements that Shrek brings to the table.]
Body:
I. First Main Point: While Shrek is undoubtedly a unique movie, it has many characteristics and themes that have proven to impress an audience.
A. Sub-Point: Shrek combines classic romance and comedy with action, adventure, and even sadness.
1. Shrek seems to start out as any other DreamWorks movie, with a basic problem that needs to be solved, in Shrek’s case, he needs to rid his swamp of the fairly-tale creatures that have sought refuge there. We also see bits of action, when Shrek must fight off Lord Farquaad’s men at Duloc, and heart-pounding action scenes when Shrek is attempting to save Princess Fiona.
B. Sub-Point: The later appearing themes of friendship and romance make any movie not only more relatable but changes our pallet a touch.
1. We see the classic theme of “the hero’s annoying yet loveable friend” in Donkey. Surely, Donkey has gone down as one of the most memorable sidekicks in movie history. We also see a romantic relationship form between Fiona and Shrek, one that neither of them saw coming.
[So Shrek has qualities of other great movies, what makes it special?]
II. Second Main Point: While the hero’s of other films aren’t always expected, Shrek takes the “underdog” story to a new level.
A. Sub-Point: Being an Ogre, Shrek doesn’t have the social skills and devilishly handsome looks that most hero’s have. Think about Captain America, Iron Man, Thor. All beautiful human beings. Shrek is considered a hideous being and still finds a way to get the girl.
1. Given Shrek’s appearance and attitude, he doesn’t fit the bill for a hero by anyone’s standards. No one is expecting him to prevail, and even if he does, no one expects him to exceed.
2. Not only is he a thought-to-be vile creature, Shrek does not display the character traits of our standard hero. He is not incredibly well-spoken, he doesn’t relate to the problems of others, and he is solitary in nature; always wanting to be left alone.
[Shrek really takes the cake when it comes to relating to his audience.]
III. Third Main Point: For being an Ogre, Shrek is really the most “human” character from the movie.
A. Sub-Point: Most hero’s go out of their way to save the population, someone else, a city, etc. Shrek commits to this journey for the soul purpose of having his swamp back. He literally fights a dragon for some peace and quiet.
1. While many of us like the thought of the first hero mentioned, we, as people, need to be (and often are) selfish in nature. A big saying I constantly hear is that “We need to take care of ourselves before we take care of others”, and Shrek lives by this motto.
B. Sub-Point: Shrek shows us that even though he is often referred to as a terrifying creature, he has a surprisingly big heart and accomplishes more than anyone ever thought he would. We can all relate to this. We may not always feel like a perfect 10, and we may not always like the way we are perceived. This mindset can get us down and kill our motivation. However, Shrek shows us that by persevering and wanting it bad enough, you effectively eliminate those obstacles, because they were only in your head.
Conclusion
I. Transition Signal: Next time you have an hour and a half-an-hour to kill, consider watching or re- watching Shrek.
II. Summary of Main Points: It may seem like just another DreamWorks movie, but the combination of solid themes and relatability make this one a real prize.
III. Call to action: I challenge you to try and find in your own self, what Shrek finds in his self. Never underestimating your capabilities is a huge part of thriving.
IV. Memorable ending: So next time you think the world is going to roll you, remember: you are the sharpest tool in the shed.
References:
Shrek. Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson. Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz. Dreamworks, 2001. Movie.
“Shrek.” Shrek Wiki. Fandom. Short-work. Accessed May 29, 2018.
Cormier, Roger. “15 Giant Facts About Shrek.” Mental Floss. March 22, 2016. Article. Accessed May 29, 2018.