Research worksheet outline for persuasive speech

v Preparing an Effective Persuasive Presentation

I find it helpful to visualize the persuasive speech as a cale. The elements of the cake itselJ are the most essential, while the frosting elements should orily be added after the

cake is done. This is a guide to the "cake." Frosting elements indude your dress, delivery, eye contact, gesfures, vocal variety, and so on. An excellent delivery alone will not be enough to accomplish persuasion with an inteUigent audience. This guide should acquaint you with elements of the persuasive speech with r.r,hich you may be udfamiliar. Topic sel€ction. Questions to ask yourself:

1. Is it conhoversial?

2. Am I really interested in it?

3. Is there flerr, ilFrrrnfuorr available?

4. What side is my auilience on?

Thesis statemant. Th€ thcsis of a persuasive speech should be a condensed, concise statcmcnt of your position on the toFic at hand.

1. A thesis p€rforrns three major functions: a, Points out what your topic is b. Clearly illustrates your point of view c. Limits the range of your topic

2. An exampl€ ti'ould be, "l am opposed to ha.ndgun lares in Ohio.,,

Yourargu6ent. Ulushative of your point of view and iationale. l\{ust accomplish:

1. Provide teasons to support your point ofview (at least three)

2, Address the concems of vouf opponents

3. Seek to refute your opponcnts' arguments

4. Eventually move the audience tora,ard your point of vicw

Be su re to provide al,r|lc support lor your point of view. There are numerous forms of suDDort. In gencral, your source5 should

l. be as unbiased as possible (Nnfroral Rc.,i,t, is not an unbiased sourcel).

2. b€ as current as possible.

3. be from a substantial source (avoid popular magazines such Vog e, SeMt een, The Nntionnl Enquirer); us€ these sources to lead sources (acfual surveys and professiona.l studies).

as Mdemoiylle, you to stronger

Your op€ning and closing ar8l,menrs should be your srrongest. place your weakest argrmenr m the middle ofyour speech in order to have the most effective open and close possible! 'Adapted by permission of Cynthia Duquette. Opponent's al.gument, Must be addressed for persuasion to succeed.

1. Persuasion is based on the idea that human beings are rational and logical. Failing to address opposite points of view insults your audience's ability to come to their own decision. It is next to impossible to convince your audience that your vie is better if they don't know what the "inf€rior" view is!

2. You can address your opPonent's argument in scveral r.l'ays:

. a. Before your own points, using your points to refute it

b. After your points, dirrediting the other view

c. Before concluding a generally r.r'eak *'ay to address it

Source citation,lfyou forget to cite, you'll tegret it!

Call to a.tion. Gives your audience a spetific persuasive goal.

l, Asks your audience to take a particular action, such as voting, wdting a congress- persor; or thinking furthet atEut an i9sue.

2. Demonstrates that you have a speciJic, attainable goal.

3, lt is much easier to persuade vour audicnce to take a small but important action than to undelgo a 360-degree change.

Answering questions. Is a part of)'out grade and must be done effectively. Here's how:

1. Remain standing at the front of the room after your speech,

2. S€lect people from different parts of the audience.

3. Repeat the question t'efore lou ans$ er it, so everyone hears it.

4. Aruwer the question succirrtl]' and move on.

Hints to Think About

1. Call on a specific person for rour first question.

2. Signal when you'll accept one last question.

Crucial Steps in Preparing Your Speech

1. You absolutely must have a crvstal clear thesis statement.

2. You should be clear about ! 'here I our audience stands on vour issue.

3. Cite you! sourcet or perish'

4. You rhust have a clear goal for vourself, for example, "l want to move mv audience trom X position to Y position with respect to my topic." Keep this goal in mind and direct all of your pleparation to achieving it.

5. Have your speech clearly organized and make strong use of signposts.

6. Limit your topic to a manageable level: You can't possibly persuade an atheist to believe in God in an 8-minute speech!

7. Visual aids are shongly recommended; your audience has to understand to be persuaded.

8. Practice this speech more than any other!!