speech

Question

Your Response

What is your persuasive speech topic? (Make it specific and debatable — avoid overly broad topics like “education” or “healthcare” without narrowing your focus.)

My persuasive speech topic is that colleges should require mental health education and depression awareness programs for all first-year students. This is a specific, debatable topic because it centers on one solution to depression in college students, rather than on mental health as a whole.

What position or stance will you take? (Clearly state your argument. What side are you on?)

I believe colleges should require mental health education and depression awareness programs as part of first-year orientation or introductory courses. These programs have the potential to teach students how to identify signs of depression, lessen stigma and facilitate students' seeking of professional assistance when it is needed.

Why did you choose this topic? (Explain your personal connection, interest, or why it’s important today.)

This is important to me because there are many college students who suffer from depression, and many people are still not comfortable discussing mental health or asking for help. Raising awareness can empower students to support themselves and others and contribute to a healthier school.

What is your specific purpose? (What exact change do you want the audience to make — in thought, feeling, or action?)

My particular purpose is to convince my audience that mental health education for first-year college students should be required. I want to teach them that early education can decrease stigma, give students the chance to seek help earlier and help them to be more successful in school and in their mental health.

Which appeals will be most effective for this speech—ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), or logos (logic)? Why? (Choose two primary appeals and defend your reasoning with detail.)

My two most convincing appeals for my speech will be logos and pathos. I will use logos by providing statistics and research on depression among college students and the positive effects of Mental Health Education. To draw the audience into the issue, I will also try to appeal to their emotions through pathos by citing stories of students who have suffered from depression and are better now because of the help they have received.

Question

Your Response

Who is your target audience? Describe their demographics and psychographics. (Who will hear your speech? What do they care about? What are their shared values or interests?)

The audience of my target is between 18 and 25 college-going students from various backgrounds. The majority of them appreciate academic achievement, personal development and future careers. They are also interested in developing friendships, coping with stress and achieving a healthy balance between school and life, which are problems that impact their mental health.

What knowledge, attitudes, or biases might your audience already have about your topic? (Consider what they might agree/disagree with before hearing you.)

There are some members of the audience who might already know that depression is a serious mental health disorder, and that colleges should do more to support their students. Others may think depression is simply stress that people should manage on their own. Some others may feel that counseling is sufficient and further education is not necessary.

What potential objections or resistance might your audience have? (Anticipate pushback. What arguments might they raise?)

A college may argue that mental health education should not be required and that the focus should be on academics. Other people may think that students are entitled to the choice of mental health programs and should not be required to attend them. Some also may be concerned about the expense and time associated with the implementation of these programs.

What strategies will you use to connect with this audience? (Consider tone, examples, values, and what will make your message resonate.)

I will present facts, statistics, examples from real life, and in a friendly and respectful tone to students in college. I will talk about common experiences of academic pressure, homesickness and balancing school work with responsibility to demonstrate the importance of depression awareness. I will also be emphasizing solutions that will work for students and the college community.

Question

Your Response

How do you generally feel about public speaking? (Describe your comfort level, past experiences, or general reaction.)

I find myself having a bit of anxiety about speaking in front of others, particularly when I know I will be judged. However, as I get in front of a crowd and get more comfortable with speaking, my confidence slowly rises.

What worries you the most about giving a persuasive speech? (Is it being judged, forgetting lines, being boring, etc.?)

My biggest concern is forgetting important points or losing my train of thought during the presentation. I also have concerns about keeping the audience focused throughout my speech.

What physical or emotional symptoms do you experience when nervous? (Examples: sweating, fast heartbeat, shaky voice, blank mind, etc.)

I get nervous, my heart races and sometimes I talk faster than I mean to. Sometimes I can feel nervous before I start, but this often fades as I speak.

What strategies have worked for you before—or what techniques would you like to try to manage your nerves? (Examples: deep breathing, practicing in front of friends, visualization, positive self-talk, etc.)

Repeating my speech a couple of times before i perform helps me to feel better prepared and more confident. I will also work on deep breathing, eye contact with various audience members and keeping in mind that the audience is present to listen and learn, not to judge me.