1-Hour Writer

Persuasive Rhetorical Speech

(Read chapter on persuasion & methods and review all class handouts)

General Purpose: The purpose of this speech is to integrate basic principles of persuasion theory and persuasive speech structures with well-reasoned arguments. Choose a topic that has more than one side to it and is generally limited to a fact, value or policy claim. You need only advocate one side of the issue, though knowledge of counter-arguments is essential. You are advocating a position by advancing a claim. The issue or topic that you choose should be of national or international significance, or at least meet our classroom criterion of worthwhile substance.

Objectives: The persuasive speech will allow the student to:

1. Improve principles of persuasive speech structure and theory.

2. Deliver a speech to an audience using polished extemporaneous delivery.

3. Gain experience presenting well-reasoned arguments.

4. Research substantive and current national or international issues and learn from your colleagues about reasoned positions on topics of importance.

5. Recognize a rhetorical situation and create messages strategically appropriate for that situation.

Assignment: The persuasive speech should follow the guidelines below.

A. The speech should be 10 minutes long.

B. At least three outside sources are required for this speech. ALL THREE SOURCES MUST BE CITED IN THE SPEECH. We will discuss use of sources and dealing with Internet sources.

C. A sentence outline of the speech (typed), complete with purpose statements, should be turned in the day you deliver the speech. The outline is important because it provides you with a basic structure of the speech, shows me that you can construct a speech, and provides me with a “road map” of sorts if you appear lost in your speech.

1. The outline must follow the guidelines presented in class and text to receive full credit.

2. A bibliography of sources used in preparing the speech should be included.

D. Use no more than three 3x5 or two 4x6 note cards. I may ask to see the note cards following the speech.

E. Visual aids are encouraged but not required for this speech and should be used properly as outlined in the chapter of the textbook on visual aids.

F. The professor will select the highest graded speaker in the class and ask that person to present the same speech in the first round of the UMKC Speech Contest in front of professors in the Communication Division. This contest is offered in the fall and spring semesters only. If that student is selected in the first round of the contest, they will present the same persuasive speech a third time at the designated place and compete with other finalists in front of all of the Com 110 students and selected formal judges, for monetary prizes. I will give you the date and time of the final contest at mid-term or sooner when I receive the information and UMKC Com 110 students are mandated to attend that ceremony as a part of the class requirement.

Example: Informative Speech

Preparation Outline

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about three fishing attractions in the state of Colorado.

Central Idea: Three fishing attractions in the state of Colorado are Pueblo Reservoir, Eleven-Mile Canyon, and Spinney Mountain Reservoir

Introduction:

I. In which of the following scenarios might you see yourself? Perhaps you are the type of person who would enjoy speeding across a large lake in a motor boat and then tucking yourself away in a hidden cove to fish the day away. Or, maybe your personality best fits the scene of a cool, rushing stream. You meander up and down along its banks with your fishing pole, casting and reeling, casting and reeling. If neither of these strikes an interest, how about paddling yourself around a small mountain lake dressed in waders and flippers, sitting back in your small pontoon tube. You jig your line amidst the weeds, waiting for the strike of a fish.

II. Fishing in Colorado this past summer afforded me an adventure of my lifetime, exploring all three of these scenarios.

III. As I spent five days fishing throughout Colorado, my guides were some of the best: my brother, Wayne, and my sister-in-law, Carol, who both have 28 years of fishing experience in Colorado. Then there was my nephew, Eric, an avid fisherman, who has 18 years of intense fishing experience in Colorado.

IV. I invite you to join me on an adventure today as we explore three fabulous fishing attractions in the state of Colorado: Pueblo Reservoir, Eleven-Mile Canyon and Spinney Mountain Reservoir.

(Transition: Let’s begin our adventure today at the largest body of water, Pueblo Reservoir.)

Body:

I. On the Colorado State Parks website, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources has this to say in its article, Pueblo Reservoir ,

Lake Pueblo, rated a fishing “hot spot,” provides 4,500 surface acres of water, 60 miles of shoreline and almost 10,000 acres of land. Along with sunny days and a mild climate, visitors quickly learn that one day is not enough.

A. Pueblo Reservoir sits on an elevation of 5,000 ft. above sea level. The setting reminded me of the Arizona lakes I grew up with: rocks, limestone cliffs and buttes, cactus and desert-like shrub along with beautiful juniper trees.

B. What type of fish are we talking about?

1. Take your pick! There are largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish, bluegill, wiper, crappie and, of course, the fish most notable in Colorado, trout.

2. Certainly, there is no shortage of choices!

C. Just as there is no shortage of types of fish, there is no shortage of bait choices.

1. My brother hooked me up with his favorite, an imitation crawdad, and sure enough the bass struck.

2. You can choose between live bait or lures at Pueblo Reservoir as both are allowed.

D. There are 400 campsites in three different locations just waiting for your arrival. Don’t be late, as they tend to fill quickly on weekends and holidays.

(Transition: Are you ready for a change of scenery? Let’s move on in our adventure to our next fishing attraction, Eleven-Mile Canyon.)

II. Eleven-Mile Canyon resides in Central Colorado below the dam of Eleven-Mile Reservoir.

A. The reservoir, itself, sits at an elevation of 8,500 ft. above sea level at the site of the dam.

1. You can see that we are now at a much higher elevation than Pueblo Reservoir so the scenery has changed dramatically.

2. We now find ourselves in the midst of canyon walls of granite, jutting rock ledges, and the beautiful ponderosa pines. Keep an eye out for bears and mountain lions.

B. The fishing experience is quite different here.

1. The first four miles of stream below the dam are catch-and-release only. The fishing here is the greatest with 3,500 trout per mile and has received the Gold Medal title. This title designates the area as having some of the largest trout in Colorado.

2. The next section of river has a take-home limit of four per day.

3. In this South Platte River, there are brown trout and rainbow trout.

C. There are a few other restrictions that are important to know about.

1. First, only artificial flies and lures are allowed. You may not use live bait. The reason for this is that much of the fishing done here is catch-and-release method.

a. With live bait the fish swallows the bait and it goes deeper into the gut of the fish making it much harder to remove the hook without damaging the fish.

b. The lure simply snags the fish around the general area of the mouth and can be unhooked.

2. A second restriction is that no body contact is allowed with the water.

a. If you plan to wade into the stream, waders are a necessary part of your gear.

b. This water becomes drinking water for the many people of Denver and they are simply trying to keep it as clean as possible for consumption.

D. Eleven-Mile Canyon is open year-round to the fisherman.

1. There are both picnic areas and campsites available in this beautiful setting.

2. Stay for a day or a week and enjoy some stream fishing of your own.

(Transition: Our last stop on our fishing adventure today is at Spinney Mountain Reservoir.)

III. In her article, The Spin on Spinney Mt. Reservoir , Karen Christopherson, President of the Colorado Fishing Network website and resident of Colorado, states:

What? Sitting in your car for hours for an outdoor experience? Yet, this is what anglers do for one brief period every April – they line up during the wee hours of the night, napping, anticipating, just waiting for the gate to open. Why? Because Spinney is closed for the winter, and opens when the ice is gone. The anticipatory anglers want the first cast to the trout, hungry and rising after ice-off.

A. This is the excitement that Spinney Mountain Reservoir brings to the heart of a fisherman.

1. It sits just west of Eleven Mile Canyon in Central Colorado.

2. The size is quite small with only 2,500 surface acres of water.

3. The elevation is a bit higher again at 3,700 ft. above sea level and the scenery changes again.

a. It now looks like you are on the prairies of Kansas.

b. There is even a herd of buffalo to greet you as you drive up the dirt entrance road to the lake.

B. This is more Colorado Gold Medal trout fishing.

1. You are, however, only allowed to keep one trout a day. Believe me when I say, the experience is well worth the one fish!

2. You can keep all the Northern Pike you catch, as there is currently an overabundance of them.

C. Once again only artificial flies and lures may be used as bait and no body contact is allowed with the water.

1. Yes, pull out those waders once again!

2. If you are not fond of waders, you may certainly bring your boat or fish from shore.

D. There are no campsites here and no camping is allowed. However, there are parking and picnic areas so make yourself comfortable for the day, and catch your trophy fish.

Conclusion:

I. My purpose today was to share several of the most beautiful fishing attractions you would find in the state of Colorado with the hope that one might just attract you.

II. Though I have now returned to the state of Kansas, the memories of catching bass in Pueblo Reservoir, reeling in a brown trout at Eleven-Mile Canyon, and feeling the strike of a rainbow trout at Spinney Mountain Reservoir remain etched in my mind.

III. Perhaps now, you can better visualize yourself in one, or possibly more, of these fishing scenarios, rod and reel in hand, feeling the strike, creating a memory for a lifetime.