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Persuasive Presentation Assignment

All Outlines DueWed. Nov 9, regardless of speaking date (see requirements below). Please print and bring to class, DO NOT submit on moodle.

 

Description: Design a presentation that presents clear and verifiable information to support an argument that we should establish, change, or reinforce our attitudes, beliefs, values, or behaviors in some way. Your first task will be to come up with a topic that you care about and makes you want to persuade others. Your second task is to clearly determine what your purpose will be (what you want your audience to do/think as a result of your speech). You must create at least three arguments to support your persuasive goal, with factual information and supporting evidence. You’ll need to be able to defend that position against opposing viewpoints. Be sure you can relate whichever topic you choose to your audience.

 

Your topic should reflect college level thinking, be narrow enough to fit into the time allowed, and be relevant to your audience. Make clear in the introduction and conclusion why it is important to your audience to listen to and understand this information (audience centeredness. You’ll need to make clear how it affects our lives or the lives of those around us.

An audience survey MUST be completed in preparation for this presentation. Bring 26 copies of your survey (1/2 sheets OK) to class on Monday, April 4. A list of your survey questions and a tally of your results (do NOT turn in a copy of all surveys received) must be included with your outline.


A visual aid MUST be used for this presentation.

Sources: Remember, it is extremely important in persuasive presentations to present solid evidence to prove your points. A minimum of THREE sources from a library database, one of which is less than one year old, are required for this assignment. Note this is a minimum, not a maximum. Your sources should be referred to in the introduction (at least a few, to establish your initial credibility), cited in the body as they are referred to (derived credibility), and listed in the bibliography (in MLA format) at the end of your outline.

Specific Skills:        This assignment will require all the skills outlined on the Persuasive evaluation form at the end of this syllabus.  If you are unclear on any of these requirements, be sure that you take the time to talk with me about them.

Time:      Between 7 and 9 minutes (shoot for 8 minutes, as you practice)

Three most commonly chosen structures:

1. Problem/Solution: You will have three main points- problem, solution, and why its the best solution.  Make clear a problem exists, be sure you can support this claim with proof.  Provide a viable solution for the problem, and finally illustrate why that solution is the best choice (over other possible solutions).  This will force you to consider other solutions and create arguments that support your solution.  Find ways to show your audience that the problem affects them in some way (relate to your audience).  Both your claim that a problem exists, and that you have a viable solution, will need to be supported with evidence, testimony, and any other support you can provide.

2. Reasons Order: This choice will be to structure your main points so that each of them is a reason to emphasize why you believe your audience should believe in a statement or behave in a particular way.  For example if your specific purpose was "as a result of my speech I want my audience to donate money to the United Way".  Your main points could be in brief: 1) your donation fulfills community needs, 2) your donation will help many different charities, and 3) a high percentage of the money given to United Way actually reaches the people in need.

3. Monroe’s Motivated Sequence (see text)

 

I do not want to limit creativity in this assignment.  You have a clear structure to follow if you would like.  However, if you choose a topic that would work better with a structure other than Problem-Solution, Reasons Order or Monroe’s, you are welcome to arrange your main points in a different order. No matter what the topic, or organizational pattern you choose, make clear what your purpose is and the structure you have chosen, in the introduction preview so we can follow your presentation easily.

 

Outline Requirements for the Persuasive Speech (Due Nov 9): 

 

Outline the content of your speech using the text outlining chapter and this examples as your guide. Your outline must be typed with your Name, Topic, Specific Purpose and Central Idea at the top. Your outline should match the following basic structure, be typed, proof read and in final draft form. Main points should be complete sentences, and your outline should include a complete introduction and conclusion, and body clearly indicating your points and sub-points, with citations as sources are used, and a complete bibliography at the end, in proper MLA format. Use proper outline format with roman numerals, capital letters, numbers, lower case letters, etc, and indentations with each sub or sub-sub point. This will NOT be your speaking outline- that will be made later using just key words to remind you what to say, so you DO NOT READ your speech word for word.

Your Preparation Outline should follow this format:

Topic:

General Purpose: To persuade

Specific Purpose: “As a result of my speech the audience will. . . “

Central Idea: (this should be a complete sentence that encapsulates your central idea and the specific main points you will develop in your speech)

Introduction:  Clearly outline each of the specific requirements of a complete introduction (your outline should not say “will gain attention by. . .” instead outline the actual content- what you will say or present to gain attention and accomplish the other requirements)

I.         Gain attention (need a creative and effective opening, do NOT open with “today I will be talking about. . .”)

II.        Relate to your audience and motivate them to listen (answer “why should I care?” for your aud.)

III.      Establish your credibility (experience, connection to topic and list a few sources from your research, answer “how do you know?” for your audience)

IV.      Preview the structure and specific points you’ll cover

Body:

I.                     Main Points must be written in complete sentences (not questions).

A.       You must develop at least three supportive arguments

B.       You must use at least three credible sources to support your argument

                                                             1.      At least one of your sources must be less than 1 year old.

                                                             2.      Your sources should be listed in complete correct format on your bibliography AND with clear citations where the information from those sources has been used during the presentation (indicate how you will verbally cite your sources as you use them).

II.                    There are multiple organizational choices that work well for this persuasive assignment. You must choose ONE of the following structures:

A.       Option #1- Problem/Solution: You will have three main points- the problem, 
a solution, and why its the best solution.

                                                             1.      In the 1st main point make clear a problem exists, be sure you can support this
claim with proof

a.        Find ways to show your audience that the problem affects them in some way (relate to your audience).

                                                             2.      The 2nd main point will provide a viable solution for the problem

                                                             3.      The 3rd main point will illustrate why that solution is the best choice (over other possible solutions).

a.        This will force you to consider other solutions and create arguments that support YOUR solution.

                                                             4.      Both your claim that a problem exists, and that you have a viable solution, will need to be supported with evidence, testimony, and any other support you can provide. (you may also modify this structure to problem/cause/solution).

B.       Option #2- Reasons Order: This choice will be to structure your main points so that each main point is a reason to emphasize why your audience should believe in a statement or behave in a particular way.

                                                             1.      For example if your specific purpose was "as a result of my speech I want my audience to donate money to the United Way". Your main points could be in brief:

a.        Your donation fulfills essential community needs.

b.       Your donation will help many different charities.

c.        A high percentage of the money given to United Way actually reaches the people in need.

C.       There are other effective structures for persuasive arguments that you may select such as

                                                             1.      Monroe’s Motivated Sequence (attention, need, satisfaction, 
visualization and action)

                                                             2.      Comparative Advantages, or

                                                             3.      See text for more options

                                                             4.      No matter what the topic, or organizational pattern you choose, make your purpose clear, as well as the structure you have chosen, in the introduction so we can follow your presentation easily.

D.       Your sub-points and sub-sub-points should be clearly developed, with citations for the source used to develop that point (indicate how you will verbally say your source (name of the author or title or sponsoring organization) and be sure the complete citation is in your bibliography.

E.        Your outline should also show transitions, internal previews and summaries, and signposts.

 

Conclusion: clearly outline how you will fulfill the requirements for the conclusion.

I.                     prepare audience for the ending

II.                    clear summary of main points

III.                  reinforced your central idea

IV.                  have a strong impact ending (call to action/memorable)

 

Include a Complete Bibliography at the end of your outline, using correct MLA format.