Simple
Formula for Persuasive Speeches
A.
INTRODUCTION
"Tells your audience what you are going to tell them" and establishes
the foundation for your speech.
A good Introduction 'draws the map' for the journey. For a Persuasive Speech an
Introduction consists of
1. Attention-Getter:
A statement that gains the attention of the audience and makes them believe
that this issue is relevant to them. Please, do NOT use a rhetorical question
here. Instead, think of your intro like a funnel. Your thesis (in this case,
your position statement) is the narrow part and you slowly broaden out from
that to a broad statement that applies to many, in not all, people.
2. Bond >
Link-to Audience: Identify a personal connection in the audiences' life, i.e.
their use of the 'device' or system, or their emotional experience (grief and
sorrow, happiness).
3. "Credentials"
of Speaker (Credibility): Demonstrate how you are an 'expert' through your own
use, experience or study.
4. Destination /
Position Statement: State clearly why you are speaking at this moment. State
your Goal, Thesis or what you expect as an Outcome. State your Destination. An
example may be ... "This evening/today I am here to convince you that ....
is the most effective way to do business today."
5. Explain my Map
to my destination > Preview of Speech: Briefly outline what you will cover
in your persuasive speech. This is where you will ..."Tell what you are
going to tell them".
6. Transition: A
transition is how you move from one section or point to the next. It is a
linking idea. You could say ..."Let's begin by ...", "Let's
start with ..." or I prefer "Let's consider ..."
 |
| "Volunteer for the Red Cross" |
B.
BODY of your Speech
The Body of your speech is where the detail is found and is best contained in
THREE points (you can have more, but don't confuse your audience). For a
Persuasive Speech, this is where you will ... "Tell them"
1. Main Point #1:
State Point 1, State Reason, Give Example, Restate point
2. Main Point #2:
State Point 2, State Reason, Give Example, Restate point
3. Main Point #3:
State Point 3, State Reason, Give Example, Restate point
4. Transition:
Create a linking statement to the Conclusion, i.e. "Let's summarize
..." or "Can we consider these main points ..."
C.
CONCLUSION
"Tell them what you have told them"
1. Again state
your destination >Restate outcome or thesis.
 |
| "To Summer School or to Not Summer School" |
2. Restate
main points: State Point 1, State Point 2, State Point 3
3. Call-to-Action:
eg "I encourage you to ...", "Let's all contribute ..." ,
"... sign now ...", "make a decision now to be involved
..."
4. Decision-Maker
(Clincher - optional): "Coming around is the petition ..."
"Being passed from the rear is a bag for your contribution to this noble
cause, dig deep ..."
A Persuasive Speech Sample
A. INTRODUCTION
Attention Getter
Communication is central to our
lives, and technology makes that communication easier than ever before.
Today, I want to describe to you
what I believe is the 8th Wonder of the World. This wonder is right up there
with the Pyramids, with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with the Colossus of
Rhodes. However, it is not of the ancient world. Instead, it is a marvel of
engineering and cooperation amongst the nations of the world.
Today, I use a cellular phone; I
use the Internet; I use email.
The Internet is a way of
connecting computers together around the world using the telephone cables. Email
is electronic mail that is distributed across the Internet.
Putting these together, I can
communicate with others almost anywhere anytime.
Did you know, "the number
of emails sent on an average day was approximately 10 billion in 2002 and by
2005, this amount is expect to triple to 35 billion emails sent each day"
(Source: IDC news release, 'Email Deluge Continues With No End In Sight, IDC
Says': October 10, 2000).
Do you know that they are all
asleep in Australia? Last year I called the offices of Equate, International to
ask a business question. I only get the night security guard. It was good of
him to take my call. Now, I email at any time and receive the needed
information back as soon as the other office is open.
Bond > Link-to
Audience
How many here use the telephone
to connect with another?
Today we use a large amount of
technology to live, communicate, and relate.
To speak with another: devices
like the telephone or cell phone. To access information: television,
satellites, global computer networks. To bank: we use ATMs. To travel:
vehicles, planes and trains. To get to a destination: global positioning
systems (GPS) guide airplanes, our cars, and it is now found on our cell
phones.
We use technology every day to
live.
Think of your kitchen, car,
office, cinema, or local shopping center. Think of the technology you use and
rely on.
What would it be like WITHOUT
technology in our day?
"Credentials"
of Speaker (Credibility)
I use email every day in my work
and for personal communications. I discovered email when I was studying many
years ago. It was used as THE communication medium between the lecturers and
between colleagues in my study team. We relied on email.
Destination /
Position Statement:
Today, I want to share my
insights into this amazing communication method and convince you of its hidden
potential, in YOUR life today.
Explain my Map to my
destination > Preview of Speech
What will we look at in the next
few minutes? First, we will take a quick look at how the Internet and email has
shrunk the world. Second, how business has been revolutionized, and third, how
personal relations are enhanced by these new technologies; that's right,
personal relations! Who ever thought a computer would help relationships.
Transition:
The Internet runs on energy: on
electricity. How fast does electricity flow? How fast does a light switch turn
on when you switch it? How fast does sound come from a radio when it is
switched on? Let's now switch on email.
B. BODY of your Speech
Main Point #1
The world is shrinking with the
advent of the Internet and in particular, email.
State a Reason
Why is this occurring? Because, email is easy to use. Email is very fast to
both send and to receive. Email overcomes time barriers.
Give an Example
Recently when planning a vacation in England, the Internet and email were used
to book hotels and hire cars organized across multiple time zones. No more
ringing and trying to get people who are in bed other than at a sales desk. How
often have you thought "don't they ever wake up over there?" I did.
Restate the Point
The world is in deed shrinking with the advent of email.
Main Point #2
Email has revolutionized business. Business can now literally operate at the
speed of light. According to the ePolicy Institute, "Email is growing at a
rate of 66% annually; email is the most common way for business people to
communicate.”
State a Reason
Email is simple, easy to use and fast. Email reduces the formalities of
paper-based title pages and wording. Additionally, something like a sales quote
email makes retrieving an old email easy when comparing negotiations. The
Internet gives "instant" access to information from anywhere in the
world.
Give an Example
From my desktop I can negotiate the best price for a transaction regardless
where the shop is in the world. In fact I have more suppliers to choose from.
Telephone tag (when you ring and they are out) is eliminated. Publishing words
or pictures is simple. Anyone can publish on the Internet. I can stay in touch
with the office anytime when I am out of the office, using the Internet and
email.
Restate the Point
The Internet and email has revolutionized business and enables business to be
forever open conducting business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Main Point #3
The Internet and email enhances personal relations; email can even explode
personal relationships in a new dimension.
Sate a Reason
Email is a powerful complement to the older technologies: telephone, letters
...
No stamps, no paper, no envelopes, no trips to/from the postbox.
Your message can be concise and to the point. Stay in touch even when you do
not wish to speak.
- The Receiver of your message does not have to be home when you 'write'.
- Unlimited interactions via a computer (written, voice, image, music, information)
versus limited via telephone (voice).
- Internet and email can bring together countless numbers of people sharing the
same interests, i.e. chat rooms and instant messaging.
Give an Example
Stay in touch regardless of location. I emailed my son when he was in England.
I email to a busy sister in another State, because she is rarely home. Using
email means the call is not missed if I were to call.
Restate the Point
When it comes personal relations, email enables cheap, effective communication.
Unlike the telephone, email is there when you connect to the Internet.
Transition:
The Internet and email has
shrunk the world, enabled more timely business to occur and can enhance
personal relationships and friendships.
C. CONCLUSION
"Tell them what you have told them"
Again state your
destination>Restate outcome or thesis:
Today we have
explored the powerful communication vehicle, the Internet and an effective tool
for communication called email.
Today you have heard
of the amazing hidden potential that email can bring to YOUR life.
Restate main
points:
The world is indeed
shrinking with the advent of email.
Email has
revolutionized business. Business can now literally operate at the speed of
light.
Email enhances
personal relations. Email can develop personal relationships in a new
dimension.
Call-to-Action:
Connecting up to the
Internet is simple today. Decide to communicate TODAY. It is time to get email.
Decision-Maker
(Clincher - optional):
I am so excited by
this technology, that today I have a FREE Internet Starter Kit available for
you. It is being handed out now. Take this free sample; there are no strings
and no obligations. Read over the attached sheet accompanying the CD. My number
is there, give me a call if you have a question. There is no charge, as I
simply know you can use this 8th Wonder of the World.
The best way to find
out if email is of any value to you is to give it a go.
Send an email
message to a friend, a son or daughter, or to a grandchild. Surprise them.
You will be amazed at
this advancement in communication.
