Persuasive Speech Assignment

You will be presenting a 5-minute persuasive speech addressing a current issue in society.

1. Select an issue that you have encountered in our school, community, state, or nation. Write this issue at the top of your paper.

2. Below the issue, jot down thoughts and feelings you have about it. Determine your position on it.

3. Write your position statement. A position statement is like a thesis statement. It identifies the issue and your position on it in one sentence. For example: As Americans, we must take action against (or for) the issue of_______ because of ­­­­­­­­­­­­­________________ , __________________, and _________________.

4. Identify your audience. Although you will be presenting to our class, you should think about what group of people is your real-world audience. Answer the following questions, and then identify the group of people that is your real-world audience. After answering these questions, write down your real-world audience.

a.       Who is affected by this issue?

b.      Who might be in a position to influence the results of this problem?

c.       What might this audience already know about the issue?

d.      What views or opinions might this audience already have?

e.       What misconceptions might they have?

f.       What details or words might appeal to this audience’s emotions? Reasoning?

 

5. Your purpose is to persuade the audience; however, you need to consider what you want the audience to do as a result of listening to your speech. Answer the following questions, and then identify the secondary purpose of your speech.

a.       How do you want your audience to feel about the issue afterwards?

b.      What action do you want them to take?

 Planning for Your Speech…What am I going to say?

Your speech must have at least one of each of the following persuasive techniques.

·          Logical Appeal:  facts, statistics, and well-reasoned arguments

·          Ethical Appeal: argument based on widely accepted beliefs and values

·          Emotional Appeal: uses anecdotes (stories) and loaded words (words with strong connotations) to bring about strong emotions in the audience

 Research is necessary

As high school students, you know what beliefs our society holds. You can select loaded words and tell a story illustrating your point. You can develop a well-reasoned argument to support your position. Really, the only reason you need to research is for facts and statistics; however, you should be able to explain these in your own words. If you only rattle off a long list of numbers and percentages, how many audiences members will be convinced to agree with you? None of them will, because they will not be listening.

Think first! Research only after you have your own thoughts, beliefs, and reasons written on paper. Even then, you should research with the single purpose of supporting what you already think!

You must cite all sources in MLA format including in-text citations during your speech and turning in a references sheet before speaking.