English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 1
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
Objectives for English 10 Honors:
1. Students will locate, organize, use, and cite information from various sources to write a
persuasive speech
2. Students will deliver an extemporaneous persuasive speech using a visual aid like a power
point presentation.
3. Use strategies to manage or overcome communication anxiety and apprehension.
Media Center Days: _________________________________________________
Important Check Points & Due Dates (10% deduction on final written work if missed):
 Topic selection
____________________
 Thesis, main points, & works cited
____________________
 Notecards
____________________
 Introduction and conclusion
____________________
 Outline (the body of the speech)
____________________
 Presentation, visual aid, & final copy of all written work
____________________
Written Requirement:
 25 note cards (in a plastic bag stapled to written work)
 Introduction, written word for word including attention getter, bridge, thesis, & preview
 Outline in sentence form including main points, sub-points, and sub-subpoints
 Label signposting on outline
 Label counterargument on outline
 Label 5 forms of support/citations on the outline
 Conclusion, written word for word including summary, restatement of thesis, action, and
round-off
 Works cited, 3 sources
 Highlighted copies of written work
 Powerpoint
________Total Points for Written Work
________Total Points for Speech with Powerpoint
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 2
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
Seatbelts: A Habit That Could Save Your Life
1)
As you may have noticed, I have been on and off crutches for the past year and a half.
It all started when I experienced a serious car accident. I was not wearing a seatbelt. In the
process of being thrown back and forth across the car, I chipped a tooth, cut the back of my
head, broke my hip, and cracked three ribs, which resulted in a punctured lung and massive
internal bleeding.
2)
Somehow I survived, and now a year and a half later I am finally walking normally. All
that pain and suffering could have been avoided if only I had been in the habit of wearing my
seatbelt. But I wasn’t in that habit, and I know from my class survey that 40 percent of you do
not always wear one. I don’t want what happened to me to happen to you.
3)
Every one of us should wear our seatbelts every time we get into a car. First, I’m going
to tell you to what extent you will be protected by wearing a seatbelt. Then I’m going to look at
some of the reasons why people don’t wear seatbelts and point out the problems with those
reasons. And after I’ve given you the evidence, I am going to ask you to make a habit of
wearing seatbelts.
4)
So first, to what extent will you be protected by wearing a seatbelt? Well, the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation says, “If you are in an accident and are not wearing a seatbelt,
you are four times more likely to be killed than if you are wearing one.” The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration and the National Child Passenger Safety Association estimate that
traffic deaths would decrease from 35,000 to around 17,000 annually if everyone wore
seatbelts. So our most knowledgeable and reliable sources of information on seatbelts have all
come to the same conclusion—that we would cut traffic deaths in half if everyone wore
seatbelts.
5)
But why is this true? What does a seatbelt do to protect your? Well, in a head-on
collision your body will be thrown forward with incredible force. Imagine falling headfirst from
the top of a three-story building. The force with which you would land on the ground is equal to
the force with which you would be thrown forward in only a 30 mile per hour collision. But a
seatbelt will absorb that force and prevent you from slamming into the interior of the car.
6)
In my own experience there is little doubt that a seatbelt would have minimized my
injuries. The car was totaled, but the entire driving compartment was completely intact. If I had
been strapped into that seat, I would have walked away from my accident with minor bruises.
But I say, “IF….”
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 3
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
7)
So the evidence is strongly in favor of wearing seatbelts.
That brings me to the
question—why aren’t people wearing seatbelts?
8)
People often say that they would rather be thrown free of the car, or at least be able to
get out of the car in case of fire or submersion in water. Well, according to the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation, accidents involving fire and submersion make up less than one
out of every 200 car accidents. And with regard to being thrown free of the car, The Wisconsin
Department of Transportation says you are 25 times more likely to be killed if you are thrown out
of the car. Clearly you are safer being strapped in than being thrown around.
9)
The other major reason why people don’t wear seatbelts is that seatbelts are
uncomfortable and restrict movement. Now, if this is your reason for not wearing a seatbelt, let
me ask you to do something now. Imagine in your mind a two-sided scale. On one side, place
the value that you place on being completely comfortable while driving. An on the other side of
the scale, put the value that you place on your life and health. Which side is heavier? If your
life and health mean more to you than your comfort while driving, then it only makes sense to
wear your seatbelt.
10)
So I’m here today to ask all of you to make a habit of wearing seatbelts. The statistics
are simple—chances are that about one-third of you will be in a serious auto accident at some
time in your life. It could happen fifty years from now, or it could happen tomorrow. And if you
are in an accident, you are four times more likely to be killed if you are not wearing your seatbelt
than if you’re wearing one.
11)
So if you think you are safer not wearing a seatbelt, you’re betting against heavy odds.
And if you still won’t wear a seatbelt because it’s uncomfortable and inconvenient, then you’re
placing your momentary comfort ahead of your life and health. So tell yourself that you are
going to make a habit of wearing seatbelts. Then do it.
12)
There is nothing I can do about my accident not, and I don’t plan to go around for the
rest of my life kicking myself because I didn’t wear a seatbelt that day. What’s important is that I
learned something from the experience. I’ve made a habit of wearing seatbelts when I ride in a
car, and I’m hoping that each of your will do the same if you haven’t already.
13)
I will never be able to play basketball or go downhill skiing again, but at least I’m here
and at least I can walk. I was a lot luckier than 35,000 other Americans that year.
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 4
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
Seatbelts: A Habit That Could Save Your Life
Sample Introduction of the Speech
As you may have noticed, I have been on and off crutches for the past year and
a half. It all started when I experienced a serious car accident. I was not wearing a
seatbelt. In the process of being thrown back and forth across the car, I chipped a
tooth, cut the back of my head, broke my hip, and cracked three ribs, which resulted in a
punctured lung and massive internal bleeding.
Somehow I survived, and now a year and a half later I am finally walking
normally. All that pain and suffering could have been avoided if only I had been in the
habit of wearing my seatbelt. But I wasn’t in that habit, and I know from my class survey
that 40 percent of you do not always wear one. I don’t want what happened to me to
happen to you.
Every one of us should wear our seatbelts every time we get into a car. First, I’m
going to tell you to what extent you will be protected by wearing a seatbelt. Then I’m
going to look at some of the reasons why people don’t wear seatbelts and point out the
problems with those reasons. And after I’ve given you the evidence, I am going to ask
you to make a habit of wearing seatbelts.
Sample Body of the Speech
I. So first, to what extent will you be protected by wearing a seatbelt?
A. We could cut traffic deaths in half if we wore seatbelts.
1. Four times more likely to be killed (Wisconsin Department of
Transportation).
2. Traffic deaths would decrease from 35,000 to around 17,000 annually if
everyone wore seatbelts (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
and the National Child Passenger Safety Association).
B. What do seatbelts do to protect you?
1. Imagine falling headfirst from the top of a three-story building.
2. A seatbelt will absorb that force and prevent you from slamming into the
interior of the car.
3. Recount my own experience (Personal testimony)
II. So the evidence is strongly in favor of wearing seatbelts. That brings me to the
question—why aren’t people wearing seatbelts?
A. People often say that they would rather be thrown free of the car, or at least
be able to get out of the car in case of fire or submersion in water.
1. Accidents involving fire and submersion make up less than one out of
every 200 car accidents (Wisconsin Department of Transportation).
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 5
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
2. People are 25 times more likely to be killed if you are thrown out of the
car (Wisconsin Department of Transportation).
B. Seatbelts are uncomfortable and restrict movement.
1. Imagine two-sided scale
2. Comfort vs. life
Sample Conclusion of the Speech
So I’m here today to ask all of you to make a habit of wearing seatbelts. The
statistics are simple—chances are that about one-third of you will be in a serious auto
accident at some time in your life. It could happen fifty years from now, or it could
happen tomorrow. And if you are in an accident, you are four times more likely to be
killed if you are not wearing your seatbelt than if you’re wearing one.
So if you think you are safer not wearing a seatbelt, you’re betting against heavy
odds. And if you still won’t wear a seatbelt because it’s uncomfortable and
inconvenient, then you’re placing your momentary comfort ahead of your life and health.
So tell yourself that you are going to make a habit of wearing seatbelts. Then do it.
There is nothing I can do about my accident not, and I don’t plan to go around for
the rest of my life kicking myself because I didn’t wear a seatbelt that day. What’s
important is that I learned something from the experience. I’ve made a habit of wearing
seatbelts when I ride in a car, and I’m hoping that each of your will do the same if you
haven’t already.
I will never be able to play basketball or go downhill skiing again, but at least I’m
here and at least I can walk. I was a lot luckier than 35,000 other Americans that year.
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 6
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
Name: ___________________________________________________________________
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Works Cited Editing Practice
Directions: Use the format below to fix the errors on this works cited page.
Objective: Students will follow the MLA format for Works Cited for proper citations. Then adapt
this knowledge when writing your own Works Cited page for your speech.
Here are some common features you should try and find before citing electronic sources in MLA style. Not every Web page will provide all of
the following information. However, collect as much of the following information as possible both for your citations and for your research notes:








Author and/or editor names (if available)
Article name in quotation marks (if applicable)
Title of the Website, project, or book in italics. (Remember that some Print publications have Web publications with slightly different
names. They may, for example, include the additional information or otherwise modified information, like domain names [e.g. .com or
.net].)
Any version numbers available, including revisions, posting dates, volumes, or issue numbers.
Publisher information, including the publisher name and publishing date.
Take note of any page numbers (if available).
Date you accessed the material.
URL (if required, or for your own personal reference).
Sample Format:
Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site
(sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available). Medium of publication. Date of access.
The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008. Web. 23 Apr. 2008.
Works Cited
Dean, Cornelia. "Executive on a Mission: Saving the Planet." New York Times. New York Times, 22
May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009.
"Blueprint Lays Out Clear Path for Climate Action." Environmental Defense Fund. Environmental
Defense Fund, 8 May 2007. Web. 24 May 2009.
Bill Clinton. Interview by Andrew C. Revkin. “Clinton on Climate Change.” New York Times. New
York Times, May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009.
Number of Errors: ________ Number of Errors Corrected: ___________
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 7
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
Name: _____________________________________________________
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Outline
Directions: Now that you’ve read and highlighted all your research,
it’s time to organize your ideas. Use this outline to write your speech.
Objective: Use your research to help you organize and write your
speech following the outline below. You will then practice & use the
ideas in this outline to develop a power point and to deliver your
persuasive speech to the class.
Introduction
Attention Getter: ______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Background to bridge the attention getter to the thesis: ________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Thesis: _____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Preview of your main points in the body of your speech: In order to
understand the problem further, first I will tell you about
______________________________________________Then I will
_______________________________________________.
Finally, _________________________________________________.
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 8
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
Body of Your Speech
I. (Transition & main point) In exploring ___________, let’s begin with
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
A. _______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
1______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
3______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
4______________________________________________________
B. _______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
1______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 9
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
3______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
4______________________________________________________
C. _______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
1______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
3______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
4______________________________________________________
D. _______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
1______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
3______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 10
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
4______________________________________________________
Internal summary to wrap up I:
____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
II. (Transition & main point) Now that we
know_____________________, let’s move on to ___________________
____________________________________________________________
A. _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
1._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
B. _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
1._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 11
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
2._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
C. _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
1._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Internal summary to wrap up II:
____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
III. (Transition & main point) We have looked at
_______________________, and __________________________. Now
let’s _______________________________________________________.
A. _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
1._________________________________________________
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 12
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
2._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________
B. _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
1._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________
C. _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
1._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Internal summary to wrap up III:
____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 13
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
Conclusion
Summarize the main points that you made in your paper without sounding
redundant.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Restate your thesis & provide counterargument: Although_____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Clincher: [End your speech in a memorable way, perhaps by coming full
circle by referring to the content in your attention getter.]
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Revision Reminders:
 Your purpose is to persuade. Does your outline support an informative or persuasive
message?
 A persuasive pattern of organization should follow a problem-solution pattern of
organization (or Monroe’s Motivated Sequene—attention, need, satisfaction, visualization,
and action). 1) Do you establish a problem? 2)Provide a solution? 3)Include what your
audience can do to take action, or be part of the solution?
 A good argument acknowledges that there’s another side to the issue. To you address the
counterargument within your speech? In several places?
 Your audience MUST hear clear signposting, so they can follow your organizational
structure. Are you signposting consistently in your speech?
Congratulations on a job well done!
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 14
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
Directions:
After completing your outline, you are ready to begin your power point. Remember that
your power point hits the high points of your speech, so when you deliver your speech your
power point becomes your speaking points and a visual focal point for your audience. You
then want a combination of words and images to help your audience follow your speech.
Slide 1
Slide 2
Slide 3
Slides 4-5
Slides 6-7
Slides 8-9
Slide 10
topic & name
attention getter related
thesis and main points (sample slide below)
related to main point I
related to main point II
related to main point III
Closing—thesis, summary & lasting thought
Every one of us should wear
our seatbelts every time we
get in the car.
 I. To what extent will
you be protected by
wearing your
seatbelt?
 II. Why aren’
aren’t people
wearing seatbelts?
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 15
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
First Draft of Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Thesis and Main Points
Homework due ______________ Read pages __________ in your “Speech Resource Packet” to
give you an overview & focus of researching and speech writing before you begin your research.
Computer Days: ________________, ________________ & ________________
The content of this sheet is due ___________________
General Purpose: ___________________________________________________
Ask yourself this question: By the time you are finished giving your speech, what do you
hope your audience realizes about your topic? This question will help you find your thesis.
Topic + attitude or feeling about topic = thesis
Seatbelts + save lives; therefore, buckle up.
Your Thesis:
__________________________________________________________________________
Questions are a good way to find your main points. Your main points should help us to understand
your thesis. Check out the following example:
I. What is the problem(s)?
II. What is the solution(s)?
Your main points (2-5 main points needed, yet 3 always seeks a good balance):
I. ______________________________________________________________________
II. ______________________________________________________________________
III. ______________________________________________________________________
IV. ______________________________________________________________________
V. _______________________________________________________________________
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 16
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Works Cited
Here are some common features you should try and find before citing electronic sources in MLA style. Not every Web page will provide all of
the following information. However, collect as much of the following information as possible both for your citations and for your research notes:








Author and/or editor names (if available)
Article name in quotation marks (if applicable)
Title of the Website, project, or book in italics. (Remember that some Print publications have Web publications with slightly different
names. They may, for example, include the additional information or otherwise modified information, like domain names [e.g. .com or
.net].)
Any version numbers available, including revisions, posting dates, volumes, or issue numbers.
Publisher information, including the publisher name and publishing date.
Take note of any page numbers (if available).
Date you accessed the material.
URL (if required, or for your own personal reference).
Sample Format:
Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site
(sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available). Medium of publication. Date of access.
The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008. Web. 23 Apr. 2008.
____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 17
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Evaluation
Content & Structure of the Speech:
INTRODUCTION:
Effective attention getter?
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Thesis stated?
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Preview stated?
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Main ideas presented?
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Main ideas supported?
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Research cited?
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
BODY:
Was it organized?
Balance among ethos, pathos, and logos as well as variety of rhetorical devices?
Excellent Good
Average Fair
Poor
Counter-argument?
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
CONCLUSION:
Did it summarize main ideas and restate thesis?
Excellent Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Did it end in a memorable way?
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Was standard English used throughout?
Excellent
Delivery of the Speech:
Volume
Excellent
Eye Contact
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Rate of Speaking
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Enthusiasm
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
Fluency
Excellent
Good
Average
Fair
Poor
COMMENTS:
Time: _________
Grade: __________
English 10 Honors, Bloodgood 18
Persuasive-Argumentative Speech Assignment and Workpad 2011
Informative & Persuasive Speech Units Application Assessment
College Readiness Standards: Paraphrase for main ideas, significant details and underlying meaning; Identify the central idea and main topic in a
straightforward piece of writing; Determine relevancy when presented with a variety of sentence level details; Recognize clear function of a part
of an uncomplicated passage; Draw simple generalizations and conclusions using details that support the main points of more challenging
passages; Understand the overall approach taken by an author in an uncomplicated passage; Make simple inferences about details used.
Persuasive-Argumentative Written Work & Power Point Evaluation
Introduction
Attention Getter draws audience in with a quote, a story, questions, and/or startling facts.
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Thesis gets to the heart of why this person is a hero.
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Preview all your main points with clear signposting
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Body
Main points are present in your outline, and signposting is clear & easy to follow.
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Research is used & cited to develop your main points, including both pathos and logos. Cited
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Counter-argument addressed.
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Your main points are supported fully and evenly (must have at least an A & B for each Roman numeral,
and a 1 & 2 for each A & B).
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Your ideas are well written & you have paraphrased your research.
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Conclusion
Summarize the main points that you made in your body without sounding repetitive.
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Restate your thesis.
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Clincher ends your speech in a memorable way, perhaps coming full circle by referring to the content in
your attention getter.
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Works Cited
References have at least three sources (5 points for each source), and selection of sources is reputable,
using .gov, .edu, .org, SIRS, or E-Library.
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Citations are written in proper format: alphabetical order, correct punctuation, all entries present….
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Overall Document
Neat
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Error-free
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Power Point
At least 5 slides present, representing the introduction, body & conclusion.
Combination of words and images adds interest and dimension to speech.
 Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Total Points Awarded: ___________________