Persuasive
Speeches
Public Speaking
Ms. Barath
Persuasive Speeches
 Persuasion
is used when you
try to change how someone
thinks, feels, or behaves.
 Persuasion also helps
strengthen a view, attitude, or
pattern of behavior that
already exists.
Persuasion Speeches v.s.
Informative Speeches
 The
persuasive speaker is a
leader; the informative speaker
is a teacher.
 Persuasive
speaking more often
involves emotional appeals that
are out of place in speeches to
inform.
Persuasion Speeches v.s.
Informative Speeches
 Persuasive
speaking urges us
to choose from among
options; informative speaking
reveals and clarifies options.
Persuasion Speeches v.s.
Informative Speeches
 Persuasive
speaking asks the
audience for more
commitment than does
informative speaking.
Persuasion Speeches v.s.
Informative Speeches
 The
ethical obligations for
persuasive speakers are
even greater than for
informative speakers.
Types of Persuasive
Speeches
1.
Question of Fact: argument
involves a real event or issue
that can be viewed as either
true or false.
ex. The Detroit Tigers
will win the World Series
in 2006.
Types of Persuasive
Speeches
2. Question of Value: where we
argue something is right or
wrong, moral or immoral, or
better or worse than another
thing.
ex. It is better for
couples to live together
before marriage.
Types of Persuasive
Speeches
3. Question of Policy: argument
that proposes a change in an
existing plan of action. Here we
argue that X should do Y.
ex. Lake Shore High
School should adopt an
open campus lunch policy.
Organization of
Persuasive Speeches
A. Problem/Solution Format: Speaker
presents a problem and proposes a
solution.
Tips:
 Start by attracting the audience’s
attention
 Describe the problem precisely &
clearly
 Be sure your solution is both realistic
& beneficial
 Use strong & interesting evidence
 Keep your main goal in mind
 Work at holding the audience’s
attention
Organization of
Persuasive Speeches
B. Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
Format: often used in sales pitches.
(You will be using this technique)
Monroe’s Motivated
Sequence Format
1.
2.
3.
Attract & focus the attention
of your audience.
Need: Show the audience the
problem is their own.
Satisfaction: Outline your
solution to the problem.
4. Visualization: Describe or
show your audience what it
would like when your solution
is put into place
5. Call upon your audience to
take action.
Using visual aides

Visual aides are beneficial because:
 They help the audience visualize
your solution
 “Drives home” your key elements
 Shows your audience (in our case
your client) that you have put in
effort and have taken the
project/speech seriously
Types of Visual Aides
PowerPoint presentation
 Models
 Charts
 Diagrams
 Maps
 Pictures

Tips for Using Visual Aides
Keep the design simple
 Make sure it is large enough to see
–or- have handouts for everyone
 Label all items for clear
identification
 Don’t display the visual until you
are ready to discuss it; remove it
when finished
