Persuasive Speaking
Ms Nitsche
Learning Intentions
We will learn to:
•Explore speeches and persuasive writing, looking at what
makes them effective.
•Understand the range of techniques employed by speech
writers.
Why?
•Speaking and writing persuasively is a skill you will need in
the next few years at school, and in the outside world.
•You will be expected to contribute effectively to group
discussions and give a solo talk at some point, which will be a
part of your overall grade.
•At job interviews, being able to persuade the interviewer of
your skills and abilities could be the difference between
snagging that dream job, and going home empty handed.
What makes a great speech?
• Watch the following examples of speeches, and
consider the following:
-Were they effective? Why?
- Did we agree with the speaker’s
point of view?
- If so, why?
- What do you notice about the TONE used?
- Can you think of any TECHNIQUES
they used to engage or persuade us?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYaczoJMRhs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faTovfkLayI
As a group, discuss and note down
responses to the following:
•
•
•
•
•
Were they effective? Why?
Did we agree with the speaker’s point of view?
If so, why?
What do you notice about the TONE used?
Can you think of any TECHNIQUES they used
to engage or persuade us?
Joss Whedon
Matt Santos
Techniques
• What kind of techniques did the speakers use
to engage us, or persuade us?
AFOREST
• A: Alliteration, antithesis and appeal to audience
directly.
• F: Facts, first person.
• O: Opinion, opposition needs to be criticised.
• R: Rhetorical question, repetition, reasons,
reader’s guilt/sympathy.
• E: Emotive Language.
• S: Statistics, strong voice, sarcasm, short
sentences.
• T: The Power of Three, threaten action.
Alliteration
• “…will defend to the death their native soil.”
- Winston Churchill
Effect
The hard ‘d’ sound both focuses the listener on these
important words, but also sounds strong and confident.
Other examples
Bold, brave sounds.
Faint, falling sounds.
Cacophanous, chaotic sounds.
Antithesis
Antithesis joins two ideas together in comparison or
contrast.
“I know I have the body
of a weak and feeble
woman, but I have the
heart and stomach of a
king…”
Appeal to the reader/listener directly
• Using the second person involves the listener
in our speech.
• “…it is both our responsibility and our privilege to
fight freedom’s fight.”
• “… every time we think we have measured our
capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're
reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. “
Facts
• Using facts allows people to feel they can trust
the speaker – that they are reacting to a real
situation.
“Today, for the first time in history, one in five
Americans living in poverty are children. One in
five children live in the most abject, dangerous,
hopeless, backbreaking, gut wrenching, poverty,
one in five, and they're children.”
First Person
The use of first person make the speech personal – as if
the speaker is making a personal appeal to the listener.
“I have a dream that my four
children will one day live in a
nation where they will not be
judged by the colour of their skin
but by the content of their
character. I have a dream today.”
Opinions
Using your opinion gives your point of view, and, again,
helps to make the speech seem personal.
“…which I do not for a
moment believe…”
Repetition
• People remember things that are repeated.
• Here are two examples of repetition used to
great effect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V57lotnKGF8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKIu0tjaL78
Reasons
It is vital in a speech that you justify your actions.
“Over the past decade, the number
claiming Disability Living Allowance
as a whole shot up from 2.5 million
to 3.2 million… And incredibly, half
of new claimants never had to
provide medical evidence. When
you know, as I do, how much help
genuinely disabled people need,
then you can’t just ignore it when
the system isn’t working properly…
So we’re bringing in a system that’s
fairer and simpler.”
Reader’s Guilt/Sympathy
This appeals to the reader, or listener’s, emotions. You
want your audience to react with feeling.
“Today for the first time in
history, the largest group of
Americans living in poverty are
children. 1 in 5 children live in
the most abject, dangerous,
hopeless, back-breaking, gutwrenching poverty any of us
could imagine. 1 in 5, and
they're children… Let me put it
this way: I voted against the
bill because I didn't want to
make it harder for people to
buy milk.”
Emotive Language
This appeals to the listener’s emotions, and, again, is
about wanting them to react with feeling.
“…and it is both our responsibility and our
privilege to fight freedom’s fight.”
Strong Voice
A speech is PERSUASIVE – you must show that
you are strong and know what you are doing.
“Now is not the time for a novice.”
The Power of Three
• Saying something THREE times makes it
incredibly memorable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kAhChC_qxU
Despite becoming almost notorious for his involvement in the
beginning of the war in Iraq, this is still the most famous quote of
Tony Blair’s career.
Threaten Action
• This stirs the audience into action, and makes
the speaker seem strong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXoLaMhx-zI
Task
• Using AT LEAST THREE of these techniques, you
are going persuade you partner of something.
• One of you will persuade the other that MONEY
IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.
• The second person will persuade the other that
MONEY IS ESSENTIAL FOR HUMANITY TO
SURVIVE.
• You have two minutes to prepare some
arguments and notes to support your speech.
Some things to consider…
Some things to consider…
Some things to consider…
Some things to consider…
Some things to consider…
Some things to consider…
Some things to consider…
Task
• Using AT LEAST THREE of these techniques, you are
going persuade you partner of something.
• One of you will persuade the other that MONEY IS THE
ROOT OF ALL EVIL.
• The second person will persuade the other that
MONEY IS ESSENTIAL FOR HUMANITY TO SURVIVE.
• You have two minutes to prepare some arguments and
notes to support your speech.
• You then have two minutes EACH to persuade the
other of your point of view.
• REMEMBER YOUR TECHNIQUES!
Starter
• What is antithesis, and can you give an
example of it?
Learning Intentions
• To develop our understanding of the
persuasive techniques used in
speeches.
• To explore how we can use these
techniques to persuade others.
A
F
O
R
E
S
T
AFOREST
• A: Alliteration, antithesis and appeal to
audience directly.
Alliteration, antithesis and appeal to
audience directly.
• Good men are gruff and grumpy, cranky,
crabbed, and cross
• “One small step for man; one giant leap for
mankind.”
• “… every time we think we have measured our
capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and
we're reminded that that capacity may well be
limitless. “
AFOREST
• A: Alliteration, antithesis and appeal to
audience directly.
• F: Facts, first person.
Facts and First Person
• More people voted
in the final of
American Idol than
in the American
Presidential
Election.
• “I have a dream
that my four little
children…”
AFOREST
• A: Alliteration, antithesis and appeal to
audience directly.
• F: Facts, first person.
• O: Opinion, opposition needs to be criticised.
Opinion and Opposition Criticism
• Fox hunting is disgusting and
barbarous.
• Plastic surgery should be free on the
NHS to make ugly people easier on
the eye.
• “Actually, what we are finding out
now is that the Labour leadership is
so cynical, so blinded by hatred for
Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems that
they are not even willing to go along
with what you would you would
regard as the core principles of their
party…”
AFOREST
• A: Alliteration, antithesis and appeal to
audience directly.
• F: Facts, first person.
• O: Opinion, opposition needs to be criticised.
• R: Rhetorical question, repetition, reasons,
reader’s guilt/sympathy.
Rhetorical Questions
Would anyone in their right mind queue for 12
hours to sing for half a minute on T.V.?
Who wouldn’t have a shot at international fame
and glory after singing for half a minute on T.V.?
Repetition
We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on
the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields
and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we
shall never surrender.
Reasons
It is vital in a speech that you justify your actions.
“Over the past decade, the number
claiming Disability Living Allowance
as a whole shot up from 2.5 million
to 3.2 million… And incredibly, half
of new claimants never had to
provide medical evidence. When
you know, as I do, how much help
genuinely disabled people need,
then you can’t just ignore it when
the system isn’t working properly…
So we’re bringing in a system that’s
fairer and simpler.”
Reader’s Guilt/Sympathy
This appeals to the reader, or listener’s, emotions. You
want your audience to react with feeling.
“Today for the first time in
history, the largest group of
Americans living in poverty are
children. 1 in 5 children live in
the most abject, dangerous,
hopeless, back-breaking, gutwrenching poverty any of us
could imagine. 1 in 5, and
they're children… Let me put it
this way: I voted against the
bill because I didn't want to
make it harder for people to
buy milk.”
AFOREST
• A: Alliteration, antithesis and appeal to
audience directly.
• F: Facts, first person.
• O: Opinion, opposition needs to be criticised.
• R: Rhetorical question, repetition, reasons,
reader’s guilt/sympathy.
• E: Emotive Language.
Emotive Language
AFOREST
• A: Alliteration, antithesis and appeal to audience
directly.
• F: Facts, first person.
• O: Opinion, opposition needs to be criticised.
• R: Rhetorical question, repetition, reasons,
reader’s guilt/sympathy.
• E: Emotive Language.
• S: Statistics, strong voice, sarcasm, short
sentences.
STATISTICS
Kills 99.99% of all
germs
9 out 10 cats prefer
Whiskas
Strong Voice
“In this room, when the President stands,
nobody sits.”
Short Sentences
“I have a dream.”
AFOREST
• A: Alliteration, antithesis and appeal to audience
directly.
• F: Facts, first person.
• O: Opinion, opposition needs to be criticised.
• R: Rhetorical question, repetition, reasons,
reader’s guilt/sympathy.
• E: Emotive Language.
• S: Statistics, strong voice, sarcasm, short
sentences.
• T: The Power of Three, threaten action.
The Power of Three
The good, the bad and the ugly
Big, bold and beautiful
“Education, education, education…”
Threaten Action
• “I face this challenge with
profound humility, and
knowledge of my own
limitations. But I also face it with
limitless faith in the capacity of
the American people. Because if
we are willing to work for it, and
fight for it, and believe in it, then
I am absolutely certain that
generations from now, we will
be able to look back and tell our
children that this was the
moment...”
Nuclear war is
destroying the world.
There are bunkers
positioned in key areas
which guarantee
survival.
Space within these
bunkers is severely
limited. There is only
space for three more
people in your nearest
bunker... But there are
four people in your
group.
If you are left outside
the bunker you risk the
chance of a painful
death
ENGINEER
DOCTOR
MUSICIAN
SOLDIER
.
You need to persuade the other people in your
bunker to let you in.
BUT you should also persuade the other
people in your bunker who they should keep
OUT.
SOLDIER
Civilisation as we know it is over. Who makes the
rules now? Who is in charge? It’s times like these
that the worst part of human nature kicks in. Self
preservation. Survival of the fittest. Out there, as
soon as the last bomb falls, it will be war. Pure,
unadulterated terror and blood shed.
SOLDIER
You need someone skilled in
the art of survival. I am a
strategist, a survivor, a
saviour. Your saviour. When
rival gangs start fighting to
the death for superiority,
you will need someone who
can find you a path through
the storm. Someone who
can keep you safe and isn’t
afraid of fighting to survive.
That person is me.
SOLDIER
And yet what need do you
have for musicians? What
musical instruments do you
possibly imagine could
have survived this nuclear
war? And even if a half
broken fiddle is found
among the wreckage, what
purpose will it serve for us?
This is not a time for
harmonies or harmonicas.
This is a time for survival.
Keep the musician out!
Task
• You have FIVE MINUTES to prepare your notes
individually.
• You must use AT LEAST FOUR of the persuasive
techniques we have discussed.
• If you do not use AT LEAST FOUR of the techniques
discussed, your place in the bunker is automatically
forfeited to one of the other members of your group.
• After completing your notes, you have TWO MINUTES
EACH to persuade the others to let you take the last
place in the bunker.
Task
• Who won?
• In your groups, discuss who you believe best
used persuasive techniques in their speech.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES
Starter
• Name and give examples of THREE persuasive
techniques.
Learning Intentions
• To develop our understanding of the
persuasive techniques used in
speeches.
• To explore how we can use these
techniques to persuade others.
Analysing Speeches
• Watch the following extract from Barack
Obama’s speech in June 2008.
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtL-1V3OZ0c
• Looking over the transcript, in pairs discuss
and identify the persuasive techniques used.
YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES
So it has been for every generation that faced down the greatest challenges and the
most improbable odds to leave their children a world that's better, and kinder, and
more just.
And so it must be for us.
America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies
of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face.
Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.
The journey will be difficult. The road will be long. I face this challenge with profound
humility, and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in
the capacity of the American people. Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight
for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will
be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment...
When we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the
moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this
was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our
image as the last, best hope on Earth.
This was the moment — this was the time — when we came together to remake this
great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals.
Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.
Task
• You are going to prepare a speech to perform
to your partner.
• You should use as many persuasive techniques
as you can, and no less than FIVE.
• You should take time to prepare notes and
practice your speech – DO NOT JUST READ
FROM YOUR PAPER.
Are TV talent shows destroying
the music business?
• One of you will try to persuade the other that they ARE.
• The other will try to persuade that they ARE NOT.
• Remember, use NO LESS THAN FIVE persuasive
techniques
YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR NOTES
Persuasive Speech
• You are going to perform your own persuasive speech to your
peers.
• This should last around three minutes and use at least FIVE of
the persuasive techniques we have discussed.
• It should be about a subject you genuinely care about – if you
are not interested, no one else will be!
• Use the remaining time to consider and decide upon a topic –
here are some examples.
Persuasive Speech
• You are trying to persuade the listener to accept
your view on a particular topic.
• Support what you say with evidence – facts,
statistics.
• It might be sensible to acknowledge opposing
views, but ensure you have a strong counter
argument.
• You can also use ‘attitude markers’ - e.g. “clearly”,
“obviously”, “surely”, etc. – to show your
commitment to your argument.
Researching a Speech
• Every successful speech is well-prepared and
well-researched.
• Any argument you make to persuade us will
be much stronger if you can support it with
evidence and the persuasive techniques.
• Use this time to research your topic and
gather notes.
YOU HAVE THIRTY MINUTES
Persuasive Speech
• You are going to perform your own persuasive speech to your
peers.
• This should last around three minutes and use at least FIVE of
the persuasive techniques we have discussed.
• It should be about a subject you genuinely care about – if you
are not interested, no one else will be!
• Use the remaining time to consider and decide upon a topic –
here are some examples.
Persuasive Speech
• You are trying to persuade the listener to accept
your view on a particular topic.
• Support what you say with evidence – facts,
statistics.
• It is sensible to acknowledge opposing views, but
ensure you have a strong counter argument.
• You can also use ‘attitude markers’ - e.g. “clearly”,
“obviously”, “surely”, etc. – to show your
commitment to your argument.
What makes a great speech?
Success Criteria
• Ideas are relevant, of quality and interest.
• Links ideas together clearly and to the purpose of the
task.
• Provides ideas and evidence in support of argument.
• Uses varied and accurate vocabulary.
• Uses a range of structure – long/short sentences;
persuasive techniques; intonation to convey meaning.
• Is consistently audible, clear and fluent.
• Makes appropriate use of eye contact, facial expression
and gesture.
• Requires little or no prompting.
• Sustains talk at considerable length, as appropriate to
purpose.
Speech Writing
• You will now write your speech.
• You should include AT LEAST FIVE persuasive
techniques.
• You should make your own point of view clear.
• Read your speech aloud as you go along –
remember, you need to be able to perform
without reading only from your notes, and it
must be ARTICULATE and FLUENT.
Homework
• You should finish your speech tonight, and
practice it ready for tomorrow.
• You should be able to speak clearly and
fluently, using your notes only as a PROMPT.
• It is vital you practice it aloud – only then will
you be able to know if it needs work or not.