How to write your Colonial Smackdown Historical Figure Persuasive Speech
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You will be assigned a historical figure to research who was either a Patriot or Loyalist (Tory) during
PreRevolution times.
You will be conducting research to find background information on your historical figure and to support your
historical figure’s viewpoint towards declaring Independence from Great Britain.
You will use Noodletools to take notes and create notecards, an outline, and a works cited for your persuasive
speech.
You will create a persuasive speech to convince the others in a Town Hall Meeting that we must or must not
declare independence from Great Britain.
Start your historical figure persuasive speech by introducing your character. For example, “Good Day fellow
colonists, allow me to introduce myself. I am Benjamin Franklin, inventor of electricity, the Franklin Stove, and
publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette.” I am here today to tell you that we must declare independence from
Great Britain. “ Continue on with your speech to give your top three arguments supported with evidence of why
you support this decision. You find this evidence in your research.
A sample outline is provided below (Use Noodletools or the provided graphic organizer )to create your own
outline):
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Introduction
o Who am I?
o What am I known for?
o What are my top three arguments (reasons) for wanting to declare or not to declare
independence? (Give an overview.)
Argument 1
o Evidence to support argument 1
o Evidence to support argument 1
o Evidence to support argument 1
Argument 2:
o Evidence to support argument 2
o Evidence to support argument 2
o Evidence to support argument 2
Argument 3:
o Evidence to support argument 3
o Evidence to support argument 3
o Evidence to support argument 3
Conclusion
o Sum up your reasons for wanting to or not wanting to declare independence.
Counter argument(s): You will not read this in your historical figure persuasive speech, but rather, you
will keep this information to counter any arguments raised by the opposite team during the debate.
You want to keep this with you during the debate and add to it as the debate progresses.
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Introduction
o Who am I? _______________________________
o What am I known
for?___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
o What are my top three arguments (reasons) for wanting to declare or not to declare
independence? (Give an overview.)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Argument 1
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________
o Evidence to support argument 1
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________Evidence to support argument 1
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
o Evidence to support argument 1
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________
Argument 2:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________
o Evidence to support argument 2
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
o Evidence to support argument 2
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
o Evidence to support argument 2
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________
Argument 3:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________
o Evidence to support argument 3
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________
o Evidence to support argument 3
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
o Evidence to support argument 3
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
Conclusion
o Sum up your reasons for wanting to or not wanting to declare independence. End your speech
with passion!
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Counter argument(s): You will not read this in your historical figure persuasive speech, but rather, you
will keep this information to counter any arguments raised by the opposite team during the debate. In
other words, anticipate what the other side will say and research what you will say back. You want to
keep this with you during the debate and add to it as the debate progresses.
Counter argument 1:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________EEvidence:____________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Counter argument 2:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________
Evidence:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Counter argument 3:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________
Evidence:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________