Persuasive Speech
Following the writing of a resolution, students should
prepare speeches. Speeches must be planned in order to
be effective. Speaking “off the cuff” is necessary,
especially during points of information, but the ultimate
aim is for all participants in the debate to speak freely
using only their notes to guide them.
It is recommended to write out a speech in full ahead of
time and put it to memory but not recommended to read a
speech word for word.
The object of a speech is to persuade and even convince
others and not merely to state an opinion. In some cases,
a nation’s policy may place a student in a position where
he must defend the indefensible and cannot be expected
to persuade a majority to support him. In preparing
speeches, students must be aware not only of their
strengths and weaknesses, but also be aware of the
points to be made by others. It is advisable to list
arguments and counter-arguments so students will be in a
position to defend their views as well as make proposals.
Remember: a speech is heard only once and, therefore,
needs to leave a strong impression. The audience will
remember the important parts of a speech that is short,
clear and well structured than if they have to listen to a
long, confusing, and rambling one. The key elements to
an effective speech include the following:
1.The
most important points are arranged in ascending
order with the final point a climax.
2.Numbering the points is helpful to the speaker in
delivering the speech and to the audience in
remembering it.
3.Use a key word or phrase for each argument and repeat
the main points before yielding the floor.
The advanced speaker has taken the next steps in
preparing his techniques in delivery. Besides building
repetitions, using catch phrases and rhetorical pauses, he
has worked out his stance (firm, dogmatic, ironic,
conciliatory, etc.), the image he wants to project (idealistic,
revolutionary, moderate, etc.), and the appropriate level of
language needed for the role he is assuming. The MUN
Director can help in the selection of appropriate
terminology, phraseology and vocabulary in this aspect of
speech making in the classroom.
Speakers should deliver their speeches in a clear, loud
voice. Every speech should have an obvious beginning,
e.g. “Madame Chairwoman, ladies and gentlemen, the
delegate is in favor of this resolution because...,” followed
by arguments that are to the point, and an obvious ending,
e.g. “Therefore, I urge the House to vote in favor of this
resolution. I will now yield to points of information.” Points
of information must be phrased in the form of a question,
but that does not imply that they are used to elicit
information from the speaker. In many cases, they are
used rhetorically in order to express an opinion when one
does not have the floor or to support or disconcert the
speaker who does have the floor, e.g. “Does the speaker
not agree that the recent strike against unarmed civilians
in Iraq can only be regarded as murder?”
The speaker who has the floor should not allow himself to
be put off by points of information. He can, however, take
the opportunity to reply to the question in any way he
chooses, either re-emphasizing his points earlier or using
the question as a springboard to launch into another
argument. Points of information should never be answered
by a simple “yes” or “no” which would be a wasted
opportunity. It is during this stage of answering points of
information that the debate is the liveliest, so students
should be encouraged to answer points which arise and
not simply yield the floor after delivering their prepared
speech.
Opening Speech
Opening speeches take about one
minute to present. Its purpose is to introduce the country
and to give a very brief introduction to the issue discussed
in their resolution as well as the country’s perspective
regarding other issues that will be debated within the
caucus.
Sample Persuasive Speech
Good morning delegates of the house and chairperson.
My name is -------- and along with ------, I represent ----------. Today our delegation is here to discuss one of the most
aggravating issues in the world. It is a great concern to our
people, and we are sure that it is a great concern to the
entire world as well – we are here to discuss the HIV virus,
most commonly known as AIDS. As all of you are aware,
----------- suffers from a tremendous lack of health care,
which accelerates the population’s death rate. The
HIV/AIDS is affecting 1.1 million people in the country.
This disease is most commonly transmitted by women that
are raped by members of armed groups in eastern ------. Survivors of rape are frequently abandoned by their
families and communities; therefore they are forced to
leave their homes and are left in poverty. Women are
three times as likely to be living with HIV/AIDS as young
man, and within the next ten years, more than half of the
population will be threatened by it. It will also have a
catastrophic future affect on the health of the
country.
Due to its history of so many civil wars,
diseases and death rates are always increasing in ----------. The widespread destruction of homes and hospitals has
left children without families and many people with
sicknesses and injuries. Because of the country’s poverty,
state health facilities offer no treatment for HIV/AIDS other
than voluntary tests and council. The HIV/AIDS
virus acts as a significant brake on the economic growth
and development of the country, since the people affected
are forced to leave their jobs.
The -------- is so
devastated and it needs so much more than it already has
to become a society where health and well being is a
priority.
For this reason we urge all delegates of
the house to vote in favor of our resolution.
Thank
you for your attention.
Sample Opening Speech
Good Morning Chair People, delegates of the
house. My name is ------ and along with ----------, I
represent----------. We are here today, in another United
Nations conference, such as the one that created our
country.
We hope that the present delegations will
engage only to fruitful debates, in order to make this
conference productive and relevant. Let’s all take wise
decisions after considering every resolution. Bear in mind
that the U.N. was created to make a better world and not
to satisfy an individual will. We’d like to share
with you, our preoccupation regarding ------- resolution. It
is a fact that nuclear weapons are not yet proved to exist,
however suspicions are strong. It is not acceptable that a
country that can threaten the existence of another one to
even have the slightest possibility of producing nuclear
weapons. This is an outrage! Nonetheless the ------- resolution wants nothing more than to protect all of
us, so, -------- is in favor and supports this resolution that
will, finally, request respect and consideration to all the
people from the ----------.
Let’s all have a wise
purpose here!
Thank You for your
attention!