Name _____________________________ Date ______________________ Hr. _____
Writing a Persuasive Speech
Directions: You are writing a five-paragraph essay to persuade your audience to think a
certain a certain way or do a certain thing. Follow the steps below and use the writing
process (brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing) to write a good
speech.
Step 1: Pick a topic. Pick something you have an opinion on, something that you
care about. Use the topic sheet to pick a topic and write it below.
Topic: ________________________________________
Step 2: Write a thesis. A thesis is a statement of your opinion. Include three reasons
why you think the way you do in your thesis. The three reasons are going to become the
topic sentences for the three body paragraphs of your speech. The thesis statement should
look something like this:
I think ___________________ because _______________, __________________, and
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Your thesis doesn’t necessarily have to be worded the same way, but it does need to
include your opinion and three reasons.
Here are some examples of complete thesis statements:
1. Elect Barack Obama for president because he cares about the lower class, he has a
plan to help the economy, and he is going to end the war in Iraq.
2. I disagree with capital punishment because no one should have the right to take
another’s life. Crimes that deserve the death sentence can be subjective, and the
death penalty is nothing more than revenge for a terrible crime.
Write your thesis below.
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Step 3: Use the attached graphic organizer to plan out your essay. You will
have 5 paragraphs: an introduction, 3 body paragraphs each explaining a separate reason
or point regarding your thesis, and a conclusion summing up your essay.
©2009 Amy Hewitt
Name _____________________________ Date ______________________ Hr. _____
Introduction (paragraph 1)
Reason #1 (paragraph 2)
Conclusion (paragraph 5)
©2009 Amy Hewitt
Reason #2 (paragraph 3)
Reason #3 (paragraph 4)
Name _____________________________ Date ______________________ Hr. _____
Step 4: Write your introduction. You need a paragraph to introduce your topic
and what you’ll be speaking about. It’s best to start out general with the topic sentence
and get specific as you go through the paragraph. Start out talking in general about your
topic. The last sentence of your introduction paragraph should be your thesis statement.
Use the attention getter list to select an attention getter. This is a device used in the
introduction of a speech to get the audience’s attention. Use the space below to write your
introduction, including an attention getter.
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Step 5: Write your body paragraphs. You should have one main point per
paragraph. Write your paragraphs below. (Attach additional sheets if you need to.)
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©2009 Amy Hewitt
Name _____________________________ Date ______________________ Hr. _____
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©2009 Amy Hewitt
Name _____________________________ Date ______________________ Hr. _____
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Step 6: Write your conclusion. Your conclusion is the closing paragraph of your
speech. This is your opportunity to summarize your speech. Repeat what you said to your
listeners, leaving them with the urge to act on your beliefs. Write your conclusion below.
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©2009 Amy Hewitt
Name _____________________________ Date ______________________ Hr. _____
Step 7: Type up your speech. Print it out and show the draft to your teacher for
help with editing and revision.
Even professional writers revise. They write, wait a few days, and go back and reread
what they’ve written with a fresh mind. Then they make changes. They may even ask a
friend or editor to read the draft and make suggestions. Sometimes the writing we think is
crystal clear really isn’t when we go back and look at it again. Take a little time off from
writing your speech and then come back to it with a fresh mind ready for editing and
revising.
Step 8: Edit and Revise your speech. Revising is the process of “re-seeing” your
essay. Look at your speech as a whole. Does it accomplish its purpose? Read through
your speech, and visualize yourself giving it in front of a group of people. Does it have
the effect you wanted? If the answer to these questions is no, then go through and rewrite,
cut out sections and add sections to get the desired effect.
Editing is the process of correcting grammar and spelling errors. Go through your speech
and correct the errors you find. Also, have your teacher or someone help you.
Step 9: Publish a final copy of your speech. Make any editing changes
necessary to get the best grade possible and print a final copy.
©2009 Amy Hewitt