Persuasive Speech
Formal Speech #4
175 points
Each student will be required to research, outline, and perform an 8-10 minute
persuasive speech that addresses one of the situations listed below. All situations
assume that your speech will be delivered to a “hostile” audience.
1. The Supreme Court recently heard arguments regarding the constitutionality of
what has become known as Obamacare. In this speech present the best argument
for or against the constitutionality of Obamacare.
2. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision
that Proposition 8, the CA measure banning same-sex marriage, was
unconstitutional. This decision is being appealed to the full court of appeals. In
this speech present the best argument for or against the constitutionality of
Proposition 8.
3. State and Federal law is at odds over the issue of Medical Marijuana. Barney
Frank and Ron Paul have introduced a piece of legislation to end this conflict and
allow states the right to regulate the legal sale of marijuana as medicine. In this
speech assume your audience is comprised of the members of the House of
Representatives. Make the best argument you can in favor or in opposition to their
plan.
4. The nominees for the 2012 Presidential election have been all but determined. In
this speech make the best argument you can for voting for either Obama or
Romney as the next President of the United States.
5. The nation continues to be frustrated by the issue of illegal immigration. One
policy designed to help integrate the children of illegal immigrants is the Dream
Act. In this speech make the best argument you can for either passing or voting
against the Dream Act at the Federal level.
Guidelines for the assignment include:
1. The speech should last 8-10 minutes. Time signals will be given and a minimum
of 15 points will be deducted for speeches that are either too short or too long.
2. You are expected to integrate a minimum of five sources into the speech.
3. Your speech much include the following components:
a. Introduction—Including Attention Getter, Scope and Significance, and a
Thesis-Preview
b. Body—Three main points including: Problem, Solution, Rebuttal
c. Conclusion—Including review of central ideas, tie back to thesis, and tie
back to attention getter.
4. Your speech must make use of internal previews and internal reviews.
5. The goal is to sound like an advocate. You should sound like you are passionate
and dedicated to your cause.
6. You need to pay attention to verbal characteristics of voice (pitch, rate, volume,
etc.) that we discussed in class and incorporate them into your speech.
7. You need to pay attention to non-verbal characteristics like eye contact and
gesturing that we discussed in class and incorporate them into your speech.
Part 2—Research (60 points)
Each student will prepare an annotated bibliography for five sources used in the
construction of your speech. The bibliography should be typed and include the following
items:
1. A complete bibliographic citation (APA or MLA format)
2. A typed paragraph that describes two things. First, tell me a minimum of three
facts or ideas that this article provided you for your speech. Second, tell me why
you trusted this author to teach you these facts.
All annotated bibliographies will be due before you give your speech. For the Mon-Wed
class your annotated bibliographies will be due on Wednesday, May 9. For the Tue-Thurs
class you bibliographies are due on Thursday, May 10.
Part 3—Outline (40 points)
Each student will prepare a full sentence outline of their speech. All outlines will be due
before you give your speech. For the Mon-Wed class your outlines are due Wednesday,
May 9. For the Tue-Thur class your outlines are due Thursday, May 10.
All outlines will be typed and will follow the full sentence format discussed in class.