ASSIGNMENT OUTLINE: PERSUASIVE SPEECH
Assignment title:
Using persuasion as a communication tool
Programme:
Hotel Administration 2
Course name:
Public Speaking & Presentation Skills
Course number:
GEN 2134
Faculty responsible:
Ms. Priyanka Das
Hand out date:
Week 7
Hand in date:
Week 8-9
Weighting:
25%
Assignment Overview:
The purpose of this speech is for the students to choose a topic of their interest from
suggested topics and learn how to effectively explain, illustrate, and move the audience to
desired action. This speech will require considerable research and skilful use of the
methods of persuasion. Special interest should be paid to reasoning, evidence, and
language. The students are expected to analyse their audience and identify and adapt
their speech to the target audience. They need to choose a subject on which they can do
considerable research and remember that primary attention will be given to the logic of
their discourse and their skill at using evidence to support their topic.
This assignment should be presented in an extemporaneous style. Visual aids should be
used during the speech. The speech will be of 7-minute duration wherein the student
attempts to establish a persuasive claim or affirm a proposition through the use of
evidence and motive appeals.
Requirements:
This project emphasizes speaking to Persuade. The students need to pay attention to
the following:
 The students should select one of the suggested topics given below. However,
they can choose to select a topic beyond the suggested topics with prior
intimation to the instructor.
-Proverbs speak the truth
-Human Cloning
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-Exploitative advertising should be banned
-Euphemisms are dangerous
-How we pronounce our words matters
-Good or right thinking is a matter of opinion
-Age gives a face character
-Swearing has lost its shock value
-Most illness is avoidable
-Safety legislation leads to diminished personal
responsibility
-Immigration
-Political Correctness
-Sex Education
-Allowing mobile devices in the classroom
-Single Parents
-Stem-cell research
-Alternative fuels
-Organic farming
-A big brand doesn't necessarily mean big value
-Benefits of learning a
second language
-Diets do more harm than good
-TED talks can improve your life
-The case for introverts
-Age Discrimination
-Failures and mistakes teach important
lessons in life.
-Animal Rights
-Volunteering
-Creative Thinking
-Listening-the key to being an
effective communicator
-Students should pursue knowledge
and not grades
-Carpe Diem (Seize the day!)


Any speech that does not have a clear thesis and/or main points will receive a
grade no higher than 65 points.
A visual aid must be used at some point during the speech.
 The students should avoid using notes. They can however use note-cards of no
more than 6 cards with key words to aid their speech.
 The speech must have at least one of each of the following persuasive techniques.
1. Logical Appeal (Logos)
- Facts, statistics, and well-reasoned arguments
2. Ethical Appeal ( Ethos)
- Argument based on widely accepted beliefs and values
3. Emotional Appeal (Pathos)
- Uses anecdotes (stories) and loaded words (words with strong
connotations) to bring about strong emotions in the audience.
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
Students must cite all sources in their outline including in-text citations during
their speech. The formal outline should be typed and in the format discussed in
the text, in class and in the hand-outs. Outlines should be turned-in before the
presentation of the speech.

Organization plays a central role in this speech: The speech must logically
establish why the audience must change. The students are highly encouraged to
follow the appended persuasive speech guideline (also follows Monroe’s
motivated sequence) for preparation of their speech.
Persuasive Speech Grading Rubric:
3= well done, present in the presentation and meets standards
2= needs improvement, partial credit is awarded because it is there, you are on the right
track but it needs to be reviewed as to exactly what it should be like
1= not visible in the presentation and/or done incorrectly
_______/40
Structure
______/15
Introduction
______ the attention getter was the first thing the speaker said
______ the attention getter drew the audience into the speech
______ the speaker stated the topic and why it was important to listen
______ the speaker addressed why they were credible on the topic
______ the preview was delivered in the same order as the body of the speech
______/18
Body
______ the speaker transitioned to the body of the speech from the introduction
______ the speech elicited some type of change/movement from the audience
______ the speaker flowed well from one main point to the next with helpful
transitions.
______ credible research was cited in the speech
______ the speaker cited when necessary
______ the speaker transitioned to the conclusion from the body of the speech
______/12
Conclusion
______ the summary listed all of the main points in the same order as
discussed in the body
______ the summary included the important ideas and concepts the speaker
wanted the listeners to remember about each main point
______ there was a clear call to action told to the audience members in the
conclusion
______ the final remark brought the speech to full closure
_______/51
Delivery
______/9
Body Language
______ the speaker’s posture appeared confident and comfortable
______ the speaker gestured naturally
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______ the speaker stepped out from behind the podium
_______/12
Facial Expressions
______ the speaker’s facial expressions were lively and appeared natural
______ the speakers face looked confident and comfortable
______ the speaker maintained eye contact with the entire audience
______ the speaker notes did not distract them from the audience
______/6
Voice
______ the speaker’s voice was dynamic, showing enthusiasm or the topic
______ the speaker was articulate and well spoken
______/15
Language
______ the speaker used language that was easy to understand
______ the speaker used specific examples to bring the content to life
______ the speaker avoided fallacies &/or common thinking errors in their speech
______ the speaker did not use fillers in the speech
______ the speaker used a more formal style of language than used in
conversations
______/9
Visual Aids
______ the visual aids enhanced the information discussed
______ the visual aids were prepared properly
______ the speaker was comfortable using the visual aids
______/9
Audience
______ the speaker presented the information in an ethical, credible manner
______ the speaker was well prepared
______ the speaker spoke extemporaneously
PERSUASIVE SPEECH GUIDELINE
A. INTRODUCTION: "Tells your audience what you are going to tell them" and
establishes the foundation for your speech. A good Introduction 'draws the map' for
the journey. For a Persuasive Speech an Introduction consists of
1. Attention-Getter: Statements that gains the attention of the audience and makes
them believe that this issue is relevant to them. Please, do NOT use a rhetorical
question here.
2. Bond > Link-to Audience: Identify a personal connection in the audiences' life, i.e.
their emotional experience (grief and sorrow, happiness) to your topic.
3."Credentials" of Speaker (Credibility): Demonstrate how you are an 'expert'
through your own use, experience or study.
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4. Destination / Position Statement: State clearly why you are speaking at this
moment. State your Goal, Thesis or what you expect as an Outcome. State your
Destination. An example may be ... "This afternoon/today I am here to convince you
that .... is the most effective way of learning today."
5. Explain my Map to my destination > Preview of Speech: Briefly outline what you
will cover in your persuasive speech. This is where you will ..."Tell what you are going
to tell them".
6. Transition: A transition is how you move from one section or point to the next. It is
a linking idea. You could say ..."Let's begin by ...", "Let's start with ..." or I prefer
"Let's consider ..."
B. BODY of your Speech:
The Body of your speech is where the detail is found and is best contained in THREE
points (you can have more, but don't confuse your audience). For a Persuasive
Speech, this is where you will ... "Tell them"
Main Point #1: State Point 1, State Reason, Give Example, Restate point
Transition: Create a linking statement to Point 2
Main Point #2: State Point 2, State Reason, Give Example, Restate point
Transition: Create a linking statement to Point 3
Main Point #3: State Point 3, State Reason, Give Example, Restate point
Transition: Create a linking statement to the Conclusion, i.e. "Let's
summarize ..." or "Can we consider these main points ..."
C. CONCLUSION: "Tell them what you have told them"
a. Again state your destination >Restate outcome or thesis.
b. Restate main points: State Point 1, State Point 2, State Point 3
c. Call-to-Action: e.g. "I encourage you to ...", "Let's all contribute ...”, "...
sign now ...", "make a decision now to be involved ..."
d. Decision-Maker (Clincher - optional): "Coming around is the petition
..." "Being passed from the rear is a bag for your contribution to this noble
cause, dig deep ..."
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Checklist Before you deliver your Persuasive Speech
On the outline
 My specific purpose is geared toward a persuasive slant rather than
trying to inform the audience
My organizational pattern is Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
 All 5 steps of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence are clearly visible in the
outline and in the speech
 I am using the same outline template as has been provided to me
 My attention getter is creative and unique ** it is not a question**
 My credibility shows why the audience should listen to me AND how this
topic is relevant to them
 My preview lists all of the main points
 My summary lists all of my main points and pulls out one thing about
each main point that I really want the audience to remember
In the speech
 I have prepared a speaking outline or printed the notes page of my
PowerPoint to help remind me to stay on track
 I have practiced my speech 3-5 times in front of someone who has given
me constructive comments
 I state my call to action multiple times throughout the speech
 The focus of my speech is to persuade the audience, to change their
minds, to move them to action, to motivate them NOT to inform them
about my topic
 I am addressing both sides of the issue in my speech (though proving that
my side is correct and the other side has flaws)
 My conclusion contains my call to action AND my final remark, I have not
combined the two.
On the day of the speech
 I have Visual aids and a backup just in case
 I have my outline and a bibliography
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