Persuasive Speech
swing me over to your beliefs
Persuasive Speech
 Time: 7-9 minutes
 Outline: Full Sentence, Typed
 Speaking Notes: less than 75 words, no videos
 Sources of Information: 2, credit 1 in speech
 35 points
 Persuade us to BELIEVE it is a sound
idea and it will be BENEFICIAL if
carried out.
Example
 “We should all drive more carefully.”
 Bad, Why?
 We agree on this already.
 “The legislature should pass a law limiting speed on
highways to sixty miles per hour.” or “All persons who
are convicted of traffic violations should be compelled to
attend a driver’s school for two weeks.”
 Good, Why?
 We can say Yes or No to them and Debate them.
Persuasive Speech
 Identify a debatable proposition and adopt a position
on it.
 Use Evidence, Reasoning=Logic, and Emotion to
convince your audience.
 Organize and Rehearse for clarity and maximum impact
on listeners.
Topic Ideas
 Raising Teenage Driving Age
 Drug Education
 Vegetarianism
 Immigration Laws
 TV and Movie Violence
 AIDS Education
 Multilingual Education
Topic Ideas

Do schools have the right to search students’ lockers?

Should children be given sex education in schools, or should this be the
responsibility of parents?

Should schools require their students to wear a uniform?

Are beauty contests harmful?

Can terrorism ever by justified?

Should governments ever negotiate with terrorists?

Should cell phone use in cars be banned?

Should the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports be legalized?

Should mothers stay at home to raise their children.

What acts should be considered hate crimes?

Should negative advertising in political campaigns be banned?
Topic Ideas

Should examinations be replaced with other forms of assessment?

Should we legalize the sale of human organs?

Should parents be held morally and legally responsible for the
actions/needs of their children?

Should young people be subjected to curfews as a way to reduce crime?

Should doctors be allowed to prescribe contraception for girls under the
age of 18?

Is physical force (spanking) a justifiable method of punishing children?

Does television have a negative influence on society?

Should flag burning as a form of protest be prohibited?

Is it morally acceptable to experiment on non-human animals to
develop products and medicines that benefit human beings?

Should we be trying to prevent species becoming extinct? Why?
Organization – Option 1
1. Present a history of the problem.
2. Discuss the present day effects of the problem.
3. Discuss the causes that brought about the effects you
listed at this point.
4. List possible solutions to the problem.
5. Give your solution to the problem.
6. Show how your proposal will benefit your audience.
Organization – Option 2
1. State your proposition in the introduction.
2. Present a history of the problem which brought up the
proposal you are asking for adoption.
3. Show that your proposal is needed.
4. Show that your proposition is practical.
5. Show that your proposition is desirable.
6. Conclude your speech with a final statement in support
of your proposal.
Organization - Opposition
1. The proposition is not needed. (Give Evidence.)
2. The proposition is not practical. (Give Evidence.)
3. The proposition is not desirable. (Give Evidence.)
Closing Suggestions
 Best Guarantee of Success = Careful Preparation
 Well-Organized Speech with points supported by evidence +
Well-Constructed Introduction and a Powerful Conclusion =
Success
 You MUST deliver the speech Confidently and Well and
without excessive use of notes.
 Be Frank, Enthusiastic, Energetic with a reasonable amount
of emotion – Not overdone.
 Vigor and Intensity in your bodily action.
 If you use notes – KNOW them thoroughly.