COM 111 352
Fall 2015
Persuasive Speech to Actuate
Assignment:
Persuasive Speech to Actuate
Grade Value: 200 points
Topic Area:
A controversial issue with which listeners show neutrality or mild disagreement.
Objective:
To motivate the audience to engage in a behavioral change. Thus the audience should
perform a specific action related to your solution within the class period that you speak.
Delivery:
You may not read a speech. You may present from brief notes. You may not use a cell
phone or tablet for notes. Reading a speech will earn a maximum score of 100 pts. Your
note cards will be collected.
Time Limit:
6 to 8 minutes
Time penalty points assessed as follows:
Under 4:00 a total score of 75 points
4:01-4:59
-15 points
5:00-5:59
-10 points
8:00-8:59
-10 points
9:00
-15 points: Time called
PowerPoint:
Checklist
 Persuasive Speech to Actuate must include PowerPoint™. Pre-recorded material
(videotape, DVD and/or any video) is not permitted in any form or at anytime during your
speech.
 PowerPoint™ must include at least 8 content slides + 1 black/blank slide (no template
visible) in the beginning for a minimum total of 9 slides.
 No slide should indicate your place within the speech. No slide with markers
“Introduction, Body, Conclusion, The End,” etc. No slide devoted to speech element(s)
“General Purpose, Specific Purpose, Thesis,” etc.”
 Title slides do not count as content.
 Do not include a slide with work citations.
 Images must have sufficient resolution for projection. No images less than 200 kb;
however file size will need to be greater if the image covers a large area.
 Images must be of normal perspective. Do not alter the aspect ratio of your images. No
stretch distortion in its original form or created by you.
 Images may not display copyright watermarks.
 Slides should be graphic rather than text intensive; however all slides must have both
PowerPoint™ text (that you have entered) and image(s). Background graphics such as
borders and templates do not count toward the image requirement. All images should
relate specifically to the topic.
 Images must appear in the foreground as relevant and not appear as a background for text.
 All text (including text in graphs and images) must be a minimum 60 pt.; however make
the point size as large as possible to use the space for the greatest impact.
 Words must appear horizontally
 Minimize empty space; maximize text and images.
 Strong contrast between text and background color must be employed.
 Spelling and grammar will be checked. No words should break to the next line.
Organization:Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
Outline:
1. Name, Section & Date in upper right corner, first page only (single-spaced)
2. No title pages
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COM 111 352
Fall 2015
3.
4.
5.
6.
Use 12 pt. Times New Roman font.
1” margins all sides
Topic
Research Sources - (three minimum, five maximum– properly cited by MLA standards).
 You may not personally be a reference unless you have three other valid sources.
 You may use only one properly cited interview. At least two sources must be published.
 Include the URL along with your MLA citation for Internet sources.
 Wikipedia, Wikihow, Wiki (anything) may not be used as a source.
 You may not repeat material from the same website.
 Website home pages will not be valid citations (e.g. www.organizationsname.com).
 No Blog spots
 Work notes must be provided on demand to validate sources. Failure to provide material
will disqualify the reference.
8. General Purpose – to persuade
9. Specific Purpose (Proposition) – Label type of proposition (fact, value, policy) phrased as a
single idea.
10. Thesis Statement/Central Idea – One sentence formed from your main topic ideas A+B+C (no
semicolons).
11. Introduction – Attention Step – opening statement written out.
12. Body
a. Need – the problem
(1) Each body step must have a minimum of two sub supports
(2) Transitions must effectively link A to B and B to C. One sentence limit (no semicolons)
b. Satisfaction – your solution to the problem
c. Visualization – two views of the future with and without your solution
13. Conclusion – Action Step
a. Beginning statement of your conclusion written out
b. Write these exact words: “Summarize main supporting ideas”
c. Concluding actuating statement written out
14. Outline formatted per sample
15. Pages numbered in lower right corner.
16. Two pages maximum
Spelling will be checked with Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (www.m-w.com)
Due Date:
Tuesday, November 17, 2015 Topic must be approved via email by 11:00 a.m. All topics must
be submitted via email for approval. A ten-point deduction will be assesed for a topic submitted
after that time. Changes to approved topics will result in a ten-point penalty. No Outline or
PowerPoint will be accepted without topic approval.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Outline (.doc or .docx only) & PowerPoint™ (.ppt or .pptx only)
due by 11:00 a.m. A ten-point deduction per day (not class) will be assesed for a late outline
and a ten-point deduction per day (not class) for a late PowerPoint™. Any resubmission with
any change to either the outline or PowerPoint™ will receive a 10-point deduction per day,
retroactive to the due date. No outline will be accepted after 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, Dec 1. No
excuses accepted as these are due by dates.
Email submissions will only be accepted at prof@ garywheeler.net. This is the only email
address to use for all contact. All emails will receive a response. If you do not receive a
response, I did not receive your email. Your email attempt is not considered a timely
submission. Only a received email can be considered as timely when it includes a complete and
workable submission(s) and is sent by the due date and time to the correct email address and
acknowledged. If submitting via email, Outlines must be attached to an email as a Word™
document. No Works or Open Office documents. PowerPoint™ Presentations (.ppt or .pptx
only) must also be attached. No Open Office presentations. No links are accepted for retrieval.
If your submission is too large for email, you’ll need to bring it to class on time.
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COM 111 352
Fall 2015
Tuesday, November 24, 2015 (first day of speeches) Speaking Dates will be assigned for this
speech. Speakers not ready will receive a ten-point deduction. Makeup speeches arranged solely
at the discretion of the instructor and provided time is available. See below for missed dates
policy.
If you are submitting a hard copy of your outline, it must be typed or computer-printed in
12-point Times New Roman font on white paper. Handwritten or unreadable copies (type colors
other than black/paper colors other than white) will not be accepted. Outlines may also be
submitted via email or brought to class on a USB Flash (thumb) Drive or CD/DVD.
PowerPoint™ presentations may be submitted via email or brought to class on a USB Flash
(thumb) Drive or CD/DVD. If your PowerPoint™ presentation triggers virus software, it will be
rejected and you will earn a zero for the visuals.
Products:
Actuating Materials must be individually wrapped, packaged, canned or bottled by the original
manufacturer. You may not repackage or open packages to distribute individual samples. Failure
to follow these directions will result in a 15 pt. penalty. Failure to provide the necessary product
on your assigned speech date will result in a 30 pt. penalty.
Decorum:
You will give your full attention to each speaker. No one is to enter the room while a
speaker is presenting. Ten points will be deducted from your speech grade for each
occurrence of any and all of the following: Any use of an electronic device and/or its
audio alerts, eating in class during a speech, talking or any activity that could be
disturbing to the speaker. I repeat, you will give your full attention to each speaker.
As you approach the end of the semester, review the syllabus for the impact of absences,
late arrivals and early departures on your grade. Your attendance is expected through
the last day of class to couteously serve as an audience for your fellow students. If you
are not in attendance, you won’t have the opportunity to earn participation points.
Missed Date: If you are scheduled to present on a specific date and you miss it or do not present for
any reason, you will incur a 10 pt. penalty. Your speech may possibly be rescheduled at
the class’ convenience and subject to available time on the last speech day. If time is not
available, you will receive an “I” for the course and present your speech to a different
class in the following semester.
Punctuality:
The expectation on speech days is that you will be on time and ready to present. It is a
courtesy for you to be in class for everyone’s speech. Plan ahead. If you are late on a
speech day, you will receive a 10-point deduction for your speech. Do not miss the first
speech. Class begins at 11:00 a.m.
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