Organization for Persuasive Speech



Organizing Your “Why Should I Care?” Speech

Introduction

Use powerful and well-worded introductions (and conclusions)! Tell a story, give a case study, use an example, ask rhetorical questions, offer a quotation from a well-known person, provide an analogy, use a startling statement, provide an incident, offer a definition … connect this to your topic and include a purpose statement and a preview of your main points. Begin broadly, then become more specific. Tell your audience what you want to accomplish.

The introduction should accomplish these goals:

- Capture the audience’s attention

- State the subject and purpose of your speech

- Gain the audience’s good will

Body – The following is just ONE way to set up the body of your speech.

1. State the issue or problem

a. Explanation of the issue

b. Extent of the issue – importance, magnitude

c. Relevance – Why does this concern your audience?

d. Causes of the problem – Why/How has it become a problem?

e. Can the issue be fixed/solved/helped? List/state how.

2. Offer possible solutions to the problem

a. Solution #1

b. Solution #2

c. Solution #3

3. My solution – the best solution, or combination of solutions – to the problem

a. How it works

b. Strengths

c. Weaknesses – Here you may include what the opposition would say. Then, prove them wrong/misled/misinformed, etc.

4. Audience Impact (incorporate this relevance, if possible, instead of leaving it all at the end)

a. What the solution will do for your audience

b. What the audience can do to help achieve a solution

Conclusion

Any of the introductory techniques can be used for the conclusion as well. A good idea is to bring your audience full circle with the same ideas used in the introduction. A challenge or call to action is usually an effective way to complete your speech.

The Conclusion should accomplish the following goals:

- Restate the issue/problem

- Summarize your main points

- Give the audience a feeling of closure and leave a lasting impression

- Challenge the audience or call to action or assurance that we should care.

The following Conclusions work well in speeches to persuade:

Appeal to Emotions – something that touches your audience

Sample: These small, starving hands continue to reach for your hands to save

the lives of children all over the world.

Visualize the Future – Painting a visible picture of what the future could be like - either positive or negative

Sample: If we do not clean up the air in Rochester, by 2020 you will have to

wear a mask to shop in the downtown area.

Suggest a definite action – to get people to do something

Sample: Vote with your head, and hold representatives accountable to us, their

constituents. Call and write to your legislators today to voice your opinion

on this most serious issue.

Organization

I. Introduction

The introduction brings the "subject" of your speech to the audience, and it should capture the attention of the audience by presenting a debatable issue or problem. The paragraph should begin broadly and should gradually become more specific as you move toward the thesis statement. In essence, the thesis statement reveals the "topic" of your speech. Writers sometimes use the following devices to begin their persuasive essays.

|Incident |Analogy |Quotation |Startling Statement |

|Definition |Description |Example | |

II. Body

The body represent the bulk of your speech. This is the portion of the speech that allows you to support the points that prove your thesis. Choose the method you will use to develop the body. Either refute the opposition on each point or concede to the opposition at the beginning of your speech and follow with arguments for your proposition. Use the point-by-point structure if you can directly refute your opposition on various issues. Use the specific-point structure if you have strong opposition but lack arguments that directly counter those of your opposition. Develop each section or idea in your thesis statement in a separate supporting point. State these in the order in which they are stated in your thesis statement. Each supporting body point should contain the following:

1. A topic sentence, usually located at the beginning of the main point.

2. Supporting sentences that include facts, examples, incidents, reasons, analogies, and/or descriptions.

3. Transitional sentences, usually located at the end of a paragraph. These allow you to move from one paragraph to the next without being abrupt or awkward.

4. Coherent structure ensures that each paragraph moves logically from beginning to end and that all supporting paragraphs work together to support your thesis.

Citing Sources in Your Speech:

A presentation such as this one lends itself to a great deal of research in order to substantiate the claims you make in your thesis. An argument without evidence is merely opinion; it is the evidence that makes the argument persuasive. However, audiences tend to mistrust or even disregard evidence that is not properly cited. Therefore, it is imperative that you cite your evidence thoroughly and precisely.

Note the following examples:

|Michael Corleone, director of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, argues in a May 2012 Virginian Pilot article that "the |

|issuance of Commercial Driver's Licenses is a waste of taxpayer money and DMV resources." |

| |

|A 2013 article by Jackie Lambert on argues that "the rise of nuclear weapons on the Indian subcontinent is the |

|biggest threat to our national security." |

| |

|A study by the American Plastics Council shows that between 1998 and 2001, curbside recycling rates rose by an astounding 49%, as |

|detailed in Alfredo Garcia's 2012 Opposing Viewpoints article. |

Assessment: These examples include all parts of a good citation. They identify the speaker's name as well as his/her title (where available), which tells the audience the speaker is an expert. The citations also include the date and source of the quote, which tells the audience that the information is recent and from a reputable source.

Reminders:

• Persuasive speeches are intended to convince your audience to take action or to effect a change.

• Each paragraph should relate to and support your thesis. Use specific examples to support your general statements.

• Do Not write in paragraphs.

III. Conclusion

Create a conclusion that clinches your position and fully addresses why we should care. In addition to restating the main points of your speech, try to broaden your audience's awareness of the problem by offering solutions or calling for action. The audience should feel enlightened, thoroughly satisfied that your thesis can withstand opposing arguments, and willing to reconsider or to act upon issues you have presented. Although you may include quotations as you summarize, close the speech by reinforcing your arguments with your own memorable words.

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