Persuasive Speech – what is it?
We have already dwelled on a topic of a persuasive essay, but is Persuasive Speech the same? Well, not exactly. There is a difference, it is quite small, but nevertheless important. First of all, the topic of your persuasive speech should be clear, understandable and able to create vivid pictures in the minds of your audience. Then, this topic must not only be interesting, but also provocative, – if you catch attention of the audience, it would be easier to hold it through the whole speech! Don’t forget that some of the topics have already become outdated – it is no longer interesting to hear that “drugs are bad for your health”. Try looking for something that is interesting in this very moment, first of all for yourself.
Next significant feature of your persuasive speech is the presentation. Remember to express your opinion simply and logically. This is where you should think of the preparation and this is what we can help you with.
Persuasive Speech Preparation Worksheet
- What is the topic of your speech?
- Are you speaking on a question of fact, value, or policy?
- What is your specific purpose statement?
- Is your speech meant to achieve passive agreement or immediate action from your audience?
- What is your central idea?
- What is the target audience for your speech? How will you adapt your speech to be persuasive to your target audience? Be specific.
- What method(s) of gaining attention do you use in the introduction?
- How do you establish your credibility in the introduction?
- Write the preview statement you will use in your introduction.
- What method of organization do you use in the speech?
- State in full sentences the main points to be developed in the body of your speech.
- What supporting materials do you use in developing each main point? Be specific.
- What steps have you taken to answer potential objections that your audience may have to your position? Be specific.
- What method(s) of reinforcing your central idea do you use in the conclusion?
Persuasive Speech Outline
Speech Topic: in your own words write the topic of your speech
Example: The Titanic
General Purpose: choose the general purpose of the speech:
- to inform
- to persuade
- to entertain
Specific Purpose: in your own words write the specific purpose of your speech
Example: To inform my audience about one of the most famous tragedies in history, the Titanic.
Introduction
- Attention Getter: in your own words write an attention getter
Example: Please show your hands if you have seen the Titanic. I mean the actual ship – not the movie.
- Topic Reveal: in your own words write the introduction of your topic
Example: Well, you are all right. It is not possible to see the actual ship, except in the movie. This is what I am going to talk to you about today.
- Central Idea/Thesis: in your own words write the central idea/thesis of your topic
Ask yourself what hat is your story about?
Example: “From the disaster to the movie, the sinking of the Titanic remains one of the most famous tragedies in history.”
- Reason to Listen: in your own words write the idea to listen
Ask yourself why should we listen to the speech or how does the topic affect the audience?
Example: I believe because of the significance of the Titanic that we should all know something about it.
- Personal Credibility Statement: in your own words write your personal credability statement
Ask yourself what qualifies you to speak to us about this topic?
Example: I have spent many hours reading about this subject in the library and on the Internet and I have also watched the movie so I am well prepared to tell you about this famous tragedy – The Titanic.
- Preview of the three (3) main points: in your own words write the three main points that you plan to discuss
Tell the audience the three main discussion points / main ideas that you are presenting? These main ideas must help to prove that The Titanic remains one of the most famous tragedies in history.
Example: I will talk about The Titanic Itself, its maiden or first and only voyage and the movie that was directed by James Cameron.
TRANSITION: in your own words write the summary transition from the introduction to the first main point
Example: Since you now have a good idea about the aspects of The Titanic that I plan to talk about, let’s start by looking at the Titanic itself.
Main Point 1
MAIN POINT 1 TITLE: in your own words write a title for main point 1
Example: The Titanic Itself.
SUB POINT 1: in your own words write the first discussion point that relates to the title of this main point
Example: The Titanic was the biggest ship at the time
SUB-SUB POINT 1a: in your own words write the details of the first discussion point that relates to sub point 1
Example: At the time of her launch, the Titanic was the biggest existing ship and the largest moveable object ever built.
SUB-SUB POINT 1b: in your own words write a summary, of the evidence you have found to support sub-sub point 1a
Example: according to geoff tibbals, in his 1997 book the titanic: the extraordinary story of the ‘unsinkable’ ship, the titanic was 882 feet long and weighed about 46,000 tons.
SUB-SUB POINT 1b: REFERENCE
SUB POINT 2: Second Discussion Point: in your own words write the second discussion point that relates to sub point 1
Example: The accommodation on board was beautiful.
SUB-SUB POINT 2a: in your own words write the details of the second discussion point that relates sub point 2
Example: In terms of the beautiful accommodations on board the Titanic, one thing that stood out was the fact that it was decorated and furnished with only the finest items.
SUB-SUB POINT 2b: in your own words write a summary, of the evidence you have found to support sub-sub point 2a
Example: According to a the Shipbuilders magazine that is included in Peter Thresh’s 1992 book Titanic, a lot of work and effort was put into finding the best furniture and cushions which gave The Titanic the appearance of first class ship whose accommodation was better than that of any hotel on the land. (p. 18).
SUB-SUB POINT 2b: REFERENCE
SUMMARY TRANSITION: in your own words write a summary transition from the first main point to the second main point
Example: Now that I’ve discussed the Titanic itself, I will now look at the tragedy that occurred on its maiden voyage.
MAIN POINT 2
MAIN POINT 2 TITLE: In Your Own Words Write A Title For Main Point 1
Example: The Maiden Voyage.
SUB POINT 1: in your own words write the first discussion point that relates to the title of this main point
Example: The disaster
SUB-SUB POINT 1a: in your own words write the details of the first discussion point that relates to sub point 1
Example: The Titanic hit disaster head-on when it ran into an iceberg four days after its departure. The beginning of the maiden voyage was mostly uneventful.
SUB-SUB POINT 1b: in your own words write a summary, of the evidence you have found to support sub-sub point 1a
Example: Tibbals (1997) note that the ship left Queenstown in Ireland at about 1:30 pm on April 10th, 1912, destined for New York in the United States.
SUB-SUB POINT 1b: REFERENCE
SUB POINT 2: Second Discussion Point: in your own words write the second discussion point that relates to the title of this main point
Example: The Weather
SUB-SUB POINT 2a: in your own words write the details of the second discussion point that relates to sub point 2
Example: The weather was perfect for sailing – there was blue sky, light winds, and a calm ocean.
SUB-SUB POINT 2b: in your own words write a summary, of the evidence you have found to support sub-sub point 2a
Example: According to Walter Lord in A Night to Remember from 1955, the Atlantic Ocean was like polished plate glass on the night of April 14.
SUB-SUB POINT 2b: REFERENCE
SUMMARY TRANSITION: in your own words write a summary transition from the second main point to the third main point
Example:Now that we have learned about the history of the Titanic, I will discuss the movie that was made about it.
MAIN POINT 3
MAIN POINT 3 TITLE: in your own words write a title for main point 3
Example: The Movie
SUB POINT 1: in your own words write the first discussion point that relates to the title of this main point
Example: The movie’s success.
SUB-SUB POINT 1a: in your own words write the details of the first discussion point that relates to sub point 1
Example: The movie was very successful. It was written, produced, and directed by James Cameron and screened worldwide.
SUB-SUB POINT 1b: in your own words write a summary, of the evidence you have found to support sub-sub point 1a
Example: According to Marsh in James Cameron’s Titanic from 1997, Cameron wanted to create a film that would bring the activities that occurred to the Titanic to life.
SUB-SUB POINT 1b: REFERENCE
SUB POINT 2: in your own words write the second discussion point that relates to the title of this main point
Example: The movie was expensive to create.
SUB-SUB POINT 2a: in your own words write the details of the second discussion point that relates to sub point 2
Example: Making Titanic was extremely expensive and involved much hard work.
SUB-SUB POINT 2b: in your own words write a summary, of the evidence you have found to support sub-sub point 2a
Example: A 1998 article from the Historical Journal of Films, Radio, and Television, Kramer stated that the film had a 250 million dollar budget, which is quite expensive when compared to other movies created at the time.
SUB-SUB POINT 2b: REFERENCE
SUMMARY TRANSITION: in your own words write a summary transition from the third main point to the conclusion
Example: After hearing about the success of the movie, let me now remind you of some of the important developments of The Titanic’s tragedy.
CONCLUSION
- Review: in your own words write a review/summary of the details of the three main points
Example: Despite the fact that many people lost their lives aboard The Titanic, the events before and after it’s sinking will always be remembered. The Titanic was a beautiful, well-decorated ship. It set sail on a calm day heading for New York but sank on the way. The movie The Titanic was created by James Cameron to help us all remember that….
- Restate Thesis: in your own words restate your central idea / thesis. remind the audience what you speech was about
Example: …from the disaster to the movie, the sinking of the Titanic remains one of the most famous tragedies in history
- Memorable Closing: in your own words write your memorable closing.
Example: In conclusion, remember The Wreck of the Titan, the story written fourteen years before the Titanic sank. It now seems as if it was an eerie prophecy, or a case of life imitating art. Whatever the case, the loss of lives on the Titanic was tremendous, and it is something that should never be forgotten.
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