A persuasive speech is one in which you attempt to convince your audience to agree with your position and/or take some action.  This speech requires library research. An extemporaneous presentation is delivered from a speaking outline that occupies one or two 4×6 index cards. This speech is NOT read or memorized. The speaking outline is created from a comprehensive working outline. This type of speech teaches you to think critically and to organize your thoughts with cogency. When developing your working outline, consider the following parts: introduction, main points, transitions, support, and conclusion.  Effective persuasive speeches meet the following requirements:

Basic Requirements:

1. Choose and narrow a persuasive speech topic. A persuasive speech centers on an audience’s attitudes, beliefs, values, or behavior. Get your instructor’s approval for your topic.
2. Determine your specific speech goal. Remember that your specific goal identifies what you hope to accomplish in the speech.  When you speak to persuade you act as an advocate.  You attempt to affect listeners’ attitudes, beliefs, values or behaviors.
3. Develop your one-sentence thesis statement and determine your persuasive proposition as a question of fact, value, or policy. A question of fact argues that something is true or not true.  A question of value argues the worth or morality of something, making a judgment about what is good or bad, right or wrong.  A question of policy advocates a specific course of action that you believe needs to be taken.  Decide if you are seeking passive agreement (questions of fact or value), or immediate action (question of policy).
4. Conduct library research on your topic and gather supporting evidence from at least three credible sources. You may use one credible internet source.  All sources should be evaluated for validity and reliability.  Please remember that many excellent sources of information are not available online, but can be found in books and journal articles located through library search engines.
5. Organize the body of your speech in the required outline format using the organizational framework you chose to arrange your main points. Support the main points of your speech with your research and provide both parenthetical citations and oral attribution for all sources. Include appropriate transitions.
6. Make strong arguments in support of your topic using sound research. Adapt the speech to the needs and motivations of the audience and demonstrate the persuasive appeals of logical argument (logos), emotional appeal (pathos), and credibility (ethos).
7. Develop an introduction that gains the audience’s attention, reveals your topic and relates it to the audience, builds your credibility, states your thesis statement, and previews the main ideas to be developed in the body.
8. Develop a conclusion that restates your thesis statement, summarizes your main points, motivates the audience to respond, and brings memorable closure to your speech.
9. Incorporate appropriate visual aids that enhance the persuasive appeal of your speech and help the audience follow your arguments. (If you choose to use PowerPoint, please submit a copy of your slides along with your outline. If you use other printed aids, scan and email separately.)
10. Submit your speech outline as indicated in the instructions. Type the outline in complete sentences; double spaced in 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font; using proper outline format; and free from spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors.  List all sources on the separate “Resources” page(s) using APA citation format.
11. Deliver and record your speech extemporaneously, not read or memorized. Use oral citations for your resources in your presentation. Speak from your note cards, not from your complete outline.  If the speech is read or memorized, your grade will be reduced.
12. Time your speech so that you speak between 4-6 minutes. Speaking more or less will reduce your grade.