exercise persuasive speech

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

44 Persuasive Speaking: Activities and Resources

Discussion and activities.

Watch this clip from The King’s Speech where the new king makes his first wartime radio broadcast of Britians’ s declaration of war on Germany in 1939. This movie is a dramatic interpretation of the true story of the future King George VI who worked to overcome a stammer. (Make note of how he has marked the manuscript that he reads from at 1:17-1:21).

Corporate Story Telling Activity

Watch the Charity Water Story before class and discuss these questions in class.

Do you think this model of corporate storytelling is more effective than the traditional model of listing mission and vision on the website?
Ethos. How does he build personal credibility? How about credibility for the organization?
Pathos. List some of the emotional appeals? Were they effective, why or why not? Were they ethical, why or why not?
Logos. List the ways he used logic (facts, data, charts). Which was the most effective for you?
Were you persuaded? If so at what point did you become persuaded?
How does he tie the opening and the closing?
How does he “ask for the sale”? Write out some of his phrases.
What are some of the ways, that he reengages the audience to make them see they are part of the speech?
How does he use inoculation (help people overcome objections that people may be thinking)?
When my husband watched this, he said, “I could feel myself being persuaded and could tell where they were headed with it, so I had to stop watching it.” When do you physically or mentally “stop watching”? How can a speaker keep their audience?
What organizational pattern does this fit? Map it out.
Is this an example of public speaking? Explain your answer.

Persuasive Speaking on Gun Control

Days after a gunman entered her school and killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Emma Gonzalez, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, addressed a gun control rally on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

What does she say to connect to her audience? Who is her target audience? Who is the secondary audience, how can you tell?
Logos: How does she break down numbers so the audience can relate?
Pathos: Clearly, this is an emotional speech, how does that emotion affect you–persuasive or too much?
Ethos: How does she build her credibility?
Find where she repeats the same phrase over and over, is this effective, why or why not?

Charron Heston is a longtime NRA Advocate. One type of persuasive speech is not to change the minds of an audience but to “rally the troops” to make them support their cause even more.

How does he connect to his audience?
Colorful Language: He uses a lot of alliterations (repeat the same letter), make a list of all the alliterations. Do you think they were effective for this type of speech? Why or why not.
Colorful language: How does he use personification (giving inanimate objects life like characteristics like that of a person.) Do you think they were effective for this type of speech? Why or why not.
Colorful language: He has several examples of antithesis (pairing or opposites in parallel phrases –one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind). Make a list of them and discuss their effectiveness.
What do you think about his choice of prop and the timing of the prop?
In the end, he uses the line, “From my cold dead hands.” Look up the history of the phrase and how it was used after this speech. What is your opinion of this as a final persuasive statement?

Halberg, S. (2015). Reversing Type 2 diabetes starts with ignoring the guidelines. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da1vvigy5tQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5z3zWJIthI&t=1s

Freedom in Thought (2018). The three methods of persuasion: Rhetoric-Aristotle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5z3zWJIthI&t=1s

Langston, C. (2016). How to use rhetoric to get what you want. https://www.ted.com/talks/camille_langston_how_to_use_rhetoric_to_get_what_you_want

Ulmer, K. (2016). The three persuasive appeal: Logos, ethos, pathos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oUfOh_CgHQ

Schoder, W. (2017). Mr. Rogers and the power of persuasion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DGdDQrXv5U .

About three and a half years ago, I made a discovery. And this discovery profoundly changed my view on how I thought the world worked, and it even profoundly changed the way in which I operate in it. As it turns out, there’s a pattern. As it turns out, all the great inspiring leaders and organizations in the world, whether it’s Apple or Martin Luther King or the Wright brothers, they all think, act and communicate the exact same way. And it’s the complete opposite to everyone else. All I did was codify it, and it’s probably the world’s simplest idea. I call it the golden circle.

Sinek, S. (2009). How great leaders inspire action. https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en Standard YouTube License.

For information on Values to consider different types of purchasers…

Strategic Business Insights. The US Vals Survey. http://www.strategicbusinessinsights.com/vals/presurvey.shtml

Stick to your strong arguments, because your arguments don’t add up in the minds of the receiver, they average out. The most robust psychological explanation for this is one of averaging. In this model, we take in information, and those information are afforded a weighted score. And our minds do not add those pieces of information, but rather average those pieces of information. So when you introduce irrelevant or even weak arguments, those weak arguments, if you will, reduce the weight of your overall argument. Niro Sivanathan

Sivanathan, N. (2019). The counterintuitive way to be more persuasive. https://www.ted.com/talks/niro_sivanathan_the_counterintuitive_way_to_be_more_persuasive. Standard YouTube License.

In an article by Steve Booth-Butterfield, entitled Inoculation Theory. Ouch! But It’s Food for you or the Best Defense is Bad Offense, he gave this example:

You might recall the infamous “woman” problem of President Bill Clinton (1992-2000). What you may not remember is that this problem popped up during the Presidential primaries held over the winter of 1991-92. A former amorous partner, Gennifer Flowers, scheduled a press conference declaring her adulterous relationship with the then Governor of Arkansas. The Clinton campaign got wind of this planned press conference by Ms. Flowers and on the Sunday night before that following Monday afternoon event, Bill and Hillary Clinton appeared on an episode of the popular TV news magazine show, “60 Minutes.” In it, the reporter directly asked about the “woman” problem and the Clintons, especially, Mrs. Clinton responded in a way that seemed to acknowledge past marital problems, but that these problems were way in the past, and that they were together in marriage as husband and wife.

This is an excellent practical application of inoculation. Before the “real” attack from Gennifer Flowers could occur, Mr. Clinton managed to produce a weak attack on voter attitudes about fidelity, marital privacy, and politics. The appearance on “60 Minutes” was their first large scale national appearance in the media, so many viewers were getting their first look at the Clintons. And, that first looking included a weak presentation of the “woman” problem and how the Clintons handled it.

When Gennifer Flowers came along the next day, not only was her press conference “old news” it was also inoculated news. People had already been attacked on their attitudes about Mr. Clinton’s character and alleged defects and they had already defended their attitudes on that issue. When Ms. Flowers came along, many people could easily defend their attitudes and beliefs about Mr. Clinton and just as easily discount Ms. Flowers’ claims as a tawdry and transparent attempt to gain her “fifteen minutes” of fame.

Booth-Butterfield, S. (n.d). Inoculation Theory. Ouch! But It’s Good For You or The Best Defense Is A Bad Offense. http://healthyinfluence.com/wordpress/steves-primer-of-practical-persuasion-3-0/feeling/inoculation/

“Not everybody believes in the possibility of political persuasion. Many people see political positions as expressions of innate personality traits – hard-wired into us either by our genes or by an irreversible process of socialization. Why should we waste time trying to be persuasive when people never really change their minds? This is a reasonable concern.

The idea that persuasion doesn’t work comes from a bad application of good science. A substantial body of research suggests that our political beliefs are shaped by more or less fixed psychological characteristics … Research like this, however, tells us about the difficulty of conversion, not persuasion. These are not the same things. We too often misrepresent the task of political persuasion by thinking of the most strident partisan we have ever encountered and imagined what it would take to turn that person into an equally strident partisan for the other side. This sort of Paul-on-the-Road-to-Damascus conversion rarely happens in politics. Most people don’t change their fundamental values, and if we expect them to, we are going to be very disappointed.

But we usually don’t need people to change their fundamental values in order to convince them to adopt a particular position. The fact that people have fundamental values makes it possible to persuade them by appealing to those values. But we have to find values that we really share.” ― Michael Austin, We Must Not Be Enemies: Restoring America’s Civic Tradition

Austin, M. (2019). We must not be enemies: Restoring America’s civic tradition . Rowman & Littlefield.

Since this is an advanced class, we are working on refining our skills. You should have learned the structure of an argument in basic communication already but I am providing a video refresher.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=syGLJy7jjsk%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26rel%3D0

Jenkinson, P. (2019). Toulmin Model. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syGLJy7jjsk Standard YouTube License.

Share This Book

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

11.2 Persuasive Speaking

Learning objectives.

Explain how claims, evidence, and warrants function to create an argument.
Identify strategies for choosing a persuasive speech topic.
Identify strategies for adapting a persuasive speech based on an audience’s orientation to the proposition.
Distinguish among propositions of fact, value, and policy.
Choose an organizational pattern that is fitting for a persuasive speech topic.

We produce and receive persuasive messages daily, but we don’t often stop to think about how we make the arguments we do or the quality of the arguments that we receive. In this section, we’ll learn the components of an argument, how to choose a good persuasive speech topic, and how to adapt and organize a persuasive message.

Foundation of Persuasion

Persuasive speaking seeks to influence the beliefs, attitudes, values, or behaviors of audience members. In order to persuade, a speaker has to construct arguments that appeal to audience members. Arguments form around three components: claim, evidence, and warrant. The claim is the statement that will be supported by evidence. Your thesis statement is the overarching claim for your speech, but you will make other claims within the speech to support the larger thesis. Evidence , also called grounds, supports the claim. The main points of your persuasive speech and the supporting material you include serve as evidence. For example, a speaker may make the following claim: “There should be a national law against texting while driving.” The speaker could then support the claim by providing the following evidence: “Research from the US Department of Transportation has found that texting while driving creates a crash risk that is twenty-three times worse than driving while not distracted.” The warrant is the underlying justification that connects the claim and the evidence. One warrant for the claim and evidence cited in this example is that the US Department of Transportation is an institution that funds research conducted by credible experts. An additional and more implicit warrant is that people shouldn’t do things they know are unsafe.

Figure 11.2 Components of an Argument

The quality of your evidence often impacts the strength of your warrant, and some warrants are stronger than others. A speaker could also provide evidence to support their claim advocating for a national ban on texting and driving by saying, “I have personally seen people almost wreck while trying to text.” While this type of evidence can also be persuasive, it provides a different type and strength of warrant since it is based on personal experience. In general, the anecdotal evidence from personal experience would be given a weaker warrant than the evidence from the national research report. The same process works in our legal system when a judge evaluates the connection between a claim and evidence. If someone steals my car, I could say to the police, “I’m pretty sure Mario did it because when I said hi to him on campus the other day, he didn’t say hi back, which proves he’s mad at me.” A judge faced with that evidence is unlikely to issue a warrant for Mario’s arrest. Fingerprint evidence from the steering wheel that has been matched with a suspect is much more likely to warrant arrest.

As you put together a persuasive argument, you act as the judge. You can evaluate arguments that you come across in your research by analyzing the connection (the warrant) between the claim and the evidence. If the warrant is strong, you may want to highlight that argument in your speech. You may also be able to point out a weak warrant in an argument that goes against your position, which you could then include in your speech. Every argument starts by putting together a claim and evidence, but arguments grow to include many interrelated units.

Choosing a Persuasive Speech Topic

As with any speech, topic selection is important and is influenced by many factors. Good persuasive speech topics are current, controversial, and have important implications for society. If your topic is currently being discussed on television, in newspapers, in the lounges in your dorm, or around your family’s dinner table, then it’s a current topic. A persuasive speech aimed at getting audience members to wear seat belts in cars wouldn’t have much current relevance, given that statistics consistently show that most people wear seat belts. Giving the same speech would have been much more timely in the 1970s when there was a huge movement to increase seat-belt use.

Many topics that are current are also controversial, which is what gets them attention by the media and citizens. Current and controversial topics will be more engaging for your audience. A persuasive speech to encourage audience members to donate blood or recycle wouldn’t be very controversial, since the benefits of both practices are widely agreed on. However, arguing that the restrictions on blood donation by men who have had sexual relations with men be lifted would be controversial. I must caution here that controversial is not the same as inflammatory. An inflammatory topic is one that evokes strong reactions from an audience for the sake of provoking a reaction. Being provocative for no good reason or choosing a topic that is extremist will damage your credibility and prevent you from achieving your speech goals.

You should also choose a topic that is important to you and to society as a whole. As we have already discussed in this book, our voices are powerful, as it is through communication that we participate and make change in society. Therefore we should take seriously opportunities to use our voices to speak publicly. Choosing a speech topic that has implications for society is probably a better application of your public speaking skills than choosing to persuade the audience that Lebron James is the best basketball player in the world or that Superman is a better hero than Spiderman. Although those topics may be very important to you, they don’t carry the same social weight as many other topics you could choose to discuss. Remember that speakers have ethical obligations to the audience and should take the opportunity to speak seriously.

You will also want to choose a topic that connects to your own interests and passions. If you are an education major, it might make more sense to do a persuasive speech about funding for public education than the death penalty. If there are hot-button issues for you that make you get fired up and veins bulge out in your neck, then it may be a good idea to avoid those when speaking in an academic or professional context.

Choose a persuasive speech topic that you’re passionate about but still able to approach and deliver in an ethical manner.

Michael Vadon – Nigel Farage – CC BY-SA 2.0.

Choosing such topics may interfere with your ability to deliver a speech in a competent and ethical manner. You want to care about your topic, but you also want to be able to approach it in a way that’s going to make people want to listen to you. Most people tune out speakers they perceive to be too ideologically entrenched and write them off as extremists or zealots.

You also want to ensure that your topic is actually persuasive. Draft your thesis statement as an “I believe” statement so your stance on an issue is clear. Also, think of your main points as reasons to support your thesis. Students end up with speeches that aren’t very persuasive in nature if they don’t think of their main points as reasons. Identifying arguments that counter your thesis is also a good exercise to help ensure your topic is persuasive. If you can clearly and easily identify a competing thesis statement and supporting reasons, then your topic and approach are arguable.

Review of Tips for Choosing a Persuasive Speech Topic

Not current. People should use seat belts.
Current. People should not text while driving.
Not controversial. People should recycle.
Controversial. Recycling should be mandatory by law.
Not as impactful. Superman is the best superhero.
Impactful. Colleges and universities should adopt zero-tolerance bullying policies.
Unclear thesis. Homeschooling is common in the United States.
Clear, argumentative thesis with stance. Homeschooling does not provide the same benefits of traditional education and should be strictly monitored and limited.

Adapting Persuasive Messages

Competent speakers should consider their audience throughout the speech-making process. Given that persuasive messages seek to directly influence the audience in some way, audience adaptation becomes even more important. If possible, poll your audience to find out their orientation toward your thesis. I read my students’ thesis statements aloud and have the class indicate whether they agree with, disagree with, or are neutral in regards to the proposition. It is unlikely that you will have a homogenous audience, meaning that there will probably be some who agree, some who disagree, and some who are neutral. So you may employ all of the following strategies, in varying degrees, in your persuasive speech.

When you have audience members who already agree with your proposition, you should focus on intensifying their agreement. You can also assume that they have foundational background knowledge of the topic, which means you can take the time to inform them about lesser-known aspects of a topic or cause to further reinforce their agreement. Rather than move these audience members from disagreement to agreement, you can focus on moving them from agreement to action. Remember, calls to action should be as specific as possible to help you capitalize on audience members’ motivation in the moment so they are more likely to follow through on the action.

There are two main reasons audience members may be neutral in regards to your topic: (1) they are uninformed about the topic or (2) they do not think the topic affects them. In this case, you should focus on instilling a concern for the topic. Uninformed audiences may need background information before they can decide if they agree or disagree with your proposition. If the issue is familiar but audience members are neutral because they don’t see how the topic affects them, focus on getting the audience’s attention and demonstrating relevance. Remember that concrete and proxemic supporting materials will help an audience find relevance in a topic. Students who pick narrow or unfamiliar topics will have to work harder to persuade their audience, but neutral audiences often provide the most chance of achieving your speech goal since even a small change may move them into agreement.

When audience members disagree with your proposition, you should focus on changing their minds. To effectively persuade, you must be seen as a credible speaker. When an audience is hostile to your proposition, establishing credibility is even more important, as audience members may be quick to discount or discredit someone who doesn’t appear prepared or doesn’t present well-researched and supported information. Don’t give an audience a chance to write you off before you even get to share your best evidence. When facing a disagreeable audience, the goal should also be small change. You may not be able to switch someone’s position completely, but influencing him or her is still a success. Aside from establishing your credibility, you should also establish common ground with an audience.

Build common ground with disagreeable audiences and acknowledge areas of disagreement.

Chris-Havard Berge – Shaking Hands – CC BY-NC 2.0.

Acknowledging areas of disagreement and logically refuting counterarguments in your speech is also a way to approach persuading an audience in disagreement, as it shows that you are open-minded enough to engage with other perspectives.

Determining Your Proposition

The proposition of your speech is the overall direction of the content and how that relates to the speech goal. A persuasive speech will fall primarily into one of three categories: propositions of fact, value, or policy. A speech may have elements of any of the three propositions, but you can usually determine the overall proposition of a speech from the specific purpose and thesis statements.

Propositions of fact focus on beliefs and try to establish that something “is or isn’t.” Propositions of value focus on persuading audience members that something is “good or bad,” “right or wrong,” or “desirable or undesirable.” Propositions of policy advocate that something “should or shouldn’t” be done. Since most persuasive speech topics can be approached as propositions of fact, value, or policy, it is a good idea to start thinking about what kind of proposition you want to make, as it will influence how you go about your research and writing. As you can see in the following example using the topic of global warming, the type of proposition changes the types of supporting materials you would need:

Proposition of fact. Global warming is caused by increased greenhouse gases related to human activity.
Proposition of value. America’s disproportionately large amount of pollution relative to other countries is wrong .
Proposition of policy. There should be stricter emission restrictions on individual cars.

To support propositions of fact, you would want to present a logical argument based on objective facts that can then be used to build persuasive arguments. Propositions of value may require you to appeal more to your audience’s emotions and cite expert and lay testimony. Persuasive speeches about policy usually require you to research existing and previous laws or procedures and determine if any relevant legislation or propositions are currently being considered.

“Getting Critical”

Persuasion and Masculinity

The traditional view of rhetoric that started in ancient Greece and still informs much of our views on persuasion today has been critiqued for containing Western and masculine biases. Traditional persuasion has been linked to Western and masculine values of domination, competition, and change, which have been critiqued as coercive and violent (Gearhart, 1979).

Communication scholars proposed an alternative to traditional persuasive rhetoric in the form of invitational rhetoric. Invitational rhetoric differs from a traditional view of persuasive rhetoric that “attempts to win over an opponent, or to advocate the correctness of a single position in a very complex issue” (Bone et al., 2008). Instead, invitational rhetoric proposes a model of reaching consensus through dialogue. The goal is to create a climate in which growth and change can occur but isn’t required for one person to “win” an argument over another. Each person in a communication situation is acknowledged to have a standpoint that is valid but can still be influenced through the offering of alternative perspectives and the invitation to engage with and discuss these standpoints (Ryan & Natalle, 2001). Safety, value, and freedom are three important parts of invitational rhetoric. Safety involves a feeling of security in which audience members and speakers feel like their ideas and contributions will not be denigrated. Value refers to the notion that each person in a communication encounter is worthy of recognition and that people are willing to step outside their own perspectives to better understand others. Last, freedom is present in communication when communicators do not limit the thinking or decisions of others, allowing all participants to speak up (Bone et al., 2008).

Invitational rhetoric doesn’t claim that all persuasive rhetoric is violent. Instead, it acknowledges that some persuasion is violent and that the connection between persuasion and violence is worth exploring. Invitational rhetoric has the potential to contribute to the civility of communication in our society. When we are civil, we are capable of engaging with and appreciating different perspectives while still understanding our own. People aren’t attacked or reviled because their views diverge from ours. Rather than reducing the world to “us against them, black or white, and right or wrong,” invitational rhetoric encourages us to acknowledge human perspectives in all their complexity (Bone et al., 2008).

What is your reaction to the claim that persuasion includes Western and masculine biases?
What are some strengths and weaknesses of the proposed alternatives to traditional persuasion?
In what situations might an invitational approach to persuasion be useful? In what situations might you want to rely on traditional models of persuasion?

Organizing a Persuasive Speech

We have already discussed several patterns for organizing your speech, but some organization strategies are specific to persuasive speaking. Some persuasive speech topics lend themselves to a topical organization pattern, which breaks the larger topic up into logical divisions. Earlier, in Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” , we discussed recency and primacy, and in this chapter we discussed adapting a persuasive speech based on the audience’s orientation toward the proposition. These concepts can be connected when organizing a persuasive speech topically. Primacy means putting your strongest information first and is based on the idea that audience members put more weight on what they hear first. This strategy can be especially useful when addressing an audience that disagrees with your proposition, as you can try to win them over early. Recency means putting your strongest information last to leave a powerful impression. This can be useful when you are building to a climax in your speech, specifically if you include a call to action.

Putting your strongest argument last can help motivate an audience to action.

Celestine Chua – The Change – CC BY 2.0.

The problem-solution pattern is an organizational pattern that advocates for a particular approach to solve a problem. You would provide evidence to show that a problem exists and then propose a solution with additional evidence or reasoning to justify the course of action. One main point addressing the problem and one main point addressing the solution may be sufficient, but you are not limited to two. You could add a main point between the problem and solution that outlines other solutions that have failed. You can also combine the problem-solution pattern with the cause-effect pattern or expand the speech to fit with Monroe’s Motivated Sequence.

As was mentioned in Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” , the cause-effect pattern can be used for informative speaking when the relationship between the cause and effect is not contested. The pattern is more fitting for persuasive speeches when the relationship between the cause and effect is controversial or unclear. There are several ways to use causes and effects to structure a speech. You could have a two-point speech that argues from cause to effect or from effect to cause. You could also have more than one cause that lead to the same effect or a single cause that leads to multiple effects. The following are some examples of thesis statements that correspond to various organizational patterns. As you can see, the same general topic area, prison overcrowding, is used for each example. This illustrates the importance of considering your organizational options early in the speech-making process, since the pattern you choose will influence your researching and writing.

Persuasive Speech Thesis Statements by Organizational Pattern

Problem-solution. Prison overcrowding is a serious problem that we can solve by finding alternative rehabilitation for nonviolent offenders.
Problem–failed solution–proposed solution. Prison overcrowding is a serious problem that shouldn’t be solved by building more prisons; instead, we should support alternative rehabilitation for nonviolent offenders.
Cause-effect. Prisons are overcrowded with nonviolent offenders, which leads to lesser sentences for violent criminals.
Cause-cause-effect. State budgets are being slashed and prisons are overcrowded with nonviolent offenders, which leads to lesser sentences for violent criminals.
Cause-effect-effect. Prisons are overcrowded with nonviolent offenders, which leads to increased behavioral problems among inmates and lesser sentences for violent criminals.
Cause-effect-solution. Prisons are overcrowded with nonviolent offenders, which leads to lesser sentences for violent criminals; therefore we need to find alternative rehabilitation for nonviolent offenders.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is an organizational pattern designed for persuasive speaking that appeals to audience members’ needs and motivates them to action. If your persuasive speaking goals include a call to action, you may want to consider this organizational pattern. We already learned about the five steps of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” , but we will review them here with an example:

Hook the audience by making the topic relevant to them.
Imagine living a full life, retiring, and slipping into your golden years. As you get older you become more dependent on others and move into an assisted-living facility. Although you think life will be easier, things get worse as you experience abuse and mistreatment from the staff. You report the abuse to a nurse and wait, but nothing happens and the abuse continues. Elder abuse is a common occurrence, and unlike child abuse, there are no laws in our state that mandate complaints of elder abuse be reported or investigated.
Cite evidence to support the fact that the issue needs to be addressed.
According to the American Psychological Association, one to two million elderly US Americans have been abused by their caretakers. In our state, those in the medical, psychiatric, and social work field are required to report suspicion of child abuse but are not mandated to report suspicions of elder abuse.
Offer a solution and persuade the audience that it is feasible and well thought out.
There should be a federal law mandating that suspicion of elder abuse be reported and that all claims of elder abuse be investigated.
Take the audience beyond your solution and help them visualize the positive results of implementing it or the negative consequences of not.
Elderly people should not have to live in fear during their golden years. A mandatory reporting law for elderly abuse will help ensure that the voices of our elderly loved ones will be heard.
Call your audience to action by giving them concrete steps to follow to engage in a particular action or to change a thought or behavior.
I urge you to take action in two ways. First, raise awareness about this issue by talking to your own friends and family. Second, contact your representatives at the state and national level to let them know that elder abuse should be taken seriously and given the same level of importance as other forms of abuse. I brought cards with the contact information for our state and national representatives for this area. Please take one at the end of my speech. A short e-mail or phone call can help end the silence surrounding elder abuse.

Key Takeaways

Arguments are formed by making claims that are supported by evidence. The underlying justification that connects the claim and evidence is the warrant. Arguments can have strong or weak warrants, which will make them more or less persuasive.
Good persuasive speech topics are current, controversial (but not inflammatory), and important to the speaker and society.
When audience members agree with the proposal, focus on intensifying their agreement and moving them to action.
When audience members are neutral in regards to the proposition, provide background information to better inform them about the issue and present information that demonstrates the relevance of the topic to the audience.
When audience members disagree with the proposal, focus on establishing your credibility, build common ground with the audience, and incorporate counterarguments and refute them.
Propositions of fact focus on establishing that something “is or isn’t” or is “true or false.”
Propositions of value focus on persuading an audience that something is “good or bad,” “right or wrong,” or “desirable or undesirable.”
Propositions of policy advocate that something “should or shouldn’t” be done.
Persuasive speeches can be organized using the following patterns: problem-solution, cause-effect, cause-effect-solution, or Monroe’s Motivated Sequence.
Getting integrated: Give an example of persuasive messages that you might need to create in each of the following contexts: academic, professional, personal, and civic. Then do the same thing for persuasive messages you may receive.
To help ensure that your persuasive speech topic is persuasive and not informative, identify the claims, evidence, and warrants you may use in your argument. In addition, write a thesis statement that refutes your topic idea and identify evidence and warrants that could support that counterargument.
Determine if your speech is primarily a proposition of fact, value, or policy. How can you tell? Identify an organizational pattern that you think will work well for your speech topic, draft one sentence for each of your main points, and arrange them according to the pattern you chose.

Bone, J. E., Cindy L. Griffin, and T. M. Linda Scholz, “Beyond Traditional Conceptualizations of Rhetoric: Invitational Rhetoric and a Move toward Civility,” Western Journal of Communication 72 (2008): 436.

Gearhart, S. M., “The Womanization of Rhetoric,” Women’s Studies International Quarterly 2 (1979): 195–201.

Ryan, K. J., and Elizabeth J. Natalle, “Fusing Horizons: Standpoint Hermenutics and Invitational Rhetoric,” Rhetoric Society Quarterly 31 (2001): 69–90.

Communication in the Real World Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

How to Write an Effective Persuasive Speech Outline: 5 Key Elements

The Speaker Lab
April 14, 2024

If you’re a speaker, you are probably well familiar with the path from initial speech drafts to the day you actually present. By its nature, speech delivery is a journey filled with obstacles, yet it’s simultaneously an adventure in persuasion. With a well-crafted persuasive speech outline , you can do more than just present facts and figures to your audience. You can weave them into a narrative that captivates, convinces, and converts.

A meticulously planned persuasive speech outline isn’t just helpful; it’s essential. Crafting this blueprint carefully lets you deliver your message more effectively, making sure each point lands with the impact you’re aiming for. To help you achieve this impact, we have some tips and tricks for you to try.

Writing an Effective Persuasive Speech Outline

When we talk about persuasive speeches , we’re diving into the art of convincing others to see things from a certain point of view. Your speech is your one shot to grab attention, build your case, and inspire action. Your secret weapon for achieving this is your speech outline. In your speech outline, you want to touch on several key elements.

Pick your fight: Start by zeroing in on what you really want to change or influence with this speech.
Support your claim with evidence: Identify those key points that back up your stance to appeal to your audience’s rational side .
The emotional hook: Weave in stories or facts that hit home emotionally .
Avoid the kitchen sink approach: Don’t throw everything at them hoping something sticks. Be selective and strategic with the info you share.
Nail that closer: Your conclusion isn’t just goodbye; it’s where you charge your audience with a call to action.

These elements form the backbone of your persuasive speech. By including these in your talk’s outline, you can’t go wrong.

Find Out Exactly How Much You Could Make As a Paid Speaker

Use The Official Speaker Fee Calculator to tell you what you should charge for your first (or next) speaking gig — virtual or in-person!

Establishing Your Main Objective and Structuring Your Points

Now that you have a general idea of what goes into a persuasive speech outline, let’s break a couple of these pieces down and look at them a little more closely.

Identifying the Purpose of Your Persuasive Speech

When writing your speech, you first need to nail down why you’re doing this in the first place. In other words, identify your main objective. After all, choosing to speak up isn’t merely about the desire to express oneself; it’s deeply rooted in understanding the effect you hope your discourse will unleash. Do you hope to sway opinions towards the belief that animal experimentation is a relic of the past? Or perhaps persuade them that social media does more good than harm? Whatever your cause, identifying your main objective will help keep you on track and avoid rambling.

Organizing Key Points for Maximum Impact

Once you’ve determined what you want to persuade your audience of, you can start building your argument. Specifically, you can determine your key points. Key points support your position on a topic, proving to your audience that you have actual reasons for taking your position.

To pack the most punch, arrange these key points in a logical order. Consider how you might connect your key points. Are there some that can be grouped together? The flow of your argument matters just as much as the argument itself, and a disjointed argument won’t do anyone any favors. As you organize your key points, consider these tips:

Lead with strength, but don’t throw all your cards out at once.
Build upon each point; important transitions between them can make or break audience engagement.
Finish strong by tying back everything to the emotional chord you struck at the beginning.

Nailing these steps will ensure that when you speak, your message doesn’t just echo—it resonates.

Selecting Compelling Topics for Your Persuasive Speeches

Let’s face it, picking the right topic for your persuasive speech outline is half the battle. But what makes a topic not just good, but great? First off, it needs to spark interest, both yours and your audience’s. If you’re not fired up about it, chances are they won’t be either. Second, make sure the topic is something relevant. It should resonate with your listeners’ experiences or touch on their concerns and aspirations. Lastly, your topic has to be something you can research and back up with solid facts and expert opinions.

For ideas to get you started, check out a variety of speech topics here .

Enhancing Persuasion Through Rhetorical Appeals

The art of persuasion is something that’s been studied since ancient Greece. Back then, Greek philosopher Aristotle came up with the three rhetorical appeals . Each one described a different way of convincing your audience of your position. Together, these appeals help you form a rock-strong argument, making them worth learning.

Building Credibility with Ethos

To get people on your side, you first need to win their trust. That’s where ethos comes into play. Demonstrating to your listeners that you’re both trustworthy and deserving of their attention hinges on transparency about your qualifications, genuine self, and the wisdom gained from occasional setbacks. Letting folks know why they should listen can make all the difference.

Connecting with the Audience Through Pathos

At some point, we’ve all been moved by a story or an ad because it hit right in the feels. That sort of emotional appeal is called pathos , and it’s powerful stuff. If you want people really invested in what you’re saying, then be sure to use this appeal in your presentation. To harness the power of pathos, try telling a story , especially one your audience can relate to. The key is authenticity—sharing true experiences resonates more than anything fabricated ever could.

Strengthening Arguments with Logos

Last but not least, we have logos, our logical appeal. Oftentimes, this logical appeal entails facts and data points, which are used to back up what you’re selling, turning skeptics into believers. But just because you’re listing facts and figures doesn’t mean this part has to be boring. To keep your audience engaged, craft persuasive narratives and then ground them in robust proof. Giving your story to go with your numbers doesn’t just help keep them engaged, it also helps the information stick.

The Importance of Supporting Evidence and Counterarguments

In your persuasive speech outline, you need to note compelling evidence for each key point. In addition, you’ll want to address opposing views.

Gathering and Presenting Convincing Evidence

No matter how trustworthy you seem, or how compelling your stories are, most people need tangible proof. That’s where concrete evidence steps into the spotlight. To fortify your argument and boost its believability, sprinkle in a mix of hard data, customer stories, numerical evidence, and endorsements from authorities. To illustrate this data for your audience, you may find it helpful to create a slideshow . Supporting every assertion with research is an essential part of any persuasive speech. Without it, arguments inevitably sound flimsy and unconvincing.

Addressing Opposing Views Effectively

Although it may seem counterintuitive, address counter-arguments head-on in your persuasive speech outline. It might feel like walking into enemy territory but it actually strengthens your own argument. By acknowledging opposing views, you’re showing that not only do you know what they are, but also that they don’t scare you.

When you address these counter-arguments, demonstrate your understanding. Again, this is where your good research skills are going to come in handy. Present the facts, and ditch biased explanations. In other words, don’t mock or belittle the other side’s viewpoint or you’ll undermine your own trustworthiness. Instead, explain opposing viewpoints with neutrality.

Adopting this strategy not only neutralizes possible objections but also enhances your stance. Plus, this makes for an engaging dialogue between both sides of any debate, which keeps audience members hooked from start to finish.

In essence, tackling counter-arguments is less about winning over naysayers and more about enriching discussions around hot-button issues. At its core, persuasion isn’t just convincing folks; it’s sparking conversations worth having.

Crafting a Captivating Introduction and Conclusion

Now that you have the body of your persuasive speech outline, it’s time to talk beginning and end. To really hit your message home, you want to grab your audience’s attention at the beginning and call them to action at the end.

Creating an Engaging Hook to Capture Attention

The opening of your speech is where you need a good first impression. To hook your audience, consider starting with an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or even a short story related to your topic. Whatever route you choose, keep it interesting and concise, so that you can transition into the rest of your persuasive speech outline.

Concluding with a Strong Call to Action

Crafting strong conclusions is about leaving your readers feeling pumped and ready to jump into action. After all, if you’ve argued convincingly enough, your audience should be ready to act. To channel this energy, urge listeners towards specific actions. Here are some strategies:

Suggest clear next steps: Don’t leave your audience hanging wondering what’s next. Give them concrete steps they can take immediately after reading.
Create urgency: Why wait? Let folks know why now is the perfect time to act.
Show benefits: Paint vivid pictures of how taking action will positively impact their lives or solve their problems.

With that captivating hook and a decisive call-to-action, you are one step closer to presenting an unforgettable speech.

Utilizing Monroe’s Motivated Sequence for Persuasive Structure

As you finish off your persuasive speech outline, you may be wondering how best to structure your speech. If that’s you, then Purdue University professor Alan H. Monroe has some answers. In his book “Monroe’s Principles of Speech,” the professor outlines Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, the best structure for persuasive speeches. Each step is broken down below.

Attention: Grabbing the Audience’s Focus

You’ve got something important to say. But first, you need them to listen. Start with a bang. Throwing out a shocking truth, posing a thought-provoking query, or sharing an enthralling tale could work magic in grabbing their attention. It’s all about making heads turn and ears perk up.

Need: Highlighting the Issue at Hand

Now that they’re listening, show them there’s a gaping hole in their lives that only your message can fill. Paint a vivid picture of the problem your speech addresses.

Satisfaction: Proposing a Solution

This is where you come in as the hero with a plan. Introduce your solution clearly and convincingly. How does it patch things up? Why does it outshine merely applying quick fixes to deep-rooted issues? Give your audience hope.

Visualization: Helping the Audience Visualize Benefits

Show them life on the other side of adopting your idea or product—brighter, easier, better. Use vivid imagery and relatable scenarios so they can see themselves reaping those benefits firsthand.

Action: Encouraging Audience Action

Last step: nudge them from “maybe” to “yes.” Make this part irresistible by being clear about what action they should take next—and why now’s the time to act. Whether signing up, voting, or changing behavior, make sure they know how easy taking that first step can be.

Learn more about Monroe’s Motivated Sequence here .

Free Download: 6 Proven Steps to Book More Paid Speaking Gigs in 2024

Download our 18-page guide and start booking more paid speaking gigs today!

Overcoming Public Speaking Fears for Effective Delivery

Let’s face it, the thought of public speaking can turn even the most confident folks into a bundle of nerves. But hey, you’ve got this. Dive into these expert strategies and you’ll find yourself delivering speeches like a seasoned orator in no time.

Techniques to Build Confidence in Public Speaking

If you’re feeling nervous on the big day, these three techniques are perfect for you. Take a look!

Breathe: Deep breathing is your secret weapon against those pesky nerves. It tells your brain that everything is going to be okay.
Pose like a superhero: Stand tall and strike a power pose before you go on stage. This isn’t just fun; science backs it up as a confidence booster .
Kick perfectionism to the curb: Aim for connection with your audience, not perfection. Mistakes make you human and more relatable.

The goal here is to calm yourself enough to be able to deliver your persuasive speech outline with confidence. Even if you still feel a little nervous, you can still present an awesome speech. You just don’t want those nerves running the show.

Practicing Your Speech for Perfect Execution

If you know that you tend to get nervous when public speaking, then you don’t want to be running through you speech for the first time on the big day. Instead, practice beforehand using these techniques.

The mirror is your friend: Practice in front of a mirror to catch any odd gestures or facial expressions.
Vary your voice: As you deliver your speech, let your voice rise and fall to match what you’re sharing. Avoid speaking in a monotone.
Say no to memorization: Rather than memorizing every word, learn key points by heart. You want to sound natural out there.

Remembering these steps won’t just help you tackle public speaking fear, but will also polish those all-important public speaking skills .

Once you’ve honed the skills you need to write a persuasive speech outline, the only thing left to do is to get out there and practice them. So take the rhetorical appeals—ethos, logos, and pathos—and practice weaving each element into your speech. Or take Monroe’s Motivated Sequence and work on structuring your outline accordingly.

Prepare well and when you hit the stage, you have not just a well-prepared persuasive speech outline, but also the power to alter perspectives, challenge the status quo, or even change lives.

Last Updated: April 11, 2024

Explore Related Resources

Learn How You Could Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig In 90 Days or Less

We receive thousands of applications every day, but we only work with the top 5% of speakers .

Book a call with our team to get started — you’ll learn why the vast majority of our students get a paid speaking gig within 90 days of finishing our program .

If you’re ready to control your schedule, grow your income, and make an impact in the world – it’s time to take the first step. Book a FREE consulting call and let’s get you Booked and Paid to Speak ® .

About The Speaker Lab

We teach speakers how to consistently get booked and paid to speak. Since 2015, we’ve helped thousands of speakers find clarity, confidence, and a clear path to make an impact.

Get Started

Let's connect.

[email protected]

school Campus Bookshelves
menu_book Bookshelves
perm_media Learning Objects
login Login
how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
hub Instructor Commons

Margin Size

Download Page (PDF)
Download Full Book (PDF)
Periodic Table
Physics Constants
Scientific Calculator
Reference & Cite
Tools expand_more
Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

16.3: Organizing Persuasive Speeches

Last updated
Save as PDF
Page ID 109285

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

Learning Objectives

Understand three common organizational patterns for persuasive speeches.
Explain the steps utilized in Monroe’s motivated sequence.
Explain the parts of a problem-cause-solution speech.
Explain the process utilized in a comparative advantage persuasive speech.

Steven Lilley – Engaged – CC BY-SA 2.0.

Previously in this text we discussed general guidelines for organizing speeches. In this section, we are going to look at three organizational patterns ideally suited for persuasive speeches: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantages.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

One of the most commonly cited and discussed organizational patterns for persuasive speeches is Alan H. Monroe’s motivated sequence. The purpose of Monroe’s motivated sequence is to help speakers “sequence supporting materials and motivational appeals to form a useful organizational pattern for speeches as a whole” (German et al., 2010).

While Monroe’s motivated sequence is commonly discussed in most public speaking textbooks, we do want to provide one minor caution. Thus far, almost no research has been conducted that has demonstrated that Monroe’s motivated sequence is any more persuasive than other structural patterns. In the only study conducted experimentally examining Monroe’s motivated sequence, the researchers did not find the method more persuasive, but did note that audience members found the pattern more organized than other methods (Micciche, Pryor, & Butler, 2000). We wanted to add this sidenote because we don’t want you to think that Monroe’s motivated sequence is a kind of magic persuasive bullet; the research simply doesn’t support this notion. At the same time, research does support that organized messages are perceived as more persuasive as a whole, so using Monroe’s motivated sequence to think through one’s persuasive argument could still be very beneficial.

Table 16.1 “Monroe’s Motivated Sequence” lists the basic steps of Monroe’s motivated sequence and the subsequent reaction a speaker desires from his or her audience.

Table 16.1 Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

The first step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the attention step , in which a speaker attempts to get the audience’s attention. To gain an audience’s attention, we recommend that you think through three specific parts of the attention step. First, you need to have a strong attention-getting device. As previously discussed in Chapter 9 “Introductions Matter: How to Begin a Speech Effectively”, a strong attention getter at the beginning of your speech is very important. Second, you need to make sure you introduce your topic clearly. If your audience doesn’t know what your topic is quickly, they are more likely to stop listening. Lastly, you need to explain to your audience why they should care about your topic.

In the need step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the speaker establishes that there is a specific need or problem. In Monroe’s conceptualization of need, he talks about four specific parts of the need: statement, illustration, ramification, and pointing. First, a speaker needs to give a clear and concise statement of the problem. This part of a speech should be crystal clear for an audience. Second, the speaker needs to provide one or more examples to illustrate the need. The illustration is an attempt to make the problem concrete for the audience. Next, a speaker needs to provide some kind of evidence (e.g., statistics, examples, testimony) that shows the ramifications or consequences of the problem. Lastly, a speaker needs to point to the audience and show exactly how the problem relates to them personally.

Satisfaction

In the third step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the satisfaction step , the speaker sets out to satisfy the need or solve the problem. Within this step, Monroe (1935) proposed a five-step plan for satisfying a need:

Explanation
Theoretical demonstration
Reference to practical experience
Meeting objections

First, you need to clearly state the attitude, value, belief, or action you want your audience to accept. The purpose of this statement is to clearly tell your audience what your ultimate goal is.

Second, you want to make sure that you clearly explain to your audience why they should accept the attitude, value, belief, or action you proposed. Just telling your audience they should do something isn’t strong enough to actually get them to change. Instead, you really need to provide a solid argument for why they should accept your proposed solution.

Third, you need to show how the solution you have proposed meets the need or problem. Monroe calls this link between your solution and the need a theoretical demonstration because you cannot prove that your solution will work. Instead, you theorize based on research and good judgment that your solution will meet the need or solve the problem.

Fourth, to help with this theoretical demonstration, you need to reference practical experience, which should include examples demonstrating that your proposal has worked elsewhere. Research, statistics, and expert testimony are all great ways of referencing practical experience.

Lastly, Monroe recommends that a speaker respond to possible objections. As a persuasive speaker, one of your jobs is to think through your speech and see what counterarguments could be made against your speech and then rebut those arguments within your speech. When you offer rebuttals for arguments against your speech, it shows your audience that you’ve done your homework and educated yourself about multiple sides of the issue.

Visualization

The next step of Monroe’s motivated sequence is the visualization step , in which you ask the audience to visualize a future where the need has been met or the problem solved. In essence, the visualization stage is where a speaker can show the audience why accepting a specific attitude, value, belief, or behavior can positively affect the future. When helping people to picture the future, the more concrete your visualization is, the easier it will be for your audience to see the possible future and be persuaded by it. You also need to make sure that you clearly show how accepting your solution will directly benefit your audience.

According to Monroe, visualization can be conducted in one of three ways: positive, negative, or contrast (Monroe, 1935). The positive method of visualization is where a speaker shows how adopting a proposal leads to a better future (e.g., recycle, and we’ll have a cleaner and safer planet). Conversely, the negative method of visualization is where a speaker shows how not adopting the proposal will lead to a worse future (e.g., don’t recycle, and our world will become polluted and uninhabitable). Monroe also acknowledged that visualization can include a combination of both positive and negative visualization. In essence, you show your audience both possible outcomes and have them decide which one they would rather have.

The final step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the action step, in which a speaker asks an audience to approve the speaker’s proposal. For understanding purposes, we break action into two distinct parts: audience action and approval. Audience action refers to direct physical behaviors a speaker wants from an audience (e.g., flossing their teeth twice a day, signing a petition, wearing seat belts). Approval, on the other hand, involves an audience’s consent or agreement with a speaker’s proposed attitude, value, or belief.

When preparing an action step, it is important to make sure that the action, whether audience action or approval, is realistic for your audience. Asking your peers in a college classroom to donate one thousand dollars to charity isn’t realistic. Asking your peers to donate one dollar is considerably more realistic. In a persuasive speech based on Monroe’s motivated sequence, the action step will end with the speech’s concluding device. As discussed elsewhere in this text, you need to make sure that you conclude in a vivid way so that the speech ends on a high point and the audience has a sense of energy as well as a sense of closure.

Now that we’ve walked through Monroe’s motivated sequence, let’s look at how you could use Monroe’s motivated sequence to outline a persuasive speech:

Specific Purpose: To persuade my classroom peers that the United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments.

Main Points:

Attention: Want to make nine thousand dollars for just three weeks of work lying around and not doing much? Then be a human guinea pig. Admittedly, you’ll have to have a tube down your throat most of those three weeks, but you’ll earn three thousand dollars a week.
Need: Every day many uneducated and lower socioeconomic-status citizens are preyed on by medical and pharmaceutical companies for use in for-profit medical and drug experiments. Do you want one of your family members to fall prey to this evil scheme?
Satisfaction: The United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments to ensure that uneducated and lower-socioeconomic-status citizens are protected.
Visualization: If we enact tougher experiment oversight, we can ensure that medical and pharmaceutical research is conducted in a way that adheres to basic values of American decency. If we do not enact tougher experiment oversight, we could find ourselves in a world where the lines between research subject, guinea pig, and patient become increasingly blurred.
Action: In order to prevent the atrocities associated with for-profit medical and pharmaceutical experiments, please sign this petition asking the US Department of Health and Human Services to pass stricter regulations on this preying industry that is out of control.

This example shows how you can take a basic speech topic and use Monroe’s motivated sequence to clearly and easily outline your speech efficiently and effectively.

Table 16.2 “Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Checklist” also contains a simple checklist to help you make sure you hit all the important components of Monroe’s motivated sequence.

Table 16.2 Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Checklist

Problem-Cause-Solution

Another format for organizing a persuasive speech is the problem-cause-solution format. In this specific format, you discuss what a problem is, what you believe is causing the problem, and then what the solution should be to correct the problem.

Specific Purpose: To persuade my classroom peers that our campus should adopt a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech.

Demonstrate that there is distrust among different groups on campus that has led to unnecessary confrontations and violence.
Show that the confrontations and violence are a result of hate speech that occurred prior to the events.
Explain how instituting a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy against hate speech could stop the unnecessary confrontations and violence.

In this speech, you want to persuade people to support a new campus-wide policy calling for zero-tolerance of hate speech. Once you have shown the problem, you then explain to your audience that the cause of the unnecessary confrontations and violence is prior incidents of hate speech. Lastly, you argue that a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy could help prevent future unnecessary confrontations and violence. Again, this method of organizing a speech is as simple as its name: problem-cause-solution.

Comparative Advantages

The final method for organizing a persuasive speech is called the comparative advantages speech format. The goal of this speech is to compare items side-by-side and show why one of them is more advantageous than the other. For example, let’s say that you’re giving a speech on which e-book reader is better: Amazon.com’s Kindle or Barnes and Nobles’ Nook. Here’s how you could organize this speech:

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that the Nook is more advantageous than the Kindle.

The Nook allows owners to trade and loan books to other owners or people who have downloaded the Nook software, while the Kindle does not.
The Nook has a color-touch screen, while the Kindle’s screen is black and grey and noninteractive.
The Nook’s memory can be expanded through microSD, while the Kindle’s memory cannot be upgraded.

As you can see from this speech’s organization, the simple goal of this speech is to show why one thing has more positives than something else. Obviously, when you are demonstrating comparative advantages, the items you are comparing need to be functional equivalents—or, as the saying goes, you cannot compare apples to oranges.

Key Takeaways

There are three common patterns that persuaders can utilize to help organize their speeches effectively: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantage. Each of these patterns can effectively help a speaker think through his or her thoughts and organize them in a manner that will be more likely to persuade an audience.
Alan H. Monroe’s (1935) motivated sequence is a commonly used speech format that is used by many people to effectively organize persuasive messages. The pattern consists of five basic stages: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. In the first stage, a speaker gets an audience’s attention. In the second stage, the speaker shows an audience that a need exists. In the third stage, the speaker shows how his or her persuasive proposal could satisfy the need. The fourth stage shows how the future could be if the persuasive proposal is or is not adopted. Lastly, the speaker urges the audience to take some kind of action to help enact the speaker’s persuasive proposal.
The problem-cause-solution proposal is a three-pronged speech pattern. The speaker starts by explaining the problem the speaker sees. The speaker then explains what he or she sees as the underlying causes of the problem. Lastly, the speaker proposes a solution to the problem that corrects the underlying causes.
The comparative advantages speech format is utilized when a speaker is comparing two or more things or ideas and shows why one of the things or ideas has more advantages than the other(s).
Create a speech using Monroe’s motivated sequence to persuade people to recycle.
Create a speech using the problem-cause-solution method for a problem you see on your college or university campus.
Create a comparative advantages speech comparing two brands of toothpaste.

German, K. M., Gronbeck, B. E., Ehninger, D., & Monroe, A. H. (2010). Principles of public speaking (17th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, p. 236.

Micciche, T., Pryor, B., & Butler, J. (2000). A test of Monroe’s motivated sequence for its effects on ratings of message organization and attitude change. Psychological Reports, 86 , 1135–1138.

Monroe, A. H. (1935). Principles and types of speech . Chicago, IL: Scott Foresman.

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Healthy Lifestyle — Essay On Persuasive Speech On Exercise

Essay on Persuasive Speech on Exercise

Categories: Healthy Lifestyle

About this sample

Words: 600 |

Published: Mar 13, 2024

Words: 600 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

Expert in: Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1205 words

4 pages / 2182 words

2 pages / 1044 words

4 pages / 2025 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Healthy Lifestyle

Games and amusements are critical for us. They keep us sound and fit. They offer us a change from the dullness of day by day life. It is a helpful methods for amusement and physical action. Games and recreations help in [...]

My plan to improve my health and fitness is to try my best to stay consistent with my exercise and meal plan. Being consistent in any plan is very important because it allows you not to be so strict with yourself and teaches [...]

Exercise is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle, and its benefits are well-documented. Engaging in regular physical activity has been shown to improve both physical and mental health, reduce the risk of chronic [...]

Living a healthy lifestyle is a fundamental aspect of maintaining one's physical and mental well-being. In this essay about healthy lifestyle, we will delve into the various components that constitute a healthy way of life and [...]

To have a generally healthy body, you should try to maintain a healthy weight. If you’re overweight, you are not maintaining a generally healthy body. Calories are a unit of measurement. You eat calories from food and that [...]

Laughter is Safe and effective medicine for today’s generation. Medicine here doesn’t mean medicine, but something which carries medical properties. We take medicines to heal our bodily ailments and recover from that state this [...]

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

Instructions Followed To The Letter
Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

Improve your practice.

Enhance your soft skills with a range of award-winning courses.

75 Persuasive Speech Topics and Ideas

October 4, 2018 - Gini Beqiri

To write a captivating and persuasive speech you must first decide on a topic that will engage, inform and also persuade the audience. We have discussed how to choose a topic and we have provided a list of speech ideas covering a wide range of categories.

What is persuasive speech?

The aim of a persuasive speech is to inform, educate and convince or motivate an audience to do something. You are essentially trying to sway the audience to adopt your own viewpoint.

The best persuasive speech topics are thought-provoking, daring and have a clear opinion. You should speak about something you are knowledgeable about and can argue your opinion for, as well as objectively discuss counter-arguments.

How to choose a topic for your speech

It’s not easy picking a topic for your speech as there are many options so consider the following factors when deciding.

Familiarity

Topics that you’re familiar with will make it easier to prepare for the speech.

It’s best if you decide on a topic in which you have a genuine interest in because you’ll be doing lots of research on it and if it’s something you enjoy the process will be significantly easier and more enjoyable. The audience will also see this enthusiasm when you’re presenting which will make the speech more persuasive.

The audience’s interest

The audience must care about the topic. You don’t want to lose their attention so choose something you think they’ll be interested in hearing about.

Consider choosing a topic that allows you to be more descriptive because this allows the audience to visualize which consequently helps persuade them.

Not overdone

When people have heard about a topic repeatedly they’re less likely to listen to you as it doesn’t interest them anymore. Avoid cliché or overdone topics as it’s difficult to maintain your audience’s attention because they feel like they’ve heard it all before.

An exception to this would be if you had new viewpoints or new facts to share. If this is the case then ensure you clarify early in your speech that you have unique views or information on the topic.

Emotional topics

Emotions are motivators so the audience is more likely to be persuaded and act on your requests if you present an emotional topic.

People like hearing about issues that affect them or their community, country etc. They find these topics more relatable which means they find them more interesting. Look at local issues and news to discover these topics.

Desired outcome

What do you want your audience to do as a result of your speech? Use this as a guide to choosing your topic, for example, maybe you want people to recycle more so you present a speech on the effect of microplastics in the ocean.

Persuasive speech topics

Lots of timely persuasive topics can be found using social media, the radio, TV and newspapers. We have compiled a list of 75 persuasive speech topic ideas covering a wide range of categories.

Some of the topics also fall into other categories and we have posed the topics as questions so they can be easily adapted into statements to suit your own viewpoint.

Should pets be adopted rather than bought from a breeder?
Should wild animals be tamed?
Should people be allowed to own exotic animals like monkeys?
Should all zoos and aquariums be closed?

Arts/Culture

Should art and music therapy be covered by health insurance?
Should graffiti be considered art?
Should all students be required to learn an instrument in school?
Should automobile drivers be required to take a test every three years?
Are sports cars dangerous?
Should bicycles share the roads with cars?
Should bicycle riders be required by law to always wear helmets?

Business and economy

Do introverts make great leaders?
Does owning a business leave you feeling isolated?
What is to blame for the rise in energy prices?
Does hiring cheaper foreign employees hurt the economy?
Should interns be paid for their work?
Should employees receive bonuses for walking or biking to work?
Should tipping in restaurants be mandatory?
Should boys and girls should be taught in separate classrooms?
Should schools include meditation breaks during the day?
Should students be allowed to have their mobile phones with them during school?
Should teachers have to pass a test every decade to renew their certifications?
Should online teaching be given equal importance as the regular form of teaching?
Is higher education over-rated?
What are the best ways to stop bullying?
Should people with more than one DUI lose their drivers’ licenses?
Should prostitution be legalised?
Should guns be illegal in the US?
Should cannabis be legalised for medical reasons?
Is equality a myth?
Does what is “right” and “wrong” change from generation to generation?
Is there never a good enough reason to declare war?
Should governments tax sugary drinks and use the revenue for public health?
Has cosmetic surgery risen to a level that exceeds good sense?
Is the fast-food industry legally accountable for obesity?
Should school cafeterias only offer healthy food options?
Is acupuncture a valid medical technique?
Should assisted suicide be legal?
Does consuming meat affect health?
Is dieting a good way to lose weight?

Law and politics

Should voting be made compulsory?
Should the President (or similar position) be allowed to serve more than two terms?
Would poverty reduce by fixing housing?
Should drug addicts be sent for treatment in hospitals instead of prisons?
Would it be fair for the government to detain suspected terrorists without proper trial?
Is torture acceptable when used for national security?
Should celebrities who break the law receive stiffer penalties?
Should the government completely ban all cigarettes and tobacco products
Is it wrong for the media to promote a certain beauty standard?
Is the media responsible for the moral degradation of teenagers?
Should advertising be aimed at children?
Has freedom of press gone too far?
Should prayer be allowed in public schools?
Does religion have a place in government?
How do cults differ from religion?

Science and the environment

Should recycling be mandatory?
Should genetically modified foods be sold in supermarkets?
Should parents be allowed to choose the sex of their unborn children?
Should selling plastic bags be completely banned in shops?
Should smoking in public places be banned?
Should professional female athletes be paid the same as male athletes in the same sport?
Should doping be allowed in professional sports?
Should schools be required to teach all students how to swim?
How does parental pressure affect young athletes?
Will technology reduce or increase human employment opportunities?
What age should children be allowed to have mobile phones?
Should libraries be replaced with unlimited access to e-books?
Should we recognize Bitcoin as a legal currency?
Should bloggers and vloggers be treated as journalists and punished for indiscretions?
Has technology helped connect people or isolate them?
Should mobile phone use in public places be regulated?
Do violent video games make people more violent?

World peace

What is the safest country in the world?
Is planetary nuclear disarmament possible?
Is the idea of peace on earth naive?

These topics are just suggestions so you need to assess whether they would be suitable for your particular audience. You can easily adapt the topics to suit your interests and audience, for example, you could substitute “meat” in the topic “Does consuming meat affect health?” for many possibilities, such as “processed foods”, “mainly vegan food”, “dairy” and so on.

After choosing your topic

After you’ve chosen your topic it’s important to do the following:

Research thoroughly
Think about all of the different viewpoints
Tailor to your audience – discussing your topic with others is a helpful way to gain an understanding of your audience.
How involved are you with this topic – are you a key character?
Have you contributed to this area, perhaps through blogs, books, papers and products.
How qualified are you to speak on this topic?
Do you have personal experience in it? How many years?
How long have you been interested in the area?

While it may be difficult to choose from such a variety of persuasive speech topics, think about which of the above you have the most knowledge of and can argue your opinion on.

For advice about how to deliver your persuasive speech, check out our blog Persuasive Speech Outline and Ideas .

My Speech Class

Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

258 Speech Topics on Health [Persuasive, Informative, Argumentative]

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Here is our collection of persuasive and informative speech topics on health and fitness. Interesting issues and themes on topics from ionizing radiation of cell phones to food additives or infant nutrition. And yes, they are just to spice up your own thoughts!

In this article:

Informative

Argumentative.

Wearing pajamas in bed is good for your health.
Diet beverages are often not diet at all and regular not quite regular.
Going barefoot in the summer time – yep, wearing no shoes – is healthy for your feet.
Take a test to see if you are at risk for any dangerous disease or virus.
Why you should not work too hard when you’re diabetic.
Why breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Fast food restaurants should offer healthier options.
Do you think schools should teach sex education?
People who live in big cities will die sooner.
Too much salt is bad for your health.
The amount of meat consumed should be reduced.
People should care more about sleep.
Rape and sexual assault prevention and awareness should be taught in schools.
How drinking too much soda causes health problems.
How junk food is unhealthy for our bodies.
Why you should take a vacation every year.
Is toothpaste bad for health?
Do you think there is too much sugar in our diets?
Drug advertisements should be prohibited.
Euthanasia could decrease suicide rates.
We should use electroconvulsive therapy more.
How to overcome stress.
Stop putting steroids in animal food.
Why you should become an organ donor.
Why we should use homeopathic treatments.
Why vaccines are beneficial.
The dangers of sleepwalking.
Are vaporizers bad for your health?
Are e-cigs better than cigarettes?
Diet pills are bad for your health.
The importance of world Red Cross day.
Why you should be a blood donor.
People need to drink more water.
Healthy eating tips.
Everyone should be taught CPR.
The danger of secondhand smoke.
Why exercise is good for you.
Why obesity is a big problem.
The importance of making healthy food cheaper.
Is gluten really bad for us?
The dangerous effects of drugs.
Should doctors be paid less?
Why you should not wear high heels.
Why you should not go to tanning beds.
The cost of prescription drugs is too high.
Smoking is bad for your health.
Why you should take care of your teeth.
Increase funding for medical research.
Make more healthy choices.
Why you should laugh every day.
Wearing bike helmets should be encouraged.
Cherish your friends.
Alcoholics Anonymous deserves our support.
Socialized medicine saves lives.
Birth control pills should be more available.
We need more resources to prevent infectious diseases.
Eat more dark chocolate.
Positive thinking will benefit your health.
Stomach stapling should be reserved for extreme situations.
Chewing tobacco is dangerous.
Seat belt laws help save lives.
Food additives are dangerous.
Breastfeeding should be encouraged.
Binge drinking awareness should be increased.
Teen pregnancy prevention should be increased.
Teen suicide awareness should be increased.
Fire safety awareness should be increased.
Organ donation should be encouraged.
Eat less meat and you will Iive longer.
Your body may actually speak louder than your words.
Indoor air pollution is responsible for many diseases.
A traditional health insurance plan where you choose the doctors is the best.
Traditional medicine and healing practices have been used for thousands of years with great contributions.
United Nations organization is responsible to reduce newborn mortality and maternal mortality in the upcoming ten years.
Everyone should have access to safe blood products originated from a quality assurance system.
Cook your poultry or risk a campylobacter bacterial infection …
Cell phones are safe for health.
Proper condoms reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections spread primarily through person to person contacts.
We must prevent that the financial crisis evaluates into a physical and mental wellness crisis.
Most food additives are safe.
Exposure to ionizing radiation can pose a substantial physical shape risk for vulnerable people.
Adequate infant nutrition is essential for wellbeing the rest of a person’s life.
Mitigating possible pandemic influenza effects should be a public priority.
80 percent of men suffer from prostate cancer but are completely ignorant about it.
Abortion will endanger the health of a pregnant woman.
Alcoholics Anonymous programs for alcoholics work.
Balanced nutrition can prevent a heart attack.
Condoms give women the power to protect themselves.
Diabetes risk factors and complications must be highlighted better.
Eating foods that contain bacterium Clostridium botulinum will cause foodborne, infant and wound botulism.
Everyone must have easy access to healthcare services.
Fat fast food loaded with sugar, salt and calories contributes to child obesity.
Food should not be used for fuel.
Hair loss in humans can be reversible through good nutrition.
High blood pressure does put you at greater risk of having a stroke.
Irradiated meat is not safe to eat.
Not enough is done to prevent obesity in children.
Patients with anorexia nervosa should be required to get palliative care.
People with autism are not mad!
Poor air quality is a real threat to our health.
Soft drugs are not soft at all.
Support the United Nations Children’s Fund initiatives like the nutrition goals!
Teenagers are using too many risky methods to lose weight.
The media coverage of the swine flu epidemic is over dramatized.
The Munchausen’s syndrome needs to be dealt with better.
There should be one uniform national healthcare system for all.
Travel health needs to be given more importance.
We are not drinking enough water.
We only need one food safety agency.
You will be fitter if you just cycled to work.

Here are some ideas for informative speech topics on physical and mental wellness – from health supplements to fitness tests and from spinning to back pain exercises.

You can use this list of speech topics in two ways:

Take the public speaking topics as they are, and research all ins and outs.
Associate and invent your mapping scheme.
The role of the Center for Disease Control.
The health problems of children born drug addicted.
Eat healthy to live healthily.
How does a headache happen?
The effect of radiation.
What are the effects of self-harm?
Obesity facts and figures.
The benefits of magnesium.
Anxiety and its effects.
The importance of sleep.
How to avoid pesticides in vegetables.
How to prevent elder abuse.
How to avoid toxic chemicals in food.
Autism and its effects.
The different types of birth control.
The benefits of stem cell research.
The benefits of mindfulness.
How to cure and prevent hangovers.
Strategies for healthy eating.
The benefits of being a vegetarian.
What is spinocerebellar degeneration?
How to reduce asthma attacks.
The health benefits of ginger.
The Alice in Wonderland syndrome.
Why we should wash our hands.
The health benefits of friendship.
The importance of eye donation.
Why Americans are so obese.
The importance of childhood cancer awareness.
The reason humans itch.
The benefits of tea.
The best natural medicines.
How drinking too much can affect your health.
How to stop the obesity epidemic.
How to manage mental illness.
How to prevent teen pregnancy.
How to stop memory loss.
The best health care plans.
Xenophobia as a global situation.
The best and worst abdominal exercises in a gym.
Advantages and disadvantages of aqua aerobics for your muscles.
How to determine your body fat percentage in three steps, and when are you in
The effects of dietary health supplements on the long run are not certain.
Increasing weight leads to increasing condition and risks.
Why performance-enhancing substances such as steroids are banned in sports.
Natural bodybuilding supplements and their benefits for normal athletes.
Different types of Calisthenics exercises on music beats.
Why do people apply to life extension nutrition – there is no life elixir or cocktail?
Disadvantages of raw food diets – the flip-side topics to talk about are the
Different methods of strength training programs for revalidating patients. Ideas for informative speech topics on fitness:
Choosing a gym in your town, what to think of, get them a generic checklist.
Workout myths and lies.
The history of the Pilates system that was very popular in the nineties.
Time-saving fitness training tips for busy persons.
Ways to prepare for the types of physical tests, e.g. the Bruce, Beep.
Designating a personal trainer helps you to keep on coming to the athletic club.
Cardiovascular exercises that really work.
Top stretching and warm up tips.
Big three men’s salubriousness issues.
How to get rid of blubbering cellulite adipose tissue on your waist.
Comfortable workout clothing and activewear for women.
What is spinning?
Tips to stay motivated to go to the gym two or three times a week.
Benefits of yoga workout routines.
Back pain exercises to stretch and strengthen your back and supporting muscles.
Different low-carb diets.
Top five sunburn blocking tips, and do share your own wisdom, and empiricism
Travel tips for a healthy vacation.
How our immune system works to keep you physically strong and capable.
Yoga diet and yogic meditation techniques.
Strange Allergies and their symptoms and effects.
Multiple Sclerosis symptoms, causes, treatment and life expectancy.
Asthma solutions and natural remedies.
Dental care how to prevent tooth decay.
Stress management – reduce, prevent and cope with stress.
Yoga tips for beginners and starters – ideal to demonstrate some postures.
Why taking a vacation is good for your health.
The effects of eating disorders.
What is Down syndrome?
Animal to human transplants could save lives.
The body’s coping mechanisms when in a state of shock.
Managing and controlling type 2 diabetes.
How our culture affects organ donation.
Simple AIDS prevention tips.
How celiac disease affects our world.
The benefits of walking without shoes.
How smoking is harmful to your health.
The benefits of being an organ donor.
The dangers of texting while driving.
The importance of vitamins and minerals.
The nutritional value of pickles.
The importance of wearing your seatbelt.
The effects of caffeine on the body.
The history of Psychology.
Exercise combats health problems.
High-risk pregnancy complications.
What is narcissistic personality disorder?
The effects of fast food on the body.
How Monsanto affects our food.
How the American diet has changed.
The health benefits of dark chocolate.
Plastic surgery is bad for your skin.
The importance of anxiety and depression awareness.
The benefits of regular exercise.
How the circulatory system works.
How to have a healthy pregnancy.
How to get a really good sleep.
Why the brain is so important.
The effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Calcium is important
Eating disorders in modern times.
Herbal remedies that work for common diseases.
Junk food and its relation to obesity.
Obesity is the next health risk for the western world.
Smoking bans and restrictions don’t work.
Stretching exercises at the start of your day prevent injuries.
The influenza vaccination effectiveness is poor.
The losing battle with alcohol abuse.
The necessity of mandatory HIV/AIDS testing
The need for mandatory drug testing in our society.
Why health care policies are important.
A vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat.
Smoking a pipe is more harmful than smoking cigarettes.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) should be medicated.
Stretching before and after exercise is overrated.
Everyone should have free access to health care.
Knowing your ancestry is important for health.
Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?
Eating meat and dairy is bad for your body.
Drug addiction is a disease not a choice.
Health risks of smoking are exaggerated.
Veganism is an unhealthy way to raise kids.
The need for teen depression prevention.
The Paleo diet can ruin your health.
Is laughter good for you?
All farmers should go organic.
The health benefits of marijuana.
Bread is bad for your health.
The dangers of herbal remedies.
The health benefits of avocados.
Running is unhealthy.
Alcoholics do not want help.
Flu shots are necessary.
Low carbohydrate diets are more effective than low fat diets.
Smokers should be treated like drug addicts.
The healthcare industry earns millions due to the cures they hide.
Vegetarianism is another word for unhealthy dieting.
Working night-shifts costs you ten years of your life.

Reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities

Vivamus integer non suscipit taciti mus etiam at primis tempor sagittis euismod libero facilisi.

Chess (Gr. 1-4)
TV (Gr. 1-4)
Metal Detectors (Gr. 2-6)
Tetris (Gr. 2-6)
Seat Belts (Gr. 2-6)
The Coliseum (Gr. 2-6)
The Pony Express (Gr. 2-6)
Wintertime (Gr. 2-6)
Reading (Gr. 3-7)
Black Friday (Gr. 3-7)
Hummingbirds (Gr. 3-7)
Worst Game Ever? (Gr. 4-8)
Carnivorous Plants (Gr. 4-8)
Google (Gr. 4-8)
Honey Badgers (Gr. 4-8)
Hyperinflation (Gr. 4-8)
Koko (Gr. 4-8)
Mongooses (Gr. 5-9)
Trampolines (Gr. 5-9)
Garbage (Gr. 5-9)
Maginot Line (Gr. 5-9)
Asian Carp (Gr. 5-9)
Tale of Two Countries (Gr. 6-10)
Kevlar (Gr. 7-10)
Tigers (Gr. 7-11)
Statue of Liberty (Gr. 8-10)
Submarines (Gr. 8-12)
Castles (Gr. 9-13)
Gutenberg (Gr. 9-13)
Author's Purpose Practice 1
Author's Purpose Practice 2
Author's Purpose Practice 3
Fact and Opinion Practice 1
Fact and Opinion Practice 2
Fact and Opinion Practice 3
Idioms Practice Test 1
Idioms Practice Test 2
Figurative Language Practice 1
Figurative Language Practice 2
Figurative Language Practice 3
Figurative Language Practice 4
Figurative Language Practice 5
Figurative Language Practice 6
Figurative Language Practice 7
Figurative Language Practice 8
Figurative Language Practice 9
Figurative Language of Edgar Allan Poe
Figurative Language of O. Henry
Figurative Language of Shakespeare
Genre Practice 1
Genre Practice 2
Genre Practice 3
Genre Practice 4
Genre Practice 5
Genre Practice 6
Genre Practice 7
Genre Practice 8
Genre Practice 9
Genre Practice 10
Irony Practice 1
Irony Practice 2
Irony Practice 3
Making Inferences Practice 1
Making Inferences Practice 2
Making Inferences Practice 3
Making Inferences Practice 4
Making Inferences Practice 5
Main Idea Practice 1
Main Idea Practice 2
Point of View Practice 1
Point of View Practice 2
Text Structure Practice 1
Text Structure Practice 2
Text Structure Practice 3
Text Structure Practice 4
Text Structure Practice 5
Story Structure Practice 1
Story Structure Practice 2
Story Structure Practice 3
Author's Purpose
Characterizations
Context Clues
Fact and Opinion
Figurative Language
Grammar and Language Arts
Poetic Devices
Point of View
Predictions
Reading Comprehension
Story Structure
Summarizing
Text Structure
Character Traits
Common Core Aligned Unit Plans
Teacher Point of View
Teaching Theme
Patterns of Organization
Project Ideas
Reading Activities
How to Write Narrative Essays
How to Write Persuasive Essays
Narrative Essay Assignments
Narrative Essay Topics
Persuasive Essay Topics
Research Paper Topics
Rubrics for Writing Assignments
Learn About Sentence Structure
Grammar Worksheets
Noun Worksheets
Parts of Speech Worksheets
Punctuation Worksheets
Sentence Structure Worksheets
Verbs and Gerunds
Examples of Allitertion
Examples of Hyperbole
Examples of Onomatopoeia
Examples of Metaphor
Examples of Personification
Examples of Simile
Figurative Language Activities
Figurative Language Examples
Figurative Language Poems
Figurative Language Worksheets
Learn About Figurative Language
Learn About Poetic Devices
Idiom Worksheets
Online Figurative Language Tests
Onomatopoeia Worksheets
Personification Worksheets
Poetic Devices Activities
Poetic Devices Worksheets
About This Site
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Understanding CCSS Standards
What's New?

Ereading Worksheets

Free reading worksheets, activities, and lesson plans., site navigation.

Learn About Author’s Purpose
Author’s Purpose Quizzes
Character Types Worksheets and Lessons
List of Character Traits
Differentiated Reading Instruction Worksheets and Activities
Fact and Opinion Worksheets
Irony Worksheets
Animal Farm Worksheets
Literary Conflicts Lesson and Review
New Home Page Test
Lord of the Flies Chapter 2 Worksheet
Lord of the Flies Chapter 5 Worksheet
Lord of the Flies Chapter 6 Worksheet
Lord of the Flies Chapter 10 Worksheet
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Sister Carrie
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Odyssey
The War of the Worlds
The Wizard of Oz
Mood Worksheets
Context Clues Worksheets
Inferences Worksheets
Main Idea Worksheets
Making Predictions Worksheets
Nonfiction Passages and Functional Texts
Setting Worksheets
Summarizing Worksheets and Activities
Short Stories with Questions
Story Structure Activities
Story Structure Worksheets
Tone Worksheets
Types of Conflict Worksheets
Reading Games
Figurative Language Poems with Questions
Hyperbole and Understatement Worksheets
Simile and Metaphor Worksheets
Simile Worksheets
Hyperbole Examples
Metaphor Examples
Personification Examples
Simile Examples
Understatement Examples
Idiom Worksheets and Tests
Poetic Devices Worksheets & Activities
Alliteration Examples
Allusion Examples
Onomatopoeia Examples
Onomatopoeia Worksheets and Activities
Genre Worksheets
Genre Activities
Capitalization Worksheets, Lessons, and Tests
Contractions Worksheets and Activities
Double Negative Worksheets
Homophones & Word Choice Worksheets
‘Was’ or ‘Were’
Simple Subjects & Predicates Worksheets
Subjects, Predicates, and Objects
Clauses and Phrases
Type of Sentences Worksheets
Sentence Structure Activities
Comma Worksheets and Activities
Semicolon Worksheets
End Mark Worksheets
Noun Worksheets, Lessons, and Tests
Verb Worksheets and Activities
Pronoun Worksheets, Lessons, and Tests
Adverbs & Adjectives Worksheets, Lessons, & Tests
Preposition Worksheets and Activities
Conjunctions Worksheets and Activities
Interjections Worksheets
Parts of Speech Activities
Verb Tense Activities
Past Tense Worksheets
Present Tense Worksheets
Future Tense Worksheets
Point of View Activities
Point of View Worksheets
Teaching Point of View
Cause and Effect Example Paragraphs
Chronological Order
Compare and Contrast
Order of Importance
Problem and Solution
Text Structure Worksheets
Text Structure Activities
Essay Writing Rubrics
Narrative Essay Topics and Story Ideas
Narrative Essay Worksheets & Writing Assignments
Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics

Persuasive Essay Worksheets & Activities

Writing Narrative Essays and Short Stories
Writing Persuasive Essays
All Reading Worksheets
Understanding Common Core State Standards
Remote Learning Resources for Covid-19 School Closures
What’s New?
Ereading Worksheets | Legacy Versions
Online Figurative Language Practice
Online Genre Practice Tests
Online Point of View Practice Tests
62 School Project Ideas
2nd Grade Reading Worksheets
3rd Grade Reading Worksheets
4th Grade Reading Worksheets
5th Grade Reading Worksheets
6th Grade Reading Worksheets
7th Grade Reading Worksheets
8th Grade Reading Worksheets
9th Grade Reading Worksheets
10th Grade Reading Worksheets
Membership Billing
Membership Cancel
Membership Checkout
Membership Confirmation
Membership Invoice
Membership Levels
Your Profile

Want Updates?

84 comments.

Thank you so much. This has truly helped me in my exams and throughout the beneficial journey of my school year.

Ellen Davis

How will I be able to check my work, when I print it out to work on them? Where are the answers?

I guess it depends on what you are working on. On what are you working?

Kareema Coles

Ummm the pdf version is not working…is the link still valid?

Which link?

This is an amazing website with fabulous ideas and printable ready to go lessons!!! Thank you so much! I wish I could meet you!!!

Thank you very much for this amazing resource and great ideas. They are extremely comprehensive and well designed. Thank you very much for your kind consideration and not adding a Price-tag to your valuable resources. Highly appreciated.

Sandra Conner

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and your work with us. As teachers, we are always in need of fresh material. I teach college level creative writing classes, and your worksheets help my students. Sometimes I change the essay topics to fit their particular age group or interest, but having these examples laid out for us and made available for use in our classrooms is wonderful.

Lifesaver! Thank you for the great ideas and guidance. I am a new teacher, and finding this site has made a true turn around in my instruction. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Thank you for these great step by step resources

Macca Malbrán

Despite all the negative comments above, you should keep up for the ones (like me) who are absolutely grateful for these material.

Thanks for sharing! Best.

I give this website 3stares only for the info but in general 1star

I give your comment 0 stars because your position lacks support or evidence of any kind. Complete some of these worksheets and begin your argument again.

that’s stupid from where do u get the worksheets

I wrote them.

I did not see any activities that required the student to write an entire essay.

https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/writing/persuasive-essay-topics/

Lamar Mohamed

Thank you for this information! They helped me in my exam so much!

These are fantastic resources! Thank you so much for sharing them. I only wish I had found them earlier in the school year!

There’s always next year…

Thank you so much for all you do for teachers. I love an use practically everything on your Website!

That’s awesome. Thanks for visiting my website.

I really like this website

Shenard McDougal

How can a teacher get the answers to the worksheets?

Subscribe Now

New and Updated Pages

Capitalization Worksheets
Contractions Worksheets
Double Negatives Worksheets
Homophones & Word Choice Worksheets

BECOME A MEMBER!

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

112 Persuasive Speech Topics That Are Actually Engaging

What’s covered:, how to pick an awesome persuasive speech topic, 112 engaging persuasive speech topics, tips for preparing your persuasive speech.

Writing a stellar persuasive speech requires a carefully crafted argument that will resonate with your audience to sway them to your side. This feat can be challenging to accomplish, but an engaging, thought-provoking speech topic is an excellent place to start.

When it comes time to select a topic for your persuasive speech, you may feel overwhelmed by all the options to choose from—or your brain may be drawing a completely blank slate. If you’re having trouble thinking of the perfect topic, don’t worry. We’re here to help!

In this post, we’re sharing how to choose the perfect persuasive speech topic and tips to prepare for your speech. Plus, you’ll find 112 persuasive speech topics that you can take directly from us or use as creative inspiration for your own ideas!

Choose Something You’re Passionate About

It’s much easier to write, research, and deliver a speech about a cause you care about. Even if it’s challenging to find a topic that completely sparks your interest, try to choose a topic that aligns with your passions.

However, keep in mind that not everyone has the same interests as you. Try to choose a general topic to grab the attention of the majority of your audience, but one that’s specific enough to keep them engaged.

For example, suppose you’re giving a persuasive speech about book censorship. In that case, it’s probably too niche to talk about why “To Kill a Mockingbird” shouldn’t be censored (even if it’s your favorite book), and it’s too broad to talk about media censorship in general.

Steer Clear of Cliches

Have you already heard a persuasive speech topic presented dozens of times? If so, it’s probably not an excellent choice for your speech—even if it’s an issue you’re incredibly passionate about.

Although polarizing topics like abortion and climate control are important to discuss, they aren’t great persuasive speech topics. Most people have already formed an opinion on these topics, which will either cause them to tune out or have a negative impression of your speech.

Instead, choose topics that are fresh, unique, and new. If your audience has never heard your idea presented before, they will be more open to your argument and engaged in your speech.

Have a Clear Side of Opposition

For a persuasive speech to be engaging, there must be a clear side of opposition. To help determine the arguability of your topic, ask yourself: “If I presented my viewpoint on this topic to a group of peers, would someone disagree with me?” If the answer is yes, then you’ve chosen a great topic!

Now that we’ve laid the groundwork for what it takes to choose a great persuasive speech topic, here are over one hundred options for you to choose from.

Should high school athletes get tested for steroids?
Should schools be required to have physical education courses?
Should sports grades in school depend on things like athletic ability?
What sport should be added to or removed from the Olympics?
Should college athletes be able to make money off of their merchandise?
Should sports teams be able to recruit young athletes without a college degree?
Should we consider video gamers as professional athletes?
Is cheerleading considered a sport?
Should parents allow their kids to play contact sports?
Should professional female athletes be paid the same as professional male athletes?
Should college be free at the undergraduate level?
Is the traditional college experience obsolete?
Should you choose a major based on your interests or your potential salary?
Should high school students have to meet a required number of service hours before graduating?
Should teachers earn more or less based on how their students perform on standardized tests?
Are private high schools more effective than public high schools?
Should there be a minimum number of attendance days required to graduate?
Are GPAs harmful or helpful?
Should schools be required to teach about standardized testing?
Should Greek Life be banned in the United States?
Should schools offer science classes explicitly about mental health?
Should students be able to bring their cell phones to school?
Should all public restrooms be all-gender?
Should undocumented immigrants have the same employment and education opportunities as citizens?
Should everyone be paid a living wage regardless of their employment status?
Should supremacist groups be able to hold public events?
Should guns be allowed in public places?
Should the national drinking age be lowered?
Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
Should the government raise or lower the retirement age?
Should the government be able to control the population?
Is the death penalty ethical?

Environment

Should stores charge customers for plastic bags?
Should breeding animals (dogs, cats, etc.) be illegal?
Is it okay to have exotic animals as pets?
Should people be fined for not recycling?
Should compost bins become mandatory for restaurants?
Should electric vehicles have their own transportation infrastructure?
Would heavier fining policies reduce corporations’ emissions?
Should hunting be encouraged or illegal?
Should reusable diapers replace disposable diapers?

Science & Technology

Is paper media more reliable than digital news sources?
Should automated/self-driving cars be legalized?
Should schools be required to provide laptops to all students?
Should software companies be able to have pre-downloaded programs and applications on devices?
Should drones be allowed in military warfare?
Should scientists invest more or less money into cancer research?
Should cloning be illegal?
Should societies colonize other planets?
Should there be legal oversight over the development of technology?

Social Media

Should there be an age limit on social media?
Should cyberbullying have the same repercussions as in-person bullying?
Are online relationships as valuable as in-person relationships?
Does “cancel culture” have a positive or negative impact on societies?
Are social media platforms reliable information or news sources?
Should social media be censored?
Does social media create an unrealistic standard of beauty?
Is regular social media usage damaging to real-life interactions?
Is social media distorting democracy?
How many branches of government should there be?
Who is the best/worst president of all time?
How long should judges serve in the U.S. Supreme Court?
Should a more significant portion of the U.S. budget be contributed towards education?
Should the government invest in rapid transcontinental transportation infrastructure?
Should airport screening be more or less stringent?
Should the electoral college be dismantled?
Should the U.S. have open borders?
Should the government spend more or less money on space exploration?
Should students sing Christmas carols, say the pledge of allegiance, or perform other tangentially religious activities?
Should nuns and priests become genderless roles?
Should schools and other public buildings have prayer rooms?
Should animal sacrifice be legal if it occurs in a religious context?
Should countries be allowed to impose a national religion on their citizens?
Should the church be separated from the state?
Does freedom of religion positively or negatively affect societies?

Parenting & Family

Is it better to have children at a younger or older age?
Is it better for children to go to daycare or stay home with their parents?
Does birth order affect personality?
Should parents or the school system teach their kids about sex?
Are family traditions important?
Should parents smoke or drink around young children?
Should “spanking” children be illegal?
Should parents use swear words in front of their children?
Should parents allow their children to play violent video games?

Entertainment

Should all actors be paid the same regardless of gender or ethnicity?
Should all award shows be based on popular vote?
Who should be responsible for paying taxes on prize money, the game show staff or the contestants?
Should movies and television shows have ethnicity and gender quotas?
Should newspapers and magazines move to a completely online format?
Should streaming services like Netflix and Hulu be free for students?
Is the movie rating system still effective?
Should celebrities have more privacy rights?

Arts & Humanities

Are libraries becoming obsolete?
Should all schools have mandatory art or music courses in their curriculum?
Should offensive language be censored from classic literary works?
Is it ethical for museums to keep indigenous artifacts?
Should digital designs be considered an art form?
Should abstract art be considered an art form?
Is music therapy effective?
Should tattoos be regarded as “professional dress” for work?
Should schools place greater emphasis on the arts programs?
Should euthanasia be allowed in hospitals and other clinical settings?
Should the government support and implement universal healthcare?
Would obesity rates lower if the government intervened to make healthy foods more affordable?
Should teenagers be given access to birth control pills without parental consent?
Should food allergies be considered a disease?
Should health insurance cover homeopathic medicine?
Is using painkillers healthy?
Should genetically modified foods be banned?
Should there be a tax on unhealthy foods?
Should tobacco products be banned from the country?
Should the birth control pill be free for everyone?

If you need more help brainstorming topics, especially those that are personalized to your interests, you can use CollegeVine’s free AI tutor, Ivy . Ivy can help you come up with original persuasive speech ideas, and she can also help with the rest of your homework, from math to languages.

Do Your Research

A great persuasive speech is supported with plenty of well-researched facts and evidence. So before you begin the writing process, research both sides of the topic you’re presenting in-depth to gain a well-rounded perspective of the topic.

Understand Your Audience

It’s critical to understand your audience to deliver a great persuasive speech. After all, you are trying to convince them that your viewpoint is correct. Before writing your speech, consider the facts and information that your audience may already know, and think about the beliefs and concerns they may have about your topic. Then, address these concerns in your speech, and be mindful to include fresh, new information.

Have Someone Read Your Speech

Once you have finished writing your speech, have someone read it to check for areas of strength and improvement. You can use CollegeVine’s free essay review tool to get feedback on your speech from a peer!

Practice Makes Perfect

After completing your final draft, the key to success is to practice. Present your speech out loud in front of a mirror, your family, friends, and basically, anyone who will listen. Not only will the feedback of others help you to make your speech better, but you’ll become more confident in your presentation skills and may even be able to commit your speech to memory.

Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to write a powerful, unique persuasive speech. With the perfect topic, plenty of practice, and a boost of self-confidence, we know you’ll impress your audience with a remarkable speech!

Teaching Argumentation and Persuasion: 6 Engaging Activities Beyond the Argumentative Essay

how to teach argumentation and persuasion

There are many engaging activities to use when teaching argumentation and persuasion beyond the classic essay. While the argumentative essay can certainly be effective, try something new with one of these 6 engaging activities. Your students will be excited and eager to apply argumentation and persuasion in the classroom and beyond.

When it comes to teaching argumentation and persuasion, I’m like a kid on Christmas morning. I’m eager, excited, and full of energy. Yet, over the years, I’ve found that my students don’t always meet me with the same enthusiasm. Instead, they roll their figurative eyes at the thought of writing yet another essay.

I had to do something to save my favorite holiday– I mean unit– of the year.

I’ve spent more hours than I’d like to admit, wracking my brain for activities that would make teaching argumentation and persuasion, dare I say, fun! But the time and effort paid off. When I started implementing activities beyond the argumentative essays, my students were engaged and active participants. It was a win-win.

Lucky for you, I’ve done the work (and put in the time) so you don’t have to. Instead, simply keep reading to uncover some of my secret weapons for teaching argumentation and persuasion. The following activities can be used instead of or in conjunction with the classic argumentative essay. It’s totally up to you and what will best suit your students’ needs. Regardless, you don’t have to spend the hours brainstorming from square one. You can thank me later. In the meantime, read on, my teacher friends!

Laying the Foundation for Teaching Argumentation and Persuasion

Before jumping into one of the activities below, you need to set your students up for success. Therefore, be sure to teach the essential concepts for effective argumentation and persuasion. Afterall, both argumentation and persuasion are cornerstone communication skills in the 21st century.

So, not only do you want to do these topics justice for the sake of your classroom. But, they’re also some of the most transferable skills your students will use in the real world.

Note: if you’re just looking for the activities, no problem! Keep scrolling– I promise they’re there.

Understanding the Difference Between Argumentation and Persuasion

While these two topics are often taught together, it’s important for students to know that they aren’t exactly synonyms. Instead, you could argue (see what I did there) these two concepts act as compliments to one another. In many cases, persuasion can strengthen an argument, and vice versa. But again, they’re not exactly the same when it comes to speaking or writing. (However, I find it useful to remind students of one of the most important aspects they do share: there has to be at least two sides.) You can clarify the major differences between the two by looking at the main goal for each type of writing or speech:

The goal of argumentative writing is to get the audience to acknowledge your stance on a topic. Moreover, a strong argument shows the reader your viewpoint is valid and deserves consideration. Therefore, argumentative writing is heavily rooted in logic and facts and addressed counterclaims.
Goal of persuasive writing is to get the audience to agree with you and your stance on a particular topic or viewpoint. While logic most certainly strengthens persuasion, there is also a heavy emphasis on emotional elements as well.

The truth is, the two are often used hand in hand in the real world with everything from marketing and public service campaigns to politics and law. And, in most cases, persuasive writing is more personal and passionate for students. Therefore, I strive to teach the two together to increase student engagement and real word application. Talk about a dream duo for students and teachers alike!

Rhetoric and Rhetorical Appeals

I absolutely love comparing persuasion and argumentation to art. Why? Because it’s a true craft. Do I explain it that way to my students? Abso-freakin-lutely. Why? Because they need to understand that presenting a sound and persuasive argument is a skill. That these writing and speaking skills take time and effort to develop.

Enter: Rhetoric. I always begin this unit by defining argumentation, persuasion, and rhetoric, explaining how the latter literally means the art of persuasion. Then, I introduce the three main rhetorical appeals (shout out Aristotle). Rather than simply giving the students the definitions of ethos, pathos, and logos, I begin by asking questions to help reveal the definitions. Here are some of the questions I use– and that you can most certainly steal for your own classroom:

To introduce ethos , I ask, “Who would you trust to give advice about toothpaste? Why?”
To introduce logos , I might ask, “If you wanted to learn how to build a successful business, what is the benefit of a successful entrepreneur giving you step-by-step guidance?”
To introduce pathos , I ask, “Think about a time where you got emotional during a commercial, song, or movie. What was it that made you so emotional?”

The Power of Words

Once students have an understanding of these essential definitions, it’s time to move on to a more abstract, yet highly significant, concept: the power of words. This is where I introduce the importance (and power) of diction. This is the perfect time to explain how words impact reader/audience experience.

One of the simplest examples to make a case for this claim is asking students to analyze the difference between the terms house and home. I’ve never had a class not come to the conclusion that a house is a structure and place of living, where a home is a place filled with love.

To round out the discussion on why and how words have an impact on the audience, introduce connotation and denotation. Spending a handful of minutes explaining the emotional meaning behind words (connotation) can be a game changer. It reminds students that there is, in fact, emotional power in the words we use. To drive the point home, you can ask them to compare times when they were upset vs. angry vs. furious.

A Fun and Engaging Warm-Up Activity for Teaching Argumentation and Persuasion

What tween or teen doesn’t like arguing with adults? (Trust me. They’re far and few between.) In other words, students will eat this activity up. Rather than focusing on deep and heavy topics that require a great deal of research and unpacking, this activity is a lighthearted warm-up. The goal is to get students to start thinking about what goes into a sound and persuasive argument.

Arguing with “Adults”

Working independently or in small groups, students will pick a “silly” or lighthearted topic. Encourage them to think of things they’d like to convince their parents, teachers, or other adults. Since these topics are light hearted and often come from a place of passion, students will have no problem coming up with reasons why their curfew should be extended by an hour or two or why homework should be abolished. They’re excited to argue why their parents should buy them a car or why a puppy is a must-have addition to their family.

Next, allow students five minutes to choose a topic and brainstorm their argument. Then, give them 10-20 minutes to write their argument. (The timing of this activity is flexible, so you can adjust it based on the structure of your class.) After they write out their argument, it’s time to share– and let the discussion unfold. As each student (or group) shares their argument, have fun playing devil’s advocate. Challenge them to push their arguments and reasoning further.

While you might want to guide the students through the discussion, let them really come to terms with the idea of what makes a sound and persuasive argument. And if you really want to play up the fun? Challenge the other students to play that role! Have your students in the audience play the role of the adults to whom the argument is targeted. This will challenge students to find holes in the arguments, brainstorming ways to make an argument even stronger. Additionally, it challenges them to think about the importance of audience perspective , looking beyond their own interests, blind spots, and biases. The end result? Develop a list of student generated “check-points” for an argument that is both powerful and persuasive.

Engaging Activities for Teaching Argumentation and Persuasion

Watching TV. Driving down the highway. Scrolling through social media. The art of argumentation and persuasion are everywhere . So, why not bring some of those real-life examples to your classroom? Because the truth is, persuasion and argumentation comes in all shapes and sizes. Therefore, it might be time to look beyond the traditional argumentative essay. And with these activities, you can.

An oldie but a goodie. In fact, discussing teaching argumentation and persuasion wouldn’t feel right without some sort of debate. So, to begin this student-centered activity, select (or have students choose) a topic to argue. This can be a murder or crime– and you can even have fun with historical topics like the Salem witch trials if it’s around Halloween or you’re reading The Crucible . Alternatively, you can root your debate in an ethical dilemma or an essential question. Generally speaking, you can look toward real life events or literature for inspiration. You can even head to your state bar association website for mock trial resources and cases– like these from the state of NH . As long as there is evidence to be found and a case to make, you should be good to go.

Before really diving into the mock trial, spend time reviewing the basics of the justice system and trials. Then, once you choose your topic, divide students into teams of prosecution and defense. Once the teams are determined, students can dive into researching and crafting their arguments. However, be sure to emphasize the need for evidence based claims while also discussing the power of persuasion in the courtroom. (There are plenty of video clips you can show and analyze to see these two elements in action.) Each group, both the prosecution and defense, are responsible for crafting an opening statement, a claim, a rebuttal, and a closing statement. For smaller classes, you can serve as the judge and jury. For larger classes, you can run several trials, letting the other groups act as the jury if they’re not presenting. Either way, students will be far more eager to win the jury over with their evidence than they are to write a paper.

There’s no better way for students to show off their new persuasive skills and knowledge of ethos, logos, and pathos than to craft their own arguments. And a mock trial allows them to do so in a way other than the classic essay. But with a verdict on the line, there’s a lot at stake. Therefore, this activity amps up eager participation.

Mock Trial Teacher Tip. Mock trials make debating more exciting– especially if you really play up the trial theme. (Have an old graduation gown? Use it as the judge’s robe! A wig? Yes please! A gavel? A must.) So, grab your gavel and give this engaging activity a try!

Students Do Shark Tank

This activity brings the worlds of business, marketing, and advertisements into the conversation. Talk about real world connection! Most older students will be familiar with this show. However, it’s always fun to show a clip for an episode or two just in case. Plus. Who doesn’t love watching videos in class? (Teachers and students alike.) Shark Tank is all about the pitch. So, have fun replicating this idea in your classroom! And instead of presenting to the likes of Mark Cuban, students will present to you . If you’re able, try getting a few other guest sharks on the “show”.

Before diving into the project, in addition to watching a few clips of the show, take some time to analyze the world of advertising. Encourage students to find connections between argumentative and persuasive writing and real-life commercials, social media campaigns, and print advertisements. Then, put students in small groups and together they will create their own product. Alternatively, you can have them pick an existing product they’re passionate about. Then, the fun begins.

Using their new knowledge of persuasive language techniques and argumentation, students must convince the sharks to invest in their product! For a fun twist that gets everyone involved, let the audience in on the investments. Print out a set amount of “money” for each student. After all the presentations, allow them to “invest” in their favorite products. As for the presentations themselves, I like to require a visual advertisement– like a poster– and a written component– like an elevator pitch. Students can then display their visuals as they give their speech. Later, students can view all of the visuals as they decide where to “invest” their money.

Shark Tank Teacher Tip. Looking to beef up the argumentative writing side of things? You can have students submit a short research-based argumentative paper that supports the need for their product. Regardless of the specifics, students will be eager to dive into this activity with such real world application.

Speech Remix

From Abraham Lincoln’s “The Gettysburg Address” and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream,” history has its fair share of powerful speeches. And they’re great examples of argumentation and persuasion as well. So, begin this activity by analyzing a mentor text as a class. Then, turn it over to the students to showcase their knowledge on their own.

Have students choose a historical speech (you can refer to this bank of speeches here ) to analyze. They can turn in annotations or a short response analyzing the rhetoric of their chosen speech. Here’s the twist. After analyzing the speech, they then use it as a mentor text, implementing its sentence structure, tone and rhetorical techniques as they write their own speech. This is where student choice really kicks up a notch. Allow students to choose a topic, cause, or issue they feel passionate about. However, I always recommend having a list of potential topics on hand for students who need a little more guidance.

Additionally, it might be useful to encourage a backwards design approach. Have students select their topic first, and then find a speech that is a good match. For example, a social justice issue might pair well with Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. However, be sure students choosing unique and more modern topics are not dissuaded if they can’t find the perfect match. Regardless, in the end, this activity pays homage to great speeches of the past while allowing students to take ownership as they apply the argumentative and persuasive techniques to modern day.

Speech Remix Teacher Tip. Why limit yourself to the four walls of your classroom? This activity is a perfect opportunity for cross-curricular collaboration. Consider reaching out to the history teachers and focus your class study on a speech that lines up with the social studies curriculum. This will allow students to have a more in depth background knowledge, giving them more context for the speaker’s rhetorical approach. Similarly, a speech of this caliber might be less intimidating if they understand the context, allowing them to really focus on the rhetorical approach.

#Influencer

In the age of social media, companies make a pretty penny using influencer campaigns. And it’s really quite fitting. Afterall, argumentation and persuasion is all about influence . So, to kick off this activity, spend some time looking at social media ads and influencer accounts. Be sure to analyze everything from photos to captions to hashtags.

After looking at real word examples, it’s time for students to take on the role of an “influencer” – they can be themselves or create an influencer persona. The next step is for them to choose which product of service they are “fit” to promote and, ideally, sell. Students should pick something they have experience with or knowledge about, from video games to make-up. Then, have students write a letter to the “company” (aka you) to convince them that they are capable of being an influencer. This is where they really need to tap into ethos. They should clearly explain why they are a reputable source and should be trusted to sell “your” product. If they’ve convinced you, then they can sign a “contract” (aka the assignment requirements) that outlines the agreement.

Here’s where the fun and creativity happens. While you can determine the specific requirements, students should create a portfolio of campaign materials to promote their chosen product. This is where you can determine how in depth or brief you want the assignment to be. The portfolio can include artifacts like a series of social media posts, youtube videos or scripts, an email funnel, or even blog posts– or a portfolio combining various types of artifacts.

#Influencer Teacher Tip. If you’re looking to amp up the requirements and turn this into a unit-long assignment or a full blown summative assessment, you totally can. Consider adjusting the assignment to be a multigenre project of sorts. Present students with a list and overview of various genres they can include as part of their project. Then, let them select the ones they wish to include in their multigenre portfolio.

PSA – The Passion Project

The name alone screams engagement, right? Even better, this activity is engaging. Instead of assigning a list of overused (and sometimes outdated) argumentative prompts, let students take the reins by choosing a topic that matters to them . So, after teaching your students about rhetorical appeals, the appropriate use of persuasion, and the basics of argumentative writing, let students showcase their newfound skills with the PSA Passion Project. In this project, rather than simply writing an essay for the sake of getting grades, students are diving into an issue of their choice in hopes of raising awareness.

Begin by having students select a social or environmental issue that is important to them. These can range from animal testing in the beauty industry to the impact of social media on mental health. In other words, there’s a wide variety of topics out there, so your students are bound to find something that matters to them. Then, they must plan, develop, and create a public service announcement campaign around the issue. This is where you can really drive home the idea of call to action with persuasion. The challenge with the PSA assignment is crafting an argument that is applicable and persuasive for a mass audience. Afterall, when it comes to wide-spread change, there is power in numbers. (This activity can serve as its own unit or work in conjunction with the study of classic essays like “On The Duty of Civil Disobedience” by Thoreau or “A Letter From Birmingham County Jail” by MLK Jr..

This activity has plenty of room for creativity and student choice. However, that doesn’t mean you have to give up a writing component. Instead, require students to complete a minimum of two items: a written piece and a visual or media element. The writing pieces can range from a more traditional argumentative essay to back up their media component. Alternatively, they can write a speech, persuasive letter, or educational blog post. Then, for the media components, they can create a poster, a video, a social media post, or an infographic– just to name a few. Now, if you’re really looking to diversify the elements of this project, consider turning the PSA Passion Project into a full blown multigenre project!

PSA Passion Project Teacher Tip. Despite your best efforts, some students will claim they can’t find a topic they’re passionate about. (Teenagers.) That’s why I always come prepared with a list of topics students can choose from. Even students eager to choose their own topic might like to see a list for inspiration. Save yourself some time by giving them ideas from this list of engaging argumentative writing prompts!

A Final Note on the Art of Teaching Argumentation and Persuasion

Remember, I’m not saying traditional essays are bad. But I think it’s worth looking beyond the traditions and asking ourselves, how can we make this better ? Better for the students. More reflective of and applicable to the world we live in. If there’s some fun to be had along the way, so be it! (In fact, I encourage it!)

So, as you go one to try any one (or all!) of these activities in your classroom, feel free to make adjustments as needed. And If you’re still looking for a more traditional essay to be your summative assessment, that’s A-OK too! In fact, the activities above can be shortened and adjusted to serve as a mini-lesson or formative assignments before writing a more traditional argumentative essay.

The bottom line is this…

Ever since I changed my approach to teaching argumentation and persuasion, it’s become something my students and I enjoy together . Imagine that!

1 thought on “Teaching Argumentation and Persuasion: 6 Engaging Activities Beyond the Argumentative Essay”

awesome advice and ideas. My semester just got a lot better!!!

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Andrew Forman Delivers Remarks at the 2024 Hal White Antitrust Conference

Washington , DC United States

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

Thank you very much for that kind introduction, Nicholas. It is an honor to be invited to speak at this esteemed conference with so many luminaries of the antitrust community.

I have now been on the job for a little over two years, and I continue to be so thankful for, and humbled by, the opportunity to work alongside the many fantastic economists, lawyers, paralegals and others at the Antitrust Division. It is on their shoulders that I get a chance to talk with you all tonight.

Conferences like these are a great time to explore the complexities and nuances that make antitrust and economics such richly rewarding fields. It is particularly fitting in this setting as we also celebrate Dr. Hal White, who pushed the use of economics in antitrust to new heights and whose contributions to the profession remain front and center today. So it is in that spirit, and with that legacy in mind, that I want to cover three topics that I’ve been reflecting on lately that relate to where antitrust economics is today and where we’re going.

First, I want to celebrate the tremendous contributions of our Expert Analysis Group at the Antitrust Division.

Second, I want to discuss whether “antitrust litigation” is “out of whack,” as Justice Gorsuch is reported to have said recently. “Antitrust litigation” of course covers a broad canvass, but I want to focus on a topic that I am sure is near and dear to this audience’s heart, namely some issues related to expert witnesses.

And third, I want to share some thoughts on how platform-related competition issues appear to be presenting across more industries, whether traditionally thought of as platform industries or not. It is important that antitrust analysis and enforcement take that into account.

The Antitrust Division’s Expert Analysis Group (EAG)

First, if you will indulge me, I want to brag about a core part of our team.

Sound economics, both theory and empirical work, plays an essential role in our thinking and enforcement at the Antitrust Division. The Americans we serve are enormously fortunate to have a dedicated in-house group of world-class economic and expert practitioners. They work hand in glove with our legal teams and the rest of our public servants. Every day and in many different ways, their hard work and insights help advance the mission of antitrust enforcement and policy.

As probably all of you know, we call that part of our team EAG. Some of you are even alumni. We recently changed the name from “Economic Analysis Group” to “Expert Analysis Group” to reflect more accurately their broad expertise and the work they do. EAG has around 40 PhD economists and a dozen statisticians, data scientists and financial analysts. We also are building a technology team as a part of EAG to help augment our expertise around algorithms and other technologies. And we are constantly on the lookout for those willing to join the team, so spread the word.

That team supports the entire mission of the Antitrust Division and, like the rest of the division, it is understaffed and overworked. But as the boxing saying goes, they punch above their weight.

As you may know, our EAG teammates are essential contributors to investigations and enforcement matters of all sizes. They participate in interviews, review documents, conduct research, comment on deposition outlines, contribute to complaints, anticipate arguments that parties may raise and bring their valuable perspective to all manner of projects in litigation. EAG sits with the lawyers at counsel table when appropriate and on occasion may take part of an investigative deposition.

On top of this, they perform highly sophisticated data analysis and do everything needed to assist with expert reports and expert testimony. Members of EAG also have testified or prepared to testify to support important cases. Of course, in addition to enforcement, they also are thought leaders on cutting-edge competition policy issues.

I want to highlight a few specific examples of their tremendous contributions.

First, the Antitrust Division has now won three civil trials in a row, in addition to many merger abandonments. Part of the reason for the victories is that we have gotten better at using plain language and real-world analysis to explain the “why” behind our cases, using evidence that illustrates the competition at stake in the merger and the risks to real people in real ways. Working with our legal team, EAG has been a key contributor to all the work that has gone, and continues to go, into this priority. Their contributions cannot be overstated.

For example, in Penguin/Random House, EAG helped transform a pile of documents — both emails and minutes from editorial meetings — into a usable data set showing the degree of competition between the merging firms. This was then depicted in user-friendly charts that illustrated the timing of bidding and how much authors benefitted from competition between the parties. This reflected an extraordinary amount of work and was tremendously valuable for both understanding and explaining the competition threatened by the transaction.

Similarly, in the JetBlue/Spirit litigation, EAG figured out common-sense ways to demonstrate that the features JetBlue offered travelers — for a higher fare — were just not valued that much by customers who chose Spirit.

Second, on more of a policy front, EAG was instrumental in incorporating the latest economic thinking into the new Merger Guidelines. We are proud to have conducted an incredibly inclusive modernization process, with multiple rounds of public comments, numerous public meetings and comments from all corners of the Antitrust Division and Federal Trade Commission. The result was a document that reflects modern economic theory and analysis generally, as well as in connection with specific ways that competition presents itself in today’s economy, including around platforms that I will discuss a bit more shortly. When you combine that rigorous process and economic thinking with the fact that the new guidelines reflect fidelity to the law, we are optimistic about their future. Key parts of that optimism are due to the incredible talent and efforts of the lead drafters, including Susan Athey and Dave Lawrence for the Justice Department and Aviv Nevo and Ken Merber for the FTC, but also to broader EAG and BE economic teams that were deeply engaged throughout the process.

In sum, I have learned a ton from my colleagues in EAG during my time at the division. I am so thankful for their work on behalf of Americans and competition enforcement around the world.

Is Antitrust Litigation “Out of Whack”?

Now I want to turn to another econ-related topic I have been thinking about lately. Recently, Justice Gorsuch, speaking at another local antitrust conference, was reported to have said that antitrust litigation has become “a little out of whack.” [1]

I dare say we probably all agree with Justice Gorsuch that there is room for improvement. Although there may be several areas to improve, I submit that expert-related issues, for both lawyers and economists, is one of them.

One district judge wrote a few years ago that the parties’ “costly and conflicting” experts “essentially cancel[led] each other out.” [2] Other judges have experimented with different hearing formats, such as so-called “hot tubs,” where the experts debate in real-time based on questions from the judge, which one judge thinks can facilitate more “candid and unmediated exchanges between the experts.” [3]

Experts play an important role in our system. At bottom of course, expert testimony should help a judge or jury evaluate a merger or conduct. Neither judges nor jury pools are identical, so there is no optimal testimony or report. But the current posture of litigation seems to be leading to an arms race of both sides hiring experts that serve as advocates as much as independent experts.

No one is naïve. Experts are hired by clients and have come to conclusions consistent with at least key parts of the client’s perspectives or else they wouldn’t be testifying. Nevertheless, reading the article about Justice Gorsuch’s comments got me thinking — is there anything specific to expert witnesses that we can do to make antitrust litigation a little less out of whack?

I’ll offer three interrelated ideas. Although these may not be novel, more can be done around them in my view, so I thought they were worth mentioning.

First, work regularly for both plaintiffs and defendants. If an expert always supports one side, it can send a signal that the expert starts from a pre-conceived idea about which side is right, and then works backwards to find the analysis that supports that side. We certainly notice these things at the Antitrust Division, and we also hear from others that experts that are perceived as “hired guns” are less persuasive. Everyone benefits from hiring experts who are experienced working on both plaintiff- and defendant-side issues.

Second, approach the issues head-on. There are at least a couple different ways to do so. In our field, I think sometimes we talk past each other, perhaps because responding directly to another expert raises concerns about conceding what the playing field is or somehow reveals a perception about the strength of the response. Ultimately, however, talking past each other is not really persuasion at all.

The other way to take issues head on is to concede what needs to be conceded. Not every fact supports the conclusion a party might want its expert to reach. Not every inference is equally sound.

In my view, the best — and ultimately most persuasive — experts are those who know how to not only answer questions directly but to concede what they must and explain why their key opinions nevertheless remain sound. It seems to me that fighting scorched earth for every inch may be unhelpful to the trier of fact and can undermine credibility.

Third, let’s find ways to narrow issues, focus on key facts and shorten expert reports. Cases usually don’t turn on the sixth or seventh most important issue. Usually there are two or three issues that really make or break a case. Courts have noticed this one too. I think this is why some courts prefer different types of engagement with experts or other concepts to get to the real crux of the most important issues.

Lawyers share a lot of responsibility here. We lawyers tend to want to present every argument and discuss every good document. Lawyers may also try to use anything at their disposal, including a footnote near the end of the report, to try to undermine the opposing side’s credibility or make a mountain out of a molehill. That said, recognizing that judges and juries sometimes may latch onto facts or issues that we didn’t expect to carry the day, it seems we can be more efficient and direct on the core issues.

Narrowing the issues also can help us streamline expert reports. Mark Twain is credited with saying that he wrote a long letter because he didn’t have time to write a short one. I think I’m probably not the only one who thinks that expert reports shouldn’t regularly need multiple hundreds of pages, with a thousand footnotes, citing multiple thousands of sources. It’s fair to ask the question — is this really the best we can do to help a trier of fact?

Of course, expert testimony will need to be streamlined for trial, and there are benefits to doing so sooner, at the report writing stage. I’m not saying that a report on a complex subject should be reduced to a few pages.

But an expert with a sharper focus on key facts comes across as confident in their knowledge of the case and the issues, which builds credibility. One tactic can be to avoid finalizing key aspects of the report too early. Starting too early can turn the report into a repository for evidence and arguments and can make it more likely that parts of the report won’t play into the focus of the trial presentation.

How Do We Think About “Platformization” of Industry?

Finally, I’d like to end on some thoughts about a much-discussed topic these days, namely platforms. Put another way, we are observing what seems to be more “platformization” across more aspects of the economy. Antitrust enforcement and policy need to keep pace.

Some platforms already have attracted a lot of attention. For example, it is now widely recognized how digital platforms can serve as intermediaries between multiple types of consumers, service providers, software tools or other platforms.

Understanding how competition works in these situations has allowed us to enhance our understanding of the potential risks to competition around platforms. For example, our learnings helped inform the new Merger Guidelines generally and specifically with new Guideline 9 dedicated to multi-sided platforms, including around issues such as network effects, conflicts of interest, switching and multi-homing, multi-level entry and other entry barriers and disintermediation (or lack thereof).

As we look across the economy today, platform-like issues seem to be arising with increasing frequency, even beyond the more familiar examples. We are seeing many businesses combine different services or functions into some sort of “integrated stack” that is, or functions like, a platform. In addition to pure technology markets, we are observing these kinds of issues in healthcare, finance, consumer products and automobiles, just to name a few. Although there are some differences in these areas, for each we are finding ourselves asking if the “integrated stack” is procompetitive or might it increase risks to competition on the merits by, for example, requiring multi-level entry or otherwise raising entry barriers? It’s our job to try to tell the difference as we evaluate a merger or conduct.

With platforms, as with any product or service, our analysis starts by trying to understand how competition presents itself. Assistant Attorney General Kanter has spoken about this frequently, and the Supreme Court has been saying it for years. In its most recent antitrust opinion, the Court – speaking through Justice Gorsuch – said that antitrust requires “a careful analysis of market realities.” [4] So how do we sort through the market realities of a platform?

As we say in the Merger Guidelines, we think about not only competition between platforms, but also competition on a platform and competition to displace a platform. [5] In doing so, we are mindful that market definition is a tool to help aid the competitive analysis and not a rigid, overly formalistic exercise. It thus makes sense that there are different ways to establish a relevant market, just as it makes sense that a market need not have “precise metes and bounds,” [6] as reflected in the Supreme Court precedent.

For example, it may make sense to define narrower markets to cover discrete aspects of platforms (or one part of a bundle of services), if that reflects facts and market realities. But it could also make sense to define markets more broadly around a platform or stack if that is the best way to evaluate competition and consistent with ordinary course information, economic tools or other indicia of relevant markets. And we should keep in mind that there is not always a single correct relevant market, but different approaches can both be correct in different circumstances.

At bottom, we should be focusing our analysis on any potential sources of actual or potential economic power implicated by conduct or a merger and the associated threats to competition. If a particular market definition does not allow us to do that, then I submit we should think about the market differently, not end the analysis.

For those seeking more insights relating to platforms, here is another plug. I would highly recommend the platform-related writing by our world class Chief Economist, Dr. Susan Athey.

In closing, I wanted to return to Dr. White and his immense legacy. Conferences like this are a valuable opportunity to step back from our day-to-day grind and think deeply about how we advance our profession. Hearing different ideas and viewpoints allows us to think about ways to improve and innovate. I appreciate the opportunity to share a few of my perspectives.

[1] Ben Remaly, Gorsuch: antitrust litigation has become “out of whack,” GCR (Feb. 26, 2024), https://globalcompetitionreview.com/gcr-usa/article/gorsuch-antitrust-litigation-has-become-out-of-whack

[2] New York, et al., v. Deutsche Telekom AG, et al. , 439 F. Supp. 3d 179, 187 (S.D.N.Y 2020).

[3] In re Capacitors Antitrust Litig. , No. 14-CV-03264, 2020 WL 870927, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 21, 2020).

[4] NCAA v. Alston , 594 U.S. 69, 93 (2021).

[5] Merger Guidelines, U.S. Dep’t of Justice & Fed. Trade Comm’n (2023), § 2.9.

[6] Merger Guidelines, U.S. Dep’t of Justice & Fed. Trade Comm’n (2023), § 4.3.

exercise persuasive speech

IMAGES

VIDEO

COMMENTS

44 Persuasive Speaking: Activities and Resources

Corporate Story Telling Activity

Persuasive Speaking on Gun Control

Share This Book

11.2 Persuasive Speaking

Foundation of Persuasion

Choosing a Persuasive Speech Topic

Adapting Persuasive Messages

Determining Your Proposition

“Getting Critical”

Organizing a Persuasive Speech

Key Takeaways

How to Write an Effective Persuasive Speech Outline: 5 Key Elements

Table of Contents

Writing an Effective Persuasive Speech Outline

Establishing Your Main Objective and Structuring Your Points

Identifying the Purpose of Your Persuasive Speech

Organizing Key Points for Maximum Impact

Selecting Compelling Topics for Your Persuasive Speeches

Enhancing Persuasion Through Rhetorical Appeals

Building Credibility with Ethos

Connecting with the Audience Through Pathos

Strengthening Arguments with Logos

The Importance of Supporting Evidence and Counterarguments

Gathering and Presenting Convincing Evidence

Addressing Opposing Views Effectively

Crafting a Captivating Introduction and Conclusion

Creating an Engaging Hook to Capture Attention

Concluding with a Strong Call to Action

Utilizing Monroe’s Motivated Sequence for Persuasive Structure

Attention: Grabbing the Audience’s Focus

Need: Highlighting the Issue at Hand

Satisfaction: Proposing a Solution

Visualization: Helping the Audience Visualize Benefits

Action: Encouraging Audience Action

Overcoming Public Speaking Fears for Effective Delivery

Techniques to Build Confidence in Public Speaking

Practicing Your Speech for Perfect Execution

About The Speaker Lab

Get Started

Margin Size

16.3: Organizing Persuasive Speeches

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

Satisfaction

Visualization

Problem-Cause-Solution

Comparative Advantages

Key Takeaways

Essay on Persuasive Speech on Exercise

Cite this Essay

Related Essays

Still can’t find what you need?

Related Essays on Healthy Lifestyle

Related Topics

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

75 Persuasive Speech Topics and Ideas

What is persuasive speech?

How to choose a topic for your speech

Familiarity

The audience’s interest

Not overdone

Emotional topics

Desired outcome

Persuasive speech topics

Arts/Culture

Business and economy

Law and politics

Science and the environment

World peace

After choosing your topic

258 Speech Topics on Health [Persuasive, Informative, Argumentative]

Informative

Leave a Comment

Reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities

Ereading Worksheets

Persuasive Essay Worksheets & Activities

Want Updates?

Ellen Davis

Kareema Coles

Sandra Conner