Persuasive Speech

This 6–8-minute speech is designed to provide the opportunity to persuade your classmates to adopt or change a course of action.

Getting started

In this speech, you will persuade the class to come to your side of an issue of policy. A list of subject areas from which to draw your speech topic can be found in the Persuasive Speech Topics document. You must select a general subject area from this list, then develop a topic and a persuasive point. Your topic will be a proposition of policy (a “should” or “should not”), and you must get your topic approved by me before moving forward with your speech preparation.

Research and documentation

You cannot – CANNOT – develop a reasonable argument without doing your research first. Start by doing some research your general subject area. Get to know all sides of the issue and then pick one to argue for. Please pick the one for which there is the most evidence. Evidence is essential for persuasive speeches so that you can provide applicable examples, statistics, and/or testimony.

For this speech, you will provide documentation in MLA format for at least four credible sources. Only one of these sources may be a website (for the purposes of this assignment, online editions of print periodicals, such as the New York Times, do not count toward this limit). At least one of these sources should be a peer-reviewed article or book. As always, speak to me if you have questions or concerns about these requirements or the appropriateness of a source.

Your Works Cited list will be turned in on the first day that speeches are presented in class.

Organizing your speech

After you have done your research, you will need to organize your speech according to the principles discussed in class and in the homework reading. You will choose an appropriate organizational method (problem-solution, cause and effect, Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, etc.), and use the corresponding outline templates provided to make a preparation outline. Your outline will be turned in on the first day that speeches are presented in class.

Presenting your speech

When you present your speech, you will not read from a script or from your outline. Instead, you will use speaking notes. These notes are separate from your outline, containing only the elements from your outline that you need to remember your presentation. These notes will also be turned in on the day that speeches are due.

In addition, please note, when you present your speech:

  • you must stand in front of the class
  • you must be dressed appropriately (this means “business casual”; if you aren’t sure what this is you can ask me for resources)
  • you must hold your notes in your hand

Turning in the assignment

The speech presentation will begin on Monday, November 18. All students should be prepared to present on this date.

For full credit on this assignment, you will need to both present the speech live in class and submit your written outline, Works Cited list, and speaking notes on Brightspace.

If you have any questions or concerns about completing this assignment, please email me as soon as possible.

You can download a copy of these assignment instructions here.

You can find the list of subject areas from which to develop your topic here.

You can download rubric templates here: Persuasive Speech Template (General), Persuasive Speech Rubric (Monroe’s Motivated Sequence)

You can review the form I use to evaluate and grade your speech here.