PERSUASIVE SPEECH

FINDING A PERSUASIVE SPEECH TOPIC

Unlike the informative speech, where we were just giving information about your topic, the persuasive speech requires that you choose one side of an issue and PERSUADE the audience to agree with you.

GOOD PLACES TO LOOK FOR PERSUASIVE SPEECH TOPICS:

A SHOW CALL "FRONTLINE" ON PBS

FRONTLINE

(Links to an external site.)

GO TO THE "TOPICS" BUTTON AND CLICK ON IT.

THE FOLLOWING TOPIC AREAS (LISTED ON FRONTLINE) OFTEN HAVE AMAZING TOPICS

"CRIMINAL JUSTICE"

"EDUCATION"

"HEALTH"

"ENVIRONMENT"

ONE YOU GET TO THE WEBSITE YOU CAN PLAY SMALL PREVIEWS OF THE PROGRAMS TO SEE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND YOU CAN WATCH THE PROGRAMS ENTIRELY ONLINE.

CBS 60 MINUTES

(Links to an external site.)

NBC DATELINE

(Links to an external site.)

MOTHER JONES MAGAZINE

(Links to an external site.)

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOUR THESIS STATEMENT MUST BE WRITTEN AS AN ARGUMENT.

INCORRECT SAMPLE THESIS STATEMENT:

TODAY, I AM GOING TO PERSUADE THE AUDIENCE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

THIS SAMPLE IS NOT WRITTEN PROPERLY (AS AN ARGUMENT) BECAUSE THE SENTENCE DOES NOT TELL THE AUDIENCE WHAT SIDE THE SPEAKER IS ON. THE WORD "ABOUT" IS ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT LEAVES THE THESIS AMBIGUOUS. WHAT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT???????

You must write the thesis statement so that it clearly stated what side you are on.

CORRECT SAMPLE THESIS STATEMENT:

TODAY, I AM GOING TO PERSUADE THE AUDIENCE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS IN JEOPARDY AND WE MUST TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO SAVE IT.

INCORRECT SAMPLE THESIS STATEMENT:

TODAY I'M GOING TO PERSUADE THE AUDIENCE ABOUT GUN CONTROL.

(WHAT ABOUT IT? ARE YOU FOR IT? AGAINST IT?…..THE WAY THE ABOVE SENTENCE IS WRITTEN WE HAVE NO IDEA.

CORRECT SAMPLE THESIS STATEMENT:

TODAY I'M GOING TO PERSUADE THE AUDIENCE THAT THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BAN ALL AUTOMATIC AND SEMIAUTOMATIC FIREARMS.

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DO NOT SEND ME ANY ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSIONS AS A MESSAGE TO ME THROUGH CANVAS OR E-MAIL PLEASE.

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HERE ARE THE DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO TURN IN ALL SPEECH ASSIGNMENTS.

EACH STUDENT MUST TURN IN A 2 PAGE SPEECH OUTLINE. STUDENTS SHOULD PROVIDE AS MUCH DETAIL IN THE OUTLINE AS POSSIBLE. STUDENTS MUST USE COMPLETE SENTENCES ETC. SOURCES MUST ALSO BE INCLUDED IN PARENTHESIS INSIDE THE OUTLINE. PLEASE REFER TO THE EXAMPLE INFO OUTLINES POSTED UNDER FILES.

INFORMATIVE SPEECH

ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE CLASS MEETING TIME ASSIGNED TO YOUR ASSIGNED SECTION. EACH SECTION IS ASSIGNED A SPECIFIC TIME TO GIVE SPEECHES ON CAMPUS. YOU CANNOT ATTEND ANOTHER CLASS’S MEETING TIME.

ALL STUDENTS MUST GIVE THE SPEECH IN PERSON AND STAY TO WATCH THE OTHER STUDENTS SPEECHES ON THE ELAC CAMPUS.

Please make sure that you dress professionally when you come to campus to give your speech. No caps, shorts, t-shirts etc. You need to dress in your best. If you wouldn't wear it to a job interview don't wear it on speech day. Dress shoes and attire are needed. At the very least, it needs to look like you made an effort to dress up.

YOU WILL GIVE A BETTER SPEECH IF YOU DRESS UP BECAUSE YOU WILL FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF WHICH WILL GIVE YOU MORE CONFIDENCE!=)

HERE ARE THE 2 THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED PROPERLY FOR ME TO GIVE YOU A GRADE. IF BOTH PARTS OF THE ASSIGNMENT ARE NOT TURNED IN PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE, YOU EARN A GRADE OF ZERO.

1) YOU MUST COME TO CAMPUS AND PERFORM YOUR SPEECH AT THE DESIGNATED TIME FOR YOUR CLASS.

2) A 2-PAGE TYPED OUTLINE IN THE PROPER OUTLINE FORMAT COMPLETE WITH 5 SOURCES IN BOLD AND IN PARENTHESIS WORKED INTO THE OUTLINE WHERE YOU ARE PLANNING ON SAYING THE SOURCE OUT LOUD DURING YOUR SPEECH. YOU MUST TURN IN THE PRINTED OUTLINE ON THE DAY YOU GIVE YOUR SPEECH.