English 10C / 2013
Persuasive Speech
“To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we
must be truthful.” Edward R. Murrow
Speeches That Persuade
Persuasive speeches rely on accurate logic and facts (as well as emotion) to move their listeners
to action or belief.
There are three types of persuasion speeches: speeches on a question of fact,
speeches on a question of value, and speeches on a question of policy.
Question of Fact: This is convinces your audience that something happened or that it will happen. It can
be proven or not proven; it can use information which is documented or speculated. Lawyers always use
speeches on a question of fact. They present the "facts" and help the jury see them in a manner to prove
their clients innocent. Any speech on the existence of Big Foot or the Loch Ness monster would be a
speech on a question of fact.
Question of Value: This convinces your audience on the value of something. A speech that convinces us
of the importance of good health or that euthanasia is morally justifiable would be a speech on a
question of value. It is persuading us of the worthiness/unworthiness of something.
Question of Policy: This convinces us to take an action. Given this information and the importance of it,
we must do something about it. There will be a "should" (or implied should) in the thesis statement. "We
should allow our dogs to eat at the dinner table with us" is a thesis statement on a question of policy.
Question of Fact: Abortion is economically sensible.
Question of Value: Abortion is a right of all women.
Question of Policy: Abortion should be legal.
Don't forget that your written speech is meant to be heard. Speech is straightforward and conversational,
so it calls for short, familiar words; action verbs; personal pronouns; contractions; and subject-verb-object
sentence order.
As you decide which type of persuasive speech best suits your audience and purpose, ask yourself these
questions:
1. What do I want my listeners to do?
2. What objections, if any, will they have?
3. How strong a case can I make?
4. What type of persuasion does my organization or audience value (fact, value, or policy)?
You will present a 4 minute persuasion speech (75 points) on a question of value or
policy. You are required to cite at least three sources. Two of the three sources may
be from the web. Use the school data bases (see Opposing Viewpoints in Context
and/or Points of View on the library home page). You must include a works cited page
along with a formal outline on the day of your speech presentation. Feel free to use
noodle tools to create your works cited page. You will write out your introduction and
conclusion word for word. You may use note cards with no more than 75 words total.
We will draw numbers for the speaking order. If you are not ready on the assigned
date, you will lose a letter grade. You will then be called on first the next day.
Patterns of Organization for Persuasive Speaking
OPTION #1
Problem-Cause-Solution


Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that they should sign universal organ donor cards.
Central Idea: We can take a step toward solving the serious shortage of organ donors in the United States
by signing universal organ donor cards.
I. There is a serious shortage of healthy organs available for transplant.
II. By signing a universal organ donor card you can help solve this problem.
Problem-Cause-Solution
 Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that the government must increase its efforts to counter-act
global warming.
 Central Idea: The effects of global warming are catastrophic, but by understanding what is causing this
condition, the government can create policies that can reverse these effects.
I. Scientists agree that a general warming of the earth's atmosphere would lead to devastating effects on the
environment.
II. There are several factors responsible for global warming.
III. Government policies directed at industry and individuals can mitigate the effects of global warming.
Delivery is also an important component of a speech. See the attached rubric for details.
The three categories for grading include: nonverbal (15 points), voice (10 points), and
content (50 points).
See the attached list of possible topics. Be sure to consider if it would work as a policy or
value topic.
Alternative Energy Federal Deficit
Online Degree Programs
Poverty Federal Identification Cards
Ordination of Gay
Clergy
Space Program
Federal Reserve
Organic Food
Debates & Analysis FEMA
Outsourcing
2012 Presidential Primaries Female Priests
Overfishing
Transportation Infrastructure
Firearms Ozone
Layer
Flag Burning
Flood Insurance
Pakistan
Food Contamination
Abstinence
Education
Food, Organic
Parental Consent
Foreign Language Graduation Requirements
Parental Leave Laws
Foreign Military Bases
Parents on College Campus
Adult Children & Independence
Foreign Policy
Parole System
Affirmative Action Foster Children Programs
Afghanistan
Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act Agricultural Subsidies
Patriot Act
AIDS / HIV
Free Internet
AIDS Drugs in Africa
Free Speech and Islam
Pentagon Budget
Airline Subsidies
Free Speech
Airport Security and Body Scanners
Free Trade
Performance Enhancing Drugs
Alcohol Abuse & Youth
Fuel Efficiency
Pharmaceuticals Advertising Allergies in Schools Funding for the Arts
Pharmacies & Controversial Drugs
Alternative Energy Exploration
Gambling, Legal
Physical Education
Alternative Medicine
Gangs
Physician Malpractice Lawsuits
Amazon Deforestation
Gay & Lesbian Adoption
Animal Experimentation
Gay Marriage
Plastic Surgery
Animal Overpopulation
Pledge of Allegiance
Animal Rights
Gender Equality
Police Brutality
Animal Welfare
Genetic Fingerprinting
Political Cartoons and Islam
Animals, Endangered
Genetic Screening
Genetically Modified Foods
Political Rhetoric
Arctic Drilling
Geneva Convention Polygamy
Population Growth
Artificial Insemination
Global Democracy Pornography Laws
Global Economy
Power Plants, Coal-Burning
Arts & Music in Public Schools
Prayer in Schools
Arts Funding
Global Warming
Preemptive Strikes Assisted Suicide
Globalization
Preventable Disease & Vaccine Supply
Atheism GMOs
Prisoner Rights
Athletes & Drugs
Government Access to Records
Privatization of Education
Auto Insurance
Government Funding & Sports Facilities Prostitution
Public Health Assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa
Balancing Work & Family
Green Consumerism
Public Transportation
Bank Bailout
Green Jobs
Banning Books
Greenhouse Effect Quebec Secession
Bans, Trans Fat
Guantanamo
Race & Culture
Behavior Drugs & Children
Gun Control
Racial Profiling
Raising the Minimum Wage
Big Box Retailers
Reading, Decline of Bilingual Education Health Care Law
Reality Television Programs Biological & Chemical Weapons
Health Classes
Regulating Political Blogs
Bipartisanship
Health Insurance
Religion Blogging Helicopter Parents Renewable Energy
Blood Diamonds
Highway Carpools Reparations for Slavery
Body Image & the Media
Highway Tolls
Restitution to Native Americans
Body Scanners in Airports
HIV/AIDS Status & Privacy
Boomerang Children
Holistic Medicine
Border Wars
Home Schooling
Right of Property
Bottled Water
Homeland Security & Civil Liberties
Bullying in Schools Homelessness
Rights of Convicted Felons
Burning of the Flag Homosexuals in the Military
Campaign Finance Honey Bee Population
Safety of Imported Products
Canadian Pharmaceuticals
Housing Developments & Water Shortages
Salary Cap
Capital Punishment HPV Vaccine
Sales Tax vs. Income Tax
Capitalism vs. Socialism
Human Cloning
Same Sex Marriage
Carbon Offsetting Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
School Choice
Carbon Trading
Human Rights
School Prayer
Carpools Hunting School Uniforms
Casinos, Native American
Hurricane Katrina/FEMA
School Violence
Celebrity Activism Identity Theft
Cell Phone Bans
Illiteracy Sentencing for Juvenile Offenders
Cell Phones in School
Immigration Restrictions
Separation of Church & State Censoring Student Newspapers
Immigration
Sex Education in Schools
Censorship & Democracy
Immunizations
Sex Education
Censorship
Impeachment
Sex Offender Laws
Chechnya Imported Product Safety
Sex Workers
Chemical & Biological Weapons
Importing Drugs from Canada
Single-Parent vs. Nuclear Families
Child Labor
Income Tax vs. Sales Tax
Sinn Fein
China as a Superpower
Industrial Agriculture
Slavery Reparations
Chinese Exports
Inflation
Smallpox Vaccinations
Christianity in the U.S.
Smoking Church & State, Separation of
Intellectual Property Rights
Social Networking Sites
Social Security
Citizens' Rights
International Adoption Sports
Discrimination & Women
Internet Censorship
Sports Facilities & Government Funding
Cleanup of Toxic Dump Sites Invasive Species
Standardized Testing
Climate Change
Iran
Stem Cell Research
Cloning Iraq War Steroids Coal-Burning Power Plants
Strip Mining
Coastal Drilling
Sub-prime Mortgage Crisis
Colleges & Early Decision
Irish Republican Army
Subsidizing HIV/AIDS Drugs Substance Abuse
Complementary Medicine
Israel & the Palestinians
Surrogate Mothers Condom Distribution
Jobs
Conflict Diamonds Junk Food in Schools
Tasers
Jury Duty
Tax Cuts Conscientious Objectors
Juvenile Offenders Tax Reform
Contaminated Food
Tea Party Activism Corporal Punishment
Labor
Unions Teachers' Rights
Cosmetic Surgery
Laptops in Schools Teaching Evolution Teen Driving
Legalization of Marijuana
Term Limits
Legalized Gambling
Literacy Third World Relief
Daylight Saving Time
Lobbying Reform
Title IX Death Penalty
Mandatory Drug Testing
Decline of Newspapers
Mandatory Health Insurance Tort Reform
Decline of Reading Marine Resources
Deficit Spending
Trans Fat Bans
Deforestation in the Amazon Media Bias
Transportation, Public
Democratic Unionist Party (Ireland)
Media Consolidation U.S. & World Democracy
Developing Markets Medical Insurance U.S. Borders
Diamond Mining
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits U.S. Constitution
Discipline of Children
Medicare U.S. Space Program Discount Stores
U.S. Withdrawal From Post-WWII Bases
Distance Learning Mexican Border Security Policy
Underage Abortion Distribution of Condoms
Mexican Drug Cartels
Underage Drinking DNA Profiling
Military Service
Unions
Domestic Animal Overpopulation
Minimum Driving Age
United Nations
Domestic Violence
Minimum Wage Increases
Universal Health Care
Draft vs. Volunteer Army
Missile Defense
Uranium Enrichment
Dress Codes
Mandatory Vaccinations
Drilling in the Arctic Mortgage Crisis
Drug Policy
Multiculturalism
Vegetarianism
Drug Testing for Sports
Music & Arts in Public Schools
Drug Testing in Schools
Music Censorship Drugs and Crime in Mexico
Music Downloading Video Games
Early Admission
NAFTA Violence in Schools Napster Violence in the Media
Eco-friendly Consumerism
Narcotics
Trade in Mexico
Violent Protest
NASA
Economic Stimulus Package
National Debate Topics
Education Standards
National Debt
Volunteer Army vs. Draft
Elderly Drivers
National Identification Cards
Volunteering & Public Service Electoral Reform
Native American Rights
Electronic Surveillance
NATO
Voting Rights for Felons
Vouchers, School
Embryonic Stem Cells
Needle Exchange Programs
Wage Standards
Emergency Contraception
No Child Left Behind
War in Afghanistan Eminent Domain
No-Fault Car Insurance
War on Terror
Endangered Species
Noise Pollution
War Profiteering
Enemy Combatants Nonnative Species
Euthanasia
Nuclear Power
Wind Power
Wiretaps Excessive Use of Police Force Nuclear Weapons in Iran
Wolves in U.S. Parks Executive Pay
Nuclear Weapons Women Priests
Obesity & Health Insurance
Facebook
Obesity Women's Rights
Factory Farming
Occupy Wall Street
Wrongful Convictions & DNA Faith-Based Initiatives
Ocean Policy
Year-Round School
Offshore Oil Drilling
YouTube Farm Subsidies
Oil in the Arctic
Zero Tolerance Policies
Oil Prices
Topic Development:
What three topics above interest you?
1.
2.
3.
Write the three possible topics above as thesis statements of policy or fact.
1.
2.
3.