Speech to Persuade (COM130)

OUTLINE TEMPLATE: PERSUASIVE SPEECH - problem-solution FORMAT

Title of presentation:

Name:

Audience: (describe your audience demographics and psychographics or position on the issue and situational context for the presentation.)

General purpose: To Persuade

Proposition (Specific Purpose): Begin with the word RESOLVED. Then use a declarative sentence that clearly indicates the position you will advocate. Example: Resolved: Puppy mills cause dogs great harm and suffering. From this statement, the speaker will present arguments, reasons, and evidence to prove the validity of the proposition. The proposition may be of FACT (true/false); of POLICY (course of action; usually includes the word “should”); or of VALUE (right/wrong; good/bad; moral/immoral; etc.).

(Note: for this assignment, proposition should be fact or policy only.)
(Information above this line is for outline planning only and should NOT be used in your actual speech).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I. I. I. Introduction

A. Attention grabbing device (NOT your name and topic)

B. Significance (motivates listener interest by showing how important the problem is; creates a priority for this problem. For example, AIDS receives far greater press than Cancer yet it claims far fewer victims annually. For whatever reasons, marketing forces have worked to create the perception that AIDS is of greater significance than Cancer.)

C. Relevance (motivates listener interest by showing how it involves them)

D. Qualification (or credibility step; what gives you the right to address the problem?)

E. Claim (your thesis or central idea based on your proposition)

F. Forecast (preview/sign-posting of how you will prove the claim of fact to be true).

X: (Transition statement to bridge the end of the Introduction to the first main idea of the body of your speech)

II. Body (The body will have only two main ideas, NOT three-five main points as in a speech to inform)

A. Main idea “A” formally states and develops the PROBLEM. (write as a complete sentence(s))

1. sub-point that includes your evidence (may include sub-sub-points)

a. sub-sub-points (include at least two and more as needed)

2. additional sub-points (may include sub-sub-points)

a. sub-sub-points (include at least two and more as needed)

X: (Transition statement to bridge the end of the main idea A to main idea B)

B. Main idea “B” will state and develop the SOLUTION (plan) and PROVE that the SOLUTION (plan) will solve the problem. (write as a complete sentence(s))

1. sub-point that includes your evidence (may include sub-sub-points)

a. sub-sub-points (include at least two and more as needed)

2. sub-point that includes your evidence; add more as needed

a. sub-sub-points (include at least two and more as needed)

X: (Transition statement to bridge the end of Main idea B to the conclusion; let listeners know you are finishing)

III. Conclusion

A. Provide a thorough summary reviewing both the problem and the solution.

B. Tell the audience what they specifically should do. Be ASSERTIVE!

C. Provide an effective exit tied to the attention getter (leave audience thinking). NEVER end with: ”That’s

it!” or “That’s about all I have to say.”

Sources Cited (put on separate page)
(Use APA formatting; DO NOT FORGET to include IN-TEXT CITATIONS)
(DON’T use a final PowerPoint slide to show your sources—USE oral footnotes within the actual presentation.)