Persuasive Speech Assignment
Your last major speaking assignment is a 6 minute persuasive speech where you convince your peers of something interesting. You can reinforce or alter your audience’s
attitudes, beliefs, values, and behavior. You can also suggest new attitudes, beliefs, or values to your audience. Read chapters 14 and 15, which teach you how to
compose your persuasive speech.
Due Dates:
• Topic selection due orally in class Nov 14&15
• Preparation outline due on blackboard Nov 18 11:59pm
• Delivery outline due on blackboard Nov 25 11:59pm
• Final Delivery outline, works cited page, and notecards due on your speech day
• Speeches will be presented Dec 3-14
Length of Speech: 6 minutes +/- 30 seconds
Speech Topics: read Ch.14 (The Persuasive Speech) and Ch.6 (Audience Centered Speech Building & Choosing Your Topic and Structuring its Parts).
• Select a topic you feel is important, a topic on which you hold an attitude, belief or value.
• Consider your audience as you develop your speech
o What is your audience’s pre-existing attitudes, beliefs, values and behavior about your topic?
o How much change will you ask from your audience? The more personal and audience-centered your speech is, the stronger the effect will be on the listener.
o Explicitly answer for your audience: “how does this relate to me?”, “why should I care?” and “so what?”