Public Speaking

Persuasive Speech 

 

Defined: Persuasive Speeches are meant to convince the audience to accept your view and even change their own views to match yours.  

Main Goal: To strongly convince the audience to accept a certain perspective. 

 

Persuasive speeches can be thought of as a sales pitch. As a sales person your main goal is to persuade the customer to buy the product. If the pitch is successful the product/service will be purchased. The success of your speech will be measured by how willing the audience seems to accept your view. However, do not get discouraged if the audience doesn't seem convinced. Not all audiences will be persuaded by a single speech. Like any good salesperson, you work harder to formulate a better pitch that will get your "customers" on your side. If your speech doesn't persuade easily just go back to the drawing board and find more outside information and experiences that will gain the audience's interest, trust, and thought process. When your audience begins to think even slightly about your topic then you're on your way to giving a good persuasive speech. Using personal experiences is also important during this type of speech. The more you can relate to your audience the more they will tune in to what you're persuading them to do.  

 

Features of a Persuasive Speech:

1. Ethos: (Credibility) 

• Your ethical appeal is very important in the beginning of the speech. If your audience feels you are not a credible source then immediately you have lost their interest. Losing the interest of your audience is a lot easier than gaining it back so be sure to start with an attention grabber that will reel in your audience.

2.  Logos: (Logical) 

• This area of the persuasive speech will present your information. Using reliable outside sources that are recognizable is best when trying to persuade. Never lie or make up facts, the audience will definitely be able to tell and you will lose the chance of winning them over. You must also show a rational and concrete conclusion. 

3.  Pathos: (Emotion)

• This component of your persuasive speech is there to make the audience feel something towards your topic so that by the end they will accept your conclusion. 

 

Persuasive topics may include: 

• Should there be stronger limits on immigration?

• Video game violence leads to violence in reality

• Dangers of Steroid Use

• Why you should attend college

• Why you should travel abroad

• Why you should stay away from sodas

• Why breakfast is the most important meal of the day 

• The importance of donating blood