Creating a Persuasive Speech

1. Creating a Persuasive Speech

2. Argumentation - Review • Every argument needs to have three parts: • Claim – Your main idea/point • Evidence – Support from other sources (may fall within logos, pathos and/or ethos) • Reasoning – The explanation of how your evidence supports your claim. • Repeat this basic structure as much as you need to in a speech

3. Types of Persuasive Speeches • Question of Fact • May be an issue answered absolutely, a predication for the future or something inconclusive. You will use hard logic/facts to provide reasoning for your ideas • Question of Value • More opinion based or morally based. Can still use evidence to support your ideas, but the basis is in your own value system • Question of Policy • Deals with a specific course of action. Can be for the government, for a school, for a family, etc…May want to motivate action.

4. The Classical Argument • There are many ways to present your argument, but the Classical Argument has been used since rhetors(people who taught the proper use of language) taught Greek farmers this strategy to present their sides in court cases during the fifth century B.C. • This argument is meant to be logical and told to an open-minded audience.

5. Elements of the Classical Argument • The introduction, which warms up the audience, establishes goodwill and rapport with the audience, and announces the general theme or thesis of the argument. I will look for: • Attention-getter • Thesis Statement • Preview of your main points

6. Elements of the Classical Argument • The narration, which summarizes relevant background information • Think about your audience. How much do they know about this topic? Provide them with any background information they are going to need.

7. Elements of the Classical Argument • The confirmation, which lays out in a logical order the claims that support the thesis, providing evidence for each claim. • This is where the elements of argumentation come in. Repeat the process of claim, evidence and reasoning as many times as you need to. What are all the persuasive points you want to make? Why should the congress vote for the bill? Why should the congress vote against the bill?

8. Elements of the Classical Argument • The refutation and concession, which looks at opposing viewpoints. • The savvy speaker is going to look at the other side of the argument and mention some of the opposing arguments and answer them before the argument is made. Why would people vote against your bill? (If you are pro.) Or, why would people vote for this bill? (If you are con.)

9. Elements of the Classical Argument • The summation, which provides a strong conclusion • Review your main thesis, all the reasons why they should vote your way – and tell them how to vote.

10. Ethos, Pathos, Logos • Don’t forget the work of Aristotle. The strongest persuasive speeches are going to work in your credibility, emotion and logic. Consider these three ideas and work in as much of them as you can.

11. Beware of the Media As you prepare your ideas for your speech, you do need evidence/research to back up your points. Try to choose sources that are unbiased.

12. Think Critically • ASK: Who produced this media? What kind of reality does this media create? How accurate is this “reality”? What stories are NOT being told and why? • If there is bias in your source, acknowledge that bias and explain why you chose to use the source.

13. Be Aware • Wikipedia is not a valid source • Beware of polls – How large and diverse was the sample? Who sponsored the poll? • Is there bias in your news source?

14. Your Turn! • Bring your bill packet to class tomorrow. • You will start by writing a Pro speech – a speech in favor of a bill. (You may want to write a speech for the bill you wrote) • Next week you will write a Con speech – a speech against one of the bills.