Persuasive Speech COM115

Objectives:
1. To allow students to demonstrate the culmination of their learned organization and delivery skills
2. To provide students with the opportunity to persuade the class into taking a specific action
3. To allow students to discern the most appropriate organizational pattern for their call-to-action criterion
Speech Details
This assignment finally gives you a chance to persuade your audience! This presentation will be 6-8 minutes long
and will let you argue passionately for your favorite charity or cause. The goal of your persuasive case will be to
convince audience members to take action. You want them to donate their time, money, or efforts to your cause.
When a speaker engages in persuasion, the topic can be one of fact, value, or policy. This presentation is a question
of policy, or what your audience members should or should not be DOING. These presentations focus on changing
the behavior of your audience members. As you will learn, behaviors are largely influenced by the beliefs and
attitudes we hold. Because beliefs and attitudes are so ingrained in us we are not willing to change them easily.
This is why the charity or cause you choose should be a small scale rather than large scale issue. An example of a
large scale issues would be abortion (i.e. Pro-Life v. Pro-Choice) or many other political issues. Organizations such as
the Make-A-Wish Foundation would be an example of a smaller more manageable issue. Think about the logistics:
will it be possible to change an audience members mind about abortion or about helping an organization that
grants wishes to terminally ill children in 6-8 minutes?
There are different organizational patterns for different types of persuasive speaking. This presentation is meant to
improve your ability to make and evaluate arguments. You must have at least 4 sources for this presentation that
incorporate many types of valid evidence, including examples, statistics, testimony, etc. Let logic and solid
reasoning guide your presentation making sure to avoid fallacies.
Organizational Guidelines:

Speech must have an introduction, body, and conclusion

An organizational pattern must be indicated on the outline
Plan to speak from brief notes not a word-for-word manuscript (this is called extemporaneous delivery). Eye
contact is vital for successful presentations.
Speech must be grounded in logic but appeal emotionally to audience
Practice your speech several times before presentation day. You should know your time and get a feel for the
flow of your speech. Time and eye contact are very important elements of memorable presentations.
The speech must be 6-8 minutes, with 10 seconds forgiveness either side.
A minimum of 4 sources need to be included and orally cited (use either MLA or APA citation style)
A Visual Aid is required

Jodie Bowers

Persuasive Speech COM115

Speech Day Guidelines:

Wear clothing appropriate for your audience and occasion. You will be standing.
Turn in a typed outline (developed based on the sample provided).
A Visual Aid IS REQUIRED for this speech. Prepare it before the start of class
o If it is a digital file, have it saved in MULTIPLE locations (flash drive, e-mail, student drive) and make sure
the format is compatible with software in the classroom.

Outline Template
Name:
COM 115 Section #:

Jodie Bowers

Persuasive Speech COM115

Presentation Title
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience.
Central Idea: Use one declarative statement here that summarizes your speech. Say what your speech is about here (main points).
Organizational Pattern: this outline is demonstrating problem/solution organization You do not have to use this organizational
pattern.
INTRODUCTION: includes all of the following
I.
II.
III.
IV.

Attention Getter (Write your exact plan) - what will you do to get your audiences attention?
Credibility Statement (Word for Word) what makes YOU qualified to speak on this topic?
Relating to the Audience (Word for Word) why should the audience care?
Thesis Statement (Word for Word) Your central idea from above (though this should have a good flow from the
introduction into the transition)

Directional transition: (Summary/Preview)

BODY: (One full sentence for each main, supporting, subpoint and sub-subpoint. Cite all evidence in-text (Author, Year)
I.

Main Point One: Problem: Write a full sentence describing the problem that your organization/cause addresses.
A. Supporting Point
1. Sub-point
2. Sub-point
B. Supporting Point

Directional transition: (Summary/Preview)

II.

Main Point Two: Currents Effots: Write a full sentence introducing us to what is already being done to address your
stated problem.
A. Supporting Point
1. Sub-point
a. Sub-subpoint
b. Sub-subpoint
2. Sub-point
B. Supporting Point
C. Supporting Point
1. Subpoint
2. Subpoint
Main Point Three: Solution: Write a full sentence introducing us to what you would like for us to do now that we know
what the problem is and what is currently being done.
A. Supporting Point
1. Sub-point
a. Sub-subpoint
b. Sub-subpoint
2. Sub-point
B. Supporting Point
C. Supporting Point
1. Subpoint
2. Subpoint

III.

Directional transition: (Summary/Preview)

Jodie Bowers

Persuasive Speech COM115

CONCLUSION
I.
II.

Summary: Summarize what you have talked about in your speech (specifically stating the three main points)
Closing Statement (Clincher Word for Word) Leave us with a wow factor so well remember you and your message

References
(Your references will be in MLA or APA Style on a new page)

Outline Information
For the Persuasive Speech you will need to turn in 2 separate outlines, a full-sentence preparation outline and a
condensed speaking outline. The following are helpful tips for creating these two documents.
Preparation Outline

Should be written in full-sentences include everything you plan to say in this outline
Needs to be formatted in either MLA or APA citation style
o In-text AND works cited/reference page
Must include:
o Introduction (attention grabber, topic introduction, credibility material, why it relates to your audience,
and thesis statement)
o Transition statements
o 2-3 main points
o Conclusion
o Stated Organizational Pattern

Speaking Outline

Should be a very short version of your preparation outline that you create AFTER you complete your preparation
outline
Youll use this to deliver your speech
Generally is one page in length includes only key words, short phrases, and citation info.
Introduction, conclusion, and transitions can be written in full-sentences.
Does not include topic, specific purpose, central idea, or bibliography
Needs to include delivery cues (breathe, pause, repeat for emphasis, etc)
Both outlines must be typed, 12 point, single spaced.

Jodie Bowers

Persuasive Speech COM115

Evaluation Rubric
Speaker:
Topic/Title:

Day/Section:
Date:

INTRODUCTION
Introduced Topic Clearly (5)
Established Credibility/Ethos (5)
Previewed Body of Speech (5)
Gained Attention (5)

/20

BODY
/35
Organizational pattern clear (5)
Main Points Clear (5)
Content is relevant/worthwhile/appropriate (5)
Effective Transitions (5)
Included strong and diverse sources (5)
Content Clearly/Equally Covered (5)
Oral Citations: (5)

CONCLUSION
Summarized Speech (5)
Strong Concluding Remarks (10)

/15

PRESENTATION AID(s)
Quality (10)
Preparation Evident (5)
Smooth integration into Presentation (5)

/20

DELIVERY
Eye Contact (10)
Body Language (5)
Vocal Projection/Variety (10)
Articulated Words Clearly (5)
Used Pauses effectively (5)
Extemporaneously Delivered (10)
Delivered within 6-8 minutes: (5)

/50

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
Prep. Outline Content (5)
Prep. Outline Format(5)
Speaking Outline Content(5)
Speaking Outline Format (5)
Bibliography (5)

Great Job! You nailed it!

Pay more attention to:

OVERALL PRESENTATION
/45
Appeared Prepared (5)
Appeared Committed to Topic (5)
Included Strong Persuasive Message (10)
Connected to Audience (5)
Demonstrated logical (logos) appeal (5)
Demonstrated emotional (pathos) appeal (5)
Adapted message and content to audience (5)
Met Assignment Goals (5)

Additional Comments:
TOTAL SCORE:

Jodie Bowers

/150

Total Points:

/210

/25