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Poverty Persuasive Speech Sample

This poverty persuasive speech sample seeks to persuade that audience that too little is being done to deal with poverty in America. This page provides series of resources to help our reader write their a speech on the poverty topic, including a free sample persuasive speech about poverty and a possible theme analysis.

Summary of the Topic - Poverty in America

  • Outline of the Poverty Persuasive Speech
  • Related Ideas for Development

Written Poverty Speech Essay on Poverty in America

  • Theme Idea for a Persuasive Speech about Poverty in America
  • Sources for More Information to Write a Poverty Persuasive Speech

poverty persuasive speech

Poverty is a complex issue that affects millions of people in the United States, and addressing it requires a multi-faceted approach. Many programs and initiatives are in place at the federal, state, and local levels to address poverty and support those in need. These include programs that provide financial assistance, such as temporary cash assistance and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and programs that aim to improve access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

At the same time, it is widely recognized that more needs to be done to address poverty in the United States. Despite these programs' efforts, the country's poverty rate remains high, with millions of people struggling to make ends meet and access the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

There are many challenges to addressing poverty, including a lack of affordable housing, limited access to quality education and job training, and systemic inequalities that disproportionately impact marginalized communities. To truly make a dent in poverty rates, addressing these underlying issues and working towards more comprehensive, long-term solutions will be necessary.

The poverty persuasive speech sample outline and written poverty speech essay below turn the above summary into a full sample speech to provide an example of the speech writing process. Combine the speech sample with the theme idea of a ladder, and this could become an very persuasive speech to advocate changes in policy. 

Sample Persuasive Speech Outline of the Topic - Poverty in America

Here is a possible outline for a speech to convince others that more needs to be done about poverty in the United States:

I.  Introduction      a.  A brief overview of the topic of poverty in America      b.  Thesis statement: Despite the efforts of existing programs and initiatives, more needs to be done to address poverty in the United States. II.  Overview of poverty in America      a.  Statistics on poverty rates in the United States      b.  Examples of the challenges and difficulties faced by those living in poverty, such as limited access to resources and opportunities, and the impact on overall health and well-being III.  Current efforts to address poverty      a.  Description of existing programs and initiatives, such as financial assistance and job training programs      b.  Evaluation of the effectiveness of these efforts in reducing poverty rates IV.  The need for more comprehensive solutions      a.  Examination of the underlying causes of poverty, such as systemic inequalities and a lack of affordable housing and quality education      b.  How addressing these root causes is necessary to reduce poverty rates effectively V.  Conclusion      a.  Recap of the main points of the speech      b.  Call to action for others to join in the fight against poverty in America

Potential Ideas Related to the Poverty Speech Topic for Development

Related Ideas

Here are a few topics related to poverty in the United States that a person could explore:

  • The impact of poverty on children: Poverty can have severe and long-lasting effects on children's development and well-being. Exploring this topic could involve researching how poverty can affect children's health, education, and overall prospects for the future.
  • The intersection of poverty and race: Poverty disproportionately affects marginalized communities, particularly people of color. Exploring this topic could involve examining how systemic racism and discrimination contribute to poverty and the efforts being made to address these issues.
  • The role of social safety net programs: The United States has a range of programs in place to provide financial assistance and other support to those in need. Exploring this topic could involve looking at the history and effectiveness of these programs and the ongoing debates around their funding and implementation.
  • The link between poverty and poor health outcomes: Poverty and poor health often go hand in hand, with those living in poverty more likely to experience a range of adverse health outcomes. Exploring this topic could involve examining how poverty contributes to poor health and the efforts being made to address these issues.
  • The impact of poverty on mental health: Poverty can have a significant impact on mental health, with those living in poverty more likely to experience stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. Exploring this topic could involve researching how poverty can affect mental health and the efforts being made to support those in need.

How could you use these topics related to the persuasive poverty speech sample? Take item #4 for instance, you might expand on a major point of the speech by discussing the link between poverty and poor health. Most can relate to the importance of health, and audience may find this a persuasive point of information.

Persuasive Poverty Speech Sample Heading

Introduction:

Good evening, everyone.

Today, I want to talk to you about an issue that affects millions of people in our country: poverty. Despite the efforts of existing programs and initiatives, more needs to be done to address poverty in the United States. 

Main Body Part I - Overview of the Problem:

According to the latest statistics, nearly 10% of Americans live in poverty, including over 13 million children. These numbers represent people who struggle to make ends meet and access the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

Poverty has severe and long-lasting consequences for those who experience it. Poverty can impact every aspect of a person's life, from health and education to job prospects and overall well-being. For children, growing up in poverty can have particularly severe consequences, as it can limit their ability to reach their full potential and succeed in the future.

Main Body Part 2 - Current Efforts 

Many programs and initiatives are in place to address poverty and support those in need. These include financial assistance programs, such as temporary cash assistance and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), as well as job training and education programs. While these efforts have certainly helped many people, the poverty rate in the United States remains high, and more needs to be done to address this pressing issue.

Main Body Part 3 - The Ongoing Need for Solutions

To truly make a dent in poverty rates, we must go beyond providing temporary assistance and address the root causes of poverty. The future steps include addressing systemic inequalities that disproportionately impact marginalized communities and addressing issues like a lack of affordable housing and quality education. We can only effectively reduce poverty rates and create a more equitable society for all by addressing these underlying issues.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, poverty is a complex and pressing issue that affects millions of people in the United States. While there are already efforts to address poverty, more must be done to address the root causes of poverty and create a more equitable society for all. Please join me in the fight against poverty and work towards more comprehensive, long-term solutions. Thank you.

Theme Idea for a Poverty Persuasive Speech Sample

The symbol of a ladder could add colorful imagery to the poverty persuasive speech sample, making the delivery more persuasive and relatable..

ladder theme poverty in america

One possible theme that could be added to the speech as an analogy or story is the idea of a ladder . The ladder could symbolize the many factors contributing to poverty and how people can climb out of poverty with the proper support and resources.

For example, the speech could begin with a story about a person struggling to climb out of poverty but constantly held back by obstacles such as a lack of education, affordable housing, and job opportunities. These obstacles could be compared to the rungs of a ladder that are missing or broken, making it difficult for the person to make progress.

The speech could then discuss the various programs and initiatives to help people climb out of poverty, such as financial assistance and job training programs. These tools help repair the missing rungs on the ladder, allowing people to progress and achieve a better life.

However, the speech could also emphasize the need for more comprehensive solutions that address the root causes of poverty, such as systemic inequalities and a lack of affordable housing and quality education. These solutions are the foundation of the ladder, supporting the entire structure and enabling people to climb out of poverty and reach their full potential.

In conclusion, the ladder analogy could be used to emphasize the importance of addressing the immediate challenges of poverty and the underlying causes to create a more equitable society for all.

What is the best theme for a persuasive poverty speech sample that you can think of? How about a using a visual aid such as a table with inexpensive staple foods of limited quantity for a family? 

Great sources for more information with citations and content summaries

1. “how poverty in the united states is measured and why it matters.” prb, 2022,  https://www.prb.org/resources/how-poverty-in-the-united-states-is-measured-and-why-it-matters/ ..

ruler measuring poverty in America

The US government has provided billions of dollars in emergency relief through various acts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects, including the Build Back Better Act, a $1 trillion reconciliation bill proposed by the Biden administration to support American children and families in need. The Build Back Better Act uses multiple poverty measures to determine eligibility for benefits and allocate funds. The current measure of poverty, the official poverty measure, has been in use since the 1960s and is based on a family's pretax cash income. Many believe this measure is flawed and recommend alternative measures considering non-cash benefits and the cost of living in different regions.

2. “Poverty Facts.” Povertyusa.org, 2020,  www.povertyusa.org/facts .

source for poverty facts

Facts are important for the persuasive poverty speech sample. Here's a synopsis of the facts page provided by Poverty USA Org.

Poverty in the United States affects a significant portion of the population, particularly children, seniors, and certain racial and ethnic groups. In 2020, the poverty rate was 11.4%, but the supplemental poverty measure, which considers programs designed to reduce poverty, dropped to 9.1%. Many people in poverty struggle to make ends meet and do not have access to resources and opportunities that can help them improve their circumstances. The US government has implemented various programs and initiatives to address poverty, including financial assistance and job training. Still, more must be done to address the root causes of poverty and create a more equitable society.‌

3. McCarty AT. Child Poverty in the United States: A Tale of Devastation and the Promise of Hope. Sociol Compass. 2016 Jul;10(7):623-639. doi: 10.1111/soc4.12386. Epub 2016 Jul 4. PMID: 28890733; PMCID: PMC5589198.

Brief Summary of the McCarty Paper: 

Child poverty is a significant issue in the United States, affecting education and health outcomes. It disproportionately affects certain social groups and geographic areas, and is influenced by a lack of resources, cultural factors, and stress. To address child poverty, it is necessary to increase incomes and support children's skill development, and improve the communities in which poor families live. Further research is needed to understand and address the issue fully.

Who is Alyn McCarty and why is this source reliable? 

Alyn McCarty is a research associate at Research for Action, where she leads a multi-year evaluation of an early literacy program in Philadelphia and conducts research on other projects. Before joining Research for Action, McCarty worked as a Health Disparities Research Scholar and Research Scientist, focusing on how socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in early health contribute to inequality in health and education. McCarty received a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Texas-Austin, an M.S. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Related Informative Topics

Not interested in poverty but would like to give a speech about money issues? How about choosing one of these topics?

  • Savings and budgeting : managing one's money in a way that allows for long-term financial stability and the ability to save for future expenses or goals.
  • Investment : using money to generate additional income or wealth by acquiring assets such as stocks, bonds, or real estate.
  • Debt : the borrowing of money, often with interest, to be paid back at a later date.
  • Credit : the ability to borrow money or access financial services, often through credit scores and credit reports.
  • Financial planning : setting and working towards financial goals, including creating a budget, saving for retirement, and managing debt.

Related Persuasive Speech Topics

Want to give a speech about the equitable treatment of others but with a different focus than provided by the persuasive poverty speech sample? Consider these topics.

  • The importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace
  • The impact of systemic racism and discrimination on marginalized communities
  • The need for equal pay for equal work
  • The role of privilege and how to be an ally
  • The benefits of promoting equal opportunities for all individuals

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speech on poverty

6 Speech On Poverty You Should Know

According to the latest statistics on poverty, 8.6% of the world, or 736 million people, live in extreme poverty. As we all know, poverty is the state of being poor and lack of the means to provide necessary needs. Going by the basic definition of poverty, 736 million people lack the means to provide necessary needs and it shouldn’t be so.

In this article, we have collated a list of speeches on poverty to inspire the fight against poverty and also help you create wonderful content about poverty. These speeches on poverty were made by influential voices addressing the ever existing social issue, poverty.

Here are the 5 speech on poverty to inspire you to fight against poverty:

1.) Former U.N Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, Address on the International Day For The Eradication Of Poverty, 17 October.

In this address, Kofi Annan highlighted the need of working together to end poverty. He said: “But poverty is an old enemy with many faces. Defeating it will require many actors to work together.”

2.) Ban Ki-moon Speech At The 66th General Assembly .

On September 2011, the former U.N Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, gave a speech at the 66th General Assembly. In that speech, Ki-moon linked the fight for poverty to some important social issues. In his words: “Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth … these are one and the same fight.”.

“We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.” Ban Ki-moon also said in the speech.

3.) Nelson Mandela Make Poverty History Speech in Trafalgar Square

Nelson Mandela gave a speech about poverty in London’s Trafalgar Square on February 3, 2005. Just like most speeches about poverty, Nelson Mandela’s speech is where most quote about poverty comes from.

The former president of South Africa made an important point that poverty doesn’t only affect those who can barely provide their necessary needs but everyone, rich and poor. Mandela said: “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”

He also noted that poverty is a denial of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. In his words: “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.”

4.) Teva Sienicki TEDxMileHighWomen Speech

Teva Sienicki, president and CEO of nonprofit organization, Growing Home, which provides dual-generation programs to nurture children, strengthen families, and create community.

In Sienicki’s inspiring TEDx speech, she offers an efficient way to ending poverty. Sienick tells the world that we need to not just treat the symptoms of poverty, but treat the root causes of poverty.

Sienicki argues that one can end poverty by bringing equity and reforming systems in communities.

5.) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr 1964 Nobel Peace Prize Lecture

In 1964, in a Nobel Peace Prize lecture which took place at Oslo, Norway, renowned American activist, Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about poverty. He called on nations to end poverty. Martin Luther King Jr also argued that there’s no deficit in human resources but human will in the fight against poverty.

6.) Harry Belafonte Speech About Poverty

At a town hall in America, in the year 2005, Jamaican-American singer, songwriter, activist, and actor  dubbed “King of Calypso”,  Harry Belafonte gave a wonderful speech about poverty in America. Though, he was talking about poverty in America he made important points as regards to poverty. “We have to look at ourselves because I think the last frontier of truth and hope in this country are the people themselves.” Harry Belafonte says, calling for people to realize that we can bring the change we want.

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Persuasive Speech About Poverty

Poverty is a major issue in the world today. There are many people who live in poverty, and many children who grow up in poverty. Poverty can have a huge impact on a person’s life, and it can be very difficult to escape from poverty if you are born into it.

There are many ways to help reduce poverty, and it is important that we all do our part to help those who are living in poverty. One way to help is to donate money to charities that work to fight poverty. Another way is to volunteer your time or skills to help those who are living in poverty.

It is also important that we raise awareness about poverty, and educate people about the effects of poverty on individuals and families. We need to show people that poverty is not just a financial issue, it is also a social and emotional issue. Poverty can have a devastating effect on a person’s life, and it is important that we all work together to help those who are living in poverty.

It’s all about food in the United States. In other countries, there are homeless people just as in the United States. Poverty is a bad way of life and it can corrupt even good people. The phrase “the poor will always be with us,” which has been used since biblical times, is not accurate any longer because poverty has changed its definition and function over time. It’s all about eating in the United States. Homeless individuals exist in numerous nations just like they do in the United States. Poverty is a terrible way of life that can damage even decent persons.

Poverty is being a slave to the rich and powerful. Poverty is not being able to vote or participate in the decisions that affect your life. Poverty is having to sell your body to survive. Poverty is insecurity, living in fear of violence and exploitation.

Poverty means being a refugee or an internally displaced person, having to leave your home because of conflict, persecution, natural disasters or development projects. Poverty means not belonging anywhere, not having a nationality. Poverty means being a migrant worker who is treated like a second-class citizen.

Poverty is all of these things and more. It is a complex issue that affects billions of people around the world. Children are especially vulnerable to poverty and its effects. According to UNICEF, there are close to 2 billion children living in poverty around the world. Poverty can have a profound effect on children, impacting their health, education and overall well-being.

Child poverty is an important issue because it not only affects the individual child, but also has implications for society as a whole. Poverty-stricken children are more likely to grow up to be poverty-stricken adults, creating a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break. Additionally, these children are more likely to experience poor health, lack of education and other negative outcomes that can limit their potential and hinder their ability to contribute fully to society.

There are many different causes of child poverty. Some of the most common include:

– Lack of access to basic needs like food, water, shelter and healthcare

– Poverty of the parents or caregivers

– Limited opportunities for education and employment

– Conflict and violence

– Natural disasters

– Illness or disability

What can we do to address child poverty? There are many things that can be done to help reduce child poverty, including:

– Providing food, water, shelter and healthcare to those who need it

– Supporting parents and caregivers in their efforts to provide for their children

– Promoting education and opportunities for employment

– Addressing the root causes of poverty, such as conflict and violence, lack of access to basic needs, etc.

It is important that we work together to address child poverty. No one organization or country can do it alone. By working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of millions of children who are living in poverty.

“Poverty is the most severe type of violence.” – Mahatma Gandhi. Poverty is defined as a situation where a family’s basic necessities, such as food, shelter, clothing, and education are not met. It can lead to additional issues like low literacy rates, unemployment, malnutrition, and others.

Because approximately half of the world’s population resides beneath the poverty line, poverty is a worldwide problem. Natural catastrophes, war, sickness and low levels of education are all examples of factors that may contribute to poverty.

Poverty has a significant impact on children as it can lead to poor health, malnutrition, and lack of education. Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to experience problems in their adult life like unemployment and mental health issues. Poverty also increases the risk of crime and violence.

There are many ways to reduce poverty, such as providing access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. We can also help by donating money or time to organizations that work to reduce poverty. By working together, we can make a difference and help reduce poverty around the world.

The million dollar question is: Where does this money come from? The answer, as we have seen above, is the charitable sector. This money comes from donations made by individuals who are inspired by your incredible story.

Charities often focus on health and education in order to relieve suffering via their various programs. -Poverty is associated with a number of negative situations such as substandard housing, homelessness, nutritional inadequacy, food insecurity, restricted child care access, unsafe communities, and underfunded schools. 

Poverty also is linked to diminished life opportunities and reduced earnings prospects over the course of a lifetime. Poverty rates are highest for female-headed families with children, followed by African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. Poverty rates for white people and Asian Americans are lowest.

Nearly one in five U.S. children lives in poverty. In 2012, there were 16.4 million poor children in the United States, including nearly one in three African American children and more than one in four Hispanic children. Poverty rates are highest for female-headed families with children, followed by African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. Poverty rates for white people and Asian Americans are lowest.

Children who grow up poor are more likely to have stunted physical and cognitive development, which can lead to lower academic achievement and a host of health problems. Poverty also increases the likelihood of high-risk behaviors such as crime, violence, and substance abuse.

A number of programs aim to reduce the negative effects of poverty on children. These include early childhood education programs, after-school and summer programs, school breakfast and lunch programs, and housing assistance.

The federal government’s primary program for assisting families in poverty is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. TANF provides cash assistance to families with children who are struggling to make ends meet. The TANF program has helped millions of families since it was created in 1996, but it has to keep pace with the changing needs of families in poverty.

In order to make sure that all children have a chance to succeed, we need to do more to reduce poverty and its effects on children. We must invest in early childhood education, after-school and summer programs, and school breakfast and lunch programs. We also need to ensure that families have access to quality affordable housing. When we invest in our nation’s children, we are investing in our future.

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persuasive speech examples about poverty

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Speech on Poverty

Poverty is not just a lack of money, it’s a complex issue that touches many areas of life. It’s about not having enough food, a safe place to live, or access to basic services like education or healthcare.

You might think poverty only affects people in far-off places, but it’s closer than you think. Even in the wealthiest countries, many people struggle every day just to meet their basic needs.

1-minute Speech on Poverty

Hello, friends!

Let’s talk about a critical issue – poverty. It’s the state when people can’t get the basic things they need to live, like food, clothes, and a place to live. It’s a problem not just in one country or one region, but all over the world.

Imagine not knowing if you’ll eat today or not. Imagine wearing the same clothes every day, no matter if they’re torn or dirty. It’s a tough life, right? That’s what poverty looks like. Many people face this situation every day. It’s sad, but it’s the truth.

Now, why does poverty exist? Some people are born into poor families. Some lose their jobs and can’t find a new one. Sometimes, natural disasters like floods or earthquakes destroy everything they have. The reasons are many, and they’re all hard to control.

We can’t end poverty in one day. It’s a big task. But every small action counts. If every one of us does a little bit, we can make a big change. Remember, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

In the end, let’s not forget about poverty. Let’s keep talking about it, learning about it and doing what we can to help. Because in a world as rich as ours, no one should have to live in poverty. Thank you.

Also check:

2-minute Speech on Poverty

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In our modern world, it’s surprising that poverty still exists. It’s sad to see that in a world full of riches, some people go to bed hungry every night. In some parts of the world, kids don’t go to school because they can’t afford books or uniforms. They have to work instead, to help their families. It’s not fair, is it?

Poverty is like a big, scary monster. It’s not just about being hungry or cold. It affects people’s health too. When people are poor, they can’t afford to see a doctor or buy medicine. They get sick more often and stay sick longer. It makes life very hard and stressful.

But why does poverty exist? There are many reasons. Sometimes, it’s because of bad luck. Maybe there’s a drought, and the crops fail. Or maybe someone gets sick and can’t work. But often, it’s because of things that are unfair. Maybe some people have a lot of money and power, and they don’t share it with others. Or maybe the rules of the society are not fair, and they make it hard for poor people to improve their lives.

So, what can we do about poverty? It’s a big problem, but that doesn’t mean we can’t fight it. We can start by being aware of the problem. We can learn about poverty and talk about it. And we can help. We can donate money or food to people who need it. We can also volunteer our time to help in soup kitchens or community centers. And we can make sure that our leaders know that we care about poverty, and we want them to do something about it.

Remember, every person can make a difference. You might think that you’re just one person, and you can’t do much. But that’s not true. If each one of us does a little bit, it adds up to a lot. And together, we can beat the monster of poverty.

We also have speeches on more interesting topics that you may want to explore.

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persuasive speech examples about poverty

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14.6 Sample Persuasive Speech Outlines

Sample Outline : Persuasive Speech Using Topical Pattern

By Janet Aguilar

Specific Purpose: To persuade my classmates to eliminate their Facebook use.

Introduction: There she was late into the night, still wide awake staring at her phone’s screen. In fact, she had to be at work early in the morning, but scrolling through her Facebook account kept her awake. That girl was me before I deactivated my Facebook account. I honestly could not tell you how many hours I spent on Facebook. In the survey that I presented to you all, one person admitted to spending “too much” time on Facebook. That was me in the past; I spent too much time on Facebook. Time is precious, and once it is gone it does not return. So why do you spend precious time on Facebook? Time that could be spent with family, resting, or just being more productive.

Thesis/Preview: Facebook users should eliminate their usage because Facebook can negatively affect their relationships with others, their sleeping patterns and health, and their ability to focus on school work.

I. Family relationships can be affected by your Facebook usage.

A. In the survey conducted in class, 11 of 15 students confessed to having ignored someone while they were speaking.

1. Found myself ignoring my children while they spoke.

2. Noticed other people doing the same thing especially in parks and restaurants.

B. According to Lynn Postell-Zimmerman on hg.org, Facebook has become a leading cause for divorce.

C. In the United States, 1 in 5 couples mentioned Facebook as a reason for divorce in 2009.

Transition: We have discussed how Facebook usage can lead to poor relationships with people, next we will discuss how Facebook can affect your sleep patterns and health.

II. Facebook usage can negatively affect your sleep patterns and health.

A. Checking Facebook before bed.

1. In my survey 11 students said they checked their Facebook account before bed.

2. Staying on Facebook for long hours before bed.

B. Research has shown that Facebook can cause depression, anxiety, and addiction.

1. According to researchers Steels, Wickham and Acitelli in an article in the Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology titled “Seeing everyone else’s highlight reels: How Facebook usage is linked to depressive symptoms,” because Facebook users only view the positive of their friend’s life, they become unhappy with their life and it can lead to becoming depressed and unhappy.

2. Marissa Maldonado on psychcentral.com concluded from recent studies that “Facebook increases people’s anxiety levels by making them feel inadequate and generating excess worry and stress.”

3. Facebook addiction is a serious issue, according to the article “Too much Facebook leads to anger and depression” found on cnn.com and written by Cara Reedy.

a. Checking Facebook everywhere we go is a sign of addiction

b. Not being able to deactivate your Facebook account.

Transitions: Many of you have probably never thought of Facebook as a threat to your health, but we will now review how it can affect you as a college student.

III. Facebook negatively affects students.

A. I often found myself on Facebook instead of doing schoolwork.

B. I was constantly checking Facebook, which takes away from study time.

C. I also found myself checking Facebook while in class, which can lead to poor grades and getting in trouble with the professor.

D. A study of over 1,800 college students showed a negative relationship between amount of Facebook time and GPA, as reported by Junco in a 2012 article titled “Too much face and not enough books” from the journal Computers and Human Behavior.

Conclusion: In conclusion, next time you log on to Facebook, try deactivating your account for a few days and see the difference. You will soon see how it can bring positive changes in your family relationships, will avoid future health problems, will help you sleep better, and will improve your school performance. Instead of communicating through Facebook, try visiting or calling your close friends. Deactivating my account truly helped me, and I can assure you we all can survive without Facebook.

Junco, R. (2012). Too much face and not enough books: The relationship between multiple indices of Facebook use and academic performance.  Computers in Human Behavior, 28(1), 187-198.

Maldonado, M. (2014). The anxiety of Facebook. Psych Central. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-anxiety-of-facebook/

Postell-Zimmerman, L. (1995–2015). Facebook has become a leading cause in divorce cases . HG.org. Retrieved from http://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=27803

Reedy, C. (2015, March 2). Too much Facebook leads to envy and depression . CNNMoney. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/02/technology/facebook-envy/

Steers, M. L. N., Wickham, R. E., & Acitelli, L. K. (2014). Seeing everyone else’s highlight reels: How Facebook usage is linked to depressive symptoms . Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 33(8), 701-731. DOI:10.1521/jscp.2014.33.8.701

Sample Outline : Persuasive Speech Using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Pattern Speech to Actuate: Sponsoring a Child in Poverty

Specific Purpose: To actuate my audience to sponsor a child through an agency such as Compassion International.

Introduction (Attention Step)

I. How much is $38? That answer depends on what you make, what you are spending it for, and what you get back for it. (Grabber)

II. $38 per month breaks down to a little more than $1.25 per day, which is probably what you spend on a snack or soda in the break room. For us, it’s not very much. (Rapport)

III. I found out that I can provide better health care, nutrition, and even education for a child in Africa, South America, or Asia for $38 per month by sponsoring a child through Compassion International. (Credibility)

IV. If I can do it, maybe you can too: (Bridge)

Thesis: Through a minimal donation each month, you can make the life of a child in the developing world much better.

Preview: In the next few minutes, I would like to discuss the problem, the work of organizations that offer child sponsorships, how research shows they really do alleviate poverty, and what you can do to change the life of a child.

I. The problem is the continued existence and effects of poverty. (Need Step)

A. Poverty is real and rampant in much of the world.

1. According to a 2018 report of the Secretary General of the United Nations, 9.2% of the world lives on less than $1.90 per day.

a. That is 600 million people on the planet.

2. This number is supported by the World Poverty clock of the World Data Lab, which states that 8% of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty.

a. The good news is that this number is one third of what it was in 1990, mostly due to the rising middle class in Asia.

b. The bad news is that 70% of the poor will live in Africa, with Nigeria labeled the “Poverty Capital of the World,” according to the Brookings Institute.

B. Poverty means children do not get adequate health care.

1. One prevalent but avoidable disease is malaria, which takes the lives of 3000 children every day, according to UNICEF.

2. According to the World Health Organization, diarrheal diseases claimed 2.46 million lives in 2012 and is the second leading cause of death of children under 5.

C. Poverty means children do not get adequate nutrition, as stated in a report from UNICEF.

1. Inadequate nutrition leads to stunted growth.

2. Undernutrition contributes to more than one third of all deaths in children under the age of five.

D. Poverty means children are unlikely to reach adult age, according to the CIA World Factbook quoted on the Info please website.

1. Child mortality rate in Africa is 8.04% (percentage dying before age 5), while in North America it is 0.64%

2. Life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa is almost 30 years less than in the U.S.

E. Poverty also means children are unlikely to receive education and be trained for profitable work.

1. Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names, states the Global Issues website on Poverty Facts.

2. UNESCO, a part of the United Nations, reports that less than a third of adults in sub-Saharan Africa have completed primary education.

Transition: Although in all respects poverty is better in 2019 than it has been in the past, poverty is still pervasive and needs to be addressed. Fortunately, some great organizations have been addressing this for many years.

II. Some humanitarian organizations address poverty directly through child sponsorships. (Satisfaction Step)

A. These organizations vary in background but not in purpose. The following information is gleaned from each organization’s websites.

1. Compassion International is faith-based, evangelical.

a. Around since the early 1950s, started in Korea.

b. Budget of $887 Million.

c. Serves 1.92 million babies, children, and young adults.

d. Works through local community centers and established churches.

2. World Vision is faith-based, evangelical.

a. Around since the 1950s.

b. Budget of far over $1 Billion.

c. 60% goes to local community programs but more goes to global networks, so that 86% goes to services.

d. World Vision has more extensive services than child sponsorship, such as water purification and disaster relief.

e. Sponsors three million children across six continents.

3. Children International is secular.

a. Around since 1936.

b. Budget of $125 Million.

c. 88% of income goes directly to programs and children.

d. Sponsors children in ten countries on four continents.

e. Sponsors X across X continents

4. Save the Children is secular, though…

a. One hundred years of history, began in post WWI Europe.

b. Budget of $880 Million.

c. 87% goes to services.

d. Sponsors 134 million children in 120 countries, including 450,000 in U.S.

5. There are other similar organizations, such as ChildFund and PlanUSA.

B. These organizations work directly with local community, on-site organizations.

1. The children are involved in a program, such as after school.

2. The children live with their parents and siblings.

3. The sponsor’s donation goes for medicine, extra healthy, nutritious food, shoes for school, and other items.

4. Sponsors can also help donate for birthdays and holidays to the whole family to buy food or farm animals.

Transition: Of course, any time we are donating money to an organization, we want to be sure our money is being effectively and ethically used.

III. This concern should be addressed in two ways: Is the money really helping, and are the organizations honest? (Continuation of Satisfaction Step)

A. The organizations’ honesty can be investigated.

1. You can check through Charity Navigator.

2. You can check through the Better Business Bureau-Charity.

3. You can check through Charity Watch.

4. You can check through the organizations’ websites.

B. Secondly, is sponsoring a child effective? Yes.

1. According to Bruce Wydick, Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco, child sponsorship is the fourth most effective strategy for addressing poverty, behind water purification, mosquito nets, and deworming treatments.

2. Dr. Wydick and colleagues’ work has been published in the prestigious Journal of Political Economy from the University of Chicago.

3. He states, “Two researchers and I recently carried out a study (sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development) on the long-term impacts of Compassion International’s child sponsorship program. The study, gathering data from over 10,000 individuals in six countries, found substantial impact on adult life outcomes for children who were sponsored through Compassion’s program during the 1980s and ’90s…In adulthood, formerly sponsored children were far more likely to complete secondary school and had a much higher chance of having a white-collar job. They married and had children later in life, were more likely to be church and community leaders, were less likely to live in a home with a dirt floor and more likely to live in a home with electricity.”

Transition: To this point, I have spoken of global problems and big solutions. Now I want to bring it down to real life with one example.

IV. I’d like to use my sponsored child, Ukwishaka in Rwanda, as an example of how you can. (Visualization Step)

A. I have sponsored her for five years.

B. She is now ten years old.

C. She lives with two siblings and both parents.

D. She writes me, I write her back, and we share photos at least every two months.

E. The organization gives me reports on her project.

F. I hope one day to go visit her.

G. I believe Ukwishaka now knows her life can be more, can be successful.

Transition: We have looked at the problem of childhood poverty and how reliable, stable nongovernmental organizations are addressing it through child sponsorships. Where does that leave you?

V. I challenge you to sponsor a child like Ukwishaka. (Action Step)

A. Although I sponsor her through Compassion International, there are other organizations.

B. First, do research.

C. Second, look at your budget and be sure you can do this.

1. You don’t want to start and have to stop.

2. Look for places you “waste” money during the month and could use it this way.

3. Fewer snacks from the break room, fewer movies at the Cineplex, brown bag instead of eating out.

D. Talk to a representative at the organization you like.

E. Discuss it with your family.

F. Take the plunge. If you do…

1. Write your child regularly.

2. Consider helping the family, or getting friends to help with extra gifts.

I. In this speech, we have taken a look at the state of poverty for children on this planet, at organizations that are addressing it through child sponsorships, at the effectiveness of these programs, and what you can do.

II. My goal today was not to get an emotional response, but a realistically compassionate one.

III. You have probably heard this story before but it bears repeating. A little girl was walking with her mother on the beach, and the sand was covered with starfish. The little girl wanted to rescue them and send them back to the ocean and kept throwing them in. “It won’t matter, Honey,” said her mother. “You can’t get all of them back in the ocean.” “But it will matter to the ones that I do throw back,” the little girl answered.

IV. We can’t sponsor every child, but we can one, maybe even two. As Forest Witcraft said, “What will matter in 100 years is that I made a difference in the life of a child.” Will you make a difference?

AGScientific. (2019). Top ten deadly diseases in the world. Retrieved from http://agscientific.com/blog/2016/04/top-10-deadly-diseases/

Compassion International. (2019). Financial integrity: The impact of our compassion. Retrieved from https://www.compassion.com/about/financial.htm

Exploring Public Speaking 285 Chapter 13: Persuasive Speaking Children’s International. (2019). Accountability. Retrieved from https://www.children.org/learn-more/accountability

Global Issues. (2013, January 7). Poverty facts and stats. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats

Infoplease. (2019). What life expectancy really means . Retrieved from https://www.infoplease.com/world/health-and-social-statistics/life-expectancy-countries-0

Kharas, H., Hamel, K., & Hofer, M. (2018, Dec. 13). Rethinking global poverty reduction in 2019 . Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2018/12/13/rethinking-global-poverty-reduction-in-2019/

Roser, M. (2019). Child and infant mortality rates . Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/child-mortality

Save the Children. (2019). Financial information . Retrieved from https://www.savethechildren.org/us/about-us/financial-information

UNICEF. (2008). Tracking progress on child and maternal nutrition: A survival and development priority . Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Tracking_Progress_on_Child_and_Maternal_Nutrition_EN_110309.pdf

UNICEF (2019). The reality of Malaria . Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/health/files/health_africamalaria.pdf

United Nations. (2019). Poverty eradication . Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/povertyeradication

World Vision. (2019). Financial accountability . Retrieved from https://www.worldvision.org/about-us/financial-accountability-2

Wydick, B., Glewwe, P., & Rutledge, L. (2013). Does international child sponsorship work? A six-country study of impacts on adult life outcomes. Journal of Political Economy, 121(2), 393–436. https://doi.org/10.1086/670138

Wydick, B. (2012, Feb.). Cost-effective compassion . Christianity Today, 56(2), 24-29.

Wydick, B. (2013). Want to change the world? Sponsor a child. Christianity Today.

It’s About Them: Public Speaking in the 21st Century Copyright © 2022 by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Poverty Persuasive Speech Sample

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Reported by Anshika Saxena

Published on 5 July 2024

Poverty is a horrifying reality that has plagued the world for many decades. And no matter how much we all deny it, most of us have been very ignorant about this problem. So, a Poverty Persuasive Speech is a good way to draw people’s attention towards this concern and change their perspectives for good.

But to prepare such an emotionally charged speech that persuades the audience to contemplate this problem is definitely not a cakewalk. Therefore, we are here to provide you with worthy help. Today’s article will share worthwhile information that will help you prepare a compelling and impactful Poverty Persuasive Speech.

Also, we will share a sample of a well-structured and worded speech that will give you a good idea to construct your own speech.

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So, if you are told to prepare and deliver a persuasive speech on poverty, check out this complete article to get some good insights.

Poverty Persuasive Speech

How to Construct a Memorable Poverty Persuasive Speech?

To construct a memorable Poverty Persuasive Speech, you must thoroughly research the topic. Dig out some shocking facts about the situation of Poverty in the world to profoundly impact the audience.

By giving true facts about the problem of Poverty to the audience, you will make them rethink the way they perceive it. Once your research is complete, prepare an outline for your Persuasive Speech on poverty. Give a proper structure to your thoughts and neatly write them down.

If you are finding it difficult to prepare an outline then you can check out the elaborate Poverty Persuasive Speech outline we have shared below in the article.

Tips for a Poverty Persuasive Speech

Grab the Attention of the Audience with a Powerful Introduction

In order to persuade the audience with your speech , you need to grab their attention from the beginning of the speech itself. An attention-getter is also necessary for your speech to set its tone. One of the easiest ways to get your audience’s attention is by sharing a perplexing statistic with them.

For example, you can start your speech with a sentence like “There are approximately 2.2 billion children in this world, and 1 billion of them are enduring the evil of poverty every day” .

This will provide the necessary hook to your persuasive speech on poverty and you will compel the audience to pay attention to the rest of your speech.

Give an Overview of the Situation of Poverty in the World

As you normally do in a persuasive speech, you establish your argument after getting the audience’s attention. So, for this, you must provide your audience with an overview of the world’s poverty situation.

Give them brief insights about the challenges millions of people face due to poverty. Share the horrifying numbers regarding poverty. This will neatly establish your argument, which you can expand on in the rest of the speech.

You must only share true facts and figures in this part of your poverty persuasive speech to establish your argument in a solid manner.

Share the Specifics of Current Efforts for Reducing Poverty

After telling the audience the horrifying facts and figures about the poverty situation, let them know the efforts being made to reduce it. Also, expand on your argument by addressing the fact that these efforts are far from enough actually to be effective.

This will propel the audience to make some effort to save the poverty situation from worsening. You can also applaud the current initiatives whose efforts you appreciate and encourage the audience to be a part of them.

Address the Need for Some More Worthy Solutions

Once you inform the audience about the current good initiatives that are helping reduce Poverty, you must also address that there is a need for additional worthy solutions for this problem. Moreover, if you have thought of a comprehensive and long-term solution, you can also share that with the audience.

Conclude Your Speech with a Call to Action

After establishing and expanding your arguments, it is time to wrap up the speech with an impactful conclusion. For this, you must summarize your main points in one or two sentences and ask the audience to take some serious sets to get rid of the problem of poverty.

To make this call to action more effective, you can also let the audience know what will happen if your speech does not persuade them. Finally, end your speech with a powerful takeaway sentence that lingers in the head of the audience even after the completion of the speech.

You can check out the following Poverty Persuasive Speech Sample for more insights into constructing your speech.

“More than 785 Million people in the world cannot access basic water services. The global rise in poverty in 2020 and 2021 was 150 million people. So many children die every day due to malnutrition. These numbers may sound unbelievably shocking for the 21st Century, but they are all true”.

Hello everyone, today I will talk about an issue we are all familiar with, yet our blissful ignorance towards it is horrifying. It pains my heart to realize that millions of people in this world cannot even fulfil their daily basic needs. Children are dying even before reaching adulthood, adults are unemployed , and old people are roaming around the streets begging for money and food.

I am not saying that our government and people are not making efforts to reduce poverty. There have been many initiatives and programs that provide financial assistance and shelter to the poor. But all these efforts provided the sufferer of poverty with only momentarily respite.

It is about time we start serious efforts to help needy people in the long term. I urge everyone here to make some worthy contributions individually to at least marginally reduce this worldwide concern.

Seeing the current situation of Poverty , it may seem impossible to get rid of it completely, but if we all make small efforts from our side, we can make a little difference at least. Otherwise, our people will continue suffering like this, and their coming generations will also face the same fate, and we will not be able to do anything about it.

Final Words

We hope our article provided you with adequate information to guide you in preparing your Poverty Persuasive Speech. If you have any queries, please let us know by commenting below. Plus, if you want to consume interesting content like this regularly, stay connected to us through the NVSHQ Homepage .

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To End Poverty, Give Everyone the Chance to Learn

Paul Romer, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, World Bank End Poverty Day event, Dhaka, Bangladesh Dhaka, Bangladesh

Arithmetic tells us that a nation can reduce its rate of poverty with more economic growth or a more equal distribution of income. A simple saying, oft repeated because it sounds so plausible, frames this arithmetic as a grim choice between growth and equality. "You can make the pie bigger or divide it up more evenly, but you cannot do both."

Despite its appeal, this intuition is wrong, and wrong not just about the details, wrong not just by a little. It is totally off the mark. We know from the recent experience in Bangladesh that it is possible to have more growth and more equality. I am also convinced that it is possible to sustain a pattern of growth via equality as it evolves into a middle income country, but only if the government takes on new responsibilities and makes the new types of investments required to give everyone the chance to learn.

When growth speeds up, income inequality can increase temporarily. When it does, this seems to confirm our fears about the grim tradeoff. But this type inequality arises because the benefits that all can ultimately share diffuse slowly. At first, only a few people have access to the chance to learn from new ideas. Then as others gain access, they learn too. During this second, catch-up phase, the diffusion of ideas increases growth as it equalizes income. The experience in Bangladesh shows that it is possible to diffuse new ideas quickly enough to avoid even this temporary increase in inequality. The question is what it must do to sustain this high rate of diffusion as the economy becomes more sophisticated.

There are many visible examples of the benefits that people receive from the diffusion of ideas. In 1980, there were about 300 million phones on earth. Today, there are more than 6 billion, and the vast majority of people who got the new phones lived in a low or middle income country. But what we see when a country such as Bangladesh or China opens itself up to inflows of ideas is not simply that people have the chance to buy a phone that is much less expensive. The more profound benefit from the diffusion of ideas is that people gain access to the chance to learn. Access to new ideas lets them acquire more human capital. 

Because opening up lets them acquire more human capital, a shrinking number of agricultural workers can supply all the food for everyone else. A growing number of workers can escape the hardship and risk of small-holder agriculture and switch to jobs in manufacturing, then in services. Many women get their first chance to be paid a wage for the work that they do. All these workers get more than a wage. They get the chance to learn on the job. They absorb such basics as the importance of strict adherence to quality standards when work is done by a large team. These basics open up opportunities for new types of employment. These workers also learn from the stimulation of richer social environment offered by the cities they move to.

In the data, the extra human capital shows up not just in the changing mix of jobs, but also in higher wages. As the World Bank's new report on Poverty and Shared Prosperity shows, in the last few decades, this catch-up process means that income have been rising more rapidly at the bottom end of the worldwide distribution of income. As a result, the worldwide distribution of income is becoming more equal.

The dynamic I am describing shows up both in comparisons between countries and also in comparisons across people within a country. New ideas spur growth. Income inequality goes up because in the beginning, only a few have access to the chance to learn from them. Frequently, those few are the lucky ones who live in its cities. If better policy could speed up the rate of diffusion of access to new ideas, growth will be faster and the temporary period of increasing inequality will be shorter, perhaps might even be skipped entirely.

So today, on End Poverty Day , my goal is to convince you that the strategy based on catch-up growth that has worked for your nation can work equally well as you strive to sustain your rate of growth and keep reducing poverty. You do not face a tradeoff of growth versus equality. You have a chance to pursue growth via equality.

The highest returns may come from investing in the people who have the biggest opportunity to catch up with everyone else. All they need is a chance.

There is a tradeoff that you will face, a tradeoff between government and the market. But here too, the familiar story misleads when it suggests that to sustain growth, an economy needs less government. The government can get in the way, and the economy does need less of this, but in Bangladesh, and in many similarly situated countries, the real problem is too little of the type of government that the market needs to keep generating more sophisticated jobs. Only the government can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn from new ideas. As an economy develops, providing this type of access becomes ever more challenging.

Let me illustrate what I mean when I say “give people the chance to learn.” The government can make it possible for a foreign firm to enter and open a factory. Workers in this factory learn on the job, and as a result, accumulate human capital and earn wages that are higher with each year of experience. Typically, this means that within a few years, the worker moves to a job that can use her new skills, often in a different firm, perhaps one that the worker starts. Just as some schools give students a better chance to learn, some jobs offer better chances to learn. Firms that have access to more modern technology and more skilled managers are likely to offer the best chance to learn. This chance is a particularly important one because it gives people who are no longer in school a chance to keep learning. Even when schools fail, there is another way for someone to learn.

Bangladesh has clearly been very successful at offering many workers this chance to learn on the job. In the early stages of the growth process, a government can offer this opportunity merely by welcoming foreign firms. But very quickly, the amount of room that is available in a nation's cities becomes a binding constraint. To offer this opportunity to everyone, the government must take the lead in expanding its urban area to make room for all the firms and workers who want to benefit by working together. The congestion for which Dhaka is now famous suggests that the plan for urban expansion throughout the country was not ambitious enough to meet the rapidly growing demand.

The more familiar way to offer a chance to learn, the one that the World Bank has with good reason, been emphasizing for years, is by having the government provide good schools. When a young person spends an extra year in a good school, this increases the amount that he or she will produce and earn on the job. Sadly, many schools fail to deliver on this promise. It is not enough to get children to sit in a classroom. An effective government ensures that children actually learn more with each year of seat-time.

As development takes place, providing equalizing access to the chance to learn requires even more sophisticated government services. Many children start life with a disadvantage because disease and poor nutrition leave them with a smaller body and a less developed brain. The experience in Peru demonstrates that an effective government can use modest expenditures to reduce the fraction of children who suffer from this type of stunting. The experience in other countries also demonstrates that a government can devote resources to this type of effort and end up with nothing to show for its efforts.

Extra mental stimulation, especially more exposure to the words said by an adult, can help a child be ready to learn when he or she starts school. This extra stimulation can help so much that it offsets the disadvantage of stunting. We know from the experience in Bangladesh that civil society can step in to fill gaps and provide services that improve health for everyone. Nevertheless, in most countries, only the government can provide the targeted assistance that removes disadvantage and ensures that every student starts school with a realistic chance to keep up with the other children.

Once children are in school, the best school systems make extra investments in the children that would otherwise fall behind. Throughout primary school, anyone who lags gets extra instruction time by the most experienced teachers. With these compensating investments, the school system can keep all children in at the same level of achievement. For example, some children take a little longer to learn to read. These compensating investments make sure that this minor and short-lived problem does not turn into a self-reinforcing cycle of discouragement and reduced effort that ends with an early departure from school.

All these investments can be justified on the basis of a commitment to equality. The point I want to emphasize is that they can also be justified purely on the basis of a commitment to economic growth. The return on an investment that prevents someone from giving up the chance to learn is likely to be much higher than the return that would follow if the same resources were used to help children who will learn in any case.

So to conclude, you do not face a choice of growth versus equality. You have the chance to pursue growth via equality. Government investments that pay the highest returns are likely to be the ones that provide people the chance to catch up by learning, and these investments also reduce income inequality.

It is an easy strategy to endorse, but not an easy one to implement. Many countries miss this opportunity because the government is not effective enough to make the investments that make it possible for everyone to have a realistic chance to learn.

As Bangladesh strives to move from a low-middle-income country to middle-income, End Poverty Day provides an opportunity to ask whether its government is keeping up with the rapidly evolving economy. Is there room in its cities for all who want to come? Can people in these cites get to and from work? Can firms get the inputs they need on a timely basis and ship out the goods they produce? Does the average student actually learn something during each year spent in school? Do the schools and government service providers make the compensating investments needed to ensure that small disadvantages that can easily be addressed do not deprive any child of the opportunity that everyone wants, the chance to keep learning?

Let me confess that there are comparable questions that you should ask me as Vice President with direct responsibility for the research efforts of the World Bank. Are we providing relevant guidance to a government such as yours? If you came to us and said “what specific steps should we do to reduce stunting quickly, or ensure that children are ready to learn, or to plan for rapid but orderly expansion of your urban area, would we be able to respond? I think we too can do better. As we both strive to do better, perhaps we will find opportunities to work together.

If Bangladesh and the World Bank can soon answer yes to such specific questions as these, Bangladesh will be able to sustain its recent pattern of rapid growth and more equality. All countries will be better able to learn from its experience. Then we will have a realistic chance to lift everyone out of extreme poverty.

But we must move quickly. Every day of delay wastes precious human potential. Every person, young or old, rich or poor, should have the chance to keep learning.

Thank you very much. 

  • END POVERTY DAY It's Possible to End Poverty
  • #ProsperBangladesh
  • FEATURE STORY Rising Bangladesh Brings Hope, Ambition, and Innovation to End Poverty

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15 Powerful Persuasive Speech Examples to Inspire Your Next Talk

  • The Speaker Lab
  • June 24, 2024

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Crafting a persuasive speech that captivates your audience and drives them to action is no easy feat. If you’re hitting the books, climbing the corporate ladder, or just dreaming of rocking the stage with your speeches, having a killer set of persuasive speech examples can totally change your game. In this post, we’ve curated some of the most compelling and inspiring persuasive speech examples to help you elevate your own speaking skills. So buckle up and grab your pen, because we’re diving into the secrets behind these unforgettable speeches.

What is a Persuasive Speech?

When we talk about a persuasive speech , we refer to a form of communication that seeks to influence the audience’s beliefs or actions. In the course of a persuasive speech, a person will present compelling arguments—backed by evidence and persuasive techniques—in order to convince listeners to embrace a specific viewpoint or take a particular course of action. Persuasive speeches are used in many different areas of life, such as in a school or university setting, in a job, or in a social setting.

When preparing to give a persuasive speech, always choose a topic or cause you’re interested in and passionate about. If you want to convince other people to agree with your stance, you must be seen to believe in it yourself. In addition, it helps to choose a topic that people care about and hasn’t been overdone.

Funny Persuasive Speech Examples

Looking for some funny persuasive speech examples to inspire your next presentation? You’ve come to the right place. Humor is a powerful tool when it comes to persuasion. It can help you connect with your audience, make your message more memorable, and even diffuse tension around controversial topics.

One classic example comes from David McCullough, Jr.’s high school commencement speech entitled “You Are Not Special.” While the title might not sound funny, McCullough delivers a hilarious reality check to graduates, poking fun at the coddling and praise they’ve received growing up. His ultimate message—that true success comes from hard work and taking risks—is made all the more powerful by his humorous approach.

But what makes funny persuasive speeches so effective? For one, humor helps the speakers build rapport with their audiences. Laughter is a shared experience that brings people together and makes them more open to new ideas. Additionally, injecting some levity into a speech can make the overall message more palatable and less preachy.

Of course, using humor in a persuasive speech requires some finesse. The jokes should be tasteful, relevant to your overall message, and not offensive to your audience. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. After all, a flat joke is better than one that leaves listeners cringing.

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Persuasive Speech Examples About Public Policy

Policy persuasive speeches advocate for a particular course of action on a public policy issue. These speeches go beyond simply raising awareness about a problem – they propose concrete solutions and try to sway the audience to support a specific plan.

One powerful policy persuasive speech example comes from Greta Thunberg’s address to the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019 . Thunberg doesn’t mince words when lambasting world leaders for their inaction on climate change. But she also lays out clear policy demands, like immediately halting fossil fuel subsidies and drastically reducing carbon emissions. Her message is clear: we know what needs to be done and we need to do it.

When crafting your own policy persuasive speech, it’s important to back up your arguments with solid evidence. Use statistics, expert testimony, and real-world examples to show why your proposed solution is feasible and necessary. Anticipate counterarguments and address them head-on. And most importantly, make a clear call to action. Ask yourself: what exactly do you want your audience to do to support your policy goals?

Value Persuasive Speech Examples

Value persuasive speeches aim to change people’s beliefs or attitudes about a particular issue. Rather than advocating for a specific policy, these speeches try to shift the audience’s underlying values and assumptions.

A classic example of a value persuasive speech is Mary McLeod Bethune’s “ What Does American Democracy Mean to Me? ” address. As an African American woman born into poverty, Bethune faced countless obstacles and injustices throughout her life. But in this speech, she reframes the narrative around American democracy, arguing that our nation’s highest ideals are worth fighting for, even if we haven’t yet lived up to them. By appealing to shared values like freedom, justice, and equality, Bethune inspires her audience to keep pushing for change.

The key to a successful value persuasive speech is tapping into your audience’s existing beliefs and values. Use vivid language and storytelling to paint a picture of the world you want to see. Make your case in moral and ethical terms, not just practical ones. And don’t be afraid to show some vulnerability. By sharing your own experiences and struggles, you can create an emotional connection with your listeners.

Persuasive Speech Examples About Social Issues

Social issues make for compelling persuasive speech topics because they touch on deeply held beliefs and affect people’s everyday lives. Whether you’re talking about racial justice, gender equality, or income inequality, these speeches require a deft touch and a willingness to engage with complex, often controversial ideas.

Talking About Mental Health

One powerful example of a persuasive speech about mental health is Kevin Breel’s “ Confessions of a Depressed Comic ” from TEDxKids@Ambleside. As a stand-up comedian, Breel knows how to get laughs, but he also knows the pain of living with depression. In this speech, he shares his own story of struggling with mental illness and calls on society to break the stigma around talking about mental health. By speaking vulnerably, Breel makes a compelling case for why we need to take depression seriously and support those who are struggling.

Addressing Physical Health

Another great example of a persuasive speech about health is Jamie Oliver’s TED Talk “ Teach Every Child About Food .” As a celebrity chef, Oliver has seen firsthand the impact of poor nutrition on people’s health. In this speech, he makes a passionate plea for better food education in schools, arguing that it’s a matter of life and death. With shocking statistics and personal anecdotes, Oliver paints a grim picture of the obesity epidemic and calls on parents, educators, and policymakers to take action.

Persuasive Speech Examples About the Environment

Environmental issues are some of the most pressing challenges we face as a society. From climate change to pollution to habitat destruction, the stakes couldn’t be higher. That’s why persuasive speeches about the environment are so important. By inspiring people to take action, they make a true difference.

One of the most famous environmental speeches of all time is Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” lecture, which was later turned into an Academy Award-winning documentary. In this speech, Gore lays out the scientific evidence for climate change and argues that we have a moral imperative to act. With compelling visuals and a sense of urgency, Gore makes a powerful case for why we need to reduce our carbon footprint and transition to renewable energy sources.

Another great example of an environmental persuasive speech is Severn Suzuki’s address to the UN Earth Summit in 1992. At just 12 years old, Suzuki delivered a heartfelt plea for action on behalf of her generation, arguing that adults were stealing children’s future by destroying the planet. Her speech went viral and helped galvanize the youth environmental movement. By speaking from the heart and calling out the hypocrisy of world leaders, Suzuki showed that you’re never too young to make a difference.

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FAQs on Persuasive Speech Examples

What are some examples of a persuasive speech.

Think climate change action, voting rights, or the importance of mental health awareness. They push for change.

What are 5 examples of persuasive essay?

Gun control laws, school uniforms debate, death penalty perspectives, animal testing ethics, and social media impacts make the list.

What’s an easy persuasive speech topic?

“Why recycling matters” is straightforward and impactful. It connects with everyday actions and broader environmental goals.

What is an example of a persuasive statement?

“Switching to renewable energy sources can significantly reduce our carbon footprint.” This urges action towards sustainability.

Persuasive speech examples show us how to inspire, motivate, and transform the way we communicate our ideas to the world. By studying these remarkable speeches, you’ve gained valuable insights into the art of persuasion and the techniques that make a speech truly unforgettable.

Remember, winning people over with your words takes more than just knowing the right things to say. It’s about practice, caring deeply, and tuning into the folks listening. Take the lessons you’ve learned from these examples and apply them to your own unique style and message. Pouring your soul into your speech can truly move an audience emotionally, altering their thinking for good.

Now your moment in the spotlight is here, so show off those persuasive speech skills. Go forth and create a speech that not only informs and entertains but also inspires and empowers your audience to take meaningful action. The world is waiting to hear your voice, so make it count!

  • Last Updated: June 21, 2024

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75 Persuasive Speech Topics and Ideas

October 4, 2018 - Gini Beqiri

To write a captivating and persuasive speech you must first decide on a topic that will engage, inform and also persuade the audience. We have discussed how to choose a topic and we have provided a list of speech ideas covering a wide range of categories.

What is persuasive speech?

The aim of a persuasive speech is to inform, educate and convince or motivate an audience to do something. You are essentially trying to sway the audience to adopt your own viewpoint.

The best persuasive speech topics are thought-provoking, daring and have a clear opinion. You should speak about something you are knowledgeable about and can argue your opinion for, as well as objectively discuss counter-arguments.

How to choose a topic for your speech

It’s not easy picking a topic for your speech as there are many options so consider the following factors when deciding.

Familiarity

Topics that you’re familiar with will make it easier to prepare for the speech.

It’s best if you decide on a topic in which you have a genuine interest in because you’ll be doing lots of research on it and if it’s something you enjoy the process will be significantly easier and more enjoyable. The audience will also see this enthusiasm when you’re presenting which will make the speech more persuasive.

The audience’s interest

The audience must care about the topic. You don’t want to lose their attention so choose something you think they’ll be interested in hearing about.

Consider choosing a topic that allows you to be more descriptive because this allows the audience to visualize which consequently helps persuade them.

Not overdone

When people have heard about a topic repeatedly they’re less likely to listen to you as it doesn’t interest them anymore. Avoid cliché or overdone topics as it’s difficult to maintain your audience’s attention because they feel like they’ve heard it all before.

An exception to this would be if you had new viewpoints or new facts to share. If this is the case then ensure you clarify early in your speech that you have unique views or information on the topic.

Emotional topics

Emotions are motivators so the audience is more likely to be persuaded and act on your requests if you present an emotional topic.

People like hearing about issues that affect them or their community, country etc. They find these topics more relatable which means they find them more interesting. Look at local issues and news to discover these topics.

Desired outcome

What do you want your audience to do as a result of your speech? Use this as a guide to choosing your topic, for example, maybe you want people to recycle more so you present a speech on the effect of microplastics in the ocean.

Jamie Oliver persuasive speech

Persuasive speech topics

Lots of timely persuasive topics can be found using social media, the radio, TV and newspapers. We have compiled a list of 75 persuasive speech topic ideas covering a wide range of categories.

Some of the topics also fall into other categories and we have posed the topics as questions so they can be easily adapted into statements to suit your own viewpoint.

  • Should pets be adopted rather than bought from a breeder?
  • Should wild animals be tamed?
  • Should people be allowed to own exotic animals like monkeys?
  • Should all zoos and aquariums be closed?

Arts/Culture

  • Should art and music therapy be covered by health insurance?
  • Should graffiti be considered art?
  • Should all students be required to learn an instrument in school?
  • Should automobile drivers be required to take a test every three years?
  • Are sports cars dangerous?
  • Should bicycles share the roads with cars?
  • Should bicycle riders be required by law to always wear helmets?

Business and economy

  • Do introverts make great leaders?
  • Does owning a business leave you feeling isolated?
  • What is to blame for the rise in energy prices?
  • Does hiring cheaper foreign employees hurt the economy?
  • Should interns be paid for their work?
  • Should employees receive bonuses for walking or biking to work?
  • Should tipping in restaurants be mandatory?
  • Should boys and girls should be taught in separate classrooms?
  • Should schools include meditation breaks during the day?
  • Should students be allowed to have their mobile phones with them during school?
  • Should teachers have to pass a test every decade to renew their certifications?
  • Should online teaching be given equal importance as the regular form of teaching?
  • Is higher education over-rated?
  • What are the best ways to stop bullying?
  • Should people with more than one DUI lose their drivers’ licenses?
  • Should prostitution be legalised?
  • Should guns be illegal in the US?
  • Should cannabis be legalised for medical reasons?
  • Is equality a myth?
  • Does what is “right” and “wrong” change from generation to generation?
  • Is there never a good enough reason to declare war?
  • Should governments tax sugary drinks and use the revenue for public health?
  • Has cosmetic surgery risen to a level that exceeds good sense?
  • Is the fast-food industry legally accountable for obesity?
  • Should school cafeterias only offer healthy food options?
  • Is acupuncture a valid medical technique?
  • Should assisted suicide be legal?
  • Does consuming meat affect health?
  • Is dieting a good way to lose weight?

Law and politics

  • Should voting be made compulsory?
  • Should the President (or similar position) be allowed to serve more than two terms?
  • Would poverty reduce by fixing housing?
  • Should drug addicts be sent for treatment in hospitals instead of prisons?
  • Would it be fair for the government to detain suspected terrorists without proper trial?
  • Is torture acceptable when used for national security?
  • Should celebrities who break the law receive stiffer penalties?
  • Should the government completely ban all cigarettes and tobacco products
  • Is it wrong for the media to promote a certain beauty standard?
  • Is the media responsible for the moral degradation of teenagers?
  • Should advertising be aimed at children?
  • Has freedom of press gone too far?
  • Should prayer be allowed in public schools?
  • Does religion have a place in government?
  • How do cults differ from religion?

Science and the environment

  • Should recycling be mandatory?
  • Should genetically modified foods be sold in supermarkets?
  • Should parents be allowed to choose the sex of their unborn children?
  • Should selling plastic bags be completely banned in shops?
  • Should smoking in public places be banned?
  • Should professional female athletes be paid the same as male athletes in the same sport?
  • Should doping be allowed in professional sports?
  • Should schools be required to teach all students how to swim?
  • How does parental pressure affect young athletes?
  • Will technology reduce or increase human employment opportunities?
  • What age should children be allowed to have mobile phones?
  • Should libraries be replaced with unlimited access to e-books?
  • Should we recognize Bitcoin as a legal currency?
  • Should bloggers and vloggers be treated as journalists and punished for indiscretions?
  • Has technology helped connect people or isolate them?
  • Should mobile phone use in public places be regulated?
  • Do violent video games make people more violent?

World peace

  • What is the safest country in the world?
  • Is planetary nuclear disarmament possible?
  • Is the idea of peace on earth naive?

These topics are just suggestions so you need to assess whether they would be suitable for your particular audience. You can easily adapt the topics to suit your interests and audience, for example, you could substitute “meat” in the topic “Does consuming meat affect health?” for many possibilities, such as “processed foods”, “mainly vegan food”, “dairy” and so on.

After choosing your topic

After you’ve chosen your topic it’s important to do the following:

  • Research thoroughly
  • Think about all of the different viewpoints
  • Tailor to your audience – discussing your topic with others is a helpful way to gain an understanding of your audience.
  • How involved are you with this topic – are you a key character?
  • Have you contributed to this area, perhaps through blogs, books, papers and products.
  • How qualified are you to speak on this topic?
  • Do you have personal experience in it? How many years?
  • How long have you been interested in the area?

While it may be difficult to choose from such a variety of persuasive speech topics, think about which of the above you have the most knowledge of and can argue your opinion on.

For advice about how to deliver your persuasive speech, check out our blog  Persuasive Speech Outline and Ideas .

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Persuasive Speech - Poverty

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Speaking To Persuade                                                                                          Amy Collins

     The gap between the world’s rich and poor has never been wider. While wealthy individuals are relishing in a lavish life of luxury, millions are being forced to endure an insufferable daily reality of poverty, conflict and lack of food. For these disadvantaged people, the hunger is unrelenting and the desperation is overwhelming. The time for a drastic change has arrived. It is up to you and I to make a difference before a significant proportion of the world’s population drown in an ocean of poverty. We must save lives.

     Shockingly, a child dies every three seconds from AIDS and severe starvation. I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say that this infant mortality rate is unacceptably high. Something must be done in order to help countless families escape the famine pandemic.

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     Unsurprisingly, there is sufficient food in the world to cater for everyone’s needs. So why do so many find themselves ensnared by extreme poverty? Millions of people worldwide are trapped on an incessant downward spiral, frenetically fighting for food, education…and their lives. These people lack money; they are unable to purchase enough food to nourish themselves and their families. Inevitably, this continuous malnutrition leads their physical and mental condition to deteriorate, therefore decreasing their ability to work. With no employment, their finances continue to diminish, leaving only one conclusion – death. This unjust reality must be brought to an end before even more lives are lost.

     How would you feel if you were one of the 800million people who went to bed ravenously hungry each and every night? You would lay, shivering, listening to the unbearable sound of your stomach crying out in starvation, whilst billions of individuals around the world binged on excessive amounts of food. How would you feel if you knew that the same insatiable people were squandering their surplus cash on unnecessary luxury items rather than donating just a few pounds to life-changing charities? £5 may just be spare change to us, yet it can feed an African family of 4 for over a week; for them it is a matter of life and death.

     Zahra is an Ethiopian orphan who, this time last year, lived in an impoverished shanty town. Tragically, she had lost both parents to famine and had negligible prospects for the future. Each day she would make an exhausting seventeen mile round-trip to the nearest river, collecting contaminated water to drink, irrigate the crops and wash with. She was just eight years old. Zahra’s chances of a decent life were slowly slipping away.

     Fortunately, a well known charity has transformed her life forevermore. With a little financial support, they have managed to install thousands of fresh water pumps throughout Africa, one of which is just ¼ mile away from Zahra’s home. Moreover, she is now able to attend one of the hundreds of schools that have recently been developed. Zahra has a future.

     Elsewhere, aid organizations such as MakePovertyHistory and Comic Relief are initiating “food for work” schemes throughout the developing world. These are programmes where adults are rewarded with food for their families when they build schools, dig wells and construct roads within their community. Such schemes are profoundly effective as they both nourish the citizens and supply infrastructure to terminate the poverty. Slowly but surely, considerable changes are being implemented.

     However, these self-help schemes come at a cost. Although the aid organizations do everything within their reach, none of it would be possible without charitable contributions from you and I. By donating just a minimal amount of money, we can all play a part in the prevention of worldwide poverty. We can save lives.

Teacher Reviews

Here's what a teacher thought of this essay.

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Victoria Cooke

This is an excellent piece of writing which uses structure and language to meet the purpose and have the desired impact on the audience. The writer uses a mixture of devices to make the piece interesting and different. The use of the second person is effective. In order to improve the writer needs to think about structure, in particular the ending. It is preferable to make the beginning and the ending link in some way. Here the writer could have mentioned the gap between the rich and the poor. An excellent and enjoyable piece of writing though. *****

Persuasive Speech - Poverty

Document Details

  • Word Count 621
  • Page Count 1
  • Subject English

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Home / Essay Samples / Social Issues / Food Shortage / Persuading Society to Address Poverty: A Call to Action

Persuading Society to Address Poverty: A Call to Action

  • Category: Economics , Social Issues
  • Topic: Economic Problem , Food Shortage , Hunger

Pages: 3 (1246 words)

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  • Bibliography
  • Global poverty and hunger: take action . (2019). Retrieved from Action against
  • Poverty in Africa. (2019). Retrieved from children international 
  • Rachelk. (2012, June 7). Speech on Poverty
  • The top 9 causes of global poverty . (2019, February 4). Retrieved from Concern worldwide US 

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