called a hook or a grabber.
I don’t want to close my eyes; it makes me feel awkward and exposed to be in a group of people with my eyes closed. Because of that, I keep my eyes open. The problem is when I keep my eyes open, I feel like some sort of horrible nonconformist rebel. I feel awkward with my eyes closed and I feel guilty if they are open. Either way, I just feel bad. Besides, half of the time when speakers tell audience members to close their eyes, they forget to tell us when we can open them. If you are wanting me to imagine a story, just tell me to imagine it, don’t make me close my eyes (rant over).
You should plan your opening to be intentional and with power. “Can everybody hear me” is a weak and uncertain statement and this is not the first impression you want to leave. Do a microphone check before the audience members arrive and have someone stand in different corners of the room to make sure you can be heard. Don’t waste your valuable speech time with questions that you should already know the answer to.
You should know that before you begin. Even if the presentations for the day are running over and you are the last speaker, you should ask the MC before you begin. Always plan your first words with power.
You should make your slides big, really big. Test out your slides in advance of your speech, walk all around the room and make sure you can read them. Have a friend check them out as well. You should know they are big enough because you planned for it and tested it.
People really hate having things taken away, not to mention that your audience may want to take notes on their devices. Chances are you are speaking to adults, let them determine if it is appropriate to have out their technology.
Stop apologizing! Stop making excuses! While these lines may be true, they just come of as excuses and can make the audience either feel like you don’t want to be there, or they just feel sorry for you.
Talking about your nervousness will make you more nervous and will make them look for signs of your nervousness. Just start your speech.
Do not start with hesitation. Plan the first words, memorize the first words, practice the first words. Do not start with “Ok, so um, now I’d like…” Plan strong and start strong.
Do Not Discuss Your Business with People Watching…Really! I Mean It! Many of us are giving and listening to presentations in an online format. I have attended numerous presentations this year through Zoom where I have to sit and watch while the organizers engage in personal small talk or deal with the details of the presentation. This is how the speech I recently attended began. “Donna, you are going to share your screen, right?” “Yes. I have my PowerPoint ready to go. Will you push “record” when I give the signal?” “Sure. Where did you say that button is again? Do you think we should wait five more minutes, I think we had more who were coming? Dave, what was the total we were expecting?” “Yeah, we had 116 sign up, but the reminders went out late so this may be all we have. We can give them a few more minutes to log on.” “Donna, How is your dog? Is she still struggling with her cone since her spay surgery? My dog never would wear the cone –she tore her stitches out and broke her wound open. It was terrible. Well, it looks like it is about time to begin, thank you everyone for coming.” If you are organizing an event online, hosting a speech online, giving a presentation online–please keep it professional. Most platforms will allow you to keep the audience in a waiting room until it is time to start. If you have a business to deal with, keep the audience out until you have everything ready to go. Once the audience is in the meeting, you should engage the audience in group-type small talk or you should just start the presentation. In professional settings, you should start the meeting on time. Why punish those who showed up on time to wait for those who aren’t there yet?
I asked my long-time friend, Bill Rogers, to write an excerpt to add to the book. I met Bill when he was the Chief Development Officer for a hospital in Northwest Arkansas and I met him again when he was reinventing himself as a college student getting a Master’s Degree in the theater. He would love to share a symbolic cup of coffee with you and give you advice about public speaking.
Perfect morning for a walk, isn’t it? Join me for a cup of coffee? Wonderful. Find us a table and I’ll get our coffee.
There you go; just like you like it. There’s nothing like a great cup of coffee on the patio of your neighborhood coffee shop, is there?
Now that you’re settled in your favorite chair, take a sip, and let that glorious caffeine kick in and do its stuff. Okay, let’s talk.
So, you were asking me about public speaking.
Well, let’s see. Where do we begin?
One of the first pieces of advice I ever received was to imagine that every member of your audience is sitting there in their underwear! Yeah, right. That never worked for me. I tried it once with a local civic group of community leaders both male and female. If the intent of that tidbit is to make you relax, it certainly didn’t work for me. It just made me more self-conscious…and more nervous. I not only got distracted, but I also lost my train of thought, I started sweating, and, of course, imagined myself standing there without clothes. Needless to say, that speech was a disaster and I’ve never used it again. I suggest you don’t either.
In the early days, I also relied very heavily on my typed-up speech. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that unless you find yourself reading it word for word as I did. Nothing is more boring nor puts an audience to sleep quicker than a speaker with their nose down reading a speech. There’s no connection and connection with your audience is key.
As you know, I love theatre and I’ve done a bit of acting over the years. Early on, I learned that the quicker I learned my lines, the more I could play, experiment, and shape my character. It relaxed me and gave me enormous freedom. It led me to find a mantra for myself: “With discipline comes freedom.” This freedom will allow you to improvise as your audience or situation dictates while still conveying the core message of your presentation. That discipline and its resulting freedom apply to public speaking of any kind and, I think, will serve you well.
Another old adage we’ve all heard is Aristotle’s advice. You know the one. No? Well, roughly, it’s to tell your audience what you’re going to say, say it, and then tell them what you just said. That’s the basic formula for public speaking. And it works as a good place to start.
However, effective speaking is much more and, to me, it starts with a story or even a simple sentence.
You know the feeling you get when you read the first sentence of a good book and it just reaches out and grabs you? That should be your goal with every presentation. One sentence to capture your audience’s attention. Something that causes them to lean forward. Something that sparks their imagination.
It doesn’t have to be all that profound either. It can be something very simple. A personal story that relates to your topic. A relevant fact or statistic that defines or illustrates the issue or subject matter at hand.
A couple of classics come to mind. The first is Alice Walker’s, “The Color of Purple.”
“You better not tell nobody but God.”
And the second one is from my favorite novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee.
“When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm broken at the elbow.”
Both sentences hook you immediately. A few simple words speak volumes. After reading or hearing those words, you naturally lean in. You want to learn more. You want to find out what happens next. Every effective speech or presentation does the same thing.
Of course, make sure that the first and last thing you say to your audience is both relevant and appropriate. I share this out of an abundance of caution. I once worked for an internationally recognized and well-respected children’s research hospital and I was given the privilege to speak at a national educational convention. The room was filled wall to wall with teachers. I thought I’d be cute and add a little levity. I opened my presentation with this line, “You know, I’ve had nightmares like this…” Instead of the roars of laughter, I was expecting, a wave of silence ensued. Not only was the line not funny, but it was also wholly inappropriate and I immediately lost my audience. Not my best day. Learn from my mistakes.
Finally, let’s touch on the importance of approaching a speech as a conversation. You and I are sitting here enjoying our coffee and having a friendly, relaxed conversation. Strive for that every chance you get. You may not always have that luxury. Some speeches and presentations simply demand formality. But even in those cases, you can usually make it somewhat conversational. I always try to write my speeches in a conversational style. Like I’m talking to a friend…or trying to make a new one.
So, to recap: tell a story, learn your lines, hook your audience with a simple sentence, close with a question or call to action, use repetition, keep it conversational, treat your audience as a friend, and give yourself permission to relax.
Above all, be yourself. Allow yourself to be as relaxed as you are with those closest to you. If you’re relaxed, if you try to think of your audience as a friend, then, in most cases, they too will relax and they will root for you. Even if they disagree with what you are telling them, they will respect you and they will listen.
How about another cup?
Remember This!
Please share your feedback, suggestions, corrections, and ideas.
I want to hear from you.
Do you have an activity to include? Did you notice a typo that I should correct? Are you planning to use this as a resource and do you want me to know about it? Do you want to tell me something that really helped you?
Click here to share your feedback.
Asch, S. E. (1946). Forming impressions of personality. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 41, 258-290. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0055756
Anderson, C. (2016). TED talks: The official TED guide to public speaking. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Barton, D. (2015). What do top students do differently? TED Talk.[Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na8m4GPqA30 Standard YouTube License.
Brooks, R. (2020). SAM Talk: Honesty, courage, and the importance of brushing your teeth. [Video] YouTube. https://youtu.be/SskgA2hHgFI Standard YouTube License.
Castel, A.D. (2008). Metacognition and learning about primacy and recency effects in free recall: The utilization of intrinsic and extrinsic cues when making judgments of learning. Memory & Cognition, 36, 429–43. https://doi.org/10.3758/MC.36.2.429
Davis, A. (2016). 19 quotes that will inspire you to create an amazing presentation. Inc. https://www.inc.com/alison-davis/19-quotes-that-will-inspire-you-to-create-an-amazing-presentation.html
DeGeneres, E. (2009). Ellen at Tulane Commencement. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e8ToRVOtRo Standard YouTube License.
Duarte, N. (n.d.). Be a S.T.A.R. presenter. https://www.duarte.com/be-a-star-presenter/
Duarte, N. (n.d.). Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols
Elazari, K. (2014). Hackers: The internet’s immune system. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/keren_elazari_hackers_the_internet_s_immune_system?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Elias, R. (2011). Three things I learned while my plane crashed. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/ric_elias_3_things_i_learned_while_my_plane_crashed?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Fisher, W.R. (2009). Narration as a human communication paradigm: The case of public moral argument. Communication Monograph s, 51 (1). 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637758409390180
Gamache, J.A. (2007). Being Mr. G. Toastmasters World Championship. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoW-T2_6OJo Standard YouTube License.
Goffman, A. (2015). How we are priming some kids for college and others for prison. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/alice_goffman_how_we_re_priming_some_kids_for_college_and_others_for_prison/transcript?language=en#t-183504 Standard YouTube License.
Gottman, J. (2018). The science of love.[Video] YouTube. https://youtu.be/-uazFBCDvVw Standard YouTube License.
Goldacre, B. (2011). Battling bad science. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_battling_bad_science?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Glaser, E. (1992). Aids address to the 1992 Democratic National Convention.[Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z0lbUJWjf4 Standard YouTube License.
Hone, L. (2019). The three secrets of resilient people. [Video] YouTube. https://youtu.be/NWH8N-BvhAw Standard YouTube License.
Hoteit, L. (2016). Three lessons on success from an Arab businesswoman. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/leila_hoteit_3_lessons_on_success_from_an_arab_businesswoman/transcript?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Karia, A. (2013). How to open and close a TED Talk (or any other speech or presentation). [Video] YouTube. https://akashkaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/HowtoOpenandCloseaTEDTalk.pdf Standard YouTube License.
Key, J. (2016). 2003 World Champion: ‘Never Too Late’ Jim Key, Toastmasters International. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54Ck5V495dA Standard YouTube License.
King, M.L. (1963). I have a dream. [Video] YouTube. https://youtu.be/I47Y6VHc3Ms Standard YouTube License.
LaCroix, D. (2001). World champion of public speaking. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUDCzbmLV-0 Standard YouTube License.
Lieber, D. (2013). The power of storytelling to change the world. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bo3dpVb5jw Standard YouTube License.
Lythcott-Haims, J. (2015). How to raise successful kids without overparenting. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/julie_lythcott_haims_how_to_raise_successful_kids_without_over_parenting?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Marshall, L. B. (20170. How to hook your audience in 30 seconds: Learn to create catchy speech openings from top contest winners. https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2017/june2017/hook
Masters, K. (2014). Nipping an education myth in the bud: Poh’s brain activity during lectures. Medical Teacher, 1-4 DOI: 10.3109/014 2159X.2014.916785
McGonigal, K, (2013). How to make stress your friend. Tedtalk. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend Standard YouTube License.
McViker, D. (2015). Ten phrases that savvy speakers never say. http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/10-toxic-speech-phrases/
Meade, A. (2013). Your body is my canvas. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/alexa_meade_your_body_is_my_canvas?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Medina, J. (2014). Brain rules: 12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school. Pear Press.
Miller, N. & Campbell, D. T. (1959) Recency and primacy in persuasion as a function of the timing of speeches and measurements. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 59, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0049330
Morgan-Steiner. (2012). Why domestic victims don’t leave. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/leslie_morgan_steiner_why_domestic_violence_victims_don_t_leave?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Moth. Storytelling tips and tricks: How to tell a successful story. https://themoth.org/share-your-story/storytelling-tips-tricks
Murdock, B.B., Jr. (1962). The serial position effect of free recall. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 64 (5), 482–488. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0045106 Neuroskeptic. (2014). Another education neuromyth debunked . June 29, 2014. https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/another-education-neuromyth-debunked
Oliver, J. (2010). Teach every child about food. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver_teach_every_child_about_food?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Pease, A. (2013). Body language, the power is in the palm of your hands. [Video] YouTube. https://youtu.be/ZZZ7k8cMA-4 Standard YouTube License.
Pink, D. (2009). The puzzle of motivation.[Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrkrvAUbU9Y&vl=fa Standard YouTube License.
Purdy, A. (2011). Living beyond limits. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_purdy_living_beyond_limits?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Qahtani, M. (2015). The power of words. 2015 World Champion, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqq1roF4C8s&t=138s Standard YouTube License.
Ratanakul, S. (2017). A study of problem-solution discourse: Examining TED Talks through the lens of move analysis. LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network Journal, 10 (2). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1229624.pdf
Riegel, D. G. (2019). Stop beginning your speeches with good morning and thank you and start with this instead. Talk Support. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbq4_Swj0Gg Standard YouTube License.
Rogers, B. (2020). A conversation over coffee. A personal essay was written for this chapter.
Rosling, H. (2014). Don’t panic–the truth about population.[Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FACK2knC08E Standard YouTube License.
Ross, T. E. (2019). Tracee Ellis Ros is living for herself . [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neU_sum9824. Standard YouTube License.
Sandel, M. (2013). Why we shouldn’t trust markets with our civic life. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_sandel_why_we_shouldn_t_trust_markets_with_our_civic_life?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Schulz, K. (2011). Don’t regret, regret. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_schulz_don_t_regret_regret/details Standard YouTube License.
Siddons, S. (2008). Chapter 05. how people remember, what they forget . London: Kogan Page Ltd. https://search.proquest.com/books/chapter-05-how-people-remember-what-they-forget/docview/276318853/se-2?accountid=8361
Sinek, S. (2009). How great leaders inspire action. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Solomon, A. (2013). Depression: The secret we share. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_solomon_depression_the_secret_we_share/up-next?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Stauffer, N. (2019). Moth Grand Slam Story. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzHZAsyki78 Standard YouTube License.
Toastmasters. (2017). Beginning your speech. The Better Speaker Series. Toastmasters International -The Better Speaker Series Set
Toastmasters. (2017). Concluding your speech. The Better Speaker Series. Toastmasters International -The Better Speaker Series Set
Toastmasters. (2017). Creating an introduction. The Better Speaker Series. https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/creating-an-introduction.
Tobay, T. (2016). This country isn’t just carbon neutral –it’s carbon negative. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/tshering_tobgay_this_country_isn_t_just_carbon_neutral_it_s_carbon_negative/transcript?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Trevino, D. (2020). Guilty. Moth Mainstage. https://youtu.be/OcHLBkLVoNw
VanEdwards, V. (2020). How to start a speech: The Best (and worst) speech openers. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tzentBmmUc. Standard YouTube License.
Veitch, J. (2015). This is what happens when you reply to spam email. Ted Talk. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/james_veitch_this_is_what_happens_when_you_reply_to_spam_email?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Wilson, E.O. (2012). Advice to a young scientist. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/e_o_wilson_advice_to_a_young_scientist?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare Standard YouTube License.
Winston, P. (2019). How to speak by Patrick Winston.[Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unzc731iCUY Standard YouTube License.
Yong, E. (2014). Zombie roaches and other parasite tales. TED Talk [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/ed_yong_zombie_roaches_and_other_parasite_tales?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Young, S. (2014). I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much. [Video] YouTube. https://www.ted.com/talks/stella_young_i_m_not_your_inspiration_thank_you_very_much?language=en Standard YouTube License.
Advanced Public Speaking Copyright © 2021 by Lynn Meade is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Being able to write and deliver a persuasive speech is not only a skill that will help you at university – but something that will help you in both your career and your personal life. Whether you’re giving a graded speech for a class, explaining something as part of your job, or defending something you’re passionate about, delivering a persuasive speech will only help you to succeed. Follow our tips for how to develop your skills in persuasive speech writing.
To persuade someone is to change their point of view and have them agree with you. In a university setting, this may be for a graded presentation or a debate. Although given verbally, your first step will be to write the speech before you deliver it – this will ensure you are fully prepared, have time to think about what you want to say, and ensure everything is properly researched. You don’t want to get caught out saying something that is untrue.
The first thing you need to do when writing a persuasive speech is to choose your topic. If you’re giving a speech as part of your university degree, this may have been provided to you as part of the assignment. If one hasn’t been provided, but the speech is for a specific class , try to think about the topics covered in your previous lessons or suggested reading from the teacher. Use the knowledge you’ve already gained in the class and show your teacher just how much you’ve paid attention.
If there are no guidelines on choosing your persuasive speech topic, then you have more choice when making your decision. This is a great opportunity to talk about something you’re truly passionate about. If your audience sees you are genuinely interested in your topic, they will see your speech as more authentic and credible. How can you persuade someone to side with you if it doesn’t seem like you believe in what you’re saying yourself?
If you’re still struggling to think of a topic, here are some examples that might help. When choosing from the below examples, it is still important to select a topic that interests you. Some good examples of persuasive speech topics for university students include:
Now that you’ve picked your topic, you can start writing your speech. The first thing you need to know is your opinion. Are you for or against your topic? Once you’ve decided which side of the argument you want to defend, you can begin writing your persuasive speech.
All university assignments begin with research, and persuasive speeches are no different. You can research however suits you best, utilising library resources, books you own, and the internet. It may even help to research both sides of the argument, including the opposing opinion to your own, to get a better understanding of your chosen topic.
Start your persuasive speech with a strong introduction, grabbing the attention of your audience. This can be emotional, shocking, or funny – as long as it is powerful. After you have your audience’s attention, you should clearly introduce the topic of your speech.
You now need to distil your research into a few key arguments. These should be the most powerful and persuasive arguments from your research, the ones that you believe will convince your listeners to agree with your point of view. Choose between two to four key arguments to keep your audience interested.
When giving a persuasive speech, it is important to acknowledge and address any counter arguments from the opposition. Not only does this show that you have done your research, but it addresses any concerns or doubts your audience may have.
Lastly, you should finish your persuasive speech with a strong closing argument. You may choose to save your strongest argument for this point, or reinforce a previous point you made. Either way, your closing argument should be the thing your audience remembers the most.
If you’re studying at a UK university and English isn’t your first language, you may worry about writing a persuasive speech as part of your degree programme. The best way to prepare in this scenario is to make sure you have a strong understanding of the English language. At Durham University International Study Centre, you can take a pathway programme designed to develop all the skills you need to succeed as an international students. These programmes include a core English module programme designed to develop your language skills to a university level.
You can also develop your English language skills outside of the classroom. Choosing to live in student accommodation gives you even more opportunities to speak English in a less formal setting. And who knows? You can even practise delivering a persuasive speech by convincing your flatmates what to cook for dinner tonight.
What is an example of persuasive speech .
A persuasive speech is any time you are having to choose a side of an argument and present it to another person. Persuasive speeches are used in many different areas of life. This could be in a school or university setting, in a job, or in a social setting.
When choosing a persuasive speech topic for university, 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.
The best persuasive speeches always start with an impactful opening that grabs the audience’s attention. If you hope to persuade someone to agree with you, they need to listen to your whole argument. A strong opening ensures the audience is listening to you from the very start.
Structure of a persuasive speech, learning objectives.
Identify characteristic structures of a persuasive speech.
In many ways, a persuasive speech is structured like an informative speech. It has an introduction with an attention-getter and a clear thesis statement. It also has a body where the speaker presents their main points and it ends with a conclusion that sums up the main point of the speech.
The biggest difference is that the primary purpose of an informative speech is to explain whereas the primary purpose of a persuasive speech is to advocate the audience adopt a point of view or take a course of action. A persuasive speech, in other words, is an argument supported by well-thought-out reasons and relevant, appropriate, and credible supporting evidence.
We can classify persuasive speeches into three broad categories:
The organizational pattern we select and the type of supporting material we use should support the overall argument we are making.
The informative speech organizational patterns we covered earlier can work for a persuasive speech as well. In addition, the following organization patterns are especially suited to persuasive speeches (these are covered in more detail in Module 6: Organizing and Outlining Your Speech):
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Conclusion. Mastering a persuasive speech is about connection, clarity, and conviction. Remember the essentials: a well-structured argument supports your message and engaging topics capture attention. Outline each argument with care, making it easy for listeners to follow, then balance facts with stories that stir emotions.
He's taking his audience on a journey. Humor: Make the audience laugh and they'll love you. Humor is one of the best presentation openers ever (if used correctly). There are few things that make us connect to another person as easily as by laughing together. But be careful: make sure your joke fits the context.
following outlines the basic format of a persuasive speech, but speeches may take alternative forms. INTRODUCTION There are four key components to an introduction: the attention getting device (AGD), common ground, thesis, and preview. For the sake of this speech, you'll want to keep your introduction around 20 seconds (give or take).
3. Address the counter-argument. Although it is not strictly necessary, your argument may be stronger if one or more of your supporting points addresses the views of the opposing side. This gives you a chance to address your audience's possible objections and make your argument stronger.
The purpose of a persuasive speech is to convince your audience to agree with an idea or opinion that you present. First, you'll need to choose a side on a controversial topic, then you will write a speech to explain your position, and convince the audience to agree with you. You can produce an effective persuasive speech if you structure your ...
Tip: An easy way to make your writing more concise is to start your sentences with the subject. Also, try to limit the number of adverbs and adjectives you use. 3. Tailor your writing to your audience. Being aware of your audience while you're writing will help you craft a more persuasive message.
Step 2: After the Story, Now, Give Your Advice. When most people write a persuasive presentation, they start with their opinion. Again, this makes the listener want to play Devil's advocate. By starting with the example, we give the listener a simple way to agree with us.
To help you through the process of writing a persuasive speech from beginning to end, here's a 7 step checklist. To get the most from it move through it sequentially - point by point. You'll find links to topic suggestion pages, explanations about how to structure your speech and the importance of audience analysis with examples and more.
Another good way of starting a persuasive speech is to include your audience in the picture you're trying to paint. By making them part of the story, you're embedding an emotional connection between them and your speech. ... The best persuasive speech ideas are those that spark a level of controversy. However, a public speech is not the ...
After you graft your persuasive speech outline, follow these other persuasive speech tips to start getting your audience to see your side! #1. Identify the Motivation ... Finally, the best way to speak with confidence is to practice. Give your speech in the mirror, ask a friend to listen, or video yourself speaking so you can watch it back. ...
Persuasive Speech is a category of speech that attempts to influence the listener's beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, and ultimately, behavior. They are used in all contexts and situations. It can be informal, a teenager attempting to convince his or her parents for a sleepover at a friend's house. It can also be formal, President or Prime ...
Use short words. Write short sentences. Avoid awkward constructions that might cause a speaker to stumble. Tip: Read the speech aloud as you're writing. If you do it enough, you'll start ...
9. It's in the news. Take headlines from what's trending in media you know the audience will be familiar with and see. Using those that relate to your speech topic as the opening of your speech is a good way to grab the attention of the audience. It shows how relevant and up-to-the-minute the topic is. For example:
Analyze their response and tweak the joke accordingly if necessary. Starting your speech with humour means your setting the tone of your speech. It would make sense to have a few more jokes sprinkled around the rest of the speech as well as the audience might be expecting the same from you. 4. Mohammed Qahtani.
Not sure where to start with writing a persuasive speech? With these six steps, learn how to write a persuasive speech easily and captivate your audience.
Reason #1. Your reasons are the main points of your persuasive speech, organized in a Flow Structure. After the introductory portion of the speech is over, the speaker starts presenting reasons to the audience. These reasons are various statements that provide support for the thesis statement.
Here are 26 different techniques for beginning your speech: 1. Use a quote. One method of starting a speech and gaining the audience's attention is to use a famous or relatable quote. This approach can give your audience context for your topic and connect it to something they recognize. For instance, if you plan to give a speech on a political ...
112 Engaging Persuasive Speech Topics. Tips for Preparing Your Persuasive Speech. Writing a stellar persuasive speech requires a carefully crafted argument that will resonate with your audience to sway them to your side. This feat can be challenging to accomplish, but an engaging, thought-provoking speech topic is an excellent place to start.
Typical Patterns for Speech Openings. Get the audience's attention-called a hook or a grabber. Establish rapport and tell the audience why you care about the topic of why you are credible to speak on the topic. Introduce the speech thesis/preview/good idea. Tell the audience why they should care about this topic.
Either way, your closing argument should be the thing your audience remembers the most. Giving a persuasive speech as an international student. ... The best persuasive speeches always start with an impactful opening that grabs the audience's attention. If you hope to persuade someone to agree with you, they need to listen to your whole argument.
Identify characteristic structures of a persuasive speech. In many ways, a persuasive speech is structured like an informative speech. It has an introduction with an attention-getter and a clear thesis statement. It also has a body where the speaker presents their main points and it ends with a conclusion that sums up the main point of the speech.
Add emotional connections with your audience. Make your argument more powerful by appealing to your audience's sense of nostalgia and common beliefs. Another tactic (which marketers use all the time) is to appeal to your listeners' fears and rely on their instincts for self-preservation. Address counterarguments.
Read on for six key elements to include at the start of your persuasive speeches. 1. A Strong Hook. Add a powerful opener (hook) to get the audience emotionally engaged from the get-go. This could be a shocking statistic, a thought-provoking quote, an emotive short story, or a rhetorical question.
The same principle applies to persuasive speeches. Here, your goal is to shift your audience's perspective using a combination of emotional connection, strong arguments, and strategic delivery.While statements like "cookie dough ice cream is the best dessert" can't be definitively proven, a well-written speech that taps into emotions and logical reasoning might just convince your ...
She was emotional, raw, powerful and persuasive. And that speech marked her as a politician to watch. Look, there are lots of uncertainties ahead. I have no idea what Whitmer's foreign policy ...