How to Give a Persuasive Speech

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How to Give a Persuasive Speech
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• A persuasive speech is a presentation that aims
  to change others by prompting them to think,
  feel, or act differently.
• change peoples attitudes,
• change the strength towards or against people,
  policies, or ideas
• change how people act

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Characteristics of Persuasive Speech

• 1) Persuasive speaking is interactive.
• an engagement between a speaker and a listener
• 2) Persuasion is NOT the same as coercion, or
  force.
• not force them to do ? be artistic
• 3) Persuasive impact is usually gradual, or
  incremental.

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Three Cornerstones of Persuasion

• Three forms of proof, or reasons people believe
  (by Aristotle)
• Ethos the perceived personal character of the
  speaker
• Pathos emotional proofs, or reasons to believe
  in something
• Logos rational or logical proofs

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ETHOS

• The perceived personal character of the speaker
• Listeners think or perceive that
• - you have integrity, credibility
• - you can be trusted
• - you have goodwill toward them
• - you know what youre talking about
• - you are committed to the topic
• (show enthusiasm and be dynamic)

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PATHOS

• Emotional reasons to believe in something
• Listeners need to not only understand your ideas
  but also feel something about them.
• How
• Personalize the issue problem, topic
• Appeal to listeners needs and values
• Bring material alive

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LOGOS

• Rational or logical proofs
• Logical proofs arguments, reasoning, and
  evidence to support claims
• Evidence examples, testimony, statistics,
  analogies, visual aids, and etc.

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Building Credibility

• Credibility Ethos
• A willingness of others to believe that a person
  has personal integrity, is positively disposed
  toward them, and can be trusted.
• Credibility is not a static quality. It can
  change, increase or decrease, as a result of a
  speech.

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Types of Credibility

• 1) Initial credibility expertise and
  trustworthiness listeners recognize BEFORE a
  presentation
• (based on positions, achievements, experiences)
• 2) Derived credibility expertise and
  trustworthiness listeners recognize as a result
  of how speakers communicate during a presentation
• 3) Terminal credibility credible speakers have
  at the end of a presentation
• (cumulative expertise, goodwill, and
  trustworthiness listeners recognize in a speaker)

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How to build credibility

• 1. State your qualification
• 2. Show that you care about listeners
• 3. Appeal to listeners emotions
• 4. Reason carefully
• 5. Use effective and ethical supporting materials
• 6. Use verbal and nonverbal communication to show
  that you care about the topic
• 7. Respond to questions with open-mindedness and
  fairness

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Principles of Speech Organization

• Introduction should capture audiences attention,
  provide clear thesis statement, preview what you
  will cover.
• Internal summaries of main points should be
  provided.
• Smooth transitions between points and parts of a
  speech are needed.
• Body should be organized to reinforce thesis and
  show unity of ideas.
• Conclusion should summarize main points and end
  with strong closing statements.

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Motivated Sequence Pattern

• Attention Pay attention. This is important to
  you.
• Need Something is wrong and something must be
  done about it.
• Satisfaction What I have to offer is the way
  to solve the problem.
• Visualization This is how my plan will work to
  solve the problem and if you accept my solution,
  things will be much better.
• Action Take action!

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Persuasive Speech Outline
I. Begin with an Attention Step that is an -
Opening statement of interest (use one or more
of the following) A rhetorical question A
startling statement A quotation An
illustration or story A reference to the
subject A reference to the occasion
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- Motivate audience interest in your subject by
alluding to (use one or more of the following)
The practical value of the information for your
audience A reason to listen The audiences
sense of curiosity Establish your credibility
by Alluding to any first-hand experience you
may have had Alluding to sources of information
you have consulted
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 II. Show there is a need To urge a change-point
out whats wrong with present conditions To
demand preservation of present conditions-point
out the danger of a change   The Need Step is
developed by Illustration Tell of one or more
incidents to illustrate the need Ramifications
Employ as many additional facts, examples,
and  quotations as are required to make the 
need convincingly impressive. Pointing Show its
importance to the individuals in the audience.
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III. Present a solution The Solution is developed
by (use one or more of the following)
Statement of solution a brief statement of the
attitude, belief, or action you wish the audience
to adopt. Explanation Make sure that your
proposal is understood. Theoretical
demonstration show how the solution logically
and adequately meets the need pointed out in the
need step, point-by-point! Practical experience
actual examples showing where this proposal has
worked effectively or where the belief has proven
correct. Meeting objections forestall
opposition by showing how your proposal overcomes
any objections which might be raised.
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IV. Help your audience visualize the future
The visualization step must stand the test of
reality. The conditions you describe must be at
least realistic. The more vividly you make the
situation seem, the stronger will be the reaction
of the audience. There are three methods of
visualizing the future (use one or more of the
following)   Positive Describe the conditions
if your solution is actually carried out. Picture
the listeners in that situation actually enjoying
the safety, pleasure, or pride that your proposal
will produce. Negative Describe conditions if
your solution is not carried out. Picture the
audience feeling the bad effects or
unpleasantness that the failure to effect your
solution will produce. Contrast Combination of
1 and 2. Begin with the negative method
(undesirable situation) and conclude with the
positive method (desirable solution).
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• V. Conclude with the Action Step 
• developed by (use one or more of the following)
• Restatement of main idea and summary of main
  points.
• Statement of specific action or attitude change
  you want from the audience.
• A statement of your personal intent to take the
  course of action or attitude recommended.
• A concluding statement to recapture interest (a
  reason to remember).

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General Presentation Skills
Finding the right register Getting the right
balance between formality and informality in a
presentation is very tricky.

• Avoid colloquialisms (sort of or kinda)
• Try to avoid erms and ums
• You want your audience to respect you, not like
  you.
• Try to speak more slowly than you would normally.
  
• Use pauses for emphasis (as opposed to raising
  your voice)
• Dont let your voice fade away at the end of
  sentences.

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General Presentation Skills

• Reduce Anxiety
• The easiest way to reduce anxiety is to have a
  well prepared and well rehearsed presentation.
• However, if nerves are still a problem, try the
  following
• Visualisation Imagine yourself giving a
  brilliant presentation.
• Breath deeply.
• Relax muscles / Release tension.
• Take a script which you can read if all else
  fails.
• Do something else really stressful just
  before(drastic, but works!)

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General Presentation Skills
Know your audience Ensure you tailor your
presentation appropriately, depending on the
audience makeup. Do they know a lot or a little
about the issue, do they generally support or
oppose the issue. A good general rule is that it
pays to keep things simple.
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General Presentation Skills

• Preparing your presentation
• Use Powerpoint (or handouts)
• If using powerpoint, dont use anything less
  than a 24pt font.
• Aim for about 8 slides for a 15 minute talk.
• Do not put more than 4 or 5 pieces of
  information on each slide.
• Make sure the slide contains information which
  will prompt you to make the points you want to
  make.

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Practice

• Practice giving the presentation to a friendly
  audience and ask them for honest and constructive
  criticism.
• Finishing on time is very important, and
  requires practice.
• So practice out loud on your own with a clock.

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Some general tips

• Make eye contact.
• Talk clearly to the back of the audience.
• Dont mumble the ends of sentences.
• Be enthusiastic (or pretend)
• Ask someone in the audience to warn you when you
  have two minutes left or wear a watch and pay
  attention to the time.
• The only way it gets better is to give more
  talks.

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Tips for handling questions

• Repeat questions for the benefit of the audience
  (and to give yourself extra thinking time).
• Be honest when answering questions, especially
  if you have no idea of the answer.
• Dont be afraid to ask the questioner to be
  clearer.
• Dont be afraid or ashamed to let someone else
  in the room answer the question.

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Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
Stephen Covey
History will have to record that the greatest
tragedy of this period of social transition was
not the strident clamor of the bad people, but
the appalling silence of the good people.
Martin Luther King, Jr.