Persuasive Speeches
Speech Types
Learning Objectives
• Students will know understand the types of persuasion
• While understanding the complexities of persuasion and
how to overcome those complexities
• Students will be able to deploy effective techniques in
building arguments and organizing persuasive messages
• Furthermore, students will learn problem solving
techniques and about reasoning and fallacies.
4.2 Persuasive Speeches
What is Persuasion?
Persuasive Speeches
4.2.1 What is Persuasion?
Persuasion
• Persuasion is the art of changing a person’s opinions,
beliefs, values or actions using logic, evidence, emotion
and reason
• Needs two distinct sides to a problem or issue
• Not always necessary to present both sides
• Presenting both sides makes your position stronger
• Leads to overt or covert actions
4.2.1 What is Persuasion?
The Other Side
• Imperative to research all sides
• Knowing your opposition adds validity and depth
• Less likely to have opposition attack your weak areas
4.2.1 What is Persuasion?
Persuasion & Psychology
• Humans are thinking, feeling, and emotional beings
• Present your argument in an unforced manner
• Use ethos, pathos, and logos to influence
4.2.1 What is Persuasion?
Coercion
• Persuasion ≠ Coercion
• Coercion is using force to mandate change
• The change only lasts while the force is being applied
• Example: Parents telling their child to clean their room, or
they will be grounded. If the parents stop applying the
force (threat of grounding), the action (clean their room)
will not occur.
4.2.1 What is Persuasion?
Manipulation
• Manipulation uses trickery to make a person change
• Leaves out negative viewpoints
• Provides only one side of the story
• Often used in cults, peer pressure, and hazing
• Removes the person from a caring environment and isolates them
• Relies on “group think” vs. individual thinking
• Example: The speaker gives the audience statistics that support his
particular call to action. However, when doing research, the audience
finds the statistics used were inaccurate and would cause severe
consequences if followed as the speaker indicated.
4.2.1 What is Persuasion?
Persuasive Speeches
• Persuasive Speeches share a view with the intent on
change
• Covert changes may not be observable
• Claim of fact or value
• Overt changes require physical action
• Claim of policy
4.2.1 What is Persuasion?
Review Questions
1. What is persuasion? How is it different from
manipulation and coercion?
2. Should persuasive speeches always include a specific call
to action? Why or why not?
4.2.1 What is Persuasion?
Audiences & Persuasion
Persuasive Speeches
4.2.2 Audiences & Persuasion
Audiences
• Persuasion is hard
• Set in our ways
• Not everyone has
• The same needs
• Level of commitment
4.2.2 Audiences & Persuasion
Change is Perceived As
• Painful
• Attack on long-held beliefs
• Invalidating our experiences
• Requiring too much energy
• Peer Pressure
4.2.2 Audiences & Persuasion
Change Requires Audiences To
• Research
• Audiences may lack knowledge or value
4.2.2 Audiences & Persuasion
Audience Attitudes
• May impact the change you seek
• Positive
• You should reinforce their existing thoughts
• Negative
• You should call them to action by showing why change is
needed
• You should have them do an action
• Indifferent/Neutral
• You should convince your audience of the problem
• You should tell them the status quo is bad
4.2.2 Audiences & Persuasion
Review Questions
1. Why is change difficult for audiences to accept?
2. Describe a time when you were forced to change based
on someone's persuasion.
4.2.2 Audiences & Persuasion
Types of Persuasion
Persuasive Speeches
4.2.3 Types of Persuasion
A Question of Fact
• Based on evidence
• Leads your audience to change
• No call to action
• Allow audience to come to their own conclusion
• Like an informative speech but makes someone question
their opinion
• Can be arranged
• Topically
• Chronologically
4.2.3 Types of Persuasion
A Question of Fact
• Example: Does massage therapy have medicinal purposes?
• Example: Does international poverty affect us all (the
audience)?
4.2.3 Types of Persuasion
A Question of Value
• Builds on a Question of Fact
• Based on evidence
• Leads your audience to question if something is right or
wrong
• No call to action
• Allow audience to reach their own conclusion
• Can be arranged
• Topically
• Chronologically
4.2.3 Types of Persuasion
A Question of Value
• Example: Is massage therapy a beneficial healing tool for
people with illnesses?
• Example: Do you understand why it is a moral imperative
that we reduce local and global poverty levels?
4.2.3 Types of Persuasion
A Question of Policy
• The advocation of change
• Builds on Questions of Fact or Value
• Clear call to action
• You tell the what they need to do
4.2.3 Types of Persuasion
A Question of Policy
• Example: Will you (the audience) support coverage of
massage therapy by health insurance companies? OR
Should/shouldn’t we support medical coverage for
massage as an alternative health initiative?
• Example: Will you (the audience) support a reduction of
international poverty by giving to charities? OR
Should/shouldn’t we support international poverty
programs?
4.2.3 Types of Persuasion
Review Questions
1. A Question of Value builds on a Question of Fact, but
adds what for the audience to consider?
2. This type of persuasion ends with a clear call to action,
what is it?
4.2.3 Types of Persuasion
Arguing for Change
Persuasive Speeches
4.2.4 Arguing for Change
Arguing for Change
• Must address
• The need for change
• What is in it for the audience
• A clear plan for change
• Practicality of change
4.2.4 Arguing for Change
Persuasive Patterns
• Problem-Solution
• Problem-Cause-Solution
• Comparative Advantage
• Criteria-Satisfaction
• Compare-Contrast
• Cause-Effect
• Effect-Cause
• Motivated Sequence
4.2.4 Arguing for Change
“To Persuade You”
• Avoid saying
• Creates a barrier in your audience
• Makes them want to defend their beliefs
• Tells your audience to expect a fight
• Find a different way to say it
• Example: “Today, I am going to show you . . .”
• Example: “Today, I want to explain the benefits . . .”
• Example: “What I want to help you understand is . . .”
• Example: “These ideas I want to tell you about will help . . . ”
4.2.4 Arguing for Change
Delayed Thesis
• Holds the thesis until the end of the speech
• Allows you to provide evidence without locking them into
thinking a certain way
4.2.4 Arguing for Change
Review Questions
1. What barriers may your audience perceive if you tell
them you are trying to persuade them?
2. What is a delayed thesis? How might you use it in a
persuasive presentation?
4.2.4 Arguing for Change
Problem Solving
Persuasive Speeches
4.2.5 Problem Solving
Seven-Step Process
• Based on John Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Process
• Analytical approach to keep emotional attachment low
4.2.5 Problem Solving
Seven-Step Process
1. Define the Problem:
• What exactly is the true problem? Dig deep and peel off the
layers of issues to find the true problem you want to address.
2. Analyze the problem:
• What exactly is the problem? What is causing the problem? Who
is the problem affecting? What is the “root” of the problem?
What makes up the problem? Why is it a problem?
3. Establish criteria for a solution:
• In order to approach a problem analytically, you must create
criteria to judge the value and validity of your solutions by. What
are the rules/guidelines to be followed in creating solutions?
4.2.5 Problem Solving
Seven-Step Process
4. Consider possible solutions:
• Brainstorm all possible solutions to the problem. Weigh them against the
established criteria to see if they are feasible and will work. Will it meet the
needs of the problem? Is the solution workable? How will it work? Do you
provide a plan of action for the solution?
5. Decide on a solution:
• Choose a solution that meets the criteria established for solving the problem.
6. Implement the solution:
• Try the solution. Put it into action. See if the solution works.
7. Follow up on the solution:
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the solution proposed. Does it work? How does it
work? Are there areas of the solution needing some adjustment? What are those
areas and how can you make changes to them to have the problem solved?
4.2.5 Problem Solving
Review Questions
1. Using the seven-step process, give an example of a
problem impacting your community and what a possible
solution would be. For steps 6 and 7, theorize how you
might implement and follow up on the solution.
4.2.5 Problem Solving
Reasoning
Persuasive Speeches
4.2.6 Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning
• Inductive reasoning is the process of synthesis beginning
with specific information and moving toward probable
conclusions
• Example: All the bunnies I’ve seen have short tails;
therefore, all bunnies must have short tails.
4.2.6 Reasoning
Analogy Reasoning
• Analogy reasoning relies on using an analogy to
compare similar tings while basing an outcome on one or
the other not necessarily on evidence
• Example: Our sun has a planet with life on it therefore
similar stars have planets with lfie on them.
4.2.6 Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
• Deductive reasoning starts with a general premise and
then uses analysis to arrive at certain conclusions
• Example: Sources of air pollution cause holes in the ozone.
By including cars in the class of sources of air pollution, we
can conclude cars are the cause of holes in the ozone.
4.2.6 Reasoning
Causal Reasoning
• Causal reasoning shows the relationship of things based
on the cause and effects of it. Assumes nothing occurs by
chance and that for everything there is a cause.
• Example: Drunk drivers can cause a car accident, but
alcohol does not have to be present for an accident to
occur.
4.2.6 Reasoning
Review Questions
1. Analogy reasoning may not consider what when
comparing two similar things?
2. Inductive reasoning moves toward probable conclusions
based on what?
4.2.6 Reasoning
Fallacies
Persuasive Speeches
4.2.7 Fallacies
Fallacies
• Fallacies are unsound, erroneous, or logically incorrect
assertions
4.2.7 Fallacies
Red Herrings
• Red herrings are something that distracts attention from
the real issue.
• Example: I understand you are concerned about the
education system in our state, but if the roads aren’t fixed
we will be in serious trouble.
4.2.7 Fallacies
Ad Hominem
• Ad hominem is an attack on a person rather than their
evidence or arguments. Ad hominem attacks could be
based on personal attributes and don’t prove anything.
• Example: “She has to be stupid, just look at her.”
4.2.7 Fallacies
Appeal to Ignorance
• An appeal to ignorance is a claim that the person didn't
know anything.
• Example: "I just didn't know it would hurt anyone..."
• Example: "How was I to know if it was true..."
4.2.7 Fallacies
Either/Or
• An either/or fallacy limits responses and arguments to
only two opposing sides/outcomes.
• Example: “It will be either this or nothing . . .”
4.2.7 Fallacies
Slippery Slope
• A slippery slope argument that says one thing will
inevitably lead to another.
• Example: By implementing socialized health care, we will
become a communist country.
4.2.7 Fallacies
Composition
• Composition fallacies assume that what is true of the
separate parts is necessarily true of the collective whole.
• Example: Some students fall asleep in class. The whole
class will fall asleep.
4.2.7 Fallacies
Non Sequitur
• Non sequitur fallacies do not follow when there is no
obvious connection between the data and the conclusion.
• Example: They’re giving it away for free. It must be good.
4.2.7 Fallacies
Hasty Generalization
• Hasty generalizations reach a conclusion based on a few
items of real evidence or information. Jumping to a
conclusion too quickly.
• Example: I talked to three people in the class, and they
said the test was too easy. Clearly, then, the whole class
thinks the test was too easy.
4.2.7 Fallacies
Insufficient Cause
• Insufficient cause are when someone mistakes a single
factor as the sole cause when other causal forces are
present. Decisions/opinions are made based on
unestablished information on the true causes.
• Example: You had a drink with dinner the night before
your exam. You failed the exam. Drinking caused you to
fail the exam.
4.2.7 Fallacies
“Expert”
• The "expert" fallacy takes only what “experts” say as truth
and not giving credence to other sources who might be
very acceptable, accurate, and valid.
• Example: I saw a study by three university professors
saying there isn’t a need for a revision in our education
system, so I don’t think our system is in trouble.
4.2.7 Fallacies
Faulty Inference
• A faulty inference is a decision or conclusion based on
evidence, logic, and reasoning. A faulty inference is one in
which the information or logical outcome is inaccurate or
wrong.
• Example: I thought we weren’t having school today
because I didn’t see any information about it on Facebook.
4.2.7 Fallacies
Review Questions
1. A fallacy that assumes if one part is true, the whole thing
must be true is what?
2. When a speaker attacks a person rather than their ideas
it is considered to be what?
3. Write a unique example of a hasty generalization.
4.2.7 Fallacies
