Description
Touchstone 4: Persuasive Speech Outline
ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will outline a 5–7 minute persuasive speech that you will present on a topic of your choice later in Touchstone 5. The speech can be for any context, but it must be persuasive. Below is a list of example speech occasions and purposes for inspiration, if needed.
Type of Persuasive SpeechPurposeExamplesOf FactPersuade the audience that a certain fact or truth is valid and accurate.
Eating a plant-based diet is healthier than a meat-based diet (or vice versa).
Too much screen time will impact sleep quality.
Renewable energy is more beneficial than nonrenewable energy.
Of ValueConvince the audience that something is right or wrong, moral or immoral, or better or worse than another thing.
The need for honesty and integrity in professional relationships.
The importance of education on personal and societal growth.
The benefits of forgiveness and letting go of grudges in terms of healing.
Of PolicyAdvocate a change or persuade the audience to support a particular course of action or policy.
The benefits or disadvantages of paid parental leave to support working families.
Why you should or shouldn’t drive an electric vehicle.
The benefits or disadvantages of increasing the minimum wage.
To prepare to deliver this persuasive speech on a topic of your choice, you will first create a 3–5 page outline of the main components of your speech.
Download the submission template below, which further breaks down the steps involved in this assignment. You will return the completed template as your Touchstone submission.
- Touchstone 4 Template
Touchstone 4 Sample - In order to foster learning and growth, all work you submit must be original for this course. Any recycled work will be sent back with a 0, and you will be given one attempt to redo the Touchstone.
- Touchstone Support Videos
Organizing Your Persuasive Speech
Persuading Your Audience
A. Directions
Step 1: Select Persuasive Topic/Issue
Your speech should be consistently persuasive in nature. Identify your audience, purpose, and thesis.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
Informative and Persuasive Speeches
- Choosing and Developing a Good Topic
- Definition and Goals of Persuasive Speeches
- The Psychology and Ethics of Persuasion
Step 2: Plan Speech
Plan your speech, considering what your introduction, main points, and conclusion will include. Gather information and evidence to support your main points and thesis. Determine what persuasive strategies you will use (ethos, pathos, and/or logos).
Type of AppealPurposeExampleEthosTo appeal to an audience by establishing one’s credibility or authority on a topicShare professional qualifications, research, or publications relating to your topic to create confidence in you as a speaker.PathosTo appeal to an audience by influencing their emotionsCreate empathy by sharing stories, showing pictures, or using analogies to illustrate a need or an impact.LogosTo appeal to an audience using logic, reasoning, or evidence that supports a claimProvide data, statistics, charts, and tables to support your point.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
Using Appeals in Persuasive Speeches: Pathos
Using Appeals in Persuasive Speeches: Ethos
Using Appeals in Persuasive Speeches: Logos
Step 3: Outline Speech
Using the Touchstone 4 Template, outline your speech, which should include an introduction, body (main points), conclusion, and transitions. Your outline should be 3–5 pages, excluding the reference page.
3a. Develop General Premise
Constructing a presentation will require that you begin by developing your goal and translating it into a general premise you will state to your audience.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
The Speaking and Rough Draft Outlines
3b. Generate Main Points and Organize Strategically
After you have established a premise, you will be able to generate main points to support this claim. Be sure to coherently organize these main points so that the audience can easily follow your flow of ideas. For this touchstone, you should create three to four main points to ensure clarity and timeliness when you deliver your speech in Touchstone 5. Keep main points separate (transitions separate ideas) and balance the time spent on each point.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
Choosing the Main Points
3c. Create an Introduction and Conclusion
After you have developed your main points, you will need to complete the introduction and conclusion. Create the introduction first—the conclusion really reiterates much of what was said in the introduction. The introduction opens the speech and is responsible for getting the audience’s attention, relating the topic to the audience, establishing the speaker’s credibility, and previewing the main points of the presentation. The conclusion should summarize the main points, repeat your thesis, and end with something memorable.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
Establishing Credibility: Topic, Thesis, and Main Points
Introducing the Topic, Thesis, and Main Points
3d. Fill In Transitions
- Prior to delivering your presentation, your final step will be to develop transitions that lead your audience between parts of the presentation and between distinct main ideas. Take the final step of filling in transitions seriously. Transitions play an important role in the success of your speech.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
3e. Incorporate Visual Aids
- Think of an effective way to incorporate at least one visual aid that will be relevant to your purpose and message and will enhance your speech, whether that is in the introduction, the body, the conclusion, or even in a transition.
