Persuasive Speaking

“Thaw with her gentle persuasion is more powerful than Thor with his hammer. The one melts, the other breaks into pieces. “ Henry David Thoreau

How do I create and organize persuasive speeches so that they are more convincing?

Persuasive Speaking: Day 2

“The Problem with Pennies”

Problem, Plan and Practicality

Sample Speech: “The Problem With Pennies”by Susan Ingraham

• Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that pennies should be eliminated from the United States money supply.

• Central Idea: Because Pennies cause problems for individuals, businesses, and the economy as a whole, they should be eliminated from the U.S. money system.

Introduction: CARRPAttention: quote with a twist to raise curiosityReveal Topic: pennies… “age of the penny is over”Relate to Audience: “most of you say”…putting

questions in their mouths—”what would we do without pennies?”

Credibility: personal: “I had the same questions when I started work on

this speech.” expert: “as a result of my research I’m convinced”

Preview: “the use of pennies is a costly problem and we can get along fine without them.”

Pattern of Organization?I. Pennies cause serious

problems for individuals, businesses and the national economy.

[Note the internal preview]

II. The federal government should eliminate pennies from the money supply.

III. Problem - Solution

Problem Issue DevelopmentPennies are a nuisance for individuals. [class

survey, U.S. Mint Survey, example of Noel Gunther from the L.A. Times]

Problem Issue DevelopmentPennies are a nuisance for businesses too.

[Fortune magazine, National Association of Convenience Stores]

Problem Issue DevelopmentPennies are a nuisance for the nation. [stats and

testimony from the Treasury Dept., from the U.S. Mint, from U.S. News and World Report]

Plan IssueFirst step is for the federal government to legalize

and standardize rounding off purchases to the nearest nickel.

The next step is to round the sales tax off to the nearest nickel.

The third step is for the mint to stop making pennies.

The fourth step is for people to cash in their pennies removing them from the money supply.

Practicality Issue--mixed in with the Plan Rounding off purchases: would not cause increased cost

to consumers.Rounding off sales tax: again, no increased cost; it is like

rounding off to the nearest dollar on your income tax return.

Stop minting: this will save $80 million a year.

More PracticalitySuch a plan has worked in the U.S. before; in 1857 we

eliminated the half-penny. We already practice this plan through the "Leave a

Penny, Take a Penny" dishes at check-out counters.

How do I organize persuasive speeches so that they are more convincing?

Persuasive Speaking

New Patterns for Persuasive Speeches

Problem-Solution

Problem-Cause-Solution

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

Comparative Advantages

Problem-Solution: Strategic Benefit

This is a powerful choice.Something is wrong. [You make us care.]We can fix it! [You show us what can be done and how we

can help.]Using your Analysis

I. Problem = Problem/NeedII. Solution = Plan and Practicality

Problem-Cause-SolutionProblem-Cause-SolutionProblem-Cause-Solution is even stronger than

Problem-Solution.If you can isolate the causes and your plan addresses

those causes it has built-in practicality impact.Using your analysis

I. Problem = Problem/NeedII. Cause = Problem/NeedIII. Solution = Plan and Practicality

Putting the Brakes on Teenage Driving Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that the

age for full driving privileges should be raised to 18.Central Idea: Because teens are not developmentally

ready to drive, raising the age for full driving privileges to 18 will help reduce the large number of accidents and deaths among teens.

I. There are too many car accidents, injuries and deaths involving teenage drivers.

II. There are 4 main causes.A. Inexperience (but we will always have that)B. Undeveloped brainsC. Night drivingD. Distracted by passengers

III. My solution has 3 parts. A. Change ages of licensing (responds to brains issue).

B. Restrict nighttime driving. (responds to nights arg.).

C. Restrict the number of passengers. (responds to concern about passenger distractions).

Monroe’s Motivated SequenceMonroe’s Motivated SequenceAttentionNeedSatisfactionVisualizationAction

Monroe’s Motivated Strategic BenefitMonroe’s Motivated Strategic BenefitThe pattern of choice for immediate action speeches.Using Your Analysis

Attention = Gain Attention in IntroductionNeed = ProblemSatisfaction = PlanVisualization = PracticalityAction = Call to Action in Conclusion

Outline in Workbook Attention—story in introNeed—Problem issue developed

35,000 people need bone marrow transplantProcess is used to treat many diseases70% of people who need it have no family match to try.1 in 9 people in need find no match

SatisfactionIowa Marrow Donor Program

Two donor drives in Nov. and DecemberYou can join right here in Ames

Process of becoming a Marrow Donor is simple.Increasing the number of people in the registry will help

solve the problem.Visualization

Jessica’s story [U of I student had a need]Scott’s story [Urbandale man became a donor and saved a

life]Action

Get registered“take time to become a hero”

Comparative AdvantagesComparative AdvantagesFor use only when the audience

already agrees that there is a problem that needs to be solved.

The main points are used to discuss the Practicality of each possible plan.

It is essentially a process of elimination structure.

Comparative Advantages: Using Your AnalysisComparative Advantages: Using Your Analysis

Intro sets out the Problem: In the Intro do CARRP but also review the Problem

Gas prices have risen sharplyReview statsReview percentage of budget for drivers

Be sure to include a very clear PreviewThere are three possible ways to solve this problem, but

only one can really work. Today I will argue that the government should invest its resources to develop alternate fuel technology.

First part of the BodyI. Some argue that we should increase our refining capacity.

A. It has been proposed. [describe the Plan]B. This won't work. [Practicality]

II. Some argue that we should increase drilling in the U.S. A. Proposals for more drilling in Alaska and offshore have been

made. [Plan]B. This won't work. [Practicality]

Internal Summary/Transition: We all agree that we must take action to deal with the current fuel shortage and high prices. Increasing refining capacity and new domestic drilling projects have been proposed, but they won’t solve the problem. Instead, what we must do is….

III. The government should invest its resources in alternative fuel technologies.

A. Specifics of the Plan are covered. B. It will work and will solve our energy crisis. [Practicality]

Conclusion: Call to "action."

Alternative Comparative Advantages format

Each Main point looks at 2 plans to compare them on one practicality point.

Alternative Comparative Advantages format

I. Investing in alternative fuel technologies is a better plan than investing in new refineries because it is the most long term solution for our energy needs.

II. Investing in alternative fuel technologies is a better plan than investing in new refineries because it is more ecologically sound.

III. Investing in alternative fuel technologies is a better plan than investing in new refineries because such investment will have the best impact on the national economy.

New Patterns for Persuasive Speeches

Problem-Solution

Problem-Cause-Solution

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

Comparative Advantages

Practice

1. What pattern of organization is being used in the following?

I. Alcohol-related traffic accidents kill more college age people than any other single problem.

II. Drinking and driving is a social problem that is caused by peer pressure, inconsistent laws, and irresponsible actions.

III. You can help combat this problem by taking three simple steps.

2. What pattern of organization is being used in the following?

I. This nation faces a serious crisis of voter apathy.II. You must register, study and vote to contribute

positively to the process.III. You must act because in a nation where everyone

votes responsibly we would achieve the vision of intelligent discussion of issues and candidates who are held accountable.

3. What pattern of organization is being used in the following?I. Lax security in the ISU dorms threatens the safety

of undergraduates.II. Keeping residence hall entrances locked 24-hours

a day will make ISU students safer.

4. What pattern of organization is being used in the following?

I. We could escape the state budget deficit by cutting funding for state services and for state universities.

II. We could escape the state budget deficit by reducing pay to all state employees through furloughs.

III. The best way to escape the state budget deficit is through raising the state’s income taxes.

5. What are the three issues with which every persuasive speech of policy must deal? (The three things we explore in our analysis of a persuasive issue.)

End

Another example of Monroe’s motivated Sequence. Analysis of “The Ultimate Gift” (T. pp. A15-A17)ATTENTION STEPATTENTION STEP

In the IntroductionRhetorical questions; you are not donating blood.

NEED STEPAmerican Red Cross Web pages say we need 3,000

gallons of blood every hour.Brooke needs bloodOnly one in 20 of those who could donate actually

donate.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in ActionSATISFACTION

Everyone can be part of the solution by giving blood.The process of blood donation is simple.I was scared the first time, but it was not painful and it

was safe.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in Action

VISUALIZATIONEvery unit of blood you donate can help save three lives.You can help many people—imagine helping to save 180

lives over the next decade!ACTION

Become a blood donorLots of motivational appeals

Small price in timeThere is a shortage; Brooke needs youGo do it!