How to Develop Persuasive Speech Topics

The most difficult type of speech to develop is the persuasive speech. Many people find it difficult because they do not want to offend or impose their views on others. However, if you present your speech to either a class or a business, you want to be bold and present your view and to encourage others to adopt it.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Preparation

1. Determine if your speech discusses fact, value or policy. In a fact-based discussion, you attempt to persuade your audience of your interpretation of those facts. Value speeches challenge people to consider a different viewpoint of what is important. Policy-based speeches encourage the audience to take a stance on how to deal with an issue.

2. Write out a specific purpose statement. It should follow this format, "After my speech, I want my audience to ____________." This statement guides you through the development of the speech.

3. Decide how you want to organize your speech. You might organize it by problem-solution, cause-effect or topical patterns.

4. Understand who makes up your audience. For example, you would approach a speech about Social Security differently with a group of senior citizens than you would with a group of college students.

Introduction

1. Create an interesting hook for your speech. A good hook catches your audience's attention and links directly to your topic. Good ideas for hooks include stories, illustrations, questions and poems.

2. Introduce your topic. A good topic sentence contains active language.

3. Tell your audience why they should care. Provide the reason why the topic pertains to them.

4. Establish your credibility. Explain why they should listen to you.

5. Preview your main points. Give your audience a checklist of what you will discuss.

6. Transition from your introduction to your body. A good transition focuses your audience's attention to the main point of your speech.

Body

1. Introduce your main point. Let your audience know what you plan to prove in this main point.

2. Provide statistics, illustrations, stories, case studies and other evidence that supports your claim about this main point.

3. Transition from main point to main point, reminding your audience what you just spoke about and what you will discuss next.

Conclusion

1. Summarize your main points. Review with your audience what you spoke about.

2. Develop a creative way to end your speech. Mirroring your hook reinforces your speech. For example, if you opened with a question, end your speech with the answer. Make an appeal to your audience to agree with you.

3. Avoid closing your speech with "That's it" or "I'm done." Studies show that most audiences remember the closing more than any other part of the speech. These statements weaken your speech.

Tips & Warnings

• Repeat this section for each main point.

• When introducing your topic, avoid saying "I am going to talk about..." or "My speech is on..."