Speaking to Persuade

Persuasion

PersuasionDefinition: the communication process of

changing a listener’s beliefs or moving a listener to actionSome people are easily persuaded, while some

are not

Persuasive speaking includes:Selecting a persuasive topicAdapting to your audienceMaking yourself believable (credibility)Using reasoning (win over your listeners)Organizing a persuasive speech

Ethical IssueEthics – the decisions that have to do with

questions of right and wrongUNETHICAL SPEAKERS

Tempted to only discuss one side of an issue in order to persuade

Ignore or avoid information that does not support your point of view

ETHICAL SPEAKERSConsider both sidesAcknowledge valid points on opposing sideArgue that your position is still stronger

ACTIVITY TIME!What would you REALLY do? (Not what you

think you should do!)

1. You are walking down the street behind someone who is eating from a fast food bag. He finishes eating and tosses the bag onto the sidewalk and keeps walking.

2. You are not doing well in a certain class and need to pass the class to graduate. You go in after school to turn in some late work. The teacher is not there, the room is empty, and the test that will be given tomorrow is on the teacher’s desk.

3. You are romantically interested in someone who hasn’t paid very much attention to you, but you still have high hopes. Three weeks before Homecoming, a friend asks you to go with him/her.

4. Two kids for whom you babysit (ages 5 and 7) have begun to use racial and ethnic slurs in their everyday speech.

5. Your mother tells you that she isn’t happy anymore and has fallen in love with someone else. She tells you she plans to leave your father after the holidays.

Adapting to your audienceAll humans have the same basic needs

Figure out which needs you should appeal toAppeal to your audiences emotions

Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsPhysical – food, clothing, shelterSafety – security and protection for self and loved onesBelonging – affection and feeling of belonging to

family and friendsSelf-Esteem – need and desire to feel good about

yourself; accomplishments, helping othersSelf-Actualization – need to be the best person you can

be

Make yourself believableESABLISH YOUR CREDIBILITY

Knowledge of the topic –a MUSTConnection to the topic – for you and your

audienceInterest in the topic – use your voice and

gestures to sound and appear enthusiastic rather than bored

ReasoningUse credible evidence to support your ideas

(recall the lesson on finding quality information)

What is wrong with the following two statements?“There are 32 reasons why this school needs a swimming pool. I don’t have time to list them, but I hope you will support the swimming pool campaign.”

“Senior citizens are lonely. We need to create a new senior-citizen center in town.”

Two Types of ReasoningInductive Reasoning: using specific pieces of

information to reach a general conclusion. Ask the following questions:

1. Are there enough examples?2. Are the examples typical?3. Are there important exceptions or special cases

Examine the following examples:“14 children in our school received state writing

awards. Our school trains good writers.”“In our class, Sam, Brent, and Kimberly have the

chicken pox. Chicken pox is becoming an epidemic in our school.

“I met 5 unfriendly people in Lewistown. Lewistown is a very unfriendly town.”

Two Types of Reasoning (cont.)Deductive Reasoning: using a general idea to

reach conclusions about specific instances. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is the general statement true?2. Is the specific statement true?3. Does the specific example apply to the general

statement?Examine the following examples:

“ People in Advanced Algebra are smart. Tom is in Advanced Algebra. Tom must be an excellent student.”

“Debaters like to argue. Sherry is a good debater. Let’s ask Sherry to argue for an extension on the test.”

Faulty ReasoningFaulty reasoning –incorrect information or poor

evidenceAs audience members, you need to be able to

recognize these

Emotional appeal – stressing emotion over logic“If we don’t play games in class, we will all get cancer.”

Glittering generalities – vague statements“Women are bad drivers.”“Mary Alexander is an excellent mother. She should be

the PTO president.”

Faulty Reasoning (cont.)Card stacking – giving many examples or reasons

without explaining them carefully.“Join the speech team! You will make friends, learn new

skills, get to know the teachers, and become smarter! Sign up today”

Bandwagon appeal – suggesting the audience do something because everyone else is doing it. “You should not go to the meeting. No one else is.”

Unrelated testimonials – linking things that are not relatedLebron James states, “You should eat Cookie Crisp cereal!”

Name calling – attacking a person/people rather than the idea“You are an idiot if you don’t vote for Kanye West for

president.”

Organizing a persuasive speechMonroe’s motivated sequence – when you

want to sell something or want your audience to take a specific action1. Attention – grab audiences attention in

introduction2. Need – show your audience there is serious

problem that needs attention3. Satisfaction – present a solution to the problem

and show how it will work4. Visualization – paint a picture of results (either

positive or negative)5. Action – specifically tell your audience what they

can do

Organizing (cont.)Problem-Solution – show that a problem

exists, then present a solutionMain points of speech will be “A. Problem” and “B.

Solution”

Be specific with your solution or call to action: What can the audience really do? Ask, but do NOT pressure!Sign a petition?Raise hands in support?Donate to a cause?Make a phone call or write a letter?

Activity -ApplicationIn a group of 3-4, come up with brief

television commercial to present to the class. Use Monroe’s Motivated sequence to organize your speech.

Examples: Buying a certain brand of a productExercising at a specific gym Donating to a charityVoting for a certain person