Persuasive Speaking

Persuasive Speaking

Ms Nitsche

Learning IntentionsWe will learn to:•Explore speeches and persuasive writing, looking at what makes them effective.•Understand the range of techniques employed by speech writers.

Why?•Speaking and writing persuasively is a skill you will need in the next few years at school, and in the outside world.•You will be expected to contribute effectively to group discussions and give a solo talk at some point, which will be a part of your overall grade.•At job interviews, being able to persuade the interviewer of your skills and abilities could be the difference between snagging that dream job, and going home empty handed.

What makes a great speech?• Watch the following examples of speeches, and consider the

following:-Were they effective? Why?- Did we agree with the speaker’s point

of view?- If so, why?- What do you notice about the TONE used?- Can you think of any TECHNIQUES they

used to engage or persuade us?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYaczoJMRhs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faTovfkLayI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYaczoJMRhs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faTovfkLayI

As a group, discuss and note down responses to the following:

• Were they effective? Why?• Did we agree with the speaker’s point of view?• If so, why?• What do you notice about the TONE used?• Can you think of any TECHNIQUES they used

to engage or persuade us?

Joss Whedon Matt Santos

Techniques

• What kind of techniques did the speakers use to engage us, or persuade us?

AFOREST

• A: Alliteration, antithesis and appeal to audience directly.

• F: Facts, first person.• O: Opinion, opposition needs to be criticised.• R: Rhetorical question, repetition, reasons,

reader’s guilt/sympathy.• E: Emotive Language.• S: Statistics, strong voice, sarcasm, short

sentences.• T: The Power of Three, threaten action.

Alliteration

• “…will defend to the death their native soil.”- Winston Churchill

EffectThe hard ‘d’ sound both focuses the listener on these important

words, but also sounds strong and confident.

Other examplesBold, brave sounds.Faint, falling sounds.

Cacophanous, chaotic sounds.

AntithesisAntithesis joins two ideas together in comparison or contrast.

“I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king…”

Appeal to the reader/listener directly

• Using the second person involves the listener in our speech.

• “…it is both our responsibility and our privilege to fight freedom’s fight.”

• “… every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. “

Facts

• Using facts allows people to feel they can trust the speaker – that they are reacting to a real situation.

“Today, for the first time in history, one in five Americans living in poverty are children. One in five children live in the most abject, dangerous, hopeless, backbreaking, gut wrenching, poverty, one in five, and they're children.”

First PersonThe use of first person make the speech personal – as if the speaker is making a personal appeal to the listener.

“I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.”

OpinionsUsing your opinion gives your point of view, and, again, helps to make the speech seem personal.

“…which I do not for a moment believe…”

Repetition

• People remember things that are repeated.

• Here are two examples of repetition used to great effect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V57lotnKGF8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKIu0tjaL78



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKIu0tjaL78

ReasonsIt is vital in a speech that you justify your actions.

“Over the past decade, the number claiming Disability Living Allowance as a whole shot up from 2.5 million to 3.2 million… And incredibly, half of new claimants never had to provide medical evidence. When you know, as I do, how much help genuinely disabled people need, then you can’t just ignore it when the system isn’t working properly… So we’re bringing in a system that’s fairer and simpler.”

Reader’s Guilt/SympathyThis appeals to the reader, or listener’s, emotions. You want your audience

to react with feeling.

“Today for the first time in history, the largest group of Americans living in poverty are children. 1 in 5 children live in the most abject, dangerous, hopeless, back-breaking, gut-wrenching poverty any of us could imagine. 1 in 5, and they're children… Let me put it this way: I voted against the bill because I didn't want to make it harder for people to buy milk.”

Emotive LanguageThis appeals to the listener’s emotions, and, again, is about wanting them


“…and it is both our responsibility and our privilege to fight freedom’s fight.”

Strong Voice

A speech is PERSUASIVE – you must show that you are strong and know what you are doing.

“Now is not the time for a novice.”

The Power of Three

• Saying something THREE times makes it incredibly memorable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kAhChC_qxU

Despite becoming almost notorious for his involvement in the beginning of the war in Iraq, this is still the most famous quote of

Tony Blair’s career.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kAhChC_qxU

Threaten Action

• This stirs the audience into action, and makes the speaker seem strong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXoLaMhx-zI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXoLaMhx-zI

Task

• Using AT LEAST THREE of these techniques, you are going persuade you partner of something.

• One of you will persuade the other that MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.

• The second person will persuade the other that MONEY IS ESSENTIAL FOR HUMANITY TO SURVIVE.

• You have two minutes to prepare some arguments and notes to support your speech.

Some things to consider…







Task

• Using AT LEAST THREE of these techniques, you are going persuade you partner of something.

• One of you will persuade the other that MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.

• The second person will persuade the other that MONEY IS ESSENTIAL FOR HUMANITY TO SURVIVE.

• You have two minutes to prepare some arguments and notes to support your speech.

• You then have two minutes EACH to persuade the other of your point of view.

• REMEMBER YOUR TECHNIQUES!

Starter

• What is antithesis, and can you give an example of it?

Learning Intentions

• To develop our understanding of the persuasive techniques used in speeches.

• To explore how we can use these techniques to persuade others.

AFOREST

AFOREST


Alliteration, antithesis and appeal to audience directly.

• Good men are gruff and grumpy, cranky, crabbed, and cross

• “One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.”

• “… every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. “

AFOREST


• F: Facts, first person.

Facts and First Person

• More people voted in the final of American Idol than in the American Presidential Election.

• “I have a dream that my four little children…”

AFOREST


• F: Facts, first person.• O: Opinion, opposition needs to be

criticised.

Opinion and Opposition Criticism• Fox hunting is disgusting and barbarous.• Plastic surgery should be free on the

NHS to make ugly people easier on the eye.

• “Actually, what we are finding out now is that the Labour leadership is so cynical, so blinded by hatred for Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems that they are not even willing to go along with what you would you would regard as the core principles of their party…”

AFOREST



criticised.• R: Rhetorical question, repetition, reasons,

reader’s guilt/sympathy.

Rhetorical Questions

Would anyone in their right mind queue for 12 hours to sing for half a minute on T.V.?

Who wouldn’t have a shot at international fame and glory after singing for half a minute on T.V.?

Repetition

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never surrender.

ReasonsIt is vital in a speech that you justify your actions.

“Over the past decade, the number claiming Disability Living Allowance as a whole shot up from 2.5 million to 3.2 million… And incredibly, half of new claimants never had to provide medical evidence. When you know, as I do, how much help genuinely disabled people need, then you can’t just ignore it when the system isn’t working properly… So we’re bringing in a system that’s fairer and simpler.”

Reader’s Guilt/SympathyThis appeals to the reader, or listener’s, emotions. You want your audience


“Today for the first time in history, the largest group of Americans living in poverty are children. 1 in 5 children live in the most abject, dangerous, hopeless, back-breaking, gut-wrenching poverty any of us could imagine. 1 in 5, and they're children… Let me put it this way: I voted against the bill because I didn't want to make it harder for people to buy milk.”

AFOREST



criticised.• R: Rhetorical question, repetition, reasons,

reader’s guilt/sympathy.• E: Emotive Language.

Emotive Language

AFOREST




sentences.

STATISTICS

Kills 99.99% of all germs

9 out 10 cats prefer Whiskas

Strong Voice

“In this room, when the President stands, nobody sits.”

Short Sentences

“I have a dream.”

AFOREST




sentences.• T: The Power of Three, threaten action.

The Power of Three

The good, the bad and the ugly

Big, bold and beautiful

“Education, education, education…”

Threaten Action

• “I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people. Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment...”

Nuclear war is destroying the world. There are

bunkers positioned in key areas which guarantee

survival.

Space within these bunkers is severely limited. There is only space for three more

people in your nearest bunker... But there are four

people in your group.

If you are left outside the bunker you risk

the chance of a painful death

DOCTOR

ENGINEER

SOLDIER

MUSICIAN

.

You need to persuade the other people in your bunker to let you in.

BUT you should also persuade the other people in your bunker who they should keep

OUT.

SOLDIER

Civilisation as we know it is over. Who makes the rules now? Who is in charge? It’s times like these that the worst part of human nature kicks in. Self preservation. Survival of the fittest. Out there, as soon as the last bomb falls, it will be war. Pure, unadulterated terror and blood shed.

SOLDIER

You need someone skilled in the art of survival. I am a strategist, a survivor, a saviour. Your saviour. When rival gangs start fighting to the death for superiority, you will need someone who can find you a path through the storm. Someone who can keep you safe and isn’t afraid of fighting to survive. That person is me.

SOLDIER

And yet what need do you have for musicians? What musical instruments do you possibly imagine could have survived this nuclear war? And even if a half broken fiddle is found among the wreckage, what purpose will it serve for us? This is not a time for harmonies or harmonicas. This is a time for survival. Keep the musician out!

Task• You have FIVE MINUTES to prepare your notes

individually.

• You must use AT LEAST FOUR of the persuasive techniques we have discussed.

• If you do not use AT LEAST FOUR of the techniques discussed, your place in the bunker is automatically forfeited to one of the other members of your group.

• After completing your notes, you have TWO MINUTES EACH to persuade the others to let you take the last place in the bunker.

Task

• Who won?

• In your groups, discuss who you believe best used persuasive techniques in their speech.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES

Starter

• Name and give examples of THREE persuasive techniques.

Learning Intentions

• To develop our understanding of the persuasive techniques used in speeches.

• To explore how we can use these techniques to persuade others.

Analysing Speeches

• Watch the following extract from Barack Obama’s speech in June 2008.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtL-1V3OZ0c

• Looking over the transcript, in pairs discuss and identify the persuasive techniques used.

YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtL-1V3OZ0c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtL-1V3OZ0c

So it has been for every generation that faced down the greatest challenges and the most improbable odds to leave their children a world that's better, and kinder, and more just.

And so it must be for us.

America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.

The journey will be difficult. The road will be long. I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people. Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment...

When we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth.

This was the moment — this was the time — when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals. Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

Task

• You are going to prepare a speech to perform to your partner.

• You should use as many persuasive techniques as you can, and no less than FIVE.

• You should take time to prepare notes and practice your speech – DO NOT JUST READ FROM YOUR PAPER.

Are TV talent shows destroying the music business?

• One of you will try to persuade the other that they ARE.

• The other will try to persuade that they ARE NOT.

• Remember, use NO LESS THAN FIVE persuasive techniques

YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR NOTES

Persuasive Speech

• You are going to perform your own persuasive speech to your peers.

• This should last around three minutes and use at least FIVE of the persuasive techniques we have discussed.

• It should be about a subject you genuinely care about – if you are not interested, no one else will be!

• Use the remaining time to consider and decide upon a topic – here are some examples.

Persuasive Speech

• You are trying to persuade the listener to accept your view on a particular topic.

• Support what you say with evidence – facts, statistics.

• It might be sensible to acknowledge opposing views, but ensure you have a strong counter argument.

• You can also use ‘attitude markers’ - e.g. “clearly”, “obviously”, “surely”, etc. – to show your commitment to your argument.

Researching a Speech

• Every successful speech is well-prepared and well-researched.

• Any argument you make to persuade us will be much stronger if you can support it with evidence and the persuasive techniques.

• Use this time to research your topic and gather notes.

YOU HAVE THIRTY MINUTES

Persuasive Speech

• You are going to perform your own persuasive speech to your peers.

• This should last around three minutes and use at least FIVE of the persuasive techniques we have discussed.

• It should be about a subject you genuinely care about – if you are not interested, no one else will be!

• Use the remaining time to consider and decide upon a topic – here are some examples.

Persuasive Speech

• You are trying to persuade the listener to accept your view on a particular topic.

• Support what you say with evidence – facts, statistics.

• It is sensible to acknowledge opposing views, but ensure you have a strong counter argument.

• You can also use ‘attitude markers’ - e.g. “clearly”, “obviously”, “surely”, etc. – to show your commitment to your argument.

What makes a great speech?

Success Criteria• Ideas are relevant, of quality and interest.• Links ideas together clearly and to the purpose of the

task.• Provides ideas and evidence in support of argument.• Uses varied and accurate vocabulary.• Uses a range of structure – long/short sentences;

persuasive techniques; intonation to convey meaning.• Is consistently audible, clear and fluent.• Makes appropriate use of eye contact, facial expression

and gesture.• Requires little or no prompting.• Sustains talk at considerable length, as appropriate to

purpose.

Speech Writing

• You will now write your speech.

• You should include AT LEAST FIVE persuasive techniques.

• You should make your own point of view clear.

• Read your speech aloud as you go along – remember, you need to be able to perform without reading only from your notes, and it must be ARTICULATE and FLUENT.

Homework

• You should finish your speech tonight, and practice it ready for tomorrow.

• You should be able to speak clearly and fluently, using your notes only as a PROMPT.

• It is vital you practice it aloud – only then will you be able to know if it needs work or not.

Documents

Persuasive Speaking