Persuasive Speech: Meaning, Features & How to Write it SS1 English Studies Lesson Note

SPOKEN ENGLISH: SPEAKING TO PERSUADE 

Persuasive Speech

A persuasive speech is meant to arouse the interest of your target audience if properly handled. For your persuasive speech to be effective, you should consider the following:

1. Audience: Bear in mind that your audience is the people you are persuading to join you and do what you want. You should know who they are, their mood, attitudes and background. You must create a good rapport with them. You should be bold and confident when delivering your speech. Since your motive is to stir them to action, you should avoid being too informal.

2. Tone: Find out whether your speech is casual, emotional or serious. This will help you to choose a suitable language for the speech. An informal or casual speech would require slang or informal expressions, but a formal or serious speech would require formal language. So you should use the appropriate type for any speech.

3. Length: You should take cognizance of the time allotted to your speech. This is why adequate preparation is necessary. You should not be sluggish while delivering your speech. At the same time, do not rush it. Be conscious of speaking and concluding within the time allotted for your speech.

4. Rhythm: Your speech is meant to arouse the interest of your audience into action; therefore, it is necessary to employ a rhythmic pattern. This will make your speech memorable, interesting and action-oriented.

Guidelines On Writing A Persuasive Speech:

The following guidelines will help you write a beautiful persuasive speech.

1. Introduction: Here, describe your topic clearly, including the background information needed for understanding it.
2. Declare Your Stand: You should make your stand known in a clear, concise and direct sentence.
3. Maintain Your Stand: This is where you present your opinion, facts, and evidence; and maintain a very strong stand to win your audience to your side.
4. Draw Your Conclusion: Always end your speech by unambiguously summarizing your ideas as this will usher in a clear call to action since a well-concluded persuasive speech undoubtedly rouses the audience to action.
5. Analysis: At the end of writing the speech, you should analyze it to ensure effectiveness. The following points will help you in your analysis:
6. Purpose: Try to identify the main points of speech.
7. Credibility: Make sure that ideas and arguments are well-supported and believable.

iii. Appropriateness: Find out whether the language and ideas are appropriate for the given audience and occasion.

1. Coherence: All the ideas must be connected, intelligible, logical and consistent.
2. Interest: Find out if the ideas arrest your attention.
3. Variety: Ensure that your speech includes anecdotes, opinions and facts.

ASSIGNMENT 

Your fellow students are about to stage a demonstration over an increase in school fees. As a head boy/girl of your school, write a speech you will deliver during your interaction with the students over the issue.