Types of Persuasive Speeches: (claim=thesis statement)

1. Fact claims: assert that something is true or false (e.g smoking kills).

2. Value claims: attach a moral judgment to something (e.g. equal work deserves equal pay).

3. Policy claims: advocate actions to be taken or approved by organizations, institutions, or members of your audience (e.g the U.S. should finance missions to Mars).

Always appeal to the audience. Consider Five Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:

1.  Physiological Needs
These include the most basic needs that are vital to survival, such as the need for water, air, food and sleep. Maslow believed that these needs are the most basic and instinctive needs in the hierarchy because all needs become secondary until these physiological needs are met.

2.  Security Needs
These include needs for safety and security. Security needs are important for survival, but they are not as demanding as the physiological needs. Examples of security needs include a desire for steady employment, health insurance, safe neighborhoods and shelter from the environment.

3.  Social Needs
These include needs for belonging, love and affection. Maslow considered these needs to be less basic than physiological and security needs. Relationships such as friendships, romantic attachments and families help fulfill this need for companionship and acceptance, as does involvement in social, community or religious groups.

4.  Esteem Needs
After the first three needs have been satisfied, esteem needs becomes increasingly important. These include the need for things that reflect on self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition and accomplishment.

5.  Self-actualizing Needs
This is the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Self-actualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others and interested fulfilling their potential.

Include all three rhetorical appeals:

Logos: logical argument; Ethos: credibility and believability of the speaker; Pathos: emotional connection with the audience

Persuasive or Motivational Speech: Organizational Patterns

Organizational Pattern / Description / Example (Not all examples below are persuasive or motivational)

Causal Pattern

/ One main point causes another (cause and effect) / Fast-food restaurants are a significant cause of health problems in the United States
Comparison Pattern / You want to claim that two things are similar or different / There are significant differences between the two candidates for the legislature in our district.
Categorical Pattern / Each main point reflects a different reason that you believe your fact claim is true. / The earth is experiencing global warming.
Criteria-Application Pattern / One point establishes standards for the value judgment you make and the next point applies it to your thesis. / Community service is a valuable part of the college experience. (You would explain what a valuable college experience is and then prove how community service meets those standards)
Problem-Cause-Solution / •Consists of the following three points:
–Present the problem.
–Demonstrate how the existing organizational or institutional policies will not solve it.
–Present a solution to minimize the problem. / The local government should install secure bike racks near heavily used bus stops and train stations. (Problem=parking is scarce and traffic is congested near commuter stops/stations. Cause=Commuters who would take mass transit live more than a mile from the closets stops/stations
Solution=Providing bike racks will encourage alternative means of transportation to and from the stops/stations, opening up parking spaces and alleviating traffic)
Comparative Advantage Format / Persuade listeners that your proposal would be better than the status quo (existing policies), although a policy change is not urgent / Everyone should gradate college with a minor.
Advantage 1: Students can focus on a subject they enjoy.
Advantage 2: Students can strengthen their qualifications in their chosen career.
Advantage 3: Students can open the door to new career possibilities.
Motivated sequence pattern / •Uses the following five steps:
–Attention (creating a willingness to listen to your message)
–Need (identifying a need relevant to your audience)
–Satisfaction (showing how your proposal will fulfill the need you identified)
–Visualization (helping listeners form a mental picture of the benefits of your proposal)
–Action (clarifying what you want the audience to do) / See visual