Introduction to Persuasion
Defining the persuasive speech Attempts to influence attitudes, beliefs, values or behaviors Persuasive speeches advocate alternatives Persuasive speeches seek a response Persuasive speeches respect audience choices
How to decide if you are persuading Your goal is to influence audience attitudes Your goal is to influence an understanding of something Your goal is to influence a behavior Your goal is to reinforce existing beliefs etc. //
The anatomy of an argument Chapter 25
Argument Claim: What you are advocating for Data: Support for accepting that claim Warrant: Reasons why the support is valid
Types of Claims: Value Claims Address whether or not something is: Good or bad Right or wrong Does not address Is something true Or action that should be taken Value claims: claims of judgment: Assisted suicide is an ethical death Policy claims: Advocate a course of action Students should be exempt from parking fees Fact claims: will something happen? Did something happen? Did men land on the moon?
Claims of Fact Is something true: Address two kinds of questions: Did something happen? Will something happen? Address two kinds of questions: Questions for which 2 or more competing answers exist Questions for which answers do not exist (speculative claims of fact).
Considerations There must be two or more controversial, competing answers (no one wants to debate facts that are already proven true). Equal ground for the negative and affirmative Something to persuade the audience about
Samples: The Supreme Court has overemphasized Freedom of the Press The US did not land a man on the moon during the Cold War Bigfoot lives in the Northwest woods
Claims of Value Address issues of judgment Not concerned with proving factual truth Speakers try to show: Something is good/bad Something is better or worse Something is worthy or unworthy
Sample claims of Value Assisted Suicide is an ethical form of death Cake is a more preferable dessert than pie
Claims of Policy Used to recommend a course of action In policy claims, these words are found: Should Ought
Sample policy claims Property taxes should be increased to fund classroom expansion at the city’s elementary schools Full-time commuter students should be granted a parking discount