1. Persuasive Speechwriting
Basic Forensics

2. Essential Understandings
Our audience and purpose help determine our writing mode.
Writers manipulate style and voice to influence meaning and persuade audiences.
Effective speaking skills allow us to accurately share information, ideas, and change minds.
Essential Understandings

3. Why do we write persuasively?
To argue or debate
To call to action
To comment on an issue
To convince
Why do we write persuasively?

4. Often found…. In public meetings
In newspapers—editorials and letters to the editor
On TV news shows (Meet the Press, Crossfire)
In political debates/speeches
To be used by people arguing for humanitarian causes
Often found….

5. Develop a two minute persuasive commentary speech on an issue that is important to you. You must research the issue and include facts, quotes and/or statistics, but you are encouraged to use an outline or notes to present your speech, rather than a script.
Your assignment….

6. Critical Features Attention Grabber
Thesis Statement (Assertion and Roadmap)
Transition words (AKA signposting)
Examples, data, evidence
Conclusion that restates and calls to action
Critical Features

7. Topic sentence in your speech—the first words you will speak to the audience.
One of four techniques:
Question
Interesting fact or statistic
Quote
Anecdote
For this assignment, you are required to use either a quote or an anecdote.
Attention Grabbers

8. Attention Grabber: the anecdote
See “How a US Citizen Came to be in America’s Cross Hairs”
NYT article
Attention Grabber: the anecdote

9. Attention Grabber: the quote
According to the United States’ Declaration of Independence, American citizens are granted certain inalienable rights, including “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Additionally, American citizens are granted the right of a fair trial. It has recently come to light that American citizens, perceived as terrorists, are being killed by US-government controlled drones without a fair trial.
Attention Grabber: the quote

10. Thesis Statement (Roadmap)
Second half of the speech’s introduction.
Provides a clear path for the audience to follow for the body of the speech.
Uses transitional language.
Contains at least two to three main points.
Thesis Statement (Roadmap)

11. Thesis statement example
According to the United States’ Declaration of Independence, American citizens are granted certain inalienable rights, including “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Additionally, American citizens are granted the right of a fair trial. It has recently come to light that American citizens, perceived as terrorists, are being killed by US-government controlled drones without a fair trial. Today, I will explain why I believe the use of drones by the US government as a means of law enforcement is wrong. My first main point is that it is unconstitutional. My second main point is that it violates Americans’ reasonable expectations of privacy.
Thesis statement example

12. Transitional Language
Transitions are words that tie two ideas together.
Very important in speaking—why?
Previews main ideas for audience
Keeps audience on track (signposting)
Transitional Language

13. Group Writing Assignment
Topic: Later school start times for high school.
Write an introductory paragraph that uses an anecdote to grab the audience’s attention.
Develop two main points for the topic.
Write a thesis statement using transitions to preview your main points.
Group Writing Assignment

14. Main Points (the body) Organized according to your thesis statement
Chronologically (by time)
Importance
Usually contains a reasoning statement
Unmanned drones should be eliminated because…
Contain evidence
Facts
Numbers/statistics
Quotes from reliable sources
Main Points (the body)

15. Main points for drone speech
Introduction (attention grabber/thesis statement)
Main Points
Unconstitutional
Invades privacy
Conclusion
Main points for drone speech

16. Government Surveillance: Good or bad?
Read Upfront, pg. 6, “Watching You” and watch the video.
Choose a side on this issue: pro or con?
Develop one main point for your side.
Use the article to select three pieces of evidence that supports your main point.
List your main points and evidence on a sheet of paper.
Government Surveillance: Good or bad?

17. Conclusion Serves three functions: Repeat thesis statement (road map)
Reinforce the importance of your issue
Call audience to action
Conclusion

18. In conclusion, our country is on a dangerous path with the use of drones as a means of law enforcement. They are undermining the very foundational principles that the United States was built upon. Additionally, they invade the privacy of American citizens and destroy their expectation of peace and happiness. I urge you to research this issue and support my view that they are dangerous tools and should be reserved for only the most threatening situations.
Conclusion Example

19. Commentary Speech Topic: any current event or timely issue.
Must be appropriate for school
Have topic approved before beginning research
Must use an anecdote or quote as attention grabber.
Must cite at least two outside sources in main points.
2 minutes maximum time
Commentary Speech

20. Organizing for time 15 second introduction (AG + T/RM)
1 min, 30 second for main points
15 second conclusion (restate/reinforce/call to action)
Organizing for time