Topic (Question):

Attention Getter:

Lead Into Question (Insert Thesis; quote, statistic, analogy, or rhetorical ?, too):

Question:

Answer to Question:

Why is this the answer?

Preview (Insert main points of answer and development):

Main Points

I.

A.

B.

II.

A.

B.

III.

A.

B.

Summary:

Conclusion:

Informative Speech Set-Up

A. Introduction
1. Attention Getter
2. Quote, experience, statistic, rhetorical question, or analogy
 3. Thesis
4. Ask Question
5. Answer Question
6. Tell Why
7. Declare main points
A. Body
Example: Discuss the causes of inflation. (“cause” = why)

1. What is meant by inflation?

2. Why do we have inflation?
3. How does inflation come about?
4. Who causes inflation?
5. When do we have inflation?

What? = Topical—things

Why? = Causal (logical)

How? = Descriptive—reportive—chain of events

Who? = Topical—people

When? = Chronological

Where? = Spatial

A. Conclusion
1. Provide a brief summary of the information presented.
2. Restate the importance or value of the information. (Thesis and such)
3. Close the speech by resolving your attention getter.

Rule of Six
1. Are there any words in the topic which require you to speak on any one of the 6 questions? (Who,
What, Why, When, Where, How) If so, which ones?
2. If #1 doesn’t apply, which questions of the 6 can you raise and answer the best?
3. What information do you wish to use in answering each question selected?
4. Write out the ideas you wish to use in your introduction. (Prepare introduction after preparing body.)
5. Write out the information and ideas you want to use in your conclusion. (Don’t prepare until finished
with intro and body.)

Persuasive Speech

A. Get Attention
1. Specific example, rhetorical question, shocking statement, literary quotation, overwhelming
evidence, or humorous story.
A. Show Nature of Problem
1. Demonstrate Extent of Problem (Use examples, statistics, opinions, and cite your sources)
 2. Demonstrate Effect of Problem (What’s the problem doing to the people involved? Use
examples and facts. Be descriptive, sincere, and forceful.)
3. Demonstrate Causes of Problem (Sometimes there aren’t causes.) Show how effects are
produced.
4. Demonstrate How Existence of Problem Affects the Listeners. (Draw vivid descriptions of
bad conditions and relate them to the listener’s life.)
A. Present The Solution
1. Make clear statement of the best procedure and methods to be used. (Make clear the cost,
time, and number of people the solution will require. Illustrate how similar solutions have worked
elsewhere.)
A. Visualize The Solution
1. Show how the solution will eliminate the causes; reduce or eliminate the symptoms; help
people’ result in great advantages; reduce costs; increase efficiency. (Show audience what’ll
happen to them if the solution isn’t adopted.)
A. Appeal for Audience Action
1. Speak directly to audience and appeal to their motives of—(fair play, desire to save, desire to
be thought of as helpful, desire to be thought of as intelligent, pride in ownership, pride in
community)
2. Ask them to help in the adoption and development of your proposed solution.
A. Conclude
1. Challenge Audience to Do Something
2. Provide Summary of Important Points
3. Indicate Your Own Intention to Do Something
4. Present thesis. (Either here or in Step 2)
5. Resolve attention getter.

Persuasive Organization
I. Attention:

II. Nature of the Problem:

A. Effects:
 B. Extent:

C. Causes:

I. The Solution:

II. Visualization of the Solution:

III. Appeal to Audience for Action:

Informative Transitions
I. Introduction:
1. Opening Remarks—“thus, we find 3 major reasons for the war; the first…

I. Body:
1. 1st Reason (discussion)…..(transition)—“and it was because of these events that the second
major cause developed...”
2. 2nd Reason (discussion)…..(transition)—“When we add this to the first cause, the next
major cause seems inevitable…”

Persuasive Transitions
 I. Attention…..(transition)—“This, in short, is the problem, and detailed examination will
reveal…”
II. Nature of the Problem
A. Causes (discussion)…..(transition)—“In view of such potent forces is it little wonder that
the consequences are…”
B. Effects of the Problem (discussion)….(transition)—“The seriousness of the result is
compounded by the extensive penetration into…”
C. Extent of Problem (discussion)…..(transition)—“With causes so evident and resulting evil
so widespread, need we look far for a solution?”
I. Solution (discussion)….(transition)—“There can be little doubt that this proposal, with
its simplicity and effectiveness, demands your immediate endorsement and speedy
execution…”

Transition Words:
Now, Next, Furthermore, Moreover, Consequently, On the other hand, In greater detail, Let’s
explore this from another point of view, This has resulted in…