1. Informational v. Persuasive Speaking

2. What’s the Difference? Informational PersuasiveHumorous

3. Speaking to Inform Can be about –Objects –Processes –Events –Concepts

4. Speaking to Inform: Judging Criteria Is the information communicated accurately? Is the information communicated clearly? Is the information made meaningful and interesting to the audience?

5. Speaking to Persuade The most complex and challenging kind of public speaking

6. Persuasive Speaking Is designed to: – change or reinforce the audience’s –beliefs or actions

7. Persuasive Speaking Tailor your message to the values, attitudes and beliefs of your audience Engage in a one-sided “mental dialogue” with your audience High credibility is important – it portrays competence and character

8. Persuasive Speaking Topics can include: –Questions of fact Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone? Was there really a race to the moon between the Americans and the Russians?

9. Persuasive Speaking Topics can include: –Questions of value George W. Bush is the worst president since, well, George Bush. Should we clone humans?

10. Persuasive Speaking Topics can include: Questions of policy Should VT’s civil union law be changed? Should we cull the VT deer herd by extending the hunting season?

11. Persuasive Speech Structure Describe the problem –Discuss the nature of the problem –Show how the problem affects your audience

12. Persuasive Speech Structure Next, describe the solution –Show how your plan will work –Discuss the advantages of your plan. Hint: use mental dialogue

13. Persuasive Speech Structure Finally, describe the desired audience action –Explain exactly what the audience should do –Describe the benefits of the response you are seeking

14. Persuasive Speech Structure In Summary… –Describe the problem –Describe the solution –Describe the desired audience action

15. Persuasive Speaking Judging Criteria –Is the speaker credible? –Is the evidence convincing? –Is the reasoning sound? –Does the speaker appeal to the audience’s emotions? –Is it clear what the audience was supposed to do

16. Persuasive Speaking Let’s critique an example…