1. Giving an Argumentative Speech
How to persuade the listener!

2. The 3 Ps to delivering a persuasive speech
Preparing
Determine the goals
Organize your thoughts into 1-3 major ideas
Presenting
Start out strong
Stick to major points
Close strong
Practicing
Speak in front of a mirror
Do it many times aloud
Deliver the speech P P P

3. What do you want to accomplish in a persuasive speech?
Convince the audience to view an issue as you do
To achieve goals with the support of others

4. Consider the Audience and your goals
Answer the following questions
Who is your audience, and what are you trying to convince them to do?
What is the importance of what you are trying to convince them to do? What will they gain? (WIIFM? – What’s in it for me/them?)
What might make them reluctant to commit or be convinced?
What can you say to alleviate their concerns? What will make them feel better about it?
What “take away” pieces of information do you want them to have when they leave after hearing your speech?

5. Organize thoughts into 1-3 major themes (ideas)
The length of the presentation will depend on how many themes you will present.
Speeches between 3-10 minutes should not have too many points.
Over 10 minutes – prioritize the strongest points to avoid losing the audiences attention

6. Three parts of every good speech
Opening
Summarize what you plan on saying
Body
Cover your main ideas
Conclusion
Summarize what you just said
Make a final, specific appeal

7. Pacing your speech Opening Body Close 5 Minutes 10 Minutes
30 sec – 1 minute
1 minute
Body
1 minute for each point
1-3 minutes each
Close

8. Opening your speech Start Strong Three ways to open that work
First 30 seconds – capture the audience’s attention and support
Three ways to open that work
The goals/issues/summary opening
The question/answer opening
The start with a story opening

9. The goals/issues/summary opening
For example:
There are two reasons I believe that we need to do A; they are B and C
In a clinical situation where depression is a key symptom, exercise is the best, non-invasive intervention
I am running for office for only one purpose, to do X

10. The question-answer opening
Set up argument by rhetorically asking and answering a question about why they should support you.
Why select me for your group leader? There are three reasons. First….
Why should you support the hand-washing initiative? Because it is ….
What are the options that stand before you today?

11. The start with a story opening
Involves telling a story that illuminates (points out) your argument
Great way to stir the audience’s imagination
Keep it short – Less that a minute

12. The Body of your Speech Stick to your major themes (2-3 themes)
Support your ideas with relevant details
At least two

13. Conclusion End Strong Final chance to leave your audience with:
A positive impression
A summary review
A specific reauest

14. Three successful conclusion ways
Summarize the main points
Restate the main idea in a single “take away” sentence
Answer the question of why audiences should care
Summarize what larger vision will happen if the audience is persuaded

15. How to present a great speech
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
Even excellent public speakers have symptoms of nervousness:
Dry mouth
Elevated heart rate
Shaky voice
Shaky knees

16. How to present a great speech
Steps to improve your speech
Accept that you are nervous about public speaking
Practice in front of a mirror, or video yourself –
May find it painful, but it helps immensely
Note what you are doing well and areas of improvement

17. How to present a great speech
Steps to improve your speech
3. Work on only a few improvements at a time.
Slow down
Don’t say “um”
Stop fidgeting
Fix pronunciation of specific words

18. How to present a great speech
Steps to improve your speech
4. Practice in front of friends and/or family
Ask for specific feedback on specific aspects of your speech or delivery
Ask one person to look for one aspect while another pays attention to a different one
If you don’t ask for specific feedback, you will get responses like “sounds fine” or “okay”
This will not help you

19. How to present a great speech
Steps to improve your speech
5. Memorize your opening and closing statements – You will be able to give them eye contact at the important parts

20. Common Presentation Mistakes
Speaking too quickly
People tend to speed up when speaking publically
Write “Slow” and “Breathe” on your notes to give you a time to take a breath or look at the audience
Time your speech and watch how long it has been
Have someone in the back signal you

21. Common Presentation Mistakes
Getting lost in your speech
Use notes and place markers on the notes like
OPENING
FIRST THEME
CLOSING
If you get lost and can’t find it, summarize that point and go on to the next one.

22. Common Presentation Mistakes
Overwhelming your audience with too much information.
Audiences can only remember 3 things in the course of a presentation
Don’t include every reason, just the strongest ones.

23. Common Presentation Mistakes
Using filler words or verbal tics
“Um” or “Like” – used when trying to figure out what to say next
Either have someone listen and count how many times you do this or record yourself
Be silent instead of using these words when you need to think
Gives the listener time to digest what you just said

24. Common Presentation Mistakes
Twitching, fidgeting, hair twirling, or other non- verbal nervous tics
Watch a video or have friends tell you if you do this.
Distracting to the listener
Use your nervous energy productively
Emphasize points by counting with fingers
If appropriate, wave hands to invite the audience in

25. Common Presentation Mistakes
Not ending confidently/trailing off/mumbling endings
Don’t mumble –emphasize
Forcefully say the final word in your sentence
When finished with speech, don’t just end, say
“Thank you for your attention”
“I would welcome any questions”
Stop talking and smile

26. Common Presentation Mistakes
Pronunciation Issues
If you don’t know how to pronounce a word or have trouble
Write out phonetically (fo-net-tic-lee)
Bold those words
Highlight the words
Read text at slightly slower speed
Continue and make eye contact

27. Common Presentation Mistakes
Not making eye contact
Think of a favorite color
Make a point throughout presentation to look out and find that color
Don’t look at faces/just color
Keeps you on track – don’t get distracted by faces
Look close to face – like top button of colored shirt
Audience will not know it is not their eyes

28. Common Presentation Mistakes
Getting psyched out by another speaker
Don’t worry about the other speakers
Do the best you can
Make it compelling
Allow the audience to make the decision, not you!