Example Brainstorming Worksheet for Persuasive Speeches

Topic: Students should NOT be allowed to text during class.

Brainstorming: (Divide this into arguments and counterarguments; list as many as you can.)
My arguments:
Disrespectful to the teacher
Students isnt engaged in the lesson
Students cannot multi-task
It could promote cheating during exams
Leads to a decrease in student participation
Student will miss important notes and lecture
You shouldnt distract your peers in class by texting them
It distracts the teacher
Students are never fully present
Counterarguments:

It only takes a few seconds to text

We should be allowed to communicate with family members only
We could text during our own work time; its our choice.

Choose three STRONGEST arguments (from list above):

1 Disrespectful to the teacher
2 Could promote cheating
3 Students cannot multi-task
Choose ONE opposing argument:
It only takes a few seconds to text
Develop Arguments: Elaborate with DETAILS and EXAMPLES on your top three arguments
and your opposing argument.
Effective Introduction: Your phone makes that familiar beep, the singular noise that reminds you
someone is thinking of you. You just have to see who it is. What if its your boyfriend? What if
its the answer from a friend that youve been waiting for since 10 whole minutes ago? You look
up to see if the coast is clear and notice that your teacher has her head down, glancing over her
lecture notes. Perfect. You stealthily pull the phone from your pocket and your right thumb glides
over the smooth screen and rapidly goes to work. Just then, you hear your teachers voice
interrupt the moment, and shes calling your name in her teacher voice.
Introduction Technique: Story.

Effective Closing: Gather ideas for how you will end your speech on a strong note.
Next time you feel compelled to habitually scroll down the minifeed on Twitter, stop and think to
yourself: How is your knowledge expanded or how is the quality of your life improved by
reading yet another ranting and complaining tweet from one of your peers about how boring his
or her school day is? What do you truly gain from that?
Closing Technique: Summarize argument, call to action, end with a question