Exercise File

Speech Ideas
Each of the following ideas could develop into a speech in each category discussed: informational, cause/
effect, compare/contrast, and persuasive. Prepare a speech outline for each of those categories, reflecting
the different purpose of each speech. Then add an attention-getting opening and a clear closing to each
outline.

1. A book or movie you’ve seen
• Informational: explain the three key points of the message

• Cause/effect: what was the effect of what the actors did; what caused the actors to take specific
actions

• Compare/contrast: either a couple of the main characters or one movie/book to another movie/
book

• Persuasive: convince others to see it; end with a call to action

2. Cell phones
• Informational: the history of cell phones; how they are used/how they changed the way we
communicate

• Cause/effect: the effect they have on communication habits and what causes them to be popular/
addictive

• Compare/contrast: with other electronic communication channels or landline phones

• Persuasive: convince others to use them less often, and to not use them while driving; end with a
call to action.

Speech Writing with Judy Steiner-Williams

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3. Membership in organizations:
• Informational: cite three organizations and what is provided in their memberships and explain the
overall benefits of membership

• Cause/effect: what is the effect of membership and what causes people to join

• Compare/contrast: the “hireability” of people who have and haven’t belonged to organizations or
different organizations

• Persuasive: convince audience to join an organization; end with a call to action

4. Marketing:
• Informational: list the most popular marketing/advertising channels

• Cause/effect: the effect of advertising and which advertising results in (causes) the most sales

• Compare/contrast: the most popular advertising channels or two/three ads

• Persuasive: convince audience to “buy in” to a particular ad; end with a call to action

5. Emotional Quotient
• Informational: what is EQ

• Cause/effect: what causes a change in EQ level and what effect does high/low EQ have

• Compare/contrast: EQ to IQ or behavior of people with high/low EQ

• Persuasive: convince others to take immediate action steps to increase

Speech Writing with Judy Steiner-Williams

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