HOW TO WRITE A POWERFUL PERSUASIVE SPEECH 1

How to Write a Powerful Persuasive Speech

Callie Van Neste

Siena Heights University

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Abstract

This paper explores three articles that help with guidelines to write a persuasive essay.

The articles touch on different techniques for writing a persuasive essay. One article

helps the writer with the introduction, the next with the body, and the last article with the

conclusion. The article covering the body helps with 6 tips to make the writing process,

as well as delivery as smooth as possible. After reading this paper, there should be a

better understanding of the most efficient way to write a powerful persuasive speech.
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How to Write a Powerful Persuasive Speech

Everyone loves a good persuasive speech, one that makes the mind deliberate and

question others way of thinking. A distinguished persuasive speech has the ability to

convert the minds of even the most opinionated people and take their minds to places

they had never expected. Along with writing any speech, a persuasive speech requires a

lot of hard work and effort. However, there are many special tools and techniques one

can use to make the process a lot easier. In this paper, I will list many of these methods to

make persuasive speech writing much a much easier process.

The introduction of a speech is tremendously significant. The introduction of a

speech must capture the audience’s attention. The best way to do this is to tell a story,

share a quote, or a personal experience. During the introduction of a persuasive speech, it

is imperative the speaker establishes credibility through their behavior, as well as their

words. The speaker must indicate why their topic is significant to the audience. Lastly, in

the introduction, the speaker should preview what will be stated in the body of the speech

(Developing a Presentation).

One of the best ways to acquire the ability to write brilliant speeches is to watch

those of the greats, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, not everyone has the

time to watch speech after speech, picking up on significant elements to improve their

own speech. I found 6 tips from President Obama’s former speechwriter, Adam Frankel,

on writing a persuasive speech. The first tip he suggested was to write just as you talk,

because a speech is meant to be spoken, not read. The more natural the writing is, the
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more natural the message will be delivered. The second tip is to tell a story. Frankel

quotes that an aide once told him “speechwriting is about slinging soundbites together.”

He suggests a speech has it’s own narrative arc, just as any good story would. The third

tip is that structure matters, once the points of the speech are in order, the words will

come. This will make for a smoother writing and delivery progression. Tip number four

is to be concise. In the words of Woodrow Wilson “If you’d like me to speak for five

minutes, I’ll need a month to prepare. If you’d like me to speak for 20 minutes, I’ll need

two weeks. But if you’d like me to speak for an hour, I’m ready right now.” These words

are powerful when it comes to writing a speech. It is best to be brief but comprehensive.

When a speech is meant to be 5 minutes, the words must be powerful and come from a

place of ambition. Frankel’s fifth tip is to be authentic, write what feels true and right. If a

speech is written on something that the writer doesn’t feel passionately about, that will be

apparent to the audience and it will be harder to convince them. Lastly, Frankel wants us

to remember not to just speak, but to say something. The speeches values are far more

important than anything else (Frankel).

The conclusion of a persuasive speech is quite possible the most pivotal point of

the speech. Though the body is very important, it is the speaker’s last chance to

summarize and make the final argument known. After the speaker makes it through the

body of the speech, it is important to reinforce the message and give closure to the

subject in the conclusion. The speaker should first summarize the main points of the

speech. Next, the speaker must restate the purpose of the speech to give the audience a

sense of finality. Even though the body of the speech should make the point very clear,

the conclusion needs to be the final stand. The very last sentence of the speech should be
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a last appeal for action or commitment. This will finalize the overall argument that the

speaker is trying to make. It is vital to leave a lasting impression on their audience

(Conclusion Techniques).

After giving these tips for the introduction, the body, and the conclusion of a

persuasive speech, the writing process should be much easier. I gave tips to grab the

audience’s attention in the introduction. Next, I discussed 6 tips to ease the struggle of

writing a persuasive speech, as well as write the best persuasive speech. Lastly, I covered

what should be talked about in the conclusion, which is the last stand the speaker has.

When all of these methods are applied, a powerful persuasive speech has the potential to

be written.
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References

Conclusion Techniques. Austin Community College District. Retrieved from

http://www.austincc.edu/colangelo/1311/conclusions.htm

Developing a Presentation. (2016). Retrieved from

https://www.hamilton.edu/oralcommunication/introductions-and-conclusions.

Frankel, Adam. (2015, January 12). 6 Tips for Writing a Persuasive Speech (On Any

Topic). Retrieved from http://time.com/3664739/6-tips-for-writing-a-persuasive-

speech-on-any-topic/.