ENGLISH PUBLIC SPEAKING ACTIVITIES

Learning Activity 1
Ceremonial Speaking
A. Introduction
In the previous material, you learned how to demonstrate phrases for presentations in
English through performing simple presentations, how to greet, and how to make a
conclusion. That is a good start to having outstanding public speaking skills as you
have to know how to speak to your audience in proper ways and how to deliver your
ideas, so your listeners can understand what you present.
In this module, you will take the next step to improve your speaking skill. You will
learn how to understand and perform public speaking in English. You will also learn
the three types of public speaking; ceremonial, informative, and persuasive types. To
begin, in this learning activity 1, you will learn the first type of public speaking which
is ceremonial speaking. After this, you will learn informative speaking as the second
type of public speaking.

B. Relevance
Lesson Learning Outcome (LLO) 7 focuses on improving your public speaking. It is
hoped that, after learning ceremonial speaking, you are able to speak in front of many
people by using English on special/formal occasions. You are also expected to
communicate your ideas not only to one individual but also to a group of people.

C. Lesson Learning Outcome

1. Description
Being a confident speaker is a skill many people do not learn in school or higher
education, yet it is one of the most important skills for career success. To begin to
develop that confidence, we have to break down the types of presentations you may
make because each one differs in its approach.
In fact, according to Virtual Speech, being a clear and effective public speaker is
important. They say it can help with:
• Career Advancement
• Confidence Boosting
• Critical Thinking
• Personal Development
• Elevated Communication Skills
• Networking

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• Leadership Building
• Become a Better Listener
Ceremonial speaking is the first type of public speaking. It is when you give a speech
on a special occasion. For example, a graduation speech, a farewell party, or office
events. These types of speeches often involve a personal or emotional connection to
the people you are speaking to.
Keys to a ceremonial speech include:
• Personal Touch - When giving a ceremonial speech, you want to give it a
personal touch. This means including a story that goes along with what or whom
you are talking about.
• Occasion-focused - A ceremonial speech needs to stick to the occasion. This is
not the time to bring up anything other than who or what is being celebrated.
• Brevity - For those who don't love to get up in front of a crowd and speak,
ceremonial speaking may be the best fit for you. That's because generally
speaking, ceremonial speaking is often brief.

“Remember, part of delivering an effective message is knowing who your audience

is and tailoring your message to them.”
~ Dale Carnegie

We will not cover all types of ceremonial speeches, but the information below should
assist as you approach speaking at different ceremonial events;

a) Speeches of Introduction
The first type of ceremonial speech is the speech of introduction, which is a mini-
speech given by the host of a ceremony that introduces another speaker. Few things
are worse than an introduction that says, “This is Wyatt Ford. He’s going to talk about
stress.” While we did learn the speaker’s name and the topic, the introduction falls
flat. Audiences won’t be the least bit excited about listening to Wyatt’s speech.

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 *The table is derived from opentext.ku.edu

b) Speeches of Presentation
The second type of ceremonial speech is the speech of presentation. A speech of
presentation is a brief speech given to accompany a prize or honor. Speeches of
presentation can be as simple as saying, “This year’s recipient of the Lavache Public
Speaking prize is Ryann Curley,” or could last up to five minutes as the speaker
explains why the honoree was chosen for the award.

Example Alert: An interesting example of a speech presenting an award is this one by

Zoe Saldana for J.J. Abrams. You can watch her video by accessing the link below.

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x03cGSszr8Q

When preparing a speech of presentation, it’s always important to ask how long the
speech should be. Once you know the time limit, then you can set out to create the
speech itself.

The following format can assist as you craft speeches of presentation:

• First, you should explain what the award or honor is and why the presentation is
important.
• Second, you can explain what the recipient has accomplished in order for the
award to be bestowed. Did the person win a race? Did the person write an
important piece of literature? Did the person mediate conflict? Whatever the
recipient has done, you need to clearly highlight their work.
• Lastly, if the race or competition was conducted in a public forum and numerous
people didn’t win, you may want to recognize those people for their efforts as well.
While you don’t want to steal the show away from winner, you may want to
highlight the work of the other competitors or nominees.

c) Commencement/Graduation Speech
A speech of commencement (or, as it is more commonly known, a “commencement
speech”) is designed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of a graduating class
or other groups of people. These typically take place at graduation ceremonies. Nearly
all of us have sat through commencement speeches at some point in our lives. And if
you’re like us, you’ve heard good ones and bad ones.

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Example: A speech of a lifetime and life itself comedically written and presented by
Valedictorian Carl Aquino, a 2010 graduate from West Hall High School. He
humorously relates the four years of high school to a rubix cube with some music in
the background. You can watch his video by accessing the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCN6FjqDcHg

If you’re ever asked to deliver a commencement speech, there are some key points to
think through when deciding on your speech’s content:

• If there is a specific theme for the graduation, make sure that your
commencement speech addresses that theme. If there is no specific theme, come
up with one for your speech. Think of a theme as something that ties the content
of your speech together. For example, one of our authors was the commencement
speaker at her undergraduate institution, and she used the “yellow brick road” as
a metaphor for progress.

• Talk about your life and how graduates can learn from your experiences to avoid
pitfalls or take advantage of life. Place the commencement speech into the
broader context of the graduates’ lives. Show the graduates how the advice and
wisdom you are offering can be utilized to make their own lives better. How can
your life inspire the graduates in their future endeavors?

• Overall, it’s important to make sure that you have fun when delivering a
commencement speech. Remember, it’s a huge honor and responsibility to be

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 asked to deliver a commencement speech, so take the time to really think through
and prepare your speech.

2. Conclusion
The ceremonial public speaking is the most varied type of speaking to cover;
however, there are some general rules to keep in mind regardless of what type you
are engaged in. Remember that using good, evocative language is key, and that it is
important that you deliver your speech in a way that both conveys the proper
emotion for the occasion and allows you to give the speech exactly as you wrote it.

3. References
• Carnegie, D. and Esenwein, J.B., 2017. The art of public speaking. Courier
Dover Publications.
• Beebe, S.A. and Beebe, S.J., 2010. Public speaking handbook. Allyn &
Bacon.
• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/4-types-public-speaking-jessica-chen-
keynote-speaker
• https://open.lib.umn.edu/publicspeaking/chapter/18-2-special-occasion-
speeches/#:~:text=Ceremonial%20speeches%20are%20speeches%20given,ar
e%20opportunities%20for%20speech%20making.
• https://textbooks.whatcom.edu/cmst220/chapter/ceremonial-speaking/
• https://soulcastmedia.com/the-4-types-of-public-speaking/
• http://www.speechideas.net/ceremonial-speech-ideas.html
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x03cGSszr8Q
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCN6FjqDcHg

D. Formative Test
1. Below are the keys to a ceremonial speech, except …
a. Occasion-focused
b. Brevity
c. Group Work
d. Personal Touch

2. A mini-speech given by the host of a ceremony that introduces another speaker

is …
a. Presentation Speech
b. Speeches of Introduction
c. Commencement Speech
d. Graduation Speech

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3. A speech designed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of a graduating
class or other groups of people is called …
a. Commencement Speech
b. Speech of freedom
c. Presentation Speech
d. Speeches of Introduction

4. What is the second type of ceremonial speaking?

a. Commencement Speech
b. Speech of freedom
c. Presentation Speech
d. Speeches of Introduction

5. Why is effective public speaking necessary?

a. To be a better sportsman
b. To judge everything
c. To develop communication skills
d. To advance personal choice

Answer Key:
1. c
2. b
3. a
4. c
5. c

E. Feedback
If you feel you have answered the formative test well, compare your answers with the
key answers provided in this module. If the calculation results show that you have
achieved a level of mastery equal to or greater than 80%, you are welcome to proceed
to the next learning activity. To find out the percentage of mastery of the material in
this learning activity 1, you can simply calculate it using the following formula:

Number of correct answers

X 100%
All the questions (or 5)

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F. Assessment
In your group, please choose one ceremonial events (Presentation, Graduation Speech,
etc.) and perform ceremonial public speaking. You can take a turn, so every member
has a chance to perform. Please record your group performance in a 5-minute video
and upload it to Google Drive, then attach the link in the Assignment box in SIKOLA.

Table 1. Assessment Criteria

No. Criteria Score
Fluency and Coherence
(Speaks fluently with only rare
repetition or self-correction;
1 Speaks coherently and 5 4 3 2 1
develops topics ceremonial
speaking technique)

Lexical Resource and Range

(Express with some flexibility
and appropriateness, giving
2 effective descriptions and 5 4 3 2 1
expressing viewpoints on a
variety of topics)

Grammatical Range
3 (Complex sentence use and 5 4 3 2 1
minor grammatical occurrence)
Pronunciation
(Pronounce words correctly,
4 articulate clearly, intonate 5 4 3 2 1
appropriately

Structured Explanation
(Structural Explanation/Speech
5 5 4 3 2 1
which at least includes
Opening, Body, and Closing)
The Entire Point = Total Score
Students’ Point = Total Score / 5

Table 2. Rating Points

Score Criteria

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 5 Very Good
4 Good
3 Satisfactory
2 Poor
1 Very Poor

Learning Activity 2
Informative Speaking
A. Introduction
The second activity is learning informative type in public speaking. You will learn
how to properly transfer information to one person and/or to a group.
Informative speaking offers you an opportunity to practice your researching, writing,
organizing, and speaking skills. You will learn how to discover and present
information clearly. If you take the time to thoroughly research and understand your
topic, to create a clearly organized speech, and to practice an enthusiastic, dynamic
style of delivery, you can be an effective "teacher" during your informative speech.
Finally, you will get a chance to practice a type of speaking you will undoubtedly use
later in your professional career.

B. Relevance
Lesson Learning Outcome (LLO) 7 focuses on improving your public speaking. It is
hoped that, after learning informative speaking, you are able to speak in front of many
people by using English in formal occasions. You are also expected to communicate
your ideas properly not only to one individual but also to a group of people.

C. Lesson Learning Outcome

1. Description
Informative speaking is often in a meeting setting and being able to lead. It is
important because it helps to:

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• Facilitate Conversations – Being able to facilitate a productive conversation will
help set you apart and help build your authority. It’s how you can let others know
what’s going on and if there are any issues that need to be addressed.
• Build Credibility – Informative speaking can help you build credibility because
you are informing others of something they might not have known about before.
This shines a positive light on you and can get you noticed. That’s how you can
get that coveted promotion!
• Cultivate Leadership Skills – The more you inform others the more leadership
skills you’ll develop. That’s because a good leader never leaves others in the dark.
A great leader is proactive in their communications and informative speaking is
the best way to do that.

Some examples of informative speech:

1. College professor lecturing on a specific topic during a class.
2. Guest speaker presenting information to a group of students about how to apply for
college.
3. Company president presenting information about last quarter's sales to a group of
board members.
4. Doctor talking to a group about ways to avoid heart disease
5. Keynote speaker talking about a certain topic in the seminar

Typically, informative speeches have three parts:

a) Opening
b) Body
c) Closing
In this section, we discuss the three parts of an informative speech, calling attention
to specific elements that can enhance the effectiveness of your speech. As a speaker,
you will want to create a clear structure for your speech. In this section, you will find
discussions of the major parts of the informative speech.

a) Opening
The opening sets the tone of the entire speech. The introduction should be brief and
to-the-point as it accomplishes these several important tasks. Typically, there are four
main components of an effective opening:
• Attention Getters
• Thesis Statement
• Audience Adaptation
• Credibility Statement
As in any social situation, your audience makes strong assumptions about you during
the first eight or ten seconds of your speech. For this reason, you need to start solidly

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and launch the topic clearly. Focus your efforts on completing these tasks and moving
on to the real information (the body) of the speech. Typically, there are four main
components of an effective introduction. These tasks do not have to be handled in this
order, but this layout often yields the best results.

• Attention Getters
The attention-getter is designed to intrigue the audience members and to motivate
them to listen attentively for the next several minutes. There are infinite
possibilities for attention-getting devices. Some of the more common devices
include using a story, a rhetorical question, or a quotation. While many of these
devices can be effective, it is important for you to spend time strategizing, creating,
and practicing the attention-getter.

Most importantly, an attention-getter should create curiosity in the minds of your

listeners and convince them that the speech will be interesting and useful. The
wording of your attention-getter should be refined and practiced. Be sure to
consider the mood/tone of your speech; determine the appropriateness of humor,
emotion, aggressiveness, etc. Not only should the words get the audience’s
attention, but your delivery should be smooth and confident to let the audience
know that you are a skilled speaker who is prepared for this speech.

• Thesis Statement
The thesis statement is crucial for clearly communicating your topic and purpose
to the audience. Be sure to make the statement clear, concise, and easy to
remember. Deliver it to the audience and use verbal and nonverbal illustrations to
make it stand out.

Example Text:
“Today I'd like to tell you about the Underground Railroad. First,… Second,.. and
the last,..”

• Audience Adaptation
In your introduction, you need to adapt your speech to your audience. To keep
audience members interested, tell them why your topic is important to them. To
accomplish this task, you need to undertake audience analysis prior to creating the
speech. Figure out who your audience members are, what things are important to
them, what their biases may be, and what types of subjects/issues appeal to them.
In the context of this class, some of your audience analysis is provided for you--
most of your listeners are college students, so it is likely that they place some value
on education, most of them are probably not bathing in money, and they live in

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 Colorado. Consider these traits when you determine how to adapt to your
audience.

As you research and write your speech, take note of references to issues that should
be important to your audience. Include statements about aspects of your speech
that you think will be of special interest to the audience in the introduction. By
accomplishing this task, you give your listeners specific things with which they
can identify. Audience adaptation will be included throughout the speech, but an
effective introduction requires meaningful adaptation of the topic to the audience.

• Credibility Statement
The credibility statement establishes your qualifications as a speaker. You should
come up with reasons why you are someone to listen to on this topic. Why do you
have special knowledge or understanding of this topic? What can the audience
learn from you that they couldn't learn from someone else? Credibility statements
can refer to your extensive research on a topic, your life-long interest in an issue,
your personal experience with a thing, or your desire to better the lives of your
listeners by sifting through the topic and providing the crucial information.

Remember that Aristotle said that credibility, or ethos, consists of good sense,
goodwill, and good moral character. Create the feeling that you possess these
qualities by creatively stating that you are well-educated about the topic (good
sense), that you want to help each member of the audience (goodwill), and that
you are a decent person who can be trusted (good moral character). Once you
establish your credibility, the audience is more likely to listen to you as something
of an expert and to consider what you say to be the truth. It is often effective to
include further references to your credibility throughout the speech by subtly
referring to the traits mentioned above.

Example: This video below provides an example of a college student presenting

an informative speech. Throughout the video there are subtitles to point out
different components of the speech process. You can watch the video by accessing
the link below the picture.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StPSgqwCnVk

b) Body
Strategic organization helps increase the clarity and effectiveness of your speech. Two
key issues are discussed in this section:
• Main Ideas
• Organizational Patterns
The body contains the bulk of information in your speech and needs to be clearly
organized. Without clear organization, the audience will probably forget your
information, main points, and perhaps even your thesis. Some simple strategies will
help you create a clear, memorable speech. Below are the two key issues used in
organizing a speech.

• Main Ideas
Once you settle on a topic, you should decide which aspects of that topic are of
greatest importance for your speech. These aspects become your main points.
While there is no rule about how many main points should appear in the body of
the speech, most students go with three main points. You must have at least two
main points; aside from that rule, you should select your main points based on the
importance of the information and the time limitations. Be sure to include
whatever information is necessary for the audience to understand your topic. Also,
be sure to synthesize the information so it fits into the assigned time frame. As you
choose your main points, try to give each point equal attention within the speech.
If you pick three main points, each point should take up roughly one-third of the
body section of your speech.

• Organizational Patterns
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There are four basic patterns of organization for an informative speech.
o Chronological order
o Spatial order
o Causal order
o Topical order
There are four basic patterns of organization for an informative speech. You can
choose any of these patterns based on which pattern serves the needs of your speech.

o Chronological Order
A speech organized chronologically has main points oriented toward time. For
example, a speech about the Farm Aid benefit concert could have main points
organized chronologically. The first main point focuses on the creation of the
event; the second main point focuses on the planning stages; the third point
focuses on the actual performance/concert; and the fourth point focuses on
donations and assistance that resulted from the entire process. In this format, you
discuss main points in an order that could be followed on a calendar or a clock.

o Spatial Order
A speech organized spatially has main points oriented toward space or a
directional pattern. The Farm Aid speech's body could be organized in spatial
order. The first main point discusses the New York branch of the organization;
the second main point discusses the Midwest branch; the third main point
discusses the California branch of Farm Aid. In this format, you discuss main
points in an order that could be traced on a map.

o Causal Order
A speech organized causally has main points oriented toward cause and effect.
The main points of a Farm Aid speech organized causally could look like this:
the first main point informs about problems on farms and the need for monetary
assistance; the second main point discusses the creation and implementation of
the Farm Aid program. In this format, you discuss main points in an order that
alerts the audience to a problem or circumstance and then tells the audience what
action resulted from the original circumstance.

o Topical Order
A speech organized topically has main points organized more randomly by sub-
topics. The Farm Aid speech could be organized topically: the first main point
discusses Farm Aid administrators; the second main point discusses performers;
the third main point discusses sponsors; the fourth main point discusses

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 audiences. In this format, you discuss main points in a more random order that
labels specific aspects of the topic and addresses them in separate categories.
Most speeches that are not organized chronologically, spatially, or causally are
organized topically.

c) Closing
While the closing should be brief and tight, it has a few specific tasks to accomplish:
• Re-assert/Reinforce the Thesis
• Review the Main Points
• Close Effectively
• Take a deep breath! If you made it to the conclusion, you are on the brink of
finishing. Below are the tasks you should complete in your conclusion:

• Re-assert/Reinforce the Thesis

When making the transition to the conclusion, attempt to make clear distinctions
(verbally and nonverbally) that you are now wrapping up the information and
providing final comments about the topic. Refer back to the thesis from the
introduction with wording that calls the original thesis into memory. Assert that you
have accomplished the goals of your thesis statement and create the feeling that
audience members who actively considered your information are now equipped with
an understanding of your topic. Reinforce whatever mood/tone you chose for the
speech and attempt to create a big picture of the speech.

• Review the Main Points

Within the conclusion, re-state the main points of the speech. Since you have used
parallel wording for your main points in the introduction and body, don't break that
consistency in the conclusion. Frame the review so the audience will be reminded
of the preview and the developed discussion of each main point. After the review,
you may want to create a statement about why those main points fulfilled the goals
of the speech.

• Close Effectively
Finish strongly. When you close your speech, craft statements that reinforce the
message and leave the audience with a clear feeling about what was accomplished
with your speech. You might finalize the adaptation by discussing the benefits of
listening to the speech and explaining what you think audience members can do with
the information.
Remember to maintain an informative tone for this speech. You should not persuade
about beliefs or positions; rather, you should persuade the audience that the speech
was worthwhile and useful. For greatest effect, create a closing line or paragraph
that is artistic and effective. Much like the attention-getter, the closing line needs to

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 be refined and practiced. Your close should stick with the audience and leave them
interested in your topic. Take time to work on writing the close well and attempt to
memorize it so you can directly address the audience and leave them thinking of you
as a well-prepared, confident speaker.

Tips for informative speaking

• Analyze the audience.
What can the audience be reasonably expected to know? If talking to a field of
medical professional about cloning, they likely know the basics of DNA. An
audience of lay people might not be so fluent in the language of biomedical
engineering, and so basic concepts like this will have to be explained. Never
presume that an audience has a thorough background in the subject.
• Use appropriate language.
What are the norms for speaking style for the audience? If they expect lots of
jargon and specialized language, the speech should be peppered with such
language or else the audience will feel like they are being talked down to. If the
audience is unfamiliar with these technical terms, avoid using them or introduce
them with an explanation of what they mean.
• Explain the importance of the topic.
Why should the audience listen? Will this information improve their lives in
some meaningful way? Especially with a captive--involuntary--audience, a
speaker must establish a connection between their topic and the interests of the
audience.
• Express interest in the subject material.
Why should an audience listen if the speaker seems just as bored as they do? A
speaker who confesses their own interest in the topic might activate the audience
to share a similar interest.
• Show, don't tell.
Don't most people learn through doing or seeing? Being told about a process,
like cloning, could be informative, but probably not have as great an impact as
being shown the process with pictures or perhaps even lab equipment.
Informative speeches often benefit from a demonstration or visual aid.
Technology can assist "showing" when the subject is not easily brought
physically into the room (imagine the troubles of an informative speech on the
sun if a prop was required!)

• Be specific
Informative speeches thrive on detail, and dive on generalities. If speaking about
basket weaving, carefully note what types of weaving materials work and do not
work for basket making. Audiences are often impressed by detail, but be careful

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 not to become so detail-oriented that the big picture of the speech is lost (missing
the forest for the trees).

2. Conclusion
• Getting integrated: Informative speaking is likely the type of public speaking we
will most often deliver and be audience to in our lives. Informative speaking is
an important part of academic, professional, personal, and civic contexts.
• Informative speeches teach an audience through objective factual information
and can emerge from one or more of the following categories: objects, people,
concepts, events, processes, and issues.
• Effective informative speaking requires good research skills, as speakers must
include novel information, relevant and proxemic examples, and “take-away”
information that audience members will find engaging and useful.

3. References
• Carnegie, D. and Esenwein, J.B., 2017. The art of public speaking. Courier
Dover Publications.
• Beebe, S.A. and Beebe, S.J., 2010. Public speaking handbook. Allyn & Bacon.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StPSgqwCnVk
• https://wac.colostate.edu/repository/resources/writing/guides/informative-
speaking/
• https://soulcastmedia.com/the-4-types-of-public-speaking/
• https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication/chapter/11-1-informative-speeches/
• https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/types-of-
informative-speeches
• https://www.softschools.com/examples/grammar/informative_speech_examp
les/384
• https://www.myperfectwords.com/blog/informative-speech
• https://www.homeworkhelpglobal.com/us/blog/informative-speech-topics/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StPSgqwCnVk

D. Formative Test
1. Informative speaking is important because it is to …
a. Facilitate conversation
b. Speak freedom
c. Make yourself proud
d. Improve your writing skill

2. Informative speaking has three main parts, except…

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 a. Opening
b. Outline
c. Body
d. Closing

3. …. is designed to intrigue the audience members and to motivate them to listen

attentively for the next several minutes
a. Thesis statement
b. Audience adaptation
c. Attention getter
d. Credibility statement

4. …. contains the bulk of information in your speech and needs to be clearly

organized.
a. Opening
b. Outline
c. Body
d. Closing

5. The basic patterns of organization for an informative speech, except …

a. Chronological order
b. Partial order
c. Causal order
d. Topical order

Answer Key:
1. a
2. b
3. c
4. c
5. b

E. Feedback
If you feel you have answered the formative test well, compare your answers with the
key answers provided in this module. If the calculation results show that you have
achieved a level of mastery equal to or greater than 80%, you are welcome to proceed
to the next learning activity. To find out the percentage of mastery of the material in
this learning activity 1, you can simply calculate it using the following formula:

31
 Number of correct answers
X 100%
All the questions (or 5)

F. Assessment
In your group, please choose one free topic and perform informative public speaking.
You can take a turn, so every member has a chance to perform. Please record your
group performance in a 5-minute video and upload it to Google Drive, then attach the
link in the Assignment box in SIKOLA.
Table 1. Assessment Criteria
No. Criteria Score
Fluency and Coherence
(Speaks fluently with only rare
repetition or self-correction;
Speaks coherently and
1 5 4 3 2 1
develops topics using
informative speaking
technique)

Lexical Resource and Range

(Express with some flexibility
and appropriateness, giving
2 effective descriptions and 5 4 3 2 1
expressing viewpoints on a
variety of topics)

Grammatical Range
3 (Complex sentence use and 5 4 3 2 1
minor grammatical occurrence)
Pronunciation
(Pronounce words correctly,
4 articulate clearly, intonate 5 4 3 2 1
appropriately

Structured Explanation
(Structural Explanation/Speech
5 5 4 3 2 1
which at least includes
Opening, Body, and Closing)
The Entire Point = Total Score
Students’ Point = Total Score / 5

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Table 2. Rating Points
Score Criteria
5 Very Good
4 Good
3 Satisfactory
2 Poor
1 Very Poor

Learning Activity 3
Persuasive Speaking
A. Introduction
After learning ceremonial and informative types, now you learn the last type which is
persuasive type in public speaking.
A persuasive speech is a speech that is given with the intention of convincing the
audience to believe or do something. This could be virtually anything - voting, organ
donation, recycling, and so on.
A successful persuasive speech effectively convinces the audience to your point of
view, providing you come across as trustworthy and knowledgeable about the topic
you’re discussing.

B. Relevance
Lesson Learning Outcome (LLO) 7 focuses on improving your public speaking. It is
hoped that, after learning persuasive speaking, you are able to speak in front of many
people by using English in any occasions. You are also expected to be able to persuade
people and communicate your ideas properly not only to one individual but also to a
group of people.

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C. Lesson Learning Outcome

1. Description
Persuasive speaking is about convincing your audience of your idea or your point of
view. Persuasive speaking usually includes emotional elements and strong language.
A persuasive speech can be used to get an investor to invest in your company or to get
your boss to approve your idea. Persuasive speaking is used to help you sell your idea
to your team. In fact, you can also use persuasive speaking to get a raise!

Persuasive speaking uses many different communication skills to create the greatest
impact. You want to be sure to include these elements to sound convincing:
• Tone of Voice – Your tone of voice will make a huge impact on your persuasive
speech. It will also inform your audience on how they should feel while
listening.
• Body Language – Your hand gestures, eye contact, and posture are tools you can
use to improve your persuasive speech. Your body language helps set the tone
and can draw the listener in.
• Crafting Your Message – When giving a persuasive speech, you want to make
sure that you take time to craft your message.
• Start off with the most interesting part.
• Tailor your message to your audience.
• Think about what your audience wants to hear.
Whether you want to get that raise or you are lobbying for a promotion – knowing
how to give an effective persuasive speech will give you a powerful edge.

a) Preparation: Consider Your Audience

As with any speech, preparation is crucial. Before you put pen to paper, think about
what you want to achieve with your speech. This will help organise your thoughts as
you realistically can only cover 2-4 main points before your audience get bored.

It’s also useful to think about who your audience are at this point. If they are unlikely
to know much about your topic then you’ll need to factor in context of your topic
when planning the structure and length of your speech. You should also consider their:
• Age
• Gender
• Cultural or religious backgrounds
• Shared concerns, attitudes and problems
• Shared interests, beliefs and hopes
• Baseline attitude - are they hostile, neutral, or open to change?

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The factors above will all determine the approach you take to writing your speech.
For example, if your topic is about childhood obesity, you could begin with a story
about your own children or a shared concern every parent has. This would suit an
audience who are more likely to be parents than young professionals who have only
just left college.

b) Structure of Your Persuasive Speech

The opening and closing of the speech are the most important. Consider these
carefully when thinking about your persuasive speech outline. A strong opening
ensures you have the audience’s attention from the start and gives them a positive first
impression of you.

You want to start with a strong opening such as an attention-grabbing statement,

statistic of fact.

Another good way of starting a persuasive speech is to include your audience in the
picture you’re trying to paint. By making them part of the story, you’re embedding an
emotional connection between them and your speech.

You could do this in a more toned-down way by talking about something you know
that your audience has in common with you. It’s also helpful at this point to include
your credentials in a persuasive speech to gain your audience’s trust.

virtualspeech.com

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Obama would spend hours with his team working on the opening and closing
statements of his speech.

c) Stating Your Argument

You should pick between 2 and 4 themes to discuss during your speech so that you
have enough time to explain your viewpoint and convince your audience to the same
way of thinking.

It is important that each of your points transitions seamlessly into the next one so that
your speech has a logical flow. Work on connecting sentences between each of your
themes so that your speech is easy to listen to.

Your argument should be backed up by objective research and not purely your
subjective opinion. Use examples, analogies, and stories so that the audience can
relate more easily to your topic, and therefore are more likely to be persuaded to your
point of view.

d) Addressing Counter-Arguments
Any balanced theory or thought addresses and disputes counter-arguments made
against it. By addressing these, you will strengthen your persuasive speech by refuting
your audience’s objections and you will show that you are knowledgeable to other
thoughts on the topic.

When describing an opposing point of view, do not explain it in a bias way - explain
it, in the same way, someone who holds that view would describe it. That way, you
will not irritate members of your audience who disagree with you and you will show
that you have reached your point of view through reasoned judgement. Simply
identify any counter-argument and pose explanations against them.

e) Closing Your Speech

Your closing line of your speech is your last chance to convince your audience about
what you are saying. It’s also most likely to be the sentence they remember most about
your entire speech so make sure it’s a good one!

The most effective persuasive speeches end with a call to action. For example, if
you’ve been speaking about organ donation, your call to action might be asking the
audience to register as donors.

Example 2: Persuasive speech titled the dangers of cell phones by Chengu

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https://youtu.be/cVxXUFIVUEI

2. Conclusion
The persuasive public speaking is the most varied type of speaking to cover; however,
there are some general rules to keep in mind regardless of what type you are engaged
in. Remember that using good, evocative language is key, and that it is important that
you deliver your speech in a way that both conveys the proper emotion for the
occasion and allows you to give the speech exactly as you wrote it.

3. References
• Carnegie, D. and Esenwein, J.B., 2017. The art of public speaking. Courier
Dover Publications.
• Nikitina, A., 2011. Successful public speaking. Bookboon.
• Beebe, S.A. and Beebe, S.J., 2010. Public speaking handbook. Allyn &
Bacon.
• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/4-types-public-speaking-jessica-chen-
keynote-speaker
• https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/persuasive-speech-topics
• https://virtualspeech.com/blog/persuasive-speech-outline-structure-
delivery#:~:text=A%20persuasive%20speech%20is%20a,%2C%20recycling
%2C%20and%20so%20on.
• https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-
persuasive-speech
• https://www.comm.pitt.edu/persuasive-speaking
• https://youtu.be/cVxXUFIVUEI

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D. Formative Test
1. …. is about convincing your audience of your idea or your point of view.
a. Ceremonial speaking
b. Informative speaking
c. Persuasive speaking
d. Personal speaking

2. …. ensures you have the audience’s attention from the start and gives them
a positive first impression of you.
a. A strong closing
b. A strong thinking
c. A strong opening
d. A weak explanation

3. Some tips in persuasive speaking that are needed to learn, except …

a. Consider your anxiety
b. Structure your persuasive speech
c. Stating your argument
d. Closing your speech

4. …. is your last chance to convince your audience about what you are
saying.
a. Opening speech
b. Outline speech
c. Body speech
d. Closing speech

5. In persuasive speech, audience plays vital role. It is important to consider

their ….
e. Cultural or religious backgrounds
f. Hobbies
g. Hometown
h. Attires

Answer Key:
1. c
2. c
3. a
4. d
5. a

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E. Feedback
If you feel you have answered the formative test well, compare your answers with the
key answers provided in this module. If the calculation results show that you have
achieved a level of mastery equal to or greater than 80%, you are welcome to proceed
to the next learning activity. To find out the percentage of mastery of the material in
this learning activity 1, you can simply calculate it using the following formula:

Number of correct answers

X 100%
All the questions (or 5)

F. Assessment
In your group, please choose one free topic and perform persuasive public speaking.
You can take a turn, so every member has a chance to perform. Please record your
group performance in a 5-minute video and upload it to Google Drive, then attach the
link in the Assignment box in SIKOLA.
Table 1. Assessment Criteria
No. Criteria Score
Fluency and Coherence
(Speaks fluently with only rare
repetition or self-correction;
1 5 4 3 2 1
Speaks coherently and
develops topics using
persuasive speaking technique)
Lexical Resource and Range
(Express with some flexibility
and appropriateness, giving
2 5 4 3 2 1
effective descriptions and
expressing viewpoints on a
variety of topics)
Grammatical Range
3 (Complex sentence use and 5 4 3 2 1
minor grammatical occurrence)
Pronunciation
4 (Pronounce words correctly, 5 4 3 2 1
articulate clearly, intonate

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 appropriately
Structured Explanation
(Structural Explanation/Speech
5 5 4 3 2 1
which at least includes
Opening, Body, and Closing)
The Entire Point = Total Score
Students’ Point = Total Score / 5

Table 2. Rating Points

Score Criteria
5 Very Good
4 Good
3 Satisfactory
2 Poor
1 Very Poor

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