Speech Assignment Rules and Persuasive Speaking Techniques

Speech Assignment Overview

  • Total Points: 100 Points
    • Outline and Bibliography: 10 Points
    • Presentation: 90 Points
  • PowerPoint Requirements:
    • Minimum of 5 content slides
    • Blank slides do not count towards content slides
    • Additional content slides may be included

Grading Criteria

  • Citations:
    • Minimum of three sources required, one being a scholarly academic journal
    • Not citing sources at least three times results in a deduction of 5 points
  • Timing Penalties:
    • Presentation duration below 6 minutes results in a one-letter grade deduction
    • Exceeding the 8-minute limit results in a 1 point deduction for each minute over
  • Attendance:
    • Missing the assigned presentation day incurs a letter grade deduction
  • Delivery Guidelines:
    • Reading from a script negatively affects delivery score

Research Guidelines

  • Sources Requirement:
    • Must include three different types of sources
    • Type 1: Scholarly Academic Journal (accessed via Penn State University Library)
    • Type 2: Magazine articles (must access the actual magazine)
    • Type 3: Various online sources (e.g., .gov, .org, .com)

Credibility and Engagement

  • Establishing Credibility:
    • State your stance on the topic clearly for persuasive speaking
    • The importance of credibility as the speaker:
    • Logos (Logic): Present logical arguments and factual evidence.
    • Ethos (Credibility): Build trust through character and knowledge.
    • Pathos (Emotion): Elicit audience emotions to foster connection.

Persuasive Speech Structure

  • Gaining Attention: Capture the audience’s interest from the start
  • Clearly Explain Your Topic: Articulate your position early in the speech
  • Preview Main Points: Outline the structure of the presentation for clarity
  • Engagement Techniques: Use stories or relatable content to make your arguments compelling

Emotional Appeals in Persuasive Speaking

  • Importance of Emotional Connection: Ensures audience receptivity to your message
  • Types of Language:
    • Quantitative Language: Descriptive language that conveys strong emotions (e.g., "starving" vs. "hungry")
    • Shared Values: Connect with the audience by aligning your message with their values

Ethical Considerations in Persuasive Speaking

  • Ensure accuracy in all information presented in your speech
  • Avoid using misleading or deceptive data to support arguments

Overview of Topics in Persuasive Speaking

  • Public Controversy: Understanding societal issues affecting communities
    • Importance of discussing controversial topics constructively
    • The role of democratic expression in society
  • Types of Persuasive Issues:
    • Fact: Establishing a claim based on factual information
    • Value: Discussing ethical standpoints, moral judgments
    • Policy: Advocating for change and solutions to societal issues

Practical Examples of Persuasion

Case Study: Living Wage Discussion

  • Statistics: 46 million Americans live in poverty, 10 million are the "working poor" earning a full-time income below the poverty line
  • Minimum Wage Implications:
    • As of 2009, federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour, leading to an annual income of just over $15,000 for full-time workers
    • Historical delays in congressional adjustments to minimum wage, affecting people for over ten years
  • Proposal: Implement a federal mandated living wage based on varying costs of living across different regions,
    • Use of calculators and methodologies to define living wages in specific areas (e.g., Chicago-$10.48/hr, Dallas-$9.29/hr)

Presentation Delivery Techniques

  • Engagement through Storytelling: Use storytelling to humanize statistics and appeal emotionally to the audience
  • Dynamic Delivery: Vocal variety and expressive delivery to maintain audience interest
  • Utilization of Visual Aids: Effective use of graphics and slides to support spoken content
  • Personalizing Statistics: Relate data back to individual experiences for relatability

Conclusion

  • Reinstate the importance of ethical persuasive speaking, truthfulness in representation of data, and emotional engagement with the audience.