Writing a Persuasive Speech
A persuasive speech aims to convince the audience to accept a viewpoint or take an action. It succeeds by combining sound reasoning, genuine emotional appeal, and the speaker’s credibility.
Questions you may have include:
- What is a persuasive speech?
- What makes persuasion work?
- How should it be structured?
The three classic appeals
Since ancient times, persuasion has rested on three appeals: credibility (showing you are trustworthy and knowledgeable), emotion (connecting with what the audience feels), and logic (offering clear reasoning and evidence). The strongest speeches use all three.
Know your audience
Understand the audience’s existing views and likely objections, and address them honestly. Acknowledging the other side and answering it fairly builds trust and makes your case more convincing.
Structure
A common structure states the problem, presents your position, supports it with reasoning and evidence, and ends with a clear call to action telling the audience exactly what to think or do.
Summary
A persuasive speech convinces through credibility, emotion, and logic, addressing the audience’s views and objections honestly. Structuring it as problem, position, support, and a clear call to action gives the argument force while fairness builds the trust persuasion depends on.