A student reading a speech to her class. Photo by Blend Images - Hill Street Studios from Getty Images

In a persuasive speech, a person tries to get others to agree with an idea.

First, you pick a subject. Next, you decide which side you are on. Then you will write a speech to explain your opinion.

The first job of the speaker is to prove that a certain problem is important. Then you must show the audience that your idea will make things better.

The problem can be almost anything. For example, you could tell your audience why they need to wash their hands. Or why they should play basketball instead of golf.

Here's an example. Say you have picked "Getting Up Early" as your topic. You will try to persuade classmates to get themselves out of bed an hour earlier every morning.

For this, the problem could be called "morning madness."

A good speech starts with an introduction. It must have a great hook statement. Then it has three main points and a summary.

Before writing your speech, make an outline. It will have your hook statement and three main points.

Writing The Text

The introduction of your speech must be well written. Within a few minutes, your audience will decide if they are interested or bored.

You should have a greeting. It can be simple, like "Good morning, everyone. My name is Frank."

Then, you will offer a hook. A hook grabs people's attention. A hook sentence for the "morning madness" speech could be a question:

-How many times have you been late to school?

-Does your day begin with shouts and arguments?

-Have you ever missed the bus?

Your hook could also be some interesting numbers:

-More than half of students skip breakfast.

-They just do not have time to eat.

Or a surprising statement:

-Kids who are late often are more likely to drop out of school.

-Kids who are on time are more likely to stay in school.

Now you have the attention of your audience. Then you must define the topic and introduce your solution. Here is an example of what you would have so far:

Good afternoon, class. My name is Frank Godfrey. I have a question for you. Do you go to school in a bad mood because you argue with your parents? Do you ever miss the bus? The madness you experience in the morning can put you in a bad mood. It can affect how you do at school.

Add the solution:

You can be happier and do better in school by adding more time to your morning. You do this by setting your alarm clock to go off one hour earlier.

Next, write the body of the speech. It will have the three main points you have come up with to prove your position.

Each point will be followed by supporting proof, or stories.

Each body paragraph should end with a transition statement. It leads the listener to the next part. It helps the parts fit together.

Here is a sample of three main statements:

-Bad moods caused by morning madness will affect how you work during the day.

-Maybe you skip breakfast to give yourself more time. If you do, you are making an unhealthy choice.

-(Ending on a cheerful note) You will feel much better with less morning madness.

You have written three body paragraphs with strong transition statements. Now, you are ready to work on your summary.

Your summary will say your three main reasons over again.

This can be tricky. You need to repeat, but without the parts sounding exactly the same. Just find a way to re-word the same main points.

Finally, write a clear final sentence.

A few examples:

-We all like to sleep. I know it is hard to get up some mornings. I can assure you that the reward is worth the effort.

-Follow my guidelines and get up a little bit earlier every day. If you do, you will feel better about your life and your report card.

Tips For Writing Your Speech

Do not put down people who are against your argument. Just show that your side is right.

Keep it simple. Too much information could confuse your audience.

Stay with the "three points" format. It may seem too simple, but it works. It works best for people who are listening, not reading.

]]>