9 English: The Art of Persuasion

Suggested Scaffold for Persuasive Speech (this is only a suggestion you may chose a different method of organisation for your speech

Planning Stage 1 Planning Stage 1 Planning Stage 2
Introduction:
Introduce your issue and your
main argument/thesis
statement. You could also
introduce your three (approx)
supporting arguments.
Main thesis:
I want to persuade my audience to/that


Nominated Community:

Do you have a hook for your
audience: thought-provoking question
or quotation; puzzling scenario or
anecdote? Have you made it clear
who your audience is?
Get to your thesis quickly
Body:
Introduce and explain your
first supporting argument. Do
you have details (e.g.
evidence) to back up what
you are saying?

My first supporting argument is


My supporting details are
Do you sound straightforward and
confident?
Are you employing devices like
rhetorical questions? Similes,
alliteration, opinion as fact?
Body:
Introduce and explain your
second supporting argument.
Do you have details (e.g.
evidence) to back up what
you are saying?
My second supporting argument is


My supporting details are
Are you using shorter, simpler
sentences in order to keep your
audiences attention?

Are there too many pronouns?
Listeners tune out to too many its
and theys.
Body:
Introduce and explain your
third supporting argument. Do
you have details
(e.g.evidence) to back up
what you are saying?

My third supporting argument is


My supporting details are
Have you been repeating crucial
points or buzzwords?

Are you maintaining your register or
varying your tone? Have you decided
where you need to pause for
emphasis?
Conclusion:
Return to your main
argument; summarise your
key points; do you have a call
to action for your nominated
community?

What I want my nominated community to do is Is there any room in your speech for
sophisticated persuasive techniques:
anaphora, tricolon, doubles?
Can you finish with a thought-
provoking quotation or question?
Have you timed your speech?