persuasive speech visualization examples

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Persuasive speech outline example

-an outline using Monroe's 5 step Motivated Sequence

By:  Susan Dugdale  

This persuasive speech outline example uses Monroe's Motivated Sequence (MMS) - a 5 step structural pattern for organizing material focusing on, as its name suggests, motivational appeals.

The sequence forms the basis of many of the successful political, public awareness or advertising campaigns you see and hear around you on a daily basis.

For example: campaigns to raise awareness of health issues: The Heart Truth, NDAFW - National Drugs and Alcohol Facts Week, or STOMP Out Bullying. *

Why is the framework so popular? Because it faithfully follows the psychology of persuasion. In a nutshell, it works. Exceedingly well.

Use the quick links to get around this very long page efficiently. Each of the five steps is fully explained and illustrated in an example speech outline. There's a printable MMS speech outline document for your own use too!

Page quick links

• Step overview
• Step 1 - Attention
• Step 2 - Need
• Step 3 - Satisfaction
• Step 4 - Visualization
• Step 5 - Action
• Download blank outline template

More persuasive speech resources

About Monroe's Motivated Sequence

The pattern, or steps, of the sequence mirror those identified as being the normal thinking processes that occur whenever a person is confronted by a problem.

Because the steps are perceived as reasonable and logical using them prepares and motivates an audience to respond positively to the speaker's message.

The sequence is named after Dr  Alan H Monroe who, after graduating from Northwestern University in 1924, joined the staff at Purdue University (USA) as an Instructor in English. Two years later he became Instructor in Public Speaking and was subsequently promoted to Assistant Professor and head of the speech section of the English department. He retired from the role in 1963.  

 Overview of Monroe's 5 step motivation sequence

In developing your persuasive speech outline you will follow these 5 steps:

• Attention Grab the audience's attention
• Need Establish there is a problem (need) demanding their attention
• Satisfaction Outline a solution to the problem
• Visualization Show the audience how they will benefit from your solution
• Action Provide the impetus and means to act

Monroe's five steps in more detail

Now let's examine those steps more closely.

To make the process easier to follow I've prepared a simple example speech illustrating each step and the transitions between them.  That's the text in the green boxes. 

As you read start thinking about your audience and your topic.  Jot any ideas down for later use.

About this sample speech - topic, purpose and audience

The subject  is fear of public speaking.

The specific purpose of the speech is  to persuade and encourage people in the audience to take a course to overcome their fear of public speaking. 

The central idea   of the speech is that the ability to speak in public opens doors to many opportunities.

The audience is  drawn from the local community. They range in age from late teens to forties plus.

The 5 steps of Monroe's motivation sequence 

Getting attention - step 1.

This step is your introductory "listen up" call. To make it effective it needs to grab the audience. It could be any of the following:

• a startling statement
• a rhetorical question
• a quotation
• a funny story
• a dramatic story
• a photograph or other visual aid

Put yourself in the position of your audience when deciding how to hook and hold their attention. Why should they listen to you?  How does what you have to say benefit them? Is it relevant to them? How?

Step one - attention 

Do you know the real costs of public speaking fear?

The price is high.

Research reveals that a person with public speaking fear is 10% less likely to graduate from college, is likely to receive 10% less in wages and is 15% less likely to take on management or leadership positions.

Who pays? You. Me. Us. Anybody who allows fear to govern their decision making. We pay by sacrificing our potential selves, putting our dreams away and settling for less.

Establishing credibility

As well as getting their attention you also need to establish your credibility or right to talk on the subject. Your audience needs to know that they can believe what you're telling them. If they feel they can trust your expertise and experience they will be much more likely to follow your lead. 

Credibility statement

That’s a question I asked myself a long time ago. As a teacher with many years of experience I saw far too many students who would do anything they could to avoid public speaking. To answer it I researched.

Then I used those answers to devise public speaking programs that were effective and fun.

Transition - the link from step 1 to step 2

Can you imagine the positive impact feeling OK about speaking up would have? On individuals? On families? On our community?

E stablish the need - step 2

This step develops the need for change. Now that you have your audience's attention you will clearly show them what the problem is and the extent of it.

To be effective use:

• examples to illustrate how it impacts on them - their happiness, future, health, family, neighborhood...
• statistics - facts, figures, graphs, diagrams... Remember to cite your sources and remember too that some are more credible than others. You need recognized sources to give your speech the credibility you want.
• expert witness testimony - the more authoritative, the better

Your goal at the conclusion of this step is to have your audience eager to hear your solution. They agree with you that there is a problem and want the answer.

Step two – Need

A.  According to frequently cited statistics 75%   of people suffer from some degree of glossophobia - fear of speaking in public. Source:    Hamilton, C. (2008) [2005]. Communicating for Results, a Guide for Business and the Professions (eighth edition)

• At the extreme upper end of this very large group are the people who would literally run a mile rather than speak. For example, they will not apply for promotions if the new position means giving presentations. They will not give a speech at a special family occasion - a wedding, birthday or funeral.  Public speaking makes them ill, literally. There maybe quite a few of you here, so you’ll know exactly what I mean.
• At the other end of the scale are the people who have one or two butterflies fluttering around – enough to make them register they’re a little nervous about speaking but it’s nothing to worry about. There’s likely not so many of you here. If you have come along, it’s probably to support someone who needs it! Thank you.
• The majority of us are somewhere in the middle where it’s neither all fine nor all bad. Some days are OK. We manage. And some days it’s definitely not OK. We just hang in there by the skin of our chattering teeth.

B. Bad public speaking experiences often lead to more of the same. History repeats.

• We focus on the criticism we received and interpret it as a criticism of ourselves. Our speech is bad therefore I am bad. This makes a shaky platform to build public speaking skills and confidence on.
• When given a presentation to prepare we procrastinate because we don’t feel confident or competent. That means we don’t put the work in which in turn leads to another bad experience. It becomes a vicious circle.
• When we feel ashamed about ourselves we often close off. We don’t ask for help and it becomes easier to expect less of ourselves and our lives.
•  Here's those stats again. According to Franklin Schneier, MD, s omeone with public speaking fear is likely to receive 10% less in wages, be 10% more likely to drop out of college and be 15% less likely to apply for leadership or management roles.

C. Begins in youth.

• “The fear of public speaking is more common in younger patients as compared to older ones and may be more prevalent in females as compared to males,” says Jeffrey R. Strawn, MD, FAACAP, associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics and director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Program in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati.
• More than 75% of people experience their first symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder which often includes fear of public speaking during their childhood or early teenage years - American Psychiatric Association. (2014). Understanding Mental Disorders
• Let’s conduct a quick informal survey to test that– raise your hand if any anxiety you feel about public speaking began when you were young.

Transition - the link between step 2 and step 3

However there is a way to break this pattern of anxiety. It can be stopped, and everyone who wants to can learn to speak in public confidently.

S atisfy the need - step 3

Now you outline your answer or solution and show the audience how it will work.

To do this well:

• outline your solution succinctly
• demonstrate how it meets the problem
• use examples to show how effective it is
• support with facts, figures, graphs, diagrams, statistics, testimony...
• if there is known opposition to your solution, acknowledge and counteract showing how your plan overturns it

The ideal outcome of this step is the audience nodding and saying to themselves: " Yes. This is possible, practical and sensible."   Your answer satisfies them. It gives them  "satisfaction".

Step three - Satisfaction 

A. Come along to an introductory course

• It's free, led by experienced teachers and especially designed for people with a history of being nervous about speaking in public.
• Once a week for 4 weeks you'll have 2 hours of practical public speaking training and practice.
• You'll learn tips and tricks to manage your anxiety, to give varying types of presentations, to effectively structure a speech, and to confidently deliver a speech.

B. When people overcome fear of public speaking there are so many things they can do:

• Complete their college education and go on to further study if they wanted to
• Apply for the positions they know would give them greater work satisfaction
• Speak up when they need to about issues concerning themselves, their family and their community
• Inspire others to follow their example

C. Exchanging public speaking fear for confidence will help people to:

• Communicate more effectively
• Listen more carefully to others
• Understand the power of the spoken word and what it can achieve

Transition - the link between step 3 and step 4

Can you imagine the positive impact that would have on people’s lives? Maybe yours?

S ee the future - step 4

In this step the audience "experiences" the solution. They see (feel, hear, taste...) what will happen if they do as you are suggesting contrasted against what will happen if they don't do as you are suggesting.

This step relies on your use of vivid imagery to portray the outcome of their action, or inaction. They see and feel the pleasure, or pain, in their imagination. To bring it home to your audience the pictures you provide, the stories you tell, need to be relevant and believable.

What you want folk thinking as you conclude this step is:  "I can see that this would be good for me."

Step four - Visualization

A. Imagine what society would be like if everyone took full advantage of the educational opportunities that best fitted their interests and abilities. How would that feel?

• There would be much less personal dissatisfaction and social unrest caused by people working in positions that do not pay very well or extend their skills and well being. That would be much more healthy: physically, emotionally and mentally, for everybody. You could ask for a raise! Apply for that job you always wanted! Give a presentation! Toast your bride!
• It would generate a ripple effect. People who speak up confidently and competently encourage others to do likewise. People would feel empowered – free to become the best of themselves - shoulders back, head up, standing tall, looking the world straight in the eye!

B. What disadvantages could there possibly be?

• Perhaps it could uncomfortable for those who have got used to assuming the right to talk for others without consultation. Is that really a bad thing?
• Perhaps it could lead to robust conversations where there are differing opinions over issues?  Again, is that a bad thing? It could be an opportunity to polish debating skills.
• There are no real disadvantages! Overcoming public speaking fear is good for everyone. A win-win.

Transition - the link from step 4 to step 5

Let’s do more than imagine speaking in public freely and competently. Let’s take the steps towards making it happen.

T ake action - step 5

In this last step you present your call to action.

The call to action can be embedded in any combination of the following:

• a challenge or appeal
• a personal statement of intent

To be effective the action step must be readily doable and executed as soon as possible. Make it as easy as you can for your audience. If you want them to sign up for something, have the forms available. If you wish them to lodge a personal protest in writing to your local government have stock letters and envelopes ready. In other words do the leg work for them!

Action steps that are delayed even for 48 hours are less likely to be acted on. We're human - life goes on. Other things intervene and the initial urgency is lost.

Step five – Action

  A. (Summary) Apparently 3/4 of us – 75%, are nervous about public speaking – often the result of a bad experience when were young. That has a direct impact on our adult lives. If we allow it to continue it is likely we will be paid less, fall out of college without graduating and settle for less-challenging jobs. In short – live a lesser life. However it doesn’t have to be like that. We could choose to change. We could become our bigger and best selves.

  B. (Call to Immediate Action)

We could, in the famous words of Susan Jeffers, "Feel the fear and do it anyway!"

I’ve got enrollment forms here for that free introductory public speaking course. That’s four two hour sessions over the next four weeks using tried, tested and proven methods of teaching with experienced instructors. You’ll learn how to prepare and deliver speeches. And you'll swap fear for confidence and competence while having fun!

C. (Memorable Close) Who knows what magic may happen once you speak up!

There are 15 places available. Make one of them yours.

Sources/references 

• Rosemary Black. (2018, June 4)  Glossophobia (Fear of Public Speaking): Are You Glossophobic?     Retrieved from  https://www.psycom.net/glossophobia-fear-of-public-speaking  
• Franklin Schneier. (2005) Social Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved from:  http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/medical/psychmed2/3_2005/Schneier-SocialAnxietyDisorderBW.pdf
• Author and date of publication unknown.  Social Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved from:  http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/social-anxiety-disorder
• Doug Staneart. (2018, March). Podcast 29 - How to Scare the Gooey Out of a Nervous Public Speaker. Retrieved from:  https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-to-scare-the-gooey-out-of-a-new-public-speaker/  

F itting the standard speech format

If you are wondering how these 5 steps of Monroe's Motivated Sequence fit into the standard 3 part speech format , they go like this:

• Step 1 ( Attention ) forms the Introduction.
• Steps 2,  3 and 4 ( Need,   Satisfaction and Visualization ) form the Body.
• Step 5 ( Action ) is the Conclusion.

Download a persuasive speech outline template

And now download printable blank ready-to-complete Monroe's Motivated Sequence  persuasive speech outline template . You'll find the entire 5 step process laid out clearly, ready for you to fill in the gaps.

A sample persuasive speech

Want to read a  persuasive speech example ?

This example speech ("After they're gone") follows the sequence outlined on this page.

Before you click through to it you should know the topic is somber; the impact of suicide on family and friends. I wrote it to persuade those in need to seek and accept help and to raise awareness of the issues around suicide.

Persuasive speech topics

Maybe you haven't found the persuasive speech topic you want yet? Check these pages:

- 100 great  persuasive speech ideas  

- 50  good persuasive speech topics

-  205 fun persuasive speech topics

- 309 'easy' persuasive speech topics

-  310 persuasive speech topics for college

- 108 feminist persuasive speech topics

Communication coach Alex Lyon explains

If you'd like more on Monroe's Motivated Sequence  here's a great video with excellent examples from communication coach Alex Lyons. 

And lastly, here's the links to those campaigns I mentioned at the top of the page: The Heart Truth ,  National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW)  and STOMP Out Bullying .

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17.3 Organizing Persuasive Speeches

Learning objectives.

• Understand three common organizational patterns for persuasive speeches.
• Explain the steps utilized in Monroe’s motivated sequence.
• Explain the parts of a problem-cause-solution speech.
• Explain the process utilized in a comparative advantage persuasive speech.

Steven Lilley – Engaged – CC BY-SA 2.0.

Previously in this text we discussed general guidelines for organizing speeches. In this section, we are going to look at three organizational patterns ideally suited for persuasive speeches: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantages.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

One of the most commonly cited and discussed organizational patterns for persuasive speeches is Alan H. Monroe’s motivated sequence. The purpose of Monroe’s motivated sequence is to help speakers “sequence supporting materials and motivational appeals to form a useful organizational pattern for speeches as a whole” (German et al., 2010).

While Monroe’s motivated sequence is commonly discussed in most public speaking textbooks, we do want to provide one minor caution. Thus far, almost no research has been conducted that has demonstrated that Monroe’s motivated sequence is any more persuasive than other structural patterns. In the only study conducted experimentally examining Monroe’s motivated sequence, the researchers did not find the method more persuasive, but did note that audience members found the pattern more organized than other methods (Micciche, Pryor, & Butler, 2000). We wanted to add this sidenote because we don’t want you to think that Monroe’s motivated sequence is a kind of magic persuasive bullet; the research simply doesn’t support this notion. At the same time, research does support that organized messages are perceived as more persuasive as a whole, so using Monroe’s motivated sequence to think through one’s persuasive argument could still be very beneficial.

Table 17.1 “Monroe’s Motivated Sequence” lists the basic steps of Monroe’s motivated sequence and the subsequent reaction a speaker desires from his or her audience.

Table 17.1 Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

The first step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the attention step , in which a speaker attempts to get the audience’s attention. To gain an audience’s attention, we recommend that you think through three specific parts of the attention step. First, you need to have a strong attention-getting device. As previously discussed in Chapter 9 “Introductions Matter: How to Begin a Speech Effectively” , a strong attention getter at the beginning of your speech is very important. Second, you need to make sure you introduce your topic clearly. If your audience doesn’t know what your topic is quickly, they are more likely to stop listening. Lastly, you need to explain to your audience why they should care about your topic.

In the need step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the speaker establishes that there is a specific need or problem. In Monroe’s conceptualization of need, he talks about four specific parts of the need: statement, illustration, ramification, and pointing. First, a speaker needs to give a clear and concise statement of the problem. This part of a speech should be crystal clear for an audience. Second, the speaker needs to provide one or more examples to illustrate the need. The illustration is an attempt to make the problem concrete for the audience. Next, a speaker needs to provide some kind of evidence (e.g., statistics, examples, testimony) that shows the ramifications or consequences of the problem. Lastly, a speaker needs to point to the audience and show exactly how the problem relates to them personally.

Satisfaction

In the third step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the satisfaction step , the speaker sets out to satisfy the need or solve the problem. Within this step, Monroe (1935) proposed a five-step plan for satisfying a need:

• Explanation
• Theoretical demonstration
• Reference to practical experience
• Meeting objections

First, you need to clearly state the attitude, value, belief, or action you want your audience to accept. The purpose of this statement is to clearly tell your audience what your ultimate goal is.

Second, you want to make sure that you clearly explain to your audience why they should accept the attitude, value, belief, or action you proposed. Just telling your audience they should do something isn’t strong enough to actually get them to change. Instead, you really need to provide a solid argument for why they should accept your proposed solution.

Third, you need to show how the solution you have proposed meets the need or problem. Monroe calls this link between your solution and the need a theoretical demonstration because you cannot prove that your solution will work. Instead, you theorize based on research and good judgment that your solution will meet the need or solve the problem.

Fourth, to help with this theoretical demonstration, you need to reference practical experience, which should include examples demonstrating that your proposal has worked elsewhere. Research, statistics, and expert testimony are all great ways of referencing practical experience.

Lastly, Monroe recommends that a speaker respond to possible objections. As a persuasive speaker, one of your jobs is to think through your speech and see what counterarguments could be made against your speech and then rebut those arguments within your speech. When you offer rebuttals for arguments against your speech, it shows your audience that you’ve done your homework and educated yourself about multiple sides of the issue.

Visualization

The next step of Monroe’s motivated sequence is the visualization step , in which you ask the audience to visualize a future where the need has been met or the problem solved. In essence, the visualization stage is where a speaker can show the audience why accepting a specific attitude, value, belief, or behavior can positively affect the future. When helping people to picture the future, the more concrete your visualization is, the easier it will be for your audience to see the possible future and be persuaded by it. You also need to make sure that you clearly show how accepting your solution will directly benefit your audience.

According to Monroe, visualization can be conducted in one of three ways: positive, negative, or contrast (Monroe, 1935). The positive method of visualization is where a speaker shows how adopting a proposal leads to a better future (e.g., recycle, and we’ll have a cleaner and safer planet). Conversely, the negative method of visualization is where a speaker shows how not adopting the proposal will lead to a worse future (e.g., don’t recycle, and our world will become polluted and uninhabitable). Monroe also acknowledged that visualization can include a combination of both positive and negative visualization. In essence, you show your audience both possible outcomes and have them decide which one they would rather have.

The final step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the action step , in which a speaker asks an audience to approve the speaker’s proposal. For understanding purposes, we break action into two distinct parts: audience action and approval. Audience action refers to direct physical behaviors a speaker wants from an audience (e.g., flossing their teeth twice a day, signing a petition, wearing seat belts). Approval, on the other hand, involves an audience’s consent or agreement with a speaker’s proposed attitude, value, or belief.

When preparing an action step, it is important to make sure that the action, whether audience action or approval, is realistic for your audience. Asking your peers in a college classroom to donate one thousand dollars to charity isn’t realistic. Asking your peers to donate one dollar is considerably more realistic. In a persuasive speech based on Monroe’s motivated sequence, the action step will end with the speech’s concluding device. As discussed elsewhere in this text, you need to make sure that you conclude in a vivid way so that the speech ends on a high point and the audience has a sense of energy as well as a sense of closure.

Now that we’ve walked through Monroe’s motivated sequence, let’s look at how you could use Monroe’s motivated sequence to outline a persuasive speech:

Specific Purpose: To persuade my classroom peers that the United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments.

Main Points:

• Attention: Want to make nine thousand dollars for just three weeks of work lying around and not doing much? Then be a human guinea pig. Admittedly, you’ll have to have a tube down your throat most of those three weeks, but you’ll earn three thousand dollars a week.
• Need: Every day many uneducated and lower socioeconomic-status citizens are preyed on by medical and pharmaceutical companies for use in for-profit medical and drug experiments. Do you want one of your family members to fall prey to this evil scheme?
• Satisfaction: The United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments to ensure that uneducated and lower-socioeconomic-status citizens are protected.
• Visualization: If we enact tougher experiment oversight, we can ensure that medical and pharmaceutical research is conducted in a way that adheres to basic values of American decency. If we do not enact tougher experiment oversight, we could find ourselves in a world where the lines between research subject, guinea pig, and patient become increasingly blurred.
• Action: In order to prevent the atrocities associated with for-profit medical and pharmaceutical experiments, please sign this petition asking the US Department of Health and Human Services to pass stricter regulations on this preying industry that is out of control.

This example shows how you can take a basic speech topic and use Monroe’s motivated sequence to clearly and easily outline your speech efficiently and effectively.

Table 17.2 “Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Checklist” also contains a simple checklist to help you make sure you hit all the important components of Monroe’s motivated sequence.

Table 17.2 Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Checklist

Problem-Cause-Solution

Another format for organizing a persuasive speech is the problem-cause-solution format. In this specific format, you discuss what a problem is, what you believe is causing the problem, and then what the solution should be to correct the problem.

Specific Purpose: To persuade my classroom peers that our campus should adopt a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech.

• Demonstrate that there is distrust among different groups on campus that has led to unnecessary confrontations and violence.
• Show that the confrontations and violence are a result of hate speech that occurred prior to the events.
• Explain how instituting a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy against hate speech could stop the unnecessary confrontations and violence.

In this speech, you want to persuade people to support a new campus-wide policy calling for zero-tolerance of hate speech. Once you have shown the problem, you then explain to your audience that the cause of the unnecessary confrontations and violence is prior incidents of hate speech. Lastly, you argue that a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy could help prevent future unnecessary confrontations and violence. Again, this method of organizing a speech is as simple as its name: problem-cause-solution.

Comparative Advantages

The final method for organizing a persuasive speech is called the comparative advantages speech format. The goal of this speech is to compare items side-by-side and show why one of them is more advantageous than the other. For example, let’s say that you’re giving a speech on which e-book reader is better: Amazon.com’s Kindle or Barnes and Nobles’ Nook. Here’s how you could organize this speech:

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that the Nook is more advantageous than the Kindle.

• The Nook allows owners to trade and loan books to other owners or people who have downloaded the Nook software, while the Kindle does not.
• The Nook has a color-touch screen, while the Kindle’s screen is black and grey and noninteractive.
• The Nook’s memory can be expanded through microSD, while the Kindle’s memory cannot be upgraded.

As you can see from this speech’s organization, the simple goal of this speech is to show why one thing has more positives than something else. Obviously, when you are demonstrating comparative advantages, the items you are comparing need to be functional equivalents—or, as the saying goes, you cannot compare apples to oranges.

Key Takeaways

• There are three common patterns that persuaders can utilize to help organize their speeches effectively: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantage. Each of these patterns can effectively help a speaker think through his or her thoughts and organize them in a manner that will be more likely to persuade an audience.
• Alan H. Monroe’s (1935) motivated sequence is a commonly used speech format that is used by many people to effectively organize persuasive messages. The pattern consists of five basic stages: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. In the first stage, a speaker gets an audience’s attention. In the second stage, the speaker shows an audience that a need exists. In the third stage, the speaker shows how his or her persuasive proposal could satisfy the need. The fourth stage shows how the future could be if the persuasive proposal is or is not adopted. Lastly, the speaker urges the audience to take some kind of action to help enact the speaker’s persuasive proposal.
• The problem-cause-solution proposal is a three-pronged speech pattern. The speaker starts by explaining the problem the speaker sees. The speaker then explains what he or she sees as the underlying causes of the problem. Lastly, the speaker proposes a solution to the problem that corrects the underlying causes.
• The comparative advantages speech format is utilized when a speaker is comparing two or more things or ideas and shows why one of the things or ideas has more advantages than the other(s).
• Create a speech using Monroe’s motivated sequence to persuade people to recycle.
• Create a speech using the problem-cause-solution method for a problem you see on your college or university campus.
• Create a comparative advantages speech comparing two brands of toothpaste.

German, K. M., Gronbeck, B. E., Ehninger, D., & Monroe, A. H. (2010). Principles of public speaking (17th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, p. 236.

Micciche, T., Pryor, B., & Butler, J. (2000). A test of Monroe’s motivated sequence for its effects on ratings of message organization and attitude change. Psychological Reports, 86 , 1135–1138.

Monroe, A. H. (1935). Principles and types of speech . Chicago, IL: Scott Foresman.

Stand up, Speak out Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Home » Business » Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Explained [with Examples]

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Explained [with Examples]

How do you write speeches that motivate people? One way to achieve this goal is with something called Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. This is essentially a simple formula for writing persuasive speeches.

It was created by American psychologist Alan H. Monroe, who was a lecturer at Purdue University. By studying the psychology of persuasion, Monroe was able to create a simple sequence of steps for generating persuasive communication.

In this article, we’ll briefly go over the basic steps of Monroe’s sequence, as well as provide examples of the sequence outline in action.

The 5 Steps Explained

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence steps consist of the following:

• Satisfaction
• Visualization

#1: Grab the Attention of Your Audience

The first step in this five-step process is grabbing the attention of the audience. This is by far the most important step of Monroe’s sequence. The reason why is simple: the use of attention is critical if you want the audience to listen to what you have to say.

Remember, people have extremely short attention spans. This means you only have seconds to grab their attention. According to Monroe’s sequence, the easiest way to do this is by bringing up a problem the audience has.

The specific parts of the attention step can involve the following. For example, you can start off by telling a dramatic story. This could be your own personal story of how you overcame adversity and went on to success.

You may also want to use a rhetorical question. Just be careful when doing this. Avoid questions that have a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Another method is to mention a shocking statistic or historical fact. Statistics are a good idea because they help to prove you’re an authority on the subject.

Examples: a. Better Sleep Workshop: “According to a 2021 August article in the Harvard Medical Journal, 7 out of 10 people are sleep deprived. These people do not get more than 4-5 hours of rest per night…”  (Follow this sleep example set down through the steps below.)

b. Workplace Safety Seminar: “How many companies ignore workplace safety? It’s a lot more than you think. In fact, according to a recent survey, 4 out of 5 employees routinely ignore practices related to workplace safety. The reason why they do this is that it’s simply easier. Unfortunately, ignoring safety practices often results in injuries or even death…”  (Follow this safety example set down through the steps below.)

c. Random Acts of Kindness: “Did you know that you can literally save someone’s life with random acts of kindness? How many times have you stopped to thank the people in your life? For example, the waiter or waitress who served you, or maybe your electrician or spouse. These random acts of kindness can have a profound effect. They can brighten the person’s day and even change the world…”  (Follow this kindness example set down through the steps below.)

#2:  Highlight the Fact That the Audience Needs This Problem Solved Immediately

Here are the three key parts of how to do this step.

Highlight the Problem The next step in this sequence is highlighting the problem which needs to be solved. In this second step, you want to talk about the potential consequences of ignoring their problem. You address what could happen if the issue is left unsolved.

Provide Specific Evidence on How the Issue Affects Them Directly Try to provide some evidence for this. For example, ignoring a weight problem could lead to diabetes or heart disease. The key here is that your audience must believe that they need to change. That the best place and time to do this is NOW, and that failure to do so will result in serious consequences.

Also, zero in on the fact that this problem affects them directly. Do not talk about vague or unspecific problems that may or may not apply to them specifically. Don’t tell them that plastic pollution affects the environment. Tell them that microparticles end up in the food that THEY eat.

Use Statistics to Instill a Sense of Urgency and Get Them Emotional to Take Action In addition to this, you need to instill them with a sense of urgency. They have to realize that action needs to be taken immediately. Explain what will happen if the problem gets worse. Also mention what will happen if the problem becomes irreversible.

It’s important that you back this up with evidence. Prove to them that what you’re saying is true. The easiest way to do this is once again with statistics. You want to elaborate and expand on the issue. Visual data like graphs and charts is also a useful tool.

The ultimate goal is to agitate the audience and get them into a highly emotional state. You want to make them worried about the problem and even a little bit fearful. The audience needs to be at the point where they need to solve the problem immediately. Just note that you don’t want to go overboard. Using too much fear can make things seem unrealistic and you’ll lose the audience.

Examples: a. Better Sleep Workshop: “What most people don’t know is that sleep deprivation affects every part of your body. Not only that, over time, this problem can lead to chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks, and also strokes. If this is the first time you’re hearing this, then you may be shocked…”

b. Workplace Safety Seminar: “There are dozens of cases where this happens. For example, oftentimes employees don’t pack away their tools or clean up properly. There are other times when safety equipment is used for everything other than what it’s meant for…”

“But this is why there were more than 173 worked place safety-related deaths last year. And this was in our state alone. When you look at the USA as a whole, this figure measures in the thousands…”

c. Random Acts of Kindness:  “But why do we need to do this? After all, a random act of kindness might sound a bit stupid or even corny to some. The fact is that millions of people are struggling through life. In fact, more than 20 million Americans are now suffering from clinical depression. Not only that, the suicide rate is at an all-time high. This unhappiness leads to greater unhappiness…”

“For example, these unhappy people go home and yell at their families, or indulge in other negative vices such as drugs or alcohol. It’s a vicious cycle which only gets worse with time and leads to even bigger issues. The problem is that most people are so wrapped up in their own lives that they barely take the time to think about other people…”

#3:  Provide a Solution to Their Problem or Way to Satisfy Their Need

The third step of Monroe has five main components:

Provide a Solution to the Problem The third step of Monroe’s sequence is all about providing a solution to their problem (This is also known as the “need” step of Monroe’s sequence). This section usually covers the main part of the presentation.

Explain How This Solution Works to Meet a Specific Goal Another purpose of this satisfaction step is to explain how your solution works. For example, if you’re selling a product then you’ll need to explain the product, step-by-step. How does the solution to the audience’s problem satisfy their desires and fulfill their specific need?

Talk about the specific goals they’d like to achieve. For example, you can break the specific parts of the need down into further elements. How does this problem affect their health, finances, relationships, and so on?

Provide Details, Be Believable & Provide Proof When doing this it’s important that you provide enough details. By the time you’re done with this section, the audience should understand exactly how the solution works.

Make sure the audience believes in your solution. To do this, you need to provide proof of its efficacy, and also prove that you have the best and most effective solution. You can do this by providing statistics, success examples and testimonials. For the testimonials, it helps to talk about the practical experience of people who have used the solution.

In this step, visual aids like charts and graphs will also be helpful. You can provide additional evidence, such as in the form of before and after pictures and case studies.

Anticipate & Overcome Objections Something else you need to think about is meeting objections the audience may have. Think about objections they may raise, how you can defuse these, or even turn them to your advantage. Depending on your format, you may want to involve audience members in your presentation. You can do this by having people ask questions.

Recap Finally, summarize your solution and the information you’ve provided. You can even think of this as your thesis statement (when doing this it helps use visuals accompanied by persuasive bullets).

Examples: a. Better Sleep Workshop: “I’ve spent the last five years researching this issue. During this time I’ve discovered the common reasons why people struggle to get enough sleep. Using these findings I’ve created the Better Sleep Workshop…”

b. Workplace Safety Seminar: “To prevent this, workers need to be instilled with a sense of responsibility. They need to be held accountable for their own safety, and also the safety of fellow co-workers. The way this happens is through the development of habits, and also by holding employees to a higher standard so that your company can build a culture of workplace safety…”

c. Random Acts of Kindness:  “This is why it’s so important that we engage in these random acts of kindness. Doing this will also have an incredible effect on your own life. They cost you nothing and will make you feel on top of the world. Think about you: don’t you feel good after complimenting someone or helping them out?”

“Whether it’s appreciating service workers, friends, or assisting the homeless, random acts of kindness have an immediate effect on your emotional state. Another great benefit is that people will start doing things for you. The key point here is to realize that random acts of kindness can only lead to good things… ”

#4:  Help Them Visualize a Compelling Future

At this point, you should be moving towards the conclusion of your speech. In this visualization step, the speaker shows their audience a future without the problem (You can also think of this as the “projection” step). This is where the power of your persuasion skills really comes into play. You have to paint a vivid picture of how great life will be when their needs are satisfied.

Mention what will happen if they implement your solution. What changes can they expect to see? You can also use the compare and contrast method. For example, what will life be like if they don’t take action? What kind of negative outcomes will they experience? How will these negative outcomes affect their lives?

In this visualization stage, you need to be as realistic as possible. Go into great detail when talking about either a positive or a negative future. The better you can do this, the more effective you’ll be at creating desire. Essentially, your most important goal is to make your audience agree with you. They have to agree that adopting what you’ve proposed is going to lead them to a better future. Here are the five steps to do this:

• Use the positive method of visualization by highlighting the positive outcomes they may experience.
• Use the negative method of visualization by talking about negative emotions and consequences. What are the consequences of not acting today?
• Contrast these futures. Mention that their life can either be like this…or that. Things can either get better or worse and it’s up to them to decide.
• Help them imagine the actual implementation of your solution. Talk about what they’ll have to do and what that will be like.
• Make this future projection realistic. Don’t talk about things that seem impossible or unrealistic. If you do this you may turn them off.

Examples: a. Better Sleep Workshop: “The bottom line is that this problem is more serious than you could ever imagine. Unless you dramatically improve the quality of your sleep, you may end up with one of the chronic conditions previously mentioned. What’s more, you’ll sleepwalk through life and spend your days feeling terrible, living life as a burnt-out zombie with bags under your eyes. There’s a good chance you’ve already experienced this and desperately want to change…”

“On the other hand, if you solve this problem, imagine how much better your life could be. What would it feel like to finally get enough sleep, and wake up every morning feeling as if you’re on top of the world? If you’ve been sleep-deprived for a long time, this probably sounds like a dream. But it’s more than possible…”

b. Workplace Safety Seminar: “What would your company be like if workplace accidents were a thing of the past? If you could go years without an accident? Believe it or not, this is possible, even if it doesn’t seem like it today. The exact opposite is also true. Unless you take care of this problem, accidents are going to continue. You may find yourself attending more funerals than you’d like…”

c. Random Acts of Kindness:  “Can you see yourself becoming this type of person? You probably could if you try hard enough. Imagine yourself becoming the type of person who actually takes the time and effort to deliver heartfelt compliments to those around them. Who genuinely goes out of their way to commit random acts of kindness. How would your life change if you started doing this? Even better, how would the lives of the people around you change? The first thing you’ll notice is that you immediately start to feel happier…”

#5:  Call on the Audience to Take Action

Below are the three main points to accomplish this Step #5.

Give Them a Specific Call to Action The final step in this sequence is asking the audience to take action. In this part of your speech speaker attempts to make the audience commit to the solution. The solution could be buying your product, making changes in their life, or taking some kind of action.

What’s important is that you mention the specific action which must be taken. Do they need to call a number, visit a website, or click on a link? Does the action involve booking an appointment or meeting with a sales representative? Even if the presentation doesn’t involve selling, there are still actions that can be taken. For example, do they need to implement a new habit or start living life in a new way?

Keep It Simple Keep this action as simple as possible. You don’t want to overload the audience or give them too much information. As an alternative to this, you may want to provide the audience with options. For example, you could mention options a, b, c, and so on.

Because they need to think about these options, this helps to get your listeners more involved in the solution. Ultimately, the complexity of this action will depend on the complexity of your solution.

Make It Urgent Something else you should do is leave the audience with a sense of want and urgency. This sense of need should be so great that the audience takes immediate action. When everything is said and done, you’ll want to end your speech. Sum up everything you’ve said in a simple way and provide one final call to action.

Examples: a. Better Sleep Workshop: “The choice is now yours. You can continue with doing what you’ve always done and one day face the consequences. Your next best choice is to sign up for our Better Sleep Workshop. To get started now, simply visit our website at…”

b. Workplace Safety Seminar: “Part of the solution to this is immediately reviewing your safety procedures. Our company can help you with this. We’ll tour your factory and identify areas that need attention. Our team will point out what you’re doing wrong and how you can improve. If you’d like to get started on solving this problem, then call or email us now at the number or email on the screen.”

c. Random Acts of Kindness:  “The problem is that many people have no idea how to get started. This is why we’re going to go over some examples and suggestions for random acts of kindness which you can do today. Try the following methods today and take note of how it makes you feel, and more importantly, how it affects the recipient of your random act of kindness. Who knows, you might just save someone’s life, or even change the world.”

With Monroe’s Motivated Sequence you can quickly create a persuasive argument. This organizational pattern also provides you with the framework needed to persuade people. Another benefit of this method of persuasion is that it’s versatile, and fits almost any situation. While the purpose of Monroe’s motivated speech outline is to motivate people, it can really be used for anything.

This path of persuasion is highly effective. It’s the secret behind the great speeches of people like Martin Luther King, Steve Jobs, and others. The bottom line is that these structural patterns will also work for you, even if you’re not a persuasive speaker or have experience giving public speeches.

Related Posts:

• Force Field Analysis Explained with Examples
• 25 Best Elevator Pitch Examples for Startups and…
• 25 Best Ways to Make a Good First Impression
• 21 Best Active Listening Exercises with Examples

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Persuasive Speech Outline, with Examples

March 17, 2021 - Gini Beqiri

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.

So, how do you start convincing a group of strangers to share your opinion? And how do you connect with them enough to earn their trust?

Topics for your persuasive speech

We’ve made a list of persuasive speech topics you could use next time you’re asked to give one. The topics are thought-provoking and things which many people have an opinion on.

When using any of our persuasive speech ideas, make sure you have a solid knowledge about the topic you’re speaking about – and make sure you discuss counter arguments too.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• All school children should wear a uniform
• Facebook is making people more socially anxious
• It should be illegal to drive over the age of 80
• Lying isn’t always wrong
• The case for organ donation

Read our full list of  75 persuasive speech topics and ideas .

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:

• Cultural or religious backgrounds
• Shared concerns, attitudes and problems
• Shared interests, beliefs and hopes
• Baseline attitude – are they hostile, neutral, or open to change?

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.

Remember the 3 main approaches to persuade others

There are three main approaches used to persuade others:

The ethos approach appeals to the audience’s ethics and morals, such as what is the ‘right thing’ to do for humanity, saving the environment, etc.

Pathos persuasion is when you appeal to the audience’s emotions, such as when you  tell a story  that makes them the main character in a difficult situation.

The logos approach to giving a persuasive speech is when you appeal to the audience’s logic – ie. your speech is essentially more driven by facts and logic. The benefit of this technique is that your point of view becomes virtually indisputable because you make the audience feel that only your view is the logical one.

• Ethos, Pathos, Logos: 3 Pillars of Public Speaking and Persuasion

Ideas for your persuasive speech outline

1. structure of your persuasive speech.

The opening and closing of 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’ll want to  start with a strong opening  such as an attention grabbing statement, statistic of fact. These are usually dramatic or shocking, such as:

Sadly, in the next 18 minutes when I do our chat, four Americans that are alive will be dead from the food that they eat – Jamie Oliver

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.

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

2. 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’s important that each of your points transitions seamlessly into the next one so that your speech has a logical flow. Work on your  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.

3. Addressing counter-arguments

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

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

• Complete Guide to Debating

4. Closing your speech

Your closing line of your speech is your last chance to convince your audience about what you’re 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.

Practice answering AI questions on your speech and get  feedback on your performance .

If audience members ask you questions, make sure you listen carefully and respectfully to the full question. Don’t interject in the middle of a question or become defensive.

You should show that you have carefully considered their viewpoint and refute it in an objective way (if you have opposing opinions). Ensure you remain patient, friendly and polite at all times.

Example 1: Persuasive speech outline

This example is from the Kentucky Community and Technical College.

Specific purpose

To persuade my audience to start walking in order to improve their health.

Central idea

Regular walking can improve both your mental and physical health.

Introduction

Let’s be honest, we lead an easy life: automatic dishwashers, riding lawnmowers, T.V. remote controls, automatic garage door openers, power screwdrivers, bread machines, electric pencil sharpeners, etc., etc. etc. We live in a time-saving, energy-saving, convenient society. It’s a wonderful life. Or is it?

Continue reading

Example 2: Persuasive speech

Tips for delivering your persuasive speech

• Practice, practice, and practice some more . Record yourself speaking and listen for any nervous habits you have such as a nervous laugh, excessive use of filler words, or speaking too quickly.
• Show confident body language . Stand with your legs hip width apart with your shoulders centrally aligned. Ground your feet to the floor and place your hands beside your body so that hand gestures come freely. Your audience won’t be convinced about your argument if you don’t sound confident in it. Find out more about  confident body language here .
• Don’t memorise your speech word-for-word  or read off a script. If you memorise your persuasive speech, you’ll sound less authentic and panic if you lose your place. Similarly, if you read off a script you won’t sound genuine and you won’t be able to connect with the audience by  making eye contact . In turn, you’ll come across as less trustworthy and knowledgeable. You could simply remember your key points instead, or learn your opening and closing sentences.
• Remember to use facial expressions when storytelling  – they make you more relatable. By sharing a personal story you’ll more likely be speaking your truth which will help you build a connection with the audience too. Facial expressions help bring your story to life and transport the audience into your situation.
• Keep your speech as concise as possible . When practicing the delivery, see if you can edit it to have the same meaning but in a more succinct way. This will keep the audience engaged.

The best persuasive speech ideas are those that spark a level of controversy. However, a public speech is not the time to express an opinion that is considered outside the norm. If in doubt, play it safe and stick to topics that divide opinions about 50-50.

Bear in mind who your audience are and plan your persuasive speech outline accordingly, with researched evidence to support your argument. It’s important to consider counter-arguments to show that you are knowledgeable about the topic as a whole and not bias towards your own line of thought.

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Article • 8 min read

Monroe's Motivated Sequence

Perfecting the call to act.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Is persuasion a gift? Are some people born with the ability to speak well and "sell" their ideas successfully?

It sure seems that way when you're wowed by a motivational speaker, or galvanized into action by a thought-provoking presentation.

In your role, do you ever need to motivate, inspire, or persuade others? Whether you're a senior executive giving a presentation to the Board, a manager giving a morale-boosting speech to your team, or a production manager giving a presentation on safety standards, at some point, you'll probably have to move people to action.

While there are certainly those who seem to inspire and deliver memorable speeches effortlessly, the rest of us can learn how to give effective presentations, too. In this article, we'll look at the key factors you need to put together a clear and engaging call to action using a five-step process known as Monroe's Motivated Sequence.

Monroe's Motivated Sequence: The Five Steps

Alan H. Monroe, a Purdue University professor, used the psychology of persuasion to develop an outline for making speeches that will deliver results, and wrote about it in his book Monroe's Principles of Speech . It's now known as Monroe's Motivated Sequence.

This is a well-used and time-proven method to organize presentations for maximum impact. You can use it for a variety of situations to create and arrange the components of any message. The steps are explained below:

Step One: Get Attention

Get the attention of your audience. Use storytelling , humor, a shocking statistic, or a rhetorical question – anything that will get the audience to sit up and take notice.

This step doesn't replace your introduction – it's part of your introduction. In your opening, you should also establish your credibility (see The Rhetorical Triangle for tips), state your purpose, and let the audience know what to expect. Delivering Great Presentations provides a strong foundation for building the steps in Monroe's Motivated Sequence.

Lets use the example of a half-day seminar on safety in the workplace. Your attention step might be as follows.

Step Two: Establish the Need

Convince your audience there's a problem. This set of statements must help the audience realize that what's happening right now isn't good enough – and needs to change.

• Use statistics to back up your statements.
• Talk about the consequences of maintaining the status quo and not making changes.
• Show your audience how the problem directly affects them.

Remember, you're not at the "I have a solution" stage yet. Here, you want to make the audience uncomfortable and restless, and ready to do the "something" that you recommend.

Step Three: Satisfy the Need

Introduce your solution. How will you solve the problem that your audience is now ready to address? This is the main part of your presentation. It will vary significantly, depending on your purpose. In this section:

• Discuss the facts.
• Elaborate and give details to make sure the audience understands your position and solution.
• Clearly state what you want the audience to do or believe.
• Summarize your information from time to time as you speak.
• Use examples, testimonials, and statistics to prove the effectiveness of your solution.
• Prepare counterarguments to anticipated objections.

Step Four: Visualize the Future

Describe what the situation will look like if the audience does nothing. The more realistic and detailed the vision, the better it will create the desire to do what you recommend. Your goal is to motivate the audience to agree with you and adopt similar behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs. Help them see what the results could be if they act the way you want them to. Make sure your vision is believable and realistic.

You can use three methods to help the audience share your vision:

• Positive method – Describe what the situation will look like if your ideas are adopted. Emphasize the positive aspects.
• Negative method – Describe what the situation will look like if your ideas are rejected. Focus on the dangers and difficulties caused by not acting.
• Contrast method – Develop the negative picture first, and then reveal what could happen if your ideas are accepted.

Step Five: Action/Actualization

Your final job is to leave your audience with specific things that they can do to solve the problem. You want them to take action now.

Don't overwhelm them with too much information or too many expectations, and be sure to give them options to increase their sense of ownership of the solution. This can be as simple as inviting them to have some refreshments as you walk around and answer questions. For very complex problems, the action step might be getting together again to review plans.

For some of us, persuasive arguments and motivational speaking come naturally. The rest of us may try to avoid speeches and presentations, fearing that our message won't be well received.

But Monroe's Motivated Sequence can help you to improve the quality of your message, and create a call of action that has real impact.

The model includes five key steps:

• Get attention.
• Establish the need.
• Satisfy the need.
• Visualize the future.
• Action/Actualization.

It's a straightforward formula for success that's been used time and again. Try it for your next presentation, and you'll no doubt be impressed with the results!

Monroe, A. (1951). ' Monroe's Principles of Speech (Revised Brief Edition) ,' Scott, Foreman and Company.

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Comments (1)

Nathanial Glockania

Ay bruh facts ima use this to convince the bank to gimme some money on the down low, thanks for the advice lil bro

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Monroe’s Motivated Sequence: How to Write a Powerfully Persuasive Essay, Article, or Speech (Video)

Published June 26, 2022 | Last Updated November 13, 2023 By Nicole Bianchi 2 Comments

I hope all of your writing projects are going well this June. It’s been a few months since I last published a post here, and I’m happy to finally be back.

While I was away, I was making a new video, and I just uploaded it to YouTube:

You can click on the CC button for subtitles. In this video, I look at a persuasive speech outline called the Motivated Sequence created by psychologist Alan H. Monroe.

I first learned this structure when I was competing in a speech and debate league back in high school. It was extremely effective at grabbing the attention of the audience and inspiring them to action. 

Since then, I’ve continued to use it for articles and essays and have taught it to many writing students who were working on persuasive essays and speeches. And I’ve been wanting to share it here on the blog for quite a while! I hope you find it helpful.

If you enjoy  the video , be sure to give it a thumbs up on YouTube and subscribe to the channel. This lets me know that you found the video helpful and also encourages YouTube to share it with more people on the platform. Thank you!

**RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO**:

• 📚 Principles of Speech eBook by Alan H. Monroe: https://archive.org/details/principlesofspeemonr
• 📚 Paperback copy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xQEyDL (affiliate link)
• 🎙Full Text of “I Have a Dream”: https://www.npr.org/2010/01/18/122701268/i-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety
• 📝 2015 study on Attention Span: https://time.com/3858309/attention-spans-goldfish/
• 🎥 My Video about Four Powerful Persuasive Techniques: https://youtu.be/h2Zx6oBolZY
• 📬 My email newsletter, The Inkwell: https://nicolebianchi.com/newsletter/

Here’s a transcript of the video:

Psychologist Alan H. Monroe developed the five-step motivated sequence in the 1930s while he was a speech professor at Purdue University. Monroe designed this structure so that by following each of the steps you develop a solid argument that refutes any objections and also inspires your audience to take action.

Many persuasive pieces just leave the audience hanging and don’t give them a pathway forward to making a positive change in the world. With the motivated sequence, on the other hand, you take your audience on a journey and give them a solution to the problem you’re presenting with actions they can take, no matter how big or small.

Here are the five steps of the motivated sequence:

• Satisfaction
• Visualization

If you think back to middle school and the classic five paragraph essays your teachers would assign, you can imagine each of these steps of the motivated sequence as one of those paragraphs.  For example, the attention step is your introduction, then you have three body paragraphs, and then conclude with the action step.

Most likely, however, you’ll be writing a much longer essay or speech. Each of the steps then might encompass several paragraphs, and you can think of them as sections. Some of them might be longer, others shorter, depending on the topic you’re writing about. For example, your introduction might only be one paragraph or it could be three.

But, essentially, no matter how much time you spend on each step, you want to follow each of them in order so that you lead your audience into a certain frame of mind and persuade them of your position.

Now, the motivated sequence is a fantastic structure for outlining your own persuasive speeches, and it’s also a fantastic structure to use to analyze great speeches in history and literature and see what made them so powerful.

So let’s break down each of these steps, and I’ll show you how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “ I Have a Dream ” speech follows this structure. I’ll be using quotes from Monroe’s book  Principles of Speech  to explain how to use the motivated sequence.

1. The Attention Step

Obviously, this step is all about grabbing your audience’s attention. Do you remember the famous line Mark Antony delivers at the beginning of his speech in the Shakespeare play  Julius Caesar ?

He says, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.”

It’s a fantastic reminder that we need to grab the attention of our audience before we launch into our argument.

In fact,  a 2015 study  found you only have eight seconds to grab a person’s attention before they lose concentration.   Here are several ways you can grab your audience’s attention: a rhetorical question, a startling statement, a humorous anecdote, or a story.

Or you can just dive right in and state the subject or problem if you know your audience already has a vital interest in what you will be talking about.

That’s why when choosing how to open your speech, it’s important to consider your topic and your audience. A joke, for example, might be perfect for a light-hearted topic but not for a more somber one.

Once you’ve presented the topic you’re arguing about, clearly state your position so the audience knows what to expect in the rest of your piece.

For example, let’s say you’re writing an article about how an empty lot in your neighborhood should be turned into a park. Here’s what your attention step might look like. Open with a quote from a news story about the empty lot to grab the audience’s attention. Present your thesis statement that summarizes your argument that it should be turned into a park.

Let’s look at the attention step in the “I Have a Dream Speech.” Here’s the opening line:

“I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.”

That line grabs the attention of the audience, telling them that they are participating in a historic moment.

2. The Need Step

Once you’ve grabbed your audience’s attention and presented the topic you’re going to be arguing about,  it’s time to convince the audience that this is a serious problem that needs to be solved.

In a persuasive piece, there are two different needs you could be arguing for: one, to urge a change to the status quo (point out what’s wrong with the present conditions) or, two, to demand preservation of the status quo (point out the danger of change).

Your speech arguing to turn an empty lot into a park would be an example of urging change to the status quo.

Here are four elements that Monroe says will help you write a powerful need step:

• Statement:  “Point out the importance of the subject and the need to be better informed about it.”
• Illustration:  “Tell of one or more incidents to illustrate the need.”
• Reinforcement:  “Employ as many additional facts, examples, quotations, etc., as are required to make the need more convincing and impressive.”
• Pointing:  “Show the direct relation of the subject to the well-being and success of your audience.”

Here’s a quote from the need step part of the “I Have a Dream” speech.

“We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now…Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.”

That repetition of the word “ now ” is an excellent way to drive home the need step.

3. The Satisfaction Step

Once you’ve convinced your audience there is a problem that needs to be solved, you need to offer them a solution. You’ve pulled back the curtain and shown that there is something wrong in the world. Now we have to work to make the world a better place.

B ut when will we be satisfied that the problem has been solved ? How will we know?

Here’s how Monroe says you can frame your satisfaction step.

• Statement of Solution:  “A brief statement of the attitude, belief, or action you wish the audience to adopt.” For example, let’s turn the empty lot into a park.
• Explanation:  “Make sure that your proposal is understood. Explain it clearly.” For example, describe what the park will look like, how much money it will cost, etc.
• Theoretical Demonstration:  “Show how the solution logically and adequately meets the need pointed out in the need step.” For example, show why the park will benefit the community.
• Practical Experience:  “Actual examples showing where this proposal has worked effectively or the belief been proved correct. Facts, figures, and the testimony of experts to demonstrate this conclusion.” For example, show how parks in other cities have helped to lower crime rates and make the community stronger.
• Meeting Objections:  “Forestall opposition by showing how your proposal overcomes any objections which might be raised.” For example, show why building a park is better than building a strip mall on the empty lot.

Here’s a quote from the “I Have a Dream” speech that emphasizes the satisfaction step:

“There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights when will you be satisfied? … No, no, we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until ‘justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.’”

4. The Visualization Step

Monroe noted that the function of this step is to intensify desire.  You envision for your readers what the world will be like if your solution is carried out or what it will be like if it isn’t.

“The visualization step must stand the test of reality. The conditions you describe must be realistic. You must make the audience virtually put themselves in the picture. Use vivid imagery: make the audience see, hear, feel, taste, and smell. The more vividly real you make the projected situation seem, the stronger will be the reaction of the audience.”

Monroe gives three methods for visualizing the future.

• Positive:  Describe the conditions if your solution is actually carried out. “Do not be abstract about this,” he writes. “Picture the listeners in that situation actually enjoying the safety, pleasure, or pride that your proposal will produce.”
• Negative:  Describe conditions if your solution is not carried out. “Picture the audience feeling the bad effects or unpleasantness that the failure to affect your solution will produce. Go back to the need step of your speech and select the most strikingly undesirable things and put these into the picture of future conditions.”
• Contrast:  This is a combination of one and two. “Begin with the negative method, the undesirable situation, and conclude with the positive method, the desirable solution.”

I call this last method the “two worlds” approach. For example,

“Imagine two worlds. In the first world, the empty lot attracts teen gangs and crime. In the second world, we have a beautiful green space where everyone in the community can come together and children can play safely.”

Of course, the most memorable part of the “I Have a Dream” speech is the part where the phrase “I have a dream” is repeated. That’s an example of this visualization step in action.

“And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream… I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.’”

5. The Action Step

Monroe writes,

“The function of the action step is to translate the desire created in the visualization step into a definitely fixed attitude or belief or to galvanize into overt action.”

You don’t want your action step to be too long. Sum up your points and conclude quickly.

Here are five different ways Monroe says you can frame your action step. You can combine these together for a powerful conclusion.

• Challenge or appeal:  “A short compelling and emphatic appeal to take a specific course of action or adopt a certain belief.”
• Summary:  “A quick recap of the main points in the need or satisfaction steps or both followed by a challenge or appeal to your audience.”
• Quotation:  “A direct statement made by an authoritative figure about the central idea of your piece which suggests the attitude or action you want the audience to take.” For example, this quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer would be fantastic to conclude a speech depending on your topic:  “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
• Illustration:  “This could be an incident or a story which contains the kernel of the idea or suggests the action you wish the audience to take.” It could be a fictional story like a parable.
• Personal Intention:  “A statement of your own intention to take the course of action recommended.” Monroe points out that one of the most famous examples of this method was used by Patrick Henry when he concluded his speech with the words, “ As for me, give me liberty or give me death.”

Here’s how the “I Have a Dream” speech concludes,

“With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”

The Takeaway

That’s it. Now you know how to write a powerful persuasive speech.

Of course, this persuasive speech outline should only be used when you’re attempting to convince someone to do something that is in their own best interest, something that will truly help them and make their life better and the world a better place.

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Thabsheer Ali says

July 4, 2022 at 4:03 pm

Thank you! very helpful content

Nicole Bianchi says

July 11, 2022 at 4:47 pm

You’re welcome, Thabsheer! Thank you.

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The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence: Perfecting the Art of Persuasive Speech

What is the monroe’s motivated sequence.

The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a persuasive speech framework that guides speakers in delivering compelling and effective presentations. It is a step-by-step process that helps speakers structure their speeches to capture the audience’s attention, create a need or problem, propose a solution, and visualize the desired outcome. This sequence is widely used in public speaking and is particularly useful for persuasive speeches, sales presentations, and marketing pitches. By following the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, speakers can engage their audience, build credibility, and effectively communicate their message.

Why is the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence important?

The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is important because it provides a structured framework for delivering persuasive speeches. This sequence helps speakers effectively capture the audience’s attention, create a sense of urgency, propose solutions, and paint a vivid picture of the desired outcome. By following this sequence, speakers can engage and persuade their audience more effectively. The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is especially valuable when addressing persuasive speech topics as it helps speakers organize their thoughts and arguments in a logical and compelling manner. It ensures that the audience is engaged throughout the speech and increases the likelihood of achieving the speaker’s desired outcome.

How does the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence work?

The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a persuasive speech framework that follows a specific structure to effectively influence and persuade an audience. It consists of five steps: Attention, Need, Satisfaction, Visualization, and Conclusion. In the Attention step, the speaker captures the audience’s attention using powerful opening statements and engaging storytelling. The Need step involves identifying the problem or need, creating a sense of urgency, and presenting evidence and statistics to support the need for a solution. In the Satisfaction step, the speaker proposes a solution, explains the benefits of the solution, and addresses potential objections. The Visualization step focuses on painting a vivid picture of the desired outcome, using storytelling to evoke emotions, and helping the audience imagine the future. Finally, the Conclusion step summarizes the main points, reinforces the call to action, and leaves a lasting impression. The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence provides a comprehensive and effective framework for persuasive speeches, allowing speakers to strategically influence their audience. To learn more about persuasive speaking techniques and improve your public speaking skills, check out Unifire’s resources and courses.

Step 1: Attention

Capturing the audience’s attention.

When it comes to capturing the audience’s attention, content creators and educators understand the importance of making a strong first impression. They know that in order to stand out in a sea of information, they need to grab the audience’s interest right from the start. One effective way to do this is by using powerful opening statements that immediately pique curiosity. By starting with a compelling hook or an intriguing question, content creators can instantly engage the audience and make them want to learn more. Another effective technique is storytelling. By sharing personal anecdotes or captivating narratives, content creators can create an emotional connection with the audience, making them more receptive to the message being conveyed. Capturing the audience’s attention is the crucial first step in delivering a persuasive speech that leaves a lasting impact.

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Are you a content creator or educator looking to take your persuasive speeches to the next level? Unifire is the tool you need. With Unifire, you can transform your webinars, podcasts, and conference talks into compelling content that resonates with your audience. Say goodbye to generic content and hello to unique, insightful, and engaging material. Try Unifire today and see the difference it can make in your content creation journey.

How to Captivate Your Audience:

• Start with a powerful opening statement or hook that grabs attention
• Incorporate storytelling to create an emotional connection
• Use visuals, such as images or videos, to enhance engagement
• Make your content relatable and relevant to the audience
• Practice and refine your delivery to ensure a confident and engaging presentation

By following these steps, you can captivate your audience and deliver persuasive speeches that inspire and motivate.

Engaging the audience with storytelling

Engaging the audience with storytelling is a crucial step in the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. Storytelling has the power to captivate listeners and create an emotional connection . By sharing personal anecdotes or relatable narratives, speakers can effectively convey their message and make it more memorable. Storytelling allows the audience to visualize the problem or need, making it more relatable and compelling. It helps create a sense of empathy and urgency, encouraging the audience to pay attention and take action. Through the art of storytelling, speakers can paint a vivid picture of the desired outcome, helping the audience imagine a better future. By incorporating storytelling techniques, speakers can keep the audience engaged throughout the speech and leave a lasting impression.

Step 2: Need

Identifying the problem or need.

The first step in the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is identifying the problem or need that your audience is facing. This is a crucial step because it sets the stage for the rest of your persuasive speech. To effectively identify the problem or need, you should conduct thorough research and gather relevant data and evidence. This will help you understand the magnitude of the issue and its impact on your audience. Once you have identified the problem or need, you can create a sense of urgency by highlighting the consequences of not addressing it. Presenting compelling evidence and statistics can further reinforce the importance of finding a solution. By clearly articulating the problem or need, you can capture your audience’s attention and motivate them to listen to your proposed solution. Unifire is a platform that can help you craft persuasive speeches using the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive resources, Unifire makes it easy to create impactful speeches that resonate with your audience. Sign up for Unifire today and take your persuasive speaking skills to the next level!

Creating a sense of urgency

Creating a sense of urgency is a crucial step in the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. By highlighting the immediate and pressing nature of the problem or need, you can captivate the audience’s attention and motivate them to take action. Presenting compelling evidence and statistics that demonstrate the negative consequences of not addressing the issue can further enhance the sense of urgency. Additionally, sharing real-life stories and examples that illustrate the urgency can help the audience connect emotionally and understand the need for immediate action. By emphasizing the time-sensitive nature of the problem, you can effectively persuade the audience to prioritize finding a solution. To create a sense of urgency, consider using powerful language, visuals, and storytelling techniques that convey the gravity of the situation. Remember, the goal is to make the audience feel a sense of urgency and compel them to act now. Act today and join Unifire in making a difference!

Step 3: Satisfaction

Proposing a solution.

After identifying the problem or need, the next step in the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is proposing a solution. This is where the speaker presents a clear and actionable solution to address the problem or fulfill the need. The solution should be practical and feasible, offering a way forward for the audience. It is important to explain the benefits of the solution, highlighting how it can effectively solve the problem or fulfill the need. Additionally, the speaker should address potential objections or concerns that the audience may have, providing reassurance and building credibility. By proposing a solution, the speaker aims to convince the audience that taking action is necessary and beneficial. The proposed solution should be compelling and persuasive , appealing to the emotions and logic of the audience. By offering a concrete solution, the speaker guides the audience towards a desired outcome and motivates them to take action. In the case of persuasive speeches, the proposed solution often includes a call to action, urging the audience to support a particular cause or take specific steps towards a desired change. By actively involving the audience in the solution , the speaker increases their engagement and commitment to the message. Ultimately, the goal of this step is to convince the audience that the proposed solution is the best course of action and that they should act upon it. To learn more about the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence and how to perfect the art of persuasive speech, visit Unifire .

Explaining the benefits of the solution

The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence provides a comprehensive and effective framework for persuasive speech. By following the 5 step structural pattern, speakers can strategically capture the audience’s attention, identify and create a sense of urgency around the problem or need, propose a solution, paint a vivid picture of the desired outcome, and reinforce the call to action. This sequence helps speakers engage the audience, evoke emotions, and ultimately persuade them to take action. By utilizing powerful opening statements, storytelling techniques, evidence and statistics, and addressing potential objections, speakers can effectively communicate the benefits of their proposed solution. The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a valuable tool for anyone looking to deliver a persuasive speech that leaves a lasting impression.

Addressing potential objections

In order to effectively address potential objections, it is important to anticipate and acknowledge any concerns or doubts that the audience may have. By doing so, you can demonstrate that you have considered all perspectives and are prepared to provide a compelling response. One strategy is to use the Rhetorical Triangle , which consists of ethos , pathos, and logos, to appeal to the audience’s emotions, credibility, and logic. By incorporating these elements into your persuasive speech, you can build trust and credibility, evoke empathy and connect with the audience on an emotional level, and present logical arguments supported by evidence and reasoning. This comprehensive approach helps to counter potential objections and strengthen your overall persuasive message.

Step 4: Visualization

Painting a vivid picture of the desired outcome.

After presenting the proposed solution and explaining its benefits, the next step in the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is to paint a vivid picture of the desired outcome. This step aims to create a compelling vision in the minds of the audience, helping them visualize the positive impact of accepting the proposed solution. By using storytelling techniques and evoking emotions, speakers can engage the audience on an emotional level and make the desired outcome feel more tangible and achievable. Imagine a world where everyone has access to clean drinking water . Picture children smiling as they quench their thirst with safe and pure water. Envision communities thriving, free from the burden of waterborne diseases. By painting this vivid picture, speakers can inspire and motivate the audience to take action. The visualization step is crucial in connecting the audience’s emotions to the proposed solution and reinforcing the urgency and importance of addressing the problem at hand.

To learn more about the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence and how to perfect the art of persuasive speech, visit Unifire . Unifire offers a comprehensive platform that helps you craft and deliver impactful speeches that drive change. Take your persuasive speaking skills to the next level and make a lasting impression on your audience. Start using Unifire today!

How to Paint a Vivid Picture of the Desired Outcome:

• Use descriptive language and vivid imagery to create a mental image of the desired outcome.
• Incorporate storytelling techniques to engage the audience’s emotions and make the desired outcome feel more real.
• Highlight the positive impact and benefits that the desired outcome will bring.
• Connect the desired outcome to the proposed solution, reinforcing the importance of taking action.
• Use visual aids, such as photos or videos, to enhance the audience’s visualization experience.
• Encourage the audience to imagine themselves experiencing the desired outcome, fostering a sense of personal connection and motivation.
• End with a powerful statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the call to action.

Using storytelling to evoke emotions

Storytelling is a powerful tool in persuasive speech, as it has the ability to evoke emotions and create a deep connection with the audience. By telling a compelling story that relates to the topic at hand, the speaker can engage the audience on an emotional level and make the message more relatable and memorable. Stories have the power to transport the audience to a different time and place, allowing them to experience the emotions and events firsthand. This emotional connection can help to build trust and credibility, as well as inspire the audience to take action. When using storytelling to evoke emotions, it is important to choose stories that are relevant and impactful, and to use vivid language and imagery to paint a vivid picture in the audience’s minds. By tapping into the power of storytelling, speakers can create a lasting impact and drive their message home.

CTA: Visit Unifire to learn more about the power of storytelling in persuasive speech and discover tools to enhance your persuasive speaking skills.

How to Use Storytelling to Evoke Emotions:

• Choose a relevant and impactful story that relates to your topic.
• Use vivid language and imagery to paint a vivid picture in the audience’s minds.
• Connect the story to the main message or call to action.
• Practice delivering the story with emotion and passion.
• Pay attention to the audience’s reactions and adjust your delivery accordingly.
• Use storytelling strategically throughout your speech to engage and captivate the audience.
• Reflect on the impact of the storytelling after the speech and make adjustments for future speeches.

By following these steps, you can harness the power of storytelling to evoke emotions and create a persuasive and impactful speech.

Helping the audience imagine the future

After going through the steps of the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, it is crucial to help the audience imagine the future. By painting a vivid picture of the desired outcome, using storytelling to evoke emotions, and providing concrete examples, you can create a powerful vision in the minds of your listeners. This step is essential because it allows the audience to connect with the proposed solution on a deeper level and understand the potential impact it can have on their lives. By helping them visualize the positive changes that can occur, you can inspire them to take action and support your cause. The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence provides a structured framework for persuasive speeches , and by following its steps, you can effectively engage your audience and motivate them to act.

Summarizing the main points

The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a powerful framework for persuasive speech that consists of five steps: Attention, Need, Satisfaction, Visualization, and Conclusion. In the Attention step, the speaker captures the audience’s attention using powerful opening statements and engaging storytelling. The Need step involves identifying the problem or need, creating a sense of urgency, and presenting evidence and statistics. In the Satisfaction step, the speaker proposes a solution, explains the benefits of the solution, and addresses potential objections. The Visualization step focuses on painting a vivid picture of the desired outcome, using storytelling to evoke emotions, and helping the audience imagine the future. Finally, in the Conclusion step, the main points of the speech are summarized, the call to action is reinforced, and a lasting impression is left on the audience. The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is important because it provides a structured approach to persuasive speech, ensuring that the speaker effectively communicates their message and motivates the audience to take action. To perfect the art of persuasive speech, it is crucial to prioritize depth over high-level explanations and to be comprehensive when addressing each step of the sequence. If you’re looking to enhance your persuasive speaking skills, consider using Unifire, a tool that can help you create compelling content and scale your operations. With Unifire, you can turn webinars into weeks’ worth of unique content that resonates with your audience. Try Unifire today and see how it can be a game changer for content creators, educators, and anyone who wants to win the content game.

Reinforcing the call to action

After presenting a compelling solution and addressing potential objections, it is crucial to reinforce the call to action and leave a lasting impression on the audience. This is the final opportunity to motivate them to take the desired action. Summarize the main points of the persuasive speech, emphasizing the problem, the proposed solution, and the benefits of taking action. Use powerful language to evoke emotions and create a sense of urgency. Remind the audience of the consequences of inaction and the positive outcomes that can be achieved by following through with the call to action. Finally, provide clear and specific instructions on how to take action, whether it’s signing a petition, making a donation, or spreading the message on social media. Remember, the success of a persuasive speech lies in the ability to inspire action, so make sure to leave a strong and memorable impression.

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Leaving a lasting impression

In conclusion, the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a powerful framework for delivering persuasive speeches. By following the sequence, speakers can effectively capture the audience’s attention, identify a problem or need, propose a solution, and paint a vivid picture of the desired outcome. One key insight from this article is the importance of engaging the audience through storytelling, which helps evoke emotions and create a lasting impact. Another important point is the need to address potential objections and present evidence and statistics to support the proposed solution. By using the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, speakers can leave a lasting impression on their audience, motivating them to take action. Armenian genocide is a tragic example of a problem that could be addressed using this persuasive framework.

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Mastering Monroe’s Motivated Sequence: A guide to persuasive speaking

Georgina Guthrie

April 19, 2023

Have you ever watched a skilled chef prepare a meal? They don’t just toss ingredients together and hope for the best. Instead, they follow a carefully crafted recipe that guides them through each step to ensure a delicious outcome. 

Similarly, persuasive speakers need a recipe for success, and that’s where Monroe’s Motivated Sequence comes in. This persuasive speaking technique is like a recipe for a great speech, guiding speakers through each step of the process. Following the sequence ensures that they capture their audience’s attention and motivate them to take action, two crucial goals for any speaker. 

Whether you’re presenting to your colleagues, making a pitch to potential investors, or simply trying to convince a friend to try a new restaurant, understanding Monroe’s Motivated Sequence can help you become a more persuasive and effective communicator. Here’s what you need to know to start using it.

What is Munroe’s motivated sequence?

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence was developed by Alan H. Monroe , a professor of speech at Purdue University, in the 1930s. At the time, Monroe was studying psychology and persuasion principles, and he wanted to develop a framework for creating more effective speeches.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence was the result of years of research and experimentation. He analyzed thousands of speeches and identified the most effective elements for persuading audiences to take action. He then combined these elements into a five-step framework for structuring persuasive speeches.

The five steps of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence are:

• Attention : Grab the audience’s attention with a compelling opening statement or question.
• Need : Identify a problem or need that the audience has.
• Satisfaction : Present a solution to the problem or need.
• Visualization : Help the audience visualize the benefits of adopting your solution.
• Action : Call the audience to action, and provide a clear and actionable next step.

Since its development, Monroe’s Motivated Sequence has become one of the world’s most widely used persuasive speaking techniques. Its effectiveness is clear in everything from political speeches to advertising campaigns.

How to follow Munroe’s Motivated sequence

Here is how to follow each step.

Step 1: Attention 

First, you must grab the audience’s attention with a compelling opening statement or question. This step is crucial because it sets the tone for the rest of the speech and determines whether the audience will be engaged. Here are some practical tips for effectively grabbing the audience’s attention:

• Use a surprising statistic or fact. People are naturally drawn to numbers and statistics, especially if they’re surprising or shocking. For example, you might begin by saying, “Did you know that approximately 1 in 3 people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water?” before starting a talk on improving water quality. 
• Ask a rhetorical question . A well-placed rhetorical question can be a powerful way to engage the audience and get them thinking. For example, if you’re giving a speech on wild animal preservation, you might begin by asking, “How many more species need to be lost before we take action?”
• Use a personal anecdote . Sharing a personal story can be an effective way to connect with the audience on an emotional level. For example, if you’re giving a speech on the importance of education, you might begin by telling a story about how education changed your life.
• Use humor. Humor can be a great way to break the ice and put the audience at ease. Just be sure to keep it appropriate and relevant to your topic.
• Use a powerful quote. A powerful quote can be a great way to set the tone for your speech and get the audience thinking. For example, if you’re giving a speech on leadership, you might begin by quoting John F. Kennedy’s famous line, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Step 2: Need 

This step involves convincing the audience that a problem or issue needs to be addressed. Here are some practical tips for effectively establishing a need for change or action:

• Identify a problem or issue. First, identify a problem or issue that is relevant to your audience. This could be a societal issue, a personal problem, or something else entirely. For example, if you’re giving a speech on mental health, you might identify the problem of stigmatization surrounding mental illness.
• Use evidence and statistics. To convince your audience there’s a problem, you must provide objective evidence supporting your claims. This could include data from scientific studies, government reports, or other credible sources. For example, if you’re giving a speech on climate change, you might use data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to demonstrate the severity of the issue.
• Use personal stories or examples. Again, sharing personal stories or examples can be a powerful way to illustrate the need for change or action. For example, if you’re giving a speech on the importance of organ donation, you might share a story of someone whose life was saved by an organ transplant.
• Appeal to emotions. Emotions can be a powerful motivator for change or action. Appealing to your audience’s emotions can help them connect with the issue more deeply. For example, if you’re giving a speech on animal rights, you might use images or videos to show the mistreatment of animals and appeal to your audience’s sense of empathy.

Step 3: Satisfaction

Next, it’s time to offer a salve to those issues you just raised. This step involves providing a clear and actionable plan for addressing the problem. Here are some practical tips:

• Identify the key components of the solution. To effectively present a solution, you must break it down into its key features. This will help your audience understand how the solution works and what steps they need to take to implement it. For example, if you’re giving a speech on reducing plastic waste, you might break your solution down into components such as using reusable bags, reducing single-use plastics, and recycling.
• Explain how the solution works. Once you’ve identified the key components of the solution, you need to explain how it works. This could involve demonstrating a product or service, providing instructions for using a particular tool or resource or showing before-and-after examples. For example, suppose you’re giving a speech on reducing plastic waste. In that case, you might show your audience how to properly use a reusable water bottle or provide before-and-after examples of how much plastic waste you can reduce by using reusable bags.
• Highlight the benefits of the solution. To motivate your audience to take action, highlight the solution’s benefits. This could include environmental benefits, health benefits, cost savings, or other positive outcomes. For example, suppose you’re giving a speech on the benefits of exercise. In that case, you might highlight the health benefits such as improved cardiovascular health, reduced risk of chronic disease, and improved mental health.
• Address potential objections. When presenting a solution, it’s important to address any potential objections or concerns your audience may have. This could involve addressing common misconceptions, providing evidence to support your claims, or providing counterarguments to common objections. For example, suppose you’re giving a speech on the benefits of renewable energy. In that case, you might address common objections such as the installation cost or the green credentials of renewable energy sources.

Step 4: Visualization

This step involves painting a vivid and compelling picture of what the world will look like after the solution. Here are some practical tips for effectively visualizing outcomes:

• Use storytelling. By telling a story that illustrates the positive outcomes of the solution, you can help your audience imagine what the future could look like. For example, if you’re giving a speech on the benefits of education, you might tell a story about a student who overcame adversity and achieved academic success.
• Use statistics and data. As with the other steps, statistics and data can be powerful tools. You can help your audience understand the solution’s impact by providing concrete numbers and data points. For example, suppose you’re giving a speech on the benefits of renewable energy. In that case, you might provide statistics on how much carbon emissions can be reduced by switching to renewable energy sources.
• Use visual aids. Visual aids such as graphs, charts, and images can help you illustrate the outcomes of the solution. If you’re giving a speech on reducing poverty, you might use a graph to show how poverty rates have declined in other countries that have implemented poverty reduction programs.
• Paint a picture. Use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture of what the world will look like if everyone makes the change. Use sensory language to help your audience imagine the sounds, smells, and feelings associated with the positive outcomes. For example, if you’re giving a speech on the benefits of public transportation, you might describe a city with clean air, quiet streets, and happy commuters.
• Show the consequences of inaction. Sometimes, it can be effective to highlight the consequences of inaction to motivate your audience to take action. This could involve describing the negative outcomes that will occur if the solution is not implemented. For example, if you’re giving a speech on climate change, you might describe the catastrophic effects of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and food shortages. 

Speaking of negative approaches: when it comes to helping your audience visualize the future, there are three approaches you can take. 

• The Positive Method: This method involves describing what the situation will look like if everyone adopts your idea. It emphasizes the positive aspects of the solution and focuses on the benefits and opportunities that will arise.
• The Negative Method: This method involves describing what the situation will look like if people reject you. It focuses on the dangers and difficulties caused by not acting and highlights the negative consequences of inaction. 
• The Contrast Method: This method involves developing the negative picture first and then revealing what could happen if things change. This method can be effective because it creates a sense of contrast between the negative outcomes of inaction and the positive outcomes of taking action. For example, if you’re advocating for education reform, you might describe the negative outcomes of a broken education system, such as high dropout rates and low test scores, before highlighting the positive outcomes of reform, such as better-prepared students and a more educated workforce.

When deciding which method to use, it’s important to consider your audience and the context of your message. The positive method is more effective for inspiring and motivating your audience, while the negative method highlights the situation’s urgency more effectively. The contrast method is good for creating a sense of contrast and emphasizing the importance of taking action in general. 

 Step 4: Call to action 

This is the sequence’s final and arguably most important step: you ask your audience to take a specific action. Here are some practical tips.

• Be specific. Whether signing a petition, donating to a cause, or making a personal change, provide clear instructions on how to take action.
• Make it urgent. Create a sense of urgency around your call to action. Explain why taking action now rather than later is important and use strong language to convey the situation’s urgency.
• Use emotional language. Use emotional language to connect with your audience and inspire them to take action. Use words that evoke compassion, empathy, or urgency to motivate.
• Provide a reason why. Explain why taking action is essential and how it will make a difference. Provide evidence or personal stories that illustrate the impact of taking action, and show your audience how their efforts can make a positive change.
• Offer alternatives. Sometimes, the action you’re asking your audience to take may not be feasible for everyone. Offer alternative activities that your audience can take to support the cause, such as sharing information on social media or volunteering their time.

Three famous speeches that follow Munroe’s Motivated sequence 

Martin luther king jr’s “i have a dream”.

Martin Luther King Jr. used Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in his “I Have a Dream” speech . He first identified the need for racial equality and presented a solution. King then helped the audience visualize the benefits of his solution, which was a world free of discrimination and prejudice. Finally, he called upon the audience to take action and join him in the fight for civil rights.

By using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, King effectively communicated his message and inspired his audience to take action. His speech remains a powerful example of how this persuasive speaking technique can create lasting change.

Steve Jobs’s 2007 iPhone launch

Steve Jobs used Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in his 2007 iPhone launch keynote . During his keynote speech, Jobs hooked the audience’s attention with a powerful opening statement: “Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything.” He then identified the need for a better mobile device and presented the iPhone as the solution. Jobs highlighted the benefits of the iPhone, which combined a phone, music player, and internet browser into one device, and helped the audience visualize its potential. Finally, he called upon the audience to take action and go out to buy the iPhone.

Using this approach, Jobs effectively communicated the iPhone’s value and created a buzz around the product. His presentation remains a classic example of how to use Monroe’s Motivated Sequence to market a product successfully.

Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight on the Beaches”

Winston Churchill used Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in his “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” speech . Churchill’s famous speech began with a powerful opening statement, “We shall fight on the beaches,” which captured the audience’s attention. He then identified the need for a strong defense against the Nazis and presented a solution: to fight them on the beaches, fields, and streets. Churchill helped the audience visualize the benefits of victory, which would be a world free of Nazi tyranny. Finally, he called upon the audience to take action and join him in the fight against the Nazis.

By using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, Churchill delivered a powerful speech that motivated the British to fight against the Nazis during World War II. His speech remains a classic example of using persuasive techniques to inspire action and create change.

Applying Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in the digital world 

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a powerful tool for crafting persuasive and memorable messages. By following the five steps — attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and call to action — you can effectively grab your audience’s attention, create a sense of urgency, offer a solution, paint a picture of the future, and inspire action. 

When working remotely, this sequence can help you communicate more effectively with your remote team and leave a lasting impression on others. With the increasing use of chat apps in today’s world, it’s important to adapt your communication style so that your messages have as much impact as face-to-face interactions. The same rules apply, but you’ll need to consider factors like accessibility, reliability, engagement (using tools like images, polls, and video), and email or direct message best practices (avoid sending someone a ‘ wall of text ’!). 

Whether you’re messaging a friend, emailing a colleague, or having a video chat with a client, remember the power of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence and use it to create more impactful messages.

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How to Write an Outline for a Persuasive Speech, with Examples

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Persuasive speeches are one of the three most used speeches in our daily lives. Persuasive speech is used when presenters decide to convince their presentation or ideas to their listeners. A compelling speech aims to persuade the listener to believe in a particular point of view. One of the most iconic examples is Martin Luther King’s ‘I had a dream’ speech on the 28th of August 1963.

In this article:

What is Persuasive Speech?

Here are some steps to follow:, persuasive speech outline, final thoughts.

Persuasive speech is a written and delivered essay to convince people of the speaker’s viewpoint or ideas. Persuasive speaking is the type of speaking people engage in the most. This type of speech has a broad spectrum, from arguing about politics to talking about what to have for dinner. Persuasive speaking is highly connected to the audience, as in a sense, the speaker has to meet the audience halfway.

Persuasive Speech Preparation

Persuasive speech preparation doesn’t have to be difficult, as long as you select your topic wisely and prepare thoroughly.

1. Select a Topic and Angle

Come up with a controversial topic that will spark a heated debate, regardless of your position. This could be about anything. Choose a topic that you are passionate about. Select a particular angle to focus on to ensure that your topic isn’t too broad. Research the topic thoroughly, focussing on key facts, arguments for and against your angle, and background.

2. Define Your Persuasive Goal

Once you have chosen your topic, it’s time to decide what your goal is to persuade the audience. Are you trying to persuade them in favor of a certain position or issue? Are you hoping that they change their behavior or an opinion due to your speech? Do you want them to decide to purchase something or donate money to a cause? Knowing your goal will help you make wise decisions about approaching writing and presenting your speech.

3. Analyze the Audience

Understanding your audience’s perspective is critical anytime that you are writing a speech. This is even more important when it comes to a persuasive speech because not only are you wanting to get the audience to listen to you, but you are also hoping for them to take a particular action in response to your speech. First, consider who is in the audience. Consider how the audience members are likely to perceive the topic you are speaking on to better relate to them on the subject. Grasp the obstacles audience members face or have regarding the topic so you can build appropriate persuasive arguments to overcome these obstacles.

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4. Build an Effective Persuasive Argument

Once you have a clear goal, you are knowledgeable about the topic and, have insights regarding your audience, you will be ready to build an effective persuasive argument to deliver in the form of a persuasive speech. 

Start by deciding what persuasive techniques are likely to help you persuade your audience. Would an emotional and psychological appeal to your audience help persuade them? Is there a good way to sway the audience with logic and reason? Is it possible that a bandwagon appeal might be effective?

5. Outline Your Speech

Once you know which persuasive strategies are most likely to be effective, your next step is to create a keyword outline to organize your main points and structure your persuasive speech for maximum impact on the audience.

Start strong, letting your audience know what your topic is, why it matters and, what you hope to achieve at the end of your speech. List your main points, thoroughly covering each point, being sure to build the argument for your position and overcome opposing perspectives. Conclude your speech by appealing to your audience to act in a way that will prove that you persuaded them successfully. Motivation is a big part of persuasion.

6. Deliver a Winning Speech

Select appropriate visual aids to share with your audiences, such as graphs, photos, or illustrations. Practice until you can deliver your speech confidently. Maintain eye contact, project your voice and, avoid using filler words or any form of vocal interference. Let your passion for the subject shine through. Your enthusiasm may be what sways the audience. 

Topic: What topic are you trying to persuade your audience on?

Specific Purpose:  

Central idea:

• Attention grabber – This is potentially the most crucial line. If the audience doesn’t like the opening line, they might be less inclined to listen to the rest of your speech.
• Thesis – This statement is used to inform the audience of the speaker’s mindset and try to get the audience to see the issue their way.
• Qualifications – Tell the audience why you are qualified to speak about the topic to persuade them.

After the introductory portion of the speech is over, the speaker starts presenting reasons to the audience to provide support for the statement. After each reason, the speaker will list examples to provide a factual argument to sway listeners’ opinions.

• Example 1 – Support for the reason given above.
• Example 2 – Support for the reason given above.

The most important part of a persuasive speech is the conclusion, second to the introduction and thesis statement. This is where the speaker must sum up and tie all of their arguments into an organized and solid point.

• Summary: Briefly remind the listeners why they should agree with your position.
• Memorable ending/ Audience challenge: End your speech with a powerful closing thought or recommend a course of action.
• Thank the audience for listening.

Persuasive Speech Outline Examples

Topic: Walking frequently can improve both your mental and physical health.

Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to start walking to improve their health.

Central idea: Regular walking can improve your mental and physical health.

Life has become all about convenience and ease lately. We have dishwashers, so we don’t have to wash dishes by hand with electric scooters, so we don’t have to paddle while riding. I mean, isn’t it ridiculous?

Today’s luxuries have been welcomed by the masses. They have also been accused of turning us into passive, lethargic sloths. As a reformed sloth, I know how easy it can be to slip into the convenience of things and not want to move off the couch. I want to persuade you to start walking.

Americans lead a passive lifestyle at the expense of their own health.

• This means that we spend approximately 40% of our leisure time in front of the TV.
• Ironically, it is also reported that Americans don’t like many of the shows that they watch.
• Today’s studies indicate that people were experiencing higher bouts of depression than in the 18th and 19th centuries, when work and life were considered problematic.
• The article reports that 12.6% of Americans suffer from anxiety, and 9.5% suffer from severe depression.
• Present the opposition’s claim and refute an argument.
• Nutritionist Phyllis Hall stated that we tend to eat foods high in fat, which produces high levels of cholesterol in our blood, which leads to plaque build-up in our arteries.
• While modifying our diet can help us decrease our risk for heart disease, studies have indicated that people who don’t exercise are at an even greater risk.

In closing, I urge you to start walking more. Walking is a simple, easy activity. Park further away from stores and walk. Walk instead of driving to your nearest convenience store. Take 20 minutes and enjoy a walk around your neighborhood. Hide the TV remote, move off the couch and, walk. Do it for your heart.

Thank you for listening!

Topic: Less screen time can improve your sleep.

Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to stop using their screens two hours before bed.

Central idea: Ceasing electronics before bed will help you achieve better sleep.

Who doesn’t love to sleep? I don’t think I have ever met anyone who doesn’t like getting a good night’s sleep. Sleep is essential for our bodies to rest and repair themselves.

I love sleeping and, there is no way that I would be able to miss out on a good night’s sleep.

As someone who has had trouble sleeping due to taking my phone into bed with me and laying in bed while entertaining myself on my phone till I fall asleep, I can say that it’s not the healthiest habit, and we should do whatever we can to change it.

• Our natural blue light source is the sun.
• Bluelight is designed to keep us awake.
• Bluelight makes our brain waves more active.
• We find it harder to sleep when our brain waves are more active.
• Having a good night’s rest will improve your mood.
• Being fully rested will increase your productivity.

Using electronics before bed will stimulate your brainwaves and make it more difficult for you to sleep. Bluelight tricks our brains into a false sense of daytime and, in turn, makes it more difficult for us to sleep. So, put down those screens if you love your sleep!

Thank the audience for listening

A persuasive speech is used to convince the audience of the speaker standing on a certain subject. To have a successful persuasive speech, doing the proper planning and executing your speech with confidence will help persuade the audience of your standing on the topic you chose. Persuasive speeches are used every day in the world around us, from planning what’s for dinner to arguing about politics. It is one of the most widely used forms of speech and, with proper planning and execution, you can sway any audience.

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Module 10: Persuasive Speaking

Monroe’s motivated sequence, learning objectives.

• Explain the use of Monroe’s motivated sequence to motivate listeners.

Monroe’s motivated sequence is the best-known organizational pattern focused on motivational appeals. It is especially useful in situations where the speaker is proposing a solution to an existing problem.

If you use Monroe’s motivated sequence, you’re asking your audience to visualize the consequences of what will happen if they are persuaded to engage in the action you are arguing for. Health-related appeals often use this strategy: for example, smoking, seat belts, mask-wearing in a pandemic, etc.

Alan H. Monroe was a Purdue University psychology professor who used what he knew about the psychology of persuasion to write a book called “Monroe’s Principles of Speech.” He outlines a speech organizational pattern which is most effective in speeches of persuasion. It involves five key steps for which to order the speech.

• Get attention. This involves calling the audience’s attention to a problem. It may occur in the introduction part of the speech or as the first point in the body of the speech. For example, according to the New England Medical Journal in their 2018 June article, four out of five people do not get more than five quality hours of sleep per night.
• Establish the need. Show that there is a problem or a need for something to be done. Use statistics, evidence, etc., to prove the need. This establishment may occur in the introduction or the body of the speech. For example, lack of sleep depletes productivity.
• Satisfy the need.  Offer a solution to the issue and explain how the solution would work. This usually is in the body of the speech as a main point. Take a sleep workshop.
• Visualize the future. Paint a picture of what the world would be like if the need is satisfied using your proposed solution. For example, how productive the world would be on seven hours of sleep per night? The visualization could be in the body or conclusion.
• Action/Actualization.  Call the audience to take action and commit to doing something such as signing a pledge to get better sleep, going to a sleep workshop, etc. The call for action is usually in the conclusion.

In this video, Eric Robertson breaks down the components of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence.

You can view the transcript for “Monroe’s Motivated Sequence | COMMUNICATION STUDIES” here (opens in new window) .

To watch: Ron Finley, “A guerilla gardener in South Central LA”

In this TED talk, fashion designer and urban gardener Ron Finley talks about creating gardens in a South Central food desert.

You can view the transcript for “A guerilla gardener in South Central LA | Ron Finley” here (opens in new window) .

What to watch for:

Finley’s speech is a good example of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. Here’s how it fits into the five steps:

Attention : “I live in South Central. This is South Central: liquor stores, fast food, vacant lots.”

Need : “Just like 26.5 million other Americans, I live in a food desert, South Central Los Angeles, home of the drive-thru and the drive-by. Funny thing is, the drive-thrus are killing more people than the drive-bys.”

Satisfaction : “So me and my group, L.A. Green Grounds, we got together and we started planting my food forest, fruit trees, you know, the whole nine, vegetables. . . . I have witnessed my garden become a tool for the education, a tool for the transformation of my neighborhood. To change the community, you have to change the composition of the soil. We are the soil.”

Visualization : “Now this is one of my plans. This is what I want to do. I want to plant a whole block of gardens where people can share in the food in the same block. I want to take shipping containers and turn them into healthy cafes.”

Action : “If you want to meet with me, come to the garden with your shovel so we can plant some sh*t.”

• Monroe's Motivated Sequence | COMMUNICATION STUDIES. Authored by : Eric Robertson. Located at : https://youtu.be/NdrJX5b4R-0 . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License
• A guerilla gardener in South Central LA | Ron Finley. Provided by : TED. Located at : https://youtu.be/EzZzZ_qpZ4w . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License
• Monroeu2019s Motivated Sequence. Authored by : Mike Randolph with Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

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Visualization Step

Note to Self

In this step, use colorful, rich, descriptive language. Also consider saving some of the most prominent visual aids to use here as well. The Visualization step becomes most persuasive when the benefits appear so tantalizing the audience simply cannot imagine life without them. Conversely, this step could persuade audiences if the consequences seem terrifying or off-putting enough to make them adapt the proposed solution without hesitation. Think of this step of the speech as the “What’s in it for me?” stage. By this point in the speech, the speaker has successfully presented a stark need and demonstrated to the audience how to satisfy that need, so now, the time has come to show them what they can expect to happen once they enact the solution, or what can happen if they continue allowing the need or problem to persist and worsen. Consider using a lot of vivid imagery, as well as “what ifs” in this step. Engage the audience’s imagination and help them picture themselves applying the solutions.

Take a look at this final main point using the sample speech topic:

• You won’t need to worry about your phone dinging every few seconds and feeling pressured to respond immediately.
• You will feel responsible and alert, as a properly defensive driver should feel.
• If you choose not to put your phone away, however, understand that nearly two million auto accidents a year are caused by texting and driving. Text messaging while driving puts you at a 23% higher risk of getting into a serious crash.

Messages that Matter: Public Speaking in the Information Age - Third Edition Copyright © 2023 by North Idaho College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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48 Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, Problem-Solution, Comparative Advantages

Learning objectives.

• Understand three common organizational patterns for persuasive speeches.
• Explain the steps utilized in Monroe’s motivated sequence.
• Explain the parts of a problem-cause-solution speech.
• Explain the process utilized in a comparative advantage persuasive speech.

Organizing Persuasive Speeches

Previously in this text, we discussed general guidelines for organizing speeches. In this section, we are going to look at three organizational patterns ideally suited for persuasive speeches: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantages.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

One of the most commonly cited and discussed organizational patterns for persuasive speeches is Alan H. Monroe’s motivated sequence. The purpose of Monroe’s motivated sequence is to help speakers “sequence supporting materials and motivational appeals to form a useful organizational pattern for speeches as a whole” (German et al., 2010).

While Monroe’s motivated sequence is commonly discussed in most public speaking textbooks, we do want to provide one minor caution. Thus far, almost no research has been conducted that has demonstrated that Monroe’s motivated sequence is any more persuasive than other structural patterns. In the only study conducted experimentally examining Monroe’s motivated sequence, the researchers did not find the method more persuasive but did note that audience members found the pattern more organized than other methods (Micciche, Pryor, & Butler, 2000). We wanted to add this sidenote because we don’t want you to think that Monroe’s motivated sequence is a kind of magic persuasive bullet; the research simply doesn’t support this notion. At the same time, research does support that organized messages are perceived as more persuasive as a whole, so using Monroe’s motivated sequence to think through one’s persuasive argument could still be very beneficial.

Below are the basic steps of Monroe’s motivated sequence and the subsequent reaction a speaker desires from his or her audience.

The first step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the  attention step , in which a speaker attempts to get the audience’s attention. To gain an audience’s attention, we recommend that you think through three specific parts of the attention step. First, you need to have a strong attention-getting device. As previously discussed, a strong attention getter at the beginning of your speech is very important. Second, you need to make sure you introduce your topic clearly. If your audience doesn’t know what your topic is quickly, they are more likely to stop listening. Lastly, you need to explain to your audience why they should care about your topic. If this sounds familiar, it should! The attention step uses the same elements as an introduction for any speech: The attention getter, relevance, credibility, thesis statement, and preview.

In the  need step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the speaker establishes that there is a specific need or problem. This will be your first main point. In Monroe’s conceptualization of need, he talks about four specific parts of the need: statement, illustration, ramification, and pointing. First, a speaker needs to give a clear and concise statement of the problem. This part of a speech should be crystal clear for an audience. Second, the speaker needs to provide one or more examples to illustrate the need. The illustration is an attempt to make the problem concrete for the audience. Next, a speaker needs to provide some kind of evidence (e.g., statistics, examples, testimony) that shows the ramifications or consequences of the problem. Lastly, a speaker needs to point to the audience and show exactly how the problem relates to them personally.

Satisfaction

In the third step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the  satisfaction step , the speaker sets out to satisfy the need or solve the problem. This will be your second main point. Within this step, Monroe (1935) proposed a five-step plan for satisfying a need:

• Explanation
• Theoretical demonstration
• Reference to practical experience
• Meeting objections

First, you need to clearly state the attitude, value, belief, or action you want your audience to accept. The purpose of this statement is to clearly tell your audience what your ultimate goal is.

Second, you want to make sure that you clearly explain to your audience why they should accept the attitude, value, belief, or action you proposed. Just telling your audience they should do something isn’t strong enough to actually get them to change. Instead, you really need to provide a solid argument for why they should accept your proposed solution.

Third, you need to show how the solution you have proposed meets the need or problem. Monroe calls this link between your solution and the need a theoretical demonstration because you cannot prove that your solution will work. Instead, you theorize based on research and good judgment that your solution will meet the need or solve the problem.

Fourth, to help with this theoretical demonstration, you need to reference practical experience, which should include examples demonstrating that your proposal has worked elsewhere. Research, statistics, and expert testimony are all great ways of referencing practical experience.

Lastly, Monroe recommends that a speaker responds to possible objections. As a persuasive speaker, one of your jobs is to think through your speech and see what counterarguments could be made against your speech and then rebut those arguments within your speech. When you offer rebuttals for arguments against your speech, it shows your audience that you’ve done your homework and educated yourself about multiple sides of the issue.

Visualization

The next step of Monroe’s motivated sequence is the  visualization step , in which you ask the audience to visualize a future where the need has been met or the problem solved. This will be your third main point. In essence, the visualization stage is where a speaker can show the audience why accepting a specific attitude, value, belief, or behavior can positively affect the future. When helping people to picture the future, the more concrete your visualization is, the easier it will be for your audience to see the possible future and be persuaded by it. You also need to make sure that you clearly show how accepting your solution will directly benefit your audience.

According to Monroe, visualization can be conducted in one of three ways: positive, negative, or contrast (Monroe, 1935). The positive method of visualization is where a speaker shows how adopting a proposal leads to a better future (e.g., recycle, and we’ll have a cleaner and safer planet). Conversely, the negative method of visualization is where a speaker shows how not adopting the proposal will lead to a worse future (e.g., don’t recycle, and our world will become polluted and uninhabitable). Monroe also acknowledged that visualization can include a combination of both positive and negative visualization. In essence, you show your audience both possible outcomes and have them decide which one they would rather have.

The final step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the  action step , in which a speaker asks an audience to approve the speaker’s proposal. For understanding purposes, we break the action into two distinct parts: audience action and approval. Audience action refers to direct physical behaviors a speaker wants from an audience (e.g., flossing their teeth twice a day, signing a petition, wearing seat belts). Approval, on the other hand, involves an audience’s consent or agreement with a speaker’s proposed attitude, value, or belief.

When preparing an action step, it is important to make sure that the action, whether audience action or approval, is realistic for your audience. Asking your peers in a college classroom to donate one thousand dollars to charity isn’t realistic. Asking your peers to donate one dollar is considerably more realistic. In a persuasive speech based on Monroe’s motivated sequence, the action step will end with the speech’s concluding device. As discussed elsewhere in this text, you need to make sure that you conclude in a vivid way so that the speech ends on a high point and the audience has a sense of energy as well as a sense of closure.

This step will be your conclusion. Again, it will have the same elements as a conclusion you would use for any speech.

Application

Now that we’ve walked through Monroe’s motivated sequence, let’s look at how you could use Monroe’s motivated sequence to outline a persuasive speech:

Specific Purpose:  To persuade my classroom peers that the United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments.

Main Points:

• Attention:  Want to make nine thousand dollars for just three weeks of work lying around and not doing much? Then be a human guinea pig. Admittedly, you’ll have to have a tube down your throat most of those three weeks, but you’ll earn three thousand dollars a week.
• Need:  Every day many uneducated and lower socioeconomic-status citizens are preyed on by medical and pharmaceutical companies for use in for-profit medical and drug experiments. Do you want one of your family members to fall prey to this evil scheme?
• Satisfaction:  The United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments to ensure that uneducated and lower-socioeconomic-status citizens are protected.
• Visualization:  If we enact tougher experiment oversight, we can ensure that medical and pharmaceutical research is conducted in a way that adheres to basic values of American decency. If we do not enact tougher experiment oversight, we could find ourselves in a world where the lines between research subject, guinea pig, and patient become increasingly blurred.
• Action:  In order to prevent the atrocities associated with for-profit medical and pharmaceutical experiments, please sign this petition asking the US Department of Health and Human Services to pass stricter regulations on this preying industry that is out of control.

This example shows how you can take a basic speech topic and use Monroe’s motivated sequence to clearly and easily outline your speech efficiently and effectively.

Below is a checklist that contains a simple checklist to help you make sure you hit all the important components of Monroe’s motivated sequence.

The following video further details Monroe’s Motivated Sequence outlining each component and providing examples to provide an in-depth understanding of the organizational pattern.

For Future Reference | How to organize this in an outline |

Introduction: Attention Step

Main Point #1: Need Step

Main Point #2: Satisfaction Step

Main Point #3: Visualization Step

Conclusoin: Action Step

Problem-Cause-Solution

Another format for organizing a persuasive speech is the problem-cause-solution format. In this specific format, you discuss what a problem is, what you believe is causing the problem, and then what the solution should be to correct the problem.

Specific Purpose:  To persuade my classroom peers that our campus should adopt a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech.

• Demonstrate that there is distrust among different groups on campus that has led to unnecessary confrontations and violence.
• Show that the confrontations and violence are a result of hate speech that occurred prior to the events.
• Explain how instituting a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy against hate speech could stop the unnecessary confrontations and violence.

In this speech, you want to persuade people to support a new campus-wide policy calling for zero-tolerance of hate speech. Once you have shown the problem, you then explain to your audience that the cause of the unnecessary confrontations and violence is prior incidents of hate speech. Lastly, you argue that a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy could help prevent future unnecessary confrontations and violence. Again, this method of organizing a speech is as simple as its name: problem-cause-solution.

Comparative Advantages

The final method for organizing a persuasive speech is called the comparative advantages speech format. The goal of this speech is to compare items side-by-side and show why one of them is more advantageous than the other. For example, let’s say that you’re giving a speech on which e-book reader is better: Amazon.com’s Kindle or Barnes and Nobles’ Nook. Here’s how you could organize this speech:

Specific Purpose:  To persuade my audience that the Nook is more advantageous than the Kindle.

• The Nook allows owners to trade and loan books to other owners or people who have downloaded the Nook software, while the Kindle does not.
• The Nook has a color-touch screen, while the Kindle’s screen is black and grey and noninteractive.
• The Nook’s memory can be expanded through microSD, while the Kindle’s memory cannot be upgraded.

As you can see from this speech’s organization, the simple goal of this speech is to show why one thing has more positives than something else. Obviously, when you are demonstrating comparative advantages, the items you are comparing need to be functional equivalents—or, as the saying goes, you cannot compare apples to oranges.

Key Takeaways

• There are three common patterns that persuaders can utilize to help organize their speeches effectively: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantage. Each of these patterns can effectively help a speaker think through his or her thoughts and organize them in a manner that will be more likely to persuade an audience.
• Alan H. Monroe’s (1935) motivated sequence is a commonly used speech format that is used by many people to effectively organize persuasive messages. The pattern consists of five basic stages: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. In the first stage, a speaker gets an audience’s attention. In the second stage, the speaker shows an audience that a need exists. In the third stage, the speaker shows how his or her persuasive proposal could satisfy the need. The fourth stage shows how the future could be if the persuasive proposal is or is not adopted. Lastly, the speaker urges the audience to take some kind of action to help enact the speaker’s persuasive proposal.
• The problem-cause-solution proposal is a three-pronged speech pattern. The speaker starts by explaining the problem the speaker sees. The speaker then explains what he or she sees as the underlying causes of the problem. Lastly, the speaker proposes a solution to the problem that corrects the underlying causes.
• The comparative advantages speech format is utilized when a speaker is comparing two or more things or ideas and shows why one of the things or ideas has more advantages than the other(s).

German, K. M., Gronbeck, B. E., Ehninger, D., & Monroe, A. H. (2010). Principles of public speaking  (17th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, p. 236.

Micciche, T., Pryor, B., & Butler, J. (2000). A test of Monroe’s motivated sequence for its effects on ratings of message organization and attitude change.  Psychological Reports, 86 , 1135–1138.

Monroe, A. H. (1935).  Principles and types of speech . Chicago, IL: Scott Foresman.

Public Speaking Copyright © by Dr. Layne Goodman; Amber Green, M.A.; and Various is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Persuasive Speech Examples: Taking A Stand In Speech

Persuasive speeches have been used throughout history to shape public opinion and shape behavior, and examples abound. Persuasive speech examples include virtually any topic – voting, racism, school uniforms, safety, organ donation, recycling, and so on.

From a teenager asking his parents to go out with friends to an aspiring politician convincing voters to choose him, many people use a persuasive speech to convince their audience members to do something. A successful persuasive speech entails getting someone to take action and be swayed to the speaker’s side.

Table of Contents

What Is A Persuasive Speech?

While an informative speech aims to enlighten the audience about a particular subject, a persuasive speech aims to influence the audience — and convince them to accept a particular point of view. 

The central idea is to persuade, whether discussing a persuasive essay or ‌public speaking. This form of communication is a call to action for people to believe in and take action upon something.

Throughout history, persuasive speech ideas and their communicators have played a vital role in driving change, whether on a personal, community, societal, national, or even global level. 

We’ve seen leaders and important figures sway public opinions and spark movements. Persuasive speech has been there to raise awareness about a specific issue (e.g., labor rights, gender equality). People have been using such speeches to establish authority, negotiate, and, ultimately, urge the audience to join their side.

What Are Some Examples Of A Persuasive Speech Topic?

There’s a wide range of good persuasive speech topics . To give you an idea, here’s a list of persuasive speech topics:

• Social media is taking a toll on young people’s mental health
• Cell phones and too much screen time are making people lazier
• Violent video games make people more aggressive
• Why authorities must ban fast food for children
• Schools and workplaces should take more action to curb obesity rates
• Why public schools are better than private ones
• College athletes should undergo steroid tests
• There’s more to high school and college students than their GPAs
• Should award-giving bodies rely on the popular vote or the judges’ vote?
• There’s a need to regulate the use of painkillers more heavily
• Cloning must not be legalized
• More government budget should be allocated to health care
• Why businesses must invest in renewable energy
• Should military units be allowed to use drones in warfare?
• How freedom of religion is affecting society
• Libraries are becoming obsolete: A step-by-step guide on keeping them alive
• Should euthanasia be allowed in hospitals, clinical settings, and zoos?
• Developing countries must increase their minimum wage
• Global warming is getting more intense
• The death penalty must be abolished

What Is An Example Of How Start Of A Persuasive Speech?

Persuasion is an art. And when you’re given the chance to make a persuasive speech, one of the first things you must do is to settle down with a thesis statement. Then, you must identify at least two main points, pre-empt counterarguments, and organize your thoughts with a ‌persuasive speech outline.

Remember that your opening (and closing) statements should be strong. Right at the start, you must captivate your audience’s attention. You can give an impactful factual statement or pose a question that challenges conventional views. 

The success of a speech doesn’t only end with writing a persuasive one. You must also deliver it with impact. This means maintaining eye contact, keeping your posture open, and using a clear voice and an appropriate facial expression.

What Are The 3 Points To Persuasive Speech?

There are three pillars of a persuasive speech. First is ethos, which taps into the audience’s ethical beliefs. To convince them and establish your credibility, you must resonate with the morals they uphold. 

The second one is pathos, which refers to the emotional appeal of your narrative. One approach is to share an anecdote that your audience can relate to. To effectively appeal to your audience’s emotions, you must also use language, tone, diction, and images to paint a better picture of your main point.

On other other hand, logos appeals to logic. This is why it’s important to pepper your speech with facts.

How Are Persuasive Speeches Used?

You may know persuasive speeches as those stirring speeches delivered by politicians and civil rights and business leaders. In reality, you yourself could be using it in everyday life.

There are different types of persuasive speeches. While some mobilize bigger movements, others only persuade a smaller audience or even just one person.

You can use it in a personal context . For example, you’re convincing your parent to extend your curfew or eat at a certain restaurant. In grander ways, you can also use it to advocate for social and political movements. If you’re in business, marketing, or sales, you can use persuasive speech to promote your brand and convince others to buy your product or service. 

For example, a teen might try to persuade a parent to let them stay out beyond curfew, while a civil rights leader might use persuasion to encourage listeners to fight racism.

No matter the context of your speech, an effective persuasive speech can compel someone or a group of people to adopt a viewpoint, take a particular action, and change a behavior or belief.

What Are Persuasive Speech Examples?

This AI-created speech about walking shows how a persuasive speech is laid out, using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence (i.e., attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and call to action) to convey the message that walking can overcome the risks of modern life

The introduction sets up the speech:

“Let’s be honest, we lead an easy life: automatic dishwashers, riding lawnmowers, T.V. remote controls, automatic garage door openers, power screwdrivers, bread machines, electric pencil sharpeners… We live in a time-saving, energy-saving, convenient society. It’s a wonderful life. Or is it?”

Unfortunately, lack of exercise leads to health problems. Walking can overcome the effects of lack of exercise, lethargy, and poor diet. The body of the speech delves into this concept in detail and then concludes with a call to the audience to walk more.

AI pick up the pattern that many living persons have perfected over the year.

Maya Angelou, an American poet and civil rights activist, delivered this compelling poem as a persuasive speech . The performance concludes with this inspiring message about overcoming hardship and discrimination: “Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise/ Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear, I rise/ Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave/ I am the dream and the hope of the slave/ I rise, I rise, I rise.” 

What Are Some Historical Examples Of Persuasive Speech?

Maya Angelou is just one of the important figures who have delivered powerful speeches etched in history. These individuals have risen and relayed impactful messages, championing advocacies that would resonate with people during their time — and beyond.

Below are more moving examples of a persuasive speech:

The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

Context: In November 1863, during the American Civil War, US President Abraham Lincoln delivered this speech in commemoration of the dedication of the Gettysburg National Ceremony (also known as the Soldiers’ National Ceremony).

Snippet: “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We come to dedicate a portion of it as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety, do. 

“ But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow, this ground, The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here. 

“ It is rather for us, the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us that, from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

The Finest Hour by Winston Churchill

Context: In his nearly 40-minute long speech in June 1940, over a month since Winston Churchill became the British Prime Minister, he sparked hope that they could win the impending Battle of Britain during the Second World War. 

Snippet: “What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. 

If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free, and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us, therefore, brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’”

I Have a Dream by Mary Wollstonecraft

Context: In her 1792 speech, the British writer and women’s rights advocate shared her dream — that a day will come when women will be treated as rational human beings.

Snippet: “These may be termed utopian dreams. – Thanks to that Being who impressed them on my soul, and gave me sufficient strength of mind to dare to exert my own reason, till, becoming dependent only on him for the support of my virtue, I view, with indignation, the mistaken notions that enslave my sex. 

“ I love man as my fellow; but his scepter, real or usurped, extends not to me unless the reason of an individual demands my homage; and even then, the submission is to reason and not to man. In fact, the conduct of an accountable being must be regulated by the operations of its own reason; or on what foundation rests the throne of God?”

These snippets of their persuasive speech capture the very essence of this form of communication: to convince the audience through compelling and valid reasoning, evoking their feelings and moral principles, and motivating them to act and join a movement, big or small. 

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Persuasive Speeches — Types, Topics, and Examples

What is a persuasive speech?

In a persuasive speech, the speaker aims to convince the audience to accept a particular perspective on a person, place, object, idea, etc. The speaker strives to cause the audience to accept the point of view presented in the speech.

The success of a persuasive speech often relies on the speaker’s use of ethos, pathos, and logos.

Ethos is the speaker’s credibility. Audiences are more likely to accept an argument if they find the speaker trustworthy. To establish credibility during a persuasive speech, speakers can do the following:

Use familiar language.

Select examples that connect to the specific audience.

Utilize credible and well-known sources.

Logically structure the speech in an audience-friendly way.

Use appropriate eye contact, volume, pacing, and inflection.

Pathos appeals to the audience’s emotions. Speakers who create an emotional bond with their audience are typically more convincing. Tapping into the audience’s emotions can be accomplished through the following:

Select evidence that can elicit an emotional response.

Use emotionally-charged words. (The city has a problem … vs. The city has a disease …)

Incorporate analogies and metaphors that connect to a specific emotion to draw a parallel between the reference and topic.

Utilize vivid imagery and sensory words, allowing the audience to visualize the information.

Employ an appropriate tone, inflection, and pace to reflect the emotion.

Logos appeals to the audience’s logic by offering supporting evidence. Speakers can improve their logical appeal in the following ways:

Use comprehensive evidence the audience can understand.

Confirm the evidence logically supports the argument’s claims and stems from credible sources.

Ensure that evidence is specific and avoid any vague or questionable information.

Types of persuasive speeches

The three main types of persuasive speeches are factual, value, and policy.

A factual persuasive speech focuses solely on factual information to prove the existence or absence of something through substantial proof. This is the only type of persuasive speech that exclusively uses objective information rather than subjective. As such, the argument does not rely on the speaker’s interpretation of the information. Essentially, a factual persuasive speech includes historical controversy, a question of current existence, or a prediction:

Historical controversy concerns whether an event happened or whether an object actually existed.

Questions of current existence involve the knowledge that something is currently happening.

Predictions incorporate the analysis of patterns to convince the audience that an event will happen again.

A value persuasive speech concerns the morality of a certain topic. Speakers incorporate facts within these speeches; however, the speaker’s interpretation of those facts creates the argument. These speeches are highly subjective, so the argument cannot be proven to be absolutely true or false.

A policy persuasive speech centers around the speaker’s support or rejection of a public policy, rule, or law. Much like a value speech, speakers provide evidence supporting their viewpoint; however, they provide subjective conclusions based on the facts they provide.

How to write a persuasive speech

Incorporate the following steps when writing a persuasive speech:

Step 1 – Identify the type of persuasive speech (factual, value, or policy) that will help accomplish the goal of the presentation.

Step 2 – Select a good persuasive speech topic to accomplish the goal and choose a position .

Step 3 – Locate credible and reliable sources and identify evidence in support of the topic/position. Revisit Step 2 if there is a lack of relevant resources.

Step 4 – Identify the audience and understand their baseline attitude about the topic.

Step 5 – When constructing an introduction , keep the following questions in mind:

What’s the topic of the speech?

What’s the occasion?

Who’s the audience?

What’s the purpose of the speech?

Step 6 – Utilize the evidence within the previously identified sources to construct the body of the speech. Keeping the audience in mind, determine which pieces of evidence can best help develop the argument. Discuss each point in detail, allowing the audience to understand how the facts support the perspective.

Step 7 – Addressing counterarguments can help speakers build their credibility, as it highlights their breadth of knowledge.

Step 8 – Conclude the speech with an overview of the central purpose and how the main ideas identified in the body support the overall argument.

Persuasive speech outline

One of the best ways to prepare a great persuasive speech is by using an outline. When structuring an outline, include an introduction, body, and conclusion:

Introduction

Attention Grabbers

Ask a question that allows the audience to respond in a non-verbal way; ask a rhetorical question that makes the audience think of the topic without requiring a response.

Incorporate a well-known quote that introduces the topic. Using the words of a celebrated individual gives credibility and authority to the information in the speech.

Offer a startling statement or information about the topic, typically done using data or statistics.

Provide a brief anecdote or story that relates to the topic.

Starting a speech with a humorous statement often makes the audience more comfortable with the speaker.

Provide information on how the selected topic may impact the audience .

Include any background information pertinent to the topic that the audience needs to know to understand the speech in its entirety.

Give the thesis statement in connection to the main topic and identify the main ideas that will help accomplish the central purpose.

Identify evidence

Summarize its meaning

Explain how it helps prove the support/main claim

Evidence 3 (Continue as needed)

Support 3 (Continue as needed)

Restate thesis

Review main supports

Concluding statement

Give the audience a call to action to do something specific.

Identify the overall importan ce of the topic and position.

Persuasive speech topics

The following table identifies some common or interesting persuasive speech topics for high school and college students:

Persuasive speech examples

The following list identifies some of history’s most famous persuasive speeches:

John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address: “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do for You”

Lyndon B. Johnson: “We Shall Overcome”

Marc Antony: “Friends, Romans, Countrymen…” in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

Ronald Reagan: “Tear Down this Wall”

Sojourner Truth: “Ain’t I a Woman?”

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10.10: Persuasive Speech Examples

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Example Outlines

Sample cause/effect persuasive speech.

Specific Purpose: To persuade my classmates to eliminate their Facebook use.

Introduction

Attention-Getter: There she was late into the night still wide awake staring at her phone’s screen. In fact, she had to be at work early in the morning but scrolling through her Facebook account kept her awake.

Reveal Topic: That girl was me before I deactivated my Facebook account. I honestly could not tell you how many hours I spent on Facebook. In the survey that I presented to you all, one person admitted to spending “too much” time on Facebook.

Credibility: That was me in the past, I spent too much time on Facebook. Time is precious and once it is gone it does not return. So why do you spend precious time on Facebook? The time that could be spent with family, resting, or just being more productive.

Thesis/Preview: Facebook users should eliminate their usage because Facebook can negatively affect their relationships with others, their sleeping patterns and health, and their ability to focus on schoolwork.

I. Family relationships can be affected by your Facebook usage.

A. In the survey conducted in class, 11 of 15 students confessed to having ignored someone while they were speaking.

1. I found myself ignoring my children while they spoke.

2. Noticed other people doing the same thing, especially in parks and restaurants.

B. According to Lynn Postell-Zimmerman on hg.org, Facebook has become a leading cause of divorce.

C. In the United States, 1 in 5 couples mentioned Facebook as a reason for divorce in 2009.

Transition: We have discussed how Facebook usage can lead to poor relationships with people, next we will discuss how Facebook can affect your sleep patterns and health.

II. Facebook usage can negatively affect your sleep patterns and health.

A. Checking Facebook before bed.

1. In my survey 11 students said they checked their Facebook account before bed.

2. Staying on Facebook for long hours before bed.

B. Research has shown that Facebook can cause depression, anxiety, and addiction.

1. According to researchers Steels, Wickham, and Acitelli in an article in the Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology titled “Seeing everyone else’s highlight reels: How Facebook usage is linked to depressive symptoms,” because Facebook users only view the positive of their friend’s life, they become unhappy with their life, and it can lead to becoming depressed and unhappy.

2. Marissa Maldonado on psychcentral.com, concluded from recent studies that, “Facebook increases people’s anxiety levels by making them feel inadequate and generating excess worry and stress.”

3. Facebook addiction is a serious issue, according to the article “Too much Facebook leads to anger and depression” found on cnn.com and written by Cara Reedy.

a. Checking Facebook everywhere we go is a sign of addiction

b. Not being able to deactivate your Facebook account.

Transitions: Many of you have probably never thought of Facebook as a threat to your health, but we will now review how it can affect you as a college student.

III. Facebook negatively affects students.

A. I often found myself on Facebook instead of doing schoolwork.

B. I was constantly checking Facebook which takes away from study time.

C. I also found myself checking Facebook while in class, which can lead to poor grades and getting in trouble with the professor.

D. A study of over 1,800 college students showed a negative relationship between the amount of Facebook time and GPA, as reported by Junco in a 2012 article titled, “Too much face and not enough books” from the journal Computers and Human Behavior.

I. In conclusion, next time you log on to Facebook try deactivating your account for a few days and see the difference. You will soon see how it can bring positive changes in your family relationships, will avoid future health problems, will help you sleep better, and will improve your school performance.

II. Instead of communicating through Facebook try visiting or calling your close friends. Deactivating my account truly helped me, and I can assure you we all can survive without Facebook.

Works Cited

Junco, R. (2012). Too much face and not enough books: The relationship between multiple indices of Facebook use and academic performance. Computers in Human Behavior, 28(1), 187-198.

Maldonado, M. (2014). The anxiety of Facebook. Psych Central. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-anxiety-of-facebook/

Postell-Zimmerman, L. (1995-2015). Facebook has become a leading cause in divorce cases. HG.org. Retrieved from http://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=27803

Reedy, C. (2015, March 2). Too much Facebook leads to envy and depression. CNNMoney. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/02/ technology/facebook-envy/

Steers, M. L. N., Wickham, R. E., & Acitelli, L. K. (2014). Seeing everyone else’s highlight reels: How Facebook usage is linked to depressive symptoms. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 33(8), 701-731. DOI: 10.1521/jscp.2014.33.8.701

Sample Problem/Solution Persuasive Speech

Topic: Antibacterial Chemicals

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that the use of antibacterial chemicals in household products is creating health and environmental problems.

Central Idea or Thesis: After looking at the problems created by antibacterial products, we’ll explore some solutions.

I. (Attention Grabber) In the film The Boy in the Plastic Bubble , a boy born with a deficient immune system is forced to live in a germ-free environment to prevent him from contracting infections. His room is sealed against bacteria and viruses, his food is specially prepared, and his only human contact comes in the form of gloved hands.

II. (Reveal Topic) Today millions of Americans are trying to build a bubble around themselves and their families to keep out germs. The bubble is not made of plastic, however, but millions of dollars' worth of antibacterial hand wipes, soaps, and sponges.

III. (Credibility) Before I studied antibacterial products in my public health class, I always used antibacterial hand soaps and antibacterial all-surface cleaner for my apartment. I also know from my class survey that 70 percent of you use antibacterial soaps, cleaners, and other products. But after learning about the subject in class and reading research studies for this speech, I’m here to tell you that, try as we might, we cannot build a bubble between ourselves and germs with antibacterial products and that these products actually create more problems than they solve.

IV. (Thesis) After looking at the problems created by antibacterial products, we’ll explore some solutions.

I. The use of antibacterial chemicals in household products is a serious problem.

A. The place to begin is by noting that antibacterial products are popping up just about everywhere.

1. The next time you go to the store, try to find a liquid soap that is not antibacterial.

a. According to the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, 75 percent of all liquid soaps and 33 percent of all bar soaps are antibacterial.

b. In fact, there are more than 1,000 antibacterial household products on the market.

2. In addition to all the soaps and cleaning products, there are also antibacterial cotton swabs, tons of antibacterial shampoos, and this antibacterial cutting board from Williams Sonoma.

a. You can even get antibacterial socks, mouthwash, toothpaste, and, to protect you while away from home, this travel toothbrush with antibacterial bristles.

3. The Boston Globe reports that larger items such as mattresses, countertops, high chairs, and even children’s toys have been coated with antibacterial chemicals.

4. The New York Times calls the antibacterial craze, “the biggest marketing coup since bottled water.”

B. There’s no doubt that antibacterial products are popular with consumers, but there is a great deal of doubt about whether they’re effective in stopping the spread of germs.

1. Elaine Larson, associate dean of the Columbia University School of Nursing, studied 238 families who used antibacterial products and found that they were just as likely to get fevers, sore throats, coughs, rashes, and stomach problems as families who used regular products.

2. Larson’s findings are echoed by Eric Kupferberg, associate director of the Harvard School for Public Health, who states: “Antimicrobial products don’t significantly eliminate the number of germs you encounter on a daily basis.”

3. Nor do antibacterial products prevent the transmission of diseases such as colds and flus.

a. Why? Because these illnesses come from viruses, not from bacteria. Antibacterial products don’t kill viruses.

b. As Dr. Larson explains, “Most of the infections healthy people get are colds, flu, and diarrhea caused by viruses”—none of which can be prevented by the use of antibacterial products.

4. Not only do antibacterial products fail to deliver what they promise, but they actually increase your chances of getting sick.

a. According to Stuart Levy, a professor of microbiology and medicine at Tufts University, excessive use of antibacterial products in the home can make children more likely to develop allergies and asthma.

b. In addition, people who use antibacterial products may become more susceptible to infections.

5. Dr. James Chin, a research scientist in New South Wales, Australia, says: “The way we stay healthy is by low-dose exposure to bacteria and viruses.

a. You need to exercise your immune system in the same way you need to exercise your muscles to be fit.

b. If you don’t do that, your immune system doesn’t have a chance to do battle when it engages with an infection.”

6. The problems caused by antibacterial products are so serious that Dr. Myron Genel, chairman of the American Medical Association’s council on scientific affairs, fears one result may be the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria “that are largely untreatable because they are resistant to existing drugs.”

C. And that’s not all. Besides being ineffective at preventing diseases and being potentially dangerous to our health, antibacterial household products also appear to harm the environment.

1. Rolf Halden of Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health reports that each year the United States releases into the water supply more than 2 million pounds of the active chemicals in antibacterial soaps.

a. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that chemicals from antibacterial products are winding up in streams and groundwater from the Denver area to remote locations in the Rocky Mountains.

b. These chemicals are known to pollute the water supply, disrupt fish reproduction and growth, and because they do not decompose quickly, remain active for years and years.

Transition: Now that we’ve seen the seriousness of the problem, let’s look at some solutions.

II. Solving these problems requires a combination of government and consumer action.

A. First, we need federal legislation regulating the use of household antibacterial products.

1. Just as the Food and Drug Administration has regulations controlling the use of antibiotics, so, too, should it institute regulations controlling the use of antibacterial products.

2. We don’t let people purchase antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription, and there’s no reason we should allow makers of soap, tissues, hand wipes, toothbrushes, and other products to add powerful antibacterial agents without oversight from the Food and Drug Administration.

3. Given the problems being caused by these products, it is time for the federal government to take action.

B. Second, we all need to take action as consumers.

1. Most obviously, we need to stop buying these products.

2. The best way to avoid germs, says the Centers for Disease Control, is to wash your hands for 10 to 15 seconds with plain soap and water.

a. In fact, a study at the University of North Carolina found that washing your hands with soap and water is more effective at getting rid of germs than using antibacterial hand wipes.

b. Emily Sickbert-Bennett, a public epidemiologist and co-author of the study, explains that when you use soap and water, the germs go down the drain, but with waterless antibacterial hand wipes, “you never rinse your hands. You are just rubbing a chemical into your hand and letting it dry.”

I. In conclusion, Americans spend millions of dollars every year on products that promise to “kill germs on contact.” But as we have seen today, the antibacterial craze is a marketing coup rather than a proven way of stopping either the spread of germs or the incidence of colds, flu, and other virus-borne illnesses. Worse, these products appear to contribute to health problems, and they are creating environmental problems in the U.S. water supply. The federal government should start regulating these products and we, as consumers, should stop throwing our money away on them.

II. We need to resist the false notion that we can use these products to create a bubble around ourselves to keep out germs and diseases. Instead, we can burst the bubble of marketers who are selling us a false bill of goods, and then we can thoroughly wash our hands of the whole mess.

Nelson, Kathleen. “To Kill Germs, It’s Simple: Wash Your Hands.” The Boston Globe 4

Nov. 2003, 3 rd Ed.: C3.

Roach, Mary. “Germs, Germs Everywhere. Are You Worried? Get Over It.” The New

York Times 9 Nov. 2004, Final Ed.: F1, pg. 6

Sickbert-Bennett, Emily, David J. Weber, Maria F. Gergen-Teague, Mark D. Sobsey,

Gregory P. Samsa, and William A. Rutala. “Comparative efficacy of hand hygiene agents in the reduction of bacteria and viruses.” American Journal of Infection Control 33(2) (2005):67-77.

Underwood, Anne. “The Real Dirt on Antibacterial Soaps.” Newsweek v. 140 no. 19

(November 4 2002): 53.

Sample Monroe's Motivated Sequence Persuasive Speech

Topic: Sponsoring a Child in Poverty

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to sponsor a child through an agency such as Compassion International.

Introduction (Attention Step)

I. Attention-Grabber: How much is $38? That answer depends on what you make, what you are spending it for, and what you get back for it.

II. Reveal Topic: $38 per month breaks down to a little more than $1.25 per day, which is probably what you spend on a snack or soda in the break room. For us, it’s not very much.

III. Credibility: I found out that I can provide better health care, nutrition, and even education for a child in Africa, South America, or Asia for $38 per month by sponsoring a child through Compassion International. If I can do it, maybe you can too.

IV. Thesis/Preview: Through a minimal donation each month, you can make the life of a child in the developing world much better. In the next few minutes, I would like to discuss the problem, the work of organizations that offer child sponsorships, how research shows they really do alleviate poverty, and what you can do to change the life of a child. Body

I. (Need Step) The problem is the continued existence and effects of poverty.

A. Poverty is real and rampant in much of the world.

1. According to a 2018 report by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, 9.2% of the world lives on less than $1.90 per day.

a. That is 600 million people on the planet.

2. This number is supported by the World Poverty Clock of the World Data Lab, which states that 8% of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty.

a. The good news is that this number is one-third of what it was in 1990, mostly due to the rising middle class in Asia.

b. The bad news is that 70% of the poor will live in Africa, with Nigeria labeled the “Poverty Capital of the World,” according to the Brookings Institute.

B. Poverty means children do not get adequate health care.

1. One prevalent but avoidable disease is malaria, which takes the lives of three thousand children every day, according to UNICEF.

2. According to the World Health Organization, diarrheal diseases claimed 2.46 million lives in 2012 and is the second leading cause of death of children under 5.

C. Poverty means children do not get adequate nutrition, as stated in a report from UNICEF.

1. Inadequate nutrition leads to stunted growth.

2. Undernutrition contributes to more than one-third of all deaths in children under the age of five.

D. Poverty means children are unlikely to reach adult age, according to the CIA World Fact Book quoted on the Infoplease website.

1. Child mortality rate in Africa is 8.04% (percentage dying before age 5), while in North America, it is .64%

2. Life expectancy in Sub-Saharan Africa is almost 30 years less than in the U.S.

E. Poverty also means children are unlikely to receive education and be trained for profitable work.

1. Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names, states the Global Issues website on Poverty Facts.

2. UNESCO, a part of the United Nations, reports that less than a third of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa have completed primary education.

Transition: Although in all respects poverty is better in 2019 than it has been in the past, poverty is still pervasive and needs to be addressed. Fortunately, some great organizations have been addressing this for many years.

II. (Satisfaction Step) Some humanitarian organizations address poverty directly through child sponsorships.

A. These organizations vary in background, but not in purpose. The following information is gleaned from each organization’s website.

1. Compassion International is faith-based, evangelical.

a. Around since the early 1950's, started in Korea.

b. Budget of $887 Million.

c. Serves 1.92 million babies, children, and young adults.

d. Works through local community centers and established churches.

2. World Vision is faith-based, and evangelical.

a. Around since the 1950's.

b. Budget of far over $1 Billion.

c. 60% goes to local community programs but more goes to global networks, so that 86% goes to services.

d. World Vision has more extensive services than child sponsorship, such as water purification and disaster relief.

e. Sponsors three million children across six continents

3. Children International is secular.

a. Around since 1936.

b. Budget of $125 Million.

c. 88% of income goes directly to programs and children.

d. Sponsors children in ten countries on four continents

e. Sponsors X across X continents

4. Save the Children is secular, through…

a. One hundred years of history, began in post WWI Europe.

b. Budget of $880 Million.

c. 87% goes to services.

d. Sponsors 134 million children in 120 countries, including 450,000 in U.S.

5. There are other similar organizations, such as ChildFund and PlanUSA.

B. These organizations work directly with local community, on-site organizations.

1. The children are involved in a program, such as after school.

2. The children live with their parents and siblings.

3. The sponsor’s donation goes for medicine, extra healthy, nutritious food, shoes for school, and other items.

4. Sponsors can also help donate for birthdays and holidays to the whole family to buy food or farm animals.

Transition: Of course, any time we are donating money to an organization, we want to be sure our money is being effectively and ethnically used.

III. (Visualization Step) This concern should be addressed in two ways: Is the money really helping, and are the organizations honest?

A. The organizations’ honesty can be investigated.

1. You can check through Charity Navigator.

2. You can check through the Better Business Bureau-Charity.

3. You can check through Charity Watch.

4. You can check through the organizations’ websites.

B. Secondly, is sponsoring a child effective? Yes.

1. According to Bruce Wydick, Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco, child sponsorship is the fourth most effective strategy for addressing poverty, behind water purification, mosquito nets, and deworming treatments.

2. Dr. Wydick and colleagues’ work has been published in the prestigious Journal of Political Economy from the University of Chicago.

3. He states, “Two researchers and I recently carried out a study (sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development) on the long-term impacts of Compassion International’s child sponsorship program. The study, gathering data from over 10,000 individuals in six countries, found substantial impact on adult life outcomes for children who were sponsored through Compassion’s program during the 1980s and ’90s…In adulthood, formerly sponsored children were far more likely to complete secondary school and had a much higher chance of having a white-collar job. They married and had children later in life, were more likely to be church and community leaders, were less likely to live in a home with a dirt floor and more likely to live in a home with electricity.”

C. To this point I have spoke of global problems and big solutions. Now I want to bring it down to real life with one example. I’d like to use my sponsored child, Ukwishaka in Rwanda, as an example of how you can.

1. I have sponsored her for five years.

2. She is now ten years old.

3. She lives with two siblings and both parents.

4. She writes me, I write her back, and we share photos at least every two months.

5. The organization gives me reports on her project.

6. I hope one day to go visit her.

7. I believe Ukwishaka now knows her life can be more, can be successful.

Transition: We have looked at the problem of childhood poverty and how reliable, stable nongovernmental organizations are addressing it through child sponsorships. Where does that leave you?

IV. (Action Step) I challenge you to sponsor a child like Ukwishaka.

A. Although I sponsor her through Compassion International, there are other organizations.

B. First, do research.

C. Second, look at your budget and be sure you can do this.

1. You don’t want to start and have to stop.

2. Look for places you “waste” money during the month and could use it this way.

3. Fewer snacks from the break room, fewer movies at the Cineplex, brown bag instead of eating out.

D. Talk to a representative at the organization you like.

E. Discuss it with your family.

F. Take the plunge. If you do.

1. Write your child regularly.

2. Consider helping the family, or getting friends to help with extra gifts.

I. In this speech, we have taken a look at the state of poverty for children on this planet, at organizations that are addressing it through child sponsorships, at the effectiveness of these programs, and what you can do. My goal today was not to get an emotional response, but a realistically compassionate one.

II. You have probably heard this story before but it bears repeating. A little girl was walking with her mother on the beach, and the sand was covered with starfish. The little girl wanted to rescue them and send them back to the ocean and kept throwing them in. “It won’t matter, Honey,” said her mother. “You can’t get all of them back in the ocean.” “But it will matter to the ones that I do throw back,” the little girl answered. We can’t sponsor every child, but we can one, maybe even two. As Forest Witcraft said, “What will matter in 100 years is that I made a difference in the life of a child.” Will you make a difference?

AGScientific. (2019). Top ten deadly diseases in the world. Retrieved from http://agscientific.com/blog/2016/04/top-10-deadly-diseases/

Compassion International. (2019). Financial integrity: The impact of our compassion. Retrieved from https://www.compassion.com/about/financial.htm

Children’s International. (2019). Accountability. Retrieved from https://www.children.org/learn-more/accountability

Global Issues. (2013, January 7 ). Poverty facts and stats. Retrieved from https://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stat s

Infoplease. (2019). What life expectancy really means. Retrieved form https://www.infoplease.com/world/health-and-social-statistics/life-expectancy-countries-0

Kharas, H., Hamel, K., & Hofer, M. (2018, Dec. 13). Rethinking global poverty reduction in 2019. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2018/12/13/rethinking-global-poverty-reduction-in-2019/

Roser, M. (2019). Child and infant mortality rates. Retrieved from https:// ourworldindata.org/child-mortality

Save the Children. (2019). Financial information. Retrieved from https://www.savethechildren.org/us/a...al-information UNICEF.(2008).

Tracking progress on child and maternal nutrition: A survival and development priority. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/media/files/Tracking_Progress_on_Child_and_Maternal_Nutrition_EN_110309.pdf UNICEF 2019.

The reality of Malaria. Retrieved from https://www.unicef . org/health/files/health_africamalaria.pdf United Nations. (2019). Poverty eradication. Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/povertyeradication

World Vision. (2019). Financial accountability. Retrieved from https:// www.worldvision.org/about-us/financial-accountability-2 Wydick, B., Glewwe, P., & Rutledge, L. (2013).

Does international child sponsorship work? A six-country study of impacts on adult life outcomes. Journal of Political Economy, 121(2), 393–436. https://doi . org/10.1086/670138 Wydick, B. (2012, Feb.).

Cost-effective compassion. Christianity Today, 56(2), 24-29. Wydick, B. (2013). Want to change the world? Sponsor a child. Christianity Today, 57(5), 20–27.

Free Persuasive Speech Generator

• ✅ 6 Benefits of the Tool

💬 What Is Persuasive Speech?

📍 how to write a persuasive speech, 💡 top 20 persuasive speech topics, 📝 4 world-famous persuasive speech examples, 🔗 references.

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Our tool has many benefits, but we focus on the 6 most important ones:

As the name suggests, a persuasive speech influences listeners’ behavior, attitudes, beliefs, and values.

In this speech, a speaker seeks a favorable response that aligns with their convictions or position on a matter.

An orator uses arguments to convince their audience to see a particular issue from their preferred perspective. Convincing arguments incorporate different elements to urge listeners to favor a speaker’s stand.

They follow a three-prong strategy incorporating:

A claim is a statement requiring support through evidence. Your speech should also include a thesis statement, your speech’s overarching idea from which other smaller ideas spring.

Informative vs. Persuasive Speech

An informative speech differs from a persuasive one in many ways.

So, how do you write a great persuasive speech that makes listeners adopt your preferred position on a matter?

Below are steps to drafting a great convincing speech.

Know Your Audience

Start by familiarizing yourself with your listeners before moving by knowing their needs, tastes, and ability to understand your desired topic.

This way, you will be better positioned to customize your speech to suit their needs and not parade your vast knowledge.

Familiarize Yourself with Your Topic

Get to know your topic to ensure it suits your audience’s needs. If you aren’t familiar with the topic, research it thoroughly to present your readers with facts.

This way, you will be better positioned to present your listeners with sufficient facts to persuade them.

Determine Your Speech’s Goal

A speech is not only about organizing facts in a logical manner; it is usually meant to persuade the audience and deliver a specific message across .

You, as a speaker, should focus on that message and find appropriate means to get it across.

Select the Best Persuasive Approach

Determine the best approach to persuade your listeners. You may lean on either ethos, logos, or pathos to achieve your desired goal. You can also use all of these approaches.

The final selection will depend on your audience.

Outline Your Key Ideas

You need to outline your best points before presenting them to your audience.

This way, you are better placed to know which argument to present first and last.

Start on a Strong Footing

You must begin your speech with a strong, attractive hook to capture your audience’s attention.

Your opening needs a catchy title that whets your audience’s appetite to listen to your speech.

Give Convincing Evidence

Your speech’s main body should include the points you want to use to convince listeners to side with your position.

Give your audience convincing examples and reasons to buy into your perspective.

Address Counter-arguments

Don’t forget to address opposing arguments because others have a right to hold contrary views and not accept your point right away.

While this may not be necessary, you can bolster your case by anticipating and discussing opposing views.

Finish with a Call to Action

Since you defined your speech’s goal, don’t forget to make a relevant call to action .

Remember, this part is like your landing pad.

Below are carefully selected persuasive speech topics to inspire you.

• Martial arts benefit the mind.
• Competitive sports have many mental benefits.
• Games have many positive social benefits.
• Make community service mandatory for college graduation.
• Traits that make up real heroes.
• Letter grades should be replaced with pass or fail .
• The real secret to success.
• Public libraries should filter internet pornography .
• Video games promote violence.
• Should abortions be illegal as a form of homicide ?
• Dirty music promotes immorality.
• Beauty pageants for children should be banned .
• Parents should spend more time with their children.
• Why junk food should cost more than healthy food .
• Tablets are better than laptops.
• Why should there be a four-day workweek ?
• Ban school uniforms.
• The internet should remain open source .
• Security cameras violate privacy.
• Vote by mail: should it be allowed ?

Below are the top four world-famous persuasive speeches to get inspiration from.

I Have a Dream by MLK

This speech embodies the black community’s search for equality. Martin Luther King voiced his opposition to the segregation against Africans when white supremacists sought to keep Africans in inferior positions using the backdoor. The leader envisioned a society where equality would replace racial discrimination.

Ain’t I A Woman by Sojourner Truth

This speech by an African woman embodied the quest for equal human rights during the season when oppression and slavery were at their peak. Truth was one of the leading advocates who fought for women’s rights in the 19th century. She delivered this speech at an 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.

I Am Prepared to Die by Nelson Mandela

This Nelson Mandela speech echoes the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa. Mandela risked his life to fight state-sponsored discrimination against Africans. Mandela was prepared to die for this just cause.

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

This famous speech by the son of a Kenyan student who made it to become a US President shows the power of transformational hope. The speech is based on Obama’s focus on patriotic optimism and determination as change catalysts. This speech catapulted him into the limelight and led to his popular election as America’s first black and youngest president.

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This free AI-powered persuasive speech generator will quickly create a sample speech for you. All you need to do is add the necessary details so that the result matches your requirements. Moreover, on this page, you’ll learn what a persuasive speech is and how to write one quickly.