Persuasion: Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
One of the best ways to organize a persuasive speech is with a method called Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. It is utilized in many television commercials is probably the most effective way to get people to take action. Well, it’s probably not as effective as forcing someone to do something at gunpoint, but the motivated sequence is much more ethical, and shouldn’t get you arrested.
If you need to give a persuasive speech for school using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, you should first consider a couple of things when choosing your topic in order to be as persuasive as possible. First, choose a topic that your audience members will be able to do in the near future. For example, “wear your seat belt on the way home from class today” or “give blood at the blood drive this Friday”. The sooner your audience can do what you ask, the more likely they will be to actually do it.
The second thing to consider when choosing a topic is make it is as relevant to the audience’s lives as possible. It is meaningless to persuade your audience to quit smoking if only a few of your audience members actually smoke.
Monroe’s Motivated Sequence has 5 steps that must be presented in this order:
- The Attention Step: This is the equivalent to the introduction section of an informative speech or five-paragraph essay. You open with a question (preferably rhetorical), a quote from someone famous or respected, a story (preferably true), or a startling statistic. You would then give your audience a reason to listen, and then preview your speech.
- The Need Step: You need to clearly show that the problem exists in the lives of your audience members. Consequently, you need to know your audience as well as possible. The problem also needs to be stated in negative terms and credible evidence used to demonstrate that this is a real problem. Students frequently skimp on this step because they mistakenly believe the audience members already see the problem as they do. Don’t make this mistake. Your audience is probably much less aware of the problem than you are.
- The Satisfaction Step: So, now that you’ve established that there is a problem, the next thing you do is provide a workable, reasonable plan that allows your audience to solve the problem. Remember, the easier the solution, the more likely your audience will do it. The whole point of your speech is to get your audience to take action, so if your solution is too hard or time consuming, there is less chance they will do it. In this step, you also need to address any objections your audience will have to do what you propose. Anticipate these objections and address them now. For instance, if you are trying to persuade your audience to wear their seat belts, one objection they might have is that they don’t feel they need to belt-up if they aren’t going very far. Bring it up and provide statistics on traffic fatalities that occur close to home.
- The Visualization Step: In this step, you need to create a visual image of your audience taking action. There are two ways to do this: show your audience members how great the world would be if they do what you ask, or show them how terrible the world will be if they don’t, or both. You have appealed to your audience’s logical side by using statistics and number in the previous steps, now you can appeal to their emotions and desires.
- The Action Step: This would be similar to the conclusion portion of an informative speech. You signal the end of your speech, you recap the need, the satisfaction, and the visualization steps, and then you ask them to take action. It may feel weird, but tell them exactly what you want them to do now.
Remember, in order to be persuasive, make sure to accomplish these five steps in order. Also, be sure your topic is as relevant to your audience as possible, and use sound research to show the need for your audience to do as you ask. Good luck with your speech!
If you are a student and want a better grade on your next speech, be sure to visit GradeMySpeech.com to have a former speech instructor grade your speech before you have to deliver it for real!
I Hate Public Speaking
I was searching in Twitter last night and I was rather surprised to see how many times the phrase “i hate public speaking” appeared in the search results.
Now, I’m not naive. I spent a few years teaching public speaking to college freshman who were required to take it, so I heard the phrase “i hate public speaking” from many of my students. Fortunately, by the end of the semester, many of those same students decided that public speaking wasn’t so bad. Some of them loved it. A few even decided to become communications majors.
If you’re one of the many people in this world who “hate public speaking”, let me give you some advice: spend less time focusing on yourself and more time focusing on your audience. Spend less time worrying about your performance and more time worrying about how to best communicate your message to your audience. Don’t worry about how articulate you are, what you’re wearing, or how red you think your face is. Instead, think about how to make the most of the time you have with your audience. Think about how you can help the people in your audience.
Public speaking is a privilege. You have the complete attention of an entire group of people for 5, 10, or however many minutes you have to give your presentation. Time is precious. Return the favor and give your audience something worthwhile. Cherish the time you are given. You can’t do that if you are more focused on yourself than on your audience.
The ability to give an audience centered speech is a valuable skill. The world needs people to get up and speak, and if you have the courage to be the one to get up and fill that need, you can really make a difference…and the pay’s not bad, either. 
If you are a student and want a better grade on your next speech, be sure to visit GradeMySpeech.com to have a former speech instructor grade your speech before you have to deliver it for real!
Something To Think About: Connotation
The next time you are writing an email, a speech, or any other form of communication, be aware of the connotations of the words you choose. Connotations matter…a lot.
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According to Wikipedia, the connotation of a word is the emotional meaning attached to it. The terms “terrorism” and “man-caused disasters” have basically the same literal, or denotative, meaning. But the word “terrorism” definitely carries some emotional baggage with it. Depending on your communication goals, this may be a good thing or bad thing. Either way, you need to be aware of the connotations of the words you use.
Just something to think about.
If you are a student and want a better grade on your next speech, be sure to visit GradeMySpeech.com to have a former speech instructor grade your speech before you have to deliver it for real!
Elements of an Informative Speech
There are several types of speeches, but in this article, I would like to discuss the parts of an informative speech. An informative speech is similar in structure to the five-paragraph essay structure you learned about in high school: an introduction paragraph, three main points (the body), and the concluding paragraph. You can think of an informative speech the same way.
The introduction section of your speech should last about one minute in a five-minute speech. In the introduction section, you should first gain the audience’s attention, then relate your topic to the audience. Next, you should establish your credibility on your topic, state the purpose of your speech and tell your audience your central idea, then transition to your first main point.
The Speech Body
Your three main points should be organized in some logical, easy to follow pattern. One pattern you could use is a chronological pattern. With a chronological pattern, your main points would be organized in time sequence: what occurred first, what occurred second, etc. This pattern would work well for describing a process, such as a recipe, or for discussing periods of time in history.
Another option for organizing your main points is the spatial pattern. You can logically organize your points based on physical space: top to bottom, left to right, inside to outside, etc.
Another organizational pattern is the causal pattern. You can first discuss the cause of a problem, then the effect, or vice-versa. Related to this pattern is the problem/solution pattern. First discuss the problem, then discuss the solution.
The final organizational pattern is the topical pattern. You can divide your topic in to it’s logical components and discuss these components individually. For instance, if your topic is about symphonic orchestras, you could divide your main points into strings, brass, and woodwind instruments.
You should begin each of your three main points by clearly stating what your main point is. Each main point should be limited to a single idea. Try to be creative and avoid just announcing your main point. Each main point should be supported by examples, definitions, statistics, comparisons, or testimony from experts.
Transitions
Between each main point, you should have good transitions. Transitions are verbal bridges that move your audience from one idea to the next. A transition is a word or group of words that show the relationship between ideas as you move from point to point. Transitions can be effectively indicated by pausing before moving on to another main point, by changing the rate of your speaking, varying your pitch, or more directly, by using statements that tell an audience you are moving on. An effective transition summarizes the points preceding it, and previews the next point. For example:
Those are the two main problems, now let’s see how they can be solved.
Use a variety of transitions and avoid falling into a rut. Transitions are surprisingly difficult and my students used to tell me that coming with good transitions is one of the hardest parts of speech writing. Here are some examples of transitions you can use:
- However
- In addition to
- Similar to this
- Looking further
- Now consider it from
- Furthermore
- More importantly
- Therefore
- Despite this
- Now let’s consider
- First of all
Speech Conclusions
The final part of your speech is the conclusion. In your conclusion, you would first signal the end of your speech, which let’s your audience know that you are finishing. Then you recap your main points, and finally end your speech with a good clincher that reinforces your main idea and ties it all up.
If you are a student and want a better grade on your next speech, be sure to visit GradeMySpeech.com to have a former speech instructor grade your speech before you have to deliver it for real!
3 Ways To Organize An Impromptu Speech
Impromptu speaking is tough. Just ask the 2007 Miss Teen South Carolina. You may have seen the video of this lovely young lady Carolina responding to a question about Americans being able to find the United States on a map. It’s about a year and a half old, but it still gets a lot of hits on YouTube (over 34 million and counting). If you haven’t seen it, here’s the clip:
Her incoherent response was ironic and many believe it made a strong statement about the sad state of the American education system. That may or may not be the case, but answering a question like that in that situation is a difficult task. Remember, we’re talking about a 17-year-old kid under a lot of pressure. A large audience, bright lights, TV cameras, and the fulfillment of her dream were all adding to the pressure.
If you’re ever in a high-pressure impromptu situation like that, take a few seconds before you respond to gather your thoughts. Don’t be afraid to pause during your response if you need to. If you can pause without a look of panic on your face, you will appear thoughtful and careful, and your audience will respect you for that.
Here are 3 ways to organize your impromptu speech:
The first pattern is called the PREP method. This pattern is your best choice when you only have a few seconds to prepare. Here are the steps:
* Position: State your position on the topic.
* Reason: State your reason for taking the position.
* Example: Provide an example that helps explain your reason.
* Position: Summarize and restate your position.
The second pattern for organizing your impromptu speeches is called the Point-Support-Conclusion method. It goes like this:
* Point: Provide your point of view, key idea, or objective.
* Support: Provide stories or examples that help prove your point.
* Conclusion: End by restating your point of view, key idea, or make your call to action.
The final pattern is called Past-Present-Future:
* Point: State your key point.
* Past: Discuss what happened in the past.
* Present: Discuss what is occurring today.
* Future: Tell your audience about what will or could happen in the future.
* Point: Summarize by restating your key point.
Yes, impromptu can be nerve-racking, but if you stay cool and take a few seconds to organize your thoughts, you’ll look like a pro. Remember that your response does not need to be a masterpiece. Your audience realizes that you are speaking off the cuff. A thoughtful, coherent, and brief response is what is expected.
If you are a student and want a better grade on your next speech, be sure to visit GradeMySpeech.com to have a former speech instructor grade your speech before you have to deliver it for real!
How To Practice Your Speech Or Presentation
Many beginning speakers may write great speeches, but then have trouble with delivery because they don’t know how to practice effectively. Try these ideas as you prepare to deliver your speech.
- Tape record your speech, play it back, and listen for awkward phrasing, weak transitions, and nonfluencies, such as “you know”, “like”, “whatever,” “uh”, etc. Depending on the errors you hear, revise the speech, practice eliminating the nonfluencies, or write a note in the margins of your speaker’s notes that will remind you to correct the error.
- Ask a practice audience – not your friends! It’s hard for them to offer solid criticism – to listen and give you feedback.
- Ask a practice audience to paraphrase the message in just a couple of sentences. If they can’t do this accurately, you need to clarify your message.
- Know the introduction well.
- If possible, practice at least once in the room in which you will deliver the speech. If you are using visual aids, be sure to practice using the visuals.
- Don’t practice by looking in a mirror. It’s distracting and it encourages the development of an artificial speaking style because it doesn’t replicate the genuine speech situation.
- Get videotaped so you can see what was strong and what needs improvement. Most speakers don’t have a realistic vision of where they are strong, and where they need to improve, and most speakers are too critical of themselves.
- DON’T memorize your speech! It will sound false and artificial, and your audience will rapidly lose interest in what is being said.
- Ask a question: I recommend the question be rhetorical (a question that implies it’s own answer and does not require your audience to reply.) A rhetorical question can create interest and get your audience thinking. Overt-response questions (questions asked to elicit a direct, immediate reply) can be tricky because you may not get the response from your audience you were expecting. This can throw you off track, so be careful.
- Use a quote: Quote someone famous or respected by your audience.
- Tell a story: An extended narrative related to your topic can create interest. People love stories. True stories are best, but hypothetical narratives can be effective, as well.
- Make a startling statement: Interesting facts and statistics can be powerful. Make sure they are relevant to your topic and sometimes citing the source can make the fact or stat even more powerful.
- Use a visual: A picture, chart, or object and create interest in your topic. Again, make sure the visual is relevant and explain the visual to your audience.
- Don’t prepare your introduction first: Instead, prepare the body of your speech first.
- Make your introduction easy to follow: The introduction is vital to get your audience into the grove of your speech. Make sure it’s clear, and don’t make it too brief. Spend some time on it.
- Make sure your introduction is directly relevant to the body of your speech: This can create confusion with your audience.
- Never apologize: This will kill your credibility. Never, ever, ever apologize…for anything.
If you are a student and want a better grade on your next speech, be sure to visit GradeMySpeech.com to have a former speech instructor grade your speech before you have to deliver it for real!
Speech Introductions
Would you be excited about hearing a speech that started like this?
“Good morning. My name is Bob, and I want to talk to you today about corporate ethics.”
That’s not a good way to start. Most of your audience will tune you out immediately if you start a speech like that. Announcing your topic at the beginning of your presentation is one of the worst ways to begin.
Before you clue your audience in as to the topic of your speech, you need to draw them in and create interest. The idea is to spend the first minute or two of your presentation making a strong impression so they can’t help but to listen to rest of it. The first words out of your mouth when you step up to the lectern or podium should be designed to get your audience’s attention.
Here are five different types of attention getters you can use at the beginning of your presentation to get your audience interested:
Whichever type of attention getter you choose, make sure it is relevant to your topic. It’s also great if you can somehow tie your attention getter to your conclusion at the end of your presentation.
One final note, please don’t open your speech with a joke. An amusing or humorous story is probably OK. Otherwise, leave the comedy to the professionals. I know it’s tempting, but if your joke bombs, it’s tough to recover. It’s not worth the risk.
Give an Incentive to Listen
After you’ve got your audience’s attention, the next step in your introduction is to give your audience a reason to listen to your speech. There are two parts to this. First is to relate your topic to the audience. People will (usually) only listen to a speech if there is something in it for them. As a speaker, it is your job to show them what that reason is. Don’t just tell them, show them how your topic is personally relevant to their lives. Don’t assume that the benefits of listening to your speech will be obvious to your audience. Spell it out for them.
After you’ve got the attention of your audience, and shown them why they need to listen, the next step is to explain your credibility. Usually, no one expects you to be an expert on your topic, but they do expect that you’ve done the work necessary to be credible so that your audience will perceive you as trustworthy, believable, and competent enough to discuss your topic. Many speakers shy away from this and tend to understate their expertise, but if it’s very easy to explain your knowledge of the topic without sounding arrogant, and your audience will have more respect for what you have to say.
Preview Your Speech
After you’ve got your audience’s attention, given them a reason to listen, and established your credibility, the final step is to preview your speech. First, you state the central idea of your speech, which should be no more than a single sentence. If you can remember back to your high school English classes, the central idea of our speech is a lot like the thesis sentence of a five-paragraph essay.
After you state your central idea, you preview your main points. Then, make a nice transition to your first main point.
Final Thoughts on Speech Introductions
If you are a student and want a better grade on your next speech, be sure to visit GradeMySpeech.com to have a former speech instructor grade your speech before you have to deliver it for real!
