How to write an outline for a persuasive speech

 How to Write an Outline for a Persuasive Speech 
Giving persuasive speeches isn't just for high school and college composition classes. You may already give 
persuasive speeches and not know it. Even if you're not formally presenting persuasive speeches, it's important to 
know how to present your ideas in such a manner. A format exists for outlining your thoughts in a persuasive 
speech. The format exists for a reason. It is a logical and powerful means of presenting your views. 
Instructions 
o 1 Select your topic. The more specific the topic, the better. 
o 2 Set guidelines. You already know that you want to persuade. Now choose specifically what you 
want to persuade the listener to do. A speech to advance an idea is different than a speech that 
motivates the listener to action. 
o 3 Get the listener's attention. Fill the listener with a sense of urgency. 
o 4 Establish credibility. Explain to the listener why he should listen to you on this subject. 
o 5 Make a definite statement. Your speech should have what is called a "thesis." A thesis is a clearly 
defined, one-sentence statement that sums up your argument. 
o 6 Summarize your points. Explain why your subject is of urgent need. Tell the listener how she can 
help solve the problem. Outline the difference between a positive resolution and a negative resolution. 
Finally, leave the listener with a sense of how he can make a difference. 
o 7 Summarize your points again. Briefly restate the main points of your speech. Take the listener 
through the speech again in highly abbreviated form. 
Tips & Warnings 
 Don't forget to add transitions in your outline. Without them your speech will be clunky and awkward. 
 Know your audience. Always be aware of who you are speaking to. Use the points that will best persuade 
that particular audience. 
Read more: How to Write an Outline for a Persuasive Speech | eHow.com 
 SAMPLE PERSUASIVE SPEECH OUTLINE 
(Motivated Sequence) 
by: Erin Solomon (Fall 1998) 
Topic: Organ Donation 
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to donate their organs and tissues when they die and 
to act upon their decision to donate. 
Thesis Statement: The need is constantly growing for organ donors and it is very simple to be an 
organ donor when you die. 
I. INTRODUCTION 
A. Attention material/Credibility Material: How do you feel when you have to wait for something you 
really, really want? What if it was something you couldn’t live without? Well, my cousin was five years 
old when he found out he needed a new kidney. He went on the organ waiting list right away. He was 
called twice during a six month span that they had a kidney available only to find out that the kidney 
wasn’t a good match. He had to wait again. The third time was a charm. A small adult was in an 
accident and his kidney was a good match. This story had a happy ending but so many do not. 
B. Tie to the audience: One of the people on the waiting list for an organ transplant might be 
someone you know. 
C. Thesis and Preview: Today I’d like to talk to you about first, the need for organ donors in our area, second, 
how you can become an organ donor after you die, and finally, how your family and organ donor recipients 
benefit from you donation. 
[Transition into body of speech]: I’ll begin by telling you about the need for organ donors. 
II. BODY 
A. People around the world but also right here in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, need 
organ transplants and they need our help. 
1. The problem is that there is a lack of organs and organ donors who make organ 
transplantation possible. 
a. The need is many organs and tissues such as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, 
corneas, bone, skin, heart valves, and blood vessels(Iowa Statewide Organ Procurement 
Organization undated brochure). 
b. A new name is added to the national waiting list every 16 minutes. That means that 3 
people will be added to the list during the time we are in class today. 
1) The problem is that 10 people will die each day waiting for an organ transplant (LifeSource: 
Questions and Answers). 
2) The reason is that are only on the average 5,000 donors nationally per year 
(LifeSource: Statistics). 
c. You can choose to donate any needed organs or you can specify which organs or tissues 
you wish to donate. 
2.. Organ donation is very important. 
a. The following poem by Robert Test entitled, "To Remember Me," shows the importance of 
organ donation. 
"Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby’s face or love in the eyes of a 
woman. Give my heart to a person whose heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain 
Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a 
crippled child walkTake my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that, someday, a 
speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against 
her window (South Dakota Lions Eye Bank, undated brochure). 
b. Not only is this a problem nationally but also it is a big problem right here at home in the 
Midwest. 
1) Nationally, there are over 62,000 people waiting as of October 7, 1998. As of October 7, 
1998, there are 1,422 people from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and part of 
Wisconsin that are on the organ waiting list (LifeSource: Statistics). 
2) The sad part is that there have only been 104 donors in the Midwest so far from January 
1998 through August 1998 (LifeSource: Newsnotes). 
[Transition: I’m sure that you can see the need for people like you to donate your organs. The 
majority of this class has already said they would like to donate their organs when they die. 
But you might be asking, well, how can I make sure my organs are donated after I die? Let me 
tell you.] 
B. This is how you go about making sure your organs are donated. 
1. Talk with your family about your decision. They will be involved in the donation arrangements when 
you die. If they do not know your wishes of becoming a donor, your wishes may never be carried out. 
2. Mark your driver’s license so that your license indicates your intent to donate. Each state 
varies. 
a. Fill out, sign and carry a uniform donor card with you. 
b. This donor card says what organs you wish to have donated and also has places for your family 
members to sign as witnesses after you have discussed your decision with them (Gundersen 
Lutheran Hospital [LaCrosse, WI] undated brochure). 
[Transition: You can see that it isn’t difficult to be an organ donor. Now let’s look at what may 
happen if you choose to donate your organs and what may happen if you choose not to.] 
C. Organ donation benefits both the donor’s family and the recipients. 
1. If you do donate your organs, your family and the people who receive your organs might benefit in 
a similar way like this family. A seventeen year old died of head injuries in a car accident. His mom 
decided to donate his organs. His heart went to a prison chaplain, his kidneys went to a mother of 5 
children and a Vietnam vet. The Vietnam vet is "energetic" and finally is getting his college degree. 
The teenager gave life to others and his family feels a sense of satisfaction and comfort that other 
lives have been touched by his (University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics 1991 brochure). 
2. The problem arises when you are thinking about becoming a donor but never do anything about it. 
Then, no one knows your wishes and your organs will not be donated. The consequences of this are 
more people waiting for organs and there will still be an incredible shortage of available organs. 
III. CONCLUSION: 
A. Brakelight/Transition: As you can easily see, donating your organs can be one of the most 
important decisions you ever make and also the greatest gift you could ever give. 
B. Summary: I’ve told you about the need for organ donors in our area, how you can become an 
organ donor after you die, and finally, how your family and organ recipients benefit from your 
donation. You become a donor by talking to your family and making sure they know you want to be a 
donor, fill out and sign a donor card, and indicate your wishes on your driver’s license. 
C. Tie Back to the Audience: What if the person waiting on the list needing an organ transplant was 
someone you loved? Imagine if you had a brother or sister who had unexpectedly died and you were 
able to meet the person who received their heart, for example. Think of the satisfaction and possible 
comfort knowing that your brother or sister provided life for somebody else. 
D. Concluding Remarks: I’m going to leave you with a short message from Michael Jordan who is a 
sponsor for the Iowa LifeGift Coalition on Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness and appears in their 
1996 brochure. "Please make the decision to become an organ and tissue donor. Remember: Share 
your life. Share your decision." 
WORKS CITED 
Gundersen Lutheran Hospital (Lacrosse, WI): "LifePass It On." Undated brochure. Iowa LifeGift 
Coalition on Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness: "Share Your Life, Share 
Your Decision." 1996 brochure. Iowa Statewide Organ Procurement Organization: "Be an organ 
donorit’s the chance of a lifetime!" undated brochure. 
LifeSource:Newsnotes. October 1998. Accessed November 2, 1998. <www.life-
source.org/newsnotes.htm>. 
LifeSource: Questions and Answers. April 1998. Accessed November 2, 1998. <www.life-
source.org/public.htm>. 
LifeSource: Statistics. October 1998. Accessed November 2, 1998. . 
South Dakota Lions Eye Bank: "No Greater GiftThan Yourself To Others." Undated brochure. 
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics: "A Circle of Life: The Gift of Organ and Tissue 
Donation." 1991 brochure. 
Sample Persuasive Speech Outline For Public Speaking 
Sample persuasive speech outline including speechwriting tips on outlining the main speech topics for public 
speaking. 
Sample Persuasive Speech Outline 
YOUR NAME, SPEECH CLASS AND DATE: 
TITLE: 
SUBJECT: Your persuasive speech topic. 
GENERAL PURPOSE: To persuade 
SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To persuade the audience to ... (fill in your ultimate goal of course :-) 
I INTRODUCTION 
A. Your attention grabber. Try a snappy one if you like :-) 
B. Clarify the goal of your writing topic. By the way, don't write pursuasive speech topic, use the correct 
spelling! What do you want to persuade them to think, change, act or to move exactly? 
C. Preview main points: Use the Roman numeral divisions of this sample persuasive outline. 
D. Relate the issue to your audience. 
E. Your credibility and authority: Why are you talking about this speech topic? 
Transition sentence here 
II BODY 
A. First Point 
 1. First Subpoint 
 a. First Sub-subtopic 
 b. Second Sub-subtopic 
 c. Third Sub-subtopic 
 2. Second Subpoint 
 a. First Sub-subtopic 
 b. Second Sub-subtopic 
 c. Third Sub-subtopic 
 3. Third Subpoint 
 a. First Sub-subtopic 
 b. Second Sub-subtopic 
 c. Third Sub-subtopic 
Transition sentence here 
B. Second Point 
 1. First Subpoint 
 a. First Sub-subtopic 
 b. Second Sub-subtopic 
 c. Third Sub-subtopic 
 2. Second Subpoint 
 a. First Sub-subtopic 
 b. Second Sub-subtopic 
 c. Third Sub-subtopic 
 3. Third Subpoint 
 a. First Sub-subtopic 
 b. Second Sub-subtopic 
 c. Third Sub-subtopic 
In this sample you see three major points, up till five is okay, but avoid more than that. If you don't want the 
sample persuasive speech outline above, then group them in the deductive speech writing format; from general 
to specific, or in the inductive public speaking outline; from more specific to a general and wide view. 
Transition sentence here 
C. Third Point: Deal with opposition arguments. 
E.g. What will happen if you don't agree? 
Like this sample persuasive speech outline: 
 1. First Subpoint 
 a. First Sub-subtopic 
 b. Second Sub-subtopic 
 c. Third Sub-subtopic 
 2. Second Subpoint 
 a. First Sub-subtopic 
 b. Second Sub-subtopic 
 c. Third Sub-subtopic 
 3. Third Subpoint 
 a. First Sub-subtopic 
 b. Second Sub-subtopic 
 c. Third Sub-subtopic 
Transition sentence here 
III CONCLUSION 
A. Signal the end of your public speaking presentation. 
B. Summarize main ideas. 
C. Close with a concluding device or call to action. 
SUPPORTING MATERIALS: Or use another term for education resources. In this sample persuasive speech 
outline I used the term supporting materials. 
Visual aid: If appropriate. 
Documented Sources: I always used the APA Style citation (developed by the Official American Psychological 
Association back in 1929) in this sample speech outline. Many scholars use it in their essays and handouts that 
accompany their oral presentations. 
 How to Write a Persuasive Speech 
Giving a persuasive speech can be an intimidating assignment. Convincing an audience in only a few minutes is 
much harder than giving an informational speech in the same amount of time. Knowing how to write a persuasive 
speech will help you to prepare fully and, therefore, successfully present a prevailing argument that will capture the 
attention of your audience. 
Instructions 
o 1 Choose a topic that can be thoroughly covered in the amount of time assigned. You won't be able 
to cover all of the points if the topic is too broad, resulting in a poor argument. For instance, a topic on 
global warming would be too large, but convincing the audience of the effects of global warming on the 
local economy is more plausible. Your topic should be important to you, otherwise you will never be 
able to present it with the emotion necessary for persuasion. 
o 2 Make your argument relevant to the audience. Do not bore listeners with a topic that could never 
involve them. You cannot persuade someone if there is no common ground. Floridians would not care 
about the dangers of swimming in an Arkansan lake. Also take into account the type of audience. 
Tailor your argument to the age or world views of the listeners. 
o 3 Use lots of evidences, examples, statistics, quotes, or true stories throughout the speech. Be 
sure they come from credible sources. The more backup you include, the more convincing your 
argument will be. Don't forget to cite your sources. Simply state the author and the location (book title, 
web page, article and journal name) before the evidence. You may also want to include the author's 
credentials. 
o 4 A good argument will present the other side and thoroughly dispel it point-by-point. Avoid derisive 
comments as this could offend the audience and make your argument appear overly emotional. 
Instead, present the other side generously with an understanding of why others choose that stance. 
o 5 Finally, present an action, a way to involve the audience. Hand out pamphlets with a list of ways 
to help the cause. Give out stationary and envelopes addressed to a congressman. The point is to give 
the audience the tools to easily take the next step, otherwise they will leave the room convinced but 
too busy to research how to get involved. 
Persuasive Speech Outline Format 
General Purpose: 
Specific Purpose: 
ATTENTION STEP 
I. Opening Statement of Interest 
 A. Reason (s) to Listen 
 B. Speaker Credibility 
 C. Thesis Statement 
NEED STEP 
II. Statement of Need 
 A. Illustration 
 B. Ramifications 
 1. 
 2. 
 C. Pointing 
SATISFACTION STEP 
III. Statement of Solution 
 A. Explanation of Solution 
 B. Theoretical Demonstration 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 C. Practical Experience 
 D. Meeting Objections 
 1. 
 2. 
VISUALIZATION STEP 
IV. Restatement of Proposed Solution 
 A. Negative Visualization 
 B. Positive Visualization 
ACTION STEP 
V. Restatement and Summary 
 A. Statement of Specific Action or Attitude Change 
 B. Statement of Personal Interest 
 C. Reason to Remember 
SOURCES: 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
_________________________________________________________________ 
Persuasive Speech Parts Explained
 PERSUASIVE OUTLINE 
Begin with an Attention Step that is an 
 Opening statement of interest (use one or more of the following): 
A rhetorical question 
A startling statement 
A quotation 
An illustration or story 
A reference to the subject 
A reference to the occasion 
Motivate audience interest in your subject by alluding to: (use one or more of the following): 
The practical value of the information for your audience 
A reason to listen 
The audience’s sense of curiosity 
Establish your credibility by: 
Alluding to any first-hand experience you may have had 
Alluding to sources of information you have consulted 
Provide orienting material by: (use one or more of the following): 
 Previewing main points 
 Defining any technical terms that you will be using 
Need Step 
 There are potentially two kinds of needs (your speech uses one of these): 
To urge a change-point out what’s wrong with present conditions 
To demand preservation of present conditions-point out the danger of a change 
The Need Step is developed by: 
 Illustration: Tell of one or more incidents to illustrate the need 
 Ramifications: Employ as many additional facts, examples, and quotations as are required 
 to make the need convincingly impressive. 
 Pointing: Show its importance to the individuals in the audience. 
Satisfaction Step presents a solution. 
The Satisfaction Step is developed by (use one or more of the following): 
Statement of solution: a brief statement of the attitude, belief, or action you wish the audience 
to 
 adopt. 
Explanation: Make sure that your proposal is understood. 
Theoretical demonstration: show how the solution logically and adequately meets the need 
pointed 
 out in the need step, point-by-point! 
 Practical experience: actual examples showing where this proposal has worked effectively or 
 where the belief has proven correct. 
 Meeting objections: forestall opposition by showing how your proposal overcomes any objections 
 which might be raised. 
 Visualization Step: The visualization step must stand the test of reality. The conditions you describe 
must be at least realistic. The more vividly you make the situation seem, the stronger will be the reaction 
of the audience. There are three methods of visualizing the future. (use one or more of the following): 
 Positive: Describe the conditions if your solution is actually carried out. 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 effect your solution will produce. 
 Contrast: Combination of 1 and 2. Begin with the negative method (undesirable situation) and conclude 
 with the positive method (desirable solution). 
Action Step: developed by (use one or more of the following): 
 Restatement of main idea and summary of main points. 
 Statement of specific action or attitude change you want from the audience. 
 A statement of your personal intent to take the course of action or attitude recommended. 
 A concluding statement to recapture interest (a reason to remember). 
How to Write a Persuasive Speech 
There are lots of things to consider and understand prior to writing a persuasive speech. In order to influence others, you have to 
understand the subject, and understand the audiences perception of the subject. Moving around also helps because it enables 
all of the audience to get an emotional response. 
Steps 
Understand the subject well. This page won't help you at all if its for a speech due tommorrow. Go over why you feel the way 
you do about the subject and consider the different challenges that you had to overcome to where you feel the