Speech Fundamentals > Outline Sample: Speech to Persuade

SAMPLE PERSUASIVE SPEECH OUTLINE #1

Jamie Caillet

Cloning Research

MWF/9-9:50

Purpose Statement: The purpose of my speech is TO PERSUADE my speech class that human cloning research should be banned in the U.S. (policy)

1. How will you attract/orient your audience to your Main Claim?

I will use an analogy and a scientific report suggesting how cloning research is beneficial for human improvement.

2. How will you establish the relevance of your Main Claim for your TARGET AUDIENCE?

I will suggest that scientific study in cloning can lead to life changing, beneficial effects on the human population. I will also cite my survey data.

3. What specific characteristics of the audience will you verbally identify to establish COMMON GROUND and/or to create a COMMON IDENTITY between you and them?

WE as progressive members of a society striving for human advancement....

4. What question or general comment will you raise in your introduction will begin the process of narrowing your audience's thoughts/perceptions toward your Main Claim?

Is scientific research necessary for human advancement?
Is human cloning a science that can benefit humanity?
Should human cloning be banned?

5. How will you create a sense of formal structure for your audience to anticipate/follow and to "co-participate" in?

I will preview my subclaims directly.

6. How will you establish yourself to a person of knowledge and goodwill at various critical junctures in your speech?

I will state that I am a biology major who understands the issues germane to the Main Claim (experience-knowledge). I will also suggest that as a concerned citizen and future parent, I recognize the deeply personal nature of this issue and care about how it will impact my audience's health and general well being (goodwill).

7. Please indicate the content of each subclaim in the body of your speech as well as the TYPES of evidence that you intend to use directly in support of each subclaim and indirectly in support of your Main Claim.

Problem:

I. Our perceptions of cloning are, in no small part, erroneous, being acquired through misrepresentation in the media.
Ev: Expert Testimony; Examples

Solution: Human cloning research should not be banned.

II. Cloning research is beneficial to the human race.
Ev: Factual Data; Scientific (Expert) Testimony; Research Reports.

8. When will you actually state your Main Claim? Whey then and not at some other time? How many times will you re/state your Main Claim?

I will state my Main Claim in the introduction. I feel that revealing my Main Claim at this time followed by an explanation of its scientific meaning (or operational definition) will allow my audience to follow the chain of reasoning in the body of the speech more easily. Minimum of 5 times.

9. What objection(s) will you cite and what refutation (s) will you offer?

Some people believe that human cloning should be banned because it is unnatural and because it puts the power of God into the hands of corruptible humans. However, as we all know, twins are clones and are natural. Indeed twins are the most natural human clone known to man. As to the power of God, who can truly say what is or isn't "God's will" with respect to human knowledge? If God gave us the brainpower to be able to cure diseases and help people with genetic problems, then why should we be prohibited from using knowledge that may have even greater personal and societal benefits?

10. Cite the content of three rhetorical figures (analogy, anaphora, antimetabole)

[deleted from sample outline]

11. References

Personal Survey (attached).
Caplan, Arthur. "Bah Cloning." Philadelphia Inquirer." March 4, 1997. Available: http://www.med.upenn.edu/~bioethic/Cloning/caplan-clone.html
National Center for Genomic Research. Genetic Odyssey. "Social and Cultural Impacts of Cloning." Unavailable.
Nash, J. Madeleine. "The Case for Cloning." Time Magazine. Feb 9, 1998. Vol 151 No.5. Available: http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/1998/dom/980209/science.the_case_for_clo26.html
Tritt, Charles S., Ph.D. "The Ethics of Cloning of Humans from Somatic Cells." Updated: 1/13/98. Available: http://www.msoe.edu/~tritt/sf/cloning.humans.html

SAMPLE PERSUASIVE SPEECH OUTLINE #2

Persuasive Outline

Name: Audrey Hale

Topic: Health

Day/Time: M-F 10:50-12:30

Purpose Statement: The purpose of my speech is to PERSUADE my target audience that we
should reduce the amount of aluminum in our diet. (policy)

1. How will you attract/orient your audience to your MAIN CLAIM?

I will construct a mental dialogue with my audience in reference to essential nutritional
elements.

2. How will you establish the relevance of your Main Claim for your TARGET AUDIENCE?

I will use a chart relating aluminum to our diet. I will also cite my survey data.

3. What specific characteristics of the audience will you verbally identify to ESTABLISH
COMMON ground and/or create a COMMON IDENTITY between you and them?

We as individuals striving for better health and longevity ....

4. What question(s) or general comment(s) will you raise in your introduction will bring the
process of narrowing your audience’s thoughts/perceptions toward your Main Claim? (List at least three options.)

What is aluminum?
Do we need aluminum in our diet?
Why is aluminum in our food?
What happens to the aluminum that we absorb?
What can we do to reduce the amount of aluminum in our diet?

5. How will you create a sense of formal structure for your audience to anticipate/follow and
to co-participate in?

I will preview my sub claims directly.

6. How will you establish yourself to be person of knowledge and goodwill at various points
in your speech?

I will state that I was not aware of aluminum in my diet. Unknowingly, I had personally witnessed the aluminum leaking into my food from the aluminum cookware that I used, but I had not identified it until a friend brought it to my attention (knowledge-experience). I will state that as a friend to my classmates I will share my revelations with them (goodwill). Also I will give testimony from a local physician who feels the same way I do in reference to my Main Claim (knowledge). Finally, I will indicate my concern for the health and well-being of my audience (goodwill).

7. Please indicate the content of each sub claim in the body of your speech as well as the TYPES of evidence that you intend to use directly in support of each sub claim and indirectly in support of your Main Claim.

I. We do not need aluminum in our diet.

Ev. Factual data and scientific data

II. We have a choice to purchase products that do not contain aluminum.

Ev. Personal testimony, examples

III. Choosing products that contain aluminum can cause immediate and long term health problems.

Ev. Scientific data, statistics

8.When will you actually state your Main Claim? Why then and not at other time? How many times will you re/state your Main Claim?

I will state my MC in my introduction. I want to establish it early on to build awareness towards its adoption. 5 times.

9.What objection(s) will you cite and what refutation(s) will you offer?

Some of you believe that there is no need to reduce the amount of aluminum in our diet because the U.S. government (FDA) regulates and controls such things and that settles it. Yes, and let's not forget the government's initial approval of the lead found in paint, an approval subsequently rejected as it became clear that our nation's children were suffering (and even dying) from the government's ill-informed regulatory measures. Put deductively, we might say:

MP: Nonessential substances are not necessary for good health.

mp: Aluminum is a nonessential substance.

C: Therefore, aluminum is not needed for good health.

Put analogically, the case of aluminum bears much in common with that of carbon monoxide since both are necessary elemental constituents found in their respective products -- cars and food. Elimination, however, is not the only option. Just as with carbon monoxide we can take measures to greatly reduce the harmful effects of aluminum.

10. Cite the content of your THREE rhetorical figures (anaphora, analogy, antimetabole)

[Deleted from sample]

11. References:

1. Personal Survey (attached)

2. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Aluminum. Jun. 1999
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts22.html.

3. McLachlan, Donald R. Crapper, & Kruck, Theo P., & Lukiw, Walter J., & Krishnan,
Sivarama S. (1991). Would decreased aluminum ingestion reduce the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease? Canadian Medical Association Journal, 145(7), 793.

4. Tracey, JA. (2001). Features and Management of Aluminum (Aluminum) Intoxication.
Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology, 39(3), 240.

5.Weiner, Michael A. (1987). Reducing the Risk of Alzheimer’s, New York: Stein and
Day/Publishers.