How To Write A Persuasive Speech

Summary

In this video, the presenter shares a simple yet effective technique for crafting persuasive speeches, emphasizing the use of real-life examples over mere facts and statistics. The speaker explains that while traditional teaching suggests facts are key to persuasion, human nature often resists such an approach. Instead, starting with a story or example that illustrates the point can significantly increase the persuasiveness of a speech. The presenter illustrates this with a personal story about the importance of wearing seat belts, using statistics to support the narrative rather than lead the argument, which can resonate more with the audience.

Takeaways

• 📝 Persuasive speeches can be challenging due to human nature's tendency to question facts and figures.
• 📚 Traditionally, people are taught that using more facts makes a speech more persuasive, but this can backfire as it triggers skepticism.
• 📖 The speaker suggests using real-life examples or stories as a more effective method to persuade an audience, a technique that dates back to ancient times.
• 📖 Parables from the Bible and stories from historical figures like Aesop demonstrate the power of storytelling in teaching moral lessons.
• 🚗 The script provides a personal example of the importance of wearing a seatbelt, illustrating the point with a vivid narrative of a car accident.
• 🔢 The Department of Transportation statistics are used to back up the narrative, showing that combining stories with facts can be more convincing.
• 👥 The technique of starting with a story and ending with an action or benefit statement is recommended to persuade the audience effectively.
• 🤔 The video acknowledges that people may still question statistics, but a personal story can make the message more relatable and harder to refute.
• 💡 Professional speakers often use stories to persuade their audiences, indicating that this method is widely recognized as effective in public speaking.
• 👍 The video encourages viewers to subscribe to the channel and engage with the content by leaving comments and questions.
• 🎶 The video ends with a call to action and a piece of music, indicating the conclusion of the presentation.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to teach viewers a simple technique for designing a persuasive speech that can effectively win people over to their way of thinking.

What challenges are typically faced when trying to persuade an audience using facts and figures?

When using facts and figures to persuade, human nature often leads to a devil's advocate response where people tend to find exceptions or counterexamples, making it difficult to convince them fully.

Why is it suggested to start a persuasive speech with an example or a story?

Starting with an example or story helps to illustrate the point in a relatable way, which can be more effective in persuading the audience than presenting cold, hard facts alone.

What is the historical precedent for using stories to persuade?

The technique of using stories to persuade dates back thousands of years, with examples such as parables in the Bible and stories used by philosophers like Aesop.

How can statistics be used effectively in a persuasive speech after telling a story?

Statistics can be used to back up the story and reinforce the point being made, providing additional credibility and weight to the argument after the audience has been engaged by the narrative.

What is an example of a real-life story shared in the video to illustrate the importance of wearing a seatbelt?

The speaker shares a personal experience of a car accident where he was wearing a seatbelt and survived with minor injuries, while the other driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered severe injuries requiring extensive surgeries.

How does the speaker use the seatbelt example to transition into an action benefit statement?

After recounting the accident story, the speaker concludes with the action benefit statement that wearing a seatbelt can prevent traumatic injuries in a crash, effectively persuading the audience of its importance.

What is the role of the Department of Transportation statistics in the persuasive speech about seatbelts?

The Department of Transportation statistics serve as supporting evidence to the personal story, providing statistical proof to back up the narrative and strengthen the persuasive argument.

What is the significance of the 53% statistic mentioned in the script?

The 53% statistic indicates that more than half of the motor vehicle fatalities were among people who were not wearing seatbelts, highlighting the risk associated with not wearing one.

How does the speaker address the potential counterargument to the seatbelt statistics?

The speaker acknowledges the potential for counterarguments by pointing out that human nature leads people to find exceptions, which is why they recommend starting with a story to create a more persuasive argument.

What advice does the speaker give for structuring a persuasive speech effectively?

The speaker advises starting with a relatable example or story, followed by an action benefit statement that succinctly summarizes the persuasive point, making the argument more compelling.