Persuasive Speech Outline: - Using Monroe's Motivated Sequence

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Persuasive speech outline

- using Monroe's Motivated Sequence

By: Susan Dugdale | Last modified: 02-08-2020 | First published: 05-01-2011 |

The persuasive speech outline below uses the classic 5 step pattern called Monroe's
Motivated Sequence.

This method of organizing material forms the basis of many of the successful political, public
awareness or advertising campaigns you see and hear around you on a daily basis. Why?
Because it faithfully follows the psychology of persuasion. In a nutshell, it works.
Exceedingly well.


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 Alan H Monroe who


taught public speaking at Purdue University, USA.

Overview of Monroe's 5 step motivation sequence


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

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

Persuasive speech outline example

About this sample speech - topic, purpose and audience

The subject is fear of public speaking.

The specific purpose of the speech is to 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 from late teens to middle
aged.

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

Why?

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?
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Establish 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)

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Here's those stats again. According to Franklin Schneier, MD, someone 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.

1. “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.
2. 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
3. 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.
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Satisfy 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

1. It's free, led by experienced teachers and especially designed for people with a history
of being nervous about speaking in public.
2. Once a week for 4 weeks you'll have 2 hours of practical public speaking training and
practice.
3. 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:

1. Complete their college education and go on to further study if they wanted to


2. Apply for the positions they know would give them greater work satisfaction
3. Speak up when they need to about issues concerning themselves, their family and
their community
4. Inspire others to follow their example

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

1. Communicate more effectively


2. Listen more carefully to others
3. 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?
Return to Top

See 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?

1. 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!
2. 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?

1. 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?
2. 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.
3. 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.
Return to Top

Take 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 summary
 a quotation
 a challenge or appeal
 an example
 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

1. Rosemary Black. (2018, June 4) Glossophobia (Fear of Public Speaking): Are You
Glossophobic? Retrieved from https://www.psycom.net/glossophobia-fear-of-public-
speaking
2. Franklin Schneier. (2005) Social Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved
from http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/medical/psychmed2/3_2005/Schneier-
SocialAnxietyDisorderBW.pdf
3. Author and date of publication unknown. Social Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved
from http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/social-anxiety-disorder
4. 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/

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