Persuasive Speech Outline: - Using Monroe's Motivated Sequence
Persuasive Speech Outline: - Using Monroe's Motivated Sequence
Persuasive Speech Outline: - Using Monroe's Motivated Sequence
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
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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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.
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.
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?
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.
Can you imagine the positive impact feeling OK about speaking up would have? On
individuals? On families? On our community?
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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.
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.
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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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".
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:
C. Exchanging public speaking fear for confidence will help people to:
Can you imagine the positive impact that would have on people’s lives? Maybe yours?
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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."
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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/