MONROE'S Persuasive Speech Outline

Because the steps are perceived as reasonable,
Persuasive Speech Outline using them prepares and motivates an audience

to respond positively to the speaker's
- using Monroe's Motivated Sequence message.
The sequence is named after the person who
first identified and used it: Alan H Monroe
The persuasive speech outline below is the classic 5 who taught public speaking at Purdue
step pattern calledMonroe's Motivated Sequence. University, USA.
This method of organizing material forms the basis of

many of the successful political, public awareness or
Step overview
advertising campaigns you see and hear around you on a daily
basis. Why? Because it faithfully follows the psychology of
In developing your persuasive speech outline you
persuasion.
will follow these 5 steps:
 Step overview
1. Attention
 Step 1 - Attention Grab the audience's attention
 Step 2 - Need 2. Need
 Step 3 - Satisfaction Establish there is a problem (need) demanding their
attention
 Step 4 - Visualization
3. Satisfaction
 Step 5 - Action Outline a solution to the problem
4. Visualization
Show the audience how they will benefit from your
solution
About Monroe's Motivated Sequence
5. Action
Provide the impetus and means to act
The pattern or steps mirror those identified
as being part of the normal thinking processes
that occur whenever a person is confronted by
a problem.
1
Now let's examine those steps more closely. As you established your credibility?
read through start thinking about your audience and
your topic and jot any ideas down for later use.
Establish the need - step 2
The 5 steps of Monroe's motivation sequence
Getting attention - step 1
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.
This step is your introductory "listen up" call. To make
it effective it needs to grab the audience. It could be To be effective use:
any of the following:
 examples to illustrate how it impacts on them -
 a startling statement their happiness, future, health, family,
neighborhood...
 a rhetorical question
 statistics - facts, figures, graphs, diagrams...
 a quotation Remember to cite your sources and remember too
 a funny story that some are more credible than others. You need
recognized sources to give your speech the
 a dramatic story credibility you want.
 a photograph or other visual aid  expert witness testimony - the more
authoritative, the better
Consider "What's in it for me?" while deciding on your
attention getter. Your goal at the conclusion of this step is to have your
Why should your audience listen? Is it relevant to audience eager to hear your solution. They agree with
them? How?
Why should they believe what you say? Have you
2
you that there is a problem and want the answer. Your answer should give them "satisfaction".
Satisfy the need - step 3 See the future - step 4
Now you outline your answer or solution and show the In this step the audience "experiences" the solution.
audience how it will work. They see (feel, hear, taste...) what will happen if they
do as you are suggesting contrasted against what will
To do this well: happen if they don't do as you are suggesting.
 outline your solution succinctly This step relies on your use of vivid imagery to
portray the outcome of their action, or inaction. They
 demonstrate how it meets the problem
see and feel the pleasure, or pain, in their
 use examples to show how effective it is imagination. To bring it home to your audience the
pictures you provide, the stories you tell, need to be
 support with facts, figures, graphs, diagrams,
relevant and believable.
statistics, testimony...
 if there is known opposition to your solution, What you want folk thinking as you conclude this step
acknowledge and counteract showing how your is: "I can see that this would be good for me."
plan overturns it
The ideal outcome of this step is the audience saying

to themselves: "Yes. This is possible, practical and
sensible."
Take action - step 5
3
Fitting the standard speech format
If you are wondering how these 5 steps of Monroe's

Motivated Sequence fit into the standard 3 part
speech format, they go like this:
1. Steps 1 (Attention) form

In this last step you present your call to action. the Introduction
The call to action can be embedded in any 2. Steps 2, 3 and 4 (Need and Satisfaction and
combination of the following: Visualization) form the Body
 a summary 3. Step 5 (Action) is the Conclusion

 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.

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Because the steps are perceived as reasonable,

Persuasive Speech Outline using them prepares and motivates an audience

This method of organizing material forms the basis of

Getting attention - step 1

Satisfy the need - step 3 See the future - step 4

The ideal outcome of this step is the audience saying

If you are wondering how these 5 steps of Monroe's

1. Steps 1 (Attention) form

 a summary 3. Step 5 (Action) is the Conclusion

To be effective the action step must be readily doable

Action steps that are delayed even for 48 hours are

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