Step One – Using Approved Topic: The first step to identifying a powerful persuasive speech topic is to solicit audience feedback. Check back to the Module 4 Discussion: Persuasive Speech Topics where you posted three possible persuasive speech topics. Which topic was approved by your instructor? Be sure to begin your Persuasive Presentation Outline by using the best fit topic for this assignment.

Step Two – Audience Analysis: Answer the questions below about your approved topic:

1. Why should the audience care about this topic?
2. Why should your audience trust your argument about this topic?
3. Why are you uniquely qualified to present this information to the audience?
4. How would the audience benefit by adopting your view?

Step Three – Research: Conduct some in-depth research on your approved topic. Find three potential credible sources of information. Provide the following information for all three sources.

1. Title, author, date, and URL (if using a web source) for all three sources.
2. Brief one-paragraph summary of source.
3. How the source supports your argument.
4. Where you might use the source in the body of your presentation.

Step Four – Creating Your Outline: Develop your Persuasive Presentation Outline. This presentation will be 7-8 minutes. Remember that an outline is different from an essay. An outline uses bullet points and phrases versus complete sentences. Your outline should contain the following elements clearly labeled:

• Introduction
  • Attention-getter/hook
  • Persuasive argument
  • Short preview of five main points to support your persuasive argument
• Body
  • Five main points to support your persuasive argument
    • Support for each of these five main points in the form of research, statistics, personal story, examples, testimony, etc. Be sure to alternate between fact and story for each of your five main points to generate interest and engagement
• Conclusion
  • Brief summary of five main points
  • Restatement of persuasive argument
  • Clincher or final thought