Module 5

Persuasive Speech
Communicative Styles
Persuasive Speech
A persuasive speech is a type of speech
whose aim is to convince the audience to support
an advocacy or take action on a critical issue.
Generally, a persuasive speech attempts to
influence, bend or swing the feelings, opinions,
beliefs or attitudes of the agent to that of the
speaker’s.
Persuasive text can be used to:
Purpose
 Make a change
 Prove something wrong
 Support a cause
 Urge people to act
 Get people to agree with you
Persuasive Statement
“Everyone should follow the law.”
“Our mayor is the best leader.”
“Please donate for the orphanage.”
“Stop disobeying quarantine rules!”
“I am sure you’ll agree with me”
To listen effectively to a persuasive speech,
you must consider the following:
1. The goal of the speaker’s speech
2. The main points mentioned by the speaker
3. The structure of the speech
4. The techniques used by the speaker to engage
you .
5. The supporting evidence used by the speaker
6. The sources or materials used by the speaker
According to Jeffreys (2009) a persuasive
speech will always:
• Appeal to the moral beliefs and values of the listeners.
There isn’t much chance of persuading listeners until
the speaker can reach their core values and connect
with them.
• Convince them that the facts the speaker mentions in
the speech are the truth.
• Convince them that the solutions presented are the
ones that will work for the problems that the speaker
outlines.
Persuasive writing follows a certain format:

•INTRODUCTION with a “hook” and thesis

statement
• BODY where the argument is explained
•CONCLUSION where main points are
summarized and reviewed and the reader is
left with something to think about.
Steps in writing a Persuasive Text
1.The writer must clearly state his/her position and stay
with that position. Pick a side. Generally, the position
is stated in the opening paragraph or introduction.
2.In order to convince the reader you need more than
just an opinion; you need facts or examples to back
your opinion. So, be sure to do the research.
3.Make a plan, then write.
Plan : The 6 Paragraph Essay
1.Introduction
2.Argument 1 with support
3.Argument 2 with support
4.Argument 3 with support
5.Show the counter-argument and make an argument
against it
6.Conclusion
Giving the Appropriate Communicative Styles
for Various Situations
The way you communicate with others has an
effect on how your message will be received by
your listener. Knowing what kind of
communicative style to use in different situations
will also help you persuade your listener, avoid
conflict, and carry a conversation more
confidently.
Types of Communicative Styles
1) Frozen style
2) Formal style
3) Consultative style
4) Casual style
5) Intimate style
FROZEN STYLE
• Also known as fixed speech. It is not dynamic; it never
changes.
• It is most the most formal communicative style that is
often used in respectful situation or formal ceremony.
• As most highly formal style, it uses the complex
grammatical sentence structure and vocabulary
known only to experts in a particular field.
FORMAL STYLE
• It uses formal words and expressions
•Example:
“Toyota’s sales bounced back in March as
substantial discounts helped to win back
customers who had been shaken by the firm’s
mass safety recalls.”
CONSULTATIVE STYLE
•It is unplanned speech
• This speech style uses listener participation and
feedback
•The two defining features of this style are:
(a)the speaker supplies background information
(b)the listener participates continuously
• Less appropriate for writing
CASUAL OR INFORMAL STYLE
• This style is used in conversations between friends
and insiders who have something to share and have
shared background information.
• There is free and easy participation of both speaker
and listener.
• It is marked by various degrees of implicitness
because of intimacy between speaker and listener.
INTIMATE STYLE
• This style is used in conversations between people
who are very close and know each other quite well
because having a maximum of shared background
information
• It is characterized by an economy of words, with a
high incidence of significant nonverbal
communication, such as gesture, facial expression, eye
contact and so on.
• There is free and easy participation of both the
speaker and listener, and is far more elliptical.