B.

Persuasive Speech

A persuasive speech always occurs in a situation where two or more points of view
exist. The speaker believes in reincarnation, but many listeners do not. The speaker
considers euthanasia to be murder, but some in the audience think it is justified in
certain circumstances. The speaker wants everyone in the audience to sign up
immediately to donate blood to the Red Cross, but most listeners are inclined to
procrastinate and will do it "someday." If the main proposition of your speech is that
smoking produces cancer, it is a speech to persuade. You merely want the audience to
agree with you. The different points of view may be completely opposed or they may
simply be different in degree. Whichever the case, there must be a disagreement, or
else there would be no need for persuasion.

Persuasive speeches may center on a question of fact, a question of value, or a

question of policy. Determining the kind of question in dispute is the first step in
persuasive speaking, for it affects both the content and the organization of your
speech.

Examples:

Question of Fact:
To persuade my audience that IQ tests discriminate against rich and poor.

To persuade my audience that a major earthquake will hit the Philippines in the
next five years.

To persuade my audience that China is responsible for much of the world's sea
disputes.

To persuade my audience that Grace Poe is a naturalized born Filipino citizen.

Question of Value:
To persuade my audience that Star Wars is a classic movie.

To persuade my audience that death penalty is morally and legally wrong.

Question of Policy:
To persuade my audience that the Philippines should act now to defend the West
Philippine Sea.

To persuade my audience that the government should act now to resolve the
perennial traffic problem.
Example:

There's a story of a 60-year old woman who has been serving a company for more
than 30 years now. She was so dismayed when she was informed by her immediate
superior that she would be transferred to the company's branch in Cebu.

Although she had long suspected that her superior did not like her, it still shocked her
to know that she would be junked in favor of the younger staff.

She has recently been recognized as the outstanding employee. She has been loyal to
the company and dedicated to her work.

She wondered, "Why is this happening to me?" For a time she had been contented
with her work, adjusting to a few hassles every once in a while until her superior's
decision came. It stirred her profoundly. It hurt her so much.

The pain that it brought was like a disease no pill could heal. However, it did not
cripple her; the enemy did not subdue her. Much to her surprise, it made her fight
depression, it made her appreciate life more. It drew her closer to God.

This experience made her realize that problems happen for a purpose to develop
patience, humility, fortitude, faithfulness, or love. Problems happen to develop
character.

Activity 2: Persuasive Speech

Product: Two or Three-minute Persuasive Speech
(Video)

Prepare a two to three-minute persuasive speech on a

topic designed to bring your audience to action. An
outline is required. Criteria for evaluation will include
clarity of the belief of action you want your audience to
adopt, to prove the soundness of your argument, and to
motivate, clarity. and appropriateness of your organization,
and convincing delivery.
C. Entertainment Speech
A speech to entertain is a speech which attempts to amuse the audience.

At bottom, you do not want to actuate, to convince, to stimulate, or to inform. You

just want the audience to enjoy themselves. If your speech is composed mostly of
anecdotes, or the main purpose is to inject humor to evoke laughter, it is a speech to
entertain. You can try to make fun of people (without ridiculing them) or of serious
events of the day.

Satirical speeches are speeches to entertain.

In a sense, the speech to entertain is one of the hardest speeches to make. The
reaction expected from the audience is immediate. If the audience is not pleased, your
speech fails flat. To be sure, one of the most difficult things to do is to make people
laugh. It requires some talent.

Example:
"We do not want our speech or writing to be greeted with silence, indifference, or
ridicule because of our bad English. Like an impressed suit, bad English shows the
carelessness of a person who uses it. He is like a young girl who, after breaking off an
engagement, dined out with her friends.

After the sumptuous meal, she was asked if she wanted ice cream. The girl shook her
head and blurted out, "I don't take dessert between males."

Of course, what she wanted to say was, "I don't take dessert between meals."

One who is careless with his/her English can be compared to a popular television
personality who was invited to dine with a group of college professors. She said, "I am
privileged to be in the person of as many extinguished gentlemen."

D. Speech to Stimulate
A speech to stimulate or to impress is a speech which attempts to arouse the
emotions of the audience. In other words, you try to urge or rally people on the action
or to adhere to a belief. Examples of speeches to stimulate are those made at rallies
by cheering squads or sermons by priests in church. Your appeal is mainly emotional
or spiritual. The topic may ordinarily be a speech to actuate or to convince, but if the
dominant tone you set is emotional or spiritual, it becomes a speech to stimulate.

For instance, in a speech before students, you may dwell on the importance of study.
You actually want them to do something-to study. But this is something they agree
on or they know they must do. A more purposeful speech then in such a case is to
egg them on to study through an address to their emotions.

Example:

Grow and be like a Molave by Manuel Luis M. Quezon National strength can only be
built on character. A nation is nothing more than its citizenry. It is the people that
make up a nation, therefore, it cannot be stronger than its component parts. Their
weakness is its failings, their strength its power. Show me a people composed of
vigorous, sturdy individuals, of men and women healthy in mind and body; courteous,
brave, industrious, self-reliant, purposeful in thought as well as in action, imbued with
sound patriotism and a profound sense of righteousness, with high social ideals and
strong moral fiber, and I will show you a great nation that will not be submerged. A
nation that will emerge victorious from the trials and bitter strifes of a distracted
world. A nation that will live forever, sharing the common task of advancing the
welfare and promoting the happiness of mankind.

I want our people to grow and be like the Molave, strong and resilient, rising on the
hillside, unafraid of the raging flood, the lightning or the storm, confident of its own
strength. If we have the will to survive, and the will to achieve social efficiency, we
cannot delay the task of spiritual revival. Let us begin now to mold the typical Filipino!

E. Speech to Actuate
A speech to actuate is a speech which attempts to make the audience do something,

For example, the speaker wants the audience to vote for a particular candidate, to
contribute to a charitable cause, or to join a club. These are specific purposes all
embraced within the general purpose to actuate.

In order to actuate, you have to convince. Thus, all speeches to actuate are also
speeches to convince; only in the latter case, you stop short of asking people to do
something.