Let's take a look on how to write a persuasive speech.
But before I go into details, let me remind you that I do not encourage anyone to write a full scripted speech solely to be read on that particular day.
This process of writing out a full speech is meant for you to make sure you have all the key points in place, they are properly organized and for you to practice in the privacy of your own home or office.
This fully-written speech is NOT meant to be used on the day of the speech.
You only use index cards as a guide to prompt you as you deliver your speech.
Remember you are suppose to deliver a speech and not reading to your audience.
Now, let's find out more on how to prepare your speech.
After knowing your audience and having selected your topics you are now ready to write your speech outline.
Before you do start, you will have decided just exactly what it is you want to achieve.
Ask yourself whether are your objective easy to understand, are they realistic and are they achievable.
Now it is time for you to gather all the information you are going to use in your speech.
You need to know exactly what information you must cover, what are the important points that can add value and what relevant examples you can use to enhance your speech.
How to write a speech outline
You need to have a structure or a premise to lay out your speech.
The speech structure is to help you to organize your points faster, ensure that you have all the key points in place, it also makes your speech easier to be understood and remembered by your audience.
The speech structure is juts like the plot in a movie or a novel. It has the opening, the middle section and the ending.
In order to capture your audience’s interest and attention, you need to start your speech with an impact opening.
Grab their attention with a startling figures, astonishing facts, shocking story or even a humorous one-liner or any relevant joke. From there, you tell them what you are going to share with them.
The middle part of your speech is where you give evidence to support the information you are delivering.
Supporting materials like relevant examples, latest figures, convincing case studies, effective visuals and engaging stories.
Make sure they are powerful and convincing enough to hold on to their attention and help them to understand.
Pen your ideas down in accordance to their importance. Make sure the points are coherent. In other words, they must flow smoothly from each point to the next.
The link has to be logical and seamless, so your audience can follow and digest your points easily
Then you sum it up with an equally memorable closing.
It should have a quick summary of the main points that you have covered and a call for action; where you ask the audience to do something that will make them think and remember about what you have told them.
Don't forget to consider what possible questions might be raised by your audience.
How to write a speech
The very first thing is to come up with a killer title.
As you have already know exactly where the speech is going, I am sure you can find a theme to your speech.
The title not only reflect what the presentation is about but also provide a hint what is the approach of your speech.
Now you have a catchy relevant title, let's ponder over what you need to put in your speech.
Firstly, steer clear from jargon if you can.
But if you want to make use of acronyms, abbreviation or technical term, then make sure you explain what it means in full the first time you use it.
If you are going to say something "heavy" in certain part of your talk, then remember to use pauses to allow your listeners sufficient time to mull over what you have said.
This next advice is obvious. You don't introduce evidence that you cannot substantiate or support.
Do not overstuffed your speech with too may facts. As they say, less is more.
Just seven points is suffice.
As I have mentioned before, the average attention span of a person is about 15 minutes.
Then you need a short break or pause for them to digest, before you move on tot he next point.
This is one important tips on how to write a persuasive speech is Timing.
You should abide by the duration of your speech as told. Basically folks do not mind a shorter speech, but definitely not a speech which is overrun.
Avoid using long word when you can use a short one. Never use the passive voice where you can use the active one.
You can test out your selection of words out loud while you are writing them.
If you find it difficult to say them aloud, or if you find that they don’t sound natural to you, then have them changed. Use conversational language.
After you have finished written out the scripted speech, go through it and start editing.
If you find anything that does not add value or cannot be substantiated, have it removed.
You may have deviated way out from the key point, then cut it out as well.
Make sure it sounds natural and interesting.
Not just hardcore facts and features, but must have ample benefits which are the objectives of your speech.
After you have written out your speech, it is the time to prepare your index cards.
These are the ones which you are going to hold on to when you out there speaking to an audience.
The fully-written script is going to be in your head and the note cards in your hand to keep you on track.
