GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING
Persuasive Speech (Problem/Solution Format)
You must submit the following via Blackboard by the due date:
1. MLA outline (with works cited) in a .doc or .docx file.
a. Your Speech should have 4 or more source citations.
2. Up to 3 notecards.
3. PowerPoint (optional)
4. Link to your video (if choosing the video option)
a. DO NOT upload a large video file.
b. Upload your video to YouTube, or a video hosting site, and share the link
with me.
Here are your options for presenting this speech:
1. Complete this assignment as a speech in class. It must be 4 - 7 minutes
extemporaneous speech (presented from a brief set of notecards).
2. Create a persuasive video/infomercial about your speech topic. The video should
be between 2-5 minutes, and should come across as a manuscript or memorized
speech. Since you are creating a video, and have access to basic editing, I don’t
want to see a final product filled with ‘ums’ and awkward pauses.
a. You may choose to work with 1 or 2 other students if you are choosing to
create a video. If you select this option, each group member will earn the
same grade. Each student must make an appearance in the video (this
could include voiceover).
b. You will still be graded on the same rubric as if you were giving the
speech in front of the class. All requirements of the speech apply to the
video as well (i.e. source citations, MLA outline).
Option for students in a Telepresence class only:
1. You can upload a video of yourself standing in front of a wall and giving a
speech. There should be NO editing to your video, it should be performed just as
if you were in front of the class.
a. It is preferable to give your speech to a live audience. If you are able to
gather a few people for your audience, I will be a bit more generous with
your delivery grade as your audience adds to the difficulty of the
presentation.
b. If you don’t have an audience, you will be graded by the same rubric, but
my expectations will be slightly elevated. If you have a obvious moment
where you forget your next point and have 10 seconds of awkward silence,
the expectation is that that you would just start all over, since you do not
need to worry about your live audience.
The Problem with Death
I. Introduction
A. Attention Getter: Karen Ann Quinlan was taken to Newton Memorial Hospital
after friends found her not breathing. In order to keep her respiratory system
functioning, she was put on life support. On June 9, 1976, Karen’s parents cut
off all life support (need source cite here).
B. Relate topic to Self: When I was twelve, my grandfather was diagnosed with a
cancerous brain tumor. The doctors said it would be a matter of months until he
would die. They were wrong. Five years later we attended his funeral. I got to
know him more in those five years than I had in the past twelve.
C. Reason to Listen: Who here has a grandparent or loved one over the age of 70?
In the coming years, you will hear advocates stating that euthanasia is a valid
option for our elderly loved ones. Do you know how respond if someone
reccomends to ‘pull the plug’ on your loved one?
D. Thesis: In the next few minutes, I am going to explain the medical problems
with euthanasia and why I believe it needs to be abolished.
Transition: We will begin by examining the issue of euthanasia still being practiced.
II. Problem
A. Claim: There are medial problems revolving around the practice of euthanasia.
1. Data: 50% of physicians are unable to identify the actual life expectancy of
a patient and 28% are unable to accurately recognize depression in a patient
(Lee 312).
2. Warrant: Would you be okay with a judge sentencing people to death if he
was 50% sure that they committed their crime?
B. Claim: Current laws against euthanasia are not being enforced and leads to many
physician assisted suicides.
1. Data: Jack Kevorkian has committed 69 assisted suicides, the most
physician-assisted suicides by any doctor in the United States (“IAETF
Update”).
2. Data: In Oakland County, only 16 of the 69 autopsied were terminally ill;
48 others suffered from a non-terminal disease; and 5 had no anatomical
evidence of disease at all (“IAETF Update”).
3. Warrant: If stealing was not longer considered ‘illegal’ do you think people
would become more likely to steal?
Transition: Now that we have established the problem, we can look at the possible global
solution.
III. Solution
A. State the Solution: I believe, the solution to this problem is to establish laws that
would enforce severe punishment on those who euthanize.
B. Explain the Solution: If my plan is enacted, people convicted of euthanasia
would be sentenced to the same minimum jail sentence of a person who
committed first degree murder – 20 years to life in prison.
C. Overcoming Possible Objections: Although you may be thinking that the quality
of life is more important than the quantity of life, and that people have the right
to die when they choose, Samuel F. Hunter states in regard to the role of doctors,
in the Journal of the American Medical Association, “let us not be angels of
death but ministers of healing…and hope.” In other words, it should not be a
doctor’s role to end life, only to help sustain it.
D. Provide an alternative to behavior: Each of us can sign this petition today that I
will send to our Congressional representative. This petition asks Congress to
pass laws to change the penalty for those convicted of assisted suicide.
IV. Conclusion
A. Restate Thesis: Today we have looked at the medical and legals reasons why
euthanasia should be illegal and how you can help bring it to an end.
B. Reason to Remember: If you ever have a loved one go through the same issues
that my grandpa did, I hope you remember these words.
C. Final Thought: After Karen Quinlan was taken off of the respirator, she began to
breath on her own. Karen lived for nine more years. The outcome of her life
could not be predicted by a doctor; let’s punish those who think they can.
Works Cited
Hunter, Samuel. “Should Doctors Take Part in Planned Suicide?” Journal of the
American Medical Association. (1989): 161.
“IAETF Update.” International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force. 13 April 1999
Online: http://www.iaetf.org/iua.10.htm.
Lee, Melinda A. “Legalizing Assisted Suicide – Views of Physicians in Oregon.”
New England Journal of Medicine. (1996): 310-315.
Persuasive Speech Critique*
Persuasive Speech Problem / Solution
Name: __________________
Time_______________
Introduction
1. Attention Getting Device (Slow Reveal)
1
2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10
________
2. Relate topic to Self (why you?)
1
2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10
30
3. Reason to Listen (why this topic?)
1
2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10
1. Claim (Established the problem)
1
2 3 4 5
2. Data (Showed proof of the problem)
1
2 3 4 5
________
3. Warrant (Explained the implications of the problem)
1
2 3 4 5
20
4. How appropriate was your research?
1
2 3 4 5
1. Stating the solution to the problem
1
2 3 4 5
2. Explaining the solution
1
2 3 4 5
3. Overcoming possible objections
1
2 3 4 5
4. Statement of Action
1
2 3 4 5
20
1. Explain details, logistics
1
2 3 4 5
________
2. Full Circle Ending (tie in with your Attention Getter)
1
2 3 4 5
Problem
Solution
________
Conclusion
10
Delivery (In a video, your delivery is expected to be elevated as you have unlimited attempts to get it right)
1. Volume/Rate in delivery
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2. Use of gestures and movement
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
3. Enthusiasm and interest in topic (Dynamism)
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
4. Use of eye contact (at Camera or Audience)
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
5. Use of Pathos
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
6. Establishment of Common Ground
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7. Professionalism (Before and After your Speech)
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
_______
70
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Steps to Writing your Persuasive Speech (Problem/Solution)
1. Figure out what is your Problem/Solution
2. Work on the research
3. Outline your problem/solution
4. Write your Intro/Conclusion
5. Create Works Cited / In-Text Citations
6. Create your Notecards
7. Practice and polish your speech with a focus on your Attention Getter / Full
Circle.
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