Persuasive Speeches

A persuasive speech is a prepared speech, written by the competitor, which advocates a specific position or course of action (Stoa website).  

The topic of the persuasive speech is up to the competitor. 

Examples include  – Why we should limit use of palm oil; Why and how to give blood; Why you should be a libertarian; Why we should adopt/help others to adopt children.  

Maximum speech length is 10 minutes with no minimum.

The Persuasive speech is a speech in the traditional style and is a good speech for beginning speakers!

Examples of Stoa Persuasive Speeches are given at the bottom of this page.

Click below to see the official Stoa rules and ballot for 2023-2024:

Rules for Persuasive for 2023-2024

Ballot for Persuasive for 2023-2024

Persuasive Script Submission Form 2023-2024  

Helpful Tips about How to Structure Your Persuasive Speech by Steve Barth:

The above video contains general information on how to structure a speech.  The gentleman giving the speech is a coach for a different league but gives very good information. Below are a few things to add:

1. The conclusion can also contain a recap of the road map and at the very end ties back into the introduction.

2. The examples of the written speeches used is an event that Stoa does not offer but is 100% applicable. 

Below is another video about Persuasive speeches although the video is titled Original Oratory.

The above video is about the Original Oratory event in another league.  The description of this league's original oratory event sounds very similar to Stoa's Persuasive speech event.  Below are some of the corrections to the video in light of the Stoa rules:

1. The grace period is only 15 seconds; not 30 seconds.  Really you should be through speaking at 10 minutes.  15 seconds is the grace period for the judge to turn off the timer.

2. If you do use notes (common at the Oct/Nov tournaments), you can still compete, but you will have a two rank penalty.

3. While you do not have to have sources,  they do add credibility to your speech.  Examples, personal or otherwise, can also be used. 

How to Cite Your Sources

Here is the Stoa Guidelines on How to Cite Your Sources.  Also here is a video about how to verbally cite sources in your speech.

In Summary: 

Persuasive Presentation Rule #1: All direct quotations and primary sources must be cited verbally within the body of the speech. Use of another person’s words or ideas without crediting them is plagiarism and strictly forbidden. Citations are necessary to show the source of your material. Use citations when you directly quote, paraphrase or summarize information from any source. 

How to Cite: If you directly quote, paraphrase or summarize information from any source you must: 

1. Cite your source verbally for your audience. Here is a video that gives creative ideas on how to cite your sources verbally!

2. Cite your source in-text (parenthetically) to easily connect it to your Citation Page. 

Speech Helps 

Lasting Impact!  Membership is $35 a year and gives you access to over 300 articles about speech, more videos about how to do different events, ask a coach feature where you can ask specific questions, and a discount on online classes like Extemp Round Table, which happens on Fridays beginning November 18th.

How to Pick a Speech Topic (3:32)  

Five Core Components for an Effective Speech (7:11) 

Top 5 Tips for Speeches (2:28) 

How to Make a Compelling Argument (4:01) 

EXAMPLES OF PERSAUSIVE SPEECHES IN STOA: