PERSUASIVE SPEECH ASSIGNMENT TOPIC: This topic should be PERSUASIVE. You are att

PERSUASIVE SPEECH ASSIGNMENT
TOPIC: This topic should be PERSUASIVE. You are attempting to sway an audience one way or another. Your focus is to convince and persuade your audience about something. You may employ a call to action, such as voting or donating blood. You may advocate something and show why it is best or worst. Your topic MUST BE RESEARCHABLE. PLEASE stay away from over-used topics (i.e., drunk driving) and emotionally charged topics (i.e., abortion—your audience already has strongly held beliefs about this).
REFUTE: You MUST refute the opposing side of your argument in your presentation. Please review the persuasive evaluation sheet so you know how you will be evaluated. You will present the argument of the opposing side and then refute it, undermine it and show how it is invalid or has less worth than that for which you are arguing. Use your supporting material to refute the opposing argument. In this way, you weaken the opposing argument and strengthen yours.
TIME LIMIT: 6 Minutes (20-second leeway over or under)
SOURCES: You must have FOUR sources to supplement your material. You must CITE those sources within your presentation, giving credit to the source from which you obtained the information. You must obtain OUTSIDE sources from a library or CREDIBLE Internet source. You may use a combination of sources that are CREDIBLE, so not unidentifiable websites. Government agencies, organizations, etc. are acceptable. Anyone can post a website on the Internet, so make sure your source is credible. Use journals, books, periodicals, etc. YOU are not a source. You are a testimony, example, etc. Do not use sources from Huffington Post, Wikipedia, EHow, Answers.com, Drudge Report. Sources like NBCnews or CNN are typically acceptable. You will receive a major point reduction for using biased information. I recommend that you stick with academic research found on USM’s online Library.
SUPPORTING MATERIAL: You must use a variety of supporting materials such as statistics, examples, testimonies, quotes, etc.
VISUAL AID: A MINIMUM of ONE (1) visual aid is required. Review your text for visual aid ideas. It must be large enough for an audience to see. You may use Powerpoint for your visual aid. Remember, Powerpoint slides are meant to be a visual to reinforce and illustrate and not a manuscript from which you will read. Remember: you MUST refer to your visual aid, explain it, describe it and demonstrate how it contributes to your presentation. Simply having a visual next to you or in the background and never using it is unacceptable.
STRUCTURE: You MUST use the speech structure provided in class. You may refer to the speech evaluation forms that will be used for grading. Each portion of the structure is weighted.
DELIVERY: Use extemporaneous presentation style for vocal delivery. That means you PRESENT in a conversational manner and DO NOT READ ALOUD. Reading aloud will significantly reduce your grade. Use facial expressions and hand gestures when appropriate. You MUST STAND when you present. Plan to engage your audience with eye contact and, perhaps, walk back and forth in front of them to address various sections of the audience rather than standing behind a podium. You may use speaker’s notes for reference. Note cards, rather than notebook paper, should be used because the paper is very distracting.
PENALTIES: These penalties will be applied if necessary:
Reading
Over or under time (20-second leeway)
Incorrect Speech Type