Chapter 5:

Persuasive Speaking

Persuasion is the double-edged sword of public speaking; it can bring together the very best in effective communication, and it can demonstrate the very worst. At its best, excellent persuasive speaking can move audiences and speakers toward the highest ideals and efforts of human ability. At its worst, persuasive speaking can twist and manipulate ideas and push us toward evil actions. Persuasive speech is intended to influence the audience toward the speaker’s desired response. In some situations, that response is an action by the audience; in others, acceptance of an idea or a change in attitudes toward a given subject. It is sometimes claimed that all communication is persuasive, because all communication seeks to influence the audience in some way. There is some truth in that perspective, but here we will focus on persuasion that is intended to move an audience to mental or physical change desired by the speaker.

Key Terms

Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values
Ethos
Pathos
Logos
Inductive Logic
Deductive Logic
Logical Fallacy
Proposition of Fact
Proposition of Policy
Proposition of Value