英语演讲指导.docVIP

Speech 2001 Guide to Persuasive Speaking In a persuasive speech your aim is to effect change. You may seek to change beliefs or you may aim to change patterns of behaviour. In either case, substantial obstacles lie between you and these goals. Most people find it easier to continue to believe, and to continue to behave, as they always have done, rather than to alter what they think and what they do. If you are to overcome the inertia, and the resistances that lie behind such inertia, you will need to do three things: 1. You must show that the status quo is broken. Or, if you are arguing against a proposed change, you must show that the proposed change to the status quo is harmful. To do either of these things, you will have to describe specific, relevant and substantial problems with the present beliefs and/or behaviours. You must show both that there is a problem and that the problem is an important one. It is not enough to show that things could be better. Things can always be better. To go to the trouble, and probably the expense, of changing things and creating new practices you have to convince the audience that the status quo is so broken that muddling along is not an option. 2. You must provide a solution that satisfactorily solves the problem(s). Vagueness here is never persuasive. Equally, prospective panaceas are seldom convincing. Your solution(s) must clearly meet each aspect of the problem(s). Accordingly, your solution must be described in enough detail. If you have said that A, B and C are the reasons why the status quo is broken, then you will need to show, precisely, what changes you are making to A, B and C and why these changes will work better than in the past. 3. What new problem(s) will your solution(s) create? If you say that no new problems will appear you will not be believed, nor should you be believed. If you elide the whole question, you will be suspected of disingenuousness, at the very least. Either way, your credibility wi