persuasive speech outline attention need satisfaction visualization action

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Persuasive speech outline example

-an outline using Monroe's 5 step Motivated Sequence

By:  Susan Dugdale  

This persuasive speech outline example uses Monroe's Motivated Sequence (MMS) - a 5 step structural pattern for organizing material focusing on, as its name suggests, motivational appeals.

The sequence forms the basis of many of the successful political, public awareness or advertising campaigns you see and hear around you on a daily basis.

For example: campaigns to raise awareness of health issues: The Heart Truth, NDAFW - National Drugs and Alcohol Facts Week, or STOMP Out Bullying. *

Why is the framework so popular? Because it faithfully follows the psychology of persuasion. In a nutshell, it works. Exceedingly well.

Use the quick links to get around this very long page efficiently. Each of the five steps is fully explained and illustrated in an example speech outline. There's a printable MMS speech outline document for your own use too!

Page quick links

• Step overview
• Step 1 - Attention
• Step 2 - Need
• Step 3 - Satisfaction
• Step 4 - Visualization
• Step 5 - Action
• Download blank outline template

More persuasive speech resources

About Monroe's Motivated Sequence

The pattern, or steps, of the sequence mirror those identified as being the normal thinking processes that occur whenever a person is confronted by a problem.

Because the steps are perceived as reasonable and logical using them prepares and motivates an audience to respond positively to the speaker's message.

The sequence is named after Dr  Alan H Monroe who, after graduating from Northwestern University in 1924, joined the staff at Purdue University (USA) as an Instructor in English. Two years later he became Instructor in Public Speaking and was subsequently promoted to Assistant Professor and head of the speech section of the English department. He retired from the role in 1963.  

 Overview of Monroe's 5 step motivation sequence

In developing your persuasive speech outline you will follow these 5 steps:

• Attention Grab the audience's attention
• Need Establish there is a problem (need) demanding their attention
• Satisfaction Outline a solution to the problem
• Visualization Show the audience how they will benefit from your solution
• Action Provide the impetus and means to act

Monroe's five steps in more detail

Now let's examine those steps more closely.

To make the process easier to follow I've prepared a simple example speech illustrating each step and the transitions between them.  That's the text in the green boxes. 

As you read start thinking about your audience and your topic.  Jot any ideas down for later use.

About this sample speech - topic, purpose and audience

The subject  is fear of public speaking.

The specific purpose of the speech is  to persuade and encourage people in the audience to take a course to overcome their fear of public speaking. 

The central idea   of the speech is that the ability to speak in public opens doors to many opportunities.

The audience is  drawn from the local community. They range in age from late teens to forties plus.

The 5 steps of Monroe's motivation sequence 

Getting attention - step 1.

This step is your introductory "listen up" call. To make it effective it needs to grab the audience. It could be any of the following:

• a startling statement
• a rhetorical question
• a quotation
• a funny story
• a dramatic story
• a photograph or other visual aid

Put yourself in the position of your audience when deciding how to hook and hold their attention. Why should they listen to you?  How does what you have to say benefit them? Is it relevant to them? How?

Step one - attention 

Do you know the real costs of public speaking fear?

The price is high.

Research reveals that a person with public speaking fear is 10% less likely to graduate from college, is likely to receive 10% less in wages and is 15% less likely to take on management or leadership positions.

Who pays? You. Me. Us. Anybody who allows fear to govern their decision making. We pay by sacrificing our potential selves, putting our dreams away and settling for less.

Establishing credibility

As well as getting their attention you also need to establish your credibility or right to talk on the subject. Your audience needs to know that they can believe what you're telling them. If they feel they can trust your expertise and experience they will be much more likely to follow your lead. 

Credibility statement

That’s a question I asked myself a long time ago. As a teacher with many years of experience I saw far too many students who would do anything they could to avoid public speaking. To answer it I researched.

Then I used those answers to devise public speaking programs that were effective and fun.

Transition - the link from step 1 to step 2

Can you imagine the positive impact feeling OK about speaking up would have? On individuals? On families? On our community?

E stablish the need - step 2

This step develops the need for change. Now that you have your audience's attention you will clearly show them what the problem is and the extent of it.

To be effective use:

• examples to illustrate how it impacts on them - their happiness, future, health, family, neighborhood...
• statistics - facts, figures, graphs, diagrams... Remember to cite your sources and remember too that some are more credible than others. You need recognized sources to give your speech the credibility you want.
• expert witness testimony - the more authoritative, the better

Your goal at the conclusion of this step is to have your audience eager to hear your solution. They agree with you that there is a problem and want the answer.

Step two – Need

A.  According to frequently cited statistics 75%   of people suffer from some degree of glossophobia - fear of speaking in public. Source:    Hamilton, C. (2008) [2005]. Communicating for Results, a Guide for Business and the Professions (eighth edition)

• At the extreme upper end of this very large group are the people who would literally run a mile rather than speak. For example, they will not apply for promotions if the new position means giving presentations. They will not give a speech at a special family occasion - a wedding, birthday or funeral.  Public speaking makes them ill, literally. There maybe quite a few of you here, so you’ll know exactly what I mean.
• At the other end of the scale are the people who have one or two butterflies fluttering around – enough to make them register they’re a little nervous about speaking but it’s nothing to worry about. There’s likely not so many of you here. If you have come along, it’s probably to support someone who needs it! Thank you.
• The majority of us are somewhere in the middle where it’s neither all fine nor all bad. Some days are OK. We manage. And some days it’s definitely not OK. We just hang in there by the skin of our chattering teeth.

B. Bad public speaking experiences often lead to more of the same. History repeats.

• We focus on the criticism we received and interpret it as a criticism of ourselves. Our speech is bad therefore I am bad. This makes a shaky platform to build public speaking skills and confidence on.
• When given a presentation to prepare we procrastinate because we don’t feel confident or competent. That means we don’t put the work in which in turn leads to another bad experience. It becomes a vicious circle.
• When we feel ashamed about ourselves we often close off. We don’t ask for help and it becomes easier to expect less of ourselves and our lives.
•  Here's those stats again. According to Franklin Schneier, MD, s omeone with public speaking fear is likely to receive 10% less in wages, be 10% more likely to drop out of college and be 15% less likely to apply for leadership or management roles.

C. Begins in youth.

• “The fear of public speaking is more common in younger patients as compared to older ones and may be more prevalent in females as compared to males,” says Jeffrey R. Strawn, MD, FAACAP, associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics and director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Program in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati.
• More than 75% of people experience their first symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder which often includes fear of public speaking during their childhood or early teenage years - American Psychiatric Association. (2014). Understanding Mental Disorders
• Let’s conduct a quick informal survey to test that– raise your hand if any anxiety you feel about public speaking began when you were young.

Transition - the link between step 2 and step 3

However there is a way to break this pattern of anxiety. It can be stopped, and everyone who wants to can learn to speak in public confidently.

S atisfy the need - step 3

Now you outline your answer or solution and show the audience how it will work.

To do this well:

• outline your solution succinctly
• demonstrate how it meets the problem
• use examples to show how effective it is
• support with facts, figures, graphs, diagrams, statistics, testimony...
• if there is known opposition to your solution, acknowledge and counteract showing how your plan overturns it

The ideal outcome of this step is the audience nodding and saying to themselves: " Yes. This is possible, practical and sensible."   Your answer satisfies them. It gives them  "satisfaction".

Step three - Satisfaction 

A. Come along to an introductory course

• It's free, led by experienced teachers and especially designed for people with a history of being nervous about speaking in public.
• Once a week for 4 weeks you'll have 2 hours of practical public speaking training and practice.
• You'll learn tips and tricks to manage your anxiety, to give varying types of presentations, to effectively structure a speech, and to confidently deliver a speech.

B. When people overcome fear of public speaking there are so many things they can do:

• Complete their college education and go on to further study if they wanted to
• Apply for the positions they know would give them greater work satisfaction
• Speak up when they need to about issues concerning themselves, their family and their community
• Inspire others to follow their example

C. Exchanging public speaking fear for confidence will help people to:

• Communicate more effectively
• Listen more carefully to others
• Understand the power of the spoken word and what it can achieve

Transition - the link between step 3 and step 4

Can you imagine the positive impact that would have on people’s lives? Maybe yours?

S ee the future - step 4

In this step the audience "experiences" the solution. They see (feel, hear, taste...) what will happen if they do as you are suggesting contrasted against what will happen if they don't do as you are suggesting.

This step relies on your use of vivid imagery to portray the outcome of their action, or inaction. They see and feel the pleasure, or pain, in their imagination. To bring it home to your audience the pictures you provide, the stories you tell, need to be relevant and believable.

What you want folk thinking as you conclude this step is:  "I can see that this would be good for me."

Step four - Visualization

A. Imagine what society would be like if everyone took full advantage of the educational opportunities that best fitted their interests and abilities. How would that feel?

• There would be much less personal dissatisfaction and social unrest caused by people working in positions that do not pay very well or extend their skills and well being. That would be much more healthy: physically, emotionally and mentally, for everybody. You could ask for a raise! Apply for that job you always wanted! Give a presentation! Toast your bride!
• It would generate a ripple effect. People who speak up confidently and competently encourage others to do likewise. People would feel empowered – free to become the best of themselves - shoulders back, head up, standing tall, looking the world straight in the eye!

B. What disadvantages could there possibly be?

• Perhaps it could uncomfortable for those who have got used to assuming the right to talk for others without consultation. Is that really a bad thing?
• Perhaps it could lead to robust conversations where there are differing opinions over issues?  Again, is that a bad thing? It could be an opportunity to polish debating skills.
• There are no real disadvantages! Overcoming public speaking fear is good for everyone. A win-win.

Transition - the link from step 4 to step 5

Let’s do more than imagine speaking in public freely and competently. Let’s take the steps towards making it happen.

T ake action - step 5

In this last step you present your call to action.

The call to action can be embedded in any combination of the following:

• a challenge or appeal
• a personal statement of intent

To be effective the action step must be readily doable and executed as soon as possible. Make it as easy as you can for your audience. If you want them to sign up for something, have the forms available. If you wish them to lodge a personal protest in writing to your local government have stock letters and envelopes ready. In other words do the leg work for them!

Action steps that are delayed even for 48 hours are less likely to be acted on. We're human - life goes on. Other things intervene and the initial urgency is lost.

Step five – Action

  A. (Summary) Apparently 3/4 of us – 75%, are nervous about public speaking – often the result of a bad experience when were young. That has a direct impact on our adult lives. If we allow it to continue it is likely we will be paid less, fall out of college without graduating and settle for less-challenging jobs. In short – live a lesser life. However it doesn’t have to be like that. We could choose to change. We could become our bigger and best selves.

  B. (Call to Immediate Action)

We could, in the famous words of Susan Jeffers, "Feel the fear and do it anyway!"

I’ve got enrollment forms here for that free introductory public speaking course. That’s four two hour sessions over the next four weeks using tried, tested and proven methods of teaching with experienced instructors. You’ll learn how to prepare and deliver speeches. And you'll swap fear for confidence and competence while having fun!

C. (Memorable Close) Who knows what magic may happen once you speak up!

There are 15 places available. Make one of them yours.

Sources/references 

• Rosemary Black. (2018, June 4)  Glossophobia (Fear of Public Speaking): Are You Glossophobic?     Retrieved from  https://www.psycom.net/glossophobia-fear-of-public-speaking  
• Franklin Schneier. (2005) Social Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved from:  http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/medical/psychmed2/3_2005/Schneier-SocialAnxietyDisorderBW.pdf
• Author and date of publication unknown.  Social Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved from:  http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/social-anxiety-disorder
• Doug Staneart. (2018, March). Podcast 29 - How to Scare the Gooey Out of a Nervous Public Speaker. Retrieved from:  https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-to-scare-the-gooey-out-of-a-new-public-speaker/  

F itting the standard speech format

If you are wondering how these 5 steps of Monroe's Motivated Sequence fit into the standard 3 part speech format , they go like this:

• Step 1 ( Attention ) forms the Introduction.
• Steps 2,  3 and 4 ( Need,   Satisfaction and Visualization ) form the Body.
• Step 5 ( Action ) is the Conclusion.

Download a persuasive speech outline template

And now download printable blank ready-to-complete Monroe's Motivated Sequence  persuasive speech outline template . You'll find the entire 5 step process laid out clearly, ready for you to fill in the gaps.

A sample persuasive speech

Want to read a  persuasive speech example ?

This example speech ("After they're gone") follows the sequence outlined on this page.

Before you click through to it you should know the topic is somber; the impact of suicide on family and friends. I wrote it to persuade those in need to seek and accept help and to raise awareness of the issues around suicide.

Persuasive speech topics

Maybe you haven't found the persuasive speech topic you want yet? Check these pages:

- 100 great  persuasive speech ideas  

- 50  good persuasive speech topics

-  205 fun persuasive speech topics

- 309 'easy' persuasive speech topics

-  310 persuasive speech topics for college

- 108 feminist persuasive speech topics

Communication coach Alex Lyon explains

If you'd like more on Monroe's Motivated Sequence  here's a great video with excellent examples from communication coach Alex Lyons. 

And lastly, here's the links to those campaigns I mentioned at the top of the page: The Heart Truth ,  National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW)  and STOMP Out Bullying .

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17.3 Organizing Persuasive Speeches

Learning objectives.

• Understand three common organizational patterns for persuasive speeches.
• Explain the steps utilized in Monroe’s motivated sequence.
• Explain the parts of a problem-cause-solution speech.
• Explain the process utilized in a comparative advantage persuasive speech.

Steven Lilley – Engaged – CC BY-SA 2.0.

Previously in this text we discussed general guidelines for organizing speeches. In this section, we are going to look at three organizational patterns ideally suited for persuasive speeches: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantages.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

One of the most commonly cited and discussed organizational patterns for persuasive speeches is Alan H. Monroe’s motivated sequence. The purpose of Monroe’s motivated sequence is to help speakers “sequence supporting materials and motivational appeals to form a useful organizational pattern for speeches as a whole” (German et al., 2010).

While Monroe’s motivated sequence is commonly discussed in most public speaking textbooks, we do want to provide one minor caution. Thus far, almost no research has been conducted that has demonstrated that Monroe’s motivated sequence is any more persuasive than other structural patterns. In the only study conducted experimentally examining Monroe’s motivated sequence, the researchers did not find the method more persuasive, but did note that audience members found the pattern more organized than other methods (Micciche, Pryor, & Butler, 2000). We wanted to add this sidenote because we don’t want you to think that Monroe’s motivated sequence is a kind of magic persuasive bullet; the research simply doesn’t support this notion. At the same time, research does support that organized messages are perceived as more persuasive as a whole, so using Monroe’s motivated sequence to think through one’s persuasive argument could still be very beneficial.

Table 17.1 “Monroe’s Motivated Sequence” lists the basic steps of Monroe’s motivated sequence and the subsequent reaction a speaker desires from his or her audience.

Table 17.1 Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

The first step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the attention step , in which a speaker attempts to get the audience’s attention. To gain an audience’s attention, we recommend that you think through three specific parts of the attention step. First, you need to have a strong attention-getting device. As previously discussed in Chapter 9 “Introductions Matter: How to Begin a Speech Effectively” , a strong attention getter at the beginning of your speech is very important. Second, you need to make sure you introduce your topic clearly. If your audience doesn’t know what your topic is quickly, they are more likely to stop listening. Lastly, you need to explain to your audience why they should care about your topic.

In the need step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the speaker establishes that there is a specific need or problem. In Monroe’s conceptualization of need, he talks about four specific parts of the need: statement, illustration, ramification, and pointing. First, a speaker needs to give a clear and concise statement of the problem. This part of a speech should be crystal clear for an audience. Second, the speaker needs to provide one or more examples to illustrate the need. The illustration is an attempt to make the problem concrete for the audience. Next, a speaker needs to provide some kind of evidence (e.g., statistics, examples, testimony) that shows the ramifications or consequences of the problem. Lastly, a speaker needs to point to the audience and show exactly how the problem relates to them personally.

Satisfaction

In the third step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the satisfaction step , the speaker sets out to satisfy the need or solve the problem. Within this step, Monroe (1935) proposed a five-step plan for satisfying a need:

• Explanation
• Theoretical demonstration
• Reference to practical experience
• Meeting objections

First, you need to clearly state the attitude, value, belief, or action you want your audience to accept. The purpose of this statement is to clearly tell your audience what your ultimate goal is.

Second, you want to make sure that you clearly explain to your audience why they should accept the attitude, value, belief, or action you proposed. Just telling your audience they should do something isn’t strong enough to actually get them to change. Instead, you really need to provide a solid argument for why they should accept your proposed solution.

Third, you need to show how the solution you have proposed meets the need or problem. Monroe calls this link between your solution and the need a theoretical demonstration because you cannot prove that your solution will work. Instead, you theorize based on research and good judgment that your solution will meet the need or solve the problem.

Fourth, to help with this theoretical demonstration, you need to reference practical experience, which should include examples demonstrating that your proposal has worked elsewhere. Research, statistics, and expert testimony are all great ways of referencing practical experience.

Lastly, Monroe recommends that a speaker respond to possible objections. As a persuasive speaker, one of your jobs is to think through your speech and see what counterarguments could be made against your speech and then rebut those arguments within your speech. When you offer rebuttals for arguments against your speech, it shows your audience that you’ve done your homework and educated yourself about multiple sides of the issue.

Visualization

The next step of Monroe’s motivated sequence is the visualization step , in which you ask the audience to visualize a future where the need has been met or the problem solved. In essence, the visualization stage is where a speaker can show the audience why accepting a specific attitude, value, belief, or behavior can positively affect the future. When helping people to picture the future, the more concrete your visualization is, the easier it will be for your audience to see the possible future and be persuaded by it. You also need to make sure that you clearly show how accepting your solution will directly benefit your audience.

According to Monroe, visualization can be conducted in one of three ways: positive, negative, or contrast (Monroe, 1935). The positive method of visualization is where a speaker shows how adopting a proposal leads to a better future (e.g., recycle, and we’ll have a cleaner and safer planet). Conversely, the negative method of visualization is where a speaker shows how not adopting the proposal will lead to a worse future (e.g., don’t recycle, and our world will become polluted and uninhabitable). Monroe also acknowledged that visualization can include a combination of both positive and negative visualization. In essence, you show your audience both possible outcomes and have them decide which one they would rather have.

The final step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the action step , in which a speaker asks an audience to approve the speaker’s proposal. For understanding purposes, we break action into two distinct parts: audience action and approval. Audience action refers to direct physical behaviors a speaker wants from an audience (e.g., flossing their teeth twice a day, signing a petition, wearing seat belts). Approval, on the other hand, involves an audience’s consent or agreement with a speaker’s proposed attitude, value, or belief.

When preparing an action step, it is important to make sure that the action, whether audience action or approval, is realistic for your audience. Asking your peers in a college classroom to donate one thousand dollars to charity isn’t realistic. Asking your peers to donate one dollar is considerably more realistic. In a persuasive speech based on Monroe’s motivated sequence, the action step will end with the speech’s concluding device. As discussed elsewhere in this text, you need to make sure that you conclude in a vivid way so that the speech ends on a high point and the audience has a sense of energy as well as a sense of closure.

Now that we’ve walked through Monroe’s motivated sequence, let’s look at how you could use Monroe’s motivated sequence to outline a persuasive speech:

Specific Purpose: To persuade my classroom peers that the United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments.

Main Points:

• Attention: Want to make nine thousand dollars for just three weeks of work lying around and not doing much? Then be a human guinea pig. Admittedly, you’ll have to have a tube down your throat most of those three weeks, but you’ll earn three thousand dollars a week.
• Need: Every day many uneducated and lower socioeconomic-status citizens are preyed on by medical and pharmaceutical companies for use in for-profit medical and drug experiments. Do you want one of your family members to fall prey to this evil scheme?
• Satisfaction: The United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments to ensure that uneducated and lower-socioeconomic-status citizens are protected.
• Visualization: If we enact tougher experiment oversight, we can ensure that medical and pharmaceutical research is conducted in a way that adheres to basic values of American decency. If we do not enact tougher experiment oversight, we could find ourselves in a world where the lines between research subject, guinea pig, and patient become increasingly blurred.
• Action: In order to prevent the atrocities associated with for-profit medical and pharmaceutical experiments, please sign this petition asking the US Department of Health and Human Services to pass stricter regulations on this preying industry that is out of control.

This example shows how you can take a basic speech topic and use Monroe’s motivated sequence to clearly and easily outline your speech efficiently and effectively.

Table 17.2 “Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Checklist” also contains a simple checklist to help you make sure you hit all the important components of Monroe’s motivated sequence.

Table 17.2 Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Checklist

Problem-Cause-Solution

Another format for organizing a persuasive speech is the problem-cause-solution format. In this specific format, you discuss what a problem is, what you believe is causing the problem, and then what the solution should be to correct the problem.

Specific Purpose: To persuade my classroom peers that our campus should adopt a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech.

• Demonstrate that there is distrust among different groups on campus that has led to unnecessary confrontations and violence.
• Show that the confrontations and violence are a result of hate speech that occurred prior to the events.
• Explain how instituting a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy against hate speech could stop the unnecessary confrontations and violence.

In this speech, you want to persuade people to support a new campus-wide policy calling for zero-tolerance of hate speech. Once you have shown the problem, you then explain to your audience that the cause of the unnecessary confrontations and violence is prior incidents of hate speech. Lastly, you argue that a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy could help prevent future unnecessary confrontations and violence. Again, this method of organizing a speech is as simple as its name: problem-cause-solution.

Comparative Advantages

The final method for organizing a persuasive speech is called the comparative advantages speech format. The goal of this speech is to compare items side-by-side and show why one of them is more advantageous than the other. For example, let’s say that you’re giving a speech on which e-book reader is better: Amazon.com’s Kindle or Barnes and Nobles’ Nook. Here’s how you could organize this speech:

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that the Nook is more advantageous than the Kindle.

• The Nook allows owners to trade and loan books to other owners or people who have downloaded the Nook software, while the Kindle does not.
• The Nook has a color-touch screen, while the Kindle’s screen is black and grey and noninteractive.
• The Nook’s memory can be expanded through microSD, while the Kindle’s memory cannot be upgraded.

As you can see from this speech’s organization, the simple goal of this speech is to show why one thing has more positives than something else. Obviously, when you are demonstrating comparative advantages, the items you are comparing need to be functional equivalents—or, as the saying goes, you cannot compare apples to oranges.

Key Takeaways

• There are three common patterns that persuaders can utilize to help organize their speeches effectively: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantage. Each of these patterns can effectively help a speaker think through his or her thoughts and organize them in a manner that will be more likely to persuade an audience.
• Alan H. Monroe’s (1935) motivated sequence is a commonly used speech format that is used by many people to effectively organize persuasive messages. The pattern consists of five basic stages: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. In the first stage, a speaker gets an audience’s attention. In the second stage, the speaker shows an audience that a need exists. In the third stage, the speaker shows how his or her persuasive proposal could satisfy the need. The fourth stage shows how the future could be if the persuasive proposal is or is not adopted. Lastly, the speaker urges the audience to take some kind of action to help enact the speaker’s persuasive proposal.
• The problem-cause-solution proposal is a three-pronged speech pattern. The speaker starts by explaining the problem the speaker sees. The speaker then explains what he or she sees as the underlying causes of the problem. Lastly, the speaker proposes a solution to the problem that corrects the underlying causes.
• The comparative advantages speech format is utilized when a speaker is comparing two or more things or ideas and shows why one of the things or ideas has more advantages than the other(s).
• Create a speech using Monroe’s motivated sequence to persuade people to recycle.
• Create a speech using the problem-cause-solution method for a problem you see on your college or university campus.
• Create a comparative advantages speech comparing two brands of toothpaste.

German, K. M., Gronbeck, B. E., Ehninger, D., & Monroe, A. H. (2010). Principles of public speaking (17th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, p. 236.

Micciche, T., Pryor, B., & Butler, J. (2000). A test of Monroe’s motivated sequence for its effects on ratings of message organization and attitude change. Psychological Reports, 86 , 1135–1138.

Monroe, A. H. (1935). Principles and types of speech . Chicago, IL: Scott Foresman.

Stand up, Speak out Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Article • 8 min read

Monroe's Motivated Sequence

Perfecting the call to act.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Is persuasion a gift? Are some people born with the ability to speak well and "sell" their ideas successfully?

It sure seems that way when you're wowed by a motivational speaker, or galvanized into action by a thought-provoking presentation.

In your role, do you ever need to motivate, inspire, or persuade others? Whether you're a senior executive giving a presentation to the Board, a manager giving a morale-boosting speech to your team, or a production manager giving a presentation on safety standards, at some point, you'll probably have to move people to action.

While there are certainly those who seem to inspire and deliver memorable speeches effortlessly, the rest of us can learn how to give effective presentations, too. In this article, we'll look at the key factors you need to put together a clear and engaging call to action using a five-step process known as Monroe's Motivated Sequence.

Monroe's Motivated Sequence: The Five Steps

Alan H. Monroe, a Purdue University professor, used the psychology of persuasion to develop an outline for making speeches that will deliver results, and wrote about it in his book Monroe's Principles of Speech . It's now known as Monroe's Motivated Sequence.

This is a well-used and time-proven method to organize presentations for maximum impact. You can use it for a variety of situations to create and arrange the components of any message. The steps are explained below:

Step One: Get Attention

Get the attention of your audience. Use storytelling , humor, a shocking statistic, or a rhetorical question – anything that will get the audience to sit up and take notice.

This step doesn't replace your introduction – it's part of your introduction. In your opening, you should also establish your credibility (see The Rhetorical Triangle for tips), state your purpose, and let the audience know what to expect. Delivering Great Presentations provides a strong foundation for building the steps in Monroe's Motivated Sequence.

Lets use the example of a half-day seminar on safety in the workplace. Your attention step might be as follows.

Step Two: Establish the Need

Convince your audience there's a problem. This set of statements must help the audience realize that what's happening right now isn't good enough – and needs to change.

• Use statistics to back up your statements.
• Talk about the consequences of maintaining the status quo and not making changes.
• Show your audience how the problem directly affects them.

Remember, you're not at the "I have a solution" stage yet. Here, you want to make the audience uncomfortable and restless, and ready to do the "something" that you recommend.

Step Three: Satisfy the Need

Introduce your solution. How will you solve the problem that your audience is now ready to address? This is the main part of your presentation. It will vary significantly, depending on your purpose. In this section:

• Discuss the facts.
• Elaborate and give details to make sure the audience understands your position and solution.
• Clearly state what you want the audience to do or believe.
• Summarize your information from time to time as you speak.
• Use examples, testimonials, and statistics to prove the effectiveness of your solution.
• Prepare counterarguments to anticipated objections.

Step Four: Visualize the Future

Describe what the situation will look like if the audience does nothing. The more realistic and detailed the vision, the better it will create the desire to do what you recommend. Your goal is to motivate the audience to agree with you and adopt similar behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs. Help them see what the results could be if they act the way you want them to. Make sure your vision is believable and realistic.

You can use three methods to help the audience share your vision:

• Positive method – Describe what the situation will look like if your ideas are adopted. Emphasize the positive aspects.
• Negative method – Describe what the situation will look like if your ideas are rejected. Focus on the dangers and difficulties caused by not acting.
• Contrast method – Develop the negative picture first, and then reveal what could happen if your ideas are accepted.

Step Five: Action/Actualization

Your final job is to leave your audience with specific things that they can do to solve the problem. You want them to take action now.

Don't overwhelm them with too much information or too many expectations, and be sure to give them options to increase their sense of ownership of the solution. This can be as simple as inviting them to have some refreshments as you walk around and answer questions. For very complex problems, the action step might be getting together again to review plans.

For some of us, persuasive arguments and motivational speaking come naturally. The rest of us may try to avoid speeches and presentations, fearing that our message won't be well received.

But Monroe's Motivated Sequence can help you to improve the quality of your message, and create a call of action that has real impact.

The model includes five key steps:

• Get attention.
• Establish the need.
• Satisfy the need.
• Visualize the future.
• Action/Actualization.

It's a straightforward formula for success that's been used time and again. Try it for your next presentation, and you'll no doubt be impressed with the results!

Monroe, A. (1951). ' Monroe's Principles of Speech (Revised Brief Edition) ,' Scott, Foreman and Company.

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Nathanial Glockania

Ay bruh facts ima use this to convince the bank to gimme some money on the down low, thanks for the advice lil bro

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Understanding Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Approach

Day in and day out, we want to be heard – at work or at home, as we speak or as we write. Sometimes it is easier said than done. While the art of persuasion comes naturally to some, others might struggle to get their message across and fear their arguments won’t be well-received. So practice is the name of the game. 

Fortunately, there’s Monroe’s Motivated Sequence approach, for everyone looking for a quick and understandable way to structure their speech, presentation, or article. Using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence outline, you can achieve a compelling result in just five simple steps. But what is Monroe’s Motivated Sequence? How do you use it in practice? Let’s start with the basics. 

What is Monroe’s Motivated Sequence?

The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence approach is a 5-step persuasive speech outline that helps you organize your ideas and show them in a logical sequence. This sequence is: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization and action.

It was developed in the 1930s by Alan H. Monroe, a Purdue University professor who studied the techniques of influential speakers and found common patterns in their arrangements.

This approach is based on the way people think; it takes into account that people must first be made aware of a problem before they will accept a solution for it. Therefore, Monroe’s Motivated Sequence breaks the act of persuasion into five steps:

• Attention: Capture your audience’s attention.
• Need: Establish a need for change.
• Satisfaction: Present your solution as the best way to address the need.
• Visualization: Describe how things will be different if your audience adopts your solution.
• Action: Call your audience to action.

Monroe found that speeches organized around his sequence were more effective and memorable than the traditional “introduction, body, conclusion” approach. Speech coaches continue to train professional speakers, debaters and sales professionals in this method today. Let’s go through each step to better understand how to use this method of persuasion. 

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When is Monroe’s Sequence useful?

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence can be used in a variety of situations. The most obvious examples of situations where it would be useful are speeches, videos, and other presentations to groups of people.

When you’ve got an important message to get across, it’s helpful to have a format that makes it easy for your audience to understand the information you’re presenting. Monroe’s Motivated Sequence can take the guesswork out of presenting your information, and help you put together a speech that will be effective and impactful.

Here are five ways you can use this approach when presenting to a group:

• When you need everyone on board with a big change.
• When you have new goals to set up for success.
• When you want people to pay attention right away.
• When you need everyone to take action on something important.
• When you’ve got new ideas or products.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence outline: The five steps

In essence, with Monroe’s motivated sequence, you begin your speech with an attention-getter to catch the audience’s eye and ear. Then you explain the need for action and give information to support your argument. Next, you offer a plan to solve the problem and describe the benefits of taking your suggested action. You then ask the audience to imagine what would happen if they followed the plan, and finally, make a clear call to action that defines exactly what you want them to do. Let’s take a look at each step.

1. Attention: Capture your audience’s attention

Capture audience attention with a meaningful story, interesting quote, shocking statistic or personal experience.

The first step of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence pattern is to gain the audience’s attention quickly.

This is what you say to grab the attention of your audience and compel them to listen to you. It’s important for your attention getter to be informative without being boring, as well as relevant to the topic at hand. Some examples of attention getters include:

• asking a rhetorical question
• using a quote from someone famous
• recounting an interesting story
• telling a joke
• using an image

2. Need: Establish a need for change

Provide a simple and clear statement of the problem or need.

Once you have gained their attention, talk about the problem or need in relation to your topic. Sometimes it helps to use an interesting quote related to your topic to emphasize the importance of this need. Then tell how this problem affects someone personally such as through an anecdote or personal experience (this establishes credibility as well). If possible, include some kind of shocking statistic that relates back to this problem so they will fully understand how important it is.

When crafting your speech, it is important to understand the exact problem that you are trying to address with your proposal and communicate this to your audience. If you do not make this clear, then it will be more difficult for you to convince your listeners that the five-step plan that you propose is a viable solution. 

For example, if World Vision USA came in front of an audience and said the following: “We believe in bringing clean drinking water and hygiene education to impoverished communities around the world,” that would not be enough information because it does not show how things wouldn’t improve without their intervention. 

However, by adding a few additional words they can transform this statement into a definite problem: “The lack of access to clean drinking water has left many impoverished communities around the world vulnerable.” This sentence allows us to see that there is a problem and motivates us to want to help solve it.

3. Satisfaction: Present your solution as the best way to address the need

Propose your solution to the problem or need.

Now that they know there is a need for change and why it needs to happen, the next step in Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is proposing your solution to the problem/need. Let them know how they could solve this problem if they take action on your cause/topic/idea. 

In this phase, you’ll also want to make sure that your proposed solution is clear, simple and easy to implement.

You can do this by asking yourself how do you know the solution will work? What is the benefit of your solution? How will it solve the problem? How will it make their lives better?

By answering these questions for yourself, you’ll be able to come up with a simple and clear solution that people can easily understand and act on.

In other words, explain clearly what steps could be taken now and what concrete benefits would come from taking these steps in detail so that they can visualize themselves benefiting from taking action on the issue at hand.

You should briefly describe your solution and then explain why it is effective in meeting that need or solving the problem.

• Provide an overview of your solution.
• Explain why your solution is effective.
• Provide examples of how the solution will work.
• Provide evidence to support your solution (concrete facts and figures). If possible, include a timeline for its implementation.
• Explain the benefits of the solution: how will it improve things?

Once this is done, you can jump to the next step – visualization. 

4. Visualization: Show them what will happen if they accept your proposal

Describe how things will be different if your audience adopts your solution .

This step is self-explanatory. Here, you show your audience what will happen if they accept your proposal. You can use vivid sensory descriptions of how people’s lives could improve or become easier if they follow your plan. The more oomph you have in this step, the more likely people are to follow the lead. Only after visualizing what will happen, can you call your audience to action. 

5. Action: Call your audience to action

Call your audience to action so they’ll feel empowered to make the desired change .

The final step is a call to action – a statement telling the audience exactly what you want them to do as a result of hearing your message. Your request should be specific and reasonable given the circumstances. Tell them the steps that they need to take in order to implement your solution.

All in all, Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a great tool for any speaker who wants to convince an audience to take action. By following the five-step pattern – attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action – you can construct an effective persuasive speech. 

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Editor-in-Chief and Founder of PM Column. Iryna doesn't imagine her life without eating tomatoes and writing project management articles. She has raised two project management blogs from scratch and written for Epicflow, TechRadar, and Project Manager Today.

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Mastering Monroe’s Motivated Sequence: A guide to persuasive speaking

Georgina Guthrie

April 19, 2023

Have you ever watched a skilled chef prepare a meal? They don’t just toss ingredients together and hope for the best. Instead, they follow a carefully crafted recipe that guides them through each step to ensure a delicious outcome. 

Similarly, persuasive speakers need a recipe for success, and that’s where Monroe’s Motivated Sequence comes in. This persuasive speaking technique is like a recipe for a great speech, guiding speakers through each step of the process. Following the sequence ensures that they capture their audience’s attention and motivate them to take action, two crucial goals for any speaker. 

Whether you’re presenting to your colleagues, making a pitch to potential investors, or simply trying to convince a friend to try a new restaurant, understanding Monroe’s Motivated Sequence can help you become a more persuasive and effective communicator. Here’s what you need to know to start using it.

What is Munroe’s motivated sequence?

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence was developed by Alan H. Monroe , a professor of speech at Purdue University, in the 1930s. At the time, Monroe was studying psychology and persuasion principles, and he wanted to develop a framework for creating more effective speeches.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence was the result of years of research and experimentation. He analyzed thousands of speeches and identified the most effective elements for persuading audiences to take action. He then combined these elements into a five-step framework for structuring persuasive speeches.

The five steps of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence are:

• Attention : Grab the audience’s attention with a compelling opening statement or question.
• Need : Identify a problem or need that the audience has.
• Satisfaction : Present a solution to the problem or need.
• Visualization : Help the audience visualize the benefits of adopting your solution.
• Action : Call the audience to action, and provide a clear and actionable next step.

Since its development, Monroe’s Motivated Sequence has become one of the world’s most widely used persuasive speaking techniques. Its effectiveness is clear in everything from political speeches to advertising campaigns.

How to follow Munroe’s Motivated sequence

Here is how to follow each step.

Step 1: Attention 

First, you must grab the audience’s attention with a compelling opening statement or question. This step is crucial because it sets the tone for the rest of the speech and determines whether the audience will be engaged. Here are some practical tips for effectively grabbing the audience’s attention:

• Use a surprising statistic or fact. People are naturally drawn to numbers and statistics, especially if they’re surprising or shocking. For example, you might begin by saying, “Did you know that approximately 1 in 3 people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water?” before starting a talk on improving water quality. 
• Ask a rhetorical question . A well-placed rhetorical question can be a powerful way to engage the audience and get them thinking. For example, if you’re giving a speech on wild animal preservation, you might begin by asking, “How many more species need to be lost before we take action?”
• Use a personal anecdote . Sharing a personal story can be an effective way to connect with the audience on an emotional level. For example, if you’re giving a speech on the importance of education, you might begin by telling a story about how education changed your life.
• Use humor. Humor can be a great way to break the ice and put the audience at ease. Just be sure to keep it appropriate and relevant to your topic.
• Use a powerful quote. A powerful quote can be a great way to set the tone for your speech and get the audience thinking. For example, if you’re giving a speech on leadership, you might begin by quoting John F. Kennedy’s famous line, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Step 2: Need 

This step involves convincing the audience that a problem or issue needs to be addressed. Here are some practical tips for effectively establishing a need for change or action:

• Identify a problem or issue. First, identify a problem or issue that is relevant to your audience. This could be a societal issue, a personal problem, or something else entirely. For example, if you’re giving a speech on mental health, you might identify the problem of stigmatization surrounding mental illness.
• Use evidence and statistics. To convince your audience there’s a problem, you must provide objective evidence supporting your claims. This could include data from scientific studies, government reports, or other credible sources. For example, if you’re giving a speech on climate change, you might use data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to demonstrate the severity of the issue.
• Use personal stories or examples. Again, sharing personal stories or examples can be a powerful way to illustrate the need for change or action. For example, if you’re giving a speech on the importance of organ donation, you might share a story of someone whose life was saved by an organ transplant.
• Appeal to emotions. Emotions can be a powerful motivator for change or action. Appealing to your audience’s emotions can help them connect with the issue more deeply. For example, if you’re giving a speech on animal rights, you might use images or videos to show the mistreatment of animals and appeal to your audience’s sense of empathy.

Step 3: Satisfaction

Next, it’s time to offer a salve to those issues you just raised. This step involves providing a clear and actionable plan for addressing the problem. Here are some practical tips:

• Identify the key components of the solution. To effectively present a solution, you must break it down into its key features. This will help your audience understand how the solution works and what steps they need to take to implement it. For example, if you’re giving a speech on reducing plastic waste, you might break your solution down into components such as using reusable bags, reducing single-use plastics, and recycling.
• Explain how the solution works. Once you’ve identified the key components of the solution, you need to explain how it works. This could involve demonstrating a product or service, providing instructions for using a particular tool or resource or showing before-and-after examples. For example, suppose you’re giving a speech on reducing plastic waste. In that case, you might show your audience how to properly use a reusable water bottle or provide before-and-after examples of how much plastic waste you can reduce by using reusable bags.
• Highlight the benefits of the solution. To motivate your audience to take action, highlight the solution’s benefits. This could include environmental benefits, health benefits, cost savings, or other positive outcomes. For example, suppose you’re giving a speech on the benefits of exercise. In that case, you might highlight the health benefits such as improved cardiovascular health, reduced risk of chronic disease, and improved mental health.
• Address potential objections. When presenting a solution, it’s important to address any potential objections or concerns your audience may have. This could involve addressing common misconceptions, providing evidence to support your claims, or providing counterarguments to common objections. For example, suppose you’re giving a speech on the benefits of renewable energy. In that case, you might address common objections such as the installation cost or the green credentials of renewable energy sources.

Step 4: Visualization

This step involves painting a vivid and compelling picture of what the world will look like after the solution. Here are some practical tips for effectively visualizing outcomes:

• Use storytelling. By telling a story that illustrates the positive outcomes of the solution, you can help your audience imagine what the future could look like. For example, if you’re giving a speech on the benefits of education, you might tell a story about a student who overcame adversity and achieved academic success.
• Use statistics and data. As with the other steps, statistics and data can be powerful tools. You can help your audience understand the solution’s impact by providing concrete numbers and data points. For example, suppose you’re giving a speech on the benefits of renewable energy. In that case, you might provide statistics on how much carbon emissions can be reduced by switching to renewable energy sources.
• Use visual aids. Visual aids such as graphs, charts, and images can help you illustrate the outcomes of the solution. If you’re giving a speech on reducing poverty, you might use a graph to show how poverty rates have declined in other countries that have implemented poverty reduction programs.
• Paint a picture. Use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture of what the world will look like if everyone makes the change. Use sensory language to help your audience imagine the sounds, smells, and feelings associated with the positive outcomes. For example, if you’re giving a speech on the benefits of public transportation, you might describe a city with clean air, quiet streets, and happy commuters.
• Show the consequences of inaction. Sometimes, it can be effective to highlight the consequences of inaction to motivate your audience to take action. This could involve describing the negative outcomes that will occur if the solution is not implemented. For example, if you’re giving a speech on climate change, you might describe the catastrophic effects of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and food shortages. 

Speaking of negative approaches: when it comes to helping your audience visualize the future, there are three approaches you can take. 

• The Positive Method: This method involves describing what the situation will look like if everyone adopts your idea. It emphasizes the positive aspects of the solution and focuses on the benefits and opportunities that will arise.
• The Negative Method: This method involves describing what the situation will look like if people reject you. It focuses on the dangers and difficulties caused by not acting and highlights the negative consequences of inaction. 
• The Contrast Method: This method involves developing the negative picture first and then revealing what could happen if things change. This method can be effective because it creates a sense of contrast between the negative outcomes of inaction and the positive outcomes of taking action. For example, if you’re advocating for education reform, you might describe the negative outcomes of a broken education system, such as high dropout rates and low test scores, before highlighting the positive outcomes of reform, such as better-prepared students and a more educated workforce.

When deciding which method to use, it’s important to consider your audience and the context of your message. The positive method is more effective for inspiring and motivating your audience, while the negative method highlights the situation’s urgency more effectively. The contrast method is good for creating a sense of contrast and emphasizing the importance of taking action in general. 

 Step 4: Call to action 

This is the sequence’s final and arguably most important step: you ask your audience to take a specific action. Here are some practical tips.

• Be specific. Whether signing a petition, donating to a cause, or making a personal change, provide clear instructions on how to take action.
• Make it urgent. Create a sense of urgency around your call to action. Explain why taking action now rather than later is important and use strong language to convey the situation’s urgency.
• Use emotional language. Use emotional language to connect with your audience and inspire them to take action. Use words that evoke compassion, empathy, or urgency to motivate.
• Provide a reason why. Explain why taking action is essential and how it will make a difference. Provide evidence or personal stories that illustrate the impact of taking action, and show your audience how their efforts can make a positive change.
• Offer alternatives. Sometimes, the action you’re asking your audience to take may not be feasible for everyone. Offer alternative activities that your audience can take to support the cause, such as sharing information on social media or volunteering their time.

Three famous speeches that follow Munroe’s Motivated sequence 

Martin luther king jr’s “i have a dream”.

Martin Luther King Jr. used Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in his “I Have a Dream” speech . He first identified the need for racial equality and presented a solution. King then helped the audience visualize the benefits of his solution, which was a world free of discrimination and prejudice. Finally, he called upon the audience to take action and join him in the fight for civil rights.

By using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, King effectively communicated his message and inspired his audience to take action. His speech remains a powerful example of how this persuasive speaking technique can create lasting change.

Steve Jobs’s 2007 iPhone launch

Steve Jobs used Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in his 2007 iPhone launch keynote . During his keynote speech, Jobs hooked the audience’s attention with a powerful opening statement: “Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything.” He then identified the need for a better mobile device and presented the iPhone as the solution. Jobs highlighted the benefits of the iPhone, which combined a phone, music player, and internet browser into one device, and helped the audience visualize its potential. Finally, he called upon the audience to take action and go out to buy the iPhone.

Using this approach, Jobs effectively communicated the iPhone’s value and created a buzz around the product. His presentation remains a classic example of how to use Monroe’s Motivated Sequence to market a product successfully.

Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight on the Beaches”

Winston Churchill used Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in his “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” speech . Churchill’s famous speech began with a powerful opening statement, “We shall fight on the beaches,” which captured the audience’s attention. He then identified the need for a strong defense against the Nazis and presented a solution: to fight them on the beaches, fields, and streets. Churchill helped the audience visualize the benefits of victory, which would be a world free of Nazi tyranny. Finally, he called upon the audience to take action and join him in the fight against the Nazis.

By using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, Churchill delivered a powerful speech that motivated the British to fight against the Nazis during World War II. His speech remains a classic example of using persuasive techniques to inspire action and create change.

Applying Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in the digital world 

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a powerful tool for crafting persuasive and memorable messages. By following the five steps — attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and call to action — you can effectively grab your audience’s attention, create a sense of urgency, offer a solution, paint a picture of the future, and inspire action. 

When working remotely, this sequence can help you communicate more effectively with your remote team and leave a lasting impression on others. With the increasing use of chat apps in today’s world, it’s important to adapt your communication style so that your messages have as much impact as face-to-face interactions. The same rules apply, but you’ll need to consider factors like accessibility, reliability, engagement (using tools like images, polls, and video), and email or direct message best practices (avoid sending someone a ‘ wall of text ’!). 

Whether you’re messaging a friend, emailing a colleague, or having a video chat with a client, remember the power of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence and use it to create more impactful messages.

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The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence: Perfecting the Art of Persuasive Speech

What is the monroe’s motivated sequence.

The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a persuasive speech framework that guides speakers in delivering compelling and effective presentations. It is a step-by-step process that helps speakers structure their speeches to capture the audience’s attention, create a need or problem, propose a solution, and visualize the desired outcome. This sequence is widely used in public speaking and is particularly useful for persuasive speeches, sales presentations, and marketing pitches. By following the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, speakers can engage their audience, build credibility, and effectively communicate their message.

Why is the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence important?

The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is important because it provides a structured framework for delivering persuasive speeches. This sequence helps speakers effectively capture the audience’s attention, create a sense of urgency, propose solutions, and paint a vivid picture of the desired outcome. By following this sequence, speakers can engage and persuade their audience more effectively. The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is especially valuable when addressing persuasive speech topics as it helps speakers organize their thoughts and arguments in a logical and compelling manner. It ensures that the audience is engaged throughout the speech and increases the likelihood of achieving the speaker’s desired outcome.

How does the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence work?

The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a persuasive speech framework that follows a specific structure to effectively influence and persuade an audience. It consists of five steps: Attention, Need, Satisfaction, Visualization, and Conclusion. In the Attention step, the speaker captures the audience’s attention using powerful opening statements and engaging storytelling. The Need step involves identifying the problem or need, creating a sense of urgency, and presenting evidence and statistics to support the need for a solution. In the Satisfaction step, the speaker proposes a solution, explains the benefits of the solution, and addresses potential objections. The Visualization step focuses on painting a vivid picture of the desired outcome, using storytelling to evoke emotions, and helping the audience imagine the future. Finally, the Conclusion step summarizes the main points, reinforces the call to action, and leaves a lasting impression. The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence provides a comprehensive and effective framework for persuasive speeches, allowing speakers to strategically influence their audience. To learn more about persuasive speaking techniques and improve your public speaking skills, check out Unifire’s resources and courses.

Step 1: Attention

Capturing the audience’s attention.

When it comes to capturing the audience’s attention, content creators and educators understand the importance of making a strong first impression. They know that in order to stand out in a sea of information, they need to grab the audience’s interest right from the start. One effective way to do this is by using powerful opening statements that immediately pique curiosity. By starting with a compelling hook or an intriguing question, content creators can instantly engage the audience and make them want to learn more. Another effective technique is storytelling. By sharing personal anecdotes or captivating narratives, content creators can create an emotional connection with the audience, making them more receptive to the message being conveyed. Capturing the audience’s attention is the crucial first step in delivering a persuasive speech that leaves a lasting impact.

CTA: Unifire

Are you a content creator or educator looking to take your persuasive speeches to the next level? Unifire is the tool you need. With Unifire, you can transform your webinars, podcasts, and conference talks into compelling content that resonates with your audience. Say goodbye to generic content and hello to unique, insightful, and engaging material. Try Unifire today and see the difference it can make in your content creation journey.

How to Captivate Your Audience:

• Start with a powerful opening statement or hook that grabs attention
• Incorporate storytelling to create an emotional connection
• Use visuals, such as images or videos, to enhance engagement
• Make your content relatable and relevant to the audience
• Practice and refine your delivery to ensure a confident and engaging presentation

By following these steps, you can captivate your audience and deliver persuasive speeches that inspire and motivate.

Engaging the audience with storytelling

Engaging the audience with storytelling is a crucial step in the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. Storytelling has the power to captivate listeners and create an emotional connection . By sharing personal anecdotes or relatable narratives, speakers can effectively convey their message and make it more memorable. Storytelling allows the audience to visualize the problem or need, making it more relatable and compelling. It helps create a sense of empathy and urgency, encouraging the audience to pay attention and take action. Through the art of storytelling, speakers can paint a vivid picture of the desired outcome, helping the audience imagine a better future. By incorporating storytelling techniques, speakers can keep the audience engaged throughout the speech and leave a lasting impression.

Step 2: Need

Identifying the problem or need.

The first step in the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is identifying the problem or need that your audience is facing. This is a crucial step because it sets the stage for the rest of your persuasive speech. To effectively identify the problem or need, you should conduct thorough research and gather relevant data and evidence. This will help you understand the magnitude of the issue and its impact on your audience. Once you have identified the problem or need, you can create a sense of urgency by highlighting the consequences of not addressing it. Presenting compelling evidence and statistics can further reinforce the importance of finding a solution. By clearly articulating the problem or need, you can capture your audience’s attention and motivate them to listen to your proposed solution. Unifire is a platform that can help you craft persuasive speeches using the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive resources, Unifire makes it easy to create impactful speeches that resonate with your audience. Sign up for Unifire today and take your persuasive speaking skills to the next level!

Creating a sense of urgency

Creating a sense of urgency is a crucial step in the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. By highlighting the immediate and pressing nature of the problem or need, you can captivate the audience’s attention and motivate them to take action. Presenting compelling evidence and statistics that demonstrate the negative consequences of not addressing the issue can further enhance the sense of urgency. Additionally, sharing real-life stories and examples that illustrate the urgency can help the audience connect emotionally and understand the need for immediate action. By emphasizing the time-sensitive nature of the problem, you can effectively persuade the audience to prioritize finding a solution. To create a sense of urgency, consider using powerful language, visuals, and storytelling techniques that convey the gravity of the situation. Remember, the goal is to make the audience feel a sense of urgency and compel them to act now. Act today and join Unifire in making a difference!

Step 3: Satisfaction

Proposing a solution.

After identifying the problem or need, the next step in the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is proposing a solution. This is where the speaker presents a clear and actionable solution to address the problem or fulfill the need. The solution should be practical and feasible, offering a way forward for the audience. It is important to explain the benefits of the solution, highlighting how it can effectively solve the problem or fulfill the need. Additionally, the speaker should address potential objections or concerns that the audience may have, providing reassurance and building credibility. By proposing a solution, the speaker aims to convince the audience that taking action is necessary and beneficial. The proposed solution should be compelling and persuasive , appealing to the emotions and logic of the audience. By offering a concrete solution, the speaker guides the audience towards a desired outcome and motivates them to take action. In the case of persuasive speeches, the proposed solution often includes a call to action, urging the audience to support a particular cause or take specific steps towards a desired change. By actively involving the audience in the solution , the speaker increases their engagement and commitment to the message. Ultimately, the goal of this step is to convince the audience that the proposed solution is the best course of action and that they should act upon it. To learn more about the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence and how to perfect the art of persuasive speech, visit Unifire .

Explaining the benefits of the solution

The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence provides a comprehensive and effective framework for persuasive speech. By following the 5 step structural pattern, speakers can strategically capture the audience’s attention, identify and create a sense of urgency around the problem or need, propose a solution, paint a vivid picture of the desired outcome, and reinforce the call to action. This sequence helps speakers engage the audience, evoke emotions, and ultimately persuade them to take action. By utilizing powerful opening statements, storytelling techniques, evidence and statistics, and addressing potential objections, speakers can effectively communicate the benefits of their proposed solution. The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a valuable tool for anyone looking to deliver a persuasive speech that leaves a lasting impression.

Addressing potential objections

In order to effectively address potential objections, it is important to anticipate and acknowledge any concerns or doubts that the audience may have. By doing so, you can demonstrate that you have considered all perspectives and are prepared to provide a compelling response. One strategy is to use the Rhetorical Triangle , which consists of ethos , pathos, and logos, to appeal to the audience’s emotions, credibility, and logic. By incorporating these elements into your persuasive speech, you can build trust and credibility, evoke empathy and connect with the audience on an emotional level, and present logical arguments supported by evidence and reasoning. This comprehensive approach helps to counter potential objections and strengthen your overall persuasive message.

Step 4: Visualization

Painting a vivid picture of the desired outcome.

After presenting the proposed solution and explaining its benefits, the next step in the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is to paint a vivid picture of the desired outcome. This step aims to create a compelling vision in the minds of the audience, helping them visualize the positive impact of accepting the proposed solution. By using storytelling techniques and evoking emotions, speakers can engage the audience on an emotional level and make the desired outcome feel more tangible and achievable. Imagine a world where everyone has access to clean drinking water . Picture children smiling as they quench their thirst with safe and pure water. Envision communities thriving, free from the burden of waterborne diseases. By painting this vivid picture, speakers can inspire and motivate the audience to take action. The visualization step is crucial in connecting the audience’s emotions to the proposed solution and reinforcing the urgency and importance of addressing the problem at hand.

To learn more about the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence and how to perfect the art of persuasive speech, visit Unifire . Unifire offers a comprehensive platform that helps you craft and deliver impactful speeches that drive change. Take your persuasive speaking skills to the next level and make a lasting impression on your audience. Start using Unifire today!

How to Paint a Vivid Picture of the Desired Outcome:

• Use descriptive language and vivid imagery to create a mental image of the desired outcome.
• Incorporate storytelling techniques to engage the audience’s emotions and make the desired outcome feel more real.
• Highlight the positive impact and benefits that the desired outcome will bring.
• Connect the desired outcome to the proposed solution, reinforcing the importance of taking action.
• Use visual aids, such as photos or videos, to enhance the audience’s visualization experience.
• Encourage the audience to imagine themselves experiencing the desired outcome, fostering a sense of personal connection and motivation.
• End with a powerful statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the call to action.

Using storytelling to evoke emotions

Storytelling is a powerful tool in persuasive speech, as it has the ability to evoke emotions and create a deep connection with the audience. By telling a compelling story that relates to the topic at hand, the speaker can engage the audience on an emotional level and make the message more relatable and memorable. Stories have the power to transport the audience to a different time and place, allowing them to experience the emotions and events firsthand. This emotional connection can help to build trust and credibility, as well as inspire the audience to take action. When using storytelling to evoke emotions, it is important to choose stories that are relevant and impactful, and to use vivid language and imagery to paint a vivid picture in the audience’s minds. By tapping into the power of storytelling, speakers can create a lasting impact and drive their message home.

CTA: Visit Unifire to learn more about the power of storytelling in persuasive speech and discover tools to enhance your persuasive speaking skills.

How to Use Storytelling to Evoke Emotions:

• Choose a relevant and impactful story that relates to your topic.
• Use vivid language and imagery to paint a vivid picture in the audience’s minds.
• Connect the story to the main message or call to action.
• Practice delivering the story with emotion and passion.
• Pay attention to the audience’s reactions and adjust your delivery accordingly.
• Use storytelling strategically throughout your speech to engage and captivate the audience.
• Reflect on the impact of the storytelling after the speech and make adjustments for future speeches.

By following these steps, you can harness the power of storytelling to evoke emotions and create a persuasive and impactful speech.

Helping the audience imagine the future

After going through the steps of the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, it is crucial to help the audience imagine the future. By painting a vivid picture of the desired outcome, using storytelling to evoke emotions, and providing concrete examples, you can create a powerful vision in the minds of your listeners. This step is essential because it allows the audience to connect with the proposed solution on a deeper level and understand the potential impact it can have on their lives. By helping them visualize the positive changes that can occur, you can inspire them to take action and support your cause. The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence provides a structured framework for persuasive speeches , and by following its steps, you can effectively engage your audience and motivate them to act.

Summarizing the main points

The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a powerful framework for persuasive speech that consists of five steps: Attention, Need, Satisfaction, Visualization, and Conclusion. In the Attention step, the speaker captures the audience’s attention using powerful opening statements and engaging storytelling. The Need step involves identifying the problem or need, creating a sense of urgency, and presenting evidence and statistics. In the Satisfaction step, the speaker proposes a solution, explains the benefits of the solution, and addresses potential objections. The Visualization step focuses on painting a vivid picture of the desired outcome, using storytelling to evoke emotions, and helping the audience imagine the future. Finally, in the Conclusion step, the main points of the speech are summarized, the call to action is reinforced, and a lasting impression is left on the audience. The Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is important because it provides a structured approach to persuasive speech, ensuring that the speaker effectively communicates their message and motivates the audience to take action. To perfect the art of persuasive speech, it is crucial to prioritize depth over high-level explanations and to be comprehensive when addressing each step of the sequence. If you’re looking to enhance your persuasive speaking skills, consider using Unifire, a tool that can help you create compelling content and scale your operations. With Unifire, you can turn webinars into weeks’ worth of unique content that resonates with your audience. Try Unifire today and see how it can be a game changer for content creators, educators, and anyone who wants to win the content game.

Reinforcing the call to action

After presenting a compelling solution and addressing potential objections, it is crucial to reinforce the call to action and leave a lasting impression on the audience. This is the final opportunity to motivate them to take the desired action. Summarize the main points of the persuasive speech, emphasizing the problem, the proposed solution, and the benefits of taking action. Use powerful language to evoke emotions and create a sense of urgency. Remind the audience of the consequences of inaction and the positive outcomes that can be achieved by following through with the call to action. Finally, provide clear and specific instructions on how to take action, whether it’s signing a petition, making a donation, or spreading the message on social media. Remember, the success of a persuasive speech lies in the ability to inspire action, so make sure to leave a strong and memorable impression.

Call to Action: Unifire

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Leaving a lasting impression

In conclusion, the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is a powerful framework for delivering persuasive speeches. By following the sequence, speakers can effectively capture the audience’s attention, identify a problem or need, propose a solution, and paint a vivid picture of the desired outcome. One key insight from this article is the importance of engaging the audience through storytelling, which helps evoke emotions and create a lasting impact. Another important point is the need to address potential objections and present evidence and statistics to support the proposed solution. By using the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, speakers can leave a lasting impression on their audience, motivating them to take action. Armenian genocide is a tragic example of a problem that could be addressed using this persuasive framework.

In conclusion, Unifire is the ultimate tool for extracting summaries, keywords, and titles from your podcast and repurposing your content. With Unifire, you can save time and effort by automating the process of creating engaging content. Whether you’re a podcaster, content creator, or marketer, Unifire can help you optimize your content strategy and reach a wider audience. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enhance your content creation workflow. Visit Unifire today and start maximizing the potential of your podcast content!

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Monroe’s Motivated Sequence: Definition & Examples

In the age of information, one critical skill is the ability to engage and lead the masses. Learn it, and you can land a better job, a higher salary, and, maybe, even a promotion. While some are born with that inner ability to gain followers, others need to set up a time tracker to see how much time they’re taking, practice in the mirror, and do everything else to develop this skill. That’s where the help of Monroe’s motivated sequence outline comes in.

In this article, we will learn what Monroe’s motivated sequence is and what best techniques you can use to develop the art of giving public speeches.

​What is Monroe’s Motivated Sequence?

Alan Monroe, a professor at Purdue University, used the psychology of persuasion to develop an outline for making speeches. This system helps to deliver the best public presentations that motivate people to act. It’s now known as Monroe’s Motivated Sequence outline.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence finds application in various real-world scenarios. It helps to organize and structure speeches, making them clear and ensuring their point hits home. The implementation of the elements of persuasion psychology, keeps the audience focused and inspired to act. That’s why Monroe’s motivated sequence outline is so effective. Its five key stages include attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and call to action.

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Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Steps

Let’s dive right in and have a look at the five steps of Monroe’s motivated sequence that you need to follow to get your speeches to work.

Step 1: Grab attention

Depending on how well you introduce the topic people will decide whether your performance is worth their attention or not.

Getting listeners’ attention may seem challenging. However, it’s a chance to make a solid foundation for your speech. If you grab your audience’s attention at the start, they are more likely to listen to you till the end. 

Use your imagination here. You’re basically looking for a way to get your audience to sit up and pay attention. Make your listeners realize that you have something fascinating to say. In general, people have very short attention spans. Once you have their attention you need to move on quickly.

Identify with your listeners

Begin your presentation with a story related to your topic, tell a dramatic tale, pose a question, make a shocking statement, use a historical fact… This will work as a great ice-breaker, relieving your inner tension and helping you capture listeners’ interest.

Make your audience trust you

Tell them why the topic is interesting to them. State clear and practical purposes, so people will know what to expect. Raise curiosity by asking questions or sharing unexpected facts related to the topic. 

Show authority and reputation

Make yourself more credible by sharing a set of reliable statistics or mentioning that you’ve investigated the topic thoroughly before. Add some visual content to your presentation, such as videos, charts, and images, as well as solid statistics. This will show that you’re well-prepared and ready to teach your listeners about the issue.

Step 2: Define the need

This step is important because you make people feel the need to solve the problem.

At this stage, you need to raise awareness of the problem you’re presenting. Don’t suggest any solutions in this step. Use this part to help people understand that there is a problem and that the challenge needs to be undertaken.

Elaborate the issue

Explain the way things work right now and that this needs to change. Show the consequences of keeping the issue as it is right now. At the same time, there is no need to increase tension or invoke panic. It’ll seem unrealistic. Just support your topic. Use reliable information, such as statistical data and evidence from the people involved. At this point, the visual data prepared in advance will be your most valuable asset.

Make it urgent

Imply the idea of time limits. Using statistics, make your audience realize how important the topic is and that it requires determined action right now. Show the dynamics of the issue becoming worse, explain if the consequences are irreversible or not. 

Highlight how it affects your listeners

Your audience may be concerned about a lot of issues around the world but never take action. This is mainly because these issues aren’t directly related to your listeners. Demonstrate how the problem affects each person in the room. Make your listeners accumulate tension until they feel the need to resolve the issue themselves.

Step 3: Satisfy the need

You have to persuade your listeners that the solution you’re proposing is the most effective strategy out there.

When you see that the audience is ready for action, it’s time to show them the way. Here you need to provide your solution. It should be concise, simple to follow, and easily understood by every listener. 

Present your idea in detail

Formulate your position and provide your solution. Divide your proposal into simple steps and clearly state what you want your listeners to do, believe, or understand.

Provide examples and summarize the idea

Find some fitting examples that demonstrate how your solution should work. Charts and statistics will also add to your arguments. Think of how your solution could benefit your audience and remember to include this information into your presentation.

Suggest your idea for discussion

You need to be prepared for possible questions and have a few counterarguments in your back pocket to show that your solution works. Fear no question. Instead, take the interest as a positive sign that your audience is listening.

Step 4: Visualize the future

This step helps you show your audience your perspective of your plan’s implementation; preparing them for the next stage – taking action.

At this point, you present to your audience what will the future be like if they implement or refuse your solution. You can do it using the following methods:

Positive attitude

Emphasis should be on the positive sides of your plan’s realization. Explain to your listeners how good the future will be if they agree to follow your idea.

Negative attitude

The focus should be on the negative consequences if your plan is rejected. Explain to your audience how bad the future will be if they reject your solution.

This is used to compare positive and negative attitudes. First, start with a negative scenario and after contrast it with a positive one. Make the contrast vivid and feasible. Your listeners should feel that your solution is the only and best choice out there. 

Step 5: Actualization

This final part of your presentation is vital. This is because you need to make sure that the audience knows how to solve the problem and is ready to get down to it.

At the end of your speech, your listeners shouldn’t feel overwhelmed with information. It’s important to concisely summarize and propose steps of action to your audience. 

• Tell your listeners exactly what steps they need to take to resolve the issue.
• Explain to your listeners which tools they have to address the problem.
• Invite your listeners to ask you additional questions .

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Outline Examples

Many public speakers, vendors, CEOs, students, and those who want to succeed in giving presentations, in general, employ Monroe’s motivated sequence speech technique to ensure that when they talk, they hit the mark. For example, almost every TED talk presentation is built with Monroe’s Motivated Sequence to engage fully with the audience. That’s why they’re so popular. It’s the science of public speaking. 

Let’s take a look at this example here and analyze it.

Melissa Marshall, communications teacher and faculty member of the Department of Communication Arts & Sciences at Penn State University, clearly follows Monroe’s motivated sequence outline.

Here’s the outline of Monroe’s motivated sequence example:

• Grab attention. Melissa identifies herself with the audience by saying that she felt scared when teaching nerdy guys communication skills. Most of us would feel scared taking on a responsible task. Also, she wittily uses the allegory of Alice in Wonderland, talking about the hidden and fascinating world of science she discovered.
• Define the need. The speaker talks about the importance of developing great communication skills for scientists and engineers so that they will be able to share their ideas with regular people.
• Satisfy the need. Melissa explains the steps on how to boost communication and story-telling skills by avoiding jargon, giving simple comparisons, and avoiding bullet points in presentations.
• Visualize the future. The speaker explains how beneficial it’ll be for scientists and engineers to obtain communication skills as they will be able to share their ideas with a greater audience.
• Actualization. Melissa wraps up her topic with a simple formula:  (science – (jargon + bullets) / relevance) x passion ) that can be easily implemented in practice by nerdy guys.

Now, think, what in this speech made you want to act? Pinpoint that and you’ll know what to aim for in your next big talk.

Remember, Monroe’s motivated sequence outline isn’t just for conference presentations. You can use it for your daily office work to make great and persuasive speeches during meetings or giving presentations. 

What Else Do You Need For a Good Presentation

Monroe’s motivated sequence outline will form a strong foundation for your speech, but what else will help drive the point home? Here are some additional tips on how to prepare beforehand and what to do after your presentation:

Stay motivated 😌

Many of us often feel that the most unpleasant tasks should be done last. Creating speeches may be one of them. They require lots of preparation and, something scary, talking in front of people. Don’t fall into this common misconception! Start preparing early and you’ll be more likely to have success. We’ve gathered the most effective tips on how to stay productive and motivated here . 

Keep your time 🕒

Use special time tracking software that is easily integrated into your daily apps. They will help arrange, monitor, and devote working time evenly through working processes. This allows you to prepare well-designed and thoroughly-considered speeches that will win over your audience.

Consider the best time for your presentation 🌇

Timing is essential for your speech just like in the workflow process. Think when most of your colleagues can spare some time to see your presentation. A simple time tracker can help you match your co-workers’ schedules to arrange your meeting at the best time. 

Use diagrams, flowcharts and mind maps 📈

Structure your speech and highlight the most important parts of your presentation. Never read your speech from a sheet, use cards or diagrams to see the key points you’re going to talk about. This will make your presentation more vivid and show that you know the subject well.

Release tension 🧘

Balance your working time and time-off. It’s important to rest enough before writing your speech as it’s a creative process and the best ideas hit fresh brains. Measure your productivity and stay creative at work to produce inspirational ideas and presentations.

Keep track of the goals set during your presentation ✅

Monitoring task fulfillment after your presentation gives you valuable data on how well the project is moving forward. A good estimation is important! You can present the information gathered in the form of statistics at the next meeting, showing the progress of the project and your contribution to it.

That’s a Wrap for Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Outline

Knowing how to best utilize Monroe’s motivated sequence outline to create great speeches is step 1 for anyone who wants to influence people, have the ability to persuade and upgrade their employability potential. It’s an essential skill for all successful business people, no matter the field.

Although not all people possess the skill of public speaking, it’s possible to develop and maintain it. What’s needed is practice, some knowledge of specialized techniques, such as Monroe’s motivated sequence outline, and more practice.

Mike Kulakov

IT entrepreneur, executive and a former engineer. Responsible for company growth as well as the team’s motivation. Big fan of playing tennis, snowboarding, traveling, reading books, and (of course) I live and breathe our product.

Home » Business » Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Explained [with Examples]

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Explained [with Examples]

How do you write speeches that motivate people? One way to achieve this goal is with something called Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. This is essentially a simple formula for writing persuasive speeches.

It was created by American psychologist Alan H. Monroe, who was a lecturer at Purdue University. By studying the psychology of persuasion, Monroe was able to create a simple sequence of steps for generating persuasive communication.

In this article, we’ll briefly go over the basic steps of Monroe’s sequence, as well as provide examples of the sequence outline in action.

The 5 Steps Explained

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence steps consist of the following:

• Satisfaction
• Visualization

#1: Grab the Attention of Your Audience

The first step in this five-step process is grabbing the attention of the audience. This is by far the most important step of Monroe’s sequence. The reason why is simple: the use of attention is critical if you want the audience to listen to what you have to say.

Remember, people have extremely short attention spans. This means you only have seconds to grab their attention. According to Monroe’s sequence, the easiest way to do this is by bringing up a problem the audience has.

The specific parts of the attention step can involve the following. For example, you can start off by telling a dramatic story. This could be your own personal story of how you overcame adversity and went on to success.

You may also want to use a rhetorical question. Just be careful when doing this. Avoid questions that have a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Another method is to mention a shocking statistic or historical fact. Statistics are a good idea because they help to prove you’re an authority on the subject.

Examples: a. Better Sleep Workshop: “According to a 2021 August article in the Harvard Medical Journal, 7 out of 10 people are sleep deprived. These people do not get more than 4-5 hours of rest per night…”  (Follow this sleep example set down through the steps below.)

b. Workplace Safety Seminar: “How many companies ignore workplace safety? It’s a lot more than you think. In fact, according to a recent survey, 4 out of 5 employees routinely ignore practices related to workplace safety. The reason why they do this is that it’s simply easier. Unfortunately, ignoring safety practices often results in injuries or even death…”  (Follow this safety example set down through the steps below.)

c. Random Acts of Kindness: “Did you know that you can literally save someone’s life with random acts of kindness? How many times have you stopped to thank the people in your life? For example, the waiter or waitress who served you, or maybe your electrician or spouse. These random acts of kindness can have a profound effect. They can brighten the person’s day and even change the world…”  (Follow this kindness example set down through the steps below.)

#2:  Highlight the Fact That the Audience Needs This Problem Solved Immediately

Here are the three key parts of how to do this step.

Highlight the Problem The next step in this sequence is highlighting the problem which needs to be solved. In this second step, you want to talk about the potential consequences of ignoring their problem. You address what could happen if the issue is left unsolved.

Provide Specific Evidence on How the Issue Affects Them Directly Try to provide some evidence for this. For example, ignoring a weight problem could lead to diabetes or heart disease. The key here is that your audience must believe that they need to change. That the best place and time to do this is NOW, and that failure to do so will result in serious consequences.

Also, zero in on the fact that this problem affects them directly. Do not talk about vague or unspecific problems that may or may not apply to them specifically. Don’t tell them that plastic pollution affects the environment. Tell them that microparticles end up in the food that THEY eat.

Use Statistics to Instill a Sense of Urgency and Get Them Emotional to Take Action In addition to this, you need to instill them with a sense of urgency. They have to realize that action needs to be taken immediately. Explain what will happen if the problem gets worse. Also mention what will happen if the problem becomes irreversible.

It’s important that you back this up with evidence. Prove to them that what you’re saying is true. The easiest way to do this is once again with statistics. You want to elaborate and expand on the issue. Visual data like graphs and charts is also a useful tool.

The ultimate goal is to agitate the audience and get them into a highly emotional state. You want to make them worried about the problem and even a little bit fearful. The audience needs to be at the point where they need to solve the problem immediately. Just note that you don’t want to go overboard. Using too much fear can make things seem unrealistic and you’ll lose the audience.

Examples: a. Better Sleep Workshop: “What most people don’t know is that sleep deprivation affects every part of your body. Not only that, over time, this problem can lead to chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks, and also strokes. If this is the first time you’re hearing this, then you may be shocked…”

b. Workplace Safety Seminar: “There are dozens of cases where this happens. For example, oftentimes employees don’t pack away their tools or clean up properly. There are other times when safety equipment is used for everything other than what it’s meant for…”

“But this is why there were more than 173 worked place safety-related deaths last year. And this was in our state alone. When you look at the USA as a whole, this figure measures in the thousands…”

c. Random Acts of Kindness:  “But why do we need to do this? After all, a random act of kindness might sound a bit stupid or even corny to some. The fact is that millions of people are struggling through life. In fact, more than 20 million Americans are now suffering from clinical depression. Not only that, the suicide rate is at an all-time high. This unhappiness leads to greater unhappiness…”

“For example, these unhappy people go home and yell at their families, or indulge in other negative vices such as drugs or alcohol. It’s a vicious cycle which only gets worse with time and leads to even bigger issues. The problem is that most people are so wrapped up in their own lives that they barely take the time to think about other people…”

#3:  Provide a Solution to Their Problem or Way to Satisfy Their Need

The third step of Monroe has five main components:

Provide a Solution to the Problem The third step of Monroe’s sequence is all about providing a solution to their problem (This is also known as the “need” step of Monroe’s sequence). This section usually covers the main part of the presentation.

Explain How This Solution Works to Meet a Specific Goal Another purpose of this satisfaction step is to explain how your solution works. For example, if you’re selling a product then you’ll need to explain the product, step-by-step. How does the solution to the audience’s problem satisfy their desires and fulfill their specific need?

Talk about the specific goals they’d like to achieve. For example, you can break the specific parts of the need down into further elements. How does this problem affect their health, finances, relationships, and so on?

Provide Details, Be Believable & Provide Proof When doing this it’s important that you provide enough details. By the time you’re done with this section, the audience should understand exactly how the solution works.

Make sure the audience believes in your solution. To do this, you need to provide proof of its efficacy, and also prove that you have the best and most effective solution. You can do this by providing statistics, success examples and testimonials. For the testimonials, it helps to talk about the practical experience of people who have used the solution.

In this step, visual aids like charts and graphs will also be helpful. You can provide additional evidence, such as in the form of before and after pictures and case studies.

Anticipate & Overcome Objections Something else you need to think about is meeting objections the audience may have. Think about objections they may raise, how you can defuse these, or even turn them to your advantage. Depending on your format, you may want to involve audience members in your presentation. You can do this by having people ask questions.

Recap Finally, summarize your solution and the information you’ve provided. You can even think of this as your thesis statement (when doing this it helps use visuals accompanied by persuasive bullets).

Examples: a. Better Sleep Workshop: “I’ve spent the last five years researching this issue. During this time I’ve discovered the common reasons why people struggle to get enough sleep. Using these findings I’ve created the Better Sleep Workshop…”

b. Workplace Safety Seminar: “To prevent this, workers need to be instilled with a sense of responsibility. They need to be held accountable for their own safety, and also the safety of fellow co-workers. The way this happens is through the development of habits, and also by holding employees to a higher standard so that your company can build a culture of workplace safety…”

c. Random Acts of Kindness:  “This is why it’s so important that we engage in these random acts of kindness. Doing this will also have an incredible effect on your own life. They cost you nothing and will make you feel on top of the world. Think about you: don’t you feel good after complimenting someone or helping them out?”

“Whether it’s appreciating service workers, friends, or assisting the homeless, random acts of kindness have an immediate effect on your emotional state. Another great benefit is that people will start doing things for you. The key point here is to realize that random acts of kindness can only lead to good things… ”

#4:  Help Them Visualize a Compelling Future

At this point, you should be moving towards the conclusion of your speech. In this visualization step, the speaker shows their audience a future without the problem (You can also think of this as the “projection” step). This is where the power of your persuasion skills really comes into play. You have to paint a vivid picture of how great life will be when their needs are satisfied.

Mention what will happen if they implement your solution. What changes can they expect to see? You can also use the compare and contrast method. For example, what will life be like if they don’t take action? What kind of negative outcomes will they experience? How will these negative outcomes affect their lives?

In this visualization stage, you need to be as realistic as possible. Go into great detail when talking about either a positive or a negative future. The better you can do this, the more effective you’ll be at creating desire. Essentially, your most important goal is to make your audience agree with you. They have to agree that adopting what you’ve proposed is going to lead them to a better future. Here are the five steps to do this:

• Use the positive method of visualization by highlighting the positive outcomes they may experience.
• Use the negative method of visualization by talking about negative emotions and consequences. What are the consequences of not acting today?
• Contrast these futures. Mention that their life can either be like this…or that. Things can either get better or worse and it’s up to them to decide.
• Help them imagine the actual implementation of your solution. Talk about what they’ll have to do and what that will be like.
• Make this future projection realistic. Don’t talk about things that seem impossible or unrealistic. If you do this you may turn them off.

Examples: a. Better Sleep Workshop: “The bottom line is that this problem is more serious than you could ever imagine. Unless you dramatically improve the quality of your sleep, you may end up with one of the chronic conditions previously mentioned. What’s more, you’ll sleepwalk through life and spend your days feeling terrible, living life as a burnt-out zombie with bags under your eyes. There’s a good chance you’ve already experienced this and desperately want to change…”

“On the other hand, if you solve this problem, imagine how much better your life could be. What would it feel like to finally get enough sleep, and wake up every morning feeling as if you’re on top of the world? If you’ve been sleep-deprived for a long time, this probably sounds like a dream. But it’s more than possible…”

b. Workplace Safety Seminar: “What would your company be like if workplace accidents were a thing of the past? If you could go years without an accident? Believe it or not, this is possible, even if it doesn’t seem like it today. The exact opposite is also true. Unless you take care of this problem, accidents are going to continue. You may find yourself attending more funerals than you’d like…”

c. Random Acts of Kindness:  “Can you see yourself becoming this type of person? You probably could if you try hard enough. Imagine yourself becoming the type of person who actually takes the time and effort to deliver heartfelt compliments to those around them. Who genuinely goes out of their way to commit random acts of kindness. How would your life change if you started doing this? Even better, how would the lives of the people around you change? The first thing you’ll notice is that you immediately start to feel happier…”

#5:  Call on the Audience to Take Action

Below are the three main points to accomplish this Step #5.

Give Them a Specific Call to Action The final step in this sequence is asking the audience to take action. In this part of your speech speaker attempts to make the audience commit to the solution. The solution could be buying your product, making changes in their life, or taking some kind of action.

What’s important is that you mention the specific action which must be taken. Do they need to call a number, visit a website, or click on a link? Does the action involve booking an appointment or meeting with a sales representative? Even if the presentation doesn’t involve selling, there are still actions that can be taken. For example, do they need to implement a new habit or start living life in a new way?

Keep It Simple Keep this action as simple as possible. You don’t want to overload the audience or give them too much information. As an alternative to this, you may want to provide the audience with options. For example, you could mention options a, b, c, and so on.

Because they need to think about these options, this helps to get your listeners more involved in the solution. Ultimately, the complexity of this action will depend on the complexity of your solution.

Make It Urgent Something else you should do is leave the audience with a sense of want and urgency. This sense of need should be so great that the audience takes immediate action. When everything is said and done, you’ll want to end your speech. Sum up everything you’ve said in a simple way and provide one final call to action.

Examples: a. Better Sleep Workshop: “The choice is now yours. You can continue with doing what you’ve always done and one day face the consequences. Your next best choice is to sign up for our Better Sleep Workshop. To get started now, simply visit our website at…”

b. Workplace Safety Seminar: “Part of the solution to this is immediately reviewing your safety procedures. Our company can help you with this. We’ll tour your factory and identify areas that need attention. Our team will point out what you’re doing wrong and how you can improve. If you’d like to get started on solving this problem, then call or email us now at the number or email on the screen.”

c. Random Acts of Kindness:  “The problem is that many people have no idea how to get started. This is why we’re going to go over some examples and suggestions for random acts of kindness which you can do today. Try the following methods today and take note of how it makes you feel, and more importantly, how it affects the recipient of your random act of kindness. Who knows, you might just save someone’s life, or even change the world.”

With Monroe’s Motivated Sequence you can quickly create a persuasive argument. This organizational pattern also provides you with the framework needed to persuade people. Another benefit of this method of persuasion is that it’s versatile, and fits almost any situation. While the purpose of Monroe’s motivated speech outline is to motivate people, it can really be used for anything.

This path of persuasion is highly effective. It’s the secret behind the great speeches of people like Martin Luther King, Steve Jobs, and others. The bottom line is that these structural patterns will also work for you, even if you’re not a persuasive speaker or have experience giving public speeches.

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And the big paperback book

48 Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, Problem-Solution, Comparative Advantages

Learning objectives.

• Understand three common organizational patterns for persuasive speeches.
• Explain the steps utilized in Monroe’s motivated sequence.
• Explain the parts of a problem-cause-solution speech.
• Explain the process utilized in a comparative advantage persuasive speech.

Organizing Persuasive Speeches

Previously in this text, we discussed general guidelines for organizing speeches. In this section, we are going to look at three organizational patterns ideally suited for persuasive speeches: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantages.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

One of the most commonly cited and discussed organizational patterns for persuasive speeches is Alan H. Monroe’s motivated sequence. The purpose of Monroe’s motivated sequence is to help speakers “sequence supporting materials and motivational appeals to form a useful organizational pattern for speeches as a whole” (German et al., 2010).

While Monroe’s motivated sequence is commonly discussed in most public speaking textbooks, we do want to provide one minor caution. Thus far, almost no research has been conducted that has demonstrated that Monroe’s motivated sequence is any more persuasive than other structural patterns. In the only study conducted experimentally examining Monroe’s motivated sequence, the researchers did not find the method more persuasive but did note that audience members found the pattern more organized than other methods (Micciche, Pryor, & Butler, 2000). We wanted to add this sidenote because we don’t want you to think that Monroe’s motivated sequence is a kind of magic persuasive bullet; the research simply doesn’t support this notion. At the same time, research does support that organized messages are perceived as more persuasive as a whole, so using Monroe’s motivated sequence to think through one’s persuasive argument could still be very beneficial.

Below are the basic steps of Monroe’s motivated sequence and the subsequent reaction a speaker desires from his or her audience.

The first step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the  attention step , in which a speaker attempts to get the audience’s attention. To gain an audience’s attention, we recommend that you think through three specific parts of the attention step. First, you need to have a strong attention-getting device. As previously discussed, a strong attention getter at the beginning of your speech is very important. Second, you need to make sure you introduce your topic clearly. If your audience doesn’t know what your topic is quickly, they are more likely to stop listening. Lastly, you need to explain to your audience why they should care about your topic. If this sounds familiar, it should! The attention step uses the same elements as an introduction for any speech: The attention getter, relevance, credibility, thesis statement, and preview.

In the  need step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the speaker establishes that there is a specific need or problem. This will be your first main point. In Monroe’s conceptualization of need, he talks about four specific parts of the need: statement, illustration, ramification, and pointing. First, a speaker needs to give a clear and concise statement of the problem. This part of a speech should be crystal clear for an audience. Second, the speaker needs to provide one or more examples to illustrate the need. The illustration is an attempt to make the problem concrete for the audience. Next, a speaker needs to provide some kind of evidence (e.g., statistics, examples, testimony) that shows the ramifications or consequences of the problem. Lastly, a speaker needs to point to the audience and show exactly how the problem relates to them personally.

Satisfaction

In the third step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the  satisfaction step , the speaker sets out to satisfy the need or solve the problem. This will be your second main point. Within this step, Monroe (1935) proposed a five-step plan for satisfying a need:

• Explanation
• Theoretical demonstration
• Reference to practical experience
• Meeting objections

First, you need to clearly state the attitude, value, belief, or action you want your audience to accept. The purpose of this statement is to clearly tell your audience what your ultimate goal is.

Second, you want to make sure that you clearly explain to your audience why they should accept the attitude, value, belief, or action you proposed. Just telling your audience they should do something isn’t strong enough to actually get them to change. Instead, you really need to provide a solid argument for why they should accept your proposed solution.

Third, you need to show how the solution you have proposed meets the need or problem. Monroe calls this link between your solution and the need a theoretical demonstration because you cannot prove that your solution will work. Instead, you theorize based on research and good judgment that your solution will meet the need or solve the problem.

Fourth, to help with this theoretical demonstration, you need to reference practical experience, which should include examples demonstrating that your proposal has worked elsewhere. Research, statistics, and expert testimony are all great ways of referencing practical experience.

Lastly, Monroe recommends that a speaker responds to possible objections. As a persuasive speaker, one of your jobs is to think through your speech and see what counterarguments could be made against your speech and then rebut those arguments within your speech. When you offer rebuttals for arguments against your speech, it shows your audience that you’ve done your homework and educated yourself about multiple sides of the issue.

Visualization

The next step of Monroe’s motivated sequence is the  visualization step , in which you ask the audience to visualize a future where the need has been met or the problem solved. This will be your third main point. In essence, the visualization stage is where a speaker can show the audience why accepting a specific attitude, value, belief, or behavior can positively affect the future. When helping people to picture the future, the more concrete your visualization is, the easier it will be for your audience to see the possible future and be persuaded by it. You also need to make sure that you clearly show how accepting your solution will directly benefit your audience.

According to Monroe, visualization can be conducted in one of three ways: positive, negative, or contrast (Monroe, 1935). The positive method of visualization is where a speaker shows how adopting a proposal leads to a better future (e.g., recycle, and we’ll have a cleaner and safer planet). Conversely, the negative method of visualization is where a speaker shows how not adopting the proposal will lead to a worse future (e.g., don’t recycle, and our world will become polluted and uninhabitable). Monroe also acknowledged that visualization can include a combination of both positive and negative visualization. In essence, you show your audience both possible outcomes and have them decide which one they would rather have.

The final step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the  action step , in which a speaker asks an audience to approve the speaker’s proposal. For understanding purposes, we break the action into two distinct parts: audience action and approval. Audience action refers to direct physical behaviors a speaker wants from an audience (e.g., flossing their teeth twice a day, signing a petition, wearing seat belts). Approval, on the other hand, involves an audience’s consent or agreement with a speaker’s proposed attitude, value, or belief.

When preparing an action step, it is important to make sure that the action, whether audience action or approval, is realistic for your audience. Asking your peers in a college classroom to donate one thousand dollars to charity isn’t realistic. Asking your peers to donate one dollar is considerably more realistic. In a persuasive speech based on Monroe’s motivated sequence, the action step will end with the speech’s concluding device. As discussed elsewhere in this text, you need to make sure that you conclude in a vivid way so that the speech ends on a high point and the audience has a sense of energy as well as a sense of closure.

This step will be your conclusion. Again, it will have the same elements as a conclusion you would use for any speech.

Application

Now that we’ve walked through Monroe’s motivated sequence, let’s look at how you could use Monroe’s motivated sequence to outline a persuasive speech:

Specific Purpose:  To persuade my classroom peers that the United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments.

Main Points:

• Attention:  Want to make nine thousand dollars for just three weeks of work lying around and not doing much? Then be a human guinea pig. Admittedly, you’ll have to have a tube down your throat most of those three weeks, but you’ll earn three thousand dollars a week.
• Need:  Every day many uneducated and lower socioeconomic-status citizens are preyed on by medical and pharmaceutical companies for use in for-profit medical and drug experiments. Do you want one of your family members to fall prey to this evil scheme?
• Satisfaction:  The United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments to ensure that uneducated and lower-socioeconomic-status citizens are protected.
• Visualization:  If we enact tougher experiment oversight, we can ensure that medical and pharmaceutical research is conducted in a way that adheres to basic values of American decency. If we do not enact tougher experiment oversight, we could find ourselves in a world where the lines between research subject, guinea pig, and patient become increasingly blurred.
• Action:  In order to prevent the atrocities associated with for-profit medical and pharmaceutical experiments, please sign this petition asking the US Department of Health and Human Services to pass stricter regulations on this preying industry that is out of control.

This example shows how you can take a basic speech topic and use Monroe’s motivated sequence to clearly and easily outline your speech efficiently and effectively.

Below is a checklist that contains a simple checklist to help you make sure you hit all the important components of Monroe’s motivated sequence.

The following video further details Monroe’s Motivated Sequence outlining each component and providing examples to provide an in-depth understanding of the organizational pattern.

For Future Reference | How to organize this in an outline |

Introduction: Attention Step

Main Point #1: Need Step

Main Point #2: Satisfaction Step

Main Point #3: Visualization Step

Conclusoin: Action Step

Problem-Cause-Solution

Another format for organizing a persuasive speech is the problem-cause-solution format. In this specific format, you discuss what a problem is, what you believe is causing the problem, and then what the solution should be to correct the problem.

Specific Purpose:  To persuade my classroom peers that our campus should adopt a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech.

• Demonstrate that there is distrust among different groups on campus that has led to unnecessary confrontations and violence.
• Show that the confrontations and violence are a result of hate speech that occurred prior to the events.
• Explain how instituting a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy against hate speech could stop the unnecessary confrontations and violence.

In this speech, you want to persuade people to support a new campus-wide policy calling for zero-tolerance of hate speech. Once you have shown the problem, you then explain to your audience that the cause of the unnecessary confrontations and violence is prior incidents of hate speech. Lastly, you argue that a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy could help prevent future unnecessary confrontations and violence. Again, this method of organizing a speech is as simple as its name: problem-cause-solution.

Comparative Advantages

The final method for organizing a persuasive speech is called the comparative advantages speech format. The goal of this speech is to compare items side-by-side and show why one of them is more advantageous than the other. For example, let’s say that you’re giving a speech on which e-book reader is better: Amazon.com’s Kindle or Barnes and Nobles’ Nook. Here’s how you could organize this speech:

Specific Purpose:  To persuade my audience that the Nook is more advantageous than the Kindle.

• The Nook allows owners to trade and loan books to other owners or people who have downloaded the Nook software, while the Kindle does not.
• The Nook has a color-touch screen, while the Kindle’s screen is black and grey and noninteractive.
• The Nook’s memory can be expanded through microSD, while the Kindle’s memory cannot be upgraded.

As you can see from this speech’s organization, the simple goal of this speech is to show why one thing has more positives than something else. Obviously, when you are demonstrating comparative advantages, the items you are comparing need to be functional equivalents—or, as the saying goes, you cannot compare apples to oranges.

Key Takeaways

• There are three common patterns that persuaders can utilize to help organize their speeches effectively: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantage. Each of these patterns can effectively help a speaker think through his or her thoughts and organize them in a manner that will be more likely to persuade an audience.
• Alan H. Monroe’s (1935) motivated sequence is a commonly used speech format that is used by many people to effectively organize persuasive messages. The pattern consists of five basic stages: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. In the first stage, a speaker gets an audience’s attention. In the second stage, the speaker shows an audience that a need exists. In the third stage, the speaker shows how his or her persuasive proposal could satisfy the need. The fourth stage shows how the future could be if the persuasive proposal is or is not adopted. Lastly, the speaker urges the audience to take some kind of action to help enact the speaker’s persuasive proposal.
• The problem-cause-solution proposal is a three-pronged speech pattern. The speaker starts by explaining the problem the speaker sees. The speaker then explains what he or she sees as the underlying causes of the problem. Lastly, the speaker proposes a solution to the problem that corrects the underlying causes.
• The comparative advantages speech format is utilized when a speaker is comparing two or more things or ideas and shows why one of the things or ideas has more advantages than the other(s).

German, K. M., Gronbeck, B. E., Ehninger, D., & Monroe, A. H. (2010). Principles of public speaking  (17th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, p. 236.

Micciche, T., Pryor, B., & Butler, J. (2000). A test of Monroe’s motivated sequence for its effects on ratings of message organization and attitude change.  Psychological Reports, 86 , 1135–1138.

Monroe, A. H. (1935).  Principles and types of speech . Chicago, IL: Scott Foresman.

Public Speaking Copyright © by Dr. Layne Goodman; Amber Green, M.A.; and Various is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Monroe's motivated sequence for persuasive speaking.

This video provides details about Monroe's motivated sequence, a popular organizational approach to persuasive arguments. It includes the following steps: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, action, and action/approval.

How to Write an Effective Persuasive Speech Outline: 5 Key Elements

• The Speaker Lab
• April 14, 2024

Table of Contents

If you’re a speaker, you are probably well familiar with the path from initial speech drafts to the day you actually present. By its nature, speech delivery is a journey filled with obstacles, yet it’s simultaneously an adventure in persuasion. With a well-crafted persuasive speech outline , you can do more than just present facts and figures to your audience. You can weave them into a narrative that captivates, convinces, and converts.

A meticulously planned persuasive speech outline isn’t just helpful; it’s essential. Crafting this blueprint carefully lets you deliver your message more effectively, making sure each point lands with the impact you’re aiming for. To help you achieve this impact, we have some tips and tricks for you to try.

Writing an Effective Persuasive Speech Outline

When we talk about persuasive speeches , we’re diving into the art of convincing others to see things from a certain point of view. Your speech is your one shot to grab attention, build your case, and inspire action. Your secret weapon for achieving this is your speech outline. In your speech outline, you want to touch on several key elements.

• Pick your fight: Start by zeroing in on what you really want to change or influence with this speech.
• Support your claim with evidence: Identify those key points that back up your stance to appeal to your audience’s rational side .
• The emotional hook: Weave in stories or facts that hit home emotionally .
• Avoid the kitchen sink approach: Don’t throw everything at them hoping something sticks. Be selective and strategic with the info you share.
• Nail that closer: Your conclusion isn’t just goodbye; it’s where you charge your audience with a call to action.

These elements form the backbone of your persuasive speech. By including these in your talk’s outline, you can’t go wrong.

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Establishing Your Main Objective and Structuring Your Points

Now that you have a general idea of what goes into a persuasive speech outline, let’s break a couple of these pieces down and look at them a little more closely.

Identifying the Purpose of Your Persuasive Speech

When writing your speech, you first need to nail down why you’re doing this in the first place. In other words, identify your main objective. After all, choosing to speak up isn’t merely about the desire to express oneself; it’s deeply rooted in understanding the effect you hope your discourse will unleash. Do you hope to sway opinions towards the belief that animal experimentation is a relic of the past? Or perhaps persuade them that social media does more good than harm? Whatever your cause, identifying your main objective will help keep you on track and avoid rambling.

Organizing Key Points for Maximum Impact

Once you’ve determined what you want to persuade your audience of, you can start building your argument. Specifically, you can determine your key points. Key points support your position on a topic, proving to your audience that you have actual reasons for taking your position.

To pack the most punch, arrange these key points in a logical order. Consider how you might connect your key points. Are there some that can be grouped together? The flow of your argument matters just as much as the argument itself, and a disjointed argument won’t do anyone any favors. As you organize your key points, consider these tips:

• Lead with strength, but don’t throw all your cards out at once.
• Build upon each point; important transitions between them can make or break audience engagement.
• Finish strong by tying back everything to the emotional chord you struck at the beginning.

Nailing these steps will ensure that when you speak, your message doesn’t just echo—it resonates.

Selecting Compelling Topics for Your Persuasive Speeches

Let’s face it, picking the right topic for your persuasive speech outline is half the battle. But what makes a topic not just good, but great? First off, it needs to spark interest, both yours and your audience’s. If you’re not fired up about it, chances are they won’t be either. Second, make sure the topic is something relevant. It should resonate with your listeners’ experiences or touch on their concerns and aspirations. Lastly, your topic has to be something you can research and back up with solid facts and expert opinions.

For ideas to get you started, check out a variety of speech topics here .

Enhancing Persuasion Through Rhetorical Appeals

The art of persuasion is something that’s been studied since ancient Greece. Back then, Greek philosopher Aristotle came up with the three rhetorical appeals . Each one described a different way of convincing your audience of your position. Together, these appeals help you form a rock-strong argument, making them worth learning.

Building Credibility with Ethos

To get people on your side, you first need to win their trust. That’s where ethos comes into play. Demonstrating to your listeners that you’re both trustworthy and deserving of their attention hinges on transparency about your qualifications, genuine self, and the wisdom gained from occasional setbacks. Letting folks know why they should listen can make all the difference.

Connecting with the Audience Through Pathos

At some point, we’ve all been moved by a story or an ad because it hit right in the feels. That sort of emotional appeal is called pathos , and it’s powerful stuff. If you want people really invested in what you’re saying, then be sure to use this appeal in your presentation. To harness the power of pathos, try telling a story , especially one your audience can relate to. The key is authenticity—sharing true experiences resonates more than anything fabricated ever could.

Strengthening Arguments with Logos

Last but not least, we have logos, our logical appeal. Oftentimes, this logical appeal entails facts and data points, which are used to back up what you’re selling, turning skeptics into believers. But just because you’re listing facts and figures doesn’t mean this part has to be boring. To keep your audience engaged, craft persuasive narratives and then ground them in robust proof. Giving your story to go with your numbers doesn’t just help keep them engaged, it also helps the information stick.

The Importance of Supporting Evidence and Counterarguments

In your persuasive speech outline, you need to note compelling evidence for each key point. In addition, you’ll want to address opposing views.

Gathering and Presenting Convincing Evidence

No matter how trustworthy you seem, or how compelling your stories are, most people need tangible proof. That’s where concrete evidence steps into the spotlight. To fortify your argument and boost its believability, sprinkle in a mix of hard data, customer stories, numerical evidence, and endorsements from authorities. To illustrate this data for your audience, you may find it helpful to create a slideshow . Supporting every assertion with research is an essential part of any persuasive speech. Without it, arguments inevitably sound flimsy and unconvincing.

Addressing Opposing Views Effectively

Although it may seem counterintuitive, address counter-arguments head-on in your persuasive speech outline. It might feel like walking into enemy territory but it actually strengthens your own argument. By acknowledging opposing views, you’re showing that not only do you know what they are, but also that they don’t scare you.

When you address these counter-arguments, demonstrate your understanding. Again, this is where your good research skills are going to come in handy. Present the facts, and ditch biased explanations. In other words, don’t mock or belittle the other side’s viewpoint or you’ll undermine your own trustworthiness. Instead, explain opposing viewpoints with neutrality.

Adopting this strategy not only neutralizes possible objections but also enhances your stance. Plus, this makes for an engaging dialogue between both sides of any debate, which keeps audience members hooked from start to finish.

In essence, tackling counter-arguments is less about winning over naysayers and more about enriching discussions around hot-button issues. At its core, persuasion isn’t just convincing folks; it’s sparking conversations worth having.

Crafting a Captivating Introduction and Conclusion

Now that you have the body of your persuasive speech outline, it’s time to talk beginning and end. To really hit your message home, you want to grab your audience’s attention at the beginning and call them to action at the end.

Creating an Engaging Hook to Capture Attention

The opening of your speech is where you need a good first impression. To hook your audience, consider starting with an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or even a short story related to your topic. Whatever route you choose, keep it interesting and concise, so that you can transition into the rest of your persuasive speech outline.

Concluding with a Strong Call to Action

Crafting strong conclusions is about leaving your readers feeling pumped and ready to jump into action. After all, if you’ve argued convincingly enough, your audience should be ready to act. To channel this energy, urge listeners towards specific actions. Here are some strategies:

• Suggest clear next steps: Don’t leave your audience hanging wondering what’s next. Give them concrete steps they can take immediately after reading.
• Create urgency: Why wait? Let folks know why now is the perfect time to act.
• Show benefits: Paint vivid pictures of how taking action will positively impact their lives or solve their problems.

With that captivating hook and a decisive call-to-action, you are one step closer to presenting an unforgettable speech.

Utilizing Monroe’s Motivated Sequence for Persuasive Structure

As you finish off your persuasive speech outline, you may be wondering how best to structure your speech. If that’s you, then Purdue University professor Alan H. Monroe has some answers. In his book “Monroe’s Principles of Speech,” the professor outlines Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, the best structure for persuasive speeches. Each step is broken down below.

Attention: Grabbing the Audience’s Focus

You’ve got something important to say. But first, you need them to listen. Start with a bang. Throwing out a shocking truth, posing a thought-provoking query, or sharing an enthralling tale could work magic in grabbing their attention. It’s all about making heads turn and ears perk up.

Need: Highlighting the Issue at Hand

Now that they’re listening, show them there’s a gaping hole in their lives that only your message can fill. Paint a vivid picture of the problem your speech addresses.

Satisfaction: Proposing a Solution

This is where you come in as the hero with a plan. Introduce your solution clearly and convincingly. How does it patch things up? Why does it outshine merely applying quick fixes to deep-rooted issues? Give your audience hope.

Visualization: Helping the Audience Visualize Benefits

Show them life on the other side of adopting your idea or product—brighter, easier, better. Use vivid imagery and relatable scenarios so they can see themselves reaping those benefits firsthand.

Action: Encouraging Audience Action

Last step: nudge them from “maybe” to “yes.” Make this part irresistible by being clear about what action they should take next—and why now’s the time to act. Whether signing up, voting, or changing behavior, make sure they know how easy taking that first step can be.

Learn more about Monroe’s Motivated Sequence here .

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Overcoming Public Speaking Fears for Effective Delivery

Let’s face it, the thought of public speaking can turn even the most confident folks into a bundle of nerves. But hey, you’ve got this. Dive into these expert strategies and you’ll find yourself delivering speeches like a seasoned orator in no time.

Techniques to Build Confidence in Public Speaking

If you’re feeling nervous on the big day, these three techniques are perfect for you. Take a look!

• Breathe: Deep breathing is your secret weapon against those pesky nerves. It tells your brain that everything is going to be okay.
• Pose like a superhero: Stand tall and strike a power pose before you go on stage. This isn’t just fun; science backs it up as a confidence booster .
• Kick perfectionism to the curb: Aim for connection with your audience, not perfection. Mistakes make you human and more relatable.

The goal here is to calm yourself enough to be able to deliver your persuasive speech outline with confidence. Even if you still feel a little nervous, you can still present an awesome speech. You just don’t want those nerves running the show.

Practicing Your Speech for Perfect Execution

If you know that you tend to get nervous when public speaking, then you don’t want to be running through you speech for the first time on the big day. Instead, practice beforehand using these techniques.

• The mirror is your friend: Practice in front of a mirror to catch any odd gestures or facial expressions.
• Vary your voice: As you deliver your speech, let your voice rise and fall to match what you’re sharing. Avoid speaking in a monotone.
• Say no to memorization: Rather than memorizing every word, learn key points by heart. You want to sound natural out there.

Remembering these steps won’t just help you tackle public speaking fear, but will also polish those all-important public speaking skills .

Once you’ve honed the skills you need to write a persuasive speech outline, the only thing left to do is to get out there and practice them. So take the rhetorical appeals—ethos, logos, and pathos—and practice weaving each element into your speech. Or take Monroe’s Motivated Sequence and work on structuring your outline accordingly.

Prepare well and when you hit the stage, you have not just a well-prepared persuasive speech outline, but also the power to alter perspectives, challenge the status quo, or even change lives.

• Last Updated: April 11, 2024

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Chapter 17: Persuasive Speaking

Learning objectives.

• Define persuasion.
• Define ethos, logos, and pathos.
• Explain the barriers to persuading an audience.
• Construct a clear, reasonable proposition for a short classroom speech.
• Compose an outline for a well-supported persuasive speech using an appropriate organizational pattern such as Monroe’s Motivated Sequence.
• Analyze the audience to determine appropriate emotional and personal appeals.
• Cognitive Dissonance
• Mental Dialogue
• Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
• Proposition
• Selective Exposure
• Target Audience
• Two-Tailed Arguments

a psychological phenomenon where people confronted with conflicting information or viewpoints reach a state of dissonance (generally the disagreement between conflicting thoughts and/or actions), which can be very uncomfortable, and results in actions to get rid of the dissonance and maintain consonance

the term Aristotle used to refer to what we now call credibility: the perception that the speaker is honest, knowledgeable, and rightly motivated

logical and organized arguments and the credible evidence to support the arguments within a speech; arguments based on logic

an imagined conversation the speaker has with a given audience in which the speaker tries to anticipate what questions, concerns, or issues the audience may have to the subject under discussion

organizational pattern used for persuasive speeches involving five steps: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action

the use of emotions such as anger, joy, hate, desire for community, and love to persuade the audience of the rightness of a proposition; arguments based on emotion

symbolic process in which communicators try to convince other people to change their attitudes or behavior regarding an issue through the transmission of a message, in an atmosphere of free choice

central idea statement in a persuasive speech; a statement made advancing a judgment or opinion

the decision to expose ourselves to messages that we already agree with, rather than those that confront or challenge us

the members of an audience the speaker most wants to persuade and who are likely to be receptive to persuasive messages

persuasive technique in which a speaker brings up a counter-argument to their own topic and then directly refutes the claim

Introduction to Speech Communication Copyright © 2021 by Individual authors retain copyright of their work. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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29 17.3 Organizing Persuasive Speeches

Learning objectives.

• Understand three common organizational patterns for persuasive speeches.
• Explain the steps utilized in Monroe’s motivated sequence.
• Explain the parts of a problem-cause-solution speech.
• Explain the process utilized in a comparative advantage persuasive speech.

Previously in this text we discussed general guidelines for organizing speeches. In this section, we are going to look at three organizational patterns ideally suited for persuasive speeches: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantages.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

One of the most commonly cited and discussed organizational patterns for persuasive speeches is Alan H. Monroe’s motivated sequence. The purpose of Monroe’s motivated sequence is to help speakers “sequence supporting materials and motivational appeals to form a useful organizational pattern for speeches as a whole” (German et al., 2010).

While Monroe’s motivated sequence is commonly discussed in most public speaking textbooks, we do want to provide one minor caution. Thus far, almost no research has been conducted that has demonstrated that Monroe’s motivated sequence is any more persuasive than other structural patterns. In the only study conducted experimentally examining Monroe’s motivated sequence, the researchers did not find the method more persuasive, but did note that audience members found the pattern more organized than other methods (Micciche, Pryor, & Butler, 2000). We wanted to add this sidenote because we don’t want you to think that Monroe’s motivated sequence is a kind of magic persuasive bullet; the research simply doesn’t support this notion. At the same time, research does support that organized messages are perceived as more persuasive as a whole, so using Monroe’s motivated sequence to think through one’s persuasive argument could still be very beneficial.

Table 17.1 “Monroe’s Motivated Sequence”  lists the basic steps of Monroe’s motivated sequence and the subsequent reaction a speaker desires from his or her audience.

Table 17.1  Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

The first step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the  attention step , in which a speaker attempts to get the audience’s attention. To gain an audience’s attention, we recommend that you think through three specific parts of the attention step. First, you need to have a strong attention-getting device. As previously discussed in  Chapter 9 “Introductions Matter: How to Begin a Speech Effectively” , a strong attention getter at the beginning of your speech is very important. Second, you need to make sure you introduce your topic clearly. If your audience doesn’t know what your topic is quickly, they are more likely to stop listening. Lastly, you need to explain to your audience why they should care about your topic.

In the  need step  of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the speaker establishes that there is a specific need or problem. In Monroe’s conceptualization of need, he talks about four specific parts of the need: statement, illustration, ramification, and pointing. First, a speaker needs to give a clear and concise statement of the problem. This part of a speech should be crystal clear for an audience. Second, the speaker needs to provide one or more examples to illustrate the need. The illustration is an attempt to make the problem concrete for the audience. Next, a speaker needs to provide some kind of evidence (e.g., statistics, examples, testimony) that shows the ramifications or consequences of the problem. Lastly, a speaker needs to point to the audience and show exactly how the problem relates to them personally.

Satisfaction

In the third step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the  satisfaction step , the speaker sets out to satisfy the need or solve the problem. Within this step, Monroe (1935) proposed a five-step plan for satisfying a need:

• Explanation
• Theoretical demonstration
• Reference to practical experience
• Meeting objections

First, you need to clearly state the attitude, value, belief, or action you want your audience to accept. The purpose of this statement is to clearly tell your audience what your ultimate goal is.

Second, you want to make sure that you clearly explain to your audience why they should accept the attitude, value, belief, or action you proposed. Just telling your audience they should do something isn’t strong enough to actually get them to change. Instead, you really need to provide a solid argument for why they should accept your proposed solution.

Third, you need to show how the solution you have proposed meets the need or problem. Monroe calls this link between your solution and the need a theoretical demonstration because you cannot prove that your solution will work. Instead, you theorize based on research and good judgment that your solution will meet the need or solve the problem.

Fourth, to help with this theoretical demonstration, you need to reference practical experience, which should include examples demonstrating that your proposal has worked elsewhere. Research, statistics, and expert testimony are all great ways of referencing practical experience.

Lastly, Monroe recommends that a speaker respond to possible objections. As a persuasive speaker, one of your jobs is to think through your speech and see what counterarguments could be made against your speech and then rebut those arguments within your speech. When you offer rebuttals for arguments against your speech, it shows your audience that you’ve done your homework and educated yourself about multiple sides of the issue.

Visualization

The next step of Monroe’s motivated sequence is the  visualization step , in which you ask the audience to visualize a future where the need has been met or the problem solved. In essence, the visualization stage is where a speaker can show the audience why accepting a specific attitude, value, belief, or behavior can positively affect the future. When helping people to picture the future, the more concrete your visualization is, the easier it will be for your audience to see the possible future and be persuaded by it. You also need to make sure that you clearly show how accepting your solution will directly benefit your audience.

According to Monroe, visualization can be conducted in one of three ways: positive, negative, or contrast (Monroe, 1935). The positive method of visualization is where a speaker shows how adopting a proposal leads to a better future (e.g., recycle, and we’ll have a cleaner and safer planet). Conversely, the negative method of visualization is where a speaker shows how not adopting the proposal will lead to a worse future (e.g., don’t recycle, and our world will become polluted and uninhabitable). Monroe also acknowledged that visualization can include a combination of both positive and negative visualization. In essence, you show your audience both possible outcomes and have them decide which one they would rather have.

The final step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the  action step , in which a speaker asks an audience to approve the speaker’s proposal. For understanding purposes, we break action into two distinct parts: audience action and approval. Audience action refers to direct physical behaviors a speaker wants from an audience (e.g., flossing their teeth twice a day, signing a petition, wearing seat belts). Approval, on the other hand, involves an audience’s consent or agreement with a speaker’s proposed attitude, value, or belief.

When preparing an action step, it is important to make sure that the action, whether audience action or approval, is realistic for your audience. Asking your peers in a college classroom to donate one thousand dollars to charity isn’t realistic. Asking your peers to donate one dollar is considerably more realistic. In a persuasive speech based on Monroe’s motivated sequence, the action step will end with the speech’s concluding device. As discussed elsewhere in this text, you need to make sure that you conclude in a vivid way so that the speech ends on a high point and the audience has a sense of energy as well as a sense of closure.

Now that we’ve walked through Monroe’s motivated sequence, let’s look at how you could use Monroe’s motivated sequence to outline a persuasive speech:

Specific Purpose:  To persuade my classroom peers that the United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments.

Main Points:

• Attention:  Want to make nine thousand dollars for just three weeks of work lying around and not doing much? Then be a human guinea pig. Admittedly, you’ll have to have a tube down your throat most of those three weeks, but you’ll earn three thousand dollars a week.
• Need:  Every day many uneducated and lower socioeconomic-status citizens are preyed on by medical and pharmaceutical companies for use in for-profit medical and drug experiments. Do you want one of your family members to fall prey to this evil scheme?
• Satisfaction:  The United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments to ensure that uneducated and lower-socioeconomic-status citizens are protected.
• Visualization:  If we enact tougher experiment oversight, we can ensure that medical and pharmaceutical research is conducted in a way that adheres to basic values of American decency. If we do not enact tougher experiment oversight, we could find ourselves in a world where the lines between research subject, guinea pig, and patient become increasingly blurred.
• Action:  In order to prevent the atrocities associated with for-profit medical and pharmaceutical experiments, please sign this petition asking the US Department of Health and Human Services to pass stricter regulations on this preying industry that is out of control.

This example shows how you can take a basic speech topic and use Monroe’s motivated sequence to clearly and easily outline your speech efficiently and effectively.

Table 17.2 “Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Checklist”  also contains a simple checklist to help you make sure you hit all the important components of Monroe’s motivated sequence.

Table 17.2  Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Checklist

Problem-Cause-Solution

Another format for organizing a persuasive speech is the problem-cause-solution format. In this specific format, you discuss what a problem is, what you believe is causing the problem, and then what the solution should be to correct the problem.

Specific Purpose:  To persuade my classroom peers that our campus should adopt a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech.

• Demonstrate that there is distrust among different groups on campus that has led to unnecessary confrontations and violence.
• Show that the confrontations and violence are a result of hate speech that occurred prior to the events.
• Explain how instituting a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy against hate speech could stop the unnecessary confrontations and violence.

In this speech, you want to persuade people to support a new campus-wide policy calling for zero-tolerance of hate speech. Once you have shown the problem, you then explain to your audience that the cause of the unnecessary confrontations and violence is prior incidents of hate speech. Lastly, you argue that a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy could help prevent future unnecessary confrontations and violence. Again, this method of organizing a speech is as simple as its name: problem-cause-solution.

Comparative Advantages

The final method for organizing a persuasive speech is called the comparative advantages speech format. The goal of this speech is to compare items side-by-side and show why one of them is more advantageous than the other. For example, let’s say that you’re giving a speech on which e-book reader is better: Amazon.com’s Kindle or Barnes and Nobles’ Nook. Here’s how you could organize this speech:

Specific Purpose:  To persuade my audience that the Nook is more advantageous than the Kindle.

• The Nook allows owners to trade and loan books to other owners or people who have downloaded the Nook software, while the Kindle does not.
• The Nook has a color-touch screen, while the Kindle’s screen is black and grey and noninteractive.
• The Nook’s memory can be expanded through microSD, while the Kindle’s memory cannot be upgraded.

As you can see from this speech’s organization, the simple goal of this speech is to show why one thing has more positives than something else. Obviously, when you are demonstrating comparative advantages, the items you are comparing need to be functional equivalents—or, as the saying goes, you cannot compare apples to oranges.

Key Takeaways

• There are three common patterns that persuaders can utilize to help organize their speeches effectively: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantage. Each of these patterns can effectively help a speaker think through his or her thoughts and organize them in a manner that will be more likely to persuade an audience.
• Alan H. Monroe’s (1935) motivated sequence is a commonly used speech format that is used by many people to effectively organize persuasive messages. The pattern consists of five basic stages: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. In the first stage, a speaker gets an audience’s attention. In the second stage, the speaker shows an audience that a need exists. In the third stage, the speaker shows how his or her persuasive proposal could satisfy the need. The fourth stage shows how the future could be if the persuasive proposal is or is not adopted. Lastly, the speaker urges the audience to take some kind of action to help enact the speaker’s persuasive proposal.
• The problem-cause-solution proposal is a three-pronged speech pattern. The speaker starts by explaining the problem the speaker sees. The speaker then explains what he or she sees as the underlying causes of the problem. Lastly, the speaker proposes a solution to the problem that corrects the underlying causes.
• The comparative advantages speech format is utilized when a speaker is comparing two or more things or ideas and shows why one of the things or ideas has more advantages than the other(s).
• Create a speech using Monroe’s motivated sequence to persuade people to recycle.
• Create a speech using the problem-cause-solution method for a problem you see on your college or university campus.
• Create a comparative advantages speech comparing two brands of toothpaste.

German, K. M., Gronbeck, B. E., Ehninger, D., & Monroe, A. H. (2010).  Principles of public speaking  (17th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, p. 236.

Micciche, T., Pryor, B., & Butler, J. (2000). A test of Monroe’s motivated sequence for its effects on ratings of message organization and attitude change.  Psychological Reports, 86 , 1135–1138.

Monroe, A. H. (1935).  Principles and types of speech . Chicago, IL: Scott Foresman.

Elements of Public Speaking Copyright © by Lumen Learning is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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13.7: Sample Outline- Persuasive Speech Using Monroe's Motivated Sequence Pattern

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• Kris Barton & Barbara G. Tucker
• Florida State University & University of Georgia via GALILEO Open Learning Materials

Speech to Actuate:

Sponsoring a Child in Poverty

Specific Purpose:

to actuate my audience to sponsor a child through an agency such as Compassion International.

Introduction (Attention Step)

I. How much is $38? That answer depends on what you make, what you are spending it for, and what you get back for it. (Grabber)

II. $38 per month breaks down to a little more than $1.25 per day, which is probably what you spend on a snack or soda in the break room. For us, it’s not very much. (Rapport)

III. I found out that I can provide better health care, nutrition, and even education for a child in Africa, South America, or Asia for the $38 per month by sponsoring a child through Compassion International. (Credibility)

IV. If I can do it, maybe you can too: (Bridge)

Through a minimal donation each month, you can make the life of a child in the developing world much better.

In the next few minutes I would like to discuss the problem, the work of organizations that offer child sponsorships, how research shows they really do alleviate poverty, and what you can do to change the life of a child. Body

I. The problem is the continued existence and effects of poverty. (Need Step)

A. Poverty is real and rampant in much of the world.

1. According to a 2018 report of the Secretary General of the United Nations, 9.2% of the world lives on less than $1.90 per day.

a. That is 600 million people on the planet.

2. This number is supported by the World Poverty clock of the World Data Lab, which states that 8% of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty.

a. The good news is that this number is one third of what it was in 1990, mostly due to the rising middle class in Asia.

b. The bad news is that 70% of the poor will live in Africa, with Nigeria labeled the “Poverty Capital of the World,” according to the Brookings Institute.

B. Poverty means children do not get adequate health care.

1. One prevalent but avoidable disease is malaria, which takes the lives of 3000 children every day, according to UNICEF.

2. According to the World Health Organization, diarrheal diseases claimed 2.46 million lives in 2012 and is the second leading cause of death of children under 5.

C. Poverty means children do not get adequate nutrition, as stated in a report from UNICEF.

1. Inadequate nutrition leads to stunted growth.

2. Undernutrition contributes to more than one third of all deaths in children under the age of five.

D. Poverty means children are unlikely to reach adult age, according to the CIA World Fact Book quoted on the Infoplease website.

1. Child mortality rate in Africa is 8.04% (percentage dying before age 5), while in North American is .64%

2. Life expectancy in Sub-Saharan Africa is almost 30 years less than in the U.S.

E. Poverty also means children are unlikely to receive education and be trained for profitable work.

1. Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names, states the Global Issues website on Poverty Facts.

2. UNESCO, a part of the United Nations, reports that less than a third of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa have completed primary education.

Transition:

Although in all respects poverty is better in 2019 than it has been in the past, poverty is still pervasive and needs to be addressed. Fortunately, some great organizations have been addressing this for many years.

II. Some humanitarian organizations address poverty directly through child sponsorships. (Satisfaction Step)

A. These organizations vary in background but not in purpose. The following information is gleaned from each organization’s websites.

1. Compassion International is faith-based, evangelical.

a. Around since early 1950s, started in Korea.

b. Budget of $887 Million.

c. Serves 1.92 million babies, children, and young adults.

d. Works through local community centers and established churches.

2. World Vision is faith-based, evangelical.

a. Around since the 1950s.

b. Budget of far over $1 Billion.

c. 60% goes to local community programs but more goes to global networks, so that 86% goes to services.

d. World Vision has more extensive services than child sponsorship, such as water purification and disaster relief.

e. Sponsors three million children across six continents

3. Children International is secular.

a. Around since 1936.

b. Budget of $125 Million.

c. 88% of income goes directly to programs and children.

d. Sponsors children in ten countries on four continents

e. Sponsors X across X continents

4. Save the Children is secular, through…

a. One hundred years of history, began in post WWI Europe.

b. Budget of $880 Million.

c. 87% goes to services.

d. Sponsors 134 million children in 120 countries, including 450,000 in U.S.

5. There are other similar organizations, such as ChildFund and PlanUSA.

B. These organizations work directly with local community, on-site organizations.

1. The children are involved in a program, such as after school.

2. The children live with their parents and siblings.

3. The sponsor’s donation goes for medicine, extra healthy, nutritious food, shoes for school, and other items.

4. Sponsors can also help donate for birthdays and holidays to the whole family to buy food or farm animals.

Of course, any time we are donating money to an organization, we want to be sure our money is being effectively and ethnically used.

III. This concern should be addressed in two ways: Is the money really helping, and are the organizations honest? (Continuation of Satisfaction Step)

A. The organizations’ honesty can be investigated.

1. You can check through Charity Navigator.

2. You can check through the Better Business Bureau-Charity.

3. You can check through Charity Watch.

4. You can check through the organizations’ websites.

B. Secondly, is sponsoring a child effective? Yes.

1. According to Bruce Wydick, Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco, child sponsorship is the fourth most effective strategy for addressing poverty, behind water purification, mosquito nets, and deworming treatments.

2. Dr. Wydick and colleagues’ work has been published in the prestigious Journal of Political Economy from the University of Chicago.

3. He states, “Two researchers and I recently carried out a study (sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development) on the long-term impacts of Compassion International’s child sponsorship program. The study, gathering data from over 10,000 individuals in six countries, found substantial impact on adult life outcomes for children who were sponsored through Compassion’s program during the 1980s and ’90s…In adulthood, formerly sponsored children were far more likely to complete secondary school and had a much higher chance of having a white-collar job. They married and had children later in life, were more likely to be church and community leaders, were less likely to live in a home with a dirt floor and more likely to live in a home with electricity.”

To this point I have spoke of global problems and big solutions. Now I want to bring it down to real life with one example.

IV. I’d like to use my sponsored child, Ukwishaka in Rwanda, as an example of how you can. (Visualization Step)

A. I have sponsored her for five years.

B. She is now ten years old.

C. She lives with two siblings and both parents.

D. She writes me, I write her back, and we share photos at least every two months.

E. The organization gives me reports on her project.

F. I hope one day to go visit her.

G. I believe Ukwishaka now knows her life can be more, can be successful.

We have looked at the problem of childhood poverty and how reliable, stable nongovernmental organizations are addressing it through child sponsorships. Where does that leave you?

V. I challenge you to sponsor a child like Ukwishaka. (Action Step)

A. Although I sponsor her through Compassion International, there are other organizations.

B. First, do research.

C. Second, look at your budget and be sure you can do this.

1. You don’t want to start and have to stop.

2. Look for places you “waste” money during the month and could use it this way.

3. Fewer snacks from the break room, fewer movies at the Cineplex, brown bag instead of eating out.

D. Talk to a representative at the organization you like.

E. Discuss it with your family.

F. Take the plunge. If you do.

1. Write your child regularly.

2. Consider helping the family, or getting friends to help with extra gifts.

I. In this speech, we have taken a look at the state of poverty for children on this planet, at organizations that are addressing it through child sponsorships, at the effectiveness of these programs, and what you can do.

II. My goal today was not to get an emotional response, but a realistically compassionate one.

III. You have probably heard this story before but it bears repeating. A little girl was walking with her mother on the beach, and the sand was covered with starfish. The little girl wanted to rescue them and send them back to the ocean and kept throwing them in. “It won’t matter, Honey,” said her mother. “You can’t get all of them back in the ocean.” “But it will matter to the ones that I do throw back,” the little girl answered.

IV. We can’t sponsor every child, but we can one, maybe even two. As Forest Witcraft said, “What will matter in 100 years is that I made a difference in the life of a child.” Will you make a difference?

AGScientific. (2019). Top ten deadly diseases in the world. Retrieved from http://agscientific.com/blog/2016/04/top-10-deadly-diseases/

Compassion International. (2019). Financial integrity: The impact of our compassion. Retrieved from https://www.compassion.com/about/financial.htm

Children’s International. (2019). Accountability. Retrieved from https://www.children.org/learn-more/accountability

Global Issues. (2013, January 7 ). Poverty facts and stats. Retrieved from https://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stat s

Infoplease. (2019). What life expectancy really means. Retrieved form https://www.infoplease.com/world/health-and-social-statistics/life-expectancy-countries-0

Kharas, H., Hamel, K., & Hofer, M. (2018, Dec. 13). Rethinking global poverty reduction in 2019. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2018/12/13/rethinking-global-poverty-reduction-in-2019/

Roser, M. (2019). Child and infant mortality rates. Retrieved from https:// ourworldindata.org/child-mortality

Save the Children. (2019). Financial information. Retrieved from https://www.savethechildren.org/us/a...al-information UNICEF.(2008).

Tracking progress on child and maternal nutrition: A survival and development priority. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/media/files/Tracking_Progress_on_Child_and_Maternal_Nutrition_EN_110309.pdf UNICEF 2019.

The reality of Malaria. Retrieved from https://www.unicef . org/health/files/health_africamalaria.pdf United Nations. (2019). Poverty eradication. Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/povertyeradication

World Vision. (2019). Financial accountability. Retrieved from https:// www.worldvision.org/about-us/financial-accountability-2 Wydick, B., Glewwe, P., & Rutledge, L. (2013).

Does international child sponsorship work? A six-country study of impacts on adult life outcomes. Journal of Political Economy, 121(2), 393–436. https://doi. org/10.1086/670138 Wydick, B. (2012, Feb.).

Cost-effective compassion. Christianity Today, 56(2), 24-29. Wydick, B. (2013). Want to change the world? Sponsor a child. Christianity Today, 57(5), 20–27.

Week 13: Rhetoric Communication – Persuasion

Organizing persuasive speeches, learning objectives.

• Understand three common organizational patterns for persuasive speeches.
• Explain the steps utilized in Monroe’s motivated sequence.
• Explain the parts of a problem-cause-solution speech.
• Explain the process utilized in a comparative advantage persuasive speech.

Previously in this text we discussed general guidelines for organizing speeches. In this section, we are going to look at three organizational patterns ideally suited for persuasive speeches: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantages.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

One of the most commonly cited and discussed organizational patterns for persuasive speeches is Alan H. Monroe’s motivated sequence. The purpose of Monroe’s motivated sequence is to help speakers “sequence supporting materials and motivational appeals to form a useful organizational pattern for speeches as a whole.” [1]

While Monroe’s motivated sequence is commonly discussed in most public speaking textbooks, we do want to provide one minor caution. Thus far, almost no research has been conducted that has demonstrated that Monroe’s motivated sequence is any more persuasive than other structural patterns. In the only study conducted experimentally examining Monroe’s motivated sequence, the researchers did not find the method more persuasive, but did note that audience members found the pattern more organized than other methods. [2] We wanted to add this sidenote because we don’t want you to think that Monroe’s motivated sequence is a kind of magic persuasive bullet; the research simply doesn’t support this notion. At the same time, research does support that organized messages are perceived as more persuasive as a whole, so using Monroe’s motivated sequence to think through one’s persuasive argument could still be very beneficial.

Table 1 “Monroe’s Motivated Sequence” lists the basic steps of Monroe’s motivated sequence and the subsequent reaction a speaker desires from his or her audience.

Table 1. Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

The first step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the attention step , in which a speaker attempts to get the audience’s attention. To gain an audience’s attention, we recommend that you think through three specific parts of the attention step. First, you need to have a strong attention-getting device. As previously discussed in Chapter 9 “Introductions Matter: How to Begin a Speech Effectively,” a strong attention getter at the beginning of your speech is very important. Second, you need to make sure you introduce your topic clearly. If your audience doesn’t know what your topic is quickly, they are more likely to stop listening. Lastly, you need to explain to your audience why they should care about your topic.

In the need step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the speaker establishes that there is a specific need or problem. In Monroe’s conceptualization of need, he talks about four specific parts of the need: statement, illustration, ramification, and pointing. First, a speaker needs to give a clear and concise statement of the problem. This part of a speech should be crystal clear for an audience. Second, the speaker needs to provide one or more examples to illustrate the need. The illustration is an attempt to make the problem concrete for the audience. Next, a speaker needs to provide some kind of evidence (e.g., statistics, examples, testimony) that shows the ramifications or consequences of the problem. Lastly, a speaker needs to point to the audience and show exactly how the problem relates to them personally.

Satisfaction

In the third step of Monroe’s motivated sequence, the satisfaction step , the speaker sets out to satisfy the need or solve the problem. Within this step, Monroe (1935) proposed a five-step plan for satisfying a need:

• Explanation
• Theoretical demonstration
• Reference to practical experience
• Meeting objections

First, you need to clearly state the attitude, value, belief, or action you want your audience to accept. The purpose of this statement is to clearly tell your audience what your ultimate goal is.

Second, you want to make sure that you clearly explain to your audience why they should accept the attitude, value, belief, or action you proposed. Just telling your audience they should do something isn’t strong enough to actually get them to change. Instead, you really need to provide a solid argument for why they should accept your proposed solution.

Third, you need to show how the solution you have proposed meets the need or problem. Monroe calls this link between your solution and the need a theoretical demonstration because you cannot prove that your solution will work. Instead, you theorize based on research and good judgment that your solution will meet the need or solve the problem.

Fourth, to help with this theoretical demonstration, you need to reference practical experience, which should include examples demonstrating that your proposal has worked elsewhere. Research, statistics, and expert testimony are all great ways of referencing practical experience.

Lastly, Monroe recommends that a speaker respond to possible objections. As a persuasive speaker, one of your jobs is to think through your speech and see what counterarguments could be made against your speech and then rebut those arguments within your speech. When you offer rebuttals for arguments against your speech, it shows your audience that you’ve done your homework and educated yourself about multiple sides of the issue.

Visualization

The next step of Monroe’s motivated sequence is the visualization step , in which you ask the audience to visualize a future where the need has been met or the problem solved. In essence, the visualization stage is where a speaker can show the audience why accepting a specific attitude, value, belief, or behavior can positively affect the future. When helping people to picture the future, the more concrete your visualization is, the easier it will be for your audience to see the possible future and be persuaded by it. You also need to make sure that you clearly show how accepting your solution will directly benefit your audience.

According to Monroe, visualization can be conducted in one of three ways: positive, negative, or contrast. [3] The positive method of visualization is where a speaker shows how adopting a proposal leads to a better future (e.g., recycle, and we’ll have a cleaner and safer planet). Conversely, the negative method of visualization is where a speaker shows how not adopting the proposal will lead to a worse future (e.g., don’t recycle, and our world will become polluted and uninhabitable). Monroe also acknowledged that visualization can include a combination of both positive and negative visualization. In essence, you show your audience both possible outcomes and have them decide which one they would rather have.

The final step in Monroe’s motivated sequence is the action step , in which a speaker asks an audience to approve the speaker’s proposal. For understanding purposes, we break action into two distinct parts: audience action and approval. Audience action refers to direct physical behaviors a speaker wants from an audience (e.g., flossing their teeth twice a day, signing a petition, wearing seat belts). Approval, on the other hand, involves an audience’s consent or agreement with a speaker’s proposed attitude, value, or belief.

When preparing an action step, it is important to make sure that the action, whether audience action or approval, is realistic for your audience. Asking your peers in a college classroom to donate one thousand dollars to charity isn’t realistic. Asking your peers to donate one dollar is considerably more realistic. In a persuasive speech based on Monroe’s motivated sequence, the action step will end with the speech’s concluding device. As discussed elsewhere in this text, you need to make sure that you conclude in a vivid way so that the speech ends on a high point and the audience has a sense of energy as well as a sense of closure.

Now that we’ve walked through Monroe’s motivated sequence, let’s look at how you could use Monroe’s motivated sequence to outline a persuasive speech:

Specific Purpose: To persuade my classroom peers that the United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments.

Main Points:

• Attention: Want to make nine thousand dollars for just three weeks of work lying around and not doing much? Then be a human guinea pig. Admittedly, you’ll have to have a tube down your throat most of those three weeks, but you’ll earn three thousand dollars a week.
• Need: Every day many uneducated and lower socioeconomic-status citizens are preyed on by medical and pharmaceutical companies for use in for-profit medical and drug experiments. Do you want one of your family members to fall prey to this evil scheme?
• Satisfaction: The United States should have stronger laws governing the use of for-profit medical experiments to ensure that uneducated and lower-socioeconomic-status citizens are protected.
• Visualization: If we enact tougher experiment oversight, we can ensure that medical and pharmaceutical research is conducted in a way that adheres to basic values of American decency. If we do not enact tougher experiment oversight, we could find ourselves in a world where the lines between research subject, guinea pig, and patient become increasingly blurred.
• Action: In order to prevent the atrocities associated with for-profit medical and pharmaceutical experiments, please sign this petition asking the US Department of Health and Human Services to pass stricter regulations on this preying industry that is out of control.

This example shows how you can take a basic speech topic and use Monroe’s motivated sequence to clearly and easily outline your speech efficiently and effectively.

Table 2 “Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Checklist” also contains a simple checklist to help you make sure you hit all the important components of Monroe’s motivated sequence.

Table 2. Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Checklist

Problem-Cause-Solution

Another format for organizing a persuasive speech is the problem-cause-solution format. In this specific format, you discuss what a problem is, what you believe is causing the problem, and then what the solution should be to correct the problem.

Specific Purpose: To persuade my classroom peers that our campus should adopt a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech.

• Demonstrate that there is distrust among different groups on campus that has led to unnecessary confrontations and violence.
• Show that the confrontations and violence are a result of hate speech that occurred prior to the events.
• Explain how instituting a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy against hate speech could stop the unnecessary confrontations and violence.

In this speech, you want to persuade people to support a new campus-wide policy calling for zero-tolerance of hate speech. Once you have shown the problem, you then explain to your audience that the cause of the unnecessary confrontations and violence is prior incidents of hate speech. Lastly, you argue that a campus-wide zero-tolerance policy could help prevent future unnecessary confrontations and violence. Again, this method of organizing a speech is as simple as its name: problem-cause-solution.

Comparative Advantages

The final method for organizing a persuasive speech is called the comparative advantages speech format. The goal of this speech is to compare items side-by-side and show why one of them is more advantageous than the other. For example, let’s say that you’re giving a speech on which e-book reader is better: Amazon.com’s Kindle or Barnes and Nobles’ Nook. Here’s how you could organize this speech:

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that the Nook is more advantageous than the Kindle.

• The Nook allows owners to trade and loan books to other owners or people who have downloaded the Nook software, while the Kindle does not.
• The Nook has a color-touch screen, while the Kindle’s screen is black and grey and noninteractive.
• The Nook’s memory can be expanded through microSD, while the Kindle’s memory cannot be upgraded.

As you can see from this speech’s organization, the simple goal of this speech is to show why one thing has more positives than something else. Obviously, when you are demonstrating comparative advantages, the items you are comparing need to be functional equivalents—or, as the saying goes, you cannot compare apples to oranges.

Key Takeaways

• There are three common patterns that persuaders can utilize to help organize their speeches effectively: Monroe’s motivated sequence, problem-cause-solution, and comparative advantage. Each of these patterns can effectively help a speaker think through his or her thoughts and organize them in a manner that will be more likely to persuade an audience.
• Alan H. Monroe’s (1935) motivated sequence is a commonly used speech format that is used by many people to effectively organize persuasive messages. The pattern consists of five basic stages: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. In the first stage, a speaker gets an audience’s attention. In the second stage, the speaker shows an audience that a need exists. In the third stage, the speaker shows how his or her persuasive proposal could satisfy the need. The fourth stage shows how the future could be if the persuasive proposal is or is not adopted. Lastly, the speaker urges the audience to take some kind of action to help enact the speaker’s persuasive proposal.
• The problem-cause-solution proposal is a three-pronged speech pattern. The speaker starts by explaining the problem the speaker sees. The speaker then explains what he or she sees as the underlying causes of the problem. Lastly, the speaker proposes a solution to the problem that corrects the underlying causes.
• The comparative advantages speech format is utilized when a speaker is comparing two or more things or ideas and shows why one of the things or ideas has more advantages than the other(s).
• Create a speech using Monroe’s motivated sequence to persuade people to recycle.
• Create a speech using the problem-cause-solution method for a problem you see on your college or university campus.
• Create a comparative advantages speech comparing two brands of toothpaste.
• German, K. M., Gronbeck, B. E., Ehninger, D., & Monroe, A. H. (2010). Principles of public speaking (17th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, p. 236. ↵
• Micciche, T., Pryor, B., & Butler, J. (2000). A test of Monroe’s motivated sequence for its effects on ratings of message organization and attitude change. Psychological Reports, 86 , 1135–1138. ↵
• Monroe, A. H. (1935). Principles and types of speech . Chicago, IL: Scott Foresman. ↵
• Public Speaking: Practice and Ethics. Authored by : Anonymous. Provided by : Anonymous. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/public-speaking-practice-and-ethics/ . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike