Signposting during a speech

Question 1

When you deliver a short, persuasive speech, you need to organize the points so they are easy to understand and follow. You can make your speech clear by explicitly telling the audience what you’ll talk about next. This is called signposting.

→ The first part of a persuasive speech should include a GREETING, including something about yourself

Answer 1

…Good evening, ladies and gentleman. My name is Tiffany. I don’t consider myself an activist. I’m just a concerned citizen who loves our valuable forest.

Question 2

→ Next, there should be an OPENING LINE, which is often the main idea of your speech and tells the audience why you are speaking to them.

Answer 2

…I came here tonight to warn the community that a local species is in danger of extinction.

Question 3

→Then, use expressions like these to deliver your KEY POINT

Answer 3

…Here’s my KEY POINT: A new highway might be built through habitat critical to endangered black bears.

…LET ME CUT TO THE CHASE: Black bears could go extinct if a new highway is built through their habitat.

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Question 4

→ Next, offer information that SUPPORTS your key point.

Answer 4

…The construction company would remove enormous forested areas where the bears live.
…The highway would divide land that the bears use to reproduce.
…It would break apart the bear communities, preventing them from moving freely.

Question 5

→ Use expressions like these to propose an ALTERNATIVE action

Answer 5

…I’d like to PROPOSE AN ALTERNATIVE. The highway could be moved a few miles north, bypassing the bear habitat.
…I think I may have a VIABLE ALTERNATIVE: Reroute the road in a way that respects the bear habitat.

Question 6

→ Finally, deliver your conclusion. In a persuasive speech, your conclusion should present a CALL TO ACTION, meaning that you ASK THE AUDIENCE to actually do something. WIN-WIN is an extremely common expression for an action that will benefit both sides of an issue.

Answer 6

…Let me conclude by ASKING the community and developers to help conserve the black bears’ habitat. Thank you.
…I URGE the community and developers to work together and adopt a WIN-WIN approach. Thanks for your attention.