Welcome to Persuasive!
In this event, competitors try to persuade an audience toward a particular point of view or course of action. Persuasive speaking gives them an especially good opportunity to address topics about which they feel passionate.
How This Event Works
Persuasive speeches begin with students selecting a topic they see as important and worthy of time for research, deep thinking, and sharing with others. The topic should also be a topic on which they have an opinion to share. As they learn about their chosen topic they organize what they plan to say into a script for the speech they will deliver within a ten-minute time limit. They practice the delivery and timing for every tournament, and throughout the season they make adjustments based on feedback as they learn to better connect with the audience.
Learn More about Platform Speaking Events
Featured Resource
Our kit can help you get off to a strong start with platform speeches.
Intro to Platform
With six hours of instruction and activities, an easy-to-follow facilitator guide, printable student activity packets, and slides, even a novice parent can successfully lead students through Intro to Platform. Recordings of the live event are also available for families or groups.
Persuasive FAQs
Why should I participate in Persuasive?
Platform events invite students to share ideas and information with their audience. Specifically, students participating in Persuasive will learn to:
- Take a position on an issue. Students will gain confidence in taking a solid stance on their chosen topic.
- Influence or convince others. Using rhetorical strategies and compelling vocal delivery, students will grow in their ability to persuade others to see and consider their point of view.
- Address counterarguments. As students endeavor to persuade their audience, they will anticipate and address other viewpoints and clashes on the topic, strengthening their own arguments.
- Call the audience to action. Students will learn how to encourage their audience to change the way they think, act, or believe.
Do we still have a grace period for speeches exceeding the time limit?
The automatic 2-rank penalty will only be applied after 15 seconds of the speech time limit. Find clarification on overtime in the event guidelines under “Timekeeping Protocols” (see Apologetics as an example), in the Speech Head Judge Instructions, and as an example of a timekeeping rule penalty in the Compliance Penalty Addendum. Keep in mind that while the grace period allows for small mishaps and miscalculations, judges may still consider the time limit of the speech event as they rank. We advise competitors to prepare for these variables by continuing to practice a speech under the time limit.
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