Written Assignment

Unit 5 Written Assignment: Art of Persuasion - Persuasive Speech

Assignment Description:

For this assignment, you will write a persuasive speech on a topic of your choice. This should be a topic you feel passionately about, and your speech should aim to convince your audience to see things from your perspective. The speech should be approximately 750 words in length.

Scaffolding:

Here’s a detailed guide to help structure your speech:

Introduction: Start with a hook that grabs your audience’s attention. This could be a thought-provoking statement, a startling fact, or a powerful quote. Then introduce your topic and state your position clearly.
Background: Provide some background information about your topic to ensure the audience understands why it’s important. Keep it brief and relevant.
Argument: This is where you make your case. Develop at least three strong arguments that support your position. Each argument should be clear and concise, and it should be supported with evidence, which could be facts, statistics, examples, or personal anecdotes.
Counterargument: Address the opposition. Acknowledge a counterargument to your position and then refute it. This shows that you’ve considered all sides of the issue.
Conclusion: Summarize your arguments and restate your position in a new way. Make a strong closing statement that compels your audience to take action or reconsider their view.

Grading Rubric:

Categories	Grade A	Grade C	Grade E
Content	Speech is on-topic and arguments are well-developed, with compelling and relevant evidence. Counterargument is clearly identified and convincingly refuted.	Speech is mostly on-topic, but arguments may lack depth or sufficient evidence. Counterargument is acknowledged but may not be effectively refuted.	Speech may veer off-topic and arguments lack depth and/or evidence. Counterargument is inadequately addressed.
Persuasiveness	Speech is highly persuasive, with clear reasoning and effective use of rhetorical strategies.	Speech is somewhat persuasive, but reasoning may be unclear at times and use of rhetorical strategies is inconsistent.	Speech lacks persuasiveness, with unclear reasoning and little to no use of rhetorical strategies.
Structure	Speech is well-structured, with clear introduction, background, arguments, counterargument, and conclusion.	Speech is mostly well-structured, but some elements may be unclear or missing.	Speech lacks clear structure, with several missing or unclear elements.
Language Use	Language is clear, precise, and persuasive. Few or no grammatical errors.	Language is mostly clear and appropriate, with some minor grammatical errors.	Language use is basic, with frequent grammatical errors.
Overall Impact	Creates a strong overall impact through persuasive content, effective structure, and compelling language use.	Creates a satisfactory overall impact, though the persuasiveness, structure, or language use may be uneven.	Does not create a strong impact due to weak content, poor structure, or ineffective language use.

Remember, effective persuasion requires not just strong arguments, but also an understanding of your audience. Consider who you are speaking to and what would convince them. Good luck!