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8 Effective Hooks to Start Your Speech

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Speeches can be challenging to communicate complicated or nuanced information, which is why the opening sentence matters so much. Hooks for speeches have the power to pull the listener in and keep them involved.

They will grab your audience’s attention, get them engaged and interested in what you say, and gradually help set the tone for your speech.

In this article, you’ll find eight effective ways to hook your audience and start a strong presentation.

What Is a Hook in Speech?

A hook is a tool to show your audience where you are going in your speech. They are used in two different ways. Firstly, they are used as a transition between ideas. Secondly, Hooks are used to keep the audience involved and engaged .

Using a hook can help keep your audience focused and give them something to hold on to while you get your point across. A good hook grabs the audience’s attention and gets them interested in what you’re saying.

A person giving a speech in front of a huge audience

8 Effective Hooks for Speeches

One way to start your speech is to hook your audience with a powerful way of describing the topic you are speaking on. Hooks can be as simple as descriptions, metaphors, or quotations. Here are eight hooks for speeches to make a lasting impression on the audience.

1. Take a Contrarian Stance

One way to start your speech with a powerful hook is to use a contrarian approach. This means that you take another stance on the issue and discuss it orally, thereby raising doubts in your audience.

One way to create a contrarian approach is to argue against an opinion or belief. A contrarian attitude can create easily recognizable hooks for a speech and succeed in catching the audience’s attention.

2. Ask Several Rhetorical Questions

Rhetorical questions are powerful because they pull at people’s heartstrings. They make statements and ask the listener to agree. Used wisely, they can lead the audience into an argument.

The goal of the question is to ask the listener to think and make a judgment on his own.

3. Use a Powerful Sound Bite

A sound bite is a brief statement that captures the attention of your audience and promises a thought-provoking result. It makes it easier to remember the specifics of what you are talking about.

For example, “Did you know that in 2016 each enterprise had a choice? The choice to go from silos and silences to voice and insight”?

4. Provide a Reference to a Historical Event

Mentioning a historical event is a good attention-getter for speeches. Sometimes you can use the day you present as an opening gambit to tie the topic of your presentation to some historical significance.

Whenever you reference historical events, the audience instantly associates them with their own experience. This leads to a higher level of interest.

5. Employ a Startling Assertion

Making a startling assertion is a quick and effective strategy to get attention. If you’re having trouble coming up with a hook, employ a striking fact. Spend some time researching shocking data that show how serious the topic you’re going to discuss is.

For example, “You might not know, but your brain has less than three seconds to react when you see a bear in the wild.” This is startling as people believe they have enough time to think about what will happen before a bear attack.

6. Take Them Through Imagine or What If Scenario

This is a great hook to start a persuasive speech or one that discusses possible scenarios. It’s an ideal hook for a premise based on hypothetical situations and the effects of potential changes.

Ask the audience something that might change their viewpoint, like what if you could go invisible for a day or go back in time? You can also use the word ‘Imagine’ to draw a mental image and engage the mind.

7. Use Quotations With Your Twist

The usage of quotations is a common strategy for hooks. Although many speakers begin with an appropriate quotation, you might stand out by reciting the quote and putting a twist. You might also use a quote from your personal experience.

8. Tell the Audience a Story

Starting a speech with a story is a great way to engage your audience. For example, “Remember the first time you had a conversation with a child, someone who hadn’t even been born yet? ”

Each of your listeners would probably remember this conversation vividly because they were a part of it. When starting a speech with a story, use an analogy or an experience to heighten the experience.

Make it relatable and better engage your audience.

Hooks are the rhetorical devices that help you to pull your audience in . There are many different hooks for speeches, and each one is effective in its way.

They help to create a dynamic and colorful tone that keeps the audience engaged. Remember that the audience will only give you about 30 seconds before deciding whether or not to continue listening.

Employ one of the eight effective hooks mentioned in this post to make your speech memorable for the audience.

8 Effective Hooks to Start Your Speech

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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How to Write and Structure a Persuasive Speech

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The purpose of a persuasive speech is to convince your audience to agree with an idea or opinion that you present. First, you'll need to choose a side on a controversial topic, then you will write a speech to explain your position, and convince the audience to agree with you.

You can produce an effective persuasive speech if you structure your argument as a solution to a problem. Your first job as a speaker is to convince your audience that a particular problem is important to them, and then you must convince them that you have the solution to make things better.

Note: You don't have to address a real problem. Any need can work as the problem. For example, you could consider the lack of a pet, the need to wash one's hands, or the need to pick a particular sport to play as the "problem."

As an example, let's imagine that you have chosen "Getting Up Early" as your persuasion topic. Your goal will be to persuade classmates to get themselves out of bed an hour earlier every morning. In this instance, the problem could be summed up as "morning chaos."

A standard speech format has an introduction with a great hook statement, three main points, and a summary. Your persuasive speech will be a tailored version of this format.

Before you write the text of your speech, you should sketch an outline that includes your hook statement and three main points.

Writing the Text

The introduction of your speech must be compelling because your audience will make up their minds within a few minutes whether or not they are interested in your topic.

Before you write the full body you should come up with a greeting. Your greeting can be as simple as "Good morning everyone. My name is Frank."

After your greeting, you will offer a hook to capture attention. A hook sentence for the "morning chaos" speech could be a question:

  • How many times have you been late for school?
  • Does your day begin with shouts and arguments?
  • Have you ever missed the bus?

Or your hook could be a statistic or surprising statement:

  • More than 50 percent of high school students skip breakfast because they just don't have time to eat.
  • Tardy kids drop out of school more often than punctual kids.

Once you have the attention of your audience, follow through to define the topic/problem and introduce your solution. Here's an example of what you might have so far:

Good afternoon, class. Some of you know me, but some of you may not. My name is Frank Godfrey, and I have a question for you. Does your day begin with shouts and arguments? Do you go to school in a bad mood because you've been yelled at, or because you argued with your parent? The chaos you experience in the morning can bring you down and affect your performance at school.

Add the solution:

You can improve your mood and your school performance by adding more time to your morning schedule. You can accomplish this by setting your alarm clock to go off one hour earlier.

Your next task will be to write the body, which will contain the three main points you've come up with to argue your position. Each point will be followed by supporting evidence or anecdotes, and each body paragraph will need to end with a transition statement that leads to the next segment. Here is a sample of three main statements:

  • Bad moods caused by morning chaos will affect your workday performance.
  • If you skip breakfast to buy time, you're making a harmful health decision.
  • (Ending on a cheerful note) You'll enjoy a boost to your self-esteem when you reduce the morning chaos.

After you write three body paragraphs with strong transition statements that make your speech flow, you are ready to work on your summary.

Your summary will re-emphasize your argument and restate your points in slightly different language. This can be a little tricky. You don't want to sound repetitive but will need to repeat what you have said. Find a way to reword the same main points.

Finally, you must make sure to write a clear final sentence or passage to keep yourself from stammering at the end or fading off in an awkward moment. A few examples of graceful exits:

  • We all like to sleep. It's hard to get up some mornings, but rest assured that the reward is well worth the effort.
  • If you follow these guidelines and make the effort to get up a little bit earlier every day, you'll reap rewards in your home life and on your report card.

Tips for Writing Your Speech

  • Don't be confrontational in your argument. You don't need to put down the other side; just convince your audience that your position is correct by using positive assertions.
  • Use simple statistics. Don't overwhelm your audience with confusing numbers.
  • Don't complicate your speech by going outside the standard "three points" format. While it might seem simplistic, it is a tried and true method for presenting to an audience who is listening as opposed to reading.
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How to Write a Great Essay Hook, With Examples

Lindsay Kramer

When you’re writing an essay , you naturally want people to read it. Just like the baited hook on a fishing line entices fish, your essay’s hook engages readers and makes them want to keep reading your essay.

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What is an essay hook?

An essay hook is a sentence or two that piques the reader’s interest, compelling them to continue reading. In most cases, the hook is the first sentence or two, but it may be the entire opening paragraph. Hooks for essays are always in the first section because this is where the essay needs to hook its reader. If the reader isn’t engaged within the first few lines, they’ll likely stop reading.

An essay hook also sets the tone for the rest of your essay. For example, an unexpected statistic in an essay’s first line can tell the reader that the rest of the essay will dispel myths and shed light on the essay’s topic .

6 types of essay hooks

1 rhetorical questions.

Rhetorical questions are popular essay hooks because they make readers think. For example, an essay might start with the question “Is it ethical to eat animals?” Before reading the rest of the essay, the reader answers the question in their mind. As they continue to read, the writer’s arguments challenge the reader’s answer and may change their mind.

2 Fact/statistic

When an essay discusses scientific subjects, social issues, current events, or controversial subjects, a fact or statistic related to the essay’s topic can be a compelling hook. For example, an essay about elementary student literacy might hook readers with a statistic about the percentage of fourth graders that are proficient readers.

The hook could be a fact or statistic that’s well-known and frames the topic in a relatable way, or it could be a completely unexpected or seemingly unintuitive one that surprises the reader. In any case, they set the tone for the rest of the essay by supporting the writer’s position from the outset.

Quotes are often used as essay hooks because they’re succinct, often recognizable, and when they’re from an expert source, they can support the writer’s position.

For example, an analytical essay comparing two books might hook readers with a quote from one of the books’ authors that sets the tone for the rest of the essay and gives a glimpse into that author’s work.

Anecdotes are often used as hooks in personal essays. A personal story makes the essay relatable, creating familiarity with the reader that makes them want to read more. An example of an anecdote hook is a persuasive essay about rerouting traffic on campus that starts with a personal story of a vehicular close call.

5 Description

A description focuses on specific imagery related to the essay’s subject. For example, an argumentative essay in support of new recycling policies might hook readers with a bleak description of what happens to batteries and other hazardous materials when they aren’t recycled.

6 Common misconception

Similar to an unexpected fact, a hook that dispels a common misconception surprises the reader and educates them about something they likely misunderstood. For example, a compare-and-contrast essay about different mindfulness strategies might start with a common misconception about how mindfulness works.

Creating a hook for different writing prompts

Strong hooks for essays align with the essays’ tones, types, and topics. As you start working on an essay, think about your topic and goals for the essay. Are you trying to persuade the reader? Dispelling a common misconception can be the hook you need. Are you telling an entertaining personal story with bigger themes about your life experience? Start it off with an engaging anecdote. Are you defending a position? Share an unexpected fact and let the truth speak for itself.

Sometimes, it’s not easy to tell which kind of hook your essay needs. When this is the case, it can be helpful to write the rest of your essay, then come back to your introduction and write the kind of hook that would make you want to read that whole essay. Refer to your essay outline to ensure that it fits your essay goals.

Essay hook examples

  • Is it too late to save our planet from climate change?
  • Before I could speak, I sang.
  • “If we are truly a great nation, the truth cannot destroy us.” —Nikole Hannah-Jones
  • Contrary to popular belief, rats are among the most fastidious animals.
  • I can’t be late for class—this could be the most important day of my life!

Essay hook FAQs

An essay hook is a sentence or two that grabs the reader’s attention and piques their interest, enticing them to continue reading.

What are the different types of essay hooks?

  • Rhetorical questions
  • Description
  • Fact/statistic
  • Common misconception

Why is it important to have a good essay hook?

It’s important that hooks for essays be well crafted, because in many cases, the reader won’t continue reading an essay if it doesn’t hold their interest. The hook grabs their attention and makes them want to read on.

how to write a hook for persuasive speech

How to Write a Persuasive Speech | Tips for Crafting an Effective One in 2023

How to Write a Persuasive Speech | Tips for Crafting an Effective One in 2023

Leah Nguyen • 04 Oct 2023 • 6 min read

A persuasive speech doesn’t make you talk till your throat’s dry.

In today’s discussion, we’ll break down the proven formula successful orators use to move minds and hearts.

Whether you’re running for office, pitching new product, or advocating for an important cause, let’s check out how to write a persuasive speech .

Table of Contents

What is a persuasive speech, #1. research the subject, #2. cut down the fluff, #3. craft a persuasive speech structure, #4. tell a story, short persuasive speech examples, persuasive speech topics, bottom line, frequently asked questions, tips for audience engagement.

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Have you ever been truly moved by a speaker who had you hanging on their every word? Who took you on such an inspiring journey that you left wanting to take action? Those are the hallmarks of a master persuader at work.

A persuasive speech is a type of public speaking designed to literally change minds and motivate behaviour. It’s part communication magic, part psychology hack – and with the right tools, anyone can learn to do it.

At its core, a persuasive speech aims to convince an audience of a specific idea or course of action by appealing to both logic and emotion. It lays out clear arguments while also tapping into passions and values.

How to write a persuasive speech

A successful persuasive structure will introduce the topic, outline key points, address counterarguments, and conclude with a memorable call to action. Visual aids, stories, rhetorical devices and enthusiastic delivery all enhance the experience.

Although meant to be convincing, quality persuaders never resort to manipulation. Rather, they present solid facts with empathy and honour other perspectives along the journey.

From campaign speeches to PTA fundraisers , the ability to strategically rally support around a viewpoint through oration alone is a talent worth cultivating. So whether you aspire to inspire social change or simply motivate mindsets in your circle, adding persuasion to your public speaking playbook is sure to magnify your impact.

How to Write a Persuasive Speech

Crafting the perfect persuasive address requires thoughtful planning. But fear not, with the right framework you’ll be well on your way to masterfully motivating any audience.

How to write a persuasive speech

They say knowing is half the battle. When you’re doing research on the topic, you’ll unconsciously remember every detail and information along the way. And because of that, smooth information will flow out of your mouth before you know it.

Get familiarised with reputational research papers, peer-reviewed journals and expert opinions to craft a concrete foundation for your speech. They also present different views and counterarguments so you can address them on the day.

You can map each point with a respective counterargument using a mind-mapping tool for a structured and more organised approach.

How to write a persuasive speech

This is no time to flex your wealth of ultra-complicated technical words. The idea of a persuasive speech is to get your point across verbally.

Make it sound natural so that you have no trouble spewing it out loud and your tongue doesn’t linger trying to pronounce something like anthropomorphism.

Avoid lengthy constructions that cause you to stumble. Chop the sentences down to short and concise pieces of information.

See this example:

  • It could be said that in light of the presently existing circumstances which are currently surrounding us at this moment in time, there may potentially exist certain conditions that might feasibly be conducive toward potentially providing an optimum environment for potentially achieving desired outcomes.

Sounds unnecessarily long and complex, isn’t it? You can just bring this down to something like this:

  • The current circumstances could create conditions conducive to achieving desired outcomes.

The clearer version gets the same point across in a more direct and succinct way by removing extra words, simplifying the phrasing and structure, and using more active rather than passive construction.

How to write a persuasive speech

The general outline for a speech needs to be clear and logical. Here are some tips on how to craft one:

  • Start with a compelling hook. Capture attention instantly with a surprising stat, intriguing anecdote or open question. Pique curiosity about the issue.
  • Clearly state your thesis up front. Distil your central argument and goal into a concise, memorable statement. Paint the picture of what you aim to achieve.
  • Support your thesis with well-chosen facts. Cite respected sources and data-driven evidence to rationally reinforce key talking points. Appeal to logic as well as emotion.
  • Anticipate objections and address counterarguments respectfully. Show you understand opposing viewpoints yet position why yours is most sound.
  • Weave in illustrative stories and examples. Relate concepts to people’s lives through a compelling narrative. Paint a vivid mental image they’ll never forget.
  • Close powerfully with a call to action. Inspire audiences to take a specific next step that furthers your cause. Motivate minds and spark an enduring commitment to your vision.

How to write a persuasive speech

While logic and facts are important, truly moving an audience to act requires connecting on a deeper human level through emotion.

Persuasive speeches that only present dry statistics and reasoning, no matter how sound, will fail to inspire.

To craft a speech that sways hearts as well as minds, strategically incorporate stories, anecdotes and value-based language tailored to your listeners.

Describe how the issue personally impacts real people in a way the audience can relate to and feel empathetic towards. Share a short, engaging narrative that puts a vivid face to the topic.

Appeal to your crowd’s core beliefs and priorities by framing your argument in terms of principles they cherish such as justice, empathy or progress.

Tap into emotions like pride, hope or outrage to energise their conviction to support your solution. With targeted emotional insights paired with rational appeals, you’ll guide your audience along a far more persuasive journey of the heart and soul.

How to write a persuasive speech

Here are examples of short persuasive speeches. A convincing one should have a specific purpose, as well as central arguments built on it.

Persuasive Speech Example 1: Title: Why Recycling Should Be Mandatory Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that recycling should be required by law in all communities. Central Idea: Recycling helps the environment, conserves natural resources and saves money; therefore, all communities should pass laws to mandate recycling programs.

Persuasive Speech Example 2: Title: Why Social Media Is Detrimental to Teen Mental Health Specific Purpose: To persuade parents to monitor and limit their teen’s social media usage. Central Idea: Excessive social media use has been linked to increased anxiety, depression and loneliness in teens by promoting social comparison and FOMO. Implementing reasonable limits can help protect mental well-being.

Persuasive Speech Example 3: Title: Why School Lunches Need Improvement Specific Purpose: To persuade the PTA to lobby for healthier cafeteria food options. Central Idea: The current lunch offerings at our school are often overly processed and lack nutrients, leading to obesity risks. Upgrading to fresher, whole foods will boost student health and focus.

How to write a persuasive speech

Practising a chosen speech topic can increase your persuasion skills tremendously. Here are some topics to kickstart:

  • Year-round schooling, later start times, homework policies, funding for arts/sports, dress codes
  • Immigration reform, gun control laws, LGBTQ+ rights, abortion, marijuana legalisation
  • Sugar/food taxes, banning plastic straws, GMO labelling, smoking bans, green energy initiatives
  • Social media regulations, driverless cars, surveillance laws, video game restrictions
  • Minimum wage increases, universal basic income, trade policies, taxes
  • Prison/sentencing reform, police use of force, drug decriminalisation, private prisons
  • Foreign aid, refugees/asylum, trade agreements, military budget
  • Gender roles, body positivity, social media/TV influence, work-life balance
  • Free will vs. determinism, ethical consumption, technology’s impact, social justice
  • Ratings systems, content restrictions, media bias, streaming vs. cable

In closing, an effective persuasive speech has the power to inspire change and bring people together behind important causes. If you understand audience psychology and craft your message strategically with passion and precision, you too can sway minds on issues you care about.

How do I start a persuasive speech?

Start your persuasive speech with a startling statistic, fact or emotional story to hook the audience instantly.

What makes a good persuasive speech?

A good persuasive speech often comprises logic, emotion and credibility. Satisfying all three criteria will enhance your argument.

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Leah Nguyen

I craft compelling narratives and clear explanations to inform and engage audiences.

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An Example of a Persuasive Speech Outline to Win Over Your Audience in 2023

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Persuasive Speech: How to Write an Effective Persuasive Speech

Persuasive Speech How to Write a Persuasive Speech

Most often, it actually causes the other person to want to play “Devil’s advocate” and argue with you. In this article, we are going to show you a simple way to win people to your way of thinking without raising resentment. If you use this technique, your audience will actually WANT to agree with you! The process starts with putting yourself in the shoes of your listener and looking at things from their point of view.

Background About How to Write a Persuasive Speech. Facts Aren’t Very Persuasive.

In a Persuasive Presentation Facts Aren't Very Persuasive

Most people think that a single fact is good, additional facts are better, and too many facts are just right. So, the more facts you can use to prove your point, the better chance you have of convincing the other person that you are right. The HUGE error in this logic, though, is that if you prove that you are right, you are also proving that the other person is wrong. People don’t like it when someone proves that they are wrong. So, we prove our point, the other person is likely to feel resentment. When resentment builds, it leads to anger. Once anger enters the equation, logic goes right out the window.

In addition, when people use a “fact” or “Statistic” to prove a point, the audience has a natural reaction to take a contrary side of the argument. For instance, if I started a statement with, “I can prove to you beyond a doubt that…” before I even finish the statement, there is a good chance that you are already trying to think of a single instance where the statement is NOT true. This is a natural response. As a result, the thing that we need to realize about being persuasive is that the best way to persuade another person is to make the person want to agree with us. We do this by showing the audience how they can get what they want if they do what we want.

You may also like How to Design and Deliver a Memorable Speech .

A Simple 3-Step Process to Create a Persuasive Presentation

Persuasion Comes from both Logic and Emotion

The process below is a good way to do both.

Step One: Start Your Persuasive Speech with an Example or Story

When you write an effective persuasive speech, stories are vital. Stories and examples have a powerful way to capture an audience’s attention and set them at ease. They get the audience interested in the presentation. Stories also help your audience see the concepts you are trying to explain in a visual way and make an emotional connection. The more details that you put into your story, the more vivid the images being created in the minds of your audience members.

This concept isn’t mystical or anything. It is science. When we communicate effectively with another person, the purpose is to help the listener picture a concept in his/her mind that is similar to the concept in the speaker’s mind. The old adage is that a “picture is worth 1000 words.” Well, an example or a story is a series of moving pictures. So, a well-told story is worth thousands of words (facts).

By the way, there are a few additional benefits of telling a story. Stories help you reduce nervousness, make better eye contact, and make for a strong opening. For additional details, see Storytelling in Speeches .

I’ll give you an example.

Factual Argument: Seatbelts Save Lives

Factual Arguments Leave Out the Emotion

  • 53% of all motor vehicle fatalities from last years were people who weren’t wearing seatbelts.
  • People not wearing seatbelts are 30 times more likely to be ejected from the vehicle.
  • In a single year, crash deaths and injuries cost us over $70 billion dollars.

These are actual statistics. However, when you read each bullet point, you are likely to be a little skeptical. For instance, when you see the 53% statistic, you might have had the same reaction that I did. You might be thinking something like, “Isn’t that right at half? Doesn’t that mean that the other half WERE wearing seatbelts?” When you see the “30 times more likely” statistic, you might be thinking, “That sounds a little exaggerated. What are the actual numbers?” Looking at the last statistic, we’d likely want to know exactly how the reporter came to that conclusion.

As you can see, if you are a believer that seatbelts save lives, you will likely take the numbers at face value. If you don’t like seatbelts, you will likely nitpick the finer points of each statistic. The facts will not likely persuade you.

Example Argument: Seatbelts Save Lives

A Story or Example is More Persuasive Because It Offers Facts and Emotion

When I came to, I tried to open my door. The accident sealed it shut. The windshield was gone. So I took my seatbelt off and scrambled out the hole. The driver of the truck was a bloody mess. His leg was pinned under the steering wheel.

The firefighters came a few minutes later, and it took them over 30 minutes to cut the metal from around his body to free him.

A Sheriff’s Deputy saw a cut on my face and asked if I had been in the accident. I pointed to my truck. His eyes became like saucers. “You were in that vehicle?”

I nodded. He rushed me to an ambulance. I had actually ruptured my colon, and I had to have surgery. I was down for a month or so, but I survived. In fact, I survived with very few long-term challenges from the accident.

The guy who hit me wasn’t so lucky. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. The initial impact of the accident was his head on the steering wheel and then the windshield. He had to have a number of facial surgeries. The only reason he remained in the truck was his pinned leg. For me, the accident was a temporary trauma. For him, it was a life-long tragedy.

The Emotional Difference is the Key

As you can see, there are major differences between the two techniques. The story gives lots of memorable details along with an emotion that captures the audience. If you read both examples, let me ask you a couple of questions. Without looking back up higher on the page, how long did it take the firefighters to cut the other driver from the car? How many CDs did I have? There is a good chance that these two pieces of data came to you really quickly. You likely remembered this data, even though, the data wasn’t exactly important to the story.

However, if I asked you how much money was lost last year as a result of traffic accidents, you might struggle to remember that statistic. The CDs and the firefighters were a part of a compelling story that made you pay attention. The money lost to accidents was just a statistic thrown at you to try to prove that a point was true.

The main benefit of using a story, though, is that when we give statistics (without a story to back them up,) the audience becomes argumentative. However, when we tell a story, the audience can’t argue with us. The audience can’t come to me after I told that story and say, “It didn’t take 30 minutes to cut the guy out of the car. He didn’t have to have a bunch of reconstructive surgeries. The Deputy didn’t say those things to you! The audience can’t argue with the details of the story, because they weren’t there.

Step 2: After the Story, Now, Give Your Advice

When most people write a persuasive presentation, they start with their opinion. Again, this makes the listener want to play Devil’s advocate. By starting with the example, we give the listener a simple way to agree with us. They can agree that the story that we told was true. So, now, finish the story with your point or your opinion. “So, in my opinion, if you wear a seatbelt, you’re more likely to avoid serious injury in a severe crash.”

By the way, this technique is not new. It has been around for thousands of years. Aesop was a Greek slave over 500 years before Christ. His stories were passed down verbally for hundreds of years before anyone ever wrote them down in a collection. Today, when you read an Aesop fable, you will get 30 seconds to two minutes of the story first. Then, at the conclusion, almost as a post-script, you will get the advice. Most often, this advice comes in the form of, “The moral of the story is…” You want to do the same in your persuasive presentations. Spend most of the time on the details of the story. Then, spend just a few seconds in the end with your morale.

Step 3: End with the Benefit to the Audience

3 Step Process to Write an Effective Persuasive Speech

So, the moral of the story is to wear your seatbelt. If you do that, you will avoid being cut out of your car and endless reconstructive surgeries .

Now, instead of leaving your audience wanting to argue with you, they are more likely to be thinking, “Man, I don’t want to be cut out of my car or have a bunch of facial surgeries.”

The process is very simple. However, it is also very powerful.

How to Write a Successful Persuasive Speech Using the “Breadcrumb” Approach

Once you understand the concept above, you can create very powerful persuasive speeches by linking a series of these persuasive stories together. I call this the breadcrumb strategy. Basically, you use each story as a way to move the audience closer to the ultimate conclusion that you want them to draw. Each story gains a little more agreement.

So, first, just give a simple story about an easy to agree with concept. You will gain agreement fairly easily and begin to also create an emotional appeal. Next, use an additional story to gain additional agreement. If you use this process three to five times, you are more likely to get the audience to agree with your final conclusion. If this is a formal presentation, just make your main points into the persuasive statements and use stories to reinforce the points.

Here are a few persuasive speech examples using this approach.

An Example of a Persuasive Public Speaking Using Breadcrumbs

Marijuana Legalization is Causing Huge Problems in Our Biggest Cities Homelessness is Out of Control in First States to Legalize Marijuana Last year, my family and I took a mini-vacation to Colorado Springs. I had spent a summer in Colorado when I was in college, so I wanted my family to experience the great time that I had had there as a youth. We were only there for four days, but we noticed something dramatic had happened. There were homeless people everywhere. Keep in mind, this wasn’t Denver, this was Colorado City. The picturesque landscape was clouded by ripped sleeping bags on street corners, and trash spread everywhere. We were downtown, and my wife and daughter wanted to do some shopping. My son and I found a comic book store across the street to browse in. As we came out, we almost bumped into a dirty man in torn close. He smiled at us, walked a few feet away from the door, and lit up a joint. He sat on the corner smoking it. As my son and I walked the 1/4 mile back to the store where we left my wife and daughter, we stepped over and walked around over a dozen homeless people camped out right in the middle of the town. This was not the Colorado that I remembered. From what I’ve heard, it has gotten even worse in the last year. So, if you don’t want to dramatically increase your homelessness population, don’t make marijuana legal in your state. DUI Instances and Traffic Accidents Have Increased in Marijuana States I was at the airport waiting for a flight last week, and the guy next to me offered me his newspaper. I haven’t read a newspaper in years, but he seemed so nice that I accepted. It was a copy of the USA Today, and it was open to an article about the rise in unintended consequences from legalizing marijuana. Safety officials and police in Colorado, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon, the first four state to legalize recreational marijuana, have reported a 6% increase in traffic accidents in the last few years. Although the increase (6%) doesn’t seem very dramatic, it was notable because the rate of accidents had been decreasing in each of the states for decades prior to the law change. Assuming that only one of the two parties involved in these new accidents was under the influence, that means that people who aren’t smoking marijuana are being negatively affected by the legalization. So, if you don’t want to increase your chances of being involved in a DUI incident, don’t legalize marijuana. (Notice how I just used an article as my evidence, but to make it more memorable, I told the story about how I came across the article. It is also easier to deliver this type of data because you are just relating what you remember about the data, not trying to be an expert on the data itself.) Marijuana is Still Largely Unregulated Just before my dad went into hospice care, he was in a lot of pain. He would take a prescription painkiller before bed to sleep. One night, my mom called frantically. Dad was in a catatonic state and wasn’t responsive. I rushed over. The hospital found that Dad had an unusually high amount of painkillers in his bloodstream. His regular doctor had been on vacation, and the fill-in doctor had prescribed a much higher dosage of the painkiller by accident. His original prescription was 2.5 mg, and the new prescription was 10 mg. Since dad was in a lot of pain most nights, he almost always took two tablets. He was also on dialysis, so his kidneys weren’t filtering out the excess narcotic each day. He had actually taken 20 MG (instead of 5 MG) on Friday night and another 20 mg on Saturday. Ordinarily, he would have had, at max, 15 mg of the narcotic in his system. Because of the mistake, though, he had 60 MGs. My point is that the narcotics that my dad was prescribed were highly regulated medicines under a doctor’s care, and a mistake was still made that almost killed him. With marijuana, there is really no way of knowing how much narcotic is in each dosage. So, mistakes like this are much more likely. So, in conclusion, legalizing marijuana can increase homelessness, increase the number of impaired drivers, and cause accidental overdoses.

If you use this breadcrumb approach, you are more likely to get at least some agreement. Even if the person disagrees with your conclusion, they are still likely to at least see your side. So, the person may say something like, I still disagree with you, but I totally see your point. That is still a step in the right direction.

For Real-World Practice in How to Design Persuasive Presentations Join Us for a Class

Our instructors are experts at helping presenters design persuasive speeches. We offer the Fearless Presentations ® classes in cities all over the world about every three to four months. In addition to helping you reduce nervousness, your instructor will also show you secrets to creating a great speech. For details about any of the classes, go to our Presentation Skills Class web page.

For additional details, see Persuasive Speech Outline Example .

by Doug Staneart | Podcasts , presentation skills

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50+ Hook Examples: The Opening Lines That Make Your Essay Successful

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Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

The Opening Lines That Make Your Essay Successful intro image

Writing a good paper starts with brainstorming a brilliant hook, which keeps your audience engaged with the text. There are many ways to formulate hooks, which will help your writing sound more original and compelling. Looking at some essay hook examples and tips on writing them is the first step to creating one of your own!

In this article:

What is a Hook?

Tips for creating a great hook, question hook examples, strong statement examples, fact/statistic hook examples, metaphor/simile hook examples, anecdotal hook examples.

A “hook” is a sentence that grabs the reader’s attention and keeps them interested in the outcome of your academic text or research paper. The hook is found in the first sentence or two in the opening paragraph in an academic text and serves both as an introduction and an attention grabber.

In literature, such sentences are often found in novels. A great personal favorite of mine is Christmas Carol’s first sentence: “Marley was dead: to begin with. ” This invites tons of interesting questions and piques your curiosity, making you want to read along.

We come across hook examples in our day-to-day lives, scrolling through YouTube video titles and website links. Clickbait can be considered the hook of the modern world, and there are tons of techniques to learn from it.

However, this article will focus on essay hooks for academic papers specifically. In the section below, we’ll be discussing tips on writing hook sentences and engaging your reader’s interest through a single opening sentence.

There are different types of hook sentences in an essay introduction. We’ll take a look at each type, and a few tips, so later on, you can start formulating your own essay hooks based on these few examples.

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  • Question Hook: If you’re writing an art essay, philosophy paper, or business coursework, choosing a compelling and interesting question will leave the readers pondering throughout your text. The reader will automatically try to look for the answer within your research paper.
  • Strong Statement: The opening lines can be controversial, a bold claim – the best hooks for argumentative essays are. This method can shock your audience, and they’ll be curious to learn how you defend your argument.
  • Fact/Statistic Hook: These hook examples are used for scientific and academic assignments, allowing you to use a lesser-known fact or statistic which will grab the reader’s attention.
  • Metaphor/Simile Hook: You can set up a scene by telling a short story for your readers to imagine before getting to your essay’s core. This metaphor hook can be highly compelling and relatable to your audience.
  • Anecdotal Hook: The trickiest essay hook used to diffuse the tension surrounding a heavy topic. This tricky opening line should be carefully thought out and guaranteed to make the reader laugh and only used in the right circumstances.

If you’re using the fact/statistic hook, always make sure you quote a credible source. The same goes for the interesting facts hook type. Include those sources in the body of your essay.

It also helps to think of a hook you came across recently that made an impression on you. Was it a controversial blog post? A captivating personal story? A thesis statement that made you ponder?

Once you finish reading our article, it’s helpful to test your hook and introductory paragraph out to an audience. Have another student, tutor, or parent read it. See if it’s doing its purpose – is the reader engaged? What did they understand from your hook? Is the essay topic clear?

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time. Writing is a long process and requires a lot of rewriting. Take a small break and give it another go.

How to Write a Great Hook + Examples

There are two crucial points to follow when you write a hook:

  • Keep your sentences short – don’t overstuff your sentences or let them run longer than two rows.
  • Use simple, comprehensive language – the ultimate essay can be read and understood by anyone, even people outside your academic course.

It’s time to get to the examples!

  • What if I told you the world has an unlimited energy resource?
  • How much screen time is too much for elementary school children?
  • Is online education the best way to learn in the middle of a pandemic?
  • Did you know women are twice as likely to experience clinical depression than men?
  • Are your evening habits keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep?
  • Do jobs that require degrees have a higher earning potential?
  • How important is it for YouTubers to use search engine optimization strategies?
  • Will the consumption of meat products become a luxury in the year 2050?
  • Has reading become more challenging due to our short attention span?
  • Have you ever wondered why traffic builds up on no-stop roads?
  • Why we should feel sorry for high achievers?
  • Why you don’t need to be exceptional?
  • How much sugar do you think you consume?
  • The effects of global warming are irreversible, so what can we do to optimize our living now?
  • Should fireworks be banned due to noise pollution and its effect on animals?
  • Has television died in place for streaming services?
  • Is our hatred of certain foods and flavors a direct result of our genetic heritage?
  • Android app development will die out in the next twenty years.
  • You’ll always marry the wrong person.
  • Why is ordinary life not good enough anymore?
  • Why are romantics ruining love?
  • “The wicked tend to win” Machiavelli
  • The hardest person in the world to break up with.
  • Some imaginary friends can cultivate independence in a child.
  • Did you know that space smells like seared steak?
  • The human body houses 10 times more bacteria than it does cells.
  • The longest war in the world is between the Netherlands and Sicily and here’s what happened.
  • “A country that demands moral perfection in its foreign policy will achieve neither perfection nor security” H. Kissinger
  • Cat purring can be beneficial to your health.
  • There is a scientific explanation behind boredom.
  • The average drunk driver drives under the influence more than 80 times before they get arrested for the first time.
  • 1/3 of adults still sleep with a comfort toy in bed.
  • The average American generates nearly 4.5 pounds of trash each day.
  • The global rate for keeping good hygiene after using the toilet is 20%.
  • Americans read for pleasure for less than 10 minutes every day.
  • The average American eats around 13 pounds of ice cream each year.
  • More than 1/2 million people experience homelessness each night.
  • Approximately 90% of people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of hospitals die.
  • Farmers and ranchers make up less than 2% of Americans.
  • Approximately half of Americans will experience a mental illness during their lifetime.
  • My cousin Joanna went to a party with red lipstick all over her teeth. I couldn’t help myself to tell her.
  • I dressed up as a werewolf last Halloween. That’s when everything started.
  • As a child my grandfather gave my grandma her favorite flower- a rose on every holiday. Does this kind of love still exist?
  • Last year my parents dragged me to Paris six times. I had the most dreadful time – I just couldn’t understand how such a historic city can be so dirty, or why.
  • The cause and effect example – when talking about the importance of safety, tell a story with an important moral.
  • Imagine sitting by the fire with the love of your life…
  • I have a four-year old baby – my publishing business I started in 2018.
  • The picture of… brought back memories of…
  • It’s difficult to talk about… because…
  • If you were a famous person, would you…
  • When I was 6, I was given a pet hamster for Christmas. Needless to say, little Zach is gone now, but I wonder how long he could have lived if I had been given it at 12?
  • One reason I decided to switch to a healthy diet is… well it’s cheaper than buying a whole new set of clothes!
  • I like talking to myself. Sometimes I have these seemingly clever and long conversations. I hardly have a clue what I’m talking about.

Mastering the hook sentence is something you might end up using in your day-to-day life, especially if you go into academia, publishing, or journalism as a career choice. But that’s not it – we use hooks to communicate on social media. The title of our blog post or recent youtube video are examples of well-formulated hooks. The quicker you start practicing them the easier they’ll become to use.

If you’re having any other academic trouble, like coming up with essay topics , or you want to learn the outlines of the different essay types, we can help you with that! You’ll become an essay writing pro in no time! We’ve got some good and interesting research paper topics we’re proud of, as well as demonstration speech topics ! Hook sentence examples are just the start!

We hope this article has helped you master the art of essay writing, and you now find the reader agrees with your point of view! Let us know of any good hook examples you came up with!

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Persuasive Speech

Cathy A.

Making Persuasive Speech Writing Easy: Steps and Tips

Published on: Nov 30, 2018

Last updated on: Nov 7, 2023

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Having trouble writing a persuasive speech? You're not alone. 

Many students and aspiring orators find themselves wrestling with the complexities of persuasive speech composition. 

But fear not! Our comprehensive guide is here to assist you at every step of the way. With practical steps, illustrative examples, and invaluable tips, we'll help you hone your persuasive speech writing skills. 

So, keep reading!

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What is a Persuasive Speech

A persuasive speech is a type of speech in which the speaker aims to influence the thoughts, opinions, or actions of the audience. 

It involves presenting a viewpoint on a specific topic and providing compelling arguments and evidence to convince the listeners. The speaker's objective is to bring about a change in the audience's beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. 

The speaker uses a range of rhetorical techniques, including the persuasive appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos .

  • Ethos pertains to the speaker's credibility and character. It involves establishing trust and authority, which makes the audience more receptive to the speaker's message.
  • Pathos involves appealing to the emotions and feelings of the audience. It aims to create a strong emotional connection and empathy, making the audience more inclined to take action.
  • Logos is about using logic and reason to construct a persuasive argument. It relies on evidence, facts, and clear reasoning to support the speaker's viewpoint.

Parts of A Persuasive Speech

In a persuasive speech, the core sections typically include:

Introduction

The introduction is your opportunity to capture your audience's attention. Start with an engaging hook or attention-grabber. 

Provide some background information on the topic to contextualize your argument. 

Main Points

Your speech should have two to four main points, each supporting your main argument. Each main point should be a distinct argument that reinforces your overall position. 

These arguments serve as the core structure of your speech and should be well-researched and logically presented. 

Supporting evidence, examples, or statistics should be included for each main point to bolster your argument and make it more persuasive.

Transitions

Smooth transitions are essential in maintaining the coherence and flow of your speech.

Transitions may be as simple as a sentence or phrase that connects one point to the next, ensuring your speech flows logically.

Counterarguments

Recognizing and addressing potential counterarguments or opposing viewpoints is a sign of a well-rounded and well-researched argument. Devote a section of your outline to these counter arguments, acknowledging them in a fair and unbiased manner. 

Then, provide a well-reasoned response to refute these opposing views, demonstrating the strength and credibility of your own position.

The conclusion is where you wrap up your speech by summarizing your main points and restating your thesis. 

This reinforces your central argument and leaves a lasting impression on your audience. A strong conclusion should provide a clear sense of closure, emphasizing the key takeaways from your speech.

Call to Action

Consider including a call to action in your conclusion to motivate your audience to take a specific step or support your cause. 

This step adds a practical and actionable element to your persuasive speech, encouraging your audience to apply what they've learned.

Closing Remarks

End your speech with a memorable statement that leaves a final impression. You can use a powerful quote, a thought-provoking statement, or a call for reflection. 

Additionally, thank your audience for their time and attention, fostering a sense of appreciation and respect for their presence.

An outlines guides you through the process of crafting a persuasive message and making a successful persuasive speech. Certain steps can vary according to whichever type of persuasive speech you’re working on.

How to Write A Persuasive Speech

Writing a persuasive speech is a structured process that makes your message compelling and effective in conveying ideas to the audience.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you craft a persuasive speech:

Step 1: Choose a Persuasive Topic

Selecting the right topic is the foundation of a persuasive speech. Look for subjects that you are passionate about and that resonate with your audience. Moreover, an effective persuasive topic is one that can be debated or has varying viewpoints.

Your chosen topic should be relevant to your audience's interests, beliefs, and concerns. For instance, if you're addressing university students, consider what issues are important to them.

Let's say you choose "The Importance of Mental Health Awareness on Campus" as your topic. This topic is relevant, given the high levels of stress and mental health challenges that college students often face.

Step 2: Research Your Topic

To create a compelling persuasive speech, thorough research is essential. 

Gather information, data, and evidence that support your arguments and help you establish credibility as a speaker. 

For the topic of mental health awareness, research may include finding statistics on mental health issues among college students. Look for academic studies that discuss the impact of mental health on academic performance.

Step 3: Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is crucial. Consider their attitudes, beliefs, values, and concerns related to your chosen topic. 

For a college student audience, it's essential to comprehend their experiences and viewpoints on mental health. By acknowledging their existing knowledge and attitudes, you can tailor your speech to resonate more effectively with them.

Step 4: Organize Your Speech

Like any speech, persuasive speech should follow a logical structure. 

Start with a compelling opening, which may include a relevant story, a surprising fact, or a thought-provoking question. Clearly state your main argument here. In the case of mental health awareness, it could be something like, 

"Promoting mental health awareness on campus is essential for the well-being and success of college students." 

Create a speech outline, which could be structured around the problems, solutions, and a call to action regarding mental health on campus. A speech outline is a blueprint which helps in delivering your persuasive speech in a logically fluent way and convincing your audience. 

Here is a sample speech outline:

Step 5: Craft Persuasive Arguments

In the body of your speech, you'll present persuasive arguments to support your thesis. 

In the "Understanding the Problem" section, talk about rising student stress, mental health stigma, and their impact on academic performance. 

Use evidence and examples to back up each argument. Cite specific statistics or sharing stories of students who have faced these challenges.

Step 6: Use Rhetorical Devices

To make your persuasive speech more engaging and relatable to your audience, it's essential to employ rhetorical devices effectively. 

These devices add depth and emotional resonance to your message. Some key rhetorical devices to consider include metaphors, anecdotes, and emotional appeals. 

Personal stories or anecdotes about mental health issues can create a connection with your audience and evoke empathy.

Step 7: Address Counterarguments

It's important to acknowledge potential counterarguments in your speech. This shows that you've considered multiple perspectives. Acknowledging and refuting opposing views enhances the strength and credibility of your own point of view.

A potential argument could be that mental health awareness is too costly for universities. You can counter this by presenting cost-effective solutions that have been implemented successfully at other institutions.

Step 8: Call to Action

Conclude your speech with a compelling call to action. Encourage your audience to take specific steps to support your cause. 

For instance, you could encourage them to participate in mental health awareness campaigns on campus, or advocate for improved mental health services in the university community.

Step 9: Revise and Practice

After writing your speech, revise it for clarity, coherence, and impact. 

Practice your delivery multiple times to enhance your confidence and effectiveness as a speaker.

Persuasive Speech Examples

Here are some persuasive speech examples for helping you:

Persuasive Speech Examples For Students

Persuasive Speech Topics For College Students

Want to consult a few more examples? Check out these persuasive speech examples to help you get more ideas!

Persuasive Speech Topics

A good persuasive speech topic is one that grabs your audience's attention and stirs their thoughts. 

To choose the right topic, it should be something you truly care about and that's important to your audience members. It's also essential that there are different opinions on the topic because it creates room for a meaningful discussion.

Here are some persuasive speech ideas:

Funny Persuasive Speech Topics

  • Why cats are secretly plotting to take over the world.
  • The importance of having a designated pizza night every week.
  • How to survive a zombie apocalypse with just your wits and a backpack of snacks.
  • The merits of watching cute animal videos during work hours.
  • Why we should replace final exams with rap battles.
  • The best excuses for being late to class (that actually work).
  • How to annoy your roommates without getting caught.
  • The compelling case for declaring "National Pajama Day."
  • The benefits of talking to your houseplants and why they're great listeners.
  • Why coffee should be classified as a daily essential nutrient.

Unique Persuasive Speech Topics

  • The impact of social media on our sense of self-worth and well-being.
  • The need for implementing mindfulness and meditation in schools.
  • The benefits of fostering a community garden in every neighborhood.
  • Why we should prioritize space exploration and colonizing other planets.
  • The importance of teaching coding and programming in elementary schools.
  • The ethical implications of gene editing and designer babies.
  • Promoting eco-friendly travel options and reducing the environmental impact of tourism.
  • The benefits of a four-day workweek for improved productivity and work-life balance.
  • The need for teaching financial literacy in high schools.
  • The impact of virtual reality on therapy and mental health treatment.

Can’t pick a topic? View this extensive list of persuasive speech topics on different themes!

Tips For Writing A Good Persuasive Speech

Creating and giving a strong persuasive speech involves different steps. Here are some tips for both writing and delivering your speech effectively:

  • Learn what your audience cares about and shape your message accordingly.
  • Back your points with credible data, facts, expert views, or real-life stories.
  • Utilize credibility, emotions, and logic in a way that appeals to the audience.
  • Share relatable anecdotes to connect with your audience.
  • Time your speech to fit the allotted duration for maximum impact.
  • Make good eye contact to connect with your audience and display confidence.
  • Maintain open and confident body language; avoid nervous habits.

To sum it up, you've learned the steps and important tips for making a strong persuasive speech. You have the tools to choose the right topic, use evidence effectively, and engage your audience. 

But if you ever need help or find it tough, remember you can hire our professional essay writing service . We're here to assist you in creating a persuasive speech that makes an impact.

Our experienced writers have a proven track record in creating impactful speeches. So, just say ‘ write my speech ’ and receive top quality results!

Cathy A. (Literature, Marketing)

Cathy has been been working as an author on our platform for over five years now. She has a Masters degree in mass communication and is well-versed in the art of writing. Cathy is a professional who takes her work seriously and is widely appreciated by clients for her excellent writing skills.

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Persuasive Speech Outline, with Examples

March 17, 2021 - Gini Beqiri

A persuasive speech is a speech that is given with the intention of convincing the audience to believe or do something. This could be virtually anything – voting, organ donation, recycling, and so on.

A successful persuasive speech effectively convinces the audience to your point of view, providing you come across as trustworthy and knowledgeable about the topic you’re discussing.

So, how do you start convincing a group of strangers to share your opinion? And how do you connect with them enough to earn their trust?

Topics for your persuasive speech

We’ve made a list of persuasive speech topics you could use next time you’re asked to give one. The topics are thought-provoking and things which many people have an opinion on.

When using any of our persuasive speech ideas, make sure you have a solid knowledge about the topic you’re speaking about – and make sure you discuss counter arguments too.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • All school children should wear a uniform
  • Facebook is making people more socially anxious
  • It should be illegal to drive over the age of 80
  • Lying isn’t always wrong
  • The case for organ donation

Read our full list of  75 persuasive speech topics and ideas .

Ideas for a persuasive speech

Preparation: Consider your audience

As with any speech, preparation is crucial. Before you put pen to paper, think about what you want to achieve with your speech. This will help organise your thoughts as you realistically can only cover 2-4 main points before your  audience get bored .

It’s also useful to think about who your audience are at this point. If they are unlikely to know much about your topic then you’ll need to factor in context of your topic when planning the structure and length of your speech. You should also consider their:

  • Cultural or religious backgrounds
  • Shared concerns, attitudes and problems
  • Shared interests, beliefs and hopes
  • Baseline attitude – are they hostile, neutral, or open to change?

The factors above will all determine the approach you take to writing your speech. For example, if your topic is about childhood obesity, you could begin with a story about your own children or a shared concern every parent has. This would suit an audience who are more likely to be parents than young professionals who have only just left college.

Remember the 3 main approaches to persuade others

There are three main approaches used to persuade others:

The ethos approach appeals to the audience’s ethics and morals, such as what is the ‘right thing’ to do for humanity, saving the environment, etc.

Pathos persuasion is when you appeal to the audience’s emotions, such as when you  tell a story  that makes them the main character in a difficult situation.

The logos approach to giving a persuasive speech is when you appeal to the audience’s logic – ie. your speech is essentially more driven by facts and logic. The benefit of this technique is that your point of view becomes virtually indisputable because you make the audience feel that only your view is the logical one.

  • Ethos, Pathos, Logos: 3 Pillars of Public Speaking and Persuasion

Ideas for your persuasive speech outline

1. structure of your persuasive speech.

The opening and closing of speech are the most important. Consider these carefully when thinking about your persuasive speech outline. A  strong opening  ensures you have the audience’s attention from the start and gives them a positive first impression of you.

You’ll want to  start with a strong opening  such as an attention grabbing statement, statistic of fact. These are usually dramatic or shocking, such as:

Sadly, in the next 18 minutes when I do our chat, four Americans that are alive will be dead from the food that they eat – Jamie Oliver

Another good way of starting a persuasive speech is to include your audience in the picture you’re trying to paint. By making them part of the story, you’re embedding an emotional connection between them and your speech.

You could do this in a more toned-down way by talking about something you know that your audience has in common with you. It’s also helpful at this point to include your credentials in a persuasive speech to gain your audience’s trust.

Speech structure and speech argument for a persuasive speech outline.

Obama would spend hours with his team working on the opening and closing statements of his speech.

2. Stating your argument

You should  pick between 2 and 4 themes  to discuss during your speech so that you have enough time to explain your viewpoint and convince your audience to the same way of thinking.

It’s important that each of your points transitions seamlessly into the next one so that your speech has a logical flow. Work on your  connecting sentences  between each of your themes so that your speech is easy to listen to.

Your argument should be backed up by objective research and not purely your subjective opinion. Use examples, analogies, and stories so that the audience can relate more easily to your topic, and therefore are more likely to be persuaded to your point of view.

3. Addressing counter-arguments

Any balanced theory or thought  addresses and disputes counter-arguments  made against it. By addressing these, you’ll strengthen your persuasive speech by refuting your audience’s objections and you’ll show that you are knowledgeable to other thoughts on the topic.

When describing an opposing point of view, don’t explain it in a bias way – explain it in the same way someone who holds that view would describe it. That way, you won’t irritate members of your audience who disagree with you and you’ll show that you’ve reached your point of view through reasoned judgement. Simply identify any counter-argument and pose explanations against them.

  • Complete Guide to Debating

4. Closing your speech

Your closing line of your speech is your last chance to convince your audience about what you’re saying. It’s also most likely to be the sentence they remember most about your entire speech so make sure it’s a good one!

The most effective persuasive speeches end  with a  call to action . For example, if you’ve been speaking about organ donation, your call to action might be asking the audience to register as donors.

Practice answering AI questions on your speech and get  feedback on your performance .

If audience members ask you questions, make sure you listen carefully and respectfully to the full question. Don’t interject in the middle of a question or become defensive.

You should show that you have carefully considered their viewpoint and refute it in an objective way (if you have opposing opinions). Ensure you remain patient, friendly and polite at all times.

Example 1: Persuasive speech outline

This example is from the Kentucky Community and Technical College.

Specific purpose

To persuade my audience to start walking in order to improve their health.

Central idea

Regular walking can improve both your mental and physical health.

Introduction

Let’s be honest, we lead an easy life: automatic dishwashers, riding lawnmowers, T.V. remote controls, automatic garage door openers, power screwdrivers, bread machines, electric pencil sharpeners, etc., etc. etc. We live in a time-saving, energy-saving, convenient society. It’s a wonderful life. Or is it?

Continue reading

Example 2: Persuasive speech

Tips for delivering your persuasive speech

  • Practice, practice, and practice some more . Record yourself speaking and listen for any nervous habits you have such as a nervous laugh, excessive use of filler words, or speaking too quickly.
  • Show confident body language . Stand with your legs hip width apart with your shoulders centrally aligned. Ground your feet to the floor and place your hands beside your body so that hand gestures come freely. Your audience won’t be convinced about your argument if you don’t sound confident in it. Find out more about  confident body language here .
  • Don’t memorise your speech word-for-word  or read off a script. If you memorise your persuasive speech, you’ll sound less authentic and panic if you lose your place. Similarly, if you read off a script you won’t sound genuine and you won’t be able to connect with the audience by  making eye contact . In turn, you’ll come across as less trustworthy and knowledgeable. You could simply remember your key points instead, or learn your opening and closing sentences.
  • Remember to use facial expressions when storytelling  – they make you more relatable. By sharing a personal story you’ll more likely be speaking your truth which will help you build a connection with the audience too. Facial expressions help bring your story to life and transport the audience into your situation.
  • Keep your speech as concise as possible . When practicing the delivery, see if you can edit it to have the same meaning but in a more succinct way. This will keep the audience engaged.

The best persuasive speech ideas are those that spark a level of controversy. However, a public speech is not the time to express an opinion that is considered outside the norm. If in doubt, play it safe and stick to topics that divide opinions about 50-50.

Bear in mind who your audience are and plan your persuasive speech outline accordingly, with researched evidence to support your argument. It’s important to consider counter-arguments to show that you are knowledgeable about the topic as a whole and not bias towards your own line of thought.

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Related content, 12 ways to hook an audience in 30 seconds.

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Published: October 26, 2021

Updated: October 26, 2021

Do you want to grab your audience's attention from the first sentence? Here's a compilation of great ideas with examples and tips on how to write a good hook.

"When you advertise fire-extinguishers, open with the fire," says advertising executive  David Ogilvy . You have only 30 seconds in a TV commercial to grab viewers' attention. The same applies to a presentation. Knowing how to hook your audience in the first 30 seconds of your talk is crucial. This is the time your listeners form an impression of you and of what's to follow. The success of your talk depends upon grabbing your listeners’ attention and keeping them engaged. 

What is a speech hook and how does it work?

A hook is a presentation-opening tactic that immediately captures your audience’s imagination. As the word implies, it’s like a worm on a fishing hook that attracts a fish. A hook instantly engages your audience so that they want to listen to what you have to say.

Your hook must come at the start of your talk. First impressions count. Like a fine thoroughbred, you need to start strong out of the gate. Instead, many presenters are more like old, tired workhorses—they start weak by wasting those first precious seconds with platitudes and pleasantries.  Brain research  shows that we don't pay attention to boring things. Surprise your listeners with some creative speech attention grabbers.

How do you make a good hook?

Coming up with hook ideas is not difficult if you follow some basic guidelines on how to make a good hook.

A good hook is brief, catchy, well-rehearsed and pertinent to your topic. In brainstorming examples of hooks, avoid the dry and conventional.

For example, let's say you are  delivering a presentation  on investments. Instead of an obvious and trite question such as "How many of you would be unhappy to hear that your house is worth less than you paid for it?" consider using a catchy or thought-provoking question such as "How many of you thought that your home would be your safest investment?"

12 Killer Hooks to Grab Your Audience's Attention

If you're stuck for ideas on how to start with a hook, check out these 12 examples of hooks that will help you grab your audience's attention—and keep it.

1. Use a contrarian approach.

One of the best attention grabber examples is to make a statement of a universally accepted concept, then go against conventional wisdom by contradicting the statement. For example, a market trader starts by contradicting the commonly held advice of buying low and selling high. He says: "It's wrong. Why? Because buying low typically entails a stock that's going in the opposite direction—down—from the most desired direction—up." This tactic is a provocative attention grabber for speeches and it can help engage the audience right away.

2. Ask a series of rhetorical questions.

One of the most common hook ideas is to start with a rhetorical question. Better still, start with a series of rhetorical questions. An excellent example of this tactic is Simon Sinek's TED  presentation  on how great leaders can inspire action. He begins with: "How do you explain when things don't go as we assumed? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions? For example, why is Apple so innovative? . . . Why is it that they seem to have something different? Why is it that Martin Luther King led the civil rights movement?" A series of rhetorical questions stimulate the audience's mind as they ponder the answers.

3. Deliver a compelling sound bite.

Top hook ideas include using a catchy phrase or sound bite that perks up the audience.  To create your sound bite, consider your message and package it in a brief and compelling statement. Then explain how it fits into your overall topic or message.

Take inspiration from speakers such as innovation expert  Jeremy Gutsche  who once used this sound bite in a keynote: "Culture eats strategy for breakfast. This is a sign that is on Ford's strategy War Room. And the lesson from it is not how good your PowerPoint slide deck is; what it really boils down to at the end of the day is how ready and willing your organization is to embrace change, try new things and focus on when you find an opportunity."

4. Make a startling assertion.

When you're stumped for ideas on how to make a hook, use a surprising or amazing fact. That's an easy and sure-fire way to gain people's attention. Take the time to research startling statistics that illustrate the seriousness of what you're going to talk about. For example, a presentation about conservancy can start with: "Every second, a slice of rainforest the size of a football field is mowed down. That's over 31 million football fields of rainforest each year."

5. Provide a reference to a historical event. 

Good attention getters for speeches include mentioning a historical event. There are times when the day you present may have some significance in history that can be tied to the subject of your presentation as an opening gambit. You can quickly look up what happened on any day in  Today In Sport  or a more general site such as  This Day In History . You never know what pertinence the day might have that will add some pizzazz to your presentation. It's worth a look.

6. Use the word imagine.

Another effective attention grabber for speeches is the word “imagine.” It invites the audience to create a mental image of something. Ever since John Lennon's famous song, it has become a powerful word with emotional appeal. A good example is Jane Chen's TED  talk . She speaks about a low-cost incubator that can save many lives in underdeveloped countries. Chen opens by saying: “Please close your eyes and open your hands. Now imagine what you could place in your hands, an apple, maybe your wallet. Now open your eyes. What about a life?” She displays a slide with Anne Geddes' image of a tiny baby held in an adult's hands as she says this. Combining a hook with a visual is one of the most engaging speech attention grabbers.

There is power in asking the audience to conjure up their imagination, to play along. You can easily adapt this tactic to any topic where you want the audience to imagine a positive outcome or a vision of a better tomorrow. You can also use this opening gambit to ask the audience to imagine being in someone else's shoes.

7. Add a little show business.

If you’re looking for ideas on how to make a hook that's entertaining, consider the world of movies. Movies occupy a central place in most people's lives and a well-placed, pertinent movie quote at the start of a presentation can perk up your audience. Perhaps you have your own inspirational quote from a favorite film. You can also find some classics here:  The Best Business Wisdom Hidden In Classic Movie Quotes .

8. Arouse curiosity.

Powerful attention grabbers spark people's curiosity. To do this, you can start with a statement designed to arouse interest and make the audience look up and listen to you attentively. Bestselling author Dan Pink does this masterfully in  one  of his talks. He says: "I need to make a confession, at the outset. A little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret. Something that I am not particularly proud of, something that in many ways I wished no one would ever know, but that here I feel kind of obliged to reveal. In the late 1980s, in a moment of youthful indiscretion, I went to law school." The hook here leads to some self-deprecating humor, which makes it even more effective.

9. Use quotations differently.

Often-used hook ideas involve the use of quotes. While many speakers start with an apt quotation, you can differentiate by stating the quote and adding a twist. For example, "We've all heard that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. But we need to remember that a journey to nowhere also starts with a single step." You can also use a quotation from your own life. For example, in a presentation on price versus quality, I have often used a quote from my grandfather, who used to say: "I am not rich enough to buy cheap."

There are numerous sources for quotations, such as  The Library of Congress , but you might also consider  The Yale Book of Quotations , which brings together over 13,000 quotes. You can also find such resources in app form, including  Famous Quotes  and  Brilliant Quotes .

10. Quote a foreign proverb.

A novel attention grabber for speeches is quoting a proverb from a culture your audience might not be familiar with. There is a wealth of fresh material to be culled from around the world. Chances are your listeners have never heard them, so they have novelty appeal. Here are some examples: "Our last garment is made without pockets" (Italy); "You'll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind" (Ireland); "The nail that sticks up will be hammered down" (Japan), and "Paper can't wrap up a fire" (China). Whatever phrase you select,  take the time to read and understand any important context around it, so as to make sure it's appropriate for your talk.

11. Take them through a "what if" scenario. 

A compelling way to start your presentation is with a "what if" scenario. For example, asking "What if you were debt-free?" at the start of a money management presentation might grab your listeners' attention as it asks them to look forward to a positive future and it can intensify their desire for your product or service. Exploring hook ideas that use a "what if" scenario may be fruitful as the "what if" concept is easily adaptable to almost any presentation.

12. Tell them a story. 

The most engaging and widespread examples of hooks, without a doubt, are stories. Nothing will compel listeners to lean in more than a well-told story.  Science  tells us that our brains are hardwired for storytelling. But the story needs to be brief, with just the right amount of detail to bring it to life. It must be authentic and have a "message," or lesson, to support your viewpoint. Above all, it must be kind. 

A version of this article was originally published on April 11, 2013. 

Photo: Getty Images

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10 Tips: How to Write and Structure a Persuasive Speech That Will Captivate Your Audience

10 Tips: How to Write and Structure a Persuasive Speech That Will Captivate Your Audience

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had to give a speech? Whether you’re a seasoned public speaker or a novice, speaking in front of an audience can be a daunting task. It’s not easy to capture the attention of your listeners and persuade them to take action. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we will provide you with 10 tips on how to write and structure a persuasive speech that will captivate your audience.

The first tip is to clearly define your topic. Make sure you have a well-defined and specific topic that you will be speaking about. This will help you stay focused and ensure that your speech is clear and concise. It’s also important to choose a topic that you are passionate about and that you have a good understanding of. When you are enthusiastic about your topic, it will be easier to persuade your audience to share your point of view.

Next, it’s important to do your research. Make sure you gather all the necessary information and facts to support your argument. This will add credibility to your speech and make your audience more likely to be persuaded. Use examples, statistics, and expert opinions to back up your statements.

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It’s also important to address any possible objections or obstacles that your audience may have. Show them that you understand their concerns and provide solutions to their problems. This will make your speech more convincing and show that you have thought through all the possible scenarios. It’s important to be empathetic and understanding when presenting your argument.

By following these 10 tips, you will become a persuasive speaker who can captivate any audience. Remember to choose a clear and specific topic, do your research, use clear and concise statements, provide evidence and examples, address possible objections, and end with a strong call to action. Keep practicing and refining your speechs, and you will become an expert in no time!

Tips for Writing and Structuring a Persuasive Speech That Captivates Your Audience

1. Use thorough analysis: Before you start writing your speech, take the time to thoroughly analyze your topic. Understand the problem, cause, and potential solutions, and gather relevant evidence and references.

2. Clearly state your thesis: Your thesis statement should clearly communicate the main point or argument of your speech. Make sure it is concise and impactful, serving as a guiding theme throughout your speech.

3. Provide examples and evidence: To support your arguments, use specific examples and evidence that are relevant and relatable to your audience. This will help them understand your point of view and increase the persuasiveness of your speech.

4. Incorporate sound and conversational language: Use language that is easy to understand and flows naturally. A conversational tone will make your speech more relatable and engaging for your audience.

5. Set the mood: Consider the mood you want to create for your speech. Is it serious or lighthearted? Depending on the occasion and topic, choose the appropriate tone and language to create the desired atmosphere.

7. Keep your audience actively engaged: Throughout your speech, actively engage your audience by asking rhetorical questions , inviting them to think, or using other interactive techniques. This will help maintain their interest and participation.

8. Balance emotion and logic: Persuasive speeches often rely on both emotional and logical appeals. Find the right balance between appealing to your audience’s emotions and presenting strong logical arguments.

9. Use storytelling to make your points: Telling stories can be a powerful way to make your points more relatable and memorable. Use anecdotes or real-life examples to illustrate your arguments and connect with your audience on a personal level.

10. Utilize additional resources: Consider incorporating additional resources such as visuals, props, or audio clips to enhance your speech. These can add depth and variety to your presentation and help keep your audience engaged.

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By following these tips, you can write and structure a persuasive speech that captivates your audience and effectively delivers your message. Remember to keep practicing and refining your skills to become an even more persuasive and impactful speaker.

Define Your Goal

For example, if your goal is to persuade your audience to support a new policy aimed at helping children in need, your speech should clearly present the advantages of the proposed policy and how it can solve the problems they are facing. You might want to give concrete examples of how the policy has positively affected other children in similar situations.

Once you have defined your goal and identified your target audience, you can start structuring your speech accordingly. The body of your speech should be well-organized and logically structured to persuade your audience. One effective approach is the problem-solution structure, where you first present the problem and its impact, and then offer a solution or a series of solutions.

Furthermore, it is important to back up your persuasive points with concrete evidence. This can be done by providing statistics, studies, expert opinions, or personal stories that support your arguments. Visualizations such as graphs or charts can also help emphasize your main points and make them more memorable.

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Establish Your Purpose

There are three main purposes for a persuasive speech:

1. Informative: You might want to inform your audience about a particular topic or issue. In this case, your goal is to provide them with new information and help them understand the topic better.

2. Persuasive: The most common purpose for a persuasive speech is to persuade your audience to take a specific action or adopt a certain viewpoint. You want to convince them that your idea or argument is the right one.

3. Entertaining: Sometimes, the purpose of a persuasive speech is simply to entertain and engage the audience. This is often the case for speeches given at events or conferences.

When writing your speech, keep in mind the governing principle of persuasive speaking: “Show, don’t tell.” Instead of simply telling your audience what you want them to believe or do, provide them with examples, facts, and evidence that support your argument. Use storytelling and vivid examples to create a picture in their minds and help them see things from your perspective.

To persuade your audience, it’s also important to consider their attitudes and beliefs. Think about what obstacles or objections they might have and how you can address them. Anticipate their questions and concerns, and be prepared to solve them persuasively.

Finally, don’t forget to consider the time and place where you’ll be delivering your speech. Adjust your content and tone accordingly. For example, if you’re giving a speech to children, you’ll need to use simpler language and examples that are relevant to their lives. On the other hand, if you’re speaking to a more mature audience, you can use more complex language and references.

By following these tips and considering your audience, purpose, and structure, you can create a persuasive speech that will captivate your audience and leave a lasting impact.

Additional Resources:

– Persuasive Patterns Used in Speech Writing

– Examples of Persuasive Speeches

Know Your Audience

1. gather information.

Before you start writing your speech, take the time to gather as much information as possible about your audience. This includes not only demographic information like age, gender, and education level, but also their beliefs, values, and interests. The more you know about your audience, the better you can tailor your message to their specific needs and desires.

2. Use Concrete Examples

One key to persuading your audience is to use concrete examples that they can relate to. Instead of making vague statements, provide specific examples that demonstrate the impact of your argument. This helps your audience visualize your point and makes it more likely that they will be persuaded to take action.

3. Balance Persuasive and Informative Elements

A persuasive speech should strike a balance between providing information and making a strong argument. While you want to provide your audience with the necessary facts and evidence to support your claims, it’s important to also use persuasive techniques to motivate them to take action. Make sure that your speech includes both informative and persuasive elements to effectively convince your audience.

4. Consider the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

When structuring your persuasive speech, you can use the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence as a model. This sequence includes five steps: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. By following this structure, you can effectively move your audience from being unaware or uninterested to actively motivated to take action.

5. Provide References and Resources

To make your argument more persuasive, provide references and resources to back up your claims. This could include citing studies, quoting experts, or referencing reliable sources. By providing supporting evidence, you can increase your credibility and make your argument more convincing.

6. Understand Cultural and Contextual Differences

Keep in mind that different audiences may have different cultural and contextual backgrounds. It’s important to consider these differences when crafting your speech. Be aware of any potential cultural sensitivities and strive to be inclusive in your language and examples.

7. Appeal to Emotions

While it’s important to appeal to your audience’s logic with facts and evidence, don’t underestimate the power of emotions. Emotions can play a powerful role in persuading your audience. Use storytelling and emotional language to connect with your listeners on a deeper level and make your message more impactful.

8. Know the Purpose of Your Speech

Before you start writing, clearly define the purpose of your persuasive speech. Are you trying to inspire action, change attitudes, or inform your audience? Understanding your purpose will help you create a clear and focused message that aligns with your goals.

9. Keep Your Message Clear and Concise

In a persuasive speech, it’s important to keep your message clear, concise, and to the point. Avoid rambling or going off on tangents. Stick to your main points and avoid overwhelming your audience with too much information. Remember, brevity is key to capturing your audience’s attention and keeping them engaged.

10. Consider the Structural Balance

When organizing your speech, strive for a structural balance. This means presenting both sides of the argument but ultimately focusing on your own position. By acknowledging opposing viewpoints and addressing counterarguments, you can strengthen your own argument and make it more persuasive.

By knowing your audience and effectively tailoring your speech to their needs and interests, you can create a persuasive speech that captures their attention and motivates them to take action.

Develop a Strong Opening

  • Start with an attention-grabbing question or statement: Begin your speech with a thought-provoking question or a surprising statement that relates to your topic. This will immediately engage your audience and make them curious to know more.
  • Use storytelling or an anecdote: Storytelling is a powerful tool that can help you connect with your audience on a personal level. Start your speech with a short story or anecdote that illustrates the importance of your topic and its impact on people’s lives.
  • Include relevant data or statistics: Numbers and statistics can be persuasive and compelling. Incorporate relevant data or statistics that support your main points and make them more convincing.
  • Use a quote or a famous saying: Quotes from respected individuals or famous sayings can add credibility and authority to your speech. Choose a quote that relates to your topic and supports your main argument.
  • Create a sense of urgency: Highlight the importance of your topic and emphasize the need for immediate action. Make your audience understand that the issue you are addressing requires their attention and action.

Remember, your goal is to captivate your audience from the very beginning and persuade them to listen to your message. By utilizing these strategies, you can create a strong opening that will leave a lasting impression and set the stage for a persuasive speech.

Create a Logical Structure

There are several different ways to structure a persuasive speech. One common approach is to use Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, which includes five steps: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. This pattern allows you to gradually build up your argument, present evidence, and create a clear call to action.

Another approach is to organize your speech around a series of main points or arguments. This can be done in a sequential manner, where each point builds upon the previous one, or in a comparative manner, where you compare and contrast different perspectives or solutions. Whichever approach you choose, make sure to clearly outline your main points and use supporting evidence to strengthen your arguments.

In addition to these structural models, you can also draw inspiration from academic research on persuasive speaking and rhetorical analysis. For example, you can analyze the structural patterns used by renowned speakers and use them as a model for your own speech. You can also use rhetorical devices such as repetition, questions, and storytelling to make your speech more engaging and memorable.

When creating the structure of your speech, it’s essential to consider your audience’s knowledge and interests. Tailor your arguments and examples to fit their understanding level, and use language that they can easily comprehend. By doing so, you will increase their empathy and engagement with your message.

One technique that can help you create a logical structure is to break your speech into smaller sections or subsections. This allows you to address different aspects of your topic in a clear and organized manner. For example, if you were giving a speech about obesity, you could have sections on the causes of obesity, the health risks associated with it, and the potential solutions.

It’s also important to balance the amount of information you provide in your speech. While you want to provide enough evidence and examples to support your arguments, overwhelming your audience with too much information can be counterproductive. Make sure to only include the most relevant and compelling points.

Key takeaways:

  • Create a logical structure that guides your audience through your arguments.
  • Consider using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence or organizing your speech around main points.
  • Use rhetorical devices and storytelling to make your speech more engaging.
  • Tailor your arguments and language to fit your audience’s knowledge and interests.
  • Break your speech into smaller sections to address different aspects of your topic.
  • Balance the amount of information you provide to avoid overwhelming your audience.

What is the importance of using the negative to persuade in a speech?

Using the negative to persuade in a speech is important because it allows the speaker to highlight potential problems or negative consequences associated with not taking action or not supporting their point of view. This can create a sense of urgency and motivate the audience to consider the speaker’s argument more seriously.

How can using the negative in a persuasive speech help to captivate the audience?

Using the negative in a persuasive speech can captivate the audience by appealing to their emotions and fears. By highlighting the potential negative outcomes or consequences of not following the speaker’s advice or point of view, the audience becomes more emotionally engaged and invested in the speaker’s message.

Can you give me an example of using the negative in a persuasive speech?

Sure! For example, if the speaker is advocating for stricter gun control laws, they could use the negative by discussing the potential negative consequences of not having stricter regulations, such as increased gun violence or more mass shootings. By highlighting these negative outcomes, the speaker can persuade the audience to support their proposed changes.

Are there any potential drawbacks or risks to using the negative to persuade in a speech?

Yes, there are potential drawbacks to using the negative in a persuasive speech. It is important for the speaker to strike a balance between emphasizing the negative consequences and providing a positive and actionable solution or alternative. If the speaker focuses too much on the negative, it can demotivate the audience or make them feel overwhelmed, leading them to reject the speaker’s message.

What are some techniques or strategies for effectively using the negative to persuade in a speech?

There are a few techniques that can help effectively use the negative to persuade in a speech. First, it’s important to clearly and concisely explain the negative consequences or problems associated with not following the speaker’s point of view. Second, providing examples or real-life stories that illustrate these negative outcomes can make the message more relatable and impactful. Finally, offering a solution or alternative that addresses and mitigates these negative consequences can empower the audience and make them more receptive to the speaker’s persuasive efforts.

How can I make my speech more persuasive?

There are several ways to make your speech more persuasive. Firstly, you need to clearly state your argument and provide evidence to support it. Secondly, use emotional appeals to connect with your audience and make them care about your topic. Thirdly, anticipate and address counterarguments to strengthen your position. Lastly, use strong and confident language to convey your message.

What strategies can I use to persuade my audience using negative tactics?

When using negative tactics to persuade your audience, it is important to be cautious and use them sparingly. One strategy is to highlight the potential negative consequences of not taking action on your topic. This can create a sense of urgency and motivate your audience to support your argument. Another strategy is to use contrast, by presenting the negative aspects of the current situation and then offering a positive alternative or solution.

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By Alex Koliada, PhD

Alex Koliada, PhD, is a well-known doctor. He is famous for studying aging, genetics, and other medical conditions. He works at the Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics. His scientific research has been published in the most reputable international magazines. Alex holds a BA in English and Comparative Literature from the University of Southern California , and a TEFL certification from The Boston Language Institute.

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How to Write an Introduction for a Persuasive Speech

Last Updated: October 2, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Gale McCreary and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall . Gale McCreary is the Founder and Chief Coordinator of SpeechStory, a nonprofit organization focused on improving communication skills in youth. She was previously a Silicon Valley CEO and President of a Toastmasters International chapter. She has been recognized as Santa Barbara Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year and received Congressional recognition for providing a Family-Friendly work environment. She has a BS in Biology from Stanford University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 147,717 times.

A persuasive speech is meant to convince an audience to agree with your point of view or argument relating to a specific topic. While the body of your persuasive speech is where the bulk of your argument will go, it’s important that you don’t overlook the introduction. A good introduction will capture your audience’s attention, which is crucial if you want to persuade them. Fortunately, there are some simple rules you can follow that will make the introduction to your persuasive essay more engaging and memorable.

Organizing Your Introduction

Step 1 Start off with a hook to grab the audience’s attention.

  • For example, if your speech is about sleep deprivation in the workplace, you could start with something like “Workplace accidents and mistakes related to sleep deprivation cost companies $31 billion every single year.”
  • Or, if your speech is about animal rights, you could open with a quote like “The English philosopher Jeremy Bentham once said, ‘The question is not, Can they reason? Nor, Can they talk? But, Can they suffer?’”
  • For a speech about unpaid internships, you could start with a relevant anecdote like “In 2018, Tiffany Green got her dream internship, unpaid, working for a rental company. Unfortunately, a few months later Tiffany returned home from work to find an eviction notice on the door of her apartment, owned by that same rental company, because she was unable to pay her rent.

Step 2 Introduce your thesis statement.

  • For example, your thesis statement could look something like “Today, I’m going to talk to you about why medical marijuana should be legalized in all 50 states, and I’ll explain why that would improve the lives of average Americans and boost the economy.”

Step 3 Demonstrate to the audience that your argument is credible.

  • For example, if you’re a marine biologist who’s writing a persuasive speech about ocean acidification, you could write something like “I’ve studied the effects of ocean acidification on local marine ecosystems for over a decade now, and what I’ve found is staggering.”
  • Or, if you’re not an expert on your topic, you could include something like “Earlier this year, renowned marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson published a decade-long study on the acidification of our oceans, and what she found is deeply concerning.”

Step 4 Conclude your introduction by briefly previewing the main points you’ll cover.

  • For example, you could sum up your conclusion by writing something like, “To show you that a shorter work week would benefit not only employees but also their employers, first I will touch on the history of the modern average work week. Then, I’ll discuss the mental and physical toll that a long work week can take on a person. Finally, I’ll wrap up by going over fairer, better systems that we as a society could implement.”

Step 5 Limit your introduction to 10-15% of the total length of your speech.

  • For example, if you time yourself giving your speech (introduction included) and it takes you 5 minutes, your introduction should only take up about 45 seconds of your speech.
  • However, if you were giving a speech that’s 20 minutes long, your introduction should be around 3 minutes.
  • On average, you’ll want about 150 words for every 1 minute you need to speak for. For example, if your introduction should be 2 minutes, you’d want to write around 300 words.

Tip: If you know how long your speech is going to be before you write it, make the first draft of your introduction the right length so you don’t have to add or delete a lot later.

Polishing Your Writing

Step 1 Write in a conversational tone.

  • To make your writing more conversational, try to use brief sentences, and avoid including jargon unless you need it to make your point.
  • Using contractions, like “I’ll” instead of “I will,” “wouldn’t” instead of “would not,” and “they’re” instead of “they are,” can help make your writing sound more conversational.

Step 2 Be concise when you’re writing your introduction.

Tip: An easy way to make your writing more concise is to start your sentences with the subject. Also, try to limit the number of adverbs and adjectives you use.

Step 3 Tailor your writing to your audience.

  • For example, if your audience will be made up of the other students in your college class, including a pop culture reference in your introduction might be an effective way to grab their attention and help them relate to your topic. However, if you’re giving your speech in a more formal setting, a pop culture reference might fall flat.

Step 4 Connect with your audience.

  • For example, you could write something like, “I know a lot of you may strongly disagree with me on this. However, I think if you give me a chance and hear me out, we might end up finding some common ground.”
  • Or, you could include a question like “How many of you here tonight have ever come across plastic that's washed up on the beach?” Then, you can have audience members raise their hands.

Step 5 Practice reading your introduction out loud.

  • You can even record yourself reading your introduction to get a sense of how you'll look delivering the opening of your speech.

Example Introduction for a Persuasive Speech

how to write a hook for persuasive speech

Community Q&A

Community Answer

You Might Also Like

Be Persuasive

  • ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication/chapter/11-2-persuasive-speaking/
  • ↑ https://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/public-speaking-practice-and-ethics/s12-introductions-matter-how-to-be.html
  • ↑ https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/ace/downloads/tipsheets/persvsargu.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.speechanddebate.org/wp-content/uploads/Tips-for-Writing-a-Persuasive-Speech.pdf
  • ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/publicspeaking/chapter/14-1-four-methods-of-delivery/
  • ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/argumentative_essays.html
  • ↑ https://www.gvsu.edu/speechlab/connecting-with-the-audience-26.htm
  • ↑ https://www.gvsu.edu/speechlab/practicing-presentations-33.htm

About This Article

Gale McCreary

To write an introduction for a persuasive speech, start with a hook that will grab your audience's attention, like a surprising statistic or meaningful quote. Then, introduce your thesis statement, which should explain what you are arguing for and why. From here, you'll need to demonstrate the credibility of your argument if you want your audience to believe what you're saying. Depending on if you are an expert or not, you should either share your personal credentials or reference papers and studies by experts in the field that legitimize your argument. Finally, conclude with a brief preview of the main points you'll cover in your speech, so your audience knows what to expect and can follow along more easily. For more tips from our co-author, including how to polish your introduction, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Persuasive Speeches — Types, Topics, and Examples

Daniel Bal

What is a persuasive speech?

In a persuasive speech, the speaker aims to convince the audience to accept a particular perspective on a person, place, object, idea, etc. The speaker strives to cause the audience to accept the point of view presented in the speech.

how to write a hook for persuasive speech

The success of a persuasive speech often relies on the speaker’s use of ethos, pathos, and logos.

Success of a persuasive speech

Ethos is the speaker’s credibility. Audiences are more likely to accept an argument if they find the speaker trustworthy. To establish credibility during a persuasive speech, speakers can do the following:

Use familiar language.

Select examples that connect to the specific audience.

Utilize credible and well-known sources.

Logically structure the speech in an audience-friendly way.

Use appropriate eye contact, volume, pacing, and inflection.

Pathos appeals to the audience’s emotions. Speakers who create an emotional bond with their audience are typically more convincing. Tapping into the audience’s emotions can be accomplished through the following:

Select evidence that can elicit an emotional response.

Use emotionally-charged words. (The city has a problem … vs. The city has a disease …)

Incorporate analogies and metaphors that connect to a specific emotion to draw a parallel between the reference and topic.

Utilize vivid imagery and sensory words, allowing the audience to visualize the information.

Employ an appropriate tone, inflection, and pace to reflect the emotion.

Logos appeals to the audience’s logic by offering supporting evidence. Speakers can improve their logical appeal in the following ways:

Use comprehensive evidence the audience can understand.

Confirm the evidence logically supports the argument’s claims and stems from credible sources.

Ensure that evidence is specific and avoid any vague or questionable information.

Types of persuasive speeches

The three main types of persuasive speeches are factual, value, and policy.

Types of persuasive speeches

A factual persuasive speech focuses solely on factual information to prove the existence or absence of something through substantial proof. This is the only type of persuasive speech that exclusively uses objective information rather than subjective. As such, the argument does not rely on the speaker’s interpretation of the information. Essentially, a factual persuasive speech includes historical controversy, a question of current existence, or a prediction:

Historical controversy concerns whether an event happened or whether an object actually existed.

Questions of current existence involve the knowledge that something is currently happening.

Predictions incorporate the analysis of patterns to convince the audience that an event will happen again.

A value persuasive speech concerns the morality of a certain topic. Speakers incorporate facts within these speeches; however, the speaker’s interpretation of those facts creates the argument. These speeches are highly subjective, so the argument cannot be proven to be absolutely true or false.

A policy persuasive speech centers around the speaker’s support or rejection of a public policy, rule, or law. Much like a value speech, speakers provide evidence supporting their viewpoint; however, they provide subjective conclusions based on the facts they provide.

How to write a persuasive speech

Incorporate the following steps when writing a persuasive speech:

Step 1 – Identify the type of persuasive speech (factual, value, or policy) that will help accomplish the goal of the presentation.

Step 2 – Select a good persuasive speech topic to accomplish the goal and choose a position .

How to write a persuasive speech

Step 3 – Locate credible and reliable sources and identify evidence in support of the topic/position. Revisit Step 2 if there is a lack of relevant resources.

Step 4 – Identify the audience and understand their baseline attitude about the topic.

Step 5 – When constructing an introduction , keep the following questions in mind:

What’s the topic of the speech?

What’s the occasion?

Who’s the audience?

What’s the purpose of the speech?

Step 6 – Utilize the evidence within the previously identified sources to construct the body of the speech. Keeping the audience in mind, determine which pieces of evidence can best help develop the argument. Discuss each point in detail, allowing the audience to understand how the facts support the perspective.

Step 7 – Addressing counterarguments can help speakers build their credibility, as it highlights their breadth of knowledge.

Step 8 – Conclude the speech with an overview of the central purpose and how the main ideas identified in the body support the overall argument.

How to write a persuasive speech

Persuasive speech outline

One of the best ways to prepare a great persuasive speech is by using an outline. When structuring an outline, include an introduction, body, and conclusion:

Introduction

Attention Grabbers

Ask a question that allows the audience to respond in a non-verbal way; ask a rhetorical question that makes the audience think of the topic without requiring a response.

Incorporate a well-known quote that introduces the topic. Using the words of a celebrated individual gives credibility and authority to the information in the speech.

Offer a startling statement or information about the topic, typically done using data or statistics.

Provide a brief anecdote or story that relates to the topic.

Starting a speech with a humorous statement often makes the audience more comfortable with the speaker.

Provide information on how the selected topic may impact the audience .

Include any background information pertinent to the topic that the audience needs to know to understand the speech in its entirety.

Give the thesis statement in connection to the main topic and identify the main ideas that will help accomplish the central purpose.

Identify evidence

Summarize its meaning

Explain how it helps prove the support/main claim

Evidence 3 (Continue as needed)

Support 3 (Continue as needed)

Restate thesis

Review main supports

Concluding statement

Give the audience a call to action to do something specific.

Identify the overall importan ce of the topic and position.

Persuasive speech topics

The following table identifies some common or interesting persuasive speech topics for high school and college students:

Persuasive speech examples

The following list identifies some of history’s most famous persuasive speeches:

John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address: “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do for You”

Lyndon B. Johnson: “We Shall Overcome”

Marc Antony: “Friends, Romans, Countrymen…” in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

Ronald Reagan: “Tear Down this Wall”

Sojourner Truth: “Ain’t I a Woman?”

Hook Generator

AI Hook Generator: Write a Perfect Attention-Grabber

What is a hook generator.

In writing, a hook is a sentence or group of sentences that serves as an attention-grabbing opening to a piece of writing. It is a powerful tool to engage readers or listeners and encourage them to continue reading or listening. However, crafting a good hook can be challenging, and that's where a hook generator comes in.

A hook generator, also known as a hook creator or hook sentence generator, is an online tool that provides users with various ideas for hooks that they can use in their writing. These tools help writers save time and effort by providing them with different options for a hook that they can choose from.

Why Should You Use a Hook Statement Generator?

Using a hook generator has several advantages for writers, including:

  • Time-saving:  Writing a hook can be a time-consuming process. A hook generator can save writers time by providing them with various options to choose from.
  • Increased creativity:  A hook generator can stimulate creativity by providing writers with unique and interesting ideas that they might not have thought of on their own.
  • Improved engagement:  A well-crafted hook can improve reader engagement, and a hook generator can help writers create attention-grabbing hooks that keep their readers interested.
  • Consistency:  A hook generator can help writers ensure that the tone and style of their hooks are consistent throughout their writing. This can help create a more cohesive and polished piece of writing, which can improve the reader's overall experience.
  • Flexibility:  A hook generator can provide writers with different types of hooks that can be tailored to their specific writing needs. For example, a writer may need a hook for an essay, a speech, or a marketing campaign. A hook generator can provide a variety of hook types, such as anecdotes, questions, or quotations, that can be customized to suit the specific type of writing.

How to Use Our Hook Generator?

Our hook generator is easy to use and can help writers generate hooks quickly and efficiently. Here's how to use it:

Step 1: Describe the Topic

Enter the topic you want to write about in the text box. This will help the generator provide relevant and specific ideas for hooks.

Step 2: Generate Hook Ideas

Click on the "Generate Hooks" button, and our hook generator will provide you with different ideas for hooks. You can select the ones that you like and save them for later use.

Step 3: Save Hooks with Potential

After generating hook ideas, you can save the ones that you think have the potential to engage your audience. You can copy and paste them into a separate document for future reference.

Step 4: Refine Your Hooks

You can refine the hooks you've saved by making changes to them or combining different ideas to create a more unique hook.

Tips for writing effective hooks

Here are some tips for writing effective hooks:

Know your audience

Before writing a hook, it's essential to know your target audience. Consider what type of reader or listener you are trying to attract and what their interests and values are. This will help you create a hook that is relevant and appealing to your audience.

Hook examples:

  • Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list?
  • Are you passionate about saving the environment?
  • Do you love trying new recipes and experimenting in the kitchen?

Start with an interesting fact or statistic

Sharing a surprising or little-known fact can pique readers' curiosity and make them want to learn more. Starting with a fact or statistic can also establish the importance of the topic you're writing about.

Pose a thought-provoking question

Asking a question can make readers or listeners think and engage with the topic on a deeper level. Make sure the question is relevant to your topic and encourages readers to keep reading or listening.

Thought-provoking hook exa

  • What would you do if you had only 24 hours left to live?
  • Is it ever acceptable to lie to protect someone's feelings?
  • Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?

Use a quotation

Using a quotation from a famous person or a book related to your topic can add credibility and interest to your writing. Make sure the quotation is relevant and memorable.

Quotation hook examples:

  • "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
  • "The best way to predict your future is to create it." - Abraham Lincoln
  • "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." - Charles Darwin

Tell a story or anecdote

Sharing a personal story or anecdote can help readers connect with your writing on an emotional level. Make sure the story is relevant to your topic and highlights the importance of the issue you're discussing.

Story hook examples:

  • When I was six years old, I fell off my bike and broke my arm. Little did I know that this event would shape my entire life.
  • My grandfather used to tell me stories about his experiences during the war. His stories always reminded me of the sacrifices he made for our country.
  • I remember the first time I tasted sushi. It was love at first bite, and I've been a fan ever since.

Humour can be an effective way to engage readers and make them remember your writing. However, make sure the humor is appropriate and relevant to your topic.

  • Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing!
  • I used to play piano by ear, but now I use my hands instead.
  • I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.

Keep it concise

A hook should be brief and to the point. Avoid using long, complicated sentences that may confuse or bore readers.

Concise hooks examples:

  • Time is money.
  • Life is short.
  • Knowledge is power.

Make it unique

A hook should be unique and stand out from other hooks. Avoid using cliches or overused phrases that readers may have seen before.

Your hook should accurately reflect the content of your writing. Avoid using clickbait or misleading hooks that may disappoint or frustrate readers.

How to Write a Good Hook for an Essay

A good hook for an essay should be attention-grabbing and relevant to the topic. It should also be unique and creative. Here are some types of hooks in writing that you can use for your essay:

  • Anecdote: Start with a short and interesting story related to your topic.
  • Question: Pose a question to your audience that makes them think and want to learn more.
  • Quotation: Use a quotation from a famous person or a book related to your topic.
  • Surprising fact: Share a surprising or shocking fact that will make your readers curious.
  • Definition: Start with a clear and concise definition of a term related to your topic.

Choose Your Type of Hook

After selecting the type of hook you want to use, you can start writing your hook sentence. A good hook should be concise and to the point, but it should also grab your readers' attention.

How to Start a Hook for an Essay

To start a hook for an essay, you need to think about what will capture your readers' attention. You can start by asking a question, sharing a story, or providing an interesting fact. The goal is to create a hook that will make your readers want to keep reading.

Essay Hook Examples

Here are some examples of good hooks for essays:

  • Anecdote: "When I was six years old, I broke my leg in a car accident. Little did I know that this event would shape my entire life."
  • Question: "Did you know that the human brain can process information faster than the speed of light?"
  • Quotation: "As Nelson Mandela once said, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'"
  • Surprising fact: "Did you know that the world's largest living organism is a fungus that covers over 2,200 acres in Oregon?"
  • Definition: "According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, 'procrastination' is defined as the act of delaying or postponing something."

Hook Generators

Aside from our hook generator, there are several other hook generators available online that can help writers create attention-grabbing hooks for their writing. Here are some examples:

Instagram Hooks Generator

Instagram is a popular social media platform that is used by millions of people around the world. If you're looking to create reels on Instagram, you can use an Instagram hooks generator to come up with creative and engaging hook ideas.

An Instagram hooks generator is a tool that generates creative ideas and concepts for reels on the Instagram platform. It is designed to help users create attention-grabbing and visually stunning content to capture the attention of their audience. 

Instagram hook tips: 

  • Use a visually stunning image or video that captures the essence of your brand or product
  • Use an interesting caption that encourages viewers to engage with your post
  • Use a unique hashtag that makes your post easily discoverable

Check out our  AI instagram bio generator

Email Hooks Generator

Email marketing is an effective way to reach potential customers and promote your business. To make sure your emails get noticed, you can use an email hooks generator to come up with attention-grabbing subject lines that entice your subscribers to open your emails.

An email hooks generator is a tool that generates attention-grabbing subject lines for email marketing campaigns. It is designed to help users create subject lines that entice their subscribers to open their emails. Here are some benefits and examples of an email hooks generator:

Email hook tips:

  • Ask a question in the subject line that piques the subscriber's curiosity
  • Use numbers to make the subject line more specific and compelling
  • Use a sense of urgency to create a feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out)

Check out our  cover letter generator and  how to write letter of recommendation with AI . 

Speech Hook Generator

Public speaking can be daunting, but a well-crafted hook can help you capture your audience's attention and keep them engaged throughout your speech. A speech hook generator can provide you with different ideas for hooks that you can use to make your speech more memorable.

A speech hook generator is a tool that generates creative and engaging ideas for speeches. It is designed to help users create attention-grabbing hooks that capture the audience's attention and keep them engaged throughout the speech. 

Speech hook tips: 

  • Use a personal story or anecdote that relates to the topic of the speech
  • Use a shocking statistic or fact that highlights the importance of the issue being discussed
  • Use humor to make the audience laugh and create a relaxed atmosphere

Essay Hook Generator

An essay hook generator can help you come up with creative ideas for hooks that you can use to make your essay stand out. By using a hook generator, you can save time and effort while creating a hook that will make your essay more engaging.

An essay hook generator is a tool that generates creative ideas for hooks for essays. It is designed to help users create attention-grabbing hooks that make their essays stand out. 

Essay hook tips:

  • Use a quote from a famous person or a book related to the topic of the essay
  • Use a surprising or little-known fact that highlights the importance of the issue being discussed
  • Use a personal story or anecdote that relates to the topic of the essay

Song Hook Generator

Writing a catchy hook is essential for creating a successful song. A song hook generator can provide you with different ideas for hooks that you can use in your songwriting.

A song hook generator is a tool that generates creative and memorable ideas for hooks for songs. It is designed to help users create catchy and memorable hooks that stick in the listener's mind. 

Song hook tips:

  • Use a catchy melody or rhythm that makes the hook memorable
  • Use a simple and repetitive phrase that is easy for listeners to remember
  • Use a metaphor or analogy that makes the hook more interesting and memorable

Check out also our  country song generator and  song title generator .

Marketing Hook Generator

Marketing hooks are used to grab the attention of potential customers and persuade them to buy your products or services. A marketing hook generator can provide you with different ideas for hooks that you can use in your marketing campaigns to make them more effective.

In conclusion, using a hook generator can be a valuable tool for writers who want to create attention-grabbing hooks quickly and efficiently. By following the steps outlined in this article and using a hook generator, you can create hooks that engage your audience and make your writing more memorable.

IMAGES

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    1. Take a Contrarian Stance 2. Ask Several Rhetorical Questions 3. Use a Powerful Sound Bite 4. Provide a Reference to a Historical Event 5. Employ a Startling Assertion 6. Take Them Through Imagine or What If Scenario 7. Use Quotations With Your Twist 8. Tell the Audience a Story Wrap Up

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    Hook #1: Curiosity Hook "After 15 years of trial and error, research, and blood, sweat, and tears, I've finally found out what makes the difference between a good presenter and a great one. It's…" That's an example of a curiosity hook. You find ways to make your long road lead to their shortcut.

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    1 Rhetorical questions Rhetorical questions are popular essay hooks because they make readers think. For example, an essay might start with the question "Is it ethical to eat animals?" Before reading the rest of the essay, the reader answers the question in their mind.

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    1. Selecting a topic People are naturally interested in stories that have a hook. For a speech, this is none other than a topic. Every speaker wants their audience to be engaged and hence, the first step to achieving this is to select a good topic that will capture the attention of their audience.

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    1. The Surprising Statistic Hook Presenting a surprising fact or statistic is a great way to grab the attention of your audience. For example, an essay on the orphan crisis may begin with: Did you know that worldwide, there are roughly 153 million orphans? And every single day, about 5,700 more children become orphans. 2.

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    Tips for Writing a Persuasive Speech Putting together a three-minute speech can be daunting—especially if you've never written one before! The key to efective communication lies in a well organized, clearly articulated, and thoroughly researched and sourced argument.

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    Conclusion What is a Hook? A "hook" is a sentence that grabs the reader's attention and keeps them interested in the outcome of your academic text or research paper. The hook is found in the first sentence or two in the opening paragraph in an academic text and serves both as an introduction and an attention grabber.

  12. How to Write a Persuasive Speech

    Blog > Persuasive Speech Written by Cathy A. Making Persuasive Speech Writing Easy: Steps and Tips 9 min read Published on: Nov 30, 2018 Last updated on: Nov 7, 2023 Having trouble writing a persuasive speech? You're not alone. Many students and aspiring orators find themselves wrestling with the complexities of persuasive speech composition.

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    Preparation: Consider your audience As with any speech, preparation is crucial. Before you put pen to paper, think about what you want to achieve with your speech. This will help organise your thoughts as you realistically can only cover 2-4 main points before your audience get bored.

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    Writing 7 Tips for Writing an Attention-Grabbing Hook Written by MasterClass Last updated: Sep 1, 2021 • 5 min read How do you get a reader interested in what you have to say? One technique is to use a great hook—an opening so exciting that it convinces a reader that your story is worth reading. Learn From the Best Jump To Section What Is a Hook?

  16. 12 Ways to Hook an Audience in 30 Seconds

    A hook is a presentation-opening tactic that immediately captures your audience's imagination. As the word implies, it's like a worm on a fishing hook that attracts a fish. A hook instantly engages your audience so that they want to listen to what you have to say. Your hook must come at the start of your talk. First impressions count.

  17. 10 Tips: How to Write and Structure a Persuasive Speech That Will

    1. Use thorough analysis: Before you start writing your speech, take the time to thoroughly analyze your topic. Understand the problem, cause, and potential solutions, and gather relevant evidence and references. 2. Clearly state your thesis: Your thesis statement should clearly communicate the main point or argument of your speech.

  18. How to Write an Introduction for a Persuasive Speech

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    Step 1 - Identify the type of persuasive speech (factual, value, or policy) that will help accomplish the goal of the presentation. Step 2 - Select a good persuasive speech topic to accomplish the goal and choose a position. How to write a persuasive speech. Step 3 - Locate credible and reliable sources and identify evidence in support of ...

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    In a persuasive speech, your primary goal is to persuade the audience to accept your idea or point of view. The list of possible persuasive speech titles is endless and only limited by your imagination. If you are looking to write a speech to persuade, here are a few examples of persuasive speech titles, to get you thinking and whet your appetite:

  22. Free AI Hook Generator

    By inputting the product or service details, target audience, or marketing message, the tool can generate hooks that effectively grab the attention of potential customers and encourage them to take action. This use case aids in creating memorable and persuasive marketing content. Speeches and presentations.

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    An essay hook generator is a tool that generates creative ideas for hooks for essays. It is designed to help users create attention-grabbing hooks that make their essays stand out. Essay hook tips: Use a quote from a famous person or a book related to the topic of the essay.