Touchstones are projects that illustrate your comprehension of the course material, help you refine skills, and demonstrate application of knowledge. You can work on a Touchstone anytime, but you must complete this unit’s assessments before you submit it. Once you’ve submitted a Touchstone, it will be graded and counted toward your final course score.
Touchstone 4: Persuasive Speech Outline
ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will outline a 5–7 minute persuasive speech that you will present on a topic of your choice later in Touchstone 5. The speech can be for any context, but it must be persuasive. Below is a list of example speech occasions and purposes for inspiration, if needed.
Type of Persuasive SpeechPurposeExamples
Of FactPersuade the audience that a certain fact or truth is valid and accurate.Eating a plant-based diet is healthier than a meat-based diet (or vice versa).
Too much screen time will impact sleep quality.
Renewable energy is more beneficial than nonrenewable energy.
Of ValueConvince the audience that something is right or wrong, moral or immoral, or better or worse than another thing.The need for honesty and integrity in professional relationships.
The importance of education on personal and societal growth.
The benefits of forgiveness and letting go of grudges in terms of healing.
Of PolicyAdvocate a change or persuade the audience to support a particular course of action or policy.The benefits or disadvantages of paid parental leave to support working families.
Why you should or shouldn’t drive an electric vehicle.
The benefits or disadvantages of increasing the minimum wage.
To prepare to deliver this persuasive speech on a topic of your choice, you will first create a 3–5 page outline of the main components of your speech.
Download the submission template below, which further breaks down the steps involved in this assignment. You will return the completed template as your Touchstone submission.
Touchstone 4 Template
Touchstone 4 Sample
In order to foster learning and growth, all work you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any plagiarized or recycled work will result in a Plagiarism Detected alert. Review Touchstones: Academic Integrity Guidelines for more about plagiarism and the Plagiarism Detected alert. For guidance on the use of generative AI technology, review Ethical Standards and Appropriate Use of AI.
Touchstone Support Videos
Organizing Your Persuasive Speech
Persuading Your AudienceA. Directions
Step 1: Select Persuasive Topic/IssueYour speech should be consistently persuasive in nature. Identify your audience, purpose, and thesis.
Today, there are many different debates being had all around the world about topics that affect our personal, professional, civic, and/or academic lives. Some of these debates have been such hot topics for so long that it has become very difficult to add to the conversation with new and original ideas or stances to take. To move beyond this trend, we have created a list of topics that may not be used for this Touchstone. Feel free to access a tutor if you would like support choosing a topic for this essay.
Please AVOID choosing any of the following topics:
Abortion Rights
Climate Change
Belief in God(s) or Afterlife(s)
Death Penalty / Capital Punishment
Euthanasia / Assisted Suicide
Fad Diets (e.g., Keto, etc.)
Funding/Defunding Law Enforcement
Gender Affirming Care
Immigration
Legal Alcohol/Tobacco Age
Legalization of Marijuana
Legalization of Sex Work
Paying Student Athletes
Second Amendment Rights (i.e., Gun Control)
Social Media’s Impact on Mental Health
Universal Healthcare
Vaccines
Choosing to write about any of the above topics will result in a non-passing score.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
Informative and Persuasive Speeches
Choosing and Developing a Good Topic
Definition and Goals of Persuasive Speeches
The Psychology and Ethics of Persuasion
Types of Persuasive Speeches
Sample Persuasive Speech
Step 2: Plan SpeechPlan your speech, considering what your introduction, main points, and conclusion will include. Gather information and evidence to support your main points and thesis. Determine what persuasive strategies you will use (ethos, pathos, and/or logos).
Type of AppealPurposeExample
EthosTo appeal to an audience by establishing one’s credibility or authority on a topicShare professional qualifications, research, or publications relating to your topic to create confidence in you as a speaker.
PathosTo appeal to an audience by influencing their emotionsCreate empathy by sharing stories, showing pictures, or using analogies to illustrate a need or an impact.
LogosTo appeal to an audience using logic, reasoning, or evidence that supports a claimProvide data, statistics, charts, and tables to support your point.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
Gathering Information
Sources of Information: The Library
Sources of Information: The Internet
Evaluating Sources
Components of a Speech
Using Appeals in Persuasive Speeches: Pathos
Using Appeals in Persuasive Speeches: Ethos
Using Appeals in Persuasive Speeches: Logos
Step 3: Outline SpeechUsing the Touchstone 4 Template, outline your speech, which should include an introduction, body (main points), conclusion, and transitions. Your outline should be 3–5 pages, excluding the reference page.
3a. Develop General Premise
Constructing a presentation will require that you begin by developing your goal and translating it into a general premise you will state to your audience.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
Components of a Speech
Choosing the Main Points
The Preparation Outline
The Speaking and Rough Draft Outlines
3b. Generate Main Points and Organize Strategically
After you have established a premise, you will be able to generate main points to support this claim. Be sure to coherently organize these main points so that the audience can easily follow your flow of ideas. For this touchstone, you should create three to four main points to ensure clarity and timeliness when you deliver your speech in Touchstone 5. Keep main points separate (transitions separate ideas) and balance the time spent on each point.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
Choosing the Main Points
Highlighting the Main Points
Ordering the Main Points
3c. Create an Introduction and Conclusion
After you have developed your main points, you will need to complete the introduction and conclusion. Create the introduction first—the conclusion really reiterates much of what was said in the introduction. The introduction opens the speech and is responsible for getting the audience’s attention, relating the topic to the audience, establishing the speaker’s credibility, and previewing the main points of the presentation. The conclusion should summarize the main points, repeat your thesis, and end with something memorable.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
The Role of the Introduction
Establishing Credibility: Topic, Thesis, and Main Points
Introducing the Topic, Thesis, and Main Points
The Role of the Conclusion
3d. Fill In Transitions
Prior to delivering your presentation, your final step will be to develop transitions that lead your audience between parts of the presentation and between distinct main ideas. Take the final step of filling in transitions seriously. Transitions play an important role in the success of your speech.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
The Role and Use of Transitions
3e. Incorporate Visual Aids
Think of an effective way to incorporate at least one visual aid that will be relevant to your purpose and message and will enhance your speech, whether that is in the introduction, the body, the conclusion, or even in a transition.
Refer to the following lessons for support:
Highlighting the Main Points
3f. Cite Sources
Be sure to include a reference list of sources you have used to prepare your speech. List these sources using APA style on the reference page in the template.
Step 4: Review RubricReview the rubric to ensure that you understand how you will be evaluated.
Step 5: Review Checklist and RequirementsReview the checklist and requirements to ensure that your Touchstone is complete.
Step 6: SubmitSubmit your completed Touchstone 4 Template using the blue button at the top of this page.
Refer to the checklist below throughout the recording process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.
❒ I have selected a speech purpose that is persuasive.
❒ I have completed all aspects of the template, including the introduction, body (main points), conclusion, and transitions.
❒ I incorporated at least one visual aid in my speech outline.
❒ The introduction includes the thesis.
❒ The body includes my main points and support.
❒ I have selected sources that are credible and support that is relevant.
❒ I have included an APA-style reference page below my outline.
❒ I have used language that is appropriate to my audience.
❒ The conclusion summarizes my main points and repeats the thesis.
❒ I have answered each question using complete sentences.
❒ My outline demonstrates thoughtful consideration of each component of my speech.
❒ I have adhered to the 3–5 page length (excluding the reference page) and formatting requirements.
❒ I have read through the rubric and I understand how my Touchstone will be evaluated.
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