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56. Which of the following specific purpose statements is from a persuasive speech seeking immediate
action?
57. Which of the following specific purpose statements is from a persuasive speech seeking immediate
action?
58. Which of the following specific purpose statements is from a persuasive speech seeking immediate
action?
64. Jia’s persuasive speech contained the following statement:
The decline in the U.S. bat population has reached critical proportions. Since 2006, more than six
million bats in 33 states have been killed by a fungus called white-nose syndrome. The shrinking
number of bats has serious consequences, not only because bats eat insects that are harmful to trees
and crops, but also because they eat mosquitoes, such as those that carry West Nile virus.
Which of the three basic issues of persuasive speeches on questions of policy did Jia address in
this excerpt?
65. Nina’s persuasive speech contained the following statement:
The lack of a national law requiring seatbelts on school buses is a serious problem in the United
States. Last year alone, 437 children were killed and more than 17,000 ended up in emergency
rooms as a result of accidents involving school buses. Given all the advances in automobile
safety in recent years, how can we continue to allow our children to ride in unsafe vehicles?
Which of the three basic issues of persuasive speeches on questions of policy did Nina address in
this excerpt?
66. In a speech seeking to persuade her audience to support the city’s ban on unlimited drink
specials at local bars, Amira used examples and statistics to demonstrate the seriousness of binge
drinking as a problem on college campuses. Which of the three basic issues of persuasive
speeches on questions of policy did Amira address in this part of her speech?
67. Jolene’s persuasive speech contained the following statement:
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The best way to prevent teens from texting while driving is for every state to require a program
similar to one implemented in New York. There, Esurance is offering its customers a free plugin
that reports back to parents about instances of unsafe driving. The device can also disable any
aspect of cell phone use that the parent chooses, such as texting, while still allowing other
features such as navigation apps and calls from the parent.
Which of the three basic issues of persuasive speeches on questions of policy did Jolene address
in this excerpt?
68. Hector’s persuasive speech contained the following statement:
Reducing the problem of bullying will require a combination of measures. To begin with, school
personnel need to be trained to recognize the signs of bullying and to respond appropriately. In
addition, students need to be reminded that bullying is everybody’s problem and that every
student has a responsibility to report it to school officials. Finally, parents and teachers need to
know how to empower students with appropriate ways to respond when they find themselves
victims of bullying.
Which of the three basic issues of persuasive speeches on questions of policy did Hector address
in this excerpt?
69. Luke’s persuasive speech contained the following statement:
Fixing what’s wrong with veterans’ healthcare will take more than just money. We need an
independent management firm to digitize the system’s records and come up with a method for
scheduling appointments within a reasonable amount of time. Once those changes are in place,
an independent panel should perform annual unscheduled inspections of all VA healthcare
facilities.
Which of the three basic issues of persuasive speeches on questions of policy did Luke address
in this excerpt?
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Lowering the drinking age will reduce binge drinking among college students by making alcohol
consumption a normal experience rather than a forbidden pleasure. In addition, appropriate
drinking behavior can be discussed at parties where adults are present, while peer pressure will
help keep students from drinking to excess.
Which of the three basic issues of persuasive speeches on questions of policy did Kobe address
in this excerpt?
75. Natasha’s persuasive speech contained the following statement:
When schools switch to a year-round schedule, students won’t have time to forget what they’ve
learned because the breaks between sessions will be shorter. And studies have shown that
students in year-round schools outperform students in traditional schools in subjects like math
and science.
Which of the three basic issues of persuasive speeches on questions of policy did Natasha
address in this excerpt?
76. Seth’s persuasive speech contained the following statement:
Will my policy work? Can we institute a law protecting individual privacy against electronic
data-gathering by businesses? The answer is yes. A policy similar to mine has already been
instituted successfully in most of the countries of Western Europe.
Which of the three basic issues of persuasive speeches on questions of policy did Seth address in
this excerpt?
77. If you give a persuasive speech advocating a change in policy, your main points will often fall
naturally into __________ order.
78. The following set of main points for a persuasive speech on a question of policy follows which
pattern of organization?
I. The number of school shootings has become alarmingly high in recent years.
II. The best way to reduce them is to ban assault-type weapons and to expand background
checks to include family members of the people who purchase weapons.
79. The following set of main points for a persuasive speech on a question of policy follows which
pattern of organization?
I. A growing body of research shows that e-cigarettes pose a health risk to young people.
II. The risk can be reduced by banning e-cigarette advertising and eliminating the sale of e-
cigarettes to minors.
80. The following set of main points for a persuasive speech on a question of policy follows which
pattern of organization?
I. Bacterial meningitis is a deadly disease that can spread easily on college campuses.
II. Every college student should be required to get vaccinated against bacterial meningitis.
81. The following set of main points for a persuasive speech on a question of policy follows which
pattern of organization?
I. The shortage of nurses has become a serious national problem.
II. The problem can be solved by offering nurses better salaries and better working
conditions.
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82. Roberto’s persuasive speech on a question of policy contains the following transition between
the first and second main points:
As we have seen, excessive caffeine consumption can create serious problems for your body’s
nervous system and immune system. We’re now ready to look at ways you can start reducing
your intake of caffeine.
Roberto’s speech is organized according to which pattern of organization?
83. Heather gave her persuasive speech on the problem of teenage alcoholism. In her first main
point, she showed how serious the problem is. In her second main point, she explained why the
problem has reached its current proportions. In her third main point, she presented some ways of
coping with the problem. What organizational pattern did Heather use in her speech?
84. The following set of main points for a persuasive speech on a question of policy follows which
pattern of organization?
I. Childhood obesity is a serious health crisis in the United States.
II. Childhood obesity is caused by a range of factors from poor nutrition to lack of exercise.
III. Childhood obesity can be reduced by action from parents, schools, and the fast-food
industry.
85. Alex’s persuasive speech on a question of policy includes the following connective between the
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First we saw that health complications from obesity are a growing problem among young adults.
Then we looked at some of the major factors leading to this problem. Now let’s look at the steps
we can take to eliminate the problem.
Alex’s speech is organized according to which pattern of organization?
86. As your textbook explains, __________ order is a way to structure a persuasive speech on a
question of policy when the audience already agrees that a problem exists but needs to be
persuaded that your plan provides the best solution to the problem.
87. The following set of main points for a persuasive speech on a question of policy follows which
pattern of organization?
I. A carbon tax is a better solution to the problem of industrial pollution than an emissions
trading system because it provides more incentives for industries to switch to
nonpolluting fuels.
II. A carbon tax is a better solution to the problem of industrial pollution than an emissions
trading system because it provides revenue that can be returned to consumers.
III. A carbon tax is a better solution to the problem of industrial pollution than an emissions
trading system because it provides more health benefits.
88. The following set of main points for a persuasive speech on a question of policy follows which
pattern of organization?
I. Nuclear power is a better alternative to fossil fuels than solar and wind energy because it
is more powerful.
II. Nuclear power is a better alternative to fossil fuels than solar and wind energy because it
is more reliable.
III. Nuclear power is a better alternative to fossil fuels than solar and wind energy because it
requires less land.
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89. According to your textbook, which pattern of organization is used in the following set of main
points for a persuasive speech urging the audience to donate time to famine-relief organizations?
I. Donating time to famine-relief organizations is more effective than donating money
because it reduces a country’s dependence on foreign aid.
II. Donating time to famine-relief organizations is more effective than donating money
because it creates a personal connection to the people you are helping.
90. Which organizational pattern is especially effective for persuasive speeches that seek immediate
action by listeners?
91. Because it follows the process of human thinking, __________ is particularly useful for
organizing persuasive speeches that seek immediate action.
92. The major reason Monroe’s motivated sequence is such an effective way of organizing
persuasive speeches that seek action from listeners is that it
99. Which of the following is the final step in Monroe’s motivated sequence?
100. The action step in Monroe’s motivated sequence usually comes in the __________ of a
persuasive speech on a question of policy.
Short-Answer Questions
1. The three kinds of questions that give rise to persuasive speeches are questions of
_______________ , questions of _______________ , and questions of _______________ .
2. “To persuade my audience that violent video games contribute to violence in children” is a
specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech on a question of _______________ .
3. “To persuade my audience that there is convincing evidence of intelligent life in other parts of
the solar system” is a specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech on a question of
_______________ .
4. “To persuade my audience that legalized gambling is morally unjustifiable” is a specific purpose
statement for a persuasive speech on a question of _______________ .
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Essay Questions
1. Identify and discuss three of the ethical obligations of persuasive speakers discussed in your
textbook.
2. Explain the following statement: “You should enter a persuasive speaking situation with a
realistic sense of what you can hope to accomplish.”
3. Why is speaking to persuade more difficult than speaking to inform?
4. Explain the following statement: “A persuasive speaker should think of her or his speech as a
kind of mental dialogue with the audience.”
5. What does it mean to say that audiences engage in a “mental dialogue” with the speaker as they
listen to a persuasive speech? What implications does this mental dialogue have for a speaker
who seeks to persuade skeptical listeners?
6. What is the target audience for a persuasive speech? Why is determining and analyzing the target
audience so important to effective persuasive speaking?
7. Explain the distinctions among questions of fact, value, and policy. Give an example of a
8. Develop three different specific purpose statements for a persuasive speech on the topic of
college tuition—one for a speech dealing with a question of fact, one for a speech dealing with a
9. Explain the following statement: “When you give a persuasive speech on a question of value,
you should make sure to justify your value judgment against some identifiable standards or
10. What is the burden of proof, and what does it mean for a persuasive speaker who advocates a
change of policy?
11. Identify and explain the three basic issues of persuasive speeches on questions of policy. What
12. Assume that you are going to give a persuasive speech with the specific purpose “To persuade
my audience that tuition at state universities should be free for residents of that state.” What
pattern of organization would you most likely use for your speech, and why? State the main
