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Persuasive Speech Assignment Pack

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Persuasive Speech Assignment Pack

Plan, deliver and reflect on a persuasive speech for a New Zealand teen audience. Aim for 3–4 minutes. Choose an issue you care about, make a clear argument and give listeners a reason to act. Use reliable evidence and acknowledge where your information comes from.

Choose an issue

Select one topic below, or propose another issue that matters to young people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Take a definite position; your audience should be able to tell what you want them to think or do.

1.Which issue would make a focused, debatable persuasive speech? Choose the strongest option.

Schools should provide more free drinking-water refill stations.
Water is important to people.
New Zealand has schools.
Some students carry drink bottles.

2.Write your own possible speech topic as a question, then write the position you might argue. Example: “Should local councils make more safe cycle routes?” Position: “Councils should prioritise protected cycle routes near schools.”

Build the case

A persuasive speech needs more than strong opinions. Use reasons, trustworthy evidence and explanation to show why your claim matters. Check that a source is relevant, recent enough for the issue and credible; do not invent statistics or quotations.

3.A speaker says, “A survey of 800 students across four schools found that 62% wanted more shaded outdoor seating.” What should the speaker check before using this claim as evidence? Choose the best answer.

Who ran the survey, when it was done, how students were selected and where the full results can be checked.
Whether the number sounds impressive when spoken aloud.
Whether the speaker can leave out the survey details.
Whether the claim is repeated by a friend.

4.Match each speech moment to its main purpose.

Hook
Claim
Counterargument and response
Call to action

Recognise an opposing view and explain why the claim still stands
Capture attention and introduce the issue
Give listeners a specific next step
State the position the speaker wants the audience to accept

5.Improve this weak reason for a speech arguing for more trees in school grounds: “Trees are good.” Write a more precise reason and name one kind of evidence you could seek to support it.

6.A speaker argues that the school should reduce single-use packaging at lunch. Write one fair counterargument and a respectful response that answers it.

Plan and rehearse

Use the outline to prepare your own speech. Keep the structure easy to follow: hook, claim, three reason-and-evidence points, counterargument and response, call to action, and conclusion. Practise aloud and check that your pace and volume make the speech easy to follow.

7.Write your chosen topic and one-sentence claim. Make the claim specific enough for a listener to agree or disagree.

8.Plan three different reasons for your claim. For each one, note evidence you could find and explain how that evidence would support your point.

9.Draft a hook, a fair counterargument with your response, and a clear call to action for your planned speech. Your call to action should tell listeners exactly what they can do.

10.Before delivering, choose two reliable sources relevant to your issue. Record each source’s title or organisation and the information you plan to use. In your speech, name your sources so listeners can assess your evidence.

11.After a rehearsal, choose one delivery feature to keep and one to improve: clarity and volume, pace, eye contact, posture and gestures, or tone. Name a practical action for your improvement.

12.After your speech, reflect: Which part most engaged your audience, what would you change next time, and how did you manage any nerves or challenge? Refer to a specific moment from your delivery.