Real Communication An Introduction

Chapter 12  Preparing and Researching Presentations 339

Persuasive Speeches

Persuasive speeches are very common in daily life and are a major
focus of public speaking classes (R. Smith, 2004). Persuasive
speeches are intended to influence the attitudes, beliefs, and behav-
iors of your audience. Although they often ask for a change from
your audience, persuasive speeches can also reaffirm existing atti-
tudes, beliefs, and behaviors: a politician speaking at a rally of core
constituents probably doesn’t need to change their minds about
anything, but she uses persuasive speaking nonetheless to get them
excited about her platform or energized for her reelection cam-
paign. In other cases, persuasive speech is a more straightforward
call to action. In Sample Speech 12.2, for example, the entertainer
and human rights activist Ricky Martin urges members of the
international community to step up efforts to put an end to human
trafficking. A United Nations goodwill ambassador, Martin offers
both facts and statistics related to this global crime, outlines efforts
to combat it, and calls for support. AS A MUSICIAN, Ricky
Martin uses melody and lyrics
to move his audience. As an
activist, he harnesses the
persuasive power of statistics
as a call to action. Matt Jelonek/
Speech at the Vienna Forum WireImage/Getty Images

Ricky Martin

As a musician, activist, and universal citizen, I thank the United

Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking for allowing the

Ricky Martin Foundation to share our commitment to end this hor-

rible crime. Since this modern-day form of slavery has no geographical

boundaries, the truly international reach of this unprecedented forum is

an essential platform to combat this global nightmare.

My commitment toward this cause was born from a humbling

experience. In my 2002 trip to India I witnessed the horrors of human

trafficking as we rescued three trembling girls [who were] living on the

streets in plastic bags. Saving these girls from falling prey to exploitation

was a personal awakening. •

I immediately knew the Foundation had to fiercely battle this

scourge. That was six years ago.... Since then the Foundation ex-

panded and launched People for Children, an international initiative

that condemns child exploitation. The project’s goal is to provide

awareness, education, and support for worldwide efforts seeking the

elimination of human trafficking—with special emphasis on children.

This unscrupulous market generates anywhere from $12 to $32

billion annually, an amount only surpassed by the trafficking of arms

and drugs.... My hope is to secure every child the right to be a child

through a not-for-profit organization conceived as a vehicle to enforce

their basic human rights in partnership with other organizations,

socially responsible corporations, and individuals.... •

SAMPLE SPEECH 12.2

• Note how Martin effectively
  uses a real-life, personal experi-
  ence to awaken his audience to
  the horror of the situation.


• Here Martin lays out facts
  about this international crime
  and clearly describes his
  persuasive goal for his speech.