3 Basic Types of Persuasive Speeches

Types of Persuasive Speeches

Persuasive speeches work with evaluative statements that can be supported by data and reasoning. The subject and the content of the speech determine what kind of persuasive speech it is. 

To list the types of persuasive speeches, they are: 

1. Factual Persuasive Speech
   
2. Value Persuasive Speech 
   
3. Policy Persuasive Speech

Factual Persuasive Speech

Backed with strong evidence, a factual persuasive speech is based on whether a belief or statement is true or false. In simple words, a speaker is attempting to convince the audience about the occurrence or existence of something. 

Some factual claims are simple to answer and easy to handle. For example, a speaker is talking about Neil Armstrong's landing on the moon in 1969. This example is well documented and has concrete evidence that supports the fact that Neil Armstrong did land on the moon.

In contrast, some facts are hard to establish, and they can’t be answered in a definite way.

For example, It's hard to say for sure if a stock will go up by 20% next year. Although historical data and expert analysis may suggest this possibility, unforeseen market dynamics always have an uncertain influence on the future.

Your job as a speaker is to persuade your audience, which acts as both opposition attorneys and judges.

Here are some examples of factual claims in a persuasive speech:

• "The global temperature has risen by 1.2 degrees Celsius over the past century due to human activities."
• "The Great Wall of China was constructed primarily to protect against invasions from nomadic tribes."

See this comprehensive factual persuasive speech example:

Value Persuasive Speech

Value persuasive speech states whether something is right or wrong, beautiful or ugly, moral or immoral, or good or bad. It questions the ethical and moral aspects of a particular topic or defines the truth or falsity of an assertion. 

For example, can you prove that capital punishment is moral or immoral? The government has added extra tax on gas-guzzling monstrosities, etc. These are some value persuasive speech examples, where you can’t prove whether it is moral or immoral, right or wrong.

The audience might agree or disagree with your point of view. In value persuasive speaking, it is hard to determine why the speaker has chosen a specific stance on a particular topic without listening to his criteria for making a certain evaluation statement. 

Let’s say that a speaker claims that all social media sites are immoral. Then they need to provide a strong basis for their evaluation. For the audience to understand the reasoning, the speaker should elaborate on the criteria leading to their conclusion. 

These are some examples of value claims:

• "Modern art is more valuable and thought-provoking than classical art."
• "It is our ethical duty to reduce plastic use to protect marine life and the environment."

For a deeper insight, take a look at this comprehensive example of a value persuasive speech:

3. Policy Persuasive Speech 

The other most common claim in persuasive speech is a policy claim. This claim is used to convince the audience to either accept or reject a certain policy, candidate, or rule. It argues the nature of the problem and the solution that should be taken. 

Probably, this is the most common type of persuasive speech because we live in a society surrounded by policies, rules, and laws.  

For instance, when a spokesperson calls for a revision of the legal definition of prostitution, they are urging immediate action and agreement. This type of claim presents a clear opinion about the necessary changes and the expected outcome.

Here are examples of policy claims:

• "The minimum wage should be increased to a living wage to help reduce poverty and improve living standards."
• "Companies should be required to offer paid parental leave to support working families."

Below is a detailed example of a policy persuasive speech:

The policy claim has two persuasive goals: immediate action and passive agreement.

• Immediate Action

The immediate action persuades the audience to start engaging in certain behaviors. It requires the speaker to convince the audience to act upon his proposal quickly.

For example, the speaker delivers a speech at a school and wants to persuade the student audience to eat more fruits. He would say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, so he’s encouraging them to either bring apples with their lunch or eat them at their home.

This action of the speaker makes the audience act immediately on his proposal. Remember that the more quickly you make your audience members act upon your proposal, the more likely they will adopt it.

• Passive Agreement
  

Passive agreement only requires the audience to agree with the speaker. When the speaker tries to gain a passive agreement, he attempts to make the audience agree with what he is saying or accept the policy without practically doing anything. 

For instance, the speaker argues that the LGBT community should have equal human rights. The speaker attempts to reach the audience’s agreement by presenting encouraging and strong facts without demanding any action from the audience.

The passive agreement’s main goal is to encourage the audience to adopt a specific attitude, value, belief, or behavior, but not necessarily to get the audience members to enact any specific behavior.

Persuasive Speech Topics for Different Types

Different types of persuasive speeches focus on distinct themes and have unique objectives. Whether you're aiming to establish facts, evaluate values, or advocate for policies, choosing the right topic is essential. Below are the different persuasive speech topics:

Policy Persuasive Speech Topics

This kind of persuasive speech advocates for a specific course of action or a change in policy. These topics aim to convince the audience to support or enact certain measures:

• Implementing Universal Healthcare Coverage in the United States
• Enacting Stricter Gun Control Laws to Reduce Mass Shootings
• Implementing Comprehensive Immigration Reform to Address Undocumented Immigration
• Adopting Mandatory Paid Parental Leave Policies for Working Parents
• Reforming the Criminal Justice System to Reduce Racial Disparities in Sentencing
• Enforcing Stricter Regulations on Carbon Emissions to Combat Climate Change
• Establishing Free College Tuition Programs to Increase Access to Higher Education
• Implementing Affirmative Action Policies to Promote Diversity in the Workplace and Education
• Strengthening Cybersecurity Measures to Protect Personal Data and Privacy Online
• Introducing Mandatory Voting Laws to Increase Voter Turnout and Political Participation

Fact Persuasive Speech Topics

Factual persuasive speeches aim to establish the truth or falsehood of a statement by presenting evidence and logical reasoning. These topics often involve empirical data and scientific research:

• The Impact of Climate Change on Polar Ice Caps
• The Link Between Smoking and Lung Cancer
• The Benefits of Regular Exercise on Heart Health
• The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Function
• The Role of Renewable Energy Sources in Reducing Carbon Emissions
• The Importance of Early Childhood Education in Academic Success
• The Relationship Between Diet and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
• The Impact of Deforestation on Biodiversity Loss
• The Effectiveness of Vaccines in Preventing Infectious Diseases
• The Influence of Technology on Human Behavior and Social Interaction

Value Persuasive Speech Topics

Value persuasive speeches focus on the worth, morality, or rightness of an issue. These topics involve ethical considerations and personal beliefs:

• The Ethics of Animal Testing
• The Importance of Preserving Cultural Heritage
• The Value of Digital Privacy
• The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
• The Importance of Fair Trade Practices
• The Value of Higher Education
• The Moral Responsibility of Ethical Consumption
• The Necessity of Work-Life Balance
• The Benefits of Gender Equality in the Workplace
• The Role of Art in Society

Need more topics? Explore our extensive list of persuasive speech topics to get ideas!

To wrap it up,

This guide has made the 3 types of persuasive speeches clear, so you should be able to write an effective one now.

Writing any type of persuasive speech can be tricky, but with some good examples, you can craft a strong speech.

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