Problem
Directions: After reviewing Monroe's Motivated Sequence, using the template below as a guide, develop and write a persuasive appeal to change a policy. Options for the change to policy can be for your work, school, community, state, or federal policy. After writing the proposed change in policy, you will verbally present your persuasive argument to the class.
Monroe's Motivated Sequence
Developed in 1930's by Alan Monroe, a professor of speech at Purdue University, the motivated sequence is tailor-made for policy speeches that seek immediate action.
A. Attention: First you gain the attention of your audience by using one or more methods we discuss (importance of the topic, startling statement, arousing curiosity or suspense, posing a question, telling a dramatic story or using visual aids.
B. Need: Next, you make the audience feel a need for change. You show there is a serious problem with the existing situation. It is important to state the need clearly and to illustrate it with strong supporting materials. By the end of this step, listeners should be so concerned about the problem that they are psychologically primed to hear your solution.
C. Satisfaction: Having aroused a sense of need, you satisfy it by providing a solution to the problem. You present your plan and show how it will work. Be sure to offer enough details about the plan to give listeners a clear understanding of it.
D. Visualization: Having given your plan, you intensify desire for it by visualizing its benefits. The key to this step is using vivid imagery to show your listeners how they will profit from your policy. Make them see how much better conditions will be once your plan is adopted.
E. Action: Once the audience is convinced your policy is beneficial, you are ready to call for action. Say exactly what you want the audience to do-and how to do it. Then conclude with a final stilling appeal that reinforces their commitment to act.