What is the impact? What will happen if the problem is not resolved? Who’s affected? Who’s being affected or implicated by this problem? Who are the audiences or stakeholders affected? Are the stakeholders a part of my formal audience?

Topic Selection
The key to an effective persuasive proposition is to identify public controversies by listening and engaging with your government (local or otherwise), community and/or school. What issues are affecting them? What are priorities? Once you’re able to locate a key dispute or controversy, ask yourself:
What is it? What is the problem? Are there more than one? Is this the key problem or are there other hidden issues?
What is the impact? What will happen if the problem is not resolved?
Who’s affected? Who’s being affected or implicated by this problem? Who are the audiences or stakeholders affected? Are the stakeholders a part of my formal audience?
What can solve it? Are there suggested solutions? What can I propose and how do I do this?

For instance, controversies arise when a local government/community/school experiences a problem, so your job is to decipher the breadth and depth of that problem–to learn about the policy/belief so you decide what you want to propose and why. It’s impossible to address all issues in one speech, so researching and prioritizing are key to identifying what advocacy you find most urgent. For any controversy that you can address in a persuasive proposition speech, keep context and power in mind.
Topics to avoid for your outline/speech,* as they are either too complex to explore, or not considered appropriate for an academic or scholarly argument, are as follows:
Death penalty policies/laws
Euthanasia or self-assisted death policies/laws
Abortion policies/laws
The (il)legalization of drugs (e.g. marijuana) policies/laws
Gun rights policies/laws
Global warming policies/laws
* Please do not select one of the above topics, as your work may be returned without grading, and you will be asked to rewrite/refilm it.
Organization
A speaking, or keyword, outline is a planning device used to help you deliver a speech. This outline is usually written using bullet points (using the organizational scheme provided below) when drafting ideas; however, as a matter of best practice, write using clear and completed ideas and/or full-sentences. Remember, this outline is designed to serve as a launch pad for preparing and presenting your speech. Here is what your outline will include:
Detailed Outline Sections
Description/Guidelines
Setting the Stage
Section 1: Speech Topic
Pick a topic related to an issue/policy for which you would like to advocate. This topic will serve as the anchor of your persuasive proposition.
Section 2: Persuasive Proposition and Call-to-Action / Policy considerations
What specific issue will you focus on, and what are you proposing? What do you want your audience to feel? To believe? To value? And why? What do they need to know to make an informed decision? Why might they disagree with you? What are the facts to build your proposition?
Stop Here: conduct research on your topic–locating at least 2 credible sources— to learn more about it
Section 3: Draft a thesis statement.
Draft your thesis: your thesis, or central claim, should be your proposition, and what you’re hoping your audience will do, feel or think and why. This should be a single-sentence thesis statement.
Section 4: Identify your intended audience.
In a sentence, describe to whom your speech will be directed.
Section 5: Rhetorical Considerations
How will you persuade your intended audience? What do they believe? What do they value? What do you want them to do? How will they do this? Why might they disagree with you and how can you convince them otherwise? How will you connect with the audience? Why should they listen to you?
Planning the Speech
Section 6: Draft your Introduction
(Use complete sentences to draft your working introduction.)