Persuasive Speeches work best when the following good speech practices are used:

1. The speaker has a clearly focused, specific persuasive purpose that fits the audience.
2. The THESIS for the speech is written and delivered as an assertion that clarifies the reason why the audience should go along with the speaker's ideas and support his/her purpose
3. The speech has strong, credible, well-cited, support material that is likely to get the audience to change their BELIEFS in ways that help the speaker's cause.  [Audience Analysis]
4. The speech takes advantage of values and motives that the speaker knows the audience already holds.    [Audience Analysis]
5. The speaker carefully selects a thought pattern that will be effective given the purpose and the audience.
6. The speech's main points are phrased as persuasive arguments/assertions (POINTS) that moves the audience toward the speaker's desired conclusion.
7. The speech contains well-written internal summaries (or main points and sub-points as needed) that "nail" and reinforce each persuasive point the speaker makes.
8. The speaker uses a mixture of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos (see below)
9. The speech contains a strong call for change near the end and in the conclusion.

Proof – getting the audience to accept your ideas, believe you, and be persuaded.  There are three traditional types of proof originally identified by Aristotle 2500 years ago:

1. Pathos – using emotions to get support

2. Ethos --  using credibility to get support (either your own credibility or that of your sources)

3. Logos – using logic and evidence (support material) to prove you are correct and gain support.