Have you ever tried to convince your parents to let you stay up a little longer or your classmates pick your idea for a school project? You did a good job of persuading! You were making an argument, giving your opinion, and trying to get other people to agree with you, whether you knew it or not. That’s what persuasive speaking is all about.
Kids can use the skill of being able to clearly and confidently express themselves outside of school. In fact, being able to persuade others can help you do well in school, defend yourself and others, and even become a leader in the future.
We’ll talk about what persuasive speaking is, why it’s important, and how you can start being a persuasive speaker right now in this article.
When you speak persuasively, you try to get other people to agree with you or do what you want them to do. It means:
If you think your school should have a longer break, you could say:
“Recess helps us recharge and pay more attention in class. Research shows that kids learn better when they have time to play. Students are happier and healthier when they have a longer break.”
That’s how to speak persuasively: you say what you think and give good reasons for it.
You might think that only adults or politicians give persuasive speeches, but kids do too. And you’ll get better the more you do it. Here are some reasons why persuasive speaking is a great skill:
You learn to trust your voice when you speak up for what you believe. That confidence can help you talk in front of the class, talk with other people, and even make new friends.
You have to know both sides of an issue in order to convince others. That means you’ll start to ask smart questions, think deeply, and make better points.
To be persuasive, you don’t have to yell or fight. It means being polite, listening, and making sure people understand your point.
A lot of the time, great leaders are also great communicators. Your ability to persuade people can get them to back your cause, whether you’re running for class president or putting on a charity event.
You don’t have to wait until you’re older to start practicing. You can use and improve your ability to persuade people in these places:
Picking a topic for a persuasive speech is one of the hardest things to do. You want a topic that is important to you and that your audience can relate to. Think about things that are very important to you, like:
If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out this helpful list of good persuasive speech topics for students who don’t lose. This list has something for everyone, whether you want something serious or fun. It can also help you become a better, more creative speaker.
It’s time to get your thoughts in order now that you have a topic. This is a simple structure that works for students of all ages:
A question, a surprising fact, or a short story can get your audience’s attention.
Example:
“Did you know that the average kid only gets 20 minutes of free time every day? That’s not even enough time to eat lunch!”
Be honest with your audience about what you think.
“I think schools should have at least 30 minutes of free time every day.”
Use facts, examples, and reasons that make sense to back up your point of view.
“Recess helps kids pay more attention, stay healthy, and deal with stress.”
Talk about how the topic affects you or other people. This makes people more interested in what you have to say.
“I’ve seen kids come back from recess with big smiles and a lot of energy. It makes everyone in the class happier.”
Tell your audience what you want them to do, like support your idea or think more about the subject.
“Let’s make our school even better. Support longer breaks for all students!”
Delivery is very important, even if your speech is great! When you speak, use these tips to stand out:
You can make a big difference at any age. Here are some kids who used their voices to make a difference:
These kids didn’t wait until they were adults to start using their voices. You can do the same.
To be persuasive, you don’t have to win every argument. You just have to learn how to speak up for what you believe in a clear and polite way. Using your voice with purpose is one of the best skills you can have, whether you’re writing a speech for class or just trying to explain your idea in a group project.
Keep in mind that every great speaker started out small. You’ll get better as you do it. So go ahead and pick a topic that means something to you. Write your speech and get ready to change the world one word at a time.
Related reading: Public Speaking Tips and Sample Speeches
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