What is a persuasive speech aimed at achieving?

A persuasive speech is specifically designed to convince the audience to adopt a particular viewpoint or to take specific action. The essence of persuasive speaking lies in its goal to influence the beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors of the audience. This type of speech utilizes various rhetorical strategies, emotional appeals, and logical arguments to strengthen the speaker’s position and encourage the audience to align with that perspective.

While entertaining the audience with jokes, informing them about a topic, or providing a summary of existing knowledge can be elements of speaking, they do not capture the fundamental purpose of a persuasive speech. In contrast, the main focus of persuasive speaking is engaging the audience in a way that prompts them to consider a different view or to act upon the suggestions made by the speaker. This commitment to influencing thought and action is what distinctly characterizes persuasive speeches.