Monroe’s Motivated Sequence of Events
In this video we’ll review an organizational structure for writing a persuasive speech,
specifically that of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence of Events.
The information in this video provides a general overview of the nature of the Motivated Sequence.
Please consult assigned readings for more in-depth information.
As the course progresses, many of the ideas discussed in this video will be covered
in more detail.
It is assumed, that before watching this video, you have already read and reviewed course
information regarding speech outlines and organizational structures.
The Motivated Sequence is designed to work with speeches that focus on a question a policy.
Questions of policy focus on which course of action should be taken, if any, to fix
a problem or improve a situation.
For instance, questions of policy can focus on a plan to reach a specific goal, steps
to be taken to solve a problem, or the best way to make improvements to a current issue.
They can also argue why certain actions should be halted, stopped.
Examples include why we should no longer follow certain steps, no longer maintain a current law,
or no longer support an issue or practice.
Whether they support or argue to create something new, continue what is already in progress,
change current practices, or stop something altogether, questions of policy always focus
on how something should or should not be done.
Questions of policy are inherently persuasive nature.
(For instance, you would not focus on a question of policy in an informative speech.)
The intent of some persuasive speeches is to gain agreement from audience members.
The purpose is to get audience members to agree with the arguments you present.
The intent of other persuasive speeches is to gain immediate action from audience members.
The purpose is to persuade audience members to support and help put a speaker’s ideas
into action.
There are several well-known patterns for organizing speeches of Policy including “stock
issues,” “problem-solution order,” “comparative advantages order,” and “problem-cause-solution order."
Monroe’s Motivated Sequence of Events follows a “problem-cause-solution” order and
was designed to seek immediate action from audience members.
There are five steps in Monroe’s Motivated Sequence of Events that speakers follow in order,
they are The Attention Step, The Need Step, The Satisfaction Step, The Visualization Step,
and The Action Step.
The Attention Step does what it’s title describes; it gains the attention
of audience members.
During the Attention Step, a speaker tries to get audience members to focus on the issue
presented in the speech and tries to relate it to audience members lives.
Explaining how issues discussed in a speech effects or can effect audience members’
lives can create motivation to listen to the presentation.
The Attention Step is The Introduction to your speech.
In this class, the introduction in an outline using the Motivated Sequence should be organized
as follows: The first main part of the speech is labeled
The Introduction.
This is where The Attention Step is placed.
Information below this label should contain, first, the Attention Gaining Device.
All speeches should begin with a device that grabs the attention of audience members.
Next is usually the Topic Statement.
In one sentence clearly state the topic of the speech.
In a persuasive speech, it is good for a speaker to state her or his personal credibility.
Here, a speaker briefly describes that she or he is knowledgeable of the topic and presents
reliable information that will be supported with sound evidence.
The final point of any introduction should be a preview.
In the preview, a speaker lists the main points of the speech in the order they will be discussed.
The next step in the Motivated Sequence is called The Need Step.
The purpose of this step is to make audience members feel like there is a need for change
and that the status quo is not working.
The term “status quo” refers to the current conditions or general state of things.
Put simply, it’s how things are right now.
It is particularly important to support your claims about the status quo with evidence
from credible sources.
By the time a speaker finishes The Need Step, audience members should feel like there is
a serious issue at hand that needs to be changed and feel motivated to listen for a solution.
The Need Step describes the overall problem and lists specific reasons
as to why it is occurring.
It is the first main point of the Body of the Speech.
In a speech using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, The Need Step is always the first main point
in The Body.
In this class, The Need Step could be organized as follows: (Please note: Depending on the
topic, arrangement and content of sub-points will vary from what is described in this video.)
In the outline, remember to denote the second part of the speech, The Body.
Start the main point by stating the overall problem or issue in a single, clear,
and succinct sentence.
Next, state a reason as to why the problem or issue exists.
Support the claim with evidence, one example or more, and possibly a link to the audience
showing members how they may contribute to the problem or issue.
Following the Rule of Division (that all points must occur in at least pairs), state a second reason
as to why the problem or issue exists.
As with the first reason listed, support the claim with evidence, one example or more,
and possibly a link to the audience showing members how they may contribute to the problem
or issue.
Given your topic, and the reasons given as to why a problem or issue exists, you will
most likely need to list a third or even more reasons.
The structure for outlining the reasons for why a problem or issue exists will change
from topic to topic.
Therefore, the number of sub-points and arrangement of content in sub-points as shown here will
be different in other speech outlines.
The next step in Monroe’s Motivated Sequence of Events is called The Satisfaction Step.
Once you’ve established that there is a need for change, it is time to supply the
audience with a reasonable solution.
In others words, the speaker needs to satisfy the need just described.
The solution provided should answer the question of policy posed in the speech.
The solution should account for all of the reasons supporting the problem or issue stated
in The Need Step.
If three different reasons are described in The Need Step, all three reasons should be
addressed in the solution about to be presented.
Ideally, any problems listed in The Need Step will be fixed by the solution presented.
If all the reasons are not addressed, it can appear to the audience that the solution offered
is incomplete, and may not be the best policy for them to support.
In this class, The Satisfaction Step could be organized as follows.
(Please note: Depending on the topic, arrangement and content of sub-points will vary from what
is described in this video.)
Start The Satisfaction Step by stating the overall solution to the problem or issue in
a single, clear, and succinct sentence.
Next, state a way the first reason for the problem or issue described in The Need Step
will be fixed.
Support this claim with evidence and offer one or more examples of how it will improve
the situation.
Following the Rule of Division (that all points must occur in at least pairs), state a way
the second reason for the problem or issue described in The Need Step will be fixed.
Support this claim with evidence and offer one or more examples of how it will improve
the situation.
Given your topic, and the reasons given that a problem or issue exists, you will most likely
need to list a third or even more ways the solution will fix the problems and issues
listed in The Need Step.
As with listing reasons a problem or issue exists in The Need Step, outlining a solution
to fix the reasons a problem or issue exists in The Satisfaction Step will change from
topic to topic.
Therefore, the number of sub-points and arrangement of content in sub-points as shown here will
be different in other speech outlines.
The next step in Monroe’s Motivated Sequence of Events is The Visualization Step.
As both The Need Step and The Satisfaction Step are part of the Body of the speech using
the Motivated Sequence, so too is The Visualization Step.
The Visualization is the last step in The Body of this organizational style.
In the Visualization Step a speaker motivates audience members to support the plan by describing
its benefits.
One way to do this is by describing what audience members can gain if your solution is put
into action.
If your speech is more negative in nature, you could also describe what audience members
can lose if your solution is not put into action.
In this class, the Visualization Step can be organized as follows: (Please note: Depending
on the topic, arrangement and content of sub-points will vary from what is described in this video.)
Start The Visualization Step by stating what the future holds if the problem or issue presented
is not fixed in a single, clear, and succinct sentence.
Next, list one event or thing that will happen in the future if the solution presented is
or is not put into action.
Support this claim with evidence and offer one or more examples of what will happen
in the future.
Following the Rule of Division (that all points must occur in at least pairs), state a second event
or thing that will happen in the future if the solution presented is or is not put
into action.
Support this claim with evidence and offer one or more examples of what will happen
in the future.
Given your topic and what might happen in the future if the solution presented is
or is not put into action, most likely a third or even more future events or things
that could happen will need to be listed.
Just as for The Need Step and The Satisfaction Step, outlining what can happen in the future
if a solution is or is not put into action will change from topic to topic.
Therefore, the number of sub-points and arrangement of content in sub-points as shown here will
be different in other speech outlines.
Once the first four steps in Monroe’s Motivated Sequence of Events have been presented, it’s
time to move into the final step – The Action Step.
If the speaker has been successful in convincing audience members that a problem or issue exists
and that the solution presented is probable and realistic, the audience should feel a
need to act and to help fix the problem.
The Action Step is The Conclusion to the speech.
In The Action Step, the speaker asks audience members to do something to help put the solution
described into action.
The speaker should clearly explain what audience members should do and how they can do it.
When deciding on which action to request of audience members, consider the amount of time
and energy it will take to participate in the action.
When it comes to requesting assistance, it is important to remember that the easier
and less time consuming it is to do something, the more likely people will do it.
Ask too much of your audience members and, even if they would like to help, they may
not feel they have enough time to participate.
In this class, The Action Step can be organized as follows: (Please note: Depending on
the topic, arrangement and content of sub-points will vary from what is described in this video.)
Start The Conclusion with a Review.
List all the main points covered in the presentation in the order they were discussed.
Next, state a specific action the audience members should take to help put the solution
into motion.
Remember not to ask too much of audience members.
After asking audience members for assistance, state a personal intent to support the solution.
Here, a speaker describes actions she or he will take to help enact the solution.
Actions completed by the speaker should take at least as much, if not more, effort to complete
than the action audience members are asked to complete.
End the speech with a dynamic clincher.
The last few statements of the speech should relate to how the speech started with Attention
Gaining Device.
When the Attention Gaining Device and Clincher are similar, it helps bring a speech psychologically
to a close for audience members.
Monroe’s Motivated Sequence of Events is an organizational pattern made for speeches
centered on a question of policy.
It is an organizational pattern used for gaining immediate action from audience members.
As the class progresses, we’ll discuss this organizational pattern in more detail.