Discuss the five steps in Monroe's motivated sequence and its use in persuasion. Design an infomercial for a product using the five steps in Monroe's motivated sequence, and briefly outline it.

What will be an ideal response?

- A widely used pattern of organization for the persuasive speech is Monroe's motivated sequence. This pattern is specifically designed to help the speaker combine sound logic and practical psychology and is useful in persuasive speaking as well as in sales and marketing. The motivated sequence is particularly effective because it follows the human thinking process and motivates listeners to take action. The sequence has five steps: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action.
* Attention. In the first step, the persuader attempts to create an interest in the topic so the audience wants to listen.
* Need. In the second step, the persuader focuses on the problem by analyzing the things that are wrong and relating them to the audience's interests, wants, or desires.
* Satisfaction. In the third step, the persuader provides a solution or plan of action that will eliminate the problem and thus satisfy the audience's interests, wants, and desires.
* Visualization. In the fourth step, the persuader explains in detail how the solution will meet the audience's need.
* Action. In the fifth and final step, the persuader asks the audience for a commitment to put the proposed solution to work.
- Student examples will vary but must appropriately reference all five steps.