PERSUASIVE SPEECH OUTLINE

ATTITUDE WINS OVER APTITUDE

General Purpose: To persuade

Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience that cultivating a positive attitude

is essential for achieving personal and professional success.

0. Introduction: Trần Hồng Nhung

(Attention)

0. Attention-getter: A question: Who would you choose?

1. Tanya: top skills, bad attitude

2. Henry: average skills, excellent attitude.

A. Tie to the audience

1. The audience mainly chooses Tanya: Many choose Tanya because

of her great talent but I will choose Henry. (explain)

2. The audience mainly chooses Henry: I also choose Henry to work

with. So, why is Henry? Why isn't Tanya?

B. Topic/Thesis Statement: While aptitude is important, it is ultimately a

person’s attitude that determines their success and fulfillment in life.

C. Preview of Main Points

1. Overview of Attitude and Aptitude

2. Importance of Attitude

3. Cultivating Attitude

4. Benefits of Attitude

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 E. Q&A instructions

1. We want to focus on our presentation, so we want to leave this part

till the end.

2. We have 10 minutes to address 2 to 3 questions in detail.

II. Body

(Need)

0. Main point 1: Overview of Attitude and Aptitude

1. Attitude: A set of emotions, beliefs, and behaviors toward a

particular object, person, thing, or event. (MSEd, K. C., 2024)
2. Aptitude: A person's natural ability or potential to learn and
perform a specific task or skill. (ASVAB Career Exploration
Program)

A. Main point 2: Importance of Attitude: Trần Thị Anh Thơ

1. Attitude shapes behavior and performance.
a. Shape how individuals approach challenges and
opportunities
- Individuals with a positive outlook approach
situations constructively, leading to growth and
success.
- Brian Tracy emphasized, “You cannot control what
happens to you, but you can control your attitude
toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be
mastering change rather than allowing it to master
you.” (Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life;
Brian Tracy, 2003)

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 b. Enhance motivation and resilience

- Positive attitudes foster persistence and determination

in the face of adversity.
- J.K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter, faced multiple
rejections from publishers and personal hardships.
Her positive mindset and determination allowed her
to succeed, as she stated during a 2008 Harvard
University commencement address, "Rock bottom
became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my
life." (Home - J.K. Rowling, 2018)
- Nick Vujicic, born without arms and legs, embraced
life with a positive attitude. As a motivational speaker
and author, he inspires countless people, emphasizing
that “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”
(Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously
Good Life, Nick Vujicic, 2010)

2. Attitude fuels persistence and effort.

- Determination and a positive outlook are essential for

overcoming obstacles.
- Thomas Edison’s approach to invention highlights
this point. Despite repeated failures in developing the
light bulb, he famously stated, “I have not failed. I’ve
just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
(Josephson, M., & Conot, R. E., 2024)

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 3. Aptitude alone has limitations when not paired with the right
attitude.
a. Fail to reach potential

- Many talented individuals fail due to negative

attitudes or lack of motivation.
- Bobby Fischer, the chess prodigy, faced personal
struggles that hindered his success. Despite his
incredible skills, his negative mindset and attitude
kept him from reaching his full potential. (Bobby
Fischer - Bio & Stats | Top chess players. )

b. Create conflicts and missed opportunities

- Success requires effort and persistence driven by a
positive attitude.
- David Beckham, despite his exceptional football
skills, faced early career challenges due to his temper
and negative reactions to criticism. These behaviors
caused friction with teammates and hindered his
growth until he made significant adjustments to his
attitude. (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica,
2024)

(Satisfaction)

B. Main point 2: Cultivating Attitude: Lê Quang Long

1. Developing a growth mindset

0. Carol Dweck’s research shows that individuals with a

growth mindset are more resilient and achieve higher
levels of success. (Dweck, 2006)

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 - By breaking larger goals into smaller, manageable
tasks, individuals can celebrate small victories along
the way, reinforcing their commitment to growth.
- Seeking feedback allows individuals to gain insights
into their performance and identify areas for
improvement.

2. Surrounding oneself with positive influence

a. Engaging with supportive peers and mentors fosters an

environment conducive to positivity and growth.
b. Research indicates that social support significantly
impacts mental health and motivation. (Cohen & Wills,
1985)

(Visualization)

C. Main point 3: Benefits of Attitude: Mai Trần Phương Nguyên

1. A positive attitude leads to greater resilience in facing

challenges.

a. Individuals with strong resilience are better equipped to

handle setbacks and continue pursuing their goals. When
faced with obstacles, they view these challenges as
opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable barriers.
b. Success stories from various fields illustrate how attitude has
helped individuals overcome obstacles
- Michael Jordan: Rejection from his high school
basketball team fueled his determination to improve,
ultimately leading him to become one of the greatest
players in history. (The Legend of Michael Jordan | The
Players’ Tribune. (n.d.-b). )

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 - C.J. Baxter: Overcame a serious injury by maintaining a
positive mindset and emphasizing teamwork, illustrating
that challenges can lead to personal growth and success.
(Baxter, C. (2024, November 27)
2. A positive attitude enhances relationships and collaboration.
a. Open doors to new opportunities
b. Achieve better outcomes and foster innovation: Richard
Branson's optimistic personality and ability to foster
relationships have led to significant collaborations and
innovations within the Virgin Group. This highlights the
importance of prioritizing attitude over aptitude for achieving
success and building strong connections in various aspects of
life. (Richard Branson | Virgin. (n.d.). )

III. Conclusion

(Action)

0. Brake light:

1. Prioritizing attitude over aptitude is crucial for achieving

success in various aspects of life.

2. Relying solely on aptitude limits potential; cultivating a

positive attitude is essential for resilience and better
relationships.

A. Restate the main points:

1. Overview of Attitude and Aptitude

2. Importance of Attitude

3. Cultivating Attitude

4. Benefits of Attitude

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B. Concluding Remarks: Attitude is more important than aptitude; it shapes
our experiences and determines our paths to success. I encourage each of
you to reflect on your own attitudes and actively work towards fostering
positivity in your lives—remember, your mindset can change everything.

CALL TO ACTION: “Your ability may get you in the door, but it’s your
attitude that will keep you there and take you further than you ever
imagined.”

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REFERENCES

0. MSEd, K. C. (2024, May 6). The components of attitude. Verywell Mind.

a. What career is right for me? | ASVAB Career Exploration Program.(n.d.).

b. Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life; Brian Tracy. (2003)

c. Home - J.K. Rowling. (2018, August 7). J.K. Rowling.

d. Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life, Nick

========Vujicic. (2010)

e. Josephson, M., & Conot, R. E. (2024, December 16). Thomas Edison |

========Biography, Early Life, Inventions, & Facts. Encyclopedia
=========Britannica.

f. Bobby Fischer - Bio & Stats | Top chess players. (n.d.). Chess.com.
g. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024, December 5). David
========Beckham | Biography, Teams, & Facts. Encyclopedia
Britannica.

h. Cameron, K., & Spreitzer, G. (2012). The Oxford Handbook of Positive

=========Organizational Scholarship.

i. Dweck, C.S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

j. Cohen, S., & Wills, T.A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering
=========hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310-357.

k. Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More

=========Than IQ.

l. The Legend of Michael Jordan | The Players’ Tribune. (n.d.).

m. Baxter, C. (2024, November 27). To the Texas Brotherhood by CJ Baxter

=========| The Players’ Tribune. The Players’ Tribune.
n. Richard Branson | Virgin. (n.d.).
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