Persuasive Speech: For this assignment, please prepare and deliver a 8 minute presentation that persuades your audience about a topic of importance to you. Remember to choose one side of your topic to focus on rather than present both sides equally (although you can say what the other side thinks to explain why they are wrong). Your goal is to get your audience to change their thoughts/behaviors on this subject. Avoid obvious topics like quitting smoking or stop drinking and driving that everyone basically agrees on even if they don't do it.