Introduction to Communication - Monroe's Motivated Sequence

Monroe's Motivated Sequence

A commonly employed format of persuasive speech. It has five steps, and is similar to the problem/solution structure. Developed by Purdue University communication professor Alan Monroe in the 1930s & published in 1943. For it to be effective, the speaker must not reveal their plan/proposal at the beginning of the speech.

Step 5: Give Your Audience an Action Plan

Conclude the presentation with a set of specific action steps to carry out the change outlined in the speech. Make them brief, easy to carry out, and to the point. Realistic goals should be set, and should be simple for the audience to grasp & act on.

Step 4: Help the Audience Visualize What Satisfaction Will Mean for Them

Focus on highlighting the listeners' motivation to adopt the proposal. Be vivid, concrete, and personal - make them imagine what the solution can & will do. Alternately, you can describe what will happen if the proposal is not accepted. If you do this, make sure it is accompanied by a positive idea of what the change can do.

Step 1: Capture the Audience's Attention

Pique the audience's curiosity without revealing your intent. Storytelling is effective here, especially if it has many variables. Fun facts and humorous situations make it intriguing, and keeping it relatable ensures attention is paid.

Substeps of Step 2 of the Sequence

State the need/problem very clearly; Provide evidence of the problem; Create among your listeners a sense of urgency, along with a need to know what they can do to solve the problem(s).

Step 2: Identify Problems or Unfulfilled Needs

The most important step in the sequence. Speakers should spend the bulk of their time on this step. Establish strong, urgent, and relevant problems, or create needs that the audience can relate to.

Step 3: Propose a Solution That Satisfies the Problem(s)

This is the reveal step, where the speaker shows their plan/proposal. Be clear with your methods of solution, provide alternates where necessary, and be prepared for point/counter-point objections. The goal here is to elicit audience support for a realistic solution.