Monroe's Motivated Sequence

What is Monroe's Motivated Sequence?

A method of organizing persuasive speeches that seek immediate action. The five steps of the motivated sequence are attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action.

Explain Visualization

Having given your plan, you intensify desire for it by visualizing its benefits. The key to this step is using vivid imagery to show your listeners how they will profit from your policy. Make them see how much better conditions will be once your plan is adopted.

Explain Need

Next, you make the audience feel a need for change. You show there is a serious problem with the existing situation. It is important to state the need clearly and to illustrate it with strong supporting materials. By the end of this step, listeners should be so concerned about the problem that they are psychologically primed to hear your solution.

Explain Action

Once the audience is convinced that your policy is beneficial, you are ready to call for action. Say exactly what you want the audience to do --and how to do it. Then conclude with a final stirring appeal that reinforces their commitment to act.

Explain Attention

First, you gain the attention of your audience by using or or more of the methods such as relating to the audience, showing the importance of the topic, making a startling statement, arousing curiosity or suspense, posing a question, telling a dramatic story, or using visual aids.

Explain Satisfaction

Having aroused a sense of need, you satisfy it by providing a solution to the problem. You present your plan and show how it will work. Be sure to offer enough details about the plan to give listeners a clear understanding of it.