In public speaking, what is the goal of a persuasive speech?

The goal of a persuasive speech is to influence the audience’s beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors, motivating them to take a specific action or to adopt a particular viewpoint. Persuasive speeches aim to engage the audience emotionally and logically, compelling them to align with the speaker's perspective or encourage them to act in a certain way. This may involve presenting arguments, using evidence, and appealing to the audience’s values or aspirations.

The other options represent different objectives common in public speaking. Informative speeches focus on educating the audience about a particular topic without necessarily persuading them to act. Entertaining speeches aim to amuse and engage audiences without pushing a specific agenda. Summarizing information is often a feature of informative speeches or presentations that condense knowledge rather than influencing behavior. Each of these serves an important role but does not encapsulate the primary objective of persuasion, which is to drive the audience to take action.