What type of speech aims primarily to persuade the audience?

The type of speech that aims primarily to persuade the audience is the persuasive speech. This style of communication is specifically designed to influence the beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors of the listeners.

In a persuasive speech, the speaker employs various rhetorical techniques, such as emotional appeals, logical reasoning, and credible evidence, to convince the audience to adopt a particular viewpoint or take a specific action. The primary goal is to motivate the audience to agree with the speaker's stance or to provoke a change in their thinking. This is distinct from other types of speeches, such as informative speeches, which focus on delivering facts and knowledge without the intention of influencing opinions, or instructional speeches, which aim to teach processes or methods. Descriptive speeches primarily focus on painting a picture and providing details about a subject rather than persuading the audience. Therefore, a persuasive speech stands out for its intent to change or reinforce the audience's perspectives.