I have to write a persuasive speech, my topic is Stop smoking. I making outlines, so I don't have one, my mom swears it'll help me, but I don't think so.
This is my speech so Far:
Don't smoke. It's an ugly, awful, stinky habit. It's a terrible health hazard for you ad those around you. Smoking can kill you.
smoking can cause a number of health problems. It can cause cancer, lung and heart disease, heartburn, it can make colds and bronchitis linger longer than they would with a non smoker, just to name a few of those health problems. Smoking can make you winded and make your heart race after mild activity. It has an awful smell and that smell lingers on everything, it turns your teeth yellow, and gives you wrinkles around your mouth, none of this is attractive, so whats the point in it? Why do people smoke if this is what it can do to you?
Cigarettes are a waste of money. Why buy something that has tar, ammonia, cyanide, arsenic and formaldehyde in it, and can kill you? Cigarettes have 4,000 chemicals in them, 43 are known to cause cancer.Why would you want to put that in your body? Why would you want to be responsible for putting that in anyone else's body?
When you smoke, you have no relaxation, you are always in a constant need of something, you always want something. You also have limited energy and motivation. Why do people smoke if it causes all these problems and has all these chemicals in each cigarette?
On the other hand, people believe that smoking can cause a temporary moment of satisfaction, and can sometimes relieve stress. People also believe that it can calm the nerves and some believe that it makes you feel younger.
My grandma has smoked for 37 years, and is also asthmatic. She smoked about a pack and a half each and every day of those 37 years. She just recently quit smoking, and now has to have an oxygen tank at her side at all times. Do you really want that to happen to you? Do you want your children, your grandchildren and every other child that looks up to you to see you smoking almost every minute of everyday? Do you want them to think it's okay to smoke because they saw you do it? So please stop smoking, before it kills you or anyone of your loved ones.
What do you think?? Does it need to be longer?? Should I add anything else???
Suggestion:
Well, who is your audience? Who are you trying to persuade?
If it's teenagers who either just started smoking or haven't yet, they probably already know all this, but still choose to do it. The top 2 reasons for that are 1) peer pressure, and 2) they are curious what it's like.
So I think you need to address those two arguments. Also, I think another few things you could include are:
1) Nicotine is the most addictive of any substance, legal or illegal, including alcohol, drugs, etc. So "just trying it" can very easily get you hooked, and you'll have to buy more and more.
2) Since teenagers love money, I'd also suggest telling them the cost of a cigarette addiction. It's about $5 a pack. Assuming you smoke a pack every 2 days, a smoking habit throughout the 4 years of high school will cost you $3,650. That is enough (or close to enough) to pay off an older used car ON THE SPOT, no payments. Wouldn't you rather have your own car by the end of high school than an addiction, early wrinkles, yellow teeth, and a lifetime of spending even more money on cigarettes?
3) Maybe instead of telling them "It can cause cancer", you could ask them "If I told you there was a way that you could significantly decrease your chance for cancer, wouldn't you do it? Well there is. All it requires is resisting a little bit of peer pressure and the guts to say no."
You must log in to post a comment.