The following are example outlines using the Paragraph Style, with the Introduction & Conclusion in paragraphs, while the Body is formatted in an outline, with consistent symbols and indentations throughout. An annotated works cited/bibliography follows.  The first example is an Informative topic, while the second is a Persuasive topic, utilizing Monroe’s Motivated Sequence.

Outline Example

Making Guacamole like a Pro

Katie Gruber, Spring 2022

General Purpose: To inform

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the process of making guacamole.

Central Idea/Thesis statement: I will teach my audience how to make guacamole using fresh and ripe ingredients, and the necessary steps to make it.

Introduction: Picture this – you’re sitting at your favorite Mexican restaurant, and you’ve just ordered chicken quesadillas.  When your quesadillas arrive, you see a heaping scoop of guacamole resting on the plate.  With your first bite, you dip your quesadilla into the chunky green guacamole.  Instantly, your taste buds are alerted, and a variety of flavors explode in your mouth!  While Consumer Reports from 2014 and the New York Times from 2005 state guacamole is one of the most popular dips and available from several store brands, wouldn’t you like to make delicious, restaurant-quality guacamole in your own home?  After working as a server at Cozymel’s Mexican restaurant for 4 months and doing my own research, I learned how easy it is to make delicious guacamole.  After I discuss the fresh ingredients in and the steps to making your perfect guacamole, you are sure to impress your friends and their taste buds!

Body:

A. Let’s first discuss the fresh and ripe ingredients of guacamole – avocado, tomato, onion, cilantro, serrano or jalapeno pepper, garlic, and the juices of lime and orange.

1. 1. The avocados are the base of your guacamole.
      a. Avocados are chock-full of ‘good fats,’ that is, monounsaturated fats, not the health hazardous polyunsaturated fat.
      1. Lefebvre mentioned in Food Management journal in 2005 that a diet rich in avocados can lower blood cholesterol levels and even help increase the ‘good’ cholesterol!
      2. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, avocados also have B & E vitamins.
         1. B vitamins are essential for cell regrowth.
         2. E vitamins act as antioxidants and help your body’s cells.
         3. Avocados even have more potassium than a banana, an element that helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body.
            1. If you are an athlete, you probably understand that maintaining healthy potassium levels is especially important.

1. Avocados should be dark (not green) and slightly soft to the touch; they should have some “give” according to Martha Stewart Living magazine author J. Hayes, 2004; this is also echoed by Lefebvre in Food Management magazine in 2005.
   1. I have found in my own experience that if they are mushy and easily squeezed, they are no longer good and will be brown on the inside (yuck!)
   2. If they are hard (no give), they are not ripe enough and will not be good for mashing!
   3. The chefs at Cozymel’s once told me that if you can pull the “top” off the avocado, it is ripe!
2. Tomatoes are your next ingredient. They have a small amount of vitamin C but are otherwise mostly water!
   1. Tomatoes should not have any brown spots or dents.
3. Next, you have onion. According to the National Onion Association, onions have anti-inflammatory functions.
   1. Onions also don’t add many calories but lots of flavor!
   2. Make sure your onion is not scarred or wilted.
4. Then, you have garlic! Garlic has vasodilative properties, meaning it helps to widen arteries and thus lowers blood pressure.
5. Now, for some spice! You’ll need peppers – either Serrano or jalapeno.
   1. Serrano peppers look similar to jalapenos but are larger and darker.
   2. Their heat, like all peppers, comes from the capsaicin in the seeds, as described by Coloudas, C., et al in Texas Monthly 2004. Serrano peppers also have a slightly higher Scoville rating.
   3. The Scoville rating is the measurement of the pungency or heat of chili peppers, as described in Sweat, et. Al article in Food Chemistry, 2016.  Serrano peppers rate about 10,000-20,000 units while jalapenos rate from 1000-4000.
   4. If you like more heat, I suggest using serranoes over jalapenos.

1. Peppers should look smooth, not wrinkly.

6. Cilantro is your next ingredient, and another antioxidant.
   1. This adds flavor and helps to keep your guacamole from going brown!
7. Lastly, you have lime and orange juices, which both provide vitamin C.
   1. Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that synthesizes collagen.
      1. Collagen is a protein which is the main component for connective tissues in the body.

[Now that you know about the fresh and ripe ingredients of guacamole, let’s get down to making it!]

B. You can make guacamole in several easy steps.

1. 1. Let’s go over how much of each ingredient you will need: 2 whole avocados, 1 lime wedge and 1 orange wedge, 1-2 tablespoons minced garlic, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, ¼ cup chopped tomatoes, ¼ cup chopped onion, ¼ cup minced cilantro, and ¼ cup minced Serrano or jalapeno peppers.
   2. Start by halving your avocado (*demonstrate*) and removing the pit.
      1. You can easily remove the pit by using a large, sharp knife to puncture the avocado and pull it out.
         1. I learned this trick from the cooks at Cozymel’s!
      2. Once you have halved your avocado, scoop out the meat of the avocado with a large spoon.
      3. You should now have 4 avocado halves in your bowl. You next want to mash up these halves into a smooth mixture using the tines of a large fork. The Martha Stewart article also mentioned using a pestle to mash up your avocado. I prefer forks!
      4. Once you have mashed the avocado, you can now add all the ingredients.
      5. First, you’ll want to squeeze your lime and orange wedges to release their citrus juices.
         1. While I learned this from the chefs at Cozymel’s, McGahey from Southern Living in 2007 suggested that these juices enhance the flavor of the avocado and add a subtle sweetness.
         2. The Toronto Star in 2017 reminds us that these also help to preserve your avocado and help it from turning brown too quickly.
      6. Next, you’ll want to add your garlic and your salt.
      7. Then add your tomato, onion, peppers, and cilantro.
      8. Once all ingredients have been added to the avocado, combine all ingredients until thoroughly mixed.
      9. The chefs of Cozymel’s mentioned that the order of the ingredients is not as important as making sure you have equal proportions among the ingredients and ensuring they are combined thoroughly.

Conclusion: As I come to the end of my speech, you now have the necessary knowledge to make the perfect restaurant quality guacamole.  So remember, use fresh and ripe ingredients, take the time to prepare the guacamole yourself, and mix.  Grab some chips, grab some friends, and party!

Bibliography Example

This works cited uses APA style.  APA and MLA are likely the most popular citation styles, however, be sure to check with your instructor as to which style they prefer.

1. Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2021, June 16). avocado. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/plant/avocado
2. McGahey, M. (2007). Our Favorite Guacamole. Southern Living, 42(5), 174.
3. Hayes, J. (2004, January). Made-to-order guacamole. Martha Stewart Living, 122, 38–41.
4. Guacamole that earns an ’ole’! (2014). Consumer Reports, 79(2), 7.
5. Coloudas, C., Canavan, C., Gage, E., Higgs, L., Kelso, S., McDonald, S. L., Smith, Z., & Taliaferro, T. (2004). Guacamole. Texas Monthly, 32(12), 147–274.
6. Sweat, K. G., Broatch, J., Borror, C., Hagan, K., & Cahill, T. M. (2016). Variability in capsaicinoid content and Scoville heat ratings of commercially grown Jalapeño, Habanero and Bhut Jolokia peppers. Food Chemistry, 210, 606–612. https://doi-org.ezproxy.mtsu.edu/10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.04.135
7. Bowen, D. (2005, February 2). Flavored to Win in the Dip Bowl. New York Times, 154(53113), F4.
8. OUT & ABOUT – Your guide to a great weekend; Cover Story Holy ‘mole! People are passionate about religion, politics and … guacamole. On this Cinco de Mayo weekend, experts duke it out over what makes the ideal dip GUAC AND ROLL. (2019, May 4). New York Post[New York, NY], 025. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A584484837/STND?u=tel_middleten&sid=ebsco&xid=87703cb3
9. What’s the best way to keep guacamole fresh all work week? The delicious green dip will always taste best served immediately, but we tested three methods. (2017, September 14). The Toronto Star (Toronto, Ontario).
10. Lefebvre, J. (2005). Holy Guacamole! Food Management, 40(6), 72–74.
11. “History of onions”. US National Onion Association, Greeley, CO. 2011.

Tennessee Lax Laws

Savannah Bowen, MTSU student, Fall 2019

General Purpose: To persuade

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that the five main types of laxatives should be behind the counter drugs instead of over-the-counter drugs, as they are currently.

Central Idea/Thesis Sentence: The five most commonly used and sold types of laxatives (bulk-forming, lubricant, stool softening, osmotic, and stimulant) should be moved from over the counter (OTC) to behind the counter (BTC) status drugs in Tennessee.

Introduction (Attention): I’m sure everyone in this room has, at one point in time, looked in the mirror and wished they could change a part of their physical appearance. Whether you’re insecure about the size of your nose or the fact that one of your kneecaps has a weird scar on it, it’s completely natural to be overly critical of your physical appearance. According to “Mirror, Mirror”, a summary of research findings on body image by the Social Issues Research Centre from 2018, up to 8 out of 10 women will be dissatisfied with their reflection, and more than half may see a distorted image. In one American survey, 81% of ten-year-old girls had already dieted at least once. A recent Swedish study found that 25% of 7-year-old girls had dieted to lose weight – they were already suffering from ‘body-image distortion’, estimating themselves to be larger than they really were. Similar studies in Japan have found that 41% of elementary school girls (some as young as 6) thought they were too fat. Even normal-weight and underweight girls want to lose weight. Where these thoughts become harmful, however, is when they begin to drive actions. This often comes in the form of abuse of widely available, over-the-counter drugs and supplements such as laxatives. The five most commonly used types of laxatives, bulk-forming, lubricant, stool softening, osmotic, and stimulant, are not medically recommended for healthy weight control and are especially susceptible to abuse, and their misuse can result in serious health consequences. Thus, these should be moved from over the counter (OTC) to behind the counter (BTC) status drugs in Tennessee.

[ I’m sure this is the first time many of you are hearing about this, as it’s not something that’s romanticized or even commonly discussed in our everyday lives. So how prevalent of an issue is it really? ]

Body:

A. Need (Problem)

1. 1. The National Comorbidity Survey Replication, which is a nationally representative study of US households, found that 50% of people with bulimia nervosa, a disorder often associated with abuse of laxatives, develop the illness by age 18.
   2. Among US adolescents, 6% of girls and 4% of boys reported past-month use of laxatives without physician advice. But what does that really mean?
      1. Serious health consequences can result from abuse of laxatives
         1. These include acute and chronic impairment of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems, sometimes resulting in death.
         2. Adverse effects include dehydration, chronic diarrhea and constipation, metabolic acidosis, hypokalemia, and other fluid and electrolyte disorders; cardiac arrhythmia; ischemic stroke; and hepatic and renal failure.
         3. Any and all of that can result from the over and misuse of laxatives. And yet, anyone at any age can buy as many laxatives as they want from basically any store that sells medicines. You don’t need any kind of identification or prescription.

[ Here are a few things that are being done currently. These are all great ways to perhaps slow down the misuse of laxatives, but the fact of the matter is that without proper legislation in Tennessee regarding the issue, the statistics aren’t going anywhere. This is where my proposed solution comes into play. ]

B. Satisfaction (Solution)

1. 1. A specific method would be to implement a law in Tennessee that requires that laxatives be sold from behind the counter in all retail establishments and pharmacies to prohibit the purchase of large quantities at a time, especially by those who intend to misuse them.
      1. According to Sujit Sansgiry, a licensed pharmacist, in the Dove Medical Press 2016 issue, abuse of any over the counter drug is extremely common, due to self and misdiagnoses, even when one is not planning on using the drug for any other purpose than what it is intended for.
         1. When mental illnesses and disorders, like eating disorders, come into play, though, the danger is exponentially higher, Archita Bhansali, another licensed pharmacist, reports in Dove Medical Press, 2016.
   2. My proposed new law would simply require that in Tennessee, laxatives be moved to a behind the counter classification, as opposed to the over-the-counter classification where they currently preside.
      1. This could be combined with an age restriction to limit the quantity purchasable by minors as well.
         1. Retailers of all types are already required by the FDA to keep certain products behind the counter, such as tobacco products for age verification purposes and pseudoephedrine for quantity restrictions.
         2. Extending these same, or even just similar, requirements for laxatives would be extremely beneficial in slowing the abuse statistics.
         3. Although this would not prevent consumers from purchasing many small quantities from several establishments, such a restriction could assist in deterring consumption and would relay the message that consuming large quantities of laxatives is harmful to one’s health and could have serious short- and long-term consequences.
         4. The revised location of the five most common types of laxatives would impact only people at risk for abusing them and not those consumers who would purchase the proper amount for the medically indicated use.

[ If implemented, Tennessee would be the first state to take such a huge first step in deterring those with eating disorders from mis and overusing laxatives and other weight loss products ]

C. Visualization (Benefits)

1. 1. No other state has put this law into effect.
   2. However, in California, a law was recently passed that prohibits middle and high school sports coaches from suggesting or requiring weight loss drugs, such as diet pills and laxatives, to be taken to control the weights and BMI’s of their players.
   3. Similar laws to my proposed one have been put in place in many states, though, when it comes to the drug ipecac.
      1. In case you’re not aware of what ipecac is, it’s a medicine that causes vomiting.
      2. In the past it was used to partially empty a person’s stomach after ingesting poison.
         1. It is now rarely recommended, according to the National Capitol Poison Center.
   4. Laxatives would be treated and kept like tobacco products in stores where you are required to show your ID to buy them and you’d only be able to buy a certain amount, in order to keep them out of the hands of those who are most likely to abuse them, adolescents with eating disorders.
      1. If you need a visualizer, think of it as how the emergency contraceptive Plan B is sold.

[ Of course, as opinionated and passionate as many of us are about many issues, none of us are Tennessee legislators or lawmakers… yet. ]

Conclusion (Call to Action): So, what you can do about this now, in the meantime, is call and write our local and state-level representation about the issue. Talk to your friends and family members, educate them, and urge them to do the same. We need to eliminate the stigma that surrounds the topic so those that are struggling can get the help they need before it’s too late. Make it known that eating disorders are serious issues that affect Tennessee’s youth, and the lack of legislation regarding them is an egregious system failure. Without us pushing our representatives to do something about laxative abuse, change will not happen at any level, and those that need these regulations to be put in place for their health will continue to suffer silently. Change starts here; it’s time that we demand better. Thank you.

References

1. Fox, Kate. “Mirror, Mirror A Summary of Research Findings on Body Image.” Mirror, Mirror – A Summary of Research Findings on Body Image, 2018, www.sirc.org/publik/mirror.html.
2. Pomeranz, Jennifer L, et al. “Over-the-Counter and out-of-Control: Legal Strategies to Protect Youths from Abusing Products for Weight Control.” American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, Feb. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3558759/.
3. Sansgiry, Sujit S, et al. “Abuse of over-the-Counter Medicines: a Pharmacist’s Perspective.” Integrated Pharmacy Research & Practice, Dove Medical Press, 19 Dec. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774309/.
4. Bhansali, Archita H, et al. “Abuse of over-the-Counter Medicines: a Pharmacist’s Perspective.” Integrated Pharmacy Research & Practice, Dove Medical Press, 19 Dec. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774309/.
5. National Capital Poison Center. “Ipecac.” Ipecac, National Capital Poison Center, 5 June 2019, www.poison.org/articles/ipecac-do-not-use-it.
6. Roerig, James L, et al. “Laxative Abuse: Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Management.” Drugs, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 Aug. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20687617.

Finally, your speech may require a visual aid in the form of a PowerPoint (I hear the new term is “slide deck”) or Prezi.  Below is an example of a simple and effective PowerPoint show which accompanied a persuasive speech on sex education. Not shown are the blank slides this student incorporated between her graphs. Remember that visual aids are visually stimulating, and the audience will be drawn to them, and distracted by them if not relevant. Once you are finished speaking about a particular image or graph, you should “put it away” or show a blank slide. Notice, too, that the graphs she used were from reputable sources [found via Statista] and filled the entire slide space. Be certain to maximize any images to ensure that your entire audience can see your images. Just as you should project your voice, you should project your images!