Don'T Drink And Drive

Lou Harris

Public Speaking

Persuasive Speech

July 28, 2005

Topic: Don't Drink and Drive

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that action is needed to deal with the problem

caused by motorists' who drink and drive.

General Purpose: Solving the problems caused by drinking and driving will require action

by friends, family, and law enforcement.

Thesis Statement: Drinking and driving not only endanger your life, it endangers the lives

of the innocent victims whose path you cross.

Introduction: While watching TV one night, a special news report came on. There

was a terrible accident in Marshal County involving a drunk driver.

Six children were killed in the crash, a man driving a blue sedan had

hit head-on with a mini van, carrying six children and their grandmother.

All the children were pronounced dead at the scene, the grandmother and

the man driving the sedan were the only survivors.

Body:

A. Don't drink and drive, period.

1. The cemeteries are full of people who thought they were "Ok to drive" along

with the innocent victims whose paths they crossed.

2. Support law enforcement.

3. Don't complain that an officer gave your kid an MIP, DUI, or DWI... thank them.

Transitions: Now that we've seen how drinking and driving are serious problems for motorists'

and their communities, let's look at some causes.

B. "It causes the deaths of over 16,000 people in America every year, an average of

44 each day, one every 33 minutes."

Conclusion: "Drinking and driving and alcohol abuse are claiming the lives of thousands

of young people each year. If you critically injure or kill someone after making

the conscious decision to drink and drive, be prepared for the consequences."