PERSUASIVE SPEECH OUTLINE
Topic: Organ Donation
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to donate their organs and tissues when they die and to act upon their decision to donate.
INTRODUCTION
Attention: How do you feel when you have to wait for something you really, really want? What if it was something you couldn’t live without?
I am here today to share with you my views on organ donation, in the hope that you will take them on board and give someone the ultimate gift after you have left this earth – the gift of life.
Ladies and gentlemen, there are currently 79,000 U.S patients on the transplant waiting list in the United States. Additionally, 3,000 patients are added to the list every month. Although this number may appear small considering the population of nearly three hundred million, it becomes substantially larger when taking into account the twenty to thirty family and friends associated with each patient. Hence, it is highly probable that someone you know is awaiting an organ transplant. These individuals require support not only at a national level but also in specific states like Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois.
The lack of organs and organ donors is a problem that hinders organ transplantation, as stated in a poem by Robert Test entitled “To Remember Me.” Every 16 minutes, a new name is added to the national waiting list, resulting in three additions during the time we spend in class. It is crucial to consider donating organs, as one can choose to provide any necessary organs or specify the specific organs or tissues to donate. So, organ donation holds immense significance. The poem highlights the value of giving sight to those who have never seen the beauty of a sunrise, a baby’s face, or love in the eyes of a woman.
The South Dakota Lions Eye Bank’s undated brochure expresses the desire to give my heart to someone who has caused me endless days of pain. The hope is to use all my bones, muscles, fibers, and nerves to help a crippled child walk. If needed, even my cells can be used to enable a speechless boy to shout and a deaf girl to hear the sound of rain against her window (South Dakota Lions Eye Bank, undated brochure). Furthermore, this problem is not limited to a national level, but it also exists in our own Northwest community. Hence, I believe it is evident that people like you should consider donating your organs.
The majority of this class has expressed their desire to donate their organs upon death. However, you may be wondering how to ensure that your organs are donated. The following steps outline how you can ensure the donation of your organs. Firstly, discuss your decision with your family, as they will play a role in the donation arrangements after you pass away. Failure to inform them about your wishes may result in your wishes going unfulfilled. Secondly, indicate your intent to donate on your driver’s license, taking into consideration that the process may vary depending on the state you reside in. Thirdly, complete and carry a uniform donor card that states which organs you wish to donate and includes spaces for your family members to sign as witnesses, after having a discussion with them about your decision (Gundersen Lutheran Hospital [LaCrosse, WI] undated brochure). Transition: It is evident that becoming an organ donor is not a complicated task.
Now let us explore the consequences of choosing to donate or not to donate your organs.
Organ donation brings benefits both to the donor’s family and the recipients. If you do choose to donate your organs, both your family and the individuals who receive your organs could experience similar benefits such as this family.
A seventeen year old died in a car accident, resulting in fatal head injuries. In a selfless act, the teenager’s mother chose to donate his organs. The young boy’s heart was given to a prison chaplain, while his kidneys were given to a mother of five children and a Vietnam veteran. This veteran, who had served in the war, now finds himself filled with newfound energy and is on the path to getting his college degree. By generously donating his organs, the teenager has brought life and hope to others. His family takes comfort in knowing that their loved one’s gift has impacted others’ lives as mentioned in the 1991 brochure published by the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. However, an issue arises when people consider becoming donors but do not take action.
By not making your wishes known, nobody will know to donate your organs. This leads to more people waiting for organs and a continuing shortage of available organs.
CONCLUSION: A. Brake light/Transition: Donating your organs can be one of the most important decisions you ever make and the greatest gift you could ever give. B. Summary: I have discussed the need for organ donors in our area, the process of becoming an organ donor after death, and the benefits to both your family and organ recipients. To become a donor, inform your family of your wishes, complete and sign a donor card, and indicate your wishes on your driver’s license. *C. Motivation*: Imagine if someone you loved was on the waiting list for an organ transplant. Consider the satisfaction and comfort of knowing that your deceased sibling, for example, provided life for another person by donating their heart.
Here is a message from Michael Jordan, who sponsors the Iowa Life Gift Coalition on Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness. He appears in their 1996 brochure and urges people to make the decision to become an organ and tissue donor. Jordan’s message is: “Please make the decision to become an organ and tissue donor. Remember: Share your life. Share your decision.” These quotes are cited from the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital brochure (Lacrosse, WI) titled “Life…Pass It On” and the Iowa Life Gift Coalition on Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness brochure from 1996 titled “Share Your Life, Share Your Decision”.
The text provides a compilation of references to diverse brochures and resources concerning organ donation. These references consist of the titles, dates, sources, and access dates for the brochures. The brochures cover various topics including the lifelong opportunity of being an organ donor, common questions and answers about organ donation, statistical information related to organ donation, the significance of selflessly giving one’s organs to others, and the concept of organ and tissue donation as a fundamental part of life’s circle. Among these brochures are publications from several organizations: Iowa Statewide Organ Procurement Organization, LifeSource: Newsnotes, LifeSource: Questions and Answers, LifeSource: Statistics, South Dakota Lions Eye Bank, and University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.
