Persuasive Speech Topics Outline - Extended Version

TOPIC OF THIS PERSUASIVE SPEECH TOPICS OUTLINE: Elderly Health and Pets

GENERAL PURPOSE: To persuade

SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To persuade my audience that a human-companion animal make an impressive positive change in the mental and physical health of the elderly.

THESIS STATEMENT: Pets make an impressive positive change in the mental and physical health of the elderly, and consider the health benefit potentials a pet has for a beloved older person in your life.

TITLE OF THIS PERSUASIVE SPEECH TOPICS OUTLINE:
A Pet a Day Keep the Doctor Away!

INTRODUCTION:

A. Attention-Getter:
They say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but how much better would you feel if the apple was being presented to you by a cute dog or cat?

B. Tie to the audience in this persuasive speech topics outline:
If someone that you care about is dealing with encroaching old age, spending some time with an undemanding, loving animal can be something that is important for you in more ways than one.

C. Personal experience:
For example, my granddad was in dire straits after my granny died. After thirtyfive years together, he didn't know what to do with himself until he ended up adopting an older Labrador Retriever. The change was immense, and suddenly we had a familyman who was interested in the world around him and reaching out again. The change was amazing!

D. Thesis Sentence of this persuasive speech topics outline:
Pets make an impressive positive change in the mental and physical health, and if you are concerned with the issue personally, consider the health benefit potentials for a beloved older person in your life.

E. Preview of the main points of this persuasive speech topics outline:
First, I will discuss the ways an animal is capable of making an elder person feel connected to the world at large.
Then, I will show how the company of a loving cat or a dog makes the difference in a person's mental and physical outlook.
And then, I'll tell you what to keep in mind when you are considering what pet might be appropriate for someone in your family.

Transition sentence of persuasive speech topics outline: As people get older, there is very much a concern of not being needed.

BODY OF THE PERSUASIVE SPEECH TOPICS OUTLINE

MAIN POINT I:
A human-companion animal is capable of making the elderly feel connected to the world at large.

1. Elderly people who have had their adult children leave home and who have lost spouses often find that it is difficult to connect with other people and because of this, they end up feeling a great deal more introverted and isolated.
2. Pets can make a huge difference when it comes to how well they cope with change and how they react to the world. An animal will depend on them, and give them that essential feeling of being needed again.
3. Elderly people also often find that they are living their lives without much tactile contact. Spouses might have passed on, and they might not be comfortable looking for tactile comfort from the people around them.
   This is where dogs and cats come in.
4. Cats and dogs love physical contact, and because of this, they are willing to go seeking it. A cat may love to sit in your lap or to sit down next to you for petting or you may find that a dog loves to roll around with and sit leaned up next to your legs...

MAIN POINT II:
Pets can help improving their mental health; animals seem wonderfully intuitive when it comes to responding to how their humans feel.

1. A cat or a dog, especially one that is closely bonded to you, can feel in tune with your emotions. If you have ever been upset and had an animal come to cuddle you or to check on you, you know how soothing this can be.

   Rhetorical persuasive speech topics outline questions:

   • Have you ever felt more relaxed when a cat walks up and demands to be petted?
   • Have you ever not been able to resist a smile when a dog comes up and wants to play? These feelings are not merely happening in isolation.
2. There are plenty of scientific studies that show us that having pets around can lower the blood pressure and help us relax. When you think about how many elderly people are often beset by feelings of stress and how this can lead to things like heart disease or impaired functioning: looking into how pets can help is essential!
3. Pets are company that is very low stress and the truth is that when you give them what they need, they reciprocate with a great deal of love and joy! At the most basic level, pets can be very non demanding company. When you mess up, they are willing to forgive you, and they do not ask for much. They need food, attention and care, but they are not going to ask for things that you cannot give them.

MAIN POINT III:
Have a few things to keep in mind when you are considering what pet might be appropriate.

1. When you're looking for a pet that can help with an elderly relative or fried, remember that you should only purchase them a pet with their express permission.
2. Some people have never had animals, other people do not want to have animals in the home. You may wish to gently encourage them, though, or you may wish to introduce them to one of your own animals.
3. Dogs and cats that are very personable and social do quite well for this purpose, and remember that older animals tend to do better than younger animals at large. Look for an animal that is calm and that is very interested in their setting and the people around them.

   Rhetorical persuasive speech topics outline question:

   • Do they prefer the friendly good nature of dogs or do they prefer the laid back charm of cats?

CONCLUSION OF THE PERSUASIVE SPEECH TOPICS OUTLINEA. Restate thesis: Pets make an impressive positive change in elderly lives, and if you are concerned with the issue personally, consider this.

B. Restate the main points of this persuasive speech topics outline:

1. Elderly people who are missing contact with the world around them often feel at a loss and a pet can be a great way to cure it.
3. Pets are very low stress company, they can help improving mental and physical health.
5. Consider what the elderly might need, and think about how you are going to be able to meet those needs through the love of an animal.

D. Clincher: Remember: A Pet a Day Keep the Doctor Away!

PERSUASIVE SPEECH TOPICS OUTLINE BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Cookman, C (1996). Older people and attachment to things, places, pets and ideas.
Keil, C (1995). The relationship of loneliness and stress to human-animal attachment in the elderly pusuasive speech topics.
Serpell, J (1991). Beneficial effects of pet ownership on some aspects of human health and behaviour.