Persuasive Speech on Cosmetic Products

¶ … Muscular Dystrophy Association

General Purpose: to persuade

Specific Purpose: to persuade people to be aware and donate to MDA

Organization Pattern: Topical

Attention Getter: Every Labor Day, the Jerry Lewis telethon is broadcast on television and people are asked to help Jerry's kids. For more than 60 years, MDA has helped children and adults all over the world who are struggling with muscular dystrophy and related diseases.

Relevance to Audience: Muscular dystrophy has been a known disease for well over a century. Yet, there is still no cure; only treatments. Muscular dystrophy can strike any family at any time.

Credibility Statement: My sister developed Muscular Dystrophy early on in life and it led directly to her deaf. With her bones and muscles so terribly weakened, she became confined to a wheelchair. One day while crossing the street, she was hit by a car that ran a red light. She was unable to help herself up or to get help. By the time she got medical attention, too much damage had been done.

D. Thesis Statement: Muscular dystrophy is still affecting children and families as much as it had before MDA. Only through continued scientific and medical experimentation can we hope to cure this terrible disease. This requires the donations and assistance from generous individuals.

Transition: To understand why people should donate to MDA, they should first have some more information about muscular dystrophy.

II. Body:

A. What is muscular dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy is the term given to approximately thirty diseases of the muscles (Muscular). The diseases weaken the musculoskeletal system and over time limit and then prevent mobility, leaving the sufferer permanently disabled. Muscle tissue and cells die off and can lead to mortality.

B. What is MDA?

MDA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, provides funding for research into cures and treatments for the various conditions. It also provides wheelchairs and funds for parents and their children with conditions. It also funds a special camp where children with MD can go to just be kids for a little while.

Transition: Now you have information about Muscular Dystrophy and MDA and can begin to understand why you should donate your hard-earned money to this worth cause.

III. Persuasion:

a. Millions of families around the world have been affected by Muscular Dystrophy. It is one of the most harrowing diseases known to man. Not only does it destroy the muscles of the human body, it can easily destroy the human spirit as well. Most sufferers begin to show signs of MD in their childhoods. Very few make it long enough to become adults. Medical science has known about Muscular Dystrophy for approximately a century and a half and yet there is not cure. Children around the world are still dying from this disease. Even a small donation improves the life of a sick little boy or girl who only know lives of pain and illness.