Banning/Restricting the Sale of Violent Video Games

¶ … Banning/Restricting the sale of Violent Video Games to Minors

Persuasive Speech Outline Template

Organization:

This speech uses problem-solution organization.

Audience analysis:

The average age of the audience is between 30 and 55 years of age with ages ranging from 14 to 59. There is roughly an even balance

of males to females; the main ethnic background is Caucasian.

Some of the audience members are still in high school, some do not work outside the home, and some work full time jobs. Most are from conservative religious backgrounds. As to this speech topic, most of the audience members are of childbearing age or have children themselves. This speech is given during the late afternoon.

Central Idea:

Banning or restricting the sale of violent video games

Specific Purpose:

To inform my audience of the dangers of selling violent video games to children, and persuade them to support legal action against merchants who do so.

Introduction:

I. Attention-getter

A. A friend of mine used to work in the video games department at Wal Mart. He still loves to tell stories about kids trying to buy R. Or even M. rated video games, often with their parents in tow.

B. The store policy was that such games could not be sold to minors without parental permission. To follow the policy, he always made it a point to say something like, "Are you aware that this game is rated R. For blood and gore?" Most horrified parents would immediately refuse to buy it and drag the child out of the store. He earned more than one dirty look from a preteen or two because of it.

Establish Credibility -- My friend felt that he had a duty to parents to ensure that these games were not sold to their children.

II. Thesis Statement -- Violent video games can have negative effects on minors, and merchants who sell them to children should be subject to legal action.

III. Preview Statement -- Today I would like to give you some information about the following:

A. The gaming industry and stores are aware of the relationship between game violence and sales of those games.

B. Violent games have a negative effect on children.

C. Stores should experience legal ramifications for selling violent games to minors.

Body:

I. The gaming industry and stores are aware of the relationship between game violence and sales of those games.

A. "Death Race," a driving simulation first distributed in 1971, was the first violent video game to receive attention. The objective was to run over pedestrians, who would scream and turn into gravestones.

B. Some communities were so disturbed by the game's content that they banned it outright. However, the free publicity increased sales of the game to ten times its normal rate.1

C. The video game industry created a ratings system for games in the mid nineties, with the goal being to force the industry to produce less violent games. In fact, the number increased, since creators no longer had to worry about general audiences.2

D. In the late nineties, Nintendo and Sega both created versions of the popular game "Street Fighter"; the Sega version sold more than its competitor, mainly because of its increased gore factor.1

Violent video games have an effect on children.

A. Image 1 shows the risk factors for violence in children.

B. According to the chart, those with the highest risk factors are those who play violent games and have very little parental involvement..2

C. In a longitudinal study, 364 United States 3rd-, 4th-, and 5th-graders ranging in age from 9 to 12 years were tested for increased aggression while playing violent games.

D. Image 2 shows that the students who played more violent games over time were most likely to be more aggressive and disruptive.

E. Over the school year, they became less empathic and helpful as well.

F. The study also tested various groups of Japanese children, and found similar results.43

III. Merchants who sell violent video games to children should be subject to legal action.

A.Many states have created and tried to enforce legislation restricting or banning the sale of these games to children.

B. PA 01-54 -- 2001 would have levied a thousand dollar fine for any Pennsylvania for profit business that allowed minors to play "violent 'point-and-shoot' video games." It was vetoed in May of 2001.

C. The latest state is California, with a bill introduced by Assemblyman Leland Yee. It called for a thousand dollar fine for any merchant caught "with knowledge that the person is a minor, knowingly sell[ing], rent[ing], distribut[ing], send[ing], caus[ing] to be sent, exhibit[ing], or offer[ing] to distribute or exhibit by any means, any violent video game to a minor." The case went all the way to the California Supreme Court, which struck down the law in June 2011.4

IV. There are four ways you can help support legal action against merchants who sell violent video games to minors.

A. Take a close look at what your child is playing. Some games may have an "E' for everyone rating, but have more violence than you would expect.

B. . If your child is playing a game that you find objectionable, get rid of it! Replace it with something more acceptable.

C. Talk to local game stores and find out what their policy is on selling violent games to minors. If you can provide proof that they are violating their own policy, do not hesitate to talk to a manager or write a letter to the company.

D. Contact your local state representative and let them know that you support legal action.

Conclusion:

I. Action

A. Keep merchants from selling violent games to minors by: