SAMPLE SPEECH OUTLINE 12.1

1. Do you ever feel like you’re struggling to juggle relationships, work, and classes? Many of us do, and often enough, the first thing we cut out of our busy daily routine is sleep.

   Speaker opens with attention-getting question and offers response audience will likely relate to

2. For better or worse, the human body needs an adequate amount of sleep to function properly, and my research indicates that we simply aren’t getting enough of it.
3. You must understand the causes and effects of sleep deprivation, as well as simple steps to take to avoid it, to improve your life now and avoid costly personal and social ramifications.

   Thesis statement

4. Today I will speak about sleep deprivation. I will begin by explaining what it is, before moving on to its causes and effects and examining simple solutions to the problem.

   Preview of main points

1. In a personal communication with Dr. Arkeenah Jones, a family physician, on March 15, 2011, she noted that sleep deprivation is a condition in which a person does not get enough sleep, which can lead to chronic exhaustion.

   Main point 1

   1. The National Sleep Foundation’s 2009 survey notes that 70 percent of adults sleep less than eight hours per night, and 40 percent sleep less than the minimum recommended seven hours per night.
   2. The results of the survey I passed out last week reveal that 30 percent of people in this very classroom get less than six hours of sleep on weeknights.

   Transition: By a show of hands, how many people in this room like to sleep?

2. There are many causes of sleep deprivation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

   Main point 2

   1. Busy work and family schedules contribute to sleep deprivation.
      1. As college students, many of us are trying to handle full-time course work and full- or part-time jobs to help pay for tuition, in addition to maintaining relationships with loved ones.

         Speaker continually makes topic relevant to audience

      2. New parents are often incredibly sleep deprived as they attempt to adjust to life with an infant as well as those infamous nighttime feedings.
      3. Shift workers (including police officers, nurses, pilots, and so on) often have trouble establishing good sleep habits because their schedules change frequently and they are sometimes required to work the night shift.
   2. Late-night television and Internet use can interfere with the ability to fall asleep or can prevent individuals from adhering to a bedtime schedule.
   3. The use of caffeine and alcohol can also make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
   4. Some medical conditions—including insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea—also make sleeping incredibly difficult.

3. III.Sleep deprivation can have negative effects on the health and safety of individuals and the community at large.

   Main point 3

   1. According to Dr. Michael J. Breus, a clinical psychologist and writer for WebMD, sleep deprivation decreases performance and alertness.
      1. Sleep deprivation decreases workplace productivity, at a cost of more than $3,000 per employee annually, as noted by Patrick Skerritt in the Harvard Business Review.
      2. Sleep deprivation is a leading cause of automobile accidents, especially among adolescent motorists, according to a February 15, 2010, report by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

         Speaker continually uses oral citations to credit sources

   2. Dr. Michael J. Breus also notes that sleep deprivation causes relational stress.
      1. In my own life, I certainly find that I argue more with friends and family when I’m exhausted than I do when I’m well rested.

         Speaker builds credibility, noting she too is prone to effects of sleep deprivation

      2. The results of the survey I conducted indicate that 55 percent of the members of this class find that “arguing with a loved one” is a problematic outcome of not getting enough sleep.
   3. Dr. Arkeenah Jones notes that sleep deprivation affects memory and cognitive ability.
      1. In fact, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study noted that 23.2 percent of sleep-deprived individuals report difficulties with concentration. Similarly, 18.2 percent report difficulty remembering information.
      2. Dr. Pamela Thatcher, a psychology professor at St. Lawrence University, conducted a study in which she discovered that students who pull all-night study sessions typically have lower GPAs than those who do not.
   4. Sleep deprivation can contribute to chronic health conditions, including depression, obesity, and diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

4. You can avoid sleep deprivation with a few simple changes to your daily routine.
   1. Make sleeping a priority in your life, along with your other commitments.
   2. Have consistent sleep and wake-up times, even on weekends.
   3. Don’t watch television, play on your laptop, or even study in bed. Try to reserve your bed for sleeping.
   4. Don’t drink alcohol or consume caffeine too close to bedtime.
   5. Dr. Arkeenah Jones recommends contacting your primary care physician or a nurse practitioner in the Student Health Center in order to address underlying medical problems that might affect your sleep.

1. Sadly, a realization about the dangers of sleep deprivation came too late for Zlatko Glusica, a fatigued pilot whose slow reaction time caused a fatal error in landing an Air India Express flight in 2010. According to a report by Alan Levin in USA Today, 158 people—including Mr. Glusica—died.

   Speaker signals end of speech with tragic story that drives home main points

2. As you’ve seen today, sleep deprivation is a concerning problem for individuals and communities.
   1. It has many causes, ranging from busy schedules and media use to caffeine and alcohol consumption and medical problems.
   2. Its effects can be devastating, as I’ve detailed in this speech.
   3. Luckily, many of us can prevent sleep deprivation by making simple changes to our daily routines.

      Speaker reiterates main points

3. Now go get some rest . . . after the remainder of today’s speeches are over, that is!

   Speaker uses memorable statement and humor to end speech