Persuasive Speech Outlines Guide Name: Alexandra Chesley WORKING OUTLINE Topic: The topic of my speech is the benefits

of video games to children and teenagers. Specific purpose statement: To persuade my audience that video games are more beneficial to children and teenagers than harmful or a waste of time. Thesis statement (central idea): With moderation and supervision, video games are educational and beneficial mentally, physically, and socially. Organizational pattern: The speech is organized topically.

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Introduction Attention-getter: In this day and age, video games are everywhere and almost every kid seems to be playing one. From 1996 to 2009 in the U.S., the number of computer and video games sold grew from 73.3 million to 273.5 million, according to the NPD Group and Retail Tracking Service. Audience relevance: As many of you are parents, I understand you care about your children and teenagers health and well-being. Central idea: While it has been thought for years that video games are the cause of social, mental, or physical problems, the truth is actually quite the opposite. Video games are beneficial in several ways. Credibility statement: Ever since I could remember, Ive been playing and learning about video games. Whether it was sitting in my dads lap as he played Command and Conquer as a toddler or playing Mario Kart on my Nintendo 64, video games have been a part of my life since day one. Preview statement: So, video games, with moderation and supervision, can be extremely educational and beneficial mentally, physically, and socially.

Transition statement: Lets begin with the mental, physical, and social benefits. Body I. Main point: As a child grows, not only is their education important, but its essential that they are nurtured to keep in pace with their peers mentally, physically, and socially. A. Mentally, video games provide a lot more than just increased hand-eye coordination. 1. As you play video games, your dexterity improves and you have a faster reaction time.

2. Games such as Portal and other puzzle games can improve your critical thinking, memorization skills, and ability to reason and organize. 3. Says BBC Newss 2002 article, Video Games Stimulate Learning, The UK study concluded that simulation and adventure games - such as Sim City and RollerCoaster Tycoon, where players create societies or build theme parks, developed children's strategic thinking and planning skills. 4. Not only does the childs mind become sharper, but video games give kids a self-esteem boost and relieve stress through the physical activity and mental alleviation. B. Speaking about physical activity, video games have children and even adults moving more than they ever have. 1. With todays Wii Fit, Wii Sports, Dance Dance Revolution, and Dance Central, people find themselves sweating and slimming down with video games more than they ever have. These games arent encouraging kids that they have to lose weight or fit an ideal image; theyre just making more fun to be active, healthy, and get up and moving. 2. But the physical activity isnt just for someone who wants to be healthier than they are every day. Video games can provide pain relief through physical activity or just the mental distraction. For teenagers or children suffering from depression or another mental disorder, video games offer a way to relax and cope with the pain. C. Additionally, video games can help kids socially. I know, I know. Gamers are the people stuck in their basement with the lights turn off, speaking in grunts and nods, right? Actually, it can be quite the opposite. 1. When a child is a loner or only has only a few friends, its usually a result of a trouble finding friends with similar interests or the lack of ability or desire to communicate with their peers. 2. MMOs (which stands for massive multiplayer online) and games with online co-op offer kids to the chance to communicate with people from all over the world and make them feel more comfortable talking with people of their own age and with similar interests. Transition statement: Secondly, there are the educational benefits of video games. II. Main point: A parent might be surprised how many things a child can learn from video games. A. A lot of games, like Sid Meiers Civilization and Age of Empires, teach kids about important historical events and rulers. For example, one can learn about Roman and Greek mythology, the wonders of the world, how ancient Egyptian civilizations were built, and why Julies Creaser came to power, all through just video games. B. Video games can also increase your vocabulary. Andy Grossman makes an excellent point in his 2012 article titled The Dorklyst: 7 Ways Videogames

Make Us Smarter: Fatality. Civilization. Flawless. Random. Ultimate. Corsair. Evolution. Ocarina. These are all words that you probably knew in elementary school because of video games. C. In addition to an expanded vocabulary, video games also help kids develop better research skills. Think about it: If you need that cheat or walkthrough when youre stuck, what do you? You go online and research for it! Transition statement: Even though video games have all sorts of great benefits, theres no denying that parents should be involved with which video games are available to their kids. III. Main point: Parents should make sure they know what their kid is playing, who theyre playing it with, and how long theyre playing throughout the week. A. Most video games are required to have a rating printed onto their casing, which can range from E for everyone to T for teen to M for mature. Usually under the rating, itll say in small text why the game is rated higher than an E. B. Andrea Norcia says in her article The Impact of Video Games on Children that parents should set limits for their children. They should limit how often and how long kids play video games. Transition statement: All in all, video games have proven to be much more beneficial to children and teenagers than often rumored.

Conclusion 1. Restate the main points: Video games not only teach your kids, they help them grow as a person. This, of course, requires parental moderation. 2. Restate the central idea: Mentally, physically, socially, and educationally, video games benefit your kids in several ways that you may not have even thought of. 3. Clincher: So today Im asking you to go and sit down with your children, with these facts in mind, and talk to them about how they benefit from games!

Bibliography Entertainment Software Association. Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industries. 2010. PDF file. Grossman, Andy. "The Dorklyst: 7 Ways Videogames Make Us Smarter." Dorkly. Connected Ventures, 27 June 2012. Web. 10 July 2012. <http://www.dorkly.com/article/40681/thedorklyst-7-ways-videogames-make-us-smarter>. Norcia, Andrea. "The Impact of Video Games on Children." Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Web. 10 July 2012. <http://www.pamf.org/preteen/parents/videogames.html>. "Video Games 'Stimulate Learning'" BBC News. BBC, 18 Mar. 2002. Web. 10 July 2012. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/1879019.stm>.