Informative Speech Outline Instructions

Specific Goal: My audience will learn about why smiles are contagious and how to smile more throughout the
day.

Application: Smiling more at others will not only make your day go better but can make others day go better
too.
Ethos: Primary Ethos: When I picked this topic, I have made a conscience effort to smile at everyone around
me.
Secondary Ethos: I will cite five references out loud in my speech.

Pathos: Sharing my experience of smiling more at others while planning this speech and how it helps
everyone and not just you.

Logos: I will be using data and articles that use supporting data of studies of smiling at people and if it is
contagious.

Audience Assessment: My audience most likely have heard the saying Smiling is contagious and have had
their own experience with it, good and bad.

Adaptation to Audience: I will use the evidence of the studies proving smiling is contagious, that they all
came across someone who wouldnt allow their smiles to have an effect on their day.

Pattern of Organization: Chronological in the introduction, Topical in the Body.

Introduction

I. Hook: Do you want to make yours and others days better?

A. I have been utilizing a 6 step processes to smiling more that I will share later in my
speech.
B. Not everyone is willing to smile back but I have noticed my days and others feeling
up lifted and brighter.

II. Thesis: Smiling is contagious and can bring others up.

III. Preview: Ill share why smiles are contagious and how to smile more.
A. First, why smiles are contagious.
B. Second, how to smile more.

Transition: Knowing and understanding why smiling is contagious will give you motivation to smile
more.

Body
I. Why smiles are contagious
a. There have been two types of studies that have proven smiles are contagious.
i. A study of smiling at people walking down the street and record how many
smile back. (Franco, A.)
ii. A study of asking people to frown when they are shown a picture of
someone smiling. (Beasley, T.J.)
b. These studies have resulted a couple of conclusions as to why.
i. Adrienne Wood, Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
explains that it is the sensorimotor simulation in our brains. (Howard, J.)
ii. Psu.edu concludes that it releases good chemicals in the brain. (SiOWfa14)
 iii. Lastly, T.J. Beasley reports that smiling is automatic due to the part of the
brain that controls your facial expression.is called the cingulate cortex.
(Beasley, T.J.)

Transition: Smiling has the effect in the brain for everyone but some resist the sensorimotor
simulation and choose not to react. Here you can find out how to smile more despite a small
handful of others not responding the way you would like.

II. How to smile more

a. Matt McWilliams shares is secret to smiling more often on his site and shares 6
ways to get in the habit of smiling more. (McWilliams, M.))
i. Smile the moment you wake up. (McWilliams, M.))
ii. Remind yourself in the morning that you are going to smile more today.
(Williams)
iii. Set reminders to smile. (McWilliams, M.))
iv. Create cues to smile. (McWilliams, M.))
v. Think happy thoughts. (McWilliams, M.)
1. Think of Happy Thoughts and youll Fly. Peter Pan
vi. Smile at everyone you see today. (McWilliams, M.)
1. If you see someone without a smile, give them yours. Dolly
Parton
b. As I mentioned before, I utilized this 6 step process and not only do I feel so much
better but my coworkers, family, and friends have all noticed the change and told
me how much they enjoy it.

Transition: Not everyone around me latched onto my smiles but the majority of the people did
and I hope you can find the magic in smiling too.

Conclusion

I. After the past couple weeks of smiling, I know smiling is contagious and can bring others up.

II. I challenge each of you to make a conscious effort to smile more for a whole week and watch as
everyone starts to smile around you.

References:

Beasley, T. J. (2016, August 04). Are Smiles Contagious? Retrieved April 09, 2017, from
http://drjohnsondds.com/are-smiles-contagious/

Franco, A. (n.d.). Is Smiling Contagious? Retrieved April 09, 2017, doi:www.davis.k12.ut.us/

filedownload.ashx?...Alyiah%20Franco%20Is%20smiling%2

Geronimi, C., Jackson, W., Luske, H., & Kinney, J. (Directors). (1952). Peter Pan [Motion picture on VHS].
Walt Disney Productions

Howard, J. (2016, February 16). Smiling Really Is Contagious, And Heres Why. Retrieved April 09, 2017,
from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/smiling-contagious-study_us_56c20ea2e4b0b40245c75650

McWiliiams, M. (2017, February 14) The Secret to Smiling More Often. Retrieved April 09, 2017, from
http://www.mattmcwilliams.com/secret-to-smiling-more-often/
Parton, D. A quote by Dolly Parton. Retrieved April 23, 2017, from http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/468533-
if-you-see-someone-without-a-smile-give-them-yours

SiOWfa14 Science in Our World: Certainty and Cont. (2014, October 21). Retrieved April 09, 2017, from
https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa14/2014/10/21/is-smiling-contagious/