Persuasive Speech Outline
Student Teacher Facebook Friends?
I.
Introduction - memorized
A. Attention Getter
B. Background information (explain the situation)
C. Teacher-student friendships on Facebook are wrong because one this interaction is not
covered by freedom of speech, two a teacher is not a friend but an authority figure, and
three student-teacher relationships outside the classroom are inappropriate.
II.
Body
A. Teacher-student friendships on Facebook are wrong because this
interaction is not covered by freedom of speech.
1. Evidence:
According to Parent Magazine, last July the state of Missouri created a law that
states,” No teacher shall establish, maintain, or use a nonwork-related internet site
which allows exclusive access with a current or former student” (Missouri Facebook,
1)
2. Explanation:
The key word here is exclusive. Freedom of speech is not denied it is merely
restricted.
3. Evidence:
In addition, Repulican State Sen. Jane Cunningham, who sponsored the bill, told
HuffPost, “ ‘ that she's not preventing teachers from joining social networks or
becoming Facebook friends with students. Rather, the idea is to discourage teachers
and students from communicating exclusively, without a parent, guardian or school
administrator being able to access the message’ “ (Missouri Facebook, 1)
4. Explanation;
So teacher and student can use facebook as one means to communicate, but it
needs to be supervised and monitored.
5. Acknowledge Objections
On the other hand, some people will say that banning teacher-student facebook
“friendships” violates the first amendment right of freedom of speech. According to
Daniel Solove in a recent article, "The purpose of the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act is
to prevent school employees from engaging in improper sexual conduct with students, but the
ban on website communication is a broad measure that extends far beyond this purpose.
Although it may be unwise for teachers to friend students on social media sites, students and
teachers have First Amendment free speech and free association rights outside of school…
6. Refute objections
I still feel by restricting it, not banning it we allow freedom of speech while still
protecting students AND children.
Personal Appeal – I’ve been teaching for twenty years, and over that whole time I
have had no problem connecting and work with my students without facebook.
School settings are different than any other public setting, in that the rules have to
be modified when minors are involved.
Parallelism – We have classroom time, we have email, and we have phone calls to
parents; we have plenty of opportunities for communication.
B. Teacher-student friendships on Facebook are wrong because a teacher is
not a friend but an authority figure.
1. Evidence or supporting details (AWE) #1…
 Include lead in and (author page #)
 omit author name if included in lead in
2. Explanation of evidence – your own words…
3. Evidence or supporting details (AWE) #1…
 Include lead in and (author page #)
 omit author name if included in lead in
4. Explanation of evidence – your own words…
5. Acknowledge Objections…
 Include lead in and (author page #)
 omit author name if included in lead in
6. Refute objections – your own words..
ONE Appeal - HIGHLIGHT & LABEL
ONE Rhetorical device – HIGHLIGHT & LABEL
C. Teacher-student friendships on Facebook are wrong because studentteacher relationships outside the classroom are inappropriate
1. Evidence or supporting details (AWE) #1…
 Include lead in and (author page #)
 omit author name if included in lead in
2. Explanation of evidence – your own words…
3. Evidence or supporting details (AWE) #1…
 Include lead in and (author page #)
 omit author name if included in lead in
4. Explanation of evidence – your own words…
5. Acknowledge Objections…
 Include lead in and (author page #)
 omit author name if included in lead in
6. Refute objections – your own words..
ONE Appeal - HIGHLIGHT & LABEL
ONE Rhetorical device – HIGHLIGHT & LABEL
III.
Conclusion - memorized
A. Restate thesis
B. Review main ideas
C. Profound statement (big picture/connection)
WORKS CITED
Daniel J. Solove. "Missouri Bans Teachers from Friending Students on Social Network Websites." Teach
Privacy. August 2nd, 2011: