The following outline should be used as a guide when you type yours. Please make sure that you use
this exact format so that I can follow your outline and your speech at the same time. Be sure to label
all the pieces and use the outline formatting option on your word processing program. Any
information that is added to help you will be placed in a box.
Pennsbury High School
Sample Actuation Speech Outline
General End: To actuate
Specific End: To actuate my audience to test their home for radon
I.
Introduction
a. (Attention Getter) A person is brought to the hospital and it is determined that he has
lung cancer. “Big deal” you say, “Probably a smoker.” But, no, he wasn’t. The damage
was similar to a smoker but this man never smoked a cigarette.
b. (Purpose statement) The cause of his illness is radon, an odorless, tasteless, colorless,
radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the environment and contaminates the air.
Radon can be a hazard if not detected and treated.
c. (Overview of assertions) You should get your home tested for radon because exposure
The three assertions in
the order in which they
will appear in the
speech: 1. Health risks,
2. Levels in PA, 3.
Testing
II.
to this gas poses life-threatening health risks; especially in Pennsylvania, which has one
of the highest rates in the country; and because the only way to detect it is to test for it.
Body
a. (Assertion 1) One reason why we should raise awareness about this dangerous
substance is because radon gas that is trapped in homes poses a health risk to those
who live there. When inhaled, the radioactive particles get trapped in the lung tissue.
You do not necessarily have
to have a stat here. You do
need to provide as much info
as is here to legitimize your
source.
i. (Statistic) According to the New York State Joint Legislative Commission on Toxic
Wastes and Hazardous Wastes in its report Radon Risk, Reality, and Reason in
January 2002, radon accounts for 55% of all the radiation an American receives
over a lifetime (Smith 21).
ii. (Statistic) Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
In Current Health’s February 2004 issue it is estimated that radon is at least
partially responsible for 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year (Jackson).
iii. (Testimony) In the May 2002 edition of the prestigious Journal of the American
You should include at least one
testimony. Remember, this must
come from an expert in their filed
and you must establish how/what
their expertise is. It is important
that you choose a powerful quote
for this section.
Medical Association, Dr. Clause Brunner, Professor of Medicine at Harvard
stated, “People are aware of the health risks posed by cigarettes, pesticides, and
foods high in cholesterol, but if they were as aware of the dangers posed by
radon, they would demand action by the government on both the federal and
local levels. This is a health crisis in the making. A crisis that could easily be
averted” (33).
b. (Assertion 2) To compound the potential health risk posed by radon, the prevalence of
this substance poses a serious problem. Radon gas exists throughout the country, but
Pennsylvania is one of the highest risk states in the nation. So for us, living in ignorance
may eventually take a deadly toll.
i. (Example) In fact, the first recorded death due to radon in residences was in
Allentown, PA in 1984. The victim, Julius Lacasta, left behind a wife and three
small children (Philadelphia Inquirer).
ii. (Fact) Pennsylvania, recognizing this serious health risk, was the first state in the
nation to propose a law requiring that all new homes be equipped with built-in
radon detection devices in the basement. But if your home was built before this
law was enacted, you and your family still remain in the dark about the dangers.
iii. (Testimony) Andrew Linstrom of the regional Air Pollution Control Agency in
Dayton, Ohio, confirmed that radon is a potential health risk in all homes across
the country as well. In his article titled, “The Facts about Radon” from the
February 2004 issue of Current Health, he said, “All buildings actually draw the
radon out of the ground like a giant low pressure cleaner.” (qtd in Marcus 105).
iv. (Statistic) the Environmental Protection Agency has set guidelines for
acceptable levels of radon in homes. The safe level is 4pCi/L (4 picocuries per
liter). According to the Radon Chronicle which was published by the American
Lung Association in 2001, many homes in PA exceed this limit (ALA 35).
The next level indentation here
indicates that the information is
all coming from the same source
as the upper stem)
1. (Statistic) 38% of homes had radon levels over the acceptable level.
2. (Statistic) Of those, 7% have levels that were at least 4 times the safe
level. Most home owners were completely unaware of this risk to their
family, friends, and pets.
3. In the Bucks County area, 20-40% of homes have higher levels of radon.
A scary thought, huh?
c. (Assertion 3) Finally, because radon is odorless, tasteless, and invisible and can invade
your home from the ground, the only way to know if you have it is to test for it.
The testimony the author uses
here is a little weak, especially
because it repeats what the
author has already stated. Try to
avoid this. Also notice the author
wrote out EPA. Be sure to do this
in yours.
i. (Testimony) In its “Citizen’s Guide to Radon,” from May 2001, the
Environmental Protection Agency says, “Testing is the only way to know if you
and your family are at risk” (EPA.com).
ii. (Statistic) Moreover, in “Air Pollution Acts to Promote Radon Testing,” in
December 2002, the EPA reported that 78% of homeowners were aware of the
risk of radon, but only 9% had their homes tested (EPA.com).
d. (Solution) You must test your home for radon every three to four years.
i. If you are buying a house, you should have the radon levels tested before you
move in, that you can take steps to have the levels lowered if they are too high
before you expose yourself to cancer-causing agents.
ii. If you already own a home, you should purchase a radon detection kit. They are
available at most drug stores including the CVS right around the corner and cost
anywhere from $10-$35 (a small price to pay to keep your family safe, right?)
iii. Remember, you should test your home every 3-4 years, so set up a schedule to
remind yourself—say by using the years of the Olympic summer games for
example.
iv. If you discover your home does exceed the radon limits, there are several
companies online and in the phonebook who can be hired to eliminate the
radon threat. One company, R.I.T. Environmental services will give you a free
estimate and they can be contacted at 1-800-786-8532.
III.
Conclusion
a. (Restatement) Because of the health risks of radon, the high levels in our state, and the
necessity for testing there is no excuse not to test your home.
b. (Clincher) Let’s return to the man in the hospital with lung cancer. The non-smoker who
will most likely die from a preventable disease. Don’t let your family come to the same
fate. Test your home for radon.
A works Cited page would also be attached to this outline.
Additional Notes: Remember, this speech must be directed to your classmates (that is why you are
not doing this particular topic). You should use a variety of persuasive means and remember to try
to balance both pathos and logos (this uses a little too much logos in places for example).