Name: Nataliya Apa
Period 7
Date: 3/8/15
Kūpuna Speech Outline
I. Introduction
A. Attention-Getter – (Quote) “Listen to your elder’s advice. Not because they’re always
right, but because they have more experience of being wrong”
B. Link To Thesis – My mom is a big inspiration to me and although we have our fair
share of fights and I don’t always agree with her, I know that she’s had many experiences
in her life that she can offer me insight on when I need advice.
C. Thesis Statement – My mom, Kiska Kauakanilehua Lenchanko Apa has inspired me my
entire life and is my heroine.
D. Preview of Points- She is smart, independent, and kind.
II. Body
A. Main Point 1 – My mom is smart and insightful.
a. Subpoint 1 – I can always go to her when I’m having problems at school or
with my personal life.
1. (Testimony) She always offers me sound advice when I’m having a hard time.
One thing my mother always says is, “Things may seem like they’re never going to get
better, but they will. And you’ll come out stronger for it.”
b. Subpoint 2 – My mom always listens to what I have to say and is
understanding.
1. (Narrative) She lets me vent and say all the bad stuff that has been building up
and when I’m done she is there to bring me back down to earth and help me to realize
that sometimes I need to look at things from other people’s perspectives. I’m never afraid
of being open and honest with my mom because I know she will have something
insightful to offer me. I remember once when I was really upset and stressed out about
school and my mom came to talk to me and comfort me. She was very understanding
and knew how I was feeling from her own experiences in school. She told me to just take
it one step at a time and manage my homework in increments instead of procrastinating.
She really helped me to understand what I needed to do to better myself at managing my
time and school work.
B. Main Point 1 – My mom is a very independent and capable woman.
a. Subpoint 1 – My mom is a hard worker.
1. (Statistic) She gave birth to me when she was 23 years old and had to balance
taking care of me with the added pressure of her job. Ten years later, she gave birth to
her second child, my younger brother, Ka‘ihi. After his birth she became a stay at home
mom in order to be able to care for my brother. Two years after that she gave birth to my
second little brother. She stays home to take care of them, and let me tell you, they are a
huge handful. I admire her strong capability to care for my brothers and I while my dad
works outer island during the week. Most of the time she is caring for us on her own.
According to USA Today, “The percentage of mothers of children under 18 who don't
work outside the home has risen over the past decade to 29% in 2012” While my dad is
very supportive and loving, his job prevents him from being home during the week,
leaving my mom to care for a moody teenager and two tantrum-throwing toddlers on her
own.
b. Subpoint 2 – My mom grew up in a household where she had to be able to take
care of herself.
1. (Fact) My mom lived with strict parents and an aggressive older brother as well
as many boy cousins. She had to learn how to defend herself and take a few hits. It was a
fact that if you didn’t know how to protect yourself, you would get beaten up. She was
very independent and had to know how to defend herself amongst a bunch of older boys.
She was also responsible for many chores around the house and having to care for her
younger sister.
C. Main Point 1 – My mom is very kind.
a. Subpoint 1 – She always puts her kids before herself.
1. (Example) Because my mother had to give up much of her life when she was
only 23 years old in order to take care of me she often puts my brothers and I before her,
making sure that we have dinner in front of us before she does and that we are provided
many opportunities in life to excel. In the summer of 2014 I was able to travel to Europe,
an opportunity provided to me by my family. My mom allowed me to go so that I could
experience this once in a lifetime opportunity, even though she had never been able to
travel much when she was young. My mom is very kind, always putting us before herself.
b. Subpoint 2 – My mom is a very caring person.
1. (Example) She’s also very approachable, making it easy to talk to her. Because
she is very outgoing and kind she has a lot of friends who appreciate her. Whenever her
friends and her get together they always have a lot fun and it makes me happy to see her
have a good time.
III. Conclusion
A.
Restate Thesis – My mom, Kiska Kauakanilehua Lenchanko Apa is my inspiration in
life.
B.
Review of Points - She is a very smart, independent, and kind woman who I look up to.
C. Closing Statement – In conclusion, “A hero isn’t always someone in a cape and tights. A
hero is someone who inspires you everyday to become a better person and leads by example.”
(Quotation)
Works Cited
(Apa, Kiska. Personal Interview)