Persuasive Speech Outline Topic: Organ Donation General Purpose: To persuade Specific Purpose: After listening to my speech my audience

will consider donating their organs and tissues after death and to act upon their decision to donate. Central Idea: The need is constantly growing for organ donors and it is very simple to be an organ donor when you no longer need your organs. Introduction: How do you feel when youre waiting for something you really want? Or what if its not even something you want, but something you need? Something you cannot live without? Now imagine yourself in a dark, gloomy hospital room waiting to receive an organ that is crucial to your survival? Imagine knowing that there are over 110,000 other people in the same waiting list. Unfortunately, this number far exceeds the number of people who have registered to become organ donors. And in 2011, only about 28,000 transplants were completed. Patients are forced to wait months and even years for a match, and far too many die before they have the chance to receive a suitable organ due to a lack of donors. According to statistics 90% of Americans say they support organ donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to become a donor. Transition: Today Id like to talk to you about the need for organ donors in our area, how you can become an organ donor after you die. I choose this topic because April is organ donation awareness month. Body: I will begin telling you the need for organ donors. People all over the world but right here in the United States, need organ transplants and they need our help. The problem is, people are dying due to a lack of organs and organ donors who make transplants possible. According to the United Network of Organ Sharing, or UNOS, every ten minutes, someone is added to the organ transplant waiting list, which means that by the end of this class, there will be 5 new people added to this list, and each day, an average of 18 people die from lack of organ donations. Last year, a very close friend of mine lost her mother who needed a kidney, along with her 3 siblings she wasnt a match, and couldnt save her mothers life, who died in a hospital bed waiting for a deceased donor. If we dont solve this problem people will continue to die waiting for an organ transplant. You can choose to donate the organs that you will no longer need after death. Arguments against organ donation may rise, and you might ask yourselves. If I agree to donate my organs, the hospital wont work as hard to save my life: When you go to hospitals for treatment, doctors focus on saving your life, not someone elses, and the doctor in charge of your care has nothing to do with transplantation.

Maybe I wont really be dead when they sign the death certificate: People who are organ donors are actually given more tests to determine that the patient is truly dead than they would give to those who are not organ donors. Transition: Im sure you all see the need for people like you to donate your organs. But you might be asking, Well, how can I make sure my organs are donated after I die? Let me tell you. This is how you go about making sure your organs are donated. Mark your drivers license so that your license indicates your intent to donate. For more information go to www.dmv.ny.gov Fill out, sign and carry a uniform donor card with you. You can find it at www.health.ny.gov or www.organdonor.gov Talk to your family about your decision. This is a very important step. Even with your drivers license marked or your donors card signed, if your family doesnt give its approval, the hospital will not go on with the donation. You can see that it isnt hard to become an organ donor, however, you need to act. The problem arises when you are thinking about becoming a donor but never do anything about it. Then, no one knows your wishes and your organs will not be donated. The consequences of this are more people waiting for organs and there will still be an incredible shortage of available organs. Conclusion: Before watching my friends pain, I had never really considered or even thought about becoming an organ donor. However, after seeing my friends mother die because there wasnt a organ donation available, I informed myself on the subject, and I see it different now. Ive told you about the need for organ donors in our country. And also how simple it is to become a donor. What if one of the 100,000 people in the waiting list was your mother or your sister, friend? If we dont do anything now, the number of people dying from a lack of organ donors will only increase. To solve this problem we must volunteer to be an organ donor. So lets go home tonight and talk to our families, share with them your decision. Do your part, fill out and sign a donor card, and indicate your wishes in your drivers license. Im going to leave you with a short message from Michael Jordan who is a sponsor for the Iowa LifeGift Coalition on Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness. "Please make the decision to become an organ and tissue donor. Remember: Share your life. Share your decision."

Sources: www.organdonor.gov/becomingdonor www.dmv.ny.gov/crm/ http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/ http://www.donatelifeny.org/about-donation/data/ http://www.unos.org/