Henry Hernandez

Informative Speech Outline

Introduction

I. Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) kills 10 people every day, two of which, statistically, are under the age of 14.
II. Most of the deaths caused by DHMO are by accidental inhalation, but the dangers of this chemical compund do not end there.

I deal with this substance daily so I see the harm it is capable of every day. Today I am going to give you information about DHMO to educate you and hopefully prevent more unnecessary injuries and deaths.

Body

I. What is DHMO? A. Dihydrogen Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless chemical. Its basis is the highly reactive hydroxyl radical, a species shown to mutate DNA, denature proteins, disrupt cell membranes, and chemically alter critical neurotransmitters. The atomic components of DHMO are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and Ethyl Alcohol.

II. Should you be concerned about DHMO?
A. The U.S. Government and the Center for Disease Control do not classify Dihydrogen Monoxide as a toxic substance.
B. DHMO is however, a constituent of many known toxic substances, diseases, disease causing agents, environmental hazards and DHMO can even be lethal in quantities as small as a thimbleful.

III. Dangers associated with DHMO and its uses.
A. Each year DHMO is a known causative component in many thousands of deaths and is a major contributor to billions of dollars in property and environmental damage around the world.
B. Among some of the dangers of DHMO are:

Severe tissue damage when exposed to solid state DHMO for prolonged periods of time
DHMO is a major component of acid rain
Gaseous DHMO can cause severe burns
Found in biopsies of precancerous tumors and lesions
Leads to corrosion and oxidation of many metals

C. Uses of DHMO include:

As an industrial solvent and coolant
In nuclear power plants
In the production of Styrofoam
As a byproduct of hydrocarbon combustion in furnaces and air conditioning compressor operations
In WWII prison camps in Japan and in prisons in China for various forms of torture
In pesticide production and distribution

Conclusion

A. The American government has refused to ban the production, distribution, or use of this damaging chemical due to its "importance to the economic health of this nation." So it is up to us to be aware of this threat to our society and act to prevent unnecessary deaths and countless injuries throughout our nation. We need to end our dependence on this harmful substance we all know of as Dihydrogen Monoxide…A.K.A. water!

Sample Outline

Goal: To convince listeners that the often-criticized Campus Food Service is really quite good.

Introduction
I. How many times have we, as students, complained about Campus Food Service and decided to order in or go out after having previewed that day’s menu?
II. By showing how the Food Service on campus keeps costs to a minimum, keeps offering a good variety, and keeps maintaining high quality standards, I am going to prove that Campus Food Service is the best