COMS 101
P
ERSUASIVE
S
PEECH
O
UTLINE
T
EMPLATE
Your Name: Callie Bressert
COMS 101 Section B14
Date Due: 28 June 2021
Organization: Problem-Solution
Audience analysis: My audience is all college-aged individuals. There are two
males and one female. All come from a Christian background,
so there is definitely the knowledge of Christian values,
however two of them would not consider themselves Christians
and one strongly endorses abortion.
Topic: The problem I am going to address in this speech is that of
abortion.
General Goal: To persuade my audience to recognize the need for hope in
response to this presentation on abortion.
Specific Goal: I want to inform my audience about the social problem of
abortion and to persuade them that bringing more awareness to
all aspects of abortion is a good solution for this problem for
several reasons, one of which is the fact that this solution, if
successful, will promote life, love, and hope, which is
something that God values according to Scripture.
I. Get Attention
53, 573. We would all agree that is a large number. 53,573 abortions were
preformed in the state of Texas just last year. 53,573 terminated pregnancies.
II. Establish Relevance
Abortion is a highly debated topic and is especially relevant to men and
women between the ages of 16 and 25, which each of you fall into this
category.
III. Establish Credibility
I have gained credibility through my own extensive research but also through
my personal experience of currently being pregnant.
IV. State the Thesis
Abortion is the termination of an unborn life and there needs to be an increase
of love, support, and understanding to those who find themselves in these
situations.
V. Preview Your Main Points
COMS 101
The validity of this previous statement will be discussed in this speech by
informing y’all that one- abortion is a very relevant issue in today’s world,
two- I will discuss the beginning of human life, not only from a Biblical view
but also from a biological view, and third- I want to promote the necessity for
hope and love towards both women and men who have gone through an
abortion or for those who are considering one.
Transition: Now let’s take a closer look.
Body:
I. Main Point 1. Abortion is a very relevant issue in current society.
A. First, I would like to define the term abortion. Abortion is the deliberate
termination of human pregnancy.
B. Now, let’s look at some statistics. In 2015, according to the CDC, there
were 638,169 abortions reported.
C. In 2017, there were 862,000 abortions reported.1
D. According to an article from the Thomson Reuters Organization in May of
this year, abortion is one of the most divisive issues in the United
States. 2
Transition: Moving on to my second point.
II. Main Point 2. Human life begins at conception and a human baby is fully
developed in the womb by week 10 of pregnancy.
A. According to the American College of Pediatricians, “The predominance of
human biological research confirms that human life begins at conception—
fertilization.” 3
B. By week 10 of pregnancy, a baby is full formed. All of its organs, muslces,
limbs and bones are in place, as well as its sex organs are developed. 4
C. These are the size of a human baby at just 10 weeks after conception, when
it is fully formed. (Pass around illustration)
1 Abortion Surveillance - United States, 2015.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, December 2, 2020. Last modified December 2, 2020. Accessed June 25,
2021.
2 Batha , Emma. “U.S. States Making 2021 Moves on Abortion Rights and Access.” News.trust.org.
Thomson Reuters Foundation, May 20, 2021. Last modified May 20, 2021. Accessed June 28, 2021.
3 When Human Life Begins.” American College of Pediatricians. American College of Pediatricians,
2020. Last modified 2020. Accessed June 21, 2021.
4 NHS Choices.” You and Your Baby at 12 Weeks Pregnant. NHS Choices , July 17, 2018. Last modified
July 17, 2018. Accessed June 25, 2021
COMS 101
D. Now according to God, human life is highly valued. Isaiah writes, “For you
formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I
praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your
works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the
earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written,
every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was
none of them.” 5
Transition: Moving on to my third and final point.
III. Main Point 3. The men and women who find themselves in situations where
they are considering an abortion or have already gone through an abortion need
to there is hope and feel loved and supported.
A. “Having an abortion is a traumatic life-altering experience that can cause
physical and emotional pain and suffering for years to come.” These are the
words of Cheryl Riley, a women who had an abortion at age 19. 6
B. The best evidence indicates that a minimum of 10-30% of women who
undergo an abortion report pronounced and/or prolonged psychological
difficulties attributable to the abortion. These adverse psychological
outcomes include guilt, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, relationship
problems, substance abuse, symptoms of post-traumatic stress, and
increased risk of suicide. Male responses to a partner’s abortion include
grief, guilt, depression, anxiety, feelings of repressed emotions,
helplessness/voicelessness/powerlessness, post-traumatic stress, anger and
relationship problems. 7
C. There is a deep need for the thousands of men and women who experience
this trauma to understand forgiveness and grace is available to them without
judgment.
Transition: This brings me to my conclusion.
Conclusion:
5 Essay. In ESV: Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016.
6 Agnish, Jai. “Incredible Story of Post-Abortion Healing Gives Hope to Women.” Incredible Story of
Post-Abortion Healing Gives Hope to Women | Archdiocese of Newark. Archdiocese of Newark ,
November 4, 2020. Last modified November 4, 2020. Accessed June 25, 2021
7 Rue, Vincent. “‘The Hollow Men’: Male Grief & Trauma Following Abortion.” USCCB. United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops , n.d. Accessed June 25, 2021.
COMS 101
I. Summarize Your Thesis and Main Points
Abortion is the termination of a human life. Human life begins at conception,
therefore it is wrong to preform an abortion. The topic of abortion is very
relevant in today’s society, and with that being understood, there is a necessity
for greater understanding, hope, and love extended to those in these traumatic
situations. These are the values that Jesus would extend and if we are to be
followers of Him, we must extend the same values.
II. End with a Clincher
There are many other ways to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, and I would
encourage everyone to educate yourself on the development of a child and the
value that his or her life holds.
COMS 101
Bibliography
“Abortion Surveillance - United States, 2015.” Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, December 2, 2020. Last
modified December 2, 2020. Accessed June 25, 2021.
Agnish, Jai. “Incredible Story of Post-Abortion Healing Gives Hope to Women.”
Incredible Story of Post-Abortion Healing Gives Hope to Women | Archdiocese of
Newark. Archdiocese of Newark , November 4, 2020. Last modified November 4,
2020. Accessed June 25, 2021.
Batha , Emma. “U.S. States Making 2021 Moves on Abortion Rights and Access.”
News.trust.org. Thomson Reuters Foundation, May 20, 2021. Last modified May
20, 2021. Accessed June 28, 2021.
Essay. In ESV: Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles,
2016.
Nash, Elizabeth, and Joerge Dreweke. “Guttmacher Policy Review.” Guttmacher
Institute. Guttmacher Institute , September 18, 2019. Last modified September 18,
2019. Accessed June 25, 2021.
“NHS Choices.” You and Your Baby at 12 Weeks Pregnant. NHS Choices , July 17, 2018.
Last modified July 17, 2018. Accessed June 25, 2021.
Rue, Vincent. “‘The Hollow Men’: Male Grief & Trauma Following Abortion.” USCCB.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops , n.d. Accessed June 25, 2021.
“When Human Life Begins.” American College of Pediatricians. American College of
Pediatricians, 2020. Last modified 2020. Accessed June 21, 2021.
