1 SSaammppllee,, SSaarraahh Communication Studies 105 (Day and Time) SAMPLE OUTLINE DESCRIPTIVE SPEECH Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis INTRODUCTION: Attention Getter: When my grandmother passed away six years ago on my fourteenth birthday, I was determined to understand exactly what was responsible for taking her young, exuberant life away from her. The disease responsible for this was Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. Named after baseball great Lou Gehrig, who was diagnosed with the disease in 1939, ALS is a disorder that is considered rare, even though more and more occurrences are being reported every year. ALS is known for its inconsistency and the harsh toll that it takes on the body, and is feared by both patients and medical professionals alike. Central Idea (Thesis): Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a rare but extremely devastating disease that affects every patient differently. Credibility Statement: I witnessed my grandma's deterioration from this disease, and can tell you first hand that ALS is a horrible disease that does not have a single definitive aspect. Preview: Today I would like to tell you what ALS is, the various symptoms associated with it, the progression of the disease, and possible treatment options. BODY: I. ALS is a disease of the nervous system that gradually destroys voluntary motor neurons, the neurons responsible for contracting skeletal muscles, eventually causing complete muscle atrophy. A. ALS affects two major parts of the brain, including the cerebrum and the brain stem. 1. ALS attacks motor neurons in these areas, causing the patient to lose control of different muscles one group at a time. 2. Mary Dodson Wade, author of the book ALS-Lou Gehrig's Disease, explains that the disease progresses and eventually leaves the body unable to function. (Wade 42). a. This is due to the fact that there are no motor neurons to send messages between the brain, spinal cord, and the muscles. 2 b. However, sensory neurons are left unaffected, meaning that the patient is completely alert when his or her body is ceasing to function. B. According to Wade, ALS occurs most often in persons between the ages of forty and seventy. (Wade, 47). 1. The average age when disease becomes apparent is 55 years old. 2. There are some cases of patients in their early twenties, and also of people in their eighties. C. There are three different types of ALS. 1. Sporadic ALS, which occurs randomly, is the most common form, comprising 90% of all cases. 2. Familial ALS, which is inherited, is not nearly as common, making up 5- 10% of all cases. 3. Guamanian ALS, which is found in small places of the Pacific (Guam), is very rare. (Internal Summary/Preview: Now that I have defined ALS, I would like to describe some of the symptoms that can be associated with the disease.) II. The symptoms that a ...

1. 1
SSaammppllee,, SSaarraahh
Communication Studies 105
(Day and Time)
SAMPLE OUTLINE
DESCRIPTIVE SPEECH
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
INTRODUCTION:
Attention Getter: When my grandmother passed away six years
ago on my fourteenth
birthday, I was determined to understand exactly what was
responsible for taking her young,
exuberant life away from her. The disease responsible for this
was Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. Named
after baseball great Lou Gehrig,
who was diagnosed with the disease in 1939, ALS is a disorder
that is considered rare, even
though more and more occurrences are being reported every
year. ALS is known for its
inconsistency and the harsh toll that it takes on the body, and is

2. feared by both patients and
medical professionals alike.
Central Idea (Thesis): Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a rare
but extremely devastating
disease that affects every patient differently.
Credibility Statement: I witnessed my grandma's deterioration
from this disease, and can tell
you first hand that ALS is a horrible disease that does not have
a single definitive aspect.
Preview: Today I would like to tell you what ALS is, the
various symptoms associated with it,
the progression of the disease, and possible treatment options.
BODY:
I. ALS is a disease of the nervous system that gradually
destroys voluntary motor neurons,
the neurons responsible for contracting skeletal muscles,
eventually causing complete
muscle atrophy.
A. ALS affects two major parts of the brain, including the
cerebrum and the brain
stem.
1. ALS attacks motor neurons in these areas, causing the
patient to lose
control of different muscles one group at a time.
2. Mary Dodson Wade, author of the book ALS-Lou Gehrig's
Disease,
explains that the disease progresses and eventually leaves the
body

3. unable to function. (Wade 42).
a. This is due to the fact that there are no motor neurons to send
messages between the brain, spinal cord, and the muscles.
2
b. However, sensory neurons are left unaffected, meaning that
the
patient is completely alert when his or her body is ceasing to
function.
B. According to Wade, ALS occurs most often in persons
between the ages of forty
and seventy. (Wade, 47).
1. The average age when disease becomes apparent is 55 years
old.
2. There are some cases of patients in their early twenties, and
also of
people in their eighties.
C. There are three different types of ALS.
1. Sporadic ALS, which occurs randomly, is the most common
form,
comprising 90% of all cases.
2. Familial ALS, which is inherited, is not nearly as common,
making up 5-
10% of all cases.

4. 3. Guamanian ALS, which is found in small places of the
Pacific (Guam), is
very rare.
(Internal Summary/Preview: Now that I have defined ALS, I
would like to describe
some of the symptoms that can be associated with the disease.)
II. The symptoms that a patient experiences as the disease
begins to become present, and
the order that they arise, are not always the same, but there are
a few that are common
among most cases.
A. Most patients lose their balance.
1. Tripping, falling, and stumbling are very common.
2. Walking straight and/or standing still becomes difficult.
B. In their book, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Guide for
Patients and Families,
Hiroshi Mitsumoto and Theodore Munsat write that patients
experience extreme
exhaustion. (Mitsumoto and Munsat 31).
1. They get tired very easily, not able to stand or walk for long
periods of
time.
2. Even after a good night's rest, muscles feel fatigued.
C. Long continuous muscle spasms and cramps that leave the
muscles fatigued are
also very common.

5. D. Slurred speech can also occur in the beginning of the
disease.
1. As described by Kris Tjaden and Greg Turner in the Journal
of Speech,
Language, and Hearing Research, patients have trouble speaking
and
3
pronouncing words, even though their minds are completely
capable of
forming words and sentences.
2. They may also experience difficulty projecting their voice
loud enough to
be heard.
(Internal Summary/Preview: Once these symptoms are clearly
present and other
diseases have been ruled out, the patient is diagnosed with ALS,
and the disease begins
to progress.)
III. Like the symptoms, the progression of the disease is
extremely variable from case to
case, but several things typically occur in some order or
another.
A. Ray Robinson, author of the book Iron Horse: Lou Gehrig in
His Time, states that

6. "The ability to walk is lost within the first stage of the disease."
(Robinson 250).
1. Onset of the disease usually starts at the feet and moves up
the body.
2. Patients first need a cane, then a walker, and then a wheel
chair.
B. Once the disease begins to take its toll on the body, the arm
muscles are
deteriorated and even a wheelchair becomes impossible.
1. Patients are forced to sit in a chair or lie in bed all day long
because they
are paralyzed from the neck down.
2. Other people must hold things for them, feed them, and even
aid them in
going to the restroom, making the patient almost completely
dependent.
C. The throat muscles are then affected and the patient can no
longer speak.
1. Only forms of communication are slight movements of the
hands,
shaking of the head, and moaning.
2. The patient can no longer swallow easily so it is hard to eat,
which leads
to significant weight loss and further muscle weakness.
3. A respirator is then needed because the patient can not

7. breathe on his or
her own.
D. According to Wade, the average life expectancy after
diagnosis is two to five
years, but it varies incredibly depending on the case. (Wade 45).
1. 50% live for less than three years, 20% live for five years or
more, and
10% live more than ten years.
2. Stephen Hawking has lived with ALS for 44 years, while my
grandma
died six months after being diagnosed.
4
(Internal Summary/Preview: So far I have told you what ALS is,
the symptoms that
characterize it, and its progression, so now I will describe some
of the possible
treatment options that patients and their families have at their
disposal.)
IV. Although there is no actual cure for ALS, there are a few
different treatments that can be
used to try to slow down progression; however, they are not
guaranteed to work.
A. Body detoxification in order to rid the body of harmful
metals and toxins can be
done to boost the body's ability to defend itself, however,
according to Wade,

8. this won't do much. (Wade 74).
B. Special diets can be followed that are rich in vitamins,
minerals, and protein in
order to feed and try to strengthen muscles.
C. Mitsumoto and Munsat suggest that vitamin and mineral
supplements also be
taken. (Mitsumoto and Munsat 7).
1. This will ensure that the patient is getting the right amount of
nutrients
to stay nourished and keep the body strong.
2. It will also help muscles retain the strength that has not
already been
destroyed.
D. Wade mentions in her book a drug called Riluzole, also
known as Rilutek, which
is the only drug approved by the FDA that has been proven to
slightly slow the
progression of the disease in some cases. (Wade 73).
E. According to an article in the April 9, 2004 edition of Drug
week, studies have
shown that a drug called Armoclomol may also help slow the
progression of ALS,
but this is not yet proven. (18).
F. There are numerous machines and devices available that
make living with the
symptoms of the disease a little easier:

9. 1. Suction Machine
2. Cough Assistor
3. Ventilator
4. Oxygen Mask
5. Voice Enhancer/ Microphone
G. The problem is that treatments are rather expensive, hard to
maintain, and none
of them are a guaranteed cure.
1. They can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, or
more.
2. The number of pills taken can become too much for the
patient and diets
are hard to maintain.
3. Swallowing becomes difficult or even impossible so taking
pills is out of
the question.
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, today I have familiarized you
with what ALS is, some of its
5
symptoms, the progression of the disease, and the different
treatment possibilities. Although a
cure has yet to be discovered, researchers are coming closer and
closer to being able to control
this horrible disease each and every day. Progress has definitely
been made thanks to
government funded research, but many things are still unknown

10. about Lou Gehrig's disease,
making it an extremely dangerous mystery.
Bibliography
"Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Drug Shows promise Against
Lou Gehrig Disease."
April 2004. Drug Week. 22 Oct. 2007.
<http://elibrary.bigchalk.com!libweb/
curriculum! dol document?set=search&groupid>.
Mitsumoto, Hiroshi and Munsat, Theodore L. Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis: A Guide For
Patients and Families. New York: Demos, 2001.
Robinson, Ray. Iron Horse: Lou Gehrig in His Time. New York:
W.W. Norton & Company, 1990.
Tjaden, Kris and Turner, Greg. "Segmental Timing in
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis."
June 2000. Journal of Speech. Language. and Hearing Research.
22 Oct. 2007.
<http://elibrary.bigchalk. com!libwe bl curriculum! dol
document?set=search&group
id>.
Wade, Mary Dodson. ALS-Lou Gehrig's Disease. New Jersey:
Enslow Publishers, 2001.

11. 1
SAMPLE OUTLINE
DESCRIPTIVE SPEECH
Sample, Sarah
Communication Studies 105
Hybrid
Sarcasm
INTRODUCTION:
Attention Getter: Play YouTube Clip “Dwight” (0:13 seconds).
Sometimes we say things we don‟t mean in order to say what
we mean. This is called
sarcasm. Sarcasm is a delicate and complex type of humor. It
can lighten a mood with its
wit or completely crush the mood along with someone‟s self
esteem.

12. Credibility Statement: We encounter sarcasm on a daily basis,
yet few of us really
understand its complexities. It has existed for thousands of
years and many studies have
been conducted to find why this form of banter comes naturally
to some people and not to
others.
Central Idea (Thesis): Sarcasm is a type of humor experienced
in daily life that has a
long history as well as an array of psychological and social
associations.
Preview: Today, I will clearly define what sarcasm is, briefly
tell of its history, and
address studies done on its psychological and social aspects.
(Internal Preview: First, I want to talk about exactly what
sarcasm is.)
BODY:
I. There are different definitions of sarcasm; one being that it is
a harsh, almost
cruel form of humor and the other that it is simply a form of

13. verbal irony.
A. The first definition comes from the inherent meaning of the
word.
1. According to the website SarcasmSociety.com edited
September
20, 2011, the word “sarcasm” originates from the Greek term
sarkasmos, which means “a sneer, jest, taunt, mockery”
("Sarcasm"). [Start Powerpoint]
2. Another Greek word it can be traced to is sarkazein, which
literally
means to “strip off the flesh.”
2
3. We can see by the definitions of these root words why some
would
see it as a harsh form of humor.
B. However, the more current definition of sarcasm focuses on
it as a form of
verbal irony rather than it having any harmful intent.

14. 1. Verbal irony is when what is said is not what is meant.
a. The way we can interpret a statement as sarcastic rather
than by its literal meaning is by picking up hints in
the speaker's tone.
b. A common form of sarcasm is “mocking praise” in which
a person is seemingly praised for a blunder. (For example,
when someone does something not too smart, saying “Way
to go, Einstein.”)
2. According to writer Steve Tomkins in his October 2005
article in
BBC News, “we are all sarcastic, often without noticing it. „Oh,
very funny,‟ we say, without cracking a smile.” He goes on to
list
many common sarcastic phrases such as, “Wise guy. My hero.
Big
deal… And any phrase at all that begins „oh so...‟ [like] („He's
oh
so smart‟)” (Tomkins). (There are probably a few phrases here

15. that we‟ve all used before).
(Internal Summary/ Preview: Since I have defined exactly what
sarcasm is, I will
now talk briefly about its history.)
II. Sarcasm has been around for thousands of years, though the
actual name for this
type of humor was coined in the late 16
th
century.
A. Because it can also fall in the category of irony and satire, it
is difficult to
identify exactly when sarcasm began.
1. Sarcasm has “long been a staple in literature as a source of
humor
or simply as a way to prove a point,” says Shanna Freeman,
former
editor of the column HowStuffWorks, in her article “How
Sarcasm
Works” (Freeman).
2. Some scholars interpret instances of sarcasm even in the
Bible.

16. a. For example, in Exodus 14:11 the Israelites ask Moses,
“Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you
brought us to the desert to die?” ("What does the Bible
Say?").
3
3. Shakespeare, Voltaire, and Mark Twain are just a few of
many
literary figures who use this technique in their texts for humor
and
ironic tones.
B. According to SarcasmSociety.com, the actual word
“sarcasm” appeared in
the English language for the first time in 1579 in poet Edmund
Spenser‟s
The Shepheardes Calender ("Sarcasm"). A writer known by the
name of
E.K. provides a commentary and uses the term “ironical
sarcasmus,”
which was the first form of the word in English ever recorded
("Sarcasm").

17. (Internal Summary/ Preview: Since I've shared with you the
history of sarcasm, I
will now tell you about some studies that conclude why certain
people have a
tendency towards it more than others.)
III. There have been many studies done to examine the
psychological causes and
social effects that are associated with sarcasm.
A. Firstly, there is a popular viewpoint of the psychological
reasoning behind
why people use sarcasm.
1. According to Elizabeth Svoboda‟s article “Sarcastic
Masters”
published in July 2007 Psychology Today, making sarcastic
remarks is a “means of indirectly expressing aggression toward
others and insecurity about [oneself]” (Svoboda).
2. I have talked to some friends about this view and many also
agree
that sarcasm can be a defense mechanism.

18. B. Secondly, there are studies examining those people who can
easily detect
sarcasm, which conclude that these people are naturally more
dominant or
socially gifted.
1. Albert Katz, a cognitive psychologist from the University of
Western Ontario conducted a study in which he issued
aggression
tests to a group of people, then later gauged the same groups'
brain
activity while sarcastic remarks were made (Svoboda).
a. His study showed that those who scored with higher
aggression were also those who detected sarcasm more
quickly.
b. He concluded that "Sarcasm is definitely a dominance
thing—it's related to being top dog" (Svoboda).

19. 4
2. However, other studies conclude that sarcastic people are not
necessarily aggressive, but may actually be intelligent and
socially
inept.
a. This can be understood by understanding the brain: Dr.
Katherine Rankin of the University of California, San
Francisco, in a well-known study, determined how the
brain detects sarcasm and she concludes that there are three
parts of the brain that work together to comprehend
sarcasm:
1) The left hemisphere- has the language cortex, which
first grasps the literal meaning of a statement.
2) The frontal lobes and right hemisphere- infer the
emotional context of the statement.
3) (What Dr. Rankin discovered is that it is) the
parahippocampal gyrus- that combines these two

20. interpretations to detect sarcasm.
b. According to an article issued on May 23, 2005 by Medical
News Today, understanding sarcasm "calls for
sophisticated social thinking and theory of mind” ("How
Does The Brain")
c. One writer goes so far to presume that it is a necessary trait
for evolution: In her article “Sarcasm Seen as Evolutionary
Survival Skill” written in June 2008, writer Meredith Small
believes Dr. Rankin‟s studies show that, because it is an
anatomical function of the brain, detecting sarcasm is
evolutionarily vital (Small).
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, today I have given you the
definitions of sarcasm,
familiarized you with its history, and shared a few studies on
what it means exactly to be
a „sarcastic person.‟ Sarcasm has existed for centuries and is a
more profound and rich
humor then we give it credit for. So the next time your friend
makes a sarcastic

21. comment, you can recall all the wonderful information I‟ve
shared with you today. No
but really, please do.
5
Works Cited
Freeman, Shanna. "Understanding and Learning Sarcasm."
HowStuffWorks. Discovery,
2011. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.
<http://people.howstuffworks.com/sarcasm1.htm>.
"How Does The Brain Handle Sarcasm?" Medical News Today:
Health News.
MediLexicon International, 23 May 2005. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/24938.php>.

22. "Sarcasm: Definition & Examples of Sarcasm." Sarcasm Society
- Sarcasm, Sarcastic
Quotes & Humor, Irony, Satire. Sarcasm Society, 2011. Web. 10
Oct. 2011.
<http://www.sarcasmsociety.com/sarcasm.html>.
Small, Meredith F. "Sarcasm Seen as Evolutionary Survival
Skill." LiveScience.
TechMediaNetwork.com, 20 June 2008. Web. 6 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.livescience.com/2633-sarcasm-evolutionary-
survival-skill.html>.
Svoboda, Elizabeth. "Field Guide: Sarcastic Masters |
Psychology Today." Psychology
Today. Sussex Publishers, LLC, 1 July 2007. Web. 5 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200706/field-guide-
sarcastic-
masters>.
Tomkins, Steve. "The Rules of Sarcasm." BBC News. British
Broadcasting Corporation,
28 Oct. 2005. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4384734.stm>.

23. "What Does the Bible Say About Sarcasm?" OpenBible.info.
Crossway Bibles, 2001.
Web. 7 Oct. 2011. <http://www.openbible.info/topics/sarcasm>.