The document is a sample persuasive speech arguing that smoking should not be allowed in public places. It begins by introducing the idea that secondhand smoke can slowly poison those exposed to it, even if they don't smoke themselves. The body provides evidence that secondhand smoke contains chemicals that harm non-smokers, including nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar, and that these chemicals can cause minor and sometimes major health issues. It concludes by encouraging the audience to speak up the next time someone wants to smoke around them, and make it clear that they don't want to be exposed to the poisons in secondhand smoke.

1. English 10
Sample
Persuasive
Speech

2. INTRODUCTION
What would you do if you found out that you
were slowly being poisoned? What would you do if
you found out that the people around you, your family
and your friends, were the ones who were poisoning
you? Would you call the police? Perhaps. But you
haven’t done that, have you? And yet you are being
poisoned. At least you are if you allow other people to
smoke in your presence.

3. “Smoking stinks. Nobody should be allowed to
smoke in public places.”

4. BODY
The smoke from burning tobacco contains many
chemicals that are potentially- ammonia, nicotine, carbon
monoxide, tar. And a 1972 report by the Surgeon General shows
that smokers release more of these chemicals into the air than
they actually inhale themselves. What happens to these
chemicals? They are being inhaled by you, whether you smoke or
not.
Can these chemicals you are forced to breath actually
harm you? According to Dr. David M. Burns, the leading federal
expert on smoking, they can. Dr. Burns says, “There is ample
evidence that… (other people’s tobacco smoke) causes
annoyance and minor eye and throat irritations to a substantial
percentage of the population. It may cause major and,
occasionally, life-threatening problems to people with heart and
lung disease.

5. CONCLUSION
Now that you know what’s going on,
defend yourself. The next time someone says
“Mind if I smoke?” speak out. Politely but firmly
say “Yes, I do mind. I don’t like being poisoned.”