Persuasive Speech Sentence Outline

SENTENCE OUTLINE

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to take a daily multivitamin because of their proven health benefits.

Thesis Statement: Research indicates that taking a daily multivitamin is necessary to maintain and promote good health for all groups of individuals.

Introduction
I. How many of you take a daily multivitamin?
A. According to a study by Sahelian, polls indicate that only 15% of Americans take a multivitamin on a daily basis.
B. This is quite disturbing considering that the majority of Americans do not eat a well balanced diet.
C. Poor diets result in lack of vitamins and minerals which in turn cause vitamin deficiencies deficiencies. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies lead to poor health and a lowered life expectancy.
II. Today I have brought with me, a bottle of Centrum multivitamins, and taking just one of tablets can prevent these deficiencies even if you do not eat a well balanced diet.
A. This is a simple task to do each day that can have huge consequences or benefits depending on what you choose to do.
B. After conducting extensive research, I have found overwhelming evidence of proven benefits for all age groups from taking a daily multivitamin.
III. Today I will discuss why we need vitamins, evidence supporting multivitamins, and what taking a daily multivitamin can do for your own health.

Body

I. A multivitamin is defined as “a preparation of vitamins and minerals that supplement those existing in the human body” according to the American Medical Association.
A. Multivitamin supplements are specifically designed to provide a variety of both essential and non-essential vitamins and minerals to the body.

1. Essential vitamins are vitamins that are required to sustain life. There are actually 13 essential vitamins including vitamins A, vitamin D, and vitamin C. If your diet lacks even one of these essential vitamins for an extended period of time, it cannot survive.
2. Non-essential vitamins are vitamins that are beneficial to the body, but they are not necessary for the body to survive.
B. The purpose of taking a multivitamin is to provide the body with additional nutrients that you may not acquire from your own diet.
1. Taking a multivitamin will prevent both vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
2. Multivitamins can also be used to increase essential nutrient amounts to achieve additional health benefits.
3. Another purpose of taking a multivitamin is that you can get usually 60% of the recommended dietary and mineral allowances in just one tablet.

C. Not taking multivitamins and not eating a proper diet can result in a vitamin deficiency.
1. One of the most common vitamin deficiencies is a vitamin D deficiency. This deficiency causes impaired bone hardening in children and osteoporosis in adults.
2. Another common deficiency is vitamin A deficiency. It is the leading cause of blindness worldwide.
3. Overall, a vitamin deficiency leads to a lowered immune system and low energy.

Transition: Now that we understand why taking a daily multivitamin is necessary, let’s look at some evidence in favor of taking multivitamins.

II. Evidence in favor of multivitamins strongly encourages that all individuals take a daily multivitamin.

A. In 2002, Fletcher performed a study that was later published in the Journal of American Medical Association.
1. This clinical trial examined the application of vitamins to prevent chronic disease.
2. The conclusion stated that “it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements.
3. Overall the study showed concrete evidence that taking a daily multivitamin reduced the chance of chronic disease in adults.
B. Another study was performed by Ames was featured in the New England Journal of Medicine.
1. This study tested for additional benefits of taking multivitamins.
2. This trial found that not only is the risk of chronic diseases lowered, but taking multivitamins also increased life expectancy and metabolic rates.
C. Repeated studies have shown that multivitamins are strongly beneficial in children, pregnant women, the elderly and the sick.

Transition: Now let’s take a look at some additional benefits of taking multivitamins.

III. Taking vitamin supplements provides everyone with health advantages, but the advantages differ in different groups of people according to Stampfer. This is why vitamins are made specifically for men, women, children/infants and the elderly.
A. These supplements provide many benefits for infants and children.
1. Pregnant women are nearly forced to take prenatal vitamins while pregnant because vitamins and minerals are crucial to development in infants.
2. The supplements ensure and promote organ and especially brain.
3. Children also need plenty of vitamins for bone development. Vitamins are necessary for bone ossification and growth.
B. People over 60 benefit the most from multivitamins.
1. Elderly people lose some of the ability to absorb vitamins and minerals. So the elderly need additional vitamins to meet the vitamin requirements.
2. Vitamins help keep bones strong, help maintain memory health, raise immune systems.
C. Women and men benefit from multivitamins also.
1. Women require additional iron during menstrual cycles, and supplements provide the right amounts of iron to maintain iron levels.
2. Women also need additional vitamin D to prevent osteoporosis after menopause.
3. Men require additional selenium and vitamin E to prevent prostate cancer and other prostate problems.
4. Other benefits in both men and women include reduced stress levels and increased energy levels.
Conclusion

I. As we have seen today, taking a multivitamin is a simple task that makes a huge difference.
A. Vitamins and minerals are required in order for the body to properly function.
B. Doctors around the world have conducted test after test, and the studies show that they benefit the body in multiple ways.
C. Different groups of people benefit differently so we might choose a multivitamin that works specifically for us.
II. So I ask all of you to please take a daily multivitamin for your own health. All parents please make sure you give your children a multivitamin so they get the vitamins and minerals they need. If we all do this, we will see a difference in our overall health.

Works Cited:

Ames, F. “Eat Right and Take a Multivitamin”. New England Journal of Medicine. 16:65-76.
Fletcher, J. “Health Supplements.” Journal of American Medical Association. 125:16-18.
Mulunski, Ani. “Vitamin Supplementation.” Journal of American Medical Association. 21:45-49.
Sahelian, Ray. “Benefits of Multivitamins” Index of One Hundred Health Topics. Accessed July 30, 2009. http://www.raysahelian.com/.
Stampfer, M.J. “Multivitamin Uses.” Annals of Internal Medicine. Accessed July 30, 2009.< http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9758570>.