Directions:
State the general purpose, specific purpose, and central idea clearly and in the appropriate form.
Limit your key points to three and main points with supporting resources to two per point.
Key points and main points are to be in complete sentences.
Summarize key points of introduction with a call for action in the conclusion.
This is what I've come up with so far. Does this make sense or is there some way to improve on it
I. Title: Why Cellphone Use While Driving Should Be Banned
A. General Purpose: To persuade the audience that cell phones should be banned while driving.
B. Specific Purpose: To inform ways cell phones are distractions, and how they cause accidents.
C. Central Idea: Distracted driving while using cellphones could be reduced by not allowing phones while driving.
II. Introduction: Most people have and use cell phones on a daily basis.
A. Key Point 1 - What makes us reliant on phones, and how do they cause abundant distractions?
B. Key Point 2 - What is distracted driving?
C. Key Point 3 - How do laws attempt to limit distracted driving?
III. Body of the Presentation
A. Key Point 1 - Cell phones are utilized in everything we do nowadays.
1.Supporting Statement: We use them personally to communicate with loved ones, and to keep us connected to our jobs and business related demands. Its a hand-h held computer of sorts.
2. Supporting Statement : We can talk, text, e-mail, video chat, take pictures, share media, surf the web, and everything in between. They keep us connected to the world around us. While that's great in most cases, that's a lot going on if you add driving while using that special piece of electronic genius.
B. Key Point 2 - Distracted driving is defined on Dictionary.com as "Driving a vehicle while engaging in an activity that has the potential to distract the driver from the task of driving."
1 Supporting Statement: There are different ways cell phones can and do distract us. It can be visually, manually, or cognitively. The National Safety Council reports cell phone use leads to a four times greater risk of accidents.
2 Supporting Statement: Visual could be looking at who is calling you, peeking at Facebook, or reading an important e-mail from work. Manual distraction could be as simple as dialing phone number, answering a text, or peeking at Facebook. The NHTSA states that sending or reading texts takes your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds. At 55 mph it'd be as if you were driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. Cognitive is having your mind elsewhere, and not on the sole task of driving.
C. Key Point 3 - Many states have laws in place to reduce or eliminate cell phone usage.
1 Supporting Statement: ALL cellphone usage by novice drivers is restricted in 38 states and the District of Columbia.
2 Supporting Statement: Talking on a hand-held device is banned in 15 stated and the District of Columbia. Texting is banned for drivers in 47 stated and the District of Columbia.
IV. Conclusion: So how do we address the increasing danger of distracted driving due to cellphone use? A nationwide ban of electronic usage while operating a vehicle would ensure fewer distractions on the road. In conjunction with the nationwide ban penalties for breaking laws for continued use should increase. Higher fines, license suspension, and a specific insurance premium assessment for those found guilty of ignoring the law would be beneficial in ensuring it's success.