By: Rima Asfour
April 29, 2003
General Purpose: To persuade
Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to stop anybody they know from smoking to prevent damage to their health.
Organizational Pattern: Monroe’s Motivated Sequence.
You may wonder what our future generation may look like because of the effects of smoking. According to a study of teen smokers, young men who smoke may be both compromising their fertility and increasing their risk of fathering a child with genetic abnormalities due to sperm mutations in smokers. (http://quitsmoking.about.com/library/weekly/aa111698.htm). Males who smoke have a cough reflex that is slower to react than nonsmoking males. A person’s reflex to cough is a defensive action that prevents foreign material from entering the respiratory tract and helps to remove mucus from the airways. (http://0-web.lexis-nexis.ary.jcu.edu/universe/document?_m=b17d5674ea7bcb895060…) Women who smoke may also have reduced fertility. One study found that 38% of non-smoking women conceived in their first cycle compared with 28% of smokers. Smokers were 3.4 times more likely than non-smokers to have taken more than a year to conceive. (www.ash.org.uk/html/factsheets/html/fact07.html). Since 40% of you are tobacco users and 80% of you have a member at home or a friend who are tobacco users, you should be aware of the long-term effects.
Transition: As young adults, we should try our best to stop people from smoking to prevent an increase in diseases and deaths.
II. Need Step: In the United States, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of
preventable mobility and mortality and results in approximately 430,000
deaths each year.
(www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtm/mm4843a3.htm)
A. There are many harmful ingredients in cigarettes.
(www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/sci-health- tech/features/health/tobaccotrial/inacigarette.htm)
1. Ammonia
a. Scientists have discovered that ammonia helps you absorb
more nicotine, keeping you hooked on smoking.
b. It is a drug in tobacco that makes smoking a powerful addiction.
2. Arsenic: This is a deadly poison that makes your lips burn, and gives
you bad breath.
3. Benzene: This is a cancer-causing chemical used to make everything
from pesticides to detergent to gasoline.
4. Cadmium: Causes damage to the liver, kidneys, and brain, and stays
in the body for years.
5. Lead: Lead poisoning stunts your growth, makes you vomit, and
damages your brain.
B. Tobacco leaves long-term effects such as death, heart disease, cancer,
lung disease, reproductive damage, and birth defects.
(www.intheknowzone.com/tobacco/lterm.htm)
1. Tobacco kills more people through heart disease and stroke than it
does through cancer.
2. There are many different types of heart diseases.
a. Hypertension: High blood pressure
b. Congestive heart failure: Ineffective pumping of the heart leads to
an accumulation of fluid in the lungs.
c. Coronary heart disease: Narrowed arteries lead to heart attack and
death.
d. Heart attacks and congestive heart failure.
e. Blocked blood vessels.
f. Strokes: Blocked blood flow to the brain or bleeding in the brain.
3. There are many different types of cancers involved.
(www.intheknowzone.com/tobacco/lterm.htm)
a. Lung (Primarily smoking related)
b. Upper respiratory tract (Primarily smoking related)
c. Larynx (Smoking or spit tobacco)
d. Mouth (Smoking or spit tobacco)
e. Throat (Smoking or spit tobacco)
f. Stomach (Primarily spit tobacco related)
g. Pancreas (Smoking or spit tobacco)
h. Kidney (Smoking or spit tobacco)
i. Bladder (Smoking or spit tobacco)
j. Cervix (Primarily smoking related, since few women chew
tobacco)
4. One may also develop lung disease.
(www.intheknowzone.com/tobacco/lterm.htm)
a. Emphysema: The very small airways (bronchioles) that join the
tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs lose elasticity. Patient loses
ability to exhale fully, and chemical balance in the blood is
disturbed. There is no cure for emphysema.
b. Chronic bronchitis: The airways of the lungs change shape and
size and the mucous glands are enlarged, causing coughing and
production of sputum.
5. Reproductive Damage
(www.intheknowzone.com/tobacco/lterm.htm)
a. Abnormal sperm cells
b. Impotence
c. Difficulty maintaining pregnancy
d. Menstrual disorders and early menopause.
6. Birth defects; smoking during pregnancy can lead to:
(www.intheknowzone.com/tobacco/lterm.htm)
a. Miscarriage or stillbirth
b. Low birth weight
c. Babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy weigh on
average between 200 to 300 grams less than other babies.
d. Premature birth
e. Both low birth weight and premature birth can lead to breathing
and other health problems.
f. Learning and behavior problems later in childhood.
g. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or “crib death,” seemingly
healthy babies die without warning.
h. More upper respiratory problems, ear complications, or asthma
when exposed to tobacco prior to birth.
7. Other damages that tobacco may leave on a person:
(www.intheknowzone.com/tobacco/lterm.htm)
a. Prematurely wrinkled skin.
b. Permanent gum and tooth loss.
c. Lost or weakened sense of taste.
d. Weakened immune system.
e. Stomach ulcers.
f. Unwanted weight loss.
8. Cigarette smoking is associated with increased incidence of
periodontal disease and poor response to periodontal therapy.
(http://o-web.lexis-nexis.com.library.jcu.edu/universe/document?
_m=b17d567ea7beb895060…)
Transition: So, clearly, the use of tobacco only negatively affects your health.
III. Satisfaction/Solution: Make sure that you do not get persuaded to smoke or
chew tobacco because of appealing advertisements or peer pressure.
A. People have been smoking tobacco for centuries.
1. People used to think that tobacco was a medicine that was good for
them. (www.pupiline.net/features/adictions/0108219051450.cfm)
2. People used to smoke because of its mood-altering ability.
(www.pupiline.net/features/adictions/0108219051450.cfm)
B. Teens are far more likely than adults to favor a ban forbidding the sale of
all tobacco products throughout the nation.
(The George H. Gallup International Institute, 1992)
1. 62% of teens support the national tobacco ban, whereas only 14% of
the adults do.
(The George H. Gallup International Institute, 1992)
2. Support for national bans is far weaker among smokers, but a majority
of 58 % would support a law prohibiting sales to those under age 18.
(The George H. Gallup International Institute, 1992)
3. Young people begin to smoke because of social pressure, curiosity or
a desire to feel “grown-up.” But pharmacologically, tobacco acts like
heroin in hooking its victims.
(Chandler, 1986)
C. Would banning cigarettes and their advertisements prevent an increase in
health problems?
1. A Health and Safety Commission (HSC) study, leaked to The
Independent, says up to 2,340 lives a year could be saved by
outlawing workplace smoking. The study says such a ban would
help prevent up to 180 lung cancer deaths a year, with a further 866
people expected to avoid disease and strokes, bronchitis and asthma,
as well as fewer workplace injuries and fires.
(http://news.independent .co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=388547)
2. On April 10, 2003, the Rajya Sabha passed a Bill banning
advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products, besides
prohibiting sponsorship of sports and cultural events by
manufacturers of these products.
(http://0-web.lexis-nexis.com.library.jcu.edu/universe/document?.)
Transition: As evident, banning cigarettes would greatly decrease cancer rates.
IV. Visual/ Benefits: As challenging as it may seem, there may be a way to decrease the temptation of smoking
A. BBC Worldservice lists many ways to resist temptations.
(www.bbc.co-uk/worldservice/sci-tech/features/health/tobaccotrial/tips-2htm)
1. Ease the withdrawal symptoms with nicotine replacement therapy
a. Nicotine patches
b. Chewing gum
2. Keep busy
a. Go to a film
b. Exercise
3. Change your routine: Avoid shops where you usually buy
cigarettes.
4. End meals or snacks with something that won’t lead to a cigarette.
5. Avoid people who smoke: Spend time with non-smoking friends.
6. Keep your hands busy
a. Doodle
b. Knit
c. Type an e-mail to someone you’ve lost in touch with
d. Do crosswords
7. Drink plenty of fluids: Keep a glass of water or prune fruit juice
by you and sip it steadily.
8. When your desire for a cigarette is intense:
a. Wash your hands
b. Wash dishes
c. Try new recipes
9. If you miss having something in your mouth, try toothpicks, or
carrot or celery sticks.
10. If you always smoke while driving: sing along to your favorite
music instead, or use public transport.
11. Never allow yourself to think that ‘one won’t hurt’ – it will. It’s a
slippery slope.
Transition: There are so many effects from using tobacco.
V. Action/Conclusion: A non-smoker should turn down tobacco if ever offered,
and persuade others that tobacco can only hurt them in the end. Say NO to
tobacco and help decrease damage that may have occurred because of such a
nasty addiction. Don’t ever think of trying it because “on average, the five
minutes it takes you to smoke a cigarette, your life will shorten by the same
amount.”
(www.pupiline.net/features/addictions/01082190514…ctm)
References
BBC Worldservice. (2003, April 17). In Times of Temptation…. Retrieved April 17, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/sci_tech/features/health/tobaccotrial/tips-2.htm
BBC Worldservice. (2003, April 17). What’s in a cigarette? Retrieved April 17, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/sci_tech/features/health/tobaccotrial/inacigarette.htm
CDC. (1999, November 4). Cigarette smoking among adults—United States, 1997. Retrieved April 17, 2003 from the World Wide Wed: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwrhtml/mm4843a3.htm
Chandler, W. (1986, January). Banishing Tobacco. Worldwatch Paper 68. p. 27.
Fact Sheet. (2002, May). Smoking, Sex, & Reproduction. Retrieved April 4, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ash.org.uk/html/factsheets/html/fact07.html
In the Know Zone. (2003, April 17). Long-term Effects. Retrieved April 17, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.intheknowzone.com/tobacco/lterm.htm
LexisNexis. (2003, April 8). Nicotine Addiction: Cigarette smoking may cause a less sensitive cough reflex in men. Retrieved April 17, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://0-web.lexis-nexis.com.library.jcu.edu/universe/document?_m=b17d5674ea7beb895060…
LexisNexis. (2003, April 10). RS okays bill banning cigarette ads. Retrieved April 17, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://0-web.lexis-nexis.com.library.jcu.edu/universe/document?_m=b17d5674ea7beb895060…
LexisNexis. (2003, April 16). Tobacco use: The stress response to nicotine in periodontal fibroblasts is c-fos introduction. Retrieved April 17, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://0-web.lexis-nexis.com.library.jcu.edu/universe/document?_m=b17d5674ea7beb895060…
News. (2003, March 19). Evidence ‘suppressed’ on benefits of smoking ban. Retrieved April 3, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=388547
Pupiline. (2003, April 4). What a cigarette does to you. Retrieved April 4, 2003, from the World Wide Web: http://www.pupiline.net/features/addictions/0108219051450.cfm
Smoking Cessation. (1999, November 15). Smoking Affects my What?! Surprising Facts you may not know. Retrieved April 4, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://quitsmoking.about.com/library/weekly/aa111698.htm
The George H. Gallup International Institute. (September, 1992). Report of the Findings. Teen-Age Attitudes and Behavior Concerning Tobacco. p.71.
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