Informative Speech Outline

Topic: Organ Donation

General Purpose: To Inform

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the different forms and ways to donate.

Thesis: Organ donation is easier than most people believe and I will explain the process so that it may not seem so daunting.

I. Introduction

A. Attention Getter: Did you know that you’re able to donate your organs or tissue while still alive?

B. Reason to Listen: While it is important to talk about end-of-life decisions including organ donation, it is becoming more common to donate organs and partial organs while living.

C. Thesis Statement: Organ donation is easier than most people believe and I will explain the process so that it may not seem so daunting.

D. Credibility Statement:

1. I have helped people through the patient process of donation.

2. I have personally donated to a loved one and do not regret my decision.

E. Preview of Main Points:

1. First, I will discuss the different ways to donate

2. Second, I will discuss the process of donation

3. Finally, I will discuss life after donation

II. There are several organs/tissues that can be donated

A. Kidneys are the most common organ donated.

1. One kidney can be donated because the other kidney is perfectly capable of compensating for the loss of the other kidney.

a. Kidneys comprise about 80% of all transplanted organs

b. Since 2000, more than 40% come from live transplant donors

2. One or two lobes of the liver can be donated

a. Just as skin cells grow new skin, liver cells in the remaining lobe of the liver grow or regenerate until the liver is almost its original size.

b. This re-growth of the liver occurs in a short period of time in both the liver donor and liver recipient.

3. Blood is probably one of the more commonly known ways to donate as a live donor

a. Depending on your health and hydration, blood can be donated quickly.

b. There are convenient and frequent drives for donation....