Persuasive Speech Outline

Specific Purpose: To persuade that running is better than walking

Central Idea: Because of the many benefits on health and survival, running is better than
walking
Introduction:
I. Attention Grabber: Question on who enjoys running/ insert joke about running for
president
II. Hi, my name is Hung Phan and I will be discussing why running is so important in
everyones’ lives.
III. Thesis: I will discuss the significance running has on survival, and how running can
benefit you both physically and mentally.
(Transition: “So Survival!”)
Body:
I. Since the dawn of man, humans have done whatever they had to do to survive.
a. Just think about it during the cavemen era, the men had to run after buffalo or
other animals to find their meals
b. Even the wives would run around the woods looking for berries and herbs.
c. To look for warmth the men had to run to forests looking for wood to chop and
burn to create a fire.
d. Or even during the Medieval Ages, when knights had to run and attack their
enemies or even flee by running in efforts to win the war.
e. So if you think about it, without running, humans may not have been able to live
as long as we have today.
f. Now along with survival, running also provides many health benefits both
physically and mentally.
II. Health benefits on running
a. Insert physical education example
b. When it comes to health, running is one of the best methods to keeping your body
up and running smoothly
c. When you are running you are constantly burning fat.
i. Explain that fat builds cholesterol that clogs arteries
ii. Which then increases blood pressure
iii. By running you decrease risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood
pressure.
d. Discuss how running is a holistic exercise
i. Use example of the how many machines at a gym target specific regions
of the body.
ii. Discuss how running not only affects leg muscles but other ones as well
e. Compare Calories Burned Between Walking vs Running
i. State the misconception of calories burnt between running and walking
 ii. “Subjects in a recent study found this is not the case at all. For every one
calorie burned walking” (Burfoot)
f. Discuss how running can make you happier
i. Describe a “runner’s high”
1. State the release of endorphins when running
2. Researchers at the University of Missouri Columbia recently found
that running actually causes the same kind of neurochemical
changes in the brain shared by addictive drugs (M)
g. Explain how running may cause an increase in intelligence
i. A study published in London’s Journal of Physiology shows that that
running can increase neuron reserves and therefore the brain’s capacity to
learn. (Sustained)
III. Discuss the limitations of running on certain individuals
a. Examples: Elderly or people with bad knees
IV. Discuss how running can increase life expectancy
a. For example a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found
that subjects that had as little as five minutes of daily running were associated
with prolonged lifespans.(Lee)
V. Explain how running can affect life style
a. Explain how running will always have a positive effect and how it is a
commitment
(Transition: Now we will review what we know about running)
Conclusion:
I. So now that we know running will help you
a. Survive
b. Keep you
i. Healthy
ii. Happy
iii. And even intelligent
II. DON’T CHASE YOUR DREAMS RUN AFTER THEM
 Works Cited
Burfoot, A. (2017, December 18). Running v. Walking: How Many Calories Will You Burn?

Retrieved April 16, 2018, from https://www.runnersworld.com/peak-performance/running-v-

walking-how-many-calories-will-you-burn

Lee, D., Pate, R. R., Lavie, C. J., Sui, X., Church, T. S., & Blair, S. N. (2014). Leisure-Time

Running Reduces All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality Risk. Journal of the American

College of Cardiology,64(5), 472-481. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.04.058

M. (2015, October 06). Extremely active rats become lazy when they artificially receive 'runners'

high'. Retrieved April 19, 2018, from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-10/uom-

ear100615.php

Sustained aerobic exercise increases adult neurogenesis in brain. (2016, February 08). Retrieved

April 16, 2018, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160208083606.htm