Michael Pontiveros

Communication 103

Persuasive Outline, Stock Issues

4/5/17

General Purpose: To persuade

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Attention Gainer: *Give a genuine compliment to some people in the room on the

fly* (could be anything, hopefully this works out).

B. Reason to Listen: It feels nice to get complimented every once in awhile doesnt it?

Whether its on something youve put thought and effort into, or maybe something someone

noticed, that you may not have seen yourself.

C. Speaker Credibility (right to inform): So, as you intelligent individuals have

probably already figured out, my topic is compliments. I feel I am a credible speaker on this

topic because besides those 8 sources I found and researched at 11:52 PM last Thursday night, I

am a human being. Like all of us in this room, I take part in the human experience through

emotion.

D. Thesis statement: I dont know about you, but I think we should live in a world

where people freely give out compliments to each other.

E. Preview your Main Points: Giving and receiving compliments to people, even the

people you're close to, doesn't happen all that often if you think about it. Societal pressures
sometimes make it difficult to do so. Understanding the effect our words can have on others can

help us overcome these pressures, and make life a little more bearable for each other.

II. BODY

A. Main Point # 1 (Problems/Harms): Complimenting people is not as common as it

should be.

1. Information (sub-point): In todays society the percentage of depressed

individuals is shockingly high. According to The Guardian, 8-10% of Americans are take

prescription antidepressants. And thats just those who try and seek the help. An article

from Psychology Today states that Many people admit to being stressed or

overwhelmed but dont consider themselves depressed. If we as a whole can be more

positive with ourselves and with each other, it may subdue this issue.

2. Information (sub-point): Low self esteem is one of the many gateways to

depression. One key factor is having trouble sharing your perception or ideas about

things. Giving compliments becomes much harder when youre scared of how someone

might react to you, and receiving compliments is difficult when you dont put yourself in

the high regard that the other person does.

3. Information (sub-point):

TRANSITION STATEMENT: What causes these problems in the first place?

B. Main Point # 2 (Causes or Barriers) Not knowing when it is appropriate, or how to

even give a compliment, stops many people from giving them out.
 1. Information (sub-point): Have you ever wanted to give a compliment to a

complete stranger, but didnt? Maybe you werent even looking to get anything out of it

and just genuinely felt like letting that person know that you noticed their outfit, or

makeup, or whatever it may be. What stopped you? Fear of rejection. According to a

Reddit thread that posed the question, Ladies of Reddit, what is a compliment that you

want to receive, but never get from men?, one comment from a man with a wife and

kids, who isnt looking for anything, asked why whenever he tried to give a compliment

he was met with the ugh, creep look. Why cant we be nice to each other?

2. Information (sub-point): Lets delve a little closer to home and into our

ingroups. Your friend of the opposite sex that you have no intention of being with

romantically.

3. Information (sub-point): Sometimes we just dont know how to give a

compliment. The best compliments ask for nothing in return.

TRANSITION STATEMENT: So what can we do with this information?

C. Main Point # 3 (Solution): In order to overcome this, we should understand the

effects our words have on others.

1. Information (sub-point): People naturally love being complimented, and

studies show giving compliments is just as fulfilling.

2. Information (sub-point): Studies show that giving compliments is just as

fulfilling, if not more, as receiving them.

3. Action Step for us to take (sub-point): Lets go out there and make the world

a brighter, happier place.

III. CONCLUSION

A. Restate your Thesis

B. Review your Main Points

C. Provide a Reason to Remember

 References

Floyd, K. (2014, 2nd ed.). Communication matters. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Mezrich, B. (2009). The accidental billionaires: The founding of facebook. New York: Anchor

Books.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2012/11/09/study-receiving-a-compliment-has-same-

positive-effect-as-receiving-cash/#2fc15f1c6007

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/63e0oa/ladies_of_reddit_what_is_a_compliment

_that_you/dftiu10/

https://www.understood.org/en/friends-feelings/empowering-your-child/celebrating-successes/w

ays-praise-can-empower-kids-learning-issues

http://www.newsun.com/compliment.html

https://www.inc.com/amy-morin/compliments-make-you-cringe-science-explains-the-reasons-w

hy.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachael-yahne/the-scary-reason-you-cant_b_10580720.html
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201308/why-some-people-hate-recei

ving-compliments

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-455616/Men-frightened-women-compliments-need.htm

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-changing-culture/201410/why-so-many-people-are-

stressed-and-depressed

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/16/depression-mental-health-modern-life

-young

http://www.getesteem.com/lse-symptoms/symptom-details.html

http://www.self-confidence.co.uk/articles/top-ten-facts-about-low-self-esteem/