Speech #4

Here is part (I lost the complete draft in the depths of the computers on campus) of my 4th speech.

General Purpose: To persuade

Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech, the audience will agree that school uniforms are better than free dress or dress codes for 3 reasons.

Central Idea/Proposition of value: School uniforms are better than free dress/dress codes

Organizational Pattern: Topical

Introduction: Mark Twain once said, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” Educators have long debated the rules and regulations around clothing and attire of students. Should they enforce a uniform code or let the students wear what they please? I wore a uniform from the time I was in school at age 4 to the time I graduated high school at age 17, with the exception of one year. Using my own personal knowledge and the opinions and experience of educators today I am going to tell you three reasons why school uniforms are better than free dress or dress codes.

Signpost: To begin we will look at the equalizing power of uniforms.

Main Point 1: Uniforms act as social equalizers (Eppinger 2009)

               I.     Uniforms level the playing field for lower socioeconomic status (Eppinger 2009, Boutelle 2008)

a.     It is a common argument in the uniform debate that schools should be a safe place without worry about differences in status whether socially, economically, etc. (Bodine 2003).

b.     "What if the uniforms disappeared tomorrow?" Gulden asks. Differences between "our needy kids and fairly well-to do kids might become magnified and polarize the campus," creating resentment and tension. "Life has enough hurdles for families and kids; I don't think one of them should be here at school. There's that stigma of 'my socioeconomic status.' Kids 5, 6, 7 years old shouldn't have to deal with that." (Boutelle 2008).

             II.     Uniforms lessen comparisons based on material goods and place more emphasis on academic abilities.

a.     Some believe that uniforms take away the students individuality since it is most obviously expressed in the clothing that is worn. This clothing usually sparks envy and competition because so and so is wearing name brand while this person is wearing Walmart or Target.

b.     The creativity that is “being stifled” can be more appropriately expressed “academically and artistically… Uniforms allow children the right to distinguish themselves by the deeds they’ve done, not the duds they wear.” (Boutelle 2009)

Signpost: Now that we have seen the equalizing effects of the uniform, we will turn to the effects on school performance.

Main Point 2: Uniforms improve the “school climate” (Eppinger 2009)

               I.     Students are often distracted more by what they wear/how they look than their studies (Eppinger 2009)

a.     Viewed as work clothing rather than play clothing (Eppinger 2009, Boutelle 2008, Yeung 2009)

b.     Distractions over immodest clothing reduced or eliminated (Boutelle 2008)

             II.     Tardies are reduced when students wear uniforms

a.     There is no stress over dressing in the mornings because your administrators have decided what you will wear everyday (Eppinger 2009)

b.     This reducing the time needed to dress in the morning and so students are less frequently late to their morning classes

Signpost: Remembering the equalizing power and the effects on performance that uniforms have, we will next move on to the influence on crime in schools.

Main Point 3: Uniforms reduce crime in schools.

               I.     Theft/violence over expensive clothing is reduced (Eppinger (2009)

a.     In his 1996 State of the Union Address, Bill Clinton challenged schools ''to teach character education, to teach good values and good citizenship. And if it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms." (Boutelle 2008)

             II.     Gang clothing/signs are eliminated (Eppinger 2009, Boutelle 2008)

a.     In inner city schools, much of the conflict, violence, and crime occur due to gang affiliations. Wearing the wrong color can get you into trouble in certain neighborhoods

b.     By implementing uniforms, these risks are reduced

Signpost: To close lets review the three reasons we discussed today.

Conclusion: The three reasons uniforms are better than free dress are: 1. Uniforms are social equalizers, 2. Uniforms improve the school climate, and 3. Uniforms decrease crime in schools. ______?