persuasive speech
James Roberts – Page 1 The United States Should Reform Construction Spendi ng in Afghanistan General Purpose: To Persuade Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience that the USFG needs to reform the disbursement of construction monies in Afghanistan. Central Idea: The United States should reform const ruction spending in Afghanistan.
Visual Aid: Slideshow Organization Pattern: Problem/Solution I. Introduction A. Attention-getter: [Begin slide show] What do you see in this photo? [Ask for responses]. In fact what you see is a slaughter-house. Corresponde nt Matthew Gault of War is Boring reported on April 23 rd that we have spent 1.5 million dollars in Kabul, A fghanistan for essentially nothing. When US inspectors arrived at this site they, and I quote, “found a largely open field” (Gault). And this is one of hun dreds of similar projects scattered across Afghanistan (Gault).
B. Relate to audience: Why am I telling you this? W ell, every single one of you is a tax payer or will be a tax payer. You all work hard and the gove rnment take a portion of your hard work [pause] to support our interests; that’s taxes. Now this is not an anti-tax speech; there is no cure for death or taxes and I’m not here to tell yo u that paying taxes is bad. I do believe the government should spend our tax money wisely. They should honor our hard work [pause] by being as responsible as they can with the money we provide.
C. Establish Credibility: Now I follow events relat ing to our nation’s efforts in Afghanistan and through my research I have learned that millions of dollars are being wasted on unreliable and even fraudulent construction projects. That is why … D. Thesis and Preview: The United States should ref orm construction spending in Afghanistan.
1. Gigantic sums are being wasted on useless constr uction projects in Afghanistan.
2. Either US Congress should pass a law or our Pres ident should sign an executive order reforming how construction funds are spent in Afgha nistan.
3. Reforming construction spending will improve con ditions in Afghanistan and here at home.
[Let us first examine the enormous problem of waste ful construction projects in Afghanistan.] II. Body A. Need for Change: Gigantic sums are being wasted on useless construction projects in Afghanistan.
1. The harm caused by the problem: We are paying for buildings that are worthless ruins. Persuasive Speech – Example Outline – Page 2 a. On December 3 rd of 2014 Matthew Gault reports in War is Boring that this 2.7 million dollar justice center [change slide] in Par wan, near the famous Bagram Airfield, is nothing more than a half-completed pil e of rubbish. The courthouse is worthless, but it cost us 2.7 million anyway.
b. On January 20 th of 2010 Marisa Taylor of McClatchy Newspapers repo rts that the Tarakhil Kabul Power Plant, a $300 million doll ar facility, already $40 million over budget, was “ill-conceived and mismana ged” (Taylor).
i. In the same article also says the Afghan governm ent can’t afford to use the plant; the project is useless.
2. The problem is inherent to the current situation: Construction companies w ill continue to rip us off until we stop them, and the projects mismanaged will not disappear.
a. Sam Hillestad of Borgen Magazine reports on July 8 th of 2014 that the Kabul Power Plant situation has not improved after four y ears. In fact the situation is worsening (Hillestad).
[Now that we see the problem of wasteful spending, let’s make things right.] B. Plan: Either US Congress should pass a law or ou r President should sign an executive order reforming how construction funds are spent in Afgha nistan.
1. How the plan works: Congress or the President will ena ct a policy authorizing non- payment to construction companies that do not work or charge disproportionately for services. These companies and the people who ow n them can even be blacklisted from bidding on future construction contracts.
2. How much the plan costs: This plan will cost very little. We already have existing structures to implement and inspect projects. And t his plan will help us to either get what we pay for or keep our money.
3. How we enforce the plan: My plan is simple to emplace because the US already authorizes and funds these construction projects. W e have the power of the purse and the power to designate responsible companies wi th proven track-records.
[Now that you know how the plan works, let’s talk a bout its advantages.] C. Advantages of Plan: Reforming construction spend ing will improve conditions in Afghanistan and here at home.
1. Advantages : Conditions will improve in Afghanistan.
a. If companies know they won’t be paid without fin ishing work, they will either stop bidding or finish projects, or ignore the rule s, not get paid, and go out of business.
i. With this system the important projects we need finished are much more likely to be finished. Persuasive Speech – Example Outline – Page 3 b. Completing more projects in Afghanistan may incr ease stability.
2. Incidental advantages : Conditions will improve at home.
a. With fewer tax dollars going to line the pockets of corrupt businesses and more projects being completed, we can focus our tax dollars on other projects, including things we need here in the US.
III. Conclusion A. Transition Statement: (Pause briefly) I hope you now have a better understanding of the problems we face in Afghanistan and how we have an opportunity to make things right.
B. Thesis and Review: The United States should refo rm construction spending in Afghanistan.
1. Gigantic sums are being wasted on useless constr uction projects in Afghanistan.
2. Either US Congress should pass a law or our Pres ident should sign an executive order reforming how construction funds are spent in Afgha nistan.
3. Reforming construction spending will improve con ditions in Afghanistan and here at home.
C. Call to Action: I urge you to contact your state Senators or Representatives, even our President, and ask them to improve how our tax doll ars are put to work in Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world.
D. Memorable Ending: You and I will continue to pay taxes. Let’s do our best to ensure that money is well spent.
Persuasive Speech – Example Outline – Page 4 Works Cited Gault, Matthew. "Americans Keep Paying for Bad Work From Afghan Contractors." War Is Boring. War Is Boring. 23 Apr. 2015. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
Gault, Matthew. "Here's How the Military Wasted You r Money in Afghanistan." War Is Boring. War Is Boring. 3 Dec. 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
Hillestad, Sam. "Tarakhil Power Plant in Afghanista n Sits Idle." Borgen Magazine. The Borgen Project. 8 July 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
Taylor, Marisa. "Report Slams U.S. for Building Pow er Plant Afghans Can't Run." McClatchy DC.
McClatchy Newspapers. 20 Jan. 2010. Web. 19 Feb. 20 16.
