Help me write my speech for school!

[MainEvent212]

I'm writing a speech for my Introduction to Speech class. It's gotta be 5-8 minutes long (not bad) and i've decided to write an informative speech on the negative effects of street racing.

here's what i've got so far (i'm following a format from my speech class so if it seems repetative, it is)

Topic: Street Racing and its negative effects

Title:

General Purpose: To inform

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the dangers of street racing and the negative effects it has had on our community

Thesis with Preview: Street racing is a dangerous and illegal activity that has been claiming the lives of our youth, tightened driving regulation to an almost ridiculous point and exhausted our tax dollars on law enforcement tactics that have yet to put a stop to street racing in our area.

Introduction:I. Attention-Getter: In the last three weeks alone, 14 people have died in speed related crashes in the metropolitan area. (Washington Post. October 17, 2004; Page A01)II. Listener Relevance Statement: The people involved in these crashes were nearly all minors, and one victim as young as 3 years old. She was just an innocent bystander on the side of the road, in broad daylight. Hardly what you would think of when you think street racing.III. Speaker Credibility: I have personally known people who thought street racing was cool and decided to try and jump in on the action. The next thing I know the police are calling family and friends to hopefully get an ID on the nearly unrecognizable body, all because they wanted to be up on the latest trend. IV. Thesis w/ Preview: Street racing is a dangerous and illegal activity that has been claiming the lives of our youth, tightened driving regulation to an almost ridiculous point and exhausted our tax dollars on law enforcement tactics that have yet to put a stop to street racing in our area.Transition: I’m sure most of you, being residents in the Northern Virginia area have been on the Baltimore-Washington parkway; therefore you know it’s not an incredibly large road, being only two lanes wide. Now imagine this, it’s 2 a.m., pitch dark with the road only lit up by the occasional streetlight. Two young kids decide go have a race in their souped-up sports cars, reaching speeds of up to 170 mph. As they’re going down a long stretch of road, trying there hardest to get up to top speed, a deer steps out in the road. Guess what happens next.

Body:

I. A. 1. you know how the outline format goes

now for my body section, i want to start with a statistic on what a crash would be like at that speed. As long as it's got numbers, it's cool. Like maybe a comparison to force of somethign else, like an elephant stepping on your skull or something, as long as it's realistic.

My main points are as such:1. Street racing is dangerous and has attributed to many deaths and injuries.2. Street racing is illegal and has made driving regulations tighters and fines steeper recently.3. Anti-street racing efforts are not working right now. It needs to be remedied through compensation, not punishment. (meaning they need to build a local track that's more public friendly.)

if anyone would like to throw in some facts or comments, i'm happy to hear them, i have to make the speech on tuesday

[SDRonEbay]

Street racing gives birth to prejudices against the import sport compact car culture.

[w1ngzer0]

oh here is another good thing to highlight.

Street racing promotes drugs and alcohol. Which leads to public intoxication.

[MainEvent212]

lol i was trying to figure out how to make that fit into my speech...now i think i'm gonna completely axe the solution (maint point 3) and instead just make the 3rd point about how it defaces the culture of sport compacts. (lumping street racers in with devoted auto-xers...etc)

[MainEvent212]

what i was really hoping for is sources for quotes and statistics

[Mr1der]

street racing gives birth to really really ugly cars.

you can quoute me on that fact.

I'm sure the class would love to hear you say "and furthermore, a knowledgable expert on street racing and it's darker side, Mr1der of nicoclub.com added that qoute, street racing will also lead to wafflehouse bathroom-ugly cars."

[Bubba1]

Some tidbits from NHRA.com: There's a lotta good stuff there.

According to NHTSA, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 16 and 20.

Nationwide Stats show 49 people are injured for every 1000 who participate in illegal street racing.

In San Diego, where street racing is considered an epidemic 16 deaths and 31 injuries were directly related to illegal street racing in 2001 alone.

City and states are starting to crack down on street racing by making it more expensive when caught.

Penalties Include:1. Impounding your car2. License revocation3. insurance surcharges/cancellations4. 3 month improsonment 5. $1000 fines6. they also handing out citations for spectators

How's that?I was almost killed by a teen street racer. I unknowingly crossed impromptu race when my light turned green. Street racing 16 yr old Idiot blew right thru a redlight and t-boned me in the passenger door. Ugly accident.

[GEO]

I did that at the beginging of the year. I do mine on nanotechnology. ;-)

[gabossie]

They are now crushing cars in CA for people caught steet racing.

[SDRonEbay]

It's a couple years old but it's news coverage of the growing trend. You should really research the deaths caused by street racing over the past few years. The list is astounding.

http://www.kfmb.com/crime_figh...=7391

[MainEvent212]

oh trust me, street racing related death is taking a boom in my area as of recently...25 days 14 victims...=-o