ACUPUNCTURE: NEW USES FOR AN ANCIENT REMEDY 367
Acupuncture: New Uses for an Ancient Remedy
1 Six months ago, my 78-year-old grandmother was quickly losing her independence. Severe
arthritis in both knees hampered her ability to take care of herself. Shopping, getting around the
neighborhood, even walking down her front steps was becoming almost impossible. Pain medica-
tions helped somewhat, but the side effects created their own problems.
2 Then her doctor suggested acupuncture. My grandmother was skeptical at first, but she
was willing to try just about anything. She did, and the results were miraculous. After six weeks,
her pain and stiffness were significantly reduced, she was able to take care of her apartment
again, she could get out on her own to go shopping, to visit friends and family, and to do the other
things her arthritis had prevented in the past. Acupuncture restored her quality of life and her
independence.
3 My grandmother’s story is not unique. Performed for well over 2,000 years in China and
other parts of Asia, acupuncture is becoming more and more popular in the U.S. and other Western
countries for one simple reason—it works. Impressed by my grandmother’s experience, I began
when they’re inserted. And there’s usually no sensation other than pain relief once they have been
inserted. After being left in for 20 or 30 minutes while you lie in a darkened room, the needles are
removed and the treatment is over.
368 INFORMATIVE SPEECHES FOR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
ACUPUNCTURE: NEW USES FOR AN ANCIENT REMEDY 369
370 INFORMATIVE SPEECHES FOR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Acupuncture: New Uses for an Ancient Remedy
Commentary
“Acupuncture: New Uses for an Ancient Remedy” takes what could be a dry, technical topic and makes it
interesting. The speech is crisply organized, contains well-chosen supporting materials, and uses con-
crete language and personal examples to clarify ideas. A video is available online and on the DVD of
student speeches that accompanies this edition of The Art of Public Speaking. Here is a synopsis.
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the role of acupuncture in modern society.
Central Idea: Based on traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is a safe procedure used to treat a
wide range of health conditions.
Method of Organization: Topical
Introduction: The introduction consists of paragraphs 1–4. The speaker starts with an extended ex-
ample that captures attention and interest. In this case, the example works particularly well be-
cause it is personally related to the speaker. It is also richly detailed and vividly drawn. As the
Body: Paragraph 5 begins the body of the speech. The information in this paragraph and the subse-
quent paragraph answers the audience’s questions about what happens during an acupuncture
treatment. Knowing that many people are squeamish about being poked with needles, the
speaker explains that the needles used in acupuncture are small and essentially painless. As
you can see from the video, the speaker does not pass the needles around during her speech.
As mentioned in Chapter 14, putting visual aids in the hands of the audience during a speech is
ACUPUNCTURE: NEW USES FOR AN ANCIENT REMEDY 371