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THE DANGERS OF CELL PHONES 399
The Dangers of Cell Phones
1 It’s your constant companion. It’s in your pocket, in your bag, in your hands, or against
your head. You use it at home, in class, at the gym, before you go to sleep at night and first thing
when you wake up in the morning. I’m talking, of course, about your cell phone. According to my
class survey, everyone in this room has a cell phone, and all of us use it dozens of times every day.
2 But what if your constant companion is dangerous? What if it’s hazardous to your health?
Evidence is piling up that long-term use of cell phones can lead to tissue damage, tumors, and even
brain cancer. Given that there are well over 4 billion people worldwide using cell phones, we’re
looking at a problem of potentially staggering magnitude. According to Devra Davis, epidemiolo-
gist and author of the 2010 book Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, we may be
watching “an epidemic in slow motion.”
3 I’d never thought much about the possible perils of cell phones before I saw a CBS News
7 Other studies have reached the same conclusion. Perhaps most important is a study in the
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine that surveyed all the previous research on
cell phone use. It found “a consistent pattern of increased risk” for developing brain tumors among
people who used cell phones for more than 10 years.
400 PERSUASIVE SPEECHES FOR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
THE DANGERS OF CELL PHONES 401
The Dangers of Cell Phones
Commentary
By analyzing the use of supporting materials in a speech, students often get a better idea of how to use
them in their own speeches. “The Dangers of Cell Phones” has a variety of supporting materials and
illustrates how they can be employed to clarify and bolster a speaker’s ideas. It also provides an oppor-
tunity for students to discuss how the speaker could have employed supporting materials more effective-
ly. In addition to having students read the speech, you may want to show the video of it, which is available
as part of the DVD of student speeches that accompanies this edition of The Art of Public Speaking. The
video is also available on Connect. Here is a synopsis of the speech, with special attention to its main
points and use of supporting materials.
Specific Purpose:
To persuade my audience to change the way they use their cell phones.
Central Idea:
Because of the health risks associated with cell-phone radiation, you should avoid press-
ing your cell phone against your head while using it.
Method of Organization: Monroe’s motivated sequence
Introduction: The introduction consists of paragraphs 1–4. Paragraph 1 gains attention by arousing curios-
402 PERSUASIVE SPEECHES FOR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Supporting Materials: Because this speech deals with a controversial topic, and because most students
are not aware of the potential dangers of prolonged cell-phone use, it is imperative that the
speaker back up her claims with strong evidence. For the most part, she does this effectively, cit-
ing a wide range of studies and experts in support of her position
Testimony, especially expert testimony, plays a crucial role in this speech. Because the
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