Communications Chapter 5 Homework According to Bosland, this test is subjective because

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THE HIDDEN WORLD OF CHILI PEPPERS: FINAL VERSION 363

The Hidden World of Chili Peppers

Final Version

1 Imagine your mouth burning like wildfire, your eyes squirting out uncontrollable tears,

and your face red and sweating profusely. Are you sick? No, you just took a bite of a screaming

hot chili pepper. Congratulations. You’re partaking in a worldwide tradition that has been spicing

up lives and diets for thousands of years.

2 My own desire for spicy meals led me to investigate why I get red in the face and salivate

over the mere thought of eating a spicy chili. In the process, I’ve discovered there’s a lot more to

chili peppers than I’d ever imagined. Today I’d like to share with you what I’ve learned about the

history of chili peppers, why they can be so spicy, what to do if you eat a too–hot pepper, and

some of the ways peppers are used other than in foods.

5 Now that we know a little bit about the history of chili peppers, let’s see why they can put

such a fire in our belly. The pleasure and pain involved in eating chili peppers comes from a

chemical called capsaicin. Capsaicin is concentrated in the pepper’s veins and seeds. To enjoy the

flavor of a chili pepper without burning your stomach or mouth, avoid the veins and seeds when

cooking or eating them.

6 P. W. Bosland tells us in the book Spices, Herbs, and Edible Fungi that chili pepper inten-

sity is measured in two ways. The first was developed by Wilbur L. Scoville in 1912. This method

uses trained testers to measure chili peppers in Scoville Heat Units. These range from zero to

300,000. According to Bosland, this test is subjective because it relies on the individual tester’s

sensitivity to capsaicin.

364 INFORMATIVE SPEECHES FOR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

7 The second, more widely used test is called the High Performance Liquid Chromatog-

raphy test, more commonly known as HPLC. This is also measured in Scoville Heat Units, but

it’s more objective. The chili pods are dried and ground, and then the chemicals responsible for

the heat are analyzed and rated according to pungency.

10 If you burn your skin, the Institute recommends cleaning the area with rubbing alcohol

and then soaking it with milk. Above all, remember two things: First, always wear gloves when

you cut a hot pepper such as a habanero. Second, never rub your eyes when working with hot

chili peppers.

11 Although chili peppers are prized above all for the flavor they add to food, they have other

benefits as well. Pepper sprays have become a standard weapon for the personal protection of indi-

viduals and law-enforcement agencies. The New York Times reports that sales of pepper sprays

have risen steadily and show no sign of slowing.

12 Chili peppers are also valued for their medicinal properties. According to Jack Challem, au-

thor of The Nutrition Reporter, there have been more than 1,300 medical studies on capsaicin, the

active ingredient in peppers. Moderate doses have been proved to aid digestion, reduce hyperten-

sion, improve circulation, and help dissolve blood clots. Preliminary research by Professor Kenji

Okajima at Japan’s Kumamato University School of Medicine suggests that a combination of chili

peppers and soybeans can promote hair growth and might hold promise as a cure for baldness.

THE HIDDEN WORLD OF CHILI PEPPERS: FINAL VERSION 365

The Hidden World of Chili Peppers

Final Version

Commentary

Clear, well-supported, and sharply organized, the final version of “The Hidden World of Chili Peppers” is a

good model of the guidelines for informative speaking presented in Chapter 15. Both it and the needs

improvement version are available online and on the DVD of student speeches that accompanies this

edition of The Art of Public Speaking. You’ll find the text and discussion of the needs improvement ver-

sion on pages 359–362 of this manual. Here is a brief synopsis of the final version.

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the history of chili peppers, why they can be so spicy,

strategies for dealing with a too–hot pepper, and some of the nonculinary uses of peppers.

Central Idea: There is much more to chili peppers than most people imagine.

Method of Organization: Topical

Introduction: The introduction consists of paragraphs 1 and 2. The first paragraph uses several meth-

ods to gain attention and interest. The vivid description of sentence one is followed by a ques-

tion that arouses curiosity about the subject of the speech. The third sentence reveals that the

speaker is discussing chili peppers, while the final sentence suggests that the topic is important

Body: Arranged in topical order, the body of the speech consists of four main points. The first main

point is developed in paragraphs 3–4 and explains the history of chili peppers. Noting the dif-

ferences between black pepper, which originated in Asia, and chili peppers, which originated in

South America, the speaker explains how chili peppers spread around the globe after Columbus

came to the New World. Because the speaker is not an expert on chili peppers, he is careful to

identify the sources of his information.

366 INFORMATIVE SPEECHES FOR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

uses visual aids to make sure the audience understands terms such as “capsaicin,” “Scoville Heat

Units,” and “High Performance Liquid Chromatography.” As can be seen from the video of the

speech, the visual aids are well-designed and are perfectly timed with the speaker’s words. This is

also true of the visual aids in other parts of the speech.

In paragraph 8, the speaker focuses primarily on the orange habanero. This pepper, he

states, is so hot that some people have an allergic reaction just from touching it. As he discusses

the orange habanero, the speaker holds one by the stem so the audience can see just how small

and unimposing it is. He then contrasts it with the standard green bell pepper that we see in the

grocery store every day. Although it might seem to be a minor matter, the speaker’s use of the

peppers as visual aids makes his discussion much more interesting than it would have been

otherwise.

Conclusion: The conclusion consists of the final paragraph. After summarizing his main points, the

speaker ends by stating that whether or not chili peppers actually prove to be a cure for bald-

ness, they will doubtless continue to be used in new ways as time goes by. The tone of the final

sentence is just right for a speech on this subject and brings it to a successful end.