Informative Speech Outline

Introduction

I. Attention Getter: <Walk into the room moaning and start gnawing on someone.> How many of you know what to do when a zombie attacks?

II. Thesis: Adequate preparation is the only way to survive a zombie attack.

III. I have been researching various aspects of the undead for years, awaiting the day when the zombie apocalypse happens.

IV. With Halloween coming up, many of you may run in to people dressed up as zombies. It is important to be able to identify the real thing and know how to deal with them.

V. Preview: In this speech, I will explain the different types of zombies, how to recognize them and how to survive an attack of the undead variety.

Body

I. There are two different types of zombies.
A. Voodoo zombies (Davis 1986, Wikipedia 2007)
i. Result from a combination of tetrodotoxin (puffer fish) and datura (jimson weed).
ii. Are still alive.
iii. Can be brought back in time.
a. Clairvius Narcisse was a voodoo zombie from 1962-1980.
B. Undead zombies (Brooks 2003, NCRPC 2007)
i. Caused by solanum, aka the T-virus (Brooks, Stargill).
a. Replicates in the frontal lobe, destroying it.
b. All bodily functions cease.
c. Replicating viruses create new organ in place of the brain.
d. Oxygen independent, thus can utilize, but doesn’t need the complex functions of, the body.
ii. Are not truly supernatural.
a. Not super strong, can’t fly, etc.
b. Over time, they grow less dexterous, etc.
iii. Higher reasoning is gone.
a. No tools, no cunning, no planning
b. Cannot identify sound, etc.
iv. Senses are affected (Brooks, FVZA 2001).
a. Corneas degrade quickly, so myopic and colorblind (FVZA).
b. Smell degrades quickly (Brooks)
c. Hearing improves (Brooks)
d. No sense of pain (FVZA)
v. Zombies continue to decompose even though they are moving.
a. Necrotic decay renders them useless in about three months (Brooks).
b. Environmental factors can affect this timing (Stargill).
vi. Zombies have no collective mentality; are just a mass of individuals (Stargill).
a. Do not work together
b. Do not recognize one another

II. Several factors come in to play when identifying the different types of zombies (Brooks).
A. Voodoo zombies are still alive.
i. Feel pain and emotion.
ii. Recognize fire, surroundings, loved ones.
iii. Can communicate and be controlled.
B. Undead zombies are not alive.
i. Do not feel anything (FVZA, Brooks).
ii. Lack the cognitive abilities to identify anything other than living human flesh (Stargill).
iii. Do not even identify other zombies, much less communicate amongst themselves (FVZA, Brooks, Stargill).
iv. Cannot be domesticated or controlled (Brooks).

III. There are eight simple rules to keep in mind when zombies attack (Brooks, FVZA).
A. Destroy the brain or remove the head.
i. Zombies can still function with ¾ of the brain destroyed (FVZA).
ii. Virus operates through the pineal gland (Stargill).
B. Silence is golden (Brooks).
i. Weapon choice.
a. Blunt objects or swords, not chainsaws.
b. Bow and arrow for single targets, not rifles or shotguns, but...
c. For multiple targets, the shotgun is God.
ii. Transportation
a. Bicycles, not cars.
C. Stay together
i. Zombies will be in groups; you should be too.
ii. You don’t have eyes in the back of your head
D. Stay off the ground floor and away from windows (Brooks).
i. Zombies will eventually break windows and doors if they know you are inside.
ii. No pain, so glass is not a problem to zombies
iii. Go up the stairs, then destroy the stairs.
E. Be well stocked, if possible.
i. Zombies will take up to three months to decompose (Brooks).
ii. Adequate food and water
iii. Sanitation
F. Zombies are not the humans they used to be (Stargill).
i. Be prepared to kill your friends and family.
G. No place is completely safe, just safer (Brooks).
i. Stay wary
ii. Post guards

Conclusion

I. I have just explained the two types of zombies, how to distinguish between them and how to survive a zombie attack.

II. When the zombie apocalypse comes, you will all have a much better chance of surviving. Thank you.