Hillary Mller

COMM 102-3
November 18, 2014
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to use good literature to expand their knowledge of
the world.
Central Idea: Literature is the key to endless knowledge.
Elevator Speech: I am going to persuade you why it is important and how to expand your
knowledge of the world through literature. I will show you that you already have the key to
endless knowledge, and you can use this to change your world and the world of others.
Unlocking the World through Literature
Introduction: (Attention Getter) [Hand out note cards with instructions to write down something
they have always wanted to read or know more about.] Who would like to visit foreign lands?
Who wants to be able to read peoples minds? Who would like to become another person for a
little while? Or who would like to have access to endless knowledge? (Significance/Relation to
Audience) Well, everyone in this room already has this ability and the potential to do all of these
things. Everyone here has the ability to read. This is important because through reading literature
you have the key to endless knowledge. (Credibility Statement) I know the power of reading
through my own personal experience. I was one of those kids who could not learn how to read.
For years, I struggled to learn this basic skill. I was eleven years old before I could read at all. It
was struggle, but once I mastered that skill, the world was unlocked to me. The ability to read
allows a person to learn any skill or understand any point of view. Brother Haacke always tells
us we speak in order to change the world; I am going to help you understand how reading good
literature can teach you why and how to change the world. President Harry S. Truman said, Not
all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers. (Preview) I am going to demonstrate the
divine commandment to read; how great literature can teach us important principles about life;
and why you should care about reading to expand your own world.
[Transition] My own life is a story that has been enriched by good books, and one of those was
the Book of Mormon. My parents joined the church when I was young, and as I was growing up,
we all learned the gospel together. [CHANGE SLIDE]
Body:
I.

Main Point: We are commanded to read good books by the Lord.

A. Sub-point: The Lord revealed to his Saints of the latter-days to search out
wisdom.
1. D&C 88:118 reads, And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach
one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of
wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.

a. The Lord explains that we can find wisdom, if we truly seek it, by
using the best books as our teachers.
2. D&C 130:19 explains, And if a person gains more knowledge and
intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he
will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
a. Diligently reading good literature can help us gain this priceless
knowledge.
b. Having the ability to read unlocks the mysteries of the world, both
spiritual and temporal aspects.
[Transition] Having the gospel in my life taught me it was important to read; furthermore, I was
homeschooled throughout high school, which gave a lot of freedom to choose what I read.
However, this added the responsibility of my education completely on me. I had to learn how use
literature to expand myself. [CHANGE SLIDE]
II.

Main Point: Great literature can teach us important principles about life.
A. Sub-point: Shakespeare taught me that it is important to move past my mistakes.
1. Paulina counsels King Leontes that, Whats gone and whats past help /
Should be past grief (3.2.220-21).
a. Leontes is a king, who drunk on his own power, was the one that
actually caused the death of his queen, his son and heir, and the
banishment of his infant daughter.
b. By reading about his experiences and what forgiveness really means, I
can understand what it takes to atone for mistakes.
c. I did not have to make the massive mistakes of Leontes in order to learn
from them.
i. You can also learn about how to forgive yourself and others by
taking the time to read the experiences of others. [CHANGE
SLIDE]
B. Sub-Point: Christ taught by using stories which helps us understand how truly
valuable stories and literature can be.
2. A prominent literature professor, Steve R. Hake says, We usually think of
Christ as a great Teacher, the Great Physician, but seldom as a great Poet, yet
he was the greatest of all poets. His teaching effectively used a profusion of
figures of speech and literary devices. The essence of the poets gift is his
ability to make connections between the natural world and the spiritual world,
or the outer world and the inner (9).
a. If Christ taught by using stories, doesnt it make sense that we can still
do that today?
b. By learning more about literature and the world, I have learned to
understand the scriptures better.

i. If you want to understand Isaiah better, go try reading The

Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot, and Isaiah will
be crystal clear next time you read it.
[Transition] It is easy to see that I love literature, but it hasnt always been that way. As
previously stated, I could not read for a long time, and I absolutely hated books. I had to learn to
care about them. [CHANGE SLIDE]
III.

Main Point: Why should you care and want to go read to expand your knowledge?
A. Sub-point: Reading can help us experience and understand different views of the
world and ideas.
1. Edward P. Morgan, a famous reporter, said, A book is the only place in
which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an
explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few
havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy.
a. Literature can help us experience the world in a way that we might not
be physically possible to.
b. Literature can help us understand what it means to be human.
c. Literature can help us be more understanding of others.
i. We do not always need to agree, but it is important to be
knowledgeable about what others think.
ii. If you want to be able to truly teach someone, you need to
understand them first, and one way to do this is to immerse
yourself in the thoughts of someone else.
d. Foolish people never learn from their mistakes. Intelligent people learn
from the mistakes they make. Wise people learn from the mistakes
others have made.
i. What better way to become wise than by exploring the world
through someone elses eyes? [CHANGE SLIDE]
B. Sub-point: You do not have to read classic literature to expand your world.
1. You can teach yourself any subject if you are willing to read about it.
a. I taught myself through high school through just reading.
2. If you dont have time, make time.
a. Skip some TV time or Facebook and dedicate a small portion of your
day to reading and learning something new.
3. Find the kind of literature you need to expand your world in the way you
want it to. [CHANGE SLIDE]

Conclusion: [Transition] I have benefited so much from unlocking the mysteries of the world
through reading good books, and I know that (Review of main points/content) we are divinely
commanded to teach ourselves out of the best books to gain wisdom and become more
Christlike. Reading more about the world can help us experience the world in unique ways. Use

others experiences to enrich your own. There are people who changed the world, and their
words have been preserved for all of us to use and learn from. The famous philosopher,
Descartes said, The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of
past centuries. Words preserve and bring about change. So before you go change the world, take
the time to learn why it is important to change it in the first place. Look to the worlds greatest
thinkers to find out ways how to change our world. (Call to Action) Look at what you wrote
down on your note card. Over the Thanksgiving or Christmas break, I challenge you to go read
that particular book or about that topic. (Restatement of Central Idea/Note of Finality) Take your
key to endless knowledge and unlock the world before you.

Works Cited
Descartes, Rene. "Reading Quotes." Brainy Quotes. brainyquote.com, 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Containing
Revelations Given to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, with Some Additions by His Successors
in the Presidency of the Church. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, 1981. Print.
Hake, Steven R. "Why Study Literature." Patrick Henry College (2001): 1-11. Web. 14 Nov.
2014.
Shakespeare, William. "The Winter's Tale." The Complete Pelican Shakespeare. Ed. Stephen
Orgel and A. R. Braunmuller. New York: Penguin Group, 2002. 695-729. Print.
Truman, Harry S. "Top Rated Literacy Quotes." Famous Literacy & Reading Quotes. The
Literacy Company, 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.