Informative Speech Outline

Title: Profanity in Music: Effect on Children

Organizational Pattern: Topical

SP 108- Fundamentals of Speech

Professor Sherry Tucker

April 14, 2012

Introduction

A. Good morning to you all. ( pause and make eye contact)

B. A song like (Sing part 1) the “Greatest love of all”, sung by the late Whitney Houston

explains a lot about how children should be taught well because most children learn a lot

from their role models. Moreover, such a song is educative and does not have profanity in

it.

C. Music can be identified as an art of expressing something or oneself and can be grouped

into different genres like Hip-hop, Rap or R&B.

D. Furthermore, since I love singing and also being the oldest of my siblings, I am very

cautious about the type of music they listen to and also aware of the usage of language.

E. Children ranging from 8 to 18 years can easily be influenced by the music they listen to;

profanity in music can negatively impact children’s language and behavior. (Show

picture of some artist, child)

On this day, I will talk about profanity in music and how it can affect children’s language and

behavior.

Body

First of all I will talk about the language usage and behavior as a result of profanity in music.
 A. The listening of music with new technologies like iPods, music station, and iPads has

primarily occupied the leisure times for most children. However, they can easily

memorize them unconsciously and act upon them because it is being played several

times.

1. For example, children can commit to memory bad words repeated in the music they

listen to such as the “N” and “B” word which is very prevalent in most rap music.

According to the article in New York Amsterdam News by Sanusi, Daatya L,

Reverend Sharpton, James Brown’s children and other protestors protested against

bad words used in music for individuals like children (Sanusi L).

2. Secondly, children can be emotionally influenced by profanity in music because they

may feel frightened about the lyrics to the song. In the article titled “Liking and

identifying emotionally expressive music: Age and gender differences” by Hunter G

et al, children from the ages 5, 8, and 11 resulted in fear from listening to music. This

is due to how they comprehend or interpret the music (Hunter G. et al).

3. Finally, lyrics in some songs can lower children’s self-esteem. Lyrics such as

“They’re all too busy playing their ‘stupid’ game” found in the song “Sad Clown”

and sung by Eels can make the children sad. It is not appropriate for children to use

‘stupid’ among their peers because it could lower other children’s self esteem.

Now we know how profanity in music can affect the usage of language and behaviors among

children.
Next, I would talk some possible solutions to prevent profanity in music and what can happen

without having profanity I music.

B. One way profanity in music could be prevented is to first have it reviewed by music

editors to take careful considerations of the meaning of songs. In that way, profanity

in music will not cause children to lose their morals and or integrity. (Show picture

of children being exited of music)

C. Imagine there is no profanity used in music, how would the world be impacted? I

believe many positive responds will be given. On the other hand, if profanity in music

is to be accepted, then children of the future will continue acting unethical.

In closing, you and I or upcoming new artist can send out wholesome lyrics that will not harm

children.

As much as profanity in music could impact children negatively in their usage of language and

behaviors, it is essential to have music editors review lyrics to songs to prevent negative

influence on children thus causing them to lose their morals, being frightened, and having low

self-esteem. Children will eventually have positive impact on others and their peers.

Thank you for listening and I am open to any questions.

 Citations

Hunter, Patrick G., E. Glenn Schellenberg, and Stephanie M. Stalinski.

"Liking And Identifying Emotionally Expressive Music: Age And Gender

Differences." Journal Of Experimental Child Psychology 110.1 (2011):

80-93. Academic Search Complete. Web. 14 Apr. 2012.

Sanusi, Daatya L. "March challenges profanity in the music industry." New York Amsterdam

News 10 May 2007: 3+. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Apr. 2012.