PERSUASIVE SPEECH SAMPLE
I.
We all make important decisions in our life; what college should I go to? What should
my major be? What do I need to do to ensure I get a good career? While all these questions
are important, I’m up here to talk about a different question… smooth or chunky?
II.
A. Peanut butter, albeit in a much different form, was first created hundreds of years ago by
the Aztec civilization of ancient South America. The first modern peanut butter on the other
hand, was invented as an easy to eat source of protein for older people, by a St. Louis
physician in 1890. Five years later, “Nut-Butter” was patented by the Kellogg brothers, now
famous for their domination of the breakfast cereal industry. It took another twenty years
for peanut butter to become what we buy in jars at the supermarket today. Contrary to
popular belief, George Washington Carver did NOT invent peanut butter. Joseph Rosefield, a
food businessman from California, saw a problem in the peanut butter of his day; the
peanut solids and vegetable oils would separate after a short time, and it had to be kept
refrigerated. He added shortening to the recipe, and gave birth to modern, non-separating,
shelf stable peanut butter. Another company adopted his process, and labeled their product
Peter Pan. Rosefield later split from the company, creating his own brand entitled Skippy,
where he further expanded peanut butter boundaries by marketing a chunky product. While
these two companies are still in business today, the largest titan of the peanut butter
industry is Jif, a Procter & Gamble owned subgroup, which produces 250,000 jars a day.
B. Most commonly peanut butter is used in the making of peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches, which gained popularity during World War II, when overseas G.I.’s were given
rations of peanut butter and jelly in their MRE’s. Peanut butter sandwiches were served in
the early 1900’s, but it was considered a delicacy. In a 2002 survey, researchers showed the
average American eats over 1,500 before graduating high school.
C. So what is peanut butter? It’s a fairly simple substance, made up of vegetable oil and
shortening, and of course peanuts, which are roasted and ground up. You can also add
sugar, salt, and molasses for flavor. The Federal Drug Administration specifies that 90% of
the product has to be peanuts, most of which are grown in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and
Mississippi. The FDA also has some interesting rules regarding what can be in your peanut
butter. According to their official handbook, there is allowed to be up to 30 insect fragments
per 100 grams produced, and 1 rodent hair per 100 grams.
D. Although it contains sugar and vegetable oil, peanut butter is fairly good for you,
containing 13% of your daily value of protein and 22% of your daily vitamin e in just two
tablespoons. This means it is a common source of protein for vegetarians. There are some
health concerns however. Peanut allergies affect 3 million Americans, or about 2% of the
population. People with the allergy only have about a 20% chance of outgrowing it, and if
they eat peanut products can go into anaphylactic shock. Peanut allergy incidents account
for the most food related deaths every year in America.
PERSUASIVE SPEECH SAMPLE
E. Some interesting uses for peanut butter include: lubricant for machine parts, a butter
substitute, a way to remove those annoying, hard to peel price stickers, leather cleaner, a
way to remove gum from hair, and you can even use it to shave, as it contains oils that are
beneficial for your skin.
III.
In conclusion, peanut butter is pretty awesome. It’s simple, American made, and as far as
junk food goes, it’s pretty healthy too. Whether you prefer smooth or chunky, hopefully
now you can enjoy your next PB&J a little more, knowing some of the history and interesting
information about peanut butter.