Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the changing trends in the United States divorce rate.
             Thesis Statement: Despite hopes to the contrary, the divorce rate in the United States remains on a steady upward climb.
             I. Attention Getter: "Americans do not seem too interested in a reality check
             on the topics of love and marriage. After all, it's more fun to believe in fairy tales." (Hornblow 2003)
             II. Relate Topic to Audience: Hornblow (2003) found 88% (p. 1) of us will get married at least once in our lives, it is important we know the possibilities of what could happen based on the current statistics.
             III. Thesis Statement: Despite hopes to the contrary, the divorce rate in the
             United States remains on a steady upward climb.
             IV. Credibility Statement: Planning to get married in the future, I became
             curious and researched this subject to find out the expected outcome of my future.
             V. Preview Statement: In this speech I will discuss the changes in the United
             States that have caused the divorce rate to rise, the affects it has on the family and children, and what is being done to increase the chance of a happy marriage.
             Transition: To begin, I will discuss the way divorce used to be viewed in society.
             I. One hundred years ago divorce was simply unheard of.
             A. "Until the early 1900's, Americans thought of marriage as a sacred life long commitment. Divorce was seen as an immoral, harmful action, a blatant disregard for public opinion." (Henslin 2002)
             1. Marital roles changed due to industrialization and urbanization, which led to a redefinition of love, marriage, and divorce.
             a. Family ties weakened with their new jobs and surroundings.
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