Portraying Culture Speech Outline

Nick Grigsby
CIS 110
10/28/14
Davies
Topic: Southerners and Southern Culture
General Purpose: To discuss general stereotypes and elements of Southern culture in contrast to
Midwestern culture.
Specific Purpose: To inform those about what I learned about Southern culture since I am from a
different region, and to discuss common Southern stereotypes and to show how they are not real.
Thesis: Many people see Southerners in a bad light, but through the research I have done in
comparison with the people that I have interviewed, many of those ideals may seem to be very
inaccurate.
I.

Introduction
A. Attention Getter: Southern culture is quite unique in itself and happens to be the
be most researched and receives the more attention than many other region of the
U.S. for a multitude of reasons, making the South such an interesting topic to
explore and to learn so much more about.
B. Reason to listen: Southerners are perceived in the wrong way and that needs to be
comparatively shown, because although things may be different to a degree, most
stereotypes have not appeared to be true.
C. Thesis Statement: Many people see Southerners in a bad light, but through the
research I have done in comparison with the people that I have interviewed, many
of those ideals may seem to be very inaccurate.

D. Credibility Statement:
1. I have researched and found many of the typical Southern stereotypes.
2. Although there are differences, the South does not really live up to those,
although that could be because Kentucky is Southern, but not quite as
Southern within that region of the United States.
E. Preview of Main Points:

1. First, I will discuss how being in the South is much different than that of the
Midwest.
2. Second, I will discuss misconceptions held about the Southern States of the
U.S.

3. Lastly, I will talk about what I have learned through the interviews that I
conducted and put those in opposition to the misconceptions that are held.
II.

Being from the Midwest many elements of culture are different than that of the South
in categories such as: Fashion, Music, Political Views, and Etc.
A. Elements between these cultures can be viewed in many aspects.
1. In the Midwest political views are heavily spit depending on where you are,
whereas opposed to the South which has a high majority of conservatives
throughout.
2. Many people in the Midwest dress very differently than those of the South
who happen to dress a whole of a lot nicer.

3. Economically, the Midwest is allegedly in a better place due to a majority of

the South apparently being quite poor to a degree.
Transition: Now that I have discussed a few differences among these cultures, I will move on to
misconceptions about the South.
III.

There many misconceptions about the South and they are quite absurd.
1. People mistake the economic shortcomings of the South for laziness (R.
Ferdman).
2. People outside of the South hold the idea that people from the South are
unintelligent (Know, Culture).

3. Many people outside of the South believe that Southerners are more inclined to be
racists (S. Germain, 2014).
4. People often think that the South is very non progressive (K. Rawls, 2012).

5. People think that the South is overly conservative (K. Parker, 2012).
Transition: Lastly, I will move on to what I have learned through the process of this whole
project.
IV.

Through the process of conducting the research and doing the interviews that I have
as well as meeting several Southerners along the way while being in the South I have
learned that things are much different than the typical Midwesterner thinks.
1. People from the South are not lazy, it just so happens that much of the South is
not the most economically stable, but then again what region is in the U.S.
2. Although politically, the South is very conservative, many Southerners are not
uptight about their ideals and beliefs as many people would suggest conservatives
to be.
3. Southerners are very intelligent people just like anyone else in the U.S. (many of
the Southerners that I have met have much better grades than I do, just saying if
stereotypically people want to base intelligence off of region.)
4. The South is progressive and makes advances in society just like any other place
in the United States of America.
5. Religious beliefs vary quite a bit in the South.
6. Ideals of Community and discipline are different yet similar to those of my own.
7. Also, I learned what qualities define a Southern Gentlemen.

V.

Conclusion
A. Review of Main Points:
1. First, I will discuss how being in the South is much different than that of the
Midwest.
2. Second, I will discuss misconceptions held about the Southern States of the
U.S.

3. Lastly, I will talk about what I have learned through the interviews that I
conducted and put those in opposition to the misconceptions that are held.
B. Restate Thesis: Many people see Southerners in a bad light, but through the
research I have done in comparison with the people that I have interviewed, many
of those ideals may seem to be very inaccurate.
C. Closure: In conclusion, the South is different in many different ways, but not in
the typical ways that are portrayed through people from different regions, media,
or any other form of nonsense that seems to only give the Southern region
negative press.

References
Know. Culture, (n.d) Southern Culture. Retrieved from
http://www.knowsouthernhistory.net/Culture/
R. Ferdman, (n.d.) Why the South is the worst place to live in the U.S. Retrieved from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/07/why-the-south-is-theworst-place-to-live-in-the-u-s-in-10-charts/
S. Germain, (May, 20, 2014) Southern Stereotypes. Retrieved from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/southern-stereotypes/
K. Parker, (March, 15, 2012) Media Embrace Southern Stereotypes. Retrieved from
http://www.newsmax.com/Parker/Southern-Stereotypes-mediapolls/2012/03/15/id/432647/
K. Rawls, (April 2, 2012) 5 Big Media Stereotypes about the South. Retrieved from
http://www.alternet.org/story/154794/5_big_media_stereotypes_about_the_south_%28an
d_the_real_story_behind_them%29?page=0%2C0