Websites for Browsing Social Issues

http://idebate.org/debatabase
http://www.procon.org/
search.ebscohost.com
http://www.schoolwork.org/issues.html
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/topics/
http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline
http://www.balancedpolitics.org/index.htm

EXTRA CREDIT: Speech Videos and Analysis

http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/video-critiques/

Above is the link for the website used to view and analyze famous speeches. Extra Credit Opportunity: Select one of the speeches we didn't view or analyze as a class. Write a 2 page response to the methods used in the speech, the speaker's demeanor, the effectiveness of the speech and the overall message or theme. Remember to use specific examples from the speech (both the words and gestures and delivery) to argue your point. You can both admire the speech and criticize certain parts of it. Nobody is perfect. DUE FEBRUARY 21, 2014.

• What is the speech about? Theme?
• What is the purpose of the speech? Who is the intended audience? How do you know?
• Is the speech effective? WHY? Give specific examples from the speech.
• Would you consider this person a charismatic speaker? Why or why not? Give specific examples from the video or speech.
• What strategies does the speaker use? Give specific examples and explanations.

Blog 15: Midterm Thoughts

DUE Thursday FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Now that you have persevered through at least a section of high school midterms, write a detailed account of the experience. As usual, your response should be a minimum of 2 paragraphs. Things to ponder:

· How much study/prep time did you allow per subject? Did you spread your time out evenly? Explain your rationale.

· While taking the test, what were your thoughts and feelings? Did you realize that you forgot elements afterward? Did you study the “wrong” material?

· Specific to THIS class, what were your strategies? Did you research facts/examples beforehand? How much time, honestly, did you spend on preparation? How did you use the 2 class periods (when I was out)? Please be honest.

· Overall, evaluate the midterm week thus far –including the actual tests, studying, papers, as well as the remaining classes that are going on.

Essay Options - Midterm

IV.  Persuasive Essay Questions – Choose one of the following persuasive topics and write an essay developing your point of view on the issue.  Read the topic carefully and organize your thoughts before you begin writing.   100 points

1. Young people seem very conscious of wearing “trendy” or “brand name” clothing, especially the kind endorsed by sports figures or associated with popular musicians. Does this behavior reinforce or argue against the idea that “clothes make the man [or woman]”? Support your answer with specific examples. Make sure your thesis includes both your opinion and the reasons that support your perspective.

 

2. Occasionally, students in elementary school are allowed to advance to the next grade even though they have not successfully completed the lower grade. Advocates of “social promotion” think that keeping a child in a grade for longer than a year hurts his or her development and self-esteem. Write an essay stating your opinion on this issue, making sure to support your opinion with convincing reasons.

3. In some countries every young person must serve two years of military service. Should we have a similar policy in the United States? Write an essay stating your position on this issue and supporting it with convincing reasons. Be sure to explain your reasons in detail.

4. Recent news reports have called attention to school violence. Your high school is concerned about potential situations that could arise. They are considering purchasing hidden cameras, metal detectors and other security devices. The money for these purchases will come from the students' activities budget, which could have an effect on upcoming social events. Many parents, students and teachers are questioning the proposal. In an attempt to hear the voices of as many students as possible, your principal suggested that concerned students write him a letter expressing their opinions about this situation. You decide to write a letter.

Midterm Review

THE MIDTERM WILL HAVE 4 PARTS: 1. GRAMMAR AND TERMS STUDIED (INCLUDING NEWSPAPER AND PERSUASIVE, NOT JUST WRITING) 2. FIXING THE GRAMMAR OF A PARAGRAPH OR TWO 3. READING A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE AND ANSWERING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS AND OPEN ENDED ABOUT IT 4. ESSAY - CHOOSE FROM 4 TOPICS.
Sentence Combining
1.       Go to : http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/combining_skills.htm
2.       Read through the sentence combining rules and tips
3.       Complete the first, Second, and Third Quiz on Sentence Combining.
4.       If unsure, the answers are provided when you click the “Grammar’s version”

Parts of Sentences and Dependent and Independent Clauses

5.       Go to: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/bodyparts.htm
6.       Read through the sentence parts.
7.       Go to “Quiz List” on the bottom
8.       Select quizzes 3-5 on the “Sentence Body Parts”

Fragments and Run Ons

1.       Explore the Quiz list to review http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm Especially Clauses and Phrases – quiz 59-63, quizzes 67-71 and 75-77 on Fragments and Run Ons

More Games

1.       http://www.quia.com/cb/125663.html - You can play against a partner.
2.       http://www.addictinggames.com/funny-games/grammarninja.jsp
3.       http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/grammar/punctuation.htm
4.       http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games_vocab.htm
5.       http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/la-grammar.html
6.       http://www.chompchomp.com/exercises.htm - THESE WILL HELP FOR SURE (similar to some test questions)

Blog 14 - Accepting Criticism

DUE  Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Although most of us do not like being criticized, it is said that we can always benefit from being told what we are doing wrong. We may lose a valuable learning opportunity if we do not listen to the criticisms expressed by others. Yet criticism, even when honest and well-intended, can be more harmful than helpful. We have more to gain by ignoring or shielding ourselves from the criticisms of others.

Blog question for this week: Are people better off if they do not listen to criticism? Respond to the following questions as you explain your point of view:

• How to judge the difference between good and bad criticism?
• How to accept criticism?
• Self-analysis of your actions that invited the criticism.
• Repercussions of ignoring good criticism and shielding yourself against harmful criticism.

As always, write a 2-paragraph response to this topic.  Include specific examples to explain your point of view and a 2-3 sentence response to someone else's blog post--building upon it, disagreeing with it, or re-thinking it.

Formula for Persuasive Speeches AND Sample Speeches (Click on Image to Download the Speeches)



"I Have a Dream" Speech

Simple Formula for Persuasive Speeches

A. INTRODUCTION
"Tells your audience what you are going to tell them" and establishes the foundation for your speech.
A good Introduction 'draws the map' for the journey. For a Persuasive Speech an Introduction consists of

1. Attention-Getter: A statement that gains the attention of the audience and makes them believe that this issue is relevant to them. Please, do NOT use a rhetorical question here. Instead, think of your intro like a funnel. Your thesis (in this case, your position statement) is the narrow part and you slowly broaden out from that to a broad statement that applies to many, in not all, people.

2. Bond > Link-to Audience: Identify a personal connection in the audiences' life, i.e. their use of the 'device' or system, or their emotional experience (grief and sorrow, happiness).

3. "Credentials" of Speaker (Credibility): Demonstrate how you are an 'expert' through your own use, experience or study.

4. Destination / Position Statement: State clearly why you are speaking at this moment. State your Goal, Thesis or what you expect as an Outcome. State your Destination. An example may be ... "This evening/today I am here to convince you that .... is the most effective way to do business today."

5. Explain my Map to my destination > Preview of Speech: Briefly outline what you will cover in your persuasive speech. This is where you will ..."Tell what you are going to tell them".

6. Transition: A transition is how you move from one section or point to the next. It is a linking idea. You could say ..."Let's begin by ...", "Let's start with ..." or I prefer "Let's consider ..."

"Volunteer for the Red Cross"

B. BODY of your Speech
The Body of your speech is where the detail is found and is best contained in THREE points (you can have more, but don't confuse your audience). For a Persuasive Speech, this is where you will ... "Tell them"

1. Main Point #1: State Point 1, State Reason, Give Example, Restate point

2. Main Point #2: State Point 2, State Reason, Give Example, Restate point

3. Main Point #3: State Point 3, State Reason, Give Example, Restate point

4. Transition: Create a linking statement to the Conclusion, i.e. "Let's summarize ..." or "Can we consider these main points ..."

C. CONCLUSION
"Tell them what you have told them"

1. Again state your destination >Restate outcome or thesis.



"To Summer School or to Not Summer School"

2. Restate main points: State Point 1, State Point 2, State Point 3

3. Call-to-Action: eg "I encourage you to ...", "Let's all contribute ..." , "... sign now ...", "make a decision now to be involved ..."

4. Decision-Maker (Clincher - optional): "Coming around is the petition ..." "Being passed from the rear is a bag for your contribution to this noble cause, dig deep ..."

A Persuasive Speech Sample

A. INTRODUCTION
Attention Getter

Communication is central to our lives, and technology makes that communication easier than ever before.

Today, I want to describe to you what I believe is the 8th Wonder of the World. This wonder is right up there with the Pyramids, with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with the Colossus of Rhodes. However, it is not of the ancient world. Instead, it is a marvel of engineering and cooperation amongst the nations of the world.

Today, I use a cellular phone; I use the Internet; I use email.

The Internet is a way of connecting computers together around the world using the telephone cables. Email is electronic mail that is distributed across the Internet.

Putting these together, I can communicate with others almost anywhere anytime.

Did you know, "the number of emails sent on an average day was approximately 10 billion in 2002 and by 2005, this amount is expect to triple to 35 billion emails sent each day" (Source: IDC news release, 'Email Deluge Continues With No End In Sight, IDC Says': October 10, 2000).

Do you know that they are all asleep in Australia? Last year I called the offices of Equate, International to ask a business question. I only get the night security guard. It was good of him to take my call. Now, I email at any time and receive the needed information back as soon as the other office is open.

Bond > Link-to Audience

How many here use the telephone to connect with another?

Today we use a large amount of technology to live, communicate, and relate.

To speak with another: devices like the telephone or cell phone. To access information: television, satellites, global computer networks. To bank: we use ATMs. To travel: vehicles, planes and trains. To get to a destination: global positioning systems (GPS) guide airplanes, our cars, and it is now found on our cell phones.

We use technology every day to live.

Think of your kitchen, car, office, cinema, or local shopping center. Think of the technology you use and rely on.

What would it be like WITHOUT technology in our day?

"Credentials" of Speaker (Credibility)

I use email every day in my work and for personal communications. I discovered email when I was studying many years ago. It was used as THE communication medium between the lecturers and between colleagues in my study team. We relied on email.

Destination / Position Statement:

Today, I want to share my insights into this amazing communication method and convince you of its hidden potential, in YOUR life today.

Explain my Map to my destination > Preview of Speech

What will we look at in the next few minutes? First, we will take a quick look at how the Internet and email has shrunk the world. Second, how business has been revolutionized, and third, how personal relations are enhanced by these new technologies; that's right, personal relations! Who ever thought a computer would help relationships.

Transition:

The Internet runs on energy: on electricity. How fast does electricity flow? How fast does a light switch turn on when you switch it? How fast does sound come from a radio when it is switched on? Let's now switch on email.

B. BODY of your Speech
Main Point #1

The world is shrinking with the advent of the Internet and in particular, email.

State a Reason
Why is this occurring? Because, email is easy to use. Email is very fast to both send and to receive. Email overcomes time barriers.

Give an Example
Recently when planning a vacation in England, the Internet and email were used to book hotels and hire cars organized across multiple time zones. No more ringing and trying to get people who are in bed other than at a sales desk. How often have you thought "don't they ever wake up over there?" I did.

Restate the Point
The world is in deed shrinking with the advent of email.

Main Point #2


Email has revolutionized business. Business can now literally operate at the speed of light. According to the ePolicy Institute, "Email is growing at a rate of 66% annually; email is the most common way for business people to communicate.”

State a Reason
Email is simple, easy to use and fast. Email reduces the formalities of paper-based title pages and wording. Additionally, something like a sales quote email makes retrieving an old email easy when comparing negotiations. The Internet gives "instant" access to information from anywhere in the world.

Give an Example
From my desktop I can negotiate the best price for a transaction regardless where the shop is in the world. In fact I have more suppliers to choose from. Telephone tag (when you ring and they are out) is eliminated. Publishing words or pictures is simple. Anyone can publish on the Internet. I can stay in touch with the office anytime when I am out of the office, using the Internet and email.

Restate the Point
The Internet and email has revolutionized business and enables business to be forever open conducting business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Main Point #3


The Internet and email enhances personal relations; email can even explode personal relationships in a new dimension.

Sate a Reason
Email is a powerful complement to the older technologies: telephone, letters ...
No stamps, no paper, no envelopes, no trips to/from the postbox.
Your message can be concise and to the point. Stay in touch even when you do not wish to speak.
- The Receiver of your message does not have to be home when you 'write'.
- Unlimited interactions via a computer (written, voice, image, music, information) versus limited via telephone (voice).
- Internet and email can bring together countless numbers of people sharing the same interests, i.e. chat rooms and instant messaging.

Give an Example
Stay in touch regardless of location. I emailed my son when he was in England. I email to a busy sister in another State, because she is rarely home. Using email means the call is not missed if I were to call.

Restate the Point
When it comes personal relations, email enables cheap, effective communication. Unlike the telephone, email is there when you connect to the Internet.

Transition:

The Internet and email has shrunk the world, enabled more timely business to occur and can enhance personal relationships and friendships.

C. CONCLUSION
"Tell them what you have told them"

Again state your destination>Restate outcome or thesis:

Today we have explored the powerful communication vehicle, the Internet and an effective tool for communication called email.

Today you have heard of the amazing hidden potential that email can bring to YOUR life.

Restate main points:

The world is indeed shrinking with the advent of email.

Email has revolutionized business. Business can now literally operate at the speed of light.

Email enhances personal relations. Email can develop personal relationships in a new dimension.

Call-to-Action:

Connecting up to the Internet is simple today. Decide to communicate TODAY. It is time to get email.

Decision-Maker (Clincher - optional):

I am so excited by this technology, that today I have a FREE Internet Starter Kit available for you. It is being handed out now. Take this free sample; there are no strings and no obligations. Read over the attached sheet accompanying the CD. My number is there, give me a call if you have a question. There is no charge, as I simply know you can use this 8th Wonder of the World.

The best way to find out if email is of any value to you is to give it a go.

Send an email message to a friend, a son or daughter, or to a grandchild. Surprise them.

You will be amazed at this advancement in communication.

 

Persuasive Speech Assignment

You will be presenting a 5-minute persuasive speech addressing a current issue in society.

1. Select an issue that you have encountered in our school, community, state, or nation. Write this issue at the top of your paper.

2. Below the issue, jot down thoughts and feelings you have about it. Determine your position on it.

3. Write your position statement. A position statement is like a thesis statement. It identifies the issue and your position on it in one sentence. For example: As Americans, we must take action against (or for) the issue of_______ because of ­­­­­­­­­­­­­________________ , __________________, and _________________.

4. Identify your audience. Although you will be presenting to our class, you should think about what group of people is your real-world audience. Answer the following questions, and then identify the group of people that is your real-world audience. After answering these questions, write down your real-world audience.

a.       Who is affected by this issue?

b.      Who might be in a position to influence the results of this problem?

c.       What might this audience already know about the issue?

d.      What views or opinions might this audience already have?

e.       What misconceptions might they have?

f.       What details or words might appeal to this audience’s emotions? Reasoning?

 

5. Your purpose is to persuade the audience; however, you need to consider what you want the audience to do as a result of listening to your speech. Answer the following questions, and then identify the secondary purpose of your speech.

a.       How do you want your audience to feel about the issue afterwards?

b.      What action do you want them to take?

 Planning for Your Speech…What am I going to say?

Your speech must have at least one of each of the following persuasive techniques.

·          Logical Appeal:  facts, statistics, and well-reasoned arguments

·          Ethical Appeal: argument based on widely accepted beliefs and values

·          Emotional Appeal: uses anecdotes (stories) and loaded words (words with strong connotations) to bring about strong emotions in the audience

 Research is necessary

As high school students, you know what beliefs our society holds. You can select loaded words and tell a story illustrating your point. You can develop a well-reasoned argument to support your position. Really, the only reason you need to research is for facts and statistics; however, you should be able to explain these in your own words. If you only rattle off a long list of numbers and percentages, how many audiences members will be convinced to agree with you? None of them will, because they will not be listening.

Think first! Research only after you have your own thoughts, beliefs, and reasons written on paper. Even then, you should research with the single purpose of supporting what you already think!

You must cite all sources in MLA format including in-text citations during your speech and turning in a references sheet before speaking.

Purposes of Persuasion and the Power of Language PowerPoint

Persuasive writing from Lina Ell

Blog 13 - Happiness

DUE  Friday January 10, 2014
"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln

In other words, our personal level of satisfaction is entirely within our control. Otherwise, why would the same experience disappoint one person but delight another? Happiness is not an accident but a choice.



Happiness is an emotion every human being has experienced to a certain degree in his life. Is happiness something over which people have no control, or can people choose to be happy? In 2 well-constructed paragraphs, develop your point of view on this issue. Use specific examples and details while displaying what happiness implies to you.

In addition to your own post, please reply to someone else's in a few sentences.