Project Handout

“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” -Nelson Mandela

Essential Questions: What issues are we passionate about?How can we make a difference through raising awareness?

Project Description: Last semester, we studied the story behind various things we use in our daily lives such as chocolate, clothing, electronics, etc. We looked at some pressing issues taking place in the world such as the global economy, child labor, sweatshops, global warming, conflict minerals, violence, and more, and we explored the hope for change. Many of you voiced that the biggest thing we can do to make a difference is raise awareness about topics that we are passionate about. This semester, you will get to choose a contemporary issue/topic you are passionate about learning and educating others on. You will research it, teach it to the class, and create a speech and piece of art to raise awareness about it.

This project came out of common themes and interests I heard during my one on one check ins with you, your writing, and your PoLs. This project will give you the opportunity to study issues you are passionate about, as many of you voiced this is something you hoped to do second semester. It will also give you a chance to create art, as many of you voiced this is something you hoped to do second semester.

In addition, this project will serve as a lead into our Model United Nations Project, which will take place after spring break. In this project, you will practice skills that will be essential for you to be successful in the Model United Nations project: finding and reading articles that interest you and educate you about contemporary issues, participating in discussions about pressing topics, speech writing, and public speaking. These are skills that you will be expected to have practiced when we get into our Model UN Project, and you will have the opportunity to do so in this project.

Project Assessments:Throughout this project, you will give input on how you want to be evaluated, and we will make rubrics together. You will evaluate yourself, other students will evaluate you (peer evaluations and critiques), and the teacher will evaluate you.

1) Participation and collaboration throughout the project: a large part of your grade for this project will be based on your participation in class collaborating with and contributing to your group, staying on task and meeting deadlines, speaking in class discussions, etc.

2) Teaching the class about your contemporary issue/ topic3) Historical speech reading and analysis4) Writing a speech to raise awareness about a contemporary issue5) Newspaper art piece to raise awareness about a contemporary issue

Project Timeline: Students choose issues they are passionate about and want to educate others on

Week one

Form groups around topics Week oneStudents learn about their topics through research. Week twoStudents prepare a lesson for the class. Week twoStudents teach the class about their issue/ topic through lessons centered around discussion (Front Page Café style).

Week three and four

Students study contemporary and historical speeches, which will serve as models.

Week two through six

Students practice speech techniques through exercises in class.

Week two through six

Students write speeches individually. Week five and sixStudents write speeches in groups. Week seven Students perform speeches in class café setting for critique.

Week eight

Students critique and refine speeches multiple times.

Week nine

Students create a newspaper art piece to raise awareness about their issue/ topic.

Week nine and ten

Students critique and refine art pieces as needed. Week nine and tenStudent display art and perform speeches on Festival del Sol night.

Week twelve

Humanities Content in Project:

Reading: The reader for this project will be largely student- created. You will read seven articles during class on various issues your classmates are passionate about. These will be chosen by your classmates. In addition, you will read and analyze a historical speech of your choice to look for inspiration for your own speech you will write about a contemporary issue.

Writing: The main writing component of this project will be your speech about the contemporary issue, which you will first write individually and then work collaboratively on with your group members.

History: To get inspiration for your speech on a contemporary issue, you will choose a historical speech about a similar issue to read and analyze, and you will study the historical context of the speech to learn about a particular time period in history that interests you.

Exhibition Ideas:As we get closer to Festival del Sol, we will discuss what we want our exhibition to be like and we will decide as a class. Here are two thoughts so far:

Each group builds a soap box, creates art to decorate it, creates a sandwich board to wear and attract listeners, and speeches are done throughout the school on Festival del Sol night.

Art is displayed on our classroom wall, there is a stage set up, and speeches are done inside our classroom with chairs set up for the audience.

Initial Project Resources:

Speech writing: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffschmitt/2013/07/16/10-keys-to-writing-a-speech/ http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/speech/tips.htm

Historical speeches:100 historical speeches: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/previous.htm 20 famous historical speeches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxHN_JZfEoA&list=PL30RAv-0lkxGH_PzKXxU2K-A7dyDOvJIpMartin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech: https:// www.youtube.com/watch? v=smEqnnklfYs&list=PLNWjhNb4K9ZDYu40b_tVXUit0vEYStfHi&index=4 Nelson Mandela becomes the first black president of South Africa:https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ9KlXCkb2s Contemporary speeches:The top 5 speeches for change makers: http://dowser.org/the-top-5-graduation-speeches-for-changemakers/ Malala’s Nobel Peace Prize Speech: http:// www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2014/12/malala-yousafzai- nobel-peace-prize-speech-videoThe speech that made Obama president: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFPwDe22CoY

Newspaper art examples:

(source: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/10555380351121983/)(source: http://takes2totricycle.deviantart.com/art/Newspaper-Collage-40146390)

(source: http://alittlesparkleontheside.blogspot.com/)(source: www.redbubble.com)

(source: www.weheartit.com)

Other sources for newspaper art inspiration:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/214976582184366877/http://www.pinterest.com/mrg4441/art/http://www.tatteredtotaylored.com/2014_06_01_archive.html http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2013/feb/19/banksy-overrated-art

Humanities Challenge ProjectsProject Speak Up

A Challenge Project is something that you could do to challenge yourself more with subject matter we have been discussing and learning about. Next year, you will have the opportunity to take honors classes, so completing challenge projects (especially the challenge readings) in the tenth grade would be a good way for you to be prepared for honors next year. These are not required, but are here to provide you an opportunity to challenge yourself a bit if you desire to do so as a student. You can receive extra credit for a challenge project; however, they are not meant for you to make up points from another class project you did not do. Challenge projects can be worked on at home or during class if you finish a project or assignment early. Each project we do in class this year will have optional challenge projects included in it. Challenge projects must be approved by Brooke ahead of time. Fill out a challenge project proposal (which is on her DP) and have her sign it. Be aware of challenge project due dates as they arise.

Show a speech to the class:Bring in a contemporary or historical speech video/ audio for the class to analyze: due on Wednesday, January 21. Email the link to Brooke with a short explanation of why you chose this speech for the class to analyze.

Challenge Reading:Read and analyze one of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speeches, “A Revolution of Values,” which he gave as a critique of the Vietnam War. Fill out a historical speech analysis. You can find these handouts on Brooke’s DP.

Research a non-profit organization:Research a non-profit organization that works to address the contemporary issue your group is focusing. Present your findings to Brooke in some way.

Interview a non-profit organization:Find and interview a non-profit organization that works to address the contemporary issue your group is focusing. Present your findings to Brooke in some way.

Making a difference in your community:Work with an organization in the community that works to address a contemporary issue that you are passionate about. Document your experience and present it to Brooke in some way.

Poem:Write a poem about a contemporary issue you are passionate about.

Political cartoon:Create a political cartoon to raise awareness about a contemporary issue you are passionate about.

Song:Write a song about a contemporary issue you are passionate about or play a historical song about an issue for the class. Bonus points: play your song or a historical song at exhibition!

The history of anything:Research the history of anything you are interested in. Organize your findings in an essay or power point and turn it into Brooke.

Making a sculpture newspaper art piece: In this project, we will be creating collaborative art, but you can go above and beyond and create a sculpture art piece to raise awareness about your contemporary issue.

Teaching the class: Preparing your lesson

Names of people in your group: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Contemporary issue/topic you are raising awareness about: ___________________________________________________

Date your group will teach the class: _______________________________________________________________________________

Roles and responsibilities and group norms: First, read through the entire handout. Then, assign a role and responsibility to each group member. Then, come up with some group norms that you all agree on and write them below. Write each person’s name next to their role and responsibility.Roles ResponsibilitiesFacilitator: __________________________________________________

Leads group to figure out how to get the work done.

Makes sure everyone meets the due dates. Make sure everyone completes their work

inside and outside of class.

Clarifier: __________________________________________________ Makes sure everyone understands the

instructions. Makes sure everyone understands the content.

Includer:__________________________________________________

Makes sure everyone is participating and sharing their ideas.

Encourages the students who are quiet to share their ideas.

Helps students resolve conflicts when they arise.

On task manager:__________________________________________________

Makes sure everyone is on task during class.

For each of the following responsibilities, the “manager” will be the final person in charge of that part of the lesson, although each person in the group should help and make sure each part is complete and professional.

Manager of Introduction:

__________________________________________________

Manager of Article:

__________________________________________________

Manager of Discussion:

__________________________________________________

Manager of Closing:

__________________________________________________

Group norms that we agree on:

Lesson Plan to teach the class about your topic: Fill in numbers 1-4 to prepare for your day to teach the class. Your entire lesson should take 30 minutes at the most, and there will be four parts to your lesson:

1) Introduction2) Reading an article3) Discussion4) Closing

1) Introduction: How can you get the audience’s attention? How can you get them to care about this topic? What activity do you plan to do at the beginning of class to grab their attention and get them interested in your topic/ issue?

2) Reading an article: You will find an interesting article to teach the class about your issue/ topic. During your lesson, each student in the class will read and annotate the article and write two higher level questions they want to discuss. What article will you have each person in the class read? Put the title, the author, the source (who published it), and the link to the article in the space below.

3) Discussion: You will run the discussion time similar to that of Front Page Cafe, and you should bring a snack for everyone during this discussion time. The class will sit in a circle and discuss your article, posing questions, referring to the text, and offering their opinions and thoughts. To prepare for this, you should write some discussion questions for you to pose to the class after they are done reading the article you gave them (in case there is silence during the discussion). Write the discussion questions in the space below:

4) Closing: How can the students show that they learned something? What activity will you do to have each person show that they learned something from your lesson?

Sources (as you come across sources about your issue/ topic, put the links in the space below so you will be able to reference them as you need them):

Due Date: The article is due on Thursday, January 15, so that Brooke can make copies for you. (You must get your

article approved ahead of time so that Brooke can make sure it is from a credible source.) This handout is due Friday, January 16 at the beginning of class (one per group). You should have this sheet

filled out and all materials prepared for Brooke to check. Then, you will have Friday to rehearse. Presentations will take place on January 20-28.

Resources on Speech Writing:

“Speechwriting” from scholastic.com (http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/speech/writeit.htm)

As you prepare, you need a speech that will uplift and provide hope for a bright future. How do you begin? Let's start by thinking about the overall structure of your speech. Here are some ideas that can help.

Get Their AttentionNobody likes to be bored. So put yourself in your audience's shoes. Find an interesting way to start your speech. For instance, Abraham Lincoln's most famous speech was the "Gettysburg Address." It began: "Four score and seven years ago, our Fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation…." He could have just said "Eighty-seven years ago…." But "Four score and seven" has a nice poetic ring to it and gets your attention better.

Tell Them What You're Going to Tell ThemSpeeches are different from written communication. People hear the words instead of reading the words. When people read and don't understand something, they can go back and read it again. But with a speech, listeners have to get your points the first time. They can't "re-listen." So it's a good idea to explain quickly what your main point is going to be. That helps the audience know what to listen for. For instance: "Today I want to talk to you about America and how we can continue to shine as a great country."

End With a Bang!After you've laid out your plan, it's a good idea to end your speech with a rousing conclusion. Leave people feeling excited and that's what they'll remember about you. For instance:"Together we can make this world truly great. And together we can build a better world for our children!"

Tips From the Pros

Scholastic asked some expert political speechwriters to tell YOU the secrets of writing a speech that wins a crowd. Here are their tips:

Pick Your Main IdeasDon't try to put too many ideas into your speech. Research shows that people remember very little from speeches, so just give them one or two ideas to hang onto. Remember, you only have one minute for your speech!

Write Like You TalkRemember that you're writing a speech, not an essay. People will hear the speech, not read it. The more conversational you can make it sound, the better. So try these tips:

Use short sentences. It's better to write two simple sentences than one long, complicated sentence. Use contractions. Say "I'm" instead of "I am" "we're" instead of "we are." Don't use big words that you wouldn't use when talking to someone. You don't have to follow all the rules of written English grammar. 

"Like this. See? Got it? Hope so." Your English teacher might be horrified, but people don't always talk in complete sentences with verbs and nouns. So try to write like people talk. 

Always read your speech aloud while you're writing it. You'll hear right away if you sound like a book or a real person talking!

Use Concrete Words and ExamplesConcrete details keep people interested. For instance, which is more effective? A vague sentence like "Open play spaces for children's sports are in short supply." Or the more concrete "We need more baseball and soccer fields for our kids."

Get Your Facts TogetherYou want people to believe that you know what you're talking about! So you'll need to do some research. For instance, let's say your big issue is the environment. You promise to pass a law that says all new cars must run on electricity, not gas. That will cut down on air pollution! But it would help if you had a few facts: How much bad air does one car create each year? How many new cars are sold in the U.S. every year? So how much will pollution be cut every year? Use the library or the Internet to

do research. Your new policy proposal will sound really strong if you have the facts to back it up. There are many issues you can talk about. Your issue should reflect who you are and what you care about.

Persuade With a Classic StructureIn a speech where you're trying to persuade someone, the classic structure is called "Problem-Solution." In the first part of your speech you say, "Here's a problem, here's why things are so terrible." Then, in the second part of your speech you say, "Here's what we can do to make things better." Sometimes it helps to persuade people if you have statistics or other facts in your speech. And sometimes you can persuade people by quoting someone else that the audience likes and respects.

SimplifyAfter you've written a first draft of your speech, go back and look for words you can cut. Cutting words in the speech can make your points more clear. One speechwriter for a U.S. Senator has a sign above her desk that says: "Fewer Words = Clearer Point." It helps her remember to always simplify a speech by cutting out words.

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“10 Keys To Writing A Speech” by Jeff Schmitt, Forbes Magazine (http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffschmitt/2013/07/16/10-keys-to-writing-a-speech/)

“This is my time.”

That attitude will kill a speech every time.You’ve probably sat through some lousy speeches. Despite the speakers’ renown, you eventually tuned them out over their self-indulgent tangents and pointless details.

In writing a speech, you have two objectives: Making a good impression and leaving your audience with two or three takeaways. The rest is just entertainment. How can you make those crucial points? Consider these strategies:

1) Be Memorable: Sounds easy in theory. Of course, it takes discipline and imagination to pull it off. Many times, an audience may only remember a single

line. For example, John F. Kennedy is best known for this declaration in his 1961 inaugural address: “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what can do for your country.” Technically, the line itself uses contrast to grab attention. More important, it encapsulated the main point of Kennedy’s speech: We must sublimate ourselves and serve to achieve the greater good. So follow Kennedy’s example: Condense your theme into a 15-20 word epigram and build everything around it top-to-bottom.

There are other rhetorical devices that leave an impression. For example, Ronald Reagan referred to America as “a shining city on the hill” in speeches. The image evoked religious heritage, freedom, and promise. And listeners associated those sentiments with Reagan’s message.

2) Have a Structure: Think back on a terrible speech. What caused you to lose interest? Chances are, the speaker veered off a logical path. Years ago, our CEO spoke at our national meeting. He started, promisingly enough, by outlining the roots of the 2008 financial collapse. Halfway through those bullet points, he jumped to emerging markets in Vietnam and Brazil. Then, he drifted off to 19th century economic theory. By the time he closed, our CEO had made two points: He needed ADD medication – and a professional speechwriter!

Audiences expect two things from a speaker: A path and a destination. They want to know where you’re going and why. So set the expectation near your opening on what you’ll be covering. As you write and revise, focus on structuring and simplifying. Remove anything that’s extraneous, contradictory, or confusing. Remember: If it doesn’t help you get your core message across, drop it.

3) Don’t Waste the Opening: Too often, speakers squander the time when their audience is most receptive: The opening. When you write, come out swinging. Share a shocking fact or statistic. Tell a humorous anecdote related to your big idea. Open with a question – and have your audience raise their hands. Get your listeners engaged early.

4) Strike the Right Tone: Who is my audience? Why are they here? And what do they want? Those are questions you must answer before you even touch the keyboard. Writing a speech involves meeting the expectations of others, whether it’s to inform, motivate, entertain, or even challenge. To do this, you must adopt the right tone.

Look at your message. Does it fit with the spirit of the event? Will it draw out the best in people? Here’s a bit of advice: If you’re speaking in a professional setting, focus on being upbeat and uplifting. There’s less risk. Poet Maya Angelou once noted, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Even if your audience forgets everything you said, consider your speech a success if they leave with a smile and a greater sense of hope and purpose. That’s a message in itself. And it’s one they’ll share.

5) Humanize Yourself: You and your message are one-and-the-same. If your audience doesn’t buy into you, they’ll resist your message too. It’s that simple. No doubt, your body language and delivery will leave the biggest impression. Still, there are ways you can use words to connect.

Crack a one liner about your butterflies; everyone can relate to being nervous about public speaking. Share a story about yourself, provided it relates to (or transitions to) your points. Throw in references to your family, to reflect you’re trustworthy. And write like you’re having a casual conversation with a friend. You’re not preaching or selling. You’re just being you. On stage, you can be you at your best.

6) Repeat Yourself: We’ve all been there. When someone is speaking, we’ll drift off to a Caribbean beach or the Autobahn. Or, we’ll find ourselves lost and flustered when we can’t grasp a concept. Once you’ve fallen behind, it’s nearly impossible to pay attention. What’s the point?

In writing a speech, repetition is the key to leaving an impression. Hammer home key words, phrases, and themes. Always be looking for places to tie back and reinforce earlier points. And repeat critical points as if they were a musical refrain.As a teenager, my coach continuously reminded us that “nothing good happens after midnight.” He’d lecture us on the dangers of partying, fighting, peer pressure, and quitting. After a while, my teammates and I just rolled our eyes. Eventually, we encountered those temptations. When I’d consider giving in, coach would growl “Schmitty” disapprovingly in my head. Despite my resistance, coach had found a way to get me to college unscathed. He simply repeated his message over-and-over until it stuck.

Some audience members may get annoyed when you repeat yourself. But don’t worry how they feel today. Concern yourself with this question: What will they remember six months from now?

7) Use Transitions: Sometimes, audiences won’t recognize what’s important. That’s why you use transitional phrases to signal intent. For example, take a rhetorical question like “What does this mean” – and follow it with a pause. Silence gets attention – and this tactic creates anticipation (along with awakening those who’ve drifted off). Similarly, a phrase like “So here’s the lesson” also captures an audience’s interest. It alerts them that something important is about to be shared. Even if they weren’t paying attention before, they can tune in now and catch up.

8) Include Theatrics:  If you have a smaller audience, consider incorporating visuals. Keep the props, storyline, and lesson simple. When you’re done, leave everything out to symbolize your point to your audience. Whatever you do, don’t play it safe. If you do, your speech will be forgotten in no time.

9) End Strong: In 2004, I attended a Direct Marketing Association (DMA) conference. I don’t recall much about our keynote speaker, except that he was tall and southern. I can’t even remember what his address was about. But I’ll never forget the story he used to close his speech.

The speaker was a friend of Jerry Richardson, owner of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. A few years earlier, the Panthers had drafted a fiery wide receiver named Steve Smith. While Smith excelled on the field, he was a nightmare in the locker room. Eventually, Smith was arrested for assaulting a teammate during film study.

Already reeling from bad publicity from other player incidents, Richardson was pressured to cut Smith. But he chose a different path. Richardson vowed to spend more time with Smith. He decided that Smith would be better served with guidance and caring than further punishment. Eventually, Richardson’s patience paid off. Smith became the Panthers’ all-time leading receiver – and scored a touchdown in their only Super Bowl appearance. In fact, Smith still plays for the Panthers to this day.If the speaker intended to remind me how powerful that personal attention and forgiveness could be, he succeeded in spades. Fact is, your close is what your audience will remember. So recap your biggest takeaway. Tie everything together. Share a success story. Make a call to action. Don’t hold anything back. Your ending is what audience will ultimately talk about when they head out the door.

10) Keep it Short: What is the worst sin of public speaking? It’s trying to do too much! Your audience’s attention will naturally wane after a few minutes. They have other places to be – and don’t want to be held hostage. And the longer you stay on stage, the more likely you are to stray and make mistakes. So make your points and sit down. Never forget: This is their time, not yours.

Historical and Contemporary Speech Viewing, Analysis, and Critique

Directions: As we read, watch and critique speeches in class, you will fill in the following chart.

Purpose: To see models of speeches as we think about writing our own speeches on contemporary issues we are passionate

about. To see how speeches have been a part of making a difference historically. To analyze what change makers have accomplished historically. To see what we find powerful in the content and delivery of speeches so that we can make a rubric for our own

speeches.

Historical context: Who? When? Where? Why? What issue was this person

addressing? Were they able to be a part of making a change through speaking up?

Content of Speech: What is powerful about the

content?

Delivery of Speech: What is powerful about the

delivery?

Historical context: Who? When? Where? Why? What issue was this person

addressing? Were they able to be a part of making a change through speaking up?

Content of Speech: What is powerful about the

content?

Delivery of Speech: What is powerful about the

delivery?

Historical context: Who? When? Where? Why? What issue was this person

addressing? Were they able to be a part of making a change through speaking up?

Content of Speech: What is powerful about the

content?

Delivery of Speech: What is powerful about the

delivery?

Historical context: Who? When? Where? Why? What issue was this person

addressing? Were they able to be a part of making a change through speaking up?

Content of Speech: What is powerful about the

content?

Delivery of Speech: What is powerful about the

delivery?

Historical Speech Reading and Analysis

Directions and Purpose: You will find, read, and analyze a historical speech that relates to the contemporary issue your group is focusing on. This historical speech can serve as a model and inspiration in preparation of writing your own speech on the issue. In addition, it will give you a chance to see how your issue connects to history. Once you find the text of the speech, print it out, read it and annotate it, and then answer the following questions.

Analysis of historical context of speech:What is the title of this speech?

When was this speech written?

Who was it written by?

What country was this speech given in?

What is the historical setting of this speech? What was taking place during this time that led this person to write this speech? Note: For this

part, you will have to do outside research to gain information. (Give at least ten facts.)

What role did this person play in history? What are they famous for? What makes this speech significant? Note: For this part, you will have to do outside research to gain information. (Give at least five facts.)

Did this speech make a difference in some way? Explain. Was this person able to be a part of making a difference on the issue they were addressing in their speech? Did the injustice they were addressing change?

Analysis of speech content:What is the main point the speaker is trying to make?

What evidence does he/ she give to support his/ her main point? Give specific facts and/ or examples.

How are the topics discussed in this speech still relevant today?

What is your overall opinion about the speaker’s message they are trying to convey? Do you agree or disagree with the speaker? Explain.

Analysis of speech writing strategies:Introduction: How does the speaker catch the audience’s attention?

Body: What strategies does the speaker use to get his/ her message across? (How does the speaker

appeal to the audience? How do they get people to care? Do they use any stories or anecdotes? Does the speaker repeat certain words or phrases to make them stand out to the audience? What words or phrases? What impact does this have?)

Does the speaker give specific facts and/ or statistics to make a strong point? Give an example.

What part of the body of the speech stood out to you? Why?

Conclusion: How does the speaker end his/ her speech? Is it a powerful ending? Explain.What type of call to action does the speaker include in his/ her speech? Do you think it is convincing? Why or why not?

In thinking about writing your own speech to educate others and raise awareness about your contemporary issue, overall, what did you like about this speech? What did you not like about it?