Convince Me: Bloodhounds Good or Bad?
After looking at the Breed All About It: Bloodhounds, you and a partner are going to create a powerpoint presentation on whether I should or should not adopt a bloodhound puppy. You should refer back to the notes I gave you on persuasive essays and Johnathan Swifts’ A Modest Proposal to get ideas on how he uses the elements of persuasion in his argument so that you can make a powerful argument.
Task #1:
You and your partner are to research Bloodhounds and their history of the breed. I will be checking out the mobile lap top classroom, so that you will have class time to research Bloodhounds.
In your research, you should be gathering information from Primary and Secondary sources. Please refer back to the notes I gave you last week on Primary resources and Secondary resources. You must have at least two of each to make a creditable argument. Please keep track of your research elements on your delicious accounts, so that you can continue to work on this outside of class. Each pieces of research you use, you must keep a source card for it. A source card is an index card that has your source in MLA format. (See MLA Format Guide) Make note that you need to number your source cards. I will be collecting your source cards, so please keep track of them. Thanks!
Next you are to make note cards. (which are cards that have the information from your source that you plan to use in your script). Make sure that your note card number matches the number on the source card that it came from. I will also be collecting these cards, so again, please keep track of them.
Task # 2:
Start thinking about your script. Make an outline of your argument. I will be giving you a graphic organizer to help guide your outline, so that you present a clear and effective argument.
I will be collecting your outline, so that I can see that you are on the right track.
After you receive my feedback on your outline, you and your partner will write your script. Again, I will be checking out the lap top classroom for you to work on it in class. Be sure to bring your jump drives, so that in case you don’t finish you can work on it at home. I will be collecting your rough drafts and giving you feedback a week before your project is due, so that you have time to make necessary changes. Then you will write your final draft and turn it into me.
Task # 3
You will create your powerpoint presentation. In your presentation, feel free to use images, video, and quotes. Remember you are making an argument so in order for me to see your side you need to show me what your point of view is. I should not see your script in your powerpoint. Please refer back to the notes I gave you on effective presentations. You may put bullet points on your slides if that helps you and your partner stay on track with your presentation. Again, this does not mean read from your slides; it means elaborate on what each bullet point is addressing.
Timeline:
March 24: Source Cards are due
March 30: Note Cards are due
April 7: Outline is due
April 13: Rough Draft is due
April 20: Final Draft due.
April 27 & 28: Presentations
Your group will draw out of a hat on April 20th to see what order you are presenting.
Resources:
zamzar.com This is a helpful website for converting video into a file that you can save onto your computer or jump drive.
delicious.com This is a helpful tool in saving and organizing your research.
noodletools.com This site will help for MLA Formating and siting your sources.
youtube.com This site is a great resource to find additional videos about your topic.
wordpress.com This is a great site to find professional blogs that can help with your argument.
Galileo This can be found on the school website. This is a database to find online journals and articles.
Rubric: Powerpoint Presentation
30% Content: You use images, video, quotes, etc… effectively.
30% Creativity: You use video, quotes, images, and the set up of your slides to best support your arugment.
30% Clarity: You clearly state what you are for and use evidence to support your argument.
10% Presentation: You did not read directly from your slides. You and your partner have a clear understanding of what you are arguing and engaged your audience.
Rubric Script:
30% Content You include the elements of a peruasive essay. You make a valid argument using research.
30% Creativity You include examples/ stories to back up your argument.
30% Clairity You make a clear and effective argument using research and stories.
10% Mechanics You use MLA Format effectively and had the minimum requirement for resources including primary and secondary resources.
Peer Review 25%
Total: 225 pts
What I want the Students to learn:
In this assignment, I am directing it to a 12th grade British Literature Classroom. I want them to create a persuasive essay using Johnathan Swifts’ A Modes Proposal as a reference for a good persuasive argument. I used this video clip as a guide for them to start thinking about certain aspects of persuasion. I want them to use media inside a research assignment, so that they can have practice using the media. I would like for them to gather facts and stories from primary and secondary sources, so that one, they know the difference between a primary source and a secondary source, and two, it shows me that they understand to make a valid argument you need research to support your argument.
I want them to have plenty of practice using MLA Format and citing their sources. Also, I know that most senior English classes in the metro-Atlanta area do Senior Project which requires students to present a topic using, research, a product, and presentation with powerpoint, movie maker, or some other form of media. This assignment would help them feel prepared for the Senior Boards.
Questions as a Teacher:
Do you remember last week when we read Johnathan Swifts’ A Modest Proposal?
What aspects does he use to support his argument?
Does he use rhetoric? Does he use current issues?
Does he use personal narrative?
What about his proposal makes his argument powerful?
Examples of Good Persuasive Arguments:
Martin Luther Kings “I have a Dream Speech”, and his letter to the Birmingham Jail.
Barrack O’bama’s campaign speeches.
Examples of Hypotheticals:
If you wanted a raise in your allowance and your parents are against it, how would you go about convincing them you deserve, need, or have to have a raise? What evidence would you use to support it?
Problems I might encounter:
I might run into challenges like their wont be enough class time to cover this assignment at the end of the year because of Senior Project and all that it entails. I also might run into not being able to check out the lap top classroom for the days that I need it. I might not even have that available, so I would have to think of another way students could research and present their arguments. I might not be able to pull up YouTube in the classroom because the school system will have blocked the site, so I will have to be resourceful and get the clip from my home computer and convert it to a computer file, save it on my jump drive, and bring it into class. I need to take into account that not all students will have computers at home or internet, and that some students may not be able to afford a jump drive. I just need to keep in mind alternatives to this project because technology is always changing and students may not be able to access all of these resources.
Georgia Performance Standards (That go with this assignment):
