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     1st 6 weeks          1st Semester

Monday March 31st- Friday April 4th

(Bring your ID card)

Due THIS lab day: Assignments on Post-Colonial literature. Be sure they are PRINTED out BEFORE class. Also, your report on the British cities presented in class is also due. Reading about 20th century is also due. 

In-Class: Test on 20th century history.

We will begin discussions on the senior speech. I will show examples of prior speeches on a video tape. Below you will see the schedule for when you will be presenting. Please assume that you will go on this date, and therefore be prepared with proper attire, not to mention, the actual speech itself. Spreading the speeches out will prevent us from having to get bored by watching too many in one setting, and will also allow people to see EXACTLY when they are going. IF YOU HAVE A SCHEDULING CONFLICT, I MUST KNOW WAY IN ADVANCE. THAT WAY I CAN REARRANGE THE SCHEDULE TO ACCOMMODATE YOU.  Below is a copy of the assignment, and at the bottom of the page is the rubric.  

On this lab day, we will also pick up the novel, 1984. Please do not forget your ID card, otherwise the library will not issue you the book. After explaining the speech, we will begin reading and discussing the novel 1984. 

Assignments:

 1. Begin preparing your senior speech.  Speeches begin on Wednesday, April 23rd. Have a look at the schedule and let me know IN ADVANCE if your time slot works for you. You can only be given a different date if taking an A.P. exam, not for other reasons.

2. Please read the first 55 pages of 1984. Be prepared, there will be a test on this information NEXT lab day. 

3. Using the Web, research exactly what a totalitarian government is. Be sure you can define exactly how this type of government is. Then, find a country that had an example of a totalitarian government in the past, or one that does even today. TYPE a one page report outlining what totalitarianism actually is, the country where you found an example of it occurring, and how that country is affected by its government. Try to find as many details about this issue as possible. Fulfilling this assignment is important as you will use your writing to engage in a class discussion and earn points for volunteering information. The more you can discuss about this issue, the higher your grade will be. Please be sure this report is brought with you and PRINTED out by NEXT lab day. 

4. Look at this article, PRINT IT OUT and be prepared for a class discussion on whether our society is like that of Oceania in any way:   http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=13714 It's scary, don't say I didn't warn you! 

Senior Speeches

The piece itself.

• You must find a piece of BRITISH poetry/ literature/ music. It can be from any genre/ era ranging from Anglo-Saxon times to present. Examples include Shakespeare, Donne, Chaucer, and other modern writers and singers such as Coldplay, Robert Plant, Paul McCartney, Black Sabbath (Ozzy) and Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones.
• Must recite 10 lines minimum. 
• Recite the work, it does not have to be memorized, but should be read carefully, precisely, clearly, loud enough for the whole class to hear. There should be no hesitations or hang-ups on words.
• Explain the significance of the piece.
• Explain how it relates to the world you live in.
• Why did you choose this piece?
• Explain the author’s biography.
• Discuss its place in history, why is this historically significant?
• Prepare a power point or some other visual so you can explain the piece and the class can follow along while seeing visuals, etc. Include the recital as part of the slides.
• Speaking time should be 3-5 minutes or more. NO MORE THAN 8 MINUTES! Anything less and grades fall accordingly, for example, a 2 1/2-minute speech, even if excellent, will max. out at a C. Anything less than 2 minutes is an instant re-do.
• Keep the entire piece on one small index card.

The actual speech

• Cue cards can be used, but definitely not heavily relied upon. The less you use cue cards, the better your grade will be.
• Delivery should be fluent, without hesitations. Avoid “ummmmm…”, “uhhhhhh..”, “like…”, “you know…”, and “you know what I’m sayin’?”
• Entire speech should be well organized.
• Eye contact is a must; don’t stare at the floor, ceiling, walls, LOOK at your classmates, ALL of them. Don’t devote time to staring at one portion of the class only.
• Use appropriate high-end vocabulary; avoid slang and cussing, obviously.
• There should be an introduction and conclusion present
• Avoid speaking excessively fast, or slow. Do not speak in a monotone voice and put your classmates to sleep. (Use vocal variety)
• Walk around as you’re discussing the piece; move around smoothly to integrate movement into your speech.
• You should be dressed appropriately on the day you present:
• For girls: a nice dress with appropriate shoes, business suit, or skirt with blouse. No jeans, jean skirts, t-shirts, shorts, sneakers should be worn.
• For the guys: Nice pants, long-sleeve button-up shirt, tie, dark shoes, not black skate shoes. No jacket required, unless you insist on wearing one.

No: t-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, sneakers, PQ gangsta’-thug attire, so sorry!

Links: Totalitarianism Today  

         Bartleby's definition

         History of Totalitarianism

         Big Brother is watching (an article from the Union Tribune)

         FBI abuses Patriot Act to spy like Big Brother

         A Web site on how to prepare for a speech

         Fear of public speaking

         University of Hawaii's helpful site on preparing a speech

Speech Schedule: 

A

  Content

Student recites meaningful section from British artist/ poet/ playwright.

Clear explanation of significance of oral  interpretation, including biography and where the piece fits in historically. 

Personal reflection integrated throughout speech

Speaking lasts about 3-5 minutes

Introduction and conclusion tie the speech together  

Power Point or visual ties in well with speech. Adequate pictures, little text.

  Delivery

Fluent delivery; few breaks in fluency

Clear organization

Skillful use of hand gestures and movement  

Sustained, confident eye contact

Superior use of language (word choice)

Skillful reference to notes  

Strong introduction & conclusion tied together

Appropriate pacing & vocal variety

Recitation uses excellent intonation

Business Attire

B

Recites meaningful section from a work of literature studied during school

Explanation of significance of literature adequate

Speaking lasts at least 3-4 minutes

Introduction and conclusion at least attempted, but may seem forced  

Power point ties in, but may be missing pictures or timed incorrectly.

Few hesitations; some verbal static

Appropriate use of language (word choice)

Clear organization

Some use of hand gestures, though awkward

Limited movement, but poised

Some strong eye contact maintained

Some reliance on notes during speech

Appropriate pacing & vocal variety, even during the literature recitation

Business Casual Attire

C

Lacks any personal reflection during the speech

Literature recitation is brief and is performed without much explanation as to significance

Everything is present, but underdeveloped/brief

Speaking lasts at least 3 minutes

May be missing an interesting intro. or conclusion

Hesitations and empty words don’t 

prevent comprehension

Acceptable use of language (word choice)

Adequate organization

Minimal use of hand gestures, awkward motion

Acceptable vocal presentation; may be a little slow or fast

Occasional eye contact

Dependent on notes or student is memorized, so lacks sincerity and has breaks in speaking

May need more vocal variety, particularly during the literature recitation

Casual attire

F

Student does not identify specific writing projects

Recitation of literature may be extremely brief, or speaker may not explain its significance, or is not memorized

Speech may be missing an element

Speaking lasts less than 2 minutes

Speech does not explain significance of poem

Speech lacks organization or focus; speaker rambles

Speaking lasts less than 2 minutes

Student is clearly unprepared

Noticeable/ distracting hesitations or verbal static

Uncontrolled, distracting, or nonexistent hand gestures; frequent shifting of weight, playing with clothes, or swaying

Tonal variety lacking, particularly during (oral) literary interpretation

Minimal eye contact

Weak or inappropriate use of language

No clear organization; seems to ramble

Reads notes continually, has no notes, or is clearly unprepared

Streetwear