Teaching and Critical Pedagogy
SCHOOL
AND SOCIETY
ES 395
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FINAL OPTION #2: Persuasive/Informative Speech
I. Overview: For this option, you will be creating a Persuasive/Informative 'speech' to be delivered to a group of parents from another country (more on this in a minute). The 'speech' will rely heavily on writing and research skills.
Your 'speech' will be submitted to me as a manuscript. The manuscript will be judged in terms of a high standard for professionally appropriate writing as well as a rigorous intellectual analysis of issues raised in/connected directly to ES 3950.
The length of the speech manuscript will be EIGHT P AGES, DOUBLE-SPACED, 12 POINT FONT.
NOTE: For this assignment, you are to submit a duplicate copy of your manuscript electronically. You will be required to email your paper as an attachment to me at hillary.baker@wmich.edu.
The paper is to be submitted the DAY that it is due, no sooner OR later. When emailing me, make sure the TITLE OF THE PAPER is in THE SUBJECT field of the email. I will assess the paper copy, and keep the electronic copy of your paper on file.
If I do not get an electronic copy of your manuscript, you will not receive credit for the assignment and/or you risk having the grade of the paper affected considerably.
II. The Scenario:
Parents from several cultures have just moved to the town in which you teach. They have requested a meeting with you regarding several questions they have on American schools.
Before enrolling their children in school, they want to get as much information about the way in which the American education system has and continues to operate. They have been told many things about American schooling from many sources, but are looking to you to provide answers to their questions: more accurate, up-to-date answers to their many questions.
Prior to the meeting, you have some idea as to what they are going to ask. To be clear: You have been given the task of responding to them, not simply answering them.
III. The Assignment:
You are to write aN EIGHT PAGE MANUSCRIPT for a speech that you will be delivering to the room of culturally diverse parents.
In it, you are to RESPOND to the parents's questions, which are listed below. You are NOT to simply answer their questions. It is imperative that you in part explain to these parents the range of defensible positions on any issue you choose to discuss.
Besides this, you are to present your position on each issue and question. You must during the course of the speech make it obvious to the reader/listener as to how you feel regarding each of the issues/questions you address.
NOTE:
- Do NOT expect to simply provide an overview of the issue(s) you address.
- This is not a 'book report,' an assignment in which you re-state the obvious. You need to be specific and selective when it comes to writing. You do not have a great deal of time or space to re-tell the history of this or that. Make your points precise, concise, brisk, and thoughtful.
- Even though the entire speech itself is not argumentative and/or thesis driven, your stance on each issue MUST be clear and your stance MUST be supported with quality evidence/research.
- Indeed, this is NOT a simple reflection paper. It is a paper/speech that both informs and persuades. You will be expected to support yourself - to support your speech and to back up your opinions with coherent arguments and substantial references to credible resources.
- Your grade largely depends on your ability to defend and "ground" your opinions/information in sound thinking and a good deal of scholarly research.
- Even though this is not a speech that will be delivered in this class or elsewhere, write the paper as though it were: as though you were writing for a tel-prompter.
- Assume that you would be saying every word that you put down on paper.
- Quality of writing will be considered as will 'basics' such as introductions, conclusions, transitions, structure, content, spelling, etc.
- (When writing, you will be - as with any type of research-based paper - be required to cite sources i.e. MLA or APA).
- Lastly: Do NOT pretend.
- For the purposes of this speech, you are to consider yourself as a future teacher, one who has just taken ES 3950. You are the expert. You can assume your audience has some familiarity with each issue, but not the degree expertise you have.
- Also, do not 'teacher please'. In other words, be honest. You do not have to worry about getting fired or not being hired.
- Address the audience and the assignment honestly.
IV. The Questions:
You are to choose FOUR of the following 10 questions from which to respond. The questions are as follows:
1. You have a saying in your culture that translates approximately to: "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Have schools changed over the years in America? I hear that people always talk about change, but nothing ever happens. Is this accurate?
2. Before I came to this country even, I heard that American schools had been desegregated. Now that I am here, I'm told that this isn't really true: that it's just something that government officials have said; apparently, little has changed in schools at all. Is this true?
3. Can I pick the school I want for my child? There is a nice looking school near where I live and I hear there's a good school right next to where I work. But, I have been told that we have to put our child on a bus and send her to a school way on the other side of town. What's the thinking behind this, or the reason for this? Do I have choices or are my choices limited?
4. Is it true that teachers in this country are in labor unions, and don't do anything to help children unless they are paid to do it?
5. What are American teachers like? What is their background? Are they qualified to teach my children - children who reflect a culturally diverse background? Why do they go into teaching? Do they stay? I want my child to be taught by a man and my daughter by a woman. Is this possible? Why/or why not? It has a lot to do with the way my kids are brought up in my country.
6. I have never heard of a country in which the national government did not run the schools. Is it true that local governments run the schools? Local governments are free to decide what goes on in schools? Is it true that local communities run the schools in America, and that rich communities pay teachers well and have good schools, but poor communities that can't afford to pay teachers have bad schools?
7. In my country, religion is a central feature in our schools. How can you possibly educate children to grow up with morals and proper values if you cannot teach about God in your schools? Why can't religion be a part of schools? How ill my kids learn values and morals?
8. I hope school can prepare my son and daughter for college and a good job - a comfortable life in America. Can I really look forward to that?
9. I have been told that "America is the land of opportunity and American schools are the key to that opportunity for all." I've heard that all of my life. Now that I am here, I'm beginning to wonder if too much faith hasn't been put in the power of schools and schooling. Am I right to have these doubts?
10. I am curious what your schools teach. What things are emphasized in American schools? What does the curriculum tend to look like? Who determines what is taught? Will the curriculum appeal to my kids? What will my kids be learning about when it comes to society, history, etc., when they go to your schools? I hope that the schools meet my kids' needs.
V. Final Reminders/Considerations.
1. To be fully satisfactory, the manuscript must be: EIGHT pages in length, clearly focused, well-organized, cogently argued, and written in a style that facilitates the reader's grasp of the author's intent and meaning; the paper must make references (support) that are informed and relevant; be free from glaring and distracting errors, whether spelling, grammar, sentence structure, etc.
2. You MUST draw on support for your this assignment. Consider SIX – EIGHT scholarly resources for this paper as the norm for a paper of this length, and of this substantive nature. Quote sources both indirectly and directly within the manuscript.
3. Sources must be scholarly. You MUST draw on a wide variety for sources i.e. you CANNOT simply rely on websites! You MUST draw upon scholarly work in books, journals, etc. Limit websites (unless sites are scholarly articles, of course) to TWO, no more.
4. When dealing with sources, you will be required to use either M.L.A. or A.P.A. When writing the paper, use proper citation formatics. Review MLA or APA if you do not know how. Your overall grade will be negatively affected a great deal without citing sources/research in a competent manner.
5. Although this is a manuscript for a speech, limit your use of "I" narrative and/or first person voice. I do NOT want a paper filled with "I feel," "I think," or one filled with personal stories or anecdotes.
6. Also, avoid the use of non-specific pronouns such as "we," "you," etc. Write your paper as a teacher about the teaching enterprise i.e. "Therefore, TEACHERS (not ‘we') must not tolerate NCLB," etc. Be specific.
7. Again, even though the paper may not have a specific, singular thesis to hold it altogether, the paper MUST make clear its position(s). Remember: you are providing informative, well-reasoned responses to each of your chosen questions. This is NOT to be a laundry-list of unsupported opinions worthy of an 'opinion-editorial' in some newspaper. This manuscript is to be precise, highly focused, well written, and well-supported.
8. As this is a written assignment, your paper will be assessed on its quality as a written piece of prose. It is assumed there will be an introduction; it is assumed that the writing will make use of transitions/topic sentences; that the writing will move the reader from one paragraph/one new topic sentence to another. At no time should the reader of this paper have to say, "Huh? Where am I? What's going on?" Always be thinking about connecting ideas, both forward and backward.
9. To remind: this is a research-based manuscript. For a paper of this length, you should have at LEAST 6-8 sources. And, as much as this seems to be obvious: you are to answer FOUR of the assigned questions. You are expected to stick to the questions, giving equal thought and discussion to each of your chosen questions. If not, expect your grade to be affected.
10. OH: Please STAPLE papers! No clips, binders, folding, etc. Staples are just fine.
11. As always, should you have questions on your writing, you can ask me or visit the Writing Lab. There are people who can help with your writing questions.
VI. The Rubric/Assessment:
What follows in general terms is a brief description of how you will be assessed on this assignment.
An "excellent/extraordinary" project worthy of an "A": Overall, the writing is extremely well written; the content flows without problem by being well organized; attention to categorization of ideas obvious; the writer exhibits a sophisticated control of language, diction, voice/tone; the writing is exceptionally engaging, clear, and focused / The writer clearly illustrates critical thinking about all four of the assigned topic(s)/issue(s) by using relevant facts and information; the main ideas/opinions are stated clearly and is convincing; supporting information is abundant; appropriate and main ideas are accurate; as a whole, the writing is logical/rational; and, the writer makes specific references to source material and/or examples / Attention to presentation obvious, little to no problems at all with mechanics or grammar and conventions contribute to the effect of the presentation.
A "very good/high pass" grade of "B" means that the writer might meet the requirements, but still lacks in some of the more critical areas reflective of "A" quality work; an "adequate/satisfactory" paper receiving a "C" likely meets some of the criteria/requirements, but leaves too many questions regarding planning, content, approach, etc.; a "D" grade likely reflects considerable problems and/or poor quality of work, support, organization, planning, etc.
For a more detailed rubric on this assignment click here .