Persuasive Speeches are Over: Time to join your new, and last, tribe

Excellent job everyone! I was really impressed with how you all were able to overcome the challenges of our persuasive speeches, and many of you really seemed to find your voices. Giving a 3-4 minute pitch with a stopwatch projected on the wall and nothing but a doc-cam for a visual is a tough environment. Now you've had experience with several different situations. You've presented in a conference-like setting (with colleagues sitting behind you and wall-to-wall projections of your Prezi); you've presented in a traditional, podium setting (with your visual presentation aid projected behind you), and now you've experienced the timed speech.

The goal of your last speech in this class will be to inform and entertain your audience. Your entire tribe will have 10 minutes to present on your experience accomplishing a task, and everyone in your tribe must have time to present to the class. Be sure to take videos and pictures of your adventure to share with us. You can use whatever software you think will be most suitable to share your story. We can talk about this more in class.

I formed new tribes based on your feedback to the speeches. I tried to place everyone in a tribe that they found interesting, and I'm sorry if I couldn't place you in your top choice.

The tribes are:

Triathlon: Jamie, Dylan, Brooke
Maker's Mark Tour: Carisa, Silvia, Sarah, Shawna
Animal Shelter Volunteers: Dixie, Amber, Parker, Ian
Hiking (Group 1): Trey, Jeff, Brittany
Hiking (Group 2): Matt, Kristian, Kyle
KONY 2012: Will, Zach, Bo
Acres of Wine Tour: Katie, Becca, Heather

If your topic was selected, it's very important that you attend class on Tuesday, when we next meet. If something comes up, please Facebook your tribe on our Facebook group and figure out a time you all can talk.

On Tuesday, we will be discussing our final presentation and brainstorming ideas for how to share our experiences with the class. Some of you have more preparation needed than others, and I will be able to assist you and answer your questions. 

Remember, the goal of your final presentation is to inform and entertain. It's okay if things don't work out as planned; have fun, be creative, and figure out a way to share your story in a way that will engage the class.

Your homework for this weekend is to read Epilogue A (392-398) in our Textbook. I also want you to watch this TedTalk:



Have a great weekend!

Speeches begin on Tuesday

Your xtranormal videos are so fun to watch. Remember to visit our Facebook group and vote for the videos you liked the best.

Our persuasive speeches begin on Tuesday (3.27.2012), so make sure you are in attendance and ready to present. Your visual must be something that you can place under the document camera, so an object, flyer, photograph, book, magazine or any object could work.

I also think you should watch this short, four minute Ted Talk before Tuesday. Consider how Graham pitches his idea and what techniques he uses that might be useful in your persuasive speech:



See you Tuesday. Email me or Facebook the group if you have any questions.

Topics Chosen: Now it's time to outline

We used Prezi meeting to have fun and figure out what topics and main points you'll want to cover in your next speech. At least, I hope you had fun and figured stuff out. If you are still struggling with speech ideas please let me know. Email me. Now. Or ask Siri if you have an iPhone 4S. Or make an appoint at the Noel Studio. Don't wait. 

Our final outlines for the persuasive speeches are due on Tuesday, March 20 along with the reflections on your informative speeches (if you haven't turned yours in yet).

I also want you to skim chapter 15 and read chapter 11 (pages 243-253) and visit other Prezis posted on our Facebook page. Look over the topics and make comments. What reasons would make you not want to join that group? What points need to be covered? Write those ideas and help out your fellow classmates. 

Have a great weekend. 

Persuasive Speeches: Some things to consider

Today we heard from Adam and Jules about why they decided to major in communication studies and why we should consider that major/minor. They did a really good job of incorporating supporting material, and I hope you all were inspired to incorporate some of their techniques in your next speech.

Speaking of which, here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare your next speech.

1. The goal of your persuasive speech is to convince members of the class to join you on a mission, activity, event, or experience. Part of your presentation should focus on how your proposed project could be accomplished during the final weeks of class.
2. Post your topic on our facebook page. First come, first served for topic ideas. If you are stumped, read other ideas to gain inspiration or post a help message on facebook and we can all give you ideas. I will also try to help you if you email me. Post your topic idea before Thursday's class.
3. Your speech should be at least 3 minutes long and no longer than 4 minutes.
4. Your only visual will be what can be displayed on the doc cam. Your visual can be an object, a flyer, or a picture. 
5. During other speeches, you will take notes on what you like/don't like about the topic/activity being proposed, not on the speaker's presentation. This will help me decide what group you would feel comfortable joining. 
6. After these speeches, I will form tribes based on your responses and you will actually join a group to complete one of these proposed missions, activities, events, or experiences. 

Many of you turned in your reflections on your informative speeches. If you didn't turn yours in today (Tuesday) then bring it to class on Thursday.

For Thursday's class, read chapter 10 and focus on memorable word structures. I also want you to skim chapter 12.