Assignment 1 Graded Assignment Unit Project: The Power of Language This document provides an overview of the tasks and time line for completing this assignment. Assignment Instructions As you complete the lessons in this unit, you will learn about some of the different ways that language can be used to help achieve a goal, share a message, and honor a person or idea. You will apply these ideas in your own project. In this unit, you will plan and execute a creative or analytical project that demonstrates the power of language. The project will focus on a contemporary or historical subject of your choice, and it will involve presenting information and ideas in a speech, a song, a video, a website, or an essay. Your goal for the project is to use language, as the authors that you will study do, to achieve a goal, share a message, or to honor a person or idea. You will be able to choose a subject for your project and a method of presenting the information about your subject. Subjects Below are a number of possible subjects for your unit project. Some subjects are contemporary in nature, dealing with present-day figures or issues, while others are historical in nature, dealing with figures or issues of the past. As you consider which subject appeals to you most, take into account your interest areas and the resources available to you. Contemporary Subjects The importance of voting Protecting the environment Off-shore drilling Nuclear proliferation Funding for the arts Historical Subjects The Quaker tradition The Women's Suffrage movement The Women's Suffrage movement William Lloyd Garrison John Brown You may choose to focus your project on a subject not named above, but you must first clear any choice you make with your teacher. Presentation Options Below are some options for presenting the information you gather on the subject you choose for your unit project. Each option is different, so consider each one and its requirements carefully before making your choice. If you think a different method of presenting your information would be more effective, clear your choice with your teacher. Remember that your presentation should try to achieve a goal, share a message, or to honor a person or idea. Note: Your teacher may require that you to choose the option for writing and delivering a speech on a contemporary or historical subject. Speech: Write and deliver a speech of at least three minutes that clearly expresses your feelings and opinions about a contemporary or historical subject. You may include visual elements in your presentation. Song: Write, perform, and record a song dealing with a contemporary or historical subject. The lyrics of the song must incorporate both literal and figurative language and convey to listeners your feelings and opinions about the subject you have chosen. Video: Create a video presentation about a contemporary or historical subject. The video should have narration that presents information on your subject and expresses your opinions or feelings on the subject. Essay: Write a persuasive essay of at least five paragraphs on a contemporary or historical subject. The essay must convey your feelings and opinions on the subject and present information meant to convince readers to share your position. You should include visual or graphic elements to support your arguments. Website: Create a website that shares information about a contemporary or historical subject. The website should use graphic elements as well as words to convey information to viewers. Process To complete this assignment, you will do the following: Review the Power of Language Graded Assignment: This document contains assignment instructions and grading criteria. Make sure that you understand what you will be doing and how you will be graded. The project you complete in this unit will be graded against a rubric that assesses the project in a number of categories. These categories focus on the project’s contents, clarity, and presentation. Read the rubric on the last page of this document. Keep the criteria listed on the rubric in mind as you complete the assignment. Complete the Power of Language Project Plan: You will begin working on this plan in the Analyze Three Spirituals lesson of this unit. You will continue to work on this plan as you work through the lessons in this unit. You will submit the plan for a grade at the end of the unit. Practice your presentation. Whether you are writing a speech or song or doing a video recording, practice and compare your presentation to the graded criteria in the grading rubric. Revise your presentation. Based on your practice and according to the grading rubric, revise your presentation. Revise your presentation: Based on your practice and according to the grading rubric, revise your presentation. Time Line Students will complete this project over the course of eight school days.     Task Start Complete   Unit Project – Overview Students print and review the Unit Project: The Power of Language Graded Assignment page and the Unit Project: The Power of Language Planning page. Day 55 Day 55   Unit Project – Choose a Subject and a Method of Presentation Students select a contemporary or historical subject and a method of presentation for their project. Day 56 Day 56   Unit Project – Purpose and Audience Students state their position on their chosen subject, lay out the purpose of the project, and identify their intended audience. Day 57 Day 57   Unit Project – Content Students complete research to uncover information, ideas, and examples relating to their subject. Day 58 Day 58   Unit Project – Organization and Structure Students create an outline incorporating the information they uncovered in their research. Day 59 Day 59   Unit Project – Language, Presentation Elements, Overall Effect Students consider various presentation elements relating to language, public speaking, and images in their projects. Day 60 Day 60   Present/Deliver Project Day 61 Teacher will determine   Reflection due Day 62 Teacher will determine Grading/Point Values Part 1—Planning Assignment Point Value: 60 Part 2—Project Execution Point Value: 30 Part 3—Reflection Point Value: 10