Collection 1 Performance Task: Present a Speech Recall the quotation from Kofi Annan that opened this collection: “We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” Thinking about the quotation and the readings from this collection, what is one major obstacle that prevents Americans today from living together as one “human race”, and how do you propose that this issue be resolved? Using evidence from the collection texts in addition to your own research, present your ideas in a speech which proposes a problem and offers a solution.
A written copy of your speech must be attached to this document. Attach final written speech in box below. Copy and Paste Final Version of Speech Here: According to Kofi Annan, “we may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” Thinking about the quote and the readings from the collection, “Finding Common Ground” I have concluded that one obstacle that prevents people today from living together as one “human race,” is nothing. Nothing prevents us from living together as one human race, because we have been doing that since the beginning, we have been living together as humans; all we did was think differently about each other. Although, that is, if you take the quote literally. Figuratively, however, the problem is because we have different religions, and belong to different ethnicities-all we knew about each other was that we were somehow “different” from each other, rather than thinking that we were all equal, and part of the same race. It was in the way we thought, and judged, that was the problem. This problem is still being fixed even now-the younger generations are getting along better with people from different backgrounds, but others are judging too easily, criticizing too much, easily believing rumors and stereotypes that, most of the time, are incredibly exaggerated. Now, according to Patel in his blog, “Making the Future Better, Together,” he states that Moses Sessius, leader of Hebrew Congregation of Newport in Rhode Island, asks in a letter, “whether Sessius and his people—Jews—would be safe in this new nation, or if they would be hounded and hated, blamed for crimes they did not commit” (paragraph 1). This example from Patel’s blog supports the fact that it is the way we think that is the problem, and to solve that problem, we need to change it, because people have been blamed for crimes they did not commit because of suspicion, or fear in the minds of others. However, I am not saying it is easy to change it or that we can, but I am saying that if we started by not blaming a majority because of a minority, and jumping to conclusions, then it could help with the problem. Another way to fix the problem is to think, that maybe, the “different” people might not lead so different lives from ours. This idea is inferred in “A Quilt of a Country,” by Quindlen, who writes, “Leonel Castillo, former director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and himself the grandson of Mexican immigrants, once told the writer Studs Terkel proudly, "The old neighborhood Ma-Pa stores are still around. They are not Italian or Jewish or Eastern European any more. Ma and Pa are now Korean, Vietnamese, Iraqi, Jordanian, Latin American. They live in the store. They work seven days a week. Their kids are doing well in school. They're making it. Sound familiar?" (paragraph 7). These sentences in the text are saying that the other people, humans, lead almost same lives as us, and that they aren’t so “different.” In order to think of each other as the same, so that we can truly live as one human race, we must be able to think that the other humans are like us, and that every man and woman was created equal. If we take this big step, then, we can think like how Kofi Annan once said. “We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” Writing and Delivering an Effective Speech:
An effective speech Tips for Writing an Effective speech
Has a clear, logical thesis statement supported by reasons and evidence. Based on these texts and your own experience, write a thesis statement presenting your position on whether individuals can live as “one human race.”
Includes an introduction, a logically structured body including connecting and transitional words, and a conclusion Get organized. In the body section, list reasons and evidence that support your thesis statement. quotations and examples from the texts and your own experience to support your thesis statement. Connect using transitional words or phrases to link your ideas.
Demonstrates appropriate and clear use of language Language choices appropriate for an oral presentation. Choose words and use proper grammar that will help keep your audience interested in your speech.
Uses suitable expression, volume, and pronunciation engages listeners through gestures and eye contact. When you deliver your speech to an audience, use appropriate expression, volume, and gestures. Mark places in the text where you might want to: • adjust your volume to emphasize a word or phrase • pause to give the audience time to consider an important idea • use gestures to convey meaning or emotion • make eye contact to engage your listeners
Presenting Your Speech
All speeches will be done, you guessed it, digitally. Your digital options:
On your own, record your speech and upload to classroom and/or share via drive (depending on length and size of your video).
Record your speech at school in [insert English Teacher name]'s class during “appointment” times.
Use Green Screen to enhance your speech. Make an appointment to record your speech in [Insert English Teacher name]'s room and mention you would like to use the green screen.
How to Record: Use free software or apps to record your speech: Movenote, iMovie, etc. (check with English teacher if you would like to use a specific app or software and how to save it so that it uploads correctly). Length: Speeches should be a min of 2 minutes and a maximum of 5 minutes. Performance Task “A” Rubric
Ideas and Evidence Organization Language
4 The introduction immediately engages the audience; the thesis statement clearly states the speaker's position. Valid reasons and relevant evidence from the text and from the speaker's experience strongly support the speaker's thesis statement. The concluding section effectively summarizes the main point. The reasons and evidence are organized consistently and logically throughout the speech Varied connecting and transitional words and phrases link ideas and add cohesion. The speech reflects a formal style and an objective, or control, tone. Sentence Beginnings, length, and structures vary and have a rhythmic flow. Grammar comma usage comma and mechanics are correct.
3 the introduction could do more to capture the audience's attention; the speaker's thesis statement states of position. Most reasons and evidence from the texts and from the speaker's experiences support the speaker's thesis statement, but they could be more substantial. The conclusion section restates the main points. The organization of reasons and evidence is confusing in a few places. Some connecting and transitional words and phrases are needed to link and add cohesion. The style is informal and a few places, and the tone is defensive at times. Sentence Beginnings, lines, and structures vary somewhat. Some grammatical and usage errors are repeated in the speech.
2 The introduction is ordinary; the speaker's thesis statement identifies an issue, but the position is not clearly stated. The reasons and evidence from the text and from the speaker's experience are not always logical or relevant. The concluding section includes an incomplete summary of the main points. The organization of reasons and evidence is logical in some places, but it often doesn't follow a pattern. Many more connecting and transitional words and phrases are needed to link ideas and add cohesion. The style becomes informal and many places, and the tone is often dismissive of other viewpoints. Sentence structures barely Berry, and some fragments or run on sentences are evident. Grammar and usage are incorrect In many places, but the speaker's ideas are still clear.
1 The introduction is confusing. Significant supporting reasons and evidence from the text and from the speaker's experience are missing. The concluding section is missing. Illogical organization is not use; reasons and evidence are presented randomly. Connecting and transitional words and phrases are not used, making the speech difficult to understand. The style is inappropriate, and the tone is disrespectful Repetitive sentence structure, fragment, and run on sentences make the speech monotonous and hard to follow. Many grammatical and usage errors change the meaning of the speaker's ideas.