December 13th

1. Abstracts are due December 14th to Google Classroom.

2. Schedule for the rest of the semester:
(Daily) Wednesday, December 13th- Work day presentations
(Daily) Thursday, December 14th- Abstracts due. Finalize presentations.
(Block) Friday, December 15th- 5th Hour, class. 7th Hour, presentations.
(Block) Monday, December 18th- 7th Hour, presentations
(Block) Tuesday, December 19th- 5th Hour, presentations
(Block) Wednesday, December 20th- 5th Hour, presentations

Presentation Schedule: 

Friday, 12/15: Christen, Tim, Zane, Nick
Monday, 12/18: Sarah, Madison, Kemmery, Evan, Gracie, Konnor, Serena
Tuesday, 12/19: Hailey, Niraj, Marcus, Jon, Drew, Soleil, Jillian, Alec
Wednesday, 12/20: Keely, Austin, Evan, Garrett, Kelsy, Sean, Chloe

December 12th

1. Outlines are due today. These need to be as complete as possible because they will be what you will most likely be using on presentation day.

2. Take time to look over the presentation links provided to you last week. If you haven't already, look over the "what to do... what not to do" videos. These will help you re-frame your ideas of presentations.... especially the "what not to do".

Here is an example of a student presentation with evidence. The first presentation does not have visual aids, but it will help you visualize what your presentation will sound like:
Student Presentation
Student Presentation with Visual Aid

3. Before you start constructing your visual aid.. make sure you read through the "Death By PowerPoint" information. This discusses some important tips in creating your visual aid.

4. Read through the 10 Tips for using Visual Aids: 10 Tips Visual Aids

 Start working on your digital visual aid for your presentation. Things to consider:

• What points do you want to emphasize? What visuals/statements will be supportive of these points in the most effective way? 
• Size and readability of font. 
• Color of presentation slide background as coordinated to font color. (Many times I can't see the words because of the color)
• How your slides work together and transition between ideas. 
• How many slides in an 8-minute presentation. Remember.. the slides support your verbal presentation.. they are NOT your presentation.  What is the timing of the slides throughout the presentation. 
• Works cited page needs to be your last slide. Make sure that it is readable to audience. 

5. Start practicing your presentation. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice working with your visual aid. Practice with integrating direct quotes into your verbal presentation... with citations. (See link). Mark in your presentation when you switch slides. This takes practice...

4. Don't forget your abstract that is due to Google Classroom on Thursday! 

I have posted the schedule for presentations (See below).  Please dress in business attire for your presentation.

December 8th

1. Post your claim in Google Classroom.

2. Full presentation outline is due on December 12th.  Once you get the rough structure outlined, you will need to be integrating your logical/academic evidence into your outline.

FYI-  Grading of Presentation
Here is the presentation scoring guide: Oral Presentation Scoring Guide




Presentation Schedule: 

Friday, 12/15: Christen, Tim, Zane, Nick
Monday, 12/18: Sarah, Madison, Kemmery, Evan, Gracie, Konnor, Serena
Tuesday, 12/19: Hailey, Niraj, Marcus, Jon, Drew, Soleil, Jillian, Alec
Wednesday, 12/20: Keely, Austin, Evan, Garrett, Kelsy, Sean, Chloe

December 7th

1. Ted Talk: How to Overcome Our Biases: Overcome Our Biases- Ted Talk
While listening consider:

• What problem(s) does Verna Myers identify? 
• What is the change that Verna Myers wants to see? What is her solution to the problem(s)?
• What prompted her to work for that change? 
• What evidence does she use to promote her change? 
• What is effective about her public speaking/presentation?

Change in my Sphere Argument presentation

Step 1: Identify your sphere, a problem in this sphere, and your solution for this problem (CLAIM).

Step 2: Outline your argument: Outline template here: Outline Template

Step 3: Review presentation process... tips... etc.

Maximum 8 minutes in length. I will cut you off at 8... or before if you are brutalizing the audience.

How to prepare and deliver a presentation... (Learn it. Live it)

Strategies for giving an Oral Presentation

Sample presentations... the good.. the bad... the ugly

What not to do.. what to do..presentation video

Spot the errors... presentation video

Step 4: Create a digital, visual aide.  Google Slides is fine. Note- it is a visual aid.. NOT a PowerPoint presentation.

However, you will need to review the essay, "Death by PowerPoint" before you present. 

http://commons.gc.cuny.edu/wiki/images/Death-by-powerpoint.pdf

PowerPoint structure-

http://www.bates.edu/ils/2011/how-do-i/software/powerpoint-presentation-tips/

Presentation tips-

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~library/biomed/guides/powerpoint.html?mswitch-redir=classic

http://www.cob.sjsu.edu/splane_m/presentationtips.htm

Step 5: Practice. Practice. Practice.

Step 6: Write an abstract of your argument:

ABSTRACTS:  HOW TO. . . 

Abstract templates are located on right side of the web page.
Here is another option...
Checklist for ABSTRACTS
How to Write an Abstract

December 5th

Toulmin Method of Argument: Toulmin Method- Purdue OWL

We will be focusing on 4 of Toulmin's components: Claim, Backing/Evidence, Warrants, Reservation/Counter-Claim

1. Read through the following Toulmin Argument example paper: Toulmin Argument Method Paper Example -Look at the examples of Toulmin's techniques for argument. 

1. Take out your ten practice thesis/claim statements.

2. For EACH statement, you need to write the counter claim.. This is the opposition side to this argument.. do not go to the polar opposite side for this exercise... Your argument, if you have developed it well, should not be extreme and obvious (therefore having a direct opposite side). Look to reasons why someone (people) would disagree with your claim. Write this statement as well as you were supposed to write your initial thesis.

So now.. you should have your initial thesis/claim... and its counterclaim. (or rebuttal)

3. Switch your papers with a classmate. Give them both your initial thesis and your counterclaim.

They need to assess each claim (just the claim) for the following standards:

 A. Has the topic been broken down and/or processed (not transferred right into subject of formula)
B. Is the stance arguable? Look at the thesis first and then look at the counter.. Is the counter a logical opposition stance? What is the type of claim being utilized?

C. Does the thesis continue on and answer HOW or WHY? (and is it narrowed down from the presented topic?)

D. Is the writing concise? Is the argument easy to figure out? (not garbled up in the writing)

Provide as much feedback as possible.

For Thursday, December 5th: 

Once you have been given back your thesis statements, you need to pick your 5 BEST. If you need to edit and make adjustments, do so. You already have the counterclaim. After you have done this, you will need to add three supporting points (start at evidence) to each claim. Once you have established your three pieces of evidence, provide a bullet point warrant explanation. 

Submit to Google Classroom before class begins. 

December 4th

1. Argument fallacy quiz- Google Classroom.

2. Write a CLAIM for the following topics:

1.  Voting age
2. Beauty pageants
3. Torture
4. Taxes
5. Credit cards
6. Mean girls
7. Video games
8. Academic honesty
9.  Global climate
10. Standardized testing

Things you MUST consider...

• Topic size.. do not just drop the topic into your thesis as the subject. What approach are you taking towards the subject?
• Are you showing assessment or analysis of the issue? What do you think about the issue? What can be done about the issue? What changes should be made? What is more important or not? THINK TO THE TYPES OF CLAIMS AS YOU APPROACH THIS TOPIC. 
• Are you answering how and/or why? Think about us having a discussion about this issue. You state your solution to a problem and then I ask you "how?" or "why?" . This is where your voice gets to be heard.
• Make sure that you are not describing or summarizing the topic or issue.
• Look at your VERB usage.. Try to keep with an ACTIVE verb!

3. Make sure that you have read the opening pages to Chapter 13- 515-525. Take good notes!

December 1st

1. Write one of your 9 thesis/claim attempts on the board.

2. To assist in knowing how to approach a subject in order to make a claim about the material, you can utilize one of these four types of claims:

Types of claims:

Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, in other words what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.

1. Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:

• What some people refer to as global warming is actually nothing more than normal, long-term cycles of climate change.

2. Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:

• The popularity of SUVs in America has caused pollution to increase.

3. Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:

• Global warming is the most pressing challenge facing the world today.

4. Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:

• Instead of drilling for oil in Alaska we should be focusing on ways to reduce oil consumption, such as researching renewable energy sources

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3.  Review through the material in the following link: Indiana University- Thesis Statements
Supplement your current notes. This will talk you through the process of developing a topic, through identifying a strong or weak thesis statement.

4. You will be getting into small groups. In your group you need to work through the following:

•  Discuss the strengths of the following thesis statements: 

Examples of good thesis statements:

• "The ability to purchase television advertising is essential for any candidate's bid for election to the Senate because television reaches millions of people and thus has the ability to dramatically increase name recognition."
• The organizational structure of the United Nations, namely consensus voting in the security council, makes it incapable of preventing war between major powers.

What makes each sentence an effective thesis? (Check against your checklist)

5. Now, you will look to the board to your examples of class thesis/claim attempts. As a group, you will go through and critique the strengths and weaknesses of each statement. (Keep in mind, this is going to be a process of improvement. Be honest, but be kind). 

6. If you feel that your own 9 claims need revision, revise the necessary components of each statement. 9 claims are due on Monday.

FOR MONDAY: Read in College Reader, Chapter 12- (515-527)
Take very good notes. This is the next development in argument.
Fallacy quiz is on MONDAY.