Unit: Reading and Comprehending Nonfiction This activity will help…

Question Answered step-by-step Unit: Reading and Comprehending Nonfiction This activity will help… Unit: Reading and Comprehending Nonfiction This activity will help you meet these educational goals:You will read and listen to a speech, analyze its central idea and content, develop a thesis, and present the thesis, including evidence and reasoning to support your analysis. The analysis will include looking at the way the speaker develops his ideas across the speech, determining the speaker’s point of view, identifying any false statements or faulty logic, investigating the language in the speech, and describing the impact of the speech. IntroductionThis activity will focus on performing a rhetorical analysis of a historical speech. You will use slideshow software to create oral presentation of the analysis. You will deliver the presentation in a small group setting.  Directions and AnalysisTask 1: Reading and Researching John F. Kennedy’s “City Upon a Hill” SpeechIn this task will read and listen to John F. Kennedy’s “City Upon a Hill” speech and take notes. Image transcription text”City Upon a Hill” Speech (January 9, 1961) John F.Kennedy l have welcomed this opportunity to addressthis historic body, and, through you, the … Show more… Show moreImage transcription textThey are an indelible part of my life, myconvictions, my view of the past, and my hopesfor the future. Allow me to illustrate: … Show more… Show moreImage transcription textFirst, were we truly men of courage–withthe courage to stand up to one’senemies–and the courage to… Show more… Show moreBefore you listen, read the text of the speech. As you read over the text, take a structured approach to analyzing this historic speech. Learn about the speaker’s personal background. The personal background may include anything from the orator’s personal characteristics and traits, such as leadership qualities, to the person’s style, delivery, and ability to improvise.Research the background of the speech to understand the historical context that it was written in, the attitudes of the people at the time, and the major issues that concerned them.Ask the question “Why?” to understand the purpose of the speech. Why was the speech made? What did the speaker hope to achieve by addressing the audience?Ask who the audience was. Knowing the characteristics of the audience will help you understand what their concerns and motivations were, why they were willing to listen to the speaker, and what influences they were open to. Knowing the audience helps you understand the issues that the speaker touches upon in the speech.Analyze the message of a speech, or its content. The content represents the main issues that were raised (or addressed) and the arguments that were made in the speech. The speaker conveys the content using rhetoric and emotional and logical appeals. What issues did the speaker mention? What facts were excluded? Why might that be? What answers did the speaker give to the audience’s questions, if any? Were the facts mentioned in the speech accurate?As you analyze the speech, make notes using the questions provided below. You can also annotate the text with your own questions. Asking and answering questions about the speech will help you better understand the craft, structure, and purpose of the speech. Rhetorical SituationWhat is the historical occasion for the speech?How does the event present an opportunity for persuasion? Author/SpeakerHow does the author create ethos or personal credibility?How does the reputation of the author convey authority? Purpose/IntentionWhat is the overall argument the author presents?What is the author’s purpose in the speech? To inform? To persuade? To criticize? AudienceWho is the intended audience of the speech?What assumptions does the author make about the values of the audience?How does the intended audience influence the tone of the speech? ContentHow does the author arrange the ideas?How does the organization of the text fulfill the author’s purpose?How does the author appeal to logic and reason (logos) or emotion (pathos)?What kinds of evidence—facts, anecdotes, analogies, allusions—does the author use?How does the supporting evidence fulfill the purpose of the text? AnalysisDoes the speech succeed in fulfilling the author’s purpose or intentions?What do the speech and the author’s chosen strategies reveal about the culture that produced it? You can read about Rhetorical Situations and Rhetorical Strategies to help with your analysis. Now, listen to the speech. Go back through your notes above and expand them with impressions and realizations from hearing the speech. Type response here:Task 2:  the PresentationAfter you finish researching and writing your notes about the speech, use slideshow software to make a visual presentation of your analysis. Make sure that your analysis includes a thesis statement that sums up your overall assessment of the speech. Also ensure that your analysis includes specific examples from the speech that support your assessment. Your presentation should include an analysis of the elements that you listed in the previous task. Use these pointers to help you get started.  a ThesisDevelop your thesis on a specific aspect or element of the speech. Make sure your thesis allows you to argue a specific point. For instance, if you choose to talk about the intended audience for your topic, a proper thesis could be “Kennedy used his ‘City Upon a Hill’ speech to connect his political agenda to the values of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Puritans.” As you research your topic, keep in mind how you could build a relevant thesis. Gathering Sources Next, begin gathering and organizing additional sources to build your argument. It is important to understand the purpose of your research Evaluate each source, and consider these questions:Who authored the document?What is the purpose of the document?When was the document written?How will this document help your argument? Remember, you should properly cite all your resources on a works cited page or in the Resources section below. Creating Outlines or Note CardsThe next step in preparing a presentation is planning the text. Keeping your audience, purpose, and topic in mind, write the information you will present in a draft outline or on a series of note cards. This stage of preparation will involve extensive research on the topic, so be sure to use the research skills you have already acquired.Creating an outline is often the first step in writing an essay, but a presentation outline is the text you’ll reference when delivering your speech to an audience. Your outline structure should include topics and supporting details, just as an outline for an essay does. Be sure to include keywords and phrases to remind you of what you wish to say. Ideally, you will have rehearsed the speech often and thoroughly enough that you will remember pertinent information and stay on track during the speech by simply glancing at your notes.Some presenters find it easier to use note cards. They write a new topic or detail from their presentation on each card and order them in the correct sequence. Note cards also are useful in reminding presenters to pause briefly throughout the presentation as they flip each card. Image transcription textCard 1: Card 2: Bottom-Dwelling Sea Animals stone fish .Intro: has anyone gone scuba . very poisonous diving? .often hidden; blends follow up: would anyone in… Show more… Show moreAs you create your outline or note cards, remember that you can edit as you continue to plan, research, and rehearse your speech. Of course, you should have a final draft when you present, but do not be afraid to make changes as you prepare for the presentation.Writing a PresentationAt this stage, you should write the content for your presentation. As you write, consider that your written content should adapt to an oral presentation. Use evidence from your resources to support your thesis and other key claims. Your written work should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion, as well as a logical flow and structure. Your presentation should be about five minutes in length. Applying Visual AidsWhile constructing your outline or note cards, consider what visual aids would be appropriate for the presentation. Charts or graphs might help illustrate statistical analyses, while images can clarify abstract concepts. Your visual aids should be informative and helpful in your presentation. You may also want to include video or audio clips from an expert to help clarify any key points. Keep these pointers in mind when creating a presentation:Make sure you use a reasonable number of slides for your presentation based on the time you’ve been allotted to speak. Too many will bore or confuse your audience and use up the time. Too few will not do justice to your topic and will give your audience too little information.Make sure your audience can clearly read the font size and color of the text.Make sure the background color of your slides does not overwhelm the text.Use bullet points and simple, short sentences. Keep each slide to a maximum of four important points.Do not use long paragraphs in your slides. The point of your presentation is to make your information interesting. You do not want to force your audience to read an essay.Use graphics or pictures to make your presentation interesting or to help your audience visualize a point, but don’t use too many on one slide.Explain the points that appear on the screen to your audience, but do not read them off the screen.Read some useful tips for delivering an effective presentationRehearsingAfter you prepare the text and accompanying visual aids, it’s time to rehearse. Rehearsals can be one of the most important parts of speech preparation because they allow you to become increasingly familiar with the material. Practice using your visual aids as well so that you know how and when to refer to them during your presentation. Remember your presentation should be about five minutes long.Rehearsing also allows you to practice in front of a smaller, trusted audience. Ask a friend or family member—or even two or three—to watch your presentation so that you can become accustomed to speaking in front of an audience. Being nervous is natural, but the more you practice, the less nervous you will be. Rehearsals are also a good time to get feedback from a small audience. After you present to a small group, ask them what you did well and how you could improve.Unspoken Elements of PresentingAlong with practicing the words you will say, rehearse the pace and tone of your speech. Speak slowly and clearly. Most people speak faster than they realize, so a good rule is to try to speak as slowly as possible. Remember that the goal of the presentation is to have people understand you, not get through it as quickly as possible. When you speak slowly, you are more likely to cover all the important points and not run out of things to say within the allotted time.Match your tone to your topic and audience. For example, giving a presentation about the dangers of smoking would require you to take a much more serious tone than presenting an amusing personal narrative. Similarly, presenting to a group of friends at a book club would require a much more laid-back tone than speaking to a room full of scholars. Your tone should remain confident and respectful, regardless of who makes up your audience.Lastly, practice your body language. Stand up straight rather than bending over the podium or your notes, and make eye contact with your audience while speaking. That way, you will seem relaxed but confident. Take small sips of water or deep breaths if you begin to feel nervous. The more you rehearse these techniques and strategies, the more confident you will feel and the better your presentation will be.Submit  WorkSubmit  written work, including your written presentation, note cards, and visual aids for your teacher to review using the drop box.    Arts & Humanities Writing Share QuestionEmailCopy link Comments (0)