FOR ENGLISH 112-6

ENGL 112

Ms. Kravig

Spring 2012

Paper 2: The Power of Speech

For your second formal paper in this class, you will put on the shoes of a presidential candidate and write a campaign speech. There are two ways in which you and your Writing Buddy may collaborate: 1. You are opposing presidential candidates and your written speeches will be counter-arguments. 2. You are running-mates (president and vice-president candidates) and will be supporting arguments.  Choose one of these options and write your speech accordingly. As you build your persuasive speech, find themes and sources that are interesting to you and develop a strong thesis. From that thesis, build your argument, be sure to include necessary background information, the context and conversation you are entering, good reasons, convincing evidence, appeals to your audience, other positions, and, as always, be aware of the tone of your writing. Include at least 2-3 relevant sources to support your argument.

An A paper will demonstrate excellent composition skills—developed through hard work and elbow grease. These skills include but are not limited to: appropriate and effective (strong) organization, lively and convincing supporting evidence, effective diction and sentence skills, and perfect or near perfect mechanics. It will show careful and thorough consideration of the key features of an argument. An A paper will exceed expectations.

Objectives

After completing the persuasive speech, students should be able to:

• Identify their target audience and the areas where the target audience might be persuaded

• Develop strategies designed to increase an oppositional audience’s support for your position 

• Make language choices that appeal to an oppositional audience

• Extemporize a speech in a lively manner (extra credit)

 Audience:       Voting Americans.

Length:            3-4 pages, word-processed, double-spaced, TNR 12 pt font, MLA or APA format

Draft 1 Due: Tuesday, May 1 Bring 2 paper copies (turnitin.com by 8 a.m.)

Draft 2 Due: Thursday, May 10 Bring 1 paper copy (turnitin.com by 8 a.m.)

REMEMBER

• Don't panic!
• Presidential candidates have certain issues that they refer to as their “platform.” For example, candidate Ron Paul often focuses on the economy or universal healthcare. They choose these topics because these are the topics that the public cares about.
• Most campaigns have a slogan. Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign slogan is “I’m In. Are You?” Think of incorporating one into your speech.
• Know your audience.
• No papers are accepted after 5 pm the day that it is due. 20% off for any paper turned in late, and 10% off for any paper turned in late to turnitin.com. If the paper is not on turnitin.com, it will not receive a grade.
• Extra credit will be given to volunteers who perform their completed speech. 

PAPER TWO: WHAT IS A GOOD STORY?

Guidelines for Paper 2

Your third paper will be a comparison/contrast essay. Choosing two of the short films provided by the instructor, compare/contrast each of the author/storyteller’s methods for producing a well-structured narrative. Think of how your experience of viewing a story is different from writing a story (remember the personal narrative?) How are the techniques for a good story the same in every medium? How are they different? Things to consider: how the author/storyteller “shows” instead of “tells;” uses dialogue, description, setting, narrative voice, and progression of plot. Your paper should consist of a thesis statement as well as supporting ideas and evidence from the short films.  You should include textual examples from the works that you’ve chosen and cite all inclusions properly.  Any information that is not “common knowledge” must be cited as well. 

Example Thesis Statement: The film makers of “Validation” and “Signs” knew that their films would appeal more widely to female viewers than male because of their sentimentality and depiction of the hopeless romantic.

Audience:       A peer who is curious about human behavior

Length:           3-4 pages

Format:          Word processed, double spaced, standard font and margins, MLA format 

Sources:          At least 2 (the short films, reviews, etc.)

 First Draft Due: Friday February 10, 1 copy print, 1 copy e-mail, & turnitin.com

Final Draft Due: Friday, February 17, hard copy & turnitin.com

Some helpful hints-

Ø  Your paper should be academic in tone and should avoid use of “I” and “you.”  If you chose to use the word “we” then you need to specify who falls under that inclusive pronoun.

Ø  Remember that the more characteristics you cover, the less space in your paper you’ll have to cover these characteristics.  It is better to thoroughly cover each characteristic than to have superficial analyses.  At the same time, however, you do not want to repeat yourself in attempting to create in-depth arguments.

Ø  In many ways, this paper is a standard compare/contrast essay.  Format your paper according to one of the accepted formats for this type of essay.

Below are the short films on which you will base your essay. Choose two.