Language Arts Grades 8 Speech Unit

Write each Body Paragraph (pars. 2, 3, and 4) as follows:

• 
  Step 1: Topic Sentence — state your idea
  

• 
  Step 2: Explain
  

• 
  Step 3: Give your supports, connecting back to your thesis on a regular basis
  

• 
  Step 4: End each body paragraph by returning to your thesis (e.g., Therefore, testing on animals must be banned!)
  

1. 
   
   

• 
  Use transition words, phrases and/or sentences to connect your ideas so that there is smooth flow
  

• 
  DON’T FORGET: Voice (created through word choice and varied punctuation) = Audience Appeal
  

Writing the Concluding Paragraph:

• 
  Step 1: Begin with a transition that gives a feeling of closure (e.g.) In conclusion. Then restate your thesis.
  

• 
  Step 2: Next, restate each idea in the order in which you developed them earlier. Don’t forget to include the CALL TO ACTION.
  

• 
  Step 3: Restate your thesis one last time ensuring that you leave the reader / listener with a strong sense of your position on the subject.
  

2. 
   
   

NOTE: This pattern is repetitive but it will create UNITY, COHERENCY & EMPHASIS. You add your own creativity and style with VOICE, WORD CHOICE —> AUDIENCE APPEAL.

Supporting your Arguments

SUPPORTS for each idea must include a VARIETY (if possible) of the following:

• 
  A specific example (e.g., from your own life)
  

• 
  Anecdote — a story/example which brings out your reason
  

• 
  Statistic — this must come from a reliable source
  

• 
  An appeal to authority — a direct (or indirect) quote from someone “in the know” of this topic (an expert) ** Include person’s name and title
  

• 
  Logic — for example, if a source says, “smoking causes cancer” then if you smoke, you could get cancer too
  

Choosing a Topic

Begin research by Internet, book, encyclopedia, magazine, newspaper, interview or discussion with someone else. Use this experience as a means to decide which topic will be your best choice for finding three arguments with supporting research.

The possible topics I have chosen:


Choice 1: _____________________________________________________________________
My 3 arguments would be:
1.____________________________________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________________________________

3. 
   
   

Choice 2: _____________________________________________________________________

My 3 arguments would be:

1. 
   ________________________________________________________________________
   
2. 
   ________________________________________________________________________
   
3. 
   ________________________________________________________________________
   

Choice 3: _____________________________________________________________________


My 3 arguments would be:

1.________________________________________________________________________

2.________________________________________________________________________

3.________________________________________________________________________

4. 
   
   
5. 
   
   
6. 
   
   
7. 
   
   

Jot-Notes (Pre-writing)

*** DON’T FORGET that for each ‘SOURCE’

you take jot notes from, you must fill out a SOURCE CARD.***

Introduction
Introductory Paragraph: Possible ideas (e.g., interesting quotes, statistics, etc.) that I could use in my introductory paragraph to grab the audience’s attention:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THESIS Statement: ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraphs


Argument #1:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Research evidence/ supports for Argument #1: ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Argument #2: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Research evidence/ supports for argument #2: ___________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Argument #3:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Research evidence/ supports for argument #3: ___________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
Concluding Paragraph: Possible ideas that I could use in my concluding paragraph to give a sense of closure and to leave the reader with a strong sense of my position on the topic.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Self-Editing Checklist


I need to check to make sure:

• 
  I have a clear thesis statement.
  
• 
  I have three well-researched, well-presented arguments that support my thesis statement.
  
• 
  I have a concluding paragraph and an effective call to action.
  
• 
  My speech is 5-paragraphs in total.
  
• 
  I do not have any spelling mistakes.
  
• 
  I have varied and effective word choice.
  
• 
  I have varied sentences.
  
• 
  I have checked my capitalizations and punctuation.
  

• 
  SIGNED: ________________________
  

Peer Editing Checklist
Name: _____________________
Peer Editor’s Signature: ____________________

CONTENT:

• 
  Does the speech include all 3 arguments and have they given enough explanations and supports (facts, statistics)?
  

• 
  Is the speech at least 3 minutes but not over 5 minutes?
  

ORGANIZATION:

• 
  Does the introduction grab the audience’s attention and does it include the thesis statement?
  

• 
  Does the conclusion give the thesis again, summarize, and end with a clear show of their position on the topic including a call to action?
  

• 
  Did they use transitions consistently?
  

SENTENCE FLUENCY:

• 
  Are there a variety of sentence lengths?
  

• 
  Check for run on sentences, comma faults, and sentence fragments.
  

WORD CHOICE:

• 
  Circle repeated words.
  

• 
  Check word choice to see that they have used enough vivid words where possible.
  

e.g.: These animal tests are bad. (Bland)

These cruel animal tests are horrifying. (Better)

VOICE:

• 
  Adding a variety of punctuation marks will increase voice. Check to see that there is a variety of punctuation marks.
  

CONVENTIONS:

• 
  Check all capitalization:
  

- the first word in every sentence.

- proper names, organizations, cities, provinces, countries, etc.
- the word “I”.

• 
  Check all spelling and circle any words that you think are misspelled.
  

• 
  Check punctuation:
  

• 
  There needs to be a punctuation mark at the end of each sentence.
  

• 
  Apostrophes need to be used correctly (to show a missing letter: don’t/do not OR to show ownership: the smoker’s problem).
  

• 
  There needs to be a variety of punctuation marks (ex. exclamation marks, quotes, question marks, etc.).
  

Directory: uploads
uploads -> Homework: Continuity and Change over Time Essay
uploads -> Unauthorized copying or reuse of this essay is strictly prohibited. Plus, this essay has already been submitted, so using it in any form would only create problems for you down the road. Be smart
uploads -> Monroe college jumpstart program essay
uploads -> College Essay Sample Why You Are Interested in Applying
uploads -> I believe that I am loved and because I am loved, I love myself, respect myself, and do what is best for myself
uploads -> Love through the ages
uploads -> Poetry Analysis Essay What does it mean to “analyze” a poem?
uploads -> Compiled for Pope John XXIII high School by
uploads -> Educational Leadership Reflective Essay