Introduction: In this assignment you will deliver a one-minute speech to the class about any historical artifact from 1300-1750. Imagine that SAS has recently received an enormous financial gift from a wealthy alumnus. The gift is to be used to start our very own SAS History Museum. We have virtually unlimited funds but may only buy one artifact per year for our museum.
Our class is the board that will decide which artifact to buy. Your individual task is to convince us that your artifact is the one most worthy of buying this year. The class will vote on which artifact to buy on the day of the semester exam. The champion of the winning artifact will receive fame and glory and the never-ending gratitude of SAS history students and faculty. In addition your artifact will be featured on the class web site as this year's winner!
Rubric: Click here to see the rubric for this assignment.
Steps to Writing Persuasive Essay/Speech
Choose an artifact.
Use the internet to find your artifact. Start here in your search: A History of the World in 100 Objects. Once you have found your artifact, email me (with a link if possible) requesting to use it. I will either approve your request or not. Once I have approved your request...
Write a one-paragraph speech.
Write a speech convincing the board that your artifact is the one that our museum should obtain. You should use the same format for this paragraph as the one we have been using all year for body paragraphs. But remember that you will be speaking. The language you use and your style should be suitable for and interesting to people who are listening to a speech. Your speech should include.
INTRODUCTION: To put the audience in the right frame of mind (eg "Friends, Romans and countrymen...") and catch its attention.
ARGUMENT: You will need to state explicitly and clearly why we should buy this artifact. Here you will want to tell us briefly what the two main reasons to buy this artifact are (your contentions). This is like the topic sentence of your paragraph.
NARRATION: A short statement of the facts of the case. Here you will want to be sure to explain what the artifact is.
Time: What time period is it from? When was the artifact produced?
Place: What geographical place does it come from?
Culture: What culture/civilization produced this artifact?
PROOF: You should explain all the arguments on your side of the case, giving points in ascending order of importance leading to a climax. This is the core of your argument.
REFUTATION: If you have time, you may attempt to answer or discredit the arguments that might be made against obtaining this object for SAS.
CONCLUSION: Close the deal. Make your final sales pitch (argument).
Practice, practice, practice
When will you pause? When will you adjust your tone, your emotion, your volume, your pace?
Deliver Speech
Decide if you’re going to use podium, notes. I must have a copy of speech while you are delivering speech. The written text and audio of your speech along with a visual of the artifact will be stored on our “SAS World History Artifacts Website” (link coming soon).