Assignment
Unit Project: The Power of Language
This document provides an overview of the tasks and time line for completing this assignment.
Assignment Instructions
As you complete the lessons in this unit, you will learn about some of the different ways that language can be used to help achieve a goal, share a message, and honor a person or idea. You will apply these ideas in your own project.
In this unit, you will plan and execute a creative or analytical project that demonstrates the power of language. The project will focus on a contemporary or historical subject of your choice, and it will involve presenting information and ideas in a speech, a song, a video, a website, or an essay. Your goal for the project is to use language, as the authors that you will study do, to achieve a goal, share a message, or to honor a person or idea.
You will be able to choose a subject for your project and a method of presenting the information about your subject.
Subjects
Below are a number of possible subjects for your unit project. Some subjects are contemporary in nature, dealing with present-day figures or issues, while others are historical in nature, dealing with figures or issues of the past. As you consider which subject appeals to you most, take into account your interest areas and the resources available to you.
Contemporary Subjects
• The importance of voting
• Protecting the environment
• Off-shore drilling
• Nuclear proliferation
• Funding for the arts
Historical Subjects
• The Quaker tradition
• The Women's Suffrage movement
• The Women's Suffrage movement
• William Lloyd Garrison
• John Brown
You may choose to focus your project on a subject not named above, but you must first clear any choice you make with your teacher.
Presentation Options
Below are some options for presenting the information you gather on the subject you choose for your unit project. Each option is different, so consider each one and its requirements carefully before making your choice. If you think a different method of presenting your information would be more effective, clear your choice with your teacher. Remember that your presentation should try to achieve a goal, share a message, or to honor a person or idea.
Note: Your teacher may require that you to choose the option for writing and delivering a speech on a contemporary or historical subject.
• Speech: Write and deliver a speech of at least three minutes that clearly expresses your feelings and opinions about a contemporary or historical subject. You may include visual elements in your presentation.
• Song: Write, perform, and record a song dealing with a contemporary or historical subject. The lyrics of the song must incorporate both literal and figurative language and convey to listeners your feelings and opinions about the subject you have chosen.
• Video: Create a video presentation about a contemporary or historical subject. The video should have narration that presents information on your subject and expresses your opinions or feelings on the subject.
• Essay: Write a persuasive essay of at least five paragraphs on a contemporary or historical subject. The essay must convey your feelings and opinions on the subject and present information meant to convince readers to share your position. You should include visual or graphic elements to support your arguments.
• Website: Create a website that shares information about a contemporary or historical subject. The website should use graphic elements as well as words to convey information to viewers.