1. Final project for our horror unit
Persuasive Speeches
Final project for our horror unit

2. Charlie Chaplin

3. On Friday, you will deliver a persuasive speech
This is our final project for the horror unit and we will work on it all week
Today, we will learn about hooks. Tomorrow we will talk about thesis statements, Thursday we will refresh claim/data/warrant

4. Your prompt:
The horror genre is intended to inspire terror in its audience. While many people enjoy the sense of excitement the genre provides, some experience unwanted effects, such as the inability to sleep or overreactions to real-life situations that are similar to a scary film or story. In the following activity, you will give a speech arguing whether classics of the horror genre such as “The Tell-Tale Heart” is appropriate for your age group to read. You may use other selections in the collection to provide information or support for your argument.

5. How you will be graded page 136 in your textbooks

6. How you will be graded page 136 in your textbooks

7. How you will be graded page 136 in your textbooks

8. How you will be graded page 136 in your textbooks

9. How you will be graded page 136 in your textbooks

10. How you will be graded page 136 in your textbooks

11. How you will be graded page 136 in your textbooks

12. How you will be graded page 136 in your textbooks

13. How you will be graded page 136 in your textbooks

14. How you will be graded page 136 in your textbooks

15. This is exactly what you need
A hook
A thesis statement
Claims backed up with evidence
Addressing a counterclaim
A conclusion

16. It will be worth 30 points
For some perspective, know this: most of our assignments are worth 5 or 10 points.

17. Mr. Yergert’s example speech

18. THESIS STATEMENTS
What are you arguing?

19. Your thesis statement is the single most important part of your speech
Your thesis tells us what you are arguing.
Use Although / I contend / Because format
“Although some people say that the horror genre is inappropriate for students to read because it encourages children to mimic the horrific content, I contend that reading the horror genre is a necessary examination of evil because it challenges us to examine the undesirable aspects of humanity and face them head-on.”

20. Although
Position your arguments against the arguments other people have made
Although some people say that the horror genre is inappropriate for students to read because it encourages children to mimic the horrific content…
Starting my thesis statement with this lets you know what other people have argued and better prepares you for what I am about to argue

21. I contend “I contend” means “I think” or “I say”
“…I contend that reading the horror genre is a necessary examination of evil…”
This is why I think we should read the horror genre in your age group
Do you think horror is appropriate to read at this age?

22. Because
This tells us why you think horror is or is not appropriate to read at this age
“…because it challenges us to examine the undesirable aspects of humanity and face them head-on.”
This is why I think it is appropriate to read at your age group.
Why do you think it is or is not appropriate to read in your age group?

23. Catch your audience’s attention
Hooks
Catch your audience’s attention

24. A hook should capture your audience’s attention
You might…
Tell a story about a specific event
Present some very surprising or interesting information
Tell a joke (when appropriate)

25. My hook
When I was 7 years old, two very troubled teenagers tore through the halls of their high school with machine guns, killing 12 people and injuring 21 more. 20 miles away, I sat in my third grade classroom unaware of the horror occurring. In the aftermath of the massacre at Columbine High School, the public was quick to blame mature, graphic, and horrific content for influencing the actions of shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Suddenly, the perpetrators of the crime were not the two boys, but rather horror movies, graphic video games, and “satanic” music. These texts took the blame unfairly.

26. Claim / Data / Warrant Claim: What you argue
Data: Evidence used to back up that argument
Warrant: Why do we care about that data?

27. Work on your speeches
Build claim / Data / Warrant arguments while I conference with students
We will check on the progress of your speech

28. Deliver your speech