Brown

GROUP PRESENTATION:

Argue for Change or Action on a Current Social Issue

(possible 15 points)

group grade: 15 points

personal grade: 5 points

ASSIGNMENT:

        To prepare for a world where negotiation and group work is expected of you and produces the best results, you'll work with classmates selected by the instructor to research, prepare, and deliver a 15-minute oral presentation. Use of presentation aids (overheads, handouts, PowerPoint, video, audio, etc.) is optional but encouraged.

      Topic: as a group, take a position on a current controversy involving a social concern which one of you encountered completing your Career Essay. Choose a topic from your group. Then conduct research and present evidence urging your audience to take action, change their minds, stop doing something, or start doing something. Argue that a law needs to be passed, that citizens need to boycott a business, that the public needs to protest, that we need to support a cause, etc.

      The topic can come from education, the health field, the justice system, business, or the environment, etc.

EVERY MEMBER OF THE GROUP NEEDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESENTATION AND PREPARE HIS OR HER OWN PRESENTATION AIDS!

It is essential that your presentation:

1) EXPLAINS the problem

2) CLARIFIES any historical or technical background

3) PRESENTS a fair treatment of all sides

4) ARGUES for one position

and/or

5) OFFERS a solution

6) URGES the audience to take action

You may use or modify the Dewey Sequence (see link).

Samples of Previous Topics

First Meeting

1) Introduce yourselves and exchange phone numbers and/

or e-mail addresses

2) Describe your Career Essay topic to one another and present or argue for a      problem or issue that is unresolved (invovling the nursing shortage, airline      security, the FCAT test, malpractice insurance, etc.) which would make a viable      issue for this assignment.

3) Select the problem or issue your group is going to address and browse through      the databases and websites as a group.

4) Rely on the person from whose paper the topic evolved as a resource for     background information.

5) Everyone should complete initial research on the controversy and prepare to to     report back and exchange views at the next meeting.

6) Divide up tasks where appropriate.

7) Choose a group coordinator (not the person from whose paper the topic derived).

In addition to receiving a group grade for the quality of your presentation (10 points), you will receive an individual grade (5 points) for the following interpersonal (teamwork) skills.

PERSONAL GRADE (5 points)

Listening: Listen to one another's ideas and use each

other's ideas to generate new ideas.

Questioning: Ask questions of each other to clarify and

learn. Demand logic and evidence.

Persuading: Exchange ideas, explain positions taken,

defend opinions, be open to persuasion. Rely

on logic and evidence.

Respecting: Respect the opinions and differing positions

taken by team members.

Helping: Offer assistance, support, and encouragement.

Sharing: Share ideas, responsibilities, and tasks.