Incompletes

For those who still have an "I" from the first nine weeks, I can no longer go over in detail what you need to do during classtime. Any questions about make-up work needs to happen in between classes or after school.

I am leaving two copies of the packets we used for definitions in the TLC room with Ms. Coleman. You will not be able to leave the room with the packet.

Reminder at the end of the school day on Friday, November 6th, if you do not submit missing assignments, the grade will change to an "F"

Roberts Rules of Order / Congress Bills

If you lost your copy of Congress bills and table of parliamentary motions, you will need to obtain your own copies.

For Congress Bills:

www.ihsfa.org. Then click on link, "2009-2010 Congress Bills"

For Table of Parliamentary Motions:

Do an internet search using the phrase, "Parliamentary Motions Chart". You will find a number of examples of tables of parliamentary motions in your search results.

Student Congress Debate Grade-Revision

As I posted earlier, in order to receive a score for Student Congress, you must speak on at least 3 out of the 4 bills. If you give more than 3 speeches, I will drop the lowest scores and calculate the average of the best 3 speeches. This way, if you speak more than 3 times, it can only help your grade.

Blog Site Assignment--Due 11/2/09

You will receive a hard copy in class. I am posting this on the site for your convienence.

Blog Site Assignment
Debate
Fall 2009

Due Date: Monday, November 2, 2009

Instructions: Using a separate sheet of paper, write out the answers to the questions using full sentences. All answers are found on the blogsite: shortridgedb8.blogspot.com.

1. Who presented databases available from Marion Co. Public Library?
2. Why would you want to bring canned food to class?
3. When did I post the list of students who were missing assignments for the first nine weeks?
4. How will your speech grade be calculated during Student Congress debate?
5. In what section of the Student Congress debate outline would you include the claim, data, and warrant?
6. What is the internet address to access the Marion Co. Public Library database system and what do you need to access it from home?
7. What are the titles of articles on the blog site referring to the status of US newspapers?
8. Why are Nov. 2nd and Nov. 7th important for your second nine weeks grade?
9. What is the maximum time for a Student Congress debate speech?
10. Why is the Shortridge Debate Tournament important for your grade?
11. What are two different resources that describe Student Congress debate?

Student Congress and Speech Outline

So you can have a structure to develop your speeches for Student Congress debate, here is an outline to assist you:

I. Introduction--Use quote, definition, story or joke to open your speech. May also reference quotes or comments from a previous speaker.

-Transition to Thesis

Thesis: I stand today in support/opposition to the bill for two basic reasons: 1.____________________ and, 2._______________________.

II. First Major Argument (Think of a topic sentence to a paragraph)

--Consider referencing previous speakers' arguments

A. Subpoint--(Insert Evidence here including a claim, data, and warrant)

B. Subpoint--(Insert Evidence here including a claim, data, and warrant)

--Summarize First Major Argument

--Transition to Second Major Argument

III. Second Major Argument (Think of a topic sentence to a paragraph)

--Consider referencing previous speakers' arguments

A. Subpoint--(Insert Evidence here including a claim, data, and warrant)

B. Subpoint--(Insert Evidence here including a claim, data, and warrant)

--Summarize Second Major Argument

--Transition to Conclusion

IV. Conclusion

-Repeat Thesis

--Consider using strong quote to support your point


Keep in mind the maximum time for a speech is three minutes with a one minute question period.

Student Congress and Grading

There is a scoring rubric for your Student Congress debate speeches available in class for review. Remember you will need to give at least 3 speeches in Student Congress to receive a score. We will average the score from the three speeches for your grade in this section of Student Congress debate.

You are expected to conduct your own research for this debate. However, feel free to share articles and evidence with others so everyone can develop speeches for debate. Remember it is important for students to speak in the Affirmative and the Negative on each bill. Remember in an earlier post I gave out links to articles on each of the Congress bills.

Nine Week Grades

With the first 9 weeks completed, a number of people received the grade of "I" or Incomplete. The grade means you have a number of missing assignments and you have 2 weeks to submit work to receive a passing grade. If work has not been submitted after 2 weeks, the grade will revert to an "F". I went over missing assignments with students on at least two occasions and will review missing work again with any interested family during PIT day.

Research for Student Congress

If you look at an earlier post you will find direct links to articles for each of the Congress bills we begin debating upon our return from Fall Break. Also this week Ms. Cash from the Marion Co. Public Library presented electronic databases available for use. To use the Marion Co. Public Library system, you will need a library card to access it from home. If you are at school, go to www.myilibrary.org/IPS.

The great thing about the Marion Co. databases is you can download the article onto MP3 players and you can hear the entire article.

Extra Credit--Second Nine Weeks

For those who plan ahead, the extra credit chances for the final 9 weeks of the semester include:

Observe Western Speech Meet on Sat. Nov. 7th (50 pts.) Information and field trip form available from Mr. Colby. Field trip form and $5.00 bus fee due by Nov. 2nd

Compete at Shortridge Debate and Congress Tournament Nov. 21st (100 pts.) Must speak in all rounds. Information and entry form available outside Rm 214. Deadline to register is Nov. 18th.

Thanksgiving Can Food Drive. Bring in non-perishable food item. (2 pts. per item, max. 100 pts.). Must bring all items in at one time. Deadline for submission is Nov. 19th. Class period with most cans submitted will win donut or pizza party!

This nine weeks the extra credit will only be posted on this site. No classroom announcements and no handouts! This rewards those who come to the site for assignments and information.

The First Nine Weeks and Grades

So far in class, we have done a number of different things to determine your grade. Some of the things include:

Extra Credit Opportunities (3) Student Information Survey, College Fair at Attucks, Observe Debate Meet

Come to Class Prepared--In proper attire, pen/pencil, agenda book, lined paper

Writing--Reflection Essay for 1st Debate, What I Learned So Far Essay

Reading/Research--Locate 5 Articles for 1st Debate, Look for 50 pieces of evidence for debate, Use of search engines for information, 5 Facts Assignment, Using electronic databases for research

Lecture Notes--From the first 6 weeks including these topics:

Debate Topic
Affirmative
Negative
Resolution
Order of Speaking and Time Limits
Constructive
Rebuttal
Cross-Examination
Important Definitions in Resolution
Aff. and Neg. Issues for Debate
Unified Analysis
Claim, Data, Warrant
Evidence--Tagline, Source, Data

Speaking--Power Word, Debate #1

Watching--60 Minute Story on Urban Debate, Student Congress Debate

Bellringers--Beginning of Class Responses

Terminology--53 Definitions Related to Debate

Classroom Assignments--Agenda Book Assignment, What Is In The Room Assignment

Those who have good grades in class mainly did two things: 1. Turned in Assignments on time and, 2. Took advantage of extra credit opportunities.

The major reason people did not do well was they did not turn in assignments even after verbal and written reminders.

Some students received an incomplete or "I" because of absence issues or multiple missing assignments. Students have until the end of the school day on Friday, November 6th to turn in missing assignments or the grade will revert to an "F"

With this being the first 9 weeks of a high school class I am giving some leeway due to the differences between this class and previous classes students experienced. Since we have block schedule classes, no tests, and "homework" is different than filling out a worksheet, the class has been a major change for most. Now that we know what is expected, the next nine weeks will be much better.

Missing Assignments

This is the final week of the grading period. The following students need to see me about missing assignments:

Class Period First Name # Missing Assignments
1st Sandra A. 6
Kelcee 4
Julia 2
Iasia 2
Kylee 1
Isaiah 3
Brooklyn 1
Anwnette 3
Maria 2
Zemirah 2
Sherrod 3
Lubia 4
Gloria 1
Jazmyne 3
Jasmine 1
Joshua 2
Aaron 3
Daryl 2
Diondrea 2
Kierra 3
Terin 3
Juwancee 3
Taylor 3
Jerrica 3
Aniyah 5

2nd Chris A. 5
Chris B. 2
Angelique 2
Cortez 2
Christian 1
Damontea 2
Jasmine 2
Ulises 2
Lamont 3
Siham 1

3rd Chris A. 3
Lapre 1
Eriberto 4
Briana 1
VaShawntana 2
Ibraham 2
Antwain 4
Davine 4
Diamond 2
Shawkia 1
Wendy 3
Enrique 3
Andrea 1
Robert 1
Jose 2
Angela 2
Cody 2
Andreas 2
Destiny W. 2
Destiny Wi. 2
Montrel 1

4th Teri 2
AJ 1
Darian 3
Brittany 3
Donald 3
Kalynn 2
Jasmine G. 3
Mykela 2
Jacob H. 3
Maurice 2
Allen 2
Norie 1
Precious 1
Reyna 4
Khadijah 5
Juan San. 3
Juan Sav. 4
Kris 3
Shayla 2
Carl 4
Eric 4
Laquante 4

11th Jamar 3
Dazion 4
Deshawn 4
Aaliyah 4
Irving 4
Daijah 3
Jose 5
Miguel 3
Lizeth 2
Derrick 3
Markell 3
Nicole 4
Joey 3
Julio 4
Janai 3
Chris S. 1
Carleton 2
Tonio 4


All assignments must be turned in by the end of school on Wed. Oct. 21st. Final grades will be turned in at this time.

Kokomo Debate Tournament

We will leave from the Shortridge HS Parking Lot at 6 AM. I will need a field trip permit and $5.00 fee before we leave. Those students who are currently involved in Student Congress in Debate class will need to observe at least 60 min. of Varsity Student Congress at the meet. Additionally you will need to watch at least one debate in three out of the following four events:

Lincoln/Douglas Debate
Public Forum Debate
Spontaneous Debate
Policy Debate

Remember you are to wear professional attire. Also you will need money for lunch. You can bring materials to read or listen to music, however, do not pull them out when observing rounds.

Week of 10/19

Here is the tentative schedule for the upcoming week:

Monday--Brief discussion on Kokomo Debate Tournament. Start Student Congress (Seating the Congress, Deciding Order of Bills and Starting first Debate)

Tuesday/Wednesday--Presentation on how to use the Inspire Virtual Library System for research (Guest speaker will be here from the state agency)

Thursday/Friday--FALL BREAK

I will let people know if they need to see me about missing assignments by posting first names and class period over the weekend.

Resources for Student Congress

OK Folks, I cannot make this much easier. Here are links you can use to find information for our Student Congress debate:

Bottled Water Ban

www.bottledwaterblues.com/bottled_water_facts.php
www.bottledwater.org/public/flash/bottled-water-v33.swf

US Newspapers

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2008/12/22/081222ta_talk_surowiecki
www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/03/31/080331fa_fact_alterman

Presidential Primaries

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_primary
www.tcf.org/publications/electionreform/wang_primary.pdf

International Criminal Court

http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Court

There are many articles and websites out there on each of the Student Congress bills. What I am posting is just a starting point.

Expectations for Class

Just so everyone is on the same page, I expect students to come to class every day with the following:
1. Correct school attire worn properly
2. Agenda/Planner
3. Pen or Pencil
4. Lined paper

I conduct random checks on materials, uniform, and whether a person is using his/her planner. What I mean by using the planner is a student enters assignments from ALL classes on the planner each day. If a student does not have a particular assignment for a class, he/she can write NONE next to the class name.

There are definite reasons for doing this. Right now less than 40% of students are submitting assignments on time. Additionally over a third of students in class do not bring items like a pen or pencil and paper to class. For those who manage themselves and come to class prepared, then the checks are easy grades. If you do not bring stuff to class, this could really hurt your grade.

Grading of Student Congress Debate Speeches

This is FYI for Debate Classes:

For the upcoming student congress debate, speeches will be an average score of all presentations and is worth 100 points. In order to receive grade, you must speak on 3 out of the 4 bills. Score is divided into the following:

20--Volume (Can we easily hear and understand what you are saying)
20--Eye Contact (Do you make regular eye contact with the audience)
20--Organization (Does the speech have an introduction, thesis, points of arguments, and conclusion)
20--Evidence (Does the speech use quotes or statistics to provide proof for arguments)
20--Engagement (Does the speaker reference previous evidence from other speakers to prove a point)

Deductions will be made on average score for the following:

Insults or negative remarks towards a particular speaker
Not following directions of Presiding Officer
Poor use of Pariamentary Procedure

Kokomo Debate Tournament

Shortridge Debate will go and observe its first debate tournament on Saturday at Kokomo High School in Kokomo, Indiana. We will leave from the Shortridge parking lot at 6:00 AM on Saturday morning. We will observe Student Congress, Public Forum Debate, Lincoln/Douglas Debate, Spontaneous Debate, and Policy Debate. We expect to be back at approx. 5:00 PM Saturday afternoon. Be sure to bring money for meals. For more information, the information, itinerary and field trip form is available outside Rm 214 at school.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Shortridge Debate Blog! Hopefully this will help students and families better understand the class and interscholastic debate at Shortridge Magnet High School.

Right now we are preparing to start Student Congress Debate. We will use Congress Bills 2, 4, 8 and 12 from the Indiana High School Forensics Association website (www.ihsfa.org). To better understand Student Congress, go to www.nflonline.org and search "Student Congress Video." You can also read about Student Congress on Wikipedia. Just enter the search phrase, "Student Congress."