S+Beaulieu,+Merissa

Office: 7 Office Phone: 207-3333 Office Hours:** MTh 2-3:30 ** E-mail: ** merissa.beaulieu@maine.edu
 * Teacher: Ms. Beaulieu

=Summary of Unit= The students in this unit will explore the skills needed to effectively communicate formally and informally. They will also look at what kinds of media enhance oral presentations that can be modified for different groups of listeners. Students will explore these concepts through the use of group review, a classroom journal, and many formative assessments that give the students quick feedback. The final assessment for this unit will be able a podcast created through Garageband, completed in groups that will challenge them to create a traditional, or modern, retelling of a Greek Myth (of their choice). =Establish Goals= Maine Learning Results: English Language Arts - E. Listening and Speaking E2 Speaking Grades 9-Diploma //Mythology// Students determine speaking strategies for formal and informal discussions, debates, or presentations appropriate to the audience and purpose. = = =Students will understand that= •speaking effectively is essential when addressing people formally and informally. •standard English can be used to address many audiences, with many purposes. •selecting appropriate media can support the overall oral presentation. = = =Essential Questions= •Why is it necessary to be an effective public speaker? •How can I address different audiences without completely changing my topic? •Why does media enhance my overall presentation? = = =Students will know= •Terminology related to public speaking: speech writing, public speaking, and appropriate media. •Critical Details: using technology to enhance a presentation. •Performance Skills: geared to their specific presentation. = = =Students will be able to= •Demonstrate the ability needed to effectively speak. •Evaluate appropriate media and its relevance to the project. •Perform using proper English in their presentation. •Criticize their overall performance, and improve upon it. •Be open to topic modifying to fit many different needs. •Reflect on the overall effect of their presentation on their audience.

**Performance Task Overview** You are entering a contest with other storytellers to develop the next best selling audio book on audible.com! Your job is to create a podcast that retells a Greek myth that you choose with your group, in a traditional or modern way. A panel of CEOs from audible.com will judge the entries and decide which podcast will be the best choice to be made into an audio book. If you create the best podcast, audible.com will pay you the big bucks to use your idea! =Expectations=

Absence/Attendance:
Although it is expected that you will attend every class, I fully understand that there will times that you cannot attend. If you miss class, for any reason, you must take the responsibility to get the work you missed and see me for what we did in class. I expect you to contact me if you are absent, or plan on being absent, feel free to email me at: merissa.beaulieu@maine.edu. If you let me know about your absence and your plans to get all of the work completed, there will be no penalty on the final grade of the work. There will be folders for each class within my homeroom. Within each class folder will the notes, handouts, and other information that was covered in class. Students are expected to check the folder for all necessary handouts, etc. before conferencing with me, or the following class.

Assignments:
All assignments are expected to be **completed to the best of your ability** and on time. If for some reason you feel that your work is not up to par or it is late, you have the opportunity to meet with me and devise a "plan of attack" to get you back on the right path. All work **can only** be redone if you meet with me prior to restarting the assignment. Don't feel like you will fail if you miss, or do badly, on an assignment!

Plagiarism:
The school's current policy regarding plagiarism is in effect. If you are found using plagiarism in this classroom you will receive a zero on that assignment. =Benchmarks= Total Points: 495! •**Podcast:** Students will create a podcast that retells a Greek myth (traditionally or in a modern fashion) in a creative and inventive way. This project will follow the information outlined in the Task Overview. It is expected that you will add music, other sound effects, or maybe even photos that enhance your overall product. All added elements should be related. By creating a podbean account, all of the students will post their podcast on the account as an electronic presence! **(225 points)** •**Skype:** Students will use the computer program Skype, to communicate with other classrooms of varying age groups in order to practice their engaging speaking skills to different audiences, while taking advantage of modern technology. In this project they will attempt to actively engage an audience who is not directly in front of them by trying to teach them how to eat a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. This project will also require them to be able to write clear and concise directions. **(60 points)** •**Scripts:** Students will have to develop, write, and revise scripts that focus on the myth they will choose for their podcast. These will be required to be submitted with the final product (the podcast) and should include all of the technical elements included within the podcast. **(60 points)** •**Persuasion Map:** Students will use a persuasion map to justify each and every advancement, development, or change they have made on their final podcast project. There only be one per a group, and every member will have to clearly show (in a way that works for each individual) what their contributions were to the overall design and implementation of technical components of the project. **(25 points)** •**Blog:** Students will keep a blog (using Blogger) to keep track of what they are doing to create their podcast, trace what they have learned in and out of class about speaking, and give me insight as to what each member of the group is bringing to the table for the project. The students should use the blog to reflect on what we have gone over in class and ask any questions they might have. **(70 points)** •**Glogster:** Students will create a Glogster that will demonstrate their understanding of the importance of using many types of media to enhance a presentation. This project will be the final assessment before the podcasts! The Glogster is meant to be a supplement to the podcast and should be focused on the myth the students have chosen. **(55 points)**

=Grading Scale= **A** (93 -100), **A-** (90 - 92), **B+** (87 - 89), **B** (83 - 86), **B-** (80 - 82), **C+**(77 - 79), **C** (73-76),
 * C-** (70 - 72), **D+**(67 - 69), **D** (63 - 66), **D-** (60 - 62), **F** (0 - 59)