Let’s start with something different.

“Progressive Health” by Carl Dennis is a poem in the voice of a strangely seductive health care official. We’ll see a student rendition of it and then in small groups, we’ll analyze it on 2 levels.

1. How and with what strategies does the speaker attempt to convince the poet?  How does he/she use kairos, commonplaces, logic, and other strategies?
2. What is the poem itself trying to convince us of and through what (obviously more indirect) strategies?

Then, we’ll talk a bit about slide design by seeing the Presentation Zen blog.  This is a blog that deals with presentation styles and issues written by Garr Reynolds, a writer who lives in Japan. Look at the blog and especially click on some of the articles on the right side marked archives. See especially Jobs vs. Gates, What is good PowerPoint design, and Where do I get good images?

In a blog post, respond to these questions after you wander around a bit in Presentation Zen.

1. Give examples of the types of advice and example Presentation Zen uses.
2. What kind of persona does the author of the blog present?
3. Why is Jobs better than Gates?
4. How could PZ’s advice help you in your speech?

We’ll look at 2-3 speeches (or at least parts of them).

• Lawrence Lessig at TED

• Dick Hardt about Identity 2.0

• Hans Roslin at TED

Finally, I hope to give you some time to work.

HW: Design at least 4 slides for Thursday and continue your research.

Extra: Are you interested in Prezi?

Let’s take a look at what we have so far.  Click here and show me what you have for a hook and setting up the problem.  You may want to choose a shorter excerpt to stand in for the larger part of your persuasion piece.

Then, we’ll talk a bit.

HW:  Write up through section 3–explaining your solution–by Monday.

Take a look at this example to give you an idea of a strong persuasive essay. See this one as well (though it doesn’t have a section 4 “responding to critics”).

Here is a more complete, text-booky explanation of persuasion if you need it.

After a quick debriefing on the Photog in-class assignment, we’re going to talk a bit about argument. We’ll look at the opposingviews site and choose topics in small groups and note how arguments are created, how they use facts and logic, and what techniques are most persuasive.

Then, I’ll go through the Pecha-Kucha assignment, have students break up into pairs, and then use either procon.org, opposingviews, or the KCLS database (Opposing Viewpoints) to choose propositions.  One student will be for the proposition and another will be against. Also, see this site for examples of pecha kuchas.

Finally, I’ll give you class time to begin your research for your topic. Next week, we’ll talk about presentation construction.

HW: Have 5-7 sources and a rough outline of how your argument will proceed.

…but persuasion and faith are the kings of this world.” Thomas Carlyle

We’ll start with a presentation from me about persusaion. This will lead into a suggested organization for your persuasive essay:

1. Introduction (Exordium):  beginning the web, draw interest
2. Narration (Narratio): factual info, define the problem
3. Confirmation (Confirmatio): detail about the arguments, the nuts and bolts of your case
4. Refutation (Refutatio): addresses counter-arguments,  consider audience
5. Conclusion (Peroratio): satisfying close

You can take a look at this student example to help out. Remember a few points: you need 5 sources, you need to have several quotes from authority, you should utilize all 3 modes of persuasion, and it should be about 3 pages with a Works Cited page. I’ll talk research on Friday.

Finish up your Definition essay so we can get going.

HW: Choose your topic and begin your research.  You should have a minimum of 3 sources and a page of notes for Friday.