GLADIATOR Performance Task: Take a Stand
Richard Watkins wrote this history of the gladiator games to educate and entertain readers about the
grandeur and the violence of ancient Rome. The question at the heart of this assignment is: Are the
gladiator games simply cruel and pointless displays of blood-shedding which should be abolished, or
entertaining and essential spectacles which should be supported and continued? You, a Roman senator,
have already chosen (or been assigned) a perspective, and now you must convince an audience of your peers
and, more importantly, our two guest consuls you’re right in a well-structured, well-supported persuasive
essay, which you will deliver as a speech in our very own Roman Forum.
Consider the following in building your argument:






What is your stand on your topic?
What are your reasons for holding this opinion?
What reasons might someone else have for the opposing point of view?
What evidence from the Watkins’s book support AND contradict your perspective?
Who is your audience? How can you best convince this audience?
Which persuasive structure (Two Reasons, Nestorian Order, Strawman and One Reason, or
Concession) would work best to convince this audience?
 Which lead approach (logos, pathos, ethos) will intrigue your audience and inspire them to be open
to your ideas?
 How formal should your “voice” be for this audience?
 How can you reach this audience?
Key Criteria:
Process: Your process is as important as your product. (See process rubric.)
 The required steps are as follows:
o effective prewriting – prewrites 1,2, & 3; Venn diagram from your notes and from classcreated Venn.
o first draft
o writer/peer critique
o second draft
o clocking (proofreading) & final draft
o publish (speech for the Roman Forum) and turn in for evaluation
o final reflection
 You will use class time wisely.
 You will complete each step on time.
Product:
 Your argument will be clear, coherent, insightful, well supported with evidence from the text,
written in your own voice and point of view, and persuasive for your particular audience, and it will
be free from errors in capitalization, usage, punctuation, and spelling. (See product rubric.)
 NOTE: for Proficient level – Two Reasons or Nestorian Order; for Advanced level – Strawman &
One Reason or Concession
 Your speech will be well rehearsed and delivered with poise and flair. (See public speaking rubric.)