ENG 4U1
Winter 2022
Final Performance Task
Lessons from Literature
Option A: Commencement Speech
When one’s high school career draws to a close, it is
natural to reflect on the lessons you have learned and
plan for the future that awaits. Adopting the role of
GWSS’s Valedictorian for the graduating class of 2022,
explain how your identity has been shaped by the life
lessons learned from the course texts.
● Deliver a commencement speech to your fellow students using an engaging persona.
● Your speech does NOT need to be memorized, however, making eye contact and knowing
your material are important!
● In your speech, using a 2 PPE paragraph, identify two significant life lessons that
you’ve learned, making connections to the course texts and course concepts related to
these lessons.
o Consider: which lessons are important for you to pass along to your fellow students
so that they too will feel the inspiration necessary for future success?
o Your ideas should be unified under one controlling idea (thesis).
o Your thesis statement should be original and help tie texts/lessons together. Sample
interesting and original thesis statements:
▪ Failure: Rock bottom becomes a solid foundation on which people rebuild
their lives.
▪ Points would be 2 different ways people have rebuilt their lives from disaster
● The speech must reference two different course texts
● Support your connections with specific textual details and examples (summary or quotes)
● Showcase your understanding of course terms (some examples include: Ecocriticism,
equity lenses, windows and mirrors, systemic racism, civil disobedience, etc.) by including
them where applicable
● Create a slideshow (use Google Slides) featuring key symbolic images that represent the
significant ideas expressed in your commencement speech.
o Show 5 images that symbolically represent your ideas while you speak.
o Select your images carefully! Consider using them as a method of establishing
Logos or Ethos, or in order to evoke powerful emotions in your audience (Pathos).
Important Notes:
● Your script must be written during class time ONLY
● Script length should be ideally ¾ page (maximum 1 page single spaced, size 12 font)
● Your visuals and recording may be completed outside of class time.
● Academic dishonesty may result in mark penalties or a zero.
ENG 4U1
Winter 2022
Option B: Social Media Video
Social media and YouTube have popularized a variety of
video styles that influencers use to share important
information (Draw My Life, Confession cam,
Challenge/Tag, Best of, How to, Product Reviews,
Unboxing, etc.). Adopting the role of social media
influencer, produce a video to explain how your identity
has been shaped by the life lessons learned from the course
texts.
● Produce a short video (style of your choice, see list above) as if it were being posted on
your popular YouTube/social media channel.
● Create your video with an engaging persona that appeals to your target audience.
● In your video, using a 2 PPE paragraph, identify two significant life lessons that you’ve
learned, making connections to the course texts and course concepts related to these
lessons
o Consider: which lessons are important for you to pass along to your followers so
that they too will feel the inspiration necessary for future success?
o Your ideas should be unified under one controlling idea.
o Your thesis statement should be original and help tie texts/lessons together. Sample
interesting and original thesis statements:
▪ Failure: Rock bottom becomes a solid foundation on which people rebuild
their lives.
▪ Points would be 2 different ways people have rebuilt their lives from disaster
● The video must reference two different course texts
● Support your connections with specific textual details and examples (summary or quotes)
● Showcase your understanding of course terms (some examples include: Ecocriticism,
equity lenses, windows and mirrors, systemic racism, civil disobedience, etc.) by including
them where applicable
● Use video creating app/software that you are already familiar with and have access to (e.g.
iMovie).
o Determine your video content carefully! How might you use symbols/images to
represent key ideas? How might you include Logos, Ethos, or Pathos to persuade
your audience?
Important Notes:
● Your script must be written during class time ONLY
● Script length should be ideally ¾ page (maximum 1 page single spaced, size 12 font)
● Your visuals and recording may be completed outside of class time.
● Academic dishonesty may result in mark penalties or a zero.
ENG 4U1
Winter 2022
Tips for Success:
1) Avoid clichéd metaphors and mixed metaphors. Do not write “We were like seedlings who flourished
in the fertile soil of Oakville, and now we are ready to spread our wings and fly.” (Are students plants
or birds? And is either comparison flattering to the intellectual abilities of the graduates/Youtube
audience?) Please avoid comparing life to a journey, a rollercoaster, a new chapter in a book, etc.
2) Avoid vague adjectives. Everything doesn’t have to be “great”, “fascinating” or make “me see things
in a new way.” “This” is not your best choice.
3) Unify your message. Here are some creative approaches to achieve unification:
a. Story/Quote
Use stories/quotes as the foundation. Start with one quote or story as the hook, talk about the
significance to life in general, and then universalize to the audience. Stories could be personal,
historical, or literary.
b. Metaphor/Analogy
Compare life, school, your memories, etc. to something (a recipe, a kleenex box, etc.). Again,
universalize your ideas to show how they relate to life. Be careful with clichés: avoid new
chapters, roads, boats.
c. Memory Lane
Celebrate accomplishments or memories and seek to link somehow to the future. What should
people take away from these accomplishments?
d. Main Theme/Topic
Choose a key theme/topic (e.g. perseverance, hard work, happiness, etc.). Expand upon the
significance of this concept through an explanation of key events from the text, quotations from
your chosen text, etc.
Timeline:
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
FPT Day 1
FPT Task intro
Wednesday
12
FPT Day 2
1) Script brainstorming
(30 min.)
Thursday
13
FPT Day 3
1) Script Outlining /
Writing
Friday
14
FPT Day 4
1) Script Writing
2) Begin visuals
2) Script outlining
Homework: find visuals
17
FPT Day 5
1) Polish script
18
FPT Presentation
planning and
rehearsal / recording
19
FPT Presentations
25
26
2) Finalize Slideshow
24
FPT Presentations
20
FPT Presentations
21
FPT Presentations
ENG 4U1
Winter 2022
Evaluation:
Category
Constructing
Meaning
Developing
and
Organizing
Content
Criteria
●
●
Speech/video demonstrates a variety of insights into themes, characters,
course terms and content etc. of text(s) chosen and includes specific textual
details and examples.
Marks
/10
Presentation/video is organized into a logical and unified sequence using a
clear and sophisticated thesis and effective intro and concluding strategies,
etc. (10)
/15
Understanding Form and
Style
●
Visuals enhance the key ideas from the speech/video and are expertly
integrated to reflect content. (5)
●
Demonstrates a strong voice in order to capture and maintain audience’s
attention through use of:
/5
o
Fluency
●
Modes of persuasion (logos, ethos, pathos)
Creates an engaging persona through:
o
o
Use of Voice: volume, expression/emotion, inflection, pacing,
pausing
Use of Body language: controlled gestures
/5