English 101 Honors
Education Unit—Culminating Assignment
Class ofCla2016
Assignment Objectives
Students will:
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examine what they want to get out of their high school experience.
practice effective writing techniques.
gain experience using an analogy to illustrate a main idea.
share insights with peers through public speaking.
Assignment Explanation
Now that we have examined many issues related to learning, grades, and education, it is time to lay out your
own beliefs on these topics. Your task is to do this in an address to your fellow members of the class of 2013,
their parents, and the faculty of Prairie Ridge High School. Imagine it is four years from now and you have
been given the honor of speaking at your graduation ceremony.
In this graduation speech you should:
◦ Make an opinionated claim (stated as a fact) about your educational experience—this will be your thesis
statement and will guide the rest of your address.
◦ Discuss your educational experience thus far.
◦ Identify what has been important during the past four years—think academically, socially, and morally.
◦ Explain what parts of your educational experience will influence you in your life after high school.
◦ Consider your audience—what do you want your fellow graduates to feel upon hearing you speak? Let
your writer’s voice shine through here.
◦ Use an analogy to help illustrate your educational vision; in other words, it should explain what
education has meant to you.
Here is the
definition of
analogy…
What is an analogy, you ask? Well, remember Sydney J. Harris’ use of a sausage and an oyster to describe
teaching styles and Robert Persig’s use of a mule working for a carrot to explain students’ motivation?
Harris and Persig were using analogies, or a comparison of an unfamiliar idea to a simple, familiar one.
The comparison is usually quite lengthy, suggesting several points of similarity. An analogy is especially
useful when attempting to explain a difficult or complex idea. This is what you will be doing in your
graduation speech. Mention the analogy in your introduction and weave subtle references to it
throughout the rest of your paper, thus making your vision of education more real for your audience.
Assignment Guidelines
 The written outline should be double-spaced and typed in Times New Roman or comparable 12 point
font and follow the outline format.
 The speech should be thorough and contain an introduction (with an attention grabber, bridge, and
thesis), multiple pieces of support and analysis (following TEA format), and a clear closing which
reiterates the main points and leaves the audience wanting more..
 You will be presenting your ideas in a speech after you turn in your outline; it should be between 2-4
minutes long. You may not bring up your outline, so prepare notecards.
English 101 Honors F 13
Name:
Educational Unit Summative Assessment
Graduation Speech
Presentation Rubric
Outline
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Typed and edited for errors
Follows guidelines documented on “Outline Format,” including all of the labeled parts in the introduction and
conclusion
No singleton points (need a B if you have an A, etc.)
Breaks down speech into at least three main points, but does not limit itself; may need more to adequately prove the
thesis
Includes an analogy that is carried throughout the speech
Order of main points makes logical sense and flows—no wondering focus
Cites at least two textual references/educational quotations to help prove argument (using Zen and the Art of
Motorcycle Maintenance and/or “What True Education Should Do” to help prove the point)
Verbal Delivery/Effort and Entertainment
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______/10
Strong eye contact
Gestures are used naturally
Appropriate vocal volume and rate
Thoughtful pauses and inflections used to make the audience feel something
Rehearsal is evident
Notecards are used to aid the speaker, but do not act as a crutch—don’t read directly from them
Interesting, insightful, engaging, and creative—let the audience react (smiles, laughter, goose bumps, etc.)
Speech effectively satisfies the 2-4 minute time requirement
Content and Organization
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______/10
Opens with a thoughtful introduction; pulls the audience in with clear attention grabber, states the relevancy (stating
why the audience should care), and communicates a clear thesis
The thesis makes a clear claim about education and includes an analogy to help support the claim
Transitions between main ideas are present
Specific claims about education that develop the analogy are included throughout the speech
Analogy alluded to several times throughout analysis
Two published textual quotations cited aloud (uses Zen and/or “True Education”)
Multiple examples are provided to help support arguments
Includes critical insight that uses the examples and analogy to thoughtfully analyze the significance of education/prove
the thesis
Conclusion summarizes the main points, restates the thesis, and has a memorable close
TOTAL=______/30
A=27-30
B=26.5-24
C=23.5-21
D=20.5-18
F=0-17.5