E-mail is the best way to get me a message that you
need to speak with me. My phone does not ring
through during the school day. My e-mail address is
mgillis@rolla.k12.mo.us
My classroom phone number is 458-0140 ext. 14302
My classroom webpage has information that you might
check periodically
Journalism
First Hour
Newspaper
Fourth Hour
English II
Second & Sixth
Hours
Yearbook
Fifth Hour
Plan Time
9:50-10:30
Public Speaking
Things work best when we are all invested
Turn your best work in on time
Be on time and prepared each day
Be cooperative and participative
Ask questions when you don’t understand
Come see me when you’ve been absent from class
GRADES UPDATED ON
FRIDAYS (CHECK PARENT PORTAL)
GRADES ARE STANDARD POINTS ON 90, 80, 70 SCALE
*First Amendment
*Press Law and Code of Ethics
*Newsworthy Qualities
*Interviewing
*Quote Attribution
*Writing Transitions and Writing Leads
*Writing Styles: News Writing, Viewpoint Writing, Feature
Writing, Sports Writing
*Photojournalism
*Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations
*Design (Photoshop, InDesign)
PROJECT: Yearbook & Newspaper
*Grammar & Vocabulary introduced on Mondays, daily grammar
assignments, quizzes on Fridays
*Reading Grade based on A.R. – 60 points for the semester, and
Reading Workshop points (on task reading in class – most Fridays)
*Literature – We will always be reading/discussing/responding,
and presenting about a novel. These can be used toward AR points
*Speaking – each unit will incorporate presentation
*Composition – A major writing assignment with each unit and
several small writing samples within each unit
State Assessment to determine our progress toward NCLB
Data Driven Instruction
A part of our school’s accreditation
RHS Communication Arts scores rock!
Vocabulary Lists come from common SAT words
Grammar is geared toward what is on the English section of
ACT
AR & Reading helps to improve reading speed and
comprehension for the reading section of ACT
Practice exams four times a year
Publications
Distribution
Kansas City?
Guidelines:
-All speeches will be recorded for self evaluation. You are required to complete a self
evaluation after each speech.
-You must provide constructive comments as a peer for each speaker (a minimum of
three constructive comments per speaker.
-You must present on the day you are called. Failure to do so results in a 50% grade
deduction. This is not flexible.
-You must turn in a type written outline for all speeches and a works cited page when
applicable.
-More detailed description of assignments and grading scales will be handed out at the
start of each speech unit
-The first week of school, you will be required to do an oral cold reading to the class.
This is a non-graded assessment
Informative Speech: Date ALREADY COMPLETED
Purpose: To inform the audience about a topic that they do not know about.
Audience: Students or delegates to a convention
Time: 2-3 minutes (one small note card approved)
You need a minimum of TWO sources. You will turn in an outline of your speech on the day
that you present your rough speech.
Demonstration Speech: Date _________
Purpose: To describe “How To” do something to the audience
Audience: RHS Speech Class
Time: 3-4 minutes (one small note card approved)
It is very important to be able to give oral instructions though example. This demonstration
speech gives students the opportunity to develop and present a "how to" speech. Students
should present a 3-4 minute speech demonstrating how to do something. Students can pick
from an everyday task to some unique talent they possess. The general purpose is for the
speaker to demonstrate some task well enough for the audience to perform the same task
once the presentation is over. Students' speeches should include their specific purpose and
main points — the required steps in order to perform the task. Steps should follow a logical
or chronological order, and there should be balance, coherence, and unity among the steps.
Guest Speaker Speech: Date _________
Purpose: Informative/Advocate a cause
Audience: RHS Speech Class
Time: 3-4 minutes (no notecards – visual aid required)
For this speech, you are to pick a group or organization and pretend that you have been
invited to be a guest speaker to advocate a cause.
Examples: You are invited to a Middle School D.A.R.E. program to speak, You are speaking at
a graduation about the importance of education, You are speaking for a political candidate
or party, You are speaking to a high school about violence intervention, You are speaking at
an American Cancer Society fundraiser, You can choose an organization and a cause to
advocate
Speech to my future Self: Date _________
Purpose: Reflective/Inspirational
Audience: You
Time: 2-3 minutes (memorized, no podium)
Contemplate your goals and priorities and in a 2-3 minute memorized speech addressed to
your future self, give advice, encouragement and direction. Perhaps use a lesson you’ve
learned in life as a premise, be specific with these things.
.
Acceptance Speech: Date _________
Purpose: To accept an award or position
Audience: A club or organization
Time: 2-3 minutes (memorized, no podium)
Write a 2-3 minute speech accepting an award that you dream of someday winning
Reinventing High School Speech: Date _________
Purpose: To persuade
Audience: School Board/Tax payers
Time: 4-5 minutes (visual aid required, no podium)
►The two of you have been elected to the State Board of Education and you are tasked
with reinventing American High Schools.
►Your audience (the rest of us) are tax paying parents and you have to convince us that:
There is a problem with the current way that high school is doing (a problem in the status
quo), The problem is a significant one , and that there is a way to solve these problems &
you have the plan
►Your speech must include a thorough discussion of the rational for changing high school.
WHAT DO TODAY’S STUDENTS NEED THAT THEY AREN’T GETTING?
State of your union Speech: Date _________
Purpose: To bring awareness/persuade action
Audience: A club or organization
Time: 4-5 minutes (memorized, no podium)
In this speech, you are to convey the top three things that you see as the biggest
problems/obstacles/hurdles/issues that your generation is facing or will face in the future.
For each thing that you list, you need to give examples of it happening, specific examples of
how it is affecting society, and a call to action – what we can do to turn it around and make
it better.
Persuasive Speech: Date _________
Purpose: To persuade
Audience: depends on topic
Time: 6-7 minutes (memorized, no podium)
This speech will be presented twice – the first round is a rough round, the second round is
memorized and podium free. No visual aids or note cards.
Final: Commemorative speech: Date _________
Purpose: To commemorate a person who has been influential in your life
Audience: Invited guests
Time: 3-4 minutes (memorized, no podium)
-Invite one or two people to join us for our final on ________________________
-During this time, you will perform a three minute speech thanking the person for their role
in your life
-You will not be penalized if your person can not come – I know that it is in the middle of the
day and it is hard for people to take off time from work
-Sending the invitation is part of your grade