Please turn in the final copies of your Sicko and debate papers by this Friday. All papers should be written according to MLA format. When you turn in your final papers to my email account at raphaeljohncomprone@gmail.com, please indicate that you are turning in your final paper by attaching the word final to the name of your document: e.g. JeanToomerFINAL.doc.
When I download attachments marked FINAL at the end, I will issue a final grade and will not send you any paper back for revision. Please turn in your final papers by the end of the week so I can calculate your grades. I should have your grades availabe by the end of the week as soon as you turn them in. You still have to show up for the final exam and show me your exam permit. I should be able to give you your grade at that point.
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
Affirmative Side: single payer health care=drive us out of the recession
prescription drugs will have a dramatic price drop
people go bankrupt.... because of existing health care system
not organized while speaking
can't read his own writing
the second speaker was better and brought some good points up
why so many people uninsured?
why should people have to pay for it?
should prices increase?
A little confusing overall as a concluding statement, but better in the second half
There was not much clarity about what single payer would be like in the conclusion.
Negative Side
people would lose their jobs
quality of care go down
taxes go up
people will stop working because they won't need a job for health care
surgery will be hard to have because of lines
small businesses will be driven out of business
the national deficit will increase
the costs will be greater than projected costs
both groups couldn't read the writing
Andrea comes up at the end
everyone should have their own insurance
Affirmative Side: shaky presentation in round one
Negative Side: round one: on points, argumentation, won round one;
Round 2 won by the affirmative side, Round One won by the negative side.
Round 3=Group 1 disorganized, confused the facts.... Group 2 summarized points, not enough time
200 for group one, 195 for group two
Monday, March 15th, 2010
Important Update: To watch the Sicko film, go to youtube.com, and you can see it in thirteen different parts. Here is the first part. Please watch the other parts as well.
It is definitely worth watching. You will see the problems that we have with health care in this country.
Please write your papers on two different scenes in the movie.
As for the debate assessment paper, you can write it now even though we have not completed the third round. You must document your sources, and you must follow the structure of the debate: introduction, rebuttal, and conclusion. Lastly, some students have been sending me their persuasive speeches on youtube. I have not been able to watch the videos because they are private. Be sure to change the privacy settings so I can watch the video. Alternatively, you can save the video you make onto a jump drive and give it to me the Monday we get back from break. I should be in my office at 10 a.m.
The persuasive speech is no longer required for my class.
Dr. Moore will be taking over the course after we finish the debate.
Contact me should you have any questions: raphaeljohncomprone@gmail.com
March 9th, 2010
Friday, March 12th, 2010
Please turn in all of your assignments before Sunday, March 14th.
I will be calculating midterm grades. If you have turned in all assignments, you will receive a passing grade.
If you are missing any assignments, you will receive a deficiency.
If you are missing more than two assignments, you will receive an F for the midterm grade.
Please note that you will have to revise assignments after the midterm. All assignments should be kept together in a folder for the end of the semester.
Rebuttal by affirmative team:
a lot of facts given about the lack of quality medical care in the United States as a rebuttal; more money going into health care=rebuttal; many more facts than the negative team; private insurance is based on turning down people for preexisting conditions; taxes=100% insurance
during the presentation, not much eye contact, speaker seems a little lost,
but many good facts given; medical care would be reliable; gov't buys vaccine for swine flu; not as confused as the negative team seemed--the negative team did not say how they would bring down high insurance prices; why go without insurance? excellent question but not well formulated; you wouldn't have to wait long; doctors would have more experience, and there would be more doctors
Q&A round:
Will people lose their jobs? move out of the private sector to the public secton
Do you feel that we all should pay taxes? paying for an overall medical system
Do you think people will start doing crimes and do dumb stuff to get medical coverage?This system will be harder to abuse, and health care is already abused in the U.S.
Are we born with this health care?
Are people who don't pay taxes covered? People who cheat on their taxes?
Assignments due:
Sicko paper: compare and contrast several scenes from Sicko. Describe what you learned from watching the movie and describe your reaction.
Debate Paper: Argue in favor of your group's position. Introduce your group's argument and state three reasons in favor of your group's argument. In a rebuttal, present three of the opposing team's arguments and refute them. In a conclusion, summarize your group's points. Include research and document your sources.
Persuasive speech: In a five minute presentation (either a video presentation that you download to my computer in class or a youtube presentation uploaded from your cell phone, or an in class presentation), make a persuasive speech about a topic of your choice. Refute the opposing argument after listing the arguments of the opposing side. Make a conclusion and be prepared to answer any questions. If you are doing a video presentation, develop your own questions and answer them at the end of your presentation.
In class debate: Complete the debate with your group.
The rhetoric test will be postponed to a later date.
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
Today, we began the second round of our debate. The negative team presented their rebuttal.
The arguments the negative team presented against universal single payer health care:
single payer raises taxes
some people will quit jobs just to get single payer
paying too much taxes
only older people should get free health care
limited to the help people can get
waiting in lines to get help
American insurance is costly but better quality
long wait in the hospital
if everyone has insurance, too many people will have insurance
insurance will turn people away so they can make money
one big organization
gov't gets money if they turn people away
people will be paying extra for those who don't pay taxes and still get health care
people who don't work get free health care
Brandon, Calvena, Dominique, and Andrea presented the rebuttal
The questions the affirmative team asked and the answers the negative team presented:
where are all of your sources?
wikipedia.org
google
from the internet
prospect.com
Which sources are more valid? How do the judges evaluate them?
CNN gets a lot of its information from wikipedia
If you quit your job, how do you pay your bills? Ruche's question.
There is a lot of government assistance. The gov't will take care of you.
Not everyone would quit a job to get gov't assistance. People do that.
Why should the working man not have free health insurance? Why should only senior citizens get health care?
Tyson's question
They shouldn't go to the doctor if they can't pay for it.
* should be more research presented
* the negative team did a good job presenting different points of view
* they didn't argue enough in favor of
The arguments the positive team present for universal single payer health care:
The questions the negative team asked and the answers the negative team presented:
Overall analysis of second round:
How do I make accept or reject the corrections Dr. Comprone makes with track changes? Put the cursor on the material highlighted in red. Right click the mouse on your computer. Look at the drop down menu. Click Accept Change or Reject Change.
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Today, classes were canceled. Please send me your papers. On Monday, I will send out Early Alerts for the students who have not turned in their assignments.
Send your work to raphaeljohncomprone@gmail.com
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Today, we completed the rebuttal round. Remember, we have five assignments due:
1) persuasive speech
2) last two rounds of debate
3) debate assessment: write a three page paper on your group's argument; include an introduction, rebuttal, and conclusion
4) rhetoric midterm exam
5) two page paper on Sicko
You can send any written assignment to me at raphaeljohncomprone@gmail.com
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Today, we covered the first round of the debate. The affirmative group's introductory speech was informative, but a little too brief. The negative group's introductory speech was informative, but there could have been more eye contact. It was the appropriate length.
The first round went well. Please prepare for the second round on this Thursday. This is where you should present your rebuttal.
Assignments due:
1) debate
2) debate assessment: argue in favor of your group's position; write an introduction with at least 3-5 points; rebut/refute 3-5 points the opposing team would make; write a conclusion. Include a works cited list and draw your facts from research 3-4 pages
Send the assignment to raphaeljohncomprone@gmail.com
3) Sicko
Watch this Michael Moore film about the health care crisis. Discuss at least two scenes in the movie. Do not summarize or copy information from the web about the film. 2 pages
4) Persuasive Speech: 5 minutes in length; you may also do this speech on youtube. It must have an intro. (1 minute), rebuttal (3-4 minutes), conclusion, and you must answer at least one question.
If you do the assignment on youtube, you must send me your topic so I can send you a few questions to answer.
5) Rhetoric test: I will give you the material study for the test on rhetoric.
The old campus of Boydton Institute is just a short distance from Saint Paul's College, between Lawrenceville and South Hill. It was a Black school, and Vernon Johns attended there before moving on to higher education. Some of its graduates are still living in the Boydton area, but, as the school closed around the 1930s, there is limited time left to collect oral histories. This would be a good opportunity for history students, especially, to use what they've learned in the classroom to preserve a piece of the past. The opportunity to work with faculty on the attached list would be an added bonus.
Please contact Dr. Palmgren concerning this matter if you would like to engage in this project (extra credit awarded): jpalmgren@saintpauls.edu
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Today, we began our debate paper. You need to argue in favor of your group's position.
The proposal being debated is:
Universal single payer health care should be provided to all Americans.
In your paper, you should have an introduction, listing at least 3-5 reasons why your group's argument is right, a rebuttal, listing 3-5 opposing reasons from the opposite team and refuting them (state clearly why they are wrong), and a conclusion, summarizing your team's ideas about universal, single payer health care.
This assignment should be at least 3 pages in length and should have research from at least 3 sources. List the sources at the end of your paper.
2) go to the search bar, and type in Sicko, and it will pop up.
3) Watch the movie
4) Write a two page paper discussing two scenes that impressed you in the movie. Do not refer to outside sources and do not plagiarize from the web.
Please sign up for a persuasive speech. You may now send me a video of your persuasive speech. We only have three weeks left before spring break.
February 4th, 2010, Thursday
We are going to watch the film Sicko by Michael Moore. We will do the first round of the debate on Tuesday (rescheduled). Everyone will also have to turn in a two page paper by Tuesday. Turn into me at raphaeljohncomprone@gmail.com. Support your team's argument. Use facts, statistics, and information. Do not simply cut and paste from other websites. Include your introduction, your body paragraphs (rebuttal of three points from the opposing argument), and conclusion. Cite your sources.
We will also have to write a two page paper on Sicko.
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Round one: health care debate
Affirmative side
well dressed
good eye contact
emphasizes family members first
defines single payer health care
47 million people uninsured
guaranteed, cost-effective
60% taxes on police dep't and fire dep't etc.?
single payer recaptures wasted money
save $350 billion
everyone would be equal
A little short only-3 minutes in length
Negative Side
single public agency delivers health care
against single payer
1) free health care-- not free because paid with taxes and will result in spending cuts
2) entitlement: taxes will go up just as much as health care costs already
3) would certain operations be covered? who would decide about what surgeries are required? Would about nose jobs necessary after an accident?
Gov't control=also politics, medical procedures will come to a political battle
4) waiting too long for treatment; some Canadians go to the U.S.
5) the total cost will be more
reading too much from the paper
Not as good eye contact, but not too bad
more information given
6) doctors will have to spend more time on non-critical care w/universal health care because everyone will go
Sometimes gets lost reading 7) healthy people will have to take care of people who indulge in risks; they will have to pay higher taxes to support people who need to go to the hospital more because of unhealthy lifestyles
8) insurance industry out of business
January 28th, 2010, Thursday
Today, we discussed the single payer health care plan. We are postponing the debate until next Thursday. We will watch Michael Moore's Sicko on Tuesday. We will have a test on the health care debate the week after next Thursday.
Please study and research thoroughly the differences between single payer and free market health care plans.
Here is a link to a site that describes the benefits of single payer (click below):
We completed the first round of the debate. We also discussed persuasive speeches and potential topics. Your persuasive speech should be five minutes in length. You should spend 1 minute introducing your topic; you should spend three minutes rebutting your opponent's argument and presenting research and at least three ideas in favor of your topic; you should spend one minute concluding your speech; lastly, you should be prepared to answer questions from your audience for at least five minutes.
You may do your persuasive speech on youtube. Click "record from webcam" and record. Preview your video and then publish it. This is a new option for your persuasive speech. Send me a link to your video at raphaeljohncomprone@gmail.com.
Taxes should be raised on the rich to pay for the deficit
No big bank is too big to fail
A second stimulus bill should be passed
Military spending should be decreased
Interest rates should be decreased
The government should reduce spending
Teacher salaries should be raised
College Presidents' Salaries Should Be Lowered
Coaches Should Make More Money
CEOs are overpaid
We are going to do the second round for the debate on Thursday. Please dress appropriately if you are speaking.
We will also have a test on rhetoric and public speaking for the midterm. I have a video lecture on rhetoric and public speaking.
January 21st, 2010 Thursday
Today, we started the debate, but I could not fix the settings on my computer to make a video recording of our debate. I will make a recording of our debate on Tuesday. Please make your first round memorable. You need to speak for at least four minutes (no more than five) and present your case. We will also try to do the rebuttal if we can squeeze the second round in on Tuesday. Please remember that EVERYONE will be tested on the debate material as soon as we finish. You will have to write a three page essay in favor of your group's argument. You should outline the main points of your argument, you should discuss your team's rebuttal, and you should conclude. Be sure to cite sources. You can send me your paper on the debate to raphaeljohncomprone@gmail.com.
The debate topic is: All Americans should have comprehensive, single payer, universal health care. The affirmative team is arguing in favor, and the negative team is arguing against the proposition.
January 19th, 2010 Tuesday
We prepared for the in class debate on Thursday. Remember that the first round of the debate will be on Thursday.
The proposition is: All Americans should have single payer, universal health care provided by the U.S. government.
January 14th, 2010 Thursday
Today, we divided into two groups and prepared for next Thursday's debate. We are preparing to have the debate take place next Thursday. The debate will be concerning health care reform. The proposition will be:
All Americans should have single payer, universal health care provided by the U.S. government.
The affirmative team will argue in favor of the proposition, while the negative team will argue against the proposition.
Three judges will evaluate the debate.
The debate is divided into three rounds.
During the first round, both teams have five minutes to present their argument to the judges.
During the second round, each team presents a five minute rebuttal in which the opposing side's argument is refuted.
During the second round, each side is allowed to ask the other side three questions. Each team will have five minutes to prepare the questions and three minutes to confer with one another to answer the questions.
The third and final round is the moment when each team presents their last argument. There should not be any time spent on rebutting the opposing team's argument.
After each round, the judges present their views on which team won the debate.
After the final round, the judges will present their argument about the winning team. They will discuss the criteria that they used to evaluate both team's performances.
Everyone in the class will have to write a two page written evaluation of the debate and what was learned from it.
Click on any of these links below to learn about the details of single payer versus universal health care.
Here are some important links for you to look at for the debate:
Also, for those arguing against universal health care, there is the problem of national debt:
U.S. debt bigger than what the whole world makes in one year
Saint Paul’s College: Department of Humanities & Behavioral Sciences
Speech
Course Information: Instructor:
English 130-1 Dr. Comprone
Spring Semester 2010
Class Time: Office:
T R 9:30-10:45 RH 136
Classroom: Office Hours:
RH R/LAB MWF 2-4 P. M. T R 2-3 P.M.
Office Phone: Credit Hours:
contact by email only 3
Email: raphaeljohncomprone@gmail.com
Website: www.comprone.info
Pre-requisite: This course is a general education requirement.
Required Texts:
TBA
Selection of Texts:
Recommended, not required text: Lucas, Stephen E. The Art of Public Speaking. New York: McGraw Hill, 2007.
In this course, we will be reading from a selection of famous speeches throughout the semester.
You may also purchase Say It Plain: A Century of Great African American Speeches (ISBN: 1-56584-924-80) as a supplemental text. The majority of the famous speeches we will cover in class will come from this text.
Course Description:
This course is designed for students to develop skills in effective oral communication.
Course Rationale:
The purpose of this course is to prepare students to become eloquent, persuasive public speakers.
Course Goals, Objectives, and Corresponding Program Outcomes:
1 Students will complete one five minute persuasive speech and one five minute informative speech
2 Students will also study the art of public speaking and complete a midterm exam and final exam
3 Students will learn the history of rhetoric as well as study speeches by African American orators and famous American orators
4 Students will overcome any fears they might have about public speaking
Expectations for Student Behavior as Related to Course Objectives and Their Corresponding Program Outcomes:
Please arrange for meeting with me during office hours. Students must behave appropriately by: 1) avoiding talking when the professor is speaking, 2) being punctual (students will lose points for tardiness and excessive absences), 3) ALWAYS bringing their textbooks to class, 4) actively participating in class, 5) not plagiarizing, 6) avoiding the use of foul language and abusive behavior, 8) adhere to the dress code, 9) do not use any slang or inappropriate language in your speeches, and 10) being polite to other students.
The attendance policy is as follows:
Students missing more than 6 times (EXCUSED or UNEXCUSED) must WITHDRAW or receive a
failing grade of F.
This policy will be strictly enforced.
Students with 2 or less absences will receive an additional 10% for their final grade. Excused absences will not be factored into this calculation, e.g. a student who has three excused absences and no unexcused absences will not receive an additional 10% added to his or her final grade.
Students cannot obtain excuses for absences after the semester is over.
Class Format, Process, and Methods of Instruction:
Students can only receive incompletes upon permission by the instructor (an incomplete can only be filed for during the semester) and only if they are experiencing financial difficulties or a grave personal matter (I must be notified in person by the student or by a relative before the end of the semester). Excuses will only be accepted from the Provost's office. I will only accept assignments in person (do not slip any assignments under my office door--I am not responsible if any of these assignments should end up missing). It is the student's responsibility to make up any missing work and to check on his or her grade during the semester. Absolutely no excuses for absences can be issued after the semester is completed (if you do not show me the excuse during the semester--you have to show me the excuse in person, do not put it under my door--I will not give you an excuse--this applies to athletes as well). Athletes must personally give me a copy of their game schedule and indicate to me the days they will be absent. They must also make up any work and or missed instruction the day after their absence. ABSOLUTELY no grade changes are possible after the semester. Please check with me before the end of the semester to see if you have any outstanding work to complete.
Persuasive Speech 20%
Informative Speech 20%
Midterm Exam on rhetoric 20%
Final Exam 20%
Participation, classwork, and attendance 20%
Grading Scale
90-100% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
59% and below F
Course Outline and Assignment Due Dates:
TBA
Tentative List of Assigned Readings and Assignments:
We will analyze the speeches of many famous African Americans in class. You must bring a notebook to class and complete assignments on these different orators in the African American tradition. I will collect your notebooks periodically, and you will receive grades for your classwork. We will also have debates about these orators and their contribution to the African American community and to America at large.
Booker T. Washington, Speech to the Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition, 1895
Atlanta Exposition Address
Marcus Garvey, Explanation of the Objects of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, 1921
Mary McLeod Bethune, What does American Democracy Mean to Me?", 1939
Walter White, Speech at NAACP Annual Convention, 1947
Dick Gregory
Fannie Lou Hamer
Stokely Carmichael
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Shirley Chisholm
Barbara Jordan
Jesse Jackson
Clarence Thomas
Barack Obama
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Cornel West Part Two
To Be A Leftist 2 3
For your persuasive speech, you will have to debate about a particular topic. Expect students and your instructor to ask you questions about your persuasive speech. You must give a rebuttal to any opposing arguments, and you should be prepared to answer any objections your audience may have.
If you have a topic in mind, please receive approval from your instructor.
You also must complete an informative speech.
Here is a list of suggested topics:
These speeches must also be five minutes in length, and you must be prepared to answer any questions from your audience.
* You must keep a notebook and write all notes and in class assignments down in the notebook. I will collect the notebook periodically during the semester. For every speech, you must prepare an outline and turn it in after you have completed the speech. You also must be prepared for questions. Any speech under five minutes will be a letter grade lower.
In class assignments:
Write about the differences between a speech and an ordinary conversation (one to two pages).
What makes a speech effective and persuasive?
What experiences have you had speaking in public? Do you have stage fright?
What is ethnocentrism? How should you avoid it?
Part One
Speaking in Public
Ethics and Public Speaking
Listening
Giving your First Speech
Part Two
Speech Preparation: Getting Started
Selecting a Topic and Purpose
Analyzing the Audience
Gathering Materials
Supporting your ideas
Part III Speech Preparation: Organizing and Outlining
In addition, we will read and analyze important speeches from famous African American orators this semester. You will have to choose one of these speeches to write on for the essay portion of the midterm exam. The midterm exam will have multiple choice questions based on the first three sections of The Art of Public Speaking and an essay section (you may bring a copy of the speech you are analyzing to class). It is expected that you will have completed at least one speech by the midterm.
Midterm Exam
Part IV Presenting the Speech
Part V Varieties of Public Speaking
We will have covered the speeches of more African American orators as well as the text of famous speeches throughout world history. You will have to write an essay on one of these speeches for the essay component of your final exam. Multiple choice questions will be generated based on Part IV and Part V of The Art of Public Speaking.
FINAL EXAM
Recommended Internet Sites: www.comprone.info for updates on assignments, syllabi, poetry club submissions (extra credit)
