Unit Plan 341 Final Copy

7/30/2019 Unit Plan 341 Final Copy

1/20

When Do Secrets Become Dangerous?A Thematic Unit on Liberation and Imprisonment

For 7th Grade ELA

Presented by Kimberly Hesler on 12/14/12 for AED 341


2/20

2

Table of Contents

Overview:

Summary: page 3

Rationale: page 3

Project Based Learning: page 3

Interdisciplinary Justification: page 4

Respect for Difference: page 4

Assessments: page 4

Text Set: page 5-7

Unit Plan Schedule: page 8-13

Handouts:

Culminating Project Handout/Requirements: page 14-15

Culminating Project Checklist: page 16

Culminating Project Assignment Sheet: page 17

Self/Group-Assessment: page 18

Rubric: page 19-20


3/20

3

Overview:

Summary:

EQ: When do secrets become dangerous?

EU: Students will understand thatsecrets deal with loyalty, dishonesty, self-protection, andthe

importance of not hiding from shame. Each student will use his or her post secret activity,

persuasive writing, and public speaking techniques to gather their information and transform

these main points into a PSA. Students will cover the role of secrets in society and culture and

touch upon their danger when it comes to the unrevealing of secrets. This will focus on their prior

knowledge or their experience with secrets, even their opinion on secrets that can lead up to

public humiliation.

Throughout this unit students will benefit from a variety of texts. They will analyze different types of

secrets and figure out when each one is important to be kept a secret and when it should be told. They will

have controversial discussions about the government, law, moral obligations, and situations and reasons

relating to why some secretes are kept. Students will learn about the toll that secrets have on our everyday

lives and learn how having the right research and support helps create a safe environment to feel

comfortable, and release secrets. They will also notice when breaking moral obligations, and even the lawcomes into play. During the unit, students will become better speakers, writers, and listeners as they work

to create a Public Service Announcement. Most importantly, students will find an assertively confident way

to discuss secrets. They will express why it is useful to release the burden of a secret and work towards

liberation. This is not just about secrets; it is a deeper unit on liberation and imprisonment, which both set

up the tension of secrets. During this unit students will flush out this tension and present their findings in a

Public Service Announcement (PSA).

Rationale:

1)Administrators: In the middle school setting, administrators are forced to deal with a number of vast

adjustments. They must deal with immature circumstances, most of these based on the lives of their

students. Students must learn how to grow and become problem solvers themselves. Their PSA will

nurture maturity and allow them to interact with serious real life scenarios that they can learn from anddiscuss. Students will foster listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills as they work towards their

culminating projects. Students will become persuasive writers and speakers. These skills will allow them to

develop arguments, and fight for their freedoms. Most importantly, these skills will enhance their scores on

standardized tests. It will serve great purpose in developing writing that targets a specific audience.

2)Students: This will help students understand their peers and form relationships based on their interests

and secrets. They will work together to become aware of their similarities. They will realize that they are

not alone, and they are not all that different. This recognition will allow them to form relationships and find

support. Students will become aware of their classmates struggles, and share their own. This outlet will

give them a safe haven for their sufferings. They will understand the complexities of secrets and realize that

although a secret may be set free and be useful to their own health, it may negatively affect the person who

they have passed it on to. Students will liberate themselves and release the burden of holding secrets in,

and give them the power to change their current situation.

3) Colleagues/Practitioners of Critical Pedagogy/Empowering Education: This unit will allow students

to mature and make changes that matter. They will have a better grasp on society, and many controversial

topics. They will see the complexities of secrets and the bigger picture of imprisonment and liberation that

surrounds this issue. This unit will address multiple aspects of ELA standards and various uses of

researching, reading, writing, and speaking. Students will focus on poems, novels, articles, and visual

prompts, which will introduce them to these learning styles. Students will improve their research skills and


4/20

4

gather information as they interact with an assortment of multimodal texts. Lessons on persuasive writing

and speaking will give them the skills necessary to catch the attention of a specific audience.

Project-Based Learning: Throughout this unit, students will be learning through inquiry: research,

revisions, and a final product based on collaboration. As they go through trial and error they will take part

in hands on learning through discovery, and gain the benefits of problem based learning. Through all of this

students will determine who and what is important to them. They will research secrets, and inherit theconfidence and skills to present to others, which secrets have the power to imprison, and how useful it is to

release this burden and reach liberation.

Interdisciplinary Justification: This unit will not only focus on ELA skills such as reading and writing but

students will also work through the stages of technology, history, social studies, (laws, code of ethics) and

psychology. Students will learn the roles that secrets play in ones individual life and also in society. They

will focus in on laws and explore the liberation and imprisonment that comes along with a secret.

Respect for Difference: Students will be revealing their deepest secrets; therefore they will be learning to

trust each other. They will create a support group and emotional outlet as they learn to depend on each

other during this process. Each students unique culture, religion, and ethnicity will be connected and

brought together because regardless of where you come from you will most likely have been affected by a

secret at some point in your life. They will research and learn together and then work in close groups to

produce a successful PSA.

Assessments: Students will have the chance to reflect on their work many times throughout this process.

They will receive feedback from their audience as well once their PSA has been aired. Some of the learning

process will be through formative assessments, such as exit slips, in-class observations, peer evaluation

and feedback, and higher order questioning. There will also be summative assessments, using small-scale

writing assignments, regarding persuasion, public speaking tactics, vocabulary and reading comprehension

quizzes, and ultimately the end of unit PSA assignment. Some lessons will be graded based on how well

students are working together and contributing to their group. Students will also have a rubric to guide

them through their final project, which will count as a major grade in this course.


5/20

5

Text Set

King, A. S. Please Ignore Vera Dietz. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. Print.

ADVERTISING TECHNIQUES." ADVERTISING TECHNIQUES. N.p., n.d. Web. 6

Dec. 2012.

In this article students will be presented with numerous advertising techniques. Each

practice will be explained in its own category. They will see how facts, figures, diversion,

transfer, and wit and humor all play a big role in the production of a successful

advertisement. They will also explore the power of Bandwagon, which is a form of

propaganda that exploits the desire of most people to join the crowd or be on the winning

side. This article filled with tips for a catchy advertisement will also provide the students

with simple solutions to avoid complexities. It will encourage each student to attack

many problems to one solution and divert the audience by giving them a reason to be

entertained through visuals or language.

An Apple a Day (A PSA on Anorexia). YouTube. 2011. 6 Dec. 2012.

.

This PSA will serve as an example of what their culminating projects should resemble.

Through music, words, and images the audience learns the dangers of anorexia. This PSA

raises awareness of the disease and students will begin to pinpoint certain moves made by

the creators. They will pick out certain sounds, and images that stand out to them, which

will help them as they work to create their own later on.

Anti Bullying PSA: The Price of Silence. YouTube. 2010. 6 Dec. 2012.

.

This PSA covers another serious topic that can easily be related to secrets. As the PSA

touches on bullying, and the pain it inflicts on its victims. It also touches upon why

bullying is such a widespread issue in school and poses the audience with this question:

why is nobody speaking up? The various elements of a great PSA are highlighted here as

different tones, images, and age groups are shown. By watching this video students will

understand that a PSA must target an audience while speaking to and covering some

serious issues. This message is powerful and a great example for students to figure out

how they will create a message that will truly touch and persuade their audience.

Brain on Drugs. YouTube. 2006. 6 Dec. 2012.

.

In this famous Brain on Drugs PSA a powerful message is portrayed. The author makes

great use of time as his message is presented as serious and urgent. His actions are

extreme as he compares the human brain on drugs to a scrambled egg that cracks as it is

smashed against a frying pan. The music throughout the PSA is also very grave, and it

serves to show how to catch the attention of a specific audience. This PSA is also very

personal and challenges the norm of many teenagers who are engaging in drug use. This

is connected to secrets and shows the dangers of taking out the complexities of

adolescence in a harmful way.


6/20

6

Emmy 2011 Best Commercial Nominees. YouTube. 2011. 6 Dec. 2012.

.

In this group of award winning commercials, celebrities have limited time to speak on the

behalf of many businesses, products, or important topics. Regardless of what each is

speaking for, they all effectively draw attention to one topic and get an important

message across. Using celebrities to raise awareness or gain an audience is a great PSAtactic but students must learn from this and figure out how to deliver an important

message without a celebrity in the limelight. Students will also realize how powerful

words become with the addition of certain images. In these commercials multiple

perspectives are shared, and this will model for students the power of variety and

difference in perspectives.

Iqbal, Muhammad, and Reynold Alleyne Nicholson. Secrets of the Self: A Philosophical

Poem. New Delhi: Arnold-Heinemann, 1978. Print.

In Secrets of the Selfstudents will be introduced to a variety of meaningful secrets.

Through a brief introduction and a few poems, Iqbal shares where secrets come from and

how they relate to ones ego. The poems also focus on the different categories that serioussecrets will usually fall under: family secrets, secrets about love, friends, and work are all

incorporated. Students will learn from these readings just how powerful secrets are and

how they had the power to change ones morals and imprison them through secrecy. They

will read about how secrets have the power to drive one to mental and physical sickness

until they are able to liberate themselves, and just how hard this is.

"List of Persuasive Speech Topics." List of Persuasive Speech Topics. N.p., n.d. Web. 6

Dec. 2012.

This list of different persuasive speech topics is a great model for the students. It serves

to show them how others have worked to persuade readers and viewers in the past.

Working with these topics before creating their own PSA will allow them to gain the

skills necessary to effectively persuade a specific audience. It will also bring them

through the steps of writing a persuasive speech. It lists the instructions: thoroughly

research your topic, write a catchy introduction, and have the next few sentences outline

what the essay will address. In the conclusion they are urged to include what they

intended to address, and what facts were used to support this.

Nolans Cheddar Cheese Commercial Mouse. Youtube. 2010. 6 Dec. 12.

.

In this short video students will see the power behind a successful advertisement. They

will examine the comical music and images that make the advertisement powerful, and

leave a positive effect on the intended audience.

Obama, Barack. "Against Going to War With Iraq." Speech. Chicago. 2 Oct. 2002. Web.

6 Dec. 2012.

Obama releases his words with power. He evokes emotion, and incorporates ethos,

pathos and logos. As students dissect this speech they will see how ethos, pathos, and

logos are applied to writing, especially persuasive writing. Students will also take note of

the great oratory skills that are demonstrated. Obama is a great public speaker with the


7/20

7

ability to use clear words and text to persuade his intended audience. After closely

examining this, students will mirror his skills in their final PSA.

Ten Timeless Persuasive Writing Techniques." Copyblogger. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec.

2012.

This article focuses in on the beauty of persuasion. It gives a brief list of both positiveand negative forms of persuasion. It refers to Aristotles three principles: ethos, pathos,and logos. After going through this article students will take away a plethora of

persuasion tips, especially related to speech. Students will use this knowledge to include

these important concepts in their own writing and speaking to target their specific

audiences.

"The Power of Secrets." Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness Find a Therapist.

N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.

The center of this journal is the psychological aspect of secrets. It begins with an example

of a family secret that was destructive and works into the dilemmas that secrets have been

known to cause in the past. A psychologist discusses her work of guiding people whohave been struggling with secrets and will teach the reader that they have an awesome if

paradoxical power to unite people, but an even greater chance of dividing them. The

examples given range fromgovernmentconspiracies to couples having affairs, secrets

permeate every level of society. Secrets have existed throughout time, but thenatureof

secrets has recently changed in our society. Today's families face special dilemmas about

secrecy, privacy, silence, and openness that imprison them for years.

This is Your Brain on Drugs (Original). Youtube. 1987. 6 Dec. 2012.

.

This PSA is alarming. It is a great example of a PSA that targets a specific audience and

includes extreme emotion. It is demonstrating how the brain deteriorates after drug use

and the way that drugs can harm a person. After watching an unforgettable PSA with an

aggressive tone, students can learn how incorporating convinced emotions will aid their

message and grab their audiences attention.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/politicshttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/politicshttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/politicshttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/environmental-psychologyhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/environmental-psychologyhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/environmental-psychologyhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/environmental-psychologyhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/politics


8/20

8

Unit Plan Schedule

Week 1

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAYESSENTIAL QUESTION: When

do secrets become

dangerous?

TOPICAL QUESTION: How do

authors persuade people and

get them on board with their

argument?

TOPICAL QUESTION: What

makes a topic controversial?


public speakers make use of

breaths and pauses?


characteristics of a persuas

speech?

Introduce Unit. Give some

background information on

the author of Please Ignore

Vera Dietz.

Have a brief conversation on

secrets. What are they, how

are they relevant to society,

school, and home life?

In a short think, pair, share

give an experience you had

with secrets, whether you

had a secret, kept a secret, or

the revelation of one harmed

you in some way.

Review HW and discussion

questions.

Introduce a persuasion

speech and the variouselements of persuasion.

Use Barack Obamas Against

Going to War With Iraq

speech as an example.

For example: it is important

to establish a position, what

side you are on and why?

Go through the research

process as well as the

structure of the speech: what

is most important, what is

the best way to put this main

message into words?

Disproving the

counterarguments by using

facts, statistics, etc.

Review HW and discussion

questions.

Give the assignment sheet out

where students must writetheir own persuasive speeches

about a controversial topic

that they are passionate

about.

They must take into

consideration what they

learned about a well-done

persuasion piece in the

previous lesson.

We will discuss the reading

and answer the chapter

questions.

Students will perform theirspeeches, stressing breaths,

pauses, and clarity to their

audience.

Go over reading and quest

Critique classmates speech

During each speech that to

place Thursday every stude

was to take notes and pick good points of persuasion.

During this class students w

share and give tips on how

speech could be improved

more persuasive to their

audience. They will also rat

them on clarity, judging on

well they spoke, and consid

volume, speed, and breath

Students will look at the art

List of Persuasive Speech

Topics to gain more know

on the power of persuasion

how it is conveyed.

TOPICAL UNDERSTADNING:

Students will understand that


It is important to establish a





TOPICAL UNDERSTADNING

Students will see how pers


9/20

9

secrets can create an ethical

dilemma and the importance

of not keepingshameful

secrets.

position, what side you are

on and why.

their research is essential and

they must accumulate the

most significant numbers to

create a well done persuasive

speech.

their presentation matters.

They will focus on breaths,

pauses, syntax, and

semantics to make sure that

their message is strong and

clear.

is used in speeches and the

various types of topics that

used persuasion in the past

HW: Please Ignore Vera Dietz

pages 1-30

RQ: Why do you think that thebook was told from multiple

perspectives? How did this add to

the reader's understanding of the

story? How would the story havebeen different if it was only told

from Vera's perspective?

Why do you think Vera drinks? Do

you think that she is really an

alcoholic? Is she a binge drinker? Is

there a difference?

What is the definition of friendship?

What do the flow charts tell us?

What do they show us? Why are

they in the story?

What was so significant about the

Pagoda's story? Would the story

have been the same without it, and

how has the story benefited from

it?

Why do you think the Pagoda tells

us how many children in the townare hungry? What does this have to

do with Vera's story?


Pg. 31-60

RQ: What is the significance of theghost of Charlie?

What effect can a rough childhood

or broken home have on a person?

What do memories do for a person,how can memories play a role in the

keeping of secrets?

Is one more likely to keep a secret

for the one they love?

HW: Be ready to present their

speech and Please Ignore Vera

Dietz Pgs. 61-90

RQ: What are Vera's fears? Are theyjustified? What are Vera's father's

fears?

Is Vera's dad a good dad? Was Vera's

mom a bad mom?What does it mean to be a good

parent?

What does it mean to be a daughter?

What does it mean to be a good

friend? Who in this book was/wasn't

a good parent/daughter/ friend?

Who redeemed himself/herself?

Why do you think the adults in the

book seem to ignore everything? Do

you think its an accurate portrayal of

real life adults? (Why/why not?)


Pgs. 91-120

RQ: How can secrets have an effecton ones everyday life?

How can working long hours affect

a teenager, both negative and

positive?How can a secret haunt someone,

how is Vera haunted by Charlies

secret?

HW:NO HW


10/20

10

Week 2

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THUSDAY FRIDAYTOPICAL QUESTION: How

are verbal and visual aids

used to draw you in?

TOPICAL QUESTION: When is

it important to convince an

audience?


makes an image powerful?

TOPICAL QUESTION: How

does tone and imagery affect

the response of our

audience?


the authors purpose in hav

multiple narrators?

Understanding verbal and

visual aids: students will

receive an article, The Power

Of Secrets where they will

first be exposed to only the

words in the article and givensome time to read through it.

After this students will be

given the images that go

along with the article. The

students will reflect on this

experience and talk about the

significance of the images,

how did they draw you in and

what effect did they have on

your opinion of the reading?

Discuss reading from last

night, and answer chapter

questions.

Create their own verbal and

visual piece that they will useto persuade their classmates

on an issue. The visual part

must be carefully thought

out based on what they are

trying to convince their

audience, while also going

together with what they

have written.

Each student will present their

form of visual literacy and see

if their audience was drawn in

based on their selected

images.

After each student presentsthey will discuss as a class,

which pictures were most

powerful and why.

Following this activity we will

reinforce presentation skills

and a reward will be given to

the student who presented

with the best technique: high

volume, well understood,

paused and took breaths.

Review reading and go over

discussion questions.

Students will take some time

to reflect on all they have

learned so far regardingproper public speaking skills

and the effective of verbal

and visual aids to draw an

audience into writing.

They will have a quiz in the

form of a short paragraph: in

this paragraph they must

include something about the

importance of secrets in ones

life, some techniques authors

use to persuade their

readers, and how verbal and

visual aids are used to draw

in a targeted audience.

Review the reading from la

night and go over discussio

questions.

Vocabulary quiz on some ke

words that were found in p

181-210 of Please Ignore VDietz.

Discuss the visual literacy in

the book and grapple with

importance of each

perspective based on multi

narrators and through class

discussion we will talk abou

how this targets a specific

audience and how this is a

form of writing that allows

reader to look at the book

different way and form a

different understanding.


Students will understand the

power of images, and how

visual aids can be used to

target a specific audience.


Students will understand

that by formatting their

writing in an organized way

and using a formal tone with

the perfect images, they will

further establish their

audience and overall


When writing, and then

presenting we must consider

our audience and put them

first. The tone being used

must be appropriate for the

intended audience in order to

persuade.


By carefully formatting our

piece with the correct words

and imagery, we gain the

attention of our intended

audience and persuade with

purpose.


Factual evidence from the

book will allow students to

expand on their own

arguments and help them t

persuade their audience.


11/20

11

Week 3

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAYTOPICAL QUESTION: How do

advertisements use their

short time frame to persuade

people in the direction of

their product?

TOPICAL QUESTION: After

looking at persuasion used in

various forms of media, when

can persuasion be positive?

TOPICAL QUESTION: How can

we use the idea of persuasion

in advertisements to persuade

people to tell their secrets?


does watching our peers

perform do for our own

work?


the correlation between on

ego and their secrets?

Watch Emmy 2011 Best

Commercial Nominees these

advertisements will serve as

Analyze multiple versions of

persuasion used in the media

and identify If the persuasion

Make up their own short skit

(one minute max) identifying

key words, phrases, images,

Watch each skit and identify

each persuasion technique

used.

Read Secrets of the Self a

understand the complexitie

of secrets. How secrets can

message.

HW: Please Ignore Vera

Dietz Pgs. 121-150

RQ: How does the revealing ofCharlies secret affect Vera?

Did Vera ever stop loving Charlie?

Can Vera ever stop loving Charlie?

Could Charlie and Vera ever have

had a successful relationship?

(Why/why not?)

HW: Be ready to present

your piece.


pgs. 151-180

RQ:Why did Vera still keep Charliessecrets after all he put her through?

Is Jenny Flick really all-bad? (Why/

why not?)

Do you think that Jenny Flick really

hates Vera? (Why/ why not?)

HW: Please Ignore Vera

Dietz Pgs. 181-210

RQ: Does Jenny really love Charlie?What role does domestic violence

play in this book? Why do you think

the author chose to make Charlies

parents the way they were?

Was there bullying in the book?

What do you think the effects of

bullying are? (Short term/long

term?)

Do you think the violence at home

affected Charlie? How? Why is thatsignificant to the story?

Regarding the abuse going on in

Charlie's home: Why did neither

Vera nor her parents report the

abuse they witnessed and heard

over the years? What concerns

might they have had that stopped

them? What do you think you

would have done if you were in

their situation? What resources can

someone in Vera's family's situation

utilize in such a situation?

HW: Bring in an advertisem

that interest you.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz P

211-241.


12/20

12

a great example and show

students how to grab the

attention of their audiences.

is positive or negative and

explain why.

and expressions that were

used to persuade and target

their specific audience in a

positive way.

imprison an individual unti

they become comfortable

enough to reach liberation


Grabbing the attention of our

audience can strengthen our

arguments.


Many people think

persuading other has a

negative effect, but in many

cases when it is being used to

convince one to make their

way out a bad situation that

is harming them, it can be

used in a positive way.


We must understand how to

help a friend, or someone we

care about when they are

struggling with their secrets.

Recognize helpful persuasion

tactics.


Each member of a group will

have different ways of going

about the same thing.

Everyone is different and by

watching our peers we can

learn and enhance our own

work.


Individuals struggle with th

confidence, and have many

issues regarding friends and

family. These issues can lea

to harmful secrets that will

trap the keeper of these

secrets until they become

strong enough to escape th

and liberate themselves.

HW: Review persuasion

techniques.

HW: Write a short persuasion

piece on a topic of your

choice.

HW: Rehearse your skit for

class.

HW: No HW HW: Please Ignore Vera Die

Pgs. 242-275

RQ: What do you think will happto Vera in the future?

What was most surprising in this

book?

Week 4

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAYTOPICAL QUESTION: How

does freeing your mind of a

dilemma give you peace?


will I mirror these tactics in

my own PSA?

TOPICAL QUESTION: Why is

freeing yourself from secrets

useful?


you decide on your target

audience?


does using appropriate

grammar, spelling, andsentence structure show

professionalism?

Students will look at secrets

and connect them to the

article they will be reading on

what it feels like to have a

weight lifted off you and

Brief conversation on

imprisonment and the

negative effect that can have

on somebody. Day to work

on their writing portion using

Organize words; images that

will be used as persuasion.

Edit them based on what you

have learned from watching

PSAs. Look at PSAs on secrets

Students will work with their

groups to pick a target

audience for their PSA.

Edit their writing pieces wit

their group members.


13/20

13

liberate yourself. their writingtips. Focus on

their idea and thoughts and

how they can make you feel

powerless?

and determine why they trap

people.


When your mind is racing,

you cant think straight


We sometimes cause

ourselves more harm with

the things we try to hide.


Have a good understanding of

a PSA and realize that secrets

have the power to imprison.


Tone, images, words will all

have a major impact on the

targeted audience.


A well-organized and

professional PSA will be mo

powerful when presented.

HW: Brainstorm your ideas

for your PSA with your group.

HW: Brainstorm your ideas

for your final PSA with your

group.

HW: Work on writing portion

of the PSA (script)

HW: Work on their writing

portion of their PSA

HW: Edit writing portion of

PSA

Week 5MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

TOPICAL QUESTION:What

types of strategies are used

to convey a message through

visual media?


can we decide if information

is useful?


we know that our PSA will

convey an appropriate

message?


can we make sure that our

information is appropriate

for our target audience?


the main purpose of my PS

who is my target audience?

Today we are working on the

projects but we are focusing

on the presentation portion.

Working on researching and

finding alarming statistics,

and important definitions.

Today we will be working on

our projects but focusing on

the main message.

Today we will be working on

our project and focusing on

our target audience.

Working on finalizing their

and making it perfect for th

audience. Adding the finish

touches and getting ready t

record it for the Television

station.


Presentation is key when

presenting a piece, and thiswill also increase persuasion.


Choices regarding what we

choose to present will play amajor role in how successful

our PSA turn out to be.

TOPICAL UNDERSTADNING: In

our PSA the main message

must standout and is explicitlyclear to our audience.


Our audience is vital because

without it we are speaking tonobody. Finding the perfect

images and words to attract

and then convince our

audience is key.


After careful analysis of

secrets, other controversiaissues, persuasion strategie

advertisements, and PSAs

students will have created

PSA that included a powerf

message and targets a spec

audience.

HW: Work on PSA HW: Work on PSA HW: Work on PSA HW: Work on PSA HW: Watch PSAs


14/20

14

Public Service Announcement (PSA) Assignment

Due:

For this assignment you will develop a visual presentation and writing assignment (video, PowerPoint,etc) that is designed to inform the general public about a public health concern.

Project Objectives

Create a visual presentation and a written assignment to communicate a message targeting a

public health concern.

Become familiar with a public health concern.

Skills Utilized

Gathering information, working in groups, conveying information in

multiple media formats, video equipment use, writing and presentation skills.

Your PSA should be developed in these steps

1. Students will brainstorm a plan for their PSA in teams.

2. Research the topic to get an understanding of topic and accumulate

information that can be addressed in your PSA.

3. Develop a detailed plan for your PSA.

4. Plan a strategy for conveying your message through a visual medium.

5. Shoot videos or pictures to use in your PSA.

6. Organize your footage and fine tune your PSA.

7. Write a 1 page description of the topic for which you have created the PSA.

8. Complete the PSA Project Assignment Sheet

9. Review the PSA Project Checklist before the due date to evaluate the groups progress on the project.

10.Turn in your final visual project, your written assignment, and your project assignment sheet.


15/20

15

As a group

Break down tasks for your PSA project. Be as precise as possible.

Assign responsibilities (who will complete each task.) Each member may have more than one task

assigned to them; however, the tasks should be distributed in such a way that everyone is contributing

equally in terms of time and effort. You may assign the task to more than one person. For example,

two people might both be responsible for shooting video footage. Assign deadlines so your group stays on task.

Groups will be given time during class, when it is available, to discuss the progress of the project;

however, it is expected that the group members will communicate outside of the classroom as well.

Each group member

You are expected to respectfully and diligently cooperate with and contribute to your group. You will

complete a self and peer evaluation to assess whether you and your group members have completed

tasks that were assigned. You will also assess the quality of the work.

Project Timeline

Day of the week, Date: Project details are given and groups begin to brainstorm.

Day, Date: Each group must submit their ideas.

Day, Date: Class time will be appropriated for group meetings as available.

Day, Date: Bring all information regarding your groups project that you have completed.

Day of the week, Date: Complete project due. Self and peer evaluations will be conducted in class.


16/20

16

PSA Project Requirements

Visual Presentation (7.W.6)

Your presentation should not be longer than 1 minute and should strategically get your idea across. (7.RI.4)

Create your presentation using audio and video or photographic footage. (7.RI.7)

Not all members of the group have to participate in the creation of the video but all should have contributed to its development. Ifyour presentation has actors in it, these people do not have to be members of the class. (7.L.3)

To submit your presentation you may save it using any common formatted material (i.e. CD, DVD, memory card). Be sure to testyour presentation before submitting it.

You may submit your visual presentation before the due date if you would like Ms. Hesler to test that she can view it. (7.W.5)

Examples of PSAs are available on the class website under PSA Project.

Written Assignment

This assignment should include information about what your topic is and can include definitions; anatomical and physiological

explanations; statistics; who would be most affected, etc.(7.W.1)

This is not an account of the development of your visual presentation.

All of the information in the written portion of the project does not have to be included in the visual presentation; however, someof it should be and all information should match.

On a separate page, you will need to include a properly formatted Works Cited page that should be attached to the written

assignment. (7.RL.1)

This assignment is to be typed. It should be at least 1 page, double spaced, with 1 inch margins.

The heading should include only PSA Project Assignment, your groups system name and your class period in the heading.Create a title for your PSA project and center it on the page after the heading.

PSA Project Assignment Sheet Complete the assignment by sheet.

Self and Peer Evaluation: Students will complete an evaluation of their own contributions and of the other members in their

group in class on the day that the project is due.

Each student will individually evaluate his/her own performance and contributions to the group as well as each of the othermembers of the group.

The evaluation will be cover topics such as: the successful completion of the assigned responsibilities, completing theresponsibilities on time, and the ability to work effectively with the group.

Grading Process

The final project is worth 100 pts and will count as two test grades. Each students grade will be based on the groups project and

the individual contributions made to the project as evaluated by the self and peer evaluations and Ms. Heslers observations.

PSA Project ChecklistVisual Presentation

Pertains to the system given


17/20

17

Presentation is not over 1 minute

Information is accurate and is consistent with information in the Written

Assignment

Presentation conveys the appropriate message

Information is appropriate for targeted audience (7.W.4)

Presentation has been saved to a source that can be submitted for grading

Video presentation has been tested for workability

Ms. Hesler previewed the visual presentation to make sure it worked (optional

but suggested)

Written Assignment

Assignment is at least 1 page

Assignment is double spaced and margins are 1 inch

Information is accurate and is consistent with information in the Visual

Presentation

At least 2 members had the chance to proofread the assignment

A Works Cited page was included

Assignment was printed and is ready for submission

PSA Project Assignment Sheet Downloaded PSA Project Assignment Sheet

Completed the assignment sheet

Each member of the group has read and agrees with each members listed

responsibilities

Assignment sheet was printed and is ready for submission

Items to be submitted for the project:

Video Presentation Written Assignment with Works Cited page

PSA Project Assignment Sheet

PSA Project Assignment Sheet

Self Evaluation

What is the purpose of your PSA?

Who is our tar eted audience?


18/20

18

Group Evaluation

PSA Project Rubric

The following is the rubric that will be used to grade the PSA Project. The project is worth a

total of 100 points and will count as an exam grade.

Please list what each group member specifically contributed to the project. (Examples can include but are

not limited to: Written Portion conducted research, organized information, typed assignment; Video

Portion organized the storyline, shot video or photo footage, edited footage; Project sheet completed

and typed the assignment)

Group Member #1 Name ______________________________________

Contributions:


Contributions:


Contributions:


Contributions:


Contributions:


19/20

19

CATEGORY

ExceedingExpectations

10

MeetingExpectations

8

ApproachingExpectations

6

BelowExpectations

4

VisualPresentation Appropriatemessage

Message is veryappropriate: system-related and targetinga public healthconcern.

Message is mostlyappropriate: onlypartially system -related, includesunrelated,distracting content.

Message issomewhatappropriate: onlyslightly system -related.

Message is notappropriate: eitherunclear or notsystemrelated.

VisualPresentation -Information

Information is veryaccurate andreliable: PSAincludes accuratefacts and figuresthat are consistentwith the written

assignment.

Information is mostlyaccurate andreliable: PSAincludes accuratefacts and figuresthat are consistentwith the written

assignment.

Information issomewhat accurateand reliable: factsand figures arepresent but are notconsistent with thewritten assignment.

Information is notaccurate or reliable:PSA is lacking anycredible informationabout the topic.

VisualPresentation-Conveysmessage

Visuals are veryappropriate;illustrate theselected system-related topic.

Visuals are mostlyappropriate; onlypartially topic-related, includesunrelated,distracting content.

Students include atleast 2 high-qualityexamples or piecesof data to supporttheir campaign.

Students includefewer than 2 high-quality examples orpieces of data tosupport theircampaign.

VisualPresentation-Creativity/Originality

PSA is highlycreative: style isvery original andattention-grabbing.

PSA is somewhatcreative: style isoriginal, sustainsaudience's attention.

PSA is minimallycreative: barelysustains audience'sattention.

PSA is not creative:no attempt is madeto sustainaudience's attention.

VisualPresentation-Appropriatenessfor targetaudience

Level and detail ofinformation is veryappropriate fortarget audience.

Level and detail ofinformation is mostlyappropriate fortarget audience.

Level and detail ofinformation issomewhatappropriate fortarget audience.

Level and detail ofinformation is notappropriate for

target audience.

VisualPresentation-Length

Length is equal to orless than 1 minute.

Length is greaterthan or less than 1minute.

CATEGORY

ExceedingExpectations

10

MeetingExpectations

8

ApproachingExpectations

6

BelowExpectations

4


20/20

20

WrittenAssignment-Information

Information is veryaccurate and

reliable: PSA is well-researched,

including accuratefacts and figures.

Information is mostlyaccurate andreliable: A few factsor figures areinaccurate.

Information issomewhat accurateand reliable: Manyfacts or figures areinaccurate.

Information is notaccurate or reliable:Most facts or figuresare inaccurate.

WrittenAssignment-Grammar,spelling,sentencestructure

There are nogrammar, spelling orsentence structure

mistakes.

There are fewgrammar, spelling orsentence structure

mistakes.

There are manygrammar, spelling orsentence structuremistakes.

WrittenAssignment-Citation

Citations are correct:followed MLAguidelines.

Citations are mostlycorrect: adequatelyfollowed MLAguidelines.

Citations aresignificantlyincorrect: did notadequately followMLA guidelines.

PSA ProjectAssignmentSheet

Assignment sheetwas completed andall members

responsibilities werelisted.

Assignment sheetwas mostlycompleted and mostof the members


Assignment sheetwas somewhatcompleted andsome of themembers


Assignment sheetwas somewhatcompleted, but mostof the members

responsibilities werenot listed.

Total Score: ________________

Comments: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Documents

Unit Plan 341 Final Copy