Graded Assignment Evaluate a Speaker

View or listen to a speech by a well-known actor, and then evaluate it in writing.

To begin, save this document to your computer with your name at the end of the filename (e. g., NG_ELA9-10_W_11_GA_Alice_Jones. docx).

As you experience the speech, identify the speaker’s viewpoint and notice the reasons and evidence he supplies to support it. Listen for evidence and logic that is either valid or fallacious. Be attentive for language that is either appropriately emotional or unfairly loaded. Take notes as the speech progresses. Then, read and answer the questions.

When you have finished, submit this document to your teacher for grading.

Questions

(Score for Question 1: ___ of 5 points)

What is the speaker’s viewpoint? What is his claim?

Write your answer here.

(Score for Question 2: ___ of 5 points)

What reasons does the speaker provide to support his viewpoint or claim?

Write your answer here.

(Score for Question 3: ___ of 5 points)

What evidence does the speaker provide to support his reasons?

Write your answer here.

(Score for Question 4: ___ of 5 points)

What counterclaims does the speaker address, and how does he respond to them?

Write your answer here.

(Score for Question 5: ___ of 5 points)

What examples of fallacious reasoning, distorted or weak evidence, and exaggerated language occur in the speech?

Write your answer here.

(Score for Question 6: ___ of 5 points)

Write a 1–2 paragraph evaluation of the speaker’s argument. Discuss whether the speaker used valid reasoning and sufficient evidence to support his viewpoint.

Write your answer here.

In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. when the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the constitution and the declaration of independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every american was to fall heir. this note was a promise that all men—yes, black men as well as white men—would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. it is obvious today that america has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. instead of honoring this sacred obligation, america has given the negro people a bad check, a check that has come back marked “insufficient funds.” but we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. we refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. and so we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and security of justice. in this section of the speech, analyze martin luther king’s connection between a defaulted promissory note and the lack of freedom experienced by african americans. which option offers the best analysis? question 3 options: mlk creates this analogy to communicate that america has enough freedom for all, but it needs to live up to its promises. mlk makes the analogy that america has run out of freedom. not everyone deserves to have it. mlk communicates that america should equally distribute funds to all citizens. everyone deserves equal access to the government’s money. mlk demonstrates that america is improving in equality and should keep the forward momentum.