English 120, 121, and 123 Summer Reading

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1 English 120, 121, and 123 Summer Reading

2 Summer Reading 2016 Model & Template Introduction: In July, 2016, the Republican Party and Democratic Party will each hold its political convention to select its nominee to run for President of the United States. The Republican Convention will be held in Cleveland, Ohio July and the Democratic Convention will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July At the end of each convention, the selected candidate will give an acceptance speech. The Summer Reading Assignment for incoming junior students taking English 120 (Honors), English 121 (Advanced), and English 123 (American Studies Honors) will consist of an evaluation of these speeches. Students must download a copy of each candidate s speech, read it, and complete a comparison/contrast analysis based on specific elements in each speech. Instructions: The next three pages of this packet contain a model template, including the comparison/contrast analysis, based upon the 2008 acceptance speeches of Senators Barack Obama (D) and John McCain (R). There is a grid for each speech where particular elements of the speech are to be identified. After downloading this document from the Media Center s website, directly type your responses into each panel of the grid. After completing each grid, you are to conclude the assignment by writing a typed summary claiming which speech appears to be most successful. Your claim must be based on facts found in both speeches, therefore you must cite examples from the speeches to support your claim. *Remember, your claim is to be based on the content of the speeches and not on personal preference your analysis reflects literary technique not political affiliation. Copies of the Speeches: Each speech will be available on line the following day after it is delivered at the party s convention. Thus, the Republican candidate s speech can be obtained starting on Friday, July 22, and the Democratic candidate s speech can be obtained starting Friday, July 29. Simply Google the name of the candidate and presidential nomination acceptance speech and download it. *As a suggestion, you may also want to find an audio link to the speeches as hearing it while you read it may assist in addressing such points as tone, emotion, attitude, etc. Due Date: The completed packet will be due on the first day of class, Thursday, August 18, 2016.

3 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE TEMPLATE Candidate s Name: John McCain Date the Speech was given: Example of completed grid. Request What is the central claim/message of the speech? Identify specific topics/issues the candidate plans to address during his/her presidency appeals to the audience s emotion (pathos) appeals to the audience s reason (logos) appeals to the audience s concern for the common good (ethos) which the speaker addresses his/her audience which the speaker addresses the opposing candidate Identify words that strengthen the speaker s attitude/ credibility Identify words that weakens the speaker s attitude/ credibility Response we are going to change Washington, and stop leaving our country s problems for some unluckier generation to fix. Keep taxes low Reduce Government spending Get rid of failed program Double child tax exemptions We face many threats in this dangerous world, but I m not afraid of them. I will draw on my experience with the world and its leaders, and all the tools at our disposal diplomatic, economic, military and the power of our ideas to build the foundations for a stable and enduring peace. Instead of rejecting good ideas because we didn t think of them first, let s use the best ideas from both sides. These are tough times for many of you. Your worried about keeping your job All you ever asked of government is to stand on your side and that s just what I intend to do; stand on your side and fight for your future. Senator Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucracies. I want our schools to answer to parents and students. And when I m President, they will. strong defense, work faith and service Confidence, wisdom, and resolve

5 DEMOCRACTIC CANDIDATE TEMPLATE Candidate s Name: Barack Obama Date the Speech was given: Example of completed grid. Request What is the central claim/message of the speech? Identify specific topics/issues the candidate plans to address during his/her presidency appeals to the audience s emotion (pathos) appeals to the audience s reason (logos) appeals to the audience s concern for the common good (ethos) which the speaker addresses his/her audience Response It is time for us to change America. Tap natural gas reserves and work on efficient energy Health care Change tax laws Gun Control GI care We re a better country than where on man in Indiana has to pack up his equipment he s worked on for 20 years and watch it shipped off to China, then chokes up as he explains how he felt like a failure when he went home to tell his family the news. John McCain has voted with George Bush 90% of the time. Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment,,what does it say about judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than 90% of the time? I don t know about you, but I m not ready to take a 10% chance on change. let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love my country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields, have fought together, and bled together, and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America they have served the United States of America. We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take and look after a sick kid without losing her job.

6 which the speaker addresses the opposing candidate Identify words that strengthen the speaker s attitude/ credibility Identify words that weakens the speaker s attitude/ credibility It s not because John McCain doesn t care. It s because John McCain doesn t get it. Compassionate, American promise, protect us from harm, every child has a descent education Summary: According to your observations, which speech appears to be the most successful? Cite examples to support your claim. After reading both acceptance speeches, it appears as though Senator Obama s speech is the most successful. This is based on the when the speech was delivered, the specifics and data attached to the issues and problems he addresses, and the fact that he comes with less baggage attached to him. As the Democrats are the party out of office at the time of their convention, Senator Obama had the advantage of giving his speech first, so there was not bench mark to measure how well he did against his opponent so not making him have to defend himself against Senator McCain. Early in his speech he states that the United States is a better country, and that the woman in Ohio should not worry about her insurance as she is about to retire, or the man in Indiana whose job has been sent to China and now feels as though he has failed his country. McCain counters those scenarios with specific names of people in various parts of the country whom he claims he fights for and addresses their challenges as heroics. In regards to specifics, Obama states, I will, listen, now, cut taxes for 95% of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class (Obama 3). McCain is less specific when he state, we believe in low taxes; spending discipline, and open markets. We believe in rewarding hard work and risk takers and letting people keep the fruits of their labor (McCain 3). While in the senate, Obama voted against the war in Iraq whereas McCain voted for it. He makes the point to say that McCain voted 90% of the time with President Bush. He also states that eight years of Bush is enough. McCain starts out his speech praising President Bush for keeping the country safe. Yet, as he gets into to his speech, he makes it clear that, We need to change the way government does almost everything (McCain 4). This seems somewhat contradictory to a senator who sided with the administration in office 90% of time. There are more examples that demonstrate Obama addresses issues more directly, but this serves as a summary in which it can be seen. Both sides promise to do better than their opponents, but that is how political campaigns function. Because these speeches were given eight years ago, it is clear that neither side could fulfill all if not much of it they claimed they could.

7 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE Candidate s Name: Date the Speech was given: Complete the information requested in the grid below Request Response What is the central claim/message of the speech? Identify specific topics/issues the candidate plans to address during his/her presidency appeals to the audience s emotion (pathos) appeals to the audience s reason (logos) appeals to the audience s concern for the common good (ethos) which the speaker addresses his/her audience which the speaker addresses the opposing candidate Identify words that strengthen the speaker s attitude/ credibility Identify words that weakens the speaker s attitude/ credibility

8 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE Candidate s Name: Date the Speech was given: Complete the information requested in the grid below Request Response What is the central claim/message of the speech? Identify specific topics/issues the candidate plans to address during his/her presidency appeals to the audience s emotion (pathos) appeals to the audience s reason (logos) appeals to the audience s concern for the common good (ethos) which the speaker addresses his/her audience which the speaker addresses the opposing candidate Identify words that strengthen the speaker s attitude/ credibility Identify words that weakens the speaker s attitude/ credibility

9 Summary: According to your observations, which speech appears to be the most successful? Cite examples from the grids above to support your claim. Remember to be objective.

10 English 120, 121, and 123 Rubric for Summer Reading Category Possible Points Earned Points All examples are well chosen and reflect the various aspects of the two speeches Examples used in the response reflect a clear understanding of how the various speeches compare/contrast with one another Level of writing style, 5 syntax, diction, variety of sentences, etc. is appropriate for a student entering the junior level Correct gram mar, spelling, 5 punctuation are evident. Total 50

MITT ROMNEY DELIVERS REMARKS TO NALEO: GROWING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AMERICANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Romney Press Office June 21, 2012 857-288-3610 MITT ROMNEY DELIVERS REMARKS TO NALEO: GROWING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AMERICANS Boston, MA Mitt Romney today delivered remarks