Okay, it's not like I'm asking you to do it for me or anything.
I just need some suggestions for good topics to talk about in my persuasive speech assignment.
Here is the type of topics the instructor recommended:
quote:Suggested topics for persuasive speeches include AIDS, affirmative action, capital punishment, cloning, drinking, drug use, the electoral college, exercise, gun control, healthy eating, home schooling, politics, the prison system, recycling, seatbelts, sex education, television violence, volunteering, and women in the military. You may also pick another topic. Make sure that the topic you choose is something you have a strong opinion about and/or experience with.
I don't want to use any of the ones she listed, I want to present someting original, that people may not have thought about. Even though it's not listed, I want to avoid the abortion issue as well.
I have to use at least five sources, and cannot use false cause, red herring, ad hominem, either-or, bandwagon, slippery slope, or false analogy reasoning. Darn, and I'm so good at slippery slope arguments!
Any thoughts?
Posted by Chris Kidd (Member # 2646) on :
um maybe genitic minipulation of food crops and food animals ?
Posted by Nato (Member # 1448) on :
Argue that you are against AIDS. Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
I did a speech on embryonic stem cell research last year, and there's a ton of information out there.
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
I had the same problem when I took my speech class, Belle.
I did my persuasive speech on the need for another constitutional convention.
I'm not saying you should do the same -- and I certainly wouldn't argue now for a constitutional convention (I was much more optimistic and naive back then), but a speech arguing for certain political or educational reforms might be right up your ally.
And the advantage is that since it won't be a topic that your instructor has heard a million times, you're much more likely to get graded higher in the non-technical portion of the evaluation.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
The continuing usurpation of the public domain by statutory revision to the copyright laws. Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Maybe you could talk about the self-esteem movement and how it's produced a generation that feels really good about themselves, but have no skills. There's a ton of material out there.
Or you could talk about marketing to kids - the "cradle to grave" brand loyalty that advertisers are aiming for. I just read a fantastic book on that subject: Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood, by Susan Linn.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I bet you would rock on the importance of entrepreneurship and how the current climate does or does not hinder the development of small businesses.
quote:Or you could talk about marketing to kids - the "cradle to grave" brand loyalty that advertisers are aiming for. I just read a fantastic book on that subject: Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood, by Susan Linn.
Sing it, sister.
[ January 26, 2005, 03:27 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Ooh, or the rise of childhood obesity and its link to television and video games.
Or how the gender equality in education movement has negatively affected boys.
[ January 26, 2005, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: Mrs.M ]
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Or inequities in Social Security laws for public servants with pensions.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
You guys are awesome, you've already come up with a bunch of things that pique my interest. Before I posted this I sat down in front of my computer with a blank page in Word trying to brainstorm ideas. Got nothing.
Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
I once read on interesting essay on how corporations have the same legal rights as individuals (like the right to privacy) and how these rights have helped large corporations get away with unethical behavior like using child labor overseas.
The jist of the paper was asking whether a company like Wal-Mart should have certain rights an individual has, even tho it is not a single entity.
I wish I could find the paper. It was interesting, but I was rushed. I would like to see an elaboration on the idea.
Other topics...hmmm......
How about whether you can patent software. I know there is a big legal battle about whether or not you can patent programs. The introduction of Linux and the ability for people to work out programs (equations) that they share with everyone really muddies copyright laws.
hmm...what else.......?
Should the US Government be allowed to prosecute it's citizens for crimes they commit outside the border?
Umm...I will see what else I can think of.
[ January 26, 2005, 03:45 PM: Message edited by: lem ]
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
When I was in a speech class about 9 years ago, I did my persuasive speech in favor of school vouchers.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Ooohh I think I may have found it. What do you guys think of this?
The importance of information literacy in the education of our children - and why we should better fund school libraries.
quote:The Mission of the School Library Media Program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. (Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning (1998 p.6 ALA))
“Children may learn to read in a classroom, but they learn to love reading in a library media center. Free, voluntary reading is the foundation of language education.” (Stephen Krashen, The Power of Reading, 1993.)
Research shows the highest achieving students come from schools with good school libraries (Source: Lance, Keith Curry. The Impact of School Library Media Centers on Academic Achievement. Office of Educational Research, U.S. Department of Education, 1994.)
Students in schools with well equipped library media centers and professional library media specialists perform better on achievement tests for reading comprehension and basic research skills. (Source: Haycock, Ken. What Works, Rockland Press, 1992)
“In all three states (Pennsylvania, Colorado and Oregon), the level of development of the library media program was a predictor of student performance, and data on staffing levels correlated with test scores . . . Where library media programs are better staffed, better stocked and better funded, academic achievement tends to be higher.” (Source: Lance, Keith Curry. “Proof of the Power: Quality Library Media Programs Affect Academic Achievement.” MultiMedia Schools, September 2001)
Then I can talk about how dismally Alabama does in this department - we have one of the worst ratios for students to qualified school librarians in the country, and argue for better funding and more public awareness and recruitment programs to get qualified teachers into the field.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
quote:I know there is a big legal battle about whether or not you can patent programs.
There's a big philisophical battle; I think the legal battle is not very big right now.
Dagonee
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I always tried to keep my speeches a little lighter... so my persuasive speech was on "Drink Milk."
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
I give persuausive speeches every day - so do all the rest of you parents out there (grin).
You know - 101 reasons why learning basic math facts will help you in life - starting right now!
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
Belle:
The most important thing is that it is something that you have some sort of passion about -- this seems like a good fit.
Obviously you will need to focus it down as much as possible. That may be the hardest part.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
"Why internet forums are becoming an accepted form of social interaction"
"Removing the stigma of mental illness from society"
AJ
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
Belle...that is an awesome topic. I'd love to see it when you get finished! I have several friends who are doing degrees in library science, and I am of the opinion that librarians are society's most unsung heroes.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
I like the topic a lot, Belle.
I was gong to suggest a different one, but your's is great.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I think I'm going to work with that, I need to focus it, as suggested, and I have to develop a questionaire to be sent out to all my classmates. Then, I'll need to find some library time for research.
Should be fun though. Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Completely off topic question for Belle:
Is there a specific undergraduate degree you have to get in order to get a masters in Library Science? I've been thinking I'd like to look into it, but my school doesn't have a degree in that field, so I don't know if it's feasible.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Blacwolve -- very few schools have undergraduate degrees in Library Science. No particular degree is required for admission to such a school, typically, but some solid coursework in a social science/education/related field helps out a lot.
Its quite rare for graduate schools in any subject to require particular degrees, though for some grad schools previous coursework matters more than others. Its quite common for a grad student with little direct experience in a field to take some undergraduate courses to shore up deficiencies, for instance, in almost all grad schools.
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
That sounds great, Belle! I've always loved libraries and I read very early. I was lucky to have a series of wonderful school librarians who encouraged my love of reading. My HS librarian ordered every single book that I requested.
Will you post your speech when it's done?
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
When I was studying Classics as an undergrad I remember seeing Library Science ranked fairly high as a grad school choice for people with newly minted Classics BAs. Nearly went that way myself, actually.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Actually, one grad program I'm strongly considering at some point is a joint Law degree/ Masters in SLIS (School of Library and Information Science here at IU).
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
fugu, I know several people in who did the SLIS masters and were very, very happy with it.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
*nods*
Its quite popular among social informaticians, though of course Informatics has its own programs now (though oddly not an SI masters, just an SI doctorate, which hasn't been fleshed out yet as it was just approved a couple months ago).
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
Yes, they just added a music informatics program as well. The head of my department is adjunct faculty in informatics, and I took a class last semester from the other faculty member whose focus is music informatics. The only thing that really concerns me about the program is the possible tendency to only get to surface musical issues, but that's a whole other cup of tea.
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
I say you pick something you believe in and tell the ugly truth about it, then go back and figure out how dignity fits into your side.
[ January 26, 2005, 09:49 PM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
quote:Is there a specific undergraduate degree you have to get in order to get a masters in Library Science? I've been thinking I'd like to look into it, but my school doesn't have a degree in that field, so I don't know if it's feasible.
Blacwolve, this has already been answered but I thought I'd tell you more about what I'm doing. There is no undergrad program for library science, and there are two schools I can choose from for the master's progarm.
In my case, I'm going the educational track - an undergrad degree in education, and a master's in library media which will lead to certification as an educational librarian.
The school I'm attending offers this program, and the library media program is part of the school of education.
The other choice would be an MLIS in library science from the Univ. of Alabama and their program is run out of the information sciences department. While either program would give me a degree that would allow certification, for obvious reasons the program at JSU that I want to enter is recommended for educational librarians and the one at Alabama is recommended for public librarians.
But, there are many job opportunities out there for people with an MLIS, that don't necessarily involve working in either a school or a public library. Today's graduate from an MLIS program is an information professional - they are sought after by law firms, healthcare companies, political organizations, and all kinds of other places.
In fact, that's one reason cited for the shortage of school librarians - graduates of MLIS programs have so many other more lucrative offers than working for the same pay scale as a schoolteacher.
Fortunately, I'm in the position where I can do what I want to do, and money isn't a concern for me.
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
fugu:
Damn. I kinda wish I had thought of that.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Irami, that is a cool website, thanks for linking it.
I have my first graded speech in about two hours, I'm getting a little nervous. Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Which one, Zal?
Belle, exactly right. An MLIS degree is probably a top five most employable degree. If one has an MLIS (particularly with certain sub-specialties), one is adept at applying informational and organizational principals in almost any situation.
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
quote:joint Law degree/ Masters in SLIS
I'm very satisfied with my current career track and have never seriously considered law school (just kinda considered) and have considered LIS even less (but still considered), but the idea of combining those two programs *really* appeals to me.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Yep, it is an oddly attractive pairing.
If there's a joint law/masters in SI somewhere I'll probably do that instead (or even better, masters in political informatics), but otherwise its likely the Law/MLIS combo.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
So I'm back from my first speech and I scored 49/50!
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
congrats, Belle Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I was very nervous, which surprised me, public speaking is usually something that doesn't bother me. Then again, I'd never done it for a grade before. Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Bravo!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Fantastic! Congrats, Belle!!!! Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
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