final speech proposal

Final speech proposal due -- assignment is on the class blog. Discuss what topic you chose and why you are interested in it and why you think it will be interesting to your audience. 350 words

The final speech will ask you to educate your audience about a problem that is present in our world today and offer at least one viable solution. Choose a topic that you are passionate about and one that you want to share with others. 

I would like to do my final speech about why the incarceration rate in America is so high compared to other countries. This topic is important due to the fact that America has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. This affects not only those who are serving time but everyone because tax payers money is being spent to keep those incarcerated. Not only the money being paid to house those who are in jail; but are those who are serving a sentence, correctly charged? A big problem being faced today is people being wrongly accused of a crime he or she may have not committed. Before someone is brought to trial,  they are being held if they are not eligible to get bonded out. This is more money being spent to hold someone that can very well be innocent, and taking away his or her freedom for a crime they might have not even committed.  

There are many problems and changes that should be made to our incarceration and court system. Writing my final paper on this topic I will discuss what changes should be made, how can the be made, and how it would be different if there changes are made.  

mini debate reflection

Reflection on Mini Debate

Reflection on debate unit due on blogs by midnight Monday -- think about what you learned (terms and strategy), how you did, how you improved throughout this unit (including 1st mini debates, 2 formal team debates, last mini debates.) 400 words

During the time I was in class during the mini debate I learned that the number one thing I can not do is speak over you opponent. Despite if the point is right, it will make you lose the debate. A strategy I learned is, when the opposing side makes a point, you can flip it to work in your own benefit. Throughout the debates we have done from the first one (before I was out) to the last one done in class on Friday. I improved by, letting the opposing side complete their point before saying anything and putting in my input. The first formal debate completed in class, I did not have many personal relations to the topic, which I learned during the debates that it helps your case when you can relate it on a personal level. Not only being able to relate to the topic, it is also very good to have statistics to help the point your arguing. Having this knowledge helped towards the end of the week when it came time to do the mini debates in class.

When the topic foreign made cars versus American made cars was a debate that I argued, I was able to relate it to a personal level. Though I did not obey the "debate rules" by talking over my opponent, caused me to lose the debate. 

Despite not agreeing with the final topic I debated in class on Friday about gun control and being anti gun. I looked up the stats of those who lost their lives do to guns and was able to talk about the history of the gun laws; and did NOT talk over anyone and let them finish their argument and get their point across before I said my side. 

This to me was a big improvement because, I obeyed the rules and had background information instead of just going off of little knowledge I had about the pervious topics. 

why there should be no homework

http://www.mathprepa.com/top-5-good-reasons-why-kids-should-not-have-homework.html

- Kids are at school for eight hours a day and go home exhausted, therefor it makes it harder for kids at night to focus on their homework.
- Kids are studying for at least 5-6 hours out of the day while at school.
- Having time outside to exercise and play is important for a developing child. If a kid is stuck inside after a full day of learning at school, they should be able to have time to run around.
- Having a social life and family life is very important, there should be a balance.

http://neatoday.org/2015/09/23/the-great-homework-debate-whats-getting-lost-in-the-hype/

-1960's it was said that homework was inflicting too much stress on kids

http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/homework-debate/

- homework causes students to drift away from schooling, opposed to liking school and improve academically.
- Time being spent on homework, is time not being spent on resting, activities, and family time
- “The research clearly shows that there is no correlation between academic achievement and homework, especially in the lower grades,” says Denise Pope
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Debate Topics

-  gun control
- legalizing marijuna
- school uniforms
- drinking age
- death penalty