Post Project Soapbox Reflection

To wrap-up this experience, you are each to write one final blog post. This is a required reflection, but I hope that you will find it a meaningful way to pull together your 3 weeks of writing, editing, and speaking. Overall, our hope is that Project Soapbox was not just a "summer school" experience, but rather was a time for you to feel like you really did make gains in improving your writing and public speaking skills. 

In the comments section, please write an extended, thoughtful reflection in the designated post that considers these questions as a starting point:
- How helpful was the writer's workshop in helping you improve your writing? Where did you improve? Where do you still see room for improvement?
-Did you find the blog useful? Did you enjoy posting on the blog and responding to your peers?
- How else did the workshop impact you? 

-Do you see yourself as a more confident speaker? 

-Do you feel the workshop helped you develop an understanding for effective communication?

-Do you see yourself now as an agent for change? How else did you grow?
- If you were to redo this workshop, which activities would you be sure to keep? Which would you change? What would you add/subtract? Why?
- Do you believe that you will continue to take action on your issue? Are you motivated to go forward and pursue the change you spoke up for? Why/why not?

Please go beyond just one sentence responses to each question - instead, use these questions as a springboard to deeper reflection. Remember you are SOPHOMORE Scholars now, and we continue to have high expectations for you, as you should for yourself.Now, check out opportunities for further action from the Mikva Challenge, the foundation that created Project Soapbox and has inspired you all to speak up for social change in your communities.

Congratulations

Congratulations, scholars!  You all did a fantastic job during our second annual Project Soapbox Speech Night. As facilitators, it was very rewarding for Emily and I to witness the outcome of all your hard work. Your dedication to the writing and editing process was evident during the three week workshop and your performance in reciting your speeches was a direct reflection of how much confidence you all have gained. The Schuler staff is very proud of your accomplishment.  

Public Speaking: Sick to Your Stomach?

"To the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy."- Jerry Seinfeld on public speaking 

Why so Scared? 

We can all relate to the sick- to- your stomach feeling that approaches just before giving a presentation or a speech. Public speaking makes most people uncomfortable, so don't worry, you're not the only one. The anxiety that arises just before giving a speech is natural. We all have a deep rooted concern with how we will be perceived by our audience. This nervous feeling is heightened when we are before a large group or people we do not know. These scenarios increase the chances of being perceived in the wrong light and increases anxiety. I bet you never stutter or get a nervous feeling when talking in front of your closest friends or your family members. That's because you trust them; you are confident in their knowledge of your intelligence and the person you are. 

Have no Fear!

Everyone can overcome their fears of public speaking. Ever heard "practice makes perfect"? Well, it rings true with public speaking as well. When preparing for a speech or presentation, practice will build your confidence. Make sure you are prepared. Practice in front of a mirror, camera, or a group of friends. 

Also, in casual settings create as many opportunities for yourself to speak in public as possible. This includes raising your hand in class, talking to your teachers after class, and introducing yourself to new students. 

Remember! 

Shift your focus away from yourself. The audience wants you to succeed. No one will attend an event to watch you or anyone else fail- that's just weird and a waste of time.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/03/07/why-public-speaking-scares-you-and-how-to-overcome-your-fears/

http://www.wamda.com/2013/04/why-you-re-scared-of-public-speaking-and-how-to-overcome-it

COME ONE, COME ALL!

Don't forget to invite your family, friends, and neighbors to the Project Soapbox Speech Night. Remember, you all have important messages to send to your communities. Help make sure as many people as possible hear what you all have to say. 

Throwback Friday: A Reminder on the Rhetorical Triangle

Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion. —Aristotle 


The following addresses writing and can directly be applied to creating a speech. 

From: 

"What Do Students Need to Know About Rhetoric?"
Hepzibah Roskelly 
University of North Carolina 
Greensboro, North Carolina 



The most successful writers use what Aristotle and his descendants 
called the appeals: logos, ethos, and pathos. 

They appeal to a reader’s sense of logos when they offer clear, reasonable premises and 
proofs, when they develop ideas with appropriate details, and when they make sure 
readers can follow the progression of ideas. 

Writers use ethos when they demonstrate that they are credible, good-willed, and 
knowledgeable about their subjects, and when they connect their thinking to readers’ own 
ethical or moral beliefs. Quintilian, a Roman rhetorician and theorist, wrote that the 
Special Focus in English Language and Composition: Rhetoric Speaker should be the “good man speaking well.” This emphasis on good character meant 
that audiences and speakers could assume the best intentions and the most thoughtful 
search for truths about an issue. Students’ use of research and quotations is often as much 
an ethical as a logical appeal, demonstrating to their teachers that their character is 
thoughtful, meticulous, and hardworking. 

When writers draw on the emotions and interests of readers, and highlight them, they use 
pathos, the most powerful appeal and the most immediate—hence its dominance in 
advertisements. Students foreground this appeal when they use personal stories or 
observations, sometimes even within the context of analytical writing, where it can work 
dramatically well to provoke readers’ sympathetic reaction. 

Writing!

Writing a speech is very different from writing an essay. Many of you already know my love for grammar, but do you know about one of my all time favorite websites?

Grammar girl is an awesome tool for helpful writing tips. You can either listen to her pod-casts, read, or both. Here's a link to her website: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/

The helpful tips don't stop there, because there's another section of the website dedicated entirely to public speaking. Here's an example about how to end a speech: http://publicspeaker.quickanddirtytips.com/how-to-end-speech.aspx

I encourage you to look over the website, because she addresses a variety of questions and topics. 

Day 5 Homework: Research Findings

Click. Find. Share. 

In the comments, share something you learned from your research today. Feel free to include links to interesting sites. Also, take some time to look through the information shared by your peers. Comment on at least one other post. 

Project Soapbox Snapshots

During the first week of Project Soapbox, scholars spent some time thinking about the different communities they are members of. Scholars mapped their communities in a "Community Web". The center of the web represents the individual surrounded by the interconnected communities. 

How to Research

Research is important for a variety of reasons, but it's especially important when you're taking a stand and proposing a solution. Facts and background information bolster your argument and disarm your opponents - but remember, we shouldn't be pointing fingers and playing the blame game. 

Follow this link for helpful researching resources: http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/navigatingthenet/tp/How-to-Properly-Research-Online.htm

Weekend Homework Reminder

By now you have chosen the most significant problem facing your community, and with your peers you have discussed counter arguments and possible solutions to the problem. 

Choose at least one of the solutions discussed and in your journal explain how this solution will take place and how it will help your community. 

*If you were not able to discuss your topic with your peers on Thursday, please email Emily and/or Altagracia with questions. Also, please make sure to come visit the office at 8am on Monday morning. 



"You're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem"- Eldridge Cleaver 
Do you agree with Cleaver's quote? Why or why not? Answer as a comment. 

Solution LOLZ

Developing an effective solution requires exploring the problem and its root cause first.

Day 3 Homework: Identifying a Problem and its Root Cause

In the comments section, state your thesis using the prompt "The most significant issue facing my community is _________________because ___________________." 

Remember you are not limited to fill in the blanks using one or two words. The prompt is a framework. Make sure your thesis states the problem and root cause. 

Example: The most significant issue facing [Chicago youth] is gang violence because the lack of funding provided to low income neighborhoods has lead to a lack of security from Chicago law enforcement. 

Digging at the Roots

Here are a few reminders when looking back at your "Root Cause Tree":

The trunk of the tree represents the problem you will be discussing. Make sure your problem is specific enough for you to tackle.
The leaves of your diagram represent the symptoms. A symptom is a sign or an indication of something. Ask yourself "What is this problem leading to? How is it reflected in the community?"
The roots represent the root causes. Get it? A cause is the producer of an effect. When thinking of root causes, ask yourself "What exactly is leading up to this problem? Why is the problem occurring?"

In order to push yourself further when thinking about the root causes move on to the "5 Levels of Why". Choose a root cause to work with. Start by asking yourself "Why is (ROOT CAUSE) occurring?" From the answer you develop a new question and from that answer you develop a new question and so on, and so forth. You should only stop asking "Why?" once you feel you have come to a root cause that covers the problem and its symptoms.

Mikva Challenge - Tackling Difficult Topics

Project Soapbox 2011 - Donald Abram, Student Choice Award Winner from Mikva Challenge on Vimeo.

Donald takes a broad topic, abuse, and narrows it down to teenage relationship abuse. He uses one specific story throughout his speech to keep it focused and powerful.

Day 2 Homework: Assets and Issues

From Merriam- Webster Dictionary: 

asset: 

a : the property of a deceased person subject by law to the payment of his or her debts and legacies
b : the entire property of a person, association, corporation, or estate applicable or subject to the payment of debts
2: advantage, resource <his wit is his chief asset>
3: an item of value owned

issue:
a : a matter that is in dispute between two or more parties
b (1) : a vital or unsettled matter <economic issues> 

   (2) :concern, problem <I have issues with his behavior>
c : the point at which an unsettled matter is ready for a decision <brought the matter to an issue>


Look back at the work you did today. Identify which of your communities had the most issues. List the issues of this community. 

Defining "Community"

How do you define the idea of "community?"

From Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

1: a unified body of individuals: as
a : state, commonwealth
b : the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself <the problems of a large community>
c : an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location
d : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society <a community of retired persons>
e : a group linked by a common policy
f : a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests <the international community>
g : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society <the academic community>
2: society at large
3 a : joint ownership or participation <community of goods>
b : common character : likeness <community of interests>
c : social activity : fellowship d : a social state or condition

What other words come to mind when you think of "community"? What images come to mind? 

Day 1 Homework: Social Justice

Think about the following questions. Take some time to respond to these questions in the comments. 

What does social justice mean to you personally? 

What are some social justice issues you are passionate about and why? 

Do you know of any social justice initiatives taking place in current events? If so, explain. 

Speeches from kids just like you!

The Project Soapbox workshop was originally designed by the Mikva Challenge Foundation, a non- profit organization which prioritizes civic leadership in under served Chicago High School youth. 

From the Mikva Challenge website:
"Project Soapbox is a week-long curriclum that has students develop and deliver a speech on an issue about which they feel passionately. The curriculum takes them through the stages of identifying qualities of a good speech, structuring a speech, using rhetorical devices and qualities of effective speech delivery. Students then participate in a speech competition."

Check out the Mikva Challenge Project Soapbox website to view competition finalists including Collins Schuler Scholar Donte Massey. 
http://www.centerforactioncivics.org/2012-soapbox/



Alex Thompson-Brim / Students Choice Award from Mikva Challenge on Vimeo.
Mikva Challenge Project Soapbox 2012: Donte Massey from natalia smirnov on Vimeo.


Did you notice anything in particular about the delivery of these speeches?

Is there a difference in the way the speeches are presented? If so, what?

What in particular do you like about these speeches?

What is a soapbox?

Soapbox: "A raised platform on which one stands in order to make an impromptu speech, often about a political subject." 

From Wikipedia: 

"A Speakers' Corner is an area where open-air public speaking, debate and discussion are allowed. The original and most noted is in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London, United Kingdom. Speakers there may speak on any subject, as long as the police consider their speeches lawful, although this right is not restricted to Speakers' Corner only. Contrary to popular belief, there is no immunity from the law, nor are any subjects proscribed, but in practice the police tend to be tolerant and therefore intervene only when they receive a complaint or if they hear profanity."

An archive of speeches from Speaker's Corner are located on http://www.speakerscorner.net/. Check it out! 

Welcome to the Project Soapbox Blog!

Welcome to the Project Soapbox blog! This blog will serve as a valuable resource over the next few weeks, and we expect you to utilize it on a daily basis. There are a couple main reasons for our blog:

1. Communication – This is an easy way for everyone to see updates and stay on the same page (pun intended).

2. Collaboration – You’ll be posting on the blog and responding to your peers. While everyone will write their own unique piece, it’s always good to bounce ideas off of each other.

3. Become a little tech-savvy – Technology allowed blogs to become the new “soapboxes.” We want all of you to feel comfortable using such online resources. 

We’re very excited for the next four weeks! Please don't hesitate to ask questions or express concerns - we want this experience to be rewarding, meaningful, and enjoyable.