The Great Balloon Debate Who stays? Who goes? It is up to YOU!

What we are doing: Famous people are in a hot air balloon floating over an acid lake filled with sharks with laser beams mounted to their backs. The balloon’s furnace isn’t working, and as you are slowly sinking, individuals must be thrown out in an effort to lighten the load and save the rest! Who will survive? It’s up to YOU!

Speech Assignment You will research an individual in the balloon and determine how their life and contributions benefited generations to follow. You will embody the role of one of those individuals. You will present a “case” trying to persuade the audience as to why you should remain in the balloon as opposed to the others.

Format Realize that you will want to base your arguments on the assumption that all knowledge/inventions/advancement/progress gained from your character will be lost once you are thrown from the balloon. – IF YOU ARE KICKED OUT OF THE BALLOON, NOTHING FROM YOUR LIFE SURVIVES You will research your contributions and the faults of others You will try to convince the audience why you should stay opposed to others

Acting Element You are encouraged to dress up like your character if you can, have fun with it, but don’t be ridiculous. Be serious, but have fun

Format Continued The audience will vote as to who remains in the balloon-Mr. Bill has the power to override Things that should be considered in your case: sources (evidence), creativity, and quality of arguments You will compose a 3-4 minute speech offering the rational as to why you should remain in the balloon.

Format Continued Students will be seeded in bracketed format (you will be competing for your spot in the balloon) Following each initial speech there will be a questioning period After the questioning period there will be a one minute rebuttal period, during this time students will attack their competitors The debate will end with a 30 second wrap up

Format Continued Each audience member will vote Format of speech – Introduction: seconds (introducing your self) – 3 Main Points: Each 45 seconds to 1 min a piece focusing on major accomplishment – Conclusion: 15 seconds Rebuttal: 1 min focusing on major drawbacks of opponent (only in later rounds)

Figures Figures: Hitler, Washington, Mother Teresa, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Lincoln, Oprah, Edison, Einstein, Ghandi, Churchill, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Jack Kilby (inventor of Microchip), James Russell (inventor of CD), Harriet Tubman, Michael Jackson, Amelia Earhart,More?

Once you are eliminated You will assist debaters still in the debate in developing arguments against the individual you lost to-this is part of your evidence grade.

Note on Accomplishments Your intro will serve to literally introduce yourself. “Hello, my name is…….” Your accomplishments replace your main points. In these points you want to talk about 3 distinct things that we would lose if we lost you from the balloon. – Examples

Grades Accomplishment Drafts – 60 Points Debate – 30 Points: Clash (proper argument support and opposition to others) – 30 Points: Evidence of Research – 20 Points: Performance; eye contact, etc. – 10 Points: Improvement – 10 Points: Placing 1 st : Top 5 get 10 points, 2 nd round gets 5 points, 1 st round gets 0 points