English 11 - Curricular Argument: Project Home

American Literature - Curricular Argument
Common Course Assessment (CCA) 

Across the nation, books and speeches are being opposed in school committee meetings, and banned from classroom curricula and libraries. Your goal is to create a persuasive speech that shares background knowledge about the text, its impact on American society, and its importance if you are opposed to this text) to teach to future PHS students.

For your Quarter 4 CCA, you must choose one text that you have read in your high school career (either in English or Social Studies classes) and defend that text remaining in the PHS curriculum OR choose a book that is not currently a part of the curriculum, and argue why it should be added to the curriculum.

Research Question:

Should this text continue to be taught at Portsmouth High School?

OR

Should this text be added to the curriculum? 

Some texts you have read may include:

• The Book Thief
• Fahrenheit 451
• The Great Gatsby
• The Hate U Give
• Julius Caesar
• Macbeth
• Night
• Stamped
• To Kill A Mockingbird

Your speech MUST include:

• A clear, arguable thesis that identifies the text and why it should remain in the curriculum
  • Sentence starters below
• 4 arguable claims that support your thesis statement
  • Claims may cover historical context, relevance, social issues the text addresses, the text’s influence, how it raises awareness or changes perspective
• 4 total sources: your primary source (the text you chose) and 3 secondary sources
• A media component to support your argument

Your speech MUST:

• Be 4-6 minutes in length
• Include evidence from primary source and at least two secondary sources

Your speech MAY include:

• Background knowledge about the text
  • Consider including the author’s purpose, the setting of the text 

• PHS should keep The Great Gatsby in the curriculum because it…
• PHS should add The Firekeeper’s Daughter to the curriculum because…