ELA11, CSS, Cizeron

Task:

This assignment asks you to consider how the speaker's message is conveyed through language and performance.  How is personal, social, and cultural identity conveyed in the performance?  Select one of the following performances and discuss how the speaker's meaning is conveyed through language and performance techniques as you respond to the questions below.

Rhetorical Strategies

• What rhetorical strategies does the speaker use to convey his message more effectively?
• What is the developmental structure?

Language

• What language does the speaker/storyteller use?

Performance

• What voice techniques does the speaker use to convey the message?
• What performance techniques does the storyteller/speaker use?

Identity and Message

• What is the main idea or message of the performance?
• What does this performance reveal about personal, social, and/or cultural identity?

Practice

Try this performance first.  In 2007, Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, unveiled the first iPhone during Apple's Macworld keynote, marking a crucial moment in the company's history and a revolutionary new project.  His keynote speech is still noted as one of the best presentations of all time.  Watch his presentation and assess how he uses language and performance techniques to communicate his message.  Here is an answer guide for you to follow as you watch the video.

It's Your Turn

Select one of the following performances and discuss how the speaker's meaning is conveyed through language and performance techniques.  How is personal, social, and/or cultural identity conveyed in the performance? You  might also consider if the message changes before and after listening.  Does the oral version help with comprehension?

Selection #1:  Countdown by PrufRock Shadowrunner.  Shadowrunner is a well-known veteran of the slam poetry scene in Canada. Based in Ottawa, he's a member of the city's slam team, and also DJs, raps and acts. His video Countdown is an insanely clever, effortlessly delivered monologue about being black in the 21st century.

Selection #2:  Explaining My Depression to My Mother by Sabrina Benaim.  On Twitter, Sabrina Benaim describes herself as a poet, dance party enthusiast and Slytherin. We have another three words to add: powerful, brilliant and courageous. In her viral video, , Benaim gives an excruciatingly bang-on description of what it's like to explain depression to someone who loves you, but just doesn't get it.  Here is the text version.

Source:  https://www.cbc.ca/books/7-must-see-canadian-poetry-performances-1.4266637

 Assessment:  Below you will find the exemplary criteria used to assess the assignment.  

Learning Target: Exemplary (6/6):  Exemplary comprehension of the task and clear accomplishment of the objective.  Student recognizes rhetorical strategies, language, and voice and performance techniques and how they contribute to meaning.  Student clearly communicates how the speaker's message and identity is conveyed through language and performance.

Written Expression:  Exemplary (6/6):  Sentence structure and vocabulary are varied, skillfully written, and carefully chosen.  Work has been proofread and there are few or no errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Content contributes to the central idea and makes insightful connections with logical organization.

Submission

Use the "3.6 Meaning Through Performance" link on the main page of this section of the course to upload your assignment to your teacher for marking.

Estimated Allotted Time: 1 hour