"5 Things You Need to Know Today" 

1. Health care vote

President Trump threw down an ultimatum to House GOP members: pass the health care bill or be stuck with Obamacare. This is a huge gamble. If it works, Trump will cement his control over the Republican Party. If it fails, the "deal maker" President will have to explain why he couldn't close the deal.

There's a risk for House Republicans too. If they vote against the bill, they'll have to explain why they passed on their best opportunity to get rid of Obamacare, the law they've railed against for years. By the way, the revised bill is costlier and insures even fewer people. 

2. London attack

Carrying on: The day after a terrorist attack 01:38

Police investigating the deadly terrorist attack are focusing closely on how the perpetrator became radicalized, as they battle to piece together his identity and connections. They say the 52-year-old British man Khalid Masood had multiple aliases. We know more about some of the victims too. One man who was killed, Kurt Cochran of Utah, was in London celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary when he was run over on Westminister Bridge. Cochran's wife was injured as well. And a teacher, British national Aysha Frade, also died in the attack.

3. Vladimir Putin

It's really dangerous to be a vocal critic of the Russian President. An ex-Russian lawmaker who slammed Putin over Russia's annexation of Crimea was gunned down in broad daylight in Ukraine. Ukraine's President called it a "state terrorist act." Russia called that absurd. There have been other unfortunate ends for Putin critics through the years: in 2015 a deputy prime minister was shot in the back; last month an anti-Putin activist landed in a coma after a suspected poisoning; in 2013 a businessman who'd had a falling out with the Russians was found with a noose around his neck.

4. ICE raids

Is ICE targeting "sanctuary cities?" A senior government official says yes, ICE has stepped up operations in places that won't cooperate with the feds on immigration. The idea is that increased raids will force cities to work with feds to enforce immigration laws. Just this week, a federal judge in Texas said a raid in Austin was retaliation for a local sheriff's decision to not work with ICE. ICE denies that.

5. Cancer

Whether or not you develop cancer may have more to do with bad luck than lifestyle. A study in the journal Science says 66% of genetic mutations that turn into cancer are caused by simple random errors that occur when cells replace themselves. Lifestyle and environmental factors contribute to about 29% of the mutations. 

ADVERTISING PROJECT INFORMATION AGAIN (same as material on Monday's blog)

Advertising Project: due at the 

beginning of class on Wednesday, March 29. All work is

 due then, whether you present on 

Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. This gives you five 

class days and a weekend. Plan accordingly. 

The marking period ends on Friday, so there can be no 

late work.

Everyone is required to create a commercial that will be presented to the class.  

DETAILS:

1. You may use anyone you wish in the commercial; this includes classmates, school mates and family or the "man on the street." But each person must have a commercial, with the three writing components.

2. Your commercial may be live or filmed. 

3. You may advertise a product of your choice, or create your own product.

4. The length of your commercial should be approximately 1 minute. (up to 10 seconds over is fine, at which point you will lose 10 points.)

5. The material should be memorized. No script; however, to ad lib is fine.

6. Be creative. This project has great flexibility. You are demonstrating your understanding of how to persuade someone to buy a product or a concept. Avoid vulgarity.

On Wednesday, March 29 everyone is to turn in the following written material.

You may send this material along early, if so wish.  

 I suggest if you are filming to upload your commercial or put it on a thumb drive. Under no circumstances depend upon your mail. 

What exactly are you turning in on Wednesday, March 29?

1. A script. (This should include written descriptions of character, setting, dialogue and all production details. Do not be overly concerned with formatting.

2. An analysis paragraph of a minimum of 200 words that explains what and how you used two persuasive techniques and details of your target demographic Make specific references to your commercial as textual evidence.

3. Reflection: An analysis paragraph of at least 200 words that addresses the process  (production techniques) and obstacles you might have encountered and what worked well. How might you have changed the experience? 

 How shall the assignment be graded?

Two written grades: 

1) Numerals 1 through 3 are worth 33 % each for a total of 100 points. (yes, I know that's not exactly accurate)

                     Material turned in after Wednesday, March 29 is worth 50 points.

2) Commercial:  75/ 85 / 95 grading.

                           1. on time

                           2. adheres to 60 second rule

                  3. incorporates the two persuasive techniques

                  4.   demonstrates the use of three production                           techniques  

               5. if live, is memorized and performed to speech performance standards.

               

      Again, what are you turning in again on Wednesday, 

March 29?           

1.Script: character, setting, dialogue and all production details(check the list from the blog. written out. (correct language conventions apply)

2 Persuasive Technique Paragraph: A well-written and supported paragraph explaining what two persuasive techniques you used and how they manifest themselves specifically in your commercial. (correct language conventions apply)

3.Reflection paragraph: how close did you come to achieving your goal? What obstacles did you encounter?