Spectactular Start to TED Talk Speech

I am a member the Ojibwa tribe on the Fort William first nation located in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  However, I do not live on the reservation like the majority of my cousins and relatives.  I live in the United States because my grandpa was able to live the "american dream."  My grandpa knew that in order to find hope and be successful that he had to leave the reservation.  So, he came to the United States and started his own engineering business.  The company was very successful and so was he.  Raising his kids in the United States, my mom raised me here too.  If it wasn't for my grandpa, I wouldn't be living in the wonderful home or town that I do today.  I would be living on the reserve, a place filled with little hope nowadays and much poverty.  Kids especially on reservations struggle in school since education for most Native American Indians is not ideal.  As students, even though we attend a private school in the Unites States, we can understand the challenges and struggles of striving to get an education.

Besides education, every day life on the reservation is not ideal.  Each year, when my family and I travel to our reservation, we spend a lot of time with our relatives, especially my cousin Kami.  Kami is like my insight to what is happening on our indian reservation.  Some of the things that she has told me about the reserve is that her cousins got pregnant and dropped out of school, her dad is back in jail for getting drunk and starting a fight, and her mom is too busy drinking that she has to be the one to care for her other three younger siblings.  Kami and the rest of her family live in a small two-room home on the reserve, with a tiny lawn displaying all of their scattered baby toys.  Like Kami's family, other families on the reserve live in poverty.  In fact, in 2012, a total of 29.1% of American Indians and Alaskan Native alone lived in poverty, making up 15.9% of the nations poverty and the highest of any other ethnic group (National Indian Education Association). 

Along with the harsh daily life of native americans, education is a growing problem. The native americans continue to need more help in the school environment as they aren't as academically advanced as others.  "In 2009, 19% of American Indian and Alaskan Native 9th grade females received special education services, compared to the national rate of 7% for all 9th grade females, and 8% for White 9th grade females. In the same year, 27% of American Indian and Alaskan Native 9th grade males received special education services, compared to the national average of 13% for all 9th grade males, and 13% for White males" (National Indian Education Association). 

In addition, Native Americans from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the state with the largest proportion of Native students, are not doing nearly as well as other races, like the whites, when it come to academics.  On a standardized math test in the 2012-2013 school year, only 42% of the native americans achieved "proficient" or advanced," compared to 80% of the white student.  Similarly, on the reading test, 47% or native Americans scored a level of proficient or higher, compared to 79% of whites (National Indian Education Association).  

Finally, the most devastating statistic of them all... graduation rates.  In 2013, only 49% of native americans graduated school within the standard 4 years.  Plus, 64% of the native americans  completed high school and got a diploma, with an extension of their years spent at high school.  However, this is still 17% or more lower than all the other subgroups in the state of South Dakota (Education Week).  

Ultimately, I hope what you all can take away from this TED talk is that people on Native American Indian reservations don't always live a good life.  They live in poverty, and education isn't ideal.  This problem of Native American's education needs to be recognized more amongst people, especially the government.  They are americans too, and it's awful to know that they aren't getting educated properly while we sit here in a private school that values everyones education so much.  With help, Native Americans can get a better education and be more successful in life.  Being well educated and getting a good education is their only hope to help them get off the reserve and be successful in life.  But, these graduation rates or test statistics will not change if no one helps, so lets help these people get a better education like most of us have.  

Research Report

Both my brainstorming and research is included in the blog titled "Planning Makes Perfect."

 

Peter Pan- What A Phenomenal Production

Every year, Cheshire Academy students put on and preform a play in the fall.  Today, I went to go see Cheshire Academy's fall production.  This fall, the play being shown was Peter Pan.  I have to admit, going into this play, I was a little skeptical of how good it would be and whether I would enjoy it.  But, I ended up really liking the play.  It achieved all of my expectations and was a fantastic performance by the whole student cast.  The aspects of the play that I liked the most and think are important to make a play enjoyable are humor, emotion, set design, and music.  

Throughout the play, humor was used.  The use of humor definitely got the audience more interested in what was being said and really complimented the whole production.  Plus, it was clear that the entire cast loved their roles.  On stage, everyone was enthusiastic and really embodied their characters well.  The emotion throughout the play was great and I was surprised to see that even after preforming the play twice in front of an audience the student cast still put all of their energy out on the stage while reciting their lines.  In addition, the set designs were impeccable.  For a small school play, I was not expecting the sets to look as great as they did.  The backdrops, props, and lights complimented every scene in the play very well.  Also, I can tell the most was made out of limited materials, and I commend the whole crew for changing the sets as quickly and efficiently as possible.  Finally, the music was the glue to this play, it connected everything together.  I loved the music played before the play started and during the intermission.  It was a great addition to the production.  Plus, while the stage crew was altering sets, I was impressed with the beautiful flute music interludes. 

From the very beginning to the very end, I enjoyed CA's production of Peter Pan.  I though everyone did a phenomenal job putting this whole performance together.  Every crew and cast member should be very proud and pleased with the end product they got after preforming this play.  I could tell, and I am sure others in the audience could tell, that Cheshire Academy students and staff worked really hard to put on this production.  After watching Peter Pan this fall, all I can say is well done Cheshire Academy cast and crew involved in this performance. 

Planning Makes Perfect

                                             

                                               Education on Native American Reservations

Introduction:

- INTRODUCE TOPIC:

Education on Native American Reservations is a major problem. 

- MAKE SURE TO ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY: 

My credibility: I am a Native American from the Ojibwa tribe in Ontario, Canada.  Although I do not live on the reservation or go to the reservation school systems, I have an insight to what life and education is like on the reserve.  My cousin, Cami, who is the same age as me, lives on the indian reservation.  There is no school to go to for high school on the reserve, so she travels about 30 minutes away to go to a public school off of the reserve in Thunder Bay, ON.  By visiting her each summer, I get a different perspective than the one I have and really understand the challenging reservation life. 

- MAKE SURE TO RELATE TOPIC TO THE AUDIENCE:

Connection: Even though we go to a private school (Cheshire Academy), we are all students and have an understand of what trying to get educated is like. However, Native American kids on reservation schools have a more so difficult experience at school compared to most kids here attending Cheshire academy. 

BACKGROUND-

Daily Life- (AI= American Indians  AN= Alaskan Natives) http://www.niea.org/research/statistics.aspx

- In 2012, 29.1% of AI/ANs (alone) lived in poverty - the highest rate of any race group - compared to 15.9% for the entire nation. (2012 American Community Survey)  

- In 2011, 52% of AI/AN (alone) children lived in two-parent households, compared to 75% of Whites (alone). (Aud, Hussar, Johnson, et al., 2012)

Body: 

FACTS (Ethos/Logos)

A Schools/Education- http://www.niea.org/research/statistics.aspx

- Some Reservation Schools are so bad that the natives go to public school system-- During the 2007-08 school year, there were 741 public schools located in AI/AN areas, with 82,406 AI/AN students. (Common Core of Data, 2008)

- During the 2010-11 school year, there were 49,152 students in Bureau of Indian Education Schools. (Bureau of Indian Education, 2011)

- BIE oversees 183 elementary, secondary, residential, and peripheral dormitories in 23 states. (Bureau of Indian Education, 2011)

- During the 2011-12 school year, private school student enrollment was 0.5% for AI/AN (alone) students, compared to 71.2% for White (alone) students. (Broughman & Swaim, 2013)

- Slow improvement-- Between 2005 and 2011, the achievement gaps between AI/AN and non-AI/AN fourth graders and between AI/AN and non-AI/AN eighth graders did not change for reading, but increased for mathematics. (National Center for Education Statistics, 2012)

- Indian kids need more help in school-- In 2009, 19% of AI/AN 9th grade females received special education services, compared to the national rate of 7% for all 9th grade females, and 8% for White 9th grade females. In the same year, 27% of AI/AN 9th grade males received special education services, compared to the national average of 13% for all 9th grade males, and 13% for White males. (Ross, Kena, Rathbun, et al., 2012)

Story (Establishing Pathos)

http://www.edweek.org/ew/projects/2013/native-american-education/running-in-place.html#losing-ground

Luzahan White Horse- 

- age 19

- graduated from Pine Ridge High School- June 2012 (took him an extra year to graduate)

- Year later: most of his days are spent playing basketball with his friends and doesn't have a steady or "formal" job ("I make money, I get by" - White Horse) 

- Kids don't like reservation school education: ("I mostly went to school to chill with my friends because there's nothing else to do on the rez" - White Horse)

- Kids also don't see thier lives changing: (But I don't see that my life is going to be that much different in 10 years. I'll probably still be here, playing basketball" - Pine Ridge Indian)

Statistics: http://www.edweek.org/ew/projects/2013/native-american-education/running-in-place.html#losing-ground

- South Dakota has the highest proportion of Native American students that in any other state.  But, the students are not nearly as advanced academically as others.  

2012-2013:

Math- 

- 42% American Indians achieved "proficient" or "advanced"

^ compared to 80% of whites 

Reading- 

- 47% scored level of proficient and above 

^ compared to 79% of white students scores 

4 Year Graduation Rate (2013): 

- 49% of American Indian students graduated 

High school completion rate: 

- 64%  (still 17% or more than other subgroups in South Dakota) 

Federal Cuts: 

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/12/04/13sequestration_ep.h33.html 

K-8 School Loneman School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota (2013)- 

- laid off 12 staff members/20 percent of its staff 

- The 20% included included three of six middle school teachers (half of the middle school teachers said Principal Charles Cuny Jr.

Lac du Flambeau (school)

- cut one of two educators that was meant to teach students the Ojibwe language (the language they have to speak)

- "The Washington-based organization surveyed 161 Indian-lands districts that receive Impact Aid. Of that number, 144, or nearly 90 percent, had made cuts in the 2013-14 school year. More than half—78—put off maintenance and purchases and 56 slashed instructional positions."

Takeaway: 

People on Native American Indian reservations don't always live a good life.  They live in poverty, and education isn't ideal.  This problem of Native American's education needs to be recognized more amongst people in the United States.  We have the ability to change the world, and this is a way to start.  With help, Native Americans can get a better education and be more successful in life.  But, they need someone to give them a push and help.  

Characteristics of a Terrific TED Talk

The most recent assignment in public speaking class is to create our very own TED talk.  A TED talk is a speech that is given to an audience and can vary from 3 minutes to 2 hour.  In class, we watched three TED Talks.  There are certain aspects of TED talks that make them great.  Aspects of a good TED talk include an applicable topic to the audience, humor, visuals, and that it is entertaining to listen to. 

To begin with, in a good TED talk, it is important that the topic is relevant and applicable to the audience.  One of the TED talks we viewed in class that did a good job of this was a speech on the steps to be successful.  The audience can relate to this topic since most everyone wants to be successful in their life.  Additionally, it is important that when introducing the topic, you start with a hook.  Another one of the TED talks that our class watched, about multipotentialites, had a hook that started the speech by asking questions.  This is a good strategy since it engages the audience and gets them involved in the talk. 

Secondly, a good TED talk consists of humor.  In all of the TED talks that we watched in public speaking class, there was some humor.  All of the speeches had punch lines added into the script of their presentation where the speaker thought was necessary.  It is good to include humor in a TED talk because it keeps the audiences' attention and makes them more interested in the speech.  Who doesn't love some humor and jokes here and there?  Humor is a great strategy to tie the whole TED talk together, ensuring that the audience doesn't get bored. 

Another part of a good TED talk to keep in mind is that the speech should be entertaining.  This is one of the most crucial aspects of a TED talk as the speaker does not want his or her audience to get bored with what he or she is saying.  First, make sure the talk is an interesting topic.  Next, make sure to have the appropriate length of the speech.  It is not good if the speech is too short like the underwater astonishments TED talk we viewed.  After watching this TED talk, it left me wanting to hear more things about the sea that I believed was left out.  However, it is also not ideal if a TED talk is long.  I felt like the TED talk on how appearance isn't everything given by a model was extended more then it should have been.  This speech was around twenty minutes long when I felt as if it could have been condensed.  Furthermore if the speech is short it is also probably hard for the audience to connect to the purpose of the speech.  Or, if the talk is too long then the audience gets bored listening to the same repeated ideas.  

Finally, the last important aspect of a good TED talk is the inclusions of visuals.  Including visuals in your presentations helps to engage the audience in your talk.  It also helps the audience to not get bored with the speech.  One of the most common visuals in all of the TED talks that we watched in class were powerpoint presentations.  Each speaker talked with a slide from a powerpoint in the background.  The slides usually depicted what was being said at the moment in the speech.  One of the coolest visuals I thought were the videos included within the TED talk about the astonishing underwater creatures.  I enjoyed seeing the bioluminescent animals as well as how different aquatic species can blend into their surrounding environment.  For me, these visuals were helpful to understand what was being said in the speech, and kept me more engaged while listening to the TED talk. 

Ultimately, there are many important factors of a good TED talk.  However, I feel that the most important aspects are that the topic stated is relevant, there is humor, the speech isn't boring, and that there are visuals incorporated into the talk.  All of these ideas make up and build the basis of a great TED talk. 

3 Potential TED Talk Topics

1.) Problem- Education on Native American Reservations 

2.) I believe- its up to you do determine how successful you will be in life / there is a lot of opportunity to be successful (but, you have to want to do well and work hard) 

3.) Problem- the state's core curriculum 

4.) I believe- sports aren't everything (people get hurt badly from sports, people are offered more money for sports scholarships to go to College than they do for getting good grades and working hard in school)

TED Talks

Ken Robinson: "Do schools kill creativity?" 

http://www.ted.com/playlists/171/the_most_popular_talks_of_all 

In our national education systems, it is taught to children that is is bad to make mistakes.  Then, when they grow up to be adults, most kids are scared of being wrong... therefore, they lose their sense of creativity.  

David Gallo: "Underwater astonishments"

http://www.ted.com/playlists/171/the_most_popular_talks_of_all 

There is still a lot of the underwater world to discover, we only know about 3% about this underwater world, but what we do know about aquatic animals is amazing.  Animals in the ocean can do some fascinating things like blending into the surrounding environment or changing colors when fighting with other animals. 

Cameron Russell: "Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model."

http://www.ted.com/playlists/171/the_most_popular_talks_of_all

How you appear is powerful, but, it is also superficial.  Most girls are unhappy with the way they look, but this talk explains how there is more to want to do in life then be a model and look good.  

Critiquing My Public Speaking (Topic: "How-To" Speech)

My How-To Choose a Pet Speech- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=plEMRpKOoy8&feature=em-upload_owner 

Aspects that make a good speech include a good introduction, body, conclusion, use of language, and delivery.  

In my introduction, I feel like my speech could have better captured the readers attention if I used a different strategy to introduce my topic.  I tried to get this "hook" by asking questions, but am not so sure how affective this attention getter actually was.  Other aspects of my introduction, however, I feel liked I did very well in.  For instance, I think that my topic was clearly introduced within my introduction and I think the topic was related to the audience because everyone can own or purchase a pet if they choose to do so.  Another mistake I made in my introduction was that I didn't mention my credibility.  However, I did mention my credibility in my conclusion where I said I owned my guinea pig Summer.  I thought it worked better in the conclusion then in the introduction.  Finally, the body of the speech was previewed in my thesis (responsibility, affordability, and which pet is best for someone). 

In my body, I think I did a goo job of making the main points clear.  I had a topic sentence for every paragraph and support in an orderly fashion.  Also, I had support for most if not all of my main points.  Whenever I could, I would try and use specific examples and evidence to support my claims.  Additionally, I tried to use clear transitions during my speech as much as I could where I thought they would work well and help move the speech forward.  

In the conclusion, I ended with the transition "in conclusion" and restated my thesis to further summarize the main points I made throughout my speech.  Lastly, I think my closing and call to action were effective.  My call to action was encouraging others to go out and buy a pet.  Plus, I included in my closing and call to action information about my guinea pig, Summer.  I feel like this was the glue to my conclusion that related everything together and helped explain what a pet really means.  It also explained my credibility of the topic since I have owned a pet and gone through this process myself.  

The language used in the speech was related directly to the topic.  Also, during my speech, I tried to vary the use of the word pet.  I think I improved on this from the time I was practicing in class and realized while practicing that I said that word a lot.  If I preformed this speech again, I might have been able to vary up the word choice a little more than I had.  Similar to the use of language, I think my overall delivery of the speech was decent.  

The delivery of my speech was fairly good as well.  My notecards were ready before I began my speech but I didn't have any visual aids in my speech, and my whole speech I thought was poised.  One thing I can work on was the amount of eye contact I made with the audience.  Although we were not supposed to memorize this speech, I looked down at my notecards more then I hoped to keep me on track and help me not lose my spot.  Another thing I could work on was body language.  I think because this was one of our longer public speaking assignments, I was nevervous.  Therefore, I swayed a little bit while talking and presenting my speech.  For the most part, I think the speed I talked in was good.  It was too fast, and it wasn't too slow (and my speech was 3 mintues long).  I think I spoke loud enough for the audience to hear me but could have spoken louder especially since there was a lot of background noise going on.  During part of my speech, girls talking loudly and the sound of a truck passing by drained out my voice in the How-to speech.  Also during my speech, I used some but few 'ah' and 'um' filters.  Finally, the last couple of things I could use improvement in my speech are changing the pitch and tone of my voice and sounding more enthusiastic.  I admit, I could have shown more enthusiasm but I think there was little room for the changes in tone in my voice throughout my speech.  

Overall, I think that my How-to speech went well.  I explained my topic thoroughly and got across all of the points I needed to.  I researched concepts and ideas that needed to be researched for this speech on how to choose a pet.  Also, I feel like the audience liked the topic.  Most people were paying attention to the presentation of my speech.  Finally, my topic was within the time range since it was three minutes long.