Blog 13

1.What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?


        I enjoyed my activity as it was easy to implement, yet had importance to the work as a whole. It also let me get some research for my independent component. The ease of accessibility allowed me to go into depth on my topic without worrying too much for time.

2. a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

       AE

     b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.


            Under the Lesson 2 Component Contract, I fulfilled each and every requirement stipulated for a minimum P  grade, and the steps which I took to go beyond that should warrant a higher grade in an objective evaluation. My activity tied into both my topic and my best answer, I brought above the minimum number of sources that needed to be cited with a total of six in my works cited and around 25 non cited sources where I pulled graphs and other data from reliable sources such as Gallup, and I effectively integrated both mentorship interviews and my research to discuss a major problem in my overall subject. 

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?
         The overall implementation of the lesson seemed to go well. The primary point of motivating participation in activities and surveys through the use of incentive (Candy) provided an excellent mirror to my best answer about utilizing the school system as a way to encourage better citizenship and involvement. In addition, combining this with my research for my independent component (The surveys on political involvement) worked exceedingly well as it provided me with a minor way of gauging audience reception to my presentations message. The results of this were very interesting as they seemed to indicate that people who don't consider themselves politically involved do so as a result of lack of confidence in their vote and a linked assurance to the corruption of the government. The other sizable contingent felt that since they were young, they had no concern for the sake of the government. The results of this survey will undoubteedly influence my next lesson just as the survey I conducted in my first lesson did.

 4. What didn't work? If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?

The Hook activity was an absolute failure on almost all levels. It simultaneously wasted time while only minimally advancing my key point. The core issue with it was its structure as the primary point, participation motivated by incentive, was accomplished in the opening point and the rest of the activity quickly lost momentum. It was intended to segue into a discussion on participation, but when I realized that it didn't have the theorized effect I quickly transitioned into my presentation and essential question. From there the lesson proceeded at a quick pace, but with nearly 14 minutes of lecture content by my evaluation. In the future, I will probably take more care in structuring the intro activity and streamline the entire affair.

5. What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?

Potentially, given the feedback on my surveys, I will push for a reduced voting age for state and local elections and for more emphasis on challenging the notions of the futility of voting rather than apathy. While I am unlikely to seriously change their minds, doing so is essential to hopefully others who aren't as ingrained in their viewpoint on avoiding voting.