Writing Question

Post ID: 3532669

Overview

create an outline for this assignment. see below ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION do the outline only

Students will complete a Testimony Assignment that is broken down into four graded steps. For this assignment, you will imagine that you are a citizen of the state of Maryland. A bill has been proposed in the state legislature to create a new license plate series called “Enslaved African Americans.” In addition to the state name and the plate number, the first plate will include an image of Harriett Tubman with the message below it, “Remember the Past.” Additional plates may be introduced in the future featuring images of Frederick Douglass and other African Americans who were enslaved in Maryland.

News about the proposed license plate has generated support and opposition among Marylanders. Some argue the new plate will be too divisive and create a negative image of the state in the minds of other Americans who are not from Maryland. They claim the license plate focuses too much on the past and the state needs to move forward. They also think the growing controversy over the license plate will be bad for attracting new businesses and newcomers to the state. Some have voiced fears of the impact the new license plate will have on their children’s wellbeing.

Supporters, on the other hand, argue the state has not done enough to acknowledge the impact of slavery in its past and needs to do more to educate its current and potential citizens. They maintain the new license plate series is a small step in the right direction. They also argue it will send a powerful message to other states to examine their histories of slavery, segregation, and exclusion.

A public hearing has been scheduled by the legislative committee on transportation to receive testimony regarding the issue. Your task is to prepare a 1–2 page written testimony and a separate oral testimony in support of or opposition to the license plate. The oral testimony will be in the form of a PowerPoint presentation. Be sure to include proper citations to any sources used in all steps.

Alternative Assignment: Since this assignment was created, various states have passed laws surrounding the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) in classrooms. If this is a topic that interests you, you may complete the Testimony Assignment using CRT as your topic rather than the license plate. You would complete all steps in the same way, but you would take a position for or against legislation regarding banning the teaching of CRT. There is no need to get approval if you choose this route.

Step 1 – Testimony Outline:

For the first step, you will create an outline for your testimony. You should think of four main points you want to convey to the legislative committee. Avoid too much jargon and instead try to personalize your testimony. What will the license plate mean to you? What message will it send to your community and other drivers in and outside of the state?

You will submit an outline of your testimony using the general format listed below. Be sure to incorporate knowledge about African American history and culture that you have learned in this course to strengthen your arguments.

State your position on the issue.
Give your first point that supports your position.
Give your second point that supports your position.
Give your third point that supports your position.
Give your fourth point that supports your position.

Step 2 – Written Testimony:

Your written testimony will contain a header, salutation, 1st paragraph, 2nd paragraph, 3rd paragraph, and final paragraph, and it should be 1–2 double-spaced pages.

Header: Your name and any community association or organization you imagine yourself representing in this scenario. Include the name and/or number of the proposed bill and a brief statement of your position.

Salutation: Address the committee in a formal way (“Dear Madam or Sir”).

First Paragraph: Identify yourself, where you are from, and if you represent a community or organization. Be sure to name any position you hold within the organization or if you have any elected position within the community. If you are representing a neighborhood, you should mention the number of constituents or homes you are representing. At the end of the paragraph, state in one sentence the purpose of your testimony and your position on the issue.

Second Paragraph: State and explain the main points you developed in your Step 1 outline. Make sure to include how this debate over the license plate impacts you and your community. This is a good place to offer knowledge you have learned from this course on African American history and culture to support whichever position you take. In other words, use historical evidence to strengthen your arguments.

Third Paragraph: Offer suggestions or alternative strategies for how to resolve the issue, and address possible concerns that those on the opposite side of the issue may have.

Final Paragraph: Thank the committee for allowing you the opportunity to speak and voice your concerns. Conclude the reasons why they should support your position.

References: Include a reference list with all the sources used to support your position. Use complete citations, not just hyperlinks. You may cite using whichever citation style you are most comfortable with.

Step 3 – Oral Testimony:

Your oral testimony will be in the form of a PowerPoint presentation. The objective of this step is to relate information from your written testimony in the form of a visual presentation.

In a real-life scenario, you would have a time limit of 2–3 minutes to deliver oral testimony at a legislative hearing. Oral testimony in this course will be in the form of a short visual PowerPoint presentation. You will be limited to four slides.

Slide 1: This is your cover slide. It should state your name, your title, the organization you represent, and what the organization does. Make sure to identify the proposed legislative bill.

Slide 2: State the four main points emphasized in the second paragraph of your written testimony. Try to deliver the key points using a personal experience, if possible, but you must be succinct and brief. Make sure the slide can be read easily and quickly.

Slide 3: Offer positive solutions for addressing and resolving opposition to your position on the bill. Try to anticipate questions regarding your position. Again, be brief and succinct. Be sure to emphasize readability on your slide.

Slide 4: Thank the committee for allowing you to present testimony. Offer the chance to answer any questions. Include all your citations.

Step 4 – Testimony Discussion:

For the final step of the assignment, you will share your Oral Presentation with the class and discuss what you learned from the experience. Note that this is a separate discussion from your regular weekly discussions. You will post your PowerPoint presentation in the Oral Testimony forum and answer the questions listed below. Then, you only need to respond to one of your peers’ presentations for this discussion.

Questions: What have you learned from completing your legislative testimony assignment? What skills or relevant knowledge have you acquired as a result of this course? How has this course shifted your perspective and/or understanding of the importance of African American Studies?

Initial Post: Write your answers to the questions above and attach your PowerPoint presentation in the post for your classmates to see.

Response: Reply to one of your peers’ presentations and explore what you both learned from the experience. Review the full assignment instructions located in the Week 1 module before you begin.

Step 1 – Testimony Outline:

State your position on the issue.
Give your first point that supports your position.
Give your second point that supports your position.
Give your third point that supports your position.
Give your fourth point that supports your position.