Querencia Speeches
In concluding our first English unit on “Querencia: A Sense of Place,” students delivered place of meaning speeches in their individual querencia locations.
Join us on a journey to students’ special campus spots!
Assignment description and criteria for success:
Content:
-
- RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING PROMPT:
- In what way does your view of your querencia differ from or echo any past author’s point of view of wilderness/place/nature?
- RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING PROMPT:
- Lopez (Rediscovery of North America)
- Thoreau (Brute Neighbors)
- Dillard (Living Like Weasels)
- Solnit (Field Guide to Getting Lost)
- Content is focused on ONE MOMENT OF MEANING/learning/symbolism speaker drew from Querencia experience, connected to larger themes we’ve discussed in two authors from the past two weeks.
- Cite 2-3 specific quotations from relevant authors that support speaker’s original ideas. Cite in end-parenthesis like this: “live deliberately” (Thoreau, 222).
- Begin and conclude speech in an engaging way (“hook” and conclusion)
- conclusion includes answer to this question:
How have you built a sense of place in your querencia? Is it important to build a sense of place? Why?
Writing:
- Use specific details to illustrate your message
- Language is concise and direct – not overly flowery or overly descriptive
- Use correct spelling and grammar
- Sentence length is varied and does not include run-ons
Delivery:
- Speech lasts between 3 and 5 minutes.
- Speech is delivered in Querencia Location.
- Make eye contact
- Use appropriate hand gestures for emphasis
- Project your voice
- Speak clearly, intentionally and with authority/confidence (No “ums”, “uh”s, “like”s, etc)
- Use appropriate pauses for impact, emphasis, and pacing
- Stand with posture, poise and presence (not fidgeting)
- Dress professionally for a formal presentation
Watch students’ speeches below!
(An excerpt only)
(an excerpt only – from our local Chilean!)
In Unit 2 we will be digging into “Humans in Wilderness and the Wilderness Within,” an exploration of character and adventure through the lens of Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild.
Stay tuned!
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