DISCUSSION (20 POINTS) AND FINAL ASSIGNMENT (200 POINTS)

Here’s the Pitch!

The Prompt

You have a great idea for changing the world through media!

But you need money and resources to develop it. You could go to your rich uncle or your parents for the cash and try

to make it happen on your own, or you could look for someone to fund and produce your idea for you.

So you do some research, and you find the right people to make this project a reality.  You contact them, tell them a little about your idea, and they like it. Just like that, you

are invited to show them more. You will have only 5 minutes to pitch your idea to their development team.

This is your big moment, your chance to show your stuff, so here’s the windup...and the pitch.

Part 1: The Format & Organization

Create a PowerPoint presentation with 5 slides and a script to be delivered with each slide. [NOTE: 5 minutes of speaking is about 500 words (or 100 words or fewer per slide.)]

Note: If you’re stuck for an idea, try brainstorming! Take 5 minutes and write down every idea you can think of. Don’t stop writing! From that list, cross out anything you don’t feel strongly about. Put a star next to the ones you feel the most passionate about. This assignment will be easier if you pick something YOU believe in.

Part 1: The Format & Organization (cont.)

Slide 1: The HOOK. First, grab your audience’s attention with a hook. You have lots of ways to do it—a controversial or humorous statement, a quotation, an image description, a “suppose” statement, a shocking statistic. Then, give an overview of your project. Tell your investors what you are planning and why. The goal is to capture their minds and hearts from the get-go while also providing specific and descriptive details about your project.

Slides 2-4: The REASONS. The next three slides should provide three reasons why your audience should invest in your project. How will the project make a difference to others? Describe or show the possibilities of the project and your vision for the future. Save your most compelling reason for slide 4.

Slide 5: The CLINCHER: End with a bang. This slide should really wow them. Review the important points of the presentation, and give a punchy and memorable tag line.

Part 2: The Images

Choose one or two images (photographs, diagrams, drawings, or illustrations) for each slide.  Look for powerful images that support your key messages. Also, make sure that your script makes a connection to each image.

Use Google image search to help you find appropriate images. (Since this assignment will not be formally published, you do not need to cite your image sources.)

Don’t clutter your slides! One or two images, a slide title, and a few short, bulleted statements to express your key points will be enough. A cleaner layout will keep your reader interested and focused.

Part 3: Revising

When you think you are done, go back and revise your slides and script so you’re certain your pitch has spin. Hook to pull your audience in Figurative language, such as similes and metaphors Smooth transitions to keep your audience focused Vocabulary that shows you’re an expert on the topic Clincher that is memorable

Make sure your script reads well. Reading your script out loud will help you “hear” any errors you didn’t see, including any awkward phrasing. While you don’t have to submit the actual audio of the script, reading the text out loud before submitting is a good idea.

Clean up any used boxes on your slides and make sure all the text is readable (not too small or in a color that can’t be read easily).

Part 4: Editing

Don’t forget to edit your document! Use the checklist and PowerPoint lessons provided in the course:

Writing Process Checklist Capitalization Concerns 

Comma Sense  Proper Punctuation 

Grammar Goofs Spelling Snafus

Superior Sentences 

Part 5: Sharing

Publish your pitch to the Discussion: Here’s the Pitch link in one of 3 ways:

Post the PowerPoint and script OR Post the PowerPoint and script with an audio recording

of you delivering the pitch OR Post the PowerPoint and script with a video recording

of you delivering your pitch

To submit the script, you can type text into the notes section under each slide in PowerPoint, or you can submit it as a separate .rtf file.

Part 6: Peer Review

Read at least one other posted pitch and respond following the 4 P's of peer critique:

Praise what is working. Probe what you don’t understand. Propose improvements with tact. And above all be POSITIVE.

Be sure to read the grading rubric that your instructor will use to evaluate the discussion. Write at least 10 sentences.

As you review your peers’ work, think about your own proposal. Is there any advice you gave a classmate that could apply to your own pitch?

Submitting the Final Pitch

After reading reviews by your peers and/or instructor, revise your presentation incorporating their feedback and any additional improvements you feel are needed.

Submit your project to the Writing Assignment: Here’s the Pitch assignment link for grading.

To ensure success, read the grading rubric.

For help with editing and revising, go to the 6 + 1 Trait® of Writing rubric

Make sure to submit both the PowerPoint presentation and the script in the format you have chosen.

The Rubric: Task

The Rubric: Organization

The Rubric: Development

The Rubric: Style

The Rubric: Mechanics