For Kim Woods

Part one...

Do you know an effective leader? What traits did they possess or functions did they perform that made he or she a good leader?

 Review the section on The Knowledge Gap at the top of page 231 in the Human Communication textbook. Do you think we have a knowledge gap in Arizona? Explain. What role does a college education play in the knowledge gap phenomenon?

Part 2...

Select a Persuasive Speech Topic. You will announce your topic (the social problem) in Reading Review #5. More than one student can speak about the same problem.

Our class will be presenting a Persuasive Speech: Question of Policy. You will select a social problem and then present a solution to that problem. Social problems are problems that cause individual or societal harm. This may include economic issues, environmental issues, social justice concerns, political issues, health issues, or educational issues. The more specific you are the better. Narrow your topic down to a manageable problem to address given the time constraints. For example the topic "drugs" could be narrowed by drug type, effected age groups, drug addiction, local drug problems, drug and border issues, and so on.

SOCIAL PROBLEMS “ A social problem is a social condition that has been found to be harmful to individual and/or societal well-being” Bassis, Gelles, & Levine (1982). Social Problems. Social problems are constructed: “Social Problems are what people view as social problems” (pg 4/ Best 1995 Images of Issues)

“ CLAIMS-MAKING”  “The activities of individuals or groups making assertions of grievances and claims with respect to some putative conditions” Spector & Kitsuse (1977). Claims Makers- are essentially claiming there is a social problem and it needs to be fixed and in doing so they “ shape our sense of just what the problem is” (pg 8/ Best 1995 Images of Issues). Reform suggests making something better. The idea of better is subjective and changes with societal ideas.