Informal Writing 9 (due 11/28)

Develop a set of principles for being happy and present them orally to the class. You are of course constructing an argument about what happiness is and how it can be obtained, so be sure to give reasons for your claims.

Please be sure that your presentation is no more than 5 minutes long; time it beforehand to be sure. (The written version that you turn in on 11/28 may be longer if you wish.) There will be a 3-minute discussion period after each presentation.

Alternative option: Develop an argument that being happy is not a worthwhile goal, if that's what you believe, and present it to the class. The same time constraints apply.

Because this assignment is more complex than most informal writings, it will count double. What I'll be looking for are the following:

Content. Are your ideas about happiness plausible and ambitious?  Do you give reasons and/or evidence for your views?

Organization.  Is the presentation logically organized, with no gaps, leaps, or unnecessary repetitions?  Do you make the material easy to follow with a specific thesis and clear topic sentences to make it clear at all times where you are and where you're going? 

Presentation.  Do you establish a warm relationship with the audience, using a conversational style and speaking to rather than at us?  Is the presentation paced carefully, not rushed to get everything in?  Are notes used unobtrusively?