T3+-+Speeches


 * __**Speech**__

__**Task:**__ **Oral presentation (2 minutes long)**

Write and present a speech based on the person you have researched for your web challenge. Discuss how you think this person has made an impact on the world, music, film or people?

__**Learning Intentions:**__

LI: I am learning what makes an effective speech by looking at vocal qualities LI: I am learning how using varied sentence structure has an impact on the quality of a speech LI: I am learning to use my voice effectively for an oral presentation

__**Integration with other curriculum areas:**__

Guided Reading and Writing - Unpacking of short biographies Inquiry - TVNZ Web Challenge 2010

__**Success Criteria: 1. Each speech should have an effective introduction **__ 2. A logical development and a sound conclusion that wraps up the speech 3. I have included an opening statement that hooks the audience in 4.I have used purposeful and varied sentence beginnings, added variety and energy to my writing 5. In the oral presentation I have used a variety of vocal expression such as pausing,  changing pace, varied pitch, modified volume, tone, eye contact and repetition ||
 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Helvetica,helvetica,sans-serif;"> In 1471 the people of Europe were fighting each other in the religious wars. Travel by sea on the Mediterranean was extremely dangerous so it became really important to open up new sea routes to the riches of the east. Thats where this tall, red haired, teenage Italian bloke called Christopher Columbus comes in. Born in 1451 in Genoa, this teenager went to sea. Going to sea was a dangerous occupation having to dodge pirates, pirates and more pirates. He became bored and looked for better opportunities elsewhere and set out for Lisbon Portugal where he became a map maker for his brother Bartholomew. This is where Columbus had an idea that would change the world. He wanted to find a new route to India. This is where he became a serious student of geography and navigation. However there was one main problem. he could not read a single thing in the geography books, they were in Latin. So he learnt the language. His plan was to go west but India is in the east. They thought that he was mad. Others thought he was insane and were certain that he would not be able to recruit a crew for such a voyage. He was a very determined young man. He went and found a wife, Philipa who was a rich Portuguese noble woman which meant he then had connections to the Royal court of Portugal. To follow his dream Columbus needed money so he went to King John II of Portugal explaining that the shortest route to the east was by sailing west. They thought he was nuts and turned him down. He told the King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Spain the same thing, they also thought he was nuts. He never gave up and kept going back to see the king and queen. They wanted new evidence but there would be none until he went where no man had gone before. Queen Isabella took a fancy to Columbus and agreed to finance his adventures. He wasn't happy with that because then he had the cheek to ask for more. Columbus wanted 10% of all new trade, to be the governor of any new land he discovered, he also wanted the title of Admiral plus a noble rank when he returned to Spain. They were angry but they were too excited about gold and treasure.

He was ready to set sail but there was one problem, no one wanted to go with him. It so happened that the queen of Spain, Isabella, had introduced the inquisition into Castile so the prisons were packed with condemned Jews, Moors and real criminals. Some of these poor prisoners were only guilty of not abandoning their faith, they had the choice of sailing with Columbus or being put to death.

So Columbus set off with 100 men on the three ships the Nina, Pinta and the Santa Maria which he commanded on 3rd August 1492. After the Canary Islands they did not see land for many days.The crew started spreading nasty rumors about seeing bearded mermaids and killer fish of Asia. They were also worried about falling off the edge of the world. After 3 weeks at sea the crew was angry at Columbus for leading them into danger. The men wanted to mutiny when they found out that Columbus had actually not sailed very far before. They were only a bit relieved when they found out that some of Columbus theories of navigation were based on studying the bible. However most of the crew were probably planning on how they would dump him overboard.

After many days at sea they finally landed ( he thought he was in Asia somewhere but he was hundreds of miles off course). He claimed the land in the name of Spain and named it San Salvador. They were in the Caribbean on a island now known as the Bahamas. Then he met the locals - thinking he had landed somewhere in India he called them Indians. Columbus was not very nice to them he took advantage of their kindness and ripped them off. Columbus also explored Cuba thinking he was in Asia, he thought it was part of China. He then found an island that reminded him of Spain and called it Hispaniola nowadays known as Haiti and Dominican Republic. He was still looking for gold the Santa Maria ran aground and Columbus returned to Spain to get another ship, most of the crew wanted to stay behind so they could find treasure but they were ordered to build a fort. Columbus called it 'La Navidad' (like the song we sing at final assembly Feliz Navidad) in honor of christmas day.

Columbus finally arrived in Spain and hoped to impress the Queen with his adventures. He was awarded everything promised to him, even though he had landed in the wrong place. Until the 1500's he was called Admiral of the Ocean sea and Viceroy and Governor of the Indies. He traveled back to the New World another 3 times. However is he really the hero everyone thinks he is? The people rebelled against him and he was sent back to Spain in chains and arrested. At the end of his career he was considered something of a failure but the legacy of Columbus is with us today.

He is traditionally thought of as the discoverer of America despite the fact that he wasn't the first but "Columbus's claim to fame isn't that he got there first," explains historian Martin Dugard, "it's that he stayed." His legacy lives on with towns, cities, states,. rivers and streets all named after him. There are statues, buildings and even coins that commemorate him. The Spanish celebrate Columbus day on the 12th October and the Americans celebrate on the second Monday in October. The Catholic church even considered him for sainthood in 1866. Funny really because he is championed as one of the founders of America where as in fact he thought he was in Asia all along! Not all of his legacy is so positive.He is also blamed for the introduction of European diseases, such as smallpox, which killed off the local peoples or overworked and enslaved them.

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,helvetica,sans-serif;"> His is also given credit for things that are not true. It is believed that Christopher Columbus proved the world was round because nobody fell off the edge. That he was the first to discover that the world was round is false. The rounded shape of the earth was already known.

But just think if he had been alive today he would be the wealthy man he always wanted to be - just think of the royalties he would be paid for the books, movies, TV series, documentaries the list is endless. No matter what really happened Columbus is here to stay. ||