Title:
Selling a Product to a Client

Summary:
This activity is designed to have students do some research on a selected product and put together a presentation. The presentation is similar to an infomercial but not as long. The students use researching skills, evaluation skills, and technical skills to put this presentation together.

Unit Details
Author: Joe Glotzbach
Subject: Applied Communications
Learning Level(s): 11-12 Grades

Standards:
Local USD 417 Standards
C.SP.3-Use research material as a basis for writing
C.SP.4-Evaluate what is read
C.SP.8-Work for clarity in vocal expression of meaning
C.SP.12-Learn oral organization
C.SP.13-Practice oral presentation skills in a variety of situations
C.SP.14-Work for clarity in expression
C.SP.15-Reflect on, interpret, and evaluate what is viewed

Situations:
This Project takes approximately 5 class periods of 50 minute lengths to get ready for the presentations. Presentation time depends upon the number of students involved. The students will need access to a computer lab with internet capabilities.

Tools:
Students will need a computer, a data processing program, and a presentation program such as PowerPoint or HyperStudio.

Process/Tasks:
Day 1 -The instructor introduces students to the presentation concepts of public speaking, goes over the requirements for the presentation, and has the students brainstorm for possible topics. At this point the class discusses the criteria for situation appropriate topics. The requirements are for each student to have a topic that is appropriate for the class, come up with some data that would encourage the audience to want to buy the product, put together a PowerPoint or HyperStudio computer generated visual aide, have the product in front of them to demonstrate or show, use good presentational skills, and meet a minimum requirement of 5 minutes of presentation time.
Day 2 and 3 -The instructor takes the students to the computer lab to access internet sites that will give them information to make their presentations. The instructor needs to encourage the students to investigate different sites, not just the home page for the product in order to get as much information as possible for their presentations. They also can copy clip art from the sites to use in their computer presentations. The students are to evaluate the information to make sure that what they are presenting is valid. They cannot make unfounded claims. At this time, if students want to utilize a digital camera or camcorder, they could take pictures or video of someone using the product.
Day 4 -The class spends the first part of the hour organizing the data and clip art they have found. The class then creates the computer generated presentations. Prior to this assignment, the students have worked with the software and are able to create the presentations using the software.
Day 5 -The class finishes up their computer generated presentations.

Prerequisite Skills:
Students will need to be able to use a computer and the presentation software that is required. Students need to be able to evaluate material for truth and consistency and be able to put that information into an organized format.

Assessment:
A rubric is used to assess the students’ speaking, organization and software usage skills.

Teacher Notes / Reflections: