English 12 · Week 33 · Senior Project and Commencement
Commencement Speeches
Analyzing famous commencement speeches.
- Students will
- Students analyze how a speaker's point of view and rhetoric shape a persuasive, memorable message.
- SEL skill
- Notice how a speaker's story shapes your own sense of purpose
- What it looks like
- Students find hope and motivation in the experiences of others.
- Content focus
- Analyzing commencement speeches
- Format
- Collaborative analysis
Self-awareness
Self-awareness means recognizing your own emotions, thoughts, values, and strengths and noticing how they influence what you do. More self-awareness activities
What you get
A teacher guide with what to say, step by step, plus student pages and a supports page for students with diverse learning needs, including those with IEPs. Print or Project it, or assign it in Google Forms and Google Docs for Google Classroom. Your first 10 activities are free.
Standards
- RI.11-12.6: Reading: Informational Text, Grades 11 to 12, Standard 6
- CA ELD standards: ELD.PI.11-12.7 Evaluating language choices
- CA ELA/ELD Framework theme: Meaning Making
- Works with: Any nonfiction
Fits these textbook chapters
- StudySync Grade 12, Unit 4: Emotional Currents
- Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC), Module 11: The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice
- Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC), Module 13: Community Activism
- Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC), Module 23: Ready to Launch
Textbook names are used only to help you find activities that fit what you teach. RoseThread Connect is not affiliated with these publishers.
More self-awareness activities for English 12
- Senior Year Intentions Self-awarenessNarrative reflection on intentions for the final year.
- Epic Heroes and Everyday Courage Self-awarenessEpic heroes and the courage of ordinary life.
- Guilt and Conscience Self-awarenessHow guilt shapes characters and how we handle our own mistakes.
- Identity and Belonging Self-awarenessCharacters caught between cultures.
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RoseThread Connect activities are drafted with the help of AI and shaped by educators. Students never have to share anything personal. Our five SEL skills are informed by CASEL's SEL Framework; RoseThread Learning is not affiliated with or endorsed by CASEL.