Transcript Here’s the Pitch! - Ms. Benning's Website

Here’s the Pitch!
DISCUSSION (20 POINTS) AND
FINAL ASSIGNMENT (200 POINTS)
The Prompt
You have a great idea for changing the world through media!
But you need money and resources to develop it. You could go to
your rich uncle or your parents for the cash and try to make it
happen on your own, or you could look for someone to fund and
produce your idea for you.
So you do some research, and you find the right people to make this
project a reality. You contact them, tell them a little about your
idea, and they like it. Just like that, you are invited to show them
more. You will have only 5 minutes to pitch your idea to their
development team.
This is your big moment, your chance to show your stuff, so here’s
the windup...and the pitch.
Part 1: The Format & Organization
 Create a PowerPoint presentation with 5 slides and a script
to be delivered with each slide. [NOTE: 5 minutes of
speaking is about 500 words (or 100 words or fewer per
slide.)]
 Note: If you’re stuck for an idea, try brainstorming! Take 5
minutes and write down every idea you can think of. Don’t
stop writing! From that list, cross out anything you don’t
feel strongly about. Put a star next to the ones you feel the
most passionate about. This assignment will be easier if you
pick something YOU believe in.
Part 1: The Format & Organization (cont.)
 Slide 1: The HOOK. First, grab your audience’s attention with
a hook. You have lots of ways to do it—a controversial or
humorous statement, a quotation, an image description, a
“suppose” statement, a shocking statistic. Then, give an
overview of your project. Tell your investors what you are
planning and why. The goal is to capture their minds and hearts
from the get-go while also providing specific and descriptive
details about your project.
 Slides 2-4: The REASONS. The next three slides should
provide three reasons why your audience should invest in your
project. How will the project make a difference to others?
Describe or show the possibilities of the project and your vision
for the future. Save your most compelling reason for slide 4.
 Slide 5: The CLINCHER: End with a bang. This slide should
really wow them. Review the important points of the
presentation, and give a punchy and memorable tag line.
Part 2: The Images
 Choose one or two images (photographs, diagrams, drawings, or
illustrations) for each slide. Look for powerful images that support
your key messages. Also, make sure that your script makes a connection
to each image.
 Use Google image search to help you find appropriate images. (Since
this assignment will not be formally published, you do not need to cite
your image sources.)
 Don’t clutter your slides! One or two images, a slide title, and a few
short, bulleted statements to express your key points will be enough. A
cleaner layout will keep your reader interested and focused.
Part 3: Revising
 When you think you are done, go back and revise your slides and script so
you’re certain your pitch has spin.
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Hook to pull your audience in
Figurative language, such as similes and metaphors
Smooth transitions to keep your audience focused
Vocabulary that shows you’re an expert on the topic
Clincher that is memorable
 Make sure your script reads well. Reading your script out loud will help you
“hear” any errors you didn’t see, including any awkward phrasing. While
you don’t have to submit the actual audio of the script, reading the text out
loud before submitting is a good idea.
 Clean up any used boxes on your slides and make sure all the text is
readable (not too small or in a color that can’t be read easily).
Part 4: Editing
 Don’t forget to edit your document! Use the
checklist and PowerPoint lessons provided in the
course:
Writing Process Checklist
Capitalization Concerns
Comma Sense
Proper Punctuation
Grammar Goofs
Spelling Snafus
Superior Sentences
Part 5: Sharing
 Publish your pitch to the Discussion: Here’s the Pitch link in one
of 3 ways:
 Post the PowerPoint and script OR
 Post the PowerPoint and script with an audio recording of you
delivering the pitch OR
 Post the PowerPoint and script with a video recording of you
delivering your pitch
 To submit the script, you can type text into the notes section under
each slide in PowerPoint, or you can submit it as a separate .rtf file.
Part 6: Peer Review
 Read at least one other posted pitch and respond following the 4 P's of
peer critique:
 Praise what is working.
 Probe what you don’t understand.
 Propose improvements with tact.
 And above all be POSITIVE.
 Be sure to read the grading rubric that your instructor will use to
evaluate the discussion. Write at least 10 sentences.
 As you review your peers’ work, think about your own proposal. Is there
any advice you gave a classmate that could apply to your own pitch?
Submitting the Final Pitch
 After reading reviews by your peers and/or instructor, revise
your presentation incorporating their feedback and any
additional improvements you feel are needed.
 Submit your project to the Writing Assignment: Here’s the
Pitch assignment link for grading.
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To ensure success, read the grading rubric.
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For help with editing and revising, go to the 6 + 1 Trait® of
Writing rubric
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Make sure to submit both the PowerPoint presentation and
the script in the format you have chosen.
The Rubric: Task
The Rubric: Organization
The Rubric: Development
The Rubric: Style
The Rubric: Mechanics