T.U.S.C. Handbook:

The TUSC program is a language arts program designed to improve your listening, speaking, and writing skills. It will also teach you how to run a meeting, act as a secretary, answer questions politely, and deliver speeches confidently.

In order for the TUSC program to be a successful experience for you, you must be prepared for whatever job is assigned to you.

No matter what aspect of the program you will take part in, remember these things:

1) Always speak in complete sentences.

2) Use your voice effectively.

3) Respect each other's right to speak.

4) Listen respectfully, and appreciatively.

5) Be well prepared; otherwise you will let down your class, and yourself.

6) Hand in all written work to the secretary when you have completed your duties.

7) Work AHEAD OF TIME, and Enjoy your task!

The following pages outline the duties of every participant in the TUSC program. Be familiar with these duties. This TUSC handbook can be referred to when you have forgotten what you need to do to complete your job.

12/13 T.U.S.C Schedule:

Jobs: / Nov. 2 / Nov. 13 / Dec. 10 /

Jan. 17

/ Feb. 13 / Mar. 22 / May 3
1 / Chairperson / Kylie / Bridger / Sierra / Isabella / Tristan / Carson / Dylan
2 / Secretary / Jorja / Izzy / Shyanne / Malisa / Paxton / Sophie / Josiah
3 / Math Problem / Carson / Tristan / Paxton / Cheska / Aaron / Luke / Althea
4 / Canadian Travel Talk / Bridger / Alex / Isabella / Kyle / Malisa / Jordan / Brooklyn
5 / Media Critic / Vinny / Paxton / Brooklyn / Riley / Tommy / Shayden / Kylie
6 / Famous Person / Paxton / Jorja / Izzy / Kylie / Brooklyn / Althea / Tommy
7 / Steinbach (local) News / Jordan / Malisa / Luke / Dylan / Althea / Alex / Shayden
8 / International (world) News / Riley / Shayden / Kylie / Tristan / Josiah / Kyle / Bridger
9 / Commercial #1 / Aaron / Luke / Carson / Brooklyn / Kyle / Dylan / Vinny
10 / Favorite Kids Website / Alex / Riley / Bridger / Vincent / Sierra / Josiah / Sophie
11 / Animal Talk / Shyanne / Isabella / Tommy / Aaron / Carson / Kylie / Jordan
12 / Demonstration / Luke / Tommy / Tristan / Jordan / Shayden / Brooklyn / Aaron
13 / Artifact Talk / Kyle / Sophie / Aaron / Shayden / Izzy / Leyla / Riley
14 / Commercial #2 / Malisa / Vinny / Cheska / Paxton / Jorja / Tommy / Sierra
15 / Poetry / Isabella / Shyanne / Jorja / Izzy / Leyla / Malisa
16 / Artist's Presentation / Sierra / Kyle / Sophie & Vinny / Tommy / Isabella / Shyanne / Izzy
17 / Teacher Interview / Sophie / Leyla / Malisa / Jorja / Alex / Carson
18 / Jokester / Tristan / Kyle / Carson / Riley / Aaron / Luke
19 / World Travel Talk / Dylan / Aaron / Jordan / Althea / Luke / Riley / Cheska
20 / Demonstration #2 / Izzy / Kylie / Dylan / Leyla / Sophie / Malisa / Paxton
21 / Persuasive Speech / Brooklyn / Carson / Shayden / Alex / Jordan / Vincent
22 / Toy Review / Tommy / Dylan / Alex / Sophie / Bridger / Kyle
23 / Snack / Leyla / Brooklyn / Riley / Sierra / Shyanne / Izzy / Jorja
24 / Award Presenter / Shayden / Sierra / Leyla / Shyanne / Dylan / Cheska / Isabella
25 / History Report / Luke / Kylie / Paxton
26 / Science Experiment / Bridger / Cheska / Sierra / Tristan
27 / Survey Graph / Josiah / Vinny / Isabella / Shyanne

Chairperson's Duties (use agenda form provided)

The chairperson must:
1) be familiar with the agenda prior to the meeting.

2) keep the meeting running smoothly.

3) introduce each speaker and report in complete sentences.

4) tolerate no interruptions or noise.

Secretary's Duties (use secretary's form provided)

The secretary must:
1) be prepared with a pen and "secretary's report form"

2) read over the form ahead of time.

3) fill in all important information.

4) file the secretary's report and all other student work into the TUSC Binder at the end of the meeting.

5) take down last week's tusc wall display, and staple up all new information.

Timer's Duties: (use timer's form provided)

The timer must:

1) use a watch or the clock and time the speakers in minutes and seconds.

2) watch for the speaker to nod when ready to begin timing.

3) let the speaker know (silently) if they go over their time.

Complimenter’s Duties:
A 'complimenter' must:
1) address and thank the speaker by name.

2) quickly make a comment, or tell which part they enjoyed, after each report.

Cool New Thing/Technology Report (Toy Review)

Student must:

1)  choose and research about something new in the world (ie. IPod Touch, PS3, Bakugon Toy, etc.)

2)  write a report on the item and include pictures

3)  tell about what your topic does and why you chose to present about it

4)  if possible, bring the item and demonstrate what it does (otherwise just show with pictures or slideshow)

Canadian Travel Talker's Duties:

The Canadian "Travel Talker" must:

1) choose and research their choice of Canadian location. (An Awesome spot in Canada) , (ie. Edmonton Mall, Kenosee Water Park, Morris Stampede, Alberta's Dinosaur Museum, Red Rock, CN tower, Niagara Falls, etc...)

2) write an interesting report, and include pictures.

3) introduce their choice, and present their brief report to the class. and....

4) include several reasons why this location would be a blast to visit!

Book Chat (use the book chat form for sample questions)

A book Chat is very similar to an oral book report except that you do not want to retell the entire story line. Book Chats should be suspenseful and leave the audience hanging. Then they'll want to rush and read the book too! The person doing the book chat must:
1) read a book

2) prepare an oral book report on a book you enjoyed and think your audience would enjoy also.

3) write the title of the book and the author's name on the board or a poster prior to the meeting.

4) introduce your book, show it. (make sure you have it here)

5) tell what kind of genre it is.

6) give a few interesting details.

7) conclude their report, and use full sentences.

Famous Person Report Duties (use famous person interview form provided for ideas)
The person doing this report must:

1) select a famous person. (best if the person is familiar to some of the class)

2) research and report some interesting facts about the person.

3) complete the interview form, or include extra questions if some aren't applicable.

4) memorize answers, and pretend they are the person they interviewed.

5) choose a helper from the class to read interview questions to you.

Steinbach (local) News Reporter:
The news reporter must report on interesting news from Steinbach. They must:

1) be prepared with an interesting summary of a news story written in their own words.

2) be ready to present the report in front of the class. (try to report, not just read!)

International (world) News

The news reporter must report on interesting news from another country. They must:

1) be prepared with an interesting summary of a news story written in their own words.

2) be able to locate the country where the event took place on a map or globe.

3) be ready to present the report in front of the class. (try to report, not just read!)

Favorite Kids Website

The job is to:
1) find a Website that is designed for kids your age and tell us why you chose the site.

2) mention two or three things that you really liked about it.

3) give the class the Website URL. (address) You may also choose to print a page from the Website to pass around the group.

Movie or TV show Review

To do a review, a student must:
1) critique a movie you have watched.

2) review a movie of good taste. This means that the movie must be rated either “G” or “PG”, and cannot have a lot of violence or swearing in it.

3) briefly identify the content of the movie, but not give away the plot.

4) Explain their opinions of the movie. (what was good, bad, name highlights, where can the movie be seen...)

5) Identify who you would recommend this movie for and why.

Demonstration

The person demonstrating must:
1) show, or demonstrate, how to do or make something.

2) take no more than 4 minutes

3) show a natural progression from beginning to end.

4) have practiced doing the demonstration several times for others ahead of time.

Artifact Talk

The person responsible for this job must:
1) bring a small antique artifact from home (or your grandparents etc.), or a souvenir from a holiday.

2) tell the class about the artifact using complete sentences. (ie) Where did it come from, what is it used for, why is it special to you, and what memories does it hold for you or others?

Commercial

This student must:
1) prepare an interesting "commercial break" (include a good copy of it for the secretary)

2) be prepared with everything needed. (keep props minimal because of time)

3) keep the commercial brief and to the point.

Poetry Recitation Duties:

A person reciting poetry must:

1) choose a poem from one of Mr. Reimer's books, or their own.

2) memorize their poem.

3) recite the poem with expression in front of the class, and tell us who the poet is.

World Travel Talk

The Canadian "Travel Talker" must:

1) choose and research their choice of world location. (An Awesome spot in not in Canada) , (ie. Wisconsin Dells, Disney Land, etc...)

2) write an interesting report, and include pictures.

3) introduce their choice, and present their brief report to the class. and....

4) include several reasons why this location would be a blast to visit!

Artist's Presentation

The artist must:
1) prepare a work of art during the week. (using anything...plasticene, wood, pencil, pencil crayons, paint etc.)

2) ask Mr. Reimer well ahead of time if any materials will be needed.

3) present their work of art to the class.

4) describe the work of art.

5) tell the class any other details about the project. (ie) Did you enjoy it? How long did it take? Did you need help? ...

Animal Talk

The person speaking to the class must:

1)  Research an animal and prepare a presentation for the class

2)  Include facts about the animal (where they live, what they eat, etc.)

3)  Have pictures for the class to see what the animal looks like

Teacher Interview

1) Interview a teacher of your choice using 10 good questions you have made up. (well ahead of time)

2) Ask questions that will focus on background, hobbies future, family, etc.

3) Present your 1-2 minute report to the class.

Persuasive Speech

A persuasive speech is a speech where the speaker tries to convince the audience of something. For example, why Chevy is better than Ford, or why cats are better pets than dogs.

1)  find a topic of your choice

2)  write a short 1-2 minute speech, using evidence to support your view

3)  organize your speech so that it includes a introduction, body, and conclusion

4)  have a good closing statement

Jokester Duties

The person presenting jokes and riddles must:
1) find a few jokes for the class.

2) rehearse the jokes ahead of time.

3) find funny and appropriate jokes.

Snack

The student must:
1) plan and prepare a snack for the class TUSC meeting. (bring along paper plates, forks, cups, etc.)

2) present the recipe with the class and discuss the nutritional information.

3) have enough snacks to share with the class. (ie) home-made granola mix, banana chocolate chip muffins, chips and home-made salsa ....)

Award Presenter (use evaluation form provided during meeting)

The Presenter must:
1) carefully listen to all the speakers.

2) choose which were the 2 best reports given.

3) use Print Shop Deluxe or Publisher and make 2 award forms (color and laminate the awards ahead of time)

4) present the awards in front of the class after the Healthy Snack. (give Mr. Reimer an extra copy of your award)

5) validate their choices to the class (give reasons) in full sentences.

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