Name: _____________________

Project Outline: Final Tribal Council

You have fought well in the challenges and now it is time to face off against your opponents. The final tribal council is all about
creating a persuasive argument and persuading the class to cast their votes in your favour as the most influential Renaissance
persona!

Format
Opening statement: 1 minute
Rebuttal (one question to one persona): 15 second question, 30 second answer
Closing statement: 30 seconds

Timeline
April 3: Organize ideas for opening and closing statements.
Homework: Research question to ask opponent (dig up dirt!), complete opening and closing statements.

April 4: Wrap-up writing of arguments, practice timing and responding to questions.

Homework: Practice at home to tighten up timing and ensure the most persuasive arguments possible. Every
word counts!

April 5: Primary rounds take place in class (both periods).

April 6: Period 1: Finish primary rounds.

Period 2: Final rounds. Votes are tallied and Ms. Newburn and Ms. Gilbertson crown the winner!
Name: _____________________

4: Excellent 3: Good 2: Basic 1: Not Meeting

Content -Context is clearly
(facts to support established and consistent
opinion) -Ideas are persuasive and
Communicates in deliberately chosen for the
an informed and context
persuasive manner -Supporting details are
precise and consistently
effective
Structure -Uses a well-established and
(intro and well organized structure that
closing, is effective and easy to follow
components) -Includes persuasive
Manages and introduction, rebuttal and
evaluates ideas and effective closing
information
-Context is clearly established
and appropriate
-Ideas are intentionally chosen
for the context
-Supporting details are specific
and generally effective
-Logical organization, which is
easy to follow and flows well
-Argument, rebuttal and
closing were included. May
have either an effective intro
or conclusion, but unlikely to
have both
-Context is established and
generally appropriate
-Ideas are adequate for the
established context
-Supporting details are general
and predictable
-Basic structure and
organization but strays from it
during the debate
-Argument, rebuttal and closing
were completed but were not
highly effective and/or relevant
-Context is vaguely established
and may not be appropriate
-Ideas are vague given the
established context
-Supporting details are few and
may be repetitive
-There is little organization to the
full debate. Speaker is difficult to
follow and moves from one point
to another without logic
-Argument, rebuttal and/or
closing were not included or were
not relevant to the debate

-Somewhat able to organize

Explores events and -Able to organize own -Able to organize own position own position and opponents’ -Not entirely able to organize own
issues from position and opponents’ into and opponents’ into a well- into a well-integrated speech position and opponents’ into a
different points of a well-integrated speech integrated speech well-integrated speech
view

Structure -Listens attentively to
(rebuttal) counter argument
Constructs meaning -Demonstrates solid
and makes understanding of counter
connections argument with a logical and
through listening well-delivered rebuttal
Presentation and -Has exceptional knowledge
Delivery about the subject, and is very
Constructs meaning involved in all elements of
and makes the debate
connections -Outstanding verbal and
through speaking nonverbal skills, including
eye contact, volume, pace,
clarity and humor
-Listens attentively to counter
argument
-Demonstrates good
understanding of counter
argument with a logical
rebuttal
-An animated speaker able to
present a clear and convincing
case Persuasive and credible -
Infrequently distracted by the
other team
-Consistent use of verbal and
nonverbal skills, including eye
contact, volume, pace, clarity
and humor
-Listens attentively to counter
argument
-Demonstrates basic
understanding of counter
argument with a simple but
effective rebuttal
-Speaks clearly but there are
noticeable pronunciation and
other verbal errors that are
distracting for the audience or
disrupt the natural flow of the
speech
-Lacks a consistent use of
verbal and nonverbal skills,
including eye contact, volume,
pace, clarity and humor
-Listens somewhat attentively to
counter argument
-Rebuttal is somewhat irrelevant
and does not demonstrate
understanding of counter
argument
-The speaker loses clarity for
periods of argument
-There is poor eye contact and
infrequent use of gestures
-The speaker does not sound
confident or convincing

Round 1: A: Bartholomew Diaz Round 1 Winner:

Name: _____________________

B: Isabella d’Este
C: Titian
D: Donatello
E: William Shakespeare
Round 2: A: Francois Viete Round 2 Winner:
B: Hernan Cortes
C: Brunelleschi
D: Gutenberg
E: Raphael
Round 3: A: Michel de Montaigne Round 3 Winner:
B: Columbus
C: Cervantes
D: Catherine de Medici
E: Copernicus
Round 4: A: Thomas More Round 4 Winner:
B: Francis Bacon
C: Machiavelli
D: Gemma Frisius
E: Ferdinand and Isabella
Round 5: A: John Knox Round 5 Winner:
B: Newton
C: Galileo
D: Andreas Vesalius
E: Henry the Navigator
Round 6: A: Magellan Round 6 Winner:
B: Michelangelo
C: Voltaire
D: Leonardo Da Vinci
E: Sofia Anguissola
Round 7: A: John Calvin Round 7 Winner:
B: Pizarro
C: Henry VIII
D: Martin Luther