Speech 101: Policy Input

Bethany Bull Head

Speech 101

Chad Harrison

11/11/06

Persuasive Speech

Good afternoon fellow classmates, for those of you who don't know, my name is Bethany Bull Head. Our assignment is to decide whether or not the policy of one make-up speech is fair or unfair. In the beginning, I was not able to look at this issue from all perspectives, but I've decided what might be best for all students. After a long deliberation in and out of class, I've also discovered what policy might help the student comprehend and complete the class objectives. Today, I will share my personal opinion about this policy.

First of all, what is a good excuse anyway? How are we as students supposed to identify what makes an absence excusable, when the teacher himself can not distinguish what makes an excuse legitimate? Situations occur constantly, it is up to the student to make a choice. About 80% of the time, students decide to make the choice to do what maybe crucial, and miss class. Most of the students have their own opinion of this policy and from what we discussed in class; most of us see it as a fair policy. But as an individual, I think that it is unfair. I feel that is unfair, because during my deliberation, I thought about all students and all situations that students encounter. I found more reasons of why it is unfair to the student. Although it is also unfair to the teacher as well, the student is the one who needs to learn the most. Most of the students feel that is fair, because most of the students in this class attend regularly and try to do their assignments. Students with good attendance may feel the one make up speech equalizes the attendance and points involved with class. That one speech, maybe the one day the good students missed class, the makeup speech enables the student(s) to maintain or bring up their grade; making it fair. On the other hand for the students with poor attendance and missed assignments, the one makeup speech in unfair. When I say that the policy is unfair; I feel I'm speaking on behalf of the students with good attendance, but also as a student who has had excuses. Students shouldn't be able to make up the more than one speech, but they should be able to complete the assignment and receive credit for their effort,