European Explorers Pitch

Introduction

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFo-pkIRvwc]

Many European countries sent explorers to the New World in hopes of building their empires.  The Spanish and the French were particularly interested in the Mississippi area.  Explorers like Hernando de Soto, Sieur de La Salle, Henri Tonti, and Sieur d'Iberville investgated this new land by traveling up and down the Mississippi River looking to make their mark on the Americas.

Task

Pick one of the four explorers mentioned in the introduction.  You are now that explorer.  Your king has called you back to your home country, and he wants to discuss whether or not he will keep funding your explorations.  It is up to you to create a pitch that is engaging, informative, and persuasive enough to keep the money coming.  

Process

Though you are acting as an explorer from the past, you can use current technology to make you pitch.  Use google slides to really sell your accomplishments.  In your presentation you must include:

1. A map.  The map should chart the expeditions that your explorer made around the southeast or using the Mississippi River.  You may need to get a map of the United States/southeast and then draw the path yourself giving the information you have gathered.   Use a star to mark the key locations that your explorer impacted.

2.  Your (the explorer's) key accomplisments.  Explain what impact you made on the Americas, paricularly the southeast and Mississippi.  Make sure you use descriptive language and include pictures to really showcase your accomplishments.  

3. The people who helped you along the way.  These people can be soldiers who served under you, fellow explorers, or Native American allies.  These are the people who helped make your accomplishments possible. 

4.  Your legacy.  In a clear, precise, and concise manner, describe the lasting contributions you made to Mississippi's history.  Mention if any of your accomplishments can be seen today.  

These are not the only components that can be in your presentation; they are just the ones that are absolutely required.  Remember, the goal of your presentation is to convince the king to keep funding your expedition. Include whatever components you think will help contribute to your cause.

Make sure you use at least two other sources besides your book.  Your last slide should list these sources.  Next to each source write the slide number(s) that include information from this source.

Throughout this pitch/presentation you should be creative! Use intersting (and appropriate) graphics, cartoons, audio clips, and video clips to really drive your pitch and presentation.   

Evaluation

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Requirements All four pitch requirements are met. Three pitch requirements are met. Two pitch requirements are met. Only one or no pitch requirements are met.
Content Covers topic in-depth with details and examples. Subject knowledge is excellent. Includes essential knowledge about the topic. Subject knowledge appears to be good. Includes essential information about the topic but there are 1-2 factual errors. Content is minimal OR there are several factual errors.
Originality Product shows a large amount of original thought. Ideas are creative and inventive. Product shows some original thought. Work shows new ideas and insights. Uses other people\\\'s ideas (giving them credit), but there is little evidence of original thinking. Uses other people\\\'s ideas, but does not give them credit.
Mechanics Very few misspellings or grammatical errors. Three or fewer misspellings and/or mechanical errors. Four misspellings and/or grammatical errors. More than 4 errors in spelling or grammar.
Sources Source information collected for all graphics, facts and quotes. All documented in desired format. Source information collected for all graphics, facts and quotes. Most documented in desired format. Only source used and documented was the textbook. Very little or no source information was collected.
Oral Presentation Interesting, well-rehearsed with smooth delivery that holds audience attention. Relatively interesting, rehearsed with a fairly smooth delivery that usually holds audience attention. Delivery not smooth, but able to hold audience attention most of the time. Delivery not smooth and audience attention lost.