High School Controversial Speeches

The 11th grade “Controversial Speech” is a capstone project in our High School. Students are tasked with studying rhetoric, analyzing historical speeches, drafting persuasive arguments, and researching opposing material. The culmination of their efforts is to take a definitive stance on a controversial topic (which may differ from their own view on the matter) and present their speech to a community of peers. 

At the end of each speech there is an opportunity for the audience to ask questions, often calling on students to demonstrate the wealth of knowledge they accrued in the process of researching their topics. They discuss the difference between debates and discussions, how with the former the focus is on winning the argument, while with the latter the emphasis is on winning over the audience. 

The richness of the Controversial Speech capstone project lies partly in allowing each student to find a topic that deeply resonates with them. Some students pursue their passions, while others look to produce the “most” controversial topic they can find, encouraging and savoring the potential pushback they will receive from their peers in the audience.

Recent Blog Posts:

Alumni NYC

NYC Visit

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This month I traveled to New York City, meeting with alumni and longtime Oak Grove donors. Seeing how our alumni carry Oak Grove into the world, I am reminded of the deep roots our school has nurtured over fifty years.
gardening program

Garden Dispatch: Autumn Colors

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As autumn paints our school garden with vibrant hues, we’re thrilled to share the heartfelt, organic magic unfolding in our outdoor gardens. The children’s creativity and connection to nature are blooming!

Why We Give

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We support Oak Grove because we know just how transformative its education can be for students and the wider world. It is a place where students can learn more than just the content of traditional subjects.