2 Hour Presentation Draft

Sponge Activity: I plan on showing a clip of different pictures of animals that are suffering while the students walk into the classroom or once they are all seated. Afterwards I plan on asking them if they have any pets of their own and to share with the class.

Introduction:
What is the most effective way to take a stand against animal cruelty?

• effective: successful in producing a desired result to accomplish a purpose in order to make a striking impression
• take a stand: to take action; to stand up for others as well as yourself; to adopt a firm belief or position regarding an issue.
• animal cruelty: an animal that is intentionally put through harm, pain, and suffering at the expense of human beings other than self-defense; they are used for food, entertainment, clothing, profit, etc.

     I chose this topic because throughout the years I have always had a strong passion for animals. Through my elementary and middle school years I changed my profession from Pocahontas (lol because she had animals and lived with them in the forest), to a veterinarian, to a zoo keeper, lawyer, back to veterinarian, and it just kept going on and on. I was what one would call an Animal Planet kid. I watched, as I still do today, that channel all the time. I know almost everything about animals because of it. When I decided to volunteer at the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter to finish up my hours from junior year an to work with animals I realized what I wanted to work on my senior year. Seeing animals come in hurt and in pain, talking to the animal control officers about different cases, and personal experiences in all lead me to try to find the bet ways people can help animals.

     My plan for the day is to talk about my 3 answers along with activities that correspond with them. I will conclude with my best answer, important sources, and my product of my project.

Foundation: I plan on talking about the history behind animal rights and cruelty.

Body:
Answer 1: Fight for the strong passage of anti-cruelty laws and prosecution
Activity: I plan on putting together a mock trial with an actual animal cruelty case

Answer 2: Know how to recognize animal cruelty and how to report it
Activity: I may or may not have an activity for this answer. If i do have an activity I would at first have the class work together on one problem and then afterwards in pairs on a worksheet with various situations. I want them to figure out what type of cruelty is occurring and depending on the severity of the situation who they should call if they are witnesses to it.

Answer 3: Join or form an organization/ volunteer at a local animal shelter or animal rescue
Activity: Put the class into different groups to put together an advertisement campaign for adoption or animal cruelty awareness.

Conclusion:

• My best answer is fight for the strong passage of anti-cruelty laws and prosecution. These laws ensure animals their safety and respect as well as regulate how people treat them. 
• My three most important sources have to be "Animal Rights: A Beginner's Guide", "Animal Cruelty Prosecution", and the professionals I interviewed at my service learning center; Sergeant Villegas and Isha Willits. These sources helped me learn the importance and severity of animal cruelty, the basis of animal rights and different standpoints, the process of prosecuting an abuser and the sources you need in order to win and speak on behalf of an animal, and has allowed me to have my own personal experiences with animals that have been hurt and put through suffering and how to help and care for them.
• After continuous research and volunteering at the animal care center I have decided to go into law school after I receive my bachelor's in business administration and accounting. There are a few law schools in the U.S. that cover animal law so once I receive my degree and pass the bar exam I would like to work for not only people but animals too.

     I plan on covering all of the walls and posting up pictures or posters of animals that have been abused and maybe some campaign posters, for example like PETA.

     All I need for my two hour presentation is my powerpoint with all of my information, the materials I need for my activities, and the posters I need for my room decor.