Matt- This speech was very good and the visual aids were very effective. Especially Grand Theft Auto San Andreas that really caught the audience by surprise. I would try to use a little more enthusiasm but other than that great job. Ryan S

Matt - This speech was much better than the last one. I think that you sounded very interested in the topic, and your visual aids contributed a lot to a much larger impact. - Sam

 

Matt- This is a really good outline, very thorough and to the point. It looks like you really did your research and I'm looking forward to seeing it tomorrow in class. Good luck!- Lauren

 

Hey Matt! I think you might have to elaborate on your points and solution in order to reach 5 mins! Also make sure you have at least 6 works to cite in your bibliography(especially one from the New York Times!!!) It looks like you're off to a good start though! Good Luck- :) Tamar

 

Matt, good job on making the time today! You slowed down a lot, which was a huge improvement from your last speech. Clearly you really care about this topic, so show a litlte passion through facial expressions and voice variation next time! It will reallly improve your delivery. Good job though, your visual aid was really effective also! -Tamar

 

 

Matt!- Speech looks well organzied. It is clear to see that you used the Problem-Solution organization.! Goodluck with it tomorrow. It sounds like its going to go great! And I agree with Tamar in reminding you to find a New York Times citation..very important!-Katie Castellano

 

Matt- Good Job today. It flowed nicely and the class reacted to your visual aid, proving it was effective. Next time you may want to try some hand gestures and using face expressions because this will make your delivery stronger! -Katie Castellano

 

Yo Matt, great speech today. I really liked your topic. You seemed to know what you were talking about and presented some graet points with your visual presentation. You were very effective in that the audience was in support of your points. Good Job. -Eric

 

 

I. Manhunt, Grand Theft Auto 3, BMXXXX, Mortal Kombat, Postal. You might ask yourself what are these and what do they have in common.

II. Well, these are all video games that have been banned in countries around the world for either violence or sexual content.

III. Video game content is starting to become a problem in America because younger and younger kids are playing mature games that are not made for them, and we need to stop this.

IV. We need to have a rating system that is fair, but just, so young kids will stop playing mature video games.

Preview:

A. First, I will explain to you how young kids’ playing mature video games is becoming a problem in America.

B. Second, I will explain my plan for a new rating system.

C. Third, I will tell you how my plan will solve the problem of young kids playing mature games

Transition: But let me start with the problem of kids playing mature video games

I. Video game violence is not something new, one of the first violent video games was made in 1993 and is called “DOOM.”

A. Doom has gotten a lot of scrutiny because of its supposed link to the columbine shootings.

B. In an article in the New York Times it says that Eric Harris, one of the shooters, was a big fan of DOOM, and even programmed levels in the game to look like his school.

C. If a game like DOOM influences an 18 year old what will it do for younger kids who are much more easily influenced by what they play and see on T.V.

D. In a study done by Michigan State, which I found on Kidshealth.org, they polled 1254, 12-14 year olds, and 2/3rds of the boys and 1/4th of the girls say they play mature games.

II. Sexual themes and language are another main part of mature games.

A. In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas there was an unlockable where your character would have sex with a woman that the player could completely control.

B. According to ign.com on July 20^th, 2005 the games rating was switched from Mature to Adults Only until the unlockable was taken out.

C. This hit the maker of the game, Rockstar, very hard because many stores will not carry Adult Only games.

D. We need to stop letting children play these games.

Transition: Next, I will tell you about my plan for a rating system which is much like the old, but with a few new restrictions.

I. The ESRB has been rating games since 1994, and we have had the same system ever since.

A. The ratings are Early Childhood, Everyone, Everyone 10 and up, Teen, Mature, Adults Only and rating pending (which is only used for advertising when a game is not yet rated).

B. The problem that I see in this system is the teen, mature and adults only ratings, according to esrb.com the teen rating is for kids 13 and up, and can have violence, blood, and even a little swearing.

1. The mature rating is for 17 and up and can have more extreme measures of violence, blood, and swearing, and also some sexual themes.

2. The adults only rating is for 18 and up and can pretty much have anything they want in the game.

C. That is strange to allow a 13 year old to have violence and swearing in a video game.

1. Then to have a rating for 17 year olds and then another for 18 year olds, which is basically a death sentence for a game if they get it.

II. What I propose is an extra rating of Teen 16 and up and make the Mature rating 18 and up, and get rid of the Adults only rating. Also, I want there to be harsher restrictions on the buying of Mature rated games, much like there is for tobacco products.

A. All of the games will still be looked over by the board and will be stamped with a rating on the front of the box.

1. With the adults only rating gone more games will be rated mature, and will only be able to be sold to the same audience, but not with the stigma of an adults only game.

B. It will not censor any of the game makers, because they will still be able to make any type of game they want.

C. There will be no need for any additional funding for my plan, because we will still be using the ESRB, but with just additional ratings.

D. To try to enforce the buying of Mature games we will have to rely on people reporting retailers to authorities.

1. There is no need to have a task force just to watch retailers sell the games, so we will rely on parents seeing what there kids buy and reporting retailers if they see a retailer sold a mature game to a minor.

Transition: With the plan in place, here is how the new system will help keep children from playing mature games.

I. With more ratings for games parents will be able to see what age group the game is actually made for.

A. In an article on Americanpressinstitue.com it says, “When the buyer is a minor, parents are involved in the purchase 83% of the time.”

1. According to this parents have a huge influence on what they are buying for their child.

B. If a parent of a 13 year old goes to buy a game for their child and they see it’s a 16+ game they are likely not to buy it for them.

C. If they don’t have it they can not play it.

II. If a kid goes to buy the same game by himself, the retailer will not sell it to him because, it will be against the law.

A. Again, if they don’t have the game, they can not play it.

Transition: Young kids need to stop being exposed to violence and sex in there video games and their everyday life.

I. The rating system I proposed is fair to the game maker and fair to the consumers.

II. It will help curb young kids from playing these games before they are old enough.

III. Lets face it we will never be able to stop violence in video games, but we can at least try to keep young kids away from it. Thank You.

Bibliography:

(2005, February 20). A more mature approach to video-game violence. American Press Institute, Retrieved August 6, 2007, from http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/pages/resources/2005/02/a_more_mature_approach_to_vide/

ESRB game ratings. (n.d.) Retrieved August 6, 2007, from http://www.esrb.org/ratings/index.jsp

**"Mature" Video Games: Young Kids Are Playing, Too. Kidshealth. Retrieved August 6, 2007, from http://www.kidshealth.org/research/m_games.html******