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TEACH CUNY ASSIGNMENT:  COMPOSITION & SPEECH 

ESSAY # 1 -- BEFORE THE HEARING

Students would read an article or a fact sheet about the starvation of CUNY and its impact on students before the class. Then they would have a writing prompt to write a PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT in a LETTER to the Chancellor/ the Governor or their Legislator about their concerns.  This lesson is particularly useful for students who will be taking the ACT writing exam at the end of the semester in both developmental and ESL courses.  This assignment could also be for an ORAL REPORT OR SPEECH. 

LETTERS and SPEECHES might then be selected for presentation at TEACH CUNY public hearings. Teachers should contact Campus Contract Liaisons (see list in web site) to see if this is possible at your campus hearing. 

• ESSAY  QUESTION 

The City University of New York (CUNY) has been systematically deprived of the funding needed to educate students.  The Professional Staff Congress (PSC), the union that represents teachers and staff at CUNY is fighting for a larger budget and a better contract.  Write a letter to Chancellor Goldstein and/or Governor  Pataki urging them to restore funding to CUNY.  Explain how the declining conditions at CUNY have affected students (drawing on research and on your own experience).

The assignment can be given BEFORE the event and then any member of the class or selected members might be able to read their PAPER/LETTER/SPEECH at the Hearing.

ESSAY # 2  - AFTER THE HEARING

Students would be brought as a class or asked to individually attend the Public Hearing on their campus. For individuals this could be an extra credit assignment.  They could then be asked to write a LETTER/ PAPER/SPEECH on the under-funding of CUNY (using information from the hearing, the Web site and their own experience).

submitted by Marianne Pita (Bronx CC) et al