Last week, juniors in Room G 17 were introduced to the idea of rhetoric, the art of writing and speaking in ways that effectively align with audience and purpose. They learned how to identify important features of the rhetorical situation and how to identify the various appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos) that writers and speakers employ for persuasion.
This week, students will be assessed on this knowledge with an advertisement analysis quiz on Monday. They will then learn terminology related to logical fallacies and rhetorical devices that they will use throughout the quarter. Our study of rhetoric will lead us to begin establishing the context for upcoming play, The Crucible, as we look to Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” to learn about the Puritans. Students will also spend one day this week making revisions to their Generation Essays.
Parents, how can you help?
- Continue analyzing ads with your child. Whether your watching television, reading a magazine, or listening to the radio, students should be aware of the strategies being used for persuasion.
- Offer to review terminology with your child. Students will be introduced to a lot of new terminology this week, and they will be assessed next week. All students have flashcards of rhetorical devices that they can use for review, and they can make flashcards of logical fallacies.