In So Many Words

With the close of the quarter last week, students in English 11 concluded a unit on the study of rhetoric. 

Scholar James Berlin notes that in ancient Greece, "...Rhetoric was at the center of education because it was at the center of political life." Today, rhetoric is still at the center of political life, and thus, an understanding of rhetoric is crucial for American citizens.  As one English 11 student writes, 

It is important for Americans to be aware of rhetorical devices because they are used everywhere and we might not even know it. From commercials to campaigns, there are constant uses of rhetorical devices to guide us in the direction they want to go. ...The decision of what toothpaste we will buy to what America's future will be all depends on how these rhetorical devices are used.  ...The rhetorical devices that we hear are sometimes so well thought out and written that we aren't even aware of them. If we can identify them, we become more aware of the decisions we make and what the outcome will be. We can see the real message that is being shown to us instead of what the writers want us to hear. This way we will make better decisions that can affect our lives and those around us. 

-- Elizabeth S. 

Our study began with an overview of various rhetorical devices such as rhetorical questions, anaphora and epiphora, parallel structure, anecdotes, analogies, and appeals to values, emotion, logic, and character. Students then identified various rhetorical techniques at work in Patrick Henry's famous speech ("Give me liberty or give me death!") and the Declaration of Independence. After working collaboratively to carefully analyze passages, the groups then guided the rest of the class through the passages, pointing out the rhetorical devices at work.  

As we progressed through the unit, students asked three questions of every text we  studied, moving from basic identification of rhetorical strategies (What is the strategy being used?) to an analysis of these strategies (Why did the speaker/writer choose to use this strategy? To what effect is it being used?).   

After practicing this approach with texts from Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, students then entered the political arena and put their skills to work by analyzing the rhetorical strategies in speeches from Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. 

In addition to analyzing texts, English 11 students were also challenged to create texts.  After reading an excerpt from Benjamin Franklin's journal regarding the thirteen virtues that he identified as "necessary," groups worked together to compose speeches addressed toward today's teenagers, urging them to embrace one of these virtues in their lives. The catch?  The speeches needed to use rhetorical devices effectively.  

The speeches revealed the successful use of repetition...

...We can have fun, but at the same time we need to be just as focused on school so that we may have a better future ahead. This is moderation. We can’t be distracted by things that are unimportant. This is moderation.  Be in charge of what you need versus what you want. This is moderation.

-- Tiffany L., Innika P., Nicole F. 

...hypophora and conduplicatio... 

So what can we do to get that peaceful silence? Turn off the technology we worship daily. This technology fills us with ideas and thoughts that aren’t even our own, ideas that influence us and everyone around us.

-- Elizabeth S. and Jamie Y.

... and metaphor and parallelism.

Practicing chastity is a battle, and it’s definitely not going to be easy. Being chaste may feel like you’re lacking something or holding back, but when you hold back, you learn, and when you learn, you grow, and when you grow, you know what you’re doing, based on all the mistakes you have made in the past.

-- Janelle D., Ashley B., and Samantha C.

We concluded our unit on rhetoric with debates on various topics of concern to students. 

Hopefully, the skills that the students have developed this quarter will enhance their understanding of texts and reinforce the value of close reading, and beyond that, make them more active, informed, and discerning citizens.