Unit Overview – Intro to Rhetoric in Arguments & Speeches
Unit Goals
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To practice _____________ of nonfiction (noticing rhetorical devices and other techniques
WHILE reading or listening, instead of just ________ we read)
To learn the basics of ____________________
To learn how to ____________ an argument and decide how “_________” it is
To learn how to be an ______________ who listens critically to various forms of media
To review _________________________________
Why are we learning this?
Learning rhetorical devices is one of the best “real life” skills that I can give you as an English teacher. It’s
a lifelong skill that will prove to be useful well beyond election seasons, including in the workplace, while
watching TV, and interpreting various “arguments” in any media.
In addition, this unit can make you a better nonfiction reader, a sharper listener, and a more accurate
writer.
Do I have to like politics? Do I have to share my opinions?
This isn’t exactly an “election” unit, but I suspect that many of you will choose to analyze a political
speech for your argument critique assignment. Please remember that I will be grading you based on the
accuracy of your reading and writing, not for your political opinions! Plus, you do not HAVE to analyze
political speeches; you can analyze historical or contemporary speech transcripts, too.