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Welcome to Cultural Rhetoric


Dear Eleventh Grade,

This year, we will learn to pay attention to the ways that rhetoric is used in society around us. We will see it employed in political speeches, advertisements, news bulletins, and maybe even in our churches! People try to persuade us to do or think or believe what they want in almost every area of our lives. You may even, without knowing it, use rhetorical techniques to talk to your friends or your teachers or your parents.

Rhetoric is not a bad thing, but it is important to be aware of when rhetoric is being used so that we can discern whether it is being used to manipulate us or promote truth, beauty, and goodness.

Requirements
Each quarter, you will be required to write one blog post (250-500 words) describing an instance in your life where you saw or heard rhetoric being used. Be sure to include:
  1. Where you saw/heard rhetoric used.
  2. What the speaker/advertisement wanted to persuade you to think, believe, or do.
  3. Whether their argument was reasonable. (Did it make logical sense?)
  4. Whether their rhetorical technique was effective. (Did it seem persuasive? Did you do what they wanted?)
You will send your completed assignments to my school email. If possible, please also send a link to your source. When I receive them, I will post them here. You are also required to comment on the blog posts of at least four of your classmates.

Blog Post Themes
First Quarter: Advertisement/Commercial (Due Thursday, October 5)
Second Quarter: Sermon/Chapel (Due Friday, December 8)
Third Quarter: Debate/Speech (Due Friday, March 2)
Fourth Quarter: News Broadcast/Article (Due Thursday, May 10)

I look forward to reading your cultural analyses!

Mrs. Overbey

Comments

  1. UnknownJune 12, 2015 at 9:48 AM

    I never thought of rhetoric as a device used in church... I suppose it is very important when you preach to get your point across, huh?

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJune 12, 2015 at 9:49 AM

    I wonder if Hitler and Stalin were versed in the art of rhetoric. Food for thought...

    ReplyDelete

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