Analyzing an Argument...
I first begin the unit by giving a presentation on "Analyzing an Argument." My students take guided notes as I present to them the foundations of a good argument. I want my students to understand the necessities of a great argument before we begin writing our own arguments. After going over the notes, we read the speech "Ain't I a Woman?" by Sojourner Truth. Then we SOAPStone it, and we highlight and annotate the speech looking for examples of Ethos (pink), Logos (yellow), and Pathos (orange). I also encourage my students to look for other devices we have discussed such as rhetorical questions and repetition. I complete this format using the think-pair-share strategy. I want my students to have great discussions about argument; I don't want them sitting there analyzing it alone, allowing for their minds to sidetrack off into teenage, hormonal land. I ask them to discuss how the use of appeals and the devices help to further Truth's message and to fill out the rhetorical analysis sheet seen below. Once we have a solid practice under our belts, the next class we take on Susan B. Anthony's speech "On Women's Right to Vote." I once again, have them SOAPStone the speech and highlight and annotate looking for the appeals as well as other devices; they also must fill out another rhetorical analysis sheet. This is great practice for understanding the foundations of an argument. Students can later use these sheets as evidence to write an argumentative essay on which speaker is more persuasive when it comes to women's rights. I'll save that lesson for another day! Until then, stress on teachers!
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