What is Rhetoric, you ask?
​
This course is devoted to the history, theory, practice, and implications of Rhetoric, the art and craft of persuasion, through the analysis of persuasive texts and speeches, and the creation and production of persuasive texts, speeches, and analyses. It is designed to teach students to analyze and produce various (i.e., written, visual, audible) forms of rhetoric. Through class discussions, debates, presentations, and written assignments, students will practice their own rhetorical prowess.
Students will become more efficient readers as they turn their analytical skills on assigned texts and writings. This combination of reading, speaking, and writing will help students become familiar with and succeed in: critical and active reading skills and abilities; techniques of rhetorical analysis; techniques of argument; the enhancement of written and oral discourse with appropriate figures of speech; and the technique of oral presentations and the use of visual aids and visual rhetoric to secure and maintain an audience.
Class Overview
Unit 1: Rhetoric v. Dialectic
Understanding the history of rhetoric: Prominent ancient African philosophical and rhetorical traditions include those of Egypt, Nubia and Yoruba societies in which progressed to the Roman Republic's adoption of the teachings. Defining rhetoric in comparison to dialectic, according to Aristotle's claims and other influences.
Unit 2: The Three Rhetorical Appeals
Chapter II: Ethos | Revealing the Speaker's Credibility
Chapter III: Pathos | Guiding the Audience's Emotions
Chapter IV: Logos | In the Enthymeme: Abbreviating the Syllogism
Chapter V: More on Logos | Top-Down Versus Bottom Up Reasoning
Unit 3: The Five Canons of Rhetoric
Chapter VI: Canon One, Invention | Finding Something to Say
Chapter VII: Canon Two, Organization | Ordering the Content
Unit VIII: Canon Three, Style | Choosing the Language
Chapter IX: Canon Four, Memory | Storing What's Valuable
Chapter X: Canon Five, Delivery | Presenting the Whole
Unit 4: The Three Kinds of Rhetoric
Chapter XI: Deliberative Rhetoric | Considering the Goods
Chapter XII: Epideictic Rhetoric | Praising the Beautiful
Chapter XIII: Judicial Rhetoric | Judging the True
Chapter XIV: Rhetoric Gone Wrong
​
Unit 5: Professional Development
How to appeal to the society you're entering
​
Class Assignments
Stay In The Know
Learning can be stress-free if you plan ahead and are constantly updated on current assignments. Below you’ll find my assignments schedule and list, including tests and other assessments. You will also find a description of each assignment. If you have any concerns or questions, check out my get in touch.
Chapter 1.1
Due Date
Loading Assigment...
Chapter 1.2
Due Date
Loading Assignment...
Chapter 1.3
Due Date
Loading Assignment...
Chapter 1.4
Due Date
Loading Assignment...
Senior Project
Citizenship | Scholarship
This year’s senior project is a citizenship project designed to encourage the understanding of citizenship in society through a guided curriculum, diligent research, and an organized presentation. This year’s senior project will be aligned with the SAMLA 92nd conference theme—Scandal! Literature and Provocation: Breaking Rules, Making Text. This project invites us to think through the optics of scandal, transgression, and rebellion, as these themes apply to literary, historical, political, and interdisciplinary inquiries, reading practices, and pedagogical innovation.
In lieu of the senior project, students will be able to:
Develop and execute a project to positively impact their community. Based on the students' chosen topic of research, develop their theoretical research that will feed into a sound speech and presentation.
Engage in conversations within academia
Produce sound research before continuing to post-secondary endeavors
Produce a research paper, a speech, and reflective paper about their experience.
Present their research to community leaders, peers, family, and PCHS family.
​
​
All senior project documents can be found in Google Classroom.