WELCOME TO ENGLISH 12!
Monday, January 25 - Friday, January 29
Monday - at home
Tuesday - in class
- View the other commencement speeches from last Friday's post.
Tuesday - in class
- We will read David Foster Wallace’s This is Water. I want you to be able to answer this question next class:
- Working independently or with a partner, complete the analysis assignment (see handouts tab and I have posted the questions below as well)
- This is Water Analysis
After reading the speech THIS IS WATER by David Foster Wallace, answer the following questions making point-form notes.
1. Structure: What observations can you make about the overall structure of the speech? Considering things like a) length b) allegory c) repetition d) metaphor e) anything else you observe
2. Language: How would you describe the level of language that Wallace uses throughout the speech. Is it well-chosen considering his audience (recent University grads)?
3. Form: Discuss the hypothetical story (the one about driving to the store) at the center of this piece. What choices does he make as a writer in his telling of the story? What is the desired effect?
4. Content: Why does Wallace feel spiritual worship will not let you down like all other kinds of worship?
5. Content: Do you agree with his assessment that this speech is ‘the truth with a lot of rhetorical bullshit pared away”?
6. Content: The title is THIS IS WATER. What is “this”?
Monday, January 18 - Friday, January 22
Monday - first face-to-face class
Tuesday - work at home
Wednesday - in class
Monday - first face-to-face class
- Welcome and go over COVID School Protocols
- Go over course syllabus
- Play a Kahoot game to reinforce understanding of COVID School Protocols and course information
- Students to begin writing letter of introduction and complete survey
Tuesday - work at home
- Finish writing letter of introduction and complete survey - both are due on Wednesday, January 20
Wednesday - in class
- Hand in to the basket on my desk your letter of introduction and survey
- Talking Circle to co-create the guidelines for respectful communication and healthy work environment
- Talking Circle to co-create the classroom cell phone policy
- Writing an effective business email
- View video and button texts below
- We will co-create an assessment rubric for writing an effective business email and I will post it in the handouts tab
- Write an effective business email to an employer or teacher and send it to me
- Complete the Poetry Terminology Awareness Chart
- Business email and completed Poetry Terminology Chart are due Friday, January 22
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Click on the Button Texts for tips on writing business emails and examples
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Thursday - at home
Friday - in class
- Complete the Poetry Terminology Awareness Chart given on Wednesday
- Write an effective business email to a teacher or an employer and email it to me (see Business Email Assignment and Rubric in the handouts tab)
Friday - in class
- We will briefly discuss the difference between argument and persuasion and then we will view the Persuasive Techniques Slideshare (See Button text below).
Persuasive Techniques Slideshare
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- We will talk about Aristotle’s 3 Basic Appeals: Pathos, Logos and Ethos. These three appeals sum up – according to Aristotle – the fundamental building blocks of all argument.
We will discuss what each ad is supposed to make you think and discuss how effective they are.
After that I will give you a handout with notes on pathos, logos, and ethos.
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- Next, we will discuss influential speakers, both good and bad, talking about advice (both what works and what does not).
- We will view and then discuss the effectiveness of this commencement address by Jason Reynolds to the graduating class of Lesley University back in 2018.
Here are a few other excellent commencement speeches, if you have the time:
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If you want the speech read to you, here’s a recording of Wallace giving the speech to the 2006 graduating class of Kenyon College.
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Friday - in class
Friday - in class
- David Foster Wallace’s "This is Water" was what is known as a direct appeal, i.e. something with a clear central thesis and overt message. In addition, his speech did not really, in any great detail, make use of his personal experiences.
- Today we will look at people who use rhetoric to share personal experience. Both are opinion pieces that were featured in major publications to much reaction, both acclaim and condemnation.