Meditations: The English Teacher

Welcome: I'm in the endgame of a flu, and my voice is pretty much gone today due to laryngitis, so I'll be communicating with hand gestures and text.  I've read that even whispering is bad if you have laryngitis, so I suppose I will avoid that as well. Just a quick reminder that "The Chase" homework is due today: if on paper, it is due in my tray; if on email or Canvas it is due by midnight. Today I'm going to have you read you sample style analysis paragraphs to the class, so please designate a member of your group to read the paragraphs.  As you listen, reflect on what is working and not working in the paragraphs. Here's the plan: Read off your style analysis paragraphs.  (Please designate a person to read it with a strong voice, hopefully stronger than mine is today).  As you listen to others read the paragraphs, have a sheet of paper out so you can take some notes. After we are done, I will give you free class time to work on the "Sta...

STYLE IN RHETORIC Remember to consider some of the overall frameworks of rhetoric, which Aristotle called the art of finding all the "available means of persuasion".  The largest framework is that of the rhetorical triangle, meaning audience, subject, and speaker.  In other words, you must know who you are trying to persuade, what you are trying to persuade them to do, and who is doing the persuading. Under this, consider the rhetorical appeals: Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. The rhetorician, or the persuader, can use their credibility or trustworthiness, also known Ethos, to get their audience to listen to his or her every word.  In order to listen to a person, you first have to trust them.  Next, you have Logos, or reason.  Logos comes from an old Greek word that means "word" , "reason", "computation" and "account."  This is where you can use scientific knowledge, numbers, or logic to get your point across.  You are appealing to the th...