For Teachers
Books:
Rise B. Axelrod & Charles R. Cooper. Reading Critically, Writing Well: A Reader and Guide (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990): This book is a collection of essays grouped by essay type. There are sections dedicated to the position essays and proposals. The sections begin with an overview of essay type and then give examples by noted authors. For example, in the proposal section there is the essay
A Modest Proposal
by Jonathan Swift. This book serves as a reference for teachers to find examples for students to read and to model.
Edward P. J. Corbett, Robert J. Connors. Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student (USA: Oxford University Press, 1998). This text is mainly used in college classrooms but can be a source of information for teachers before they tackle the subject of rhetoric in the classroom. The book focuses on three main components of rhetoric: argument, arrangement, and style. The book has a variety of examples from full essays to paragraphs to illustrate the different areas of rhetoric.
Lauren Spencer. A Step by Step Guide to Persuasive Writing (USA: Rosen Publishing Group, 2005) This short book gives a basic outline and framework for writing persuasive essays. Teachers can use this resource to help beginning or struggling writers get a handle on what it takes to be successful at writing speeches or persuasive essays.
Juan Williams, Julian Bond Eyes on the Prize (England: Penguin, 1987): This book was the impetus for the making of the Documentary by the same name. Filled with information about the various incidents of the Civil Rights Movement, it also includes photos and interviews with some of the prominent figures of the 1950's and 1960's
Tom Liner, Dawn Latta Kirby, Dan Kirby Inside Out: Strategies for Teaching Writing (USA Heinemann, 2003) Book with various strategies for teaching writing, including persuasive writing. The book was written as a freshmen composition type book but can easily be used in the high school classroom.
Media:
Eyes on the Prize (PBS Documentary, 1999): This seven tape/DVD series highlights the Civil Rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's. Major events like the killing of Emmitt Till and the Alabama Bus Boycott illustrate the need for change in the 1950's. Clips from this documentary can help students learn the historical background needed to understand where some of the speakers were coming from
Internet:
American Rhetoric (www.americanrhetoric.com): This website is a collection of speeches divided by decade, sectioned by the Top 100 of all time and by topic. The site is an excellent source of transcripts and audio/video for the various addresses.
Outta Ray's Head Lesson Plans (http://home.cogeco.ca/~rayser3/litera1.htm): This website has a wealth of writing activities. Some of the activities can be fine tuned and used within this curriculum unit.
For Students
Michelle Howe Persuasive Writing Made Easy (OC Publishing, 2004): Step by step guide to various types of persuasive writing. Exercises included
Lauren Spencer. A Step by Step Guide to Persuasive Writing (USA: Rosen Publishing Group, 2005) This short book gives a basic outline and framework for writing persuasive essays. Teachers can use this resource to help beginning or struggling writers get a handle on what it takes to be successful at writing speeches or persuasive essays.
Hugh Tancred, (Ed.).Aristotle: The Art of Rhetoric. (England: Penguin Classics, 1991): This book has an excellent introduction that really outlines rhetoric and Aristotle's philosophy. The introduction is extremely user friendly.
Juan Williams, Julian Bond Eyes on the Prize (England: Penguin, 1987): This book was the impetus for the making of the Documentary by the same name. Filled with information about the various incidents of the Civil Rights Movement, it also includes photos and interviews with some of the prominent figures of the 1950's and 1960's
Internet:
Purdue University: Online Writing Lab (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_logicon.html)- Website with information for persuasive writing as well as all types of writing. Helpful to students as they write their final essays.
Essays for In Class Exercises: Maria Rose Menocal "
We Can't Dance Together"
: Essay about how rock music has a place in our cultural canon.
Edward L. Palmer
Improving Television for America's Children
: Interesting essay in which programming of children's television is analyzed and the author proposes the quality and amount of television children watch.
Allen L. Sack.
A Proposal for Multilingual America
: Essay where author proposes multilingual education should become a national goal rather than a topic people fight and avoid discussion.
Robert C. Solomon
Culture Gives Us a Sense of Who We Are
: Solomon writes about his belief that students need a sense of culture that is common to all people. He stresses the need for a common frame of reference.
Materials for Classroom Activities:
· Copies of Faulkner's Nobel Prize Address, Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" speech and Nixon's "Checkers" speech
· Excerpts from Aristotle's
Rhetoric
· Slides or overheads- History of Rhetoric
· Copies of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
· Handouts of Logical Fallacies
· Copies of
Cultures Gives Us a Sense of Who We Are
by Robert C. Solomon,
Improving Television for America's Children
by Edward L. Palmer,
"We Can't Dance Together"
by Maria Rose Menocal and
A Proposal for Multilingual America
by Allen L. Sack.
· Internet Access for students to listen and view speeches
