Unit Makeover: Rhetorical Analysis [S5 E178]

Listen to the full episode below:

We’re excited to share another installment of our unit makeover series. This time we’re delving into teaching rhetoric analysis in the classroom. We’ve noticed a pattern in the feedback we receive from you, our listeners, and we’ve decided to structure this episode as a mini-professional development session for teaching rhetoric. 

You’ll hear our two main approaches to teaching rhetoric: a focus on text or a focus on skills. A text-centered approach involves using a central text and supplementing it with other texts to teach the skills of rhetorical analysis. On the other hand, a skills-centered approach involves teaching students how to deconstruct arguments and analyze rhetoric without a specific central text.

We share plenty of examples for both approaches, which we hope will give you lots of ideas to take back to your students! Is this topic something that you would like to see a live training or workshop on? Let us know by sending us a message on Instagram @bravenewteaching!

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

  • Learning rhetoric through the experience of characters in a play or story

  • Examples of how to teach rhetoric using Caesar and Crucible, including sample essential questions

  • Why you should start with close reads and the importance of consistency with this

  • Types of summative assessments to utilize

  • Best tips for teaching a skill-based unit

Resources Mentioned:

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More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

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