10th Grade Rhetoric Lesson Plan Example (Humanities)

Topic: classical rhetoric and its influence on Western thought

Objectives & Outcomes

• To understand the basic concepts and principles of classical rhetoric and their influence on Western thought.

Materials:

• A copy of the "Art of Rhetoric" by Aristotle
• A copy of "The Rhetoric of Abraham Lincoln" by Garry Wills
• A PowerPoint presentation with examples of classical rhetoric and its influence on Western thought

Warm-up

• Ask students to think of a famous or influential public speaker or speaker (e.g. a politician, a celebrity, a religious leader). Have them share their examples with the class. Ask them to describe the qualities that make the speaker effective and influential.
• Write their answers on the board and discuss the importance of public speaking and rhetoric in shaping public opinion and influencing social change.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of classical rhetoric and its three main components: ethos, pathos, and logos.
• Use examples from the warm-up activity to illustrate how these components are used in real-world public speaking.
• Emphasize the importance of critical thinking and analysis when evaluating rhetoric.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups.
• Give each group a set of speeches or other texts with strong examples of classical rhetoric.
• Have the groups analyze the texts, identifying the ethos, pathos, and logos present.
• Have each group present their analysis to the class.

Independent Practice

• Have students choose a topic on which they would like to write a persuasive speech.
• Have students research their chosen topic and write a draft of their speech.
• Have students evaluate their speech using the principles of classical rhetoric.
• Have students revise their speech based on their evaluation.

Closure

• Have students present their speeches to the class.
• Ask students to reflect on the process of writing their speeches and how they -used the principles of classical rhetoric to make their arguments.

Assessment

• Observe students during the process of independent practice and provide feedback. -Evaluate students' speeches based on their use of classical rhetoric and their effectiveness in making an argument.