NOTE: DUE TO THE FACT MY CLASS IS BEHIND ONE DAY, THE WORK YOU WILL SEE BELOW IS ACTUALLY FOR MARCH 31, 2008 EVEN THOUGH TODAY IS APRIL 1, 2008.
Aim: Students will identify and analyze rhetoric, and persuasive language by listening to some of the greatest speeches of all time.
Do Now: Can you recall a quote, speech, parable or lesson that inspired you, changed your perspective on life, or made you stop and think? Identify it and explain reasons why.
Response: In my journalism class I read the following quote “Journalism, at its core, should be a mirror for a society to point at its institutions to hold them accountable for their actions.”-Anonymous. This quote made me stop and think, of what the media is doing for the people. It made me see the importance of journalism and the job it must do for the people. Since then I have a new perspective on the media, especially the local news and some of the newspapers. I am more judgemental on what I read and whether or not i should believe it or not.
Persuasive writing allows you to use the power of language to inform and influence others. It can take many forms, including speeches, newspaper editorials, billboards, music, advertisement, and critical reviews.
Rubric Standards for persuasive writing:
Successful persuasion should:· State the issue and the writer’s position
· Give opinions and support them with facts or reasons
· Have a reasonable and respectful tone
· Answer opposing views
· Use sound logic and effect language
· Conclude by summing up reasons or calling for action
Cooperative Learning:
Now
review the speeches and select one and analyze and identify rhetoric and persuasive language.
Who is giving the speech, where, when, audience, protesting pro/con, message.
I have chosen
to analyze a speech by Abraham Lincoln, known as
The Gettysburg Address given in 1863. Many say that it was this 2 minute speech that made the difference, since then it was major turning point for the North during the Civil War. Lincoln's art of rhetoric persuaded and inspired people of all ages to do what they felt right. Below you will see how I have analyzed this successful speech of persuasion. As you can see, to the left is one of the few pictures that was taken of Abraham Lincoln at the Gettysburgh Address.
Successful persuasion should:· State the issue and the writer’s positionThe Gettsyburg Address took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvannia during the Civil War on November 19, 1863 after the Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg lasted 3 days, from July 1 to July 3, 1863 and was known to be one of the bloodiest battles ever where about 160,000 soldiers were involved. On November 19, 1863 President Lincoln went to dedicate the place as a National Cementary for all the dead soldiers. One of the major speakers that day was Edward Everett, who was from Massachuseetes. He gave a speech that lasted about two and a half hours. President Lincoln gave a speech that day too, but his speech was only a little over two minutes. Even though it was so short, it was straight to the point. He was not looking for glory, but rather to honor those who had not died in vein given their lives to so that "that this nation... shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. " Abraham Lincoln presented himself in way that the people would see him as one of them, an average person who feels sympathy for others.
· Give opinions and support them with facts or reasonsAbraham Lincoln knew that the Civil War was not going to well for the North. He knew that the Union was inexperienced and therefore it would be hard and this was a fact, “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure”. But this was no reason for him to think that there would be no hope, but rather the total opposite because he said “that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain”. In fact, he was highly resolved to continue in this war because he thought it was right, “We are met on a great battlefield of that war”.
· Have a reasonable and respectful toneDuring his speech, Abraham Lincoln made sure that he gave the honor to only those who deserved it: the dead soldiers, who according to Abraham Lincoln did not die in vein. That is why he said “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract”. But at the same time he was very respectful to those who deserved it because he did not point fingers at anyone.
· Answer opposing viewsAbraham Lincoln knew that he should no stop what he was in the middle of. He said that the war must continue because “It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this”. At his eyes, it was only the right thing to do, “to be dedicated here to the unfinished work”.
· Use sound logic and effect languageLincoln used the logic that surrounded him; he admitted that it wasn’t going to good in the Civil War. But because he was so realistic he inspired many people because he served tribute to those who he thought deserved it. “But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate - we cannot consecrate - we cannot hallow - this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.” He knew what his audience wanted to hear, so that is what he gave them.
· Conclude by summing up reasons or calling for action“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”, was a very important effective ending. This was inspiring because he was motivating others to keep on going in Civil War, especially for those dead ones. But more importantly, to continue in this war for the birth of a new nation and the start of a new government by the people and for the people.
Sources:
http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/gettysburg.htm http://www.traversecityparanormal.com/abe_lincoln_gettysburg.jpg
