Famous Speeches ASSIGNMENT
PART
I - Selection
Choose a famous speech. The following
websites offer suggestions:
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/the-35-greatest-speeches-in-history/
https://www.history.com/speeches
https://jamesclear.com/great-speeches
PART
II – Understanding your speech
Once you have selected your speech, read
it thoroughly for understanding. Consider the following;
Ø What was the speaker up against? What was the occasion for the speech?
Ø What did the author have to keep in mind when composing
the text?
Ø What were his or her goals?
Ø What was his or her ultimate purpose?
Ø What was his or her intent?
Ø Who was the audience?
PART
III – Speech Analysis
Complete the worksheet “Individual
Speech Analysis” and submit with your essay.
PART
III - Essay
Naturally, there’s an essay involved! Students must analyze their chosen speeches
as arguments and write an essay about their effectiveness considering the
context and audience in which they were delivered.
Essays should identify and explain the rhetorical
strategies (i.e. logos, ethos, pathos) that the author deliberately chose while
crafting the text. What makes the speech
so remarkable? How did the author's
rhetoric evoke a response from the audience?
Why are the words still used today?
The thesis must be arguable and may not simply
speak to the importance of the speech or the heroic stature of the
creator. Instead, students should
carefully consider the author’s deliberate manipulation of language.
Option 1: Traditional Essay
Your essay should include a summary of
the historical context in which this speech falls. It’s critical to know about the events that
led up to the speech however, it is not necessary to include every detail. In
other words, a basic timeline of events leading up to the speech to provide
context is important however, students must stay focused on the speech as an
argumentative text.
Option 2: Visual Essay
With the use of pictures, students must
analyze their chosen speeches and provide analysis regarding their effectiveness
considering the context and audience in which they were delivered. Essentially,
with the use of images and brief text/caption you will show the historical
context of the speech, including a basic timeline of the events leading up to
the speech and how it presents as an argumentative text.
A visual essay should identify and
explain the strategies that the author deliberately chose while crafting the
text. What makes the speech so
remarkable? How did the author's
rhetoric evoke a response from the audience?
Why are the words still used today?
All
elements of a traditional essay are found in the visual essay including;
introduction with thesis, body providing explanation of thesis and, conclusion.
ASSESSMENT
Details:
The essay must include multiple (2-3)
secondary sources that effectively and actively support the student’s
thesis. All students must have a “Works
Cited” page and the speech must appear as an additional source listed on that
page. The student should cite the
version of the speech that he or she referred to during his or her
research.
Examples of Rhetorical Devices:
Tone, Diction, Figurative Language,
Repetition, Hyperbole, Understatement
Elements of Argument:
Claims (Evidence), The Appeals (logos,
pathos, ethos), Fallacies (i.e. Fake News)
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