Lesson 5 Activity 5.1 A Rhetorical Question

^[1]

Plaque at the White Hart Hotel, Lewes, East Sussex, south east England describing Thomas Paine

Summary: At this point in time in American history, the Voice of the American is grappling with complex political and social issues. What does it mean to be an American is a growing theme entrenched in the literature. That theme is one of many that evolves and grows throughout the unit.

Learning Target

I can determine the development of a complex set of ideas over the course of the text

I can examine the relationship between the author’s purpose and the power of the text through the use of rhetoric

STEP 1: 

Watch the screencast, and listen to the speaker’s explanation of common types of rhetorical devices, what they are, how they are used, and how to identify them in a text.

SOPHIA: Kathryn Reilly’s “Identifying Rhetorical Devices” ^[2]

STEP 2: 

Write down the four common rhetorical devices illustrated in the screencast, and write a definition for each.

STEP 3:

Read Ludwig von Mises Institute: Gary Galles’s “Thomas Paine, an Appreciation”^[3]

Scroll down to the section entitled “The Role of Government.” Read through the list of quotes below the heading as well as those below the headings “Opposition to Tyranny,” “The Principle of Liberty,” and “Willingness to Sacrifice for Liberty.”

STEP 4:  

As you read, look for and write down three examples of the rhetorical devices you learned about in the previous activity. Then, write a sentence or two explaining the purpose of the rhetorical device.

STEP 5:

Submit your responses STEP 2 and STEP 4.