RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

 

THE RHETORICAL TRIANGLE

Rhetorical analysis skills are often left to the upper grades of high school and, in some situations, gate-kept and guarded for only AP-level coursework. I’m on a mission to ensure every teacher has access to high-quality rhetorical analysis teaching tools and refuse to believe this skill is only for gifted students.

Rhetorical analysis is one of the most applicable, relevant, and essential life skills that we have in our power to share with students.

START HERE: THE RHETORICAL TRIANGLE

The Rhetorical Triangle Template

So many teachers new to rhetorical analysis don’t know where to start and end up beginning their units with definitions and terminology of rhetorical concepts like ethos, pathos, logos, and other techniques. My advice?

Pump the breaks.

Especially if you’re new to RA, you have no way of knowing this insider info: if you start with terms, that’s what students will prioritize, too. This means that you’ll collect a lot of writing that IDENTIFIES rhetorical devices but struggle to analyze how they work and how those techniques affect the audience.

Here’s where you need to start: the rhetorical triangle. These FREE TEMPLATES are designed to help students get comfortable with the relationship between the speaker, audience, and message.

 

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS BLOG POSTS TO SUPPORT INSTRUCTION

These blog posts will help you take your rhetorical triangle graphic organizers to the next level.

Best Selling Resources to Support Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical Analysis Practice: Taylor Swift Commencement Address

“This is a great resource for AP Lang, and I think it would work great for other classes. I love how engaging the topic is while also requiring deep thinking and promoting great discussion.”

Rhetorical Analysis Practice: Close Reading "The Other Side" from The Greatest Showman

“Finally got a chance to use it. Like other products I have tried from this seller, this was useful and engaging. My students loved it. Great addition to our RA unit.”

Rhetorical Analysis Practice: Baba Voss and Queen Maghra

“This was a perfect addition to our unit on rhetoric. My students loved the use of film clips in place of another speech. This activity bridged the gap perfectly between in-class modeling and an independent choice board activity!”

The Spare Change Gameshow: Practicing Argument

“For a bunch of quiet students who never want to participate in academic activities, my groups were OBSESSED with competing against one another in this activity. Thank you!”