This list of 20 Short Short Stories for AP Lit accompanies ideas for how to use Flash Fiction in AP Literature and High School English...
Look no further for print and go AP Lang rhetorical analysis graphic organizers or AP Lit literary analysis graphic organizers to help students understand and analyze any literary or non-fiction texts. The graphic organizers are a must-have for AP Literature and Composition, AP Language and Composition, or a Pre-Advanced Placement course. However, if you are teaching any type of rhetorical analysis or literary analysis, the graphic organizers will help any student analyze text no matter what class they are in. This bundle includes PRINT and DIGITAL versions. Print Versions For each graphic organizer, I have included detailed instructions for students to keep in their notebooks/binders and a blank one for students to fill in. They are graphic and include visual cues to help students remember each part they should analyze and take notes on with their text. Digital Versions These have been created with Google Slides™️ so you can use these in a blended or distance learning setting. For each graphic organizer, I have included detailed instructions for students on the left side of the slide and blank graphic organizers for students to fill in on the slide. They are colorful since they are not meant to be printed. ★Looking for just the DIGITAL Versions? Click HERE. Or looking for just the PRINT Versions? Click HERE.★ Included are: 1. Jolliffe’s Rhetorical Framework Diagram - Rhetorical Situation: Exigence, Audience, Purpose - Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos, Pathos, Logos - Tone - Organization/Form/Structure - Surface Features: Diction, Syntax, Imagery, Figurative Language 2. Rhetorical Appeals in Depth: Ethos, Pathos, Logos 3. SOAPStoneS for Rhetorical Analysis: Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Tone, Style 4. DIDLS for Rhetorical Analysis: Details, Imagery, Diction, Language, Sentence Structure 5. Dante’s Fourfold Method for Interpreting Symbol and Allegory: Literal/Historical, Political, Moral/Philosophical, Spiritual 6. TWIST for Literary Analysis: Tone, Word Choice, Imagery and Detail, Style, Theme 7. SIFT for Literary Analysis: Symbols, Imagery, Figures of Speech, Tone and Theme 8. TP-CASTT for Poetry Analysis: Title, Paraphrase, Connotation, Attitude/Tone, Shifts, Title, Theme 9. LEAD for Diction Analysis: Low or Informal Diction, Elevated Diction or Formal Diction, Abstract and Concrete Diction, Denotation and Connotation 10. SMELL for Persuasive / Argument Analysis: Sender-Receiver Relationship, Message, Emotional Strategies, Logical Strategies, Language 11. 3 Levels of Reading: Literal, Interpretive, Thematic 12. PAMDISS for Self-Evaluation of Writing: Purpose, Audience, Mode, Diction, Imagery, Syntax, Structure 13. OPTIC for Analyzing Visual Texts: Overview, Parts, Title, Inter-relationships, Conclusion 26 total PRINT pages = 13 Graphic Organizers with Instructions + 13 blank ones for student use. 13 Google Slide™️ DIGITAL files (one for each graphic organizer) and teacher directions that will show you how to assign these in Google Classroom™️. It is important for you to choose the Google account that you have created your Google Classroom with. This is most likely your school account. The resource MUST be in the same account. Related Products →ACT English Test Prep / Grammar, Usage, and Rhetorical Rules Review Sheet →Freebie - Ten Tips for the ACT Reading Test
When the College Board came out with the new rubrics, they set aside a point that is designated for the ap lit thesis. 1 point they get or...
I have found that breaking apart the FRQ prompts helps my students practice answering all parts thoroughly so that they know what to do when they are faced with a full essay. This resource includes five prompts from previous AP exams (found on College Board’s website for free) with personalized graphic organizers for each one designed to help students answer all parts of the prompt. I hope this helps your students the way it has helped mine! Included here: - Five curated AP Literature FRQ 1 Poetry prompts from College Board (no searching needed!) - Prompts included: “The Landlady,” “XIV,” “A Story,” “Plants” and “The Myth of Music” - Five personalized graphic organizers to analyze each of the five FRQ 1 Poetry prompts here; each organizer is different and made specifically for the prompt provided - Completely editable templates (can be assigned to students digitally or printed) If you like this resource, check out my larger one: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/AP-Lit-FRQ-1-Poetry-Essay-Graphic-Organizers-25-Prompt-Analysis--8792858
When the College Board came out with the new rubrics, they set aside a point that is designated for the ap lit thesis. 1 point they get or...
This blog post presents 10 MORE engaging and challenging poems to enrich your AP English Literature curriculum, plus several more honorable mentions!
The 2019 AP Literature Essential Skills clearly define a line of reasoning as one essential components of the literary argument essay. This Line of Reasoning AP Literature anchor chart helps the students to understand line of reasoning through metaphor. Students can then practice with line of reasoning activities in the form of 4 practice passages including an excerpt from Twelfth Night and/or Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken." These practice passages have been selected to insure that students are not struggling with the content as well as developing the line of reasoning. This Line of Reasoning Writing AP Lit Anchor Chart is part of a collection of AP Literature Writing Anchor Charts which are detailed notes pages that students can refer to as they are honing their AP Literature writing skills. Use with AP Literature or Pre-AP Classes. This product includes: 1 Anchor Chart 4 Practice Exercises (no key necessary there are no right answers and student answers will vary) 2 Blank Practice Graphic Organizer Ideas for use, extension and follow-up activities Please Note: These are anchor charts and notes pages only, while there is a suggestion for how to use this product, there is no lesson plan included. AP Literature Essential Skills: LAN-7.B Develop a thesis statement that conveys a defensible claim about an interpretation of literature and that may establish a line of reasoning. LAN-7.C Develop commentary that establishes and explains relationships among textual evidence, the line of reasoning, and the thesis. If You Like This Product, You May Also Enjoy: AP Literature Writing Skills Bundle (included) AP Literature Getting Started Bundle AP Literature Big Bundle AP Literature Poem of the Week Bundle This product is included in the AP Literature Writing Skills Bundle AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this product. For more information about AP Literature and Composition exam and course, please go to AP Central: apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-english-literature-and-composition
NEW: A link to an editable template in Canva is provided FOR EACH PRODUCT, so you can personalize and adapt FOR your DISTANCE LEARNING NEEDS needs.You will need to create an account in Canva - basic account is free. A Short Fiction Unit aligned to the New 2019 AP Literature Guidelines and Skills * Builds upon skills from Unit Two: Short Fiction ** Please check out the preview for this product. *** In addition to the 37 pages to download, you will have access to a 102 paged document including a digital copy of all of the short stories (Googledoc) Even if you are not following the new Course Framework and the recommended nine units, this unit is a great way for students to continue developing and practicing the required skills of this course. These are the short stories of the unit: "The Birthday Party" "The Birth-Mark" "A Clean Well-Lighted place" "A Jury of her peers" "Lamb to the Slaughter" "The Landlady" "The Possibility of Evil" "The Yellow Wallpaper" "Young Goodman Brown" & "Desiree's Baby" Included... Step-by-step guide access to a single document containing a digital copy of all short stories for the unit Collaborative writing assignment w/ "the Birthday Party" Group Jigsaw with eight short stories a Prose fiction analysis prompt created for each short story using the new stable prompt wording. ten graphic organizers One-pager assignment, including scoring guide annotation scoring guide thesis statement writing activity that builds to a ...... literary argument: extended writing piece (4-6 pages) If you like this product, check out the others in my store! Click the links below. AP LANGUAGE AP Language: Units 1 and 2: Defining Education and Its Purpose AP Language: 9/11 and the Rhetorical Situation AP Language: An Introduction to the Rhetorical Situation Bundle: AP Language: New 2019 Course Framework: Units 1 & 2 AP Language: An Argument a Day Bundle: AP Language: Starter Kit AP Language: What is the Good Life? Units 3, 4, and 5: Aligned to the 2019 CED Growing Bundles: AP Language: Units 1-9: Aligned to CED AP LITERATURE AP Literature: Unit One: A Short Fiction (Story) Unit: An Intro. to the New 2019 AP Lit. Guidelines AP Literature: Unit One: Short Fiction: "The Birds" Assessment Bundle: AP Literature: Unit One: Short Fiction - Activities and Assessments (the two items listed above) GREAT DEAL! AP Literature: A Poetry Unit (Unit Two for the new 2019 AP Lit. Course Framework) AP Literature: Building a Poem: An Interactive Poetry Activity Bundle: Unit Two: A Poetry Unit and a Building a Poem Activity AP Literature: Unit Three: Their Eyes Were Watching God (AP Lit 2019 CED) AP Literature: Unit: Independent Reading Project Bundle: AP Literature Unit Three and an Independent Reading Project AP Literature: Unit Four: Short Fiction Bundle AP Literature: New 2019 Course Framework: Units 1-3 AP Literature: Unit 4: Short Fiction (2019 AP Lit. CED) AP Literature: Units 1-4: Assessment (aligned NEW 2019 AP Lit. CED)Bundle: Semester 1: AP Lit: Units 1-4, and more! (2019 AP Lit. CED) AP Literature: Unit 5: Poetry (New AP Literature 2019 CED) AP Lit:Unit 6:Longer Fiction & Drama:The Kite Runner & Fences (2019 AP Lit. CED) BUNDLE: AP Lit: Units 4,5, and 6 (New 2019 AP Lit. CED) AP Literature: Unit 7: Short Fiction (New 2019 AP Lit.CED) BUNDLE: AP Lit: Short Fiction Units 1, 4, & 7 (2019 AP Lit.Course Framework) AP Literature: Unit 8: Poetry (2019 AP Lit. CED) Bundle: AP Lit: Poetry: Units 2, 5, and 8 AP Literature: Unit 9: Longer Fiction:The Handmaid's Tale (New 2019 AP Lit. CED) Bundle: AP Lit.: Longer Fiction Units: 3, 6 & 9 (aligned to the AP Lit 2019 CED) Bundle: AP Lit: Semester 2: Units 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9 (New 2019 AP CED) Bundle: AP Literature: Full Course: Units 1-9 & Much More AP English: A Commonplace Book (Great for AP Lit and AP Lang) OTHER Poetry Analytical Tools: The Graphic Organizer Narrative Writing: Finding Your Voice: The Journey Argument Essay: A Color Coded Reflective Analysis Argumentative Writing: So Much More Than Just an Essay Argumentative Writing: I AM CHANGE BUNDLE: Argumentative Writing (the two above items plus a free download) GREAT DEAL! The Hate U Give: An Introductory Activity
NEW: A link to an editable template in Canva is provided, so you can personalize and adapt to your DISTANCE LEARNING NEEDS needs.You will need to create an account in Canva - basic account is free. Through a variety of individual and group activities, short and extended writing assignments, an interactive visual project, verbal and silent analytical discussions, collaborative writing, prompt creation, and peer editing and revision sessions, students will move towards a greater understanding of this unit's big ideas and a mastery of this unit's skills. Big Skills and Ideas Covered Character (1.B, 1.D) Imagery (5.D) Setting (2.B, 2.C) Symbolism (5.C) Structure (3.A, 3.B) Narration (4.D) figurative language (5.A, 5.B) Literary argumentation (7.B, 7.C, 7.D) Included... Teacher notes Access to a single document containing a digital copy of all short stories for the unit Group Jigsaw assignment with "The Flowers" (focus: Unit Big ideas & skills). complete with graphic organizers and note sheet. "The Flowers" Literary analysis Prompt. Detective crime board assignment & scoring guide for "the Moonlit Road" "The Moonlit Road" writing prompt Teacher guide & script to an analytical silent discussion for "Girl" Mock scoring activity: An Essay Trial Culminating assessment: creating a prompt These are the nine short stories used in this unit. For some activities, if needed, you can easily substitute any of the stories for one you may find more appropriate or relevant. "The Flowers" Alice Walker "The Moonlit Road" Ambrose Bierce "Girl" Jamaica Kincaid "The Falling Girl" Dino Buzzati "A Respectable Woman" Kate Chopin "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World" Gabriel Garcia Marquez "The Black Cat" Edgar Allan Poe "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" Katherine Anne Porter "Two Kinds" Amy Tan If you like this product, check out the others in my store! Click the links below. AP LANGUAGE AP Language: Units 1 and 2: Defining Education and Its Purpose AP Language: 9/11 and the Rhetorical Situation AP Language: An Introduction to the Rhetorical Situation Bundle: AP Language: New 2019 Course Framework: Units 1 & 2 AP Language: An Argument a Day Bundle: AP Language: Starter Kit AP Language: What is the Good Life? Units 3, 4, and 5: Aligned to the 2019 CED Growing Bundles: AP Language: Units 1-9: Aligned to CED AP LITERATURE AP Literature: Unit One: A Short Fiction (Story) Unit: An Intro. to the New 2019 AP Lit. Guidelines AP Literature: Unit One: Short Fiction: "The Birds" Assessment Bundle: AP Literature: Unit One: Short Fiction - Activities and Assessments (the two items listed above) GREAT DEAL! AP Literature: A Poetry Unit (Unit Two for the new 2019 AP Lit. Course Framework) AP Literature: Building a Poem: An Interactive Poetry Activity Bundle: Unit Two: A Poetry Unit and a Building a Poem Activity AP Literature: Unit Three: Their Eyes Were Watching God (AP Lit 2019 CED) AP Literature: Unit: Independent Reading Project Bundle: AP Literature Unit Three and an Independent Reading Project AP Literature: Unit Four: Short Fiction Bundle AP Literature: New 2019 Course Framework: Units 1-3 AP Literature: Unit 4: Short Fiction (2019 AP Lit. CED) AP Literature: Units 1-4: Assessment (aligned NEW 2019 AP Lit. CED)Bundle: Semester 1: AP Lit: Units 1-4, and more! (2019 AP Lit. CED) AP Literature: Unit 5: Poetry (New AP Literature 2019 CED) AP Lit:Unit 6:Longer Fiction & Drama:The Kite Runner & Fences (2019 AP Lit. CED) BUNDLE: AP Lit: Units 4,5, and 6 (New 2019 AP Lit. CED) AP Literature: Unit 7: Short Fiction (New 2019 AP Lit.CED) BUNDLE: AP Lit: Short Fiction Units 1, 4, & 7 (2019 AP Lit.Course Framework) AP Literature: Unit 8: Poetry (2019 AP Lit. CED) Bundle: AP Lit: Poetry: Units 2, 5, and 8 AP Literature: Unit 9: Longer Fiction:The Handmaid's Tale (New 2019 AP Lit. CED) Bundle: AP Lit.: Longer Fiction Units: 3, 6 & 9 (aligned to the AP Lit 2019 CED) Bundle: AP Lit: Semester 2: Units 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9 (New 2019 AP CED) Bundle: AP Literature: Full Course: Units 1-9 & Much More AP English: A Commonplace Book (Great for AP Lit and AP Lang) OTHER Poetry Analytical Tools: The Graphic Organizer Narrative Writing: Finding Your Voice: The Journey Argument Essay: A Color Coded Reflective Analysis Argumentative Writing: So Much More Than Just an Essay Argumentative Writing: I AM CHANGE BUNDLE: Argumentative Writing (the two above items plus a free download) GREAT DEAL! The Hate U Give: An Introductory Activity
Are you a teacher looking for ways to prepare your middle and high school students for advanced reading and writing? Look no further. This post will give you the top four skills all ELA students should learn. Inspired by AP English Literature and Composition skills and objectives, you'll learn strategies, tips, lesson ideas, and more for effective and efficient English language arts instruction.
This blog post presents 10 MORE engaging and challenging poems to enrich your AP English Literature curriculum, plus several more honorable mentions!
Whether you’re looking to explore more of what TeachArgument has to offer, or you’d simply like to receive awesome lesson plans in your email all year long, you’ve come to the right place. Simply enter your information below to begin receiving our highly engaging, rigorous, and awesome pop culture lesson plans in your email immediately! You can expect ELA lesson plans that: Are aligned to the newest and most rigorous standards! Lend themselves to the upper echelon of the newest teacher-evaluation models! Bolster the skills demanded by next-generation tests! Will save you hours and hours of planning time! Are so engaging, your students will be thanking you!
General Overview Finding an engaging way to teach short stories in your AP Classroom is tough sometimes, as they are so self contained, terse, and packed with meaning. Here is a Roundtable meant to help hone specific AP Skills while preparing students to analyze and discuss the short story Recitatif by Toni Morrison from an array of perspectives, strategies, and contexts. This activity should take about 1-3 classes depending on how you want to move through the text, use the role sheets, and build toward an assessment. Students work toward composing commentary about literature, discussing literature independently and confidently, reading closely, studying well, and appreciating fiction. This activity will prepare students with the strategies they learn in their AP classroom to write an essay or analyze a portion of text, and should function as an exercise of the learning and skills already taught. If you want your students to dig into your themes and goals for class using the AP Skills required, let them actively analyze and discuss with Whippoorwill. Please remember to leave a rating and/or comment. I would love feedback about how to improve this product! Whippoorwill AP Literature and Composition Roundtable Short and Long Fiction, Skills: 1A-1C-1D-1E, 2A-2B-2C, 3A-3B-3E-3F, 4A-4B-4C, 5A-5B-5C, 6A-6B, 7A-7B-7C-7D Overview Assign the roles and reading for homework, and when the class next meets students engage in an academic discussion that is independent of the teacher, fueled by AP Lit Skills, and fun. Each student has responsibilities while reading AND while discussing, so these can both be assessed as you see fit. This is meant for students to practice the skills they have used in both investigation, analysis, discussion, and the first steps of composition. Form-fitting, you may pick and choose which roles to assign, whether to use the Composition roles as a secondary activity rather than simultaneously with the Literature roles, and/or use this as a springboard for their next essay. Possible Teaching Guide Day One: Assign the Literature roles then read with them at first, allowing time for you to answer questions about their roles. HW: Assign the reading and Literature roles. Day Two: AP Literature Roundtable Discussion — the Two Claims your class must make by the end of the discussion are essential for them to contextualize the reading into whatever goals you have for your next essay. You can always change the Two Claims, as well! HW: Assign a single Composition Role, having them read back through the text with an eye toward Connecting to other Media, Connecting to a Them, or just honing a Thesis with their Evidence. Day Three: Work with them on honing a thesis using their Claim and shorthand Defenses. HW: Work on outline/thesis. Literature Roles Discussion Leader - leads our day’s discussion Scene Artist - draw, quote, and explain details that best establish the setting Language Highlighter - find and explain figurative language like symbols, images, similes, etc.. Narrative Nose - find and explain events driven by the plot and details driven by POV Culture Commenter - find and explain meaningful comparisons between your culture and those of the characters Character Watcher - document character developments and conflicts Story Condenser - summarize the reading, choose three moments that would best ‘sell’ the story Perspective Perceiver - find and explain details that reveal perspective from either the characters or narrator Contrast Keeper - find and explain three contrasts, either character, narration, or values Composition Roles Evidential Claimant - find five pieces of evidence you might use to make a defensible claim, explain your commentary Theme Manager - find and explain five details that relate to an overarching theme from class Media Connector - find and explain five details relating to another piece of media thematically, culturally, or otherwise
If you want to know how to annotate a book for AP English Literature and Composition, follow these 5 steps to annotate effectively and prepare for the AP exam.
This list of 20 Short Short Stories for AP Lit accompanies ideas for how to use Flash Fiction in AP Literature and High School English...
One of the essential skills that our AP English students need is to develop a line of reasoning in the essay writing.
Literary criticism is challenging for students. But using familiar lyrics from Taylor Swift can help demystify complex literary lenses!
EVERYDAY USE by Alice Walker Digital Lesson Teacher Resource With Supplemental Activities HAPPY TEACHING - Digital Download - JAMsCraftCloset This file contains: 3 Practice Printables 6 Online Activities 5 Vocabulary Activities TOTAL: 14 HAPPY TEACHING!
Free essays, homework help, flashcards, research papers, book reports, term papers, history, science, politics
This is the second post I’ve done about how I keep my students engaged at the end of the year. I teach seniors, and after prom they’re pretty much checked out. However, I don’t just want to show movies when there are plenty of fun things to do that can be related back to what ... Read more
Our British Literature lesson plans condense hundreds of hours of work into a simple, premium-quality lesson plan bundle. These plans boast the same qualities as our other bundles in that they are: Specifically focused on teaching rhetorical analysis and argumentative writing Fully aligned to the Common Core State Standards Designed to target skills pertinent to next-generation tests such as PARCC […]
Using writing anchor charts in AP might seem out of place, almost elementary, but it is actually the perfect way to prep for the AP Lit essay
These student reference sheets for synthesis, rhetorical analysis, and argumentation are an easy-to-use tool that AP Language and Composition students will turn to again and again. Perfect for introducing the course, teaching each essay, or end-of-the-year review, these “cheat sheets” are available in an attractive, print-and-go format. Each quick reference sheet includes information about the AP Language and Composition exam, tips for unpacking the tasks involved in each essay, and suggestions for reading/writing. Definitions, close reading, thesis statements, organizational patterns, common pitfalls—it’s all captured in six total pages (two pages per essay so that you can copy them front-to-back). This product is also available in the AP Language and Composition Bundle. Save over 20%--buy now and get all the updates at no additional cost! Related Resources: AP Lang & Comp Introductory Unit: What Does it Mean to Be An AP Student? AP Lang & Comp Unit: History of English Rhetorical Analysis Bundle: Organizers, Activities, and Assessments A friendly note: This work is protected by copyright. You may use my products in your classroom, but you may not distribute them (this includes posting them online for public access). The copyright information on each page must remain intact. If you are interested in sharing with your colleagues, please send them the link to my store! Multiple license discounts are available. Let’s connect! My blog: The Rhetor’s Toolbox Pinterest: The Rhetor’s Toolbox on Pinterest
No matter whether you love or loathe the long novel you teach, the same struggles pop up every time we come around to teaching it year after year. For me, it’s To Kill a Mockingbird . It’s a 400 page monster! It’s fun dawdling around with setting and making maps of May
This is the second half of a two-part series about teaching AP Language and Composition. You can check out the first part here. Good feedback is everything. I still struggle with this, as feedback …
This is the second post I’ve done about how I keep my students engaged at the end of the year. I teach seniors, and after prom they’re pretty much checked out. However, I don’t just want to show movies when there are plenty of fun things to do that can be related back to what ... Read more
Tackle the AP Language and Composition exam with confidence using any of these four classroom-tested review strategies. This list will give you plenty of ways to prepare for the exam while having fun and working hard to get students as ready as possible for test day.
One of the essential skills that our AP English students need is to develop a line of reasoning in the essay writing.
Browse 70 rhetorical analysis essay topics in this MEGA-list of texts for writing a rhetorical analysis essay using ethos, pathos, and logos.
By studying the titles used in the AP English Lit open question, teachers can find new books for their students and themselves.
Use this page to help you understand the “tone” for any article or story that we read in class. If you understand the author’s tone, you will most likely understand the main idea …
Remember that time you watched a Facebook video and gave up sugar for a whole week? Or was it gluten? It was probably wine. OK, so that didn’t stick but don’t feel bad; you did agree to donate to that charity. And the proceeds from those cookies you bought went to a really good cause. Speaking of cookies, how often have you picked up a lifestyle magazine and convinced yourself you could be the next Martha Stewart? Also, why do they always put the health and fitness magazines right next to the check out? That’s where I pay for my candy bars! ‘They cancel each other out, though’. That’s what I tell myself when I add them to my basket. I know I’m not the only one guilty of impulse purchases. Be honest… what about those gorgeous, super uncomfortable shoes you never wear but bought because they were on sale? Or the time you ordered that exercise equipment with complete confidence that it would transform you into a supermodel/olympian. Oh wait, maybe that was me… My point is (and I promise you, I do have one) – whether we’re aware of it or not – our choices aren’t as free as they seem. So many of our decisions, every single day, are guided by other people. Usually marketing executives. Sometimes journalists. Occasionally politicians and activists. More frequently celebrities and social media ‘influencers’. Even friends and family have the power to persuade us to change our behavior, think like they do, or ‘call your mother once in a while’. The fact that persuasion is so prevalent in every aspect of our culture means there are a ton of ways you can teach it using fun, relatable, and relevant examples that your students will respond to. In fact, I’ve got eight creative ideas right here! FREE LESSON FOR TEACHING PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES 1. Analyze print advertisements Even in this digital age, printed advertising isn’t slowing down. Whether it’s giant billboards, or flyers through our letterboxes, you have thousands of persuasive examples to choose from. But I’ve found that one of the best way to engage teenagers is to bring in magazines that appeal to their specific areas of interest and comb through the many (many) pages of adverts. You know your students, so pick a selection of sports, exercise, music, fashion… whatever you think they’ll connect with! 2. Pay attention to current political discourse Youtube is a modern goldmine for recorded speeches. Search for rallies, press conferences, debates, or state addresses to link your lesson to current affairs. But don’t limit yourself to politicians; activists are among the most savvy public speakers. Check the number of views and comments each speech has received for an idea of how effective and influential they’ve been. 3. Evaluate historical speeches Analyzing persuasive language of the past is a great opportunity for cross-curricular projects. Have a chat with the history teachers and find out what they have planned for their lessons. The Civil Rights Movement? An obvious choice would be Martin Luther King, Jr. The Cuban Missile Crisis? Look to John F. Kennedy. The Second World War? Look to Winston Churchill. The Women’s Rights Movement? You can’t do much better than Sojourner Truth. [Click here to view resources on analyzing rhetoric in speeches] 4. Embrace the season If you coincide your lessons with seasonal celebrations, your students will carry on making connections and building awareness even outside the classroom. Big events like the Super Bowl, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and the Olympics are all great opportunities to talk about the power of advertising. While your students watch seasonal commercials, get them to write down all the techniques they spot, like persuasive language bingo! 5. Look to Shakespeare Your students might not realize that persuasive language techniques are prevalent in fiction too, but it’s a great way to interject a language lesson into a literature study. One of my favorite ‘cross-over’ lessons involves Macbeth; Lady Macbeth is the consummate manipulator. But there are so many other examples of Shakespearean characters who use persuasive language to devastating effect – like Iago in Othello, or Claudius in Hamlet, or Cassius in Julius Caesar. 6. Look to the big (and little) screen In my experience, students love any excuse to watch TV in class! Which is lucky as TV and movies are full of fantastic examples of persuasive language. War films are always a good bet for rousing speeches, but my favorite clips to watch and deconstruct with my students are always the closing speeches in courtroom dramas. Persuasive Language Techniques CARDS 7. Turn your students into Ad Execs Encourage your students to learn by doing. Ask them to pick a product or an idea – something they’re passionate about – and design their own advert using persuasive language techniques. This is always a big hit in my classroom; my students jump at the chance to use their creativity in such a free and independent way. 8. Host a debate No study of rhetoric would be complete without a debate. After all, Artistotle defined rhetoric as ‘the art of argument’ so it really is the cherry on top of the persuasive language cake. There’s no better way for students to practice and show off their new persuasive skills and knowledge of ethos, logos, and pathos than to craft their own arguments. And to really get them fired up, the first debate can be choosing the debate topic! So, there you have it! Teaching rhetoric is one of my most favourite elements of teaching English because it is relevant, and all around us! What are your favourite ways for teaching persuasion? Looking for more resources for teaching RHETORIC? Check these out: Persuasive Essay and Propaganda Unit: Grades 7-12 by The SuperHERO Teacher Rhetoric, Propaganda, & Fallacies Flipbook: Mini-Lessons to Analyze Speeches by Secondary Sara Real Life Persuasion Lessons and Activities by Room 213 Persuasive Techniques Bell Ringers - Ad Analysis, Argument Writing, Music by Nouvelle ELA Persuasive Writing: Fidget Spinners by Presto Plans Ethos, Pathos, Logos: Understanding & Writing with Rhetorical Appeals by The Daring English Teacher Persuasive Writing - Graphic Organizers, Planning Pages, and Rubrics by Addie Williams
I LOVE POETRY! I love to read it, write it, and teach it, and above all, I want my students to love it too! In order for them to love it, ho...
Book Talk For English Teachers and Other Lovers of Reading
I LOVE POETRY! I love to read it, write it, and teach it, and above all, I want my students to love it too! In order for them to love it, however, they have to understand it. I've always had a difficult time getting students to think deeply when it comes to poetry analysis, so I decided to develop a new process this year to help them practice. I ended up with a seven step process. To practice, I put together a packet of six of my personal favorite poems. We went through the packet together, in groups, individually, etc. until I felt confident that my students were getting it. Then, I gave them a pop quiz using the same process! I have put this packet on my Teachers Pay Teachers account for free, so go download it and use it! One thing that isn't on TPT, though, is the Google Presentation I used with the packet. You can check that out here! Here are the seven steps: Number the lines in each poem, and label the rhyme scheme if there is one. Read the poem several times. Circle any unknown words. Summarize each stanza. Annotate the poem by noticing and labeling any literary devices, figurative language, symbolism, imagery, etc. Identify the major theme of the poem, and provide evidence to support your choice. Identify your favorite line or phrase from the poem, and explain why you chose it as your favorite. Choose one of the unknown words you circled and develop a definition (in your own words!) based on context clues from the poem. And here are some examples of the poems once they have been analyzed!
These 25 Short AP Lit Books are perfect for encouraging non-readers and readers alike. Use them when you are short on time or desire depth.
Want your AP students to see the AP Enduring Understanding topics and AP Skills? This resource is a great visual for your white boards to help students visualize each EU and AP Skill that is included in your daily lessons. This resource includes: Definitions are from the AP English Literature and Composition CED. 38 cards with color coded definitions PDF print ready
