ELA 9: Introduction to Literature (Foundational)—Semester B

Sample Lesson - Introduction

Lesson 7.07: Not So Empty Rhetoric

"I think I'll start with a rhetorical question—works every time."
(Source)

Rhetoric.

This word gets tossed around a lot. We'll give you the real lowdown.

Rhetoric is the art of argument; that is, it's persuading someone to see your point of view.

Okay, so maybe you already know a little bit about ethos, pathos, and thermos logos, but in high school, we're going to get into rhetoric a little more deeply. Namely: why and how do writers use it in their craft? Ancient scholarly dudes like Aristotle had lots to say about how to do just that, and many of these rhetorical principles from the classical period remain today. When we try to persuade people, we use rhetorical devices like rhetorical questions, parallelism, and hyperbole (just to name a few).

In modern times, the word rhetoric can be used as an insult to suggest that an argument or a political position is all sound and fury signifying nothing. If someone ever accuses you of using empty rhetoric, well, suffice it to say, that's not a compliment.

Unless you're trying to be a politician.

But get this: we normal people use rhetorical devices all the time. Don't believe us?

Have you ever told your friend a massive exaggeration or overstatement to make your point? Well, that's a hyperbole. Example? "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" or "Last night's choir performance was so embarrassing, I'd rather be dead than face anyone at school today."

Or how about asking a question you didn't really expect an answer to, like, "Are you nuts?" Or, "Aren't you just the cutest?" Those are rhetorical questions.

Since they work so well in everyday speech, people love to adopt these devices for more formal speeches, too. So we're gonna take a look at one particularly famous speech, and think about its rhetoric. Fancy, we know.

Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 7.7.07a: Addressing Gettysburg

Speeches are everywhere: graduations, weddings, and awkward family dinners. Sometimes they're spoken and forgotten about, but once in a while, one sticks. One super sticky one? The Gettysburg Address. Remember looking at snippets of this one back in ELA 8? It's okay if you don't—you'll get a major refresher here today, and re-examine it through a high school lens.

That's right—we're going to start our little journey into rhetoric with a speech from Abraham Lincoln himself. Four and a half months after the Union defeated the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg, the Prez stepped up to the mic and delivered this speech at the dedication of the Soldiers Cemetery.

In one short speech (and it is, in fact, a very short speech—maybe that's part of the reason why it has so much impact?), Lincoln was able to both pay respects to the fallen (i.e. reflect on the past) and stress the importance of taking back the South (i.e. look to the future). Best of all, he was able to connect with his present audience, and remind them that their goals weren't just literal (to reunite the country), but also ideological (to uphold the principles of equality and freedom). No wonder his words were so stirring.

Time to get to it. Read the Gettysburg Address. As you read, think about

• how Lincoln touches upon such themes as duty, patriotism, and equality.
• the impact of his keeping things short and sweet.
• where you see evidence of rhetorical flair, and the impact thereof.

When you're done, you'll feel a little more American.

Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 7.7.07b: Recap and Review

Recap

• If you're going to make a speech, you'll do well to use a little rhetoric. Heck, even if you're not making a speech, using rhetoric in your daily speech is 1) something you do all the time anyway, and 2) something that makes you sound more persuasive, and gives your words more impact. TL;DR: rhetoric is useful in writing and speaking, and since speeches are kind of where writing meets speaking, it's not surprising that rhetoric would fly there.
• Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is an enormously memorable speech, and that's partly because of its use of rhetoric. Just think about how Lincoln drew on the sacrifices made by soldiers (both living and dead) to stir and inspire his current audience in their hour of strife and exhaustion.
• Lincoln doesn't spend a lot of time with facts or details, because he doesn't have to; what his speech succeeds in being is heartfelt. He makes the audience feel that their strife—and their goal—is a shared one.
• The fact that it's short and sweet doesn't hurt, either.
• But despite the fact that it's short, it's still thematically rich. It makes sense that Lincoln would draw on themes of duty, obligation, and patriotism in a military speech.
• Lincoln also touches upon the theme of equality, by making it clear that the goal here isn't just literal (to reunite the country), but also ideologically profound—it's all about the principles of equality and freedom. That's what makes America, America.
• Aww, we're getting teary just thinking about it.
• Boom, you've been rhetoric-ed.

Related Shmoop Videos and Guides

• Shmoop's guide to rhetoric
• Shmoop's list of rhetorical devices
• Shmoop's guide to the Gettysburg Address: Introduction
• Shmoop's guide to the Gettysburg Address: Summary
• Shmoop's guide to the Gettysburg Address: Main Idea
• Shmoop's guide to the Gettysburg Address: Historical Context
• Shmoop's guide to the Gettysburg Address: Themes
• Shmoop's guide to the Gettysburg Address: Quotes
• Shmoop's guide to the Gettysburg Address: Analysis

Sample Lesson - Activity

Activity 7.07a: Anecdotes, Aphorism, and Anaphora

No one wants a jerkwad for a president. And Lincoln was well aware of that fact when delivering his now famous speech.

Guess what? There's a word for that: ethos. In Aristotle's Rhetoric, it's one of the three types of appeals you can make to your audience (along with pathos and logos). Your ethos is your trustworthy factor.

But ethos isn't the only rhetorical device that Lincoln turned to—this tiny speech is full of 'em.

Step One

Take a look at these rock star literary terms. We like to think our definitions are at least mildly amusing, so hopefully that will help spice up the vocab lesson.

• Ethos
• Pathos
• Logos
• Anecdote
• Parallelism
• Understatement
• Aphorism
• Anaphora

"Fine," you're perhaps saying, "but how do these apply to me?" Check out where these can be seen in pop culture in Shmoop's rhetoric-spotting outline below:

• Ethos
  
  • Billboards that list the person's credentials
  • Commercials touting the professionalism of a person
• Pathos
  
  • Commercials with baby animals in cages.
  • "Made in America" labels, and how they boost patriotism
• Logos
  
  • A sports player's stats
  • Facts from a crime
• Anecdote
  
  • Parents saying, "when I was your age…" followed by a story
  • Campfire ghost tales
• Parallelism
  
  • "My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors." (Barack Obama)
  • "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." (John F. Kennedy)
• Understatement
  
  • Saying "we got a bit of rain" after a major flood.
  • In reference to winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games, saying, "I'm happy about my accomplishment."
• Aphorism
  
  • "Once bitten, twice shy."
  • "All the world's a stage." (Shakespeare)
• Anaphora
  
  • "Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
    Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
    Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
    Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?" (Oh, Katy Perry.)

Step Two

Now that we're all rhetorical device experts, let's take a look at how such devices are used in the Gettysburg Address. Grab a sheet of paper (or, y'know, open up a Word doc) and create two columns. In one column, list all the literary devices you can find in the speech. In the other column, write down one to two textual examples of these literary devices. Easy as that—check out our example below:

Step Three

That wasn't so bad, was it? Now that you've addressed the literary devices in play at large, narrow your focus down to only one of the devices used in this address.

Comb through the speech for that one rhetorical device, identifying each time it's used and thinking about why it's used. As you're adding each example to your Word doc or piece of paper, make sure get specific. Be specific, B-E specific! B-E S-P-E C-I-F-I-C—thought made we could all use a little cheer to get going.

For instance, make sure to mull over what Lincoln is alluding to, or why a particular moment is an example of ethos or pathos or any other –os.

Step Four

Write a brief expository paragraph of 50 to 100 words elaborating on Lincoln's use of the device. What effect does that specific device have on the reader? Use the following questions to shape your response:

• Does this device evoke an emotion in the reader/listener?
• What is the emotion at play?
• Is this device, in your opinion, effective?

For instance, if we were talking about Lincoln's use of ethos, we might write:

The ethos of the Gettysburg Address is unique, in that it's more in the context of the Address than in the speech itself. After all, Lincoln doesn't talk explicitly about how trustworthy or reliable he is—if he did, he might detract from his reflection on the sacrifice of fallen soldiers, the gravity of the country's present situation, and the fact that he and everyone in the audience is in this fight together. Instead, the ethos of this speech comes arises from the fact that Lincoln is the president, and he's there to lead his people in their time of need. The ethos is implicit…

Upload your chart and completed paragraph below.

Sample Lesson - Activity