Persuasion
Persuasion
Objectives
In this lesson, students analyze the use of persuasion in literature. Students will: [IS.4 - Language Function]
- identify and analyze author’s purpose for using persuasion in particular literary selections. [IS.5 - Struggling Learners]
- identify the persuasive techniques employed by the author. [IS.6 - Struggling Learners] [IS.7 - Level 1]
Essential Questions
- How does interaction with text promote thinking and response?
Vocabulary
[IS.1 - Preparation ]
[IS.2 - ELP Standards]
[IS.3 - Struggling Learners]
- Author’s Purpose: The author’s intent either to inform or teach someone about something, to entertain people, or to persuade or convince the audience to do or not do something.
- Figurative Language: Language that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.
- Metaphor: A figure of speech that expresses an idea through the image of another object. Metaphors suggest the essence of the first object by identifying it with certain qualities of the second object. An example is “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun” in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Here, Juliet, the first object, is identified with qualities of the second object, the sun.
Duration
120–180 minutes/ 2–3 class periods
Prerequisite Skills
Materials
[IS.8 - ELL Students]
- Video and text of the President’s Address to the U.S. Fighter Pilots from the 1996 movie Independence Day (http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechindependenceday.html)
- The above speeches were chosen because of their strong persuasive techniques. Alternative choices include the following:
o Text of Lyndon B. Johnson’s “We Shall Overcome” speech (http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/johnson.htm) [IS.10 - Struggling Learners]
o Video and text of Shirley Chisholm’s speech “For the Equal Rights Amendment” (http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/shirleychisholmequalrights.htm) [IS.11 - Struggling Learners]
o “We Shall Overcome” recording by Pete Seeger at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhnPVP23rzo or by Mahalia Jackson at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmR1YvfIGng.)
o “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
o The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm
- Three-Two-One Graphic Organizer (L-L-3-2_Three-Two-One Organizer.doc) [IS.12 - Struggling Learners]
Related Unit and Lesson Plans
Related Materials & Resources
The possible inclusion of commercial websites below is not an implied endorsement of their products, which are not free, and are not required for this lesson plan.
- “Women’s Rights Are Human Rights” by Hillary Clinton
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/hillaryclintonbeijingspeech.htm
- Marc Antony Addresses Roman Citizenry on the Death of Julius Caesar from the 1953 movie Julius Caesar
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechjuliuscaesarantony.html
- “Scrutinize older drivers”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2007-04-16-edit_N.htm
- “Seniors are more cautious”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2007-04-16-oppose_N.htm