Lesson 6 | Famous Speeches | 12th Grade English

Objective

Analyze the rhetorical choices Henry makes to develop his argument.

Draft an analysis that demonstrates effective and comprehensive reasoning.

Readings and Materials

Speech: “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” by Patrick Henry

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Target Task

Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved

Writing Prompt

Draft one or two body paragraphs in which you analyze a rhetorical choice Henry makes to develop his argument. Be sure to use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Key Questions

Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding

Rhetorical Analysis:

Device: What is the device? Explain how the evidence is an example of the device.
Appeal: What is the effect?
Purpose: How will this persuade the audience?

Notes

Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson

Instructional Notes

Students should read and analyze the speech independently for homework the previous night. Today’s class focuses on showing their analysis of the speech in writing, not on comprehending and analyzing the text.
A recommended mini lesson is one in which the teacher uses both a “basic” example and a “strong” example of writing and students identify what makes the writing stronger. For example:
- Basic: “Henry uses allusions to god because it is an appeal to pathos or shared beliefs. Since his audience is primarily Christian and believes in God, they will listen to Henry’s words.”
- Strong: “As Patrick Henry is living in America, a colony of Britain, he is committing treason at this period in time by advocating war against Britain and its king. Therefore, he must remind his audience that the “majesty of Heaven” or king of heaven is “above all earthly kings.” His speaking out or helping to get to the “truth” is what God would desire.”

Lesson 5

Lesson 7

Lesson Map

“The Whiskey Speech”

Identify the rhetorical situation and explain its significance.

Identify the appeals present within the text and the devices/strategies used to generate that appeal.

“Purple is the Noblest Shroud”

Identify the rhetorical situation and explain its significance.

Identify the appeals present within a text and the devices/strategies used to generate that appeal.

“The Whiskey Speech”
“Purple is the Noblest Shroud”

Analyze how an author uses devices to generate an appeal and ultimately achieve his or her purpose.

“A More Perfect Union”

Analyze the rhetorical choices Obama makes to develop his argument.

“A More Perfect Union”

Analyze the rhetorical choices Obama makes to develop his argument.

“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”

Analyze the rhetorical choices Henry makes to develop his argument.

Draft an analysis that demonstrates effective and comprehensive reasoning.

“Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat”

Analyze the rhetorical choices Churchill makes to develop his argument.

“Pearl Harbor Speech”

Analyze the rhetorical choices Roosevelt makes to develop his argument.

“Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat”
“Pearl Harbor Speech”

Compare and contrast rhetorical strategies in speeches by Churchill and Roosevelt.

Evaluate how both authors use specific devices to develop the central idea or purpose of the speech.

Writing

“Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat”
“Pearl Harbor Speech”

Analyze the rhetorical choices Churchill or Roosevelt makes to develop his argument.

Writing

“Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat”
“Pearl Harbor Speech”

Draft an effective introduction that establishes the rhetorical situation and provides a comprehensive thesis describing the rhetorical techniques the author uses to achieve his purpose.

“Ain't I a Woman?”

Analyze the rhetorical choices Truth makes to develop her argument.

“Why Sit Ye Here and Die?”

Analyze the rhetorical choices Stewart makes to develop her argument.

“Ain't I a Woman?”
“Why Sit Ye Here and Die?”

Compare and contrast the rhetorical strategies employed by Sojourner Truth and Maria Stewart in their speeches.

Assessment – 2 days

Project

Complete an optional extension project by writing a speech on a topic of his or her choosing.

Famous Speeches

Objective

Readings and Materials

Target Task

Writing Prompt

Key Questions

Notes

Instructional Notes

Lesson Map

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