Have you ever watched a political speech and felt your heart beat a little faster, and your opinion either solidify or begin to slightly change? Rhetorical devices can be a strong tool in an effective and powerful speech. A short lesson introduces a few of the elements found in speeches and written arguments, including anaphora, alliteration, and rhetorical questions, and prompts young citizens to write their own example of each device.

Concepts

rhetorical devices, political campaigns, political leaders, political science, arguments, persuasive speeches, similes, metaphors, figurative language, alliteration

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

english language arts

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Show a video or audio clip of famous political speeches in history, including speeches made by Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, and Martin Luther King, Jr., along with transcripts; work with class members to identify the devices they find in each speech and how effective each statement is
• Have learners write their own political speech about an issue that is important to them using one or more of the rhetorical devices listed in the lesson

Classroom Considerations

• Designed for ninth and tenth grade, but applicable for older or younger classes as well
• Consider adding more devices for advanced classes to decipher

Pros

• Encourages individuals to apply terms they may have seen in a literature context to rhetorical writing and speaking
• Provides a helpful reference sheet and list of additional resources to teach rhetorical devices

Cons

• None

Common Core

RI.9-10.4 RI.9-10.6 RI.9-10.9