"We are All One": In Service to Others

Please begin by going to this article to learn more about the dedication of last week and the history behind this National Volunteer Week, its establishment in America, and the role past American presidents have played in making it a celebration of service to others.

Next, go here to learn more about the President's Volunteer Service Award.  Here you can read President Trump's proclamation for 2017, and examine various ways that America celebrates and is supported by citizen volunteers.  
Then, explore some of the ways that others volunteer around the country and why they are inspired to do so.  

Rhetorical Modes

Please use this presentation to begin familiarizing yourself with the terms used to describe rhetorical modes.

Tropes review activity

Here are some activities to use to help you to identify and study tropes:

Search the headlines--> Go to today's news headlines and see if you can find any tropes being used.  Screenshot/take pics of any of the tropes you see being used, and identify these tropes.

Children's books--> Go to a children's book (or several) and see if you can find any tropes being used in these books.  Screenshot/take pics of any of the tropes you see being used, and identify these tropes.

Comic books--> Go to a comic book and see if you can find any tropes being used.  Screenshot/take pics of any of the tropes you see being used, and identify these tropes.

Scripting--> Write a conversation between two people where one is using hyperbole and the other is using litote to describe an ironic situation at a sporting event.  Try to include an example of anthimeria and metonymy in the script as well.  Identify the tropes you used.

Rant or Praise-->  Write your own rant about a subject that bothers you or praise about a subject that makes you happy, and use as many tropes as you can within this rant or praise.  Identify the tropes you used.

Details and Imagery Additions to Place Writing

We made additions to our place writing completed in this application activity using the ideas within this doc.  This edited draft is due by Friday, 5/4/18.

Informative current nature articles

Some more articles to read and consider for this unit...

Choose TWO articles from below to read, summarize, and share with your group.
Consider ways that this idea connects to your previous learning, and how this connects to SPEEC elements in our world.

"Climate Change is Messing with your Dinner"
"Everything We Know about Birds that Glow"
"Amazon Discoveries" (of new species)
"The hidden camera network that's helping conserve the jungle"
"Introducing Kids to the Ocean and a Career in Science"
"The Valley Where Bridges Breathe"

Choose TWO of these pieces to explore and then share about what you learned with your group.
Consider how each of these captures something "weirdmazing" about the natural world, and what deeper appreciation and questions about nature can be gained from watching it.

Nature Unit Readings

RECORD REACTIONS TO THESE FOUR PIECES, USING THE STEPS BELOW:

1.  Annotate each piece, considering rhetorical devices and the rhetorical triangle.

2.  For EACH piece, record the author's purpose, identifying a claim and supports for this claim.

3.  Record appeals that you see this author using, and the effectiveness of these appeals.

4.  Also, consider the warrant to this author's claim.

*These readings, annotations, and recorded reactions will be due by MONDAY, 4/30.
Printed copies given out in class.

"Our Vanishing Night" by Verlyn Klinkenborg (2008)-- record analysis info. HERE

Excerpt from Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962)-- record analysis info. HERE

"Nature" essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1849)-- record analysis info. HERE

"The Fixed" by Annie Dillard, excerpted from Pilgrim at Tinker Creek-- record analysis info. HERE

The difference a day makes... a study in context

First, we read and very closely analyzed the rhetorical strategies used by Martin Luther King, Jr. in his final speech.  While reading, we looked at elements such as:  appeals, diction, tone, structure/arrangement, and schemes and tropes.  (we did this on Thurs.&Fri.)

Next, on Tuesday, we brought this analysis into focus by considering the WOW with an in-class discussion:
What was his purpose? ... (we considered both the immediate picture and the big picture here)
How did he go about trying to achieve it? ...(we reviewed our rhetorical study and chose the most effective techniques used and defended why)
Why did this speech matter and resonate with his audience? ...(we read this article to round out our contextual and rhetorical understanding, then defended the most significant context points)
*If you were absent, please complete this using this pres.

Then, on Wed.,  we watched this speech given by Robert Kennedy on April 4th, 1968 in Indianapolis.  After watching, we read it here and create a plan for a rhetorical analysis essay if this were the given passage.
*If you were absent, please complete this essay plan at home.

Application activity due Wednesay, 4/18

Please complete this application activity for Wednesday.
We will use it in discussion that day to kick off our new places unit!