Reference no: EM133308948

Assignment:

Historical documents such as Common Sense, the Declaration of Independence and Patrick Henry's "liberty or death" speech are considered foundational documents because they introduced or promoted the ideas on which the United States was founded, and they were written or spoken by the men we still consider the "founding fathers" of the nation. These texts were rhetorical in nature-that is, their authors used language in very precise and deliberate ways to evoke a strong emotional response while also making a logical argument in support of a position.

This mixture of rhetoric and argument is essential not only to establish a democracy but also to maintain it over time. To participate in our democratic system and to keep it growing and changing in wise and relevant ways, each generation of Americans must be able to recognize and make sense of rhetoric, and to craft their own rhetorical messages when the need arises. Local and national organizations devoted to strengthening democracy at home are always looking for ways to get our youngest citizens prepared to lead their own generation in democratic ways.

After completing this module, you should be something of an expert on rhetoric, especially its use in promoting democratic ideals. You're now well qualified to help other members of your own generation understand how to speak and write rhetorically. For this project, do a instructional tool that helps middle and high school students understand how rhetoric works. Your instruction can take the form of a handbook, a multimedia presentation, or a set of classroom posters. Regardless of the form you choose, your instruction should help high school students accomplish these objectives:

• Identify and describe the rhetorical devices used by the founders of the United States.
• Analyze examples of rhetoric from both historical and modern sources.
• Explain how rhetorical devices tend to affect a text and its readers.