Writing to argue (rhetorical)

4. Analysis of text and understanding the author's craft

Required Resources

• Student Worksheet 2-3
• Slides 9-10

Delivery

• Split students into pairs and give each pair a copy of either Student Worksheet 1 or 2. Student Worksheet 1 features a speech by Hon. Gordon Brown MP arguing for the maintenance of troops in Iraq. Student Worksheet 2 features a speech by Sir Menzies Campbell MP arguing against the maintenance of troops in Iraq.
• Display Slides 9-10 which contain images of each speaker accompanied by some information about them.
• Each group should firstly circle, highlight or note down the key arguments in their transcript.
• Then ask each group to locate the key devices employed to support the speaker's argument, and to persuade the listener of their point of view.
• Students should be looking for:
  • imagery
  • lexical choices (adjectives, choice of verbs)
  • structure (contrastive pairs, text cohesion, rhetorical questions)
  • use of commonly held views to present a counter argument
  • examples from own experience
  • presentation of factual evidence
  • use of argumentative language (e.g. however, furthermore).
• Ask some of the groups to feed their findings back to the class and write them on the board for reference later in the lesson.

Differentiation

Lower Ability:

Some students may find analysis of the text easier if they are provided with highlighter pens to outline key devices.