Rhetorical Style and Meaning Part 3

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

11

Overview

This resource is the after activity for interpreting rhetorical style and meaning in literature. The resource asks the students to compose a five-paragraph written response to interpret the meaning of "The Lady, or the Tiger?" by formulating a response to the final question posed by the author in the short story. The five paragraphs will incorporate documented textual evidence from the short story to support the student's interpretation of the answer to the author's final question in the text.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

Phase

After/Explain/Elaborate
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 11

ELA21.11.19

Interpret how an author’s grammar and rhetorical style contribute to the meaning in both fiction, including poetry and prose, and nonfiction, including historical, business, informational, and workplace documents.

UP:ELA21.11.19

Vocabulary

  • Grammar
  • Rhetorical style
  • Fiction
  • Poetry
  • Prose
  • Nonfiction
  • Historical documents
  • Business documents
  • Informational documents
  • Workplace documents

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Methods to identify an author's particular rhetorical style.
  • Formal, standard English conventions and their usage in a variety of text genres.
  • Authors choose to use particular grammar and rhetorical style in writing to convey the meaning of the text.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Interpret how an author's grammar use contributes to text's meaning in multiple genres.
  • Interpret how an author's rhetorical style contributes to the meaning of the text in multiple genres.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • An author's grammar and rhetorical style affect the meaning of different texts.

Learning Objectives

The student will compose a five-paragraph response using textual evidence of the rhetorical style from the final paragraphs of Frank R. Stockton's "The Lady, or the Tiger?" to support his or her interpretation of the answer to the final question of the text:  Which came out of the door, the lady, or the tiger?

Activity Details

1.  The teacher will present the students with the Interpreting Rhetorical Style Part 3 resource.

2.  The teacher will guide the students through the reading and understanding of the assignment parts.

3.  The teacher will present the students with a copy of the Interpreting Rhetorical Style Part 3 Grading Rubric, making sure to point out each area of grading on the rubric.

4.  The teacher will give the students 45 minutes to complete the assignment.

5.  The students will use their notes compiled during the guided reading of the text and during the cooperative learning exercises in Parts 1 and 2 of the Interpreting Rhetorical Style in Literature activities to create their paragraphs for this activity.

6.  The teacher will circulate the room while the students are composing the five-paragraph response to make sure students are working appropriately and to answer any questions which may arise.

Assessment Strategies

The teacher will assess the five-paragraph composition using the Interpreting Rhetorical Style Part 3 Grading Rubric.  

Background / Preparation

1.  Teachers should make copies of the Interpreting Rhetorical Style Part 3 resource to distribute to students. This resource can be copied for a physical handout, or it can be uploaded to Digital Learning Spaces for student access.

2.  Teachers should make copies of the Interpreting Rhetorical Style Part 3 Grading Rubric to distribute to students. This resource can be copied for a physical handout, or it can be uploaded to Digital Learning Spaces for student access.

Total Duration

46 to 60 Minutes

Learning Activity (During)

Learning Activity (After)

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