Introductions: What is America? What is rhetoric?
Overview:
We will start with a foundation on our two foci: American Literature and rhetoric. First we will start with a definition of rhetoric and explore some fundamental components: diction; syntax; imagery and tone. We will look at these key ideas as we explore reading from or about the earliest people in what is now the United States. We will also explore some writings from the first Americans, the first people to hatch this idea of a place separate from Europe founded on ideals, ideals which Americans miss as well as reach.
Readings: 1)Foundations 2) Revolution
1) from Thrown Among Strangers Douglas Monroy
"What is an American" Hector St Jean Crevecouer
from "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" Jon Edwards
from "The Way to Rainy Mountain" M. Scott Momaday
from New World by Terrence Malick
2)"Give Me Liberty" speech Patrick Henry
"Concerning the Savages of North America" Ben Franklin
The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson
"Letter to John Adams" Abigail Adams
"Letter to Thomas Jefferson" Benjamin Banneker
Assignments:
Letter of Introduction
Patrick Henry Rewrite
Close Readings
Assessment:
in-class essay Scarlet Letter
in-class essay Rhetorical Analysis
We will start with a foundation on our two foci: American Literature and rhetoric. First we will start with a definition of rhetoric and explore some fundamental components: diction; syntax; imagery and tone. We will look at these key ideas as we explore reading from or about the earliest people in what is now the United States. We will also explore some writings from the first Americans, the first people to hatch this idea of a place separate from Europe founded on ideals, ideals which Americans miss as well as reach.
Readings: 1)Foundations 2) Revolution
1) from Thrown Among Strangers Douglas Monroy
"What is an American" Hector St Jean Crevecouer
from "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" Jon Edwards
from "The Way to Rainy Mountain" M. Scott Momaday
from New World by Terrence Malick
2)"Give Me Liberty" speech Patrick Henry
"Concerning the Savages of North America" Ben Franklin
The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson
"Letter to John Adams" Abigail Adams
"Letter to Thomas Jefferson" Benjamin Banneker
Assignments:
Letter of Introduction
Patrick Henry Rewrite
Close Readings
Assessment:
in-class essay Scarlet Letter
in-class essay Rhetorical Analysis
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