Ronald Reagan Is Pretty Clear!

Ronald Reagan became president during the Cold War. In this address, he articulates the competing ideologies that had for several decades pitted the Soviet Union against the United States. The Berlin Wall, which cut off West Berlin from East Berlin, became a symbol of the deep divide between Western democratic nations and pro-Soviet governments.
Complete a rhetorical analysis of the speech. How and why is or is the speech not effective? What is the purpose of the text? What is the author’s point of view in the text? Does the author fairly represent both sides of the topic? What point would an opponent of the point of view focus on?  This entry should be at least 350 words.

Just Kidding!

How'd He Do That?

Choose one of the following topics. Once a topic is chosen twice, it is off the market. First come first serve.

Topic # 1:

Martin Luther King Jr. considers the accusation that he is an “outsider” meddling in local affairs. Analyze the strategies used to argue his position.

Topic #2:

Martin Luther King Jr. considers the accusation that he has resorted to demonstrations rather than negotiations. Analyze the strategies used to argue his position.

Topic #3:

Martin Luther King Jr. considers the accusation that his nonviolent protest movement is “unwise and untimely”. Analyze the strategies used to argue his position.

Topic #4:

Martin Luther King Jr. considers the accusation that his nonviolent protest movement breaks the law. Analyze the strategies used to argue his position.

Topic # 5:

Martin Luther King Jr. considers the accusation that his nonviolent protest movement is “extreme.” Analyze the strategies used to argue his position.

Topic # 6:Martin Luther King Jr. expresses his grave disappointment with the white church and its leadership. Analyze the strategies used to argue his position.

You will be choosing the passage from King's letter that relays the ideas from the prompt you are assigned. 

Schemes and Tropes

PLEASE UNDERSTAND: "Strategies" does not mean just schemes and tropes.  The prompts above ask you to identify and connect how strategies are used in the passage you're working with.  This could mean anything from this Rhetorical Framework graphic.  

Take that Maxim! A Duel of Words!

Maxims are wise sayings that can add power to one's argument. Write conflicting arguments (about 5 sentences each) addressing a situation of your choosing, concluding your speech with the appropriate maxim. You will argue for the first maxim and then argue against it with the second maxim. NO REPEATS! So once one of classmates chooses their set of maxims and posts their blog, you may not reuse it. Be sure not to repeat!

Here is an example. Should your Dad order his favorite meal at the restaurant, or try something new? Try to convince him one way or the other and end your argument with the following maxims
"It's better to be safe than sorry"
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained".

Birds of a feather flock together

Opposites Attract

What's good for the goose is good for the gander

One man's meat is another man's poison.

The bigger, the better.

Good things come in small packages.

You're never too old to learn

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Wisdom is found in a multitude of counselors.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Haste makes waste

Strike while the iron is hot.

Actions speak louder than words

The pen is mightier than the sword.

The more the merrier.

Two's company; three's a crowd.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

The devil is in the details.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Penny wise, pound foolish.

Rome wasn't build in a day.

Strike while the iron is hot.

If you can't beat em, join em.

If you lie down with dogs, you'll wake up with fleas.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Don't beat a dead horse

Knowledge is power.

Ignorance is bliss.

First come, first served.

The last shall be first.

The early bird gets the worm.

The second mouse gets the cheese.

Discussing Andrew Marvell's Poem

To His Coy Mistress

Read this poem. Each stanza makes up one part of a syllogism. Tell us what you think the overall meaning of the poem is and then break it down into the three stanzas relaying what the purpose of each may be. Is the speaker a good rhetor? Why or why not?