Tips for teaching rhetoric include using analogies and relatable examples, analyzing famous speeches, encouraging class discussions, and having students compose their own rhetoric. Analogies simplify complex concepts, while relatable examples help young learners understand how rhetoric is used. Analyzing famous speeches shows the effectiveness of rhetorical devices, while composing speeches encourages students to use learned techniques.
The best tips for teaching rhetoric are to use analogies to convey concepts, let students compose their own rhetoric, analyze classic pieces of rhetoric, and connect the rhetoric to something students can relate to. Analogies and the use of things students can relate to are useful for basic rhetoric lessons and allow teachers to explain key concepts or techniques in understandable language. Rhetorical analysis and composition can be useful tips for students who already have a basic understanding of rhetorical concepts and ideas. Any discussions that arise in class should be encouraged, because rhetoric is the art of argumentation. Teachers should point out logical or rhetorical errors in any topics presented by students to help show common errors.
Analogies are useful for teaching rhetoric because they relate complicated concepts to simpler things. For example, the general idea of analyzing rhetoric can be conveyed through a discussion of a piece of clothing. In addition to looking at the effect a piece of clothing creates, a stylist might look at how he achieves that effect by examining the stitches and material. Similarly, a writing or speech has an overall effect, but is made up of constituent parts. Furthermore, rhetorical devices can be thought of as jewels worn to accentuate certain linguistic effects with a shimmering brilliance.
Another useful technique for teaching rhetoric is relating rhetoric to something that students can understand easily. This is especially helpful for young learners who may not understand the ways rhetoric is used. For example, a teacher might write an unfairly weighted rhetorical piece about the merits of homework and ask students whether they agree or disagree and why. The topics raised can be evaluated rhetorically, and any response that affects a technique or rhetorical device can be elaborated on by the teacher. Similarly, rhetoric can also be related to familiar television programs or other media.
Once students have grasped the basic concepts of rhetoric, one of the best tips for teaching rhetoric is to analyze famous speeches. For example, Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is awash with rhetorical devices and techniques that can be scrutinized for effectiveness. The use of a famous piece of rhetoric can show the effect rhetorical devices can have on an audience and how the rhetoric is used around the world. It is also a method of getting students to perform a rhetorical analysis about something they might be interested in.
Composing rhetorical speeches is another useful tip for teaching rhetoric. Students can create a topic about an issue that is important to them. Teachers can encourage students to use all the rhetorical techniques they have learned so far. Rhetoric’s relationship to any issue they deem important can encourage students to learn new techniques and devices used by rhetoricians.
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