Changing The Way We Think

Motivation, I believe, is the most difficult thing to teach in the teaching of writing. When you have such a diversity of students in your classroom, you have to start getting creative in the ways you motivate them to understand the importance of rhetoric. Asking them, “Why do you think rhetoric is important to your everyday life?” is like asking, “When are you going to use the Pythagorean Theorem in your everyday lives?” The answer will be blank stares, shrugs, and maybe a cough or two. It’s hard to put things like that into retrospect, and I have to admit that it was hard to understand things like this as a high schooler. I did actually say, “What would I ever use this for?” but you slowly begin to realize that you do need it. That’s why, as the teacher, you have to provide different outlets and perspectives to the classroom. And again, it can be a difficult thing to accomplish.

Well, let’s actually ask the question, “How would you use rhetoric in everyday life?” Oh, the Ancient Greeks would know. They make the best examples for this question because they did use it everyday, and we’re talking average citizens using it. Good rhetoric got you places, and people listened in on it, so you know that it was something of a big deal. They used it through philosophy, religion, politics, and bargaining. Well, guess what. So do we, in the modern age. Let’s all open our eyes to this. We should have activities that incorporate the real world with the classroom. 

I think we should point out that each field is going to have to use rhetoric in their lifetime. In actuality, it should be a skill requirement. How many times does a scientist have to stand in front of a crowd of people and persuade them that their theory will change the way we think of things? Or an engineer convincing their customer that their car needs a radiator instead of a battery. Or a salesman persuading a client that they’re better off with this high-end microwave than this off-brand one. I’m assuming my point is being made, and if we’re going to get too redundant, we can throw out there that even politicians do this during their campaigns, during their speeches, and during whatever they got to do to keep their followers by their side. In all honesty, rhetoric is what makes the world go around and if we can get our students to grasp this concept on the first week of school then we’re doing very well. Or at least if we can get them to leave on the last day of school with a better understanding of this skill then I think we can pat ourselves on the back.

To even begin this we need to start adding more to the mix with the assignments. Prompts can be an efficient way to handle this. Start the class with a writing assignment, like have them write a scenario or a dialogue with a client that’s a difficult challenge to negotiate. Give them an issue that they have to write a speech on, like a politician. Even observing a speech being performed can change a perspective; watching or listening to a platform speech can put the idea that the essay that the student wrote can actually become something. Anyway you go about it you can always change the experience of the student, you just gotta get creative doing it. So think about it, make a list of interesting ideas for your students, and remember, to use those special rhetorical skills to get your students on the same page as you so that you can have a successful start to your year.