A Zombie Apocalypse: An Introduction to Rhetoric
This unit uses the enticing scenario of a zombie apocalypse to teach students rhetoric and rhetorical appeal. Students practice identifying persuasive techniques in multiple forms of writing and speech – famous film speeches, advertisements, TED Talks, and a letter written by Lebron James – and collaborate in small groups to discuss effective rhetorical strategies. Students conclude the unit by writing their own rhetorical letters with the goal of convincing a selection committee to choose a selected character to survive a zombie apocalypse.
A Zombie Apocalypse: An Introduction to Rhetoric
This unit uses the enticing scenario of a zombie apocalypse to teach students rhetoric and rhetorical appeal. Students practice identifying persuasive techniques in multiple forms of writing and speech – famous film speeches, advertisements, TED Talks, and a letter written by Lebron James – and collaborate in small groups to discuss effective rhetorical strategies. Students conclude the unit by writing their own rhetorical letters with the goal of convincing a selection committee to choose a selected character to survive a zombie apocalypse.
English Arts
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.
Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in Standards 1–3 above.)
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language Standards 1–3 up to and including grades 9–10.)
Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Evaluate and/or reflect on a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening, and to write and to edit so that it conforms to the guidelines in a style manual (e.g., MLA Handbook, APA Handbook, Turabian's Manual for Writers) appropriate for the discipline and writing type.
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About the Teacher
Tabitha Ginther
Northside High School
Muscogee County SchoolsTabitha Ginther is currently a 9th through 12th grade English Language Arts teacher at Northside High School in Columbus, Georgia. Her best piece of teaching advice is that education, above all, is the process of growth. She believes that the key to effective teaching is relationships between the teacher and student. She believes that learning requires the consent of the learner, and good teaching relies on relationships to garner that consent. Ms. Ginther earned a Bachelor’s in English Language and Literature and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Columbus State University. She recently earned her Ph.D in Curriculum and Instruction from Mercer University. Ms. Ginther serves as the English department chair, co-moderator of the Senior Class Council, and Graduation Coordinator.
