We have a fantastic new English resource on our website written by new resource developer Georgia. ITs been designed for use in English 2A but the ideas could easily be adapted to lower school as the speech by Severn Suzuki would appeal to all ages (she was just 12 when she made it). Here's the link to this Persuasive Language Resource on our website.
You can use this resource with your students to examine and analyse how environmental activists use persuasive language to appeal to audiences about environmental issues and encourage social action and change. It includes a glossary of terms for persuasive language techniques, a speech by Severn Suzuki (daughter of David Suzuki) at the 1992 Earth Summit and an accompanying worksheet in which students identify and analyse the persuasive techniques she used to such effect. Students will also analyse the concepts of context, purpose, audience, values, and attitudes, and consider how powerful language can be used to encourage action and change.
Students then consolidate and demonstrate their knowledge by researching an environmental issue of their choice and writing a speech to inform and persuade audiences to change their habits. They choose a context, purpose & audience for their speech and demonstrate their understanding of how language can be shaped for particular purposes. The final part of the assessment involves students presenting their speeches to demonstrate their comprehension of how verbal and non verbal language is used to enhance persuasive speaking techniques. The accompanying task sheet includes a rubric for assessment.
This one has some graphics added in but there are other versions on there too.
All this got me thinking about the best way to persuade people to change their behaviour, as that afterall is the whole point of what we are doing. Severn's speech is very emotional but is it really the best way to get people to change how they live? See my next post for what I think.
No comments:
Post a Comment