What makes a piece of writing poetry?

The video you just watched was of a poem written by Amanda Gorman. You probably noticed some of the rhetorical strategies, such as alliteration, repetition, allusion, etc., used in the poem. Authors often use rhetorical strategies to convey meaning and evoke a response from the reader. How did these rhetorical strategies help the flow of the poem and give it meaning? How did the poet draw you into her thoughts and emotions?  Why do you think the author chose those strategies? To help you answer these questions, you will use a strategy called Categorical Highlighting to analyze two pieces of writing. Below, you will find instructions on what to highlight in the two selections.

 

Procedure 

  1. This activity has two parts.
  2. First, watch these two speeches:
  3. Next, use Categorical Highlighting to analyze some of the rhetorical strategies used in each piece. As you are analyzing the text, think about why the author may have chosen those rhetorical strategies and what effect the strategies may have on the audience.
  4. These are the rhetorical strategies you are to highlight and the colors you should use for each one:
  1. You will complete the Categorical Highlighting using Google Docs. You can access both texts with these links: The Hill We Climb and I Have a Dream
  2. Watch this video if you need help using Google Docs for highlighting.
  3. When you are finished highlighting, submit both documents. Upload the completed document as a file or share a link to the file.