Unit 1

introduces fundamental rhetorical principles that underlie all communication. The definition of a text is broadened to include a variety of media. The unit contextualizes the art and study of rhetoric by showing its historical connection to democracy and to American identity. It provides practice activities to foster understanding and the ability to use these principles. Additionally, in this unit, you will be introduced to several of the course Tools, including the Focusing Journal. These tools will be used throughout the course to help you develop critical reading and writing skills

Possible Texts during this unit:

Important vocabulary for this unit:

Plot-The sequence of events in a play, story, novel or text Five basic elements: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.
- Exposition-This usually occurs at the beginning of a short story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story.
- Rising Action- This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.
- Climax-This is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way.
- Falling Action-All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.
- Resolution/Denouement-The story comes to a reasonable ending.
Conflict- A struggle between two forces
- Internal Conflict-A conflict that occurs within a character.
- External Conflict-A conflict that involves a character that struggles against a force outside of himself or herself.
Point of View- The narrator's position in relation to the story being told. (First, Second, and Third Person POV)
- First Person POV- The point of view involves the use of either of the two pronouns “I” or “we.”
- Second Person POV-The point of view uses the pronoun “you.”
- Third Person POV- The narrator is outside the story and is paraphrasing or restating information in his/her own words.
  - Limited POV- In third person limited the narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.
  - Omniscient POV- In the third person omniscient the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story.
Protagonist- The main character in a work of fiction.
Antagonist- A force working against the main character, usually another character.
Character Motivation- a reason behind a character's specific action or behavior.
Theme- The message about life and human nature the author is sharing with the reader.
Inference- To make a logical guess based on your knowledge and clues from the text Prior Knowledge + Clues = Inference
Dialogue- Written conversation between two or more characters.
Figurative/Sensory Language- uses figures of speech to be more effective, persuasive, and impactful. Examples include: metaphor, simile, personification, and onomatopoeia.
Parts of Speech-
- Nouns- A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea (Obama, Ojeda, pencil, love).
- Verbs- A verb expresses action or being (sing, dance, cry).
- Adjectives- An adjective modifies or describes a noun or pronoun (pretty, old, smart).
- Pronouns- A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun (he, she, it, they).
- Prepositions-A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to form a phrase modifying another word in the sentence (by, with, about).
- Conjunctions-A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses (and, but, or).
- Interjections-An interjection is a word used to express emotion (Oh! Wow! Oops!).

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