Drama

Yr 7, 8 and 9: What they are learning this module:

This module, we will continue our focus - albeit to different levels of depth and complexity - on rhetorical monologues, and how we can use not only gesture, voice and posture to enhance our performance; but also how the Aristotelian Triad - of logos, ethos and pathos - can be enhanced through antithesis, analogy and syllogism. By examining these techniques in a number of famous dramatic and historical speeches - from Marc Anthony, to Elizabeth I, Martin Luther King and Barack Obama - we will be supplementing students’ work in English through enhanced understanding of non-fiction texts.

Helpful links:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/z8r4tyc

https://classroom.thenational.academy/units/introduction-to-rhetoric-fd1d

Below are two examples of students incorporating pathos, ethos and logos into their work, methods by which speakers or writers persuade their audience, as identified by the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE).

“Write the beginning of a speech convincing your peers that they should wear a high visibility jacket on their way to and from school.”

I am here today to convince you that you should wear high visibility jackets to and from school. During the winter, the days become dark much quicker and it gets harder to see on the road. Travelling during these hours can be troublesome, as it becomes harder to see pedestrians as the day progresses. It is helpful for you to wear high visibility jackets so that drivers can see you with ease as you travel. Statistics show that the rate of road accidents increase during the darker periods of the day. If you are wearing dark clothing do you think that drivers will see you clearly in the night? Do you care about your safety? Do you care about the safety of others? People might argue that it is unfashionable and nobody would want to wear high visual jackets, but there are high visual jackets that come in silver and not just the same color. Mothers have to bear the pain of knowing you travel to school everyday with the risk of getting involved in a road accident. I need you to help me. Help me to put an end to this unending worry. Please, for your own safety, wear high-vis jackets to school.

Jonathan, 9D

Are you looking for the next fashion trend? Do you care about your safety? I am here today to convince you that you should begin travelling to and from school wearing these stylish and safe hi vis jackets, which also happen to be waterproof. These tend to keep more water out and more warmth in than the average school raincoat. Not only this, but the reflective material makes an awesome part of any outfit, sure to impress friends, and it looks great in the dark, for those who have after school extracurricular clubs.

This innovative jacket is of my own design, and once saved my life on the road. It was dark and icy and cold as rain hurtled down in bucket loads and the wind howled; I was on my way home from work, and as I left the safety of the sidewalk, I was almost hit by a car, until then invisible for its headlights were off. The hi vis jacket I wore (which was lucky I did) saved both myself and the driver, and no one else was hurt. It was too close, and from then on, I decided that everyone should have the right to easily accessible, safe clothing, so I established my own brand, ReadyNow, whose clothes are of the best quality and made from revolutionary materials. In the UK alone there are approximately 336 accidents on the road every day. Every single day. And 31% of those are fatal. The message is out there. Design has a limited stock, so buy now. Why not?

Tomaz, 9D

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