Dear Persuasion
Analyzing a Persuasive Open Letter

Overview
This lesson allows students to analyze a letter written by award-winning poet Naomi Shihab Nye about one of America’s most painful and devastating events, Sept. 11, 2001.

Objective
Students will be able to identify persuasive techniques and explain their effect on the audience.

Standards Addressed
Language Arts — Writing

Communications: Oral and Visual, Listening and Viewing Benchmark B

Grade 8

02. Identify and analyze the persuasive techniques (e.g., bandwagon, testimonial glittering generalities, emotional word repetition and bait and switch) used in presentations and media messages.

Grade 9

02. Identify types of arguments used by the speaker, such as authority and appeals to emotion.

03. Analyze the credibility of the speaker (e.g., hidden agendas, slanted or biased material) and recognize fallacies of reasoning used in presentations and media messages.

Grade 10

02. Interpret types of arguments used by the speaker such as authority and appeals to audience.

03. Evaluate the credibility of the speaker (e.g., hidden agendas, slanted or biased material) and recognize fallacies of reasoning used in presentations and media messages.

 

Communications: Oral and Visual, Listening and Viewing, Benchmark C

Grades 8 and 9

04. Identify the speaker’s choice of language and delivery styles (e.g., repetition, appeal to emotion, eye contact) and explain how they contribute to meaning.

Grade 10

04. Identify how language choice and delivery styles (e.g., repetition, appeal to emotion, eye contact) contribute to meaning.

 

Procedure

1. Distribute Naomi Shihab Nye’s open letter, “To Any Would-Be Terrorists,” to students.

2. Have the students highlight and label the persuasive techniques used within the letter.

3. Instruct them to analyze and explain the effect these techniques have on the audience.

Options

1. Teachers can have students write their own persuasive open letters pertaining to a topic being studied at the time, i.e. discrimination.

2. Use Mary Fisher’s “A Whisper of AIDS” speech from the 1992 Republican National Convention as an alternative piece. In can be found on the Internet at http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/maryfisher1992rnc.html.

Evaluation
There are at least 25 persuasive techniques in Shihab Nye’s letter. Two points can be given for each technique found and identified correctly, for a total of 50 points. Grades can be based on a percentage of the number correct. Note: There is much room for discussion on this. Credit could be given if a student can defend his or her choice of technique.