Tag Archives: diction/grammar/style/usage

A Learning Support on Three Rhetorical Terms: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

Several years ago I became interested in the Trivium both as a concept and as a potential framework for a unit, in this case a unit on writing. I actually began developing the unit, put together the first three lessons, and offered it as a special institute class at the high school in which I was serving. Ultimately, alas, I was unable to bring the unit to fruition due to institutional disinterest.

When I arrived at the school in which I presently serve, I noticed that the English teachers required in writing assignments that students use the rhetorical moves of ethos, pathos, and logos to argue their case. Since rhetoric is one of the three subjects in the trivium–logic and grammar are the others–I found this interesting.

Which is why I developed this learning support on ethos, logos, and pathos in case the students in my literacy classroom needed it. Unfortunately, I was never able to use it.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Term of Art: Magnum Opus

“Magnum Opus: A great work of art or literature, especially a writer’s culminating and greatest achievement; masterpiece. Plural: magna opera, magnum opuses,

‘It was the magnum opus of a fat spoiled rich boy who could write like an angel about landscape and like an adolescent about people.’ Norman Mailer, Cannibals and Christians”

Excerpted from: Grambs, David. The Random House Dictionary for Writers and Readers. New York: Random House, 1990.

White Blood Cells

Some years ago, I oversaw a credit-recovery class over summer, and one of the most frequently failed courses that year was health. I developed a number of supplemental materials for the inadequate corporate software the school used for his endeavor. I’ll start posting them here occasionally.

Here, then, is a reading on white blood cells and its accompanying vocabulary-building and comprehension worksheet.

If you find typos in these documents, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Independent Practice: Henry VIII

The other night I watched “A Man for All Seasons” for the umpteenth time. Naturally, I started thinking about Henry VIII. So yesterday afternoon when I stumbled across this independent practice worksheet on Henry VIII I pulled it out for publication.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Word Root Exercise: Cardio

Finally, on this Friday afternoon, before I leave for an appointment at the dentist, here is a worksheet on the on the Greek word root cardi/o. It means heart, which you probably already knew, but also, apparently, orifice.

This is yet another of those Greek roots that students interested in careers in healthcare must know–must know.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Cultural Literacy: Saint George and the Dragon

Given the prevalence of its symbolism, particularly in Europe, I think this Cultural Literacy worksheet on Saint George and the Dragon ought to be able to find a home in most classrooms.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Purview (n)

Friday afternoon, and it feels like summer in Western Massachusetts. If you think your students should know the word and concept, here is a context clues worksheet on the noun purview.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

The Weekly Text, May 31, 2019, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2019 Week IV: A Reading and Comprehension Worksheet on Hindu Epics

Well, we’ve reached the end of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2019. I’d say May has passed quickly, but I suspect that for most classroom teachers like me, May is, to paraphrase T.S. Eliot, the cruelest month.

To ring out the month, here is a reading on the Hindu Epics the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, along with the vocabulary-building and comprehension worksheet that attends it.

If you find typos in these documents, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Everyday Edit: Chinese New Year

Here is an Everyday Edit on the Chinese New Year. If you like these exercises (in my experience, students enjoy them, and they can be a real confidence builder for struggling readers and writers), you can click through to Education World, whose authors generously offer a yearlong supply of them.

My usual entreaty about peer review and typo alerts don’t apply here: I didn’t write this, and the typos in the worksheet are for your students to note and correct.

Cultural Literacy: Kemal Ataturk

This Cultural Literacy worksheet on Kemal Ataturk is a nice introduction to the concept of modernising traditional societies, if teaching that sort of thing is in your wheelhouse.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.