Jason Reynolds FREE Rhetorical Analysis, Public Speaking, PDF & Google Drive

Use Jason Reynolds’ commencement address at Lesley University to show your students the power of a well-constructed speech. In this one-class period activity, students will discuss the techniques of effective public speaking, view Jason Reynolds’ 10-minute speech, and deconstruct/discuss his use of rhetorical devices. Questions focus on audience, the value of storytelling over lecture, and rhetorical application of poetic devices including foreshadowing and symbolism. These print-and-teach materials can serve as a stand-alone lesson or as a supplement to any literature study that focuses on issues of equity and social justice. Student worksheet is included in both PDF and Google Drive formats.

Jason Reynolds is the New York Times best-selling author of many works, including Ghost, All American Boys, and Long Way Down. You can learn more about him at jasonwritesbooks.com.

Want more high-interest speeches for your students to analyze? Check out these materials based on Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Globes speech and Steve Jobs’ commencement address at Stanford University:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Oprah-Winfreys-Golden-Globes-Speech-Real-World-Rhetorical-Analysis-CCSS-3578438

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Expository-Text-Steve-Jobs-Tools-of-Rhetoric-Non-Fiction-Multimedia-CCSS-876830

Click here to scroll through my entire collection of video-based lessons: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Laura-Randazzo/Category/Video-Based-Lessons-496064

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Image Credit: Farrell Howe, Flickr, Public Domain Mark 1.