Assignment: Write a letter to any character in Romeo and Juliet giving them advice from the future. Persuade them to change their course of action to prevent tragedy in the play. Explain what difference their new actions would make.
Rhetorical Situation:
Purpose: to prevent tragedy
Audience: Any selected character
Topic: advice to change actions
Genre: letter
Medium: Ink on paper
Rhetorical Stance: to inform and persuade
Criteria: 1. needs to be persuasive 2. needs to be logical 3. needs to be accurate to the story 4. needs to explain why their plan would be better for the outcome for the individuals
Invention Materials: Romeo and Juliet script
Other Classroom Activities: 1. Students will make 2 cause and effect charts. One will be the cause and effects of the actions in Shakespeare's play, and next to it will be a cause and effect chart of their version with the changed actions.
Peer Review: In groups of 3, read your letters aloud. When one student is finished reading, the other 2 students will ask any questions and make suggestions. These two students should make a brief flow chart of the changed events in the story, focusing on cause and effect. Students will together discuss the events and be sure they make logical sense.
Self Review: Answer the following questions: What suggestions did your peers make? Did you take their advice? Why or why not? Highlight any changes that you made on your final draft and explain in the margin why you made them. Can you think of a situation no where you would write a persuasive letter to a friend?
Teacher Review: Evaluate their letter paying close attention to the cause and effect relationships. Compare the first draft with peer review comments to the final draft.
LETTER TO PARENTS
Dear Parents,
As we begin reading Romeo and Juliet in your student’s English I class, we will be studying the relationship between cause and effect. In this unit, your student will be writing a letter to a character in the play persuading them to change their course of action to result in a better outcome for that character. You might be wondering, “How will my student become a better writer because of this assignment?” This assignment will help your student think in terms of writing to a particular audience. They will also be analyzing the importance of cause and effect and how it relates to plot. This is not only important for Romeo and Juliet, but for all types of literature your student will read in the future. Your student will also be practicing the skill of speaking in a persuasive manner. They will need this skill on the FCAT, future English classes, and in their chosen career field. Please encourage your student in this project and please contact us with any questions you might have. We are looking forward to see your student’s progress!
-Sarah Sites and Casi Peddie
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