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August 9, 2004

Sam Waterson and Rhetoric

CJ has a great idea for teaching rehtoric: show an episode of Law and Order. I quite like the idea of using a courtroom scene from Law and Order to illustrate the importance of audience awareness to students. I'm going to continue using blogging to illustrate this point, but courtroom TV shows and movies, especially L&O, can be a great way to illustrate this point.

CJ includes even more useful suggestions in the comments. I also like the idea of using John Edwards' "Two Americas" speech, and given my course's focus on the election, I'll likely direct my students towards that speech, either for class discussion or as one possible text for their first paper assignment, a rhetorical analysis.

Posted by chuck at August 9, 2004 2:09 PM

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Comments

Law and Order is the best. It's also good to knit to, if you're into that sort of thing, because if you have to pay attention to your ribbing or your cable or whatever you can sort of listen and still know what's going on.

They released the first season on DVD recently, as well!

Also, on the off chance you don't know, iTunes has the DNC speeches available for free download. Though they do get distracting on one's iPod when one is trying to work out.

Posted by: Cassie at August 10, 2004 11:31 AM

I've watched several "Law and Order" episodes with that type of inattention. Usually in my case it's solitaire on the computer.

Thanks for the tip on iTunes. I can just imagine trying to grapple with the Stairmaster to the rhythms of John Edwards' speech. Or jogging on the treadmill to the sounds of Alexandra Kerry's "hamster" anecdote....

Posted by: chuck at August 10, 2004 12:02 PM

I usually walk. Clinton's speech is very nice and motivating! But other than that, the skip button is pretty much my friend, yeah.

Posted by: Cassie at August 10, 2004 10:50 PM

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