Learn The Types

Worksheet Description

This worksheet introduces the concept of ‘Types of Aporia,’ a rhetorical device that articulates a genuine expression of doubt in discourse. It begins by defining aporia as a strategy where a writer or speaker poses a question to which they might already know the answer. The device acts as a means to provoke thought rather than to elicit an answer directly. The explanation extends to the notion that such questions can either be addressed or left open for reflection, thereby inviting the audience to ponder deeply. The worksheet delineates two distinct forms of aporia: ‘Argumentative aporia,’ which highlights the doubts a writer or speaker might address, and ‘Tonal aporia,’ which serves to moderate the intensity of a conversation, especially within contentious topics like politics or philosophy.

The second section of the worksheet offers a practical application of the theoretical knowledge presented. It prompts students to engage with a text, identify instances of aporia within it, and determine the type of aporia employed. This activity aims to reinforce the students’ understanding by challenging them to discern between argumentative and tonal aporia, and to substantiate their conclusions. Such exercises are instrumental in developing students’ critical thinking and analytical skills, equipping them to appreciate and utilize nuanced rhetorical techniques in their own writing and analysis.