Quotation Analysis

Worksheet Description

This worksheet serves as an educational tool to teach students about aporia, a rhetorical technique that represents doubt or a deliberate expression of uncertainty about an issue. It often takes the form of a question that is left open for interpretation or posed to create deliberation. In this particular exercise, the worksheet cites an excerpt from a speech by Bill Clinton at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, challenging students to explore the strategic use of aporia in a real-world context. The aim is to have students identify the use of aporia in the given quotation, understand the comparison being made by the speaker, analyze the function of aporia in this context, and infer what might logically follow the excerpted statement.

The task is designed to enhance critical thinking skills by asking students to engage with the text on a deeper level. Students are prompted to underline the aporia within the speech excerpt, examine the underlying comparison that is being drawn, discern the purpose of raising such a rhetorical question, and anticipate what the speaker might say next. This process not only bolsters comprehension of rhetorical strategies but also encourages students to think about how these strategies can be used to persuade or engage an audience effectively. The worksheet is a valuable resource for developing analytical and interpretive skills in language arts.