The Art of Writing and Revision

Classroom Activities

1. Defining Rhetoric and Its Relevance

   To establish the initial steps of the unit, students will define rhetoric and explore how it appears in both modern life and the past. A class discussion and visual tools (e.g., Venn Diagrams) will help them understand rhetorical elements – ethos, pathos, logos – as tools for effective communication.

2. Translating old-time English into modern

   To build vocabulary awareness and improve comprehension, students will work on translating short excerpts from Renaissance letters into modern English. This will build familiarity with formal phrasing, unknown vocabulary, and different structures new to them.

3. Friendly Letter Writing (mentor Text: Catherine de’ Medici)

   Using Catherine de’ Medici’s persuasive tone as inspiration, students will write a friendly letter to a classmate or community member as a way to practice voice, tone, and the structure of a letter.

4. Historical Figure Exploration and Character Voice development

   Students select a Renaissance figure of their choice and begin researching their life, achievements, and cultural context. They synthesize this research through journal entries, role play, or slide presentations that prepare them to write persuasively in that figure’s voice. Graphic organizers could help organize key facts, dates, and events as well.

5. Planning and Drafting a Historical Letter

   Students draft a formal, historically grounded letter from the perspective of their chosen Renaissance figure. They apply the five parts of a letter while using their research and rhetorical understanding to shape voice and purpose. Teacher-student conferences and peer review circles support revision and refinement.

6. Revision with Historical language and Performance Awareness

   As part of the revision process, students replace modern terms with at least three historically appropriate vocabulary words. They practice reading their letters aloud, using whisper phones or a peer listener to fine-tune tone, fluency, and authenticity. Revision focuses on tone, description, sentence structure, and delivery.

7. Culminating Activity: Embodying a Renaissance Figure

   There will be a culminating gallery walk where the students' formal letters will be displayed on parchment paper alongside their artwork, and biographical facts or activities they worked on during the unit.

   In this final presentation, students might have become familiar with their chosen figure and will take on the voice of this character pretending to be them and dressing up like them. They will share a short slide presentation with their findings, research, or facts they learn and will read their final letter aloud in character. There will also be background music from the period, Claudio Monteverdi and Josquin des Prez, and students from other classes and parents may be invited too.