Prefer to listen to directions? Use the audio file below.

Lesson 1 Scenario:

Imagine yourself in the following scenario:

You are a student pursuing a career in aviation. You have almost completed your technical training and will soon enter your on-the-job training. However, during a training simulation, you had a miscommunication with your team that could have led to unsafe conditions for the aircraft and passengers. You realize that while you have learned the technical skills necessary for the job, you haven't had much experience with the communication skills required for the position. You speak with your supervisor, who advises that you take an English 101 course hosted by 24/7 Teach to help you become an effective professional communicator.

Your first step is to learn about rhetorical situations so that you can effectively analyze the context, purpose, and audience of your communication in different situations.

You are excited to see how understanding rhetorical situation can help you to anticipate and respond to potential communication challenges that might arise on the job, including how to communicate clearly during emergency situations, how to deescalate tense or stressful situations, how to identify cultural or language barriers that could impact communication, and how to adapt your communication style to overcome these challenges.

Lesson 1 - Objectives and Directions:

Objectives: After successfully completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Identify and define the key components of a rhetorical situation in two different texts. These components include the speaker, audience, message, purpose, and context.

2. Compare and contrast the rhetorical situations of two different texts. This includes identifying similarities and differences in how each text is constructed to achieve its purpose and affect its intended audience.

3. Apply critical thinking skills to analyze how rhetorical situations influence the effectiveness of the texts.

4. Connect your understanding of rhetorical situations to your personal experiences by reflecting on instances where you have been part of a rhetorical situation – as a speaker, listener, or observer.

Lesson 1 - Vocabulary:

• Click on the button below to preview the essential vocabulary for this lesson. Once you complete the readings, you will need to correctly use at least 3 vocabulary words in your assessment or discussion responses, using the following criteria:

• Include 2 vocabulary words in any of your written responses (assessment or discussion)

• Include 1 vocabulary word in your audio or video response

• In the assessment below, list the 3 vocabulary words you have chosen to use in your responses

Lesson 1 - Presentation and Readings:

Review the following Presentation: (Click here if you wish to download the presentation)

Your required readings for this unit will include chapters from the textbook, Everyone’s an Author, and supplemental excerpts, “The First Air Mail,” and “The St. Louis-Chicago Mail.”

Click on each title below to read the text introductions and to access the links to the reading. Take notes as you read.

Lesson 1 - Journal Activity:

Write a journal entry responding to ONE of the following prompts. Click on the button below to submit your response.

• Prompt A: Imagine you had the chance to meet and talk with the narrator in the excerpt, “The St. Louis-Chicago Mail.” What would you say to him?

• Prompt B: What are your current strengths as a professional communicator in English? How do you hope to grow?

Lesson 1 - Assessment:

Directions:

Click on the button below to submit your responses to the following questions. Write your responses in complete sentences using academic language.

(For question 3, submit an audio recording*. See directions on how to record and submit your audio below.)

You may use the conversation starters found in the lesson directions to support your answers.

Questions:

1. What is rhetorical listening, and why is it important?

2. Why is it important to annotate texts? What are some effective annotation techniques?

3. AUDIO SUBMISSION*: Name at least two expectations of college writing.

4. List the 3 vocabulary words you have chosen to use in your assessment or discussion responses.

Lesson 1 - Discussion Activity:

Directions:

• Post your responses to the questions in the comments section below. (For question 3, submit a video recording*. See directions on how to record and submit your video below.)

• Respond to 2 peers. Be specific about what you agree with and what you disagree with. Be respectful in your responses.

• Write your responses in complete sentences using academic language.

You may use the conversation starters found in the lesson directions to support your answers.

Discussion Questions:

1. Provide an example of how your own perspective or cultural background has influenced your understanding of a particular piece of writing.

2. Compare and contrast the rhetorical situation of "The Spirit of St. Louis" and "The First Air Mail." How do the audiences, purposes, and contexts of these two pieces of writing differ? What impact does this have on the way the messages are communicated?

3. VIDEO SUBMISSION*: Think about a time when you had to communicate a message to a specific audience. Then, record a video response to the following questions.

   • What was the message and audience?

   • What factors did you consider in order to effectively explain your message to that audience?

   • How would you have explained your message differently if you were communicating to a different audience?