Rhetoric Thesis

Rhetoric Thesis, a high school course, prepares students for college-level writing in the liberal arts tradition. It focuses on guiding students through the process of writing a substantial thesis paper and corresponding speech, helping them avoid common pitfalls. The course is grounded in classical rhetorical theory and covers the five canons of rhetoric, helping students develop their wit, wisdom, eloquence, reason, and ethics for future writing endeavors. It culminates in a thesis paper, providing students an opportunity to demonstrate their content knowledge and persuasive abilities in "the Great Conversation."

Students should have a working knowledge of informal fallacies and formal argument construction, along with having completed a rhetoric I course or equivalent. They should also be proficient in MLA writing standards. The course is one high school credit in speech and debate, composition, or language arts, and intended for high school students, particularly seniors. Successful students should read at or above a tenth-grade level, possess basic computer skills, and have intellectual and spiritual maturity.