Ain't I a Woman: Delineating Arguments and Evaluating Reasoning

Ain't I a Woman: Delineating Arguments and Evaluating Reasoning

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to delineate a speaker's argument and evaluate the reasoning and evidence using Sojourner Truth's Ain't I a Woman Speech.

Introduce the learning objective and tell students what they will be able to do by the end of the lesson.

What do you already know about Sojourner Truth's Ain't I a Woman speech?

Who is Sojourner Truth?

Sojourner Truth was an African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist. She was born into slavery but escaped and became a powerful speaker and advocate for the rights of enslaved people and women.

Provide background information on Sojourner Truth and her impact on history.

The Ain't I a Woman Speech

The Ain't I a Woman speech was delivered by Sojourner Truth at a women's rights convention in Ohio in 1851. The speech challenged the idea that women were inferior to men and highlighted the experiences of African-American women.

Introduce the Ain't I a Woman speech and its significance.

Identifying the Speaker's Argument

To delineate a speaker's argument, you must first identify the main point or thesis. In the Ain't I a Woman speech, Truth's argument is that women are just as capable and deserving of rights as men.

Explain what it means to identify the speaker's argument and provide an example from the Ain't I a Woman speech.

Evaluating Reasoning and Evidence

Once you have identified the speaker's argument, you must evaluate the reasoning and evidence used to support it. In the Ain't I a Woman speech, Truth uses personal anecdotes and logical reasoning to support her argument.

Explain what it means to evaluate reasoning and evidence and provide an example from the Ain't I a Woman speech.

Analyzing Language

The language used in a speech can also affect its effectiveness. In the Ain't I a Woman speech, Truth uses repetition and rhetorical questions to engage the audience and reinforce her argument.

Discuss the importance of language in a speech and analyze the language used in the Ain't I a Woman speech.

Class Discussion

In groups, discuss the speaker's argument in the Ain't I a Woman speech and evaluate the reasoning and evidence used to support it. Consider the language used and its impact on the effectiveness of the speech.

Encourage students to participate in a class discussion and work collaboratively to analyze the speech.

Wrap Up

Review what was learned in the lesson and ask students to share what they found most interesting or impactful about the Ain't I a Woman speech.

Summarize the lesson and give students an opportunity to reflect on what they learned.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.