Hey everyone,
This week, we’re diving deep into critical literacy and political rhetoric using Hilary Janks' framework from Literacy and Power. We’ll examine language, representation, and power through the recent press conference between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Key Focus: Language, Power, and Representation in Political Discourse
Political leaders carefully construct narratives to influence public perception, justify policy decisions, and control historical narratives. This is especially important in times of war and geopolitical conflict.
In this press conference, we’ll analyze:
✔ How Trump and Zelenskyy frame Ukraine’s war efforts and U.S. involvement
✔ The power of omission—what isn’t being said?
✔ How each leader uses language to position themselves and their country
✔ The emotional and persuasive strategies used to gain support or deflect criticism
Assignment: Watch the Video & Analyze the Rhetoric
📌 Watch the video of the press conference (linked in this post).
📌 Take notes on key phrases, tone, and representation of each political figure.
📌 Come prepared to discuss how language is used to reinforce power or challenge dominant narratives.
Discussion Questions:
How does each leader define the role of America in the Ukraine-Russia conflict?
What rhetorical strategies are used to justify military or financial decisions?
How does historical context shape the way each leader speaks about war and alliances?
Are there contradictions or shifts in tone depending on the audience they are addressing?
In what ways do Trump and Zelenskyy construct national identity in their statements?
Writing Opportunity: College-Level Paper Practice
For anyone interested in strengthening their academic writing skills, there’s an optional paper this week:
📌 Topic: Analyze the role of literacy during WWII or the Civil Rights Movement. How was literacy used as a tool of liberation or oppression?
Length: 1-2 pages
Format: APA
Due Date: (whenever you finish)
Send final document to (unamochilla66@gmail.com) label the subject of email as Critical Literacy Midterm Paper
Rubric for Grading (Optional)
Thursday: TikTok Live Breakdown!
I want to apologize for not being able to go live for the last session. However, this Thursday, we’ll have a live breakdown where we’ll dive deeper into:
📌 The rhetoric of war and diplomacy between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S.
📌 How political narratives shape global opinion
📌 A further look at how media frames these events
Make sure to watch the press conference video before our discussion and come ready with insights!
Looking forward to your thoughts this week! Drop a comment below if you have any questions.
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