This week you are learning about the use of rhetoric* in describing disability. You have learned that descriptions, like wheelchair bound, confined to a wheelchair, retarded, cripple, handicapped, Special Education, etc., all have negative connotations. They are words that were either accepted in the past and/or used as derogatory remarks.
1. What is ‘normal’? What does normal mean to you? Explain the negative connotations of this word (4-5+ sentences).
2. How is ignorance expressed in the sentence below? (4-5+ sentences)
“His speech now is pretty close to normal . . . You wouldn’t be able to tell he’s deaf if you didn’t see the aid” (Expression: The Magazine of Emerson College, 15, 2015).
*Make sure you understand what rhetoric means. It is the art of persuasive speaking or writing. Rhetoric can also be expressed in visual terms. This approach includes the use of ethos (how credible your argument is), pathos (the appeal to your emotions), and logos (the logic/structure of your argument).
