Confucius – Self-Expression
“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
Confucius
Big Idea
Students have very strong opinions about when to talk and when to remain silent. Sometimes, students speak out of nervousness. Other times, students speak because they have something they have to say to the world. Then there are other students who are shy and never want to talk, or who remain silent because they are afraid to look foolish.
Claim
Here Confucius is personifying silence and claiming that it is something that we can rely on. Silence is good. It keeps us safe.
Counterclaim
But there are also times when we should speak out about something we believe in or make sure we communicate clearly so others won’t misunderstand us. Being silent can hurt us.
Essential
Question
How do we know when to be silent?
Student Video
I Hear America Singing – Self-Expression
The theme of self-expression is very evident in the Walt Whitman poem “I Hear America Singing.” After a class reading and an analysis of the multiple expressions presented in the poem, I w ...
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