Catch the Write Waves

Help students build strong rhetorical analysis skills early in the year using a powerful excerpt from Why We Can’t Wait by Martin Luther King Jr. This mini-analysis sequence guides students from close reading to rhetorical insight, with bell ringer included directly in the slides to reinforce analysis habits. Students analyze how King uses narrative, repetition, contrast, imagery, and symbolism to develop purpose and urgency—without device hunting or summary. The structure mirrors the AP

Help your students sharpen their analysis skills before they ever touch the argument prompt. This resource includes ready-to-use bell ringers built around famous Civil Rights–era quotations that ask students to think critically, make real-world connections, and practice analytical writing. Each bell ringer pairs a powerful, historically significant quote with concise, scaffolded directions that require students to: Establish relevant context Select and explain appropriate evidence Devel

🎉 New Year Bell Ringer for ELA: Short Rhetorical Analysis Activity Start the new year with a low-stress, high-engagement analysis activity that helps students ease back into critical thinking after Christmas break. This 2-slide, New Year–themed resource is designed for use on the first day back from winter break and works perfectly as a bell ringer, warm-up, or lesson opener. Students are prompted to analyze ideas using complete sentences while reactivating core ELA skills without feeling