Writing on Triangulation

      Triangulation was not talked about much in our Friday class but it is vitally important, in my opinion, when it comes to writing and speaking our society. Triangulation is the idea of writing or dialogue between two people but when these two people talk between each other their experiences involving the world must also come in to context. For instance, when two people are discussing gun control laws, they are not only speaking to each other, but also the belief that they are correct.
      Within a class lesson there are a number of ways to teach this idea. The first, and most melodramatic, would be to show the students a clip from Judge Judy. Both the plaintiff and the defendant believe they are correct but society, and the crowd, will only agree with one of them. Students can watch the clip and make a decision based on who they believe to be correct. I would then discuss what makes them feel this way. This would bring in the idea that the world or society influences the way they believe what is and is not correct. We would then finish off the episode and discuss what could potentially be there for more discussion.
      The next step would be to look at the last major debate between Obama and Romney, or when I'm teaching class it would be whoever is currently debating for the 2016 debate. These presidential debates could be the quintessential example of rhetoric as dialogue. The two must be able to make their side appear correct while also disproving their opponent. We can then discuss some of the ideas that are presented and discuss which candidate is not only correct, but also which does a better job of presenting their point. In the moment, most viewers of the debate would not be likely to know whether or not what the politicians are saying is correct but that only plays deeper into the idea of rhetoric as dialogue. But, within the ideas present, the viewers, the students in this case, bring their own ideas to the debate that we could see the candidates trying to use for their own gain. We can discuss these ideas with the students and see if they agree or disagree.
        One final step to wrap up class would be to show Youtube clips of children's tv shows that, when viewed through the eyes of an adult, would come across as very dirty or inappropriate. Things like this Kids Say the Darnedest Things, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofbe158uk7k , are great forms of rhetoric. Skip to the 2:00 mark for when they begin to be reinterpreted by the adults in the audience. The kids often say things that are not supposed to be inappropriate but it is easy for adults to interpret what they are saying as inappropriate. Students can take all of this in to account to see how easily what they say can be reinterpreted by the world after they say it. The antics are timeless but the lesson is quite clear. Hopefully students will learn that there are other ways to view ideas presented but also that their own experiences affect the way they think about the world.