In this study, we investigate pupils’ perceptions in Swedish 3 of the allocation of time of the Canons of Rhetoric when working with oral presentations. We also investigate which relations that exist between pupils’ perceptions of the allocation of time of the Canons of Rhetoric and perceptions of knowledge of the Canons of Rhetoric as well as perceptions of their oral presentation. The study was conducted via a questionnaire and carried out among 245 pupils. Raw data has been analysed to determine the descriptive statistics of the allocation of time of the Canons of Rhetoric and tests for statistical significance have been performed to determine the effects that the allocation of time has on pupils’ perceptions of their oral presentation. We have analysed our results by the use of the cognitive and the socio-cultural perspective. Results show that pupils feel that no phase is given sufficient time and that they believe the three first phases to be higher prioritised than the remaning phases. The amount of class hours is of importance to the perceived knowledge of the Canons of Rhetoric, how easy pupils find it creating a presentation, their sense of preparation and the perceived development as a speaker. Regarding response, emendatio, the time for teacher response does not show any significant correlation to pupils’ perceptions of their oral presentation. If peer response is given before presentations, it has a positive effect on pupils’ satisfaction with the presentation, but has otherwise no influence. In addition, teachers’ scaffolding seems to have a larger effect on pupils’ perceptions of their oral presentation than teacher and peer response. Finally, self-assessment occurs to a low extent and is shown to affect the knowledge of the Canons of Rhetoric and how easy it is creating a presentation in a positive manner.

Abstract In this study, we investigate pupils’ perceptions in Swedish 3 of the allocation of time of the Canons of Rhetoric when working with oral presentations. We also investigate which relations that exist between pupils’ perceptions of the allocation of time of the Canons of Rhetoric and perceptions of knowledge of the Canons of Rhetoric as well as perceptions of their oral presentation. The study was conducted via a questionnaire and carried out among 245 pupils. Raw data has been analysed to determine the descriptive statistics of the allocation of time of the Canons of Rhetoric and tests for statistical significance have been performed to determine the effects that the allocation of time has on pupils’ perceptions of their oral presentation. We have analysed our results by the use of the cognitive and the socio-cultural perspective. Results show that pupils feel that no phase is given sufficient time and that they believe the three first phases to be higher prioritised than the remaning phases. The amount of class hours is of importance to the perceived knowledge of the Canons of Rhetoric, how easy pupils find it creating a presentation, their sense of preparation and the perceived development as a speaker. Regarding response, emendatio, the time for teacher response does not show any significant correlation to pupils’ perceptions of their oral presentation. If peer response is given before presentations, it has a positive effect on pupils’ satisfaction with the presentation, but has otherwise no influence. In addition, teachers’ scaffolding seems to have a larger effect on pupils’ perceptions of their oral presentation than teacher and peer response. Finally, self-assessment occurs to a low extent and is shown to affect the knowledge of the Canons of Rhetoric and how easy it is creating a presentation in a positive manner.

While numerous studies on academic writers composing for non-academic audiences exist, few if any studies address academic writers composing biographies for children. This self-reflective case study of a Eudora Welty biography for children provides insight into how an academic writer can effectively write in a specific genre (biography) for a specific audience (children) and into practical rhetorical choices such as choosing photographs and designing page layouts. The study also offers triangulated data regarding essential criteria of quality children’s literature as identified by experts in the field (editors, publishers, award committee members, scholars, and authors). The author’s findings include sixty-eight of the most often cited criteria, such as accuracy and the use of documented evidence, that serve as guidelines and a means of evaluating biographies written for children.

Previous studies show that students are often expected to speak in front of a group, but they receive little guidance on how they should proceed. The aim of this essay is to contribute to the area by a critical examination of the advice and exercises that appear in six textbooks for the Swedish subject in upper secondary school. The study focuses solely on body language and voice ("actio") in oral presentations.       Through a qualitative text analysis, the study examines what is considered to characterize a good actio according to the textbooks and how students are expected to acquire these abilities. The essay also sheds light on how the content of textbooks can be understood in relation to the theory ”actiokapitalet” (Gelang, 2008). The result show that contact with the audience through gaze, variation in the use of voice and a lack of nervous expressions, is considered desirable. In the textbooks, students are often encouraged to develop actio through listening to feedback. Within actiokapitalet, a holistic perspective on actio is emphasized, as well as the fact that body language and the use of voice depend on the social context. The content of the books can both be considered compatible with, and deviating from, the theory. In the concluding discussion, I claim that ”actiokapitalet” contributes with an in-depth perspective on the textbooks and I call for further studies where the theory is tested in teaching.