Hacker Chapter 16 Wordy Sentences Hacker Chapter 17 Appropriate Language Hacker Chapter 18 Exact Words Ramage Chapter 11 Definition

tion Essays

 Watch the video clip

How are the rules for wordy sentences,

appropriate language, and exact words broken?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V97c_Vx-NFo

The writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.

 Eliminate redundancies

Daniel is now employed at a private rehabilitation center working as a registered physical therapist. Daniel works at a private rehabilitation center as a registered physical therapist. Sylvia very hurriedly scribbled her name, address, and phone number on a greasy napkin. Sylvia scribbled her name, address, and phone number on a greasy napkin.

 Avoid unnecessary repetition of words

Our fifth patient, in room six, is a mentally ill patient. Our fifth patient, in room six, is mentally ill. The best teachers help each student become a better student both academically and emotionally. The best teachers help each student grow both academically and emotionally.

 Cut empty or inflated phrases

Pg. 157-158

 Simplify the structure especially by avoiding be

verbs and there is, are, was, were Investigators were involved in studying the effect of classical music on unborn babies. Investigators studied the effect of classical music on unborn babies. All too often, athletes with marginal academic skills have been recruited by our coaches. All too often, our coaches have recruited athletes with marginal academic skills.

 Reduce clauses to phrases and phrases to single

words We took a side trip to Monticello, which was the home of Thomas Jefferson. We took a side trip to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.

 Stay away from jargon (list pg 162)

We outsourced the work to an outfit in Ohio because we didnt have the bandwidth to tackle it in-house. We hired a company in Ohio because we had too few employees to do the work. The CEO should dialogue with investors about partnering with clients to purchase land in economically deprived zones. The CEO should talk with investors about working with clients to buy land in poor neighborhoods.

 Avoid pretentious language

Taylors employment of multihued means of expression draws back the curtains and lets slip the nostalgic vantage point from which she observes American society as well as her lack of comprehension of economic realities. Taylors use of colorful language reveals that she has a nostalgic view of American society and does not understand economic realities.

 Avoid most euphemisms

Nice-sounding words or phrases substituted for words

thought to sound harsh or ugly Pg. 163

Avoid doublespeak
Deliberately evasive or deceptive language
Downsizing = firing employees

 Avoid sexist language

Pg. 168 Rather than use too many he/she his/her, use plural

Best to rewrite sentence to avoid problem completely

 Revise language that may offend groups of people

Many Oriental immigrants have recently settled in our town. Many Asian immigrants have recently settled in our town.

 Select words with appropriate connotations

When American soldiers returned home after World War II, many women abandoned their jobs in favor of marriage. When American soldiers returned home after World War II, many women left their jobs in favor of marriage.

 Prefer specific concrete nouns

Thing, area, aspect, factor, individual, etc.

The senator spoke about the challenges of the future: the environment and world peace. The senator spoke about the challenges of the future: pollution, dwindling resources, and terrorism.

 Do not misuse words

These days the training required for a ballet dancer is all-absorbent. These days the training required for a ballet dancer is all-absorbing.

 Use Standard Idioms

Speech forms that follow no easily specified rules Pg 174

 Do not rely heavily on clichs

Pg. 176

Use figures of speech with care

Similes & metaphors

 How are the rules for wordy sentences ,

appropriate language, and exact words broken in the video clip?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V97c_Vx-NFo

Intentionally break all the rules for wordy sentences, appropriate language, and finding exact words by rewriting the lyrics to a song.

Ramage Chapter 11 Definition Arguments

 Time to jigsaw

 Argues that a disputed phenomenon is/isnt a

member of a certain category Is graffiti art or vandalism? Is a frozen embryo a person or property?

Definition Issue: Your definition of something In a divorce proceeding, is a frozen embryo a person rather than property? Criteria part: explains and illustrates criteria What criteria must be met for something to be a person?
Match part: try to persuade readers that something does/does not meet criteria Does a frozen embryo meet these criteria? Exercise pg. 226

Accidental criterion is a usual but not essential feature of the concept (armed robbers frequently wear masks but masks dont make one an armed robber) Necessary criterion is an attribute that must be present for something to belong to the category being defined (use of force for robbery) Sufficient criteria are all criteria that must be present for something to belong to category being defined (use of force plus taking of property results in robbery classification)

 Research how others have defined the

term/phenomenon
Create personal extended definition
Courage, love, hate
Exercise pg 237

 Define the issue Create criteria for courage Apply scenarioswhich fit, which dontwhy?

 Supply examples and evidence of how contested

phenomenon does/does not meet criteria established in definition

Summarize and respond to opposing views

Read Ramage Chapter 5 and complete crossword puzzle