LAST CLASS DAY ENGL 1301

AGENDA Orwell Discussion, cont. “Politics and the English Language” Animal Farm King Discussion Final Exam Review Persuasive Essay Peer Review

ORWELL ESSAY Thesis English prose, especially political writing, has decayed along with the English social identity, but the process is not irreparable. Organization Existence & evidence of a problem/undesirable trend Examples and explanations of problematic habits Political Writing: description, purpose, cause Concession/Refutation Rules Conclusion/Significance

ORWELL ESSAY Devices Imagery Irony The Three Appeals? Analogies Evidence Efficacy – You decide.

ANIMAL FARM Characters & Historical Correlates Bourgeoisie (Haves) Proletariat (Have-Nots) Instances of argument Revolution Old Major The night of the rebellion New hierarchy Linguistic devices/use of rhetorical manipulation Farm name Laws Solidarity Political debates/propaganda/slander/assembly Significance of Squealer Perverted logic of ultimate ideology

KING ESSAY Rhetorical Situation Incarceration Historical context Audience “Eight fellow clergymen” pdf pdf Thesis Implicit

KING ESSAY Organization Introduction, statement of purpose Justification for presence Defense of actions Skewed priorities S.O.P. “On the basis of these conditions” Prior methods Timeliness Human element Legality: just vs. unjust laws Disappointment White moderates’ argument Extremism

KING ESSAY Organization, cont. Black Americans’ position Inevitably of iniquity Real heroes & villains Conclusion Devices Imagery The Three Appeals Analogies Evidence

FINAL EXAMINATION REVIEW Vocabulary Essay Prompts

VOCABULARY Argument & Persuasion: Classical vs. Modern The Three Appeals Ethos Credibility Ways to use it: diction, tone, evidence Pathos Emotion Recognizable instances Logos Logic Induction Deduction Syllogism Stakeholders

ESSAY PROMPT OPTION #1 Explicate George Orwell’s argument in “Politics and the English Language.” Decide whether he successfully makes his point and express your scholarly conclusion in a concise thesis statement. Identify his thesis and describe the main sections/topical divisions of his rhetoric (organization). Then analyze the rhetorical devices Orwell relies on (imagery, diction, analogies, logos, pathos, ethos, etc.) and explain whether or not they are effective means of persuasion. Use specific examples.

ESSAY PROMPT OPTION #2 What makes for good writing? What kind of writing is most appealing to the modern reader? Your thesis statement should be an assertive declaration that is expanded by each of your main points, not a list of specific qualities/attributes. In the body of your essay, you may discuss rhetorical devices or schemes that are effective as well as the ones that are not effective, and/or you may discuss the different requirements for compositions with different purposes. Use specific support and examples.

ESSAY PROMPT OPTION #3 Discuss the use of rhetorical argument in Animal Farm. Your thesis statement should declare your judgment of the significance/function of rhetoric in the film. First identify and explain their argument for dissent (examine Old Major’s speech and consider the significance of what happens immediately before the animals’ revolution) – what are their reasons for unhappiness? Next explain the different ways the narrative comments on the exercise of persuasion. Think about all the manifestations of linguistic manipulation: socio-political solidarity, political debates, propaganda, law enforcement, maintenance of an inequitable status quo, etc. Be specific as you make your points.

ESSAY PROMPT OPTION #4 How do logos, pathos, and ethos emerge in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”? Explain how much of each of these King uses. Does he employ all three devices or does he favor one or two over the other(s)? How do the proportions of these methods’ presence in the text affect the strength of the argument? As always, be specific, and stay away from the list-thesis.