Graded Assignment Analyzing Rhetoric The ability to detect rhetorical devices is essential for any critical reader. And every writer needs to...

Graded Assignment

Analyzing Rhetoric

The ability to detect rhetorical devices is essential for any critical reader. And every writer needs to consider the rhetorical effect of his or her words. One of the best ways to develop your own rhetorical skills is to actively interact with the rhetoric of someone else's writing. As you become more adept at detecting rhetorical devices in the words of others, you'll become more able to produce them on your own. And as you grow to recognize various rhetorical "tricks" in action, you'll find that they become second nature in your own writing.

Remember, rhetoric is just one element of writing. Argument, organization, and convention are all important in their own right. To fully appreciate the effectiveness of any given rhetorical device, you'll need to know how these larger issues work in the piece you're reading. In other words, you'll need to know what the author is arguing in order to know how he or she is using rhetoric to make that argument more effective.

In the reading for this activity, George Orwell presents an argument about the role that the language we use plays in our thinking about politics and government. Orwell is famous for demonstrating the importance that clear and effective language holds for the citizens of a democracy. His most famous novel, 1984, portrays a world in which language has degenerated so much that citizens are no longer able to communicate their ideas well enough to question the actions of their government.

As you read "Politics and the English Language," keep in mind that political speech—something with which Orwell is greatly concerned—is one of the most rhetorically rich genres of speech in today's society. As you develop your own ideas about Orwell's arguments, see if you can relate his ideas to the specific rhetorical devices you've been working with in this lesson.

Directions:

·        Read"Politics and the English Language," by George Orwell.

·        Take notes while reading Orwell's piece. Answer the study questions as you read or after you finish. You'll answer the study questions for your own benefit; you don't have to turn the answers to these questions in.

1.    What is this piece about?

2.    How is the piece structured?

3.    How would you describe the language of the piece?

4.    To whom is the piece addressed?

5.    What effect does the piece have on the reader?

6.    What is the purpose, or goal, of the piece?

7.    Is the piece effective at its goal? Why?

Write answers for each of the questions below. Submit these answers to your online instructor. The first three questions are worth 5 points each; the last question is worth 10 points.

1.    Orwell claims that the improper use of such devices as metaphors and similes are a symptom of lazy or slovenly language. What are some of the devices Orwell uses in his essay? Can you find any instances of these very rhetorical devices in Orwell's own writing? If so, how do they stand up to his criteria for the appropriate use of language?

2.    How does Orwell feel about the role of euphemism in political language? Do you agree or disagree with him? Can you think of any examples of euphemisms from today's world that act the way Orwell is describing?

3.    Orwell seems to have very few positive things to say about the use of rhetorical devices. In just a few words, how would you characterize his attitude toward using these devices? Is his attitude absolute? That is, does it apply to every instance in which one might embellish one's language or are there exceptions to his "rules"?

4.    Go back into Orwell's text. How would you describe his conception of the relationship between thought and language? How do rhetorical devices play into this relationship?

Graded Assignment

Being Rhetorical