Birk and Birk explore the many processes that automatically and often unintentionally, take place during the gathering of knowledge and expression through words. In their book Birk and Birk break the usage of words into sections: Selection, Slanting by the use of emphasis, slanting by selection of facts, and slanting by the use of charged words. When words are used this way they reveal naturally occurring bias of the writer. Upon reviewing the selection from Birk and Birk’s book Understanding and Using Language it is clear that the essay written by Jake Jameson has examples of every principal Birk and Birk discuss. The Birk and Birk selection provides us with a set of tools that enable us to detect bias in the many forms that it takes. These tools reveal what Jamieson favors and make plain the bias present in his essay The English-Only movement: Can America Proscribe Language With a Clean Conscience? A Review of Birk and Birk’s Understanding of Language Birk and Birk begin their breakdown with the process of selection. Everything that we know had to be observed. According to Birk and Birk before anything is expressed in words our knowledge is influenced by the principle of selection (223). One object observed by 3 different people may be described differently by each based on what each of them noticed. What they notice is largely based on their individual interest and point of view and determines what facts they choose to use when expressing their knowledge in words. Selection of facts comes into play with both the facts that have been observed and the facts that are remembered. Birk and Birk point out that the emotional state of the individual at the time of selection may aid or detract from the gathering of information. “A stud... ... middle of paper ... ...reak down of selection, slanting by the use of emphasis, slanting by the selection of facts, and charged words can be used as guide to spot bias. By using Birk and Birk as a guide it easy to identify and categorize the bias within Jamieson’s essay. Birk and Birk write “If we carefully examine the ways of thoughts and language, we see that any knowledge that comes to us through words has been subjected to the double screening of the principle of selection and the slanting of language…”(227). It is this very principle that reminds us to carefully observe the information that we receive and make an effort to ensure we balance the information that we divulge. Works Cited Birk, Newman. “Selection,Slanting,and Charged Language.” Language Awarness:Reading for College Writers.Ed Paul Escholz, Alfred Rosa, and Virginia Clark. 11th ed. Boston:Bedford, 2013. 223-31. Print
Writing with Readings and Handbook. 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2013. 52-57. Print.
Reflecting over the quarter, I feel as though I began to respect Rhetoric far more now than if I were not to take UWP 101. Recognizing rhetorical strategies have helped me become a better writer as well as assisting me in reading higher academic works that employ rhetorical strategies far more frequently and effectively than an undergraduate student would. Laura Carroll discusses in her article, “Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis,” the importance of noticing rhetoric when it has been presented to reader or the viewer. When writing assignment three in UWP 101, it became clear that nearly all pieces have the rhetorical strategy of exigence and how exigence drives writers to develop their arguments more commendably. Tutorial six of Language Power illustrated an effective practice for a reader to utilize when finalizing a piece, proof reading. Rhetorical and genre awareness is extremely useful to college and professional writers because it allows the writers to better present their arguments to the reader as well as analyze text to a greater degree.
George Orwell’s essay, the Politics and the English Language, portrays inaccuracies associated with writing. He explores examples of poorly written sentences. He appeals, “Language as an instrument for expressing and not for concealing or preventing thought” (Orwell). The main points of his essay consist of writing clearly and honestly in order to accurately represent what the writer is intending their audience to understand. Orwell focuses on the reasoning for the decline of the language due to political and economic reasons. This reaffirms the necessity to simplifying language as opposed to complicating it in an effort to appear intellectual, respectable, or powerful. Outdated metaphors, extra or pretentious words added for the sake
Slant and use of charged language is essential when it comes to effectively writing an opinionated piece while still avoiding shoving it into the reader's face. Birk does a great job of representing how to effectively use this type of language in his passage “Selection, Slanting, and Charged Language” in which he provides us with many example of slanted language in use as well as selection and what information we decide is important and worth remembering. He did this through examining how three different people, a lumberjack, and artist, and a tree surgeon, would examine and write an account about a large tree. The lumberjack, he describes, would likely focus on things that would serve his best interest. For example, the best direction for the tree to
Students will begin to identify how an author’s word choice can show the author’s biases towards the topic discussed.
Pollitt, Katha. "The Smurfette Principle." From Inquiry to Academic Writing: A Text and Reader. By Stuart Greene and April Lidinsky. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012. 544-47. Print.
Graff, Gerald, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel K. Durst. "They Say/I Say": The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing: With Readings. Vol. 2e. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2012. Print.
Hairston, Maxine. “Diversity, Ideology, and Teaching Writing.” College Composition and Communication 43.2. May 1992: 179-195.
Simpkins, Sarah. "Dr. Rescher English 204." STUDYBLUE. STUDY BLUE, 28 Mar. 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.
The seventh grade English/ Language Arts standard “ELAGSE8RL4” states that students will be able to determine the tone of a text by analyzing the writer’s usage of diction. Tone allows readers to obtain insight on a narrator’s attitude towards characters and events in the plot. Additionally, the importance of tone extends to every interaction that students experience; consumers of information need to demonstrate an awareness of a speaker’s management of language that potentially results in biased statements.
Cooper. The St. Martin's Guide to Writing. 9th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. Print.
In “Politics and the English Language” by George Orwell, the author speaks about how the English language has evolved into something rather grotesque: a result due to our tainted thoughts as well as ideas that we rehash. In that respect, it is because of the inarticulate writer. By overusing phrases or complicating a simple meaning, the natural interpretation behind those words are lost. This ultimately disgraces the English language, which is one of the few things we overlook because it has become a staple in our everyday lives. Unless we are taught to use language correctly, we will no longer be able to comprehend one another—whether in public or as companions.
George Orwell’s essay, “Politics and the English Language” discusses the effect that political and economic changes have on the language of a society. Orwell’s essay is based largely on his opinion that the English language has declined as a result of the economic and political changes that the world experienced. He explains how simple English is more effective for telling someone what you want to say instead of using large, confusing and foreign words that will only make you sound smart. Orwell argues that these words are useless and that they fill our essays with words that take away the meaning of the essay and have no value. Orwell creates a tone of dominance over his writing. He makes readers feel that he is in charge of his writing and
Paiz, J. M., Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., . . . Keck, R. (2013, March 01). General Format. Retrieved from Purdue Online Writing Lab: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
“Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble.” This line, concocted by American author George Orwell, highlights the idea that language has become increasingly less honest throughout the world. Among other languages, English is extremely complex. Filled with metaphors, several words with the same meaning, and strong diction, it is easy to get wrapped up in glittering generalities. Language has the ability to relay ideas in an effective way; over the decades, however, it has been utilized by powerful figures to belittle citizens and cause them to do whatever the leader wants. According to Orwell, language has the ability to not only express but also conceal ideas. Politicians manipulate language to conceal the truth on a daily basis, and professors, teachers, and journalists must stop encouraging their speeches and words to the people. Professors and teachers tend to show students examples of politicians’ speeches and praise their ideas although they are often one-sided and tend to make little sense. Journalists recount these politician’s ideas and even use language to corrupt their own readers into thinking a certain way. To develop and convey the connection between language and thought to his audience, Orwell utilizes antimetabole, hyperbole, and simile.