Exam 3: Clear Thinking,critical Thinking,and Clear Writing

Criticize the following claim based on the material from Chapter 3 of the text. "The enormity of what's taken place is sinking in now."-George Bush,just after his election to the presidency

Connotation is usually

Classify the following:"Conversation-the enemy of good wine and food."-Alfred Hitchcock

For "hunter," provide an analytical definition that is unflattering.

For the term,"attorney," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative).Remember,persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions,definitions by example,or definitions by synonym.

Evaluate the following quotations from a local newspaper. a."Sexual offenses are becoming native to our culture." b."Dangerous offenders incorporate pornography into their preparatory stimulation before seeking a victim." c."Pornography interferes with interpersonal relationships in everyone who uses it."

Exercise:Find an example of an ambiguous claim in a paper you have written for another class.

Classify the following definition according to its use:to reduce vagueness,to introduce or explain a new or unusual word,to evoke an attitude about something,or to accomplish some other purpose. "Marriage is not only a divine institution,but is the only one instituted in the Garden of Eden which has come down with its continuous line of blessings to the present time." -Sylvanus Stall,What Every Young Man Should Know (1904)

Evaluate the following claim,paying particular attention to problems of clarity.Note that claims may also present problems of knowability,though we don't address knowability per se in this chapter. Most of the science books in the high school library were published before 1960.

Classify the following:"Being an octogenarian is being in one's eighties."

It is possible for two synonyms to have approximately the same emotive meaning.

Determine whether the claim in the following is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:Advertisement:"If your house is properly insulated,the Agwar console humidifier should enhance your comfort when the weather turns cold."

Classify the following definition according to its use:to reduce vagueness,to introduce or explain a new or unusual word,to evoke an attitude about something,or to accomplish some other purpose. "Tombstone:an ugly reminder of one who has been forgotten."-H.L.Mencken

Which item in the following set of claims has the most negative emotive meaning? a.Conversation is not Daryll's forte. b.Daryll descends from simple folk,you know,'people of the earth'. c.Daryll is not very clever. d.Daryll would lose a duel of wits with a gum ball machine.

For "teenager," provide an analytical definition that is unflattering.

Classify the following:"That stuff up there,see? That's plaque."

Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities),syntactically ambiguous,or free from ambiguity:"Police said Sunday that a Lebanese woman arrested in Milan planned to deliver photographs of American hostages to an Italian man who has been linked to arms scandals....The man...was questioned by police after they found the photos and a letter from a hostage hidden in a false bottom of the woman's suitcase Thursday."-From an Associated Press dispatch,Sacramento Bee

For the following,indicate whether the definition given is by example,by synonym,or analytical:"Poltroonery" means the same thing as "cowardice."

Classify the following:"What Lani just did from the high board is called a full gainer."

Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered,would you say the following claim is ambiguous,too vague,or neither? "...and my house is on the right-hand side of the street."