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

Exercise:Read a commentary or editorial in a newspaper;and identify and list as many emotively charged words and phrases as you can.Then come up with neutral equivalents for the words on your list.

Exercise:Are you familiar with the word,"adjuration"? Provide a definition.If the term is unfamiliar,make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound,and create your own definition.Then look the word up,and find out how close you got.(We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer. )

For the following,indicate whether the definition given is by example,by synonym,or analytical:The oud is a stringed musical instrument shaped much like a guitar and played primarily in Middle Eastern countries.

Using a name or description of an item that you can't point to,provide a definition by example for "concept." If you have difficulty doing so,try to identify the source of the trouble.

Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities),syntactically ambiguous,or free from ambiguity:"My husband got his project cut off two weeks ago,and I haven't had any relief since then."-From a letter requesting public assistance,as quoted in Ann Landers,Chicago Tribune

Which item in the following set of claims has the most negative emotive meaning? a.She occasionally lapsed in her duty toward others. b.She didn't care how her actions would negatively affect others. c.She seized opportunities to cause misfortune for others. d.She was vicious toward others.

Indicate whether this informal definition is by example,by synonym,or analytical:"Either" is a disjunctive correlative used before two or more words,phrases,or clauses that are joined by "or."

Which item in the following set of claims has the most negative emotive meaning? Luigi is a.clumsy. b.like a bull in a china shop. c.a klutz. d.not very well coordinated.

Any definition by example of the word "terrier" would also qualify as a definition by example of the word "canine."

Arrange the lettered items below in order of increasingly favorable emotive meaning.Instructor and/or students may want to fuss about some of our rankings in these problems.We've said (a)= (b)when (a)and (b)seem equally favorable to us. The house the new architect designed for the Washingtons is a.unique. b.like nothing I've ever seen. c.innovative. d.different.

Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities),syntactically ambiguous,or free from ambiguity:All snakes are not poisonous.

Using a name or description of an item that you can't point to,provide a definition by example for "ambiguous claim." If you have difficulty doing so,try to identify the source of the trouble.

Classify the following:"I may not be able to explain what pornography is,but the magazines on that rack are cases in point."

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. Plugs come in many shapes and sizes,but the one-quarter-inch size is usually called a phone plug.

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 voters in the 2008 presidential election believe that the Republican candidate better represents traditional values than does the Democratic candidate.

For the following,indicate whether the definition given is by example,by synonym,or analytical:Happiness is having your own DVD burner.

Identify any unnecessary and potentially offensive references to gender,race,or other features in the following passage and,as necessary,rewrite the passage in neutral language. The one hundred most highly paid chief executives in America are paid from one million to twenty-seven million dollars a year.The men in those jobs cannot possibly be worth that kind of money.

Indicate whether this informal definition is by example,by synonym,or analytical:"Hit me" means the same as "Give me another card."

Rank the claims in the following set from general to least vague. a.Whitney was hungry,so she helped herself to more potatoes. b."I'm drowning!" she screamed."Someone help me!" c.Morgan helped her mother at every opportunity. d.Derrick discovered he could not lift the box unless someone helped him by lifting one end. e.The word "help" has four letters in it.

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. I'm not very photogenic-no photograph anybody has ever made of me really looks like me.