Central Idea (R.2.2/3)
A central idea can be best defined as this.
Choices:
(a) the author's primary argument or message regarding the topic, usually discovered by reading the introduction or conclusion.
(b) the author's best use of appeals that can be found in the body paragraphs or positions given in a speech.
(c) the author's use of text structures in the final paragraph of an article or speech
(d) the author's use of devices such as rhetorical questions or irony
What is (a) the author's primary argument or message regarding the topic, usually discovered by reading the introduction or conclusion.
Reason: Central idea should be framed at the beginning and end of a speech or article and developed in the body paragraphs. It always represents the argument or message.
This text structure is used to describe the order of choices you'd have to take to assemble a piece of furniture.
Choices: (a) Description, (b) Problem and Solution, (c) Compare and Contrast, (d) Chronological Order, or (e) Steps and Sequence
What is (e) Steps and Sequence?
More context: A sequence is defined as a specific order of events or steps of a process. Chronological order, while similar, is the order of things in terms of time.
Logos is best described in this way.
What is an appeal to logic and reason?
"The whaling population has been steadily decreasing year after year. Who wouldn’t want to save the whales?"
The passage is using this rhetorical device.
Choices: (a) Zeugma, (b) Rhetorical Question, (c) Metonymy, or (d) Antithesis.
What is (b) Rhetorical Question?
Reason: A statement made in the form of a question with no expectation of an answer. It is used for emphasis.
"The evening sky was dark and painted with blues and pinks. Brian looked up and felt a sense of amazement and wonder. "
This is a figurative device used in both informational and literary texts.
Choices: (a) Meiosis, (b) Idiom, (c) Imagery, or (d) Simile
What is (c) Imagery?
This is an example of imagery.
Writing about objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to the five physical senses.
"(1) Over the last several decades, people have increasingly replaced face-to-face contact with screen time, whether by playing video games, browsing the Internet, or texting with others. (2) The results of this increased time in front of a screen are poorer physical fitness, increased attention problems, and a growing detachment from others. (3) As a country, we should set strict parameters to limit our exposure to screens—and increase our exposure to each other. (4) It’s estimated that most children spend five to seven hours a day in front of a screen for one reason or another. (5) This exposure leads to a host of problems.
This sentence is the BEST one to describe the author's central idea. (choose one)
What is (3) As a country, we should set strict parameters to limit our exposure to screens—and increase our exposure to each other.
Reason: This is a clear claim and will lead to the author's main argument. The other sentences describe how it will be argued or to provide evidence. The purpose of the article, then, is to persuade you why limiting screen time is important.
This text structure would be used to write a letter about how algae growth has changed the look of a community pond.
Choices: (a) Description, (b) Problem and Solution, (c) Chronological, (d) Compare and Contrast, (e) Cause and Effect, or (e) Steps and Sequence
What is Cause and effect?
Context: The letter would emphasize that the algae growth causes a reduction in water clarity, inhibits the growth of other plants, and can lead to (effects) extensive oxygen depletion, accumulation of unsightly and decaying organic matter, unpleasant odors, and the death of fish.
An appeal to ETHOS can also be described as an author's experience, or by this word.
What is CREDIBILITY.
"I ate; I left; I drove home."
This rhetorical device is used to emphasize a point and create a repetitive sound.
Choices: (a) Irony, (b) Asyndeton, (c) Metonymy, or (c) Synecdoche
What is (b) Asyndeton?
The omission of the conjunctions that ordinarily join coordinate words or clauses.
In other words ... NOT "I ate, then I left the restaurant, and drove home" but the EFFECT is more powerful and forceful with the conjunctions and coordinate words removed.
"I will use the severest language I can command; and yet not one word shall escape me that any man, whose judgment is not blinded by prejudice, or who is not at heart a slaveholder, shall not confess to be right and just."
Douglass uses an appeal in this passage. This phrase is the BEST description of how the appeal is used.
Choices:
(a) Douglass appeals to readers’ emotions (pathos) by using strong, confrontational language that evokes moral outrage
(b) Douglass relies primarily on logical reasoning (logos) by presenting a calm, step-by-step argument to prove the immorality of slavery.
(c) Douglass establishes his credibility (ethos) by emphasizing his fairness and restraint, which strengthens his ethical appeal to the audience.
(d) Douglass uses vivid imagery (pathos) to help readers visualize the physical suffering of enslaved people.
What is (a) Douglass appeals to readers’ emotions (pathos) by using strong, confrontational language that evokes moral outrage.
Reason: Douglass’s pathos comes from his severe language and his moral challenge.
“(1) General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: (2) Come here to this gate! (3) Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! (4) Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
This line demonstrates the purpose of the author's speech.
What is (4) "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
Reason: That last line is probably the most famous and lasting thing that Reagan ever said. If he had left it out, the purpose of the speech would not have been as clear and would not have resonated with the audience.
An author is arguing for less screen time, refers to an experiment, and then makes this claim in the article: “Going just five days without any exposure to technology somehow enabled the group to read emotions better.”
The author is using reason in which of the following ways:
(a) The author makes a broad conclusion based on the specific observation of the experiment and its outcomes.
(b) The author assumes we want to give up technology.
(c) The author actually wants to increase our technology use, even though he's claiming otherwise.
(d) The author wants to give a fact without explaining where the fact comes from.
What is
(a) The author makes a broad conclusion based on the specific observation of the experiment and its outcomes.
Reason: the experiment is necessary to support the larger point (evidence) and then needs to use logic to back it up, but can only make a broad connection without other evidence.
This rhetorical appeal would be used in a proposal to contribute honor society funds to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
What is pathos?
Reason: Pathos would be used to evoke an emotional response to the children at St. Jude’s suffering from cancer.
An author uses her experiences working as a scientist on the North Pole to make a broader point about the science behind climate change is an example of this rhetorical appeal.
What is ethos?
Reason: Ethos is credibility, and the author is using her professional experience to make a point and provide one area of support for the argument.
In Macbeth, Macbeth pretends to be loyal to Duncan even while planning his murder.
This is an example of what rhetorical device.
(a) Irony, (b) Asyndeton, (c) Metonymy, or (d) Synecdoche
Irony
The use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of its literal meaning.
In this case, Macbeth's loyalty to Duncan is the opposite of his intention, which is to kill Duncan and take over the crown.
(1) There is consolation in the thought that America is young. (2) Great streams are not easily turned from channels, worn deep in the course of ages. (3) They may sometimes rise in quiet and stately majesty, and inundate the land, refreshing and fertilizing the earth with their mysterious properties. (4) They may also rise in wrath and fury, and bear away, on their angry waves, the accumulated wealth of years of toil and hardship. (5) They, however, gradually flow back to the same old channel, and flow on as serenely as ever.
This sentence number BEST expresses the hypocrisy of slavery.
What is 4) They may also rise in wrath and fury, and bear away, on their angry waves, the accumulated wealth of years of toil and hardship.
Reason: In 1852, Frederick Douglass was invited to speak at a public Fourth of July celebration in Rochester, N.Y. Instead of talking about the celebration, Douglass addressed the issue that was dividing the nation, which was slavery. This speech was called, “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery”.
Read the passage: Benjamin spent a considerable amount of time and money improving the landscaping of his front yard. His improvements included new plant beds, mulch, and plenty of colorful flora. However, during the first major rainstorm of the season, he lost the majority of his mulch as it flowed into the street. It would be very costly to hire someone to replace the mulch every time it rained. Benjamin decided to salvage the mulch he was able to retrieve, and then purchase a product called, “mulch glue”. This product proved proficient in keeping the mulch in place.
(a) Description, (b) Problem and Solution, (c) Chronological, (d) Compare and Contrast, (e) Cause and Effect, or (e) Steps and Sequence
What is (b) Problem and Solution.
The information is conveyed as an issue or a problem of concern, and solution(s) are proposed or explained.
This rhetorical appeal would be used in a letter to the principal discussing the problem of cheating on tests and quizzes.
What is ethos?
Reason: Shared ethics or values, but also your credibility as a student because this can affect your outcomes in school and may be observed by you.
(1) "Thomas was so grateful for his vacation day. (2) He would have died if he had to work one more day. (3) His office is as crowded as an ant farm at a family reunion this time of year. (4) Unfortunately, his car screamed in horror when he turned the key. (5) Looks like this vacation day will be spent in the auto repair shop!"
This numbered sentence has an example of personification.
What is (4) Unfortunately, his car screamed in horror when he turned the key.
Reason: Personification is when you use human aspects applied to nonhuman things. A car can't literally scream in horror. But the phrase can emphasize that something is wrong with Thomas's car and set a mood regarding his feelings about this car issue.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.” A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
The passage is an example of this type of rhetorical device.
Choices: (a) Antithesis, (b) Asyndeton, (c) Chiasmus, or (d) Irony
What is (a) Antithesis?
The rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences.
"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace– but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
This is the central idea of this historical American speech:
A. Peace must be obtained despite the many obstacles.
B.The importance of perusing a goal even if it is wrong.
C.The idea that big decisions should be carefully considered.
D. The time has come for us to raise a militia to defend freedom.
What is D. The time has come for us to raise a militia to defend freedom.
Reason: This speech was given by Patrick Henry on March 23, 1775, in response to interference of England’s Royal Navy brought in from the King's appointed Governor, Lord Dunmore. Patrick Henry was requesting that it was time for the Virginia colony to raise a militia in order to defend their right to freedom.
One of these sentences has a weak argument and could be removed from the argument. Read and choose the number.
(1) Most people wash their cars, but never have enough time to wax them. (2) This is a big mistake. (3) Waxing a vehicle makes it look glossy and new. (4) It also seals it against dirt, water vapor, and rust. (5) An unwaxed car will look a lot older than its age. (6) If water doesn’t bead on the surface of the vehicle when it rains or when you hose it down, it needs waxing. (7) A clean, shiny car will impress your classmates after school. (8) Even if you use a car-washing product that has wax in it, you still must give your car a thorough waxing at least twice a year.
What is (7) A clean, shiny car will impress your classmates.
Why? Because the sentence is not relevant to the overall argument, which is not to convince you to wash your car but to also wax it to improve its look over time.
In Frederick Douglass's "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" he builds an extrinsic (externally seen) ETHOS in this way.
Choices:
(a) Through his sound logic, (b) through his emotional choices of words, (c) Through his use of a clear right versus wrong, (d) his life experience as a former slave and his current status as a well-respected speaker and writer.
What is (d) his life experience as a former slave and his current status as a well-respected speaker and writer.
Reason: Douglass's audience knew him as a well-respected speaker and also former slave, so his works resonate deeper than from someone who argues the same but doesn't have that experience or knowledge.
"We will swear loyalty to the crown."
The sentence uses this rhetorical device.
Choices: (a) Antithesis, (b) Metonymy, (c) Asyndeton, (d) Chiasmus, or (e) Irony?
What is (b) Metonymy.
Reason: This figure of speech consists of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated.
Here, you're swearing loyalty to "the crown," an object that represents a king or queen as leader, or representing the government represented by the king/queen/leader.
“Not in the legions of horrid hell can come a devil more damned in evils to top Macbeth.”
This is an example of saying something over the top for emphasis, which is an example of this type of rhetorical device or figurative language device.
What is hyperbole?
It is so over the top that even hell cannot produce a more evil devil than Macbeth.