~Quotes~
"Is it maintained that we must obey Instinct, that we cannot do otherwise? But if so, why are Green Books and the like written? Why this stream of exhortation to drive us where we cannot help going? Why such praise for those who have submitted to the inevitable?"(34).
"The direct frontal attack 'Why?'-'What good does it do?'-'Who said so?' is never permissible; not because it is harsh or offensive but because no values at all can justify themselves on that level. If you persist in that kind of trial you will destroy all values, and so destroy the bases of your own criticism as well as the thing criticized" (48-49).
~Summary~
In this chapter, Lewis takes on a different argument, which begins with; "the practical result of education in the spirit of The Green Book must be the destruction of the society which accepts it"(27). Lewis moves from a reiteration, to taking a different look at Gaius and Titus. He writes that although what they are teaching is contradictory, their book still have an end which must have real value in their eyes. He uses this idea to transition into his idea that in order to answer certain questions, they would have to contradict themselves. He then moves on to those who debunk 'traditional' or 'sentimental' values in an attempt to see what would happen if they truly were trying to reveal basic, or true values. He moves on to the same idea with the Tao stating that: "the rebellion of new ideologies against the Tao is a rebellion of the branches against the tree: if the rebels could succeed they would find that they had destroyed themselves" (44).
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay
Rachael Kerr
AP English 11
October 14, 2009
Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay
Martin Luther King Junior’s Persuasive Syntax, Diction, and Rhetoric
In April of 1963 one of the nation’s best know activist, Martin Luther King Jr., released a ground-breaking letter that would stay in the hearts and on the tongue of thousands: Letter from Birmingham Jail. This letter was not ground-breaking because of who wrote it, where he wrote it from, or what it was even written about; this letter was ground-breaking because of King’s flawless use of the English language. King’s diction was aggressive, assertive, and relentless; he made his points, made them seem as concrete as fact, and he did this all throughout his letter. His tone was impassioned and powerful; this showed his commitment to his cause and made his status as a civil rights activist undeniable. Although these factors are nonetheless crucial, they are second-best to King’s other brilliant uses of literary devices and rhetoric. King’s use of syntax is the most persuasive element in his letter, closely followed by his paired use of logic and emotion.
King’s impeccable use of the English language begins with his several varied uses of the element of syntax. A first example would be his use of parallelisms: “If you would watch them push and cure old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you would see them slap and kick old Negro men and young Negro boys” (King 751). By using this device, King brings attention to this sentence with the repetition of certain phrases and parallel set up. A second example is his use of juxtaposition: “The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jet-like speed toward the goal of political independence and we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward the gaining of a cup of coffee at a lunch counter” (742). Here, he places our situation next to that of what would be considered less progressive nations in order to accentuate our misunderstanding. These examples alone could be elaborated on and be perfect demonstrations of King’s mastery of the art of language, but there are more.
Another example would be King’s use of antitheses: “They have carved a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment” (750). Again, this draws attention to this sentence by using strong imagery of two unalike things. In addition, he uses a literary device known as inversion. By using this, King forces you to consider a commonly held belief from a new perspective: “One has not only a legal but moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” (743). By altering the readers’ perspective, he forces them to think from the view he has asserted. Also, his use of cumulative sentences are genius: “I say it as a minister of the gospel who loves the church; who was nurtured in its bosom; who has been sustained by its spiritual blessings and who will remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall lengthen” (748). By using additional information at the beginning of his sentence, King is able to strengthen his point that follows. While these devices may not seem as important as the others, this is fallacy. Their job is to bring attention to King’s writing, and for King at this time, he needs his audience to pay attention to his argument, otherwise he will have no chance to alter their views. After all of these, it would seem obvious that King had already proven his point, yes? Unfortunately this is untrue, because of the time period King lives in; he is forced to go on with even more examples of his firm command of public speaking.
These further examples of King’s eloquence appear more than once in his letter. The first example would be the use of periodic sentences; on page 742 in the middle section, King writes an extensive section filled with examples, without the use of any punctuation but a semicolon so that the sentence runs on and builds to the conclusion. He does this to bring about empathy from his readers, because after reading this section, readers will be so exhausted that they will say the last sentence with the exhaustion King feels for this matter. Finally, the strongest and most effective use of syntax would be King’s use of rhetoric. A perfect example would be as King enters his section about just and unjust laws: “One may ask, ‘How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?’ The answer is found in that fact that there are two types of laws” (742). The perfection of this is that it anticipates counter arguments and silences it before it can be legitimized. Counter-argument could be a large problem because people hear what they want to hear, and if King does not address this, many would consider that a legitimate invalidation of his whole argument, not just this single point; they would call him a hypocrite and be done with him. While these examples are all perfect reasons to see King’s argument as a flawless one, another element remains to further fulfill it.
After King’s strong demonstration of his fluency using literary devices, his combined use of logic and emotion brings his point further to the hearts and minds of the readers. In this exhibition, King uses the two differing rhetorical devices in a process that peaks in its effects. First, he bombards the reader with logic; he shows them fact after fact, displaying his view as fact, and discrediting any rebuttal. Next, he uses vivid language, and lucid imagery to heighten the readers’ emotions and get them to feel as he feels. Finally, he strikes with more logic at the climax of this mental rapture, when it is most crucial and his audience is most vulnerable to convincing. The perfect example begins on 741 and almost does not seem to end. To begin with, King speaks logically of why he acted when he did, as he refutes why he could wait. Then, he follows with a long passage of example of the terrible things those affected by this injustice must go through. In the end, he recedes to logically pointing out why it is acceptable to break unjust laws. This passage is an essential part of King’s letter, and while the pairing of logic and emotion happens in several places throughout his argument, this passage in particular is the most memorable and perhaps a main climax of his contention. In addition to his syntax, King’s use of logic and emotion makes his argument a most persuasive one.
King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail is an immaculate representation of how syntax and rhetoric can affect how an argument is received by readers. The application of the literary devices such as parallelism and inversions accompanied with the paired utilization of logic and emotion make King’s argument unbelievably alluring. By changing his writing with the use of such tools, King not only keeps the attention of his audience, he demonstrate his command of the English language, and makes his position much more prominent and actuating. While all this might seem overdone and extensive, at the time King needed to write like this, and nothing short of this. If King did not express himself flawlessly, and make his point seem as undoubted fact, the people he was aiming at would dismiss his argument without a second thought. Although this is a cruel fact of the life he was living, in hind-sight, readers of a later age are privileged to read such an unblemished, ideal argument that uses every aspect of the English language in a culminating progression to be the epitome of an inveigling debate.
AP English 11
October 14, 2009
Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay
Martin Luther King Junior’s Persuasive Syntax, Diction, and Rhetoric
In April of 1963 one of the nation’s best know activist, Martin Luther King Jr., released a ground-breaking letter that would stay in the hearts and on the tongue of thousands: Letter from Birmingham Jail. This letter was not ground-breaking because of who wrote it, where he wrote it from, or what it was even written about; this letter was ground-breaking because of King’s flawless use of the English language. King’s diction was aggressive, assertive, and relentless; he made his points, made them seem as concrete as fact, and he did this all throughout his letter. His tone was impassioned and powerful; this showed his commitment to his cause and made his status as a civil rights activist undeniable. Although these factors are nonetheless crucial, they are second-best to King’s other brilliant uses of literary devices and rhetoric. King’s use of syntax is the most persuasive element in his letter, closely followed by his paired use of logic and emotion.
King’s impeccable use of the English language begins with his several varied uses of the element of syntax. A first example would be his use of parallelisms: “If you would watch them push and cure old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you would see them slap and kick old Negro men and young Negro boys” (King 751). By using this device, King brings attention to this sentence with the repetition of certain phrases and parallel set up. A second example is his use of juxtaposition: “The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jet-like speed toward the goal of political independence and we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward the gaining of a cup of coffee at a lunch counter” (742). Here, he places our situation next to that of what would be considered less progressive nations in order to accentuate our misunderstanding. These examples alone could be elaborated on and be perfect demonstrations of King’s mastery of the art of language, but there are more.
Another example would be King’s use of antitheses: “They have carved a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment” (750). Again, this draws attention to this sentence by using strong imagery of two unalike things. In addition, he uses a literary device known as inversion. By using this, King forces you to consider a commonly held belief from a new perspective: “One has not only a legal but moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” (743). By altering the readers’ perspective, he forces them to think from the view he has asserted. Also, his use of cumulative sentences are genius: “I say it as a minister of the gospel who loves the church; who was nurtured in its bosom; who has been sustained by its spiritual blessings and who will remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall lengthen” (748). By using additional information at the beginning of his sentence, King is able to strengthen his point that follows. While these devices may not seem as important as the others, this is fallacy. Their job is to bring attention to King’s writing, and for King at this time, he needs his audience to pay attention to his argument, otherwise he will have no chance to alter their views. After all of these, it would seem obvious that King had already proven his point, yes? Unfortunately this is untrue, because of the time period King lives in; he is forced to go on with even more examples of his firm command of public speaking.
These further examples of King’s eloquence appear more than once in his letter. The first example would be the use of periodic sentences; on page 742 in the middle section, King writes an extensive section filled with examples, without the use of any punctuation but a semicolon so that the sentence runs on and builds to the conclusion. He does this to bring about empathy from his readers, because after reading this section, readers will be so exhausted that they will say the last sentence with the exhaustion King feels for this matter. Finally, the strongest and most effective use of syntax would be King’s use of rhetoric. A perfect example would be as King enters his section about just and unjust laws: “One may ask, ‘How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?’ The answer is found in that fact that there are two types of laws” (742). The perfection of this is that it anticipates counter arguments and silences it before it can be legitimized. Counter-argument could be a large problem because people hear what they want to hear, and if King does not address this, many would consider that a legitimate invalidation of his whole argument, not just this single point; they would call him a hypocrite and be done with him. While these examples are all perfect reasons to see King’s argument as a flawless one, another element remains to further fulfill it.
After King’s strong demonstration of his fluency using literary devices, his combined use of logic and emotion brings his point further to the hearts and minds of the readers. In this exhibition, King uses the two differing rhetorical devices in a process that peaks in its effects. First, he bombards the reader with logic; he shows them fact after fact, displaying his view as fact, and discrediting any rebuttal. Next, he uses vivid language, and lucid imagery to heighten the readers’ emotions and get them to feel as he feels. Finally, he strikes with more logic at the climax of this mental rapture, when it is most crucial and his audience is most vulnerable to convincing. The perfect example begins on 741 and almost does not seem to end. To begin with, King speaks logically of why he acted when he did, as he refutes why he could wait. Then, he follows with a long passage of example of the terrible things those affected by this injustice must go through. In the end, he recedes to logically pointing out why it is acceptable to break unjust laws. This passage is an essential part of King’s letter, and while the pairing of logic and emotion happens in several places throughout his argument, this passage in particular is the most memorable and perhaps a main climax of his contention. In addition to his syntax, King’s use of logic and emotion makes his argument a most persuasive one.
King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail is an immaculate representation of how syntax and rhetoric can affect how an argument is received by readers. The application of the literary devices such as parallelism and inversions accompanied with the paired utilization of logic and emotion make King’s argument unbelievably alluring. By changing his writing with the use of such tools, King not only keeps the attention of his audience, he demonstrate his command of the English language, and makes his position much more prominent and actuating. While all this might seem overdone and extensive, at the time King needed to write like this, and nothing short of this. If King did not express himself flawlessly, and make his point seem as undoubted fact, the people he was aiming at would dismiss his argument without a second thought. Although this is a cruel fact of the life he was living, in hind-sight, readers of a later age are privileged to read such an unblemished, ideal argument that uses every aspect of the English language in a culminating progression to be the epitome of an inveigling debate.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Letter from Birmingham Jail Notes
Rachael Kerr
AP English
October 8,2009
MLK Letter Notes
Diction
-Aggressive, assertive, relentless
Tone
-Impassioned, powerful (King 72)
Syntax
-Parralelisms
• “I don’t believe you would…I don’t believe you would…if you would watch them push and cure old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you would see them slap and kick old Negro men and young Negro boys” (751)
-Juxaposition
• “The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jet-like speed toward the goal of political independence and we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward the gaining of a cup of coffee at a lunch counter” (742)
• He places our situation next to that of what would e considered less progressive nations in order to accentuate our misunderstanding
-Antitheses
• “They have carved a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment”(750)
-Inversion
• “One has not only a legal but moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws”(743)
• Forces you to consider a commonly held belief from a new perspective
• By altering someone’s perspective you are forcing them to think from the view you have asserted
-Cumulative
• “I say it as a minister of the gospel who loves the church;who was nurtured in its bosom; who has been sustained by its spiritual blessings and who will remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall lengthen”(748)
• Uses additional info to strengthen the point at the beginning
-Periodic Sentence
• Page 742-Middle Section
• Uses a semicolon so that the sentence runs on and builds to the conclusion
• After reading this you will be so exhausted you will say the last sentence with the exhaustion King feels
-Rhetorical Question
• “One may ask, ‘How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?’ The answer is found in that fact that there are two types of laws”(742)
• Anticipates counter arguments and silences it before it can be legitimized
• Remember, people hear what they want to hear, and if king does not address this, many would consider that a legitimate invalidation of his whole argument, not just this single point; they would call him a hypocrite and be done with him
AP English
October 8,2009
MLK Letter Notes
Diction
-Aggressive, assertive, relentless
Tone
-Impassioned, powerful (King 72)
Syntax
-Parralelisms
• “I don’t believe you would…I don’t believe you would…if you would watch them push and cure old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you would see them slap and kick old Negro men and young Negro boys” (751)
-Juxaposition
• “The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jet-like speed toward the goal of political independence and we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward the gaining of a cup of coffee at a lunch counter” (742)
• He places our situation next to that of what would e considered less progressive nations in order to accentuate our misunderstanding
-Antitheses
• “They have carved a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment”(750)
-Inversion
• “One has not only a legal but moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws”(743)
• Forces you to consider a commonly held belief from a new perspective
• By altering someone’s perspective you are forcing them to think from the view you have asserted
-Cumulative
• “I say it as a minister of the gospel who loves the church;who was nurtured in its bosom; who has been sustained by its spiritual blessings and who will remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall lengthen”(748)
• Uses additional info to strengthen the point at the beginning
-Periodic Sentence
• Page 742-Middle Section
• Uses a semicolon so that the sentence runs on and builds to the conclusion
• After reading this you will be so exhausted you will say the last sentence with the exhaustion King feels
-Rhetorical Question
• “One may ask, ‘How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?’ The answer is found in that fact that there are two types of laws”(742)
• Anticipates counter arguments and silences it before it can be legitimized
• Remember, people hear what they want to hear, and if king does not address this, many would consider that a legitimate invalidation of his whole argument, not just this single point; they would call him a hypocrite and be done with him
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Fallacies
Hasty Generalization: Brad didn't apologise after he stepped on my foot, he just walked away. Brad is a total douche.
Stereotype: He's British, he must like tea, talk funny, and have bad teeth.
Cause and Effect: When I pointed at my front door, the doorbell rang. Therefore, I'm magical.
Only Cause: We will eliminate obesity by not eating fast food.
False Analogy: Beating this team is as important assassinating Hitler.
Attacking the Person: There's no way we're listening to Jim's directions, he got lost in his own hometown!
Either-Or: Either eat all of what I gave you, or you're not eating at all.
Non-sequitur: I can't talk, there are no carrots in the house.
Circular Reasoning: He's amazing at all sports yet he never gloats. He should get all A's.
Begging the Question: Well, duh it waz sold outtt, Twlight<333 is teh besttt moviie EvErrrr!!!!(<~~notice the obnoxious instant message language and the sarcasism)
Stereotype: He's British, he must like tea, talk funny, and have bad teeth.
Cause and Effect: When I pointed at my front door, the doorbell rang. Therefore, I'm magical.
Only Cause: We will eliminate obesity by not eating fast food.
False Analogy: Beating this team is as important assassinating Hitler.
Attacking the Person: There's no way we're listening to Jim's directions, he got lost in his own hometown!
Either-Or: Either eat all of what I gave you, or you're not eating at all.
Non-sequitur: I can't talk, there are no carrots in the house.
Circular Reasoning: He's amazing at all sports yet he never gloats. He should get all A's.
Begging the Question: Well, duh it waz sold outtt, Twlight<333 is teh besttt moviie EvErrrr!!!!(<~~notice the obnoxious instant message language and the sarcasism)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Syllogisms
Correct
1.)
-Yeast causes bread dough to rise
-Pan au rustic (a bread) rises
-Pan au rustic contains yeast
2.)
-Players get hurt in contact sports
-Football is a contact sport
-Players get hurt in football
3.)
-All primary colors have a secondary color
-Red is a primary color
-Red has a secondary color
4.)
-Convex lenses can start fires
-Tom wears glasses with convex lenses
-Tom could start a fire
Incorrect
1.)
-All #2 wooden pencils are yellow
-My pencil is a #2
-My pencil is yellow
~This is wrong because not all #2 wooden pencils are yellow,for example the seasonal printed pencils(i.e. Christmas).
2.)
-The Red Sox beat the Yankees
-The Yankees beat the White Sox
-The Red Sox can beat the White Sox
~This is wrong because this is not necessarily true. Perhaps the White Sox were down a player when the Yankees beat them.
3.)
-Blondes are stupid
-Wanda is blonde
-Wanda is stupid
~This is wrong because not all blondes are stupid, that is a sterotype. A counter example might be any blonde in this AP class (i.e.-Kerri, Nathaniel, etc.)
4.)
-Siblings share rooms
-Jon and Janet are siblings
-Jon and Janet share a room
~This is wrong because not all siblings share rooms, I am sure that several people in this AP class can prove this.
1.)
-Yeast causes bread dough to rise
-Pan au rustic (a bread) rises
-Pan au rustic contains yeast
2.)
-Players get hurt in contact sports
-Football is a contact sport
-Players get hurt in football
3.)
-All primary colors have a secondary color
-Red is a primary color
-Red has a secondary color
4.)
-Convex lenses can start fires
-Tom wears glasses with convex lenses
-Tom could start a fire
Incorrect
1.)
-All #2 wooden pencils are yellow
-My pencil is a #2
-My pencil is yellow
~This is wrong because not all #2 wooden pencils are yellow,for example the seasonal printed pencils(i.e. Christmas).
2.)
-The Red Sox beat the Yankees
-The Yankees beat the White Sox
-The Red Sox can beat the White Sox
~This is wrong because this is not necessarily true. Perhaps the White Sox were down a player when the Yankees beat them.
3.)
-Blondes are stupid
-Wanda is blonde
-Wanda is stupid
~This is wrong because not all blondes are stupid, that is a sterotype. A counter example might be any blonde in this AP class (i.e.-Kerri, Nathaniel, etc.)
4.)
-Siblings share rooms
-Jon and Janet are siblings
-Jon and Janet share a room
~This is wrong because not all siblings share rooms, I am sure that several people in this AP class can prove this.
Pride&Prejudice Proposal
Rachael Kerr
AP English 11
October 3, 2009
Pride and Prejudice
Rewritten proposal
My dearest Elizabeth, from the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you would be mine. I could have chosen from any of you sisters, but nay. I could have taken any woman where I was from, but nay. I did not want them; none of the compare to your silent beauty. It may seem that I am getting ahead of myself, but that is what you have done to me. You enflame my very heart, which boils my mind, and knots my stomach. It pains me when you are not near, for these symptoms only grow worse. I need you in my life, or I fear they will kill me.
I hope I am not frightening you with my feelings, but they are so violent within me, I cannot hold them any longer. Although I know we have not had too many chances-closer to none- to know each other at all, I want- no, I need- these chances. Please, let us figure each other out, together, forever. I can tell you about me, and it would please me to hear about you: I am a clergyman, desiring marriage to a fair maiden, but shaking to the core, awaiting her answer. Perhaps in the future you might learn more about me, and I might learn about you.
My love, you make me slur my words, you make my heart skip several beats, you make me think irrational thoughts. But I do not care for these ill-effects. For I know, when you accept my hand, my heart will undergo a final surge, and then settle and rest in you. And my hopes will be that you rest your own in mine. Please, I humbly plead, consider me. In being your husband, I will love you, cherish you, and stay by you forever. I will not judge you based on the actions of your family (as did Mr. Darcy). I will never judge you, but if I did, it would be based on you and only you.
I know this all must seem very humorous to you; to think that someone as gauche as myself asking for your hand in marriage. But please, gentle angel, do not laugh, unless in the bliss of pleasant surprise. I am completely serious in my proposal; although I am sure my disposition gives an air of jest. I have, over and over and over again, recited the words to this proposal in my head, but now that I repeat it in your presence, I have forgotten how to speak. I must sound very plain, but all my eloquence is lost after one look into your majestic eyes. So I will take a breath and try once more.
My lovely Elizabeth, my heart goes out to you, pleading as a young lad does for a puppy; only this matter is much more serious. I want to be with you, forever. I want to take your slender hand and fix a ring upon it, so brilliant it seems to be made of moonlight. If you accept my proposal, please know that you will have made me the absolute happiness in the history of the entire universe. Knowing that every morning, I will be able to roll over to your delicate features, softly breathing, to sniff your hair, the scent of angels, and to hold you in my arms, to protect you from everything. Elizabeth, will you marry me?
AP English 11
October 3, 2009
Pride and Prejudice
Rewritten proposal
My dearest Elizabeth, from the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you would be mine. I could have chosen from any of you sisters, but nay. I could have taken any woman where I was from, but nay. I did not want them; none of the compare to your silent beauty. It may seem that I am getting ahead of myself, but that is what you have done to me. You enflame my very heart, which boils my mind, and knots my stomach. It pains me when you are not near, for these symptoms only grow worse. I need you in my life, or I fear they will kill me.
I hope I am not frightening you with my feelings, but they are so violent within me, I cannot hold them any longer. Although I know we have not had too many chances-closer to none- to know each other at all, I want- no, I need- these chances. Please, let us figure each other out, together, forever. I can tell you about me, and it would please me to hear about you: I am a clergyman, desiring marriage to a fair maiden, but shaking to the core, awaiting her answer. Perhaps in the future you might learn more about me, and I might learn about you.
My love, you make me slur my words, you make my heart skip several beats, you make me think irrational thoughts. But I do not care for these ill-effects. For I know, when you accept my hand, my heart will undergo a final surge, and then settle and rest in you. And my hopes will be that you rest your own in mine. Please, I humbly plead, consider me. In being your husband, I will love you, cherish you, and stay by you forever. I will not judge you based on the actions of your family (as did Mr. Darcy). I will never judge you, but if I did, it would be based on you and only you.
I know this all must seem very humorous to you; to think that someone as gauche as myself asking for your hand in marriage. But please, gentle angel, do not laugh, unless in the bliss of pleasant surprise. I am completely serious in my proposal; although I am sure my disposition gives an air of jest. I have, over and over and over again, recited the words to this proposal in my head, but now that I repeat it in your presence, I have forgotten how to speak. I must sound very plain, but all my eloquence is lost after one look into your majestic eyes. So I will take a breath and try once more.
My lovely Elizabeth, my heart goes out to you, pleading as a young lad does for a puppy; only this matter is much more serious. I want to be with you, forever. I want to take your slender hand and fix a ring upon it, so brilliant it seems to be made of moonlight. If you accept my proposal, please know that you will have made me the absolute happiness in the history of the entire universe. Knowing that every morning, I will be able to roll over to your delicate features, softly breathing, to sniff your hair, the scent of angels, and to hold you in my arms, to protect you from everything. Elizabeth, will you marry me?
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