Persuasion Points 4

Which is better?

A. I’ve done it! I’m on the moon’s surface! Boo-yah!

B. That’s one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind.

Sentence B features antithesis, contrasting the ideas small/giant, man/mankind, step/leap. It is also a balanced sentence.

Assignment: Write a single balanced sentence that uses antithesis. Use the list of opposites below to generate ideas:

success/failure
intelligence/stupidity
above/below
war/peace
present/past
early/late
order/chaos
fast/slow

Example:
Live as if you were to die tomorrow; Learn as if you were to live forever.
--Mahatma Gandhi


Terms to Know: antithesis, parallelism, balanced sentence.

Persuasion Points 3

Which sentence is better?

A. If you are not enthusiastic, you will be fired.

B. If you are not fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.

Notice how be uses zeugma: the word enthusiasm is repeated, but it means the same thing in both cases; the word "fired," is also repeated, but it means something different in each case.

Term to Know: Zeugma

Persuasion Points 2

Which of the three sentences is best?

A. They’re not using the technology to replace their real-world social life; they’re using technology to augment it.

B. They’re not using technology to replace their real-world social life; instead, technology is simply augmenting their social life.

C. They’re not using the technology to replace their real-world social life; they’re using technology to augment their real-world social life.

Most students pick A because it is the most clear and most concise sentence. It is and example of a balanced sentence: a sentence with two parallel independent clauses.

It is also a very effective sentence for making a counterargument. The opponent's argument is set-up in the first clause and then countered in the second clause.

Assignment: Write a balanced sentence that reveals a contrast or that makes a counterargument.

Examples:

They’re not wasting time watching football; they’re savoring time, sharing the game they love.

It’s not a tax increase; it’s a revenue enhancement.

Essential Question: How can a balanced sentence be used to make a counterargument?
Terms to know: Parallelism, balanced sentence, anaphora, counterargument

Persuasion Points 1

11AP
What’s the difference between the two sentences below? What’s the difference?

A. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, we shall bear any burden, we shall meet any hardship, we shall support any friend, we shall oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

B. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

The first features anaphora; the second features parallelism.
Re-write Sentence B to reveal the parallel phrases:

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall:
-Pay any price,
-Bear any burden,
-Meet any hardship,
-Support any friend,
-Oppose any foe,
in order to assure the survival and success of liberty.

Assignment: Write a mission statement for a person or organization of your choice, using at least 3 parallel verbs.

Essential Question: What is the difference between parallelism and anaphora?
Terms to know: parallelism, anaphora

9th Honors:
Which of the following is best?

A. Anacortes, Washington, is a great place to live. It has beautiful forestlands. It has a small town feel. It has a low crime rate.

B. Anacortes, Washington, is a great place to live because of its beautiful forestlands, its small town feel, and its low crime rate.

Notice that sentence B states a claim, three premises in a single fluent sentence.

Assignment: Write a single sentence that states a claim and three premises.

Essentail Question: What is the difference between claim and a premise?
Terms to know: claim, premise