Saturday, November 29, 2008

Exact-Homespun Script

Exact- precise, verbatim: "I left my house at 7:05 in order to get here at 7:32. My BMW, which has a broken right taillight, almost ran out of gas on Sutter Street."
Figurative- serving as illustration: "Your car is like a broken wheel. It serves its purpose but doesn't quite work like a charm."
Formal-academic, conventional: "Sir, you ought to have your vehicle inspected by an expert mechanic. It is unwise to operate a faulty car."
Grotesque-hideous, deformed: "No, your decrepit car is a great wonder. I love the way the motor rattles like a thousand screeching bats."
Homespun-rustic, folksy: "I hope you get it fixed soon. It's not safe to drive a car like that."

Cultured-Euphemistic Script

Detached-removed: "Wars are necessary for the betterment of the state. The death of civilians is inevitable."
Cultured-refined: "Wars are senseless; if elevated education were mandatory, they would never be necessary. Since few people have an appreciation for the arts, war is seen as the best solution to conflict."
Euphemistic-insincere, affected: "If no one ever crossed to the other side, the world would be much different. That's why it's all right for uninformed people to pass away during war."
Emotional-expressive of emotions: "You should be ashamed of your reasoning. People like you are the reason thousands of innocent people are suffering."
Esoteric-understood by a chosen few: "Buddhists don't support war; the Ajna center doesn't permit them to perpetuate negative energy. The Avatar of Synthesis forbids any type of conflict as well."

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Artificial-Connotative Script

Artificial- false: "This film is complete trash. It's the most worthless movie ever produced."
Connotative- suggestive: "It wasn't exactly my favorite either. The director is not known for being creative."
Bombastic-pompous: "How could you overlook and condemn such a cinematic masterpiece? The director should receive a Nobel Prize for his innovation and endless talent!"
Colloquial- vernacular: "Hey man, chill out. That movie sucked."
Concrete-specific: "I agree; the analogue sound was staticky and horrible. The 'Hitchcock zoom' was awful too."

Friday, November 14, 2008

Talking Points

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/convention2008/wjclinton2008dnc.htm

Claim: Democrat Barack Obama will rebuild the American dream and restore American leadership in the world.

Grounds: As a Democrat, Obama will do a better job than past Republican presidents have.

Warrant: His economic policies are superior to Republican policies. Obama will help the middle class, open new markets, and create new jobs.

Backing: In 2001, with a Republican president, the nation's debt increased, 22 million new jobs sank to 5 million, increasing working families' incomes declined from $7,500 a year to $2,000 a year, and millions lost their health insurance.