Writing to Argue

Last updated about 6 years ago

6 questions

Note from the author:

Understand and apply knowledge of argumentative language

Write a brief dialogue using AFOREST...who wins the argument?

In 30 - 40 words, summarize Orwell's thoughts about the English language

George Orwell
Politics and the English Language

Most people who bother with the matter at all  would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is  generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about  it. Our civilization is decadent and our language — so the argument runs  — must inevitably share in the general collapse. It follows that any  struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like  preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes.  Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that language is a  natural growth and not an instrument which we shape for our own  purposes.
Now, it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have  political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence  of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause,  reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an  intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink  because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more  completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is  happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate  because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language  makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts. The point is that the  process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is  full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if  one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these  habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary  first step toward political regeneration: so that the fight against bad  English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of  professional writers. I will come back to this presently, and I hope  that by that time the meaning of what I have said here will have become  clearer. 
http://www.orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/english/e_polit

Identify and explanin how he uses language to persuade/language to argue. Use at least ONE example

Do you agree or disagree with Orwell's points about the English language 'is in a bad way?'
Plan a speech arguing for or against his points. You need to write an outline
You need to include 2 -3 valid arguments
You need to include your own real life examples in addition to the points made by Orwell.
You need to include tools of language to argue or language to persuade.

Your task is write a brief speech to argue that your item is to be used by everyone in class

Writing to Argue

Write a brief dialogue using AFOREST...who wins the argument?

In 30 - 40 words, summarize Orwell's thoughts about the English language

George Orwell

Politics and the English Language

Identify and explanin how he uses language to persuade/language to argue. Use at least ONE example

How can you plan a persuasive speech? Come up with five steps