AP Lang Test

How would you describe the tone in the essay? To what extent is that tone a response to his audience and subject matter? Explain whether you think this tone strengthens or undermines his argument.

An angry, strident tone, but it could could evoke the shock necessary to persuade the audience.

Artifice

Art of deception; lying

Who is the likely audience for this essay? How does McBride consider the audience throughout his essay?

College educated older, upper to middle class.

Trace Twain's use of the personal pronoun. What is the effect of changing from I to we?

Creates a connection with him because he's saying that he has done it too and he is in the same boat.

What is Twain's purpose in "Corn-Pone Opinions"?

Criticize society's urge/need to conform.

What is the effect of capitalizing "Public Opinion" and "Voice of God" at the end of the essay?

Emphasizes his argument - criticizing society.

Identify Twain's appeals to logos. Do the subjects of the appeals (hoopskirts, bloomers, wineglasses) strengthen the appeals or weaken them?

He appeals to logos by informing his audience of what has happened in society and evidence of how society conforms especially by using examples of religion or politics. I feel like it doesn't really strengthen it, but it doesn't necessarily weaken it. The hoop skirts and bloomers just seem more like an example of fashion. I feel that it doesn't really weaken the appeal to logos. Same with wine glasses just being a small example.

What connection does Bradbury make between despair and affluence? What evidence does he offer in support of this viewpoint?

He argues that because some Americans are affluent (wealthy) they have the luxury to obsess over the despair found in the news. The evidence is the "feeling of Doom" )para 1) and the voluntary participation in the media oversaturation (para 5)that makes the despair a result of wealth.

What solutions does Bradbury offer for the affluence of despair? Could you apply any of these solutions to the effects of the Internet on our society?

He at first seems to suggest that verbal protest is the only solution to the problem he outlines. However, his last line suggests that by not watching the news and connecting with people, his audience can escape the affluence of despair.

Why do you think Bradbury says we "enjoy" the affluence of despair?

He is emphasizing the hypocrisy of Americans who are entertained by and addicted to the bad news that seems to plague their happiness. The use of "enjoy" also places responsibility on the viewers of the news not the news stations, putting responsibility on the viewers to initiate change.

What is Denby's opinion of teen movies?

He sees them as commercial and frivolous, they don't reflect reality.

What rhetorical strategies does McBride use in his lead (the opening paragraph) to establish his persona and his credibility? Consider his use of colloquial language, irony, and hyperbole.

He uses hyperbole by exaggerating a possible situation in the future with his daughter. He does this by talking about muscles popping out of his arms, a mouth full of gold teeth, the stereotypical rapper. He also uses a lot of colloquial language by saying words like knucklehead, thug, and do-rag.

What rhetorical choices does Denby use in the first paragraph to create a picture of the female villain of teen movies? Consider the devices of irony, hyperbole, metaphor, colloquialisms, and opposition. What are their effects? *I gave you the devices, try to provide analysis based on the choice these devices suggest. (EX. Comparison(Choice) = Simile (device)

He uses these choices to show what he thinks about the girls in the movies and how he feels about the set up of the movie and its importance.

In what ways does this essay appeal to ethos? How much "automatic ethos" does Bradbury bring to his argument?

His appeal to ethos is complex. His establishment as a science fiction writer provides an automatic ethos.

What describes the shift in tone from the beginning to the end of the fifth paragraph?

His description of the lollipop colors and goofy characters create a mocking tone, but it shifts here with deeper analysis for the issue of the cruel social system among teens.

Explain what Bradbury means when he says, "America should beware of itself" (paragraph 3).

His warning means that Americans themselves are responsible for the "feeling of Doom" and that their addiction to tv is the greatest threat to their own happiness.

What do you consider James McBride's primary purpose in "Hip Hop Planet"? Do you think this is a personal essay or a cultural study? Explain your response.

I feel as though it is more of a cultural study than a personal essay, but it definitely does give some perspective. He tells the audience some of his life story-particularly with rap-but also finds information about the creation of Hip Hop music. I feel like his purpose is that it doesn't seem to matter what your origin is or what race you are, everyone can go through tough times in life. Also, he feels that Hip Hop has a negative impact on America, but we can't see that it does.

McBride justifies his acceptance of the violence that hip hop music embraces by saying that our national anthem is also about violence. What do you think of that comparison? In what ways does it help his argument? In what ways might it hinder it?

I feel like its a different type of violence as while both do have killing in it, in many hip hop songs it almost or does condone it. It helps his argument because it does talk about violence, but it hinders it because its not the same.

To what extent do you find Bradburry's observations about local TV news relevant to the way we consume local and national news today? Does local news still have the impact that it had in 1998 when Bradbury wrote this essay?

I feel that it is very relevant. The news has just as much impact today, if not more than it did then. People believe the news so easily no matter where it comes from (especially facebook).

Twain claims he came up with the idea of corn-pone opinions from a young slave with a talent for preaching. What does the anecdote add to his argument? Does it detract in any way?

It adds to his argument. It adds to his assertion that people do in fact conform to society's standards for the need of self approval. And by saying that the preacher said it when he was a teen, it shows that people have always conformed to society. It's not just something that has happened recently.

Write an introduction for the essay using the 2 sentence formula for the rhetorical analysis, FRQ #2

Mark Twain's varied diction in the essay "Corn-Pone Opinions" highlights the important purpose of informing the general public that it is human nature to conform to society's standards. Twain's purpose of informing the audience is visible through his application of statistics, personal anecdotes, and knowing his audience.

Who is the likely audience for this essay? How does he consider audience in his essay?

Middle aged people who have experienced high school and might possibly be looking for a feeling of nostalgia. In his essay it is obvious that he expects his audience to understand his reference to film criticism, etc. This was originally posted in the New Yorker, and the urban, educated would normally read this magazine.

What is Denby's Central argument?

Modern teen movies don't reflect reality as much as the genre attempts to create nostalgia.

How does Bradbury characterize news anchors? How does that characterization contribute to the development of his argument? Does it ultimately strengthen or undermine his main point?

Negatively and this emphasizes both the relentlessness of the news' scare tactics as well as Bradbury's anger with the situation.

"High School Confidential"

Next Slide------>

"Corne Pone Opinions"

Next Slide----->

"Hip Hop Planet"

Next Slide----->

"The Affluence of Despair"

Next slide---->

Twain's essay is ultimately a denunciation of cultural chauvinism. What consequences does he suggest are the result of "corn-pone opinions"?

People are changing their beliefs, values, and morals to fit in with society and conform.

According to Twain, "It is our nature to conform" (para. 7); he also says that we do so for self-approval. The two statements seem contradictory; how does Twain connect conformity and self-approval?

People are satisfied with themselves when others are satisfied with them.

How does a phrase such as "helping to inhabit" in the first paragraph contribute to the tone of the essay?

Plays into his humble tone and makes it more relatable and funny.

Denby equates popularity in the world of high school movies with_____________.

Power

What is McBride's central argument?

Rap/Hip hop has a lot of history and origin and should be respected.

McBride's lead (the opening paragraph of his essay) could be considered provocative, if not confrontational. Having read the whole essay, go back and reread the lead. Is it an effective introduction to the essay or could it be considered misleading?

Shows his readers that his view changed.

McBride ends the essay with a question. Why do you think he gives that question its own paragraph?

Talks about the divide between the rich and the poor and what certain people have to go through and music is their outlet.

What risk does Denby assume by beginning the essay with such a scathing description of the social queen and the jock?

That he will alienate the reader and that the reader may not recognize the specific references to films.

Who is Mrs. Guiterrez? What is her function in the essay?

The fictional victim of a crime and then also the victim of an invasive TV news interviewer. Her function is to represent the victim of media exploitation.

The essay begins with a fragment of a question that is repeated and expanded on in the second, third, and fourth sentences of that paragraph. Each of the sentences includes an ellipses, pauses that slow the sentence down a bit. What is the effect of these ellipses, and how do they, along with term-11the questions, set the tone for the essay? What ideas do they introduce?

The initial "How come?" invites curiosity. The ellipses emphasize the contrast between the positive appearance of reality and the negative feeling that reality has at times. Overall, ellipses help emphasize his investigation. They also generate a tone of irony & slight anger.

What does Bradbury consider to be the worst aspect of late-night local news? Do you agree? Defend, challenge, or qualify his assertion in your response.

The worst aspect is turning tragedy into ratings-grabbing entertainment.

McBride transitions from the personal to the historical several times. How does he achieve these transitions? What are some of the strategies he uses to make the transition?

Thoughtful commentary and personal anecdotes

Twain uses the term "slave" (page 314) to describe why women wear the "hoopskirt," he is developing his argument by

Trying to show that people can be overly committed for approval of others and it influences their choices.

Twain uses the list on page 314 primarily to?

Uses the list to make his argument.