Markel Ch. 8, 11

Instructions

• Answer the following questions in a memo-format MS Word document.

• Hand over hard copies after the test.

      Questions

1. Markel suggests that in order for communication products to be effective, they need to address three personal goals shared by most people. Name one of those goals and describe what it means.
    
2. Markel discusses three elements of persuasive arguments: claim, evidence, and reasoning. What is the purpose of the reasoning element, and why should writers include it in persuasive pieces?
    
3. Members of different cultures respond differently to various argumentation strategies. What kind of evidence do Western Europeans and Americans tend to prefer? What about people from Arabic or Asian cultures?
    
4. What is wrong with this argument? "Mr. Arnett is a terrible instructor; ever since I started taking ENGL 2311, I've been getting zeros on all my assignments in every class."
    
5. Markel provides suggestions about appropriate sentence lengths in technical writing. How long should the average sentence be? Why?
    
6. If you've written a very, very long sentence, what are two strategies you can use to cut down its length?
    
7. Write a sentence that includes an example of parallel structure.
    
8. Write a sentence that uses active voice.
    
9. Rewrite the sentence from question #8 so it uses passive voice.
    
10. Rewrite the following sentence to eliminate negative constructions, passive voice, filler, clichés, wordy phrases, sexist language, euphemisms, and pomposity:
    
    I tend to think that it is not inconceivable that the incontrovertible veracity of something akin to the adage, "Man should only imbibe spiritous liquors in moderate quantities," is basically manifested in man's near-inevitable midnight prayers to the porcelain god after a party-hearty bacchanalian revel.