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3-101
278.
Exercise: In a paper written for another class, find a sentence or passage that is too vague
for its context.
Answers will vary
279.
A) Find an example in a newspaper or newsmagazine of a sentence or passage that is too
vague for its context. B) Write another version of the sentence or passage so that it is no
longer too vague.
Answers will vary
280.
Exercise: Find an example in a radio or television advertisement of a claim that is vague
enough to add nothing new to a potential buyer’s information. (These are
easy
to find—
your instructor may require a number of them.)
Answers will vary
281.
Exercise: Find an example of, and discuss, A) a persuasive definition, and B) a precising
definition.
Answers will vary
Essay Questions
282.
Using what you learned in Chapter 3, write an essay explaining any difficulty in the
following piece of reasoning:
"Look, if one television set has one more line of resolution than another, you can’t say the
first is ‘high-definition TV’ and the second one is not. So whether a set has 900 lines or
901 can’t make the difference. Neither can the difference between 1800 lines and 1801
lines. In fact, there’s no place where you can identify exactly where definition becomes
‘high.’ So there’s no point in talking about high definition, when you get down to it."
Answers will vary
283.
Discuss whether the vagueness of the following passage is appropriate to the context that
is stated or implied. Pay particular attention to the underlined expression.
I am 100 percent devoted to family values.
—from a political speech during the 2008 presidential campaign
We think "family values" may be the most exploited vague term of the last twenty years—it
is entirely too vague to be useful.
284.
Discuss whether the vagueness of the following passage is appropriate to the context that
is stated or implied. Pay particular attention to the underlined expressions.
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue,
but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the
place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
—United States Constitution, Fourth Amendment
A discussion of this passage should highlight the notorious vagueness of "unreasonable"
and "probable," as well as the fact that such vagueness is inescapable and (probably)
desirable in a "living" constitution—that is, one flexible enough to adapt to changing
circumstances. "Secure" is another term that students seize upon as too vague. It should
be noted that the first claim of the passage, through the word "violated," means simply
that people shall not be subject to such searches and seizures.
285.
Discuss whether the vagueness of the following passage is appropriate to the context that
is stated or implied. Pay particular attention to the underlined expressions.
One demographer thinks that more than 20 percent of the women born in the mid-1950s
are childless, a rate that is almost triple that of the previous generation.
You will hear this ascribed to a breakdown of traditional values or to rampant selfishness.
But this glib explanation misses the deeper truth, which is more subtle and less personal.
People haven’t suddenly become more selfish. Changing economic and social realities
have simply made children less economically essential and, therefore, more a matter of
choice. When people urge a return to traditional values, they’re talking about the
impossible: reversing centuries of economic and technological change that have altered
women’s roles. Women’s liberation is less an idea than the result of changes that, by
286.
Discuss whether the vagueness of the following passage is appropriate to the context that
is stated or implied. Pay particular attention to the underlined expressions.
"Comprehensive Coverage. The insurer will pay for direct and accidental damage to the
insured’s automobile and its equipment not caused by collision or upset."
—From an automobile insurance policy
In this context vagueness is inappropriate, from the standpoint of both the insured and the
insurer, though even here it is probably impossible to eliminate it completely. "Pay"—in
whole or in part? Who determines the expense of repairing the damage? "Direct and
accidental damage"—what all is included by this phrase? Rust damage? Oxidation of the
paint? Mechanical damage caused by accident, such as using the wrong type of gasoline?
"Equipment"—is equipment added by you since purchasing the car covered? "Collision or
upset"—are collisions with animals covered? With falling objects? (Students seem to enjoy
discussing this item.)
287.
Discuss whether the vagueness of the following passage is appropriate to the context that
is stated or implied. Pay particular attention to the underlined expressions.
"I believe the worth of any economic policy must be measured by the strength of its
commitment to American families, the bedrock of our society. There is no instrument of
hard work, savings, and job creation as effective as the family. There is no cultural
institution as ennobling as family life, and there is no superior—indeed, no equal—means
to rear the young, protect the weak, or attend the elderly—none. Yet past government
3-107
not necessarily another’s.
As part of a political speech, this passage is probably typical in its overall degree of
vagueness. Politicians—Democrats, Republicans, and others alike—would probably have a
lot less to say if we held them to any high standard of precision.
288.
Evaluate the following quotations from a local newspaper.
a. "Sexual offenses are becoming native to our culture."
b. "Dangerous offenders incorporate pornography into their preparatory stimulation before
seeking a victim."
c. "Pornography interferes with interpersonal relationships in everyone who uses it."
We would like to see discussion emphasize the obscurity of item a, the vagueness of item
b, and the question of the knowability of both items b and c.
289.
Write two letters of general recommendation, one positive and one not so positive, for the
same individual. Both letters are to describe the same facts—for example, that the
individual graduated with a B average, played varsity tennis, seems well liked by others,
has a sense of humor.
Answers will vary
290.
Below are descriptions of three characters from Anthony Trollope’s
Barchester Towers
.
Trollope’s words produce some vivid images. Write a brief (e.g., one-page) essay
explaining what images are evoked and analyzing why and how Trollope’s words succeed
in creating these images. (Alternatively, your instructor may ask you to simply list the
charged words in the descriptions.) This is as close to literary analysis as we’ll get—we
promise. The selections are from the 1963 Signet Classics edition.
Mr. Slope is tall and not ill-made.... His countenance, however, is not especially
prepossessing. His hair is lank and of a dull pale reddish hue. It is always formed into
three straight, lumpy masses, each brushed with admirable precision and cemented with
much grease.... His face is nearly of the same colour as his hair, though perhaps a little
Of course, there is no one right set of remarks to make about these passages. At the very
minimum, you should see that Trollope describes Mr. Slope in a most unflattering way;
that he is almost equally unflattering toward Dr. Proudie, but in a much more subtle way;
and that, despite honestly detailing certain physical shortcomings of Mr. Arabin, Trollope
manages to convey a very positive impression of this individual. The TV generation seems
to have a surprising amount of trouble with this exercise; all the more reason to take the
time to do it.
Multiple Choice Questions
291.
Classify the following: "That stuff up there, see? That’s plaque."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
292.
Classify the following: "If you want to know what corruption is, just look at the Democratic
senator from this state."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
293.
Classify the following: "If you want to know what a successful philosophy major looks like,
look at Steve Martin."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
294.
Classify the following: "When I saw my old crowd at my high school reunion, I suddenly
realized what the phrase ‘motley crew’ really meant."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
295.
Classify the following: "
My
idea of a beautiful woman? That would be Robin Flores."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
3-111
296.
Classify the following: "What Lani just did from the high board is called a full gainer."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
297.
Classify the following: "The simple tools are the pulley, lever, inclined plane, wheel and
axle, screw, and wedge."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
298.
Classify the following: "The inscription over the door of the administration building is a
sample of a gothic script called Fraktur."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
3-112
299.
Classify the following: "
Tenor
applies to vocal ranges like Pavarotti’s."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
300.
Classify the following: "Four spades and a heart make a four-flush."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
301.
Classify the following: "I may not be able to explain what pornography is, but the
magazines on that rack are cases in point."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
302.
Classify the following: "‘It was a dark and stormy night’ is what I mean by ‘cliché.’"
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
303.
Classify the following: "You can use ‘recreant’ nearly anywhere you can use ‘cowardly,’ but
nobody does anymore."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
304.
Classify the following: "To fledge an arrow is to fletch or feather it."
A.
definition by example
B.
definition by synonym
C.
analytical definition
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
