Identifying Language Barriers

Identifying Language Barriers

This exercise will give you practice identifying language barriers in an article.

  1.  Read The Thinkers Guide to Ethical Reasoning pages 1-25. (for eBooks this is the first 5 sections: The Function of Ethics, The Problem of Pseudo-Ethics, The Elements of Ethical Reasoning and The Logic of Ethical Reasoning) and read The Art of Asking Essential Questions page 31 (for eBooks this is Questioning Bias and Propaganda).
  2.  Read the example of a thorough language barriers analysis without reflection.
  3. Read the rubric to ensure maximum points.
  4. Search online for a current (last 6 months) editorial, blog, or opinion piece. The article should be about the same length as the ones in prior assignments. If your article is too short, you won’t be able to identify all types of doublespeak. If you have difficulty finding an article, you can use the one below (Climate Refuges of the Arctic).
  5. Copy the article into an MS Word document.
  6. Using the highlighting tool on MS Word, note the following:

Blue – Fact

Green – Opinion

Yellow – Emotive Content Words

Insert Comments (under the review tab) to note examples of doublespeak (one each of euphemism, jargon, obscure language, false implication, assuring expression). Indicate in each comment the type of doublespeak used.

  1. Write a short paragraph reflecting on the assignment. What did you learn? Are you more aware of language barriers in written/spoken work now? How did this assignment change your critical thinking skills?
  2. Upload the marked up copy of the article and reflection here.

 

Grading criteria Must earn an 80% to earn credit for this assignment.

Fact (blue)
Fails to identify facts correctly.

0points

 Highlights some occurrences of facts correctly.

12points

 HIghlights majority of facts correctly.

18points
Opinion (green)
Fails to identify opinions correctly.

0points

 Highlights some occurrences of opinion correctly.

12points

 HIghlights majority of opinions correctly.

18points
Emotive content (yellow)
Fails to identify emotive content correctly.

0points

 Highlights some occurrences of emotive content correctly.

12points

 Highlights majority of emotive content correctly.

18points
Doublespeak
Fails to Identify euphemism, jargon,obscure language, false implication, assuring expressions.

0points

 Identifies just one of each type:euphemism, jargon,obscure language, false implication, assuring expressions.

12points

 Identifies at least one of each type AND more examples of at least some types:euphemism, jargon,obscure language, false implication, assuring expressions.

18points
Reflection
Reflection is missing or is incomplete or mininal.

0points

 Provides simple and/or incomplete reflection.

14points

 Provides thoughtful,detailed, relevant reflection that demonstrates lessons learned from the assignment and how student will change their reading habits

28points

Below is the comment from instructor for my last submitting, may help you know what she wants:

 

The vast majority of this article can be categorized.  Emotive content should be words or phrases and not entire sentences.  Also review double speak.  The type of doublespeak should be labeled?  For example I don’t think “Polar Bears” would be considered obscure language since that is their standard name.  “The freeze came late” is a fact that can be proved or disproved so is not a euphemism.  You were on the right track with your categorizations of fact and opinion but need to go a little deeper.  Also put a little more into your reflection.  What surprised you?  How will this change the way you approach an article in the future?