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Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: Residents of the continental United States have more pets than those of Alaska.
Q:
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 exampleB. definition by synonymC. analytical definition
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: He dislikes her smoking.
Q:
Classify the following: "If you want to know what a successful philosophy major looks like, look at Steve Martin."A. definition by exampleB. definition by synonymC. analytical definition
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: She looks more like her mother than her father.
Q:
Classify the following: “If you want to know what corruption is, just look at the Democratic senator from this state.”A. definition by exampleB. definition by synonymC. analytical definition
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: San Francisco (AP)"A group of citizens angry about the lack of public restrooms downtown is planning a sit-in at City Hall, leaving employees no place to go."
Q:
Classify the following: "That stuff up there, see? Thats plaque."
definition by example
B. definition by synonym
C. analytical definition
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: If properly frosted, a person shouldnt notice lumps in a cake.
Q:
Write two letters of general recommendation, one positive and one not so positive, for the same individual. Both letters are to describe the same factsfor example, that the individual graduated with a B average, played varsity tennis, seems well liked by others, has a sense of humor.
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: When the head waiter asked whether she had reservations, she said, "Yes, but Im going to eat here anyway."
Q:
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."
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: Carlton harassed the man on the motorcycle.
Q:
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 over the last thirty years."
Radio address given by Ronald Reagan in December 1985
The first portion of this passage strikes us as containing much that is vague, although the passage improves somewhat toward the end. "Strength of its commitment" must mean simply the fairness of the amount families are taxed, although it sounds like it might mean more; "the bedrock of our society" is a powerfully emotive phrase, but its meaning is especially vague. Perhaps the following sentence is designed to spell out that meaning, but it is not at all clear what it means either. Families may save (e.g., for the childrens education), but it is not clear how families contribute to hard work or job creation. These phrases and claims, like "as ennobling as family life" in the next claim, are principally homilies and emotively charged expressions designed to produce a positive attitude about the Presidents view of families.
"Past government policies" is spelled out more or less clearly in the following remarksat least one such past policy is identified; "family values" is not too vague; we are probably safe in guessing that these are simply whatever values contribute to keeping families together. (Is the President saying that past government policies have contributed to breakups of families? If not, what would follow from this claim?)
The last portion of the passage is much more precise and understandable, although "dropped dramatically" could mean nearly any decreaseone politicians dramatic drop is not necessarily anothers.
As part of a political speech, this passage is probably typical in its overall degree of vagueness. PoliticiansDemocrats, Republicans, and others alikewould probably have a lot less to say if we held them to any high standard of precision.
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: She watched him dance with intensity.
Q:
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 ."
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.)
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: He passed out and was later found by a group of stray sheep.
Q:
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 that have altered womens roles. Womens liberation is less an idea than the result of changes that, by reducing pressures for childbearing, inevitably led to more educational and job opportunities.
The first occurrence of "traditional values" is quite vague. Does a simple interest in having children count as such a value, or do the values referred to produce the interest in having children? "Rampant selfishness" presumably includes not wanting to share ones time, treasure, or energy with children; beyond that, it isnt clear what is intended. "Changing economic and social realities" and the succeeding underlined expressions are quite vague, but we can easily guess at what the author has in mind for them. The same goes for the last of the underlined expressions.
The main point of this paragraphthat having children is no longer an economic necessityis somewhat more difficult to find than it might have been had there not been so many very general (and vague) ideas present in the passage.
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: The team was upset.
Q:
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 , 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" constitutionthat 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.
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: He went to the store but was held up in the process.
Q:
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.
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: "Corporate executives outspend working families 11 to 1 in politics."Center for Responsive Politics & Federal Elections Commission
Q:
Exercise: Find an example of, and discuss, A) a persuasive definition, and B) a precising definition.
Answers will vary
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: The wizard made a pig of himself.
Q:
Exercise: Find an example in a radio or television advertisement of a claim that is vague enough to add nothing new to a potential buyers information. (These are easy to findyour instructor may require a number of them.)
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: All snakes are not poisonous.
Q:
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.
Q:
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: People who go shopping often go broke.
Semantically ambiguous: "go broke" and syntactically ambiguous: does "often" go with "shopping" or with "go broke?" (Many students incorrectly read "broke" as "broken" and thus get a second version of a semantic ambiguity.)
Q:
Exercise: In a paper written for another class, find a sentence or passage that is too vague for its context.
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: A slice occurs when the ball flies in a curve because of lateral spin; the slice curves to the right if the golfer is right-handed and to the left if the golfer is left-handed.
Q:
Exercise: Find an example of an ambiguous claim in a newspaper or magazine. (Hint: Headlines are sometimes great sources of such claims. Groups of them also float around on the Internet.)
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: "Real property? Why, your house and land are real property."
Q:
Exercise: Find an example of an ambiguous claim in a paper you have written for another class.
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: Interest is an amount paid for the use of borrowed money.
Q:
Exercise: Read a commentary or editorial in a newspaper; and identify and list as many emotively charged words and phrases as you can. Then come up with neutral equivalents for the words on your list.
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: A professional bureaucrat is anyone like our present governor.
Q:
Exercise: Are you familiar with the word, "adjuration?" Provide a definition. If the term is unfamiliar, make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound, and create your own definition. Then look the word up, and find out how close you got. (We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer.)
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: "Either" is a disjunctive correlative used before two or more words, phrases, or clauses that are joined by "or."
Q:
Exercise: Are you familiar with the word, "pervicacious?" Provide a definition. If the term is unfamiliar, make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound, and create your own definition. Then look the word up, and find out how close you got. (We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer.)
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: A diode is a solid-state electronic device that allows the passage of an electric current in only one direction.
Q:
Exercise: Are you familiar with the word, "ursine?" Provide a definition. If the term is unfamiliar, make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound, and create your own definition. Then look the word up, and find out how close you got. (We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer.)
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: "Hit me" means the same as "Give me another card."
Q:
Exercise: Are you familiar with the word, "noisome?" Provide a definition. If the term is unfamiliar, make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound, and create your own definition. Then look the word up, and find out how close you got. (We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer.)
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: Meat that contains larval worms is said to be measly.
Q:
Exercise: Are you familiar with the word, "mettle?" Provide a definition. If the term is unfamiliar, make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound, and create your own definition. Then look the word up, and find out how close you got. (We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer.)
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: Mayonnaise is a thick sauce of egg yolk beaten together with vegetable oil and seasonings.
Q:
Exercise: Are you familiar with the word, "trenchant?" Provide a definition. If the term is unfamiliar, make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound, and create your own definition. Then look the word up, and find out how close you got. (We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer.)
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: "Congenial" means "companionable."
Q:
Exercise: Are you familiar with the word, "besotted?" Provide a definition. If the term is unfamiliar, make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound, and create your own definition. Then look the word up, and find out how close you got. (We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer.)
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: "Foppish" means "dandy."
Q:
Exercise: Are you familiar with the word, "pursy?" Provide a definition. If the term is unfamiliar, make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound, and create your own definition. Then look the word up, and find out how close you got. (We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer.)
Q:
Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: "Dacha" is another word for "Russian country house."
Q:
Exercise: Are you familiar with the word, "parvenu?" Provide a definition. If the term is unfamiliar, make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound, and create your own definition. Then look the word up, and find out how close you got. (We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer.)
Q:
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym, or analytical: Happiness is having your own DVD burner.
Q:
Exercise: Are you familiar with the word, "meretricious?" Provide a definition. If the term is unfamiliar, make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound, and create your own definition. Then look the word up, and find out how close you got. (We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer.)
Q:
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym, or analytical: Honor means being willing to lay down your life for a just cause.
Q:
Make up a claim and a couple of contexts for it so that the claim is too vague in one context but sufficiently precise in the other.
Q:
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym, or analytical: "Poltroonery" means the same thing as "cowardice."
Q:
Invent three examples of claims containing grouping ambiguities.
Q:
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym, or analytical: What I mean by setting a good example is not putting your feet on the table.
Q:
Invent three examples of syntactically ambiguous claims.
Q:
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym, or analytical: "Widow" refers to a woman whose husband has died.
Q:
Invent three examples of semantically ambiguous claims.
Q:
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym, or analytical: "Epistemologist" means a philosopher or other intellectual who studies the nature of knowledge.
Q:
For the term, "weight lifting," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.
Q:
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym, or analytical: "An oxymoron? Try military intelligence."
Q:
For the term, "ballet," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.
Q:
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym, or analytical: The oud is a stringed musical instrument shaped much like a guitar and played primarily in Middle Eastern countries.
Q:
For the term, "Marxism," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.
Q:
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym, or analytical: A deciduous tree is a hardwood tree that loses its leaves during the winter.
Q:
For the term, "education," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.
Q:
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym, or analytical: A loquacious person is a talkative one.
Q:
For the term, "banker," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.
Q:
For the term, "poet," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.
Q:
For the term, "Republican," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.
Q:
For the term, "hippie," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.
Q:
For the term, "psychiatrist," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.
Q:
For the term, "attorney," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.
Q:
Classify the following definition according to its use: to reduce vagueness, to introduce or explain a new or unusual word, to evoke an attitude about something, or to accomplish some other purpose."Rock journalism is people who cant write interviewing people who cant talk for people who cant read."Frank Zappa