Our previous discussion covered some of the potential justifications for and ramifications of naming/labeling. WORDS ARE POWER! Morrison would not “be quiet” about chaos and authoritarian governments. She wanted her audience to understand her definition and understanding of these concepts in the 21st century. If you remember back to Vonnegut’s letter “I Am Very Real” to the school board who censored his book Slaughterhouse-Five, he would not and could not “be quiet” about censorship and the ramifications of it. When we reviewed Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” for ethos, pathos, and logos, he could not “be quiet” about his understanding of the concepts of injustice and promises and democracy.
What about you? What words/concepts do you have an understanding about that might be different from someone else’s understanding? It’s time to start brainstorming some words/concepts you would like to engage in a discussion about.
- What are some words/concepts that may have multiple meanings depending on how they’re used or what type of audience member is receiving them?
- Identify an instance in a document or broadcast in which the meaning the author/speaker assigns to the word is debatable;
- You are not looking for an instance in which someone uses a term incorrectly. Rather, you are looking for an instance in which a person applies a word to an object or situation, and you disagree with the person’s evaluation of that object or situation;
- When you have your examples, then answer the following question: why is it important to dispute the meaning of that word? Your answer to that question will help in determining your thesis/claim.
Brainstorm some words/concepts. Share your ideas on this discussion board and respond to at least two of your classmates. Do your definitions of their words/concepts seem the same or different? Can you offer different perspectives? This is where it gets FUN!
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