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Online Rhetoric, 2009.
A look at how the Internet has made new rhetoric possible.
1,085 words (approx. 4.3 pages), 4 sources, APA, £ 23.95
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Abstract
This paper looks at how online collaboration software, such as Cisco's Web Ex, Microsoft Office Live, Google documents and dimdim.com, are changing the nature of rhetoric. The paper specifically examines how online collaboration software has made rhetoric less formal, more universally accessible, and more egalitarian.
From the Paper
"Traditional rhetorical tools must still be used, however, to communicate new ideas and persuade group members to adopt novel points of view. The decision-making process also depends on how well group members use and respond to rhetoric. Of the five canons of traditional rhetoric, the one most drastically affected by online collaboration software is delivery. Technology makes an infinite array of delivery options possible, including those that contain video or audio content."
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The No Child Left Behind Concept, 2009.
A persuasive argument against the approach and implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002.
3,398 words (approx. 13.6 pages), 11 sources, APA, £ 60.95
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Abstract
The paper reveals that the result of inquiries into the efficacy of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act are virtually unanimous in their characterization of the NCLB concept as a failure and as a tremendous waste of valuable resources. The paper examines the four essential elements of the Act and outlines the many conceptual problems with this approach to education. The writer relates that he is opposed to the NCLB approach because it contradicts so much of the various philosophies underlying modern educational theory. The writer goes on to relates his personal philosophy of education.
Outline:
Background and History of the No Child Left Behind Act
Educational Reform Under the No Child Left Behind Act
Conceptual Problems with the No Child Left Behind Approach to Education
Specific Issue Analysis -- Contemporary Learning Theory and the NCLB Approach
Conclusion
From the Paper
"Education reform in the United States is not a new idea. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson enacted the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and during the administration of George H. Bush, the first President Bush promised, among other things, that by the turn of the century, all American school-aged children would have the benefit of comprehensive quality educational programming and improved nutritional and healthcare access to facilitate their learning in school. President G.H. Bush went so far as to promise that improved focus on American education would go so far by then as to also provide the training necessary for the parents of preschoolers to fulfill their role at home as their children's "first teacher"."
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Grammar As Power, 2009.
This paper provides an analysis of grammar and writing style, focusing on grammar used in the article 'Meat Is Murder On The Environment' by Daniele Fanelli.
2,741 words (approx. 11.0 pages), 1 source, MLA, £ 52.95
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Abstract
In this paper, Daniele Fanelli's July 18, 2007 article "Meat is Murder on the Environment," which was originally published in NewScientist Environment, is studied, and her use of grammar tested. The writer points out that by combining her ability to use not only correct, but also effective grammar with her innovative writing style, Fanelli has created an excellent persuasive piece. An analysis of Fanelli's words, nouns and noun phrases, verbs, clauses and clause types, grammar of discourse, and professional grammar, provides a comprehensive overview of the article. The writer concludes that by analyzing Fanelli's article, the many implications of grammar on writing style and the understandability of a work have become clear. Grammar is no longer for teachers and elementary school students, but for anyone who wants to make a professional impact.
Outline:
Introduction
Words
Semantic Representation
Form
Grammatical Category
Morphemes and Morphology
Nouns and Noun Phrases
Verbs
Clauses
The Grammar Of Discourse
Professional Contexts/ Conclusion
From the Paper
"Because this article is of a scientific nature, the author leaves many opportunities for students of English to study morphemes and their importance to semantics or meaning. For instance, the first paragraph of the article presents two words that are rather difficult to understand: eutrophication and acidification. The two lexemes are formed using the base words "eutrophic" and "acid," and the bond morpheme "iciation," the meaning of which is roughly, "to make" or "the process of making." Using affixation, or the process by which new words are formed when bound morphemes are added at the beginning or end of a sentence, the two new lexemes came into existence. Not only does this process allow student of the English language to determine how the words were formed, but also what they mean. For instance, knowing the suffixes, or morphemes, of the words allows students to determine that the words must both mean "the making of" or "the process of" something. Pairing the base words "eutrophic" and "acid" with the suffixes will allow must to draw the conclusion that the words mean the process of "making of a chemical consistency" and "making more acidic.""
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Don McLean's Song "American Pie", 2009.
Looks at the sematics and cultural context of Don McLean's 1972 song "American Pie".
13,585 words (approx. 54.3 pages), 6 sources, APA, £ 157.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that Don McLean's "American Pie", which debuted in 1972 at the height of the counter cultural revolution, was associated with the rebelliousness of the Hippies, the national social controversy of the Vietnam War, profound social changes in race relations and human rights and the women's liberation movement. The author points out that semiotics is the study of signs and symbols employed in communications and the process through which they develop their shared meaning among people who recognize and understand their intended message. The paper presents the semantic meaning of quoted lyrics from the song, such as 'I drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry'. The author states that this relates to the three civil rights activists who were murdered by racists in Mississippi while working to register black voters in the rural South.
Table of Contents:
Semiotics
Cultural Context of Don McLean's American Pie
Semiotics of the Music
From the Paper
"Just as importantly, by the 1970s, the movement toward racial sensitivity had already resulted in a change from the term "race music" to "rhythm and blues" because the former had taken on an offensive symbolism of racial bigotry that was on the verge of
becoming culturally unacceptable. In particular, this change represents the distinction between language and semiotics in that purely non-literal influences inspired the semiotic evolution of elements of language. Whereas "rhythm" does correspond to a component of music and "blues" does correspond to a thematic focus of so-called "race music", the impetus for the change was strictly moral and ethical and not any need for linguistic precision."
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Semantics and Linguistics, 2009.
This paper explores the manner in which meanings and expressions are altered when removed from the printed page.
864 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 2 sources, MLA, £ 19.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that language is a complex symbiosis of verbal and nonverbal cues used to convey information within and across cultures. The writer then discusses that the needs for economy, for familiarity and for personal expression have together had the effect of enabling individuals to achieve a diversity of meanings and linguistic expressive tendencies within the context of a shared communication framework such as a language or dialect. Next, the writer presents an exploration of the way in which meanings and expressions may change when they are removed from the printed page. The writer concludes that factors such as context, the nature of the relationship between the conversant partners and general social conventions within a culture play a determinant role in the way that individuals choose both the information they disclose and the manner in which they disclose it.
From the Paper
"This speaks to our instinctual use and comprehension of words which are created by the processes of blending and clipping. Word economy is a common trait of informal linguistic communication and even the word choice more commonly used in the business setting today, where there is a high premium on conciseness but linguistic decisions that are simultaneously comprehensible to a common denominator of recipients.
"This suggests much about the way that we appear to almost naturally understand such words. Their adoption as a natural consequence of the desires inherent in the process of human communication illustrates that they are not necessarily spontaneously produced on a whim by one inflective user. Rather, we may more accurately understand that such terms are reflective of some inherent need within the language. Whether the need is to express a new range of ideas within the concise context of a single word, as seems often to motivate blending or to convey information about one's self by suggesting through word choice a certain loose, off-the-cuff informality, it is clear that there are both conscious and unconscious forces at play in our choice of word economy."
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Non-elected Rulers, 2009.
A look at the etymology of the words king, tyrant, sultan and rajah.
1,177 words (approx. 4.7 pages), 7 sources, APA, £ 25.95
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Abstract
The paper closely examines the words 'king' and tyrant' that were used for a ruler in European countries as well as 'sultan' and 'rajah' that were the names used in Turkey and Asian countries. The paper shows how although the four words all mean a non-elected ruler, each word has different origins and has undergone different semantic changes.
From the Paper
"For thousands years ago, there had always been non-elected rulers of peoples throughout the world. Even in today, kings and queens still exist and rule in some countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden. These monarchs symbolize the countries' glorious history where nobility and being "blue-blooded" were icons of superiority. Although today's kings and queens hardly have any power over their nations except for few Arab and Asian countries, most rulers throughout history had undeniable power over their people and the vestiges of ancient civilizations reflect that power (ex. the Tomb of Pharaoh). The rulers were sometimes thought to be gods or to have powers only gods may have. In different regions, cultures and times, the names used for the concept "rulers" vary and their meanings differ slightly. Further, the words used to describe those rulers experienced different semantic changes. King, tyrant, sultan and rajah are examples of these."
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Code Switching, 2008.
An overview of the linguistic concept known as code switching.
3,665 words (approx. 14.7 pages), 15 sources, APA, £ 64.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how the term code switching" is actually used to describe those cases wherein a bilingual speaks to another bilingual with the same linguistic background and changes from one language to another in the course of conversation. It provides an overview of the grammar of code switching, some constraints associated with the concept, a description of the quantitative and qualitative differences that affect language acquisition and use, and the code-switching differences between children and adults. A critical review of the peer-reviewed and scholarly literature to this end is followed by a summary of the research and salient findings in the conclusion.
Outline:
Review and Discussion
Grammar of Code Switching
Constraints of Code Switching
Language Acquisition: Quantitative vs. Qualitative Differences
Children vs. Adult Code Switching
Social Factors and Code Switching
Conclusion
From the Paper
"According to Byram (2000), "Just like words, the voice (the way of pronouncing words and phrases, intonation and rhythm), gestures of various kinds, visual signs, posture, gaze, proxemic positioning and so on contain information which can be captured and used by the interlocutor in an appropriate and efficient manner, irrespective of the language and culture and in spite of certain quantitative and qualitative differences" (p. 446). In this regard, Meisel (2000) suggests that language acquisition studies have much to gain from investigating the simultaneous acquisition of two (or more) "first languages": "By analyzing the development of two linguistic competences in one individual, we may be capable of sorting out more easily to what extent the underlying logic of development is determined by the grammatical system to be acquired, or the particular way of human language processing as opposed to properties of the individual or of the communicative situation. There is, in fact, a steadily increasing amount of research in this area" (p. 344)."
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Bilingualism, 2008.
This paper looks at the concept of bilingualism and what it means for the U.S. and its citizens.
942 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 7 sources, MLA, £ 21.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that the entire world is undergoing a major change with the increase in globalization and becoming a flat enterprise. The writer also discusses that it will be pertinent for future generations to know more than one language to succeed in their careers, regardless of what these occupations may be. In addition, the writer maintains that the U.S. is far behind other countries in terms of knowing other languages. The writer concludes that for the U.S. to remain a successful economically competitive country, it will have to promote more language acquisition among children.
From the Paper
"Over the years, as scholars attempted to define bilingualism, different theories were suggested. For example, in order to conceptualize linguistic organization in bilinguals, in 1953 Weinreich made a distinction between compound and coordinate bilingualism. The compound bilingual had one semantic system and two language codes, and the coordinate bilingual had two semantic systems, and two language codes. Compound bilinguals acquire their languages in a joint context and are thought to store linguistic information interdependently. Coordinates instead acquire their languages in separate contexts and are considered to maintain independent linguistic stores. However, this concept was later negated, because semantic systems often overlap and actually sometimes converge. Today, people do not see the difference so much as distinct semantic systems as they do separate cultures."
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L1 Transfer versus Universal Grammar, 2008.
A complete research project to analyze the concepts involved in the L1 (native language) transfer versus universal grammar debate.
9,580 words (approx. 38.3 pages), 38 sources, APA, £ 124.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that adults learning a second or foreign language often produce errors or nonnative substitutions, including a foreign accent and normative grammatical utterances. To study the issue of L1 (native language) transfer versus universal grammar, the author uses a critical review of relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature and a survey of Mexican-American second language learners living in California concerning their views on these issues. The paper concludes that the knowledge of grammar in one language does not necessarily translate into an efficient use of grammar in another language. Included with the paper are several graphs, charts and tables.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of Study
Importance of Study
Rationale of Study
Overview of Study
Definition of Terms
Review of the Literature
Background and Overview
L1 Transfer
Universal Grammar
Discussion
Table: Recapitulation of L1 Transfer Studies
Table: .Recapitulation of Universal Grammar Studies
Methodology
Data Analysis
Summary and Conclusions
From the Paper
"Following a period of relative inattention during the Renaissance, an wide range of concepts of universal grammar emerged which were no longer tied strictly to Latin; instead, grammarians began to consider what is universal in human languages to the "particular" or "special" properties that serve to differentiate one language from another. In this regard, Thomas reports that Johann Heinrich Alsted provided a useful definition of "general grammar" in his 1630 Encyclopedia as 'the pattern [norma] of every particular grammar.'"
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Teaching Synonymy, 2008.
This paper discusses the problems of synonymy in the English language and suggests ways of teaching the correct usage.
1,930 words (approx. 7.7 pages), 6 sources, APA, £ 38.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that some linguists insist that in order for true synonymy to exist the two words must be identical in meaning when they are transposed into the same sentence; however, this is often not possible because of the dual meanings that some words possess and the possibility that switching the words may have a different impact on the reader because of slang. The author points out that, when different cultures are considered in relation to words, the sameness may become confusing because the words or phrases are interpreted by people with differing cultural associations. The paper stresses that teaching synonymy requires students to work on activities, which are directly related to each concept. The author analyzes the contents of an included email and suggests teaching activities.
From the Paper
"Klembe (1983) states that "utterances" may classify as synonymy. This is because utterances are expressions that may not have a specific meaning if broken down word by word, but they do have an implied meaning if they are interpreted as the speaker intended them to be understood. Field, (2001) states, however, that defining utterances as synonymy is much the same as arbitrarily insisting that a word or phrase has meaning when it does not.. Yet, Fine (1993) stipulates that Aristotle accepted both approaches as arguments and that ultimately how synonymy was determined was left to the listener. "
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Social Colloquialisms, 2008.
A research proposal on social labeling and its significance, with a focus on the subject of gender.
1,186 words (approx. 4.7 pages), 5 sources, APA, £ 25.95
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Abstract
The paper relates that social labeling is identified as qualifying terms attached to specific constructs found within general social interactions. The paper explains that the purpose of this study is to identify those social colloquialisms that are used to identify gender within common parlance. The paper states the scope of the study, the research questions, the methods of assessment as well as the format and timetable.
Outline:
Purpose of the Study
Scope of the Study
Methods
Outline and Timetable
From the Paper
"The pervasiveness of social labeling has resulted in the investigation of these words as representative of values shared throughout a specific society. Early research by Brooks-Gunn and Lewis (1979), for example, sought to identify why children between 9 to 24 months of age were more likely to associate the label "daddy" with an authority figure while the label "mommy" was more likely to be associated with a nurturing figure. The authors found that these two terms were heavily saturated within information communicated to infants and children, such as nursery rhymes, and that the children absorbed these social labels without attaching any qualifying information to these terms."
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The English Language, 2008.
Argues that the future of the English language promises to be an eventful one.
1,880 words (approx. 7.5 pages), 4 sources, MLA, £ 38.95
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Abstract
This paper asserts that there is every reason to believe that the English language will continue to divide and sub-divide in much the same way as the ancient Indo-European language of which it is a descendant divided and sub-divided over time. The paper further asserts that one can reasonably expect to see the denotative and, especially, connotative meanings of words change as societal attitudes and perceptual paradigms change. Lastly, the paper asserts that, as society evolves and new innovations muscle their way to the fore, new words and expressions will enter the lexicon - helped along by the fact that English has always been very good at borrowing from other languages when striving to find an apt descriptor for a new "thing" or phenomenon. The paper concludes that, in the end, the English language will continue to grow more dynamic, larger, and will most likely continue to freely take from other languages.
From the Paper
"For instance, Fred C. Robinson writes that a statement such as King Edward's in Henry VI, "Warwick was a bug that feared us all," would be incomprehensible to today's readers without an appreciation of how the noun, "bug," and the past-tense of the verb "fear", which is to say "feared," have both changed in meaning over the centuries. To be specific, in sixteenth and early seventeenth century England - the England of Shakespeare's time - a bug meant "an object of terror, a bug-bear," and the verb, "feared," meant something quite a bit different than the common modern-day understanding which holds that the subject in the sentence is afraid of someone or something."
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A Dialectological Study, 2007.
This paper is a dialectological study of the Peel Region, Southern Ontario, a mainly suburban area of Toronto with many new Canadians from around the world.
1,010 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 4 sources, APA, £ 22.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that a dialectological study of the Peel region first seemed impossible due to the high ethnic diversity of the region; however, the research revealed that Peel does feature an idiom different from that of Toronto. The author points out that some verification was possible when contrasting what was heard of the English spoken by diverse Torontonians on public transit as compared to the English that new Canadians acquired if they both lived and worked in Peel. The paper stresses that this research underscores that it is not true that globalization has created a world of uniform speakers of American-English. The author concludes that this preliminary research produced the thesis that the rise of local economies that absorb people who might otherwise commute to work elsewhere promises a degree of insularity to encourage certain forms of expression. It also seemed that the first language spoken mattered less than the kind of English one learned or adopted in Canada.
Table of Contents:
Telling Remarks
Discussion
Concluding Remarks
From the Paper
"A man born in Punjab, a Canadian for 25 years, stated that there could be no Peel dialect due to a diverse population and the influence of TV that had made North American accents quite similar. At the same time, he used to syllable of "eh" and also happened to use another bit of rural jargon in referring to having gone "down" to Kingston recently when most certainly he meant across. A total of 10 subjects agreed with his opinion that there was no Peel accent or dialect but said that they found the English spoken in Toronto very halting, as if it was assumed that no stranger had English as the first language or a good command of it."
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Human Language and Mathematics, 2007.
This paper discuses that mathematics and human language are very similar in structure and form because they can both be broken down into ever smaller functional units.
1,520 words (approx. 6.1 pages), 2 sources, MLA, £ 31.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that regressions are preformed all the time in mathematics, which involve the division of numbers into innate and precise formal units; however, this is not a common practice in human language other than by theorists of deconstruction techniques. The author points out that the deconstruction of language, both verbal and non-verbal, has been a practice of linguists, philosophers and critical theorists for many years. The paper relates that verbal and non-verbal human communication is comprised of both signs and symbols,which together form a recognized code, or what laymen commonly refer to as a language. The author underscores that there is a significant problem in reaching some consensus on what constitutes a verbal sign or symbol because of significant confusion regarding both meaning and intent.
From the Paper
"The solution to developing a better understanding of the relationship between sign and symbol in order to make the case for a deep similarity between human language and mathematics is to develop a more pragmatic framework within which to develop a more complete paradigm of the communicative process of verbal and non-verbal communication. Devlin does this when he speaks of the grammar generated, deep structure strings in the text of the "Language in the Mind". Some theorists say this need is a distinction that must be better developed between components of a sign to define as the signified and the signifier."
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