Research Essay
TOPIC: Inspired by the example of George Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language,” write a research essay of approximately 1500 words in which you document the contemporary manipulation (and frequent misuse and abuse) of the English language in your choice of topic. Here’s a sample: war, politics, economics, literacy, sociology, film, racism, and technology.
You may look at language manipulation in one of these fields as a whole, or you may focus on a specific topic within one of these fields. For example, if you chose film, you could focus on the technical and/or the promotional language in the industry. If you chose politics, you could focus on BC politics, orenvironmental concerns, or the link between political decisionsand the economy.
STRUCTURE: Please organize your essay as follows:
Introduction: 3 paragraphs
1. General introduction to topic and your thesis statement
2. Summary of the relevant arguments in Orwell’s essay
3. Short transitional paragraph linking Orwell’s essay to your own
Body: at least 4 paragraphs
Essay should include a discussion of these terms (your choice in ordering). Choose and define at least four of the fourteen terms; then furnish several examples for each term (using phrases or short paragraphs as your examples), and explain exactly how the manipulation works, or, particularly in the case of any of the three appeals, how the impact of the language works:
pretentious diction; euphemisms;meaningless words or phrases;
verbal false limbs; doublespeak; slurs; slang;jargon;
dying or dead metaphors;acronyms; neologisms;
logical, emotional and/or ethical appeals
Conclusion: 2 paragraphs
1. Why is the manipulation of language in this field a good or a bad influence?
2. What action can we take to encourage clear communication or help solve the problem?
DOCUMENTATION: Using MLA format, you must make use of the following sources:
One book One magazine article One scholarly journal article
One essay (Orwell’s) Two newspaper articles One online only source
One specialized dictionary
At least 3entriesmust have a currentdate = start of term.
You may use more sources. In referring to all sources, use in-text references for direct quotations, summaries, and paraphrases. Include a Works Cited list.
You will be looking for two types of source material, and you will need both:
Primary source material: these are examples of the manipulation that you are going to find in the media from a variety of sources: books, journals, magazines, blogs or other media formats.
Secondary source material: these are critical articles about the issue of language being manipulated for positive or negative purposes. They will explain how the writers or speakers that the critics are discussing are either aware of what they are doing and how it affects the writing, or that they are unaware of the effects their writing will have on other readers and what the impact of this lack of awareness might be.