This is a self-study section where you have various reading assignments From your Literature Text to do at home.  Some of them are the basis of class and homework exercises, class discussion, and some will be necessary for the exams.

This semester you have to read the selected Agatha Christie stories.  The main heroes in these stories are Hercule Poirot (meticulous, but egotistical Belgian detective) and Miss Marple (little old English spinster).  

Faulty Reasoning (pages 73-74)

These often come up in arguments, advertising, propaganda, and essays!  Hopefully you will be aware of them when they are used on you, and you will be able to use them more effectively than I have done here to sell whatever you sell when you become mega-rich industrialists or politicians.

Too little evidence: making a generalisation without enough evidence. (Rami always eats shawarmas for lunch because I have seen him eating them for three days in a row now.)

Wrong Premise: base my arguments on a faulty assumption. (Ali must be weak at English because he came from another school).

Faulty Cause-effect (also called non-sequitur): stating there is a cause-effect relationship where there isn't one. (I slipped and fell because I broke a mirror)

Loaded Words: using heavily descriptive words  (Coffee is a full of healthy vitamins that build superb bodies and stimulate intelligence.) 

Testimonial (also called an appeal to false authority): using the reputation of a celebrity in an unrelated field (David Beckham always drinks choco-malt for a good night's rest)

Transfer: Transferring emotions attached with one object onto another unrelated object, like connecting romance with toothpaste! Your wife will love your extra white teeth and fresh breath if you use Kandy, toothpaste of happy families!)

Bandwagon: trying to persuade people to be the same or join the crowd. (75% of holiday-makers stay at Sun Holiday hotels.  Avoid the rush, book now.)

Either-or: trying to force people into one of two options where there could be more available options. (You either give me a donation or you don't like animals)

Mudslinging (similar to argumentum ad hominem): raking up mostly unrelated dirt on people to dent their credibility as experts. (How can he be our president if he didn't serve in the army?)

Exercises

  “Enjoy a sumptuous meal at Venezia, the Ritz of Dubai.”      

“Poetry recitals, traditional music and dances, sheesha, henna, all at the Gobal village this month.                   

“I missed the essay, so I have no chance of passing this exam. 

“Why is Ryan on the prom committee? Did you know he was expelled from his previous school?                                                                             

“Either pay your own tuition or you can’t attend university.           

“Welcome to Dubai, the Paris of the Middle East.”           

“Rave your night away, the top DJs from London and Ibiza, the latest trance and house, the ultimate in laser and light shows, all at the Planetarium this Thursday.”                                                                                            

“I got 40 out of 50 for the test so I will pass this evaluation.          

“Why is Ryan on the prom committee? Did you know he was expelled from his previous school?                                                                             

“Cloning is immoral because it goes against our beliefs and ethics.” 

Michelle Pfeiffer says, “I always use Lux on my skin”            

“Come to Deira City Centre for surprises, fun and entertainment”

“Thousands of satisfied holidaymakers - contact Emirates holidays now.”

“Why is Ryan on the prom committee? Did you know he was expelled from his previous school?                                                                             

“If you don’t choose the Fairmont then we won’t have a prom to remember.”

Denotation and Connotation (p. 89)

Denotation is the exact (literal) meaning of the word.  Connotation is the positive or negative emotion associated with the word.  For example, Home literally means a house of four walls where my family live.  But is has connotations of love, security and comfort, hopefully.

Obvious hint: If you are intelligent, you will realise that we will ask you the positive or negative connotations of your vocabulary words, the ones you have to study.

Implication and Inference

Implication is what is suggested but stated openly, i.e. has to do with what people mean but do not say.  Inference is also not openly stated, but we realise by our observation.  

For example, From the way you are sweating/perspiring, I infer you are hot or tired from physical work.  If you tell me, "it would be nice to have some water," you are implying that you are thirsty or tired or hot."

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Last modified: Monday May 26, 2003.