AP Language and Composition (Period 3) Assignments

1. 1.     In his first four paragraphs, Levin uses hypothetical cases, and he pretty much assumes you agree in these cases that torture is acceptable.  Do you agree?  If not, why?
2. 2.     Is it reasonable to reply to Levin that we never know that the accused both is really guilty and will break under torture, therefore that torture is never justified?  Why or why not?
3. 3.     Now look at style.  Evaluate Levin’s title and his first two paragraphs.  Notice that the first paragraph ends with a relatively long sentence and the second paragraph begins with a relatively short sentence.  What is the effect of this sequence?
4. 4.     In paragraph 7, Levin says that “opponents of the death penalty, for example, are forever insisting that executing a murderer will not bring back his victim.” Suppose instead of “are forever insisting” he had said “sometimes argue.”  What would be the difference in TONE – the difference in the speaker’s voice and therefore in your sense of what sort of person the speaker is?  What does Levin gain or lose by writing the sentence as he does?

DIRECTIONS FOR OPINION PIECE ANALYSIS:

1. Choose a CREDIBLE source. Look through the opinions sections of the following (or a comparable) newspapers/sources:

The New York Times

LA Times

Washington Post

Chicago Tribune

Wall Street Journal

CNN

1. Find an opinion piece that interests you. Analyze it using the following questions as a guide:
   1. Is there ethos established by the writer? If so, how?
   2. What is the logos given for the argument? How does the writer use reason to persuade or inform?
   3. What emotional appeals (pathos) does the writer use?
   4. What is the overall tone of the piece?
   5. Take a close look at DICTION. I want you to choose at least 5 words/phrases (phrases can be no more than 4 words) and analyze the connotation.