Binary Elements This lesson is designed to help

Binary Elements

• This lesson is designed to help students with various levels of writing experience. • Less experienced writers may select a structure (or series of structures) to use during a timed examination. • More experienced writers can expand upon the many depths that an expanded list of binaries will afford them.

Binary Elements-1 • • Irony Paradox Oxymoron Comparison Negation Concession Refutation

Binary Elements-2 • • Parody Contradiction Recognizing opposition Antithesis Synthesis Repetition Balance

Active, Social Creative Learning • In small groups, discuss how a rich understanding of a list of binaries benefits students on 1. 2. 3. 4. the synthesis-of-arguments essay the analysis-of-prose essay the argument-construction essay the multiple-choice questions

Connotations on Thinking Abstractly-1 Discuss these related and different pairs in terms of denotations and connotations: • Simple v. Simplistic • Complex v. Complicated • Context v. Pretext • Conclusive v. Conclusive

Connotations on Thinking Abstractly-2 Discuss these related and different pairs in terms of denotations and connotations: • Synthesizing v. Synthetic • Elemental v. Elementary • Rigorous v. Rigid • Empathic v. Pathos-laden • Sympathy v. Pity