Nonfiction Signposts Extreme OR ABSOLUTE LANGUAGE Extreme or

Nonfiction Signposts

Extreme OR ABSOLUTE LANGUAGE Extreme or Absolute Language makes an exaggerated, overblown, and possibly untrue claim. It admits of not exceptions, and it seems to forbid doubt or questions.

Clues such as every, all, always, indisputable, and unarguable should raise questions for readers. When readers spot this language, they should be alerted either to the strength of the author’s feelings or to the possibility that the writer is exaggerating and may even be deceiving or misleading the reader.

We all use extreme language. (What was the extreme language in that sentence? ) Examples- That was the funniest movie ever. I can’t wait for lunch. I’m starving. That scared me to death. I am freezing!

Sometimes Extreme or Absolute Language is merely an innocent attempt to grab the reader’s attention, an effort on the part of the writer to let his reader know how important he thinks an issue is, or perhaps to jar the reader out of complacency or indifference. Other times, the absolute language is less innocent. The author might be working too hard to convince the reader of a particular position, perhaps because he doesn’t have evidence or it’s revealing his particular bias. At other times, it might be a way for the author to show dire a situations is.

When you notice extreme or absolute language, you should stop and ask yourself, “Why did the author use this language? ”

Contrasts and Contradictions A sharp contrast between what we would expect and what we observe happening. A difference between two or more elements in the text.

Language or other text clues to Contrasts and Contradictions Phrases such as on the other hand, by contrast, however, and another viewpoint provide direct signals of a contrast. Other times the contrast or contradiction is internal as the reader thinks we don’t live like this or our government isn’t that way or this isn’t what I’ve thought.

Questions to ask when you see a Contrast or Contradiction What is the difference, and why does it matter?

Sparta was content to keep to itself and provided army assistance when necessary. Athens, on the other hand, wanted to control more and more of the land around them. “On the other hand” is the author’s signal that he’s going to show Athens differed from Sparta.

Even though the temperature dipped below 32 degrees, the water did not freeze. You are tipped off by the phrase “even though” that something you would expect to happen isn’t going to happen. You know that water freezes below 32, but the phrase has warned you that something unusual is going to happen, so you’re prepared for the contradiction when the sentence tells you that the water did not freeze.

The sun has not yet risen over the rocky hills outside the city of Peshawar, in Pakistan. Loudspeakers from the top of the mosque or Muslim house of worship, call out to the people. “God is great! It is better to pray than sleep! Come to prayers. ” Ten-year-old Garana rises from a mat on the dirt floor of her family’s house. She puts on her black robe and covers her head with an old shawl. Then she walks to the mosque to pray.

Look for extreme or absolute language in this example. “No one on this planet will be untouched by climate change, ” the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change announced. The report warned that climate impacts are already ‘severe, pervasive, and irreversible. ’”

Numbers and Stats Authors use numbers and statistics To provide precision-It’s not “a bunch” of dentists, but “ 9 out of 10. ” The refugee camp isn’t just “large” but holds “ 50, 000” makeshifts houses. To avoid precision- many, often, occasionally, impressive amount, and few.

The numbers and statistics signpost will help you make comparisons, draw conclusions, make inferences or generalizations, differentiate fact and opinion, identify details, recognize evidence, and understand the author’s purpose or bias.

When you are reading and notice numbers, number words, or amounts, you should stop and ask yourself, “ Why did the author use these numbers or amounts? ”

Garana and her family have lived in their one-room house for two years. It’s one of thousands of mud-brick homes in the Shamshatoo Afghan Refugee Camp. The camp hold about 50, 000 Afghan refugees. In fact, nearly half of all bottled water is reprocessed tap water, sold at prices up to 3, 000 times higher than consumers pay for tap water. The singer, 28, joined us for the interview.

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address honored the 50, 000 plus soldiers who were killed or wounded during one battle, the Battle of Gettysburg. It was only about 300 words long. Even though it was very short, it reminded us of all that was lost in that battle and must never be lost in our nation. In 1979, Iranian militants took over the U. S. embassy that was in Tehran. These militants held 52 Americans as hostages for 444 days.

Quoted Words Quoted words are easy to find. Authors quote people to help make the text more interesting or to help prove a point. When you are reading and you see words that are in quotations, you should stop and ask yourself, “Why was this person quoted or cited, and what did it add? ”

Quoted Words can be divided into three categories Personal Perspectives-The person being quoted often has no expertise other than having lived through something. Voices of Authority-An expert view Others’ Words-The author doesn’t highlight the words of one particular authority; instead he or she shows that many others have studied this topic.

Drought relief did not come this winter-California’s we season-as hoped. Though California is the third-largest state in land mass, nearly all of the state is abnormally dry at best, and in exceptional drought at worst. “There’s been a drought of some extent for multiple years now, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be ending anytime soon, ” Storm Shield meteorologist Jason Meyers said.

“I shall not stay here…Up before day at the clang of a bell and out of the mill by the clang of a bell—just as though we were so many living machines. ”

Word Gaps When you are reading, and the author uses a word or phrase you don’t know, you should stop and ask yourself…. Do I know this word from some place else? Does this seem like technical talk for this topic? Can I find clues in the sentence or somewhere else in the text to help me understand the word?