1 “We should not forget that it will be just as important to our descendants to be
prosperous in their time as it is to us to be prosperous in our time.”— Theodore
Roosevelt
What is the effect of the phrases “prosperous in their time” and “prosperous in our
time”?
“Prosperous in their time” means that it will be important that their
descendants be prosperous as it is for Roosevelt and his generation. The use of his
diction here establishes a sort of parallel structure in saying “prosperous in their
time” and “prosperous in our time.” It emphasizes that fact to the reader and makes
it eye-catching.
Explain how it would change the effectiveness if Roosevelt had said, “We should not
forget that it will be just as important to our descendants to be prosperous in their
time as it is to us now.”
The diction here is very plain and not creative. That parallel structure that I
mentioned before is gone and takes away the emphasis that it created between
those two ideas. Saying it like this makes the quote dull and unimpressive and won’t
leave a lasting mark on the reader as the first one did.
2 “While we do these things, these deeply momentous things, let us be very clear, and
make very clear to all the world what our motives and our objects are.”— Woodrow
Wilson
What is the purpose of placing the main clause (“…let us be very clear, and make
very clear to all the world what our motives and our objects are.”) at the end of the
sentence?
Saying, “let us be very clear…” at the end of the sentences implies that what
he is going to say will be very important. It makes the reader pay close attention to
what he has to say and leaves an impression on them.
Explain how it would change the effectiveness if Wilson had said, “Let us be and
make our motives and objects clear to all the world while we do these deeply
momentous things.”
This sounds plain and has no trigger for the reader to let them know that
they should pay attention to what he has to say. It doesn’t catch their eye and doesn’t
interest them as the original version did.
3 “If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile
driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time—
a tremendous whack.”— Winston Churchill
What is the effect of sentences 2–5?
He used short sentences here to sort of create punch, make a point, and
grab the reader’s attention quickly so that he or she is captivated by what he has to
This study source was downloaded by 100000858936669 from CourseHero.com on 02-02-2023 09:41:26 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/20461620/0306-Analyzing-Syntax/
prosperous in their time as it is to us to be prosperous in our time.”— Theodore
Roosevelt
What is the effect of the phrases “prosperous in their time” and “prosperous in our
time”?
“Prosperous in their time” means that it will be important that their
descendants be prosperous as it is for Roosevelt and his generation. The use of his
diction here establishes a sort of parallel structure in saying “prosperous in their
time” and “prosperous in our time.” It emphasizes that fact to the reader and makes
it eye-catching.
Explain how it would change the effectiveness if Roosevelt had said, “We should not
forget that it will be just as important to our descendants to be prosperous in their
time as it is to us now.”
The diction here is very plain and not creative. That parallel structure that I
mentioned before is gone and takes away the emphasis that it created between
those two ideas. Saying it like this makes the quote dull and unimpressive and won’t
leave a lasting mark on the reader as the first one did.
2 “While we do these things, these deeply momentous things, let us be very clear, and
make very clear to all the world what our motives and our objects are.”— Woodrow
Wilson
What is the purpose of placing the main clause (“…let us be very clear, and make
very clear to all the world what our motives and our objects are.”) at the end of the
sentence?
Saying, “let us be very clear…” at the end of the sentences implies that what
he is going to say will be very important. It makes the reader pay close attention to
what he has to say and leaves an impression on them.
Explain how it would change the effectiveness if Wilson had said, “Let us be and
make our motives and objects clear to all the world while we do these deeply
momentous things.”
This sounds plain and has no trigger for the reader to let them know that
they should pay attention to what he has to say. It doesn’t catch their eye and doesn’t
interest them as the original version did.
3 “If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile
driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time—
a tremendous whack.”— Winston Churchill
What is the effect of sentences 2–5?
He used short sentences here to sort of create punch, make a point, and
grab the reader’s attention quickly so that he or she is captivated by what he has to
This study source was downloaded by 100000858936669 from CourseHero.com on 02-02-2023 09:41:26 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/20461620/0306-Analyzing-Syntax/
