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After reading the syllabus and the Rhetorical Modes Handout, please write a paragraph or two comparing and contrasting the viewpoints expressed in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s quote at the top of the syllabus for this course:

“The great thing about writing is that it enables us to be so much smarter than we actually are,”

and Plato’s third argument against writing as listed on the Rhetorical Modes Handout, which states that:

Writing “frequently gave a ‘false’ impression of wisdom – one that did not ‘rightfully’ represent the wisdom of the argument of its author.”

Here are a few notes to help you along with this assignment.

First, the terms compare and contrast have very specific - and opposing - meanings. Comparing shows the similarities between two or more items whereas contrasting shows the differences. Accordingly, please keep in mind that, when an instructor asks you to compare and contrast two items - whatever they may be - those two items typically do have a thing or two in common but also usually some clear difference(s) as well. For example, you will probably never be asked to compare and contrast a watermelon and a gym sock because they are simply TOO dissimilar to even make sense of any sort of side-by-side evaluation of them.

Second, while you are welcome to express your opinions here to a degree, please recognize that both a very tangible and particular similarity and difference exist between these two quotes and the ideas that they represent. In other words, much like a math problem, there really is a "right" answer to this question - and many wrong ones. Please keep in mind that, if you find yourself writing much more than a brief paragraph or two at absolute most in response to this assignment, you have probably missed the mark and gone astray.


Sagot :

Below, there are two paragraphs comparing and contrasting the two quotes:

Both the quote by American writer Kurt Vonnegut and the quote by Greek philosopher Plato discuss writing and the fact that it is associated with being seen as smart or wise. Therefore, both men acknowledge that writing gives others the impression that the one who writes is an intelligent person.

However, the quote by Vonnegut sees that fact as an advantage, a perk or, as he puts it, a "great thing." On the other hand, Plato uses that fact as an argument against writing, which means he sees it as a disadvantage, maybe even a danger. It is deceitful to convey the impression of being smarter than one actually is.

  • When writing a paragraph comparing two things, our purpose is to highlight their similarities. That is what we did in the first paragraph above. The two quotes have the same theme, which is writing, and they both agree that writing can make people seem smarter than they are.
  • When writing a paragraph contrasting two things, the objective is to look for and point out the differences between them. That is what we did in the second paragraph above. The two quotes say the same thing, but one does so in a positive manner while the other does it with a negative connotation.

Learn more about the topic here:

https://brainly.com/question/18478951?referrer=searchResults