In the above article, “Animals Used for Experimentation”, the author uses diction, details, and language to really help get their point and opinion across to the reader. The author’s point is that animal testing needs to be stopped.
The author tries to show the reader why animal testing is bad, and as such, why it needs to be stopped. They use carefully selected diction, pejorative words that make everything seem worse. The author tells us how “After enduring lives of pain, loneliness and terror, almost all of [the animals] will be killed.” If they had chosen instead to simply say that after living painful lives the animals would be killed, the sentence would not elicit so emotional a response. When we hear the word endure we know that the animal lived through something absolutely horrible. The same sort of thing happens when we hear the word terror, we know that the animal is beyond frightened. The use of these pejorative terms makes us side more with the author than with the scientists harming the animals.
The author also uses details to get the reader on their side. One example of a detail that the author uses is that “Exact numbers [of animals used for testing] aren't available because mice, rats, birds and cold-blooded animals—who make up more than 95 percent of animals used in experiments— [go uncounted]”. In that one sentence the author shows us multiple details that promote mistrust of the industry. The previous sentence the author wrote tells us that more than one million animals are tested on each year, and those are only the counted animals. Once you see these details juxtaposed you start to understand the magnitude of this industry and how truly unregulated it is. These details help push the reader even farther onto the writer’s side.
Throughout the article the author uses academic language. It is slightly elevated, which helps us to see the audience that the writer wants. The author wants more intelligent people to agree with them so they try to make the article sound smart and scientific. At the same time, the author wants most people to understand, and that’s why the language is only slightly elevated. This is a good way of catering to a large audience. Also, we see that the author wants to be taken seriously, that is another reason for them to write in this slightly elevated academic language.
And so we understand why the author writes in the way they do. They use diction, details, and language to cater to a wide audience and to persuade people to agree with them on the matter of animal testing.
I see you used a specific term to point out the words you used in paragraph one to exemplify the literary technique; once again, your command of vocabulary would no doubt have very beneficial consequences on the AP exam through its ability to prove your knowledge and lingual prowess.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a hard time seeing why counted or uncounted animals has the effect on the reader you pointed out, although that is just preliminary observation; it is quite possible that through the lack of the understanding you have of this article I have arrived at an unrefined POV on it, but keep in mind the ambiguity of this paragraph may mislead an AP examiner, so perhaps you could outline the connection further (though I'm sure in your head it must be painfully obvious).
I think you're accurate in your description of how language was used, but perhaps selecting an advantageous and specific example would have better pressed your observation; on the AP exam, where text is offered, it may be wise to use it to its fullest.
Otherwise good read and good work.
You did a great job of pointing out the literary techniques that were used to illustrate to the reader that animal testing was a horrendous a practice. It is also clear that you have a good command on the vocab. The only suggestions i have would be to make sure your intro catches the reader's interest and that your language isn't too casual.
ReplyDeleteTry adding a little more writing to your opening in order to pull in the reader. You intent is clear, but you want to also make sure that you're using your skills as a writer to also make it sound, well, "pretty," for lack of a better word.
ReplyDeleteI really love the observations you made about the elevated language in the article!