February 3, 2003

Homework 2: Euphemism/Dysphemism & Style
due the week of Feb. 10 in section

Find a text of about a page. Use a different text from the one you used last time (but it can be the same source if you want). It should be a text that either promotes or opposes a thing or course of action (for instance, an ad, an editorial, a speech).

Locate at least five uses of euphemism or dysphemism in the text. (It's great if you can find both, but some texts may contain only one or the other.) For each instance,

1. give the euphemistic/dysphemistic word or phrase
2. say whether it's a euphemism or dysphemism
3. give a more neutral term for the thing that's referred to

In the same text, identify two different style features that reflect the type or purpose of the text; for examples, see the class handouts from Jan. 27 or 29.

For each feature,

1. give at least one word or phrase that exemplifies the style feature
2. name the style feature (alliteration, parallelism, abbreviation, etc.)
3. say what you think the purpose of the feature is: either to identify the text as a certain type (like abbreviations in personals) or to create a "feeling" or "mood" (jazzy, exciting, relaxing etc.)

Make sure you put your name and the section you attend at the top. The assignment should be typed, about one page in length, with the text attached.