A Question for the Final Exam
The following question will be asked on the final exam:
We have indicated that our task this semester is to understand the variety
of response to human events, the critical role of language forms in selecting
and coordinating that variety, and the way in which this linguistic process
shapes the coalition and conflict of human activity. You are to demonstrate
your understanding of these processes by dealing with the "Clinton/Lewinsky/Impeachment"
complex of events (the behavior of Lewinsky and Clinton, the Starr investigation
and the testimony within, and the impeachment inquiry). Describe 2 or 3
different motives that you find in discourse framing the talk about these
events. What vocabulary is characteristic of each motive? How do the motives
describe different realities of the same events? How does each strategically
accomplish its evaluation of various characters, events, and actions? What
action is appropriate within the view of each motive and how does the dramatistic
process frame this appropriateness?
Rules
- This is not a "take-home" test. You will write your answer
in the classroom on Monday. No notes may be brought into the exam. But
you can do whatever reading and other preparation will help you prepare
for the exam.
- After you receive this exam question, the instructor will not answer
any substantive questions that bear on the answer. If you have any questions
to clarify what you take as ambiguities in the question, you may email
me. Any substantive answers that the instructor thinks will help anyone
answer the question will be emailed to everyone on the class listserv.
- You can study with others. I urge you to do so. Submissions by anyone
who wants to use the class listserv will be passed through within 24 hours.
- This question does not require that you view everything and read everything
related to the events in question. Obviously you will need to view enough
or read enough to see a variety of responses. Your answer will be evaluated
on your demonstrated understanding of the perspective of the course and
your ability to apply it, not on the depth of your knowledge of the events.
- The answer you write on Monday will be 1/3 of your grade. That should
mean that you can complete writing it in about 40 minutes.
Some Hints:
- Don't waste your time memorizing your answer to write it in the exam.
Think of this as a speech without notes and prepare for it in that way.
- Don't spend all your study time on this. There are two other questions
you will be asked on the exam. Make certain that you are ready to answer
questions on the breadth of the course and on the books that you have read.
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