English - Mr

What is Composition?

• Core idea: to compose means to bring smaller elements together to form a larger, coherent whole. This applies across domains: music (notes on sheet music form a piece), literature (words form sentences, paragraphs, letters, poems), daily speech (ordinary conversation is a form of composition), and film (scenes together create a movie).
• The aim of composition: to create; ideally, to be remembered or immortalized in some form.
• Everyday relevance: even casual communication is a form of composition (e.g., a text message or email participates in the larger web of meaning).
• Distinction: “scientific composition” is a way to think about assembling parts into a larger product; each part contributes to the whole.

Outlining and Structure

• Before starting a written work, many writers outline to provide a framework or skeleton.
• An outline serves as a jumping-off point for expansion into a larger work.
• A good outline can be short and simple (a sentence per question) as long as each major area is covered.
• The skeletal structure helps organize thoughts and content; outlines are not limited to paragraphs per item.
• People have different outlining styles:
  • Bullet-point outlines (classic).
  • Summarized outlines.
• An example of a traditional outline uses Roman numerals (I, II, III, …) to segment topics.
  • Roman numerals provided a long-standing, dense method for organizing information (Greece, Rome, mathematics, science, philosophy).
  • This historical system has influenced the standard outline format we still use today, though it can feel dense.

Journalist Questions as an Outline Tool

• A practical alternative to a formal outline is answering journalist questions for different essay types.
• For your first essay, you will complete 3 sets of journalist questions—one for each type: narrative, argumentative, and research.
• You do not need paragraphs for these answers; short sentences are fine as long as each question is addressed.
• For the final essay, you will reduce to 2 sets because you will choose among 3 essay types for the first, and then select between 2 options for the second (to expose you to multiple types over the semester).
• After answering journalist questions, you should add detail on key concepts such as Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.

Ethos, Pathos, Logos: The Classical Appeals

• These are the three essential elements of an argument, attributed to Aristotle (the Greek philosopher who taught Alexander the Great).

• Logos (logic): the rational, logical structure of the argument; the sequence of reasoning and evidence supporting the claim.

• Pathos (emotion): the emotional appeal aimed at swaying the audience’s feelings and motivations.

• Ethos (ethics/credibility): the speaker’s character, credibility, and reliability; sometimes interpreted as the presenter’s credibility or authority on the topic.

• The balance of these appeals depends on the essay type:

  • Research: strongest emphasis on Logos (logical, evidence-driven).
  • Argumentative: strong emphasis on Pathos to sway opinion, while maintaining logical structure.
  • Narrative: blends Logos, Pathos, and Ethos to tell a meaningful story with a credible voice.

• Practical framing: with journalist questions, indicate which appeal you will lean into most for each essay type.

• Note on terminology: Logos = ext{logos}, Pathos = ext{pathos}, Ethos = ext{ethos} (presented here in LaTeX-formatted supplement for study planning).

Essay Types and Strategic Roadmap

• Narrative essays: focus on reflection on a major life moment; must include logical progression and emotional detail to create impact.
• Argumentative essays: aim to sway opinion; rely on a logical structure supported by evidence; emotional appeal can be leveraged to strengthen persuasiveness.
• Research essays: rooted in evidence, analysis, and logical argument; strongest emphasis on Logos.
• The journalist-question approach helps ensure coverage of essential elements (who, what, where, when, why, how) and avoids missing key topics.

Historical and Rhetorical Examples

Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK Jr.)

• Core logic of his arguments: end segregation and achieve equality for all; connect to the broader humanistic goal of civil rights.
• Emotional appeal: evoke justice, dignity, and the moral imperative to change; nonviolent civil disobedience as strategy.
• Ethical appeal: equality and justice as a positive, ethical aim; leadership built on nonviolence and democratic ideals.
• Historical context and logic: linked to the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights Movement; argued for societal transformation through peaceful means and equal rights.
• Nonviolence: drawing on Mahatma Gandhi’s method; peaceful protest as a strategic and ethical stance.
• Iconic moment: the “I Have a Dream” speech (ethical and emotional core of the movement).

Adolf Hitler and Stalin (as opposed examples in contrast to MLK Jr.)

• Stalin's logic and strategy:
  • Primary aim: stay in power and build a powerful, industrialized nation.
  • Use of fear as a primary emotional lever to suppress dissent; reliance on propaganda, purges, and coercive control (e.g., secret police, censorship, removal of perceived enemies).
  • Techniques: deepfakes-like manipulation of evidence, falsification of records, and targeted violence (e.g., purges, gulags).
  • Historical arc: Bolshevik revolution, Stalin’s rise to power after Lenin; portrayal of power consolidation and the elimination of rivals (e.g., Trotsky).
  • Allegory connection: parallels to Animal Farm where the right mechanisms for control (fear, propaganda) enable totalitarian rule.
• Ethical assessment: purges, starvation, mass casualties, and suppression of dissent are unethical; the use of fear and propaganda to control the population is condemned.
• Other notes: the Cold War era and nuclear deterrence (Mutually Assured Destruction) shaped political calculations and fear dynamics.
• Stalin’s end: stroke and inability to access medical care due to fear-driven suppression of dissent; heavy human costs and dictatorial collapse.
• Comparative lens: discussions touch on the complexity of historical figures and the ethics of political leadership; the same broad tools (logic, fear, ethical claims) shape actions across regimes.

Animal Farm as Allegory

• Orwell’s Animal Farm uses allegory to critique totalitarianism and the Russian Revolution.
• Key characters:
  • Napoleon (Stalin analogue): consolidates power, undermines rivals (e.g., Trotsky), exploits workers, and manipulates language and facts.
  • Boxer: the loyal, hard-working horse who embodies the working class; motto “I will work harder” mirrors the Soviet industrial collective.
• Boxer’s fate: internalized ideology and loyalty are exploited; he is metaphorically sacrificed for the state’s ambitions (glue factory reference reveals the truth when the façade is peeled back).
• Ethical and emotional themes: fear, loyalty, betrayal, and the dangers of totalitarian manipulation of truth.

Real-World and Ethical Implications

• Complexities of political leadership: even celebrated figures can exhibit both admirable and troubling traits; leadership involves balancing ideological goals with human consequences.
• The ethical dimension of state power: the use of fear, propaganda, and coercion often accompanies political projects; these tools can be justified by leaders in the short term but yield long-term harm.
• Media and perception: propaganda, selective information, and rewritten history affect collective memory and policy; the line between authentic leadership and manipulation can blur.
• Contemporary notes: parallels to modern politics include how fear and simplified narratives are used to mobilize or discredit groups, underscoring the importance of critical thinking and ethical civic engagement.
• Critical lens on rhetoric: recognizing when appeals to logos, pathos, or ethos are used responsibly versus manipulatively; the value of evidence, empathy, and credibility in public discourse.

Foundational Connections and Real-World Relevance

• Composition as a universal practice