T1 E4 Unit 6: Language & Style (Part 1)

Open Ended

time to record!

To begin our session today: please share something cool you have done lately or will do in the near future...

Fill in the Blank

Fill in the blank: The premises are the accepted _______ on which an argument is based.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a paradox?

• A statement that is always true

• A statement that contradicts itself

• A statement that is easy to understand

• A statement that describes an idea

Multiple Select

Identify TWO examples of paradoxes from the following options:

• Less is more.

• The sky is blue when the sun is out.

• The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

• Water boils at 100°C.

​More Paradox Examples: Songs and Movies

Hotel California by the Eagles. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.
The paradox: A person's ability to leave (check out) is contradicted by their inability to escape (never leave).

This song describes living the "good life," including addiction, greed, and materialism. Once you get used to it, you can try to give up this lifestyle, but its effects can haunt you forever.

Blank Space by Taylor Swift. Baby I'm a nightmare, dressed like a daydream
The paradox: The speaker presents herself as both something terrible (a nightmare) and something wonderful (a daydream).

This describes a person who seems lovely on the surface but can cause emotional chaos in a relationship, showing that appearances can be deceiving. 

Back to the Future:
The paradox: Marty McFly travels to the past and accidentally prevents his parents from meeting and falling in love. This jeopardizes his own existence, as seen by his siblings fading from a photograph.
The Terminator (1984):
The paradox: John Connor sends his father, Kyle Reese, back in time to protect his mother, Sarah.
In doing so, Reese falls in love with and impregnates Sarah, becoming John's father.

Open Ended

Why do you think authors might use paradoxes as a style choice for their writing? (Don't look it up - use your brain for this one.)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best explains the paradox in Hamlet's statement: "I must be cruel, only to be kind"?

• Hamlet wants to hurt his mother.

• Hamlet believes that a cruel act can have a kind intention.

• Hamlet does not care about kindness.

• Hamlet is confused about his feelings.

Multiple Choice

What does the paradox "Cowards die many times before their deaths" mean in the context of the explanation provided?

• Cowards experience fear and anxiety repeatedly, which prevents them from truly living.

• Cowards literally die multiple times before their actual death.

• Cowards are immortal and never die.

• Cowards are braver than others.

Multiple Choice

What is the main difference between literary paradoxes and logical paradoxes?

• Literary paradoxes are always false, while logical paradoxes are always true.

• Literary paradoxes are meant to be interpreted creatively, while logical paradoxes are meant to challenge logic.

• Literary paradoxes are used in mathematics, while logical paradoxes are used in literature.

• Literary paradoxes are easy to resolve, while logical paradoxes are not.

Multiple Select

Which two statements are examples of a logical paradox?

• This is the beginning of the end.

• All men are equal, but some are more equal than others.

• I am from Chicago, and people from Chicago never tell the truth.

• Is the answer to this question: 'no'?

• It’s very easy to take more than nothing.