Critical

Review Answer Keys - Test 2A

AY2016/17 Semester 1
Date: October 2016 Duration: 1hr. 30mins

Questions

[All answers must be written in complete sentences or paragraphs as marks will

be awarded for organization and expression. You are required to skip a line
between each answer. ]

1. In ONE paragraph of no more than 100 words, identify the writer’s main claim and the
premises which support this claim. (4 Marks)

Maurice Christie’s article entitled, “Antisocial Jamaicans threaten US Cultural Exchange

Programme”, published in the Gleaner on Sunday August 14, 2016 claims that Jamaican
students are threatening the viability of the United States Cultural Exchange Programme
through indiscipline, poor work ethic, lack of respect, dishonesty and poor social skills. To
support this claim, the writer cites complaints by the CCI about the focus of students and a
propose reduction in the quota of Jamaican students participating in the programme come
2017. The unacceptable behaviour of some has spoiled the employment prospects of those
who will come behind them in the programme.

[Award 2 marks for bibliographical details and main claim and 1mark each for two supporting
details = 4 marks]

2. Identify the types of argument deployed in the passage and explain your answer. (4
Marks)

The writer mainly uses inductive reasoning in the passage as he makes no general claim about
the issue but presents a number of examples and anecdotes on which he bases his claim about
the atrocious behaviour of Jamaican students on the programme. He reasons from facts know
such as examples of shoplifting and anecdotes about greedy behaviour to a conclusion that is
not certain/guaranteed which is that Jamaican students are dishonest, undisciplined and
possess poor work ethic. The writer also deploys inductive analogy in suggesting a comparison
between the work ethic and attitudes of Asians and Jamaican students.
[Award 1 mark each for identification of inductive reasoning, inductive analogy or a deductive
claim made in the title and 1 mark each for a satisfactory explanation of each type = 4 marks]

NOTE: Although there are other deductive claims made in the passage such as “Black people
are self-destructive” these are made in passing and are not developed into an argument.

3. Identify and comment on any TWO literary devices used by the writer to support his
argument. (4 Marks)

(a) “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” – a proverb intended to suggest the need to
conform to the social expectations of the host society and to highlight the unwillingness
or inability of Jamaican students to adapt /conform.

(b) “The writing is on the wall” – a metaphor / Biblical allusion to suggest that time has run
out for a change of course and that consequences are inevitable.

(c) “these tertiary students, especially those from teachers' colleges, behave like pigs at
times” – simile used to underscore the atrocious, disgusting and unacceptable
behaviour of some students on the programme.

(d) “This is not a fairy tale, it is a fact” – a metaphor, stated in the negative, used to suggest
that there is nothing charming or pleasant about the likely outcome of this situation.

(e) “Our students carry this Ring Road carnival psyche” – a metaphor used to suggest that
Jamaican students are preoccupied by the desire for entertainment and satisfying
themselves.

(f) “Our students are saturated by too much entertainment” – a metaphor intended to
explain the preoccupation with entertainment and satisfying one’s self.

[ Award 1 make each for identification of any two devises and 1 mark each for
appropriate explanations of how their use helps to convey the writer’s main claim = 4
marks]

(g) “entertainment packaged as culture (metaphor) has robbed us of productive hours

(personification) either to be accepted with appropriate explanation

(h) “media has made a killing” – metaphor /personification or even hyperbole (to be
accepted with appropriate explanation)

(i) “same ol’ same ol’” – repetition which suggests that the Jamaican students have one
behaviour for ever situation and the writer’s disgust of their behaviour.
(j) Use of contrast between American attitudes and values and Jamaican ones, between
the writer’s son and other Jamaican students from different social backgrounds and
attitudes

4. Identify with appropriate examples the type(s) of evidence presented in the passage. (4
Marks)

The writer mainly uses personal anecdote and examples in presenting his argument. He
makes reference to his son’s experience and that of “close family members” who have
participated in the programme. He also references expert authority by mentioning an
undated Ryon Jones’ Gleaner article on the issue and concerns/observations from the
CCI, none of which is dated or the source cited. The writer suggests analogical evidence
when he implies a comparison between the work ethic and discipline of Chinese and
Thai students.

[Award 1 mark each for any two types of evidence identified and 1 mark each for
satisfactory explanations = 4 marks]

5. In ONE paragraph of no more than 80 words analyse whether the evidence presented is
bias, credible and sufficient. (5 Marks)

The evidence the writer presents is obviously biased since he never mentions the
numbers of students who perform creditably on the cultural exchange programme. It is
one-sided and presents no effective counterclaim to give the impression of being
balanced and fair. While some of the evidence offered is credible since it is based on
first-hand experience of his son, family members and a Gleaner article, it is not sufficient
to generalize about the totality of Jamaican students who participate in the programme.

[Award 2 marks for a satisfactory explanation of bias, 1 mark for a satisfactory

explanation of credibility and 2 marks for a satisfactory explanation of sufficiency = 5
marks]

6. In ONE paragraph of no more than 100 words, comment with appropriate examples on
the type(s) of rhetorical appeals used in the passage. (5 Marks).

Logos Appeal – deploying inductive reasoning in the passage; reference to Ryon Jones’
Gleaner article; reference to reaction of the CCI to the behaviour of Jamaican students;
reference to facts such as arrest of four Mico and Utech students in North Miami and
the fact that Jamaica’s participation in the programme is expected to be reduced by 50%
in 2017.
Pathos Appeal – the use of emotive words intended to convey the unacceptable
behaviour of Jamaican students on the programme – “atrocious”, “pigs”, “greed” etc. ;
the use of anecdotes intended to evoke pity such as the opportunity missed by the
young “dedicated employee” who was denied the chance of a week-end job because of
the poor behaviour of others and the use of literary device which may evoke an
emotional response on the part of readers.

Ethos Appeal – while the writer gives the impression of being well-researched, his
evidence includes hearsay and he is biased as seen in the absence of a counterclaim.
The writer therefore has low ethos appeal.

[Award 2 marks each for satisfactory explanations of logos and pathos appeals and 1
mark for a satisfactory explanation of the writer’s ethos appeal = 5 marks]

TOTAL: 26 Marks (Content), 2 Mark (Organization) and 2 Marks (Expression/Grammar)

ORGANIZATION EXPRESSION

Award 2 marks for excellent use of Award 2 marks for error-free and concise
complete sentences and paragraphs which use of language.
have a clearly stated topic sentence,
appropriate supporting details, and are
within the specified word limit.

Award 1.5 marks for good use of complete Award 1.5 marks for use of language
sentences and paragraphs which have a which may contain one or two error.
clearly stated topic sentence, appropriate
supporting details though there may be
one or two errors and slight overrun of the
specified word limit.

Award 1 mark for fair use of complete Award 1 mark for fair use of language
sentences and paragraphs which have a which contains some errors.
clearly stated topic sentence, appropriate
 supporting details though there may be
some errors and significant over run of the
specified word limit.

Award half a mark where there are Award half a mark where there are
multiple errors of organization. multiple errors of expression.