Analyzing Buzzwords,
Exercises |
 |
Buzzwords are usually intended to be
a. attention-grabbing, easily
posted -- useful for advertising --and
b. abbreviations of slogans.
Buzzworks
can be short because they express ideas that are familiar and socially
acceptable and often taken for granted. Examples might be
single-word signposts like, "Caution!" instead of "Exercise Caution!"
Or "Excellence!" instead of "Pursue Excellence!" It's much less likely
we would see signposts like "Cannibalism!" or "Torture!" or
"Mockery!"
Because
buzzwords can be ambiguous they are often embellished by embedding
them into slogans or mottos.
Slogans and mottos are devised primarily:
A. To motivate people to consensus on a plan of action; and often, most importantly,
B. To conceal a (values) question whose answer people might dispute.
EXERCISES:
For each of the slogans or mottos given below indicate:
a. a possible motivational intent, and
b. the (values) question(s) it conceals .
EXAMPLE: Make Every School A Good School!
Possible Motivational Intent (PMI) : To get people to improve schools uniformly across a system.
Concealed Values Question(s) (CVQ): What makes a school good? Can schools be different and still be good? Are these "goods" compatible? Who should judge this?
1. Treat all students fairly!
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________
2. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________
3. Pursue Justice!
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________
4. Treat each individual as an end; never as a means!
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________
5. Leges Sine Moribus Vanae! (Laws without morals are of little worth. -- U of P crest slogan)
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________
6. Mens Sana in Corpore Sano! (A healthy mind in a healthy body -- Widener U Crest slogan)
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________
7. Semper Fidelis! (Always faithful -- U.S. Marine Corps motto)
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________
8. Gegen die Dummheit streben selbst die Goetter vergebens! (Schiller: Against stupidity even the gods strive in vain.)
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________
9. Never respond in anger!
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________
10. The best course of action is that which benefits the most people!
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________
11. To Really Educate, Teach VALUES!
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________
12.Ariston metron! (The middle course is the best! --Cleobulus)
PMI: ____________________________________________________________________
CVQ: ____________________________________________________________________