ENGL 101 Composition Practice 8 Visual Argument Assignment solutions complete answers

ENGL 101 Composition Practice 8 Visual Argument Assignment solutions complete answers

 

1 . Introduction to Visual Arts

Visual arts, such as paintings, sculptures, and photography, enrich society by bringing beauty, posing provocative questions, stirring action, or offering new ideas. Viewing and thinking about visual art is not only a pleasant activity, but also an important skill; it helps us to evaluate the images we create and that surround us in media. For example, you might be able to better analyze a photo of yourself on a social media site to determine whether its subject matter and overall impression is something you want to be made public.

Directions: Imagine you have seen the following painting in a trip to a museum. Then answer the questions about it.

 

Courtesy of National Portrait Gallery: Paul Gauguin, Self-Portrait (1889)

 

Consider the subject matter of this painting. Which general category does it fall into?

 

Which colors, lines, or shapes predominate in this painting?

 

What is the overall impression of this painting?

 

 

Courtesy of National Portrait Gallery: Gustave Courbet, The Black Rocks At Trouville (1865)

 

 

Courtesy of National Portrait Gallery: Claude Monet, The Japanese Footbridge (1899)

 

2 . Analyzing Visuals with Text

Images often work with text to make an implicit argument. In advertising, for example, visuals and text often depend on one another to convey a singular message. By analyzing the image alongside the text, you can practice understanding their significance as a cohesive idea.

Directions: Analyze the ad and then answer the questions that follow it.

 

From: "I'm a Phony" © 2011 National Crime Prevention Council

 

What is the subject of this advertisement?

Counterfeit designer goods

Phony people

Shopping addiction

 

How does the text correlate with the image?

The text glamorizes counterfeit products.

The image markets large sunglasses to young women.

The text reveals the seemingly fashionable woman as a fraud.

 

What argument does the ad make?

Consumers should not purchase fake designer products.

Purchasing counterfeit products is a good way to save money while staying fashionable.

Only cheap people would settle for a fake designer purse or sunglasses.

 

 

From: "Pirated Movies Cost" © 2011 National Crime Prevention Council

 

The woman's expression indicates that she is in favor of pirating movies.

The film equipment in the image appears to be old, suggesting that the real problem is outdated technology.

The woman's expression suggests that she is one of the people whose job is at risk as a result of pirated movies.

 

The film industry must adapt to the challenges of access to illegal downloads.

Buying counterfeit products hurts the U.S. economy.

Purchasing pirated movies is a good way to save money.

 

 

From: "Counterfeit Sneakers" © 2011 National Crime Prevention Council

 

The text suggests that the person who bought the sneakers is innocent and vulnerable.

The text suggests that the sneakers in the image are the equivalent of stolen goods.

The image contradicts the text because the sneakers are not counterfeit.

 

Only the government has the power to stop counterfeit products from being on the black market.

Consumers should stop buying counterfeit products.

The best time to buy new shoes is when they go on sale.

 

3 . Analyzing Images

Both in and outside of the classroom, you are confronted with a multitude of images every day. From the covers of your textbooks, to the billboards you see on the roadside, to the advertisements you see on television, you can't help but see the images that our culture produces. To understand these images, you must engage in the practice of analysis: you break down the image to understand its significance. When you take time to notice the elements of an image, such as framing, composition, focus, lighting, angle, and content, you can determine the collective meaning, or significance, of the image.

Directions: Examine the following image and answer the questions that follow.

 

© Logan Mock-Bunting/Corbis

 

Which of the following describe content that impacts the consciousness of the viewer? Check all that apply.

The desks lined up in a row

The religious affiliation of the photographer

The fluorescent lights on the ceiling

The red prayer bench

 

The composition of this image calls particular attention to:

The teacher

The red prayer bench

The windows

 

What significance does the composition of this image convey?

The image critiques the color scheme of a traditional classroom.

The image questions scientific teachings.

The image brings to mind the relationship between prayer and the academic classroom.

 

 

© Karen Kasmauski/Corbis

 

The image favors the child in the background, who looks industrious.

The image critiques traditional parenting methods.

The image uses an emotional appeal to draw attention toward the child.

 

 

© Lane Oatey/Blue Jean Images/Corbis

 

The image associates age with sophistication.

The image associates jewelry with intelligence.

The image associates beauty with wealth.

 

Version A

4 . Analyzing Visual Art

Analyzing a piece of visual art can be an enjoyable and thoughtful exercise. Begin by noting your first impressions, such as shock, anger, happiness, or pleasure. Then, consider the name of the painting and the details about when, where, and for what purpose it was created. Next, study the subject matter: Who or what is in the picture? What actions are taking place? After analyzing the subject matter, analyze the composition and design: What role does light or dark play in this picture? Which colors predominate? Are the lines and shapes distinct or are they irregular or broken? What did the artist choose? Finally, identify the painting period style or "school," a particular artistic movement recognized by common characteristics as belonging to a particular group of painters.

 

Courtesy of National Portrait Gallery: Vincent van Gogh, "Self-Portrait" (1889)

 

Which of the following best describes the subject matter?

 

What is the arrangement of the subject matter?

van Gogh appears on the left-hand corner of the canvas.

van Gogh, who is a secondary character, looks towards his canvas.

van Gogh, the primary character, has his head turned to look towards the viewer.

 

What action or activity is taking place?

van Gogh is looking out towards the viewer.

van Gogh is looking towards his paint palette.

van Gogh is gazing away from the viewer.

 

Which color or colors predominate in the painting?

 

What sort of brush stroke is evident?

 

Taking together the subject matter, composition, and design of the painting, which of the following best articulates its dominant impression?

 

 

Courtesy of National Portrait Gallery: Winslow Homer, "Breezing Up (A Fair Wind)" (1873-1876)

 

One large boat with sailors appears in the forefront; a smaller boat is in the right-hand corner of the canvas.

Two large boats dominate the painting; the boats appear side by side. There are passengers lounging on the edge of each boat.

Two boats are in the painting, with one larger boat in the background, and one smaller, tilted boat with four figures in the foreground.

 

The figures are trying to save the boat from capsizing in the rough sea.

The figures are catching and netting fish during a rough day at sea.

The figures are enjoying a sailing outing on the choppy water.

 

 

Courtesy of National Portrait Gallery: Claude Monet, "Woman With a Parasol" (1899)

 

The woman is the primary character; she is looking down at the viewer. A young boy, perhaps the woman's son, also gazes down towards the viewer.

The woman and the boy, perhaps the woman's son, are the primary characters; they both gaze up towards the blue sky.

The boy is the primary character; he commands the attention of the woman, who is probably his mother. Both characters ignore the viewer, who is looking up towards them.

 

The woman and the boy are playing together.

The figures in the paintings are standing still; they are gazing down.

The figures are sunbathing on a beautiful, clear spring day.

 

5 . Writing About Visual Art

 

Directions: Read the essay about the painting and answer the questions.

A Glimpse at Modern Paris: Eduoard Manet’s The Railway (1873)

Between the 1850s and the end of the century, Paris changed dramatically.

 

Which of the following best paraphrases the main idea of the essay?

 

When Manet began painting in Paris in 1950, artists were not painting scenes from city life, featuring ordinary people and everyday experiences.

 

The purpose of this paragraph is:

 

At first glance, the arrangement of the woman and the young girl might seem to be a casual snapshot of a scene in Paris.

 

What does this paragraph analyze?

 

In addition to the arrangement of the subjects, Manet’s use of color in The Railway symbolically separates figures that exist shoulder-to-shoulder in the crowed metropolis.

 

Which detail from the painting supports the writer’s point about the use of color in The Railway? Check all that apply.

 

 

Alone in Venice

After arriving in the Italian city of Venice, you might walk along its narrow canals and stroll through its broad pizzas.

 

 

Sargent, and American expatriate, began travelling in Europe in the late nineteenth century in order to see classical works of art and to gather ideas for pictures.

 

 

The historical context of Venice in the late nineteenth century sheds light on this scene.

 

 

To capture the woman’s sense of unease, Sargent carefully place her in relation to other figures.

 

Which detail from the painting supports the writer’s point about the use of space in Street in Venice? Check all that apply.

 

 

Representing the Everyday

In 17th-century Holland, Johannes Vermeer painted things that seemed ordinary, such as a woman engaging in an everyday activity in her home.

 

 

A Lady Writing is a literal title and captures what occurs in the scene.

 

 

In A Lady Writing, Vermeer uses small details to make an intriguing portrait.

 

 

Vermeer’s painting is also fascinating in the way he illuminates this seemingly ordinary scene.

 

Which detail from the painting supports the writer’s point about the use of light in A Lady Writing? Check all that apply.

 

6 . Expressing Your Thoughts Clearly by Avoiding “There is/are”and “It is”

Sentences with there or it in the subject position (as in there is, there was, it is, it was) generally are weak. Make these sentences leaner, more direct, and more interesting by rewriting them with a verb that describes the action and a subject that performs the action.

A Terrible Loss

¹Thousands of years ago, Mayans built a ceremonial center in what is today northern Belize. ²Although abandoned, many of the structures from the center remained intact over the millennia. ³Today the structures make up an important archaeological site called the Nohmul complex. ⁴It was the destruction of one of the tallest pyramids in this complex by a construction company that brought the site to the world's attention recently. ⁵There were trees and shrubs growing on the stone structure, so some may argue the workers mistook it for a natural hill. ⁶Yet Jaime Awe, head of the Belize Institute of Archaeology, says the workers knew it was a pyramid.

Source: Jones, Patrick E., and Mark Stevenson. "Mayan Nohmul Pyramid In Belize Destroyed By Bulldozer.” AP/Yahoo News, 13 May 2013, www.yahoo.com/news/builders-bulldoze-big-mayan-pyramid-belize-225012836.html?ref=gs.

Read the sentences pulled from the passage above. Decide if each sentence uses or doesn’t use “there” or “it” in the subject position.

 

Thousands of years ago, Mayans built a ceremonial center in what is today northern Belize.

 

Although abandoned, many of the structures from the center remained intact over the millennia.

 

Today the structures make up an important archaeological site called the Nohmul complex.

 

It was the destruction of one of the tallest pyramids in this complex by a construction company that brought the site to the world's attention recently.

 

There were trees and shrubs growing on the stone structure, so some may argue the workers mistook it for a natural hill.

 

Yet Jaime Awe, head of the Belize Institute of Archaeology, says the workers knew it was a pyramid.

 

Read the following sentences and then select the best revision for each. If no revision is needed, select "No revision is needed."

 

It is a joke that many people tell.

 

Dandelion spores blew across the field.

 

There are daily improvements made to the website by Karen.

 

Jealousy

¹There was a writer named Gore Vidal who famously said: "Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little." ²It is my own feeling as well, though I hate to admit it. ³I tell myself that supporting my friends and reveling in their successes will make me a happier, more confident person, but I just can't overcome my sense of jealousy. ⁴For example, there were three friends of mine who all received big promotions in the same year. ⁵When we went out to celebrate, I smiled and patted them all on the back, but inside I was despondent. ⁶I have decided to examine my sources of insecurity as a first step to remedying this ugly aspect of my personality.

There was a writer named Gore Vidal who famously said: "Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little."

 

It is my own feeling as well, though I hate to admit it.

 

I tell myself that supporting my friends and reveling in their successes will make me a happier, more confident person, but I just can't overcome my sense of jealousy.

 

For example, there were three friends of mine who all received big promotions in the same year.

 

When we went out to celebrate, I smiled and patted them all on the back, but inside I was despondent.

 

I have decided to examine my sources of insecurity as a first step to remedying this ugly aspect of my personality.

 

There is some plant growth despite the harsh climate.

 

There will be construction crews working all summer.

 

It's a calculation that our accountants double-checked.

 

Bright Light on the Moon

¹On March 17, 2013, there was a meteoroid impact on the surface of the moon. ²Although lunar impacts are relatively common, this one was unique in its luminosity. ³It is a fact that this explosion shone ten times brighter than any lunar impact witnessed since a monitoring program began eight years ago, according to Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. ⁴In fact, the March 17 explosion was so bright that a person could have seen it without the aid of a telescope. ⁵Contrary to what people may assume, the meteoroid that caused this explosion was not large in size. ⁶It was about 40 kg in weight and was just 0.3 to 0.4 meters in width.

Source: Philips, Tony. “Bright Explosion on the Moon.” NASA Science News, 17 May 2013, science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/16may_lunarimpact/.

 

On March 17, 2013, there was a meteoroid impact on the surface of the moon.

 

Although lunar impacts are relatively common, this one was unique in its luminosity.

 

It is a fact that this explosion shone ten times brighter than any lunar impact witnessed since a monitoring program began eight years ago, according to Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office.

 

In fact, the March 17 explosion was so bright that a person could have seen it without the aid of a telescope.

 

Contrary to what people may assume, the meteoroid that caused this explosion was not large in size.

 

It was about 40 kg in weight and was just 0.3 to 0.4 meters in width.

 

There was a confrontation between our foreman and the new electrician.

 

It's a residence of a gopher in that hole.

 

The scarf complements his outfit.

 

7 . Expressing Your Thoughts Clearly by Minimizing Passive Construction

For the most part, writers should use active verbs so that their sentences are strong and clear. This means that they should describe who or what acts upon someone or something, instead of describing who or what is acted upon, which is passive construction. Examples:

Active
Passive
The local credit union awarded Janie a scholarship.
Janie was awarded a scholarship by her local credit union.
Mitchell has been working on his thesis for two years.
The thesis has been worked on by Mitchell for two years.
 

Directions: Carefully read each sentence in the following table and indicate whether the verb in bold is active or passive.

Sentence
Active
Passive
1. The woman was awarded a scholarship by the committee.
 
 
 
2. Mitchell has been working on his thesis for two years.
 
 
 
3. Ariana invited me to attend her class as a guest speaker.
 
 
 
4. Elspeth was bitten by mosquitoes.
 
 
 
5. Although I was tired, I ran to the park with my dog.
 
 
 
6. Michelle Obama advocates programs that prevent childhood obesity.
 
 
 
7. The goal is being defended remarkably well by the defensive players.
 
 
 
 

Directions: In each of the following sentences, the main verb (which appears in bold) is in the passive voice. Select the sentence that uses the same verb and verb tense in the active voice.

 

Recently, more research by sociologists has been focused on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

Recently, research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States has been focused on more by sociologists.

Recently, Latinos in the United States have been focused on more by sociologists in research on the relationship between diet and acculturation.

Recently, sociologists have focused more research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

 

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the extent of Latinos' acculturation into American culture is illustrated by their food choices.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the food choices are illustrated to be part of the acculturation of Latinos into American culture.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the acculturation of Latinos into American culture has been illustrated in their food choices.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; Latinos' food choices illustrate the extent of their acculturation into American culture.

 

Fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods are contained in the diet of Latinos after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

After they move to the United States, fewer fruits and vegetables are contained in the diet of Latinos, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

Diabetes and hypertension are caused in Latinos because fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods are contained in their diet after they move to the United States.

After Latinos move to the United States, their diet contains fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

 

In conclusion, as more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, are taken up by Latinos, their rate of obesity increases. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, as more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, were taken up by Latinos, their rate of obesity increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, as more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, have been taken up by Latinos, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, as Latinos take up more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, their rate of obesity increases. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

 

 

Sentence
Active
Passive
1. Renee was sitting in traffic for over an hour.
 
 
 
2. The building façade was vandalized by middle school students.
 
 
 
3. Moses has been accused of cheating.
 
 
 
4. Voice-recognition technology truly fascinates my father.
 
 
 
5. William Shakespeare is known as a great dramatist.
 
 
 
6. Colleen hasn't forgotten her promise to us.
 
 
 
7. The airliners are being retrofitted with several new safety features.
 
 
 
 

Recently, more research has been done by sociologists on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

Recently, Latinos in the United States have been researched more by sociologists on the relationship between diet and acculturation.

Recently, more research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States was done by sociologists.

Recently, sociologists have done more research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

 

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; Latinos' acculturation into American culture is shown in part by their food choices.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the acculturation of Latinos into American culture is shown in their food choices.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the food choices of Latinos is shown to be part of the acculturation of Latinos into American culture.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; Latinos show their acculturation into American culture partly by their food choices.

 

Fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods are consumed by Latinos after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

After moving to the United States, fewer fruits and vegetables are eaten by Latinos, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

Latinos consume fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

Diabetes and hypertension are caused in Latinos after they move to the United States because their diet is changed to include fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods.

 

In conclusion, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, have been embraced by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In short, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, have been embraced by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity has been increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, were embraced by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, more Latinos have embraced the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

 

Sentence
Active
Passive
1. All four sandwiches were devoured by Tony.
 
 
 
2. She regularly insults my intelligence.
 
 
 
3. The sidewalk was freshly paved by the Department of Public Works.
 
 
 
4. We were bombarded with calls from marketing agencies.
 
 
 
5. Allegedly, Mr. Fleming burned down his own house to collect the insurance money.
 
 
 
6. Mei Su has been training for a half marathon since April.
 
 
 
7. Is that any way for a dog to be treated by its owner?
 
 
 
 

Recently, research by sociologists has been concentrated on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

Recently, sociologists have concentrated their research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

Recently, Latinos in the United States have been concentrated on by sociologists in research on the relationship between diet and acculturation.

Recently, research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States has been concentrated on by sociologists.

 

Acculturation is defined by researchers as the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group.

Researchers define acculturation as the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group.

The process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group has been defined as acculturation by researchers.

Adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group is a process that has been defined by researchers as acculturation.

 

Fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods are eaten by Latinos after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

Latinos eat fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

Diabetes and hypertension are caused in Latinos after they move to the United States because their diet is changed to include fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods.

After moving to the United States, fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods are eaten by Latinos, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

 

In conclusion, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, have been adopted by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, were adopted by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, more Latinos have adopted the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, are adopted by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

 

8 . Expressing Your Thoughts Clearly by Avoiding Wordy Verb Construction
Another way to minimize wordiness is to use the shortest verb construction possible. Consider these examples:

Concise
Wordy
Shakespeare presented several complex themes in all of his comedies and tragedies.
Shakespeare was presenting several complex themes in all of his comedies and tragedies.
Many bestselling female authors want their work to be taken more seriously.
Many bestselling female authors are wanting their work to be taken more seriously.
 

Select from the dropdown menu to complete each sentence with the most concise verb phrasing.

Actors who crave their privacy      from posting on social media.

That historic night, everyone      the moon landing on television.

The President      in the city after noon today.

 

Author Jennifer Weiner      with her readers through social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook.

Many college students       in anti-war protests during the late 1960s.

My uncle’s family      from vacation tomorrow.

 

Popular music artists      seemingly personal relationships with their fans through social media.

During World War II, many women      in jobs that had been held by men.

Our plane      at 8:00 p.m.