An Effective Response to Objections and Alternative Judgments: Using Contrast

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 Analyze 
Use the basic features.

Writing about a phenomenon her readers have experienced firsthand, Rosen has to assume that many of them will have a judgment of multitasking that differs from the one she is arguing for. Consequently, Rosen’s entire essay can be seen as an attempt to refute an alternative judgment.

Rosen tries to convince readers to see multitasking in a new way by contrasting it with its opposite. In the opening paragraph, she uses a sentence strategy like this to present the contrast:

Opposite of multitasking

Good quality 1

Good quality 2

EXAMPLE To Chesterfield, singular focus was not merely a practical way to structure one’s time ; it was a mark of intelligence. (par. 1)

To learn more about patterns of opposition, see Chapter 12.

ANALYZE & WRITE

Write a couple of paragraphs analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of Rosen’s use of contrast to reframe her readers’ ideas and attitudes about multitasking:

  1. Skim the essay, highlighting with one color (or underlining) the qualities Rosen associates with multitasking, and highlighting with a different color (or circling) the qualities Rosen associates with the opposite of multitasking.
  2. Review the words and phrases Rosen uses to describe multitasking and its opposite. What values and ideas does she attach to these two alternatives?
  3. Given her purpose and audience, how well do you think this strategy of using contrast is likely to work? What seems to you to be its strengths and weaknesses?

    Question