Comedian Jeff Foxworthys bit entitled Southern Accent Comedian Jeff Foxworthy’s bit entitled “Southern Accent”
For Discussion # 7, we will listen to and discuss comedian Jeff Foxworthy’s bit entitled “Southern Accent” where Foxworthy argues that Southern American English contains many unique words in spite of the common perception that, as Foxworthy puts it, “the Southern accent is not the world’s most intelligent sounding accent.” Although several scholars have made similar arguments about the legitimacy of other dialects of American English such as African American English and Chicano English, the topic of language exploration has not been widely addressed in many academic courses. For this assignment, choose one of the following questions about language to answer in a well-developed, argumentative essay. After each question, I have included a possible source you can use from the Do You Speak American? Website.
Comedian Jeff Foxworthys bit entitled Southern Accent
When do judgments about certain dialects of American English become language prejudice? Source: https://www.pbs.org/speak/speech/correct/gatekeeping/
When should we limit the use of non-standard English in the classroom? Source: https://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/AAVE/hooked/
What’s the difference between correcting someone’s language and being a “Grammar Nazi”? Source: http://www.pbs.org/speak/speech/correct/decline/
When should we limit the use of slang? Source: https://www.pbs.org/speak/words/sezwho/slang/
When does English-only become unethical? Source: https://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/spanglish/threat/
When does censorship become language discrimination? Source: https://www.pbs.org/speak/speech/correct/gatekeeping/
When do assumptions about the way groups of people speak become stereotypes? Source: http://www.pbs.org/speak/speech/prejudice/women/
Comedian Jeff Foxworthys bit entitled Southern Accent and Rhetorical Situation and Other Guidelines
Audience: Your intended audience should have some interest or direct implication within the debate. For instance, if you address the question of limiting the use of non-standard English in the classroom, you might target educators, students, or possibly parents of young students. Each of these audiences would have a different relationship to the topic and thus have different responses to your argument. Therefore, choose an audience you wish to target, and develop your essay to appeal to that audience specifically.
Context: Write your essay for an academic context, considering the expectations, evidence, organization, grammar, etc.
Comedian Jeff Foxworthys bit entitled Southern Accent
Purpose: Consider how you want your audience to respond to the argument. What do you want them to do with this information? Use your essay to persuade your readers to specific action in response to the issue. Your conclusion should leave your readers with a call to action, giving them clear direction for how this argument affects them and hold implications for their own lives.
Length: 1500 – 2000 words and at least 6 paragraphs for the final copy of the essay.
Grade Weight: 100 points for the final copy of the essay.
Sources: use 4 – 6 sources. Consider sources such as eBooks, newspaper articles, and journal articles from the Jefferson State Library Website and/or the Do You Speak American? Website. (Avoid Wikipedia, most .com sources, and other non-credible sources).
Documentation Guidelines: See pages 158 – 167 in Easy Writer for instructions on MLA
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