Kategorie: TellDear
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Rhetoric: Art of Clarification or Craft of Deception?
Rhetoric, defined as the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, has been a cornerstone of Western education since the ancient Greeks. However, in contemporary discourse, it often carries a negative connotation, associated with manipulative speech and deceptive tactics. Some critics argue that the application of rhetoric can be seen as dishonest because it…
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Common Rhetorical Tricks Used in Speeches
Rhetoric is a powerful form of communication, and when used effectively, it can inform, persuade, or entertain an audience. Beyond simply relaying information, public speaking can create an emotional connection, spark inspiration, and influence people’s thoughts and actions. How is this accomplished? Through the use of rhetorical strategies and techniques. Below are some of the…
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The Multitude of Approaches to Text Comprehension: Strategies for Engaging with Written Material
Every text we encounter, whether it’s a book, a web page, an article, the transcription of a video, a speech, or a debate, offers an opportunity to learn and broaden our perspectives. However, to genuinely understand and retain the knowledge within these texts, we must engage with them actively. This task is no small feat,…
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Clickbait in the Digital Age
The internet, while being a treasure trove of information, has also opened the Pandora’s Box of misinformation and superficial content. A major perpetrator in this digital misdirection is clickbait, a tactic that uses sensationalist headlines to attract clicks, often at the expense of truth and quality. This phenomenon is not isolated to untrustworthy sources or…
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Manipulative Tactics in Texts and Videos: A Close Look at Media Artifacts
The power of media artifacts, including texts and videos, to shape our understanding of the world is immense. Yet, with great power comes the potential for manipulation. The use of certain tactics in creating these artifacts can deliberately or inadvertently distort the message being conveyed, influencing our perceptions, beliefs, and actions. Here are some of…
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Physical vs. Mental Nutrition: An Evolutionary Perspective
tl;dr: In the following introduction, we compare our skills to evaluate nutrition to our (lack of) capabilities to handle information. Food Evolution has trained us well to see, smell and taste food. We always knew what was good for us. Evolution enabled us to intuitively distinguish what’s nourishing and what’s not. If something looked unappetizing,…
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Footnotes: A Plea for Reader-Friendly Practices in Literature
Navigating the maze of footnotes Books and footnotes, they’re a love-hate relationship, aren’t they? On the one hand, we have these little bits of wisdom that add depth and richness to the story we’re about to dive into. On the other hand, we have these interrupting, referencing notes-quotes from other works-that snap us out of…