Class Presentation: Clarity and Ambiguity

Prof. Joel C. Snell    

Kirkwood College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Classroom  Presentation: Embellishment and Clarity

Prof. Joel Snell (Emeritus)

Kirkwood College

Cedar Rapids, IowaSocial Vibes

Abstract

The author is suggesting that class presentation and other activity should be interesting, organized, fair, fosters intelligence, and the professor is friendly. (Snell, J., Green, D. & Pelzer, M. 1988) However, once the framework is established and most if not all students have an awareness of what is being said, a few polysyllabic terms cannot be overlooked. It connotes, but not denotes that the teacher is a talent it also impacts student evaluations. The suggestions listed below must be few and the author is serious that the use of verbiage does not give permission to shoddy scholarship. You must know your field. Cosmetics should not transcend substance. Other than a small amount of “fakery” is an abuse to education.

Introduction: Both Herzog (1973) and Newman (1974) suggest that “fakery” unfortunately is to be found everywhere in society. Both the classroom to everyday society, television, print, and social media contain a speaker who is using terms that emotionally excite one, but does not really deliver what it appears to be said. Both use the term “fakery.” As both suggest the terms vary and grow and then fade from our language.

Description: This is unfortunate, but even professors have been known to use terms that originally made sense to them. It may come from graduate school or many other sources. Conflicts between academics may encourage the “right” word that fills the debate it would appear that one wins the debate with sources of wisdom surrounded by terminology that seems or sounds credible, but is not.

Student evaluations may improve, if the teacher is clear most of the time. However, the frosting (fakery) may be a winner. S/he sounds so wise, so grounded, yet so contemporary. However, it is verbiage filled with sound and fury but signifies nothing. How does that last sentence sound? Is it partially taken from someone else? Alas, fakery is with us. It does have a birth, endures, and then fades. However, some verbiage becomes so legitimate that it becomes to mean something other than a fog over a legitimate word. That word had its start in the swamp of euphemisms .It blossomed and may have taken on legitimacy because it was earned by constant usage from special authorities.

Slang is the worst. If an instructor descends that low, the game is up. The audience becomes uncomfortable because the speaker did not spoof the receivers of the message.

Terminology

The author consulted with a number of academics and a businessman to create a word list and what it appears to mean, and what is meant.  At the end other verbiage will be listed, but not completely defined. For some one of these second list words may be very salient to the speaker. Below is the word list of verbiage

Existentialism, Existential Angst, Existential Crisis

NOUN

This is a philosophical theory or approach which emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will. So that means that you are totally free and you do not like it. Meaning and norms have been stripped from your life. There are numerous interpretations of this and it sure sounds like you know what you are talking about and the subject is very important. One could say that “things appear lousy.” However that loses the excitement. Your are totally free and there is an empty world, where certain minds organize order. We  need those folks.

Propinquity

NOUN

This is the state of being close to someone or near them; proximity. “He kept his distance as though he was afraid that propinquity might lead him into temptation” The author guesses that few know the meaning of this word, but it could sure throw a class or audience into a spin. In common parlance it means that two or more when they are together feel close.

Umbrage

NOUN

It is an offense or annoyance. “She took umbrage at his remarks those sure sounds better than she was annoyed and felt lousy.  So one takes offense · be offended · take exception

Antiquarian

ADJECTIVE

This means old style · former · past · bygone · historic · heritage · antique · antiquarian · early · classical · traditional · folk · old-world · ancestral · time-honored · ancient · veteran · vintage · quaint

NOUN

Antiquarians (plural noun)

Disingenuous

NOUN

The person is a liar.  Now the above sounds better. One can also say that the person “misspoke.” Regardless, the euphemism helps the flow of the idea without a face-to- face fight.

 

Pejorative

NOUN

This is a word expressing contempt or disapproval.

 

Commoditization

NOUN

Commoditization is the transformation of goods, services, ideas and not the least people into commodities or objects of trade. That means that you perceive people as objects and how much money you can make from them. Hopefully, the receiver does not understand that there activities make them a piece of work. Slavery is a direct commoditization.

Intrinsic

ADJECTIVE

This means belonging naturally; essential. “access to the arts is intrinsic to a high quality of life” It is contained wholly within the organ on which it acts. In other words, whatever that you are talking about, is built into the subject. So if you have a lousy car because of the engine and yet it looks beautiful, one can say that the motor is not intrinsic to the exterior of the car. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Algorithmic

ADJECTIVE

Expressed as or using an algorithm or computational procedure. “Surge pricing is algorithmic and responds automatically to the large increase in demand” Now the basis for this term and the formula is to put things in the most efficient SEQUENCE. Let’s say that Fred has a delivery truck and he wants to deliver his 10 parcels in the most efficient and profitable way. So he uses an algorithm. Therefore all the stops are in a proper sequence. If you want to jerk an audience’s chain, tell them that song was algorithmic. That means that the notes are paced in a special melodic sequence.

Off-putting

NOUN This is a nice word for “disgusting” Whatever the word or action is really bad. However, the receiver of the message does not know what you are saying and therefore you can tell them that something or action is horrible and they don’t know what you are talking about.

The Second List

Listed below are terms that appear to say one thing, but may say another. Please recall that if you are in a tough neighborhood, keep it simple. They don’t know what you are talking about and they may be inclined to hurt you. This list does not have a complete definition that will follow due to conservation of space.

Common parlance, (everyday language) cross purposes,(one has a conflict over at least two thoughts of actions) prophylactic,( something is preventive) data matrix (Cartesian plane) predicate (the action word we need  to move forward)metaphorical, analytics (an analysis comparing symbols of other issues), multicollinearity,( multi regression analysis that accidentally shows a positive relations ) quantum theory ( a theory that a surface does not begin where you can put  your hand on it, rather the objective has molecules that continue outward in diminish invisible form) stigmatic others (folks who have been pushed out of a group), meta-narrative (a belief or social construction now held by  a significant  part of the population unpack break apart andanalyze bifurcate divide in two or a binary, outlier (an external stimuli that is very distant from the issue but small changes in that stimuli make big changes in the current problem one is dealing with) word speak,( that which is written or spoken does not mean what you think it means, it sounds good.) Disaggregate,( please see unpack). Spin( please seeword speak,) redaction( document contains words that have been blackened so that you cannot read it multiplier (how many times does a tax cut pass through from consumer to consumer)nonplussed (one isunhappy) plant/prop (a member of an audience is a phony working for the speaker mercurial (moody)

References Cited

Herzog,A (1973)The B. S. Factor, The theory and technique of faking it in America, New York: Penguin Books

Newman,E. (1974) Strictly Speaking: Will American be the death of English, New York: Warner Books

 Merriam Webster Dictionary.com (the original definitions come from this source)

Snell, J. Green D. &  M. Pelzer (1988) Snell-Green Professor Index, Psychology &Education, A Journal of Human Behavior.