Introductory paragraph for Culminating Writing Task Essay

The purpose of writing is to communicate, whether it be a political opinion or a list for the grocery

store, and that purpose is all for naught if writers don’t write clearly. Some writers see it as a chance to show

off or to hide their true meaning, but these are at the least deceptive tricks and at worst abhorrent. George

Orwell in his essay “Politics and the English Language” sets out to describe the problems with the modern

language and offers concise solutions to that problem. He fulfills his purpose by convincing readers that not

only is there a problem, but there is also a solution. He presents that solution by asking writers to consider

four questions in every sentence they write: “1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3.

What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect. In presenting the

list, it is incumbent upon the reader to consider these questions in Orwell’s own writing” (5). When they apply

this list to Orwell’s essay, the reader will find that Orwell does fulfill his questions. His use of parallelism makes

points clear, and, for the most part, his images are fresh. The word choice that he use aptly describes the

problem he lays out and affects the reader aptly. Finally, the structure that he chooses, a problem-solution is a

clear choice to lay out his argument.

First, consider his choice of words. Orwell uses a number of strong, opinionated words to outline the

problems he sees with the language. He describes the problem of “vague” writing as “slovenliness” and

“decay” that has caused a “debasement” of language and could lead to the “general collapse” of society (1-8).

This strong choice of words convey Orwell’s argument clearly; the English language has a serious problem.

Orwell’s further purpose is to present his argument that this “collapse” of language is leading to political

consequences that leave a public accepting rhetoric that leads to the murder of innocents (7). His description

of language is highly opinionated, which supports his purpose, because it calls attention to his claim that

language must be clarified. The use of these words, some would say, may break use rule for fresh images;

however, they follow the following six rules in that the descriptions are straight-forward and clear enough to

establish his purpose.

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