Thlog # 8

It feels weird not having to worry about writing any Pb’s or Wp’s this week, but the break is quite nice. This week I have been focusing on my group project that we will be presenting on Monday. My group members and I received the topic that no one wanted, so we were very nervous going into this. It turns out though that our topic is much simpler to understand and it is actually very fascinating. Hedged language is a term that I was not common with until this week. I did not even realize that I incorporate this technique throughout my papers until I learned the definition of the term. Hedged language is cautious language or “vague” language, that adds in terms or phrases to alleviate a writer’s claim. It ultimately strengthens one’s argument. Hedged language is very important because people are more accepting and will actually consider what it is you are saying. For example, if we say, the recent terrorist attacks in Paris will trigger World War 3, this claim is quite out there and many people may not agree with this statement. Most likely, the reader will not want to continue reading your paper because they already have considered you to be an unreliable source. By adding in hedged language though and saying something such as, the recent terrorist attacks in Paris could have the possibility of triggering another World War, your claim becomes more reliable. My group and I hope that by using plenty of examples, students will realize just how to use hedged language and the importance of it.