Short Topics

40 minute timed essay- Students had to analyze an article by Leonid Fridman concerning the use of the word “nerd” to describe the intellectually dominant.  Students had to write a style analysis essay describing the author’s tone and the rhetorical strategies he used to develop a position.  To view Fridman’s article click here.

The author’s disappointed exaggeration mirrors his view towards the way some intelligent people are being mistreated and their actions as a result of this mistreatment.

Fridman’s diction over-exaggerates his belief that intellectual people are scared to embrace their academics for fear of social rejection.  If students from a “prestigious academic institution” such as Harvard are “ashamed to admit” “how much they study,” which “nerds” willstand up for themselves?  Students from an Ivy Leaue school are expected to be the best of the best in academics.  However, Fridman implies that social standing greatly competes with intelligence so much that even the smartest students are shamed of their brilliance.  Society does not help this issue by “idoliz[ing] [their] athletes” while “nerds” are “social outcasts.”  Fridman’s strong descriptive terms give him a slightly biased attitude towards the popular jocks and the shunned nerds.  His exaggerations, however, clearly inform the readers that the mistreatment of the intelligent needs to end and that Americans need to get their priorities straight.

Fridman uses many rhetorical questions at the end of his argument.  Rhetorical questions are not meant to be answered, but rather reflect the ideas mentioned previously.  While his questions are slightly to the extreme, they further emphasize his belief that intelligence is a trait to be respected.  Also, the author uses chiasmus to contrast nerds with athletes.  The parallel contrast between nerds and athletes mirrors the equality that needs to occur between intelligence and social/physical skills.  A sense of balance needs to occur with all people.  People need to be more well-rounded and not depend on a certain skill to get them through life.

While his argument may suggest he was one of the mistreated nerds, Fridman still states a cold-hard fact: many intelligent people are bein treated unfairly as a result of their intelligence, while those who are most likely responsible for the mistreatment are worshipped among their peers.

Grade based on AP writing scale- 7 out of 9