2. The defining characteristics of class in this argument Class is most commonly attributed to wealth because people with money have access to more exceptional goods and services. While money and class are directly proportional, money is not the only characteristic of class. The focus for this argument will be the characteristic of class that involves education.
3. Comparing class, money and education One who is educated will usually have more money. This is because he or she is capable of obtaining a better job due to his or her education or he or she was rich to begin with and was more able to afford an education. There are two ways to look at this:
4. Comparing class, money and education Common Position: If you have money, then you will be educated. If you are educated, then you are upper class. Therefore, if you have money you are upper class. Argument’s Position: If you are educated, then you will have money. If you have money, then you will be upper class. Therefore, if you are educated, then you will be upper class.
7. An example that supports the argument’s position Paying for a ticket to enter a museum of fine arts may be a small amount of money when compared to paying for a ticket to see a rock band perform in concert. The former tends to require a greater deal of education (and thus, class) to appreciate, so it is not the case that money dictates upper class activities.
8. Educated people have opinions People who are educated about issues in society usually have opinions on said issues. Some opinions manifest themselves in positions such as political party, ideology or philosophy. Others are displayed in the way one acts (via writing, expression and action).
9. Educated people have opinions Educated people naturally articulate their opinions in the clearest way possible. Assuming that this is true, the semicolon is counterproductive to this end.
10. Semicolons are counterproductive to articulation Semicolons can be used to separate two independent clauses. Coordinating conjunctions can also be used to separate two independent clauses. Semicolons fail to capture the amount of articulation that can be displayed by the usage of coordinating conjunctions.
11. Coordinating conjunctions and articulation I am a republican, and I condone Socialism. I am a republican, but I condone Socialism. I am a republican, or I condone Socialism. “I am a republican; I condone Socialism,” fails to capture the latter two of the three sentences above.
12. Coordinating conjunctions and articulation I am a republican, and I condone Socialism. I am a republican, but I condone Socialism. I am a republican, or I condone Socialism. The conjunction “but” implies that there is some degree of juxtaposition between the first and second independent clauses.
13. Coordinating conjunctions and articulation I am a republican, and I condone Socialism. I am a republican, but I condone Socialism. I am a republican, or I condone Socialism. The conjunction “or” implies complete opposition between the first and second independent clauses.
14. Coordinating conjunctions and articulation I am a republican, and I condone Socialism. I am a republican, but I condone Socialism. I am a republican, or I condone Socialism. The distinction between the latter two coordinating conjunctions and the former is important for understanding how one is expressing his or her opinion.
15. Semicolons are middle class Thus, because coordinating conjunctions are able to articulate more meaning than the use of a semicolon, one who wishes to articulate him or herself to the fullest extent should use coordinating conjunctions instead of semicolons.
16. Semicolons are middle class Those who wish to articulate themselves to the fullest extent are those who are educated. Those who are educated are constituents of the upper class. Therefore, a constituent of the upper class should not use semicolons, and semicolons should be labeled as middle class.
