The three short essays were subjectively confusing, dry, and simple to read. I was not impressed by the subject matter in Yiyun Li’s “Orange Crush.” Nor was I enthralled by the way “The Sanctuary of School” and Kingsolver’s “In Case You Ever Want to Go Home Again” were written. On the other hand, Lynda Barry had a pleasant ending to her lackluster essay in “The Sanctuary School.” Overall I was let down by the three treatise.
Lynda Barry’s excerpt from “The Norton Sampler” was the top composition out of the three. As I read the article, I was effortlessly distracted by my surroundings since the text wasn’t subjectively interesting. I deemed the text lack zest and flow. The majority of it was choppy and I felt I was reading something from the 3rd grade based on the simplicity of the word choice. “The Sanctuary of School’s” conclusion was marvelous compared to the rest of it.
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Her story was interesting to read, but she over exaggerated every detail, making it perplexing to read. “In Case You Ever Want to Go Home Again’s” transitions were non-existent, confusing me further. I could picture minute snippets of the essay, but the overall depiction was not clear. Furthermore, her narration had minimal dialogue; constructing a conversation in this story would recover this essay from the gutter it was in. If the author used transitions, dialogue, and used direct descriptions, her essay would have been renovated
“Orange Crush” by Yiyun Li is possibly the least exciting essay I have ever read. Intrinsically, her essay jumped from narration to description too many times for me to follow along. Although the description was creative, it was difficult to follow. The lack of chronology in her story disoriented my train of thought, causing me to re-read multiple portions of the narrative. Based on the confusing description and agenda, I would not recommend this read to
Students, who come from different cultures and backgrounds, are not prepared (especially on their own) to give up everything that they have spent the past eight-teen years believing in, in order to write the perfect college essay.
I enjoyed how Lydia stayed calm and didn't panic through the tragic disaster she had faced. The rhetorical techniques that Brideau demonstrates are pathos because she displays positive and negative emotions throughout the story. Also tells the story through graphic details. The words “hope” and “determination” seemed most significant because it set the overall tone to the story. For example, Lydia was terrified when she realized she was unable to shut the door against the rushing water, but she was determined to get to safe spot to avoid the flooding of the hurricane. This essay does not remind me of any other essays. If I wrote a letter to Jan Brideau, I would tell her I found the essay Lydia’s Story very inspiring and informative. I admired
My opinion of the book mentioned above is that it is extremely well written and inhibits several unique characteristics. The typical biography or autobiography is written in a sober manner, such that the reader is completely bored by the events of the life of the subject. The author Kristen Kemp, wrote this book so that the audience is excited and anxious to discover what happens in the next chapter in the life of the specified individual. An example of the authors exciting style of writing is evident in this quote referring to Jewel's acceptance to Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan; "Just like that, Jewel set out for, possible, her most life changing journey of all." That statement could have been written so that it simply stated that Jewel was going to attend that academy, however, due to Kristen Kemp's writing style, the statement kept me excited to read another chapter.
In The Long Way Home: An American Journey from Ellis Island to the Great War, by David Laskin, twelve men leave their deep-rooted lives and their mother country to seek opportunities. The author emphasizes on the importance of immigrants who traveled long ways to America. He believes that millions of these immigrants pushed the U.S. forward to a world of prosperity. Laskin accentuates twelve brave men being assimilated into the war and training procedures of the U.S. Army without even knowing English. Their service in the Great War was a major advantage for the U.S. Military, due to it’s plentiful of soldiers fighting for them. Laskin is an author who attended Harvard College and graduated with a history and literature degree. His work is known
Her family stayed three years at the camp. Jeanne did not enjoy living in these camps. The memories of the past still haunted her as she grew older. “Writing it has been a way of coming to terms with the impact these years have had on my entire life” (pg
Each essay seemed like a reflection of their own lives and what has worked for them to keep them happy and successful, as well as what they believe is a healthy way to live life. The writers usually begin by giving you a bit of information about who they are, what they have done and what they currently do. They then move to giving some background and insight into their past and their family life and someone who inspired them. They typically describe scenarios in depth and give a lot of insight as to how they operate and what helps them operate successfully and happily. The essays are wrapped up with a summary almost, they bring it back around and give you their mantra that has helped them live happy lives. Tony and Nancy's essay were more similar both in their mantras/life lessons than Roald's. Roald's was more philosophical and poetic, he leaves some of what he says up to your own interpretation. Overall however the essays are fairly similar in how they are written as well as the questions they answer. I would explain to someone outside the class that to write a "This I Believe" essay they need to look back at the culmination of their life and see what they hold to be a universal truth that has helped them of guided them through life. I would tell them to look at the struggles in their lives and assess what philosophy has always got them through in the end, an altruistic. Lastly I would tell them to think of what wisdom they wish that they could share with their children, or the world at large to make it more happy and well adjusted
"Ms. McMulkin, this is Alex. That essay--- how long can it be?" "Why, uh, not less than 600 words." He sounded a little surprised. I'd forgotten it was late at night. "Can it be longer?" "Certainly, Alex, as long as you want it." "Thanks," I said and hung up. I sat down and picked up my pen and thought for a minute. Remembering. Remembering a handsome, dark boy with a reckless grin and a hot temper. A tough, towheaded boy with a cigarette in his mouth and a bitter grin on his hard face. Remembering- -- and this time it didn't hurt--- a quiet, defeated-looking sixteen-year-old whose hair needed cutting badly and who had black eyes with a frightened expression to them. One week had taken all three of them. And I decided I could tell people, beginning with my English teacher. I wondered for a long time how to start that theme, how to start writing about something that was important to me. And I finally began like this: When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride
In our modern society, we have forgotten the art of writing. When we write, we think to ourselves, the longer the sentence, the more intelligent I will sound. Many may say it is by writing long sentences. But is it all that true? In this piece of writing I would like to focus on an essay written by Verlyn Klinkenborg, Several Short Sentences About Writing. In this essay he explains how and why when we write, we should keep our sentences short. he also explains why students should be assigned essays that are not determinate on other sources as evidence. I will also be comparing this to a piece written by Sarah Manguso, Ongoingness. I will be comparing these two pieces on their writing style, and their essayistic ideas. My belief is that we need
My form and structure are not always the best. In one of our more challenging essays, the Rhetorical Analysis Essay my form and structure weren’t as strong as they should be. As stated before, I made the mistake of not staying focused on the rhetorical elements of my topic and venturing my own personal opinion in the essay, which crowded and weakened my form and structure. Continuing with Murray’s path, the development of my essays is based on the rubric. I always seek to include information that the rubric is essentially telling me to include, but sometimes I fall short of developing my thoughts enough. The dimension of my essays also has inconsistencies. I tend to have a problem of expanding into great detail on one point of my essay leaving another point barely expanded upon leaving my essay disproportionate. Finally, the last thing writer’s look for in their essay is their own voice. Thomas Osborne in Late Nights, Last Rites, and the Rain-Slick Road to Self Destruction states “I strive for a good grade, and will work as hard as possible to achieve one, but there is a voice in the back of my head that is effectively scoffing at the ridiculousness of some assignments and expectations that I have had to complete and live up to.” My voice sometimes gets lost in assigned essays when I try to fulfill certain standards that are put upon me. Thomas and I both struggle with writing what we need to write in order to achieve the grade
With this short essay Sedaris was able to appeal to our emotions as readers. When they got kicked out and they were very and almost “frozen” according to Sedaris, his images made us feel angry towards the mother. From his simply structured essay it makes you feel as an adult and as a child. It is structured in a way that would help the reader to stay with the story and builds the interest to keep reading until the end. Sedaris did a fabulous imaginative pieces that would appeal to the readers and appeals to the reader’s emotions as well. At one point he said, “Dusk approached, and as it grew colder it occurred to us that we could possibly die (Sedaris 73). He keeps his audiences remain emotional throughout the
opinions on the topic and the author's account of the story. I found that the
The point of view she expressed through out the whole text, was her own. She was able to keep readers insight of the psychoanalytic theory the story has. The actions the protagonist had in the story showed us how it affected her adult self, and how the issue developed a rebel over time. Even after years from when the recurring events took place, her actions as a child had an effect on both mother and daughter. This theory gives readers the idea that things that happen to people during childhood can contribute to the way they later function as
...e time she needed to let go. She, even though she was the narrator, grew as a character too. The story was about how her death affected those who loved her and knew her, and how they grew as people. Although her life was lost, new life also began. New friendships took their places in the world. The story gives off a sense of acceptance and that the living should focus on what is now, not what could’ve been. What is done is done; no one can do anything about that. What is important in life is to hold on and love those who are around us, and to let go of things holding us back. I thought this book portrayed that message well. It kept me entertained and I felt every emotion while reading it. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a story that is different and not afraid to think outside the box or someone that needs direction when it comes to dealing with grief.
We spent most of the first month in Mr. M.’s class just going over “the infamous page one” as he liked to call it and just reading some great pieces of literature, including Of Mice and Men and Julius Caesar. Then one winter day, we all came into his cool green room and sat down, chatting with our neighbors as usual until the bell rang to signify the start of class. When the bell rang, our teacher began talking about our upcoming assignments; he told us we would be writing 3 essays during the next ...
Over the period of time that I was in this course, I thought it would be a very simple and easy to finish class. But as time went on, I found myself to be demanded more of what I think, what I feel, what must be relied on my ability to understand the concepts and conventions of not only the essays, but of what goes on in the writers mind when writing.