Analysis Of Jane Hamill's A Grown-Up Barbie

Concepts of Writing a Good Essay: “A Grown-Up Barbie” by Jane Hamill

Students are often required to submit essays throughout the school year, however, many are not able to write an effective essay. After extensively reading and analyzing This I Believe narratives, I came across many essays that are great examples for students to use as a template for effective writing. One essay that stood out amongst the rest was, “A Grown-Up Barbie” by Jane Hamill; I recommend this short narrative for students that strive to achieve an effective essay because it provides useful rhetorical devices such as: anecdote, imagery and diction.

Hamill’s personal narrative begins by perhaps using one of the most useful device- an anecdote. By using this device she

allowed the readers to relate to her story. She begins by describing several diverse roles that Barbie could portray, such as a doctor and fashion designer that traveled and had fancy dinners and meetings. Hamill later states how she became to be that “Barbie” fashion designer that lived in Paris and New York and went to fancy dinners, she had “achieved... her Barbie-style life” (Hamill). According to Purdue Owl, when an author successfully uses anecdotes, it allows the audience to trigger an emotional response. Making an emotional connection between the reader and the piece is essential for any essay, because it allows the author to reach a deeper connection with the audience and open their minds to new ideas that the author is presenting (The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab). The reason that the anecdote was so productive within her short story was her ability to describe and show imagery.

By using imagery Hamill was able to engage her audience. Incorporating imagery gives the reader vivid images and descriptive languages that helps the reader have a better understanding and see the author’s story in depth. In her essay, Hamill continuously explains the imaginary roles she would create for her Barbie, which became a reality, but she comes to the realization that she became a fashion designer to affect people’s self-confidence. In her essay she explains how she hopes to help people with body issues accept themselves, and how cutting fabric a certain way increase their confidence (Hamill). “Weight and Body Image Disorders: Causes, Symptoms, and Signs” shows how many people are dissatisfied with their bodies which further illustrates how Hamill’s purpose can be achieved (Eating Disorders Coalition; Academy for Eating Disorders; International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals; National Eating Disorders Association). Some examples, of imagery when the author illuminated the readers vivid imagination is when she states, “Ken…was always a little dusty and in the corner,” and how “ the blonde-haired, blue eyed Malibu Barbie… looked nothing like her red-haired, freckled self ” (Hamill). By using descriptive language, readers can see how Ken was unimportant to Barbie’s professional roles. By comparing the Barbie’s and Hamill’s physique it shows how the author does not resemble Barbie and how looks were never as important, as accomplishing the bigger picture-becoming a fashion designer. She successfully exercises imagery, which was possible by her diction.
In addition to anecdote and imagery, diction helps write a good essay.

There are three types of diction: formal, informal, and colloquial; formal refers to press conferences, colloquial to slang, and informal to writing-which Hamill uses throughout her essay. Diction is used to create and convey a specific mood, affect the reader’s attitude and convey the writer’s feeling toward their work (The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab). In simple terms, diction intensifies the weight of the words which affects the reader’s reactions. By choosing to write words such as: feminist, moron, danger and “anti-fashion fashion designer,” the audiences impact becomes stronger (Hamill). For example, when the author uses the word feminist to demonstrate how she views herself, it enables the audience to question her views considering the title. Initially reading this essay, the reader would not expect feminist and a Barbie to coincide within the same essay because they are completely opposite. A feminist is considered someone who advocates equality between males and females, whereas, a Barbie represents a manifestation of self-identity (Wright 1). Another example of diction used properly is when she says she is an “anti-fashion fashion designer,” her diction gives her audience an insight into her message, that it was not about the clothes but how the clothes make people feel (Hamill). If authors were to use diction properly, they could achieve an effective essay.

So, if one is contemplating how to

write an effective essay, they can look to, “A Grown-Up Barbie,” to get the job done. The use of diction, imagery and anecdote in their narratives implores the audience to become engaged, empowered, and entertained. Which if you think about it, is what a writer should strive to achieve, when composing an essay.